episode_0169

“… … .”

It was something I started without much expectation in the first place.

I sat on a park bench.

A bitter wind blows.

Cloudy sky.

Scattered stories.

It’s all over.

“Ha.”

I thought with a smile.

Is it because I saw everyone else die?

Or is it because a terrible end is right before your eyes?

I never thought it would fall this far.

This is a contract that utilizes the librarian’s abilities.

He took out the ‘key’, which was the symbol.

“It’s not over yet.”

I will survive.

Everyone else has already sacrificed themselves.

The world line I live in was also sacrificed.

Well then. What’s left.

Even if I have to sacrifice all the worldlines of other narrative layers, I will survive.

“I’m going to propose a contract.”

He muttered to himself.

Then the world moved.

The world, with almost nothing left, was greatly shaken by even the slightest movement.

With the power of a librarian that I possess, I offer him a contract.

[Negotiation Terms]

Show a strong will to survive

There is some being from outside, the being that made me like this,

The being that brought me to the apartment.

He came to me in the form of my brother,

Accepted the contract negotiations.

[Contract negotiations begin]

As you can see from the conditions, the card I can play is ‘Will to Survive’.

The stronger the chair, the more advantageous the negotiation will be.

So, I am at a great disadvantage when it comes to contracts.

Even if it is a strong will, it is only mine.

‘If everyone was there.’

Maybe, it could have saved the world.

“… … .”

I regretted it a long time ago.

The important thing is to survive.

Although I was left alone, my determination to survive became stronger.

Everyone has already been sacrificed.

I have to survive.

So, even though I borrowed the power of the librarian, I was able to draw up a contract by my own will.

“I will definitely survive.”

“That’s all you have to do.”

Even if it destroys all other worldlines.

Even if it is the world line of Im Da-bin who succeeded in saving everyone.

I’m ready to give it all up.

But the answer I got back was unexpected.

[Contract is not possible.]

“What is it?”

[There is a contradiction in the contract, so the contract cannot be concluded.]

“Why on earth… … ?”

The world is disappearing.

It won’t be long before I’m swept away by it too.

“No.”

I used the librarian’s powers.

My body couldn’t handle it and I felt dizzy, but I used it over and over again.

Twist, twist, twist the terms of the contract to somehow resolve the contradiction.

Somehow survive through contracts.

Even if that means I’m left alone.

“Callok!”

He vomited blood.

The dizziness was worse than ever, and I could no longer stand properly.

No. Am I standing?

The concept of direction seemed to have disappeared long ago.

“Cluck! Cluck!”

But, it’s almost done.

The reason there was a contradiction in the contract was because of the contract made by Im Da-bin from another world line.

[I will let seven win.]

The price is,

[Everyone who exists in this world line.]

The guy gathered everyone and fought until the end.

And by gathering everyone’s will to survive, we were able to obtain extremely favorable terms in the contract.

In the end, the world was saved.

“… … .”

It was I who did such a great thing.

Right now, I’m stuck in a cesspool and destined to die.

“Substitute.”

I laughed like crazy.

“Where on earth did it go wrong… … .”

From the moment you met the professor?

No, the professor just presented me with a possibility.

It was my job to judge.

Because I see everyone as a lump of letters in a novel?

In fact, that wasn’t the case.

I still liked everyone, just like I liked real people.

So I wanted to save it.

Sister Se-rim. Da-ju. Ye-bin. Heo-yoon and Seok-hyeon-min. Jeong-hae-won. And even the people from the foundation.

So I was anxious.

Then the professor suggested.

If we just accept a little sin, we can save everyone.

“What on earth did I do wrong?”

I thought I could do anything if I could save them.

Even killing them.

And now, I’m trying to save my life even by killing everyone in the other world line.

It is a life that has survived by killing everyone. That is why it cannot be thrown away.

My actions were full of contradictions.

“I wanted to live.”

“Just, normally. I wanted to live together.”

It was beyond the librarian’s ability to obtain.

It was a power that was not even close to stopping seven.

The librarian’s abilities were specialized elsewhere.

Remembering or revising information that has already been written.

For example, changing the contents of the contract made by Im Da-bin of another world line.

I will survive.

Even if it means turning the happy ending upside down.

He poured all his abilities into creating a special clause that would resolve the contradiction in the contract.

Now, we just need to reflect that in the contract.

Just when I was about to reach out.

I fell to the floor and hit my chin.

And then someone grabbed my hand.

“You can stop now.”

“… … .”

Im Da-bin.

I was saved by myself.

“Let’s go together.”

There was a face next to me that I had wanted to see so much.

Sister Se-rim.

My sister is looking at me with a face that almost looks like she’s crying.

“Dabin… … .”

“Ah… … .”

Tears are streaming down my face.

Why do I always make stupid choices?

Sister Se-rim also holds my hand.

“Let’s go together.”

After that warm feeling, I lost consciousness.

***

“Thank goodness.”

“Yes. That’s fortunate.”

The library is back.

Se-rim and I looked down at the fallen ‘me’ and talked to each other.

