Those Who Face the Gods (2)
I smiled with satisfaction at having discovered a new toy—person—who was fun to tease after so long, and opened my mouth.
“Wow~ That was fun after ages!”
“……I didn’t enjoy it at all, Mr. Park.”
Asuka Ren, pouting her lips sulkily from my shoulder, whipped her head away and muttered under her breath.
Of course, even if she showed such a cute side, I would never delete the photos I’d taken.
After I’d thoroughly teased Asuka Ren, Han Sooyoung glared at me with a fed-up look and spoke.
“…You’ve got a bit of an S streak in you, don’t you?”
“An S streak? What are you talking about, Sooyoung? I’m not just a bit of an S—I’m a real S.”
“…Crazy pervert bastard.”
“Just kidding! Just kidding!”
Receiving Han Sooyoung’s contemptuous gaze, I gave her a bright smile and hummed as I quickened my pace.
After staring at me for a long while, Han Sooyoung sighed softly, looked at Asuka Ren, and asked,
“Going back to what we were talking about earlier—so you opposed killing the little people because they were characters from the world you created?”
“Th-that’s…”
At Han Sooyoung’s words, Asuka Ren blushed and lowered her head again. But our cat wasn’t about to leave Asuka Ren alone just like that.
“Aigoo~ Look who we have here, the true author has arrived, the true author. You killed them however you liked when you were drawing, but now that the characters are alive and moving right in front of you, you suddenly can’t kill them?”
“………I-I’m really sorry.”
Asuka Ren sniffled, tears welling up, and apologized in a voice as tiny as a crawling ant, but our Han Sooyoung didn’t stop for a second and kept roasting her.
“That’s why you should’ve made these guys a bit stronger in the first place. No, why is the worldbuilding like this?”
“Well, recently in Japan there are too many otherworld reincarnation stories. So…”
“Aha, so you made a traditional fantasy to resist the mainstream?”
Even under Han Sooyoung’s roasting and mocking words, Asuka Ren answered quietly without raising her voice—until she suddenly raised it and retorted in a shrill tone.
“But as an author, I can’t just mass-produce cookie-cutter stories!”
“…………?!”
At Asuka Ren’s words, our Han Sooyoung—the ‘Korean mass-production fantasy author’—seemed thoroughly scratched, staring at Asuka Ren for a moment with a face of genuine shock.
And then.
“Mass-produuuction…?!”
Han Sooyoung glared hard at Asuka Ren and shouted.
Soon she stepped on my collarbone, hopped across, and strode toward Asuka Ren on the opposite shoulder, glaring as she continued.
“Your work is worse than mass-produced, you idiot.”
“…What?”
After staring at Asuka Ren with pure pity for a moment, Han Sooyoung looked straight at me and Kim Dokja and forcibly dragged out Asuka Ren’s dark history.
“Hey, Kim Dokja, Park Jinwoo. Did you know? In this world, counts speak casually to dukes. Moreover, the knights all look like gigolos who only know how to sway…”
“W-wait a minute!”
When Han Sooyoung exposed her dark history, Asuka Ren blushed even harder than before and tried to cover Han Sooyoung’s mouth.
But Han Sooyoung lightly dodged Asuka Ren’s hands, raised her eyes like a cat’s, and glared at her with murderous intent as she continued.
“Shut up. Because of you we’re suffering like this right now. You asked the dokkaebis to make your world real, didn’t you!”
I watched Han Sooyoung and Asuka Ren suddenly arguing with thoroughly intrigued eyes and spoke to Kim Dokja.
“Dokja. Looks like Sooyoung got properly scratched this time. Is it because she’s a mass-production fantasy author?”
“Yeah. Looking at Han Sooyoung’s pissed-off expression, somehow I feel good.”
“You two outfielders, shut up!”
Having overheard our conversation, Han Sooyoung glared at me and Kim Dokja and yelled. Then, with a fuming expression, she shouted at Asuka Ren.
“Your manga flopped! You prayed thinking you’d stuff all the guys who badmouthed your manga into your world and kill them all! Then suddenly, bam, you got a message like ‘I shall grant your wish’ or something.”
“N-no! There’s no way something like that is possible in the first place?!”
“Then what is it?!”
“That’s…”
Was it because the chemistry between the bad-tempered Han Sooyoung and the good-natured Asuka Ren was somehow good? I found myself focusing on their conversation.
It felt more interesting, like a conversation between a good-natured older sister who indulged every whim of a bad-tempered younger sister.
Well, actually, since the two have a five-year age difference, it’s not wrong either?
I wanted to hear more of their conversation, but it seemed time was up now.
I turned and shouted toward the kids in the forest.
“Hey, you pervert bastards. Did you come into this deep forest just to listen to the aunties’ conversation? As expected of advanced-country bastards. Truly owners of amazing perversion power.”
