What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 738

Memphis in the Moonlight (6)

“……Mom?” My eyes widened.

The face that had been floating in my mind finally surfaced clearly.

My mom.

“Now? I don’t know for sure, but isn’t it her sleeping time?”

[No parent would care about sleep when their child’s life is at stake.]

“……Well……”

Well, that’s true. I looked at the Phoenix with a confused expression.

Even I, who trusted Hyung [older brother] implicitly, had a few concerns.

A small voice involuntarily escaped my lips.

“Hyung, Mom’s condition wasn’t good right before I came here. Are you going to tell her about me in this situation? Honestly, it’s a story that people might not accept even if they’re healthy. It seems like it would be stressful……”

[Ye Seo. A clue came out of Mom’s room.]

A clue? I blinked, clutching the blanket.

The Phoenix, who had been making eye contact, was now wearing rimless glasses and had his hands behind his back (it seemed this combination was only possible because it was a dream).

When he fluttered one wing, a folded note popped out from the tip of a feather.

I hurriedly received it and unfolded it. A memo, clearly scribbled in a rush, ignoring font size and spacing, caught my eye.

It was my mom’s familiar handwriting.

The word written largest in the center was…….

‘Godslaying(神殺).’

“……”

Thud. It felt like something heavy as a rock was falling into my stomach.

For a moment, it was hard to breathe.

[……Mom’s book. It was stuck between the .]

“What? That’s……”

‘A story about a son killing his father.’ My gaze quickly shot up.

The breath I had lost quickly regained its rhythm.

The Phoenix nodded, shining his light purple eyes.

[Yes, there’s no better clue about your world. Mom wouldn’t have been unaware of the meaning of Dostoevsky’s work.]

Of course, she wouldn’t. My mom graduated at the top of her class in Russian Language and Literature.

[It seems you’ve recently learned about the Godslaying Plan too.]

“Oh, uh, yeah. It’s only been a few days. But that’s……”

[That’s right. It was originally part of Mom’s idea. But she never told me about it, and she never mentioned it separately.]

“Then, then that’s……”

‘That must be an abandoned setting too.’ I murmured in a voice that was barely audible.

Hyung swept back his bangs with one wing and sighed.

[It’s a well-known fact that discarded settings and characters make up your world line. The problem is that it’s targeting Mom too.]

“……”

[…….]

We looked at each other in silence for a moment.

It didn’t take long to grasp the hidden meaning of that sentence.

I sighed in realization and closed my eyes.

“……Mom doesn’t know she’s the Supreme God.”

Perhaps it was natural. The Phoenix fluttered and sat on my opposite knee.

[It’s logical to think so. Which writer would write a novel assuming that the only god in the novel is themselves?]

[Even if there was such a writer, if they seriously believed that the characters in the novel would someday kill them…… They should go to the hospital first, before writing anything.]

Hyung said cynically.

I watched him awkwardly move his right wing for a while, and only after a long time did I realize that he was holding a smartphone and making a call.

I felt very strange.

It didn’t feel like this last time, but maybe because it was a dream, I really felt like I was in the same space as Hyung.

“……Hyung, what kind of character did Mom set the Supreme God as?”

[……Lee Jong-hee isn’t answering the phone. What did you say?]

The Phoenix pretended to take the phone away from his ear and asked again.

Even in my dream, I whispered carefully so that no one could hear.

“What ‘setting’ did Mom give to the Supreme God? Haven’t you ever wondered?”

[‘The only god who created the continent.’ That’s the end of the explanation in one line. It’s a sentence with an ambiguous meaning that anyone can see. Thanks to that, Mom, who conceived that world, became the Supreme God without even knowing it.]

“……Hmm. That’s a good point.”

I nodded and looked at Mom’s note.

Phrases written haphazardly here and there caught my eye.

‘The Vessel of the Divine Kingdom – Royal Capital

The Heart of the Royal Capital – Royal Castle.’

The heart of the royal capital is the royal castle…… Well, I guess so. The heart of the imperial capital is also the imperial palace.

I carefully transferred the contents of the note into my head.

‘Humans crave the gaze of the Supreme God until the day they die.’

Well, I’ve heard that so much that it’s sickening.

How else would the greeting of the Supreme God’s Advent Festival be ‘May the Supreme God rejoice in your life’.

‘But in the end, by killing the Supreme God, they want to be forever free from such desires and deficiencies.’

