Chapter Text
A sleeper car was rolling around. The citizens of the council, including Aileen, were busy moving me somewhere. I could feel the fragments of my stories constantly entering, like a patient in critical condition.
I could vaguely hear Gehrman’s voice, but it was like muddled water. I couldn’t lift my body, so I was forced to rely heavily on the helpers.
Putting aside the urgent situation, my mind was gradually becoming calm. I decided to sort out the situation.
[Currently, you have the inheritance rights to the Gilobat Industrial Complex.]
How did I become a revolutionary and gain the inheritance rights of the Gilobat Industrial Complex? The answer was simple.
「 ‘Kim Dokja’ killed the ruler of the Gilobat Industrial Complex. 」
At first glance, it seemed like a circular argument but this wasn’t the case. It was because ‘Kim Dokja’ wasn’t my body. In other words, it was easy for someone to impersonate me, build up a reputation there and finally kill the ruler.
[The Star Stream is correcting the scenario error.]
[A new story related to you is scheduled.]
What crazy person could do such a thing? There obviously couldn’t be two such crazy guys.
「 Kim Dokja thought: Yoo Joonghyuk is now in the Gilobat Industrial Complex. 」
At first, I purely felt gratitude. Ah! Yoo Joonghyuk was a decent person! That jerk hit the industrial complex to save me! I felt thrilled for a while without thinking much.
Then once I thought about it, I couldn’t believe it. That Yoo Joonghyuk entered the Gilobat Industrial Complex to save me? In the first place, it was strange that Yoo Joonghyuk knew about my crisis.
How could a guy who wasn’t a constellation or have access to a channel know about my crisis?
Thus, Yoo Joonghyuk was likely to do the opposite of coming to my rescue. He noticed that I impersonated him and came to the Demon World to pick me up. In the meantime, something went wrong and he headed to the Gilobat Industrial Complex first where he went through an unnecessary dispute and overturned the industrial complex. I couldn’t even fathom how much rage it felt to do that.
“You’re being healed. Don’t shake your body.”
Aileen, who was working on my story in the treatment room, pushed up her glasses and scolded me.
I replied in a dispirited manner. “I’m sorry, it’s instinct. How’s my state?”
“Don’t talk nonsense in your current physical condition.” Aileen sighed but her expression didn’t look bad.
“I can only see it as a miracle. You’re slowly recovering. The damage to your stories is so big that it’ll be hard to move around but… I think you’ll be fine.”
Maybe it was because I entered the main scenario again but my sense of breathing had changed. Those who didn’t know what it felt like to be an exile and return to the scenario wouldn’t understand.
「 Kim Dokja thought: This is the ‘story.’ 」
It felt like a cozy and huge world was embracing me.
Funnily enough, it felt like I was now living properly. It was frightening to think about who designed these ‘senses.’
“Kuek…”
“Don’t move!” Aileen’s sharp voice was heard along with the strong pangs.
[Your current story configuration is incomplete.]
I had entered the scenario and was in the recovery phase but things were still serious. It was a miracle that I survived long enough to kill Duke Syswitz. It was a reckless battle.
It was uncharacteristic of me and even I wasn’t sure why I acted like that.
[Some constellations are asking about you.]
Moreover, I summoned the story weapon so my future stories would become very complicated.
I opened the message log that I’d been putting off.
[Many constellations in the channel are greatly impressed by your performance!]
[3,000 coins have been sponsored.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is nodding at your confidence.]
[4,000 coins have been sponsored.]
There was some sponsorship but I wasn’t impressed.
[The 20th main scenario has ended.]
[The main scenario ‘ Demon World Revolution’ has been cleared.]
[The excessive main scenario skip is delaying the compensation.]
[The collection of stories due to clearing the main scenario is pending.]
There were some problems but the scenario messages came up correctly.
[Some constellations are wondering about your identity.]
[Some constellations would like to invite you to their nebula!]
[Someone is eyeing your story!]
