Chapter 296
Chapter 296
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 296
Chapter Title: The Protagonist's Role
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"Walk over there. Park Gwanglim went on ahead. Jang Hyundeok is waiting as well."
Letters and numbers, darkness.
And then a bizarre, abstract space composed of random chaos forms a path you can walk along.
A route where only the concepts of [A Path To Walk], <passageway>, [Escape Route] exist. The fact that it's made up of flowing alphabets or distorted deep-sea fish images probably isn't important information to a higher being like this [Source of Life].
And at the end of that passage, the dumbfounded figures of Park Gwanglim and—
Jang Hyundeok.
They don't appear to have any problems or injuries.
"You just need to walk over there. Do that, and you'll get exactly what you wanted."
For a moment, I almost mindlessly stepped onto the path, drawn in by the few concepts it offered, but I turned my body around and looked at the [Source of Life] instead.
"You just called me the protagonist, right?"
"That's what I said."
"Specifically, the protagonist of this [Cthulhu World]."
[Cthulhu World] is a cosmic horror game based on the Cthulhu mythos.
The goal the protagonist of that game has to accomplish is one thing.
'Uncover the truth of this world and prevent its destruction.'
But that's just a purpose that exists as part of the story.
As a resident of the cosmic horror genre, the protagonist's true role is something else.
"......"
There are no odes to humanity or triumphs in this world, no intuition or satisfying payoffs like in web novels.
"Destruction is inevitable, and eventually, you either die, go mad, or give up everything in despair, right? And that's the role of the protagonist in this game."
The [Source of Life] tilts its head, eyes widening largely.
"Why are you telling me that story?"
A middle-aged man's face resembling Jang Hyundeok.
Depending on the situation, it laughs or shows curiosity—there are changes in expression, but it feels like an uncanny dissonance, as if generated by an image AI.
'Like a robot.'
The changes in expression feel too contrived, and above all, it hasn't breathed or blinked once since earlier.
With my back to the passage the [Source of Life] created, I thought for a moment.
'Yeah, I could probably just leave like this.'
But why should I grant this bastard's wish?
Tudor's words to me from earlier come to mind.
'It's not like it grants any wish, right? There must be some method or conditions.'
Right, I'm not some mechanical entity that grants random wishes without thought. And I'm not a mindless game character wandering around either.
I carefully stirred my magic power.
I can't just leave like this.
I hate being used like this.
And above all...
"It probably won't work, but since I've got the protagonist's role, I figured I'd give it a shot."
I already know it's an existence I can't resist, but even so, challenging it and struggling—that's the protagonist's role.
With those words, I carefully activated the magic I'd prepared.
[Black Flame]
[Spell Enhancement: Maximized]
Roooar—
Pitch-black flames carrying sinister power pour toward the [Source of Life].
"This is an unstable space. Using magic here could poison you."
The [Source of Life] merely said that and took no action.
The magic I unleashed, intertwining black flames and the grudge of spirits...
[靈+Fire 01 1010 10 Grudge 1010111 $sMelts Burns eKills2in1da1 Fire Black 00011 c!&a&Grudge10101 Flame Soul1011 Wraith &zFire Fireaa Spirit 10101010 Amplified Power^]
Breaks apart into fragments of 0s and 1s, along with a few words and concepts.
I expected as much.
"How about this, then?"
Without stopping, I activate telekinesis to levitate the [Sin-Severing Sword] and [Butcher's Hook] in midair.
Chrrrrrak—
A complex magic circle forms, mediated by the two artifacts.
Artifacts prepared as weapons can only be equipped one at a time, but ignoring the game-like convenience of that assignment—I convert the power dwelling in those two weapons into magic.
[Sword Realm]
The [Source of Life] briefly furrows its brow, grimacing.
"Magic not in the database. Did you just create it?"
"That's right! You said this is outside the managed zone, didn't you?"
Yeah, this is magic that doesn't exist in the game.
Just something I whipped up on the spot, with the realization that I could do it.
