"Keo-heup, kuhup…."
"…."
-Gurgle, gurgle….
Blood begins to gush endlessly from the abdomen pierced by a dagger.
I try hard to reinforce my body with Cursed Energy to stop the bleeding, but.
"…Keo-heup!"
For some reason, Cursed Energy is not being used properly.
What on earth, what is this….
"Do you know how many Coins I burned to use this?"
"…."
Ha Seo-yeon crumpling her face while looking at the dagger disappearing with a pass-s-s-! sound.
At that appearance, which is quite different from the appearance I know, I try to fire 'Dismantle', but.
[Use of Cursed Energy is temporarily restricted by the 'Disposable Amano-Sakahoko (Inverted Spear of Heaven)'!]
[The perk of 'King of Curses' temporarily disappears!]
Along with several notification windows, 'Dismantle' misfires.
"…What did you do, to Seo-yeon-ssi. King of Prophets."
"Huh? What, you figured out my identity right away? But the question is strange. Pfft, right. Well, you ask what I did? Well, what did I do?"
"…."
-Thwack!
The King of Prophets mocking me while trampling on my fallen body.
Is it because I was trampled? Or is it because I was played by his plan? Or maybe I just didn't like that he was making such an expression with that face.
Unknown unpleasant sensations swept through my body.
"Maybe because it's still early, our King of Curses is more naive than I thought. Well, I'll answer your question. That Seo-yeon-ssi you are thinking of? I didn't do anything to that person. Didn't kidnap her, and didn't kill her either."
"…."
"Because that Seo-yeon-ssi is me. No, to be precise, she is one of 'my' Avatars."
Her mocking laughter echoes around.
I look at her without saying a word.
"Mm? Ah. Are you perhaps thinking that can't be true because Avatars don't bleed? What to do, I feel sorry about this. If you put a lot of memories into an Avatar, it bleeds. How about it, amazing right?"
Is that so.
So that's why she could bleed and possess Cursed Energy.
I was had. I completely fell into her plan, to the point where that phrase fits perfectly.
"But consider yourself lucky. I have no intention of killing you."
"…What does, that mean…."
"Well, the reason is simple, right? When there's a guy as good as a protagonist if kept close."
"…!!"
The voice just now was not Ha Seo-yeon's, but someone else's.
A voice thinner and more unlucky compared to Ha Seo-yeon. That voice came along with the sound of footsteps coming from behind.
"…Are you also, another Avatar of the King of Prophets?"
"No? I am the main body. Because if I want to take your flag, I can't take it with an Avatar."
"…."
Short black hair, small face, and big eyes.
A beauty of a different category from Ha Seo-yeon.
Such a woman looks down at me and smiles meaningfully.
-Swish….
"…Mm? What, you want to resist? Well, not bad, but it'll only be your loss?"
"…Shut, up."
Slowly raising my body, I gritted my teeth while looking at her.
Currently, I cannot use Cursed Energy. The only thing I can trust is this humble body suffering from a fatal wound.
However, in this state, the opponent is a King. And a King who can create countless forces with things called 'Avatars'.
The outcome of victory or defeat is obvious without looking.
"Well, if you're going to be like that."
When she snapped her fingers once, Ha Seo-yeon's body slowly disappears.
Watching that, the thought that Ha Seo-yeon, who smiled brightly while taking a big bite of Mole Cricket meat asking if I really couldn't accept her as a companion, was really nothing more than an Avatar of the King of Prophets flashed by for an instant, but.
"I won't stop you though."
-Whooosh—!!
Several people with her appearance pounced on me from behind her, so I took a combat stance.
"…!!"
The total number of Avatars is about 10.
If it's that many…, I can win.
-Whish!
-Thwack—!!
"Kuhup…!!"
—As if mocking that thought, the Avatars' movements were quite fast.
Not just fast. Each blow is powerful enough to make bones vibrate.
A threat chilling enough to send shivers down the spine, a situation where I might really die.
Every nerve screams powerfully that I must escape from here, but I cannot easily escape from that place.
-Ring!
In such a situation, the notification window updated anew.
[A majority of Constellations are disappointed in you.]
[Several Constellations yawn, feeling boredom at the cliché.]
Ha. It's absurd.
I wonder if they are really the ones who were cheering and even sponsoring me seeing my appearance just moments ago.
Well, not that I expected anything from them.
[Constellations of the Absolute Evil alignment smile faintly, saying this is also a form of fun.]
[Constellations of the Absolute Good alignment smile broadly, saying the seed of Great Evil (巨惡) is finally being eliminated.]
Didn't those guys always fight and bicker?
Why do their opinions match so perfectly at times like this?
The image of Constellations in my head becomes firmer.
[The Constellation, 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon', groans at your desperate appearance.]
However.
[The Constellation, 'Secretive Plotter', looks at you with pity, recalling his old self.]
What on earth are these guys?
[The Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband', bows his head unable to say anything.]
I thought they would all just cheer for the story and show interest in the story.
These guys are slightly different.
[The Constellation, 'Demonic Judge of Fire', clenches her hands tightly.]
Not looking at it like just a piece of gossip or a form of amusement.
Don't they seem to be watching desperately as if cheering like a real fan?
If you are Constellations, act like Constellations and sponsor in this situation. Or just drink cider and laugh.
-Kwa-a-a-ang—!!!
"Keo-heok—!!"
At that moment, my vision flickers.
When I regained consciousness, my body was already embedded in the wall, and a woman was slowly approaching me step by step.