The familiar shenanigans had also begun.
It was understandable why they were running around like this.
「 The story weapon Pluto. 」
Even the narrative-grade constellations coveted the giant soldier. The giant soldier was a rare weapon that could only be seen in the huge stories of Gigantomachia. It was a weapon that could trample on the legendary story, the Factory, like it was a toy.
There was no way the constellations wouldn’t covet such a weapon. By the way, ‘he’ hadn’t come yet…
[The constellation ‘Father of the Rich Night’ is watching you.]
…He came, shit.
[The constellation ‘Father of the Rich Night’ is watching you.]
It was understandable why he was watching me. I’ve just taken out his story weapon for my own use. I wasn’t necessarily afraid though. At this strength, I could touch his toes.
The real problem was all these bandages binding me, head to toe. It showed my obvious state.
“Dokja-ssi, I'm coming in.”
Before I could answer, Gehrman had already turned the knob, and opened the door. Aileen had just gone out, getting more stories.
Damn, this jerk doesn’t even have manners. His voice is always cold and so direct, even though I’m pretty sure I’m his senior…
I must have been in a sorry state, since Gehrman just gazed at me for a few seconds.
…
Klein winced inwardly at the sight of Kim Dokja. There were tubes stuck in him, delivering fluids (or Stories), as well as him being bandaged.
Fatigue could be seen, and his eyebags were noticeably darker. Klein only had to get a minor checkup, and a few stitches, since he used Damage Transfer.
When he opened the door, he was more focused on acting like Gehrman, before thinking about Kim Dokja’s state.
If I bring up the topic of Amon, it’s sure to stress him a bit…
For a few seconds, there was only silence in the room, as the awkwardness grew.
“Amon hasn’t appeared since the duke fell, but he shouldn’t cause trouble for us. “
Klein looked at the window. It was dark in the Demon Realm but spirits were high. Glancing at Kim Dokja, he confirmed that he didnt have anything to say.
Moving his way to the chair at the end of the bed, he sat down.
However, Klein was oblivious to how uncomfortable that move made Kim Dokja.
…
I heard some rustling, before seeing Gehrman move his way to a chair. Why was this guy waiting here…?
The door opened again, and Aileen came in, holding Story packets. She briefly glanced at Gehrman, before looking away.
That jerk looked at everybody coldly, while fingering his gun. Say, he probably didn’t have much social experience.
[Ju st like Kim Dok ja.]
Dammit, I really can’t like this mean fellow.
It was hard to lift one arm but the smartphone in my hand was comforting. I was grinning and Aileen frowned as she bandaged me.
“…I told you not to look at that for too long.”
“My mother always said this.”
“You need to maintain absolute stability.”
“For me, looking at this is absolutely stable.” I deliberately didn’t explain. It would probably be filtered even if I did.
“What about the Syswitz Industrial Complex? No, we should call it the Yoo Joonghyuk Industrial Complex now.”
“It’s fine.”
The duke died and the industrial complex was on its way to stability. There was a lot of talk about the removal slaves and the treatment of the nobles who were prisoners, but Aileen was doing well.
Aileen looked at me for a moment and asked, “In fact, you aren’t Yoo Joonghyuk?”
It was a question I had anticipated and I nodded.
“That’s right, I’m not him.”
Unexpectedly, Gehrman cutted in.
“Yoo Joonghyuk might get angry that you impersonated him with that kind of appearance.”
The corners of my mouth twitched, before I waved it away.
“It’s fine, it’s fine~”
Gehrman leaned back into his chair, and his sharp features were as still as ever.
His appearance may not match Yoo Joonghyuk, but his personality could.
“However, the owner of this industrial complex is now Yoo Joonghyuk.”
Certainly, it was true. In fact, there was a mention in my messages.
[The current owner of the industrial complex is Duke Yoo Joonghyuk.]
Duke Yoo Joonghyuk… That jerk should be thanking me. I glanced at Aileen and told her,
“The duke will soon come.”