Kiiiiirik—
The [Sword] property dwelling in the Sin-Severing Sword—that expands infinitely into this ambiguous space.
<cuts>, <slashes>, [Is Hard], [Deals Impact], [Amplifies Magic Power], [Harms The Righteous], [Wields Violence], <mercilessness>, [Draws Blood], [Kills The Target], [Demands Change By Embedding Its Blade Into The Target's Flesh]—like flowers of light and matter blooming in a kaleidoscope, circularly—randomly—repeatedly—beautifully—the images of swords blossoming.
"Impressive. Corrupting spatial information with mental force? A little more development, and you could found a new lineage of magic."
"You clearly said you have no control rights over the space, right?"
"That's what I said."
"Good. Then I guess I can't escape!"
Chrrrrrak—
The sword images confronting from all directions close in on the [Source of Life].
The [Source of Life] makes a newly surprised expression.
However, its surprise isn't intense. Just the face you'd make upon realizing you're late for an appointment.
"Ah, it seems I said too much information. The administrator will be annoyed later."
"I'll put in a good word so that doesn't happen!"
Chrrrrrak— Shlaaash!
The moment the spatial information composed of countless repeating sword images touches its body.
Fwooom—
The [Source of Life]'s body scatters like hundreds of gorgeous flowers.
No impact feedback.
A voice comes from an unexpected direction—the form of Ghastful.
"Why the sudden action? I can't understand the purpose."
Honestly, even I can't give a rational reason for why I'm bothering with this. It's just...
"I'm pissed off, so I wanted to smack it a couple times. Resist if you hate it. Fair, right?"
"Not fair. Rather, isn't your intelligence lacking?"
Whirrr—
I attack the [Source of Life] that revealed itself in Ghastful's body.
Chrrrrak—
The ferocious power dwelling in the space itself. A space imbued with the will to cut, slice, slash, and wound the target's flesh moves to assault its body.
Fwooom—
Its body, Ghastful's, scattering like hundreds of flowers.
"Sheesh, Wizard. For a mere human, your mental strength is impressive—but this is pointless flailing."
Jang Hyundeok's voice comes from another direction.
"The form you're seeing right now is just a terminal."
"So?"
The [Source of Life] borrowing Jang Hyundeok's appearance shrugs and speaks.
"Doing this does nothing to me—uh... in your terms, the [Source of Life], right? Anyway, it has no effect on me. This isn't possession or anything; it's like a video call. You have the intelligence to recognize that, right, Wizard?"
"Shut up."
Chrrrrak—
The space mutates into sharp images of slaughter according to my will and moves ceaselessly.
Fwooom—
Jang Hyundeok scatters like flowers.
"Teacher! Stop this and leave already? Jang Hyundeok and Park Gwanglim are waiting outside!"
Now an NPC whose identity I don't even know comes running up, saying that.
When I smack it away, it vanishes as hundreds of flowers.
"I advise calming your excitement!" "Nothing changes!"
"Teacher! Don't you want your Jang Hyundeok to become even more special?"
"This is all for your sake, Teacher."
"I'm on your side, Teacher." "We can walk a mutually beneficial path." "This isn't rational." "Why waste time like this?" "Go meet Jang Hyundeok already." "Wasn't this your plan, Teacher? I'm just helping with it!" "Teacher? Come on now!"
NPCs keep swarming in.
"Haa— haa— damn it."
Magic consumption is insane. But I raise my sword again, moving the space that manifests murderous and destructive power.
NPCs resembling Jang Hyundeok crushed like they've been caught in a horrific grinder.
"Teacher!" "Teacher!" "Teacher!" "Teacher!" "Teacher!" "Teacher!" "Teacher!"
Kwajajajajak—
* * *
An enormous number of flowers blooming so thick I can't see ahead.
"Haa— haa—"
"Ah, I get it now, Oppa. You're mad right now, aren't you?"
Hyeonji's bright, cheerful voice.
"Shut up!"
I raise my sword, but the sword images don't move.
Shhh—
The images crumble.
