“I, I am….”
– You’ll have to make a decision quickly. There isn’t much time. My little friend’s body can hardly withstand my divine descent. I’m diverting as much of the burden to my side as possible, but even that will be taxing.
At Blazing Flame’s subtle urging, Jaehee’s mouth went bone dry.
…Choose something like this? Is this even something that can be chosen?
His head throbbed as if it would split from excessive stress. For a moment, he could barely see in front of him.
“Huu…. Really, I have to choose something like this…?”
– That’s all you have in your hands. In a way, isn’t it easy? Think simply. Even if you choose Jeongwoo, everything would just return to how it was.
Jaehee felt like grabbing Blazing Flame by the collar and shaking them.
Simple? Easy to say, but how could this possibly be a simple matter?
“I, I am…. Jeong, Jeongwoo….”
If he chose Jeongwoo, then what comes after?
What about the people after that…? And Jeongwoo?
Jaehee just moved his lips before burying his face in his hands.
No. This wasn’t the kind of question where he could make a choice.
No matter what he chose, this wasn’t a story that could be called a happy ending.
Even if he chose Jeongwoo, could that be called a happy ending? That would be turning everything Jeongwoo had risked his life to build into nothing, all in the name of doing it for Jeongwoo’s sake.
“I… can’t choose anything…. This isn’t something I can choose.”
– Then what do you want to do?
“I… I just…. I just want to reclaim an ordinary daily life…. Just an ordinary, simple daily life together with Jeongwoo.”
The red flames flickered softly. Jaehee gazed at those red flames without avoiding them.
If that method was truly the only way, Blazing Flame wouldn’t have called him like this or spoken to him.
“Is there no other way besides this? Really…?”
– …It’s not that there’s absolutely no other way.
“What do you…! Then you should have said so from the start! What, what is it! What method?”
– Before that, there’s something I want to ask. What would you be willing to do for Woo Jeongwoo?
“Ha, you asked me to choose between the entire world and Woo Jeongwoo, and now you’re asking what I’d be willing to do? For Jeongwoo, I could give up the world. It’s just that I can’t do it because that’s not what Jeongwoo wants.”
– Good. It’s not that there’s no way. Using the crown’s power to save Jeongwoo isn’t a problem. However, if that happens, the King disappears, and the problem is that all these trials will start again.
“…So?”
– The new trials beginning is due to the King’s absence. It would be resolved if a new King is born.
“What… does that mean? What do I have to do?”
– Make a deal with me. If you grant me one request, I’ll postpone the Judgement of the End.
“Okay!”
Jaehee answered without hesitation. Then the flames flickered and suddenly expanded in size. Jaehee was startled and stepped back, and when he came to his senses, Yiyeong was collapsed unconscious in his arms.
– The deal is made.
A warm breeze blew past his ear with a small sound. Jaehee turned around, but there was nothing to be seen.
* * *
[Congratulations! The first King has been born on Planet Earth!
The birth of the King is the wish of all Earthlings and has become a memorable first step for Planet Earth.
The King not only protects the people but is also given the qualification to directly negotiate with representatives of each planet or Constellations on behalf of the people.
People of Earth, we congratulate you on the birth of the King.
The execution of the Judgement of the End means you have gained the qualification for the selection of a King, but not all planets can achieve this. Countless others have disappeared into the history of the universe without obtaining a King. The birth of a King clearly shows Earth’s specialness.
Everyone on Planet Earth, once again, we congratulate you on the birth of the King.
Although Planet Earth’s King has not passed all of the Judgement of the End, they have accumulated achievements above the standard and confirmed they sufficiently possess the King’s qualifications. Earth’s Protected Planet status will be maintained for approximately 6 months in Earth time even after the King’s appointment. This is an institutional device to prevent the exploitation of a newly started young planet, and can be lifted upon the King’s request. However, once the Protected Planet status is lifted, it cannot be canceled or reapplied under any circumstances. The new King is asked to keep this in mind.
People of Earth, you have worked hard all this time.
Glory to the King!]
Jaehee stared blankly at the system window. The system window continued to display congratulatory screens.
