Chapter 259

The Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames ran while carrying me for two days and nights . The constellations relentlessly chasing me were a frequent threat but every time, the Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames literally threw his body to protect me .

[The story ‘Faithfully Devoting One’s Life’ has been repeated . ]

How far did we run? Finally, the brightness of a new day could be seen .

[The sub scenario ― Skirmish has ended . ]

[You have kept the Story Core safe during the time limit . ]

The constellations chasing after us stopped one by one in distant places and all types of indirect messages flew through the air .

[Some constellations who failed to chase you are disappointed . ]

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is yawning and asking if it is all over . ]

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is rejoicing with sleepy eyes!]

[The constellation ‘Dragon Lying Down’ is nodding at you ploy . ]

[Some constellations are pointing fingers at your cowardice . ]

It didn’t matter if they pointed fingers or not . The most important thing was to survive . Dokgak stared down at me with disapproving eyes and sent me compensation .

[You have obtained 200,000 coins as compensation . ]

[You have obtained two Anvil Stones for Equipment Transcendence as a reward . ]

I thought it was around the time for items to enhance equipment to be released . SSS-grade items from the early scenarios were almost like scraps in the mid-to-late scenario areas . However, using the transcendence anvil stones allowed you to stop the equipment from losing its quality .

The income wasn’t just that .

[The story ‘One Who Went Against the Twelve Zodiacs’ has been acquired . ]

It might be history-grade but the more stories I had, the better . In the end, these little stories gathered together to form the complete ‘status . ’ In particular, the stories obtained would be useful in future fights thanks to Distorting Things as One Pleases .

[The constellations chasing you are returning . ]

No long after the constellations hid themselves, the exterior of the Yoo Jonghyuk Industrial Complex emerged . Citizens who received the escape scenario were lining up to enter the industrial complex . Fortunately, Jang Hayoung and Han Myungoh had done well .

I spoke to the Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames . “You can leave now . You don’t have to be loyal to me . ”

He didn’t want to follow me wholeheartedly anyway . Thus, it was better to part ways at this point . However, after I turned away, he kept chasing me .

Pant, pant, pant .

I spoke with a frown . “What? You aren’t going?”

Yip…

Moisture filled the big dog’s eyes .

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is looking pitifully at the ‘Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames . ’]

The real name of the Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames was the Dog of Osu . (TL: Old Korean folktale about a loyal dog who sacrificed himself to save his owner’s life . ) In order to save his master from dying of fire, the dog wet his body and used it to extinguish the fire . Unfortunately, even this name wasn’t his actual name .

“…Are you going to follow me?”

Yiiip!

I hesitated for a moment . Come to think of it, things would be hard for this dog even if he split from me .

[Some of the constellations are looking at the Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames . ]

In this world, there were just as many constellations aiming for other constellations as there were constellations aiming at incarnations . If he countered those who had the modifiers of ‘Dog Hunter’ or ‘Melberg’s Dog Fancier’ then he would be stolen or killed . So far, he had been safe because of the Twelve Zodiacs .

“Then let’s go together . ”

Pant pant pant!

“However, make your size a bit smaller . It will be a disturbance if you are too big . ”

Yiiip!

The Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames reduced the size of his body . He became the size of a golden retriever .

“Kim Dokja!” Jang Hayoung discovered me and waved in the distance . “Hey! Are you okay? What is that dog?”

“I picked him up . What about the others?”

“They are busy guiding the people . ”

The Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames licked Jang Hayoung’s hand . Jang Hayoung asked, “What’s his name?”

I wanted to tell the truth but decided to say it roughly . “Osu . ”

[You have given a name to the Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames . ]

[The Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames is greatly impressed . ]

[The loyalty of the Dog Who Threw Himself into the Flames has greatly increased!]

…If I had known, I would’ve given him a better name . Jang Hayoung carefully examined Osu’s body and was delighted .