Can't maintain it anymore. The world soon reverts to an abstract space.
"Oppa, stop it already and go over there. Hyeon-deok Oppa and Gwanglim Oppa are waiting, right?"
"I'll really kill you."
My limbs have no strength left now. I'm barely standing, propping myself up with the sword of flesh stabbed into the ground to avoid collapsing.
Hyeonji grins, twisting her face.
The [Source of Life] manifested in Hyeonji's body lets out a horrific laugh no human could imitate and extends its hand.
Children approach from the direction Hyeonji points.
"Wizard, you worked hard." "I don't know why you're angry, but..."
"Yeah. Doesn't it make Hyeon-deok Hyung even cooler?"
I look at the children silently.
Yeah, that's exactly the problem.
"You think I'll let you mess with and defile the companion NPC I'm using however you please?"
"Ahh, that's what bothered you?"
"But it's unavoidable."
One child raises a hand and points to the sky.
"The stars are moving."
Smiling with identical expressions like finely crafted dolls—the children chatter away, each opening their mouths.
"This is all because of you, Wizard."
"Right. It's unavoidable because you messed things up."
"We're bearing losses too."
"Yeah. We said we needed resources, so we called Hyeon-deok Oppa, right?"
"To spare Hyeon-deok Hyung, we have no choice but to take resources from others."
I nod as I listen to the children's innocent voices.
Because of me? Now it's gaslighting too.
"Ah, is that so?"
I detonate the magic crystal I'd hardened from my blood, exploding my magic power.
As if realizing the meaning of the magic spreading in the abstract space, Hyeonji speaks.
"Wizard, that—"
[Time Stop]
Creeeeak—
* * *
A world dyed gray.
In stopped time, Hyeonji continues speaking.
"—using that to stop time means nothing to me."
"Right. It's the power of the [Great Source]."
"In the end, we're one. The same existence."
The children approach, smiling.
Is that really true?
Thanks to stopping time, I've confirmed something.
In this space, what can move, and what can't.
[Sword Realm]
Chrrrrak—
The moment the magic activates, I swing the [Sword of Flesh].
It's lost the expansive power from before, but [Sword Realm] alters the world's laws along the trajectory of my swung sword.
[L-grade Weapon 'Sword of Flesh's' unique function, 'Barrier-Cleaving Power,' activates.
// Barrier-Cleaving Power: Slashes through space.]
The [Sword of Flesh] is an item imbued with the [Great Source]'s power.
The [Source of Life], incarnation of the [Great Source], cannot resist this power!
Shlaaash!
I slash at something in midair.
Something that existed until now, but couldn't be perceived or seen.
'There's feedback.'
Unlike before, a sensation of something being severed.
Spiiiish—
In the gray space of stopped time, crimson blood—or an immense amount of petals—pours out.
Unable to withstand that overwhelming magic power, I'm flung backward.
* * *
I want to scream, but in stopped time, I can't vocalize a scream.
'But it hit. Now release [Time Stop] and—'
That's what I thought, but—[Time Stop]'s effect doesn't end.
No, that's not it. This is...
"Right. This time, I stopped time."
I'm pinned in midair in the exact pose I was flung, unable to move, scream, or fall.
"Amazing, Wizard." "How did you know?"
Emotions not present on the children's faces until now appear.
Curiosity. Excitement. Thrill. Enjoyment. Eerie, bizarre gazes looking at me.
"You damaged me here, not present, via the terminal's relay core."
"The way you found the core was fun. The moment you realized we could move in stopped time, you attacked the entity moving separately from this NPC skin?"
"Wow! How did you do that? You're really amazing!"
"You weren't even sure what it was?" "Ah, did you attack purely on instinct?"
"Fun." "Fun." "Yeah, fun." "Really fascinating."
"I see why the administrator likes you, Wizard."
"You're a more entertaining human than expected, Wizard."
"Ah, that's a compliment."
"Right. And now, grant our wish."
Kekekekeke— Hahahahaha—
The children laugh innocently, singing and dancing.