992 Episode 59 What Kind of Ending (13)

Dansu ahjussi remained silent for a moment. His gaze seemed to recall a distant memory, yearn for it, and feel sorrow.

"I don't know what happened to Miss Yoosoung either."

Dansu ahjussi's expression was filled with guilt as he said this.

"Actually, when I jumped into the bushes, I was barely unconscious."

That was understandable. Dansu ahjussi's team had suffered a near-total annihilation in the preliminary battle.

Even amidst that, Dansu ahjussi would not have given up until the very end to save a single child. He would have searched through the bushes to help even a single survivor escape.

Perhaps Shin Yoosoung of <Kim Dokja Company> watched Dansu ahjussi like that, and eventually, unable to bear it any longer, used her power.

"The aftershock of probability swept in, and my body was crumbling."

I recalled how Kim Anna and Kim Namwoon had faced the aftermath of probability.

Perhaps ahjussi had also been in a similar crisis.

"If it weren't for Miss Yoosoung, I would have died there."

Shin Yoosoung likely used 'The Beast King's Sensitivity' to align with ahjussi, taking on the burden of probability that Dansu ahjussi was supposed to bear.

"But the moment Miss Yoosoung protected me, my body began to be dragged somewhere."

He, too, seemed to understand what kind of phenomenon it was. This was because I, too, had experienced something similar.

"It is difficult to explain, but it felt like a very distant primordial energy was calling me. Unconsciously, I followed that energy and flowed, eventually arriving here."

"Then, Yoosoung-i—"

"We parted ways the moment we entered this place."

I sighed. Even if it was Shin Yoosoung of <Kim Dokja Company>, and even though this scenario was in its later stages, I couldn't tell if it was acceptable to abuse such power.

"Have you not met Yoosoung since then?"

"Unfortunately..."

From what I heard, it had been about two years since Dansu ahjussi entered this place.

And during those two years, he had been constantly searching for news of Shin Yoosoung.

"Perhaps because we fell into this world together. And above all, what Miss Yoosoung said to me right before entering the world weighed on my mind."

"What did she say?"

Dansu ahjussi pondered deeply once again, his expression as if searching for a memory, before finally uttering a single word.

"The big house."

"The big house?"

I know what that word means to Shin Yoosoung of <Kim Dokja Company>. Dansu ahjussi continued.

"I don't know why, but the moment I heard those words, I somehow became convinced that Miss Yoosoung was also entering the same world as me."

I nodded and asked.

"Did you happen to tell this story to the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal as well?"

"I did speak to him, but..."

Just as Asmodeus and other myth-grade constellations did, if Shin Yoosoung had entered this worldline, the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal would surely have noticed.

However, the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal did not seem to give any particular indication.

There was a possibility that something had happened to Shin Yoosoung upon entering this worldline. If she had entered this world, she would have come looking for the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, Lee Hyunsung, or Jung Heewon long ago. The fact that there was still no contact...

Buzz.

The smartphone vibrated. As I checked the call with a light spark, a familiar modifier appeared in the center of the screen.

—Demon King of Salvation.

It was my eldest brother.

I excused myself from Dansu ahjussi and stepped out of the reception room to answer the phone. I could feel several constellations glancing at me as they passed by, but right now, I had no energy to pay attention to such things individually.

"Just how long has it been since you last contacted me?"

I wondered just how long it had been since the last call. I struggled to suppress my joy and urged him on.

"Yes? If you have a mouth, say something?"

He probably doesn't know. How much I missed him.

As if puzzled by my reaction, a snorting voice came from the other end of the line.

—Are you really that happy to see me? I'm stuck in your library anyway. It's practically the same as always being together.

"What's the point of being together? We can't even have a conversation."

—Have you been doing well?

Just hearing his voice made me feel strange.

I don't know if that's the right way to put it, but the feeling I get when I think of the first was similar to that.

"What if I haven't been doing well?"

—You have to be doing well. We all live our lives struggling to get along."

Hearing that from the first made me feel strange all over again.

Perhaps having entered a world where scenarios don't exist has simply increased my own sense of sentimentality.

—Did you meet the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal?

"I met him."

The eldest replied immediately, as if he roughly understood the situation.

—I've been in contact with Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal quite often."

"Is that so?"

—Yeah, it seems outsiders keep appearing in that area. Oh, by the way, did you meet the third one?"

I don't know if I should say we met, or if we didn't.

I simply conveyed the situation I was in.

That I am currently possessing the third one's body, that Asmodeus had appeared, that the third one's soul had vanished somewhere, and that men in black suits had appeared chasing us.

—Asmodeus...

Upon hearing my explanation, the eldest's voice was quite displeased.

It was a tone filled with conviction that this story couldn't possibly end merely at the 'Asmodeus' stage.

I then shared the information I had heard from Dansu ahjussi.

