Insanely-Talented Player

1 Kihwa

“You’re still trying to be a hero.”

Lord of the Game And Maria

whispered sadly.

“Someone has to do it.”

And in front of those words, Yoosung

answered without any hesitation.

“That someone doesn’t necessarily have to be Yoosung.”

“So you want to take the position of overlord instead of me?”

Sigh!

Before I knew it, an uncountable number of chains were swirling around, bounding the ruler of the heroes there. A chain of order, rules, and domination ruled by the Lord of the Game.

It was an absolute bondage that even Yooseong could not escape.

[“I am someone who does not want you to repeat the same foolishness as you have done so far.”]

Maria said, leaving the countless chains behind her.

“As long as you remain ‘someone’s hero’ in some form, the hero’s tragedy will not end.”]

The voice was full of resignation and ridicule, as if deciding on an inevitable fate.

[“Just like before, we are just repeating the exact same thing endlessly. Nothing changes.”]

“...Maybe so.”

Yoosung answered those words bitterly.

“But even if I give up being a hero, humans will still long for a hero. And the tragedy of someone else who becomes a hero will begin.”

Nevertheless, as the ruler of heroes, his decision did not change.

He still wanted to remain a hero.

Leaving behind the ruins of the broken heroes who live in the masks of all things.

Sigh!

He walked silently, leaving behind the chains that were binding Yooseong's limbs. Toward the peak of this spire and the vacant seat of the Overlord.

Then, cracks like turtle shells began to run along the chain that was supposed to bind and restrain Yoosung's movements like a leash.

At that moment, the Lord of the Game asked back.

[“Then shall we destroy all humans?”]

In a cold voice without even the slightest emotion. At the same time, it was a voice filled with indescribable darkness. That's why Yooseong, who was dumbfounded for a moment, asked back.

“...Did you eat something wrong?”

“It is not impossible now that the human monarch has been defeated.”]

The saint there no longer loved humans. Just like the hero there.

I unconsciously felt the abyss in her voice.

Just as the Clown Lord once was broken and ruined in immeasurable despair, the Lord of the Game was no exception.

“From the beginning, this game was not a game for humans. They are simply returning to the fate they should have faced from the beginning.”]

Humans did not have the ability to overcome this ordeal. Therefore, they longed for an artificial god who would bear this suffering and trials on their behalf, and thus a hero was born.

And then all this tragedy began.

[“You, her, and Lily will survive. Some of the people you love will also be able to survive.”]

Even though she was not wearing the hood, Maria’s face was dark, as if a living shadow was wriggling around.

Kaang!

Immediately after, the chains that were holding Yooseong were broken all at once. The joints of the chain break and break apart, scattering iron fragments.

“You no longer have to suffer as a hero, and you don’t have to sacrifice yourself for humans or anyone else. And you are completely liberated from this hellish game.”]

“Is that why you want to sit in the position of overlord?”

“Yes.”]

Maria answered Yoosung’s question. It was an answer without any hesitation.

As the ruler of heroes, Yoo Seong was trying to fulfill his role for the heroes and saints who were not saved.

Maria was also trying to fulfill her role for Yoosung, who was suffering from the same foolishness over and over again.

The kindness towards each other paradoxically became the biggest knife that hurt each other.

“Mr. Yoosung, you don’t understand how much despair and pain your decision will bring.”] [“

And you also understand how much the ‘those’ who fell by your hands suffered and borne as heroes. “I can’t do it.”]

Maria said and inadvertently recalled what the Clown Lord had said to her.

uYou imitator of my shadow hero, you are truly repeating foolish things endlessly.”

“You’ve always been like that. We are the clowns of

the world who do not even understand the despair we are experiencing .

“Do you think you are looking at the new horizon above the tombs built by broken heroes?”

Maria asked mockingly. Yoosung did not answer.

“no. The scene that Yoosung is seeing now, and even the history of saving himself and defeating the human monarch, is nothing more than a huge tragedy that is repeated endlessly.”] Maria continues

.

As if taunting, and then before you know it, as if sobbing. And as if begging.

[“I don’t want to see you suffer in madness, despair, and break down again.”]

Before she knew it, Maria was on her knees, sobbing like a child.

[“Please realize how much your cruel kindness hurts and causes me pain.”]

Yoosung could not answer.

I knew that one-sided sacrifice for someone could not necessarily be good. I was prepared for that much.

Nonetheless, I thought it was a mission I had to carry out.

