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Chapter 124. The Foreseer Pope (2) “The reason I cannot step forward this time is because of you. Irregular, Shin Ju-ha. That is why I invited you. Why? Why do you have no predetermined destiny? How could a mere insect possibly cast off fate itself?” Destiny (運命). By dictionary definition, it refers to Then what is destiny as understood by Players and people, rather than by dictionary definition? “An inevitable, grand, and powerful central future. That is what we call destiny. Every being is granted their own destiny. Some possess hundreds of millions of destinies, others possess tens of thousands, and still others possess merely a dozen or so. But one thing is certain—every being must possess destiny. An inescapable constraint, if you will. Even those great Divine Seats possess their own destinies.” Are you saying I have no such destiny? The first thing that came to mind was my Authorities. Among them, the Golden Tower—an Authority powerful enough to make me regress. But even gods who possess more Authorities than I do are bound by the shackles of destiny, so could Authority be the answer? I did not think so. Naturally, the next possibility came to mind. ‘Fortune. And Misfortune.’ In truth, the two concepts most closely connected to destiny (運命) are these very two forces of fortune (運). From the beginning, they are similar enough to belong in the same category. And it is by these two forces that my path forward is determined and the trials I must overcome are set. ‘This is it.’ This is the element that erased my destiny. I gazed at the two abilities floating in my status window and became certain. Then, as if confirming the answer, as if it had been waiting, a system message appeared before my eyes. 〚Unique Ability: One shell encasing Misfortune (惡運) shatters!〛 〚Authority: The Curse of Misfortune (惡運) reveals its true form!〛 〚6 shells remain.〛 〚When all 6 remaining shells are destroyed, Authority: Curse of Misfortune will transform and become subordinate to Authority: Misfortune (惡運).〛 〚A Hidden Ability possessed by Authority: Fortune and Authority: Curse of Misfortune has been discovered!〛 〚Ability (Hidden) -Escape from the shackles of destiny (運命).〛 I swallowed hard. Misfortune had become an Authority. It had completely shed the guise of a Unique Ability. Simultaneously, its rank and power rose, revealing its true form. -Grrrrrrr. The demon called Misfortune roared within my mindscape. A roar that was nothing short of a declaration—having tasted humiliation once, it would not taste defeat again. As I heard that roar, my expression hardened. Yet conversely, I discovered a possibility. Six times. If I could achieve six perfect victories against that tenacious and savage monster, I could escape this cursed shackle. ‘So this is what Ra meant by overcoming it.’ And when I summoned my future self, the Authority: Misfortune that sent me a message regarding how it viewed me with complex nuance—that was this. Then had my future self overcome the Curse of Misfortune? Hope appeared. But it was equally dangerous. Look at what Misfortune did this time—every single action was a brush with death. It resurrected Azazel, the Fallen Angel and demon god who had faced death, and it strengthened the Imoogi through karmic connection, attempting to kill me. With a sigh escaping my lips, I pressed my head with my thumb and forefinger and checked my status window. 〚Status Window Name: Shin Ju-ha Titles: World Destroyer [Legend], Blessing of Serpens [Myth], Guardian of the Primordial City [Advanced], Godslayer [Myth] … Job: Master of Ten Thousand Demons [Myth] LV 41(44%) Stats Limitless (Myth) E(7+20/100) Pride (Origin) E(7+20/100) Fortune (Myth) D-(1+20/100) Misfortune (Mythic) D-(2+20/100) Indomitable (Legend) E-(27+20/100) Demon Gaze (Mythic) E-(1+20/100) Remaining Points: 0 Authorities [Golden Tower LV 2][Heavenly Fortune LV 2][Noon Sun LV 3][Equivalent Exchange LV 3][Curse of Misfortune LV 2][Master of Ten Thousand Demons LV 2][Demon God’s Body LV 1][Reign of Ten Thousand Demons LV 2][Chaos Eye LV 1] Runes [Evolved Sovereign’s Crown (Ancient) LV 1][Domain Manifestation – Harsh Winter of Fate (Ancient) LV 1][Time – Hourglass (Primordial) LV 1] Unique Abilities [Boundless Celestial Meridian (Mythic) LV 2][Supreme Soul (Mythic) LV 2][Wish-Granting Orb Embracing Growth LV 1] Skills [Wings of Pride (Mythic) LV 6][Heart of the Colossus (Legend) LV 1][Flowing Water Form (Epic) LV 3][Titanic Strength of the Giant Ant (Unique) LV 3][Strength of the Colossus (Legend) LV 2][Solar Divine Art (Primordial) LV 2][Chaos Magic (Mythic) LV 1][Descent of the Demon God Territory (Mythic) LV 1][Returning Light, Reflecting Shadow LV 1] Comparing my status window to the last time I checked it, I couldn’t help but smirk with satisfaction at how densely packed it had become. Thanks to acquiring a profession, the number of authorities had more than doubled, but the powers I’d gained from countless fortuitous encounters and trial breakthroughs were making me exponentially stronger. Who would dare claim this was the status window of a Hunter who’d only been awakened for less than half a year? No—these were absolutely not things a mere human could ever possess. Moreover, both Misfortune and Heavenly Fortune had surged dramatically to D-rank in a single leap through the power of self-amplification, now recording the highest values. Misfortune had even evolved in grade from Legend to Mythic. I couldn’t bring myself to rejoice. If only I could discover who had placed this curse upon me, I could at least sharpen the blade of vengeance while cursing them. ‘This is absurd.’ A Mythic-grade stat around C-rank is enough to earn the title of S-rank Hunter. Having experienced the power of C-rank stats through self-amplification myself, I could only be more certain. At that moment, I was undoubtedly an S-rank Hunter. Or perhaps… slightly beyond that threshold? Yes, I was knocking on the door of S+ rank. My current physical and magical power stats were E-rank, but the miracles wrought by Heavenly Fortune and the lingering remnants of self-amplification’s power had shattered that ceiling. Nearly a hundred stat points had surged upward in an instant. With all manner of buffs layered on top of this foundation, I could push my stats up by at least fifty more points, and utilizing the multitude of powers at my disposal, I could now contend with opponents up to the highest tier of B+ rank. In Hunter rankings, that would place me somewhere around B- to B grade. Impressive certainly, but still insufficient. To speak frankly, I remained too weak to face my true enemies—those who had reached A-rank or beyond—in direct confrontation. No, I shouldn’t celebrate the absence of fate. As long as the curse of Misfortune persists, hundreds of cruel destinies are reserved for me, and the path of vengeance I must walk will never be easy. When all is said and done, vengeance and curse—the harshest of fates—bind me in their grip. So I will not stop. I will not fall. I will not grow weary. I must press forward. The moment I clenched both fists with that resolve, a voice from ahead finally pulled me back to awareness. “It seems you’ve finished organizing your thoughts.” “Ah… my apologies. I’ve been quite rude.” “Not at all. Reflecting upon oneself, confirming one’s present state, and carving out one’s future—these are important endeavors.” He spoke kindly, yet couldn’t hide an unmistakable curiosity. “I’m afraid I cannot discuss what you’re curious about.” I bowed my head. It was only natural. Unless someone showed themselves to be a benefactor like Ra, or demonstrated their allegiance through the bestowal of authority, I could trust no one. Revealing my weakness—Misfortune—or my trump card—Heavenly Fortune—to a prophet I’d only just met today was absolutely unthinkable. “It appears the two authorities are simply interacting with one another.” At my words, the Pope’s eyes widened. As if he’d heard something impossible. “Authorities? You possess authorities?” “…Yes.” I suppose I can reveal this much. The Pope’s expression shifted with considerable surprise—though not quite as much as when he’d told me I possessed no destiny—and his mouth fell open. “You harbor the seeds of mythology within you? Truly remarkable. And not merely one, but two of them. Astonishing. Authority is a great power, a key to transcendence and mythology itself, yet….” Hmm… I never said I possessed only two. In truth, I currently hold nine Authorities in total. But I simply kept my silence and allowed him to marvel. I’d always wondered about Authority since so few people truly understood it, and the Pope himself didn’t seem to possess detailed knowledge either, so I refrained from questioning him. “What I wished to ask was simply this: why can you not involve yourself in what transpires tomorrow?” My question pulled him from his reverie, and he continued with a grave expression. “Even a destiny—a vast and powerful inevitable future at the center of all things—cannot be completely altered.” His words startled me, yet I soon found myself nodding in agreement. Of course. If destiny were so immutable, the world would function like a machine, perfectly and without issue. It was natural that whenever laws came into being, those who broke them would inevitably emerge. “In isolated cases, certain special individuals—those who have regressed, possessed another’s body, or been reincarnated—have shattered the shackles of destiny and accepted a new fate. Such miracles were not originally permitted, yet through heavenly fortune or minor variables, a select few have grasped such miracles in their hands.” I fell silent. A regressor. I am a regressor. One who regressed not through predetermined destiny, but through the touch of heavenly fortune. Then my destiny has changed as well? But what use is such a question? My destiny was never predetermined to begin with. “Yet not all destinies can be altered. Vast, mighty, and heavy destinies—yes, the destinies of the Divine Seats are few in number but possess tremendous power. They cannot be changed under any circumstance.” “Then what happens if one changes their destiny?” “If one defies destiny, they must certainly pay a clear price. The beings I described earlier do exist among us. Rare though they are, they are not nonexistent. However, they do not survive long. The price for defying destiny is harsh. Death will continue to seek them out. And they will live short lives.” So death, like a vaccine, pursues the virus of those who defy regression and possession and reincarnation. I nodded and continued listening. “Therefore, because I possess the power of future sight, which deeply involves time and destiny, constraints have been placed upon me. Do not alter destiny. If you do, a far greater penalty will follow. Thus I cannot involve myself in the destinies of others. I can only exist briefly between the gaps of their fates, exerting influence, and during moments of destiny itself, I can only observe from a step behind.” I tilted my head. Then what of me? “Since my destiny does not exist, doesn’t that mean you can interfere?” “No. Your future is not visible to my eyes from the beginning. As if it were forbidden. I cannot read it, so I cannot interfere. You have no destiny, yet everything you do carries the power of destiny, so I cannot involve myself. In truth, even having this conversation requires me to pay a considerable price.” I remained silent. Yes. With the two stats of heavenly fortune and misfortune, wielding their power, it would be no exaggeration to say I command destiny itself. If he spoke so gravely, I could no longer ask for his aid. “You may die, Your Holiness.” “Another constraint. I cannot see my own destiny. But if tomorrow is a predetermined death, then even if I defy it, I will surely die.” I rose from my seat. If that were the case, there was no further reason to continue this conversation. I bowed my head to him, still wearing that serene and benevolent smile, then turned and left the chamber.
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