Ding. Dong.
[Hey idiot! Wake up! There's a problem.]
Lloyd Frontera was jolted awake by the message sent to him. He looked at the blue holographic system window in a daze. "Wh...?" he muttered zily.
[No time to expin. You're going to another world.]
"The hell? Hey! Wait-"
He shouted but his voice was cut off. His body started to vanish slowly as 'particles' started to appear from his body.
[I can't believe I'm doing this for such an ugly face...]
"Wait! I'm going to another world again? That's not fair! Why is this happening?"
[Beats me. You're alone on this one. I can't even do anything over there.]
Just then, the mint-haired man, Javier, blew off the door and jumped through. Javier Asrahan, the loyal knight of the Frontera Family. Immediately, he saw Lloyd trying to wave off the 'particles' as if trying to not disappear.
Javier cursed under his breath, "Lloyd. What magic are you practising?" he asked, knowing Lloyd's usual shenanigans, and his use of unknown powers.
"Javier! Wait-" Lloyd's mouth was disappearing, along with his left arm and torso."
Javier examined the 'particles' around Lloyd, they were more like words than particles. As soon as Javier touched the words, he also started disappearing.
'Damn it,' Lloyd thought. 'But I guess he's coming too.'
[Transportation Initiated...]
The world went bnk for both of them.
Meanwhile...
"I..." a man held a purple gem with his hand and said mencholically. "-will become the demon king-"
Kim Dokja looked at his companions with a sad face. This was another time he had to sacrifice himself. And now, he had to become a demon king to allow them to continue towards the 'Epilogue' of the story.
[The consteltions are shocked by your choice!]
The party members were still watching Kim Dokja with confused expressions. The expressions showed they didn't know what the hell was going on.
Yoo Joonghyuk was still coughing up blood against the wall. Dokja looked at them for a moment before gncing at the wall of the hall.
His appearance was reflected on the polished stone wall. Bck wings sprouted from his shoulders and small horns rose from his head. Bck edges were imprinted on his skin and around his eyes.
"T-This is ridiculous! Why is Dokja-ssi the demon king...?" Yoo Sangah shouted.
Followed by Lee Jihye, "What the hell is this? What should we do?"
Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Gilyoung, Shin Yoosung... even Cho Youngran and Gong Pildu. Everyone was looking at Dokja.
He looked back at them, "From now on, you will have to hunt me."
[The first phase of the '73rd demon king' will begin.]
[The attack time limit is 30 minutes.]
"There is no time. Quickly start-"
Blue haze and sparks immediately materialized around the party. The ceiling was shattered as two people fell with a thud.
"Haaaa!" Lloyd hit his face and created a crater on the ground.
Javier, meanwhile, flipped in the air and nded gracefully on the floor with his sword acting like a cane.
Kim Dokja looked at the two with a confused expression. This was not something he had predicted nor was it possible. He immediately opened the Character List for these two.
First for Lloyd, he got a [The information of this person can't be read in 'Character List'.]
'So... This person is not a character...' he thought.
Then again, for Javier, he got the same message.
'Both are not characters...? Why do they look odd then?'
[The absolute good consteltions are disgusted with Incarnation 'unknown'.]
[The absolute evil consteltions are shocked and ask if Incarnation 'unknown' is the long lost kin of the demon kings.]
In this situation, it was referring to Lloyd.
'Unknown? Does this mean...' Dokja wondered.
[An error has occurred in the
[The
[Main Scenario #10 has been forcefully concluded.]
[The bureau is calcuting Incarnation 'unknown 1's status.]
[The bureau is calcuting Incarnation 'unknown 2's status.]
"Uh..." Lloyd muttered as he got up. He wiped away his bleeding nose and looked around. He saw many shocked faces and even a demon.
The first to step in was Yoo Joonghyuk, he immediately jumped at Lloyd with a sword swing.
Bang.
He was blocked by the sword of Javier. Javier was too quick, and kicked Yoo Joonghyuk away.
