Chapter 225

“How funny . I’m not even a ‘demon king’ yet . How can I give away the stakes in a giant story I don’t have?”

“You can do it if I help . ” Asmodeus had an arrogant confidence on his face . It was an expression that made becoming a ‘demon king’ simple . I watched his face and followed up with,

“…Okay, I will give away a stake if I become a demon king . ”

At this moment, the stars in the sky were flashing .

[A few constellations are greatly disappointed in your judgment . ]

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is looking at you with troubled eyes . ]

[The constellation who likes to change sex wants to change your sex . ]

The constellations showed a strong reaction as I expected . However, I couldn’t help it for now . Unless I knew how to not lost against Asmodeus, I couldn’t do anything that would antagonize him .

Asmodeus laughed like he was satisfied with my answer . “Good thinking . How much will you give away?”

“30% . ”

Light disappointment flashed across Asmodeus’ face . “It is too little . ”

“Don’t you think you’re being too greedy?”

“50% and write the contract here . ”

What a shameless swindler . If I gave away half of a giant story, I wouldn’t be able to draw on its strength without Asmodeus’ permission . I firmly shook my head . “I can’t sign that agreement . ”

“Why?”

The pebbles started to float into the air . This was blatant intimidation but I wouldn’t have come here if I would be caught by such intimidation . I stared up at the sky and kept speaking, “I won’t give a stake to just you . ”

A deep silence instantly fell at my words . Asmodeus’ face was blank and he didn’t understand what I meant . The stars all around me were holding their breaths and demanding clarification .

“30% of the giant story will be released as competitive shares . ”

“…Competitive shares?”

“It means whoever helps me can gain part of those shares . The extent that they obtained will depend entirely on their contribution to the story . ”

The gazes staring at me from the sky started to change on by one .

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is making a interested expression . ]

[A few constellations are greedy after hearing your words!]

‘Competitive shares’ was the last card I could offer . If I had to take a beast with me while moving forward, it would be better to expand the choice of beasts . Asmodeus noticed my intentions and his expression hardened . “…I was deceived . ”

“I didn’t lie . ”

The pebbles floating in the air rushed towards me, to be precise, towards Yoo Jonghyuk . It was a strong attack that couldn’t be easily blocked . It might’ve been hard for me in the past but not now .

It was because now I wasn’t alone . The stones flying through the air were caught by invisible hands .

[A few constellations are staring at the Demon King of Fury and Lust . ]

It was a situation where I declared a competitive share in a giant story . The constellations aiming for those shares wouldn’t just watch Asmodeus’ actions . Asmodeus gritted his teeth . However, even Asmodeus didn’t want to waste probability in this place against a large number of constellations . In addition, there was a formidable constellation present .

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is staring at the Demon King of Fury and Lust . ]

Asmodeus stared at the air for a while before taking back his strength . The stones lost their support and instantly fell to the ground .

[The Demon King of Lust and Fury is disappointed in you . ]

Asmodeus spoke with a terrifying expression, “You have made a mistake . You are not the one who will become demon king . You just threw away an important opportunity . ”

It was a tone that suggested he could give the opportunity to someone else at any time . Certainly, things would become complicated if Asmodeus joined hands with someone else . Nevertheless, I didn’t back down . “Well, I think you are the one throwing away the opportunity, not me . ”

I thought about why Asmodeus must’ve chosen me . Common sense said it was more advantageous for Asmodeus to be attacked to Bercan or Melledon rather than me . I was a human and a constellation while Melledon and Bercan were demons .

Yet Asmodeus extended his hand towards me first . There was a compelling reason for Asmodeus to choose me . In fact, Asmodeus’ expression seemed a bit strained at my refusal . “…It is really unpleasant . Don’t you know that I am a demon king?”

A great demon was making this type of expression . It was an extremely rare scene from the perspective of Ways of Survival . I slowly shook my head . “It doesn’t matter if you are a demon king or constellation . I just want my story to be the best story . ”

“The best story?”

“You should know what I mean since you belong to the Gourmet Association . ”

Asmodeus’ expression changed at the words I deliberately mentioned . It was a face that was both bewildered and delighted . Asmodeus gazed at me with an expression that was hard for humans to describe and opened his mouth a few dozen seconds later .

[…A candidate will test the cooking skills of a demon king…?]

I held my breath at the formidable killing intent aimed at me . It was like the whole time and space of the area was in the demon king’s grasp . The confused constellations squeezed out light but the darkness around them was so dense that their power couldn’t reach .

This was the real power of a demon king . If Asmodeus truly used all his power here, I was convinced that Yoo Jonghyuk and I would’ve vanished regardless of the Prisoner of the Golden Headband’s presence . He was revealing this power now as a type of proof and warning .

