episode_0048

MacDeras, who had entered his house, absentmindedly recalled the story the system had told him in the past.

[“Your possession of the deceased trying man’s body has been successfully completed.”]

Certainly, even when he first entered the novel “Diary of an Inferior Knight,” the system had announced that Trying Man had died.

The reason he had no choice but to use the possession function instead of warping was also due to the above. So, logically speaking, Trying Man is indeed dead. However… is that really the case?

“Something feels off.”

At the moment when he came, ignoring Leviah who wanted to become closer, his heart stung. And now, as he looks at the board where Sunyangbudle, or rather Leviah’s post, is posted, his heart starts pounding like crazy.

Undoubtedly, this emotion is not mine. In that case, could it be considered as the emotions of the original owner of the body, Trying Man? Does it make sense for the emotions of a deceased person to linger in the body? He had many doubts, but he couldn’t come to a conclusion.

“Trying Man. Are you dead, or are you alive?”

Speaking into the empty space yielded no response. He changed the subject of his questioning.

To the system that had guided him so far. For example, the system of unknown identity that had been clamoring about being appointed as the manager of Myeolso-gal. He decided to ask the system directly. Even if he might not get an answer.

“System, didn’t you clearly say that Trying Man had died? No matter how much I think about it, Trying Man’s consciousness remains in my body. Explain. If there are any functions related to the manager of Myeolso-gal, execute them.”

[“Insufficient administrator permissions.”]

It wasn’t that it couldn’t be known; it was that the administrator’s permissions were lacking.

“It seems there is something I don’t know.”

If a person is actually in a state of death, what can be inferred is that their soul has not yet left this place.

After all, weren’t we all beings whose ‘souls’ were ‘possessed’ in a ‘novel’ from bodies that existed on Earth?

Even if one has died, there was a possibility that the soul existed as an independent entity.

“I have no idea at all.”

Trying to infer would only lead to abstract and complex concepts. So, he acknowledges it. Trying Man is somewhere watching over me. At least, a bit of his consciousness remains in this body.

“Just to clarify, I despise people like Leviah.”

The category that MacDeras dislikes the most is opportunists. Those shallow individuals who, without putting in any effort, jump on the bandwagon when the situation changes. Some may call them skilled individuals, but at least for MacDeras, such people were one of the types he didn’t want to keep around.

If asked whether Leviah is an opportunist, the answer is ambiguous. She maintained a quite friendly relationship with Trying Man, who was being ostracized without any abilities, and even offered to testify to the instructor regarding violence. Perhaps if Trying Man hadn’t launched indiscriminate confessions, the two might have become even closer friends.

However… still.

[Sunyangbudle]

[Title: I think I’m starting to like my uncomfortable male friend… How should I approach him…]

After reading this post, he could no longer view Leviah favorably. What could be the reason why Leviah only now started to feel affection for Trying Man?

Was it because the inferior inspector, who had been ignored until recently, suddenly appeared with great power? If not, was it because she saved her younger sibling who was being bullied? Or maybe to ride the wave of a promising future? Or was it because she sincerely fell for him due to his confident manner of protecting her despite being threatened by nobles right in front of her eyes?

Either way, it was unpleasant.

MacDeras organized his thoughts as he rummaged through Myeolso-gal. Then, something caught his eye.

[Administrator Shop]

After saving the world of Phlemea, I had gained access to the Administrator Shop and acquired points. Perhaps that message that popped up was this.

[Administrator points for Macderas have increased by 3,000 points. You can use these points to purchase desired rewards from the Administrator Shop.]

I had been too busy observing the newly added administrator abilities to properly check out the shop. Macderas decided to take a look at the shop after a long time.

[Administrator Shop]

[Permanent Ban Voucher for Disruptive Users on Doomsday Gallery: 100 points]

Permanently bans users active on the Doomsday Gallery. This ban function is tied to the soul, automatically banning any dummy accounts created by the individual.

