Beginning of the scenarios (2)

Since it contradicted his principles, Klein hesitated a little then coldly realized that they would die anyway.

Staring at the ugliness of humanity with his own eyes, Klein stood up and took a demigod-level charm from the pores of history.

Then, he poured spiritually into it and threw it to the other end of the cabin, instantly killing everyone.

[You have killed a living thing.]

[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]

[You have killed a living thing.]

[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]

[A large number of coins has been acquired! Do you want to check the coin usage tips?]

Multiple messages bombarded his ears.

A lot, and a lot of them; reminding him how many people he had killed.

Due to the lack of more participants, the scenario automatically ended.

Had he become able to indifferently kill innocents now?

Violating his bottom line so easily, Klein plunged a little more into madness. But that didn't matter, he had been prepared to lose himself since he went to sleep anyway.

…Right, that didn't matter.

It was only a little sacrifice…

Even though his spiritual intuition and reason were crazily warning him otherwise, Klein ignored it.

Kim Namwoon, Lee Hyunsung… People who were supposed to survive were dead.

…It was also the same for those who weren't supposed to survive.

Yoo Sanga, Lee Gilyoung, even himself… The Oldest Dream gazed down at the spot were his companions previously were and couldn't help silently putting the Lord of Mysteries on his blacklist until Xin Jian reminded him that his beloved sunfish in the next cabin was also a psychopath, even worse than the mentally ill Klein, so the Oldest Dream benevolently removed him from his blacklist for his new companion's sake. (Anyway, who of the two would even win if they fought was also a question; because even though Kim Dokja was an Outer God, Klein was a Pillar).

[Paid settlement will begin.]

On a screen, the situation of another place was broadcast.

Hearing the sound, Klein lazily turned his head towards it. It showed a classroom where girls in their navy blue uniforms were shaking.

Beep beep beep beep―An ominous beeping sound was heard then the high school girls started to scream.

[The given time has run out.]

[Paid settlement will begin.]

Once the announcement ended, the heads of the high school girls sitting in the front row exploded.

One by one, one by one again… More and more heads exploded. The high school girls screamed and ran toward the classroom doors and windows.

"Ahh, uh, how―"

Cleaning tools broke and nails were torn out, but the doors didn't open. No one could get out.

Peong, peeong. The heads of the high school girls continued to burst. Then a high school girl strangled her friend, who died with a groan. After a while, the only thing that remained on the screen was the last high school girl looking around.

[#Bay23515 channel. Daepong Girls' High School, Year 2 Class B survivor: Lee Jihye.]

At the same time, a mass of messages continued to assault Klein's senses.

[You have killed 156 living things.]

[Kill History: 28 humans, 5 grasshopper, 123 grasshopper eggs.]

Hmm? Were there animals there?

He hadn't noticed.

Did animals also count? In a way, it made sense since they were also living beings…

Did that mean that he could have saved some people instead of massacring everyone? Did he just kill innocents unnecessarily?

Klein felt that his spiritual intuition was more and more unreliable.

Sure, killing more people made him gain a few more 'coins', but what use were they to a Pillar, a Great Old One? A funny thing to say from the 'poor god' who had always loved money…

…Did that mean he wouldn't have killed them 'only' if they had a chance to survive then? Had he always been this type of person?

[You have killed non-resistance living things, so the number of coins you have acquired from them is reduced by half.]

[9,200 coins have been acquired!]

If compared to Loen's currency, wasn't this less gold pounds that a one time help from Miss Messenger? Were human lives only worth half as much as a grasshopper's or its eggs?

Thinking back, the world had always been like this.

Faced with an angel, or even only a low-sequence Beyonder event or a natural disaster, humans died far too easily.

[The 'Mass Murderer' achievement has been gained through excessive killing.]

[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value has ended.]

[300 coins have been acquired as a basic clearance reward.]

[100 coins have been reduced for the channel usage fee.]

[Additional compensation settlement will begin.]

With a renewed understanding of his own bottom line, Klein walked to a bench near the door of the other cabin, ready to spy on what was happening there through the wall with his clown abilities.

However, he stepped on a glass shard, which was previously part of a box containing grasshoppers held by a certain boy before Klein made everything explode, and paused.

"…"

Due to his good constitution as a pillar, Klein wasn't hurt, but he had noticed his own attire.

He was using Zhou Mingrui's appearance and wore a black suit, like in Sefirah Castle. However, since he had also been in his mythical creature form in Sefirah Castle, and tentacles didn't need shoes, he was bare feet.

