novelraw Chapter 17 : Chapter 17
Chapter 17 : Chapter 17
Chapter 17: A Piece of Junk Picking Up Junk (3)
Chzzzzzzzz-
Gulp.
A shadow of indiscernible size swallowed Han Chulwoon.
The Watchman had trapped Han Chulwoon.
Its body was made of shadow, and the prison it formed was as dark as a night that permitted no stars.
They were the ones who filled the outside of the scenario, in places the Constellations did not watch.
‘A shadow, filling the places the stars do not shine.’
It was dark.
So dark that nothing could be seen, no matter what was painted over it.
-This is no place for an able-bodied human. Put down what you are holding and leave.-
The Watchman said.
A voice as cold as the shadow that formed its shape resounded through the entire space, pouring down on Han Chulwoon.
However, I didn't care much.
“Mind your own business. I’ll decide where I belong.”
I spoke with an ordinary attitude, without a hint of tension.
And around then, I swallowed the last ‘Blue Orb’.
It would weaken that Watchman’s interference.
-Stop. I will not permit it.-
Despite the Watchman's warning, I diligently pressed forward, gauging the deep darkness.
I was determining the path I had to take, following the compass engraved in my mind.
‘I did get caught on purpose, but it’s been a while since I passed this way, so it’s a bit confusing.’
As I thought.
Taking that Magic Bullet with my body was the problem.
Although I had dispersed the shock, it was a power difficult to endure with only my Stamina stat and meager Magic Power.
‘Did I put in too much effort?’
There was a way to speak nicely to Fake-Chulwoon and get past it.
He looked desperate, too.
But, for some reason, anger and ridicule surged up, and I lost my composure, unlike myself.
‘……Tsk.’
Even while having stray thoughts, my direction was constant.
I didn't stop, nor did I bump into anything.
-Hmm?-
Seeing Han Chulwoon calmly finding his way and moving forward even in the darkness, it was the Watchman who felt wary instead.
The Watchman had no choice but to unleash its power.
-I warned you. Can you handle this?-
At that, colors began to spread from within the shadow.
Formless colors, like playfully squeezed paint, wavered and mixed, soon crafting human shapes.
Those bleeding over pale skin stared at Han Chulwoon with eyes full of white.
“It’s, all your fault.”
They were not just one or two, and they blocked Han Chulwoon's path as if to surround him.
As I vaguely recalled, they were the people I had encountered at the restaurant.
“Why didn't you save us?”
“You could have done it.”
“Why? Why? Why?”
That bottomless resentment was all directed at one person.
“Are you asking because you don't know?”
There was a time when I paid attention to such stories.
There was also a time when I was in pain.
But all of it was futile.
Because no matter how many times I turned back time, what was meant to happen was bound to happen.
My answer was simple.
“Because you were weak.”
Dismissing them with that one word, I pushed through the zombie-like illusions and moved forward.
The illusions, whose essence was unclear, collided with Han Chulwoon and turned into steam, disappearing.
Even amidst all these horrifying images, my direction was constant.
Next was the part-timer who was at the cafe.
“Why did you abandon me and go!”
I passed by.
‘Just like that time, my hands are full.’
It's the same reason.
Because you were weak.
It was a point that didn't need to be explained twice.
And next were the people from the cruise ship.
Furthermore, even Seo Yeonhwa.
She, who appeared with the face she had when she was human, shouted.
“You. How could you kill me?”
Following her, the illusions of other people also chimed in.
“Are you ignoring us?”
“This time, too, you are standing by and watching the deaths of others.”
“But even if it's you……”
The illusions, which had been whispering endlessly, all shut their mouths at a certain moment.
“……”
“……”
“……”
The absolute silence was almost chilling.
And then, the illusions and the shadow surrounding him began to crumble away limply.
Before they disappeared completely, they all left a word, their expressions filled with astonishment.
“The Observer.”
“He killed?”
“Impossible.”
“What in the world is that guy?”
They had reached an impossible conclusion.
From that shock, the Watchman's mind was invaded instead, and its mental barrier thinned.
Furthermore, the effect of the ‘Blue Orb’ I had eaten a moment ago also began to circulate in my body.
Thanks to that, the darkness and illusions in the area were all clearing away.
-This…… What is the truth? I’m asking if this is real.-
The Watchman's cold form crumbled, and its voice also floated up lightly.
It read Han Chulwoon's memories again, wondering if it had seen wrong, but even so, what had already happened did not change.
It couldn't accept it, but regardless of its acceptance, what happened, happened.
He had killed an Observer in the first scenario.
-……Damn it!-
That was why it couldn't let him be.
Because that person was one who surpassed an Observer's capabilities, he was someone who could have an unknown adverse effect on the scenario.
-Stop. If you agree to be dragged away quietly even now, I will spare your life.-
“You talk too much. Why don't you shut up?”
Immediately after, the Watchman, which had been a shadow, split into multiple entities.
What came out from the split were numerous Shadow Wolves.
They simultaneously spread out in all directions, fiercely chasing Han Chulwoon.
[The Constellation ‘Ear Collector’ is delighted by Mr. Han Chulwoon cruelty.]
[The Constellation ‘Skeleton at the Bottom of the Well’ likes Han Chulwoon's personality.]
[The Constellation …………is Han Chulwoon……]
[You have been sponsored a total of 175 coin.]
There were some stray ghosts who liked the stories from a moment ago.
[The Constellation ‘Ruin of the Gigantes’ clenches its fists at Han Chulwoon’s hardship.]
The hero who liked hardships also showed interest in Han Chulwoon.
‘That would be the case.’
I had intentionally moved slowly to lure the Watchman.
From their perspective, it might seem as if Han Chulwoon was enjoying the hardship.
