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Chapter 1
Saying that the world was “doomed” was laughable.
After all—this world had already been doomed long ago.
…
In 1999 came prophecies of Earth’s destruction: the Millennium Bug, doomsday cults, the end of the century.
The close of the 20th century was noisy, unsettled. Everyone dismissed the spreading apocalyptic rumors as nonsense, yet still found themselves staring nervously at the sky, worrying— What if an asteroid really did fall?
But contrary to all fears, Earth did not perish in the new millennium.
January 2000 passed. February. March. All was fine.
Of course. Our star may have been slowly dying, but it wasn’t going to drop dead overnight.
Everyone was reassured—until June 6th, 2000.
“Why is the sea that color…?”
The end began in the ocean.
“Some lunatic must’ve dumped waste oil again.”
“Wait.”
“Hm?”
“…Is that blood?”
“…What?”
The first of the plagues of Exodus: water turning into blood.
The calamity that judged ancient Egypt had returned in the 21st century.
“Captain! Th-there’s a monster in the sea! The port’s been overrun—!”
“Aaaaahhhh!”
Every river and ocean became blood. Monsters crawled out from the red tide, staining even the land crimson. Under the blue sky, every continent and ocean turned scarlet.
This was the world’s end.
Or so everyone believed.
Rustle—
[Lineage, history, and the world itself calls upon you.]
[This is the register that will define you.]
[The chronicle that records your footsteps.]
[The guidebook for the miracles you will face.]
[This book names you “Apostle.” You will call it this:]
[Toledoth.]
<Character Information>
Name: Hwang Nansae
True Name: Unknown
Authority: Flight, Bird Collision
Achievements: None
“…What is this?”
Had Toledoth not appeared a week after the disaster, humanity might truly have been finished.
This mysterious book, granting supernatural powers to those chosen, allowed humanity to fight back—and survive.
But not without scars.
“My little brother… got eaten by a swordfish.”
“I… I can’t drink water. Even if it’s purified, clean water… the smell, the taste—it makes me gag—”
“The end of the world is upon us! Death alone will save us! Aaaahhh—!”
Though the body endured, the mind broke.
Everyone was left with invisible sickness—diseases of the soul.
Yet where there is illness, there are also doctors.
And so, it all begins here.
“…Are you serious?”
A professor frowned at the student sitting before him.
The student nodded. “Yes.”
Her name was Lee Cheoeum—our would-be doctor, and a senior in the Psychology Department at Gaon University.
“I want to go to graduate school and study psychology further.”
She was willingly choosing the path of a slave.
“Mm…”
Professor Kim Hongsik couldn’t hide his hesitation.
The passion of a student who’d even come to his office in person was commendable. Better that than the ones dragged here half-dead.
But the problem lay in the transcript in his hands.
Introduction to Psychology – C
Counseling Psychology – C
Learning & Memory – C
Western Philosophy – C
Why did her grades look like a strawberry field?
Nothing but seeds. Every course was the same disaster.
She had no related experience, her documents were sparse. Even as a Gaon University student, she’d be rejected outright at the grad school application stage.
The professor held back his urge to scold her and instead said cautiously,
“Your passion is admirable… but I can’t just bring you into my lab on my own authority, even if you come here like this.”
It was awkward, a fifth-year professor having to tread carefully around a student. But Professor Kim had good instincts.
That face… that’s the look of someone who’ll build a pipe bomb and throw it into my office if things go wrong.
She already came to counseling twice a week, demanding he recommend her for grad school. Clearly, she wasn’t normal. Best to pacify her.
“Focus on your thesis. Maybe prep for TOEIC if you have time. I’ll review your application more carefully, all right?”
Even with the professor practically begging, Lee Cheoeum’s face didn’t change.
She simply stared at him—then stood up.
“…Understood.”
The professor exhaled in relief.
But then—
“But.”
“…What?”
“I’ll come see you again next week.”
“…What?”
Her dead, fish-like eyes glinted.
“Until the day you sincerely want me.”
“…Ah.”
