Lee Gyeong tilted her head, confusion etched on her face.
"What's that?"
What was with that reaction? She must know, yet here she was, asking me. Was she trying to deny reality?
I sighed and began to explain.
"That tattoo is the seal of a demon. When this seal is stamped on a person, their soul is sold to a devil. Essentially, they become a sacrifice for a great demon."
"...!"
"It's a false stigma designed to trick the gullible. Upon death, the marked person's life force and soul are taken. The life force goes to the host, serving as a source of power, while the soul is claimed by the devil. It's truly a twisted situation."
Lee Gyeong trembled. She must have understood her current predicament by now.
"Wait... does this mean I'm going to die?"
Silence hung heavy in the air.
She must have interpreted my silence as a 'yes' because she suddenly turned pale, as if all the blood had drained from her face.
As I observed her, a whirlwind of troubling thoughts raced through my mind.
There is no way an amateur like Minhyuk who knew nothing about the Gods and their stories would be able to create a seal this high level.
I narrowed my gaze at the mark.
From the beginning, imitating the seal of Athena was impossible. The marks and seals of constellations were not merely drawings; they were divine relics, infused with the constellations' power
How could a newbie like Minhyuk replicate Athena's seal, a Mythical constellation?
There was only one explanation. If a demon was indeed responsible, it had to be a demon of significant status.
A Demon Duke.
Names of constellations from the demonic faction flitted through my mind. However, it still didn't make sense.
High-ranking demons wouldn't waste their time on a Lower World like Earth. They preferred outright destruction to the intricate games mortals played.
Only two scenarios came to mind.
First, Minhyuk might possess a talent compelling enough to catch the attention of a Demon Duke. Just thinking about it felt wrong.
From what I'd seen, Minhyuk lacked the potential to attract any high-ranking constellation. If he had such talent, he wouldn't be wasting his time gathering lackeys.
Then it had to be the second scenario.
I stopped my thoughts, realizing that, in the grand scheme of things, it didn't matter whether a great demon had arrived due to the Third Fable. What needed to be done remained unchanged.
Now, what to do with this girl?
My gaze finally settled on Lee Gyeong, trembling on the floor.
There was no obligation to help her, even if she had been forced into this situation. The same applied to the other survivors deceived by Kim Minhyuk.
They had willingly joined the mainframe group. It was basic common sense; they needed to take responsibility for their lives and actions. Cruel as it may be, that was the reality now.
At that moment, a solution began to take shape in my mind. There was no need to abandon this girl. In fact, there was a role only she could fulfill.
Surely, even villains were useful.
I looked down at Lee Gyeong. As if sensing my gaze, she raised her head to meet my eyes.
I spoke with a harsh tone.
"Listen closely, you've committed a serious crime. Whether you were deceived or not is irrelevant—you still attempted to kill everyone here. Normally, I'd have killed you on the spot, but I've decided otherwise. If you want to live, you'll need to assist us with something. Perhaps I can even reverse the effects of the seal."
"Really? You'll do that?"
Lee Gyeong's surprise was palpable. She looked almost cute in her vulnerability.
"That's right, more than anything I'm a man of my word. However, that depends on your answer. If you aren't interested then..."
"No... Wait..."
Lee Gyeong reached out and grabbed my sleeve. She seemed to have made up her mind.
"Please, don't go... I'll do it. If I can survive, I'll do anything you say."
A smile emerged from the corners of my lips. Manipulating this naive girl was too easy.
"Are you sure you're really willing to do anything?"
[The constellation 'Architect of Destruction' is curious about your plan.]
[The constellation 'Architect of Destruction' is wondering what a sly bastard like you is thinking.]
Without hesitation, Lee Gyeong nodded and answered
"Yes, I'll do anything."
"Good."
I approached Yunhee and extended my hand like a tax collector. Jung Yunhee looked at me, confused.
"What is it?"
"Give me your knife."
"Huh? Why? Don't you have your sword?"
"I'm just borrowing it. I'll return it when I'm done."
"Tck, fine."
Yunhee reluctantly handed me her Swiss army knife. Just then, Jongho approached, his voice low.
"Are you sure we should be helping this woman?"
"I know you have your doubts, but trust me, she'll be very useful."
I walked past Jongho and knelt down in front of Lee Gyeong, gripping the knife tightly.
She stared at the blade, confusion clouding her features.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to modify the seal."
"Modify?"
"Yes. To be honest, this is my first time doing this, so please don't move."
"Huh? What do you mean it's your first time? Don't tell me..."
"Anyways, stop talking. In fact, It would be bothersome if you continued moving Jongho-ssi, please hold her down."
"Um... Alright."
"Wait, wait, wait... ARRGGHHH!!!"
Lee Gyeong's deafening screams echoed throughout the subway.
* * *
Minhyuk stood nonchalantly, seemingly unbothered, staring into empty space.
It was because of the countless system notifications he was receiving.
[The Mark target has been killed! Their lifeforce will be absorbed.]
[The Mark target has died! Their lifeforce will be absorbed.]
[The Mark target has died! Their lifeforce will be absorbed.]
This is good. I can feel myself growing stronger by the second.