[The Demon King ‘Asmodeus’ reveals a subtle liking towards you . ]

It was a warning that he could kill me at any time . Asmodeus laughed from inside the darkness .

[I like it . I will leave for today . ]

Fortunately, the situation seemed to be wrapped up . I didn’t pretend to support Asmodeus and he didn’t one-sidedly lose his shares of the story . There was plenty of room to change things…

[However, I should clean up the garbage before I go . ]

Asmodeus moved his fingers and an explosive sound was heard from my chest . It was the sound of a doll popping . There was a throbbing pain around my heart but Yoo Jonghyuk’s body didn’t receive any apparent damage . Asmodeus’ body scattered into ashes as he left these last words .

[I can’t see that thing wandering around in front of me . ]

I gazed at the disappearing Asmodeus before hurriedly touching my chest . “…Uriel?”

I pulled out that Uriel doll that was already tattered . Not long afterwards, I felt something being disconnected from the doll . I saw the messages rising in front of Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyes .

[The connection with the constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ has been temporarily disconnected . ]

[The personal scenario has been automatically terminated . ]

I was able to see how Yoo Jonghyuk came here . I didn’t know why but Uriel gave him a personal scenario to go to the Demon World . Yoo Jonghyuk received that scenario and came here . The problem was the scenario had just been forcibly terminated .

Sparks started appearing around my skin . I instantly realized what would happen .

“Uriel! Wake up!” I desperately shook the doll but there was no reaction from Uriel . The symbolic body was excessively broken and the connection with the body was forcibly terminated .

“Shit . ”

Cracks were spreading over Yoo Jonghyuk’s hard body .

[You have left the main scenario . ]

I hurriedly looked around . This couldn’t continue . At this rate, Yoo Jonghyuk would surely die .

[The exile penalty has begun . ]

It was different from me . Yoo Jonghyuk didn’t have the Fourth Wall . There wasn’t anyone to protect him after becoming an exile .

“Hey! Anybody is good!”

I hurriedly shouted towards the sky . However, Yoo Jonghyuk’s body was destroyed and my voice didn’t emerge . The cracks that started in the legs spread to the neck and paralyzed the vocal cords .

It was a penalty that prevented me from asking the constellations in the night sky for help . The whole universe was intensely hoping for Yoo Jonghyuk’s death, as if it was going to take away his stories and kill him .

…Was it up to here? I couldn’t let it . Everything was over if Yoo Jonghyuk died here .

In less than one second, the pages of Ways of Survival passed through my head . The letters on countless pages flew towards me and I reached out to them . Yes, this was the only way . I didn’t have it but Yoo Jonghyuk was different . I was forced to ask him for help .

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ is looking at Yoo Jonghyuk’s sponsor . ]

I wanted to use my true voice but now I had no strength . I was forced to hope that my story would reach that existence .

[The sponsor of incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ is looking at you . ]

A huge presence was looking at me . It was somewhat familiar but also unfamiliar . Before I could open my mouth, a darkness came over me .

[The exclusive skill, ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ stage 3 has been forcibly released . ]

***

A space covered with darkness . I had this experience once before . When was it? It happened when I exited from the constellation banquet .

[ ■■… ]

[ How to change… ]

[ …No . ]

Dammit, what the hell did this mean―

***

“Heok!” I shot up and gasp like I was going to vomit . My heart was beating like crazy and there was a cracking sound from my neck . My eyes were full of tears .

I was alive . To be precise, Aileen saved me . However, I felt more desperate than relieved . I shouted in a thick voice towards the outside of the treatment room .

“Aileen!”

Aileen, who had been waiting outside, rushed over at my call . She was pale when she saw me pulling out the catheter . I shook off her hands and shouted, “Quickly get me up . I have to go to the Gilobat Industrial Complex . ”

“What are you talking about? A person who just woke up―”

“There is no time, quickly!”

Dozens of thoughts crossed my head . Let’s ask the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven for help . If not, let’s call Hermes . I hated it but I might be able to get a favour using the shares of the story . I just had to get to Gilobat right away . It wasn’t too late yet . Go right now―

“There is no way for a person who has been unconscious for one week! You will have to rest for at least one week to stabilize your body!”

“…What?”

It felt like my heart stopped beating . I thought it was an auditory hallucination . The world that I read was collapsing . The letters that lost their place were pushing at me .

“…How much time has passed?”

“A week . You have been unconscious for a week . ”

I looked blankly at the floor before picking up the smartphone that Irene created . I turned on the panel and checked the file .

-Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World (1st Revision) . txt

The title of the text was unchanged . The second revision didn’t come and Yoo Jonghyuk’s lines were the same .

There was a moment of despair as I realized that nothing had changed . Really? Yoo Jonghyuk really died?

TL: Rainbow Turtle