Please… just stop coming, you lunatic…
Leaving behind the despairing Professor Kim, Lee Cheoeum walked out.
Outside his office, two students were waiting.
“Hey! Over here!”
A friendly-faced guy waved.
“…So, how’d it go? Eh. I can tell.”
It was another failed attempt, clearly. Without asking, Park Gildong handed her an iced Americano topped with whipped cream.
Beside him, a tall girl named Jireum shook the protein shake in her hand.
“With grades like yours, you should be thankful you’re even graduating. Grad school’s too much to ask.”
“I know.”
Lee Cheoeum kept her gaze down, sipping from the drink.
“But I’m still going.”
“Wanting to go and actually being able to go are two different things.”
“Honestly, if I were the professor, I wouldn’t accept you either.”
“…Thanks for the heckling.”
She ignored their barbs and checked her watch.
“Gotta go.”
“Another counseling session?”
She nodded.
“Wow. Business is booming, huh? Don’t forget who got you started.”
As irritating as Park Gildong was, he wasn’t wrong.
Right now, even as an undergrad, Lee Cheoeum was running unofficial counseling sessions.
“Why not try counseling? You’d be good at it. I’ve got a friend who needs help, I’ll introduce you…”
Thanks to Park’s wide connections, she’d gotten her first client. Word spread quickly. Demand grew.
But her expression wasn’t bright.
It’s gotten out of hand.
What began as a side job to save money for grad school—and deal with her own problems—had ballooned until she barely had time for classes.
I need to rein it in.
Park noticed her sinking expression and cleared his throat.
“You’ve been overdoing it lately, but… looks like you’re good at it. My friend said he’s grateful to you.”
“I only gave back what I received.”
“Don’t downplay it. Mental issues don’t heal so fast. Thanks to you, he says he’s cured.”
Cured. She chewed on the word, then let out a short laugh.
“What I do… isn’t treatment.”
“Huh?”
She didn’t explain. Just turned to go.
“I’m leaving.”
“Wait, hey—!”
Park tried to stop her, but she slipped away across campus.
“…She doesn’t know moderation.”
Park sighed, watching her disappear.
“She goofs off enough to nearly get expelled, then suddenly fixates on grad school. Never worked a day in her life, now she’s drowning herself in counseling gigs… Shouldn’t she be fixing her grades first if she wants grad school?”
“Don’t bother trying to understand. I did, back in freshman year. Nearly ended up her patient.”
Jireum shook her head, eyes on Cheoeum’s retreating ponytail.
“…Hopeless.”
Her unofficial counseling sessions took place in a quiet tea shop.
“Staff Only – Break Room”
…in the break room, to be precise.
She opened the door.
“Ah, counselor!”
Today’s client, Hayan, waved happily.
Creak—
Cheoeum sat across from her. The chair groaned like it was dying.
“You missed yesterday’s session. Did you get any sleep?”
“Haha… no.”
Hayan rubbed her throat awkwardly.
“Like you said, I guess while this condition lasts, I need counseling every day.”
She looked embarrassed. Cheoeum tilted her head.
“Seems you believe me now. When I first suggested daily counseling, you thought I was just after your money.”
“…Ahem!”
Hayan coughed. Truth be told, she had. Her first impression of Cheoeum had been terrible, and she charged by the hour.
“I thought skipping one day wouldn’t hurt.”
Cheoeum didn’t answer. She was already looking at something only she could see.
A book—floating in the air.
Flutter—
Pages turned rapidly.
It was the Toledoth, the personal book every Apostle possessed. To them, it was like a smartphone—an indispensable tool. In gamer terms, it was a status window.
Toledoth granted powers, explained supernatural phenomena, and was the only means of standing against the catastrophes.
And it was through Toledoth that Cheoeum conducted her counseling.
[Opening counseling journal for client “Hayan.”]
Hayan
State: Submissive
Disposition: Anxious type
Response Rate: 2/5 (Initial)
Active Counseling Effects: NoneThis individual is afflicted with a mental abnormality.
Lee Cheoeum had no choice.
She had to keep writing these journals.
