“How funny. I’m not even a ‘demon king’ yet. How can I give away the stakes in a giant story I don’t have?”
“You can do it if I help.” Asmodeus had an arrogant confidence on his face. It was an expression that made becoming a ‘demon king’ simple. I watched his face and followed up with,
“…Okay, I will give away a stake if I become a demon king.”
At this moment, the stars in the sky were flashing.
[A few constellations are greatly disappointed in your judgment.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is looking at you with troubled eyes.]
[The constellation who likes to change sex wants to change your sex.]
The constellations showed a strong reaction as I expected. However, I couldn’t help it for now. Unless I knew how to not lost against Asmodeus, I couldn’t do anything that would antagonize him.
Asmodeus laughed like he was satisfied with my answer. “Good thinking. How much will you give away?”
“30%.”
Light disappointment flashed across Asmodeus’ face. “It is too little.”
“Don’t you think you’re being too greedy?”
“50% and write the contract here.”
What a shameless swindler. If I gave away half of a giant story, I wouldn’t be able to draw on its strength without Asmodeus’ permission. I firmly shook my head. “I can’t sign that agreement.”
“Why?”
The pebbles started to float into the air. This was blatant intimidation but I wouldn’t have come here if I would be caught by such intimidation. I stared up at the sky and kept speaking, “I won’t give a stake to just you.”
A deep silence instantly fell at my words. Asmodeus’ face was blank and he didn’t understand what I meant. The stars all around me were holding their breaths and demanding clarification.
“30% of the giant story will be released as competitive shares.”
“…Competitive shares?”
“It means whoever helps me can gain part of those shares. The extent that they obtained will depend entirely on their contribution to the story.”
The gazes staring at me from the sky started to change on by one.
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is making a interested expression.]
[A few constellations are greedy after hearing your words!]
‘Competitive shares’ was the last card I could offer. If I had to take a beast with me while moving forward, it would be better to expand the choice of beasts. Asmodeus noticed my intentions and his expression hardened. “…I was deceived.”
“I didn’t lie.”
The pebbles floating in the air rushed towards me, to be precise, towards Yoo Jonghyuk. It was a strong attack that couldn’t be easily blocked. It might’ve been hard for me in the past but not now.
It was because now I wasn’t alone. The stones flying through the air were caught by invisible hands.
[A few constellations are staring at the Demon King of Fury and Lust.]
It was a situation where I declared a competitive share in a giant story. The constellations aiming for those shares wouldn’t just watch Asmodeus’ actions. Asmodeus gritted his teeth. However, even Asmodeus didn’t want to waste probability in this place against a large number of constellations. In addition, there was a formidable constellation present.
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is staring at the Demon King of Fury and Lust.]
Asmodeus stared at the air for a while before taking back his strength. The stones lost their support and instantly fell to the ground.
[The Demon King of Lust and Fury is disappointed in you.]
Asmodeus spoke with a terrifying expression, “You have made a mistake. You are not the one who will become demon king. You just threw away an important opportunity.”
It was a tone that suggested he could give the opportunity to someone else at any time. Certainly, things would become complicated if Asmodeus joined hands with someone else. Nevertheless, I didn’t back down. “Well, I think you are the one throwing away the opportunity, not me.”
I thought about why Asmodeus must’ve chosen me. Common sense said it was more advantageous for Asmodeus to be attacked to Bercan or Melledon rather than me. I was a human and a constellation while Melledon and Bercan were demons.
Yet Asmodeus extended his hand towards me first. There was a compelling reason for Asmodeus to choose me. In fact, Asmodeus’ expression seemed a bit strained at my refusal. “…It is really unpleasant. Don’t you know that I am a demon king?”
A great demon was making this type of expression. It was an extremely rare scene from the perspective of Ways of Survival. I slowly shook my head. “It doesn’t matter if you are a demon king or constellation. I just want my story to be the best story.”
“The best story?”
“You should know what I mean since you belong to the Gourmet Association.”
Asmodeus’ expression changed at the words I deliberately mentioned. It was a face that was both bewildered and delighted. Asmodeus gazed at me with an expression that was hard for humans to describe and opened his mouth a few dozen seconds later.
[…A candidate will test the cooking skills of a demon king…?]
I held my breath at the formidable killing intent aimed at me. It was like the whole time and space of the area was in the demon king’s grasp. The confused constellations squeezed out light but the darkness around them was so dense that their power couldn’t reach.
This was the real power of a demon king. If Asmodeus truly used all his power here, I was convinced that Yoo Jonghyuk and I would’ve vanished regardless of the Prisoner of the Golden Headband’s presence. He was revealing this power now as a type of proof and warning.
[The Demon King ‘Asmodeus’ reveals a subtle liking towards you.]