—You said Shin Yoosoung seems to be in that timeline?

"Maybe."

Leaving aside why Shin Yoosoung hadn't appeared before us yet, if she really was in this timeline, it was somewhat of a comfort to me.

If I could just meet Shin Yoosoung, she would be a tremendous asset in our current situation.

However, the eldest seemed to have a different opinion.

—That’s bad news.

"Huh? Why?"

—Who from <Kim Dokja Company> is there right now?

"The Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal and—"

—Except for the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal. Strictly speaking, he isn't <Kim Dokja Company>.

"Lee Hyunsung-ssi and Jung Heewon-ssi. Jung Heewon-ssi is currently possessed by the 41st iteration, so it's a bit ambiguous—"

—And you too. Then there are already four members of <Kim Dokja Company> in the same timeline.

Come to think of it, it had been a really long time since so many members of <Kim Dokja Company> had gathered together.

"So?"

—Don't you understand what I mean?

In an instant, something flashed through my mind.

—Do you think it is normal for you to be that happy to see me?

I flinched and reflected on my own emotions. The first was right. No matter how happy I was to see the first, it was rare for me to express my emotions to this extent.

It was clear what was influencing my current state.

"Is the story of <Kim Dokja Company> growing stronger?"

As the figures forming the core of the giant story gathered, the story began to influence the members of the world.

—Because that world was originally created for that purpose. The third is dreaming of that world.

This world is a kind of 'big house' that Kim Dokja created for <Kim Dokja Company>. Kim Dokja must have hoped that <Kim Dokja Company> would gather here and find some small comfort.

However, due to the choices made by <Kim Dokja Company>, the world's dream remained unrealized for a long time.

—If the story’s gravitational pull continues to grow stronger, the story will naturally summon the elements necessary to realize itself.

However, in the midst of this, Dansu ahjussi—a fragment of Kim Dokja—and I were dragged into this world, and even Shin Yoosoung entered this timeline. The elements for the story’s realization were beginning to take shape one by one.

"I suppose other <Kim Dokja Company> members might come here as well."

Honestly, I thought it would be better for <Kim Dokja Company> to come to this world rather than just the others.

But once again, the first seemed to have a different perspective.

—If it is certain that the third was kidnapped, that world is currently in a very unstable state. If another <Kim Dokja Company> member were to appear in that state, the world itself could collapse due to the oversaturated story.

I hadn't even considered that possibility.

"Then what should we do?"

—We have to escape immediately. We met Dansu ahjussi, didn't we? If we stay there, even you would get caught up in it and perish.

"Then what about the third?"

—If he has fallen into their hands anyway, it will be hard to save him.

"Are you serious?"

I never expected the 'Demon King of Salvation', of all people, to say something like that.

I spoke in a somewhat disappointed tone.

"You never know until you try, do you? We could rescue him."

—Rescue him? How? You know what kind of world that is.

"…"

—You aren't actually trusting the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal, are you? That guy can't really use his power there. He's just a slightly stronger monkey.

"We have capable forces here besides the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal. There's Heewon-ssi, and there's Hyunsung-ssi."

—Even with those two, it won't work. They are just ordinary people there.

"Besides, there are myth-grade constellations."

—Myth-grade constellations?

"As for who is here—"

—Wait a minute. You mean Poseidon and Odin, you mean them?

"The way you put it, it sounds like you're calling out the names of neighborhood guys."

It seemed the first had already grasped the ecosystem of this place.

—Do you really think those guys will be of any help?

Just then, I saw Poseidon passing by in the distance, hitting Odin on the head with a recorder.

I tried to ignore the scene and spoke.

"They may look like that, but they are myth-grade constellations."

—But you are myth-grade too.

"No, I am different. Still, they are orthodox, and I—"

—Don't even think about borrowing their hands. Do you think they would help in the first place? You haven't forgotten what kind of bastards they are, have you? Just take the people and escape quickly. That is the only solution. As long as <Kim Dokja Company>, which is different from you, isn't in that world, the story won't manifest anyway.

It was a valid argument, but there was one major flaw in the plan.

"No. I promised the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal. That he would save the third with me."

—What nonsense are you talking about… You just…!

With a spark, the call was cut off. It seems the connection is dead again. I was happy when I answered the phone, but once we actually talked, my mind became a mess.

"Dokja-ssi."

I don't know when she approached, but Jung Heewon was standing behind me. She looked at me with a somewhat worried expression, then gestured somewhere with her chin. Judging by her expression, it seemed something wrong had happened.

"I think you need to come over here for a moment."

Jung Heewon and I returned to the usual restaurant district. The constellations, including Great Sage, Heaven's Equal and Dansu ahjussi, were already gathered there, watching the news on the old television set up in the center.

—In response, the government issued a statement regarding 'terrorists'...

