Chapter 353 — Beyond Good and Evil (2)
11 min read ·
My declaration caused the system message in the air to blink.
[You are currently the best narrator of the story.]
[You have a 33.7% share in the giant story ‘Torch That Swallowed the Myth’. Thanks to your declaration, the story is tilting in the direction of ‘evil.’]
The confused party members rose from their seats. I raised a hand as if to reassure them. I spoke to Yoo Jonghyuk through Midday Tryst.
-Yoo Jonghyuk, if this continues, our story will be evil. Do you want that?
My share in Torch That Swallowed the Myth was 33.7%. Meanwhile, Yoo Jonghyuk’s share was 22.8%. I was 10.9% ahead of him.
[The opinions of the two speakers are in conflict.]
[The narrators should decide good and evil through consensus.]
[If an agreement isn’t decided within the time limit, the ruling will be based on the side with the higher number of shares.]
[The end of the ruling has been extended by 10 minutes.]
Yoo Jonghyuk didn’t answer. I once again sent him a message.
-I don’t know what you are thinking but good and evil shouldn’t be decided here. Quickly withdraw the declaration. Then I’ll withdraw mine too.
[The constellation ‘Guardian of Youths and Travel’ is looking at you.]
[The demon king ‘Devil of Lust and Fury’ is pleased with your judgment.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is confused by your judgment.]
I was sorry for Uriel but the story couldn’t be determined as good or evil here.
[The demon king ‘Ruler of the East Hell’ is feeling more favourable towards you.]
The top of the demon kings. The master of the 2nd Demon Realm, the Ruler of the East Hell was watching me with a warm face. They seemed to be misunderstanding something. I wasn’t taking the side of evil.
I impatiently cried out again.
-Hey! Can’t you hear me?
Then Yoo Jonghyuk moved. Yoo Jonghyuk walked from the table and pulled out his sword.
[The incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ refuses to agree with you.]
I reflexively avoided his sword. In an instant, the table was split apart and the stage became a mess. The demon kings screamed as I also pulled out a sword. Yoo Jonghyuk’s Black Demon Sword and my Unbroken Faith collided. My wrist throbbed.
“This is crazy...”
The surprised Uriel tried to run this way but a green barrier prevented the constellations from moving.
[At present, the constellations and demon kings attending the Duet Between Good and Evil can’t be hostile to each other!]
[The assistance of other people regarded the shares decision is prohibited.]
It was the worst.
[Great Dokkaebi ‘Baram’ is looking forward to your choice.]
[Great Dokkaebi ‘Halong’ is looking forward to your choice.]
Even the great dokkaebis exposed their presence. The bureau was paying attention to the good/evil ruling of our story. Perhaps the scenario was now being relayed to the Star Stream through another channel.
I stared at the increasingly raging Yoo Jonghyuk. I was unable to read his face. I didn’t know why Yoo Jonghyuk was suddenly doing this. However, I couldn’t yield to this guy who knew nothing.
-Yoo Jonghyuk, you might not understand right now but listen to me.
I had to somehow convince this guy.
-If our story is fixed to either good or evil, a terrifying disaster will arise.
According to the original novel, the battle over the pride of absolute good and absolute evil would be huge this season. In the past few seasons, the Duet Between Good and Evil had tilted the balance towards good. In other words, the demon kings were sharpening their swords in this Duet Between Good and Evil.
「 If good wins here, the second ‘Holy and Demon War’ will start. 」
「 On the other hand, if evil wins, the position of Eden will decrease and its destruction will be accelerated. 」
I hadn’t built up enough stories yet for the Holy and Demon War. However, I didn’t want to let evil win.
-I’ll explain the details later. Just listen to my words...
“Is this your prophecy?”
A shadow of deep disbelief was in Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyes. Prophecy. When I first met Yoo Jonghyuk, I introduced myself as a prophet. I didn’t know he still believed this but it might work out better. Before I could open my mouth, Yoo Jonghyuk asked me again. “Or is it information from the book called Ways of Survival?”
“What?”
My heart suddenly jumped.
...How? How did he know about Ways of Survival?
[The sponsor of incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ isn’t happy with this situation.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ doesn’t want you to fight!]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is confused by the unexpected situation.]
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is watching your decision.]
