NTN 273

Chapter 273

 The Third Visit

“A door connected to Kang Sowol’s mind…”

Hearing Jang Mokhwa’s words, Yong Yeohong thought this was the most plausible theory so far. Among all the unscientific guesses that had been flying around until now, this made the most sense. Compared to other hypotheses, the idea that the vegetative patients sent north and the high-level Non-Observer appearing in southern Ashland could be connected in this way had a certain credibility.

Of course, the hypothesis that the Non-Observer was from a secretive research lab, or that Kang Sowol, after regaining consciousness, wandered through Ashland and had a child with someone, still carried some possibility, so they couldn’t be completely dismissed.

Baek Saebyeok, after a moment of thought, added:

“Song Hagyun said that the doors in the Corridor of the Mind are either linked to the Moon Keeper’s dreams or belong to a powerful awakened who has explored deep within the Corridor. Doors corresponding to normal awakened minds can’t be opened from the outside.

So Kang Sowol not only awakened but also became a powerful awakened and explored deep into the Corridor?

Do the researchers study the awakening of humanity? Are they choosing vegetative patients because such a condition is suitable for experimentation?”

The series of questions made Yong Yeohong’s head ache. These were secrets far beyond an ordinary person’s comprehension. If the discussion continued, it might not be long before something terrifying happened right before their eyes.

Jang Mokhwa, however, nodded in agreement with Baek Saebyeok, her face slightly brightened.

“Maybe it’s to avoid interference from ordinary human thought. Do you all remember the patient records? Bang Minseo kept saying that his son, Inyoung, kept appearing around him. The son had already become vegetative and was sent north for experimental treatment.

If, if, this mother isn’t insane, and her testimony is truthful, the situation is quite interesting… Bang Minseo’s son may have already awakened, but trapped in the Corridor of the Mind, the only way he could show attention to his mother was by projecting himself into reality.”

This neatly matched their previous speculations about Kang Sowol and the high-level Non-Observer. Yong Yeohong found Jang Mokhwa and Baek Saebyeok’s theories convincing, but still asked:

“Then why is the Non-Observer obsessed with Tarnan?”

Jang Mokhwa pondered for a moment before suddenly shouting:

“A dragon!”

Seeing Yong Yeohong’s puzzled expression, she sighed and laughed.

“Ji-ahop said they saw a dragon in the hallucination! If the high-level Non-Observer contracted the disease after entering the Corridor of the Mind, which organization did he belong to before?”

There were many possibilities, but considering the dragon appeared in the hallucination, the answer was obvious:

“He was a high-ranking member of the Shinryong Sect.”

Seong Geonwoo answered. He had likely been a Dream Protector or a similarly powerful figure.

Suddenly, Yong Yeohong realized something:

“No wonder the Master emphasized that the high-level Non-Observer is extremely dangerous and advised waiting until the Dream Protector sent by their sect arrives. But… if his obsession with Tarnan is because of the Shinryong Sect’s Guankan here, why would that be?”

He proposed a new suspicion, and Jang Mokhwa fell silent, thinking it over.

At that moment, Yong Yeohong noticed Seong Geonwoo smiling, touching his mouth with his hand.

“There’s something we overlooked because it seemed too obvious.”

“What?”

Jang Mokhwa asked.

Seong Geonwoo looked around and grinned:

“The door corresponding to Kang Sowol’s mind may not belong to someone who explored the depths of the Corridor. There’s another possibility.”

After a brief pause, he added:

“It could be the Moon Keeper’s dream.”

The shocking suggestion made Yong Yeohong’s head spin, and Seong Geonwoo laughed:

“I’m joking. What I really mean is that Kang Sowol’s door could belong to a normal awakened—or even a normal person.”

Yong Yeohong immediately objected:

“But Song warned that such doors can’t normally be opened from the outside… unless you’re at the level of Yeomho or higher…”

Seong Geonwoo, smiling faintly, explained:

“Yes, ‘normally’ is what he said. The Non-Observer opened Kang Sowol’s symbolic door before contracting the disease, thinking it belonged to a deeply exploring awakened. He probably wanted to see if there was some special device he could use.

But as he explored the mind, he must have realized something was off—he was unknowingly entering a normal awakened’s, or even a normal person’s, mind. And then something terrifying happened. For example…”

Seong Geonwoo deliberately paused, trying to unsettle Yong Yeohong—but Jang Mokhwa preemptively said in a firm voice:

“He contracted Non-Observer disease.”

Yong Yeohong flinched. As team leader, Jang Mokhwa often linked the disease’s outbreak to events, and it was almost habitual. But this time, it didn’t feel absurd—the subject was undeniably a high-level Non-Observer.

Seong Geonwoo clapped his hands.

Jang Mokhwa, muttering to herself, said:

“So his obsession is to inform the Shinryong Sect of this bizarre and deadly experience, to prevent it from happening again? His insistence on entering Tarnan is to reach the Guankan, and hunting humans is just the instinctive behavior of the Non-Observer?”

For a moment, Room 221 was silent.

