Chapter 61
The chat fell silent for a moment, clearly stunned by a choice no one had expected.
????
Uh... I saw that wrong, right? Right?
Wait, is this for real? He's actually choosing that guy?
(bringing a magnifying glass close to the screen) Am I seeing this correctly...?
What the hell is he thinking choosing that one? I seriously don't get it lol
Dozens of messages appeared immediately afterward.
Naturally, most of them expressed dissatisfaction with my decision.
[‘Father of the Wealthy Night’ shakes his head, unable to understand your decision.]
[‘Miracle of Three Days’ warns you not to cross a river you cannot return from!]
[‘One-Eyed White-Haired Elder’ adjusts his eyepatch and grips his staff tightly in disbelief.]
The sky turned black.
As though reflecting the Constellations' anger, purple lightning crashed down again and again.
The people around us had no idea what was happening and began panicking.
"W-What's going on all of a sudden...?! What if something goes wrong again?!"
"Eek! I-I think it's because of that guy over there!"
The three Constellations who had shown the greatest interest in me were all demanding an explanation.
...I expected some resistance, but this is worse than I thought.
Rumble! BOOM!
Lightning continued crashing down as though it would swallow everyone in an instant.
Then Buddha's message finally appeared.
[‘One Who Bloomed from the Lotus’ looks completely sober after hearing your choice and expresses confusion.]
Even the message itself radiated bewilderment.
Buddha didn't understand why I'd chosen him either.
That was only natural.
Under ordinary circumstances, there was no reason for me to choose him.
There were plenty of better Traits available.
But that only applied under ordinary circumstances.
[Trait - Divine Artifact Enhancement (S)]
Evolves equipment into a ‘Divine Artifact’. (Failure results in permanent destruction.)
Success rate increases according to Dexterity. (Current: 0.5%)
Each Divine Artifact Enhancement consumes 1,500,000 Coins.
I recalled what the guide in the tomb had told me before I left the 29th floor.
This is surprising. He is someone who normally shows no interest in anyone, even his own creations. And yet this invitation... truly remarkable.
The guide, who had remained expressionless the entire time, had rubbed his chin in open astonishment.
Then he suddenly sensed something.
His shoulders twitched, and he stared into empty space.
...He has sent you a message, Lee Suhyeok.
When the time comes for you to choose, select the Lotus.
He says that will be the ‘first button.’
Divine Artifact Enhancement.
Ordinary enhancement improved the weapon itself.
Divine Artifact Enhancement raised the very Rank of the weapon.
Even I, despite having regressed, had only heard of Divine Artifacts.
I'd never actually seen one.
Yes.
A Divine Artifact might even possess the power to cut down a Constellation.
That was probably why this was the first button.
More importantly....
Piyong hadn't invited me merely out of curiosity.
He hadn't said so directly, but there had clearly been another reason.
I glanced sideways.
[ Dad? ]
...It's probably because of Seong-a.
Even Dolkin had been shocked and interested after hearing that she was an Ego Sword.
The reason I had been told to choose Buddha's Trait was likely connected to that as well.
In other words, there was something Piyong wanted from me through Seong-a.
Meanwhile, Leon and Taesu anxiously looked around and voiced their concerns.
[ L-Lee Suhyeok! What are you going to do, nya?! The chat is completely out of control, nya! If the Constellations start filing reports, w-we'll be in serious trouble...!! ]
"Hyungnim, the Constellations seem extremely angry. Is there really nothing we can do? I fear something serious may happen at this rate...."
Explain yourself! Explain! Explain!
This isn't right. You should've at least made a choice that made sense.
What the hell are you plotting this time?
I can't even predict what he's going to do anymore ㄷㄷ
(raising a sign reading ‘DOWN WITH LEE SUHYEOK!’) Everyone, follow me! Revolution!!
The reaction had reached its boiling point.
It was an expected result.
No matter whom I chose, the other side was bound to complain.
It was about time their dissatisfaction exploded anyway.
They were hidden behind a chat window, but every one of them was still a transcendent existence.
There was only one reason they'd tolerated me misleading and manipulating them this whole time.
Entertainment.
Nothing more.
[The majority of the Constellations strongly recommend that you reverse your decision!]
[The System partially accepts the Constellations' request.]
[Player Lee Suhyeok, would you like to choose again?] [YES/NO]
But...
"Too bad. I have no intention of changing the decision I just made."
The chat exploded again.
I continued.
"Still, none of you are actually losing anything because of it."
I paused.
"If anything, you could say you're benefiting."
What does that even mean?
Aren't you going to get on your knees and apologize first???
Guys, hear him out. Looks like he's actually got something to say.
(quietly lowering his sign and headband at the word ‘benefit’) ...What exactly do you mean?
"If I'd chosen one of you, the dissatisfaction from everyone else would've become uncontrollable."
The atmosphere instantly quieted.
They knew it too.
My choice could easily have destroyed the current balance of power between the factions.
That was another reason I'd chosen Buddha.
He belonged to no faction.
He was independent, while the major forces remained locked in balance.
And I wasn't finished.
"Besides, I don't think I'm the one you should be angry with."
Whether human or Constellation, everyone needed somewhere to direct their frustration.
So I looked elsewhere.
"...!"
Sark staggered the instant our eyes met.
His mouth opened and closed wordlessly.
I pushed forward before he could recover.
"If it hadn't been for him, my decision might've been different."
I shrugged.
"So try to understand."
Then I pointed straight at Sark.
"It's all because of that guy."
"W-What nonsense is this?! How dare you spout such blatant lies...!!"
He was right.
It was a lie.
But that hardly mattered anymore.
Even when most of something was false, people tended to believe it easily if there was just a fragment of truth mixed in.
Ding! Ding!
[Large numbers of Constellations have entered Lower Administrator Sark's channel.]
"...!!"
[The chat is going berserk.]
[Reports are accumulating rapidly.]
[Warning! If enough reports are accumulated, the Administrator's channel will be temporarily restricted.]
"W-Wait! Esteemed Constellations, please calm down first...!!"
Sark was overwhelmed by the flood of furious complaints.
He'd be too busy dealing with them to pay attention to me for a while.
[ S-Scary, nya. Were you always this kind of person, nya...? I hate that guy too, but even I almost feel sorry for him after seeing that.... ]
Leon wasn't the only one shocked.
The other three had also taken a step away from me.
"Huh... impressive as always. When did you get so sly, Hyungnim? You're frightening in a completely different way now...."
"Acting that calm after saying something like that is scary enough by itself. I'm getting chills. Right, Hyuna?"
"Well... maybe that's part of Mister's charm?"
"Hyuna, even you... sigh."
[Due to the Administrator's absence, the System temporarily assumes authority over this floor.]
[In 5 minutes, all Players will be returned to their respective locations.]
Before we left, Park Seunghyeok, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke as though he'd made up his mind.
"...Thank you, Lee Suhyeok."
He lowered his head.
"I finally understand."
His hands clenched.
"How weak I was. And how weak I still am."
He hesitated.
"And... that responsibility itself requires strength before you can shoulder it."
He bowed deeply in front of everyone.
Apparently, he'd realized something while inside the Labyrinth.
