Landlord (5)
Facing the wave of incoming monsters, I steadied my breathing and tightened the muscles in my thighs. Strength, condensed to the limit of Level 15, surged through my step with explosive propulsion.
I'll break through.
Pow pow pow!
Mole-rats with pointed fangs charged from all directions, and the hard horn of a Groll flew in from an unexpected angle. Screech. Even my Level 15-hardened skin began to bruise and bleed as the horn struck repeatedly.
[Bookmark No. 1 has been activated.]
As [Bookmark] triggered, the [Darkening] of the delusional demon Kim Namwoon enveloped my entire body. I charged forward, shoving aside the monsters rushing at me.
Fangs dug into my torso, and several mole-rats bit into my thighs. But I didn't stop. I kept running. And running.
There it is.
At last, I saw the wall mentioned in the original story. I stomped on a mole-rat's head and leapt forward. A glowing green, two-person Green Zone.
But then—damn it.
[Green Zone 1/2]
Someone was already there.
"…"
For a moment, I forgot about the monsters coming from behind and stared at him.
Someone who absolutely should not be here was already standing there.
"Hey."
He looked at me.
"Would you mind letting me in? You'll survive even without being in here."
"That's a problem. I'm tired today."
I wanted to slap that smug face of his.
I didn't understand.
Who would've guessed that Yu Jung-hyuk of the 3rd round would know about this place?
In Doomsday Law, Yu Jung-hyuk first used the hidden Green Zone in the 4th round, so I thought I was safe. But damn it—did he know about this place from the undocumented 2nd round? Then why didn't he use it in the original 3rd round?
Grrrr!
The screeches of the chasing mole-rats. Too late to curse the author. I could hear Yi Gil-young trembling behind me. I stared straight into Yu Jung-hyuk's eyes. We both spoke at almost the same time.
"I'll let the kid in."
"Take the kid, at least."
At least that much was a relief. Probably something he said for the benefit of the constellations watching.
[Green Zone 2/2]
Once I set Yi Gil-young down, the Green Zone mark changed. He would be safe now.
"Hyung! Wait! Hyung!"
Yi Gil-young tried to rush toward me, but Yu Jung-hyuk's firm grip held him back. I swung my sword toward the approaching mole-rats.
[Constellation 'Bald Patriot Commander' closes his eyes.]
[Constellation 'Demonic Judge of Fire' looks at you with pity.]
In that final moment, I saw Yu Jung-hyuk's lips move.
"I told you I'd die."
The wave of monsters crashed in.
There were no more Green Zones left.
"I'm not going to die."
I ignored the monsters and reached into my coat.
Honestly, I really didn't want to use this. Even I couldn't predict the aftereffects. But now I had no choice but to trust in the [Fourth Wall].
"That's...?"
Yu Jung-hyuk's eyes filled with shock.
Did you recognize it, you bastard? Well, of course you did. Not like you could ever use this anyway.
I looked down at the glowing white stone in my palm.
[Specter's Spirit Stone]
An item I had obtained on my way to Chungmuro by hunting a ghost-type monster, a Specter.
Crunch! Crackle!
Hundreds of mole-rats began tearing into my flesh. Blood burst from countless minor wounds, and my shoulder soaked red where a Groll's horn had pierced me. As my physical durability rapidly dropped, I shoved the spirit stone into my mouth.
Steam began to rise in my mouth. The steam turned into a thick fog, and the fog enveloped me completely.
[Illusion Prison has been activated.]
The mole-rats and Grolls biting me all stopped simultaneously.
One by one, everything around me began to distort. The platform, Yu Jung-hyuk, even the desperate face of Yi Gil-young calling for me.
That's how I became a ghost-type.
"Reader."
The moment I heard my mother's voice, I knew. This was a dream.
I struggled not to be dragged in, but this time it wasn't easy. It felt like the ground had become a swamp, swallowing me whole.
[Due to excessive immersion, the influence of the 'Fourth Wall' has temporarily weakened.]
My bloated consciousness began splicing together scenes on its own.
A living room soaked in blood. A man's cold corpse. A woman standing over it. No. Not this memory. I can't recall this.
I shook my head violently, thrashing for over ten minutes before the scene faded from view.
Damn trauma...
Even I have memories I never want to see again.
This is why I was reluctant to use the [Specter's Spirit Stone]. It temporarily turns the user into a ghost-type undetectable by monsters—but at the cost of wildly amplifying personal trauma.
I couldn't let my companions use it. If someone else had, they would've gone mad on the spot.
...
My head feels like it's splitting, but I can still hang on.
The [Fourth Wall] really is overpowered. If not for this skill, I would've been destroyed after using the spirit stone. Even a top-tier mental barrier wouldn't offer this much protection. And if my hunch is right, this skill is...
"Yu Jung-hyuk? Are you Yu Jung-hyuk?"
