"…F*ck."
To say 'f*ck' as soon as the consciousness that had sunk deep into the abyss returned.
But anyone would have no choice but to say that if they saw the scene in front of them.
-Whooosh….
Dark clouds swirling like a black hole.
Seoul lying in ruins like the city I saw in a dream.
A gloomy atmosphere that has sunk heavily.
Furthermore.
"…Why am I here?"
[A few Constellations look forward to your monologue.]
"Dream Light Orphanage."
The place that was responsible for my younger days. A space like an uncanny valley, joyful if you call it joyful, disgusting if you call it disgusting.
If such a beggar-like facility where I stayed until I became an adult capable of taking care of myself is in front of my eyes.
"…By the way, what happened to the scenario."
Clutching my head which was throbbing faintly, I glanced at the message blinking in midair.
[10 days remaining until the start of the fifth scenario.]
[A 'Sub Scenario' to fill the interlude is in progress.]
….
Is that so. The fourth scenario is already over.
"…Damn it."
I won't make assumptions like 'If only the King of Prophets wasn't there…'.
Strictly speaking, falling for her scheme was my fault, and if I had the martial power to stand in an overwhelming position no matter what she did in the first place, I wouldn't have ended up like this.
…Still, the feeling of 'I was had' is indescribably annoying.
Anyway, leaving that aside for now….
-Chi-ji-jik…!!
"…Why is the technique like this again."
I try to fire 'Dismantle' (解), but for some reason, it keeps misfiring.
Thinking maybe it's just 'Dismantle', I try using 'Cleave' (捌) as well, but it's the same.
Of course, if I try to use it by putting more Cursed Energy into it than usual, the technique is used, but something feels unsatisfactory.
"…Is it perhaps because of that?"
Before fainting.
The thing called Star Stream seen in the notification window and the notification imposing a penalty.
Did a disruption occur in the technique perhaps because of that?
"…Rotten."
I ruffle my hair messily and empty my thoughts.
Whatever the reason, there is nothing I can know properly right now.
Whether the Star Stream really affected my technique. Or if something else affected me.
So, what I need to do now is….
[Sub Scenario - Survival Activity]
[Category: Sub]
[Difficulty: C+]
[Clear Condition: Survive for 10 days in the ruined city. You must eat three meals a day, and get at least 6 hours of sufficient sleep per day. Do not forget to pay 500 Coins for daily survival expenses before going to sleep every night. If you violate any of the three, you will receive a clear penalty.]
[Duration: 10 days]
[Reward: None]
[Failure: Death]
*This scenario is subject to the [Coin Event].
*All monster species appearing in the scenario have a certain probability of dropping Coins.
I'll just have to continue this damn scenario.
"…Then shall I get moving slowly."
After dusting off my pants, I move my feet to go somewhere else.
Staying at this orphanage any longer was something I declined.
-Rustle.
As if mocking such thoughts, it was then that my steps were halted.
"…."
-Rustle, rustle….
Something is moving deep inside there.
It doesn't seem to be many. The sound heard is singular.
If that's the case….
-Whoosh. Whoosh….
I picked up a stone that had fallen on the ground.
It's just slightly difficult to use techniques right now, not that I can't use Cursed Energy itself.
-Whooosh….
I imbue enough Cursed Energy into the stone so it doesn't break.
The stone being sharpened with a kwa-gwa-gak-! sound.
I hold it and instantly towards that place—
-Kwa-a-a-ang—!!!
—Throw it.
"H, hiiiik…!!!"
The stone flies with a considerable sound of destruction, smashing part of the orphanage.
Due to that, the darkness cast deep inside the building clears for a moment.
"…A child?"
"Ah, aaah. Aaaaaah…."
Short brown hair that looks golden at a glance, without bangs.
A kind and cute impression that makes one wonder how she managed to survive until this scenario.
Age…, looks to be about 10 years old.
"Ah, ugh. Uaaa…."
Perhaps her legs gave way, the child slumps down and her body begins to tremble.
Because of that, the items she was holding full in her arms fall down with a clatter-, and among them, a tuna can rolled right up to my feet.
-Swish….
"…."
"U, uuu…!!"
I extend my hand.
Simultaneously, the child protects her head with her slender arms and struggles to hold back the tears flowing from her eyes.
Seeing that, I don't approach the child any further and throw something I was holding in my hand towards her.
-Thud. Thuud….
What I threw was none other than the tuna can that rolled to my feet.
From the start, I had no intention of doing anything to that child. I simply intended to return the tuna can that rolled over.
Though the situation turned out like this because that child started crying in anxiety all by herself….
…By the way.
-Throb….
"…."
For some reason, it's very unpleasant.
The reason is probably….
"I, I! I can really be helpful! So please don't abandon me…."
"…I, I! I know how to cook! Cooking!"
"…If I show you, will you accept me as a companion?"
"…Gulp! Phew…, I'm Ha Seo-yeon. Please take care of me!"
