Beyond the Eternity

It was almost impossible to trust Park Joonhyuk. In truth, I never intended to take him with me.

He was the only one, aside from myself, who knew everything about Song of Nightmares. And he also seemed like the type that is mentally unstable. Honestly speaking, It would be safer to kill him than to keep him by my side. Still, his talent for creating puppets and duplicates was invaluable, and there were a few mysteries I had yet to unravel.

There's also the situation above the Disaster of Ruin– too.

In addition, he could prove useful in situations where I wouldn't be present. But how do I tame this wild lion?

Park Joonhyuk finally responded to my question.

"Isn't that obvious? The most important thing right now is to obtain reliable companions, Yes?"

"Considering that you stabbed me in the back, I find that somewhat strange coming from your mouth. Now that I think about it, what's stopping me from putting two bullets into your head?"

"Come on, don't give me that look. It really breaks my heart, you know~ How about we just let bygones be bygones, hmm?"

I narrowed my eyes. I knew he would be shameless enough to say something like this. That's why I have something up my sleeve.

"I can't help but doubt the honesty of your words. But there's something you can do to prove your words."

I pulled out an item.

[The item Vanishing Pact has been used.]

+

[Vanishing Pact]

1. Kim Jakga (Gab) will sign a contract with Park Joonhyuk (Eul) until the current Nightmare scenario is over.

2. Any form of conflict between Kim Jakga (Gab) and Park Joonhyuk (Eul) is prohibited until the end of the current nightmare scenario.

3. During the contract period, Park Joonhyuk (Eul) will cooperate with Kim Jakga (Gab) to kill the Disaster of Ruin and clear the nightmare scenario.

4. During the contract period, Park Joonhyuk (Eul) Is prohibited from harming Kim Jakga's (Gab) companions.

5. During the contract period, Kim Jakga (Gab) will protect Park Joonhyuk (Eul) from harm.

6. This contract will expire at the end of the nightmare scenario. The physical body will be destroyed if the contract is violated.

....

+

Vanishing Pact. From its name, it's a contract that will disappear once the current nightmare scenario reaches its conclusion.

Naturally, It's not as good as the Master-Servant Contract or the Oath of existence, but it's good enough for the current situation.

Park Joonhyuk thoroughly read through the contract. He raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you the [Gab]? Isn't this supposed to be pact of companionship?"

"Why are you complaining? It's natural that I would be the [Gab] since I'm the one that issued the contract."

"Also, why does it say that I'm not allowed to harm your companions? What if they try to harm me first? Wouldn't I be unable to defend myself? That's beyond unreasonable, you know."

"Didn't you read the 5th term? I won't allow such a scenario to occur."

"Tch. What other conditions did you add here?"

Park Joonhyuk continued to read the contract as if looking for any loopholes. Of course, there were none since I was careful while drafting the contract. And he had no choice but to accept the contract too.

How many minutes have passed? Park Joonhyuk finally opened his mouth.

"Fine. I'll sign the contract. But I have one condition."

"What is it?"

"We'll perform an information exchange. How about it? I know you have a lot of questions to ask me and I have my questions as well."

Information exchange on both sides? Could he be referring to that?

['Three Wheel of Questions and Answers' has begun.]

-Both sides will exchange three questions and answers.

-Both sides can refuse to answer one question.

-Both players can make use of Black Truth while the conservation is ongoing.

-Black Truth can only be used twice by both players.

-The conversation won't end until all questions and answers has been exchanged.

I see. So he was also prepared, huh.

"I'll take the first turn."

-The player 'Park Joonhyuk' has used the first question ticket

Park Joonhyuk got straight to the point. "What's the ability of your attribute?"

"My attritude can do everything yet nothing."

-The first answer has been received.

"What?"

Park Joonhyuk looked at me suspiciously. Did he ask me that question he suspected that I wasn't aware of my own attribute?

Either way...

[The player Park Joonhyuk has used Black Truth.]

[The Black Truth has detected no falsehood in your words.]

My answer should be enough.

"Wait, what?! How does that make any sense?!"

"Are you asking your second question?"

"Ah, no..."

Park Joonhyuk's expression distorted slightly.

The essence behind the 'Three Wheel of Questions and Answers' is to give out solid yet vague answers and collect information in exchange. Basically, It's a game of truthful deceit. I have to make use of this opportunity to answer some questions I have been curious about.

I said. "It's my turn."

–The player 'Kim Jakga' has used his first question ticket

"What's the ability of your attribute?"

"It's nothing special." Park Joonhyuk shrugged. "It's just an attribute that gives me protection against mental attacks."

-Your first answer has been received.

[You have used Black Truth on Park Joonhyuk.]

[The Black Truth has detected no falsehood in Park Joonhyuk's words.]

So he wasn't lying? How interesting.

"Good. It's my turn."

–The player 'Park Joonhyuk' has used his second question ticket.

Park Joonhyuk asked me. "Are you the one who killed Shin Jinhyuk?"

"Yes."

[Park Joonhyuk has used Black Truth on you.]

[The Black Truth has detected no falsehood in your words.]

"Tch! You idiot, that person had potential. He would have been helpful in a scenario like this."