"…Uup."
Blood gushes out from my mouth.
I try hard to move my limbs, but they don't listen at all.
"Damn, it…."
Ha Seo-yeon.
I…, thought to myself that she wasn't an ordinary person.
She didn't vomit even once despite seeing quite a few people die in terrible forms right before her eyes multiple times.
The fact that she could cook Mole Crickets was also like that. How on earth did she obtain a Magic Power Stove and know how to cook Mole Crickets?
Also the fact that she showed no reaction every time the scenario updated.
And above all.
"It was too, contrived."
She appeared coincidentally when I thought it would be nice to have a companion.
And that person who appeared coincidentally perfectly resembled my ideal type.
Appearance, personality, everything.
In a ruined world, one shouldn't trust anyone easily.
This was a thought I held since the scenario first started.
However, it hasn't even been a week since I met her.
Was the thought that I wanted someone to be by my side that strong inside me?
….
Thinking about it now, I was completely foolish.
-Swish….
She extended her slender hand towards me.
The target wasn't me, but the Black Flag behind me.
Watching that, I quietly closed my eyes.
-Drip. Drip….
Red liquid dripping from the ceiling formed a pool large enough to be called a pond.
Looking closely, it was none other than blood. The ceiling from which blood dripped had a shape similar to human ribs.
A truly gruesome space that brought the underworld to mind.
In that space.
"How boring…."
Someone sitting on a throne made of a mountain of corpses frowned as if extremely displeased.
"To think he would lose to such a lowly thing while possessing the same technique as me…. Unpleasant. Damn unpleasant."
That existence recalled.
His talent who possesses the same technique as him. A talent great enough to make him, who was called the strongest Sorcerer of the modern era, seem insignificant.
"I will forgive you once. However."
-Swish.
As he drew a line horizontally with his finger once, the surrounding space began to fluctuate severely.
The river filled with blood began to boil, and the mountain of corpses rumbled crazily as if an earthquake had occurred.
"There won't be a second time."
-Snap.
At that moment.
With a sound of something snapping, the world flickered for an instant.
"♪♬♩♪~."
The King of Prophets.
To be precise, the Fake King, Han Sooyoung, was in such a good mood that she hummed a tune.
Although the matter with the Four Yin Demonic Beheading Sword is regrettable, she obtained an even better card.
Jujutsu Sorcerer, Kang Yuhyeon.
If she thinks long-term, it was obvious that he would surely take her safely to the end of the scenario!
"Now then, let's see—"
-Snap.
It was at that moment.
The reason she stopped extending her hand and immediately distanced herself from him was—
-Chill—!!!
A tremendous pressure that felt like it would crush her spine.
Her survival instincts were ringing crazily.
From Kang Yuhyeon, who she thought had definitely fainted.
[You have realized the Essence of Cursed Energy.]
[The effect of 'Disposable Amano-Sakahoko (Inverted Spear of Heaven)' is interrupted midway!]
[The perk of 'King of Curses' activates again!]
[Exclusive Attribute, 'Jujutsu Sorcerer', Exclusive Attribute, 'Shrine', and Attribute, 'King of Curses' begin to interlock by ???!]
"…For real?"
Han Sooyoung couldn't believe it.
No, she didn't want to believe it.
-Whooosh—!!
The sight of that man in front of her, who was lying down just moments ago, rising up again.
"…Damn it!!"
She instantly summoned several Avatars and sent them towards him.
Avatars attacking him, each holding a dagger with a sharpened edge.
However.
-Seo-geok—!!!
Not a single one could inflict a fatal wound, no, not even a single scratch, and their limbs were severed.
[You have realized the Essence of Cursed Energy for the first time in the scenario!]
[You have obtained the strengthening of existing techniques and the possibility of new techniques.]
[You have received 50,000 Coins as an achievement reward.]
"You made a huge mistake, King of Prophets."
[You have obtained a new 'Fable' (Story).]
[Fable, 'King of Curses' is added.]
[You have obtained the possibility of a new Stigma.]
"Amano-Sakahoko (Inverted Spear of Heaven)…. The effect is probably forced cancellation of techniques. If you used such a good weapon on me, you should have taken my flag immediately without chattering."
-Thud, thud….
Cutting through the debris of collapsed buildings one by one, he approaches her.
A hideous killing intent spreading one step, and another step.
It was directed solely at Han Sooyoung.
-Gogogogo…!!
I must run away. I must definitely run away.
There is no next time. This is the end.
Her entire body commands her so, but she cannot move.
"Ah, aaah…."
"…."
Because her brain has already been exposed to his killing intent countless times.
-Tremble…!!!
Her whole body, the tips of her hands and feet, her pupils.
Everything began to shake without a moment of rest.
"Still, on one hand, I am grateful to you. More than anything."
He smiles.
Slowly bringing his two hands together.
"Because if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have obtained the danger of companions, nor the Essence of Cursed Energy, none of it."
"Sh, sh*t…!!"
"So, with the utmost respect to you."
The Hand Sign is Enmaten (Yama-Devaloka).
Middle fingers and ring fingers extended, index fingers and pinky fingers folded, his fingers touching each other in front of his face.
Han Sooyoung, she knew what that meant.
"Domain Expansion."
For Jujutsu Sorcerers, a type of Barrier Technique, and the pinnacle of Jujutsu.
Truly a trump card and a final secret technique.
"Malevolent Shrine (伏魔御廚子)."
A temple where demons hide and are governed.
That was activated now, despite being only the fourth scenario.