Chapter 156 : Chapter 156

Chapter 156

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍vast ocean so immense that one could not help but acknowledge the existence of a Creator.

A ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍blue sky and a blazing sun pouring down in brilliance—things one could never even dream of in Seoul.

And ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the youths who had gathered to set the final days of summer ablaze.

“There ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is a very suspicious scent in the air.”

We—the ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍United Club Expedition Team—had just set foot on an island in the Pacific Ocean.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍island’s name was Crystal.

Its size was roughly half that of Jeju Island.

Even Incrystal, the exclusive social network of the 4th Scholastic District, had taken its name from this island.

After all, this was a resort accessible only to awakened individuals.

As an aside, this island did not appear in the original work.

I had learned the origin of its name from Gwon Chihun on the plane.

In other words, this was a place that reeked of someone’s suspicious intentions.

“To begin the itinerary, we must first drop off our luggage at the hotel! Therefore, please board the vehicles according to your academy!”

The shout came from the advisor who had led the expedition at Mount Wol-dal last time.

There were quite a few familiar faces among the students this time as well.

If anything had changed, it was that our numbers had grown considerably compared to before, and the Mystery Club members from Hero Prep were now hovering around me in an irritating manner.

“Cadet Ji Seokhyeon, is this your first time in Crystal? If you would like, I can show you around.”

“If you need a guide, I will do it! My uncle runs a famous restaurant in Crystal.”

“President! Would you like to take a photo together at the airport entrance before we board the bus?”

What Cha Yeri had said a few days ago had been entirely accurate.

They had all joined the club to curry favor with me.

Just as she had said, from the moment we boarded the bus at Hero Prep, to taking the plane at Incheon Airport, and even until just before boarding the bus on this island, over a dozen club members had moved in a formation centered around me.

It was a formation one might expect from Lee Eunho or Gong Minwu.

Unfortunately, I was far more comfortable keeping a few steps away from such a crowd of social elites.

No, I had been designed that way since birth.

If even one of the members showing interest approached me with a trace of sincerity, I might have entertained a conversation. But it was painfully obvious that they were all hiding pitch-black ulterior motives.

That said, whenever Do Minyeong or Cha Yeri stood right beside me, they never dared to speak to me. It was almost uncanny.

“Earlier, when we traveled from the 4th Scholastic District to Incheon, Cadet Cha Yeri sat next to you. Should it not be my turn this time?”

“Oh my, you seem to be mistaken, Direct Heir. I do not recall making such a promise. There is nothing more foolish than citing a claim that cannot be proven with documentation.”

“What did you say?”

They were stimulating my nerves for entirely different reasons than when the club members crowded around me.

Watching how things were unfolding, I began to worry whether this expedition would truly end without incident.

Moreover, Yun Jeongseop had joined this expedition as well.

“To think I would live long enough to see this. I never expected you to enjoy such popularity.”

“As if you have lived that long, Instructor. Please spare me the sarcasm.”

He had accompanied us because the full moon was still some time away, but there was no knowing by what mischievous twist of fate Gwiinrang’s power might be released again.

Of course, if such a disastrous development occurred this time, I would not end it with merely knocking him unconscious.

Unlike before, this was a resort filled with watchful eyes.

“Then we are departing!”

Enduring the various disturbances, we eventually arrived at the hotel.

At a glance, it was a luxurious establishment.

In Crystal—a resort island—especially during peak season like this, securing a reservation was notoriously difficult.

No, this place was in peak season all year round.

As I was participating as the representative of Hero Prep’s club activities, I had been assigned a suite. The problem was that my roommate was Gwon Chihun.

“Wow, the view is incredible. Ji Seokhyeon, come take a look. You might not know since you are from the outskirts, but they say no other place in Crystal has a view like this hotel.”

“Yes, the view is incredible. I would like to kill you as well.”

“What is that supposed to mean? Do not be petty. I do not like sharing a room with you either.”

“That works out well. Go request a room change.”

“Why should I?”

“This floor is for club presidents and advisors. I am the president of the Mystery Club, and you are merely a regular member. Do you need further explanation?”

“You are right, no further explanation is necessary. I already know you are narrow-minded.”

I let out a long sigh.

The schedule spanned three nights and four days.

Fortunately, we would use separate beds, but I would still be forced to stick close to him.

Well, it was better than being harassed by the other members.

“Ah, forget the expedition. I want to head to the beach and have fun already.”

No, I take that back.

I disliked both him and the club members equally.

After roughly unpacking, we gathered in the hotel parking lot.

Several academies were participating in this expedition.

I had no idea what wind had blown them into action, but the expedition team numbered approximately five hundred.

Considering that only about eighty had participated last time, it was a significant increase.

Although Hero Prep had sent the smallest contingent, we attracted immense attention regardless of our numbers.

Naturally, that was entirely due to the direct heir of the Sword Saint, the heir of Hyeonseong Group, and myself, whose face had become widely known. Yet for some reason, Gwon Chihun alone stood with his chest puffed out, strutting proudly.

…At this rate, it might be better to hand over the presidency to Cha Yeri after this expedition ends.

“Now then, allow me to introduce her! This is Team Leader Rachel, who is leading the investigative team researching the mysterious phenomena occurring on Crystal!”

Once all the students had gathered, the expedition advisor welcomed a woman in her late thirties with applause.