"It was a scenario where I had to kill him so It couldn't be helped. It's my turn, right?"

–The player 'Kim Jakga' has used his second question ticket

"Why did you choose to use the False Grail?"

Park Joonhyuk looked at me as if he was expecting this question. Even so, I couldn't stop myself from speaking more.

"Because of you, everything has gone to shit. If it wasn't for you... do you know how hard I had to work to prevent such a scenario where Seoul would be destoryed. So tell me why you used that item despite knowing it will lead to destruction."

"I don't know if you know this, but Seoul would have been destoryed regardless."

[You have used Black Truth on Park Joonhyuk.]

[The Black Truth has detected no falsehood in his words.]

"What? Is this thing broken?"

"It's not broken. It doesn't matter if you destory or use the False Grail, the destruction of Seoul is inevitable."

"Wait a minute. T-That can't be right!"

"Why do you look so shocked? It seems like you didn't plagiarize the novel properly."

I narrowed my eyes. Was he saying he knew more than me?

It doesn't make sense. Even if It has been a long time, I wouldn't have forgotten such an important detail.

... Was I mistaken?

The False Grail was a tool (plot device) that would have accelerated the destruction of the Seoul's Dome when used by one of the king candidates. It made sense to destory such an item to prevent the destruction. But what if destorying the artifact was not the right choice?

Park Joonhyuk continued speaking without regard for my thoughts. "By the way, how should we decide the last round?"

I sighed. It was useless to think about it at this point.

"I'll go first."

–The player 'Kim Jakga' has used his final question ticket

I proceeded with my final question. "Which chapter did you stop in the original work?"

"I wasn't able to read the last chapter so I stopped at chapter 1998."

-Your final answer has been received.

He read up to chapter 1998?

That means he wasn't able to read the final. But why though? Song of Nightmares was an old novel that came out 13 years ago. If he could read 1998 chapters, then why did he not read the final chapter?

Of course, I didn't ask him what I was thinking.

"There. Now I'll ask my final question."

–The player 'Park Joonhyuk' has used his final question ticket

"Are you the author of Song of Nightmares?"

"What?"

It was a question I didn't expecting in the slightest. At the same time, I felt somewhat insulted.

Song of Nightmares was written so poorly, it felt like a fanfiction of a better story. Admitting I was the author was no different than confessing I was a bad writer.

How was I supposed to answer his question?

I smiled faintly as I realised something. There was no need to answer his question.

-The player 'Kim Jakga' has decided not to answer the final question.

[The 'Three Wheel of Questions and Answers' has concluded.]

"Wait, W-What? Why didn't you answer?"

"Didn't you say it yourself? I'm just someone who plagiarized the original novel and profited from it. So why even ask if I'm the author when you already know the answer?"

"Why you..."

Park Joonhyuk wanted to say something but suddenly closed his mouth. We reflexively held our breath.

Bang bang bang!

It was because multiple sound of gunshots filled the air. Wasn't the army already wiped out?

Tang!

Not to mention, the sound of gunshots seemed close.

We ran towards the place where the gunshots were heard. It was unlikely that the military was still alive. Therefore, It had to be another group. But use guns? Normal guns will be useless against monsters.

Well, that's what I originally thought.

"...!"

Bodies of monsters was piled up infront of me like a mountain. All the monsters bodies had bullet wounds. Park Joonhyuk and I hid behind cover and observed the situation from a distance.

"Isn't this...?"

"Magic bullets. No, It's magic bullets with holy properties."

"I wasn't going to say that. Who are those people?"

I noticed people walking in the distance. They were armed with modern rifles and unusually, they were all wearing high gear body armour similar to the one worn by the SWAT team.

Park Joonhyuk narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.

"These people, could it be...?"

"What? Do you know something?"

"I guess you could say. Do you remember the time I mentioned there was somebody like you?"

"Yes."

"Well, she's the one I was talking about then."

Park Joonhyuk pointed to a woman wearing a mask. She was wearing a white coat and her long white hair flowed down her back. Strangely enough, that woman felt somewhat familiar but I didn't know such a woman.

Was there someone like this in the novel?

I asked, "Who is she? I don't think she's a king."

"She's not. If you think about it, someone like her should've been a contender for the throne, but she's not even on the list. And I couldn't dig up any information on her either."

It was strange. Park Joonhyuk had the ability to use his duplicates or puppets to gather information from different locations at once. But he couldn't gather any Intel about that woman?

Wouldn't that mean she's an outcast?

[Exclusive skill, Sound Sensitivity has activated.]

The white haired woman who seemed like the leader opened her mouth. "Is that the last of them?"

"Yes. We have cleared the vicinity and all monsters have been exterminated. There seems to be no outcasts in this area."

"Is that so? They must have gone to a new area. Clear those things over there."

"Yes, ma'am!"

The men stepped forward, aimed their rifles and opened fire on the mountain of monster corpses.

Dududududu!

The corpses were hit by the wave of bullets and collapsed one by one. Then something underneath those bodies was revealed.

"That...I see. So that's how it is."

There was a glowing stone around 2 metres tall. It was one of the meteorites that crashed into this world as soon as the Nightmares begun.

A golden meteorite was here.