LIGHTNOVELWORLD chapter 82
Part 4 Episode 3: Selling Existence.
Jingle. Rattle.
Okita entered the shrine through the faintly shaking sound of bells.
The bell hanging on the shaman’s side swayed along with the shaman’s movements and sang a clear and beautiful sound, and Okita felt a sense of comfort that she did not know why.
But her comfort did not last even a few seconds.
“How long should I wait?”
Obscure, who was standing next to Okita and looking at the person with an expressionless expression throughout, urged the shrine maiden.
“Wait a minute. Do you think my ‘omikuji’ is a regular omikuji?”
The shrine maiden responded nervously and lifted the omikuji container.
The clattering sound of wood hitting wood echoed inside the barrel and only a little bit came out of the barrel.
Even the sound made by the wooden baton made from branches fallen from the magical cherry blossom tree seemed magical.
For a moment, only the clattering sound filled the space, and the shrine maiden closed her eyes and quietly held the omikuji container in her hand.
Time passes like that.
When Okita, who was sitting neatly, felt the painful passage of time throughout her body, and Obs Q’s face began to distort.
“It’s done. Pull it out.”
The shrine maiden finished all her preparations and held out a container of omikuji.
Obscure’s face, which was looking at the omikuji container for a moment, was slightly distorted.
Okita was hardly surprised by Obscure’s changed facial expression.
That expression clearly showed that the obscure was nervous.
‘This man…Is nervous?’
Okiti swallowed his saliva without realizing it and quietly stared at the obscure.
Obscure glared at the Omikuji container for a moment as if it were going to kill him.
“You’re not going to pick it?”
This time the shaman urged him.
“..I’m going to pick it.”
Obscue’s hand quickly entered the omikuji container.
Clatter. Rattling.
Obscue’s hand went into the omikuji container and immediately snatched up a wooden stick.
“…13.”
“Okay. You there. Are you going to pick it too?”
After nodding her head, the shrine maiden suddenly recommended Omikuji to Okita as well.
“Yes, yes? Me?”
“Okay. Seeing as you’ve gotten involved with a guy like this, it looks like you’re not that lucky either. Pick me.”
Okita nodded her head at the shrine maiden’s words and moved her hands as if possessed.
“…I’m 6.”
“Good. Then I guess I’ll have to pick one too.”
The shaman’s hand disappeared into the omikuji container.
And when Obscue stared at the scene as if it were dumbfounded, the shaman responded bluntly.
“I met you too, right?”
“…Are you saying I’m unhappy now?”
“It’s good to know now.”
Obscure growled, and Okita desperately suppressed laughter.
“Um…Let’s see me first. I’m 17…”
The shaman ignored the obscurity and picked up a piece of paper with the number 17 written on it.
The paper unfolded with a rustling sound.
“……”
The shaman put down her paper without saying a word.
「Semi-breast」
“…Next.”
The shaman picked up a piece of paper with the number 6 written on it with a gloomy expression.
「Final bad luck」
This time, Okita’s expression distorted.
And without knowing why, Obscure’s expression also distorted.
The shrine maiden wordlessly placed something in Okita’s hand.
“..It’s a talisman. Always keep it with you. Stay away from that man.”
“…Yes, miko.”
“Stop being a bastard and just tell me my fortune.”
The shaman glared slightly at the obscure and picked up a piece of paper with the number 13 written on it.
“……?”
The anger disappeared from the shaman’s face, replaced by her confusion.
She was so embarrassed that the shaman momentarily lost sight of her paper.
Okita and Obscure were able to check the words written on the paper.
「Great misfortune」
Obscue’s expression flinched for a moment.
“…As expected. Wake up, Okita. We’re leaving right away.”
When Obscue got up from his seat, the shaman quickly got up and grabbed Obscue.
“Are you out of your mind?! Sit down right now! I’ll give you an order!”
Obscure looked at the shaman and said.
“That’s surprising. Do you think a monster like me needs your help?”
“Even villains are not monsters. Aren’t they the same person? A major misfortune is a serious fortune! It may not end with limb amputation!”
Obscue’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“You…I don’t know how you knew, but you knew what was going to happen to you. Isn’t that right?”
Obscue’s eyebrows rose even more.
“And your expression when the great disaster occurred. I’m afraid. Tell me. What happened that affected that child’s fortune and my fortune..!”
Obscure looked down at the floor as if thinking for a moment, then raised his head.
“The only thing I can tell you is this. When you hear the trumpet sound from somewhere, immediately cover your eyes with a cloth and never, ever open your eyes.”
“..What…”
“This is the end of my advice. Remember, I will erase your memory of my face. Avarity!”
The true name of greed rang in the air.
Avarity greedily took over Obscure’s mouth.
Just right!
Tooth and tooth clashed violently.
The defenseless shaman was literally ‘eaten’ by something in her, and she stared blankly into space with unfocused eyes.
“Let’s go. A shaman’s fortune telling usually happens within two days, so there isn’t much time.”
“..Killed..?”
Okita asked with a shocked look on his face, but Obs Q shook his head.
