Chapter 18: Side Story) Calamity (1)

■■■■th Regression.

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1. Demon King of Wrath and Lust

2. Goddess of Love and Beauty

3. Secretive Plotter

4. Demon-like Judge of Fire

It was quite surprising that Constellations this famous were interested in making me their Incarnation.

Modifier: 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust.' True name: Asmodeus.

A powerful enemy who had killed Yoo Joonghyuk, the protagonist of Ways of Survival, countless times, and a Demon King who stood in direct opposition to the absolute good-aligned Constellations.

Modifier: 'Goddess of Love and Beauty.' True name: Aphrodite.

While she didn't have any particularly standout achievements, she was a powerful figure of Olympus, so I could expect a decent amount of material support.

Modifier: 'Secretive Plotter'... I didn't know anything about this one.

Modifier: 'Demon-like Judge of Fire.' True name: Uriel.

If I recall correctly, she was an incredibly powerful Constellation... on par with Asmodeus.

I had to pick one, but the problem was that absolute good and absolute evil were both on the list.

They were already bitter rivals—a Demon King and an Archangel. The moment I chose one, I could kiss any hope of support from the other goodbye.

But...

'I'll choose the Demon King of Wrath and Lust.'

They say prayers should come from the heart and be offered without expecting anything in return. But I hadn't asked for some worldly desire like wealth; I had simply prayed for my family's happiness.

Even then, all I had wanted was Dokja's safety, and yet that wish had returned to me in the most twisted form possible...

I'd rather deal with Demon Kings who were honest about their desires.

"Who did you choose?"

"Me? I chose the 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust'."

"What?!"

Since Dokja had read Ways of Survival, she knew exactly how powerful Asmodeus was. It was only natural that she'd be shocked.

[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is greatly shocked by your choice.]

[The absolute good-aligned Constellations condemn your choice.]

[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' looks upon you with contempt.]

"None of you have the right to judge me."

[The absolute good-aligned Constellations are outraged by your remark.]

[The absolute evil-aligned Constellations feel a sense of catharsis at your words.]

[You have received a sponsorship of 500 coins.]

I wished they would all just shut up.

I didn't choose a Demon King just to entertain them.

Those who claim to be 'absolute good' while treating our desperate struggle for survival as a mere game—pretending to be noble while watching us suffer.

I'd rather have Constellations who openly embrace their evil than those hypocrites. That doesn't mean I actually like them.

"Not once did any of you answer my prayers. In fact, the only result of my praying was even greater misfortune. And yet, you actually thought I would choose you?"

[The absolute good-aligned Constellations agree with the 'Demon-like Judge of Fire'.]

"I didn't ask to be rich! I only asked for my sister's safety! Was that really too much to ask for someone like me?!"

[The absolute evil-aligned Constellations are delighted to see the masks of the absolute good-aligned Constellations shatter.]

Whether they were suddenly trying to live up to their names or had realized that any further arguing would only make them look pathetic, no more messages came.

"Whether you're absolute good or absolute evil, you're all the same—treating our struggle to survive as a hobby. Why act so high and mighty, as if you're different from the rest?"

[The absolute evil-aligned Constellations find your words incredibly refreshing.]

[The Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' openly mocks the 'Demon-like Judge of Fire'.]

[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' glares at the 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' while grinding her teeth.]

What a complete disaster.

[Did you enjoy your fight with the Constellations? Now, let's move on to the next part.]

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[The absolute evil-aligned Constellations sneer at you.]

[The absolute good-aligned Constellations turn away from you.]

[The Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' remains silent.]

"Right. I never expected you to actually help me."

There was no way that people who hadn't even looked at us until now would suddenly decide to save me.

The monsters, created from the corpses of Kim Namwoon and the others I had killed, were slowly closing in on me.

I strained my exhausted neck to look around; Dokja was being threatened by Yoo Joonghyuk.

Anyone could see that if this continued, both Dokja and I would die.

Was I destined to remain a toy for the stars in the sky until the very end?

Was I supposed to just stand by and watch Dokja suffer once again?

Even if my actions were seen as hypocrisy by some, as entertainment by others, or became a shackle that bound me for a lifetime... I would protect her.

This time, I have to protect her.

My family...

Dokja.

[The attribute 'Support Raised with an Abandoned Dream' gazes at you.]

[Are you willing to burn everything you have, even if not a single root remains, to save Dokja?]

'Do you even have to ask? Of course I am.'

['Support Raised with an Abandoned Dream' smiles at you, as if it already knew the answer.]

[The attribute 'Support Raised with an Abandoned Dream' transforms into 'Soul-Burning Great Tree'.]

[You will temporarily gain overwhelming power, but after a certain amount of time, your incarnation body will vanish and you will be expelled from the scenario.]

[The Star Stream condones your actions.]

[May you remain a support until the very end.]

- BOOM!

"Get your filthy hands off my sister!"

- THUD!!

"Are you okay?"

"Brother? Your body...!!"

Since my attribute had changed into the 'Soul-Burning Great Tree', my body was literally incinerating in real-time.

Yet, for some reason, I felt no pain from the flames.

This was my final struggle.

"You...!!!"

- CRASH!

Yoo Joonghyuk, clearly irritated by being sent flying by a single blow, charged at me again.

- SMACK!

"...."

"How?!"

To see the stoic Yoo Joonghyuk look so bewildered... I guess I really am an unpredictable variable.

[All Constellations in the channel are excited by the dramatic story unfolding from the very first scenario.]

- RUMBLE!!

- THUD!

- SMACK!

- BOOM!!!

The battle raged atop the collapsed bridge.

The monsters were obliterated simply by the shockwaves of our clash.

We seemed evenly matched, but in reality, I had the upper hand.

Yoo Joonghyuk was barely holding on, relying solely on his past experiences.

"You! What did you do to your body?!"

"The more you throw your body away, the stronger you get, right?!"

"Is that why you're burning?!"

"...Yes. To protect my sister, I don't care if I burn alive!!"

I didn't have much time left.

One last...

Just one last hit!!!

"There's no cliché here where I collapse right before the final blow! This is reality!!!"

- KABOOM!!!

"...I won."

"Brother?"

Ah, is that Dokja?

This might become an eternal burden for her.

Even so, someone had to do it.

As they say, it's better to roll in a field of dog dung than to be dead.

I hope she learns the weight of sacrifice.

Because Dokja had always taken her own sacrifices for granted.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to survive together until the end... there are so many things I couldn't do for you."

"Brother...? It's not... it's not what I think it is, right?"

"It is."

"Why are you so calm?! Aren't you afraid of dying? What about me... what am I supposed to do, left all alone?!!!"

Dokja was right.

I was afraid of dying.

I was worried about Dokja being left alone.

But I was more afraid of Dokja dying.

I believe that Dokja will survive, leaving my death behind.

"Dokja."

"No..."

"Because I'm your brother..."

"Stop talking!!!"

"I was happier than anyone in the world. My beautiful, kind little sister."

"@#!₩*!%!₩+>#^"

I can no longer hear what her last words are.

Now, everything is beginning to blur.

So it ends like this.

If dying like this is the only way to save you... I want to believe it was the right decision.

It was a wonderful life.

It's so warm... Is this... the end?

[Your incarnation body has completely vanished.]

[You have failed the scenario.]

[You have been expelled from the scenario.]

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