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The strongest incarnation in Seoul Dome is 'Mad Mage ???'.
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「The boundary between a genius and a madman is very thin.
Some call them crazy. Some call them geniuses.
Both are two sides of the same coin.」
***
「"Do you have a plan?"
"Unfortunately, unlike your case, I can't foresee anything related to the strongest. It is as if this person doesn't exist at all," Anna Croft confessed, "You are the only incarnation in Seoul who can pinpoint the strongest's location."
Cheon Inho continued, "Thus, we only need you to cooperate by telling us the target's coordinates while we strategize and repeatedly send incarnations after him. Of course, you can take priority in launching a surprise attack—if it succeeds, sending other incarnations won't be needed."」
After Klein's failed assassination attempt, the Beyonder didn't try again. He had already achieved his goal.
He focused on scaring other incarnations to 'digest his potion' and become stronger instead.
On Cheon Inho and Anna Croft's side, no matter what traps or plans were made, Van successfully escaped and killed the attackers. Even with the disadvantage of an information gap, it appeared as if it made no difference.
Through this incident, it became clear that Van's firepower wasn't the only outstanding thing about him.
What was even more terrifying was that he never let his guard down and remained cautious despite his strength.
Leading the psychological warfare, he dismantled their strategies with his intellect and returned the traps against them, tracing back their source to the masterminds.
Without Merlin's help, Van would have found Cheon Inho and Anna Croft's locations. The wandering magician decided to extort more money from them in exchange for this service that wasn't in their deal.
Eventually, waves of monsters stopped coming.
The scenario had ended.
Half of Seoul's incarnations had died.
***
Some unexpected people reached out to Klein.
'The constellation banquet?'
After mulling it over, he decided to accept the invitation.
Putting on Gehrman Sparrow's appearance once more, he followed the dokkaebi.
[You have temporarily left the main scenario area.]
[You must return to the scenario area within 24 hours, Earth time.]
[If you don't return in time, you will be disposed of according to the scenario rules.]
[The hidden scenario – Constellation Banquet will begin!]
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[Hidden Scenario – Constellation Banquet]
Category: Hidden
Difficulty: ?
Clear conditions: Participate in the banquet and have a successful debut.
Time Limit: 24 hours.
Compensation: 100,000 coins, favour or dislike from some of the constellations.
Failure: ―
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Gehrman glanced at the scenario contents and was led to the incarnation waiting room.
As a dokkaebi opened the door, the sight inside was revealed.
His arms crossed, Van closed his eyes. Meanwhile, a tense atmosphere was created as Yoo Joonghyuk glared at Cheon Inho. The person on the receiving end of that gaze merely smiled.
There were also some unfamiliar faces.
'How inviting,' Klein lampooned.
He took a seat next to Van, the only place where there was still space, and watched the large screen in front of them.
—Thank you to all the constellations and dokkaebis who have given me the glory of the story…
It was an interview of a dokkaebi.
"How come you are the representative of the United States? Didn't you come from South Korea?" the Russian Representative asked.
Cheon Inho shrugged, "It must be because more of my stories were created in America."
And also because Kim Anna had handed him that role instead of Selena Kim. Although Anna Croft would have liked to come, she knew that Yoo Joonghyuk would be present and intended to avoid him.
Van opened his mouth, "Aren't you one of the masterminds of all these assassination attempts on me during the previous scenario?"
Cheon Inho froze.
Gehrman controlled his expression to not laugh.
Actually, he was one of the participants too.
Yoo Joonghyuk glanced toward Gehrman.
"Where were you?"
"Traveling."
Their exchange ended like that.
Then, the others also turned their attentions toward the newly-arrived incarnation.
"We aren't all familiar with each other. Shouldn't we all introduce ourselves?" Cheon Inho encouraged. "I will start first. My name is Cheon Inho, I am the United States' representative and my nickname is 'Evil Sophist'."
A little girl with her hair up in twin ponytails humphed haughtily.
"Iris Vladimirovna Rebezova, representative from Russia. I am called 'Full Body Red Square'."
"Supreme King Yoo Joonghyuk."
Cheon Inho's gaze then shifted to Gehrman Sparrow.
Once more, Klein gave a brief answer, "Gehrman Sparrow."
"Sparrow…? Jack Sparrow?"
Although they had different nationalities, it wasn't difficult for others to figure out that it was a fake name.