“I only erased the memory of my face. I also erased the memory of you, so follow me with confidence.”
“Ah, yes…!”
Okita quickly tried to get up.
Growl.
After working non-stop for hours, my body was crying out for energy.
“..Ha…Ha…”
“..I guess I should feed him food first.”
********
“Just simple udon..”
After a while. Obscure seemed to be aware of Okita and headed to a nearby restaurant.
“One udon…”
After thinking for a moment, Obscure suddenly looked down at his shadow.
Okita stared at him with his eyes closed as if he was talking to someone.
Obscure opened his eyes after some time and completed the order with rapid fire.
“2 Children’s pork cutlet set meals and 2 udon noodles in spicy flavor. And one udon in the spiciest flavor.”
Okita thought it was quite a strange order for one man to order.
“Master. I need an explanation as to why it is a children’s meal?”
“It’s delicious. This.”
“…….”
“It’s spicy. Just like our lives. It’s spicy, but at the end, there is the happiness of taste. Is this art?”
“It’s spicy! It’s painful! It hurts! That’s why I like it!”
When I saw the two young girls and three adult women who soon appeared, I was speechless and eagerly ate the udon down my throat.
The women, who clearly showed their personalities with just a few words, clung to Obscure’s side and talked to him incessantly.
“Do you need an explanation, owner?!”
“It’s delicious. The owner who bought it for me. I like it.”
“…….It’s the first time I’ve had something in a long time.”
“Ah, this is another new taste. Is this also art? What did it say, Super?”
“Huh? Hey! Invidia! Don’t steal my pork cutlet! The owner gave it to me!”
“It hurts! That’s why I like it!”
“…Damn.”
Obs Q cursed quietly and held his head for fear that Ava Riti would hear.
Okita was surprised by Obscue’s human appearance for the first time, but also sympathized with him.
The shoulders of the head of a family raising five daughters are always heavy.
********
“…….”
“…….”
Obscue and Okita came out after finishing the calculation.
There was a strange silence between the two.
“…I’m going to ‘Nasumachi, Tochigi Prefecture’.”
“…It’s a little late to ask now, but why are you going there?”
“Do you know that it is a white-faced golden haired nine-tailed fox?”
Okita nodded, perhaps getting used to Obscure’s way of answering questions with questions.
“Of course. Isn’t it a famous legend? One of Japan’s three major monsters, the white-faced golden haired nine-tailed fox. And… In Nasumachi, Tochigi Prefecture, there is a killing stone left behind by the white-faced golden haired nine-tailed fox. Are you going to look for it?”
Obs Q shook his head and got into his car.
“No. To be precise, I’m going to prevent the seal on the being sealed by that stone from being released. The killing stone in this world has not yet been broken.”
“…This world?”
Obscure flinched at Okita’s question and paused for a moment.
“..That’s it. If you know too much, you’ll get hurt. This is the end of this story. Shall we talk about your revenge?”
This time Okita flinched.
“As you know, there is the original home of the Umibozu sect in Nasumachi, Tochigi Prefecture. If you wish.”
Obscue turned his gaze to Okita.
And Okita felt a very small pity in that gaze.
“I will kill them all in front of you. But before that, I have one question to ask.”
“What is it?”
“…Once revenge is over, what will you do with your life?”
Okita was taken aback by Obscure’s question.
Okita, who was captured by the Umibozu faction just a few hours ago, had no thought of revenge.
But now the opportunity has arisen. She was only thinking about revenge, and after that she wasn’t thinking about anything at all.
“Revenge is the privilege of the survivors. I admit it. But it is not a ‘duty’. Revenge is just a means. The moment you make revenge the goal of your life. Your life will be completely ruined.”
Revenge is accompanied by pain.
Pain is accompanied by blood.
Blood brings destruction.
“If you wish, this revenge will be achieved by my own hands. You will say it is necessary anyway. Your desire for revenge is what gets in the way.”
Okita is worried.
Real revenge is living happily?
Such words are nothing but self-consolation.
Because I don’t have the power to take revenge.
You forget yourself.
“..No. I’ll do it with my own hands.”
The desire for revenge ignited Okita’s heart.
The fire burning deep inside her heart spread and even burned Okita’s eyes.
“This is also revenge for me. I… Will take revenge on them.”
Obskew grinned at Okita’s promise and said as if he was satisfied.
“Good.”
But that smile was broken by one word from Okita.
“…You’re kinder than I thought?”
“……”
Obscure’s smile disappeared and his expression returned to its usual expressionless expression.
“…Let’s go….”
Kugugugugugugugung.
Before Obscue even finished speaking.
The world began to shake.
The ground that had turned into liquid shook like crazy.
The buildings that had stood firmly on top of it began to collapse with a loud noise.
The wrath of the earth came suddenly.
Has the door crackdown failed somewhere?
“What…!”
The embarrassed Obscue got out of the car and picked up Okita.
“aaah…!”
Okita instinctively wrapped his arms around Obscure’s neck.
“..Damn. I can’t believe it already…!”
Obscue, who was hesitant, looked down at Okita and spoke quietly.
