Chapter 366: Karma (2)
“Kim Suho, I want you. You’re the perfect candidate for Hell that I’ve ever seen.”
Snap!
The King of Hell smiled contentedly as he snapped his fingers.
A strange wave of magical power spread out, enveloping Javier, who was standing nearby.
Twitch!
Javier’s shoulder twitched slightly.
Was he attacked?
Lloyd swallowed dryly and signaled to Javier with his eyes.
Javier looked at him and shook his head slightly, speaking quickly in a low whisper.
“I wasn’t attacked. It’s just that I can’t hear anything. It seems he’s temporarily blocked my hearing with some unknown method.”
“…”
Blocked his ears?
‘Why?’
Just as the question arose in Lloyd’s mind, he heard the low laughter of the King of Hell.
“Aren’t you grateful? Kim Suho, from now on, there will be many things you wish to keep hidden.”
“So, you blocked his ears for that?”
“It’s only temporary, out of necessity.”
“How considerate of you.”
“You don’t sound very grateful.”
“Unfortunately, I value my work-life balance.”
“So do I, Kim Suho.”
The King of Hell’s smile grew more affectionate, yet more subtle.
“You are truly the best talent I have ever seen. You have the optimal skills for running this Hell. That’s why I decided to prepare a good position for you.”
“Are you saying you want to exploit me in Hell?”
“Yes.”
“And to do that, you triggered the restoration phenomenon of fate ahead of time?”
“That’s also true.”
“…”
“There’s no need to glare at me like that. I’m giving you the chance to use your abilities in a more valuable, suitable place.”
“I’ve never asked for such an opportunity.”
“But I am asking for it.”
The King of Hell responded immediately and firmly.
“I desire it. I want you to showcase your abilities in Hell. I want you to become an excellent worker here on my behalf. And through you, I want to…”
“You want to slack off and enjoy yourself. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.”
The King of Hell grinned, not denying it at all.
“In truth, I’m tired. I’ve wanted to rest for a long time. But the fate of the King of Hell hasn’t let me go. Not in the past, not now, and not in the future, or so I thought. But then you appeared, Kim Suho . The most cunning, moderately conscientious, and selfish person I’ve ever dreamed of.”
“So, in summary, I’m a good tool to exploit?”
“Yes. Someone I can trust to handle Hell’s work. I thought such a person didn’t exist, but deep down, I was hoping for someone like you.”
“…”
Lloyd closed his mouth, clenching his fist tightly.
Now he understood.
He finally realized what the King of Hell wanted and why he desired him so much.
‘He sees me as too competent. That’s why he wants to dump all his work on me while he slacks off as the King of Hell.’
Listening to the King’s words made it all clear.
It was ridiculous.
‘This isn’t even a growing puppet CEO. Does he think I’ve struggled all this time just for his benefit?’
He wanted to confront him directly.
But it wasn’t the right time yet.
There were still many possibilities left.
With that thought, Lloyd exercised patience, suppressing his burning emotions as he asked,
“Phew, I understand your intentions. I’m flattered you see me as such a valuable asset. But I have a question.”
“A question?”
“Yes. Why now?”
“Are you curious why I advanced the timing of the restoration phenomenon of fate?”
“Yes. If you’re going to exploit me, you could just wait a few decades. When the time comes, I’ll die of old age and come here. Why did you have to advance the restoration phenomenon, destroying me and my surroundings?”
He was genuinely curious.
He wanted to know the reason.
So he could negotiate accordingly.
So he could find some hope and potential to improve the situation.
Lloyd waited for the King of Hell’s response, calculating his moves.
Soon, the answer came.
“Because it’s only possible now.”
“Excuse me?”
“The only time I can bind you to Hell, Kim Suho, is now.”
“…”
Only now can he bind me to Hell?
What does he mean by that?
The King of Hell continued,
“Kim Suho , you know this yourself. You’ve deceived and used many people until now. Sometimes you’ve even put them in extremely distressing situations. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s because the other party did something evil first, or the situation required it…”
“But that’s just an excuse. There are many reasons for all evil deeds. Some are legitimate, and some are not.”
“…”
“Your actions were mostly justified, but they were still evil deeds you could have chosen to avoid. That’s why you’ve accumulated bad karma.”
Bad karma.
The King of Hell’s eyes gleamed as he uttered those words.
“Yes, bad karma. You’ve accumulated enough to bind you to Hell. But if I miss this moment? If you become wealthy and live a comfortable life? Things will change.”
“How so? Don’t tell me…”
“Exactly. You’re quick to catch on. I believe you’re fundamentally a good person. You’ve just been struggling in a tough situation. Once you become comfortable, you’ll start living a generous life, accumulating good karma.”
“You didn’t like that.”
“It made me uneasy.”
“…”
“With the Dragon King Vercis backing you, you’ll live long and healthy, accumulating good karma. And then, I won’t be able to bind you to Hell.”
“So, to prevent me from accumulating good karma, you advanced the restoration phenomenon of fate?”
“Yes.”
“Hah.”
Lloyd laughed in disbelief.
Hearing it, he found it truly absurd.
At the same time, a defiant question arose.
“You think I’ll die soon because of the restoration phenomenon? Unfortunately, I don’t think so.”
“Hm, why do you think that?”
“What if I choose to survive, even after losing everyone around me due to the restoration phenomenon?”
“Hah. Don’t you think I’ve considered that possibility?”
“…”
The King of Hell looked down at him with a cold, emotionless gaze behind his rimless glasses.
“Kim Suho , you won’t survive the restoration phenomenon. The reason is simple. This world doesn’t want you to. It considers Javier next to you the true protagonist.”
