Vision 6 - Flipping It Over (3)
Midas was a king of great fortune who ruled over the country in ancient medieval times. He had everything a king could wish for.
"A king who had everything, but money was his obsession."
I walked toward the tree in front of Zoe, who kept looking at me with cloudy eyes. I leaned onto the tree, my back resting against the trunk.
"Then one day, the god of celebration visited his kingdom. The god was very happy with the hospitality that King Midas offered him. He decided to grant him a wish."
"Stop..."
The five-foot-tall lady looked at me with regret and asked me to stop, but I didn't.
"The King asked for his greatest desire: 'I hope that everything I touch becomes gold.'"
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[The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is smiling with sentiment.]
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The god of celebration, the god of wine and revelry, is known by different names. It was Dionysus. That is why he knew about the hidden script—because he is part of its creation.
Since not all higher existences can come to the lower realm without paying a significant cost, he can only watch over the place of the script. If he tries to interfere, he will have to face the consequences set by the Bureau of 'Revelation.'
"Dionysus warned the king to think carefully about his wish, but Midas was certain."
There were no magical words that resounded as they did with Bob during his story, but my words filled that role.
"The next day, Midas woke up eager to see if his wish had come true. Everything he touched turned to gold. He was ecstatic."
The five-foot-tall Zoe was shaking, but I calmly spoke while looking toward the Silver Lake.
"Yet, as with all things, fragments remain beneath the whole. Everything King Midas touched turned to gold. The food, the books, the marigold flowers that were the pride of his territory, the people... even his own daughter turned to gold."
Zoe had her head down, but since she's so tall, I could look at her from beneath. A dark shadow covered her face.
"Despairing and fearful, Midas raised his arms and prayed to Dionysus to take this curse from him."
"The god heard Midas and felt sorry for him. He told Midas to go to the River Pactolus and wash his hands. Midas did so: he ran to the river and was astonished to see gold flowing from his hands."
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[The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is nodding his head.]
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"When he returned home, everything went back to normal. Happy ending, right?"
I looked toward Zoe. She still had her head down. When I asked if the story had a happy ending, she looked at me and smiled. Her smile was filled with sadness and regret.
"You are right. It was supposed to be a happy ending."
I nodded in acknowledgment as she groaned the last two words and continued speaking.
"This lake, which people call Silver Lake, is the same lake where Midas washed his hands, and as a result, it gained the same power."
Technically, it was an upgrade skill. Dionysus made King Midas his avatar and gave him the skill. But Midas's body could not handle the skill's level, and it went haywire. With no choice left, Dionysus transferred the skill to an item in the water.
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[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' is very excited about the story being released.]
[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' comments, "When did you get so knowledgeable?"]
[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments, "Knowledge is the real power."]
[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' is happy.]
[Some Nubeculas are surprised by the true story.]
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Some Nubeculas were shocked by the true story. Zoe nodded at my words as if to confirm them. Persephone was looking at me with an expression that made it clear she had grasped the situation, but there was more.
"It was supposed to have a happy ending."
This time, Zoe spoke, her voice as soothing as a calm ocean. I didn't say anything. It was now her part to explain herself, and I was tired anyway.
"Everything returned to normal, but then the King's daughter found out about the power in the lake."
The greedy king left his greed behind, but his daughter became just as greedy—she was his daughter, after all.
"The daughter went to the lake one night to obtain the power for herself. She thought she could contain the power, which her father could not control."
Zoe discovered that there was no curse to the skill, but her father was simply too weak to wield it properly. So, she went to claim the skill for herself.
"But the power was too much for her as well. It tied her to the lake, and she was cursed to live in the water for eternity."
The item Dionysus used to store the upgrade skill was part of a chain. When Zoe tried to take the skill, the chain bonded with her and tied her to the lake.
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[Some Nubeculas are excited.]
[800 points are donated.]
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The place fell silent after that, and Zoe had tears in her eyes. The atmosphere was deeply sad, but some Nubeculas enjoyed it. In the middle of the silence, a charming voice was heard.
"I understand the whole story and how she got here. But what are we still doing here?"
Actually, it was only me who heard the charming voice. It was obviously Persephone. I smiled at her question—she is right. I had come this far for a purpose.
I stood straight and walked toward Zoe. Once again, I realized how tall she really is.
"Princess Zoe."
I called her by the name thousands might have once used to refer to her. She looked at me, tears still in her eyes.
"Let me help you?"
As I posed my words as a question, her eyes shook as they met my gaze, and she blurted out,
"Help me?"
Obviously focusing on the main part, which wasn't that weird to me.
"Yes. Living alone isn't fun, right?"
"I guess so?"
She looked at me with confusion, her expression seeming to say, Why are you asking such an obvious question?
"Right. So, let's get you out of here."
I did not get a reply. Contrary to the shocked expression one might expect, she had a pitying look. She was looking at me with pity.
"It's not that easy. I'm tied to the lake."
Zoe lifted her leg to show the chain on her ankle. It was a thick gold chain, seemingly impossible to break by normal means.
"See? The chain has immense power. It cannot be broken."
She had no hope of escaping the lake. She had lived in the water for centuries. Her current thoughts were understandable, but I don't care.
"I will break it."
