Ch.649Chapter 24. Real Estate Never Die (27)

A character in a novel becoming aware that they are a character in a novel is a cliché.

And I used that cliché.

By simply becoming aware that one exists in a fictional world, consciousness transcends a dimension.

And based on that, the wish-granting demon discovered the true nature of this space.

“A gap between worlds.”

[The person I know calls it ‘behind the stage’.]

Yoo Yeol-chung sits quietly on the sofa.

With a face that has already given up everything, calmly accepting death and extinction, he just drinks tea.

“So is this also being observed by them right now?”

[Maybe. How would I know? I’m a person living in this world, not someone who knows if transcendent beings are watching from outside.]

If I could perceive it, I would have taken some action already.

I can imagine such beings exist, but whether it’s actually happening is beyond my knowledge.

“Ha. Really, it’s just absurd…”

But for Yoo Yeol-chung, who had no knowledge or awareness of such things, that realization brought about the collapse of his self.

Not just the collapse of his self, but his existence became bound to this place.

“If you return to your original world… no, to that fictional world, then I would naturally disappear, right?”

[Of course.]

I bound Yoo Yeol-chung’s position to this world.

Fixed him behind the stage, in the gap between worlds.

By abandoning my wish to return to my original world, by giving up the rope that leads to the sky, I separated the demon of Yeol from “my world.”

[Once I finish this technique, you will naturally disappear. The moment I release this technique, the space behind the stage will vanish forever.]

“And if you use this technique again, another backstage will be created, right?”

[Yes.]

The wish-granting demon can never return to Earth again.

Never.

[You seem to have some lingering attachment, but can I go back to my original world now?]

“…Even for a demon, having one last conversation is fine, isn’t it?”

[I’ll listen. If that’s your wish.]

I sat down across from Yoo Yeol-chung.

“You seem confident. If we keep talking here, couldn’t you get entangled with me and have your position flipped again?”

[If you’re hoping I’ll wish to return to the original world again, that will never happen, you should understand.]

The moment I wish for that, this demon would observe the wish that flips his position and appear on Earth again.

[I might occasionally wish for such things, but those wishes would just be momentary thoughts. What I truly want is to live in this world.]

Conversely, if I wish to continue living in this world, the demon of Yeol cannot return to this world.

[So rest assured. Your wish will never come true.]

“But you know my origin, don’t you?”

Yoo Yeol-chung’s mouth twists into a crescent.

“All humans are beings who want their wishes to come true. Why do people perform ancestral rites? They desperately pray to their ancestors to let them live happily. What do people wish for when looking at the full moon during Chuseok or the rising sun on New Year’s? They make wishes.”

[So, you’re saying that even if you disappear, a second wish-granting demon will appear?]

“Of course.”

Something like a shadow rises behind Yoo Yeol-chung.

That black monkey’s paw-like form waves goodbye to me as it disappears, but before vanishing, it begins to show several new forms.

For instance, something like a magic lamp.

For instance, something like an omnipotent cup.

For instance, a huge green dragon with a snake-like body.

“Other demons besides me will appear. As long as humans desire wishes, demons will definitely appear to grant those wishes. Can you handle that?”

[Let me tell you one thing.]

“What?”

[The demon of Yeol perceived and observed extradimensional beings through meta-awareness. The Goblin flipped the position and confined the demon of Yeol to the other side of the world. You understand this much.]

“Yes. I understand, which is why I’m accepting that I’ll quietly disappear. What, are you saying it’s a scam?”

Yoo Yeol-chung looks at me with expectant eyes.

“Are you perhaps planning to keep me as a slave demon you can control? Because you’re human after all?”

[No. You will disappear. That’s certain. What I want to say is, if as you say, the ‘wish-granting demon’ was born from humanity, why have you become detached from Earth?]

“……”

Yoo Yeol-chung said nothing.

He seemed lost in thought, mulling over what I had said.

“That’s… what? Even if you’re a goblin, you can’t separate me from that world. I’m more necessary in that world than anyone else. Then—”

[Nevertheless, you cannot return to that world.]

“Why?”

[Because I took it.]

I pointed at the floor.

[Based on the desperate desire to grant someone’s wish, one embeds their ego into the laws of the world. That ability, I’ve definitely acquired it.]

