Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 304
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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Kang Seol had gathered Bron and the Glacier Maws in one place. They spread out widely around the broken Curator.
Kang Seol stood beside the Curator.
Bron had guessed from the start why Kang Seol had called them together.
“A new All-Encompassing to decide our fate, huh.”
“Bron.”
“No need to tense up. Warriors decide others’ lives every moment. With weapons and fangs. So this is just another such moment.”
Bold eyes.
But a faint tremor could be felt.
“Do you remember when we first met?”
“Ah, of course. If I’d known it’d come to this, I should’ve taken care of you then? Heh heh…”
“Krahaha!”
“Puhihihi! You should have, indeed.”
The Glacier Maws burst into laughter.
The tension eased a bit.
But that tension wasn’t Kang Seol’s.
Kang Seol hadn’t let go of the tension for even a moment.
“I’ve become the All-Encompassing.”
“…I know.”
“And what that means?”
“Yeah. You’re…”
A shadow fell over Bron’s face.
“Our god now.”
In an instant, the Glacier Maws’ expressions hardened coldly.
Just like condemned prisoners dragged to the execution ground.
“…Bron, before you decide, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Anything. I’ll answer honestly.”
Whoosh-!
Jamad, with his heavy presence, was summoned.
The question came not from Kang Seol, but from him.
“What is your desire?”
“That’s… I already told you. I’ve died once before, and I’m not afraid of death.”
“No! That’s not an answer. You’re not being honest. Think carefully, Bron. You’re scared right now.”
“…Scared? Me?”
“Yes, scared of hoping. Scared of getting your hopes up.”
“Haha… hahaha… keh… heh heh…”
Thud…
Bron dropped a book to the ground.
“I finished this book.”
“What book is it?”
“We escaped from inside it.”
The book’s title was ‘The Reason the Glacier Maw Tribe Ultimately Fell’.
“I read it to kill time… Shouldn’t have if I’d known.”
“Bron, we’re waiting for your answer.”
“…Food.”
Bron’s body trembled.
“Damn it! Why aren’t you a machine! Why… do you make us hope for mercy!”
“…”
“Damn it! Dammit!”
Whooooom…
A savage aura poured from Bron’s body.
The Glacier Maws, Kang Seol, and Jamad watched them with tense eyes.
Sss…
“Bron…”
Bron knelt.
Rustle…
And pressed his forehead to the floor.
“Please spare us, All-Encompassing.”
“…”
“I want to live.”
“What is your desire?”
“I want to… right all my regrets. I must go back. They still need me.”
And then.
Ssslip…
Ssslip…
The other Glacier Maws followed suit.
“What…”
“Please spare us. Let us return.”
“I want to live. I beg you.”
“God… we… we…”
They all cried out.
“I want to live.”
Kang Seol and Jamad closed their eyes.
Pzzzzzt-!
The two merged into a raven.
Kang Seol spoke.
“Listen, Bron and Glacier Maws.”
“…”
“You will return.”
Return where.
To the book, or…
“To life.”
To life.
“This decision isn’t because I’m the All-Encompassing. It’s a decision made by the human, Kang Seol.”
Kang Seol’s words emphasized it was a human decision, but to the Glacier Maws looking up at him, it sounded like the words of a god.
Bron raised his head.
“Yes, all this… isn’t coincidence or fate. It’s will. So if you’re dissatisfied with this decision, come challenge me yourself later.”
“Kang Seol…”
Sss…
After glancing once more at the Curator, Kang Seol made his first decision as the All-Encompassing.
[The Glacier Maw Tribe and their leader Bron are those who have already exited life. Those who accepted death once, paradoxical existences that shouldn’t even exist in the All-Encompassing. As the All-Encompassing, what decision will you make regarding this?]
Among countless choices, Kang Seol selected one.
“Allow checkout of the book. Book name: The Reason the Glacier Maw Tribe Ultimately Fell. Duration…”
[The checkout of ‘The Reason the Glacier Maw Tribe Ultimately Fell’ is permitted.]
[Please set the checkout duration.]
“Unlimited.”
[The checkout duration is set to ‘Unlimited’.]
“Haha… ha…”
[Checking out an undesignated book may cause major issues. Are you sure you wish to permit the checkout?]
“Yes.”
At that moment.
Whiiiii…
The Glacier Maws and Bron were engulfed in a blizzard.
“I banish you from the All-Encompassing.”
Creak…
Creeeak…
The mechanisms lit up.
“Kang Seol!”
Bron shouted.
The power of their living days was returning to him and the Glacier Maws. A chilling, cold power.
“Why this decision…”
“Because I’m not a god.”
Not being a god, he chose unity.
“We…”
“Humans don’t get that. Now I’m handing the All-Encompassing authority back to this machine. So leave the All-Encompassing quickly. It might think differently from me.”
Whoooosh…
The Glacier Maws began fading from the outskirts.