Aileen’s expression filled with a strange tension.
“…Yoo Joonghyuk is a demon?”
“He isn’t a demon although sometimes he feels like a demon.” I was worried about how to explain and finally decided to say,
“In this round, Yoo Joonghyuk is a good guy.”
Aileen didn’t understand what I meant. I shook my head.
“I have a favor to ask. Can you call Jang Hayoung and Han Myungoh to me? I have something to say to them.”
“…I understand.”
The soft steps of Aileen walking away could be heard.
…
“In this round”. What did Kim Dokja mean by that? Klein resisted the urge to fish out Arrodes.
Is this world a ‘round’, a ‘game’, that Kim Dokja needs to pass? And are there more trials —an apocalypse—?
Now Klein was wandering on the edges of supernatural and almost horror… haha… it was almost as if this was some sort of book. Maybe one of those popular webnovels?
Or, can this guy be a regressor? If that was true, it would be more likely for Yoo Joonghyuk to be one. Or can Kim Dokja be a fellow transmigrator?
Klein didn’t have much time to dwell on his thoughts, before Kim Dokja spoke.
“…I’m having a psychotic break.”
Klein lifted his head, as he looked closely at Kim Dokja. He seemed to be thinking hard about something.
Aren’t we teammates now? Our relationship is still a bit rocky…
It didn’t help that “Gehrman Sparrow” was a person who didn’t speak much, as well as Kim Dokja being suspicious of him.
Klein sighed. It would have been more helpful in the long run if he acted as himself.
He watched as Kim Dokja picked up his phone, and pressed his hand to his temple, as he scrolled.
When I was younger, I was really a keyboard warrior. Is this guy also chronically online at this age? Hmm… no matter what, I’m definitely his senior.
Klein chuckled silently to himself.
“What are you doing? I heard from Aileen that you are dying.”
“Kim… Joonghyuk-ssi. Is your body okay?”
The door opened and Jang Hayoung and Han Myungoh entered. Kim Dokja and Klein both had forgotten that he (Kim Dokja) told Aileen to call the two of them.
“Eh, is that a smartphone?”
Jang Hayoung saw the device Kim Dokja was holding and ran over in a flash. He lightly changed the hand holding the phone before answering her,
“No, go away.”
However, it was as if Jang Hayoung hadn’t heard him.
“Can you receive messages? A call? The Internet?”
While those two were distracted, Klein saw that Han Myungoh glanced at him, before leaning in closer.
“Has Amon come back yet? People say you two are close so…”
Klein’s fingers quivered, as he resisted the urge to laugh. Where did those rumors come from?
“Amon will come back sooner or later, there shouldn’t be any trouble.”
Han Myungoh seemed to be relieved, before he turned back towards Kim Dokja. Jang Hayoung and Kim Dokja were making a fuss, before Jang Hayoung ultimately left sullenly.
Han Myungoh opened his mouth first. “You know, it is strange. I knew you from the days in the company but…”
“That’s enough. Do you know why I called you?”
“Ahem.” Han Myungoh seemed to know the reason.
“…In fact, I can’t contact him.”
“Isn’t your connection to the household restored?”
“It recovered. However, there is no response from the demon king.”
Klein felt an ominous foreboding. Household? Right, Han Myungoh obviously doesn’t look like a regular Korean citizen. This could be a similar case to when you drink a Witch potion…
There must be a king for all seventy-three Demon Realms.
“Isn’t there anything he wants to ask?”
“Perhaps he no longer believes me. Or…”
At this moment, Han Myungoh’s expression changed.
“I-I am connected!”
Klein didn’t know if it was because of Han Myungoh’s facial expressions, or because of his intuition, but he felt on edge. His left foot had started tapping the floor quickly, as if he was full of energy.
“Huh?”
“What is it?”
“Something is wrong.”
“What happened?”
“H-He came directly!”
“Huh?”