“But Dabin. This guy… … . What happened to this Dabin?”

“Um… … .”

I can tell what kind of mind you have.

“Me too. Me too. I was extremely anxious. I wanted to save everyone, but I didn’t have enough strength. And then one time, I even saw everyone die with my own eyes.”

“The foundation came and killed him, right?”

“Do you remember?”

“Yeah. Actually, I just remembered. Because Dabin brought up a similar story. ”

“So. I was incredibly shocked after that.”

This is the story of me and Im Da-bin on this side. It’s the story of both of us.

Until then, there was no turning point, and the two had not separated.

“I want to save everyone. I have to save the world. But how? I’ve been thinking like this all along.”

“Dabin… … .”

Before I knew it, Se-rim was holding my hand tightly.

“It’s okay. For now. In the end, we all lived together like this, right?”

“Still. You’ve had a hard time until then.”

“We’ve all gone through hardships together.”

He smiled and held my warm hand.

“Anyway. So I thought about it. What on earth could have caused the results to be so different? ”

If it weren’t for a very small variable, I would have ended up like that too.

“What was it?”

“Sister Se-rim.”

“What? Me?”

“And many more.”

“Um… …. I don’t know. Anyway, Dabin over there had two too.”

“Daju, you never know where it will go. And even in frustrating and hopeless situations, it always bounces back.”

“That’s true.”

“When I first saw him, I thought he was crazy.”

“Actually me too.”

“But that wasn’t it. Daju did it to survive. So, when that action, which was done randomly and without thinking, suddenly went in a certain direction, that became a variable.”

“What? The one where I put you in a swimsuit?”

“No. How would you know that, Unnie!?”

“Daju showed it to me. She was cute. Dabin.”

“Ah… … .”

“Let’s go to the pool together later. It’s almost summer, so I’ll pick out a swimsuit for you.”

“Ugh… … .”

“Huh? Huh?”

When he suddenly rushes in with his eyes shining, I can’t resist.

“Okay.”

We’re talking about such a serious topic, and then suddenly we turn to talking about swimsuits.

Is this something you learned from Daju?

As much as she can read other people’s thoughts, Se-rim is greatly influenced by others.

In the past, he seemed very docile because he was trying to hide it, but now I can tell.

“Anyway. Next is Se-rim unnie.”

“Actually, I was more curious about this. Then what happened to me?”

“Serim’s ability was to read thoughts.”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“On rare occasions, I might have been able to read the minds of people in completely different times and spaces.”

“Is that so? I’m not sure.”

“It’s faint, but I’ve been accepting it little by little unconsciously. The thoughts of people gathered in the future, or the thoughts of people in other world lines… … ”

“Um… … .”

“To put it simply.”

“Serim unnie didn’t stay still and told me everything honestly. When the Foundation attacked and killed us, she was the one who told me how to turn back time and save everyone. And, most of all, she was the one who stayed by my side to make me feel safe.”

“Yeah. That’s great. I appreciate your help.”

“Thank you so much. It helped me a lot.”

“But Dabina.”

“Huh?”

“Did you tell Daju this too?”

“No. Not yet.”

“Don’t do it.”

Se-rim speaks firmly.

“Let’s keep this to ourselves.”

He held my hand tightly as if he would never let go.

“Shouldn’t we still talk about it?”

“No. And, Daju will be satisfied just by looking at Dabin’s swimsuit.”

“… … Okay.”

Are you jealous of this part?

The more you see Se-rim, the more you see a new side to her, and that’s what makes her cute and charming.

“The explanation ends here.”

I gently let go of Se-rim’s hand that I was holding.

“Now we have to save Dabin here.”

“Huh? Didn’t you already get it?”

“No. Seeing as you still haven’t woken up, there’s probably one more left.”

In the other world, Im Da-bin is lying down with her eyes tightly shut, writhing in her seat.

“Is it a nightmare? Then I can wake it up with my powers.”

“No! Don’t touch it.”

Sister Se-rim hurriedly withdraws her hand.

“You could call it a nightmare, but it’s not your average dream.”

“Then? Is it something more serious?”

“Yes.”

“I have an incredibly strong will to survive right now. But since it lost its direction and everything ended in vain with the salvation of others, it started to run wild. There must be guilt there. There must also be the aftereffects of using the power of the Four Books too much. That’s why I couldn’t wake up and became trapped in the unconscious. ”

With her eyes tightly shut, Im Da-bin from the bad ending sheds tears.

“So. Maybe a new space was created in the dream.”

“A space where even one wrong step can lead to a terrible death. A space where the will to survive can be maximized. And it is also the space we are most familiar with. ”

“Ah. I think I know what it is.”

“Yes. Right there.”

“Apartment.”

Right now, Im Da-bin is trapped inside a new apartment.

“So, you have to wait until you escape on your own.”

“Is there anything we can do to help you?”

“Yes. All we can do is just wait. And if we can’t escape… … we’ll just disappear. ”

“The body will not be able to withstand the consciousness and will be eaten.”

***

When I opened my eyes, it was a familiar space.

Inside the apartment.

I was back in that horrible space again.