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The air outside the camp was heavy with the scent of rain. The sky was still pale with morning light, but the horizon already burned faint orange where the enemy’s torches flickered in the distance.
Hyunsung stood by the weapon rack, fastening the last strap on his armor. His movements were precise, —but slower than usual. His mind wasn’t on the battle ahead.
Behind him, footsteps approached.
“Kiyoung,” Hyunsung greeted as he turned, his voice betraying the faintest relief.
Kiyoung stepped into view, draped in his usual coat, the faint gold embroidery catching the light. His expression was calm as ever, but there was a softness in his eyes as they swept over Hyunsung.
“You’ve already checked your armor three times,” Kiyoung noted. “Nervous?”
“Not for myself,” Hyunsung replied, avoiding his gaze. He hesitated, then added, “We… might be separated out there. Stay near the mages, and—”
“You don't have to worry too much.” Kiyoung interrupted, his voice gentle but firm.
Hyunsung’s lips pressed into a thin line. His hand twitched at his side, like he wanted to reach out but didn’t dare. “…Sorry,I just… "
The call to assemble cut through the camp, shattering the awkward moment between them.
Kiyoung adjusted the gloves on his hands, gave Hyunsung a final look, and turned toward the gathering soldiers.
...............
The field erupted in chaos the moment the horns sounded.
The front lines clashed with a deafening roar—shields shuddering under the impact, the earth trembling beneath the weight of thousands charging at once.
Hyunsung fought his way through the press of bodies, durendal cutting the paths with clean strikes. Every swing, every step, was from heeding the voices in his head.
"To NC3,AI2 and AI4 needs assistance."
"Yes."
A cry rang out from somewhere to his left, followed by the surge of enemy reinforcements breaking through the formation. Orders were shouted, spells ignited and the clash of weapons ringing in the battlefield.
.......
Enemy formation was gone. The enemies turned into a scattered pockets of desperate resistance. Kim Hyunsung cut down another enemy, when a blinding flash split the air—Jung Hayan's final spell detonating before the running enemies. The shockwave threw most of the enemies away. And just like that,they won the war.
Kim Hyunsung sheath his sword as he look around. Bodies, both friend and foe, strewn like discarded dolls.
The rain began to fall then, cold and thin at first, carrying with it the stench of blood and ash.
Somewhere ahead, past the tangle of banners and broken weapons,the remaining soldiers began cheering among themselves.
But strangely enough,the voice in his head stopped saying anything.
"Is he busy?"
He must be. Being the commandant of war isn't easy.
Hyunsung went back to the camp to join the guild members soon after.
"Lee Kiyoung? Ah he said you should go back first. He had some business to do." Deokgu replied.
His large shield sat by his chair as he were taking turn healing some small wounds.
"He's probably talking with the Red Mercenary Guild Master about the post-war. He'll probably go back right after. Or you might need to wait tomorrow to see him." Sun Heeyoung said as she casually covers Deokgu's shirt back after healing him.
....
Kim Hyunsung hadn't heard from Lee Kiyoung after they had gone back.
'He didn't even come to the guild party...'
Kim Hyunsung reassured himself that Lee Kiyoung might be busy dealing with the after-battle,just like himself.
'But he always congratulate me first everytime...did I not do well?'
He immediately shakes his head.
'He will contact me soon. I'm sure of it.'
....
The morning sun streamed through the guildhall windows, casting warm light across the bustling room. Adventurers shuffled in and out, exchanging reports, signing quests, and chatting loudly.
Hyunsung arrived early, as always, his steps steady but his mind already searching for one familiar figure. Upon entering the Guild Master's room,his gaze immediately swept to the desk where Kiyoung usually sat, calmly reviewing papers and scribbling notes.
But today… the chair was empty.
Hyunsung paused, blinking in surprise. Perhaps Kiyoung was just late? He waited a few minutes, leaning against his chair as he sign the reports handed to him earlier. Minutes became longer. More time passed by, some offering greetings, others congratulating Hyunsung for his hard work. He responded absently.
Still no sign of Kiyoung.
The unease began growing—
He went up and walked over to the desk,the neat stack of papers left untouched since yesterday.
“…Kiyoung…” he muttered. Concern dripping from his tone.
Kim Miyoung approached, adjusting her spectacles.
“Are you looking for Vice Guild Master? He hasn’t checked in today.”
Kim Miyoung,being sharp as always,answered without waiting to be questioned.
“…He hasn’t?”
“No,” shaking her head. “Unusual for him. He always arrived around this time.”
Hyunsung’s jaw tightened. The polite mask he usually wore slipped, worry clearly etched across his face. He bowed slightly, then turned sharply on his heel, leaving the guildhall. His steps quickened as his thoughts raced.
"He isn't picking up my calls either..."
Hyunsung’s chest constricted—the fear of something having happened gnawed at him.
“Where did you go, Kiyoung? …Did you come back safely?”
He didn’t hesitate any longer. He set off toward Kiyoung’s room.
......
Hyunsung reached Kiyoung’s room. The familiar wooden door, the lantern by the entrance,the shelf filled with collections of bags Kim Hyunsung had gifted Lee kiyoung, the little details Kiyoung had once fussed over—none of it was there. In its place stood an abandoned, dust-laden room, long untouched.