Yoo Joonghyuk nded against his companions. Though he did not look phased by Javier's swordsmanship.
"Master Lloyd, step back. They look strong," Javier said.
"They do. I'll scan and see where we are," Lloyd replied.
Quickly, Dokja nded on the ground, "Hey wait. You guys speak Korean?"
"We do," Lloyd said with a slight smile. "Gd to meet you. Hehe."
Everyone around was disgusted with Lloyd, even Javier.
Yoo Joonghyuk jumped in front and cshed with Javier. "You don't look Korean."
Javier responded with a ssh that was almost too close for comfort against Yoo Joonghyuk's neck. But the tter backed away mid-air.
"Hold on, Yoo Joonghyuk! This must be a misunderstanding," shouted Yoo Sangah.
Lloyd was about to say something when a new scenario appeared.
[Main Scenario #11 - Unexpected Resolution.]
Category: Main
Difficulty: ??
Clear Conditions: Kill the two paradoxical beings.
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Compensation: 1,000,000 coins,???
Failure: ???
The group looked at the new window before them. Even Lloyd and Javier were able to see it.
Lloyd was first to voice his thoughts, "Scenario? This is new..."
Han Sooyoung looked at the two, their faces were familiar, but she couldn't pce it. She gnced at the others and shouted, "It doesn't matter who they are. Now we don't have to kill Dokja. It's for the better."
But they weren't all too convinced, except for one person. Yoo Joonghyuk headed towards Javier again. And the two cshed.
The earth quacked and the ground shook from the force of these two swinging against each other. But oddly enough...
[Consteltions of absolute good are crying at the dispy.]
[The consteltion 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is questioning her fellow consteltions about the angel-looking man.]
[Consteltions of
[Most consteltions don't want Incarnation 'unknown 2' to die.]
"The hell? Even here that guy is popur?!" Lloyd shouted with tears in his eyes.
[Most consteltions want Incarnation 'unknown 1' to die instead.]
"Hey you bastards!" Lloyed now was crying for real.
"Uh... What is happening?" asked Lee Hyunsung. "It feels like I was about to lose a shell then somehow found it."
"Don't ask me," Jung Heewon answered. "I don't know how to respond to this situation."
"Holly shit! That guy is giving master a hard time!" shouted Lee Jihye.
The group were crying mere moments ago at the possibility of Dokja sacrificing himself again, but their emotional turmoil was cut short by the appearance of an ugly devil and a handsome angel.
Even Kim Dokja remained motionless as he analyzed the situation. He had literally zero information on how to go on. "The scenario was cancelled. I'm still a demon king, and... we have a new scenario instead..." Kim Dokja mused.
He knew two things. First, these two are not characters, yet appear as 'paradoxes' in the eyes of the
Going by Javier's power, Kim Dokja made a guess that Lloyd would also pose a threat. He mused that this might be a Yoo Joonghyuk vs two Yoo Joonghyuks. He would not be enough, considering how disparaging his level was to Yoo Jooghyuk.
What gave him a pause though, was how utterly calm Lloyd was.
Lloyd was staring at the window before him.
[Main Scenario #11 - Unexpected Resolution.]
Category: Main.
Difficulty: ??
Clear Conditions: You have to prove your worth to the
Time Limit: 30 minutes.
Compensation: 1,00,000 coins,???
Failure: ???
He was specifically starting at the part where it says 'Compensation'. Drool slipped from his mouth as he licked his lips more and more. He smiled. The wrinkles on his cheek from happiness looked immensely...
Kim Dokja got the need to throw up and averted his eyes. "Everyone! Don't look at him. He's using a mental attack!"
[Due to excessive disgust, the influence of Fourth Wall has temporarily weakened.]
'What the f-? What kind of monster is that? He can weaken my 'Fourth Wall'?!'
Kim Dokja backed away and stood before his companions, making sure to look away.
Han Sooyoung felt a knot in her stomach, and made avatars to block the sight.
Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung hugged each other in fear.
Yoo Sangah covered her mouth and fell on one knee. Followed by Lee Hyunsung activating his 'Steel Transformation' in hope of shielding her from this demon.
Lee Jihye and Gong Pildu, and the others, were thankfully covered by Sooyoung's avatars. But they weren't any better.
Yoo Jooghyuk noticed them cowering in fear and got distracted. He flung himself up and then he noticed it...
The worst expression a man could make. The pure unadulterated ugliness that was Lloyd Frontera's smile...
Yoo Jooghyuk's body shook as if hit by electricity. He fell head first onto the ground with a dazed expression. Like a fly that was swatted.
It was both a combination of exhaustion and Lloyd's fault.
Javier got by Lloyd's side. "Master Lloyd. What should we do?"
Lloyd smiled even more, "I know what we should do."
Lloyd walked towards the group, who shuddered at his approach.
[Consteltions of absolute good are uneasy.]
[Consteltions of absolute evil are agreeing with the consteltions of absolute good.]
[Consteltion 'Abyssal Bck Fme Dragon' is decring he won't be using any hands at all.]
[Consteltion 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is accusing consteltion 'Abyssal Bck Fme Dragon' of cowardice.]
[Consteltion 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is tugging on his hair...]
[Consteltion 'Bald General of Justice' is wiping his head.]
Then, Lloyd lifted his hand towards his heart and decred. "I..." he smugly made himself taller. "Surrender!"
[All consteltions in the #BI-7623 channel are shocked by the action of Incarnation 'unknown 1'.]
Javier's eyebrow was raised, though he didn't want to argue with Lloyd for now. "I too surrender."
[All consteltions in the #BI-7623 channel are agreeing with Incarnation 'unknown 2's action.]
Lloyd cried a tear. "Of course they'd agree with you."
Javier simply shrugged.
[The main scenario has come to an end.]
[Calcuting Rewards...]
The group witnessed this spectacle with an even more vexed expression. Kim Dokja managed to withstand the horror of Lloyd's face with the help of the now-struggling 'fourth wall'. He stood up, and spoke, "Who the hell are you?"
Lloyd smirked, "My name is Lloyd Frontera. This is my loyal servant, Javier Asrahan!"
Javier sighed, "Knight of the Frontera Family. Not a servant."
Lloyd ughed, "Same thing."
Han Sooyoung's face paled for a moment, but then she hid it. "Lloyd Frontera and Javier Asrahan huh..."
Yoo Sangah gnced at Han Sooyoung and muttered, "Hey... Do you know them?"
Han Sooyoung shrugged, "Read it somewhere. Who knows. But they do sound familiar."
Kim Dokja observed them closely. No matter what he could do, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't get a read of these two. He doesn't remember hearing or reading about either of them, and they weren't characters. But they were odd-looking.
First there was Lloyd, his hair was brown, his clothes looked like your average drunkard at a fantasy tavern, with dirt all over. And his face... He'd do best not look at it for a while.
Second, there was Javier. If he could describe it in simple terms, that guy looked like he could sp Yoo Jooghyuk over as many times as he wanted. It wouldn't shock Kim Dokja if he found out Javier fell from
But for now, they didn't look threatening. After all, the two surrendered without a fight.
Suddenly, they all got a message.
[You have cleared the scenario.]
[1,000,000 coins have been acquired as a basic clearance reward.]
[Additional compensation settlement will begin.]
[Incarnation 'Kim Dokja' modifier has been updated.]
[Your modifier is 'Demon King of Salvation'.]
[Incarnation 'unknown 1' has received a new attribute - 'Ugliest Man Alive'.]
[Incarnation 'unknown 2' has received a new attribute 'Forgotten Angel'.]
Lloyd shouted in despair, "This system keeps mocking me. I will bleed it dry one day..."
He looked back at Kim Dokja. "By the way... Where are we?"
Kim Dokja replied back, "Seoul."