She was said to be researching the strange occurrences on this island, and as expected, she had never appeared in the original work.

However, as I concealed myself among the students and activated the Demonic Eye, I detected an unusually distinctive mana.

Not only that, but as if she somehow knew I had opened my eye, she followed my position with a sharp gaze.

Our eyes met briefly, and she offered nothing but a meaningful smile.

After being introduced by the advisor, Rachel addressed the expedition team.

“Nice to meet you. I am Rachel. Seeing so many young people eager to explore the unknown fills me with a certain emotion.”

Her tone was remarkably free-spirited.

“For the next three nights and four days, you will uncover this island’s secrets with me. …Ah, just in case, there is no one here who does not know what kind of island Crystal is, correct?”

As she finished speaking, she casually cast a glance in my direction.

What was with that burdensome look?

“Well, it seems there may be some who do not know. Allow me to explain personally. First, this island was not formed naturally. Nor was it constructed by human civilization.”

The reason for Crystal’s existence.

It had been clearly explained in the pamphlet at the hotel front desk.

This island had risen from the seabed due to superpowers.

“Thirteen years ago, without any warning, this volcanic island surged up from the depths of the ocean. It was an unprecedented event that could not be explained without superpowers.”

As she said, Crystal was a place that should not exist in reality.

It was a place that could only be justified by vaguely attributing it to superpowers.

Numerous investigations had been conducted since then, but as one could see, at some point it had retained only its reputation as a resort.

That was hardly surprising. The island’s location was ideal for a getaway.

Although only awakened individuals were allowed entry, it attracted more tourists than Hawaii, the famed resort.

The island’s secrets had yet to be fully uncovered, but one might compare it to a ferocious beast that was notoriously difficult to hunt. If rumors spread that it possessed a rare delicacy, humans would risk extinction itself to taste it.

It was that sort of situation.

Just in case, access was restricted to awakened individuals.

“Of course, you did not come here for such a tedious schedule. I would know best, considering I reside here year-round. Ironically, Crystal is an excellent place to melt down the fervor of youth. With that in mind, we will proceed with a flexible and leisurely schedule. If there is even one student who did not pack a swimsuit in their suitcase, speak up now. If there is, I will personally teach you what it truly means to explore the unknown.”

“……”

Interesting.

As she implied, the expedition felt half like a vacation.

Even I had felt somewhat excited.

More precisely, I should say I had felt that way.

The moment I met her on this island, an unsettling sensation had begun to seep through my entire body.

“Nevertheless, you will need something to write in your reports when you return to the 4th Scholastic District. Today’s schedule will conclude with a single site visit. We will climb the active volcano that conceals this island’s secret.”

Climbing a mountain.

An active volcano, no less.

Yet no one complained.

For awakened individuals, climbing a mountain in broad daylight was hardly a challenge.

“Now then, let us depart at once.”

***

Following Rachel’s guidance, the expedition team began ascending the active volcano at the center of the island.

Despite being more resilient to weather changes than ordinary humans, beads of sweat formed on our foreheads in the oppressive heat.

I should have brought some iced water.

Then again, perhaps it would not have helped.

Before long, we arrived at the volcano’s mid-slope, practically running.

There was a sizable hot spring there. True to its status as a resort, it was crowded with tourists.

Due to the high temperature, no one was actually bathing, but it seemed to be a mandatory sightseeing spot, as people were taking commemorative photos everywhere.

The chaotic scene rendered the grand pretext of exploring the unknown rather hollow.

Rachel clapped her hands several times and shouted.

“Everyone, focus! I will explain quickly, so listen carefully! This is the only location on the active volcano that tourists may access. Of course, if you wish to climb higher, you may. However, no one will guarantee your life. It is that dangerous. You have heard that strange monsters occasionally emerge from Hallasan Mountain on Jeju Island, correct? Fortunately, monsters do not emerge here. Instead….”

Instead?

“If you set foot in the wrong place, you may die without a trace—or return having lost your mana, reduced to a powerless individual.”

“……”

To become powerless.

It was the phrase awakened individuals feared most.

A single word capable of crushing humanity’s primal curiosity.

“As some of you may have already noticed, the lava beneath this mountain is not ordinary lava. It is lava imbued with mana. Who, exactly, released mana here? Some claim that Crystal migrated from beyond a rift. But that is absurd, is it not? If that were true, we would only be able to use items here, as in Gangwon-do.”

As she said, the theory that it had crossed over through a rift lacked plausibility.

Of course, the island’s very existence was implausible.

However, from the perspective of the original author—myself—it seemed more fitting to assume it had been created by someone.

Though I would need further evidence.

“May I ask a question?”

At that moment, Gwon Chihun raised his hand.

He had been strutting the entire way up, so I had wondered when he would finally speak.

“Of course.”

“If the lava beneath the mountain is hiding the island’s secret, could we not simply excavate it with technology?”

It sounded somewhat foolish, but from an awakened individual’s standpoint, it was a reasonable inquiry.

If the lava truly consisted of mana, one could summon a large number of mages to attempt various approaches.

“Such attempts have been made numerous times. All have failed.”

“Why?”

By now, the entire expedition team was listening intently.

Rachel once again displayed that inscrutable smile and cast another subtle glance at me before answering.

“It is simple. A far more powerful spell resides within the lava. A level of magic humanity has yet to reach.”