Chapter – 08
“That abilityā¦ it would be a waste to let it rot.”
As the startled boy rolled his eyes and showed signs of slowly backing away, I firmly grabbed his hand and pulled him toward me.
“Want to team up with me?”
It was obvious flirting.
“A teamā¦? With meā¦?”
As if he had never held someone’s hand before, the boy trembled slightly while being held by me. I tightened my grip even more.
“I need you. Your ability, and more than anything, you as a person.”
Looking directly into the lifeless eyes of the boy, I continued urgently.
“If you stay like this, you’ll die. You know that too, don’t you?”
[30 seconds remaining to form teams. Please hurry.]
Right on time, Elistin’s guiding voice echoed.
Growing anxious, I clenched the boy’s hand hard enough to almost crush it and shouted:
“Hurry! Are you really going to die stupidly like this?”
The fact that he had come here ā that he had desperately survived the brutal first tutorial ā meant this boy also wanted to live.
“You want to live too, don’t you? That’s why you came this far!”
“But Iā¦ have no valueā¦ I’m notā¦ usefulā¦”
Still muttering frustrating nonsense, I grabbed his collar and shouted like I was coughing up blood:
“Get a grip! I need you. I’ll help you find the value in your life. So for nowā¦”
I couldn’t die before even getting started.
My desperate words almost sounded like screaming.
“For nowā¦ survive for me.”
At the time, I didn’t realize how selfish those words were.
But I wanted to live too. That desperately.
[10 seconds remaining to form a team.]
[5, 4, 3ā¦]
Grains of sand fell one by one.
My heart pounded violently.
Is this the end?
The loud thumping of my heartbeat filled my ears.
Just as time began to feel like it was slowing downā
The boy’s empty, dead eyes suddenly lit up.
[A party member has joined. Member: Eden]
At that moment, a brilliant light wrapped around our joined hands.
And a message appeared between us.
[Your party is now complete!]
Reading it, all the tension drained from my body at once.
“Ah, you little troublemaker.”
I felt like I might faint.
I looked down at the boy ā no, now my teammate ā Eden, who was blankly staring only at me.
I considered flicking his forehead for giving me such anxiety, but instead sighed and gently patted his head.
“Anywayā¦ thanks. You saved us.”
Honestly, I think I just yelled out of desperation.
I’m not sure which words moved his heart.
Maybe his survival instinct just kicked in at the last second.
“…The value of my life.”
“Hm?”
“…My usefulnessā¦”
Something seemed off about him.
“For nowā¦ saving you.”
Muttering that, his previously empty eyes now sparkled.
I tilted my head.
That gave me a slight chill.
Probably just my imagination.
“Well, anyway. Nice to meet you, Eden. I’m Wendy. Wendy Porcelain. What’s your name?”
Either way, it seemed I had picked up something very useful in this chaos.
[Eden]
[Constellation: The Sage Who Summons Death]
[Stigma: Faint Precognition]
[Stigma: Guide of Chaos]
No ā not just useful.
This was an absolute jackpot.
A high-ranking constellation incarnation comparable to Olympus’s Hestia, Korea’s Bari, or India’s Asura.
“Edenā¦”
Seeing me smiling brightly at him, Eden hesitated and tried to hide the mark on the back of his hand.
I ruffled his hair again.
“Ah, sorry. I have a younger sibling around your age, so it’s a habit.”
Come to think of it, touching someone’s head so casually is rude, especially when you just met.
But since he looked about Lilia’s age, he felt like a younger brother.
“It’s okayā¦”
“Hm?”
“…My headā¦ it’s okay.”
He slightly shrank back and mumbled in a tiny voice.
Hmm.
Maybe he didn’t dislike being patted.
Well, it’s probably something he rarely experienced.
Kind of cute.
“Anyway, looking forward to working with you, Eden.”
Despite the unexpected chaos in the middle, my Plan B was now complete.
Comments:
User Pirapirapa: Wow, that was nerve-wracking.
User Jeompil: Isn’t that too forced?
User AuthorPleaseWork: That’s part of the charm.
User BrittanyJeomrye: Wendy seems pretty decent though. I liked how she carried the team selection while Xenon and Yeriel were just walking around.
User Kuraku: Don’t be fooled, she’s just looking for someone to leech off.
User Arrrrr: The remake might change her backstory. She’s been portrayed more likable so far.
[You have gained favor from 11 observers.]
[Total Favor: 16]
Watching the lively comment window reactions, I smiled in satisfaction.
Running around like my feet were on fire was worth it.
If I kept showing this kind of performance, Wendy’s public opinion would only improve.
I still didn’t know what this “favor” was actually useful for though.
“You succeeded!”
“As expected, you’re amazing, big sis! You’re the best!”
Yeriel and Lilia came running from afar cheering.
Xenon followed behind with his usual expressionless face.
“You managed to find one.”
Why was his reaction like that?
If I hadn’t recruited Eden earlier, he would’ve died.
I stared at his annoyingly calm face.
“I struggled quite a bit while you were out on your little walk.”
Seriously.
I was fighting for my life while he was taking a stroll?
How insensitive can someone be?
“At least you avoided dying like an idiot.”
No thanks.
No good job.
Nothing.
I wanted to kick him, but considering the stat difference, my foot would probably hurt more.
Also, he had been casually speaking informally this whole time.
Coming from a culture that values manners, that really bothered me.
‘What an annoying jerk. Maybe next time I should just abandon him.’
[Team selection time has ended.]
While I was grumbling internally, Elistin spoke in a heavy tone.
[Unfortunately, those who failed to form a team will go no further. May the gods watch over them.]
At those words, the shadows of those without teams transformed into vicious beasts and attacked them.
“Aaaaah!”
“Noā¦ I don’t want to dieā¦”
“Help me!!”
Crunch. Tear.
Seeing people being devoured by their own shadows, I quickly covered Lilia’s eyes.
She was still too gentle to see something like that.
Yeriel’s usual smile disappeared.
Xenon frowned.
Eden looked at me strangely for a moment before turning away when our eyes met.
Right.
He was about Lilia’s age too.
I should have covered his eyes as well.
But I only had two hands.
[This is a tragic loss. We once again apologize for the misfortune you face.]
After the horrific slaughter ended and several people vanished without a trace, only Elistin’s sorrowful voice echoed.
[You must move forward. You must survive. That is the last way to save this world.]
In the silence, her words continued.
I sighed and hugged the still-confused Lilia tightly.
[You will soon be moved to the first gate. Constellation sponsorship will begin once the first mission starts.]
With those words, Elistin’s form dissolved into light.
Blue rune patterns appeared beneath the feet of the survivors.
“Big sisā¦!”
“Don’t worry, Lilia.”
I held her hand again and gently stroked the back of it with a soft smile.
“Let’s survive. No matter what.”
The survival record of 312 days.
That cruel yet beautiful story begins now.
“Okay, big sis.”
Hearing Lilia’s bright but determined voice, I slowly closed my eyes.
As the rune letters began shining brilliantly, I strengthened my resolve once more.
[May luck and peace be with you all.]
I’m definitely going to survive and destroy everything, you damned novel.