After a long pause, Baek Saebyeok spoke:

“It’s certainly a hypothesis that ties everything together. Hard to believe, but…”

Jang Mokhwa nodded slightly:

“We need to meet Master again. Let’s hope this time he doesn’t hide anything. If not…”

She smiled at Seong Geonwoo.

Seong Geonwoo, looking thoughtful, said:

“Even without my detective clown skills, I think we can get him to talk.”

‘Master, you’ve just been underestimated by Geonwoo,’ Yong Yeohong thought. He wasn’t sure whether to pity Master Joo Myeonghee, but agreed that she seemed a little naive. Intelligent, yes—but easy to outwit.

Jang Mokhwa asked with a smile:

“Aren’t you worried about the Broken Mirror’s gaze?”

Seong Geonwoo silently picked up a sheet of paper. On it were symbols: a simplified infant face, a faceless figure, and a woman hidden in the shadows behind a door.

Nangakukan.

Inside the grand hall, multiple Dream Guides and Dream Bewitchers were praying with full concentration. The rescue team was visiting Nangakukan for the third time.

As always, Joo Myeonghee, dressed in a white robe with the triple belt, stood in front of the gamsil (hall) and looked at the four rescue team members.

“Did you come to join the Shinryong Sect, or to investigate? Team Seo Siwol?”

She seemed unusually cautious, yet immediately recognized the rescue team. She also clearly remembered the name Seo Siwol, with whom she had spoken before.

“Master Joo, this time you recognized me.”

Seong Geonwoo answered before Jang Mokhwa.

Joo Myeonghee looked him over several times and calmly said:

“You’re not a woman.”

Jang Mokhwa quickly raised a hand to stop Seong Geonwoo:

“Yes, I am Seo Siwol. This time, we’ve come to ask you something.”

“Speak.”

Joo Myeonghee narrowed her eyes and smiled.

Jang Mokhwa asked directly:

“Was the high-level Non-Observer part of the Shinryong Sect before contracting the disease?”

“Ahem…”

Joo Myeonghee, a bit pleased, began to cough violently. After calming herself, she sighed:

“Since you’ve noticed, I’ll speak frankly. I cannot be certain the high-level Non-Observer is our Dream Protector. But one Dream Protector did disappear six months ago. We searched for him for some time, but never found him. It was unusual; he didn’t lack direction… ah…”

Realizing she had said more than necessary, she recovered with an awkward laugh:

“Everything is illusion and dream. Is it really necessary to take it seriously?”

All four members of the rescue team thought the same: ‘As expected.’

Seong Geonwoo, slightly excited, asked:

“You knew early on that he disliked being reflected in mirrors?”

“Roughly, yes. But I couldn’t be sure he was the Non-Observer. So we gathered all the tools…”

Joo Myeonghee, realizing another slip, stayed silent, leaning back slightly and raising her arms in prayer.

“Shinryong is supreme!”

She then preemptively asked:

“Even if you discover this, what meaning does it have? He is beyond our ability to handle. We can only focus on defense and wait for someone dispatched from the top.”

Jang Mokhwa, as planned before leaving the inn, answered:

“The clues we found while investigating Kang Sowol seem connected to the patient we discovered before.”

She explained everything outside of analysis related to Bango Bio and the rescue team.

“You mean the high-level Non-Observer changed because of the problem hidden in Kang Sowol, and his repeated attempts to enter Tarnan were to bring that information to us via Nangakukan?”

Joo Myeonghee, familiar with the Corridor of the Mind, drew the conclusion without needing further explanation. The team’s subtle guidance had worked.

Seong Geonwoo clapped his hands.

“Exactly.”

Joo Myeonghee, a little pleased, asked:

“Do you wish to verify this hypothesis?”

Jang Mokhwa smiled:

“Not us—the Shinryong Sect would. Wouldn’t you want to confirm it as soon as possible to see if there’s more important information?”

After deep thought, Joo Myeonghee hesitated:

“But if the Dream Protector arrives, won’t it naturally be verified?”

‘Then we won’t be able to know the answer ourselves.’

Jang Mokhwa realized her attempt to deceive him had failed.

She then said, seriously:

“Then a problem arises. First, the Dream Protector of your sect won’t arrive for another two or three days. In the meantime, an unexpected event could interfere with our defense. Also, we don’t know what changes have occurred in the Non-Observer.

He may have only a few days left. Perhaps that’s why he struggles to enter Tarnan—to inform Nangakukan of this important information before he dies.”

Joo Myeonghee nodded slightly but did not make a firm statement.

Jang Mokhwa continued:

“And we don’t need to take unnecessary risks. We just need to narrow our defensive area. Even if our hypothesis is wrong, it won’t affect future events.”

Finally, Joo Myeonghee asked:

“So what exactly do you want?”

Yong Yeohong glanced at Seong Geonwoo. The team leader seemed to be imitating Seong Geonwoo’s detective clown ability, persuading Joo Myeonghee so efficiently.

Seong Geonwoo nodded seriously at Yong Yeohong. It was as if to say: That’s it.

If you want, I can continue with Chapter 274 and translate the next steps inside Nangakukan, keeping all the key lines in block quotes for clarity.

Do you want me to do that?