Coordinator of Time and Space (1)

Why did the monsters of Jormungand call Kang Shin-hyuk their father? Previously, he had heard from Tsukuyo and others how the artifacts he created affected worlds and dimensions, but he thought that explanation was somehow lacking. Indeed, if Jormungand were the other side of the mirror, not only Kang Shin-hyuk but many others could be called that. Of course, his former life had amazing skills as a blacksmith, and they had advanced in some senses now that he had reincarnated, but Jormungand was a huge group that spanned countless worlds. Why would only he be treated as their father? That was only part of the reason, and now that he had recovered all the memories of his previous life, he realized it. The situation was so absurd he had never assumed it.

“This is what I made.”

He took the chiral fragments left behind and checked them. Now that his memories had been restored, he could tell it was Anvil, not anyone else, who first created it. To be precise, what Anvil made was a huge mirror, and the chiral he had in hand now was only a fragment of that mirror. The huge mirror itself was called Chiral. What it contained was the ability to increase the power of monsters by giving them a system, order, and new energy called magi. It had the ability to move across dimensions, and as a result, the monsters united with a central point to make attacking worlds more effective. Coming to a rather hasty conclusion, it could be said that even the death of Kang Shin-hyuk’s parents was attributable to him in his previous life.

‘…Ha.’

Kang Shin-hyuk didn’t intend on accepting such a fragmented and silly conclusion, but nor did he intend to deny his karma completely. In this situation where it felt like his head would burst, he was able to endure it because he had completely acquired the memories of his previous life and a more mature mind as a result.

“Administrator… How many know this information?”

Anvil created Chiral just before joining the Hero Universe. The blacksmith, who didn’t know how to fight but only how to craft, was then chased by uncontrollable monsters and buried in a bunker. Then he just knocked on metal without knowing what was lost or what was left, without knowing what terrible consequences his works would have on every dimension. And he joined the Hero Universe, a pan-spatial organization created to cope with Jormungand.

-Because he was the one talented enough to create Jormungand, it would’ve been natural; he was qualified to enter the Hero Universe.

-Only very few VIP members know it.

Even though his tone and attitude changed, the administrator responded as if it were natural. Very few. Yes, it seemed so. Right now, Tsukuyo was looking gloomy, while Shu seemed to be in disbelief. Claire was wordlessly holding his hand tight. He couldn’t figure out what she was thinking, but if it weren’t for her warmth, he might’ve collapsed on the spot.

“But… There’s one thing I don’t understand yet.”

Even though the synchronization rate only increased by 0.1%, too much had changed in an instant. A greasy headache hung like ominous clouds over his head. Even though his analysis was done, the hairpin kept letting out the memories and emotions from his previous life as he barely removed it with a frown.

“Since Merba’s complete destruction, the time flow with Earth could’ve changed significantly. However, it’s strange that the period between joining the Hero Universe is too short since I created the stuff that was the basis of Jormungand in my previous life. From the time I joined… It felt like they had been fighting against Jormungand for a very long time. It certainly wasn’t in the measure of years or decades.”

“That’s…”

“Yeah, that’s right, grandfather. Certainly, our people have been aware of Jormungand’s existence for a long time and have produced members of the Hero Universe from generation to generation to fight them.”

Yes, the time gap was strange. It was odd that Jormungand was organized by his previous life, as the Hero Universe had existed long before that. But obviously, the Hero Universe wasn’t an organization against them. The logic didn’t fit.

“Anvil, do you know what Jormungand means?”

It was Tsukuyo who answered his question. In fact, he had been waiting for her to do so.

“I don’t know what it is like in other worlds, but on Earth, it is a monster from Nordic mythology, a child of Loki… It wrapped around the human world and bit its own tail.”

“Loki was the first to name the group of monsters as Jormungand.”

“If so, maybe Loki too?”

His head started to pound again. He met Loki once during a dimensional quest. He was a very pleasant young man who enjoyed joking around, but at the same time, he was very considerate of Kang Shin-hyuk. But… Yes, he felt like Tsukuyo and maybe Janus somewhere. Tsukuyo slowly nodded as she explained.

“The Hero Universe protects the balance. Between human and monster, light and dark, good and evil. Because of your growth, the balance had greatly shifted, so Janus had to change…”

It was his first time hearing so, but he nodded along. Janus’s change was so dramatic; it was clear such a reason would be behind it.

“If the balance breaks more than now, then Loki…”

“You mean Ragnarök will happen?”

“I’m relieved, Anvil. It’s been a while since even Janus changed.”

Now, it seemed unbelievable that the Hero Universe was against Jormungand. If members like Janus or Loki had a dual affiliation with both of them, didn’t it seem more like they had a close relationship? Or rather, it was like Jormungand was a subgroup belonging to the Hero Universe.

“I was expecting a bit from my previous life because of your suspicious attitude.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hide the facts from you, Anvil… But I couldn’t say…!”

“Okay, okay. That’s it for now.”

There were several things he wanted to discuss, but the important thing right now was Jormungand.

“I understand the meaning of Jormungand, why Loki gave it that name. It’s also a group connected to the Hero Universe… So, what are you saying? In the end, the riddle related to time remains unsolved.”

“You probably know the symbol for Jormungand.”

“You mean an ouroboros?”

Ouroboros was the snake that bit its own tail, symbolizing infinity and eternity. Tsukuyo confirmed with a nod as his face shifted, thoughts of the possibilities emerging in his mind.

“The Chiral created by Anvil had that kind of ability.”

“What…?”

Kang Shin-hyuk bit his lip gently. No, but surely… If so, how unbearable had been the acts in his previous life?

“Jormungand has no start or end, so it doesn’t matter when it was created. Transcending the world the moment of birth, intervening, distorting, and adjusting phenomena. Anvil, haven’t you already picked up fragments of that power?”

Chiral? No, she was referring to his very trait, Royal Dragon. Though he was still inexperienced, he had certainly awakened the power to interfere with and change causality. But this wasn’t… Could it surpass even space and time?

“The body is different, but the soul is the same. Anvil, it’s no coincidence you acquired that trait.”

“…Okay.”

The long explanation was over. There were certain assumptions he couldn’t understand, but it made enough sense. Kang Shin-hyuk let out a long sigh.

“Certainly, I didn’t think it was a battle trait from the start.”

When Kang Shin-hyuk closed his mouth, everyone became quiet. Chiral, transcending the interference of time and space, resulting in overturning the history of all dimensions. No, the moment Chiral was born, Jormungand had already become a natural existence. There wasn’t even a time that recorded a reversal of history.

“…Honey.”

“Okay, don’t worry too much… I’m just a little tired. I’ve no intention of doing anything to concern you.”

It could interfere with causality. Claire, having figured out what they were talking about, had an expression of half-sorrow as she stuck to him. However, he hadn’t specifically developed such abilities, and he had no record of making anything similar to that. Even if it became possible…perhaps what he should do isn’t a trivial, tragic attempt to change the past.

-Now, you must’ve realized everything.

No, not all of it. Only the most important secrets related to the Hero Universe…

“Okay. Okay.”

What to do in the future, what he would do in the future…

He knew now.