By the third day of being a mirror, Lee Eunwoo had come to a powerful realization.
People were insane.
Outside the cave, a construction project of terrifying scale was underway.
Hammers.
Saws.
Stone cutting.
Villagers running everywhere.
Someone had even brought architectural blueprints.
"System," Eunwoo said tiredly.
"Why are they building a cathedral for me?"
[System Notification]
Correction: Temple.
"That doesn't make it better."
From the cave entrance, Eunwoo could see the progress.
What used to be a small forest clearing was now turning into something absurd.
A massive staircase.
Stone pillars.
Golden decorations.
Banners with a symbol painted on them.
Eunwoo stared at the symbol.
It was a circle made of broken mirror shards surrounding a single eye.
"…That looks suspiciously cult-like."
[It is a cult.]
"Great."
Nearby, Commander Seraphine Valeria supervised the construction like a general preparing for war.
"Careful with the marble!" she shouted.
"That pillar must face the east! The scriptures clearly state the Mirror God observes the sunrise!"
Eunwoo blinked.
What scriptures?!
A priest-looking man approached her nervously.
"Commander… the villagers wish to know where we should place the sacred altar."
Seraphine didn't hesitate.
"In front of the mirror."
Eunwoo panicked.
Please don't put an altar in front of me.
The priest nodded seriously.
"Of course. It must be worthy of Speculum Eternis."
Eunwoo groaned internally.
That name again.
Meanwhile—
Inside the cave—
The old potato farmer from yesterday had returned.
He placed another sack beside the first one.
"Offerings," he whispered respectfully.
Eunwoo stared at the growing pile.
Potatoes.
Apples.
Bread.
A suspicious-looking cabbage.
"…System."
[Yes.]
"Why do people keep bringing vegetables to a mirror?"
[They believe it pleases you.]
"I am literally incapable of eating."
[Correct.]
"…This is very inefficient worship."
Suddenly—
The mirror surface shimmered again.
Eunwoo froze.
"Oh no."
Seraphine immediately dropped to one knee.
"THE MIRROR GOD SPEAKS!"
Everyone in the clearing turned toward the cave.
Dozens of people rushed inside.
Eunwoo panicked.
I didn't even think about anything!
But the reflection began forming a new vision.
This time—
It showed a battlefield.
Thousands of soldiers.
Black banners.
A towering armored warlord surrounded by dark magic.
Seraphine's face turned pale.
"The Black Legion…"
A knight whispered in horror.
"That army disappeared fifty years ago."
Eunwoo stared internally.
Why does my brain keep showing dramatic things?
The vision continued.
The warlord lifted his sword.
Then—
The reflection changed.
Behind the warlord appeared a blindfolded figure made of living glass.
One movement.
The entire army shattered like mirrors.
The vision ended.
Silence filled the cave.
Seraphine was trembling slightly.
"The prophecy…"
She whispered.
"The Mirror God will destroy the Black Legion."
Eunwoo nearly screamed.
NO I WON'T!
But the villagers had already started chanting.
"SPECULUM ETERNIS!"
"THE DESTROYER OF DARKNESS!"
"THE LORD OF REFLECTION!"
Eunwoo covered his mental face.
"This is escalating extremely fast."
The System chimed again.
[Faith Energy Increased]
+450
[New Skill Unlocked]
Reflection Field – Level 1
You may influence reflections within a 50 meter radius.
Eunwoo blinked.
"…Wait, that actually sounds useful."
Before he could think further—
A knight burst into the clearing.
"Commander Seraphine!"
He looked panicked.
"We have a problem!"
Seraphine turned sharply.
"What happened?"
"The capital has sent an envoy."
The villagers murmured nervously.
Seraphine frowned.
"Why?"
The knight swallowed.
"They heard rumors about… the mirror."
Eunwoo had a bad feeling.
The knight continued.
"The envoy claims the king demands to inspect the artifact personally."
The villagers gasped.
One old woman whispered,
"The king wants to take our god…"
Seraphine's eyes hardened.
"The Mirror God is not an artifact."
She turned toward the cave.
"He chose to reveal himself here."
Eunwoo thought,
I absolutely did not choose this.
The knight continued nervously.
"The envoy arrives tomorrow… with a battalion of royal mages."
That made the clearing go silent.
Royal mages were powerful.
Very powerful.
Seraphine folded her arms.
"They suspect divine magic."
She looked toward the mirror again.
"If they attempt to seize the Mirror God…"
Her hand rested on her sword.
"We will defend him."
The villagers cheered.
"PROTECT THE MIRROR GOD!"
"FOR SPECULUM ETERNIS!"
Eunwoo felt increasingly nervous.
Why are people preparing for war over me?
The System chimed quietly.
[Warning]
High-Level Magic Users Approaching Tomorrow
Eunwoo sighed.
"Great."
"Now I have to deal with government officials."
Meanwhile—
Far away in the royal capital—
A young prince sat in a library filled with ancient texts.
His golden eyes scanned a crumbling page.
The book described a myth.
A god of reflection.
A being that could copy the powers of all existence.
The prince whispered slowly.
"Speculum Eternis…"
A royal mage beside him asked,
"Your Highness?"
The prince closed the book.
"Find the mirror."
His voice was calm.
"If the legends are true…"
His eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"That thing is either the greatest treasure in the world…"
Or—
"The most dangerous god."
Back in the forest clearing—
Workers continued building the temple late into the night.
Pillars rose.
Torches lit the dark.
And in the cave—
Eunwoo stared at the sky.
"…System."
[Yes.]
"Do you think I can survive politics?"
The System answered instantly.
[Unlikely.]
"…That's very comforting."