“…”
“So, endless trials will come your way. Even if you overcome them, it won’t be the end. It will be the beginning of even greater trials.”
“…”
“Like waves crashing continuously, the trials from the restoration phenomenon will keep coming, relentlessly targeting your life.”
“…”
“Do you think you can survive all that?”
“…”
Lloyd couldn’t respond.
No, he couldn’t think of a way to counter the King of Hell’s words.
But he didn’t give up.
“Of course, I’m not confident I’ll survive. But-”
“But?”
“I have a question. If I accept your proposal and agree to work in Hell, can the restoration phenomenon be stopped?”
He asked, holding onto hope.
Hoping that if he promised to work diligently in Hell after his death, right here and now, writing a contract or making a firm vow, it might cancel the restoration phenomenon.
He wished for it so that the Count and Countess of Frontera, Julian, Serazad, and everyone else around him wouldn’t get hurt.
But the King of Hell clicked his tongue regretfully, looking at him.
“You’re truly not a fundamentally bad person. But unfortunately, what you want is impossible.”
“Even if I promise?”
“Yes.”
The King of Hell nodded heavily.
“Regardless of your intentions, the restoration phenomenon has already begun. And once it starts, it never stops. Even if I wanted to stop it, I couldn’t. It judges and acts on its own until the conditions are met.”
“Is it like a program?”
“Exactly. Like the programs in the world you lived in.”
“…”
“So now you understand, don’t you? This is out of my hands.”
“Yes, I understand.”
It was indeed so.
Now he understood.
Just as the King of Hell said.
‘If the restoration phenomenon of fate is a program… then the King of Hell is like the programmer.’
Yes.
A program that once started cannot be stopped is now running.
The programmer, the King of Hell, says there’s no way to intervene.
No way to stop the program.
So?
Even if you shoot the programmer out of anger.
The program that has already started will not stop.
‘To stop it… you’d have to cut off the power to the device running the program or destroy the device itself.’
Is there a way to do that now?
It seemed hopeless.
But one thing was certain.
Lloyd looked up at the King of Hell with complicated eyes.
“Then this conversation is meaningless. It’s just a waste of time.”
“Indeed. Even if you oppose me, even if you kill me, the restoration phenomenon will continue.”
“… Yes, that’s right.”
It was clear.
Dialogue, confrontation, and negotiation were all useless.
There was no room for it.
‘Tsk. I was hoping to negotiate for a postponement of the restoration phenomenon.’
Lloyd clicked his tongue.
That was the ultimate reason and goal for choosing to face the King of Hell.
To explore the possibilities, reveal their cards, and negotiate.
And at the end, to request a postponement of the restoration phenomenon, to buy some time.
But after this conversation?
‘It was never possible.’
The restoration phenomenon that has already begun seems unstoppable.
So from now on?
‘This conversation ends here.’
With that judgment, Lloyd immediately took action.
“Understood. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Hmm, you give up quickly?”
“I think it’s more beneficial to act than to waste time talking.”
“You don’t plan to give up?”
“I’ll struggle, just as I always have.”
“This time, it will be difficult.”
“It’s never been easy.”
“Well, then do your best.”
Snap-!
With an inexplicable smile, the King of Hell snapped his fingers again.
The same strange wave of magical power spread out, enveloping Javier.
“… Hoo.”
Javier let out a deep breath.
So his hearing must have returned now.
Javier nodded at him, signaling he was fine.
“That’s good.”
Lloyd nodded back, formally bowing to the King of Hell before leaving.
As he exited Hell’s castle, he gritted his teeth.
‘Damn it. Damn King of Hell!’
The more he thought about it, the more furious he became.
Of course, he had known for a while that the King of Hell had a favorable view of him.
He had subtly wanted to exploit him.
But he never imagined it would be like this.
To bind him securely.
He never imagined he would use the restoration phenomenon of fate.
‘Moreover, the King of Hell has a valid reason. I’ve changed history. I’ve altered the destinies of many, including the Count and Countess of Frontera and Javier.’
People who should have died didn’t.
The names listed in the King of Hell’s records changed.
So the King of Hell had a valid reason to use the restoration phenomenon of fate to set things right.
‘What should I do now?’
As he left Hell’s castle, looking up at the dark sky of Hell, Lloyd let out a deep sigh.
He had left the King of Hell with great confidence.
But honestly, he was at a loss.
‘What should I do?’
He closed his eyes.
Even if the future seemed dark, he wouldn’t let it overwhelm him.
He desperately tried to control his mind.
‘Yes. This hellish life, when hasn’t it been overwhelming?’
Thinking back, it had always been like this.
In Korea?
He had to find and witness his parents’ extreme choices firsthand.
After that, he wandered from one cheap lodging to another, living miserably.
He could have despaired a hundred times a day.
He couldn’t even hope for decent treatment.
He had to survive each day like a broken cog at the bottom of society.
It was the same here.
Countless obstacles he had faced until now.
Moments where he narrowly escaped death.
Thinking about those moments, a newfound courage began to emerge.
‘Yes. Just like before. Let’s face it. Let’s try. If it doesn’t work? So what. Then I’ll just die.’
Thinking like that made him feel a little more at ease.
Finally, his mind started to work again.
From then on, Lloyd thought hard, inferred, and pondered.
The possibilities he had.
The methods he could use.
The expected situations and outcomes.
Various variables that could follow.
And the changes those variables could bring.
He considered them one by one.
The puzzle scattered and came together.
The cards crumpled and unfolded.
The possibilities dimmed and brightened.
Finally, at the moment he glimpsed the end of hope.
‘… That’s it.’
Lloyd raised his head.
The only possibility he might have.
His eyes, clutching that end, shone more brightly than ever.
They were the eyes of someone who had glimpsed hope.