“Hold on tight. Close your eyes.”
“…Yes.”
Okita answered with a red face and closed her eyes.
Obscure clenched his teeth and shouted as he stepped towards the shaking ground.
“Arcadia!”
‘Sloth’ wrapped around Obscure’s leg as if it was annoying.
The background around the Obscure, which started running at a terrifying speed, changed quickly as if it were in fast forward.
“Uggggg level…!”
Okita let out a strange scream due to the pressure created by that speed, and Obscure ran away with that scream like an exhaust sound.
A little more time passes.
“Ugh…Huh…!”
Obscure stopped, breathing heavily and roughly placed Okita on the ground.
“aaah…!”
Okita showed signs of slight pain, but Obscure walked away without paying attention and was looking somewhere with a despairing expression.
A rock that has been broken into pieces.
A broken rope lying on the floor.
The notice is split into two parts.
Killing
—
Birth
Stone
And.
A small note placed next to the torn notice.
…..
Obscure reached out and picked up the note, trembling with anger, and quietly unfolded the note.
「We have prepared this for the most powerful Hwasin candidate. The Black Merchant will be here soon. -Uploaded by the first apostle. PS, the future is not only known to candidate Hwashin. Please be careful.”
“…Damn…Kyodaaan…!”
Obscure threw the note roughly.
That moment. Black energy began to gather in the air.
The black dots that appeared in the clear sky, where the sun had not yet set, looked as if someone had drilled a hole in the blue sky with a huge needle.
The huge black hole grew and ate up the blue sky, and soon a woman appeared from within the huge hole.
The woman wearing a black robe sat down on the ground with a smile and walked straight to Obscure.
“Well, since you are an Avatar candidate, you probably know the procedure. Another Avatar candidate will wake up soon. And he has already made a deal with me, so I came here in such a hurry for the sake of fairness. Do you agree to the deal? “
The Black Merchant smiled and held out his hand to Obscure.
Obscure clenched his teeth, emitting sizzling anger throughout his body.
“…I’ll agree to the deal. Just show me the product.”
After a short thought, I held the Black Merchant’s hand, and the Black Merchant smiled and spread his palm toward the sky.
Then a black screen appeared, like a game status window.
「
[Product]
-Mosaic: You can defend against entities that inflict mental damage by making them appear blurry. (Price: 200 gold), Value: S
-Mental Barrier: Establishes a mental barrier that protects against mental damage inflicted on you for a certain period of time. (Price: 200 gold), Value: S
-Tooltip: Provides various helpful advice. (200 Gold), Value: SS
Product exclusively for purchaser “Obscue.”
-Intangible Sword: The range of the power of anger increases infinitely. Even if you are very far away, you will not be able to escape from the clutches of anger. Exclusive to 「Ira」. (100 Gold.)
-Two hearts: It never gets tired. Another heart will give you energy. Exclusive to “Arcadia”. (100 Gold)
-Diamond Buddha: Not destroyed. However, beings of the same rank can interfere with this power. For “Super” Only. (100 Gold)
-Huge stomach: No matter how huge an object is, it can be swallowed with a single movement without any side effects. Exclusive to 「Avarity」. (100 Gold)
-Mind Reading: You can predict the actions of beings in your field of vision. 「Invidia」 Only. (100 Gold) 」
“..You’re acting childish.”
“Well, in today’s world, they say you have to do it this way to be understood well. I’m a merchant. I’m sensitive to trends.”
The Black Merchant proudly stretched out his hand and made an exaggerated gesture, smiling sinisterly.
“And to explain, ‘gold’ can only be obtained by selling Hwashin-nim’s ‘existence’.”
“..I know. So show me what I can sell to you.”
The black merchant with a more sinister smile clenched and unclenched his hand.
“I’ve never seen a candidate for Avatar like you. You’re literally perfect.”
An additional black window appeared.
「
[Sales]
(Physical)
-Both arms (100 gold), value: A
-Legs of Lamb (100 gold), Value: A
-Both eyes (100 gold), value: A
-Mouth (100 gold), Value: A
-Skin (100 gold), value: A
(Mental)
-Survival Instinct (500 gold), Value: SSS
If you sell: You lose the will to live. You will feel suicidal every moment.
-Sense of Purpose (300 gold), Value: SS
If sold: You will lose all will and become helpless. You will have severe depression.
-Judgment (300 gold), Value: SS
When selling: You won’t be able to make any good decisions.
-Compassion (200 gold), Value: S
If you sell: You will not be able to show any kind of mercy. You will be overcome by the urge to kill at every moment.
-Control (300 gold), Value: SS
If you are selling: Be very honest about your desires. The chance of becoming corrupted increases significantly.
-Humanity (300 gold), Value: SS
When selling: You no longer fully empathize with your fellow humans, nor do they empathize with you. Not all humans will recognize you as the same human being. However, you can understand the human race. 」
The black window floating in the air, contrary to the playful way of expressing it, signaled the beginning of a gruesome human trafficking transaction.
“…Damn.”
Obscure cursed in vain.
The shaman’s fortune began to come true.