‘Losing judgment by being blinded by love.’

‘They will eventually establish their own god.’

‘Like a thirsty person stabbing their own neck instead of digging a well.’

“……Umm.”

The last one is quite difficult.

Does it mean that the actions of those who want to be independent from the Supreme God are ultimately suicidal? Why?

Is it because the Supreme God is too powerful for such a plan to succeed?

[……She’s not answering, so I hung up for a moment.]

In the meantime, Jung Hyun-seo [Phoenix’s real name] said in a subdued voice. I stopped thinking and turned to look at him.

Hyung’s appearance, checking the phone screen and clicking his tongue, seemed vividly drawn in front of my eyes.

That was strange too.

The loneliness that had always been lurking in a corner of my heart seemed to fade away for a moment.

[Somehow, we have to wake Mom up, and I’m really sorry to the caregiver…… But both of them have to stay awake until you guys end this war.]

“……”

[That way, we can deal with it here even if it’s a summoning circle or Godslaying or whatever. Whether the on-duty doctor comes, or the police come. Isn’t that right?]

“……Hyung, put a thousand won [Korean currency] in the swear jar.”

The Phoenix was stunned for a moment, as if my comment was completely unexpected, and then burst into laughter.

But since putting money in the piggy bank when swearing was a long-standing rule in our house, he soon nodded his bangs and answered that he understood.

I looked at Hyung and asked in passing.

“……What about food?”

[You’re asking late.]

“Did you skip a meal? You get hungry if you stay awake. Eat something.”

[I ate something roughly.]

“Did you pour espresso on an empty stomach again?”

[…….]

The Phoenix quietly pretended to look at his phone.

I swallowed countless pieces of apology and affection behind my throat.

And instead, I asked a very realistic question. I thought Jung Hyun-seo would want that too.

“Hyung, I’ve been wondering since before. Why did Prince Ye Seo die?”

[…….]

“It’s a story written for Eun-seo. I know Mom and Hyung started with that in mind. But why did you kill the character she loved the most like that? Knowing full well that she would cry and be sad.”

[…….]

“Couldn’t you have saved him somehow?”

[Hello? Ah, Doctor. I’m really sorry to wake you up. This is Jung Hyun-seo.]

“……”

This time, it seemed like the call was really connected. Hyung continued the conversation in a low voice.

I stared at the Phoenix for a while, then repeatedly looked down at the white blanket.

I saw an illusion of something wriggling and passing under the dark shadows of the sheet.

Am I not fully awake?

[……Yes, please. I would appreciate it if you could wake her up right now, even if it’s difficult. Something urgent has happened at home.]

“……”

[Yes, thank you.]

-Rustle, rustle, rustle

No. Since this is a dream, I should say that I’m in an ‘unawakened’ state.

Then maybe all of this is just my imagination? In fact, the Jung Hyun-seo in front of me isn’t real either.

[No one ever wanted that result.]

“Huh?”

I blinked and looked at the Phoenix.

Before I knew it, Hyung was staring at me over his angular glasses.

[……That wasn’t the intention. But the story flowed that way on its own.]

Huh?

“……I don’t know what you’re talking about. Can’t you develop it as you please when you’re writing it?”

Rustle! I asked, trying to catch the shadow in the blanket.

Then Jung Hyun-seo added in a low voice.

[Basic plot. The content I wrote before. The settings Mom gave me. The flesh that was added to it again. The readers’ reactions. The elements I newly write to meet their expectations. All sorts of foreshadowing, foreshadowing…….]

[All of that is added together to become one huge story. You understand up to here, right?]

“Yeah.”

[Once it gets that big, the story doesn’t listen to me perfectly. Because it’s already close to a living creature.]

“……”

[I guide it to grow properly, and I try to make it grow in the direction I want if possible…… But it becomes difficult to say that the result of every event is solely the writer’s will. The characters each have their own standards for speaking and acting. I, as the writer, can’t break that. I shouldn’t dare to.]

“……”

Thump! I finally caught something hidden under the blanket. But both fists were empty.

As Hyung’s heavy explanation continued, the eerie moonlight outside the window palely illuminated the blanket.

I felt an inexplicable chill and made eye contact with the Phoenix.

[In other words…… I vaguely predicted that Ye Seo Venetian would die someday, but the final decision was made by the prince himself.]

My brow furrowed involuntarily. What does that mean?

