episode_0103

The time is approaching midnight.

I was sitting with my back against the wall and staring blankly up at the ceiling.

Seo Jeong-hee, who heard his sincerity for the first time, disappeared without accepting or rejecting it.

She said before leaving the front door.

Please give me some time.

“… “Something feels empty.”

Did you say that the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment?

Of course I thought I would say yes on the spot.

“Have I been thinking too much about myself?”

As I was pressing full accelerator, I forgot about it for a moment.

The fact that there are too many things at stake in her life for her to respond to my answer with just one heart.

Choosing me means giving up most of what she has.

So it’s natural that I can’t give you an answer right away.

“Hmm.”

I think it was hasty.

It probably wouldn’t have been necessary to show it all at once.

I think I may have put too much pressure on her when the relationship was unripe.

“… Ugh, what should I do? “The die has already been cast.”

Intoxicated by the atmosphere, I fully stepped on the accelerator and said everything I wanted to say, but I can’t take back what I said.

There is only one thing I can do from now on.

All I have to do is constantly trust her.

It instills confidence that no matter what comes your way, you can overcome it if you are with me.

It has to be at least to that extent, so she can choose me with some peace of mind.

To do that, first… .

“We have to solve the problem at hand first.”

The clock on the smartphone LCD screen lying next to the mattress changed to 00:00.

At the same time, a message appeared before my eyes.

[Preparations for the face-to-face ceremony have been completed.]

[Would you like to accept the invitation? Y/N]

As soon as I saw the message, my first emotion was one of absurdity.

“They’re funny, very.”

We decided to call this a gathering, not an invitation.

They threatened to disqualify me if I didn’t respond, but what kind of invitation was so frivolous?

Since it was said to be a face-to-face ceremony, nothing special would happen.

I was a little curious.

I’ve received a lot of system messages so far, but this is the first time I’ve heard anything like this.

The moment I respond to the invitation, some kind of power is unleashed to move my body somewhere.

You’ll find out when you check it for yourself.

“I accept the invitation.”

[You have accepted the invitation.]

[Move to the banquet hall.]

A beam of light emanated from the translucent message and began to wrap around my body.

The particles moving busily between the white beams of light were magical power.

I feel it.

The sensation of my body going beyond a very thick wall.

Do the beams of light wrapped around the body serve as a protective shield or a means of transportation?

[Arrived at the banquet hall.]

[To ensure user safety, all information about face-to-face participants will be kept private.]

[Please rest assured and enjoy the banquet.]

[Removing the curtain.]

The rays of light that were sealing my vision are slowly disappearing.

The scene that slowly began to emerge was literally a banquet hall.

A chandelier scattering brilliant light from the high ceiling, a thick carpet that completely muffles the sound of footsteps, and food from all over the world placed on a long table.

And so many people coming and going from place to place.

“huh?”

Everyone’s faces were white as they ate food, drank wine, and talked.

It’s not just that the skin color is white, but that none of the facial features are visible, as if they were mosaicized.

I now understand the meaning of the message that appeared before my eyes.

“The fact that the information is private… “That’s what it meant.”

Maybe my face is treated the same way as theirs.

So, except for actions that could identify me, I don’t have to worry about my identity being discovered no matter what I do, right?

“Then I feel relieved.”

One thing kept bothering me.

It is none other than that I am the last among the 504 ‘qualified people’ gathered here.

Being the last to be given characteristics can also be interpreted to mean that I am the weakest among the people gathered here.

Since 504 people have acquired the same characteristics, fights are bound to break out.

In that situation, I, the 504th person, was literally the easiest prey.

I had thought of a few moves in case they targeted me first, but I feel a little relieved that I won’t have to use them.

“then… “Would you like to enjoy the banquet comfortably?”

I lightly quenched my thirst with the wine placed on the table.

The fragrant aroma and sour taste moisten the tip of your tongue.

I’m really bad at wine, so I don’t know if this is good or bad.

