Chapter 246

[Coins Possessed: 5,490,875 C]

The endlessly climbing coins finally stopped at the peak . I doubted my eyes several times as I stared at this unbelievable number .

[…Young man, how much did you earn?]

I looked around and saw the Mass Production Maker’s blank expression . The old man must’ve made a great profit since he bet 150,000 coins earlier . The dividend must be at least five times…

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ envies you . ]

[The constellation ‘Loan Shark Aiming for the Heart’ is craving your coins!]

Even the always stern looking Persephone was smiling . For reference, the queen of the Underworld bet 300,000 coins .

…The Underworld must’ve gained a lot?

[Nonsense! This is ridiculous!]

Most of the constellations were filled with great despair apart from the three of us . I just needed to see their expressions to know how much coins they had lost . The constellations who bet a small amount to relieve their boredom looked sad but those who bet over 100,000 coins…

[Uwaaah!]

They were filled with anger . There were some constellations on the verge of bankruptcy . For example, that guy .

[The constellation ‘Brash Swamp Predator’ is revealing enormous hostility towards you . ]

[Grab that guy!]

The constellations who lost their coins, including the Brash Swamp Predator’ were approaching me . He lost his reason along with the coins and was prepared to throw himself into Han River .

The constellations who noticed withdrew from my side . However, there was one constellation who didn’t back down . It was the queen of the Underworld, Persephone .

[Everybody back off . How long are you going to act so ugly?]

Her ‘status’ was reminiscent of the cold night air and the approaching constellations faltered . However, some constellations were so agitated that they couldn’t be cooled by the night breeze .

[Queen of the Underworld! Did you win some coins just now?]

[Get out of here! It has nothing to do with you!]

The atmosphere became heated and some of the watching high-ranking constellations intervened .

[Maintain your courtesy . ]

It was the Morning Star Goddess who was familiar with Persephone . Nevertheless, the Brash Swamp Predator had already lost his senses and didn’t hesitate .

[…Courtesy? Fuck courtesy…!]

As soon as the Brash Swamp Predator released his status, the other constellations also raised their status . Powerful sparks filled the air as a notice of the imminent conflict .

[The wish ticket used by the constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ is in effect . ]

Suddenly, intense sparks filled the hall and the movements of the agitated constellations stopped . A portal opened on the white ceiling while everyone hesitated . Beyond the portal was a sinister aura . It wasn’t an outer god but it was clearly something immense .

Who was this? This was obviously above the highest ranked constellations…

The atmosphere tore apart and a strange creature appeared through the portal . The mysterious aura around his body was unmatched but he was neither a god or constellation . The man was dressed in a magician’s costume with an old-fashioned cane .

[…A dokkaebi?]

It was a dokkaebi .

[It has been a while, constellations . ]

The hall fell silent with a single sentence, like cold water had been poured on it . It was an overbearing silence . The enraged constellations who had just been screaming were holding their breaths .

[The rules of the Star Stream binds all constellations of the Gourmet Association . ]

All the constellations present were constricted by the probability . It was absolutely impossible for an ordinary dokkaebi, even if they had the channel operating rights .

[U-Uhhh…]

The Brash Swamp Predator, who didn’t falter despite the threats from high ranking constellations, was taking a step back with a white face . I had seen a description of this dokkaebi in the original novel .

「 Most incarnations think there are only four ranks of dokkaebis . The lesser-grade, intermediate grade, semi-advanced and senior dokkaebis . However, there are dokkaebis above them . 」

「 The dokkaebis of the Star Stream, those with up to twelve coloured horns are the ‘first seat . ’」

This dokkaebi had seven red horns coming from his head . The Star Stream called them ‘great dokkaebis . ’

[Sorry but the party will end here . ]

***

As I read Ways of Survival, I had a question about the relationship between the constellations and dokkaebis .

The dokkaebis might have special powers but a high-ranking constellation could kill one or two dokkaebis . Yet even the strong constellations didn’t touch the dokkaebis . No matter how annoying the scenario, they never tried to kill the dokkaebis .

…Why? The reason was right in front of me . A single hand gesture trapped all of the Gourmet Association in a net of probability .

I had never seen such dense sparks before . This was the power of the ‘story . ’ Perhaps it was a story borrowed from the most powerful beings in the world . Whether it was narrative-grade or great-grade, they clearly couldn’t escape from the storm of sparks without being destroyed .

The high-grade constellations such as Thursday’s Thunder or Morning Star Goddess didn’t complain and only showed unpleasant expressions . It was Persephone who opened her mouth first . [Great Dokkaebi Halong . It’s been a while . ]

The great dokkaebi slowly looked around .

[It is the ebb and flow . Queen of the Underworld . ]

[Is the Story King well?]

[The king is safe . ]

Due to the opponent, Persephone’s expression was in a state of tension that I had never seen before .

[Why did you come here? In addition, leading dokkaebis of the executive branch…]

The dokkaebis of the executive department whom I had once seen were standing in a line behind the great dokkaebis . The fearsome pressure they emitted was no less than the Gourmet Association constellations . It was natural .

The dokkaebis of the executive branch were once constellations . Instead of replying immediately to Persephone’s words, the great dokkaebi swept over the constellations .

[We are here to pick up the constellations who borrowed coins . ]

[…Coins?]

Several constellations groaned and started to run away . The Mass Production Maker muttered with understanding .

[They are really foolish…]

It seemed that some constellations had borrowed coins from the dokkaebis to make their bets . Funnily enough, one of them was the Brash Swamp Predator .

[Uhh… . move, move out of the way!]