It was even quite strange that nobody had noticed this until now, but anyway, others shouldn't have had enough time to think about it since the apocalypse had begun soon after he arrived.

Under his skin, Klein could barely feel the cold touch of the floor and the sticky darkening blood of strangers.

He decided to ignore it and casually stepped on the glass shards on the ground before sitting down.

Outside, the ruined Seoul and collapsed buildings were visible. Monsters reminiscent of a giant snake were eating the wreckage of a fighter jet that had crashed into the Han River.

One of the ichthyosaurs looked in this direction, crossing Klein's lifeless eyes.

The ichthyosaur circled around the bottom of Dongho Bridge and vanished into an air bubble.

Klein had an inkling that these monsters couldn't attack now.

[A handful of constellations admire your scenario.]

[The constellations have sponsored you 500 coins.]

[Some constellations are suspicious of your skills.]

[Some constellations admire your skills.]

[Some constellations…]

[Wow, amazing.]

The dokkaebi appeared in the air and looked at the splattered body parts on the ground. He noticed that the scene was too messy to have been caused only by heads exploding before staring at the only survivor responsible for this massacre, who was leisurely sitting there and staring at the air as if murdering people in such a gruesome way was nothing noteworthy.

[What on earth happened here? I was just watching the other carriages…]

There was a mixture of delight and surprise on the dokkaebi's face. Twinkling stars floated over the dokkaebi's head.

[For 22 people to be connected to my channel… Haha, isn't this quite good? Gosh, thank you for your sponsorship, constellations. Haha, did you properly show off your value?]

[The number of survivors is quite low? The fellow in the next carriage was a nutter as well… It seems that things are quite interesting today.]

The dokkaebi manipulated something in the air. A moment later, a list of survivors came up.

[Survivor from the 3434 Train to Bulgwang, Carriage 3807: ?????. A total of one survivor.]

[Hmm? Strange, the name isn't shown properly…]

Due to being a Great Old One, Klein's name was censured.

[Some constellations are suspicious or your existence.]

[A few constellations are impressed with your actions.]

[The constellations have sponsored you 200 coins.]

Klein slightly tilted his head.

Was he receiving money for slaughtering others? Was he a character in a play now, watched by people and rewarded if his actions pleased them?

How laughable.

[Now now, shouldn't there be a reward for overcoming the hardships? As a reward for the first scenario, you are entitled to the sponsorship of the 'constellations'. Waahhh! How about it? Aren't you looking forward to it? Hmm, you are unenthusiastic. This is really a big deal.]

This dokkaebi somehow reminded Klein of Arrodes.

The only listener emotionlessly stared at the cute but ruthless creature.

[Hmm, you seem confused. I can easily tell you. Right now, you are incredibly weak. If you are thrown into the scenarios that will take place, you will be killed when you meet a weak ground rat, let alone a 'kruk'. But kindly, there are some great people in the universe who pity you and would like to sponsor you. Do you understand what I am saying?]

"…"

Just in case, Klein checked another time whether his powers as a Lord of Mysteries and pillar of the universe were still there and continued to stare at the creature without reacting.

The dokkaebi didn't know who he was saying this to.

If anything, shouldn't it be Klein who should sponsor people?

[Hmm, isn't there an old saying in South Korea? It is better to see it once than listen a hundred times. So experience it directly. Well, if you are not fortunate, you might not get the chance. Hahaha!]

While learning an old saying from South Korea, another blue system window appeared in front of the Chinese man.

[Sponsor Selection]

-Please select your sponsor

-Your chosen sponsor will be your strong supporter.

In the train, Xin Jian deliberated whether she should register into the Star Stream and apply for her friend's sponsor selection.

Short on time, she made a decision.

Klein stared at the only option in front of him.

The 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon'.

Who was this guy? Why did his name sound so much like a chuuni?

Xin Jian had decided to not apply for Klein's sponsor selection.

Klein shook his head. Anyway, apart from the fact that this constellation's name sounded doubtful, he didn't need a sponsor and chose to not select anyone.

Waiting for the sponsor selection to end, Klein leaned back against the wall, ready to observe what was happening in the next cabin with the help of Beyonder abilities.

As he closed his eyes, he ignored the dokkaebi's voice as well as the messages appearing in front of him and took a last look at his own cabin.

The destroyed subway train, the splattered body parts, the blood scattered on the floor and walls, the monsters outside, and a world where murder was normal…

This was his new reality now.

Well, it wasn't like it was much different from before.

Klein only wanted to rest, even if it was just for a moment.

(Source: ORV chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6)