A sinister smile crept onto Minhyuk's face as he observed the glowing seal on the back of his palm. The blessing he received from his guiding constellation was functioning effectively.
When he received the message from the nameless constellation, he had been skeptical at first.
But what if he had refused and missed out on something great? He had no other options anyway.
Fear had propelled Minhyuk to accept the Star Contract blindly, but it turned out to be the right decision.
lf I had turned down the sponsorship and missed out on something like this, it would have been catastrophic.
Minhyuk laughed, indifferent to the number of people he had to sacrifice in the process. To him, branded humans were mere assets while alive and nutrients when dead—disposable materials that could easily be replaced.
He has always been like this since high school, and he hasn't changed a bit. In this world, everything can be acquired with enough power and money.
It was a truth that remains unchanged even in the new apocalyptic landscape.
That was why Kim Minhyuk could enjoy a life of relative comfort and ease. However, that was only in the old world.
[The constellation '#### ### ###' says he will be disappointed if you fail to complete the Fable.]
Minhyuk's smile faltered, replaced by a frown.
There was an old saying that goes, power comes with its own setbacks. Even the blessing he had received from a Greater Power could easily be revoked if he proved useless.
[02 : 11 : 31]
Minhyuk checked the time and clicked his tongue.
Once the timer hit zero, everyone would transition to the next Fable. Of course, this only applies to people who met the Story's requirements.
[45/50]
Unfortunately for Minhyuk, he didn't belong to those category of people. He still needed five cores.
Considering the fact he absorbed the lifeforce of several people through the seal and gathered alot of magic power, If he went around and killed monsters, he might be able to gather the remaining cores.
But there was no guarantee he would get five cores or even survive to tell the tale. Not only low-ranking monsters were moving around, there were also massive and more dangerous creatures lingering around Seoul.
What should I do now? Should I just kill everyone else and take their cores for myself?
Minhyuk surveyed the throng gathered at the center of the safe zone.
Most had teamed up under his leadership, silently observing each other from a distance. They must have understood the situation and what they needed to do.
Well, that can't blame them. If they want to survive this madness of a story, then that method is the only way.'
In a situation where the difficulty of the mission was at an insane level, it will be obvious people will choose the easier route. Stealing another person's cores.
They'll probably start when the timer hits 30 minutes. No, given the atmosphere, they might act any moment now.
The people were waiting for the perfect moment to act like beasts hunting their prey. When the right moment arrives, they will bare their fangs.
Minhyuk was waiting for this moment as well. Most of these people were already branded with the seal. If they killed each other, he will also benefit from the chaos.
Of course, he could easily pass the Fable by ordering one of his minions to hand over their cores.
But where was the fun in that?
He was sure even his guiding constellation who liked destruction wouldn't agree with such a boring method. So he had no choice but to be patient.
"Huh?"
Minhyuk's attention snapped to a commotion at the entrance of the safe zone. A cluster of new figures pushed their way through the crowd.
"Excuse me."
"Sorry, coming through."
"Hey, what gives?"
"Stop pushing!"
They moved with a boldness that surprised Minhyuk, shoving past his men without hesitation. Intrigued, he narrowed his eyes, scanning the trio as they made their way toward the center of the safe zone. Something about them felt familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
Two women and a man. One of the women was a blonde with long, flowing hair, while the other had short, ink-black hair that framed her face. The man with them bore the hardened look of someone who had seen combat, someone from the military, perhaps.
The faces tugged at his memory, but no strong connection surfaced. Maybe they simply hadn't left a lasting impression during their previous encounters. But then, another figure emerged from the throng, pushing her way through with a determined look.
Lee Gyeong?
He recalled the group he had sent out, and Lee Gyeong had been one of them. Confusion washed over him.
What was she doing back in the safe zone?
Had she somehow gather enough cores?
No, that will be Impossible. The drop rate for cores was abysmal. Obtaining a single core after fighting a horde of monsters was like discovering an oasis in a desert.
Wait, aren't they...
Finally, the pieces fell into place. These familiar faces from his past were now standing before him, alive against all odds. His heart raced with a growing sense of unease. If they were still breathing, then that could only mean one thing…
Where is he?
Minhyuk swung his head here and there, in search of that particular person. It didn't take long before he found him.
He's here.
Minhyuk's gaze darted around, searching for the one person he needed to see. It didn't take long before his eyes landed on a figure amidst the chaos.
A man clutching a large box, his presence as unforgettable as a specter haunting Minhyuk's thoughts.
Kim Jakga.
Memories of their past encounters flooded back. Minhyuk's pulse quickened. He had thought Jakga was dead, lost like so many others. But here he was, alive and seemingly thriving in this chaotic world.
As the realization set in, a mix of anger and apprehension surged within Minhyuk. He had questions—so many questions. How had Jakga survived? What had he been doing all this time? And, more importantly, what did this mean for Minhyuk and his ambitions?
With a newfound determination, Minhyuk pushed through the crowd, intent on confronting Jakga. He would not let the opportunity slip away. The world around him faded into a blur as he focused solely on the man who had become a ghost of his past, now materializing before him.