How could <Asgard> of the 41st regression possibly know about the “Demon King of Salvation”?

Could they have obtained the information through the possessed readers?

The odds of that were almost nonexistent.

Just like in “Omniscient Reader,” the things readers said would have been filtered out anyway.

Or perhaps the “great nebula” that once claimed to have killed Kim Dokja was actually <Asgard>.

But even if it were Odin, the “One-Eyed Father,” the strongest of <Asgard>, could he really have killed Kim Dokja?

Damn it. I’d have to have actually seen a myth-grade constellation.

Honestly, neither hypothesis convinced me at all in my current state.

From the beginning, we weren’t even sure that the “demon king” they were talking about was Kim Dokja.

Holding my breath, I focused on the two people’s conversation.

“Christina, don’t tell me the reason you were being polite to Mr. Cheon Inho—”

“That’s right.”

Christina’s lips, reflected in the rear-view mirror, twitched in displeasure.

“I can smell a demon king. At first I didn’t sense it at all, but after I fainted and woke up, I could clearly smell it.”

“Then you’re saying the incarnation Cheon Inho is one of the demon king’s followers?”

“Probably. Not long ago, when the demon king’s symbolic body appeared in Las Vegas, I faced it myself. I’m feeling that same chill again.”

Originally, spiritualists including hypnotists had sensory perception far superior to other incarnations.

If it was Christina Page, who prided herself on being first-class among them, it wouldn’t be strange for her to have perceived the unique aura of a demon king.

After all, Kim Dokja was half a demon king himself.

“If it’s a demon king, which of the 72 demon kings would it be?”

“I don’t know that either.”

“No other contact from <Asgard>?”

“None at all. After that question, the messages just stopped.”

The two glanced briefly in my direction, then continued their conversation with only lip movements.

[Group chat].

Looks like it was a conversation they didn’t want anyone to overhear.

In the silence that followed, the only thing visible outside was the desolate desert landscape, so I spent the time thinking through upcoming scenarios or watching my sleeping face snore.

The more I kept looking at this face, the more it started to feel like my real one.

But do I really look that much like a con artist?

Still, Yuseung said I was handsome…

Maybe I should buy a skill like [Humidity Preservation] like Kim Dokja did, or get a myth fragment like “The Facial Skin of a Casanova Who Died During Sex” to change up my vibe a bit.

Come to think of it, Kim Dokja is surprisingly good at self-care too.

Maybe he was worried about forward-head posture—he’d even propped up a neck pillow during that short time.

…A neck pillow?

Feeling something strange, I checked the item.

+

<Item Information>

Name: SSS-grade Neck Pillow

Rank: SSS

Description: A “neck pillow” made by a mass-production craftsman. Characterized by a cute dokkaebi design.

The user of this pillow will not dream of anything and, during sleep, will enjoy a recovery effect equivalent to having absorbed the “Spirit of the Elain Forest.”

When danger occurs, the [Alarm] function activates, forcibly waking the user.

*This item is bound to the incarnation “Cheon Inho.”*

+

It was obvious whose coins this man had used to buy the pillow.

Thinking it couldn’t have cost much since it was just a pillow, I checked the price—and nearly had my eyes pop out.

[The price of this item is 10,000 coins.]

I firmly decided to check every refund regulation and return procedure for the dokkaebi bundle and charge Kim Dokja for the full amount.

[Exclusive skill, ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint,’ is activated.]

―Phew, that was a good nap.

What a damn perfect timing.

I fired off questions like a machine gun.

“When did you buy this pillow?”

―Right before I fell asleep.

“Try convincing me before I actually get mad.”

Having already grasped the situation, Kim Dokja rolled his eyes around and started talking.

―Humans spend a third of their life sleeping.

“You don’t even need that much sleep anymore.”

―This is the same item Yu Joonghyuk and Yoo Sanga used.

Yu Joonghyuk used this item?
This thing with a cute little dokkaebi face on the end?

―That guy’s popular, so someone must’ve given it to him as a gift. Anyway, it’s a useful item for us. We pass out a lot, don’t we?

“So?”

―Let’s make sure to prop it under our necks before we collapse. A concussion would ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) be a real problem.

“……”

―And read the option carefully. It says the effect is similar to absorbing the “Spirit of the Elain Forest” during sleep.

I did the math in my head.

One “Spirit of the Elain Forest” cost 500 coins.

Which meant—

―Use it twenty times and you break even.

“How many times can it be used?”

―Who knows. If you take care of it, it’ll last quite a while. It even says there’s after-service support.

“Fair. Your sin is forgiven.”

So it turned out to be an incredibly efficient item after all.

Feeling satisfied with a worthwhile purchase, I was in a good mood.

Having taken a comfortable rest, Kim Dokja stretched lightly and looked out the window.

Bit by bit, the cityscape of Las Vegas came into view.

[The seventh ‘Main Scenario’ is currently in progress.]

A system message appeared in succession.

Strange.

The seventh scenario hadn’t ended, yet the eighth scenario was already running at the same time?

―There was a case like this back in the 3rd regression.

I remembered too. During the fourth scenario, part of the fifth “Disaster” scenario had been unlocked.

But that had been temporary; there had never been a case where two main scenarios progressed openly at once.

“Something feels off.”

Kim Dokja nodded in agreement.

“The seventh should be the Monster Invasion scenario, so what’s the eighth?”

For reference, in the 3rd regression Korea’s eighth scenario was “The Strongest Sacrificial Lamb.”

