the moment you regain consciousness, you feel your smartphone vibrate. you switch the screen on without thinking too much about it, only to spot today's date.
February 15th…
as you aren't on Earth, the local weather report doesn't appear. all you can confirm is the date. even then, you can't say it's an accurate one, either. the space-time indicator has long lost its meaning after you moved around different dimensions willy-nilly, after all.
everyone within <Star Stream> lives in a different time from the others. that is the case, but now… 15th of February, is it?
you fall into a bit of thought regarding this date, before giving up and placing the phone down. your head is in a disorganized mess, and almost every part of your Incarnation Body is aching painfully, too. you blink several times while looking down at your upper torso to find bandages tightly wrapped around your chest area.
…where are you now?
the surroundings slowly fill your view. firstly, the clean, white bedsheets, followed by the elegant Oriental décor of the room you are in.
a certain someone leaning against the window and looking outside throws a question at you. "You awake now?"
"You…?!"
Her eyes arch in a mischievous manner. "Ahh, so this is how it feels like coming back to life after dying."
"But, didn't you die…"
"I did?"
Seeing Han Suyeong snicker like that, the inside of your head grows even more complicated. you immediately recall the sight just before blacking out; the events of her dying at Yu Junghyeok's sword, you fighting against him, and then, passing out from his attack, and finally, sharing a conversation with Yu Sangah inside the Library…
Han Suyeong approaches the bed before you notice it and pinches your cheek.
"In any case, Kim Dokja. You can be really adorable sometimes."
only then do you realize that she played you for a sucker. you take a closer look and find a small IV needle stuck in her arm, too.
"…Where are we?"
"The waiting room of the Main Island. The place where that 'guy' and his castle is."
it's then, you abruptly remember something else.
[ 'Master of the Island' is calling out to Incarnation 'Yu Sangah'. ]
back then when that guy was taking Yu Sangah away, there was another message popping up in front of your eyes, as well.
[ 'Master of the Island' is inviting you. ]
the King of Reincarnators. the third protagonist of the book 'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World' has summoned you to their territory.
"But, I'm pretty sure that I failed to clear the scenario? Don't I need to clear the Middle Island's scenario in order to get here, so how…"
"Nope, you did clear it."
you quickly confirm the message logs.
[ You have cleared Hidden Scenario – 'Snatching Modifiers'! ]
[ Reward handout is currently on standby. ]
It's true.
"But, how? I hadn't collected the syllable 'Vil', so how…"
Han Suyeong wordlessly points at the necklace hanging around your neck.
[Devil of Lust and Wrath]
The completed necklace of Modifier emits a soft glow. something like this cann't happen, though. one of the syllables should be missing on your necklace.
Han Suyeong spoke. "Yu Junghyeok gave it to you before leaving, saying that it's a leftover."
…Yu Junghyeok did?
But, why?
your thoughts are getting messy again. the things he said at the final moments rings vividly in your head.
– Yu Junghyeok, a former Regressor.
not the Regressor Yu Junghyeok, but a former Regressor.
what was he thinking about when he told you that?
"Where is he now?"
"The next scenario."
the sense of emptiness and relief brushes passed you simultaneously when you hear her. He again went ahead before everyone in order to clear the scenario.
"…Who was his target, anyway?"
"You just woke up, but you're already so full of questions. How annoying."
you sit on the bed, eyes blinking like an idiot. she points to your chest again.
upon taking a closer look, there are two [Modifier Necklaces] hanging around your neck. one of them is Asmodeus's Modifier, [Devil of Lust and Wrath], while the other one was…
[□□ of □□]
the places where your Modifier should've been are replaced by empty holes, instead.
"No way?"
"Yes, way."
Well, at least he did leave behind 'Of'. That son of a bitch.
"It's my turn to ask questions now. Is Yu Sangah still inside you?"
"…King of Reincarnators already took her."
"…Did she say anything else before going?"
you unsteadily raise up from the bed and walk over to the window. while standing next to Han Suyeong, you stare as the unfolding cityscape.
Reincarnators are busy roaming the streets that possess the unmistakable ancient Chinese vibe. Beings from other worlds are here; beings that have chosen to live a new life in this place, along with different names and different faces.
"She said, let's meet again in the next life."
to you, it will still be this life but to Yu Sangah, it will indeed be the next life.
she's earned a new body, a new life, through the power of the 'King of Reincarnators'.
she gets to live a new life in this world, in other words.