“““Who’s an auntie?!”””
At my words, not the enemies but the allies got scratched. Kim Dokja pulled out her sword and poked my head repeatedly, Han Sooyoung slapped my cheek like before, and Asuka Ren grabbed my clothes and shook them hard.
“Hurry up and come out. Our aunt…”
“When we return to our original bodies, you’re really dead?”
“…Our super beautiful girls and super beauties are uncomfortable because of you. Since you’ve already been caught, hurry up and come out.”
At the sight of the rude bastards remaining silent without any response to my kind advice, I frowned.
“Hey, if you don’t come out, I’m just leaving? Honestly, dealing with you is annoying.”
Since I needed to quickly become Kyrgios’s disciple and learn Electrification, I had no time to waste on those lackeys.
When there was no reaction even to the final advice, I sighed softly and was about to turn and walk again when Kim Dokja and Han Sooyoung shouted loudly.
“Park Jinwoo!”
“Hey, dodge!”
When I turned my head at their words, I saw several sharp shurikens flying precisely toward my back.
Confirming that sight, I—
“What, it’s just shurikens.”
—just walked again.
And the shurikens soon stuck into my back.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Park Jinwoo!”
“Hey, hey! You crazy bastard! Why are you just taking that?!”
“M-Mr. Park?!”
When I simply offered my back to the Japanese who had become non-human species and let the shurikens stick into it, our three beauties screamed in high-pitched voices.
“Hmm~♪ Hmm hmm~♪ The weather is nice today too~♪”
I just walked, regardless.
“…Captain. No reaction.”
“Throw again.”
“Yes.”
At the words of the leader of the Wind Shadow Squad who worshiped Izumi, the members of the Wind Shadow Squad threw shurikens at my back again.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Dokja. When do we arrive?”
“…Is that the problem right now? Is your back okay?”
“Huh? Ah~ Are you worrying about me because of the shurikens stuck in my back? Really, only our Dokja cares!”
“M-Mr. Park. Is your back okay? The shurikens thrown by the Wind Shadow Squad are stuck in your back…”
“Oh! Of course it’s fine. Trying to stop me with mere shurikens? No way!”
“Are you really a mutant? Or do you have a constitution that doesn’t feel pain?”
“I’m a normal person who feels pain, you know?”
In the situation where the three beauties were worrying about me, I smiled with satisfaction and ignored the Wind Shadow Squad kids.
When I openly ignored them, the leader of the Wind Shadow Squad growled like a beast, pointed at me, and ordered the Wind Shadow Squad kids.
“Kill all of them!”
“Understood!”
At the leader’s words, the Wind Shadow Squad each took out the weapons they had—katanas, chain-sickles, shurikens, kunai, and other ninja tools—and charged at me all at once.
And I sighed softly at their appearance and opened my mouth.
“Really… fucking annoying.”
Exclusive Skill, Ice Ghost Dragon Scales Lv.9 has been activated!
When the Wind Shadow Squad kids charged with katanas, chain-sickles, shurikens, kunai, and other Japanese ninja weapons, I activated one of my defensive skills.
Clang! Clang!
When I partially activated Ice Ghost Dragon Scales only where the Wind Shadow Squad attacked, pure white dragon scales sprouted and safely blocked their weapons.
“Kids? Just go. Don’t interrupt the date with the three beauties for no reason.”
Clang! Kaaang! Clang! Clang!
Small sparks flew from the weapons that struck the dragon scales.
They seemed to have no intention of listening to me at all.
“…Sigh. Do as you please.”
They were guys I could kill all with just one hand right now, but since they said they were followers of Izumi, I didn’t particularly feel like laying hands on them.
Clang! Kaaang! Kaklang! Kakaklang!
After a while, I deliberately took their attacks to raise the proficiency of my defensive skills while walking.
Of course, adjusting so that no damage went to the three beauties clinging tightly to my body.
Proficiency has accumulated. Steel Skin level has risen!
Steel Skin Lv.1 → Steel Skin Lv.2
Since guys with overall stats around the late thirties to early forties are hitting, it rises fast.
I had already noticed the Wind Shadow Squad kids approaching here with Clairvoyance while Han Sooyoung and Asuka Ren were talking, and with cold observation I had already roughly estimated their overall stats.
Since I confirmed with cold observation that their overall stats had a big difference from mine, I pulled this stunt….
“I’m really fine, so… don’t glare at me like that.”
At the stinging gazes of the three beauties who had safely entered my pocket with only their heads sticking out, I gave a bitter smile.
Clang! Kaaang! Kaaang! Clang! Clang!
But even with my explanation, the three beauties had no intention of removing their stinging gazes.
Rather, they continued to look with worried eyes at the places where the Wind Shadow Squad kids attacked—where I partially deployed Ice Ghost Dragon Scales, taking the weapons and sparks flying—then glared fiercely at my face.
