Chapter 391 – For a Surprisingly Happy Ending (4)
I walk alone down a long hallway with no end in sight.
‘I will resent you…’
I have no regrets about leaving Lucia behind.
If there was a possibility of bringing a happy ending to this world with Lucia, even if it was one in a million, one in ten million, even one in Nayuta… I would never have made this choice.
But she was sure the moment she opened the door.
Me and Lucia could never beat the ‘final boss’.
No matter how perfect your strategy is, you can’t roll a 7 on the dice…
Impossible exists in the world.
Even more so, defeating the ‘final boss’ is a situation where you have to make 100 with dice.
A number that could never be made even if a miracle occurred where all sides of the die unfolded at the same time.
To face death at the same time as an opponent like that…
It was a selfish heart that wanted to live as much as Lucia.
“…”
I looked down at the shiny silver needle in her hand.
‘…I’m glad I borrowed it.’
Of course, there is no way that the sleep magic I use with my skills will work on Lucia.
Even so, it was thanks to this that I was able to put Lucia to sleep for a while.
‘…There are many other good things, but you’re going to take those two? Even if they are treasures, aren’t they not of great value?’
‘Yes, this is enough for me.’
I didn’t tell Lucia, but there were two things I brought from Calliope’s warehouse.
One was the [Blessing of the Windbreaker] In Lucia’s hand, and the other was the [Spinning Wheel for the Loved One] That she is holding now.
─As much as you love the person pricked by the needle, the target enters a powerful sleep state, and protection and recovery effects work on the target who entered the sleep state.
Is that the explanation you saw in the game?
It’s embarrassing to say it out loud, but if I love Lucia, she’ll be able to prevent anything from happening before she wakes up.
〈 You are stupid.〉
Then, a voice was heard from the end of the hallway.
The source of the voice is a wriggling black sphere floating in the air.
〈 But thanks for that stupidity.〉
Took─ Took─
The sphere melted and fell to the floor, then it wriggled like slime and took the form of a liana with black hair.
“Originally, the ending would have been to become a doll that obeys my commands… Or to end one’s own life…”
He doesn’t need modifiers such as crawling, distorted, revived, and spreading.
“Thanks to you keeping Liana alive, I was able to gain knowledge up to this moment… And through him I was able to have a self for the first time in my existence.”
A fear, a corruption, a desire, a destruction, a nightmare, a being that innocently heralds the end of everything.
That was the ‘end’.
“A fool doesn’t know the beauty of learning, right? That’s how I feel. I couldn’t understand why a body without an ego needed an ego… But now I can see the beauty of the ego.”
“…If you have an ego, it will make sense… Would you please stop it if possible?”
Haha!! Are you here to beg for your life? How pitiful for a hero’s first words to block the ‘end’!”
“You know you can’t win. I never aspired to be a hero. I just want to live with the women I love.”
Chi profit ─
He pretends to be relaxed, but his mind is shaken and his body begins to deteriorate just by having a conversation with ‘Jong-eon’.
Just as humans cannot stand against death, in the first place ‘end’ is not something that humans can deal with.
Then, Jong-eon shook his head.
“I can’t do that. Even though I have a self, it does not mean that my essence has not ceased to be ‘end’. However, with my will, I can give a very slight reprieve from the demise that was scattered without will until now.”
Swoop-
Before I knew it, the end approached me and whispered in my ear.
“How are you? I will put my last word on you and your woman. It won’t be that long, though. Wouldn’t that be better than dying right now?”
Kwaaang-!
[Telekinesis (Rank A)]
He aimed precisely at the head, but as if there was no need to avoid the end, he took it with his body and returned the broken neck.
“Oh… Isn’t it cowardly because it’s an attack the moment you know there’s no room for negotiation?”
“…If you don’t intend to give up, stop the bullshit and change your appearance.”
“Why? This must be the most perfect human form. If you’re going to die, wouldn’t it be better to die to the most beautiful woman?”
“Because it’s unpleasant. Liana is not your toy. She is my woman.”
She didn’t hesitate because she knew it was fake, but she couldn’t help but feel the discomfort of attacking Riana.
“He’s a guy with no sense of consideration. It’s good though. These are the words of a human who gave me an ego. If it’s your last wish, I can grant it.”
Saaa─
“How is it? Is this enough for ‘The End’?”
At first glance, it looked like black armor covering the whole body, similar to the one I used in the first playthrough, but…
Something was obviously different.
Tentacles squeezed through the black armour, wriggling, and half-moon crooked red eyes filled with malevolent pleasure.
“Tell me again. I feel very good right now.”
When she stretched out her hand, ‘Dongeon’ held a greatsword made of long bones with black flames wrapped around it.
“So let me give you one piece of advice.”
With each step slowly approaching, even the air around it freezes.
“I admit that you have amassed quite a bit of power for a human being… However, that level is far from reaching me.”
Just as he said, he was the ‘end’ itself.
“…So keep your eyes peeled.”
Dangerous.
The moment I thought so.
Push-
My right wrist fell to the ground.
“Oops… I even warned you, but the sword won’t work. …The difference in class is too great. Then, let’s do it with our fists.”
‘Jong-eon’ shook his head and said as he slammed his sword into the floor.
“Next is the back.”
Kwaaaaang—!
The moment the ‘end’ disappears, as he had declared, if he hadn’t looked back to block his back, his heart would have been pierced and that would have been the end.