Sparks flew around Yoo Jonghyuk’s body. He frowned like he had a headache. As if rebelling against another will, Yoo Jonghyuk continued, “Will this scenario end safely if I follow your words?”
“Yoo Jonghyuk, you now...”
“Is this the way I will be used in the future?”
Kukukukung!
“Is this how to survive in this ruined world?”
Suddenly, there was no strength in my hands.
[The ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking.]
My surroundings shook and a small vibration rose in the depths of my body. The tremors rapidly spread from the epicenter. I grabbed my wildly shaking right hand. I looked up and saw Yoo Jonghyuk staring at the party members.
-Do they know?
How much did Yoo Jonghyuk know?
-Answer me, Kim Dokja.
The energy flowing from the Black Demon Sword became stronger. Yoo Jonghyuk had opened up the power of transcendence. It meant he really wouldn’t back down from now on.
[The character ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ is moving the giant story.]
[The giant story ‘Torch That Swallowed the Myth’ is starting!]
I couldn’t leave it like this.
[You are the best narrator of this story.]
[You are controlling the story.]
[The giant story ‘Torch That Swallowed the Myth’ isn’t satisfied with your ‘status.’]
[The giant story ‘Torch That Swallowed the Myth’ refuses your domination.]
...What? The story didn’t listen to me despite my high shares. Our torch, which broke through Poseidon’s barrier, wound around Yoo Jonghyuk’s Black Demon Sword. The white flame wanting to swallow me was approaching.
[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is strongly activated!]
「(Dokja-ssi, wake up!) 」
Along with Yoo Sangah’s words, I released my status.
[The giant story ‘Demon World’s Spring’ is protecting you!]
[The giant story ‘Torch That Swallowed the Myth’ is showing hostility towards you!]
The two stories we built together collided in the air. The Torch That Swallowed the Myth and Demon World’s Spring were like ferocious beasts. The torn strings scattered through the air like blood.
“What are you doing now? Are you crazy?”
[The incarnation ‘Jung Heewon’ is jumping into the verdict of the giant story!]
“Master! What is happening all of a sudden? Why did Ahjussi pick evil?”
[The incarnation ‘Lee Jihye’ is jumping into the verdict of the giant story!]
“Dokja-ssi! Yoo Jonghyuk-ssi! Both of you, stop!”
[The incarnation ‘Lee Hyunsung’ is jumping into the verdict of the giant story!]
“Don’t bother Hyung, you bastard!”
[The incarnation ‘Lee Gilyoung’ is jumping into the verdict of the giant story!]
“Ahjussi! Avoid it!”
[The incarnation ‘Shin Yoosung’ is jumping into the verdict of the giant story!]
It was a welcome help. The Torch That Swallowed the Myth was a story involving all of us. In other words, Yoo Jonghyuk and I weren’t the only ones who could judge this story.
[The narrators who have entered the judgment, please distinguish between good and evil.]
[If you don’t choose good or evil, you can’t intervene in the confrontation.]
The party members were confused. They panicked at suddenly having to choose between good or evil. In the confusion, Lee Gilyoung was the first to open his mouth.
“I will side with Dokja hyung.”
[Incarnation ‘Lee Gilyoung’ has a 3.3% share in the giant story ‘Torch That Swallowed the Myth’.]
[Due to incarnation Lee Gilyoung’s declaration, the story is tilting in the direction of ‘evil.’]
I quickly called out to them. “You can’t choose evil anymore! Choose good!”
“Huh?”
“Do as I say! Quickly!”
If Yoo Jonghyuk wouldn’t withdraw his declaration then there was only one way remaining. It was to perfectly balance good and evil.
The current difference was 14.2%. If the remaining four people’s shares were joined together...
“Slowly choose one by one! Yoosung first!”
“Yes!”
[Incarnation ‘Shin Yoosung has a 3.3% share in the giant story ‘Torch That Swallowed the Myth’.]
[Incarnation ‘Jung Heewon’ has a 6.7% share in the giant story ‘Torch That Swallowed the Myth’.]
[Incarnation ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has a 7.3% share in the giant story ‘Torch That Swallowed the Myth’.]
[Three narrators have chosen ‘good.’]
“Stop!”
The last one to choose, Lee Jihye paused at my cry.
[The balance has tilted by 3.1% towards good.]
[If the consensus fails in the next five minutes, the Torch That Swallowed the Myth will be confirmed as good.]