“The demon king came directly!”
With those words, Klein saw Kim Dokja’s face tense for a moment, before disappearing.
Is it just me feeling as if we’re dancing on top of coals? Why does nobody feel anything?
“Is he near here?”
“I-I think he has already found you…”
Already found Kim Dokja? That shouldn't be possible…unless…
“Wait, don’t tell me…?”
Klein’s eyes widened before they met with Kim Dokja’s.
If they thought about it, Kim Dokja had did everything under the name of “Yoo Joonghyuk.”
Both of them had come to the same realization.
“Shit.”
“Dammit.”
“W-Why all of a sudden?”
Klein frowned, as Kim Dokja hurriedly addressed Han Myungoh.
“Head Director Han, do you know the way to the Gilobat Industrial Complex?”
Yoo Joonghyuk may or may not die today. Of course, that’ll depend on whether or not Kim Dokja can do something about it.
…
“Kim Dokja!”
“Hooray Kim Dokja!”
“The independence of the industrial complex!”
Yoo Joonghyuk listened to the shouts coming from all over the Gilobat Industrial Complex and wore a complicated expression.
‘I didn’t mean to do this.’
Yoo Joonghyuk frowned as he stared at Duke Gilobat who died in his hands. Sparks were flying around Yoo Joonghyuk’s body due to the excessive opening of his transcendent power. He didn’t need to open it at this point.
‘It was too early to open the first stage of transcendence.’
However, it was impossible to handle his work in the Demon World in a short amount of time without opening the power. It was a power that was deliberately hidden from the constellations but he was caught by one of them.
Yoo Joonghyuk watched the Uriel doll sitting on his shoulder.
‘I don’t think this person has any ideas.’
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is satisfied with your achievement.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is touched by your comradeship.]
“…The duke gives a lot of coins. Thus I killed him.”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is laughing.]
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t answer and looked at the panel screen in the duke’s office. There were low-quality scenes that seemed to be taped by the wenny people.
-Yoo Joonghyuk!
It was an absurd scene. Hundreds of people shouted that they were ‘Yoo Joonghyuk.’ The most disturbing thing was the huge guy yelling it in the center.
-Yoo Joonghyuk!
-Yoo Joonghyuk! Wah!
Yoo Joonghyuk watched the scene with a frown before turning his head.
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is turning red.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is urging you to go and meet Kim Dokja.]
Yoo Joonghyuk shook his head.
“…I’ve confirmed that he’s alive. Cancel your personal scenario and send me back to the original world.”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is surprised.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ says the personal scenario hasn’t ended yet.]
[The contents of the personal scenario of the constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is to meet Kim Dokja…]
“Do you really think I’ll accept that personal scenario?”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is greatly shocked.]
The shoulders of the Uriel doll trembled and she had an expression that she wouldn’t make even if Eden was destroyed.
Yoo Joonghyuk watched for a while before sighing. “Is this okay?”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is raising her head with a sullen expression.]
“I’ve become a duke of the Demon World with this. But you’re an archangel. I’m asking if there is a problem with this.”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is greatly embarrassed.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ says she hasn’t thought about it.]
“…Shit.”
Yoo Joonghyuk spoke all types of curses as he wondered how he could act in the future with the archangel.
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is warning you!]
A tremendous darkness started gathering around him. Yoo Joonghyuk instinctively drew the Heaven Shaking Sword at the formidable aura. However, the opponent was someone he couldn’t win against just by drawing a sword.
A dark abyss gathered into an essence. The deepest darkness of the Demon World was manifested before his eyes. Yoo Joonghyuk knew this darkness very well.
“Run away. I can't protect your symbolic body.”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ says it isn’t possible.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’…]
Yoo Joonghyuk’s shoulders were shaking slightly. The Uriel doll had never seen such a sight before and grabbed Yoo Joonghyuk’s shoulder with a panicked expression. It wasn’t easy to calm down the trembling. As if he didn’t want to acknowledge the fear, Yoo Joonghyuk opened his mouth with a nasty expression.