Haha!! Okay!! You’re blocking this much!”
“…Tweep. It’s terribly noisy.”
Spitting out the cold blood in her mouth, she falls out and brings the wrist she picked up and uses ‘body transformation’ to forcibly connect the nerves.
“You can’t fight with your mouth closed?”
Haha!! Why should I? Conversation is the exclusive property of those with intellect and ego. Rather, have you really implanted ‘creeping fear’ into your body? No matter how much you purify it, if you look around all the worlds I’ve swallowed so far, you’re the only ones who did that!”
The reason why I endure even this much is because ‘Jong-eon’ is playing around with me, and I am not an opponent.
“So, what’s next? Are you going to use ‘strong god’? Or [Causal reversal]? Please, show me if there are any cards you have hidden until now.”
“Looks like I know what to do.”
Then, ‘Jong-eon’ tapped his helmet and said.
“It’s a pity… But because of the ‘spreading nightmare’, your information has been learned.”
Hearing the words of the end, I bit my lip.
‘…I thought it might be, but…’
While listening to Lucia’s words, there was one thing I couldn’t understand no matter how much I thought about it.
How was I able to seal the ‘end’ in the first round?
…The answer was right in front of me.
This is because the ‘end’ of the first round was incomplete.
As expected, if the accumulated memories and powers are returned to the ‘end’ at the moment of defeating the apostles like ‘spreading nightmares’…
This explains why the end of the first playthrough, which did not defeat the ‘spreading nightmare’, was particularly weak.
‘…This won’t work.’
While dealing with the ‘Spreading Nightmare’, I already took out most of my cards.
If ‘End’ had that memory intact… It was good to say that he was fully aware of my combat patterns.
Swoop─
“Ah, are you going to use the ‘ring’? I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in rings… It’s been a while since you were in your prime.”
“That’s right… ‘I’ was definitely at its peak at that time, but if you’ve learned it, you’ll know…? How I defeated the nightmare.”
“That is why it is said. Even after using the ring, I managed to defeat the nightmare that was only a part of me… And that was only a piece of him. But now they come and knock me out with it…”
“That’s right… Are you afraid?”
The moment when ‘Jong-eon’ frowned at my provocation.
Puck-!
The right arm, which was barely attached to the wrist, was also torn off.
Poo-!
Then the left leg explodes.
Poo-!
Finally, the right leg disappeared.
All that remains is the left hand wearing the ring.
“Why should I be afraid of you? Until now, the only way you could have saved your life was to do you a favor.”
The overwhelming power gap.
I couldn’t even understand how I was attacked.
“But… It doesn’t feel very pleasant to insult that favor.”
“It’s not over yet. Your left hand is left.”
Hearing those words, Jonghyun swallowed a laugh as if he was happy.
“You don’t know? I leave it to show you how futile your hopes are.”
Is it because it wasn’t long after the ego was born…
He tries hard to imitate an adult, but the mental age of ‘Jong-eon’ is no different from that of a child.
They say they are doing favors, but they are enjoying an overwhelmingly advantageous situation from the point of view of the absolute child who caught the bug in the barrel.
“But… It was futile. As I said, what’s the point of calling the power of the heyday? If you go back to your prime, do you think you can stop me?”
〈 Crack – Break 〉
Instead of answering, I squeezed out my mana and fired the imperial family’s own magic.
“You said it was useless… Huh?”
But… The target was not the ‘end’, but the ring.
Haha! Broke the ring? So, have you realized the gap and given up?”
“…No.”
Pajik─!
The magic spell that instantly pops out as the ring breaks is ‘Strong spirit’ Through 「Causal reversalCatch it with 」…
‘..Reverse it!!’
The law bestowed by the ring is simple but strong.
It summons the ‘power of the prime’ and offers ‘life’ in return.
However, if the conditions and results are overturned with the power of 「Causal reversal」…
Geek-!
You will be able to dedicate your ‘Lifespan’ to summon the ‘Power of the Golden Age’.
They look the same at first glance, but the meaning is completely different.
It means that as much as you sacrifice your life, you can forcibly recall the power of your prime.
In other words, I, not the ring, decide how much life I will spend.
“I give my whole life.”
[Life remaining: 60 seconds]
Infuses all life except for one minute.
This was the reason he had no choice but to leave Lucia behind.
Lucia would have chosen to die with me, but would not have chosen to survive alone.
[Bring the heyday of ‘one with the qualities of a hero’. Sustainable time 60 seconds]
[The price is too high compared to the reward!]
[Get an extra reward to hit the scales of fate.]
[…Confirmed prime… 11 in total. Call all primes.]
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Round 2 – Those who inherit the will.
Inheritance complete.
Round 3 – The one who changes fate.
Inheritance complete.
Round 4 – The one who understands.
Inheritance complete.
Episode 5 – The one who reveals the secret.
Inheritance complete.
6th round – accomplice of false evil.
Inheritance complete.
Episode 7 – The one who gives hope.
Inheritance complete.
Episode 8 – The one left alone.
Inheritance complete.
Episode 9 – The one who seeks the truth.
Inheritance complete.
Episode 10 – The one who extends his hand.
Inheritance complete.
Episode 11 – Those who do not give up.
Inheritance complete.
Episode 12 – Those who have the qualities of a hero.
Inheritance complete.
──────────
Right now at this moment.
The heyday of all rounds dwelled in me.