“This is great . Sajeo will like you . ”

I was about to ask who ‘Sajeo’ was when I realized .

“…Are you talking about the Breaking the Sky Master? Was she a female?”

“Did you forget that only women can learn the Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship?”

Come to think of it… The Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship was like that . There were too many exceptions . For example, the guy in front of me…

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, it’s nothing . ” I shook my head to get rid of my thoughts . The important issue right now wasn’t Jang Hayoung’s gender identity . Because…

[The beginning of the Demon King Selection is imminent!]

The Demon King Selection was starting now .

“…It came . ”

Jang Hayoung looked up nervously at my words . The entire 73rd Demon Realm was shaking . Unfamiliar coloured stars appeared in the sky one by one . In order to watch the big event where the giant story was occurring, the constellations arrived from various parts of the Star Stream .

[Multiple constellations are entering the channel!]

[Many demon kings are entering the channel!]

I could feel the mood just be looking at the beings entering the channel .

[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is looking at you . ]

[The constellation ‘God of Wine and Ecstasy’ is staring at you . ]

[The constellation ‘Mass Production Maker’ is waving at you . ]

The constellations I had met also appeared in the high skies .

I tried to relax as I looked up at them in the sky . I had finally come to this place . There were still many scenarios remaining and they were far away . Nevertheless, it wasn’t a long way off now . At the very least, I came to a place where these lofty constellations were located in this mountain range .

[The 25th main scenario has arrived!]

[Excessive skipping of the main scenario has damaged party of your status . ]

I didn’t carry out the scenarios in the 20s . I started to 25th scenario straight away so it was unavoidable that there would be a loss in probability .

[The Main Scenario ― ‘Demon King Selection’ has started!]

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[Main Scenario #25 – Demon King Selection]

Category: Main

Difficulty: ???

Clear Conditions: Team up with ‘helpers’ to win the ‘mythical battlefield . ’

Time Limit: ―

Compensation: Official succession of the demon king position, ??? .

Failure: Death

* You can recruit ‘helpers’ for this scenario .

* There will be additional explanations from the dokkaebis as the scenario progresses .

+

It was a scenario where ‘death’ was marked as the failure result . I would die here if I lost . It wasn’t unfamiliar to me since it happened often .

[This scenario is held on a dedicated stage . ]

[The total number of participants in this scenario is four . ]

[The main participants can recruit ‘helpers’ if it is mutually agreed upon . ]

[You are a main participant in this scenario . ]

I felt something great from the north and west .

[The constellations belonging to the ‘Melledon Industrial Complex’ are showing hostility towards you . ]

[The constellations belonging to the ‘Bercan Industrial Complex’ are showing hostility towards you . ]

As the constellations in the sky flashed, the voice of the dokkaebi was heard .

[You have been waiting a long time, constellations . ]

They were Dokgak and Bihyung .

[Finally, the Demon King Selection that you have been waiting for has begun!]

Along with Bihyung’s words, a large hologram of a ‘stage’ appeared on the screen in the air .

[First, thank you to the Mass Production Maker for making the game stage for this scenario!]

There was exaggerated applause as the map created by the Mass Production Maker appeared on the hologram .

[The game ‘Mythical Battlefield’ is loaded!]

The map was a vast forest area with huge cliffs at the edges . The forest zone contained patterns of the ‘industrial complex’ in the east, west, north and south, which probably signified the starting points of each industrial complex .

[As you might have expected, this ‘selection’ isn’t simply a hit and run fight . It will be held in the form of a ‘team competition’, with each team being an industrial complex . ]

Some of the constellations were surprised by the dokkaebis’ words and sent indirect messages . Of course, I wasn’t surprised . I knew it well through the original novel .

[The rules of the game are simple . All participants can make a team of seven people, including themselves . ]

[Every team member is given a different position and will play a role in the scenario through that position . ]

It was similar to the so-called AOS games that were once popular on Earth . One tanker, two close range damage dealers, two long range damage dealers and one supporter . Finally, one all-rounder .