The party members had a bigger share in the story than I expected. There was only Lee Jihye remaining.
“Ahjussi! I’m 5.8%!”
The difference between good and evil was 3.1%. Meanwhile, Lee Jihye had a 5.8% share. No matter what option Lee Jihye chose, it was a situation where good and evil couldn’t be balanced.
My brain worked quickly.
...What if I could bring the shares of the other party members to my side?
[Narrators participating in the good or evil judgment can’t ‘gift shares.]
Damn, this convenient way didn’t work. Yoo Jonghyuk’s Black Demon Sword was flying towards my neck.
“Stop it!”
Jung Heewon, who was able to intervene in the duel, stopped Yoo Jonghyuk’s sword instead of me. Lee Hyunsung ran and hugged Yoo Jonghyuk’s body from behind while the children surrounded me like they were protecting me. Lee Jihye stood in the middle with a helpless expression.
“Why are the two of you fighting? Fighting now...!”
Yoo Jonghyuk’s gaze alternated between the party members. It seemed like he wanted to say something. No, I knew what he wanted to say.
「 You are being deceived. 」
His trembling eyes were pouring rage towards me.
「 This guy, he deceived all of us. 」
I thought this day would come eventually. In fact, I thought about it dozens of times a day.
“Everybody, get out of the way.”
Yoo Jonghyuk amplified his status, blew away Lee Hyunsung, knocked down Lee Jihye and ran this way. Jung Heewon and Yoo Jonghyuk’s swords collided. However, Jung Heewon couldn’t use Judgment Time and wasn’t capable of dealing with Yoo Jonghyuk.
I placed the children behind me and stepped forward.
[The demon king ‘Monarch of Stars and Logic’ is rooting for you.]
[The demon king ‘Devil of Principles’ wants you to win.]
[The constellation ‘Morning Star Goddess’ wants good to win.]
[A large number of constellations and demon kings are watching Kim Dokja’s Company.]
They were the messages of the existences watching me walk forward. Why were they so obsessed with good and evil?
[The exclusive skill ‘Reading Comprehension’ is activated.]
...I already knew the answer.
They were bound to do so.
[The giant story ‘Practitioner of Encouraging Good and Punishing Evil’ is continuing.]
[The giant story ‘Guardian of White Evil’ is continuing.]
[The giant story ‘More Evil Than Evil’ is continuing.]
[The giant story ‘The Suitable Good’ is continuing.]
.....
Numerous strings were swarming like insects in the eyes of the constellations and demon kings.
It was the stories they had. The stories were controlling them. They were on longer constellations or demon kings.
They only existed to execute ‘good’ and ‘evil’ in this world. Most of them were merely breeding tools that the old stories used to propagate themselves. These stories were trying to devour our nebula.
[If the consensus fails in the next two minutes, the Torch That Swallowed the Myth will be confirmed as good.]
I couldn’t allow that to happen. I quickly made a decision and shouted. “Jihye! Choose good!”
“Eh? But...”
“Quickly!”
Lee Jihye made a puzzled expression. It was strange that I took her to choose good when it was already the dominant one. Lee Jihye chose immediately.
[The balance has tilted by 8.9% towards good!]
[If the consensus fails in the next 40 seconds, the Torch That Swallowed the Myth will be confirmed as good.]
The difference was even larger. 8.9%... yes, this was for the best.
I took a deep breath and used all my strength to call out the modifier of a certain being.
[Abyssal Black Flame Dragon!]
I knew that he was watching. It meant the occurrences here were known to his incarnation. In this situation, there was only one person who would understand exactly what I wanted.
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is laughing madly.]
Yoo Jonghyuk’s Black Demon Sword filled with the power of transcendence flew to my neck. It was an inevitable blow.
Then a crack appeared in the ceiling of the banquet hall. Yoo Jonghyuk looked up at the ceiling but it was already too late. The running Yoo Jonghyuk was crushed by the fragments of the broken ceiling.
Some large pieces were avoided but there were too many stones pouring down. I saw a shadow in the dirty dust. The hair was sweaty like the person had rushed here. The bandages half released from the left arm was blowing in the wind.
In the dust, this person smiled as she trampled on Yoo Jonghyuk. “I knew you couldn’t do this without me.”
[The incarnation ‘Han Sooyoung’ is jumping into the verdict of the giant story!]