Hyunsung froze. His breath caught in his throat.
“…This… can’t be right.”
He pushed inside. Dust scattered in the air as the floor creaked beneath his boots. The room was empty—no papers, no faint scent of alchemy products that usually clung to Kiyoung’s presence. Not even the faintest trace of someone having lived there remained.
His heart hammered.
He stormed back out and grabbed the nearest guild member.
"Lee Kiyoung. Where is he?”
The guild member blinked, confused. “Lee Kiyoung? …Who is that?”
"What...?"
'What's with that reaction...?'
"Don't play dumb with me..."
"But I really..."
“This room —His room. The Vice Guild Leader,Lee Kiyoung,where is he?"
"Huh? if you're looking for Vice Guild Leader...Cho Hyejin is having her breakfast with the guild members..."
Hyunsung’s stomach dropped.
“Don’t mess around with me. Kiyoung is the Vice Guild Master. You must’ve know him. He’s here every day!”
The guild member frowned, then shook their head. “I’ve been here for years. No one named Lee Kiyoung ever joined our guild. That room has been abandoned since the guild was built.”
Hyunsung’s grip faltered. He stumbled back, his expression pale.
He ran—back to the guildhall, to the tavern, to every haunt where Kiyoung’s presence should’ve been woven into the daily rhythm of his life. Each time he asked, he was met with the same puzzled looks.
“Who is that?”
“There’s no such person.”
“Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
Even the guild’s records had changed—Lee Kiyoung’s name is nowhere to be found, the desk he once occupied reassigned by Cho Hyejin without question, as if Lee Kiyoung had never existed.
'Am I dreaming? Is this the 1st timeline...?'
Hyunsung’s chest tightened, breath unsteady. His hands trembled as he pressed them against his face.
“…No. No… I—he was here. I know he was here.”
The memory of Kiyoung’s soft smile from the morning before the war, the way Kiyoung talks—echoed painfully in his mind.
“Where… did you go, Kiyoung?” Hyunsung whispered, voice breaking.
Why am I the only one who remembers you?
.................
Hyunsung didn’t sleep that night. He tore through books, papers, even maps in the guild archives, his hands trembling with exhaustion from looking all over the place all day. The Red Mercenary guild,Black Swan Guild,The Federation,everywhere.
Yet still no mention of Lee Kiyoung—no reports he had written, no signatures, no traces at all.
It was as though the world itself had swallowed him whole.
But Hyunsung refused to accept it.
At dawn, he stumbled back to the unused room. His eyes burned red from lack of rest.
He sat down on the floor,staring around as the memories he had in this room rewind in his mind.
He had searched every corner,every place Kiyoung had visited.
Yet he still can't find nothing.
He clenched his fist as he gritted his teeth.
"Lucifer! Benignore! Answer me! You know what's happening right now! Don't you!? Stop staying silent! Answer me! Where is he!?"
"..."
"Say something! I know you heard me!"
"..."
"Damn it..."
........
"What?"
"I said call Belial over."
"But..."
"Just do as I say. If anything were to happen,I'll deal with it." Kim Hyunsung said as he shoved a ragged summoning book.
"...Still...."
Even while saying that,Han Sora sighed as she starts drawing a summoning circle reluctantly.
"But why Belial...? Of all demons..." Han Sora asked as she tried to copy the summoning ritual chants.
"He might listen."
"..."
The summoning circle started to glow bright,yet so dark.
a black figure slowly appears from the darkness and a voice was heard.
"Hm...strange...this summoning circle feels so familiar...yet I don't recall ever being summoned in here."
Han Sora immediately runs behind Kim Hyunsung,visibly trembling.
"My name is Belial,the 68th ranked demon. And to who am I speaking to?"
"My name is Kim Hyunsung. Blue's Guild Master. I need your help."
"What makes you think I will help?"
"I will give you anything. Everything if you help me find him."
"Such boldness. I can't tell if you're desperate or just foolish. But alright,I will help you. In exchange for your memories. I see that you know something I don't."
"Will I forget everything?"
"No,I will just take a look. I'm a very curious being you see."
"Then it's a deal."
"The contract is made then."
.....
"This is..."
"it's a rift."
"I can see that...but...where does it leads to?"
"A forgotten timeline. The first timeline."
"..."
"you will be able to find the person you're looking for in there."
"Kiyoung is in here?"
"That's what my underlings traced."
"Then...."
Kim Hyunsung stepped into the rift and disappeared.
..................
'The forgotten timeline...huh...'
'But what is Kiyoung doing in here? does being in here means I'm also being erased by the second timeline's memories too?'
"I doubt that. Just by stepping in here won't effect the existing timeline."
"Y-You startled me. Are you coming with me too?"
"I feel like my jumbled memories will be put in place if I come here too. Don't mind me."
"Alright....But just now you mean..."
"That's right,your existence won't be erased just yet. That is....if you don't try to change the timeline and ended up being caught by the System.."
"..."
"The one you're looking for might have mess around with this timeline to the point of being erased by his own timeline."
"..."