episode_0037

An ending where the world comes to an end.

Rahilt, of all people, goes crazy and causes everything to be destroyed? That gentle Rahilt…?

It was hard to believe without hesitation. However, when I recalled the original description, it was unreasonable to assert that it lacked credibility.

‘The Rahilt from the original work is definitely different from the current one…’

The original Rahilt was a male protagonist who was broken from the start. Even in everyday psychological descriptions, a sense of exhaustion could be felt from his trampled self-esteem. Moreover, if it was for Lashera’s request, he would readily abandon his humanity without hesitation.

On the other hand, what about the current Rahilt?

He would reject unreasonable demands and feel embarrassed even with a slight tease, a naive person. Without any of the worries I had, he was surprisingly living a normal and happy life.

Strange.

Undoubtedly, something had happened. Something that I had not observed from the original work.

Perhaps that something would be revealed to me after I was hit by the reincarnation truck.

‘Narin unnie probably didn’t even consider entering because it was a bad work…’

She had no reason to lie. Not only would there be no benefit, but if it was a lie, she wouldn’t have caused a commotion at the banquet.

“Sigh…”

I let out a sigh.

I should know everything about my favorite character, yet Narin unnie knows him better than I do. This is a bit unfair…

Oh my, why am I having thoughts like I’m looking at an ex-girlfriend.

Wait, how did Narin unnie figure out who Rahilt is? I blurted out the sudden question that came to my mind.

“But how did you know who Rahilt is, unnie? Even if the original ending was shocking, there doesn’t seem to be a reason to be unconscious for days…”

“Uh, that’s right. That question overlaps with what you just asked… You asked me how I became famous, right?”

I quickly remembered.

[Wow… So you became famous in the kingdom just with the original knowledge?]

[That’s… um… it was forced, I had no choice…]

It was the topic she hesitated to talk about. Unable to contain my curiosity, I prodded Narin unnie.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well… it’s better to see it directly than to talk about it, right?”

Saying that, she shouted the cliches of history and tradition with her fresh plum-colored lips.

“Status window, open!”

“Fantasy novel-like elements are appearing here…!?”

Even so, I couldn’t see the status window. However, judging by her eyes focusing on the vague space, it seemed certain that there was something there.

“Share mode.”

“But why are Korean and English mixed?”

“I, I don’t know…! It just has to be like this…”

Narin unnie touched the air and slid her finger like pantomime towards me. Suddenly, a message appeared in the transparent space.

[User: Kana Rin Lupentel’s status window thorn mode sharing request!]

[Will you allow? Yes/No]

With an excited heart, I touched the Yes option.

[Approval confirmed!]

[As of this moment, sharing of the status window. U. Pub. Publi. U. Si. Si. Si. Sion…. .. …….]

The status window interrupted. With a very humane aspect, I couldn’t help but smile.

“… Unnie, is this lagging?”

“It’s not lag… it is lagging, but should I say it’s not lagging…”

“Wasn’t it fine originally?”

“Yeah. This is the first time the status window has been broken. To be precise… it was when I recognized that person.”

Did Rahilt interfere with the status window? Even if Rahilt was a chicken, he wouldn’t be able to touch someone else’s status window…

“The effects of the status window are similar to what you would know as a status window. When you accomplish something, you gain experience points… which you can accumulate to unlock skills or level up.”

“Wow… why don’t I have such cheats?”

“Maybe it’s because your body and status are the real cheats?”

“Hmm! That’s a valid point.”

If we consider the previous male lead’s physique and the position of a princess, then having a clear cheat seems appropriate. It’s like the saying goes, ‘The grass is always greener on the other side.’

Following that, Narin unnie continued her explanation.

“True to the cliché, I have a skill called ‘Emotions.’ It’s a bluff skill that displays the opponent’s information on the status window.”

“Wow… you’re truly playing the role of a fantasy novel protagonist all by yourself.”

“And that’s why I wanted to invite you to the kingdom. The original female lead fell before the original story even began. I suspected that there was some intervention from either the princess or one of your close aides… and if there was a possessor like me, I wanted them to stay in the kingdom for a long time.”

“It turns out your guess was correct.”

“Or I was just going to awkwardly greet you and leave.”

They exchanged a meaningful smile. I was simply grateful for her judgment.

“After I was sure you were the possessor, I tried to sense your partner’s emotions… and that was a stumbling block.”

“Rahilt? He probably didn’t do anything…”

“It would be easier to see it for yourself. I’m at a loss for words on how to explain this.”

She manipulated the status window. Pressing the [Menu] button revealed various options. Then, her slender finger gently touched the [Memory Link] item.

Ding!

[User: Kanarin Lupentel’s Memory Shared with: Seriniel Literrion.]

[Do you accept? Yes/No]

I cautiously chose Yes.

Whoosh!

The world twisted frighteningly as all light faded. A new scenery painted the darkened world, transforming it into a completely different space.

‘What is this…?’

My limbs were not under my control. My hands and feet moved independently of my will, and my field of vision remained unchanged. It felt like I was sharing someone else’s body and vision…

‘Ah!’

In that moment, I realized.

