Chapter 255 - A Secret Between Two People.
On the way to Incheon Airport to meet Christine.
Ryu Min received an important call.
"Is Christine suspecting me?"
-Yes. I definitely heard it from Jeffrey.
The content suggested that the Prophet and the Black Scythe could be the same person.
"I understand. I'll take care of the rest."
-Understood. Take care of yourself, my lord.
"What nonsense."
Ryu Min hung up the phone and smiled ironically.
But as if realizing suddenly, he frowned and pondered.
'Christine was suspecting me.'
This wasn't a situation to be taken lightly.
'How was I found out? Have I done any suspicious actions recently...? Ah!'
He suddenly remembered the scene.
When he killed the three thugs who were aiming at Christine with a dagger in the darkness.
Apart from that, he hadn't done anything suspicious.
'Maybe she was awake? I thought she wouldn't notice anything because she was sleeping...'
Though he had been careful, it seems she somehow found out.
About his own murder.
'It's complicated. It wouldn't be good if my true identity was discovered by someone else...'
Having been living a double life until now, admitting that I am the same person would be difficult.
Wouldn't she feel a sense of betrayal inside?
Maybe she would even turn against me thinking I deceived her all this time.
'Christine turning against me. Just thinking about it is daunting.'
Not getting Christine's help would be like wasting a resurrection opportunity.
Since it's my last reincorporation, Christine's ability is crucial.
If I admit my identity, it's clear our relationship will distance.
I must deny it somehow.
'The problem is what excuse to give...'
Ryu Min was caught in his thoughts until he boarded the plane to the United States.
He couldn't come up with a suitable excuse.
'I can only deny it. And if necessary, I'll use the memory erasure potion.'
Though it would be a pity to use it for this, I have two of them.
Wouldn't it be fine to use at least one?
"Sigh... I'm not sure. I should try to sleep."
However, Ryu Min couldn't sleep a wink until he arrived in the United States.
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"Christine."
"Mr. Black Scythe."
Though Christine greeted him with a friendly smile while wearing a mask, Ryu Min understood.
'It's true. When I read her thoughts, I understand it clearly.'
Despite her outward appearance, she's full of suspicion inside.
'Perhaps she's doubting if I'm the Prophet?'
Furthermore, she seemed worried, maybe about witnessing the murder.
Worried that he might be a psychopath like Ma Gyeong-rok.
'It seems logical. After aiming a gun, killing would be an expected reaction.'
By reading her thoughts, it seems she somehow understands the motive behind the murder.
Since she was aiming with a gun, it was a defensive measure.
But apparently, she didn't know the exact details aside from that.
"I had no inconveniences on my trip."
"Though I could've come to pick you up..."
"It's not necessary. I also had free time."
"It's not appropriate to stay out here. Let's go inside. It's not prayer time, so it would be a good time to talk."
Christine was leading him towards the church as she spoke, but Ryu Min stopped her.
"No, such an open space like a church wouldn't do. A conversation could arise. It would be better to find a quieter place."
"Ah, if you're looking for such a place..."
Christine hesitated before responding.
"I have a room where I can stay... Would you like to go there?"
"That'll do."
Following Christine, they arrived at a cozy room with an attached bathroom.
"Here's my room."
"How neat."
Would he feel uncomfortable bringing a stranger into his own space?
As if Ryu Min wanted Christine to hear him, he muttered.
"But there's only one chair."
"Ah? Ah, yes. Would you mind waiting here sitting down? I'll bring a chair."
Christine quickly disappeared and soon returned with a chair.
"Please, have a seat here."
Before Ryu Min sat down, she closed the door.
Click-
When she locked the door, Christine's cheeks turned red.
The close cohabitation between men and women created a strange atmosphere.
Though it was only a fantasy of Christine's.
"Do you know why I've come?"
"Um... you came to reveal the strategy of level 16..."
"Besides that, there's another reason."
"What?"
"To clear things up."
As soon as she heard those words, Christine felt nervous.
"Did you know? Did you know that I was suspecting?"
Christine was surprised, but it was a misunderstanding.
It wasn't the explanation Ryu Min was about to give.
"It's just that if I don't clarify about John Delgado, you might misunderstand."
"Oh..."
Christine, realizing there was another explanation, seemed interested.
"I was already surprised. You saved John Delgado in level 15... I thought maybe you had forgotten our relationship."
"Why would I save him? I was the one who saved him."
"Then why did you save him? Someone who was trying to kill me?"
Ryu Min spoke frankly.
"John Delgado is one of my subordinates."
"What?"
"I recently subjugated him under my dominion."
Though it wasn't by domination, it felt the same as having turned him into a slave.
"Why...?"
"I heard from a seer that his ability as a necromancer would be useful in the future. That's why I kept him alive. There's no other reason."
Though the prophecy was false, the idea of his usefulness was true.
Christine seemed to understand to some extent.
"So it was also Black Scythe's idea in the second mission of level 15, where we were attacked by the undead?"
"Yes. I ordered a necromancer to do that. I knew killing undead would be considered murder."
"Oh, that's why you told us to stay still and wait..."
Christine finally understood.
That was the explanation.
But there were still questions in Christine's mind.
"What should I do? It might be a dream, but should I ask anyway? It might be my only chance..."
She was debating whether to open Pandora's box of suspicions.
And Ryu Min, who seemed to read her thoughts, was ready to calmly respond.
"If I deny everything, it'll stop. She has no evidence, so Christine has no way of knowing."
If he denied everything, maybe Christine would simply consider it a dream.
Without evidence, suspicions often get treated as delusions.