They weren’t scattering into letters.
Swept in the blizzard, their forms gradually blurred.
Jone walked toward the exit for them, laughing heartily.
“Hahaha! This goes in my autobiography too! Marvelous, truly marvelous!”
“Leave my name out, Jone.”
“Eek! Anyway, it was fun! Kang Seol! Hope we meet again someday.”
Santio smiled for the first time and said to Kang Seol.
“Handle the frozen truth with care.”
“…You knew?”
“Of course. But… it’s right for you to take it.”
“Who…”
He scratched his sheep head.
“Saw it in the stars too.”
“Hahaha! Farewell!”
“If you need us, come find us anytime.”
“Ah, don’t be surprised if your name ends up in my autobiography.”
[Charm activates. Additional favor gained.]
[Helper ‘Versatile Jone’ acquired.]
[‘Versatile Jone’s’ rank is Transcendent.]
[Helpers have a chance to appear in all adventures.]
[They provide aid to the player based on favor.]
Jone disappeared beyond the door.
[Charm activates. Additional favor gained.]
[Helper ‘Curly-Haired Santio’ acquired.]
[‘Curly-Haired Santio’s’ rank is Transcendent.]
[Helpers have a chance to appear in all adventures.]
[They provide aid to the player based on favor.]
Santio also vanished through the door.
Now only a few Glacier Maws and Bron remained.
“Kang Seol, and Jamad… I won’t forget your decision.”
“…”
“I’ll… repay you for sure.”
Kang Seol and Jamad grinned.
Whooo…
[Charm activates. Additional favor gained.]
[Helper ‘Bron of the Great Ocean Waves’ acquired.]
[‘Bron of the Great Ocean Waves’’ rank is Immortal.]
[Helpers have a chance to appear in all adventures.]
[They provide aid to the player based on favor.]
Bron of the Great Ocean Waves.
The last great sorcerer who wielded the origin of the ocean waves, a lineage now severed.
He returns to life.
“For sure!”
Whoooong…
Soon, the Glacier Maws and Bron were swept away in the blizzard and vanished.
“Well then, now…”
Creak…
Kang Seol placed his hand on the mechanism.
“Time to get scolded by the Curator?”
Whooooong…
Kang Seol ordered the repair of the mechanism.
Whooooooo…
As befitting the All-Encompassing Library, letters gathered and reassembled the broken parts.
Clank…
Clank…
Whaaaaang…
A brilliant light poured out.
A brilliance incomparable to when he first saw the Curator.
“Library, isn’t it a bit messy?”
Ziiing…
The mechanism emitted light.
Drrrrrrrr…
A massive vibration struck the 8th floor.
The snow mountain slid away, replaced by bookshelves. The same process repeated across all floors.
“Well then…”
Kang Seol grinned and stepped toward the exit.
“Time to go.”
[You relinquish the role of Acting Curator of the All-Encompassing Library.]
[The All-Encompassing assumes the Curator position.]
[First achievement ‘Setting Off to Find Dreams’ accomplished.]
[First title 「Retiree」 acquired.]
…
“Goodbye.”
Fwaaaash-!
Kang Seol threw himself into the exit shimmering with light.
The Curator moved to grab him.
Whooo…
He fell.
The exit was a wondrous structure like an endless cliff.
He looked up at the sky.
From outside, the interior of the All-Encompassing Library was visible.
And at its topmost floor, the Curator watching him.
Clearly waving a hand.
[The former Acting Curator of the All-Encompassing Library, the All-Encompassing, assumes the Curator role.]
[Secret labyrinth ‘All-Encompassing Library Management Office’ unlocked.]
[Secret labyrinth ‘Dusty Stacks’ unlocked.]
[Snowman achieves great feat of revolution.]
[Great and small changes occur in the Eternal World.]
[A group of unidentified trolls begins crossing the continent. Their destination is unknown.]
[The All-Encompassing Library’s usage rules become stricter.]
[The All-Encompassing Library relocates.]
[Faction: Bron’s Glacier Maws created.]
[All players entering All-Encompassing Library 8th floor can now select the adventure ‘Glacier Maws and Three Fools’.]
[All players entering All-Encompassing Library 8th floor can now select the adventure ‘The Value of Stories’.]
[Massive Adventurer Points acquired.]
[Shared stories with legendary adventurers.]
[Wisdom, Intelligence, and Mental Power increase by 30.]
[Additional reward acquired.]
[Served briefly as Curator of the All-Encompassing Library.]
[Additional reward acquired.]
[Created Faction: Bron’s Glacier Maws.]
[Additional reward acquired.]
…
Kuuuung…
“Ugh…”
A feeling like waking from a dream.
Kang Seol rose from an awkward position as if fallen from the sky.
And before him…
“What… is this?”
There sat a pure white box unlike any he’d seen in all his adventure settlements.