Proficiency has accumulated. Ice Ghost Dragon Scales level has risen!
Ice Ghost Dragon Scales Lv.9 → Ice Ghost Dragon Scales Lv.10
After taking the Wind Shadow Squad kids’ attacks for a long time, Kim Dokja, Han Sooyoung, and Asuka Ren’s worried gazes automatically disappeared.
And then….
“D-damn it! The attacks aren’t working at all!”
“What kind of monster is this guy?!”
“A-at least tie his legs!”
The Wind Shadow Squad kids, as if their pride was greatly wounded, struggled hard. They threw ropes trying to tie my legs, or something.
“Poison! Try using poison!”
When they showed movements to use poison, I used Enchant to apply the ‘Deadly Poison’ attribute to myself and our three beauties, nullifying the poison with poison resistance.
“This fucking! Cling! Cling and try to stop his movements at least!!”
“D-do we have to go that far, Captain?”
“Shut up! This is something we must do as the Wind Shadow Squad who adore our Lady Izumi! Even if it’s ugly, stop that guy’s movements!”
“U-understood!”
Even though they had become non-human species, clinging to my waist, hanging on my legs, hanging on my arms—trying somehow to stop me in such an ugly way to the end—I sighed at the Wind Shadow Squad’s appearance.
“Kids. Just hit hard with weapons. You guys look really ugly right now.”
“Shut up, you monster! How can there not be a single scratch from the attacks of our Wind Shadow Squad, which is top-tier even in Japan!!”
“Well… because you guys are fucking weaker than me?”
“Grr…!! I will definitely kill you! Definitely!!”
“…Ah, yes. Do as you please.”
Glancing at the Wind Shadow Squad kids clinging to my body, I diligently walked and walked toward the bizarre rock zone.
At the appearance of the Wind Shadow Squad still grinding their teeth and clinging to my body while striking weapons at me, Han Sooyoung opened her mouth with an incredulous expression.
“Asuka. Who did you say these guys were earlier?”
“…The Wind Shadow Squad, a non-human species group that worships Izumi.”
“Looks like guys with only cool names and no substance. I feel so pitiful looking at them that it’s ugly.”
At Han Sooyoung’s words, some of the Wind Shadow Squad kids flinched as if their pure hearts were wounded.
I glanced at the flinching kids and ran my mouth to Han Sooyoung.
“Sooyoung. Of course these guys are fucking ‘weak,’ but still, they’re devoted like this for Japan’s king Izumi. Let’s not go too far. Even if they’re ‘fucking weaker than me,’ ‘ugly,’ and ‘without substance,’ you’re saying too much.”
“…You’re worse.”
“I know. I’m doing it on purpose.”
When I deliberately tore their hearts to shreds, some Wind Shadow Squad bastards fell off my body with dejected expressions.
“…Ha, haha, it’s all futile.”
“H-hey! Hold on a bit more! We can definitely stop this monster!”
“If we have to fall to the bottom to the point where even the enemies call us ugly just to stop him, what’s the point of that…?”
“Th-that’s…”
Glancing at those who seemed to have broken spirits, hanging their heads low and no longer clinging to my body, I looked at the kids still clinging to my body and ran my mouth.
“Hey, get off now. I’m barely sparing you guys with tremendous patience right now. Smelly men clinging to my body is making murderous intent rise little by little. This is really the last chance—get down.”
However, the Wind Shadow Squad kids persistently clinging to my body rejected this last mercy I was giving.
“Nonsense! If we can’t kill or stop you… we’ll take your companions in your pocket…”
Crack!
I twisted the neck of the Wind Shadow Squad member who spouted nonsense without knowing his place one full turn.
“W-what?!”
The Wind Shadow Squad bastards who witnessed it right next to him looked down at their colleague who died in an instant with panicked eyes.
“I’ll spare the ones who already fell off my body. But not you.”
And a one-sided massacre unfolded again.
The Wind Shadow Squad kids who had been out of it while I was moving hurriedly tried to get off my body.
However.
Crack! Crunch!
“Guh…! Kuh…!”
Twisting the necks of the persistently clinging Wind Shadow Squad, smashing their skulls and leading them to death, I opened my mouth toward the Wind Shadow Squad kids who had already fallen off my body and clung to their lives.
“I’ll spare you, but if possible, I’d like you to do me a favor.”
“…What favor do you intend to ask.”
Fortunately, among the survivors there was a guy who grasped the situation well, so I directed my gaze at the one who immediately spat out the words I wanted.
“My favor is simple. Go to the place where the bastards who became disasters among the Japanese are concentrated right now and deliver this.”
That I will go to your side soon.
“…Are you intending to die? Our Wind Shadow Squad are skilled in stealth so attacks didn’t work on you, but others are different.”