"What about your nickname?" Iris questioned.
Yoo Joonghyuk, who was able to see his real name with his Sage's Eyes and had recognized him in the rankings, told it instead, "His nickname is 'Righteous Deceiver'."
"That doesn't sound better than that 'Evil Sophist' over there." Iris scrunched up her face.
'Don't lump me in with him.' Klein thought.
Finally, it was Van's turn.
The mage kept his eyes closed.
"Van."
Not even a last name was given this time.
Irritated, Iris insisted, "What about your nickname?"
"…"
"Isn't it 'Mad Mage'?" Cheon Inho remarked.
The meaning of the previous comment about 'assassination attempts made on him' suddenly became clear.
Iris fell silent.
Although it had happened not that long ago, important people in other countries had already heard what had happened in Seoul Dome.
"Everyone here except me are psychopaths…" Iris realized.
She was the only 'normal' incarnation in this room.
Hearing her whisper, Klein looked at the situation from her point of view.
Evil Sophist.
Righteous Deceiver.
Mad Mage.
Yoo Joonghyuk.
'…She has a point.'
But he was wronged, Gehrman Sparrow was only 'pretending' to be mad!
Knock knock.
The door of the waiting room opened and a low-grade dokkaebi appeared. "Incarnations. We will be holding the 'Story Succession' soon. A place has been temporarily set up on the first floor of the banquet hall. For reference, the first floor is only for the upper grade constellations."
They walked to the banquet hall one by one. The first one to enter was Cheon Inho.
[Evil Sophist!]
[Narrow-eyed twink!]
[Give me back my money!]
A corner of Klein's lips twitched.
Then it was Iris's turn. She walked past the constellations and waved lightly like she was giving them fan service.
[Iris! The Red Square kid!]
[Hahaha! Cute.]
[Isn't it exactly the same as what I saw on the screen?]
Then Yoo Joonghyuk.
[Yoo Jonghyuuuuk―!]
[The best Supreme King!]
[Come into our nebula!]
Then Van.
[Mad Mage!]
[A weak body, but the strongest! Show them how magic is better than muscles!]
[Suicidal orphan! Weakest of the weak!]
[Noble crazy warrior!]
[Drugs are the best! We have the best drugs in our nebula!]
"…"
Van questioned his ears.
The cheering got louder as many constellations approached to meet the mage. In particular, demon kings seemed to like him a lot.
'…Why do only these kind of people come to me?'
Although Lenoch had an idea why.
Hearing the cheers that were unknown whether they were praises or insults, Klein went next.
[Soft-hearted madman!]
[Money-lover! Money is the best! We have a lot of money here.]
[Single father! Your story was tragic.]
Gehrman Sparrow kept a straight face as he walked through the hall.
Yoo Joonghyuk and Van had already been led to the second floor due to their popularity.
Klein looked around the room.
Many constellations in the form of symbols surrounded him.
Then, a symbol looking like a great reaper faced him.
[The queen is looking for you.]
Gehrman coldly inquired, "The queen?"
Seeing him unmoved, the symbol scanned him from head to toe before explaining.
[The queen of the Underworld. You should be honored.]
Klein paused.
Although he had anticipated the existence of the Underworld in the Star Stream and planned to look into it, the answer had come to seek him out by itself.
Gehrman followed the symbol to the upper floors.
[Nice to meet you.]
Persephone. The queen of the Underworld. Now borrowing the form of the Disaster of Floods.
[You wanted to resurrect that child, right?]
Her eyes gleamed.
Despite her intimidating presence, Klein calmly looked back at her.
Or, maybe he wasn't completely calm.
[I have an offer for you.]
An opportunity to resurrect Shin Yoosoung had come from an unexpected place.
[Would you like to visit the Underworld?]
Surprisingly, he may be able to accomplish his goal much sooner than he thought.
[Although I can't bring her back to life, I can at least let you retrieve her soul. However, whether it is reincarnation, resurrection, of finding her a body, the rest will be up to you.]
Her gaze swept over the constellations behind him, suggesting that the other nebulae would have stories to inherit suitable for that—even if they come at a heavy price.
After all, the more desperate someone seemed, the more people wanted to take advantage of them.
Hearing the enticing offer, Klein asked the most important question.
Nothing was free in this world.
"What is the price?"
Persephone smiled mysteriously.
[Nothing much, don't worry.]