Beyond the Eternity

Soo Jinyoung was trapped inside one of the cages.

She was unconscious probably due to exhaustion or something of the sorts. But what was she doing here? No, why was she even here?

The last time I saw her, Lee Suhye was watching her condition on the rooftop. Perhaps she must have woken up after we left and headed south where the Red Pheonix Sword was kept.

With that in mind, I really couldn't understand how she ended up here.

[The constellations that likes obscenity are excited by the scene.]

My thoughts were slowly pulled back to reality.

I saw several men approaching Soo Jinyoung, with their hands moving to unzip their pants. It seems nothing has happened but I can't leave things as they were.

"Hey..."

I turned towards the man named Minho and activated a skill without delay.

[Exclusive skill, <Endless One> has activated.]

I said. "From this moment onwards, you will forget everything and leave this place."

"Eh? Wha...!"

Minho's confusion disappeared as his eyes glazed over and became dull. He nodded his head like a robot upon receiving the command and walked towards the exit.

It was important to be careful if I don't want this plan to backfire.

"Park Joonhyuk."

"Hmm?"

"Have you recovered some of your magic power?"

"I've recovered a bit. Oh, I see what you want to do. You want to crash this party, right?"

Park Joonhyuk smiled at me.

With a single glance, It was obvious these people had gained a fortune from the coin farms. The constellations craved a thrilling story filled with violence, much like the rush one feels when watching an action-packed movie.

However, there was another method to stimulate the constellations.

[Blue Dragon Sword has activated.]

There was the sound of the steel bars being ripped apart. The sword sliced down the people that surrounded the cages one by one. I also cut down those who tried to run away.

The throats of the outcasts were not ready for a surprise attack.

"Aaaaaack!

"When did that bastard come from?"

"Damnit, It's someone from a group!"

I cut down the men that tried to remove Soo Jinyoung's clothing and carried the unconscious woman on my back.

[The constellation 'Judge of War and Wisdom' is pleased with your Judgement.]

[The constellation 'Mother of Dragons' says she dislikes common cliches.]

[Many of the constellations that dislikes atrocious acts are pleased with your choice.]

[The constellations have donated 10,000 coins.]

I smiled. I really did not understand the point of creating coin farms when coins were this easy to obtain.

"What's this now!?"

"Aaaaaack!"

The people were being hunted down by the puppets created by Park Joonhyuk. He wasn't lying when he said he recovered his magic power.

How high was his magic power stats anyways?

Park Joonhyuk shouted as if he had gone insane. "Ha ha ha ha! What's wrong? Defend yourselves! Haven't you been living like rats this entire time?!"

Each time he swung the sword, someone will be caught and blood will scatter across the air.

He was getting too excited. Sometimes, I forget he's a chuunibyou.

I sighed and called out. "Park Joonhyuk."

"What is it now? Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Yeah, about that... Make sure to not kill all of them."

"What? Are you crazy? Are you telling me to let them go?"

"Of course not. My intentions are the opposite. Aren't you interested in making alot of coins?"

"More coins?"

"Shut up and hit them as hard as you can, alright."

There were a large number of rogue players. Approximately, there were around fifty of them. Even so, their overall stats was rather low and the same can be said for their skills, so Park Joonhyuk and I were able to take care of them rather easily.

The people that were fifty from the beginning were now reduced to a measly twelve.

Even then, the limbs of the remaining rogue players were cut.

[A large number of rogue players has been killed.]

[You have obtained 15,800 coins.]

"Hehe! Isn't this a jackpot?"

Park Joonhyuk looked rather happy upon seeing the coins he received. He must have received more then me since his kill count was higher.

"Park Joonhyuk... You psychopath!"

A voice was heard.

I looked ahead and saw someone on the floor with wounds covering his body. Wasn't that the person Park Joonhyuk called Deputy Yu?

Park Joonhyuk looked at him as if he did not know what to say.

"Deputy Yu, I didn't think we will meet like this."

"Don't talk to me so causally after what you done. Everything is ruined because of you."

"Hey now, Is that what you say to a friend? Don't we used to share stories together?"

"Fuck you... who would be friends with a loser like you?"

The man gritted his teeth as if he had heard something truly ridiculous.

"Even now, It seems like you haven't realised the truth yet."

"What are you...."

"Park Joonhyuk, tell me something. Why was I the only one that always spoke with you?"

"T-That..."

"You were always reading webnovels on your phone during work hours. You come to work late. And you don't talk to anyone unless necessary. Even when you do, you always have this gloomy expression on your face."

The man known as Deputy Yu spoke those words with utter disdain. "The truth is, no one could stand being around you."

"....!"

Park Joonhyuk's eyes shook as if he had received a heavy blow.

As if to kick him while he was down, Deputy Yu continued speaking with his voice laced with venom.

