LOTM: Seekers

42. Where?

I opened my eyes, expecting to see the familiar warped version of South Korea—but I was wrong.

Instead, I found myself in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but jagged rocks.

The first thing I did was check my body. Unlike before, I was wearing the same outfit I had on when I consumed the potion—no changes, no signs of damage.

I took another look around.

The ground beneath my feet was pitch black, a mix of coarse sand and fractured stone. Towering around me were structures of red coral, rising from the earth like the twisted branches of ancient, deep-sea trees. They coiled and tangled into chaotic formations, some thin and spindly, others massive and imposing.

Their number was overwhelming. No matter where I looked—through narrow cracks or wide gaps—another coral tower always obstructed the view. It was a suffocating maze, a labyrinth with no end in sight.

Above, the sky was a dull grey, so bleak that I almost didn't notice the faint sun sinking low on the distant horizon.

Where… am I?

I came to the conclusion that the world I had been transported to before—the one where I encountered Uriel—was part of the ritual. By accomplishing something significant there, it had seemingly eased my advancement. That also explained why my debt had been cut in half.

After confirming that I wasn't in any immediate danger, I turned my focus inward.

Sequence 8 ??? : Poison Taratect

Unchanged — I haven't advanced yet…

Evaluation: Very Low (1)

Countdown: 29 days, 23 hours, 57 minutes remaining

Seeing the countdown, I let out a small sigh of relief.

Unlike last time—when I had no idea how or when I'd return—this time it was clear: I'd be back in a month.

I shifted my attention to my belongings. My handkerchief and pocket watch were still with me. However, the Beyonder ingredient I had obtained was nowhere to be found.

I speculated that it had been rejected by this world—perhaps because it wasn't a mundane item.

Next, I tested my abilities.

Just like before, I wasn't restricted. I could still generate threads and activate my Evil Eye without issue.

Even the abilities I had obtained from the store worked normally. Occlumency and Devil's Footprint functioned just as they should.

Finally, I turned my focus inward—toward the one set of powers I had been avoiding.

It was time to face them head-on.

Since the moment I awoke…

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] is surprised.'

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] is wondering where you are.'

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] is once again questioning your identity.'

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] is asking why you haven't said anything.'

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] …'

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] …'

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] ...'

It feels like déjà vu, I thought, reaching out to connect with the stigma. Just like before, there was nothing blocking its activation.

"You finally reacted!"

The voice rang inside my head—sharp and sudden—bringing with it a throbbing headache.

"Ugh… I wish you hadn't sent anything here," I muttered, rubbing my temples in frustration.

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] dislikes your reaction.'

"It hurts. There's nothing I can do about it—yet," I muttered in response.

To anyone watching from the outside, it must've looked like I was just talking to myself in the middle of nowhere. Creepy.

"Do you know anything about where I am?" I asked, even though I didn't expect much. My only source of information so far had been a firsthand experience with a system that stubbornly didn't explain anything.

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] is refusing to answer your question.'

…

How old are you…?

Wait a minute. Loving the camaraderie between men…?

A title like "Demon-like Judge of Fire" despite being an Archangel…

I was speechless for a moment.

Fujoshi + Chuunibyou…

The worst possible combination!

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] is wondering what you're thinking about.'

'The Constellation [Demon-Like Judge of Fire] says she has seen places similar to this before, but nothing quite like this one.'

I nodded in gratitude. "Thank you," I replied sincerely and prayed "Oh, Archangel Uriel, the one and only special individual, thank you for your guidance, Latom."

I had to pray because I had already tapped into that power—and, well, let's just keep in mind that this special individual here meant someone with a penchant for fujoshi fantasies mixed with chuunibyou flair.

'The Constellation 'Demon-Like Judge of Fire' conveyed that prayer was unnecessary.'

I shifted my focus back to my current situation.

I had been standing motionless for several minutes, yet nothing had changed — no people appeared, nor did any strange monsters ambush me.

Even after activating Detection, I only sensed a vast multitude of bizarre creatures lurking nearby. Still, the scenery remained eerily constant: the same endless black earth stretched before me, beneath a dull grey sky, while a crimson forest of coral stood silently around.

For now, my immediate goal was to make sense of this place and try to improve my evaluation before the Countdown ended. I wasn't entirely sure what would happen if the evaluation remained low when the Countdown reached zero, but I was certain it wouldn't be anything pleasant—especially considering this was my ritual before advancement.

I lowered myself to examine the black earth beneath me. At first glance, it resembled the fertile soil of a tropical island, but the moment I touched it, I knew better—nothing could possibly grow here. As I observed more carefully, subtle details I had missed before came into focus. Some kind of strange plant hung high above the coral trees, swaying faintly in the stale air. Scattered around were numerous small fragments of coral, broken off in an unnatural way, as if something had passed through carelessly, snapping them apart.

Among the debris lay several long carcasses, weathered but stubbornly resisting the ravages of time. Nearby, however, were fresher remnants—like a shattered carapace not far from where I knelt.

In truth, I could sense countless creatures watching me intently, as if I were their prey. Yet, even when I deliberately lowered my guard—both in gesture and by using Detection—truly lowered my guard they remained motionless. Those silent eyes fixed on me from high above the coral trees didn't make a single move.

Do they possess high intelligence? I couldn't help but wonder, after being ignored so thoroughly.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, the sun began its slow descent, preparing to yield the sky to the night.

A sudden chill touched my feet. When I instinctively lifted them,

Picha—a soft splash echoed.

Looking down, I saw black water spreading rapidly, engulfing the ground around me. The 

volume and depth of the water were rising at an alarming pace.

Just moments ago, the water barely reached my toes, and now it had already risen to my ankles.

Had those creatures intended to drown me? Had they somehow formed a barrier? The last time I used Detection, I found no walls and certainly wasn't standing in the depths of any crater.

I was increasingly convinced that their intelligence was remarkably high—perhaps even comparable to that of humans.

Once again, I activated Detection, sending out waves like sonar with my body as the center.

What I discovered stunned me: there was no wall at all. Instead, the entire forest was gradually being submerged by this black, murky water.

By the time I finished processing the information, the water had already risen to my knees. It would reach my waist in no time.

The Constellation 'Demon-Like Judge of Fire' advises caution.

I nodded in acknowledgment of her warning. The water level wasn't slowing—it was rising faster by the second.

With nearly half my body submerged, I wasted no time. Flames ignited beneath my feet, propelling me into the air.

From above, I took in a terrifying sight: the vast coral forest stretched endlessly, its crimson canopy blotting out the horizon. Despite the absence of walls, the entire expanse was being swallowed by the relentless flood of black, murky water.

As the sun dipped lower, the black water surged relentlessly, and within minutes it transformed into a vast sea of darkness. Only the highest branches of the crimson coral protruded above the flood.

Now, I finally understood why those creatures had remained perched so patiently—they knew this would happen. This was the one place the water could never reach.

Under the starless sky and over the endless black sea, complete darkness enveloped everything—my feet ablaze with fire, the only source of light.

"!!?" A sudden chill ran down my spine, raising goosebumps across my skin. Instinctively, I jerked away just in time. In a split second, something black streaked past me.

I stared in shock and terror. Bathed in the faint, flickering light, I caught a glimpse of the ambusher's true form.

A massive, winged creature loomed before me, its pale body and black feathers. Its form resembled a four-legged beast, muscles coiled like forged steel beneath its skin. At its head was the visage of a crow, complete with a long, jagged black beak.

But what caught my eye, lodged between its beak, was something unmistakably familiar—my left hand.

—------------- +++++++ —----------------

MC had never met Uriel before.