It was a warning that he could kill me at any time. Asmodeus laughed from inside the darkness.
[I like it. I will leave for today.]
Fortunately, the situation seemed to be wrapped up. I didn’t pretend to support Asmodeus and he didn’t one-sidedly lose his shares of the story. There was plenty of room to change things…
[However, I should clean up the garbage before I go.]
Asmodeus moved his fingers and an explosive sound was heard from my chest. It was the sound of a doll popping. There was a throbbing pain around my heart but Yoo Jonghyuk’s body didn’t receive any apparent damage. Asmodeus’ body scattered into ashes as he left these last words.
[I can’t see that thing wandering around in front of me.]
I gazed at the disappearing Asmodeus before hurriedly touching my chest. “…Uriel?”
I pulled out that Uriel doll that was already tattered. Not long afterwards, I felt something being disconnected from the doll. I saw the messages rising in front of Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyes.
[The connection with the constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ has been temporarily disconnected.]
[The personal scenario has been automatically terminated.]
I was able to see how Yoo Jonghyuk came here. I didn’t know why but Uriel gave him a personal scenario to go to the Demon World. Yoo Jonghyuk received that scenario and came here. The problem was the scenario had just been forcibly terminated.
Sparks started appearing around my skin. I instantly realized what would happen.
“Uriel! Wake up!” I desperately shook the doll but there was no reaction from Uriel. The symbolic body was excessively broken and the connection with the body was forcibly terminated.
“Shit.”
Cracks were spreading over Yoo Jonghyuk’s hard body.
[You have left the main scenario.]
I hurriedly looked around. This couldn’t continue. At this rate, Yoo Jonghyuk would surely die.
[The exile penalty has begun.]
It was different from me. Yoo Jonghyuk didn’t have the Fourth Wall. There wasn’t anyone to protect him after becoming an exile.
“Hey! Anybody is good!”
I hurriedly shouted towards the sky. However, Yoo Jonghyuk’s body was destroyed and my voice didn’t emerge. The cracks that started in the legs spread to the neck and paralyzed the vocal cords.
It was a penalty that prevented me from asking the constellations in the night sky for help. The whole universe was intensely hoping for Yoo Jonghyuk’s death, as if it was going to take away his stories and kill him.
…Was it up to here? I couldn’t let it. Everything was over if Yoo Jonghyuk died here.
In less than one second, the pages of Ways of Survival passed through my head. The letters on countless pages flew towards me and I reached out to them. Yes, this was the only way. I didn’t have it but Yoo Jonghyuk was different. I was forced to ask him for help.
[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ is looking at Yoo Jonghyuk’s sponsor.]
I wanted to use my true voice but now I had no strength. I was forced to hope that my story would reach that existence.
[The sponsor of incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ is looking at you.]
A huge presence was looking at me. It was somewhat familiar but also unfamiliar. Before I could open my mouth, a darkness came over me.
[The exclusive skill, ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ stage 3 has been forcibly released.]
***
A space covered with darkness. I had this experience once before. When was it? It happened when I exited from the constellation banquet.
[ ■■… ]
[ How to change… ]
[ …No. ]
Dammit, what the hell did this mean―
***
“Heok!” I shot up and gasp like I was going to vomit. My heart was beating like crazy and there was a cracking sound from my neck. My eyes were full of tears.
I was alive. To be precise, Aileen saved me. However, I felt more desperate than relieved. I shouted in a thick voice towards the outside of the treatment room.
“Aileen!”
Aileen, who had been waiting outside, rushed over at my call. She was pale when she saw me pulling out the catheter. I shook off her hands and shouted, “Quickly get me up. I have to go to the Gilobat Industrial Complex.”
“What are you talking about? A person who just woke up―”
“There is no time, quickly!”
Dozens of thoughts crossed my head. Let’s ask the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven for help. If not, let’s call Hermes. I hated it but I might be able to get a favour using the shares of the story. I just had to get to Gilobat right away. It wasn’t too late yet. Go right now―
“There is no way for a person who has been unconscious for one week! You will have to rest for at least one week to stabilize your body!”
“…What?”
It felt like my heart stopped beating. I thought it was an auditory hallucination. The world that I read was collapsing. The letters that lost their place were pushing at me.
“…How much time has passed?”
“A week. You have been unconscious for a week.”
I looked blankly at the floor before picking up the smartphone that Irene created. I turned on the panel and checked the file.
-Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World (1st Revision).txt
The title of the text was unchanged. The second revision didn’t come and Yoo Jonghyuk’s lines were the same.
There was a moment of despair as I realized that nothing had changed. Really? Yoo Jonghyuk really died?
TL: Rainbow Turtle