Was that all?
‘The Watchman is no ordinary monster.’
This time, it was something that could seriously be called a hardship, so it wasn't a situation I could get past without any damage.
The Watchman itself was an enemy against whom physical attacks were almost ineffective, and I had no way to postpone the fight like in my past life.
‘The place hit by the Magic Bullet is throbbing.’
Because my body and mind were both wrecks.
It was because I wasn't in a state to use footwork or cast magic.
‘It’s a waste, but it can’t be helped.’
Thinking so, Han Chulwoon threw the man backward.
That man, he had a rather magnificently trained body.
If I had raised him well, he would have become a pretty useful combatant.
Hwik-
As the nameless half-corpse flew backward, the chasing Shadow Wolves merged into one.
Seueuk- Cheolpeok.
The merged mass of them turned into a giant hand, and caught the half-corpse.
‘It’s a bit lighter now.’
In that time, Han Chulwoon was able to gain a considerable distance.
-Ugh?-
The Watchman belatedly realized its mistake.
-You bastard!-
Capturing that human, who was close to a mutation, was more important than collecting this single half-corpse!
It was because it had instinctively reacted to collecting the half-corpse.
This was a countermeasure Han Chulwoon could take because he knew the Watchman's role.
The Watchman split into multiple Shadow Wolves again and started its pursuit, but the distance was already quite large.
Beyond the wide-open view, I confirmed the place I needed to go.
‘That place looks good for now.’
***
“Open the door!”
The place Han Chulwoon reached while shouting was a building where two people were guarding the entrance.
They shouted something from beyond the glass door and made X marks with their arms, but it was a situation outside of Han Chulwoon's concern.
I ran straight as I was, putting my weight into it…….
Kajangchang!
I broke the glass door and entered.
Beyond the broken door, the ‘Star Ash’ began to invade.
Even though it was clearly a lit interior, the shadow was creeping and overflowing under the light as if it were a tangible object.
At that, the two people guarding the door also ran away.
“You should have opened it earlier.”
I said.
I watched where the two fleeing people were going.
‘Are they going up.’
It seems the survivors are upstairs.
Well then…….
I can just go down.
Because I needed time to recover my body and also recover the half-corpses.
‘Who was in this building?’
I don't remember well.
However, the attitude of the guys blocking the door.
That alone was enough to tell the nature of the group that had won in this building.
‘It was avoidance.’
It seems they aren't the type to enjoy a fight.
I needed to rest, so the fact that they didn't pick a fight was a welcome trait.
In addition to that.
[You have escaped the Watchman's influence.]
[You have acquired the Title ‘The One Who Evaded the Shadow’.]
[Senses are enhanced by 5%.]
[Senses are additionally enhanced by 5% in dark places.]
I got a good title.
Throwing away the man I was going to use as a muscleman was a waste, but it was worth that much.
‘I can always gather people anytime.’
I went down to the basement with a slightly more relaxed gait.
***
A horde of Shadow Wolves rushed toward the building entrance.
Tukwagagak.
However, there was an invisible wall, and they crashed against it and scattered.
Even the ‘Star Ash’ that was seeping into the building was pushed back outside.
-Keueu.-
In the eyes of such a Watchman, a single line of message appeared.
[Not in jurisdiction.]
That was the only sentence it could see.
-…….-
Thus, the Watchman called the building's Observer.
-There is a fugitive in there. I request permission to enter.-
The one who appeared before the Watchman was an Observer wearing a wedding dress.
She tilted her head left and right and asked playfully.
“Oh my? What brings you here?”
-Do not feign ignorance. There is a fugitive in there. I request entry…….-
“I'm afraid I can't do that.”
-…….-
“Your jurisdiction was supposed to be processing dregs outside the scenario, wasn't it? There’s no way a corpse would come back to life and run away. Hmm…… What is it? What could it be?”
In an instant, the temperature at the building's entrance dropped sharply, and a cold chill raged like a storm.
It was the power the Watchman had raised.
-Foolish thing!-
Amidst that cold.
The Shadow Wolves merged into one and became huge, and the shadow gained three-dimensionality, slowly swelling up.
Before long, the Watchman took shape.
It covered its entire body with a black robe, revealing only a face made of skull.
A faint flame flickered in its empty eyes.
-Do not feign ignorance.-
An Observer can tell when a human has entered their territory.
Furthermore, the first scenario was almost over.
In this leisurely situation, it was impossible for her to not know about a human who had intruded in the middle of the scenario.
-That person endured the Star Ash and fled, stealing a half-corpse.-
“Oh my? What a surprising human.”
She said with a laugh.
She was just pretending not to know because it seemed a new figure was about to receive a Constellation’s choice.
She had no intention of handing over a talent, who would return as a huge performance result just by harboring him, to that Watchman.
“But what to do. An able-bodied human is not under your authority.”
-How dare……!-
But then, as he was spewing his coldly sunken anger, didn't he suddenly get startled and look around?
-A voice can be heard.-
“……What?”
-One of 'Them' has taken an interest in this place.-
The Observer thought.
‘The Watchman wouldn't be this surprised just because a Constellation has arrived, would he?’
Nevertheless, the fact that his reaction was so intense must mean that a rather unique one among the Constellations had taken an interest.
Either too great.
Or, too cruel.
Whichever of the two it was, they would not welcome the Watchman's interference.
“Wow! Already? That person must be pretty amazing.”
-Do you know who it is you are harboring?-
“Well? Give me a hint.”
-……Do not regret this.-
With those words as his last, the Watchman's form melted and seeped into the shadow on the floor.
“Hmph. Regret?”
The Observer laughed while looking in the direction the Watchman had disappeared, and then soon vanished.