[User Location Detection Voucher on Doomsday Gallery: 5,000 points]

Allows you to track the current location within the novel where a user who has been active on the Doomsday Gallery in the last 24 hours is currently embodied.

[Administrator Function Creation: 100,000 points]

Enables the creation of new functions. However, the types and functionalities that can be created are limited based on the administrator’s level. Creating functions beyond your authority is not possible.

The Administrator Shop offered quite a variety of functions, mostly related to the Doomsday Gallery. Despite the lack of necessity for most functions or their extreme cost, Macderas felt disappointed until he stumbled upon one significant item.

[Check Deceased Users Board on Doomsday Gallery: 3,000 points]

Grants access to the deceased users’ board on the Doomsday Gallery to view posts and comments.

‘The Deceased Users Board on the Doomsday Gallery?’

It couldn’t be an uninteresting feature. Macderas had 3,100 points, enough to invest all but 100 points required for the purchase. Without hesitation, Macderas clicked the purchase button.

[You have spent 3,000 points, and your remaining points have changed to 100 points.]

‘The Deceased Users Board in the Doomed Novel Gallery has been activated.’

Upon clicking the board, a different interface materialized in the air.

‘Welcome to the Doomed Novel Gallery’s Deceased Users Board, where those who haven’t departed yet reside. This space is managed by the Ready Outside administrators. Be warned that any problematic behavior may result in the permanent annihilation of your soul.’

While Macderas managed the Doomsday Gallery with administrator privileges, the Deceased Users Board was overseen directly by the Ready Outside administrators, warning of soul annihilation for misconduct, emphasizing strict security compared to the Doomsday Gallery. There might be some underlying issues. Perhaps there could be information related to the Ready Outside administrators.

As soon as he accessed it, Macderas sifted through the board, finding mostly posts lamenting their past lives.

[Anonymous1: I wish I had done everything I wanted before dying… I regret it so much.]

[Anonymous1031: I got embodied in a damn novel and died in a day… Are there others like me?]

Users here used the nickname ‘Anonymous’ as before, with some utilizing fixed nicknames.

After browsing the board for a while, Macderas came to a conclusion.

‘There isn’t any crucial information here.’

In the novel where they were embodied, many had spent a considerable amount of time, with some even starting families there. Thus, some deceased individuals opened up about the novels they were embodied in, their hometowns, and asked if anyone knew about their families.

Although there were those who sought attention, there were also individuals who provided actual information if it was relevant.

‘Wait a moment…’

With a trembling heart, Macderas utilized the post search function.

Title: “The Incompetent Mage Dreams of Becoming a Grand Mage.”

Macderas’s world of possession. Searching for that name was none other than this. If there were any possessors among the humans killed by his slaughter magic, they would have surely come to this bulletin board.

[The title is not searchable.]

‘…’

Quietly, Macderas gazed at that phrase and thought to himself.

‘Perhaps it’s a blessing.’

Among the comrades he had killed, some of whom Macderas didn’t know were possessors, there must have been one or two.

If he were to meet them, he wanted to talk to them. Apologize for not saving them, for sweeping them away with slaughter magic. He wanted to seek forgiveness.

In the interspecies World War, Macderas’s slaughter magic saved many people while also killing many allies.

Did they resent Macderas? Or did they forgive his mistakes as leading the war to victory? Even a man like him couldn’t know.

‘…’

After staring blankly at the bulletin board for a while, Macderas posted a single post.

He didn’t engage in useless provocations or insults. He simply used the nickname Anonymous 7001.

[Anonymous7001: Does anyone happen to know Traying Man?]

Amidst the countless pouring posts, Macderas’s post was buried. Not a single comment was made.

Macderas was about to leave thinking, “Well, that’s that.” But at that moment…

[Traying Man: Macderas… I intentionally delayed commenting just in case. Could you change it to a private post?]

Traying Man’s comment appeared. And to Macderas’s surprise, even mentioning his name.

The soul of Traying Man, who sadly had to face death no matter how hard he tried, was still wandering in the afterlife.