The wallpaper, which uses dark green and red appropriately, has paintings that look expensive at first glance.

“These are all things I’ve seen for the first time.”

I followed Han Ju-hee to many exhibitions of famous painters, but everything here is unfamiliar to me.

Either they are simply things I don’t know about, or they are works from another world.

It’s probably one of two things.

I was slowly walking along the wall and passing by the pictures without thinking about them.

“Oh, you!”

Suddenly, a man approaches me, pointing a finger at me.

“You are the one who came in after closing the door!”

“what?”

What on earth does that mean?

“haha! I mean this, this.”

The man pointed his finger at his chest.

There was a badge there.

The number ‘382’ was written in the center of the gold badge that sparkled in the light.

I lowered my head and checked my chest.

As expected, there is a badge on the chest.

The number is ‘504’.

“People are calling you that. ‘The person who came in after closing the door’. haha!”

therefore… , It all started when I got the 504th trait, so I’m saying I’m the one who came in behind closed doors.

I thought it was something meaningful, but it turned out to be just a trivial remark.

“If I could give you one piece of advice… , It would be best to never leak information.”

Number 382 suddenly gave me some advice.

It’s obvious.

As the 504th person, I am the easiest prey, so be careful not to get caught.

I suddenly became upset.

“If you have a head, don’t give advice based on facts that everyone can think of. Instead, just tell yourself which way to go.”

“Oh, you speak quite spicyly.”

I don’t know everything else, but I do know one thing for now.

Number 382 means a foreigner.

I think they are interpreting each country’s language in a way that is easy for me to hear.

The way he speaks is so greasy that it makes my stomach turn.

“I hope to see you again next time there is an event like this. Until then, survive well, my friend.”

Is it a warning or a wish?

Number 382 disappears, leaving behind ambiguous words.

I don’t know who I can be friends with, won.

I walked around slowly and listened to the conversations of people around me.

But no nutritious conversation took place at all.

We were laughing and talking haha, but these were all topics that were far from the core.

It means that they are on high alert for each other.

I tried talking to several people who approached me, but they were all formidable, so I failed to extract any meaningful information.

As I was slowly getting tired of this frustrating situation, a strange voice rang out in the banquet hall.

[Notice to everyone who attended the banquet.]

[We are planning to hold a face-to-face ceremony soon, so VIPs are requested to move to the next location.]

Is it male or female?

A voice that can only be described as truly strange, making it difficult to tell whether it is an old man or a child.

At the same time, the large door on one wall of the banquet hall opened by itself.

Does this mean that the real start is from there?

The great migration has begun.

503 people, excluding me, lined up and started moving through the open door.

After watching them calmly, I quietly joined the ranks and crossed the door.

Eventually, the place that was revealed was a space that was not much different from the banquet hall just a moment ago.

The difference is that round tables are placed here and there and there is a podium.

And on that platform… , what about seven worn-out chairs placed in a pile?

I stared at it wondering what it was, and then I realized that it wasn’t just a chair.

“and… “What is all that?”

A very thick barrier of magic spreads around each chair.

From left to right, red, blue, green, yellow, pink, white, black.

As I closely watch the magic flowing around the chair, information seeps into my mind.

“A device for identifying the owner… , is it.”

A pattern of magical power that varies greatly for each color.

If you watch it closely, you will be captivated by a strange sensation.

For example, when you look at the red magic power pattern, you suddenly feel a surge of excitement.

Something like looking at the pink magic pattern makes you feel strangely lustful.

“Hmm… .”

In other words, those magic powers all have unique characteristics.

At the same time, it excludes everyone except those with magical powers that emit the same wavelength.

Shouldn’t this be considered a chair waiting for its owner?

“That’s it.”

I’m finally getting a feel for it.

What is the ultimate goal for those who have acquired the characteristic of ‘those with qualifications’?

To be recognized as the owner of the seven chairs placed on the podium.

All of the people gathered here have the minimum qualifications to do so.

I’m curious.

