Ch.86Chapter 86 – Because It’s a Happy Ending (1)

“…All preparations are complete.”

“Oh? So in the end, you chose to concentrate all power into one person. How interesting.”

Shub-Niggurath looked me up and down carefully, drawing a smile on her lips with apparent interest.

It seemed she had assumed everyone would participate in the battle to defeat her husband, Yog-Sothoth.

“Yes, that’s the duty of a master. What master would send their disciples to their deaths?”

I nodded solemnly toward Shub-Niggurath, showing my resolute determination.

From the beginning, I believed that if someone had to sacrifice themselves or lose their life, it should be me.

Living with a terminal illness had made me come to terms with life and death, and I had already prepared myself to die at any moment.

And for Seol-hwa’s revenge as well, it was right that I alone should end this fight.

“Child, is there anything that makes you angry or hurt about me?”

Perhaps reading some unspoken emotion in my eyes, Shub-Niggurath looked at me with gentle eyes, like a mother gazing at her child.

At this point, facing the final battle, she was asking if there was anything I regretted or was disappointed about.

She was an Outer God who designed all of this, but she was also a devoted reader who loved my novel.

“…To be honest, I can’t say there’s nothing.”

I smiled wryly at Shub-Niggurath and spoke candidly. If she had helped me more kindly and warmly, I wouldn’t have suffered so much physically and emotionally.

“But there are definitely things I’m grateful for.”

However, I was thankful that she revived Yoo Seol-hwa and helped my disciples live different lives.

I was overjoyed that she loved and cherished my novels, my sore spots. I couldn’t ignore the fact that she had thought through to the end and provided the best conclusion for a work that even I, the author, had been ready to abandon.

“You’re a devoted reader who followed my novel to the end. I’ll repay you with a good ending.”

I expressed my ambition as a writer to Shub-Niggurath. Though it had been a long time since I wrote anything after coming here, I felt my writer’s spirit boiling up once more.

“Well then, I suppose I won’t have to worry about your next work being discontinued mid-serialization?”

Shub-Niggurath seemed to already sense my victory, mentioning my next work while extending her hand for a handshake.

For a writer, one of the happiest moments is meeting a reader from a previous work in the next one.

She was now trying to make such a promise to me.

“…To be honest, I can’t guarantee it. But I definitely don’t want to do something like that in a paid serialization again.”

I couldn’t lie to Shub-Niggurath, so I spoke only the truth with sincere feelings.

Many authors polish their works in free serializations before becoming successful. Paid serializations would certainly be problematic.

As a writer lacking talent and writing skills, I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t go through trial and error again.

“Hahaha! To say such things after experiencing such humiliation, you certainly have a bold side!”

Her grip tightened strongly on my hand. It seems readers often fail to understand a writer’s circumstances.

All writers were once readers, but not all readers have been writers.

“I’ll likely have more family members to support. If I get a job and write on the side, maybe… but when children are born, I’ll need to focus on parenting too.”

I looked back, meeting eyes with each person one by one.

Bi-wol, Verdandi, Azazel, and Seol-hwa.

With four wives and future children to think about, I would inevitably need to take on many challenges to support them.

In the web novel industry, even successful writers have no guarantee their next work will succeed, and failed writers have no certainty they won’t succeed.

“But… I don’t think I’ll give up writing. Not everyone gets to experience meeting people who love their writing, receiving help, and racing together to the conclusion like this.”

I calmly shared my thoughts. If I hadn’t written, none of this would have happened.

Coming to a world created by my fingertips, meeting characters from my work, communicating with them, and creating a happy ending—

This could be considered the ultimate experience as a writer.

“I hope to meet you again someday as a writer, dear reader.”

I bowed to Shub-Niggurath, expressing my sincere gratitude. Without her, the novel I had thought about and agonized over for half my life would have disappeared without a trace.

“Why someday? We could see each other again soon.”

“The current me has been away from the pen for too long. It will take great effort to return to my original skill level.”

I managed to calm my trembling lips as I continued. It was a cold and objective assessment.

If I return to my original world after defeating Yog-Sothoth, I won’t be able to resume my activities as a writer immediately.

Writing is like a muscle—if you don’t produce a certain amount daily, your skills deteriorate.

And to keep up with the latest trends, I would need to read and analyze recent works.

For me to return as a writer, I estimated it would take at least several months.

“I’ll be waiting for your next work, however long it takes.”

Shub-Niggurath seemed pleased with my unadorned words, unable to hide her joy as the corners of her eyes curved gently.

Perhaps readers need this kind of certainty more than the endless waiting for a discontinued series.

“…Writer Mu-myeong. Are you ready to write your name at the end of the novel now?”

Shub-Niggurath mentioned the pen name I used, making a gesture that split the space in the air.

As if telling me to take responsibility for the novel bearing my pen name.

“Yes, of course. I am writer Han Do-hyeon, and the martial artist Bing-yeon.”

Writer Mu-myeong.

Master of the Ice Dragon Fate Sect.

Terminal master of the final bosses.

Bing-yeon was the name that encapsulated my current existence.

* * *

“Then I shall call my husband.”

The moment Shub-Niggurath’s words fell, I felt an overwhelming presence that made it difficult to breathe properly.

Whoooosh.

A chill like a giant nail piercing my heart, and the sight of strange purple bubbles rising created an eerie sensation.

I’m dying, dying, dying…

The moment I faced Yog-Sothoth’s true form, my mental strength was so depleted that I felt suicidal impulses.

‘So this is Yog-Sothoth, called the One and the All, the All and the One…’

I forcibly bit my tongue with my teeth to barely maintain my sanity. The metallic taste of blood and the sharp pain awakened my mind again.

It was like a massive gate. Its geometric body parts were indescribable, impossible to discern where they began or ended.

“…What’s wrong? Are you giving up already?”

“Of course not.”

In truth, anyone would be overwhelmed by the sight of Yog-Sothoth filling their vision. It was impossible to analyze where its weaknesses might be, or even to identify what might be its eyes or mouth.

But I stubbornly rose to my feet. I judged that with Verdandi’s Holy Armor, I could withstand this level of mental attack.

“I need to make you pay for messing with my girlfriend.”

I slowly walked toward where Yog-Sothoth’s form was writhing. With each step forward, my body felt increasingly heavy, like lead.

My survival instinct was screaming at me to run away, but I couldn’t turn back now.

The happy ending for everyone rested on my shoulders.

“Yog-Sothoth. The Outer God who can freely travel through past, present, and future.”

“……”

Writhe.

Perhaps hearing my voice, the geometric patterns floating above his body began to swirl and move.

“Aren’t you ashamed of being jealous of a mere human and pulling such a stunt?”

I began to provoke Yog-Sothoth to exploit any openings, while simultaneously drawing out the cold energy and inner power within my body.

I filled each fist with different energies—Ice-White Divine Art in one and Heavenly Demon Divine Art in the other.

This was the martial art technique of using both hands independently, as if they were separate entities, to perform different martial arts or techniques—the Twin Hand Combat technique.

Normally, one would first need to master the art of dividing the mind, but I was Han Do-hyeon possessing Bing-yeon’s body.

Theoretically, it was entirely possible.

‘Ice Breaking Fist in my left hand, and Heavenly Demon Divine Palm in my right…!’

Using the demonic energy received from Bi-wol and the cold energy from Seol-hwa, I clashed both fists, each filled with different inner powers, against Yog-Sothoth.