Seeing that a crowd has formed around the tower, Arthur decided it was best to teleport away without being seen. It has been only a day since the ball and his face was still fresh.
He appeared above a potion shop before using his rune again to teleport into an alley. He started walking from there and entered a café where he sat down and started reading the latest news.
As he had expected, his feat of ranking first had sent the world into turmoil. He opened the most famous social media app, TalkMe, and read through the posts regarding his achievement.
"… I've looked through many sources regarding the name Extrasort, but there's nothing concrete. I think it's a random name rather than something with a deeper meaning…"
That was the most liked post in the trending tab. Arthur chuckled as he admired the analytic ability of these netizens since it was true. The name didn't have a deeper meaning. It was the in-game-name he used when he had the time to play online games and VR.
He used it because it meant an extra character or it could mean a more evolved species. A mix of the word extra and the word sort. It was how he viewed himself before, a side-character in everyone's lives, but not a main character anywhere.
This mindset had disappeared after he received his legacy. He knew he was gifted with something that allowed him to rise, something that allowed him to go beyond being a side-character.
He then read about Yurirl, the famous Divine Swordsman. He had never thought his name would be associated with this person before because there was always an unbridgeable gap between a dirt-digger and the world's most renowned guild's member.
'Things have changed,' Arthur sighed as he closed his phone. It was already evening and he had to go back to the hotel. The next few days will be boring until Idris secures the crystals. However, even then, he would have to wait until he finishes the Apprentice's Cup.
He reappeared in his hotel room and found it undisturbed as he had left it. He called the reception for room service and was told that some reporters were still waiting for him. Sighing at the annoyance, Arthur decided to ignore their existence altogether.
As he was eating, a knock came on his door. Arthur frowned as he wasn't expecting any visitors. When he peeked through the door's hole, he unexpectedly found Master Ronin. He allowed him inside and the old man, wearing his black suit, walked in and took a seat.
"…Arthur." Master Ronin's voice was probing and hesitant as if fearing Arthur would slip away if he raised his voice. "Have you heard the news?"
"What news?" Arthur feigned ignorance.
"The first floor of the tower had a change in its ranking." Master Ronin said, continuing before Arthur could play dumb. "It's good that you didn't leave any clues, but you must be careful. Some people from the seven families have their eyes on you."
"Are they going to take any action now?"
"No, not yet. However, I have a friend in the Ilios Empire who called me today. He said that the youngest prince of the royal family wants to head to the Yalveran Union."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"I fear that they're trying to confirm whether you are the outsider."
"Rather than confirm, shouldn't they try to kill me?"
"That's because the outsider is also the only way of getting the holy crown. You're the key to ending the countless years of balance. You're a threat, but you're also a key." For the first time, Master Ronin looked anxious.
"Master," Arthur said after a brief silence. "I'm grateful for everything you ever did for me. However, I still don't understand what are the reasons you're willing to go out of your way for me."
Master Ronin's face blanked as he heard Arthur's words. Arthur saw his eyes look at him directly, so powerful and all-knowing. It was then that Arthur heard Master Ronin's story.
Ever since I awakened my ability, I saw a single dream every day. Sometimes it would be only an image, sometimes it would feel like an entire life, but it was always the same.
My father was the king of the Yalveran Union at that time. He was growing old and his potential has been exhausted. When my ability awakened, I was thrown aside because of how useless it was.
In the royal family, how much you could 'see' with your ability decides your worth. To see into the future was an ability that would have made me king. However, once my father knew the limit of what I saw, he decided I wasn't worth nurturing.
Every day for the past sixty-eight years, I had to see the world end. The moment I loved someone, I would see their deaths over and over in my dreams. I had to live every day knowing that whatever I did was meaningless, that whoever I loved would die.
At one point, I believed that I didn't see the future, but changed it. That whoever got close to me would see a horrible death. That whatever land I step on would turn to ruins. That whatever I touched would end.
That's when I decided I should leave the royal family. I traveled to the Theocracy of Shon; the only place not ruled by one of the seven families, but people of the common blood. I found a cave where I lived for seven years in solitude, training, and waiting for the day I would see a different future.
After seven years, I had forgotten everything about my past life. I have forgotten who I was before I went into solitude. That's why when I met her, I realized I had also forgotten how to speak normally.
The reason she had ventured to the sacred grounds of Shon is still a mystery to me, but it didn't matter at that time. I was so delighted by the concept of seeing someone else. Everything she did was bizarre and magical, like an unpredictable surprise box.
Then, I fell in love. Then, I saw her death with my ability.
It was a curse I had to live with. I was unallowed to be happy, to forget about endings, to forget about death and sadness. I had to see the ending of anything in my life.
One day, I couldn't look at her anymore. It was selfish to be by her side while I would bring an end to her life. When she stopped me from leaving, I told her about everything I saw.
"You're not seeing what your hands would bring, but what you must change."
After hearing her words, I stayed. Two years later, we had a house and a daughter. One day, she disappeared. Then I returned to the Yalveran Union with my daughter, Melania.
I had to lie about her identity, saying she was an orphan I found. I feared that she'd be taken from me by my brother. If he knew what she can do, he'll use everything he can to take her away.
At that time, his son became the king. When that happened, my dreams got more frequent and more detailed. I knew the end was coming, I simply didn't know how to stop it.
Until one day, I saw something different. It was three years ago, the future changed for the first time. I didn't see an end, but a beginning. I saw a way to avoid what I have always seen. Every night, I saw a young man digging. He dug relentlessly, he cried when he found the tiniest shard, he cried when he saw his mother's legs, he worked every day to survive.
It was sadness, but it was also a struggle. It was a relentless effort to survive. Every day I woke up, I knew he'd be somewhere out there, working today as well. I wanted to search everywhere for him, but a voice now asked me gently.
I waited. I accompanied that young man in my dreams every day as I waited. I helped Sier to find people to help him as I waited. We worked to make a place that the outsider can return to. Sier wanted to prove himself, to retain it, and to change the world. I knew he would be the guiding path when the time comes. I waited.
A few months ago, my visions changed again. The fog unveiled as the same young man stood before me, fighting monsters and stealing away their essence. He controlled the world to his bidding. He was no longer looking for things but creating them.
"I saw you, Arthur." Master Ronin's voice cracked. "It was no coincidence. I've been waiting for someone to change the end. I had to wait for sixty-eight years, just for you to arrive." His hands were trembling in front of him.
"I waited." Master Ronin looked older all of a sudden. "And waited." His trembling hands interlocked as they hid his face. "And waited for things to change."