Ither World Online.

An online game with a ten-year legacy, beloved by millions around the world. 

Initially, *Ither World Online* didn’t gain widespread recognition. But as word spread of its compelling blend of fantasy romance and intense action, it began to attract a massive player base. 

Baek Yuseol was among the few who had been around since the game's very inception. Because of this, he’d amassed countless tales from fellow players, particularly stories related to the legendary *Twelve Celestial Branches.*

With his *Sparrow Glasses,* Baek Yuseol could access much of the information recorded by the game’s community. Yet, some things remained out of reach—rumors of “hidden pieces” that players whispered about but rarely shared openly.

The allure of exclusivity was irresistible.

Whenever someone discovered a hidden piece within the game, they would either share it with the community or hoard it for their advantage. Baek Yuseol was the type to collect these hidden tales, one by one, storing them in memory.

The main storyline? 

Some veteran players hardly knew it. There were those who played for years without bothering with plot, even drawing blanks on major characters. But in-game knowledge was another story. True veterans committed these bits of trivia to memory, never forgetting a single one.

Baek Yuseol was that kind of player.

To develop his character to the highest levels, he delved into details that others brushed off, carefully mastering tactics even for low-tier bosses, investing countless hours to clear what others dismissed as simple.

Then there was *Silver November,* the most famous yet enigmatic of the Twelve Celestial Branches.

Although many players had tried to uncover its mysteries, knowledge about it was nearly nonexistent. However, Baek Yuseol had been lucky enough to receive valuable hints from someone he’d met during the game’s early days.

*…Who was it again?*

They often encountered each other and played together in the game’s infancy. Baek Yuseol didn’t know the player’s real name or face but remembered their in-game ID: *Dalso.*

One day, Dalso approached him excitedly.

“Hey, Baek Yuseol. I found out something about the Twelve Celestial Branches.”

Back then, interest in the Twelve Celestial Branches was low. They didn’t impact the main storyline much, and their rewards were still unknown.

So Baek Yuseol had probably shrugged and said, “I don’t care.”

But Dalso had persisted, diving into his newfound discoveries about the Twelve Celestial Branches.

“Did you know that the Twelve Celestial Branches originated from the Archmage?”

Maybe others knew, but Baek Yuseol hadn’t, and he wasn’t interested. He was more concerned with finding PvP matches and had only half-listened to Dalso’s explanation until he heard something intriguing.

“If you find the Twelve Celestial Branches, your character stats can permanently increase or you might unlock new skills.”

As a gamer, it was impossible not to be interested. Especially since his character, Baek Yuseol, specialized in short-distance teleportation, struggling to acquire useful abilities.

“Want to hear more?”

He canceled his PvP match, finally paying attention. 

Dalso seemed to know an impressive amount, and it had been a major help. Thanks to him, Baek Yuseol was able to build the server’s first character blessed by the Twelve Celestial Branches.

The first branch he contracted with was *Golden July.*

This blessing negated his character’s worst penalty—his inability to cover his skin in mana, which permanently stunted his defense stats.

From then on, Baek Yuseol became deeply interested in the Twelve Celestial Branches.

He gathered and shared information, even going so far as to delete and recreate his character to form contracts. Throughout this journey, his friend Dalso’s insights had been invaluable.

Through Dalso’s rare hints, Baek Yuseol managed to contract with several branches, piecing together clues that led him closer to his goal.

However, even Baek Yuseol repeatedly failed to contract with one branch.

*Silver November.*

Unlike the other branches, Silver November roamed freely, elusive and unbound. Convincing it to form a contract was no simple feat.

The struggle felt less like business and more like romance.

And so, Baek Yuseol invested months trying to win Silver November’s favor.

*How did that end up?*

He blinked as his eyes opened.

Yiphanel’s violet-tinted face filled his vision. She looked calm but wore a faintly troubled expression.

[Status effect “Focus” has been removed.]

[Physical recovery speed returns to normal.]

[Mana circulation returns to normal.]

Messages floated before his eyes.

*Focus?*

It was a status effect he hadn’t seen before. Had his recovery and circulation rates been enhanced? He hadn’t noticed since he was so deeply immersed in the realm of his subconscious.

“...This is tough.”

He’d spent the entire day trying to activate Silver November’s powers, yet as he focused, he only felt the strength of Crimson Spring March intensifying.

Of course, that wasn’t a bad thing.

Such rapid growth suggested he hadn’t been using even one percent of Crimson Spring March’s potential until now. But without a clue on how to awaken Silver November’s blessing, frustration was inevitable.

After all, in the game, no one had ever unlocked Silver November’s true abilities.

Flinch.

“Huh?”

Lost in thought, Baek Yuseol suddenly noticed Yiphanel’s fingertips tremble.

An illusion?

It had been so brief that he wasn’t sure.

“Yiphanel? Are you awake?”

No answer. She remained in her deep sleep, motionless.

*What was that?*

A strange feeling crept over him.

Something subtle but unsettling, a tiny misalignment that nagged at him. Baek Yuseol tensed, carefully circling Yiphanel, his senses on high alert.

Something had changed.

He could sense it but couldn’t identify what.

“This is…”

He leaned closer to Yiphanel. He could almost see it—almost feel it.

He reached out.

The faint violet barrier surrounding Yiphanel caught his eye.

Just as his fingertips touched the barrier—

Chill!

A shiver coursed through him, every nerve on high alert. But he refrained from reacting impulsively, knowing that rash actions could make things worse.

Instead, he withdrew his hand and spoke into the empty air.

“How long have you been watching?”

His sharpened senses, honed by training with Crimson Spring March, picked up on an almost imperceptible presence.

“Oh my. What a surprise.”