What can you do and what changes if you sit on that chair?

It is clear that gathering 504 people in such a grand manner is an extraordinary event… .

It was a time when I was thinking about it.

[Everyone has waited a long time.]

Ye’s mysterious voice was heard again from the podium.

And then, in the darkness, a tuxedo appeared.

“… … .”

Everyone started to get upset.

It was worth it.

Who wouldn’t be surprised to see someone walking around on his own without anyone wearing a tuxedo?

[Haha, are you all surprised? No need to worry. Because I exist here.]

The cane that was separated from the tuxedo shakes like a hand waving.

That’s how I figured it out.

We just can’t see it, but someone is wearing a tuxedo.

“Is it invisibility?”

Magic… It didn’t seem to be the case.

Because there is no visible flow of magical power around him.

However, it was not considered insignificant.

From the feel of it, he seems to be the instigator that brought us here or his minion, so maybe we should take that level of ability for granted.

Tuxedo began his speech.

[As early as over 20 years ago, and as slowly as just a few months ago.]

[You all acquired the same characteristics, just at different times.]

[you’re right. That is, the characteristic of ‘a person with qualities.’]

[Everyone must have been curious. I was wondering, what kind of qualities are we talking about?]

[The answer to that is right here.]

As Tuxedo continued his daily speech, the cane in his hand pointed to the chair behind him.

“That chair… , the answer?”

“What are you saying, let’s play a game of chair stealing with that old chair?”

At that moment, the wand pointed out the man who was grumbling.

[That’s it!]

“Hi… !”

The man may be surprised or not.

Tuxedo continued speaking as if he was busy with his way forward.

[This is a kind of chair-capture game.]

[Everyone, this is a game where 504 people constantly compete to sit on those seven chairs.]

Then someone brave raised his hand.

“What will change if I sit in that chair?”

[Good Question! That’s a very good question.]

[What changes if you sit on a chair?]

Tuxedo paused for a moment.

And finally, everyone got the answer they wanted.

[What changes… , that’s all.]

[The whole world will change.]

[Focusing on all of you sitting in this chair.]

[In other words… , It also means that you who sit on this chair become the protagonists of this world.]

All the stories that had been flowing from time to time stopped.

They may be imagining it.

I see myself as an absolute person who changes the world according to my taste.

No one hates power.

Even more so if it is absolute power that can control the world.

someone asked.

“What are the conditions for taking that chair?”

Tuxedo gave the answer.

[You just need to prove it.]

“What do you mean?”

[Of course you are qualified to sit in that chair.]

[Your life will change greatly in the future.]

[You will encounter numerous incidents and accidents, and in the process, you will encounter each other.]

Tuxedo’s cane points to all of us.

[Go through it.]

[Win.]

[Survive.]

[Then… , This chair will be yours.]

When you first get the trait.

the message said.

‘Prepare for the doom to come.’

The guy in the tuxedo on the podium explained it in detail.

Our lives will now face all kinds of storms and waves, and only those who can overcome them will be qualified.

As my motivation slowly began to build, I raised my hand towards the tuxedo.

“I have one more question.”

[Please tell me.]

I slowly walked out while looking at the eyes of 503 people looking in this direction.

The destination is on the platform where the tuxedo is standing.

I feel eyes where my head should be.

He’s looking at me now as if he’s very interested.

Leaving that gaze behind, I walked towards the chair placed behind him.

Among the seven chairs, the seventh chair on the far right has black magic swirling around it.

I finally asked the guy a question.

“If I sit here, does this chair become mine?”

[haha… , that won’t happen.]

[The seven chairs are protected by powerful magical power to prevent unqualified people from sitting on them.]

[If an unqualified person tries to sit rashly, he could lose his life… .]

The guy’s words didn’t last until the end.

Previously.

Because I broke through the magic of the seventh chair and took over it.

I very leisurely crossed my legs and spoke to the 504 people, including the guy in the tuxedo.

“This chair is mine now.”