However, the moment she realized how endlessly that mission was repeating the same foolishness, hurting her, hurting herself, and repeating hellish tragedy.

I thought that maybe the obsession with the hero I was obsessed with was the root of all tragedy.

“Imagine a world where Yoosung and ‘Yoosung’s girl’ can enjoy ordinary happiness without getting hurt.”

Maria said. Still, those words were never meant for oneself.

Just like the thousandth shooting star, she was the thousandth person in the world outside the tower who had not yet realized the fate that would befall her.

As a player who has made a contract with the Lord of the Game, like a shooting star chosen by the Clown Lord.

Just turn your head.

The Lord of the Game was there, watching as broken heroes like his past self repeated the same foolishness and despaired.

[“Please don’t let the thousandth ‘child’ experience the same despair and suffering.”]

Maria said for the 999th time.

As if sympathizing with an innocent girl who does not know what kind of tragic ending will come to her in the future.

“What do you want from me?”

That's why Yooseong asked back.

“What can I do to break the endless chain of tragedy for you?”

“If you truly want to become a hero and savior for me and that child.”]

The saint there was also seeking salvation. But saving her was never the hero's role.

[“Please be human.”]

It was the courage to give up being a hero.

[“Please remain just an ordinary human being, not a hero, a monster, or an artificial god.”]

Maria said.

“A selfish monster who only knows his own happiness and is willing to sacrifice others for himself, but who longs for someone to take on the hardships he cannot bear.”] Yoosung could not answer

.

Because we gave up humans for humans and gave up humans, the reason for loving humans disappeared.

For such a hero, turning back into a human was a pain no different from becoming a monster.

A selfish, ugly, weak and full of cowardice.

The courage to give up being a hero and be willing to become a coward.

“Is that really the choice you want to make?”

Yooseong, the ruler of heroes, asked back.

“is it so.”

Maria answered.

“You have decided to become a hero over and over again, but you have not been able to save anyone.”

With a sad smile.

[“So, did I... talk about the definition of madness?”]

“This is the first time I’ve heard it from the saint’s mouth.”

[“Oh my gosh, that can’t be possible.”]

Maria laughed, paying no heed to Yoosung’s words. It was a dark and twisted smile that could not be compared to anything else.

Insanity is doing the exact same thing over and over again, truly endlessly.

I keep repeating to myself that next time it will really be different.

“How many times have I repeated this?”

That's why Yooseong asked back.

“A thousand times a thousand times.”

Maria answered.

“When 999 heroes were destroyed and the 1,000th hero was born, he saved himself and became the overlord of the heroes. “That thousand-time process is now being repeated exactly a thousand times.”

A thousand times a thousand times. Cheon’s victory (陳).

Maria laughed as she said that.

For a moment, I felt like I was going to get dizzy from that huge number.

“So what decisions did I make in the past?”

That's why Yooseong asked back.

“When you, in despair after defeating the human monarch, urged me to have the courage to become a coward…”

Maria answered with a bitter smile.

[“You were always the same. He did not understand the despair he would experience in the future and always tried to become a hero. Like right now.”]

Yoosung couldn’t answer. I just felt dizzy.

I looked around in silence.

Countless monarchs and great princes remained silent.

I could only feel boredom on their faces as they appeared on the throne.

“Is what she said true?”

That is why the Lord of Heroes asked back.

A brief silence fell. It wasn't a long silence.

After the silence ended, a sound was heard.

It was a sound of laughter.

Countless monarchs were bursting into laughter, just as the jester monarch once burst out laughing.

That's why Yoosung raised his head and watched their expressions.

The mouth was smiling. But the eyes were not smiling.

The corners of his mouth just twisted and let out a laugh, like a machine repeating a set motion.

“...is it.”

After watching them, Yoosung also burst into laughter.

I couldn't control my laughter as I bent my upper body and shook my shoulders.

Laughed and laughed.

I laughed and laughed and then burst into laughter again like a crazy person.

Until the laughter stops and tears finally start flowing.

It was right then.

“Is that Yoosung’s decision?”

I heard a voice. It was Maria's voice.

And I realized that the voice was very familiar and very unfamiliar at the same time.

I raised my head.

The saint was there.

At the same time, the saint was not the ruler of the game that Yoosung was facing just before.

As the thousandth meteor met the clown lord, the tomb of broken heroes.

“Saint...?”

“Yes, the saint has arrived.”

!]

The thousandth Mary was right there, facing the broken tombs of the saints, repeating endless despair.