Notifications appeared that congratulatory gifts had arrived from several Constellations.
“Guild Leader-nim, congratulations!”
“Congratulations! Our Guild Leader is now a King!”
“No, everyone, what do you mean Guild Leader-nim, now it’s King, Your Majesty? No, then what should we call you? Should we say Your Highness?”
“Huong, living life really brings days like this. Hueoeoong, all the hardships until now must have been for this moment.”
Giggling laughter and noisy singing. And sobbing cries in between.
Eternal Guild’s temporary office was truly in an uproar, a festival was taking place.
“Come on, we need to raise a toast! To the birth of the new King!”
“To King Shin Jaehee!”
Congratulatory greetings and toasts celebrating the birth of the King passed from one person’s mouth to another like a round song, echoing throughout.
Jaehee barely lifted the corners of his mouth that wouldn’t rise and nodded. It was truly ironic. That he was the only one not happy in this place where everyone was excited.
After dealing with Lee Shinhoo, the system went silent for 3 days as it entered settlement.
The first day passed in a daze, unable to believe that everything was over, and from the next day onward, he was so busy with restoration and receiving congratulations that he was out of his mind.
However, Jaehee had requested the system not to announce that he had become King, but despite that, all the guild members of Eternal Guild knew that the new King was Jaehee.
“Um, everyone, as I’ve said before, only you all should know about this.”
“Of course! Until Guild Leader-nim says it’s okay to speak, we’ll keep our lips sealed tight.”
“But Guild Leader-nim, when are you planning to announce it? The Management Bureau is already in chaos. It’s going to be revealed soon anyway, so how about revealing it in advance?”
Looking at the guild members staring at him with shining eyes, Jaehee scratched his head.
“Not yet…. I have some things to prepare.”
“Ah…. Guild Leader-nim, if you need help, please call us anytime.”
“Me too! I’ll work hard at anything!”
“Yes, thank you. I’ll let you know if I need help. I’m going to go outside for a bit.”
Jaehee smiled faintly and shook his head. The person who was about to say something else to Jaehee saw his expression and closed their mouth.
“Huh? Outside? Where is the main character going….”
Someone poked the person trying to stop Jaehee in the ribs.
“Hey, he’s going to see the Vice Guild Leader-nim.”
“Ah…”
“Well, then.”
When Vice Guild Leader was mentioned, people finally flinched and read the room. Jaehee felt uncomfortable with that atmosphere and slightly lowered his head before going outside.
He felt sorry that the excited atmosphere died down because of him, but Jaehee couldn’t enjoy this kind of atmosphere with them.
He came outside and let out a long sigh. The night sky with pitch-black darkness settling over it felt stifling.
Since that day, after the battle with Lee Shinhoo, Jeongwoo had been lying down, unable to regain consciousness.
It was on the way back to the guild after making a deal with Blazing Flame that he discovered the collapsed Jeongwoo.
Seeing Jeongwoo collapsed at the guild’s entrance, his heart sank.
Even knowing it would be useless, he tore open and poured countless potions.
Until the guild members moved Jeongwoo, Jaehee couldn’t come to his senses. Everything felt like a nightmare.
The image of the unconscious Jeongwoo kept circling in his head.
Would it be more agonizing than being eaten alive?
His hands trembled.
Jaehee quietly headed to the room where Jeongwoo was lying. Just in case, he had spread King’s Veil around Jeongwoo.
King’s Veil basically included a recovery skill, so he thought it might help somehow.
He also bought hundreds of potions and poured them on Jeongwoo. But nothing was effective.
Jaehee stared at Jeongwoo lying there as if asleep for a long time.
“Jeongwoo. Stop this and wake up. Everything’s over, but only you’re like this, you idiot.”
He lightly flicked Jeongwoo’s nose.
Even with his eyes closed, he was handsome, which somehow made him annoyed.
“…Blazing Flame. You’re watching, aren’t you?”
Jaehee slowly pulled out the crown from thin air. Along with the system’s notification that a King had been born, the system had given Jaehee the crown. But Jaehee hadn’t told anyone about it.
“Jeongwoo. Let’s wake up now. I want to be with you.”