It was a continuation of the news we had just seen. The eyes of the constellations widened one by one as they saw Great Sage, Heaven's Equal's face filling the screen.

"What is that?"

"Why is that monkey bastard appearing?"

Just as I was wondering if it was okay to show him like that, Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, who was watching the news beside me, muttered.

"Damn it, it looks so much worse than I am in real life."

"Is this really the time to be saying such idle things?"

"Believe it or not, I used to be an idol."

Come to think of it, this primate had debuted as an idol alongside the Black Flame Dragon and Uriel in the 1,864th round. I suddenly thought about asking about those days, but the news that followed left me speechless.

—It is reported that the government has already secured one of the terrorists…

On the screen, Lee Hyunsung was being broadcast, tied to a chair.

Perhaps finding it difficult to crack a joke this time, even Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal wore a rather serious expression.

"That bastard Hyunsung. Is he already caught?"

"It looks really dangerous."

Just as I was wondering what would happen if Lee Hyunsung died like that, Great Sage, Heaven's Equal shook his head and said.

"He won't die. That guy is sturdier than me. Did you forget his nickname?"

"You don't actually think Hyunsung-ssi is made of steel, do you?"

"Yeah, well, I have to go rescue him. That's why I came. I have to find the youngest anyway."

Great Sage, Heaven's Equal let out a light sigh, glanced at the constellations in the dining hall, and clapped his hands loudly.

"Alright, you gluttons! Pay attention!"

At his thunderous roar, the constellations gathered in the dining area turned toward him in unison. As if satisfied with their reaction, Great Sage, Heaven's Equal began to speak.

"The time has come for you to repay my kindness! You need to help me out!"

It was an attitude of sheer shamelessness. However, perhaps accustomed to such behavior, the constellations asked readily instead of getting angry.

"What do you want me to help you with?"

"Yeah. You know Hyunsung, right? Our second. The good friend who always comes to feed you guys."

At the mention of food, several constellations turned to each other and muttered.

"You mean that bear-like guy?"

"He is a good guy."

Fortunately, it seemed that Lee Hyunsung had made a good impression on the constellations in the past. Seeing that the reaction from the crowd was not negative, Great Sage, Heaven's Equal got straight to the point, as if he had nothing left to weigh.

"Right, it looks like that guy has been captured by some bad guys. Let's go rescue him together."

"Why are you asking us? Couldn't you go alone?"

"They have quite a few more people than I can rescue him by myself."

With everyone having eaten frozen pork belly, Great Sage, Heaven's Equal spoke with a look of certainty that there would be volunteers.

"Alright, who wants to go rescue Hyunsung with me? Raise your hand!"

However, the constellations merely exchanged wary glances, and no one raised their hand. Just as Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, frowning, was about to speak again, someone among the constellations burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Following this, a wave of snickers spread among the constellations in the restaurant district. Poseidon, who had been observing the situation from a corner, spoke up.

"Serves you right, you monkey bastard! You are finally in danger!"

"…"

"What? Help us? You locked us up here, and now you're saying you need help and want to borrow the hands of old geezers?"

Judging by the way things were going, it seemed the situation was unfolding just as the first had predicted. Perhaps it was an inevitable outcome.

There was no way those 'constellations of the Great Nebulae' would help us.

"You deserve divine punishment! Who do you think you're asking for help from right now!"

"That's right! After turning us into powerless old geezers..."

"No, that's because you guys failed the possession—"

It seemed the more the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal spoke, the worse the situation became, so I felt I should step in at this point.

"It doesn't seem like there is any particular reason for us to help you."

However, someone spoke before me.

When I turned to look at where the voice came from, an old man wearing a fluorescent safety vest and work gloves was standing there. He walked past me with a bored expression and exchanged brief greetings with the other constellations.

One of the Constellations asked him.

"What? Where have you been? Something interesting just happened."

"The power went out at the smart farm, so I went and fixed it. I heard the gist of it."

"Oh, did you finally fix it?"

It appeared the old man was working on the power facilities here.

Wait a minute, power facilities?

"Was that constellation here too?"

"Hmm, didn't I mention it?"

The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal replied in a somewhat indifferent voice.

"Things got a bit messed up. I was planning to accept applicants before that guy arrived."

Judging by the situation, that old electrician seemed to be a constellation with quite a bit of recognition in this area.

As if he fully understood how things were going, the old electrician neatly removed his work gloves, placed them on the table, wiped his sweat, and sat down on a chair. Then, he muttered to himself.

"If a force threatening you has appeared in this timeline, it's obvious who it is."

The old electrician turned his head and looked out through the iron bars at the abandoned factory.

Just then, the sound of rain falling outside could be heard. Faint thunder echoed in the distance. Watching the old man’s piercing eyes stare at the lightning, I recalled his name anew.

"Finally, the children of <Olympus> have come to save me."

The leader of <Olympus>—the Throne of Lightning, Zeus.