As expected, it must be because of her influence.
Rotten.
"…I have no intention of stealing. Even without such things, there are plenty of means to get meals. I have no intention of killing either. I know perfectly well that killing a brat like you won't yield any Coins. So…."
"…Ah?"
"Take that trash and get lost quickly. Before I change my mind."
"…!!"
The trembling child hurriedly stands up and rushes somewhere quickly.
Watching that figure for a moment, only after confirming she has completely disappeared from sight do I move my feet as well.
[A significant number of Constellations are astonished by your appearance.]
[Constellations of the Absolute Evil alignment scoff as if absurd.]
[Constellations of the Absolute Good alignment rub their eyes at your good deed.]
[The Constellation, 'Demonic Judge of Fire', smiles faintly at your mercy.]
….
I wish they would shut up a bit.
-Crunch, crunch—!!
A fist wrapped in Cursed Energy pierces the abdomen of a monster species.
Blood splattered on my face occasionally because of that, but that is not important.
Considering the number of Coins accumulating steadily every time I catch monster species, this much was bearable enough.
-Splatter—!!
Scattering the blood of several monster species on my hands, I look for the next target.
I had to earn Coins too…, and I suddenly wondered if I could eat these guys.
…By the way.
-Whish—!!
As I threw the carcass of a monster species turned into mush far behind, it drew a beautiful parabola and fell to the ground with a thud-! sound.
At that moment. A young child slumping down with a voice mixed with fear, finally revealing herself.
It was that child I saw at the orphanage.
"Why do you keep following me."
"Ah, aaah…."
A subject who can't even speak properly or make eye contact properly, is there a reason to follow me?
I began to think deeply while looking at the trembling child.
Surely she must want something from me. Then, what on earth is it?
"…Is it perhaps to beg for Coins? If that's the case, I have no intention of giving any, so get lost right n—"
-Shake shake…!!
…Not begging for Coins?
Then, what. Begging for food?
-Shake shake….
"…."
The child shaking her head desperately left and right as if to say that's not it either this time.
Then what is it really? No matter how much I think, nothing particularly comes to mind.
"T, this…."
"…."
The child hesitantly takes something out towards me.
Cloth that looks thick and warm at a glance. Is that…, a blanket?
"What about it. What do you want me to do? Asking me to buy it with Coins?"
"T, thaat is…."
[The Constellation, 'Demonic Judge of Fire', frowns at your move.]
[The Constellation, 'Demonic Judge of Fire', clicks her tongue, asking why you are so anxious to harass the child.]
….
I know too. Roughly what meaning that child has in handing this to me.
But I…, don't know.
"If you can't speak properly, get out of my sight. Time is just being wasted because of you right now."
"…."
How I should accept that child's goodwill.
[The Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband', denounces you.]
[The Constellation, 'Secretive Plotter', looks at you and sighs.]
[The Constellation, 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon', shakes his head.]
"P, please use this…."
"…."
When I tried to ignore the complaints of the Constellations roughly and move my feet again, the girl squeezed out courage desperately and spoke to me.
Bowing her head and extending her arms straight to hand over the blanket.
At that sight, momentarily, I fall into deep contemplation.
"Do you know how many Coins I burned to use this?"
"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?"
"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."
….
Rotten.
"What trust do I have in you to accept that?"
"…Yes?"
When I crumpled my face and said such words, the girl was flustered.
Well, it had to be so. She offered goodwill but received hostility in return.
"You are probably trying to hand this over to express gratitude for sparing you just now. Am I wrong?"
"…."
"Ha, ridiculous."
-Whooosh—!!
I throw a stone that was lying on the ground moderately straight towards the kid.
This time, something like missing the kid like just now doesn't happen.
-Zip…!!
"H, hiiiik…!!"
A stone wrapped in Cursed Energy flew at high speed and grazed the kid's cheek, embedding itself into the wall.
The wound on the cheek created by that.
Red liquid began to flow down slowly from that wound.
"Listen well, brat. The reason I spared you wasn't particularly out of pity. It was just because killing a passing bug was bothersome, so I just left it alone."
"Ah, aaah…."
"But, if that bug keeps wandering around and bothering you, what would you do? Naturally, wouldn't you feel like killing it?"
"Ah, ugh, u. Uuu…."
"…So get lost. There won't be a second time."
At those words, the kid starts running backward hurriedly just like at the orphanage.
…Damn it, as expected, I just wasted time.
I should have just ignored that child. Should have just continued collecting Coins.
-Whooosh…!!
When various thoughts filled my head.
A slightly chilly wind blew.
Soon, as written in the Sub Scenario, I must get about 6 hours or more of sleep.
So, I have to find a space where I can sleep with peace of mind as soon as possible….
-Rustle.
The moment I looked around like that.
One thing bothers me. The identity of that something is.
"…Tch."
None other than the blanket that child was holding.
"…Annoying brat."
I carefully picked up the blanket and slowly began to scatter Cursed Energy around.