I casually walked back to the tree and crouched down. I picked up the sword hidden under the grass and stood back up.
If anyone thinks that an existence is merely a character in a story—whether an extra in someone else's or the main one in their own—then I'll just say that an existence is a performer of their own script, which can be led in any direction at a specific revelation moment called 'right now.'
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[The script has been updated with the change in the scenario.]
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[Hidden Script: Story of Greed
Category: Hidden
Difficulty: A
Passing Scenario: Release the daughter of the greedy king from her own shackles of greed.
Reward: 6,000 points and ???
Failure: Loss of all points and three-fourths of total stats.]
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A smile formed on my lips. The script have been updated. Zoe's eyes widened again, and this time, Persephone was also looking at me with disbelief in her eyes.
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[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments, "Yes!"]
[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' comments, "You just wanted to make a hero moment."]
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[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is happy with your early planning.]
[The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' is impressed with you.]
[Some Nubeculas are enjoying the story.]
[The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is nodding his head.]
[1400 total points donated.]
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Aside from two existences, the Nubeculas were watching with excitement. How often do you see someone flipping over a hidden script? It was good for me as well—I got a good harvest of points.
"Are you serious? It's a grade-A item. For you, it's like a treasure."
I ignored Persephone's words and walked toward Zoe. What Persephone said was right. The sword is a treasure, but I want something better.
"It's a precious item. You know that, right?"
Zoe also tried to tell me that the sword in my hand was precious. I only smiled and moved closer until I stood in front of her.
"It's a one-time-use-only item."
Again I ignored her words and took a deep breath. It was time to use the points I had saved up until now. I focused on my points and raised my stats.
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[Points possessed: 7805]
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[5800 points have been consumed.]
[Strength Lvl. 9 → Strength Lvl. 19]
[Stamina Lvl. 9 → Stamina Lvl. 19]
[Agility Lvl. 4 → Agility Lvl. 19]
[Magic Power Lvl. 4 → Magic Power Lvl. 19]
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[Your Strength has increased tremendously. The capability of your body has increased.]
[Your Stamina has increased tremendously. You will get less tired.]
[Your Agility has increased tremendously. You can now move and perceive things faster.]
[Your Magic Power has increased tremendously. Now you can sustain skills for a longer duration.]
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"It will be a waste to use it like—"
"Stop."
I just said that, and Zoe stopped talking. I am trying to do something here, but she kept talking. I was getting annoyed by this.
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for me. I want to break those chains—it's my selfish reason. You don't have to worry about it."
What I said was true. I am the one who came here knowing everything. I made all this happen so that I could get what I want. It was for my desire. Her rambling didn't make sense to me.
Zoe looked at me, trying to figure out how someone could say those things while throwing away such a precious treasure for her.
I simply lifted my chin, signaling Persephone to share her stats with me. Persephone nodded. We don't have to communicate every time; because of the soul contract, we can feel each other's intentions to a certain extent.
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[The benefit of the Soul Contract has been used.]
[The high existence 'Persephone' has shared her stats with the lower existence Arthur.]
[Strength Lvl. 19 → Strength Lvl. 51]
[Stamina Lvl. 19 → Stamina Lvl. 48]
[Agility Lvl. 19 → Agility Lvl. 48]
[Magic Power Lvl. 19 → Magic Power Lvl. 51]
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[Your body is not suitable for such a huge increase in stats. A time limit has been set.]
[Time duration: 9 minutes]
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[The Exclusive Skill, False Awakening, has reduced the stress on your body.]
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This was the strongest I had ever felt in my entire life. I felt as though, if this were on Earth, I could shatter buildings with a single hand. Its an amazing feeling.
"So just stand there, princess. I will shatter those chains."
Zoe looked at me. She saw the confident and excited smile on the man in front of her. She realized that he was determined to release her from those chains.
"Sure."
I gripped the sword's hilt and activated its skill. The sword began to shine, covered in light.
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[You are using the benefit of Laevateinn-Replica.]
['Any Sword' attribute has been activated.]
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The god of mischief, Loki, has the skill to replicate anyone. The sword has a similar skill. I pictured the name of the sword I wanted.
The benefit of 'Any Sword' was powerful, but it had no use if I could not accurately comprehend the sword I wanted. But who am I? I am the dreamer who watched over this universe for a decade. I know the sword I wanted.
I imagined every detail of the sword I want. The sword covered in light began to fade, and a sword covered in flames appeared.
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[The Laevateinn-Replica sword is changing into 'The Flaming Sword.']
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The Flaming Sword. It is the sword that the fallen angel and ruler of hell, 'Lucifer,' used against the gods. He used the Flaming Sword to cut through the gates of heaven.
"That's—?"
Persephone recognized the sword. Zoe also looked shocked at the sword in my hands. The power the sword was releasing is immense.
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[The Nubecula 'Gumiho' is drooling.]
[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' is shocked.]
[The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is surprised by the power of the sword.]
[Some Nubeculas are shocked to see 'The Flaming Sword.']
[The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is nodding his head in acknowledgment.]
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I grabbed the sword with both hands and raised it above my head. The flames rose as high as the trees in the forest. A confident smile appeared on my face as I lowered the sword vertically downward in a swift motion.