The group made it out alive. They didn't lose Kim Dokja this time, but they were weary.
"That idiot, he almost did it again," said Han Sooyoung as she looked at Kim Dokja walking in front. Her avatar was carrying Yoo Joohgyuk.
"We lucked out. Thanks to those guys..." Yoo Sangah said. She was eyeing Lloyd and Javier at the front.
Lloyd was excitedly looking at this new 'system' he got to explore. It was different from the one he used back home. Javier too, got scanning on his personal strengths and attributes.
"Who are they anyway?"
"Lloyd is scary..."
Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung were muttering.
Kim Dokja was occupied in his own mind. 'The 10th scenario was cancelled. The waves are over. And the 11th scenario got overridden by the appearance of these two. A change has occurred... A change means new possibilities, and my ability to predict the events won't be possible now,' he mused.
Shouts were heard all over. The streets were filled with people crying and shouting in happiness. "It's all over! It's over!"
A mother held her children in her arms and cried, "Don't worry. It's over."
A man dapped his brother's hand and they both 'hell yeah'-ed.
Everyone got a message.
[You have a new achievement, 'The Ones Who Freed The Seoul Dome'.]
[All may leave the 'Seoul Dome' now.]
"I have a bad feeling about this world," said Javier.
"We've been here before, remember?" asked Lloyd.
"We have. We stole a railing," Javier said with a straight face. "But what happened exactly? Why did your home become like this?"
"I have no idea. Maybe it has to do with something about the 'Restoration of Fate'? Maybe it's happening on both ends. I wonder if our time here affects our home though."
"Hm..." Javier observed the world around. The destroyed streets and apartments were a giveaway sign of disaster. "There's one more thing. I can use my powers here. Unlike our st visit where I couldn't."
"I noticed. Not only that but you can use the system." Lloyd opened his attribute window and saw his own attributes and abilities.
"You must wonder about it..." Lloyd looked a bit hesitant now that the secret of his abilities were exposed. But he couldn't have kept it a secret forever. "This is different. But it's like what I had to use to help the Frontera county."
"It doesn't matter," Javier answered, analyzing his own attributes and skills. "I've always had my doubts about the origin of your weird powers, but as long as it helps others, I won't question it."
Lloyd looked at Javier with an indifferent expression, he tried to hide his embarrassment, but in vain. He caved in, "Thanks..." he said softly.
Javier noticed how Lloyd was acting different from his usual self, but decided not to tease. Perhaps he believed that Lloyd would change a little. Instead, he looked over his shoulder at Kim Dokja's group. "What about them?"
Lloyd followed his gaze and smirked devilishly. "They need our 'help' and I'd be happy to. Haha." He thought of the million coins he got for literally giving up, and the many many contracts he could sign.
Javier sighed, 'Why did I expect him to change...?' he mused.
['Fourth Wall' is shaking.]
Kim Dokja averted the gaze of the devil before him. 'Damn it... If there's a revised version of 'Ways of Survival' I need it now.'
Some time ter.
Jung Heewon didn't know how long it had been since she enjoyed a luxury like this. Everything was peaceful. She didn't need to be afraid of being attacked by monsters in the night or watch out for humans trying to steal her items.
However, not all the time was peaceful.
Interviewers kept harassing the group ever since they got out of the Seoul Dome.
"Jung Heewon-ssi! Please give us your thoughts on..."
"Jung Heewon-ssi! Who are these..."
The questions kept coming in the week that was after they'd escaped the Seoul Dome.
She got gifted a house and shared it with Lee Jihye and the kids. Kim Dokja said that the upcoming scenarios would be about personal growth. So they can rex or continue their own personal scenarios given to them by consteltions.
She wondered where he could be at this time, when suddenly, she heard a loud thud from outside.
Lee Jihye came in with haste. Her breath came short.
"What's wrong?" asked Jung Heewon. Her hands were nervously twitching.