Han Suyeong and you stare at the streets below without saying anything. it's as if you are searching for Yu Sangah hiding somewhere within these nameless streets.
Han Suyeong abruptly opens her lips to speak. "It's snowing."
she is right; bits of snowflakes are descending from the sky.
originally, this particular world doesn't have any snow. yet, it's doing precisely that.
snow falls like starlight. and beyond the tall skies where snowflakes continue to fall, Constellations are watching your tale. no indirect messages reach you, but you can still feel that they are looking at you. Probability they have gathered bit by bit until now scattering gently in the skies.
you turn your head to the side to find Han Suyeong studying you. she grasps your [Modifier Necklace] and grins. "I guess you're no longer the [Demon King] of [Salvation]. Shouldn't you get yourself a brand-new Modifier now?"
you begin recalling the days you spent as 'Demon King of Salvation' while listening to her talk.
it hadn't been that long, but those days were the most brilliant moments in your life.
as your vision grows wetter and blurrier, you can see Han Suyeong giggling away.
"Should I make one up for you, then? Mm… What will sound nice on you, I wonder. How about 'I Pass Out Too Often-Man'? Or, 'Miraculous Piehole'… Eh? H-hey, you are… crying?"
your face reflects in her irises, her eyes widening in surprise.
actually, you want to ask her, an author.
as she is a writer, maybe she'll be able to tell you straight.
tell you that you did good until now – whether you made the wrong choices or not, whether you would get to see the desired conclusion when you reach the end of this story or not.
"Hey, why are you crying like that? I get it, okay? I get it, so stop. There, there."
she must've thought up something, as she begins rummaging through her pockets next. soon afterwards, something sweet and slightly sour enters your mouth.
"Why are you crying on a nice day like today? I mean, it's even snowing, too… I promise to think up a nice Modifier later on, okay?" says Han Suyeong, before avoiding your gaze to stare into the far-off distance.
today is the 15th of February.
that's what the smartphone says. however, the time of this place and that of Earth aren't the same, therefore this indicator is simply an 'error'. it's a coincidental date, with no meaning behind it.
even then, what if there is some kind of a miracle and this date is indeed true?
then, today would be your birthday.
Han Suyeong rubs her eyes as she speaks. "I want to see the others already."
you summon up every ounce of your strength to make your reply. "…Yeah, me too."
as if those words became the signal…
[ Revised text has completed its update. ]
A gift sent by someone arrives at your doorstep.
– Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World (Final Revision).txt
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Happy Birthday
the moment you regain consciousness, you feel your smartphone vibrate. you switch the screen on without thinking too much about it, only to spot today's date.
February 15th…
as you aren't on Earth, the local weather report doesn't appear. all you can confirm is the date. even then, you can't say it's an accurate one, either. the space-time indicator has long lost its meaning after you moved around different dimensions willy-nilly, after all.
everyone within <Star Stream> lives in a different time from the others. that is the case, but now… 15th of February, is it?
you fall into a bit of thought regarding this date, before giving up and placing the phone down. your head is in a disorganized mess, and almost every part of your Incarnation Body is aching painfully, too. you blink several times while looking down at your upper torso to find bandages tightly wrapped around your chest area.
…where are you now?
the surroundings slowly fill your view. firstly, the clean, white bedsheets, followed by the elegant Oriental décor of the room you are in.
a certain someone leaning against the window and looking outside throws a question at you. "You awake now?"
"You…?!"
Her eyes arch in a mischievous manner. "Ahh, so this is how it feels like coming back to life after dying."
"But, didn't you die…"
"I did?"
Seeing Han Suyeong snicker like that, the inside of your head grows even more complicated. you immediately recall the sight just before blacking out; the events of her dying at Yu Junghyeok's sword, you fighting against him, and then, passing out from his attack, and finally, sharing a conversation with Yu Sangah inside the Library…
Han Suyeong approaches the bed before you notice it and pinches your cheek.
"In any case, Kim Dokja. You can be really adorable sometimes."
only then do you realize that she played you for a sucker. you take a closer look and find a small IV needle stuck in her arm, too.
"…Where are we?"
"The waiting room of the Main Island. The place where that 'guy' and his castle is."
it's then, you abruptly remember something else.
back then when that guy was taking Yu Sangah away, there was another message popping up in front of your eyes, as well.
the King of Reincarnators. the third protagonist of the book 'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World' has summoned you to their territory.
"But, I'm pretty sure that I failed to clear the scenario? Don't I need to clear the Middle Island's scenario in order to get here, so how…"
"Nope, you did clear it."
you quickly confirm the message logs.