“…Don’t tell me you.”

[Can you see?]

I lightly tapped my goblin club on the floor.

Then, behind me, like a woman’s touch, a hand I was all too familiar with elegantly extended and grabbed the back of my chair.

[Instead of a wish-granting demon, Earth has chosen a wish-granting goblin.]

“Ha….”

[People will no longer look for a black monkey’s paw when they want their wishes granted. They will look for me, the Goblin.]

“Are you planning to become Santa for all ability users?”

[If that’s necessary, I suppose I must?]

Yoo Yeol-chung shook his head as if it made no sense.

“Impossible. Even if it’s you, you can’t fulfill the wishes of all future ability users. It’s physically impossible.”

[Foolish. The wish-granting goblin is not singular.]

“What?”

[Not an individual, but plural. Simple. Under the name of goblin, the Syndicate will grant the wishes of numerous ability users and all of humanity.]

That’s right.

[I will become Dojiclose, the leader of the wish-granting goblins.]

“You think you can just slap that name on and make it work?”

[But if we actually act that way, many people will come to know of Dojiclose’s existence.]

“You know that’s hypocrisy, right?”

[I don’t care if it’s hypocrisy or whatever. Heroes who do good deeds get their wishes granted as gifts. That’s all.]

“…Ah.”

Yoo Yeol-chung twists the corner of his mouth with a look of realization.

“You’re trying to gain power by promising to grant wishes. Saying you’ll grant wishes to those who live well and punish those who live badly.”

[Our ancestors called that ‘rewarding good and punishing evil’.]

As in all fairy tales.

Good people receive blessings, and bad people receive punishment.

In reality, the evil and wealthy tell the good but poor, “That only happens in fairy tales.”

But the Syndicate’s, the Goblin’s wish is to make those fairy tales actually influence reality.

“Will people believe in the existence of Dojiclose? Huh?”

[It’s fine. If we just say it’s one of the Sephirot Knights, everyone will believe it.]

“Hmph.”

Among the heroes from the future, there’s one who grants others’ wishes.

[If there’s a wish-granting demon, why not a wish-granting hero?]

If they actually fulfill such things, people will believe it even if they don’t want to.

[Yoo Yeol-chung, a demon who granted others’ wishes, distorted them, and brought chaos to society.]

Yoo Yeol-chung’s five flaws:

One. The demon accepted the ‘name’ I proposed as his own. Thus, I succeeded in identifying the demon.

Two. The demon realized there are wishes that are physically and ability-wise impossible. The moment he thought that even he, who believed himself omnipotent, had ‘impossibilities,’ cracks formed in his firm self.

Three. Upon hearing he was a fictional character, the demon momentarily denied his own existence. Despite needing to be more certain about his existence than anyone else, he denied being a fictional character.

Four. The demon had his ‘position’ on Earth taken by the Goblin. Earth no longer needs a wish-granting demon.

“Why did Earth abandon me?”

[Difference in recognition.]

“What?”

[In the Korean Peninsula, which is more famous: the goblin or an unidentified monkey’s paw?]

The land, the land of the Korean Peninsula, the will of Hwan, sided with the idea of fairy tales influencing reality rather than a random wish-granting demon.

And finally, five.

[Farewell, Yoo Yeol-chung. Along with the stories I wanted to see, the ones I wanted to see when I returned to my original world.]

“……”

My, abandonment.

“Are you really okay with this? Even if you are, what about the other readers waiting for the many stories you’ve seen in this world?”

[It doesn’t matter.]

Somehow, it will work out.

[Whether by sending telepathy to another world to make writers dream, or by some other method, there must be a way.]

Even if I can’t cross over.

[Even if I can’t send the manuscripts directly, I can send means to bring them into reality.]

Things like story material, content, themes—they’ll work out somehow.

[We agreed to call it ‘inspiration’.]

“…Ha.”

The demon closes his eyes.

“May the novel you were watching be discontinued.”

WHACK!!

As I swung the goblin club, the demon’s head twisted and exploded.

At the same time, I surrendered myself to the hand holding me from behind and gave the demon the middle finger.

[Shut up and get lost.]

Far away.

In the night sky.

The most distant planet exploded.