He rushed to a sparkling wall and tried to rip apart the net of probability .

[Kuaaaack!]

The great dokkaebi’s net was powerful . The moment he reached the net of sparks, the Brash Swamp Predator screamed . The dokkaebis of the executive branch bound his incarnation body .

[R-Release me!]

I stared at the rows of constellations and thought about why the dokkaebis appeared here . I didn’t know the exact reason but I wondered if it was because the probability was influenced by my wish . In this world, the dokkaebis were the most sensitive to probability .

In a flash, the dokkaebis arrested all the people who owed debts and started to transport them across the portal . It was a swift move like there was nothing to see .

The great dokkaebi didn’t say goodbye . He stared as if warning the constellations before turning to leave .

The moment before the portal was about to close, the great dokkaebi glanced at me . Beyond his cool eyes, someone was talking to me .

「 Don’t be too loud, baby . The ‘king’ is watching you . 」

***

The great dokkaebi left and the Gourmet Association ended its meeting . It was natural for the party to end . It was time for the respective constellations to go back .

I took advantage of the chaos in the banquet hall to slip out of the castle . A significant number of constellations were dragged away by the bureau but there were still some hostile to me . Thus, I needed to get out of here before there was trouble .

However, I stood at the entrance of Oro Castle and encountered a difficulty I hadn’t thought of .

…How did I get back?

There was no guide or carriage . If I delayed here, I might be caught by other constellations…

At this time, there was an engine sound and something appeared around the corner of the castle . It

was a luxury sports car with a streamlined body . It was a car reminiscent of the SSS-class Ferrarigini .

Wait, the person who made that car…

The sports car stopped in front of me with a loud sound . The window rolled doll and an elderly man wearing sunglasses appeared .

[Get on, young man . ]

It was the Mass Production Maker .

***

The moment the rear doors opened, the central body of the car behind longer and changed into the form of a limousine . I felt pure admiration at the sight as I got into the back seat .

How many people could ride in this? Was he selling this car? Now I had money…

The body was made from solid protective material that adhered not just to the outside but the inside as well . I drank ice tea from the refrigerator in the limousine and looked around the vehicle .

The Mass Production Maker was in the driver’s seat while Persephone was in the passenger’s seat . Persephone had been communicating with someone since earlier . Perhaps it was related to the great dokkaebi who appeared .

“Mass Production Maker, thank you for your consideration . Still, I have a question . ”

[Hmm, what is it?]

“…Why is this woman with you?”

I glared at Anna Croft who was sitting next to me . The Mass Production Maker smiled sweetly . [Huhu, I promised to give her a ride . Don’t fight too much . ]

It was a very unpleasant situation but I couldn’t complain . I sighed and examined my companions . There were three Asgardians along with myself in the back seat .

There was the exhausted Iris and stunned Selena Kim . Anna Croft looked at their condition before suddenly speaking to me . “…Iris would’ve lived even if you didn’t help . ”

“I know . Perhaps Thursday’s Thunder would’ve saved her . Isn’t that right?”

Anna Croft bit her lips at my words . Anna Croft was a more brutal woman than anyone else but she didn’t lose those who were her ‘own . ’ In face, Anna Croft’s colleagues didn’t die in the similar event that she held in the original novel .

Rather, they awakened through the scenario . It was the other people who died .

“It was Iris’ chance to get a good sponsor and you ruined everything . The future I saw wasn’t like this…”

“She wouldn’t have wanted to get a sponsor in that way . ”

“You don’t know who the constellation was . ”

[Tsk tsk . I told you to get along but I guess it isn’t possible . ]

The form of the limousine changed and my seat showed strange movements . My vision blurred and I was sitting in the passenger’s seat where Persephone had been . The Mass Production Maker had changed my position with Persephone .

Maybe he didn’t want to hear fighting or perhaps there was a sound barrier between the front and back seats .

The Mass Production Maker told me, [You’re on bad terms with incarnations as well as constellations . Don’t make too many enemies . ]

“I don’t want to make enemies either . ”

In fact, I came here to seek ‘colleagues’ rather than enemies . As a result, it turned out like this…

The Mass Production Maker took out an electronic cigarette and spoke, [I felt anger in your story . There is a strong rage against this world and the constellations . ]

I tried to say something but fell silent .

[I know that you saw many things that shouldn’t be seen today . ]

“Not at all . ’

The Mass Production Maker laughed . I somehow felt awkward and took out my smartphone . The darkness was like a screen in the front of the car . The Mass Production Maker gazed silently at the darkness and there was a slight sadness .

[Still, don’t hate them so much . ]

It took some time for me to understand his words .

[They just couldn’t stand the loneliness . Whether it is a garbage or a noble constellation… they all acted like that because they like the story . ]

I was confused because I didn’t know the Mass Production Maker would say such words . A strange feeling of betrayal filled my chest . “This doesn’t mean they can trample on the lives of incarnations . ”

If they liked the story, they could do their own scenarios . Instead of ruining the scenario of others, they could move on to the next scenario . Turning to another scenario and selling their minds was just avoiding reality .

I tried to say this . At that moment, the smartphone turned on and Ways of Survival came into view . The last sentence I had been reading was on the screen .

I stared blankly at the sentences and the Mass Production Maker asked, [You are always looking at that . Are you going to write something on an empty notebook?]

I couldn’t find a way to answer the question, but I soon smiled weakly and replied, “…I just feel steady when I look at this . ”

In the distance, the darkness of the Dark Dimension could be seen . A light emerged from an empty window .

Finally, it was time to go back .

TL: Rainbow Turtle