This was a world reconstructed by the Memory Link function. In other words, this body I entered belonged to Narin unnie…!

My deduction was soon confirmed by the two people I encountered.

This body was approaching me and Rahilt.

Indeed, as Narin unnie said, this body had sensed me emotionally as the possessor. The items about me displayed in the status window were revealed one by one.

Ding!

[Name: Seriniel Literrion(???)]

[Species: Human]

[Gender: Female]

[Title: Empire’s Princess]

[Skills: Abnormal Status Immunity(SSS), Spirit of Valor(EX)]

.

.

.

It was my first time seeing emotional information, but I had a rough idea. The (???) next to the name was probably where my Korean name would go. So, Narin unnie must have confirmed me as the possessor.

My gaze immediately turned to Rahilt.

I was attempting to use the emotional skill on him. However, it was met with a tremendous resistance.

“I wanted to have a heartfelt conversation first… just between us… Ugh, ugh… what’s happening…?!”

Ding!

[Not allowed.]

Ding!

[Intrusion not allowed.]

Ding!

[External emotional detection! User: Kanarin Lupentel is protected.]

Ding!

[Response system activated.]

…

……

Ding!

[Impossible. Not allowed. Able. Not. Not. Able. Go. Impossible. Able.]

Ding!

[Name: Rahilt(XXXXXX)]

[Species:]

[Gender:]

[Title: Child of the Ruins]

[Skills:]

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX – XX – XXXXXX

It was a window clearly distinct from my emotional information.

The symbols next to the name were different, and the species, gender, and skills were completely blank.

Crackle, crackle!

Immediately after, the status window gradually filled with noise, and the characters shattered into pieces as if the window itself was breaking. As I gazed at the scattering status window, the world plunged into darkness once again.

… It was a misconception.

The world wasn’t plunged into darkness; it was dyed in monochrome. The surroundings were a strange mix of black and white, creating a peculiar color scheme.

“Huh?”

A foul smell wafted through the air. It was a very unpleasant stench.

I looked around once again.

The structure of the world had been completely reversed.

The streets were filled with shoddily patched houses, and the alleyways were grim spaces teeming with bugs. It felt more like a den for rats than a place where people lived.

In the midst of this inexplicable phenomenon, my gaze quickly turned. Of course, it was all due to the actions guided by Narin’s will. And soon, her gaze was fixed on one particular spot. It was because she had discovered a peculiar figure along the way.

“A woman…?”

She was a woman who seemed to have meticulously crafted the concept of enchantment.

Jet-black hair flowing like silk.

Pale white skin that was the only source of light in the monochrome world.

Eyes that were unrealistically captivating, almost hypnotic.

Just as Narin had noticed her, the woman also noticed Narin.

“Oh, so the one peeking at this child is someone after all… and such a lovely young lady.”

Step by step, she approached. Even as she walked through the streets filled with trash and filth, she exuded a tone as if she were stepping on fresh white snow.

Narin, who had been motionless until then, or rather, had been sealed in place, did not move. As the woman approached within arm’s reach, she smiled mischievously.

“It seems like you mean no harm… shall we end it here this time?”

Her claw-like fingers hovered over her thumb. The next move was clear.

Thud!

It was a light tap. A very light tap, but the impact felt like it could knock one unconscious without a scream.

Buzzing, buzzing!

Ring!

[System recovery function activated.]

[User protection function activated.]

[Entering temporary sleep mode for smooth operation.]

Pfft!

As the status window forcibly closed, Narin collapsed, unconscious. And so, our brief moment of shared memories came to an end with a period.

[Memory link terminated.]

Poof!

In an instant, the world was restored to its original state. It was the bedroom where Narin and I had been conversing. The experience of the world changing multiple times had blurred the boundaries between reality and virtual.

Narin, who had been in a daze, spoke first.

“Did you see everything?”

“Yes…”

“This is why the status window malfunctioned. It should be restored soon… but it was quite confusing.”

“I felt the same way.”

Aside from the emotional information from Rahilt, the sudden appearance of the mysterious woman left me uneasy. Although she was within Narin’s sight, her overwhelming presence felt like it was squeezing my soul.

Who on earth was she?

“Hmm… Oh?”

As I pondered deeply, a more important question came to mind.

“By the way… so, did you just call me here because you wanted to meet the possessed individual?”

“If you were curious, it would have been more efficient to come and see for yourself. There was no need to involve me as a messenger.”

She shook her head excitedly.

“Of course not. There was a matter concerning the kingdom that needed to be discussed with a fellow possessed individual.”

“Kingdom’s matter? What is it about?”

“Well, things are quite chaotic here as well. There’s a route to destruction similar to ‘taming the abandoned child of the emperor.’”

“Where is that route in the novel?”

It’s not even a dating simulation game. And isn’t the original work already completed and tightly closed?

“Did I mention that I’m possessed by an extra? So… ultimately, the crisis of the kingdom is the responsibility of the female lead and the male lead. That’s how it should be…”

The truth she revealed next was shocking.

“The female lead is dead.”

“What?!”

“The baby puppy the female lead happened to find was actually a divine being, that’s how the novel started. But both the female lead and the baby divine being… were killed overnight.”