“…I was once killed by this guy.”
The next moment, the body of darkness revealed itself with a tremendous aura that burst the bodies of the incarnations in the area.
[You are in a place like this, Demon King of Salvation.]
…
“He” wandered away from the complex. The job was too easy for “Him” and “He” left as soon as “His” duty was fulfilled.
What “He” really had to do was to keep an eye on this world, as well as The Fool. To survive was the only thing “He” cared about. This was the stark difference between “Him” and The Fool.
Over the months though, “He” had gained an understanding of what humans felt. That didn't mean that “He” too would feel the same emotions; on the other hand, “He” gained a bit of empathy, as well as curiosity.
Just why did humans live so tiredly? Leading an arduous life that would only be filled with heartbreak, and sadness. For what reason did they live on for? Did they live only because of their fear of death?
Or did they too, have something they wish to protect?
“He” didn’t smile this time, as “He” adjusted ”His” crystal monocle. Did “He” live because “He” simply didn’t want to enter Evernight’s domain?
The tall and oddly dressed man paused in “His” fleeting steps. “He” could hear indistinct cheers in the distance, the sound of freedom.
That wasn’t what caught “His” attention though. “He” could sense an enormous presence in the distance, one that could almost rival Medici, the Angel of War. Vaguely placing the existence in the level of a Sequence 3 to 4, “He” swiftly made “His” way over, making no sound in the meantime.
…
I told her to take me to the Gilobat Industrial Complex and Aileen replied,
“No matter how fast you are, it will take at least two days to reach the Gilobat Industrial Complex. Perhaps if there’s help from a transcendental existence…”
“The delegation must be a transportation vehicle. Is it unreasonable?”
“I said two days assuming that you use it.”
Two days… even two hours was too long for me. No matter how I got there, I had to arrive within an hour or I would find Yoo Joonghyuk’s torn body. Damn, nothing came to mind.
The clacking of Gehrman’s fingers against (I’m assuming) Arrodes, made the atmosphere more tense.
“The help of a transcendent presence…”
The first one to come to mind was ‘Hermes.’
If I had this constellation’s help, I could cover a distance that took two days within a few minutes. The problem was that he belonged to Olympus.
“…Going to hell is going to hell. I can’t borrow his hands.”
“Huh?”
I waved my hand at the startled Aileen.
“I’m just talking to myself.”
Of course, I was purposely talking to myself. The reason—
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is wondering what is going on.]
[The constellation who likes to change sex is wondering what happened.]
[Some constellations are curious about the information you have hidden.]
It was in order to induce this response. I deliberately ignored their messages and spoke towards Aileen.
“Is there another way? A warp portal or something like that…”
“This is the 73rd Demon Realm. It’s also the outskirts of the 73rd Demon World. We don’t have such advanced transportation devices.”
“…I see.”
“What the hell is going on?”
“Someone is about to die.”
“Who?”
In a dark voice, Gehrman replied.
“Yoo Joonghyuk.”
Just as I spoke,
“It is the master of this industrial complex.”
As expected, my message log exploded.
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is asking what you mean.]
[The constellation who likes to change sex is listening to your story.]
…The explosion was small but it couldn’t be helped since there weren’t many constellations in the channel. By the way, when did the person who liked to change sex come here?
“Prisoner of the Golden Headband. Can you help me?”
I spoke directly to the constellation and the people in the treatment room were astonished. I decided to be more brazen.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow your Nimbus Cloud.”
It was one of the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven’s star relics, the Nimbus Cloud. If I could borrow it, I could reach the Gilobat Industrial Complex in the shortest time. The problem was whether the tricky Great Sage the Equal of Heaven would lend me his star relic. He had already wasted probability once because of me…
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is asking why you need the ‘Nimbus Cloud.’]
I struggled for a moment before opening my mouth. I had to speak well here.