To his shock, a voice replied from the seemingly empty space. Baek Yuseol turned slowly, and there, a woman appeared.

*...A black mage.*

His Sparrow Glasses confirmed her as a *black mage contractor.* Even without the glasses, her identity was obvious.

She wore a violet horn on her forehead, her skin was tinged with violet, and her darker tattoos marked her as no ordinary black mage.

Tap.

In a fitted leather jacket, she approached him with a model’s grace.

“Well, isn’t this unexpected? I didn’t think I’d meet you here.”

They’d never met.

But identifying her wasn’t difficult.

[???]

* Black Mage Contractor
* Physical Projection
* Spirit Curse

The *Spirit Curse,* marked clearly by his glasses, was a sign of one who had killed a spirit and been cursed. For now, this made her the prime suspect in Yiphanel’s attack.

*No name?*

The original game likely hadn’t included her name, so it wasn’t recorded here.

Still, knowing her identity was enough to keep Baek Yuseol on edge.

*“A projection.”*

She hadn’t come in person, opting instead for a projection. There had to be a reason.

*“Seems she can’t enter this place herself.”*

Baek Yuseol narrowed his eyes.

Such perfect projection spells were rare, mastered by only the highest-ranking mages. Not only had she animated her projection, but she’d also imbued it with a piece of her soul.

No ordinary mage would be able to detect her presence.

Baek Yuseol only sensed her thanks to Crimson Spring March’s heightened awareness and the glasses confirming the projection.

*“Guess I’m still far from catching up to the glasses.”*

After all, he’d only awakened these abilities a day ago; keeping pace with the glasses was ambitious.

*“I can’t let my guard down.”*

He had no idea who she was. The glasses offered minimal information, so he had to stay on high alert.

Feigning indifference, he spoke with mocking ease.

“A coward who won’t show up in person—what do you want?”

“Oh my, you’re perceptive, aren’t you?”

“Do I look like a kid to you?”

“Hm…”

To her, he likely seemed like an ordinary teenager. To a black mage over a century old, he was little more than a sapling. But if his youthful appearance was a facade, that changed things.

*What’s his deal?*

Soya narrowed her eyes, circling him with grace, scanning him from head to toe.

Despite her projection’s limits, her senses should closely mimic her own.

Yet she detected nothing extraordinary about him.

In fact, the lack of presence was suspicious.

Soya slowly circled around Baek Yuseol, her keen senses failing to pick up on the mana typically present in powerful mages. To her, he felt more like a mirage.

“You… are rather intriguing.”

“Wouldn’t want you falling for me.”

“Oh? Already taken?”

“Sort of. By someone much too strong for you to handle.”

Such a person didn’t exist, but Baek Y

useol made small talk to stall for time.

“So, what was that comment earlier? If you’re here, you could kill me right now.”

Baek Yuseol smirked and spread his arms wide.

“Well, come on, then. If you can.”

Soya extended her fingers, purple claws glimmering faintly. But the light was dim.

*This much mana… can I manage?*

Though her projection mirrored her real self’s senses, it had limited mana.

*An unusual kid…*

And Baek Yuseol’s reputation preceded him. Rumor had it that he’d defeated skilled black mages and even killed the heir to the Last Witch.

*That monster… is really just a high schooler?*

How could the humans keep him confined to school?

*Bad luck...*

She bit her lip, hidden from Baek Yuseol’s view.

Checking on Yiphanel had been fine, but encountering him was misfortune.

Against a typical 6th-class mage, her projection could easily kill. But Baek Yuseol was different.

Noting that Elf Queen Flower-Embedded was visiting the Third World Tree, she decided to avoid a major confrontation.

“...What do you want?”

Forced to withdraw her mana, she took a few steps back, her tone tinged with irritation. Baek Yuseol finally allowed himself a small smile.

*Hooked.*

She didn’t realize he could detect her projection, and his reputation had helped him deceive her.

Of course, he had to be careful.

Pushing too hard could provoke her, and black mages were quick to anger.

“What I want? Not much. I just have a question.”

She gestured for him to continue, and Baek Yuseol’s expression hardened.

“In the past, you killed the spirit Yiphanel and absorbed her heart, didn’t you?”

She didn’t answer, her face an unreadable mask.

“But in the process of absorbing the spirit’s heart… something went wrong. You overreached, trying to absorb too much at once.”

“...Watch your words.”

He’d tried to speak calmly, though his tone sharpened when he thought of Yiphanel’s attack.

“So you came back, trying to finish what you started. But it looks like you still don’t know how, am I right?”

She bared her fangs slightly, only to compose herself once more.

An impressive level of self-control for a black mage.

*Disgusting.*

Her restraint annoyed him, but he endured.

“So, what’s your point?”

“It’s simple.”

Extending his hand, Baek Yuseol tore open a subspace. Soya flinched slightly, her restraint almost breaking.

*A subspace portal?*

Before she could react, Baek Yuseol pulled out something and tossed it to her.

“What’s this...?”

“It’s an item from a black mage. Find him, kill him, and I’ll help you fully absorb the heart. Consider it a commission fee.”

“Wh...what?”

Could that actually be possible?

How?

Doubt gnawed at her, but the boy before her was no ordinary student.

Baek Yuseol was… different. Perhaps he really did know the method to fully absorb the spirit’s heart.

Lowering her gaze, Soya looked at the item he’d thrown.

A worn-out shoe lay on the ground.

No dark mana emanated from it; it was a plain, ordinary shoe.

*Of course she can’t sense anything.*

That was only natural.

It was just a piece of trash.

“So… who do you want me to kill?”

Drawn in by his proposal, Soya finally spoke, and Baek Yuseol grinned.

“Cheoriban. Kill that man for me.”