“No way…! I know it’s rude to say this, but could it be because of the butterfly effect caused by my actions…?”

“It’s possible. But on the surface, there wasn’t anything connecting me to the female lead…”

It was futile to trace back where and how fate had gone wrong. In terms of the butterfly effect, my actions might have led to the death of the female lead on the other side…

Narin continued her story.

“It was from that moment that the status window appeared.”

Until the female lead’s death, she was known as the fallen noble’s daughter. In reality, she lived a life just enough to not starve, dreaming of attending a ball was out of reach for her.

The life of the fallen noble’s daughter changed drastically with the appearance of the status window.

“Suddenly, the status window appeared and forced a quest upon me.”

“A quest… you say?”

“Yes, it was a threatening quest that demanded a huge price if not completed. I managed to complete it somehow and ended up here.”

Main Quest: The Path of the Female Lead – This was the quest Narin received.

It was a quest to save the kingdom following the same path as the female lead.

“So, was the second prince the original male lead?”

“No, he was an extra who got assassinated before the original story started.”

“Oh, that’s quite a cliché.”

“Like the extra who becomes friends with someone in the palace and that person turns out to be a prince with no presence?”

“Exactly.”

“Yes, that’s right…”

“Then where is the original male lead?”

“He’s a minor noble from the Mu family, being manipulated by the villain.”

“Unbelievable. Everything has been twisted beyond recognition.”

“So, it’s really tough for me. I don’t want to get into social fights with others, and it’s scary to wield a sword in a mask…”

It was only natural for a fellow possessed individual to have hope. Having someone to share the same worries and cooperate with was a great comfort.

Narin desperately held my hands and pleaded.

“Please… Can Serin stay in the kingdom and help me? With the backing of an imperial princess and formidable strength… I’m willing to do anything if it’s within my power. So please… huh?”

“I…”

◇

In the glass greenhouse located in the Duke’s estate.

He raised his teacup in the garden where brightly blooming flowers were smiling.

“…”

“…”

I could understand.

The second prince’s inner thoughts hidden behind a casual and weak facade.

The excruciating inner turmoil desperately concealed beneath a facade of nonchalance.

Silence didn’t feel awkward to me, but I knew that it wasn’t the same for most people. Even as a mere escort without any authority, it was difficult for me to approach the second prince and speak casually. Even if I did speak, I had to carefully craft a safe response.

Perhaps it was difficult to gauge my feelings because of the mask I wore.

Nevertheless, the second prince managed to find words to speak.

“Uh… is there a special reason why Richard wears a mask?”

“Because my face can evoke discomfort in people.”

“…”

“…”

“I’m sorry, Richard. I didn’t know about that…”

“It’s fine.”

“…”

“…”

I found some interest in the facial acrobatics of the second prince, furrowing his brows and clenching his teeth. What could have distorted the author’s face in such a bizarre way.

“Ah, here it is. Being here reminds me of the old days. I used to play hide and seek with the princess here. I hid so well that even after two hours, she couldn’t find me. I felt proud of how well I hid, but it was tough because she didn’t stop looking until the sun went down. Later, I found out that Kanarin had been reading in her room all day.”

“Is that so.”

It was quite a mysterious game. It seemed that children of that age felt a sense of pride when abandoned by their friends.

“Do you remember what Reinhardt did when he was young?”

“If we’re talking about my childhood, I remember clearly from around the age of five.”

“You have a good memory, huh? Did you have an impressive childhood to match?”

“At least the memories of being chased were quite memorable.”

I was pinned to the wall by the sword of the famous knight, Rouslet. It seemed like there was never a time when I had to run so desperately. The others who were after me were weak and not much of a threat.

“Oh, is this a story of tag?”

“From a comprehensive perspective, you’re not wrong.”

Perhaps it was an ongoing game of tag.

“Come to think of it, you seemed close to the princess… Can I ask how you two became acquainted?”

“That’s…”

Serin was kidnapped by my subordinates.

Unable to confess that directly, I covered it up with a lie.

“I’d rather not share that as it’s a special experience. I apologize.”

“Oh, there’s no need to apologize. Hmm! A special experience, huh, hehe.”

I was relieved that he seemed to accept it without question. He then continued enthusiastically.

“Anyway, Reinhardt, the more I see you, the more peculiar you seem. I overheard a bit just now and now I’m curious about your childhood?”

“If you wish, I will tell you as much as I remember.”

“Ah, finally a day off for my mouth. Shall we hear it then?”

His face was filled with excitement.

I began to tell the prologue of my story to the eager Second Prince.

“After being kicked out of my home, I roamed around and assaulted a child abduction suspect.”

“…What?”

“From then on, the child abduction suspect became my guardian. And at the guardian’s urging, I dismantled a crime cartel. Probably by the age of twelve.”

“Wha…t?”

“I wanted to make money.”

“…”

As I finished my condensed story, the Second Prince’s lips were tightly pressed together as if he had just sewn them shut.

He may not be as amusing as Serin, but he certainly found me interesting.

We savored the long-awaited peace until Serin arrived at the princess’s bedroom.