“I pretended to be Yoo Joonghyuk. And Yoo Joonghyuk impersonated me… it caused a scenario error and there is a problem…”
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is annoyed.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ hates complicated things.]
I decided to summarize the situation according to the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven’s patience.
“Due to this, Yoo Joonghyuk is going to die.”
I wanted to know if he would help but the response from the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven was unexpected.
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is pulling out a handful of his hair from the stress.]
“Wait a minute.”
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is leaving to find a hair comb.]
“Excuse me?”
There was no response from the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven who disappeared.
[A constellation who likes to change sex is enjoying the situation.]
[100 coins have been sponsored.]
I was looking up at the air when Aileen asked me,
“I don’t know who he is but the new owner of this industrial complex is in a crisis?”
“…That’s right.”
“Why?”
“He is going to meet a demon king.”
“A demon king isn’t necessarily an evil existence. If you’re lucky, you can survive.”
“I guess but…”
The problem was the demon king was ‘Asmodeus.’ In the novel, Asmodeus was one of the greatest adversaries whenever Yoo Joonghyuk regressed. Yoo Joonghyuk had already died against Asmodeus in the past. Could Yoo Joonghyuk be safe from him? No good images popped up no matter how hard I thought.
Han Myungoh looked at me nervously and opened his mouth.
“Now what are you going to do?”
It was a big problem. Even if I managed to get there in time, there was no guarantee I could overcome Asmodeus by joining forces with Yoo Joonghyuk. However—
“I won’t know without trying.”
“Huh, I didn’t know you were so passionate. In the company, you never…”
“If I don’t work hard, I will die. It’s different from not becoming a full-time employee if I don’t work hard.”
“…Ahem.”
The situation was bad but I decided to think as positively as possible. There was something I didn’t know. Perhaps things would turn out well even if I didn’t go there. A miracle could happen that caused Yoo Joonghyuk to experience a great awakening or Asmodeus might suddenly become a good guy.
…Damn, that was impossible. I opened the revised Ways of Survival on my smartphone again. I couldn’t come up with something so I had to read this to find the answer.
“What is this all of a sudden?”
“Shhh, be quiet. This is what I do best.”
I quickly scrolled through the contents of Ways of Survival. Then one sentence in the 12th regression caught my eyes.
「 Yoo Joonghyuk thought there were many reasons for his failure in the third round. This was the most important reason.」
My heart suddenly sank. No, hurry up and think about it. The moment I read the next sentence, my mind became blank and I almost went crazy.
「 ‘At that time, we shouldn’t have pretended to support the Demon King Asmodeus.’」
…
There was a little girl with dark eyes. She had a small body and appeared to be around eight or nine years old. The chubby cheeks and vivid expressions were reminiscent of a child actor. There wasn’t any apparent threat on the surface.
‘…His taste is the same.’
However, Yoo Joonghyuk knew very well that the gigantic presence in that body wasn’t the main character of a children’s drama. This girl was the peak of the 72 existences scattered across the Demon Realm and the owner of the ’32nd Demon Realm’, someone even narrative-grade constellations were reluctant to face. Demon King of Rage and Lust, Asmodeus.
Asmodeus smiled with the girl’s face.
[Oh, there is no need to be so tense. I just came to talk.]
The utterance of his true voice brought pain to the incarnations in the area. All incarnations in the industrial complex were probably bleeding. In front of this fearsome pressure, Yoo Joonghyuk held his breath and raised all his magic power. The feeling of pressure wrapped around his skin gradually decreased.
This presence was so strong that even the transcendent Yoo Joonghyuk found it hard to bear. As expected, the status of a demon king itself was different. Whether or not he knew Yoo Joonghyuk’s heart, Asmodeus approached him with gentle footsteps.
[Interesting. The last time we met was when I saw you through my subordinate’s eyes at the Syswitz Industrial Complex…]
The steps were obviously light but in Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes, they were the heaviest things in the world. The grip on the Heaven Shaking Sword became stronger and the veins of his neck bulged.