"I didn't talk to you because I liked you. I pitied you. That was it. You were a joke to everyone, and the only reason they didn't say it to your face was because they felt sorry for you. And now you do this to someone who helped you out."

The man coughed out blood. Even so, he continued to speak.

"I guess you're finally showing your true colours. I should have realised it when I heard those rumours."

"Alright. That's enough out of you."

I pulled the trigger of the magic gun and Deputy Yu's forehead was pierced. Blood spurted from the neck and the body collapsed.

Park Joonhyuk looked at me with a stupid expression. He said. "Why did you kill that guy?"

"He was talking too much. I shouldn't have killed him?"

"What? No."

"Then?"

I was surprised. I didn't expect like Park Joonhyuk to be affected by some mere words. Perhaps even someone like him was also human.

Park Joonhyuk laughed as if it was ridiculous.

"Really, what nonsense are you even saying? I was planning on letting him finish speaking his mind before I killed him. Don't you know the constellations like that kind of endings?"

Was that really it? Why did it seem like he was trying to hide his weakness?

In the end, I decided to play along with his narrative.

"Well, I guess you're right."

"By the way, what are we going to do about the rest of them?"

I glanced at the remaining rogue players that had their limbs severed. It would be easy to kill them and be done with it, but I had a better idea.

I shot the locks of the cages and the steel bars were swung wide open.

[You have saved the lives of the same species.]

[You have obtained a number of karma points.]

There was the sound of footsteps. It was the people that were trapped inside the cages.

Upon the sense of freedom, colour returned to their faces.

Before they could speak, I spoke as if reading their minds.

"No, I can't take you with me. From here on out, you're on your own."

Some of the people looked hesitant while some looked like they were despairing. One of the captives, a young man with a gaunt face and tattered clothing, stepped forward shakily.

"Y-You're just going to leave us like this?"

"I don't have the time to babysit anyone. Haven't you aware of the current situation? If you stay here, you'll die. If you leave, maybe you'll survive. But that's up to you."

The man glanced at Soo Jinyoung on my back. "But... what about her? If she's with you, can't we—"

"No," I cut him off sharply. "This one stays with me. If you want to live, you'd better figure it out fast. The world won't wait for you."

"T-That..."

I might seem like a hypocrite for not helping them, but it was a situation where I simply couldn't afford to. It was cold yet, in the end, the fact that I saved them could not be denied.

"So, what will you do now? Some of the people who trapped you here are still alive. Whatever you decide to do with them..."

Before I could finish what I was about to say, the former captives started picking up the items of the dead rogue players. Their eyes were blazing with newfound confidence.

I quietly stepped back and watched the scene unfold.

One of the captives stepped out first and swung a sword aiming for the neck.

"You bastards, die!"

Then another person stepped out.

"This is for trapping me without giving me food."

The bloodied rogue players' heads rolled across the ground as the former captives took their revenge. Each slash of their weapons was filled with anger and desperation.

It was chaotic, yet there was a raw, unfiltered determination in their actions.

Park Joonhyuk, who was watching the performance, looked at me and spoke with a wide grin.

"Seems like you inspired a rebellion. I didn't know you like common cliches."

"There's nothing like common cliches. It's just tropes that has been used rapidly by other writers."

"Isn't that why they are called common cliches?"

"What do you know when you are not a writer?"

"I can agrue that I know it well because I am a reader."

"...?!"

I wanted to say something but I abruptly swallowed back my words. Was there any way I could counter such an argument?

[The constellation, King of Heroes nods his head in approval.]

[The constellation, Mother of Dragons is delighted by the violence.]

[The constellation, Lone Watcher of the Battlefield applauds the rebellion.]

[Many of the constellations that support rebellion stories are pleased with your decision.]

[You have received 8,000 coins.]

The constellations liked different themes of stories and tropes just like readers. If a plot was created that fell into their line of interest, It was possible to gather many coins at a short notice.

"Ughh... The life of a writer is really hard."

I took a deep breath and adjusted Soo Jinyoung on my back before walking towards the exit. Park Joonhyuk followed closely, though I could feel his gaze lingering on the destruction for just a moment longer.

As we made our way out of the hideout, the cool night air hit my face. It was a gentle wind that blew my hair slightly.

Park Joonhyuk opened his mouth. "By the way, those words you said back there..."

"What about it?"

"You just copied the words of Soo Jinyoung, didn't you?"

「 "I can't always take you with me. You must survive using your own strength." 」

That was what Soo Jinyoung said to the survivors in Song of Nightmares. She was a rather lonely existence, so it made sense why she wouldn't have to get too attached with anyone.

I shrugged. "Does that really matter? Besides, many people have said it before her."

That was not all.

"Also, why did you want to go with me? You can survive on your own."

At my words, Park Joonhyuk's expression distorted.

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