[You have made a non-existent achievement.]
[You have acquired the tale 'Assassin of the Absolute King'.]
Gehrman observed his surroundings.
'It seems I've been moved to where I first started.'
The high school he had appeared in and left before the scenarios began.
Scanning the building for any presences, Gehrman took the same way he had used to leave.
Strangely, contrary to the classrooms full of students he had seen before, not even corpses were visible. The walls were also cracked and most windows broken.
'Usually, people in apocalypses barricade themselves inside schools…'
At least, that's what he had seen in manhuas.
He shook his head.
Gehrman was now Sequence 4. This persona was also the most convenient to act as a Bizarro Sorcerer.
Throwing a coin, he divined that Shin Yoosoung was safe.
Klein resumed what he had to do in his mind.
Act as a Bizarro Sorcerer, reunite with Shin Yoosoung, search for paper on the way to make paper figurines…
"Gehrman-ssi?"
A familiar voice called out to him.
Turning around, Gehrman saw Lee Jihye.
Klein acknowledged her presence with a brief nod.
"I'm going to wait for master, do you want to wait together?"
Klein considered the option but refused.
"I have other things to do."
Lee Jihye shrugged as Gehrman Sparrow left.
***
The First Apostle—Han Sooyoung—woke up trapped in a coin farm and mentally cursed the one who had ruined all her plans.
Then, she heard voices.
"If you want to make coins, there is a better way."
Hmm? Wasn't that voice familiar?
"What?" Deputy Yoon asked back, "Did Dokja-ssi also find a bug? What is it?"
(Kim Dokja had resurrected and encountered a coin farm.)
"The principle is the same as a coin farm. Stimulate the constellations."
"Oho, there is something more stimulating than this? Is that possible?"
"Yes, it is. Would you like me to let you know?"
This guy (Deputy Yoon) seemed like he was getting scammed.
"It would be good if you share the know-how!"
"The constellations really like… This."
There was the sound of the bars being cut apart. Kim Dokja cut the Achilles tendon of the wanderers running away.
"Aaaaack! What is with this bastard?"
"My leg! My leg!"
'Knew it,' Han Sooyoung thought.
"Something like this."
The smell of blood rose in the air.
"This is also good."
Chop! Chop! Chop!
Arms and legs were being cut all around.
"W-What are you doing? What is this?"
"Thank you for the story."
She could imagine that cheeky guy smile.
"I created a situation that the constellations really like because of you."
Deputy Yoon flopped to the ground while Kim Dokja laughed at him.
"Why bother creating something like the coin farm? It is easy to earn money."
"…Y-You son of a bitch!"
Han Sooyoung could feel her body being lifted and the one holding her retreating.
Her eyes flashed open.
"…Why did you save me?"
"Were you awake? Then get up."
"If you save me, won't the constellations in your channel run away? Don't you know what the constellations hate most?"
"There are some who like it."
[The constellation who has been waiting for a harem carefully puts both hands together.]
[The constellation who likes enemies turning into allies is delighted.]
Han Sooyoung frowned.
The two continued to bicker as they fought the wanderers.
"You were just listening to this guy's bullshit. Why? The constellations don't like frustrating things."
"You don't seem to know but it is better to listen to this bullshit moderately in order to get more coins when they are killed. There is no refreshing feeling without being frustrated first."
"No? Dokja… no, don't the constellations prefer to kill right away? What do you know when you aren't a writer?"
"I know very well. I am a reader."
"This…!"
The two finished saving the people caught in the cages and left.
"I saved you so you should pay back the value."
"What value?"
Kim Dokja laughed at Han Sooyoung's nervous expression.
"If you have a spare battery, take it out."
However, there was a small doubt in the back of Kim Dokja's mind…
He scanned her from head to toe.
No, it wasn't possible. She couldn't be the writer.
Yet, when he saw her use of the Avatar skill and learned more about it later, he couldn't help but think.
Avatars were made by splitting off memories.
'If she split an avatar without her memories of sending messages to me and only the beginning chapters of her novel, wouldn't the lack of information she has make sense?'
「Wasn't it possible that this person was really TWSA's writer?」
***
The sound of flames burning resounded.
Under the night sky, Shin Yoosoung was sitting in front of a fireplace, looking at Gehrman cooking on the side.
When he brought over a brooch of monster meat and Shin Yoosoung bit into it, her eyes lit up.
"Is it good?"
Shin Yoosoung nodded, her mouth full.
Gehrman chuckled.
His face looked less cold than usual tonight.
When he was alone with her, he tended to act gentler.
(It was more natural, more like himself.)
Klein was putting aside his mask as Gehrman for a moment.
The Beyonder sat next to the child and also started to eat.
His gaze headed to the night sky.
Stars were shining down on him, representing constellations, and the moon was a familiar silver color.
He was engulfed in nostalgia.
Sighing, he took a stack of paper and started cutting paper figurines, his meat brooch held in the other hand.
He wondered if the cosmos here was the same.
Beyond the stars, were Outer Deities waiting to destroy this world as well? Did his world and this one share the same sky?
Was the Star Stream a manifestation of the Outer Gods' corruption bringing the apocalypse to Earth?
Seeing Shin Yoosoung having finished her brooch, he snapped out of his thoughts.
"Do you want more?"
Shin Yoosoung nodded enthusiastically.
Klein smiled.
「Klein thought.」
If there was one good thing in this situation.
「Eating together like this was less lonely.」
***
"…Huh?"
Regaining consciousness, Van heard the sound of voices around him.
"Hey! There are new slaves! Imprison them!"
"Yes!"
"Oh, there is a new one? Hey! Strip her and bring her to the cage!"
Lenoch slowly took in his surroundings and realized that he was currently in a cage.
Outside, other prisoners could be seen. Men were made to fight against each other while women were rapped for the constellations' amusement.
Van had been caught by a coin farm while he was unconscious.
[There are 10 days before the start of the fifth scenario.]
[A sub scenario is in progress to supplement the interlude.]
+
[Sub Scenario – Survival Activities]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: C+
Clear Conditions: Survive for 10 days in the ruined city. You should eat three meals a day and get at least six hours of sleep a day. Don't forget to pay 500 coins per day before going to sleep every night. There will be a clear penalty if you violate any of these three rules.
Duration: 10 days
Compensation: None
Failure: Death
* This is a scenario where a 'coin event' is applied.
* All monsters in the scenario have a certain probability of dropping coins.
+
[The constellation, 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon', tells you to show them what you've got.]
[The constellation, 'Monarch of Stars and Logic', looks forward to the chaos.]
[The constellation, 'Monarch of the Small Fries', is excited.]
"…"
One of the men outside noticed him and snickered.
"Oh, Sleeping Princess woke up?"
"…"