[You moved to Gilobat and defeated the duke in such a short time… your skills are great, Demon King of Salvation.]
Demon King of Salvation… It was obvious who this was referring to.
‘Damn Kim Dokja.’
Everything happened in the wrong place. In a short time, Yoo Joonghyuk had dozens of thoughts.
‘This guy is in an incomplete incarnation. Can I win?’
‘No, it’s impossible.’
‘It might be an incarnation but this is the Demon World.’
‘Then can I run away?’
‘It’s too unreasonable.’
‘There is no way to get rid of the demon king, who has the mind and heart of an incarnation.’
Originally, the demon kings couldn’t exist in this scenario. Based on the visible sparks, a huge amount of probability was being consumed in real time. Asmodeus somehow showed up with this much determination.
‘There is only one way that will possibly work.’
‘Buy time to waste his probability.’
He might be a demon king but he couldn’t take over the body of an incarnation in the scenario for long. He would be forced to return as long as Yoo Joonghyuk could buy some time. The problem was that it shouldn’t be a ‘fight.’ In the end, Yoo Joonghyuk had to bend his pride a bit.
“Yes, I am the Demon King of Salvation. Who are you?”
[…It is a bit strange? Were you originally this handsome? The face I saw last time…]
“You came here because you have something to say. Then tell me.”
[Huhu, yes. But before we talk, there is something that is bothering me.]
“What?”
Asmodeus’s small fingers snapped. Formidable sparks appeared and a little doll with half of one arm torn appeared in the air.
[As expected.]
Yoo Joonghyuk bit his lip. He was dealing with a demon king. It was a mistake to think that the Recluse’s Cloak wouldn’t be noticed.
[Why is the symbolic body of an archangel here?]
“I don’t know.”
[Is that so? Is this true?]
Intense sparks flashed and Uriel made a pained expression.
[I can tell who you are based on this symbolic body.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is looking at Asmodeus.]
[Archangel Uriel. Is your brother Raphael well? I want you to tell him that I haven’t forgotten the debt.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is roaring with anger!]
[Of course, you can only tell him if you return safely.]
Yoo Joonghyuk’s expression darkened. This was the Demon World. No matter how strong Uriel was, she couldn’t expose the demon king’s incarnation body with a symbolic body. Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t hesitate to raise his energy.
“Stop.”
He would become lost from the scenario if he lost Uriel here. Asmodeus looked impressed by the pressure of the boiling magic power coming from Yoo Joonghyuk.
[Hrmm? This energy… It is tough. But…]
The next moment, Asmodeus was in front of Yoo Joonghyuk.
[A mere mortal is imitating a star.]
The small arm stretched out and grabbed Yoo Joonghyuk’s jaw.
“Kuek…!”
[Indeed, you aren’t the Demon King of Salvation. Isn’t that right?]
Yoo Joonghyuk hurriedly swung the Heaven Shaking Sword. Surprisingly, it was easily caught by Asmodeus’ hand.
[If I’d known you could make such a pretty face, I wouldn’t have let you go in the beginning.]
Then the Heaven Shaking Sword was broken in half.
[You are afraid of me. Cute child.]
“Kuoock…”
[If you resist so much, I will lose the desire to talk to you.]
Dark shadows flocked behind Asmodeus. The darkness gathered in the air and formed a monster with huge horns.
[I want to trample on you.]
Blood started to flow from Yoo Joonghyuk’s nose. The mighty story was weighing down on his transcendence. In front of the vast presence, Yoo Joonghyuk quietly prepared to open his transcendence, stage one.
Before that, a flash of color appeared, and the pressure Yoo Joonghyuk felt disappeared. The grip Asmodeus had on him flew away, and he gasped, stumbling back. He tightened his hold on the broken sword, only to see a lanky man standing leisurely in front of him.