“……Sorry, I really don’t understand. You’re the one who came up with it, right?”

[You’ll understand if you write a novel later. Of course, I can’t say you’re wrong, and I sincerely regret it…… Hello? Mom?]

“Gasp.”

My heart sank at the sound of ‘Mom.’

In an instant, my eyes widened, and my heart pounded like a rice cake mill [traditional Korean metaphor for rapid pounding].

I hurriedly straightened my posture, even covering up the mystery in the blanket.

[Mom, I’m sorry for waking you up while you were sleeping. Do you know who I am? Mom’s eldest son.]

“……”

My mouth went dry as I swallowed hard. My palms became unnecessarily sweaty, and my hair stood on end.

In an instant, all thoughts were completely forgotten.

I just had the conviction that Hyung, our Hyung, was saving Mom right now.

Even if it was a sleeping Mom, if she was closely connected to the real world…… Even if something happened, she would be able to get help from someone.

Like Hyung said, whether it’s the on-duty doctor, the nurse, or the police…….

[Mom?]

Then I can relax a little too. We’re working together to save Mom.

[-……Hyun-seo. Our Hyun-seo.]

Thump, thump.

Thump, thump.

[Oh, Mom. Would you like a glass of cold water first? To wake you up.]

Hyung asked in his usual gentle tone.

I clenched and unclenched my fists, moving my lips.

It was like a miracle that Mom’s answer could be heard across the receiver to me.

No, at the clear miracle, my eyes welled up with tears.

Now, the mystery in the blanket was moving quickly like a loach [eel-like fish], but it didn’t matter.

Soon, Mom asked in a trembling voice.

[-Is Ye Seo there?]

Thump!

-콰콰콰콰콰……! [Sound of something collapsing]

“Aaaaaah!”

[Jung Ye Seo!]

At the same time, the entire bed collapsed. As if it could no longer withstand Mom’s presence.

I screamed, shuddering at the dizzying sense of falling. This was an unexpected disaster.

A pitch-black abyss, a space of darkness that had no beginning or end, was greedily swallowing me.

Just like in the carriage heading to the Blanquer Duchy that day.

No—this was a hundred times more terrible experience than that time.

-Ssaeeeeeeeng! [Sound effect]

[-Mom, I think Mom did something wrong. Sob, what should I do? Your brother…….]

“Hwaaaaak! Hyeong! Hyeong!”

[Jung Ye Seo! Ye Seo, are you okay! Go to the Royal Castle!]

“Hyung, I’m scared! I’m actually scared—!”

[You’re not alone! Jung Ye! You’re not alone!]

‘Hyun-seo, I think Mom made a mistake.’ Mom’s tearful words, Hyung’s roughly torn screams, hit my eardrums like crazy.

At that violent noise, I was horrified, shedding physiological tears.

“Hyeooooong!”

[……Go to the!]

-Wheeeeeee! [Sound of wind]

The Phoenix’s wings fluttered like a phantom beyond the steep cliff.

A fear as heavy as loneliness kept pressing down on the top of my head and pulling down on my clothes.

I couldn’t even remember that this was a dream, so I would be okay.

Consumed by fear, I struggled and gathered the blanket.

Because I felt like I had to grab onto something—

-Thump!

「O, Maintainer of the World.」

“Aaaaaaah!”

What popped out of the darkness in the blanket was an old woman with black, empty eyes.

I felt the terrible sensation of all the blood in my body evaporating.

-Suddenly!

「Everything has already been prepared, but there must be a price for the choice.」

“Get out! Heok, get away from me!”

One more person.

-Suddenly!

「Please keep in mind.」

“Aaaaaaah!”

And one more person.

Finally, the three sisters open their mouths as black as graphite.

「The time is near.」

「The time is near.」

「The time is near.」

*

Suddenly!

“Hah, no! Let go of me!”

-Thump, thump, thump!

“Cough, don’t touch my body! Cough, cough!”

I twisted my body like a seizure and swung my fists. But the resistance didn’t last long.

“Aaaaaah! Please just leave me alone……!”

-Tak! [Sound of something stopping]

“I promise.”

……Huh? I hadn’t noticed, but the fall had stopped.

I felt a cozy warmth enveloping my whole body.

I breathed heavily and slowly raised my eyes. Here is…….

“……Cedric?”

A man with a torn lip bleeding was collapsed, holding my wrist.

For a moment, my head froze.