At first, I thought another trauma was starting. But this wasn't a voice I recognized. Meaning—this wasn't a voice from my own memory. I turned around and saw a stranger.
"…You're not Yu Jung-hyuk."
"You seem Korean. Who the hell are you?"
A girl with dazzling blond hair. A small, foreign girl stood there.
She stared at me for a long time, wearing an incomprehensible expression.
"I don't get it... I've seen the future countless times, but not once have I seen someone like you…"
A sinister red swirl danced in her left iris. My mind flipped rapidly through pages. I knew who this was. No—there was no way not to know.
[Exclusive skill 'Character Profile' is activating!]
[Character 'Anna Croft' is using 'Mental Barrier Lv.6'.]
['Character Profile' bypasses 'Mental Barrier Lv.6'.]
[Too much information about the character detected. Transforming to 'Summary Profile'.]
Name: Anna Croft
Traits: Prophet (Legendary), Savior (Legendary)
Exclusive Skills: [Clairvoyance Lv.5], [Retrocognition Lv.4], [Insight Lv.8], [Farsight Lv.4], [Advanced Magic Mastery Lv.4], [Mental Barrier Lv.6], [Truth-Seer Lv.7], [Gaze of the Archdemon Lv.1]...
A woman who could invade consciousness across spatial boundaries. A woman who saw the future and tried to shape the world based on it. That kind of mindset only belonged to one woman in Doomsday Law.
"Anna Croft."
"...How do you know me?"
Her wide eyes glared at me.
I answered calmly.
"I'm a prophet too."
[Character 'Anna Croft' uses 'Truth-Seer Lv.7'.]
[Truth-Seer detects your statement is false.]
Of course—lies don't work on a real prophet.
"...Reveal your identity. Who are you?"
Her small lips pressed tightly shut, as if protesting.
I could guess roughly what was going on. She must have sensed my presence because the [Fourth Wall]'s influence had temporarily weakened. If the [Fourth Wall] really is what I think it is, anyway.
Still… disappointing.
"You seriously came all the way here without knowing who I am?"
"...What?"
"You used the Sea Dragon's Core I gave you, didn't you?"
Anna's lips slowly parted.
"You implanted the Archdemon's Eye with its mana, didn't you? Am I wrong?"
"W-Wait, are you… the one who requested 'Broken Conviction' through the exchange…?"
The Archdemon's Eye. A damn diamond-spoon player who got a 1-million-coin item as sponsorship—this was the girl. Lucky you.
"You! What's your name? How do you—"
[Exclusive skill 'Fourth Wall' is gradually restoring.]
"Why… can't I see anything…?"
Her eyes grew hazy. The power of [Gaze of the Archdemon] that allowed her to enter others' minds weakened, and her form began to fade. I waved farewell.
"Someday, we'll meet. Wait for me—across the continent."
[Exclusive skill 'Fourth Wall' has fully restored.]
Soon, Anna's figure disappeared completely.
Once her presence vanished, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Honestly, I'd been barely holding on mentally—and of all people, it had to be Anna Croft. Not a great day for me.
[You've developed resistance to 'Illusion Prison' due to skill effects.]
…Damn it. Now it kicks in?
With a clang, my mind suddenly cleared.
The discomfort still lingered, but I felt much better than before. Slowly, I inhaled and exhaled, reviewing one clear fact after another to regain my senses.
I am Kim Dokja.
The world has ended.
The "Demon Extermination Law" has become reality.
This place... is inside the [Prison of Illusions].
I ate the Specter's Spirit Stone and briefly became a ghost-type species.
When you're a ghost-type, you don't get attacked by the subterranean species.
Yeah, that's right.
That's why... the world looks like this to me.
In this landscape, as if I had taken drugs, I couldn't grasp the passage of time. I started to feel a little uneasy.
What happened to Yoo Sangah, Lee Hyunsung, and Jung Heewon?
That bastard Yoo Joonghyuk didn't kill Gilyoung, did he?
Could it be that the third scenario is still ongoing?
What if the mole crickets are still around?
What if those damn Groals are still prowling around to eat me?
If that's the case...
...Hyung.
...Please.
...Dokja-ssi!
In that moment, I snapped back to my senses.
[Exclusive skill, "PAMA Lv.1" is activating!]
Right, it's time to return now.
With a gasp, I exhaled a rough breath. A soft and squishy feeling touched my cheek.
"Dokja-ssi!"
As if fog had lifted, my vision cleared. The first thing I saw was Yoo Sangah's face. Then I saw Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon, both looking worried.
"...The scenario?"
"It's over, Dokja-ssi. We did it. We really did it!"
...Is that so? We really made it.
Watching my companions, excited, I tried to move my body. It was stiff from being in the same position all day, and my muscles wouldn't respond easily.
"It's... too early to celebrate."
"What?"