It's true.
"But, how? I hadn't collected the syllable 'Vil', so how…"
Han Suyeong wordlessly points at the necklace hanging around your neck.
The completed necklace of Modifier emits a soft glow. something like this cann't happen, though. one of the syllables should be missing on your necklace.
Han Suyeong spoke. "Yu Junghyeok gave it to you before leaving, saying that it's a leftover."
…Yu Junghyeok did?
But, why?
your thoughts are getting messy again. the things he said at the final moments rings vividly in your head.
– Yu Junghyeok, a former Regressor.
not the Regressor Yu Junghyeok, but a former Regressor.
what was he thinking about when he told you that?
"Where is he now?"
"The next scenario."
the sense of emptiness and relief brushes passed you simultaneously when you hear her. He again went ahead before everyone in order to clear the scenario.
"…Who was his target, anyway?"
"You just woke up, but you're already so full of questions. How annoying."
you sit on the bed, eyes blinking like an idiot. she points to your chest again.
upon taking a closer look, there are two [Modifier Necklaces] hanging around your neck. one of them is Asmodeus's Modifier, [Devil of Lust and Wrath], while the other one was…
the places where your Modifier should've been are replaced by empty holes, instead.
"No way?"
"Yes, way."
Well, at least he did leave behind 'Of'. That son of a bitch.
"It's my turn to ask questions now. Is Yu Sangah still inside you?"
"…King of Reincarnators already took her."
"…Did she say anything else before going?"
you unsteadily raise up from the bed and walk over to the window. while standing next to Han Suyeong, you stare as the unfolding cityscape.
Reincarnators are busy roaming the streets that possess the unmistakable ancient Chinese vibe. Beings from other worlds are here; beings that have chosen to live a new life in this place, along with different
names and different faces.
"She said, let's meet again in the next life."
to you, it will still be this life but to Yu Sangah, it will indeed be the next life.
she's earned a new body, a new life, through the power of the 'King of Reincarnators'.
she gets to live a new life in this world, in other words.
Han Suyeong and you stare at the streets below without saying anything. it's as if you are searching for Yu Sangah hiding somewhere within these nameless streets.
Han Suyeong abruptly opens her lips to speak. "It's snowing."
she is right; bits of snowflakes are descending from the sky.
originally, this particular world doesn't have any snow. yet, it's doing precisely that.
snow falls like starlight. and beyond the tall skies where snowflakes continue to fall, Constellations are watching your tale. no indirect messages reach you, but you can still feel that they are looking at you.
Probability they have gathered bit by bit until now scattering gently in the skies.
you turn your head to the side to find Han Suyeong studying you. she grasps your [Modifier Necklace] and grins. "I guess you're no longer the [Demon King] of [Salvation]. Shouldn't you get yourself a brand-new Modifier now?"
you begin recalling the days you spent as 'Demon King of Salvation' while listening to her talk.
it hadn't been that long, but those days were the most brilliant moments in your life.
as your vision grows wetter and blurrier, you can see Han Suyeong giggling away.
"Should I make one up for you, then? Mm… What will sound nice on you, I wonder. How about 'I Pass Out Too Often-Man'? Or, 'Miraculous Piehole'… Eh? H-hey, you are… crying?"
your face reflects in her irises, her eyes widening in surprise.
actually, you want to ask her, an author.
as she is a writer, maybe she'll be able to tell you straight.
tell you that you did good until now – whether you made the wrong choices or not, whether you would get to see the desired conclusion when you reach the end of this story or not.
"Hey, why are you crying like that? I get it, okay? I get it, so stop. There, there."
she must've thought up something, as she begins rummaging through her pockets next. soon afterwards, something sweet and slightly sour enters your mouth.
"Why are you crying on a nice day like today? I mean, it's even snowing, too… I promise to think up a nice Modifier later on, okay?" says Han Suyeong, before avoiding your gaze to stare into the far-off distance.
today is the 15th of February.
that's what the smartphone says. however, the time of this place and that of Earth aren't the same, therefore this indicator is simply an 'error'. it's a coincidental date, with no meaning behind it.
even then, what if there is some kind of a miracle and this date is indeed true?
then, today would be your birthday.
Han Suyeong rubs her eyes as she speaks. "I want to see the others already."
you summon up every ounce of your strength to make your reply. "…Yeah, me too."
as if those words became the signal…
A gift sent by someone arrives at your doorstep.
– Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World (Final Revision).txt