My breathing grew rough. It wasn’t an entity that could completely overcome an L-rank Fear Resistance. Otherwise there would have been no effect at all. But part of it took hold. Though reduced by Fear Resistance, an oppressive force that made the back of my neck prickle still washed over me.
At least SSS-rank. Perhaps L-rank. A presence impossible in our world. Even monsters above SS-rank had never appeared.
‘...What on earth is this?’
A figure appeared through the thick mist. It was Chatterbox.
Unlike usual, he wore a white tailcoat and no mask. Beneath white hair, his bright blue eyes were fully visible. With a gentle smile, he took a step forward. I felt both horror and a strange emotion.
Objectively, the body Chatterbox inhabited was handsome. But to me it brought disgust first. No matter how attractive, I’d always frowned when forced to look at him.
Yet now.
“What... how did you do this?”
I felt admiration. A sensation similar to Park Hah-yul’s Skill. No, more idealized—wonderful, charming, worthy of reverence.
My stomach churned at the conflict with reason. I furrowed my brow, and Chatterbox looked up at me.
“Chatterbox is such a being.”
“...What? More importantly, this is a breach of contract!”
My voice trembled slightly. Yet I held his gaze stubbornly.
“A Transcendent—if you appear here like this, it shouldn’t be possible.”
He wasn’t Transcendent-level. Nor did he have power to drag one into our world. If it were that simple he’d just sweep everything away and end it!
Chatterbox stepped closer. The threads binding me sank downward. My feet barely touched the ground. Suspended in midair, my weighted arms ached.
“Gios Sanus has vanished. The one standing before you is human Chatterbox.”
“...What.”
His blue eyes narrowed. A hand in a white glove reached out and smoothed my tattered coat.
“Transcendents cannot interfere with this world. Only powers permitted by the System may be wielded.”
...Which was why Chatterbox had moved us into a dungeon throughout the party. Outside a dungeon, he only used spatial teleportation. He perfectly reversed injuries and deaths, but even that the newbies did. This place was still inside a dungeon—perhaps that allowed such presence. But it felt too strange to dismiss lightly.
“However, Chatterbox is different. A being made of this world, a member of this world. Therefore there are no restrictions.”
“Even if there are no restrictions—your body was at best S-rank.”
“By my recollection, it was A-rank. Of a special lineage.”
“So how!”
“Chatterbox, an astonishing being recognized by billions of intelligences.”
My torn, dirty clothes were restored with a whoosh. The lynx set vanished, falling in heaps on the floor. Grace clinked and rolled beside the Sovereign’s Sword. My boots were replaced by dress shoes—identical to what I’d worn in the circular arena before.
“Of course, mere recognition cannot materialize fully. Most intelligences in this world possess only low levels of mana. If over a billion high-rank Awakened thought and felt the same, it would have a clear effect on reality. That’s why even the Filial Wraiths were off-guard.”
The button torn from my shirt reappeared. Chatterbox’s gloved fingertip slowly refastened it.
“The form of the cheering Chatterbox ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ did not fully materialize, but the framework took hold. One might say the design, the mold, was prepared.”
His gloved fingers brushed my ear. The red earring vanished and thudded near Grace.
“At the moment that mold grew strongest—when an F-rank Hunter claimed the throne—one Transcendent was extinguished, and in exchange Chatterbox was completed.”
“...You lunatic.”
Chatterbox laughed. Truly insane.
“So you threw a party to create Chatterbox’s mold—”
“Without a foundation, he could not have properly taken form in this world; most of him would have scattered.”
“Why....”
I couldn’t voice “to such an extent.” Abandoning a Transcendent’s seat and power sounded like madness. But I had done something similar once before.
I used a Wishstone—an item of unknown power—to turn back time. If I held a Wishstone again now, even if I could become a Transcendent, there would be but one wish I’d make.
“Originally, it was a gathering to train Awakened. We planned to contract moderately powerful Hunters, give them items and abilities, and end it after capturing you.”
A white tie looped around my neck. Hands deftly tied the knot.
“But my love chose Han Yujin.”
His blue eyes gleamed with joy.
“My beloved mist received everyone’s praise. It reached everywhere, and all feared yet revered her.”
“...So you’re someone way out of my league.”
“In comparison, you lack much—but most intelligences in this world recognized you as remarkable. If this game added self-awareness, it’d be even more perfect. But it is what it is.”
Chatterbox stepped back.
“Damn, so what now? You’re going to lock me in a back room? You’re not Transcendent anymore! Am I trapped here?”
“I shall live leisurely until this world is swallowed by its origin. Is it not bliss to slumber alongside my love’s tomb?”
That bastard spoke calmly. Sure—wielding such power, he’d live comfortably until the world’s end. Whether it perishes or not is his choice. The Harmless King is dead here, right?
My teeth ground together. He was more insane than I thought. I almost spat lying down, but I was still alive, so insults were allowed. I even tried to bear it alone. If he wanted death, he could lie in his love’s tomb solo and cover himself in dirt. Why drag me to die alongside him, you bastard?