Christine, after deciding, broke her silence.
"Black Scythe, could you do me a favor?"
"A favor? What's up?"
"It seems that among your skills, you use something similar to shadows... Could you show me once?"
"Why?"
"I can't say in detail... But I need to confirm something. Please."
With a serious look, Ryu Min couldn't refuse.
"That's not a big deal."
Soon, he used the runes of darkness to display a barrier.
"Did you use this to stop the bullets at that time?"
"That's right."
"Is it also possible to transform it at will? For example, make it sharp to throw it like an attack..."
"That..."
Ryu Min was about to say it was impossible, but he changed his mind midway through his thoughts.
"If I say no, I might be able to avoid the situation for now, but it might get complicated later."
What if a situation arose where he had to use the dagger of darkness?
His lie would be discovered.
It could worsen the situation more than it is now.
"It's possible."
"Can you show me?"
Instead of answering, Ryu Min showed the dagger of darkness.
At that moment, he also read Christine's thoughts.
"It's similar to the prophet's abilities, isn't it? Maybe it wasn't a dream..."
He felt a similarity, but it was only a suspicion.
The evidence that the prophet and Black Scythe were the same person remained weak.
Could it be because she realized that fact?
Christine finally made up her mind and spoke.
"Black Scythe."
"Why?"
"There's something I want to ask you. Can you tell me honestly?"
Nodding, Christine asked directly.
"Are you the prophet, Mr. Black Scythe?"
Despite his serious look, revealing the truth was simple.
If he denies it, everything ends there.
Naturally, Ryu Min's lips, about to deny, stopped for a moment.
The runes of the future showed him the future 7 seconds later on his retina.
"They are not the same person... I'm sorry. I said something strange. I worried all the time."
Christine's disappointed expression peeked out as she spoke of the future.
"Disappointed? Were you expecting them to be the same person?"
Indeed, Ryu Min was thinking that if he revealed the truth, Christine would feel betrayed.
That's why he was about to deny it.
But what if the outcome were reversed?
If not telling the truth now resulted in a worse situation...
"Then the situation could become uncontrollable."
Seeing the future, Ryu Min changed his answer.
"Yes."
"Is that so...?"
Momentarily confused, Christine opened her eyes with surprise and asked again.
"Eh, eh, what did you say...?"
"I said your assumption was correct."
"Are you... admitting it now? Is Black Scythe the prophet?"
"That's right. I am the prophet."
Ryu Min took off his mask.
The person under the mask was someone else.
But by removing the killer's mask, his body transforms.
His height decreases, his body becomes thinner, and he returns to his true appearance.
"Oh..."
Christine jumped up from her seat like a spring at witnessing the rare sight of someone changing before her eyes.
"Yes, Prophet!"
"Shh. No one else will hear."
Ryu Min, returning to his original form, smiled ironically.
"You must have been very surprised."
"Oh, yes. It's incredible that you can change your appearance...".
"It shouldn't surprise you. If I can revive people, changing my appearance is a minor thing."
"Well, that makes sense."
Christine, now a little calmer, examined Ryu Min.
"Is that your true appearance?"
"Yes, this is my true appearance. What you know as Prophet. My nickname in this world is Black Scythe."
"Oh..."
"Your look says you don't believe me, I'll show you proof."
Ryu Min took out his scythe from inventory.
He also equipped all his gear.
It was the familiar appearance of Black Scythe that Christine had seen for a long time.
"I can't believe the Prophet and Black Scythe are the same person...".
"I was trying to keep it a secret, but it seems I was found out. How did you know?"
Christine honestly answered Ryu Min's question.
"I saw you kill the bandits before. With that shadowy ability you showed...".
"So you suspected we were the same person."
"Yes..."
Christine looked a little frightened.
She didn't know what revealing his identity meant this way.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"Of course not. Quite the opposite."
"Really?"
"I revealed my identity because I don't want to lose you."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly that. Christine, you are an indispensable companion to me."
"..."
"That's why I didn't want to ruin our relationship. I didn't want to keep lying. So I told you sincerely. That's all."
Christine felt like someone confessing their love for the first time.
"Then you won't kill me...".
"Do you see me as a ruthless killer? If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have revealed my identity this way. I wouldn't have protected you from the bandits either."
"Protect me...?"
"They aimed a gun at you. They took you hostage. I made a move first to protect you just in case they went after you."
"Oh..."
Christine began to understand it was for her own protection.
Suspicions faded, replaced by faith, and fear turned into trust.
"Do you believe me now? Do you believe I won't harm you?"
"Yes... Black Scythe. No, Prophet."
"Call me Black Scythe. For now, that's my identity here."
Ryu Min transformed back into the appearance of the Lost Yak by putting on his mask again.
"About my identity, we must keep it as a secret between us two. It's not time to reveal it yet. Can you do that?"
"Yes. Of course. It's hard for me to keep it a secret."
"Perfect. Learn to trust me."
Realizing she wasn't someone who would boast in public, Ryu Min felt relieved and proceeded to explain the strategy for the next round.
"Since I gave you the strategy, I'll leave for now."
"Um... Black Scythe."
As he turned around, Christine murmured shyly.
"Thank you for saving me from the bandits, even if it's late. And... thank you for being honest with me."
"If you're grateful, will you keep the secret?"
"Too many words can hurt."
"Then I'll see you at the agreed place."
Ryu Min smiled ironically and spread his wings, flying into the sky.
Watching that scene, Christine murmured to herself.
"I'm happy. It seems I'm important to Black Scythe...."
With a shy smile, she entered the Church.
And so, a few days passed, and round 16 began.
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