"Heewon unni! Did you just wake up?" Lee Jihye answered, noticing Jung Heewon's tense posture. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I didn't want the interviewers coming after me, so I ran in alleyways."
Jung Heewon breathed in relief.
How much time before she could truly rex? She wondered.
The group were given housing from the provisional government, and yet, no one felt like they were truly home.
Well... Except for a certain someone.
Lloyd Frontera and Javier shared a house just next door. Most of the time, Lloyd spent it like a king. He got one million coins, and he made sure to learn the new ways of this world.
His old clothes were torn and dirty, he wondered if he could get anything better. He took a walk around the city, or what remains of it.
He saw it everywhere-faces worn down by hunger, eyes hollowed out by sleep stolen on cold concrete. The poverty in Seoul had reached a level unseen in modern times. Not like this. Not like now.
Back then-before it all, before his so-called rebirth as Lloyd Frontera-he scraped by. Poor, yes. Always a month away from eviction, always budgeting noodles like they were gold. But compared to these people? He'd been royalty.
Something in him twisted. Pain, maybe. Or guilt in disguise.
The old him would've walked past these people without a gnce. Not my problem, he would've muttered. But now?
Now, he couldn't.
"I'll make them sign contracts," he told himself, masking his pity with profit. "Reap the rewards ter." But even as he thought it, the words soured on his tongue.
Maybe-just maybe-he didn't want anyone else falling lower than he once did.
But what can I do? He wondered. He had hoped it would be easier with the system at his side, but even that was different.
[Personal Information]
Name: Kim Suho.
Age: 27 years old.
Sponsor: None
Exclusive Attributes: Ugliest Man Alive, High Sword Master (???).
Exclusive Skills: Extraordinary Intelligence Lv. 2, Knowledge of Civil engineering Lv. 1, Future Knowledge (Unusable), Human Scum Lv. Max, Annoying Brat, Lv. Max, Rowdy Drunkard, Lv. Max, Advanced Design Programming Lv. Max, Summon Lv. 5, Modern Hand to hand Combat...
Eventually, Lloyd got bored of reading the useless humiliating skills and instead, categorised the useful skills in his mind. He had achieved his 3rd circle in the Asrahan Technique. And he was High Sword Master. That was what was important for now.
Some of his usual skills like Energizer, Latent Power Surge, Power Saving Mode, and Absorption were there. Thankfully, he hadn't lost those.
He had gotten back to Seoul, and his heart tightened. He couldn't expin it, but it seemed like his 'illness' had fred up all of a sudden.
He quickly opened the Dokkebi Bag, and bought an item 'Nerve Calmer' for 500C and consumed it. After that, he felt collected once again.
Now, he looked at the starter pack that's priced for 2,500. His stats, over all, were 56. But that doesn't mean that others are at his level. A pn hatched into his mind. And he smiled.
Days ter.
"Welcome! Welcome Everyone!"
An announcement was taking pce in god knows where now in the ruined Seoul. Everywhere, Lloyd's face could be seen. Everyone walking in the street was wondering if they walked into a cultist neighborhood.
"Join me, Lloyd Frontera! Turn this whole area into a paradise! Just sign the contract, and get yourself a better life!"
The line "Get yourself a better life" was repeated all over.
Just in case, Javier's face was also pstered alongside Lloyd's ugly mug. This is what originally attracted so many.
"Ugh. I can't stand that guy," Han Sooyoung said. She was sitting at a cafe with Yoo Sangah and Lee Sookyung.
"Me neither," said Yoo Sangah. "I'm not sure, but I think he's a returnee. That's what Dokja said, at least."
"I swear, both Dokja and that Frontera guy get on my nerves. I can't pick which one is the worst. You have a self-sacrificing moron who can't get a break, and you have this idiot scamming people for cheap work," Han Sooyoung grunted.
"I heard his rates are good. 5,000 coins per hour," said Lee Sookyung.
"5,000... Wait, seriously? So, he's just throwing away coins, huh..."
