Chapter 136

The Impostor I

If you've been following the story this far, you might have vaguely realized it.

There is a certain element essential to genre fiction that is missing from my story.

This element is so important that without it, people would question why the protagonist even bothers to act like a hero.

It's the 'monopolization of fortuitous encounters.'

For example, think about Oh Dok-seo in the 555th cycle. The moment she thought she was inside a novel, didn't she have thoughts like this?

[Oh Dok-seo: Well, anyway. The important thing in the Busan Station part is how early you secure the elixir hidden in Haeundae, that's all.]

Ah, fortuitous encounters! Such a sweet sound.

Like an elixir that instantly raises your state. Or a secret manual buried halfway up a cliff for some reason. Or raising the strongest person in the world from a young age, ensuring they become dependent on you through gaslighting. Or farming an item whose value no one yet knows.

Snatching those things lightly and saying, 'I'm lucky,' in a cool manner is the dignity bestowed upon the protagonist of genre literature.

To be honest, I, the Undertaker, also had a bit of luck in my youth.

I was more of an 'adventurous hunter of fortuitous encounters.'

If I entered a void, it meant there was a rare item to be farmed there.

It was the same with anomalies. Although I kept it secret until now, the 'Heart of Ten Legs' was an extremely rare item. Eating it raw would easily accumulate an era's worth of inner energy (it tastes like tuna belly).

However, unlike the past, I no longer obsess over such items.

In fact, I actively avoid them.

Unless it's absolutely necessary, I decline. If it's too valuable to pass up, I hand it over to someone else instead of taking it myself.

"Why... Why on earth?"

Oh Dok-seo once furrowed her brow upon hearing about my policy.

At that time, Dok-seo was taking a short break while writing my story. She seemed a bit exhausted, so I specially prepared Ten Legs sushi using the heart of Ten Legs for her.

Dok-seo, munching away and saying, 'It really tastes like tuna sashimi,' continued.

"Are you a hipster or something? Do you think monopolizing fortuitous encounters is too clichéd for a protagonist?"

"Not at all. If possible, I would love to monopolize fortuitous encounters. Since I have the [Resume] ability, the more encounters I have, the better."Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

"Then why... Oh! Is it because it's more efficient for your companions to have them instead of you?"

"Hmm. That's part of it, but... It's easier to show you."

I liked educating Dok-seo about 'anomalies.' It would be helpful later on.

I opened my subspace trunk bag and took out a notebook and an item, placing them on the table.

Dok-seo's eyes widened.

It seemed to be an item familiar to this otaku.

"...What is this? Isn't it the [Monkey's Paw]?"

"Oh. You recognize it immediately."

The Monkey's Paw.

This anomaly, which looks like a monkey's paw, grants three wishes to a person.

However, being an anomaly, it never grants wishes in a normal way.

To the caster who dares to wish for a shortcut in life, some form of 'misfortune' will befall them.

If you wish for 'eternal life,' it won't grant you eternal youth, so you'll enjoy an endless silver life, forever aging.

If you wish for 'eternal youth and life,' it ensures you survive the end of the world to endlessly wander the universe alone.

If you wish for 'eternal youth and life with the ability to end it whenever you want,' it creates countless horrendous and tragic events around you to test if you won't die even then.

Is it absurd?

Yes, it is absurd.

That absurdity is the essence of the [Monkey's Paw] anomaly.

Wishing without side effects is impossible. It's the dark evolved alter version of the magic lamp with the genie.

"Strictly speaking, it's both a monkey's paw and a human's hand."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"By the time I found it, someone had already made three wishes."

"Yikes."

Unfortunately, this end-of-the-world scenario had fully implemented the curse of the Monkey's Paw.

"Dok-seo, if someone who thinks they're smart but doesn't know what anomalies are found the [Monkey's Paw], what kind of wishes do you think they would make?"

"...There are three wish slots. So first, 'Please remove the side effects of the wishes.'"

I smiled faintly.

"Good. And next?"

"Uh... Remove the limit on the number of wishes? Three wishes aren't enough. Although many stories don't grant such a wish, it's worth trying."

"Wow. How can you be so predictable?"

"Huh?"

"I'll explain later. Anyway, what's the final wish?"