“Whether dozens or hundreds of bastards like you gather, it’s all the same to me. So will you do it?”
“…Still, repaying the favor of sparing us is right. Understood. I’ll deliver it as is to the others.”
“That’s kind of you. Then go now.”
The Wind Shadow Squad who were gauging my mood fidgeted awkwardly, then when I glared at them, hurriedly disappeared from my sight.
“Ah, those bastards finally left.”
Anyway, there are kids who don’t notice when I’m deliberately sparing them and only realize late after getting beaten.
I lightly brushed off the dust on my clothes, took out Kim Dokja, Han Sooyoung, and Asuka Ren from my pocket, and placed them on my shoulders and head.
“Let’s set off again, everyone.”
“…You’ve become more of a monster than when I saw you last time?”
“Even though I look like this, I’m an official Constellation now. I have to do at least this much.”
“I-is that so?”
Han Sooyoung tilted her head with a puzzled expression after hearing my words.
Having appropriately admonished(?) the Wind Shadow Squad kids like that, I walked toward the bizarre rock zone, and soon the bizarre rock zone came into view.
Seeing that, Kim Dokja turned her head toward Asuka Ren and asked her.
“Ms. Asuka Ren.”
“Yes?”
“The Returnee Kyrgios.”
“…………….”
“Please tell us where Kyrgios is.”
“…I have no idea who that is?”
Asuka Ren tilted her head as if she had no clue about Kim Dokja’s question and continued to say she didn’t know.
But Kim Dokja kept asking her the same question, and soon Asuka Ren, as if her patience ran out, shouted loudly.
“I’ve never drawn such a character! Moreover, all the characters in my manga are weak! A strong person in Peace Land…!”
“…It can’t be helped. I didn’t want to touch the wound unnecessarily.”
“What?”
“Your Peace Land was discontinued at chapter 11, and due to trouble with the publisher, even the tankobon didn’t come out.”
“………!! How do you know that…?”
Asuka Ren looked at Kim Dokja with a startled face at the fact that Kim Dokja knew her past in detail.
“I well understand your heart that wanted to draw traditional fantasy. But your manga isn’t really ‘traditional fantasy,’ is it?”
Kim Dokja made a slightly apologetic expression toward Asuka Ren who was staring blankly at her and continued.
“During serialization, you peeked at reader reactions and in a fit of anger drew a certain character. That character was strong, unfitting for Peace Land.”
“H-how do you——.”
As Asuka Ren’s face turned blue as if feeling fear the more Kim Dokja’s words continued.
“…Somehow when Dokja talks like that, doesn’t she seem like an extreme stalker?”
“That crazy bitch… even I’m getting chills.”
When I and Han Sooyoung glanced at the blue-faced Asuka Ren and commented, Kim Dokja glared at us, then sighed softly and continued.
“Although it only appeared once due to the discontinuation, that doesn’t erase the fact that the character existed. There aren’t many authors who want to remember their failures. But that was also a story that definitely existed.”
“…………….”
Asuka Ren, as if recalling her past at Kim Dokja’s words, listened with her head hung low.
“Whether you like it or not, it’s all a world born from your fingertips, and characters you created. Take responsibility to the end. If even a single reader watched this world.”
I stopped walking and glanced at Asuka Ren who sat down on my shoulder with her head hung low.
“…Ms. Kim. Your words are right.”
After a moment of panic at Kim Dokja’s words and deep contemplation, she finally steeled her heart.
“I… I need to ask for forgiveness.”
Raising her slumped body, Asuka Ren approached beside my face and opened her mouth toward me.
“Mr. Park. I’m sorry, but could you go in the direction I say?”
“Have you finally made up your mind?”
“Yes… I was a failed manga artist in the end. But after hearing Ms. Kim’s words, I realized belatedly.”
“Then where shall we go?”
“To go to where Kyrgios is, we have to pass through the cliff ahead. It might be a bit hard, but please, Mr. Park.”
“That’s why we came. No need to feel too sorry. Then let’s go first.”
I walked and walked in the direction Asuka Ren told me.
Along the way, Asuka Ren also seemed confused and we got lost at times, but still, I and the party slowly, slowly advanced forward.
And we finally met ‘her.’
As if having moved here at some point, a strong presence of a powerhouse giving pressure second only to Persephone was felt from the sky.
“Ah…”
“Th-this crazy…”
At the tone that sounded like True Voice even though it wasn’t the True Voice of Constellations, Asuka Ren fainted right away, and Han Sooyoung roughly exhaled while barely maintaining her spirit.
“…Nice to meet you for the first time. Kyrgios.”
It was the moment of finally meeting ‘Kyrgios Rodgraim,’ the ‘smallest Transcender in the world’ who would become my and Kim Dokja’s master.