"I don't think he is. Whatever work he's doing, it sounds important that he's spending a scenario clearance level money on it. Even consteltions sponsor less," said Yoo Sangah.
[Many consteltions are disappointed with that opinion.]
"Pfft. Sponsor me more, then," said Han Sooyoung.
[Consteltion 'Abyssal Bck Fme Dragon' says his hands can't move right now.]
"Typical..."
Kim Dokja clutched his phone tightly and read the 'Ways of Survival' again, again and again.
He couldn't predict anything now. The arrival of the two 'returnees' changed too many things for his liking.
'This is bad...' he thought.
He didn't spend much of the time rexing. He was stressed in preparation.
They were given about a month after the end of scenario #11 due to an error within the
His knees jumped up and down.
['Fourth Wall' is reguting your mental state.]
He found himself calmer now. This message almost appeared every day for the past seven days. It was getting tiresome for the 'Fourth Wall' to constantly monitor and keep him from overstressing himself.
He got up from his chair and hunched over the sink of his kitchen. He stared for long at his reflection. Maybe something was terribly wrong with him.
[Ki m Do k j a]
The 'Fourth Wall' spoke to him.
[Ca l m. Dow n.]
He felt a bit of relief at the care the 'Fourth Wall' was suddenly emitting. 'It's right of course... I have to think... Too many variables. Scenario #10 should have ended in my death. I feared it. And when it didn't happen, I remained in shock.'
He poured a cup of water and drank. 'Then there are Lloyd and Javier. Two beings the system called 'Paradoxes'. Whatever that means, they're dangerous.'
[The effect of the 'Scenario Interpreter' is activated!]
'That means, either the scenarios from 12 to 25 will work out the way they're supposed to, or they might change. Either way, I have to-'
His thoughts were cut short. A knock on the door was heard.
Knock. Knock!
Without permission, Han Sooyoung kicked the door wide open. "Hey dummy! Time to get out," she said. She yanked his hand and headed out.
"Hey Wait! What are you-"
"No time to expin. It's been 9 days and you haven't left your house."
Kim Dokja sighed, "Why do you care?"
"I don't. But others do," She said, forcing him onto her bike.
"You don't get it. We have to prepare for the-"
"No." She gred at him across her shoulder. "You prepared too much. You already know what will happen. And I do too. If you worry, it will only make your hair fall out."
Kim Dokja remained silent as they rode together towards the direction of the beach.
She senses his tension and softly, "What's on your mind, dummy?"
"A lot, I guess," he replied.
"A lot, but..." She grumbled. "A lot that you don't deserve to think about."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"You can be so dense sometimes," she chuckled. "You think a lot, too much. You think to the point of tunnel vision. We still haven't processed st week, you know."
"I think I understand..." He closed his eyes in embarrassment. "I acted stupidly, didn't I?"
She ughed, "Acted? No, you were a whole lot of a moron! Seriously? killing yourself for us? Again?" Her voice became venomous at the end.
She continued, "I should have made an independent avatar. It should've been a demon king, not you. We could've killed it. But you carried out that pn, and somehow lucked out. Those two idiots saved you by interfering with the scenario somehow."
Kim Dokja averted his eyes from the road. 'She's right,' he thought. "I should thank them then. We didn't even introduce ourselves to them."
"Don't. It's useless. They're nobodies," she quickly replied. "We don't need them."
"Why? Is something wrong? That Javier is as strong if not stronger than Yoo Jooghyuk."
"It's just..." She pouted. "I'll tell you ter. Now's not the time. We've arrived..."
Han Sooyoung stopped the bike at the end of the road, far on the beach, a campfire and lounge were seen.
All of Kim Dokja's group were there. Jung Heewon and Yoo Sangah were ying on beach lounges. Lee Hyunsung, and Yoo Joonghyuk were busy grilling meat. And Lee Gilyoung, Shin Yoosung, and Yoo Mia were all pying near the water.
"Come on," Han Sooyoung said. "Let's have our break."