"Um..."

Dok-seo, after eating another piece of Ten Legs sushi, opened her mouth.

"It's a tough choice, but I'd wish for 'luck.'"

"......"

"The Monkey's Paw brings misfortune to its user, right? This is a counterattack. If I'm extremely lucky from the start, the misfortune itself will be suppressed."

I had a hard time suppressing a bitter smile.

The Japanese gathered and formed a party. A girl named Yō was particularly strong.

But she insisted that we share our resources by opening our backpacks to each other. Is she crazy? These are personal belongings.

I wanted to join another group, but most of them were Koreans, and communication was difficult. I asked for a day to think about it.

Yō looked at me expressionlessly and said to do as I wished.

She really creeps me out. Fine, have it your way.

Tonight, I plan to use the Monkey's Paw.

Flip.

《Day 4》

I have meticulously planned my wishes for the Monkey's Paw over the past few days.

Here they are in order:

1. Please don't create any side effects for my wishes.

2. Remove the limit on the number of wishes. If removing the limit is impossible, pretend this wish wasn't made.

3. Give me luck. Prevent any 'accidental misfortunes' from befalling me, like getting hit by a falling rock.

The core of these wishes is the third one: 'luck.'

I considered other cheat abilities but ultimately dismissed them all. No matter how powerful an ability, if the Monkey's Paw brings misfortune, it would be pointless.

Luck. With overwhelming luck, any ability or misfortune would pale in comparison.

Maybe the Monkey's Paw will play some trick while I'm making my wishes.

It's a devil, after all.

So, I'm thinking of writing my three wishes on a piece of paper and presenting them all at once.

Honestly, I don't know what will happen. I think I've prepared well, but just in case, I'm leaving this diary like a will.

If I fail, I hope whoever finds this diary can use it more wisely.

Here goes.

"......"

I found myself deeply engrossed in the diary of this unknown awakener.

Judging by the fact they ended up a corpse, it seemed they failed. But there's as much to learn from failure as from success.

This awakener adhered to a fundamental principle in dealing with anomalies and voids: 'Leave records for others.'

This corpse and I were comrades navigating the apocalypse together.

Flip. My handling of the diary grew more respectful.

《Day 5》

I did it!

While on watch, centaur monsters attacked, but for some reason, they didn't notice me at all and went after everyone else.

Half the group died, but I didn't get a scratch. Even Yō, the strongest among us, got injured.

Surprisingly, the second wish also came true! Unlimited wishes! Hooray!

With the certainty that I'd never die an absurd death, I felt at ease. Yō's face didn't bother me anymore.

Amazing. It's real.

I wished to eat gyudon, and after killing a monster, gyudon dropped. It was so absurd I laughed.

I got six bowls of gyudon and shared them with the group. Yō's expressionless face looked surprised.

Yeah. That's the role that suits you. Just an extra.

Though our numbers halved, the power of gyudon lifted everyone's spirits. I realized anew the importance of food.

Thank you, Sena! It's all thanks to you! I'll forgive you for dating four other guys while with me!

The excitement in the handwriting was palpable.

In my mind, I pictured someone who had risked everything on a final gamble and succeeded, cheering in victory.

But unlike the diary's owner, I remained cautious.

'If this person truly succeeded, they wouldn't have ended up a corpse.'

The joy continued on the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th days. After the 11th day, the diary entries became sporadic.

When I finally flipped to the later pages.

The diary resumed, and her handwriting trembled from a different kind of emotion.

《Day 6??》

Something's wrong. Something's very wrong.

When I woke up today, centaur monsters were attacking. Everything felt familiar, as if it was a repeat of the 5th day.

Half the group died. Yō got injured in the same place. Everything repeated exactly.

The diary's owner seemed to maintain some composure for a while.

She became diligent in recording the details, noting every event and sign meticulously.

But as the '6th day??' repeated, she could no longer keep her sanity. Her mental strength wasn't that strong to begin with.

Something's wrong something's wrong something's wrong something's wrong something's wrong something's wrong something's wrong something's wrong

One page was filled with the word 'wrong' written over and over.

Then, after a long gap, a sudden cold sentence appeared in the middle of a blank page.

Time is looping?

Footnotes:

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