T

his was the game― the Mythical Battlefield where seven people teamed up to fight .

[The constellation ‘Mass Production Maker’ is smiling . ]

As a matter of fact, this game was made of elements that had been stolen from somewhere…

The dokkaebi’s words continued . [There are two ways to win the game . One is to annihilate the participants of other teams apart from your own . The second way is to take away the ‘sentence’ of the other team . Well, there will be more details once you join the game… rather, there is one more important announcement . ]

Bihyung glanced at me after long words .

[A total of four teams were originally scheduled to participate in this selection competition but one of the industrial complexes almost collapsed before the game started . ]

I felt uneasy for a moment . Bihyung continued . [To consider the fairness of the game, we have decided to tie two comparatively unfavourable industrial complexes together into one team . ]

Then I heard a message in the air .

[You are currently a participant of the Yoo Jonghyuk – Kim Dokja Industrial Complex . ]

It was an unexpected situation . I had been worried about Yoo Jonghyuk’s team so now I was able to reduce my troubles . Perhaps it was Bihyung’s doing .

In any case, why was it the Yoo Jonghyuk – Kim Dokja Industrial Complex? Based on the order of the hangul flowchart, shouldn’t the name of the industrial complex be Kim Dokja – Yoo Jonghyuk Industrial Complex? In any case…

“Jang Hayoung, where is Yoo Jonghyuk now?” I looked around for Yoo Jonghyuk but I couldn’t find any traces of him .

Jang Hayoung’s eyes were wide as he asked back, “What are you talking about? Didn’t you meet him?”

“…Meet him?”

“Didn’t he go looking for you?”

“What?”

I had a bad feeling . I hurriedly used Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint .

[You can’t connect with the current target . ]

Dammit . I was wondering how to find this son of a bitch when something flashed on my mind . Fortunately, it was now midday .

[You have used the Midday Tryst . ]

The Midday Tryst . It was a one-on-one chat item that I linked to this guy in the past . I didn’t know if it was in range but this was the only thing I could believe in right now .

[There are 39 unread messages . ]

By the way, I had dozens of messages from him . I hurriedly opened the window . The first message started as followed:

Kim Dokja, I saved Biyoo / Sender: Yoo Jonghyuk, 47 hours and 39 minutes ago .

The messages continued to come over the next few days .

But why did you suddenly disappear? /Sender: Yoo Jonghyuk, 46 hours and 54 minutes ago .

I have no time for your childish antics . /Sender: Yoo Jonghyuk, 46 hours and 39 minutes ago .

I will kill you if you don’t show up again . /Sender: Yoo Jonghyuk, 45 hours and 18 minutes ago .

It isn’t a joke . /Sender: Yoo Jonghyuk, 44 hours and 39 minutes ago .

…

Kim Dokja . /Sender: Yoo Jonghyuk, 41 hours and 38 minutes ago .

After that, the dozens of messages continued . The last message was:

I will go . /Sender: Yoo Jonghyuk, 23 hours and 14 minutes ago .

No, where did this bastard plan to go? I was dumbfounded and quickly sent a message .

―You idiot, come back quickly! I am currently in the industrial complex!

However, Yoo Jonghyuk didn’t answer . There were no signs that he read it . Instead, I received a scenario message that was like a death sentence .

[Please recruit your helpers within 10 minutes . ]

[You can recruit six helpers . ]

There were two dogs, one gender ambiguous human and a person trembling with fear that I would point to him… he had postpartum depression… dammit . I urgently needed to fill up the seven people, regardless of power .

I sighed and opened my mouth . “…I will choose the helpers . ”

The two dogs, Jang Hayoung and Han Myungoh were included but I still needed two more . Even if one spot was left for Yoo Jonghyuk, one more person had to be recruited separately . I looked up at the sky .

[Every constellation in the channel is listening to you . ]

Now it was time to test my network .

TL: Rainbow Turtle