“Damn it, Yuhyun! I’ll be fine!”
Was the broadcast still on? I unmuted and shouted.
“Don’t act rashly—take advice from the Elder and the Newbie! You can’t escape anyway!”
At least he said he’d stay in this world until the end—no rush. Chatterbox had committed a foul, so the Newbie might help. I’m glad he arranged for me to meet the Newbie even without me there. And Myeong-woo was still meeting the Newbie, so help would come.
“Don’t worry too much. It’ll be okay.”
The mist gently coalesced and flowed at my feet. Its crawling touch chilled me. Though I’d cast it off, having used it before, it mingled with my mana without much resistance. I swallowed hard and muted my voice again. Chatterbox regarded me with eyes tinged with regret.
“Forcing the overlay costs much power.”
“...Congratulations.”
If he dropped a rank I’d applaud. Then I wouldn’t need to wait so long. I spotted the Sovereign’s Sword on the floor. I needed to return it to Yuhyun.
“As for the others—heard you well. Contracts won’t be broken.”
“We placed each in a private waiting room to avoid commotion. They can still watch this scene. They’ll be released safely, so don’t fret. Their contracts remain bound to Chatterbox as well.”
Relief at contracts intact washed over me. Though a chilling sensation crept through my body, I managed my expression and unmuted again.
“Chatterbox can’t attack you first. I’ll truly be fine, so consider this a brief vacation and rest.”
He’d hardly force me to slave away. I could relax, at least. I bravely said I’d be fine and muted again. I wished I could cut the video feed too.
“...Give me back those items.”
At least the sword. What of the Black Dragon? Could its weapon still grow apart from me? Something white drifted in my vision. I tilted my head, and it bobbed with the movement. White threads... hair?
“Wait! My hair!”
It had even grown longer. White locks caught shifting colored lights, reminding me of the Harmless King. Insane—surely not—
“You’re overlaying my appearance too! No way!”
“I suspected you’d guess as much.”
“I expected the clothes, but—”
I’d thought maybe a special makeup effect like the fish in the tank. But this was not a mana invasion; it was physiological revulsion squeezing my heart.
Would I grow another eye? Tentacles too.... Fear Resistance triggered again.
“You crazy bastard! Pervert!”
“Your exterior and interior will both change.”
Chatterbox stated casually.
“And you, you were not included in the contract.”
“Why would the contract—”
“My beloved mist had quite an interest in your brother. Perhaps she wished to dissect him.”
Indeed Luga Peya had done such a thing once.
“So any new mist, without my permission—”
Grace was gone. My hands could still move, so I accessed my inventory and retrieved a bomb. But whatever Chatterbox did prevented it from exploding.
“Kill me. End it with that.”
My heart froze. If I were completely changed—not just appearance but inside, no longer Han Yujin—...I might use my own will to harm Yuhyun, those dear to me. The one who cannot touch my loved ones is Chatterbox. Not Luga Peya, not the Han Yujin she became.
Chatterbox’s lips curved.
“You will end it with your own hands.”
I gasped. I wished to truly choke. I twisted, but the crimson threads didn’t budge. There was no way.
Of course—perfect revenge. Turning me into Luga Peya to kill my loved ones. My heart pounded as if it would flip. I raged mentally at that bastard, but my body could do nothing.
“...No.”
I was powerless. I blamed myself, and the mist’s corruption accelerated. But how could I not blame myself... I, from the start—
“...No, please.”
Whatever the outcome, someone would be hurt.
“Let it end with me alone. Luga Peya was interested in me. From beginning to end, she found me most fascinating. I don’t care about anyone else!”
I screamed. How could I change Chatterbox’s mind? What could I offer so it ends with just me?
“You taught me my name, wanted to watch over me more, and—”
I recalled the touch on my eyelid.
“The Harmless King refused to be revived! I offered to help, and she said she was not herself! Why would she want you to make a fake like this?!”
Chatterbox’s head tilted slightly.
“She would indeed.”
“No, she would hate it! What you’re doing—”
“It matters not. The mist that can refuse does not exist. Adjusting for one’s beloved happens only while the beloved remains.”
...Yes, that was him. His mana tightened its grip further. In contrast, Chatterbox’s presence weakened slightly. He poured all his power into erasing me and recreating the Harmless King.
That reborn Harmless King would be stronger than Yuhyun, stronger than those dear to me. My throat burned. Someone—
[Wow, that’s me?]
A voice sounded then.
[How many people are watching this? My mist is full of memories.]
In wonder, she laughed. Her clear laughter filled my mind, then—
“Hello everyone! I’m Luga Peya, the Harmless King!”
She burst forth. I snapped my eyes wide open. Chatterbox stared straight through me, slightly above. I tilted my head too. White hair billowed like mist.
She, Luga Peya, smiled and waved at the viewers watching her.