He was wearing a cloak, with black tassels, as well as a silver chain leading up to his eye, encircling a crystal monocle. His lips were curled up, and dark mischievous eyes looked back towards Yoo Joonghyuk.
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t have a bad memory. He immediately recognized him as the person that had briefly passed by him when he first arrived. The one that he and Uriel brushed off.
[A mere mortal dares to–]
Asmodeus raised his status, and he looked visibly enraged. However, Yoo Joonghyuk was sure that there was a hint of excitement in his eyes.
Stealthily turning around, Yoo Joonghyuk could hear the light footsteps behind him, as well as the wind whirling as two opponents met each other.
Shoving his pride away, he slowly inched away, as he held Uriel under his coat. Might as well take this chance to escape from Asmodeus. As for the man with a monocle, that wasn’t his problem.
[The constellation, ‘Demon-Like Judge of Fire’ is urging you to run quicker…!]
Obviously, Yoo Joonghyuk wasn’t the only one distressed about this situation.
Yoo Joonghyuk quickly swung his cracked sword behind him, as all his instincts screamed for him to flee. The sword was caught by Asmodeus and finally shattered, as he was kicked.
Yoo Joonghyuk flew, before slamming against a wall, breaking it down completely, as pieces of concrete rained down. Blood trickled out of his mouth, as his vision swam. By the time he came to his senses, he was crumpled on the ground.
[To think you’d take advantage of a distraction before running…]
Asmodeus approached slowly, shaking his head disappointingly.
[I had hoped you would have been more interesting.]
Asmodeus raised Yoo Joonghyuk and touched Yoo Joonghyuk’s forehead softly.
[I can’t believe it. A mere human has such sublime despair.]
“Dog… bas…tard.”
[Persephone said that ‘Kim Dokja’ must be the best story. Huhu.]
Asmodeus licked his lips. Yoo Joonghyuk stared at Asmodeus and glanced at the man a few feet across from him. The monocle was shattered beside him, and his hat was tattered, as he laid in a position with his limbs sprawled. Yoo Joonghyuk closed his eyes.
‘I’m sorry Kim Dokja.’
There was no other way. He was forced to look towards the next regression. He closed his eyes and Yoo Joonghyuk’s clock prepared to go back. The second hand, the minute hand, the hour hand. The moment that the giant hands were going to move in the opposite direction—
「 That’s why you should’ve thought about me earlier. 」
All of a sudden, Yoo Joonghyuk’s clock stopped.
…
“He” stared absentmindedly at “His” fragmented monocle. The feeling of the concrete against “His” face was new to Amon. “He” hadn’t expected Asmodeus to be so violent, immediately going on the offense. “He” almost couldn’t fathom the emotion “He” was feeling.
Was this amusement at a mere bug? Or was it more of a subtle surprise? “He” also felt a bit of a thrill for whatever reason. As if “He” had found a charming toy.
The sounds of Asmodeus approaching ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’ were crisp, as words flew from his mouth. The pressure and status the demon king let out were impressive; so impressive that Amon had to stop “Himself” from taking it.
If “He” got caught right now, then it would be extremely difficult to escape later on, and “His” plans would be futile. Adam, his zealous brother, or “His” father, had no control here.
Speaking of which, the body Asmodeus took as his incarnation, should be that of Han Myungoh’s daughter-? Amon slightly moved “His” body to rest in a more comfortable position; as “He” decided to play the role of a dead man. Deceit and trickery came in a pair after all.
Slightly smiling to “Himself”, the fractured pieces of “His” monocle slowly came back together.
….
[The exclusive skill, ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ stage 3 has been activated!]
Huge sparks appeared around Yoo Joonghyuk and the startled Asmodeus moved back. Something blinked inside Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes while something else woke up. Of course, it was me.
[You…]
[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ is looking at the ‘Demon King of Rage and Lust’.]
I stared at Asmodeus with bright eyes. Then I said,
[Don’t touch my incarnation, Asmodeus.]