"We only survived one day. Yesterday was the third day, so..."
When I showed signs of getting up, Lee Hyunsung quickly rushed over to hold me down.
"Dokja-ssi! You mustn't. You haven't slept a wink!"
"What time is it now?"
"It's 8:30 AM. It's been about 30 minutes since the scenario ended."
8:30... thankfully, not too much time has passed. But there was one face missing.
"Where's Gilyoung?"
"Oh, Gilyoung is..."
Before Jung Heewon could finish her sentence, I already knew where he was.
Yoo Joonghyuk, accompanied by Lee Jihye, was standing a few steps away, looking down at Gilyoung.
...Wait, why is Yoo Joonghyuk with him?
Suddenly, I remembered the surprised look on Yoo Joonghyuk's face when he saw us.
Could it be... what Yoo Joonghyuk saw with the "Eye of the Sage" back then...?
"When did you... finish it? I'm sure it wasn't there before..."
Maybe due to the aftereffects of the spirit stone, I couldn't hear Yoo Joonghyuk's voice clearly. Then Gilyoung spoke.
"It hasn't been long."
"...You really won't come with me?"
"Yes."
"You'd get stronger much faster with me than with that guy. You still won't come?"
"Yes. I still won't."
"...What a foolish kid."
Yoo Joonghyuk frowned and glanced briefly at me before turning away.
[Exclusive skill, "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint" Stage 2 is activating!]
「...Lucky bastard. He might be useful, so I'll let him live a little longer.」
I wanted to say something back, but my body had no strength.
"Dokja-hyung!"
Seeing that I was awake, Gilyoung ran toward me with teary eyes. Yoo Joonghyuk's thoughts echoed in my mind as he walked away.
「There's no time to waste. I need to clear today's stage too. Otherwise...」
...Clear? What is he trying to clear?
I need... to think.
Damn, I'm so tired.
I let my body go limp, and once again felt the soft touch of someone's thigh through the fabric against my cheek.
"Yoo Sangah-ssi..."
"Yes, yes!"
"Sorry, but I'm going to sleep for a bit..."
And then, I fell into sleep.
A sweet sleep, dreamless for once.
I woke up two hours later.
[Hey! How long are you planning to keep sleeping?!]
Annoyed by the loud voice, I opened my eyes. This time, the sensation under my cheek was much firmer and thicker.
"...Ah, Dokja-ssi's awake."
A smiling mouth. Jung Heewon was looking down at me.
"I told Yoo Sangah-ssi to rest for a bit. We didn't sleep last night either."
Looking over, I saw Yoo Sangah sleeping soundly against the wall. Jung Heewon smiled.
"But... is Lee Hyunsung-ssi's thigh comfortable?"
I turned my head to see Lee Hyunsung muttering in his sleep above me.
"Morning roll caaall... will be conducted by the duty oofffiicer..."
...No wonder the pillow height felt off. So it was Lee Hyunsung's thigh.
Smells like a military pillow cover.
"Dokja-hyung..."
I felt a weight on my stomach and looked down. Gilyoung was curled up like a cat, sleeping against me.
As I gently pulled my head away and sat up, Bihyung's voice rang out.
[Haha, you're up? Then take this.]
And then messages poured into my ear.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' sympathizes with your trauma.]
[The constellation 'Black Flame Dragon of the Abyss' is intrigued by your past.]
[The constellation 'Sneaky Schemer' is curious about your mother.]
[The constellations have sponsored you with 1,800 coins.]
...Bastards. Spying on someone's past like it's nothing.
The messages didn't stop.
[You endured the night at Chungmuro without a Green Zone.]
[You are the second person to achieve the 'Endless Dawn' achievement at Chungmuro Station!]
[You have received 1,000 coins as a reward.]
[Total coins: 22,650 C]
Well, I hit my goal at least.
It wasn't a waste to suffer through the night.
As Jung Heewon yawned, she asked,
"So, what should we do today? Like yesterday...?"
"No, not today. That method only works once a day."
Of course, we might be lucky and randomly find another "Green Zone" today. But unfortunately, the location of the Green Zone on Day 4 isn't clearly specified in the Demon Extermination Law.
"Then..."
Jung Heewon looked anxious.
But there was no need to worry.
"Today, we'll completely finish the third scenario."
"Huh?"
Carefully laying Gilyoung down, I stood up and stretched.
I hadn't planned to do this originally, but now that I know Yoo Joonghyuk has other plans, I can't just stand by. Yesterday, time was too tight, but today is a different story.
"Let's drag the Mole King out."
"...How?"
At Jung Heewon's question, I looked toward the peacefully sleeping Lee Hyunsung.
"We'll use the secret weapon I've been saving."
It's time to change the owner of Chungmuro.
READ MORE CHAPTERS HERE-https://ko-fi.com/s/977d74fb20