―That was the 3rd regression’s Korea. We don’t know what it’ll be here.

“True.”

“The Strongest Sacrificial Lamb” scenario only ended when half the area’s incarnations died—or when one of the strongest incarnations did.

Please, let the 41st regression’s scenario be a peaceful one this time.

“We’ve arrived. You’re already awake, I see.”

“Thanks to you, I slept well.”

At Kim Dokja’s glib reply, Selena Kim gave a short laugh.

In the distance, the entrance of a casino hotel—the symbol of Las Vegas—came into sight.

Maybe because it was still daytime, the unlit hotel street felt strangely bleak for the so-called mecca of gambling.

[Constellation, ‘Bald Militia Commander,’ wipes his head with a curious look.]
[Constellation, ‘Maritime Telegraph,’ shakes his head, saying the buildings are lacking in integrity.]
[Constellation, ‘King Heungmu,’ boasts that no architecture can rival that of the Korean Peninsula.]
[Constellation, ‘Black Flame Dragon of the Abyss,’ clicks his tongue at the constellations of the Korean Peninsula.]

Well, in a world where the entire planet had already become a gambling table for constellations, what meaning did a human casino even have?

Christina parked in front of the largest hotel on the casino strip.

So this was Zarathustra’s headquarters.

When the doorman came forward and opened the car door, a crowd gathered near the casino entrance came into view—mixed groups of all races, each armed with various weapons.

Kim Dokja grinned.

“Are they our welcoming party?”

“They’re not with our group.”

Selena Kim and Christina moved to stand protectively in front of him.

Since the original “Omniscient Reader” never showed what the American situation was like, I was a bit puzzled.

But Kim Dokja already seemed to know who they were.

―Looks like the Las Vegas civil war isn’t over yet.

“You know them?”

―Las Vegas gangs.

Like the Iron Skull gang in Korea?

―Much more elite than those guys.

“But doesn’t America have an Absolute Throne too? Power should’ve been unified.”

―Already forgot what we did?

I belatedly remembered that Kim Dokja and I had killed the “Founder of the Absolute Throne.”

If the American Absolute Throne had also lost its power like Korea’s—

With the throne’s absolute authority gone, naturally there would no longer be an untouchable ruler.

―Anna must be having a headache too.

Naturally, what filled the vacant throne was sheer force.

Force strong enough to claim the title of king.

Soon, we saw who the approaching group’s leader was.

A man of Hispanic descent wearing a long fur coat, a skull-printed T-shirt, a silver-glinting cross necklace, and a cowboy hat that looked straight out of a Western. His presence alone radiated danger.

“Who is that?”

Kim Dokja asked, and Selena Kim answered.

“Jacob Martinez. The ‘king’ of northern Las Vegas.”

When the man was close enough, Selena Kim stepped forward.

“Mr. Martinez.”

The man nodded toward her.

“Long time no see, Guardian of the King.”

“What brings you here?”

“I came to meet the prophet.”

So they had business with Anna Croft too. Judging from the ominous mood, it didn’t seem like a friendly visit.

Christina spoke up.

“Sorry, but Anna has a schedule today. Come back next time.”

“Move.”

“If it’s that urgent, tell me. I’ll deliver the message.”

Martinez glared coldly at her.

“We came to demand compensation.”

“Compensation? For what?”

“Our group suffered too many losses during the Rank-4 species subjugation. We’re here to demand reparations.”

Rank-4 species. So similar-level monsters had appeared in America too.

“Everyone suffered heavy losses.”

“We lost our entire base of operations. Your precious prophet redirected the path of the ‘disaster species’ toward northern Las Vegas.”

“That wasn’t Anna’s fault. Even she can’t control natural disasters.”

“So you’re saying the prophet couldn’t see the future?”

“Hey.”

“With those eyes that see the future, she must have clearly watched the north of Las Vegas burn. Yet she gave us no warning.”

“……”

“If our response had been a little slower, even the women and children would’ve been wiped out.”

By now, both Kim Dokja and I were listening closely to their exchange.

Surely Anna had her own reason for not revealing every part of the future.

But if others had died as the price for that choice—whose responsibility was it?

If a prophet knew the future, how much of it were they obligated to tell?

Christina frowned.

“Reparations are impossible, but we can discuss coin support. So back off here, unless you want this to blow up.”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to meet the prophet myself.”

Click.

Martinez drew his gun from the holster, and at once, his men aimed their weapons at us.

It was a situation on the brink of a large-scale clash.

But Christina didn’t look tense. In her right hand, she was already holding a pocket watch.

Martinez spoke.

“I know all about your hypnosis tricks.”

“……”

“Let’s see what’s faster—your watch’s ticking, or my bullet through your head.”

“Then go ahead and find out—”

Everything happened in an instant.

Was it the flutter of the fur coat that came first, or the doorman turning into another Martinez?

Front and left—two Martinez figures opened their mouths simultaneously.

“Seems you’ve forgotten who I am, hypnotist.”

Before we knew it, Martinez’s gun was pressed to Christina’s left forehead. Biting her lip, Christina raised her hands and slowly dropped the watch.

I couldn’t help but be impressed by Martinez’s technique.

“How did he do that? Avatar?”

[Avatar] was a skill unique to authors.

Then was Martinez also an “author”?

―That guy’s a “magician.”

A magician?

“Hypnotist. I’m going to kill you now.”

“Martinez, wait.”

“Anyone moves, I shoot.”

He glared at Selena Kim and added a warning.

“I’ll count to three. If your leader really is a ‘prophet,’ she’ll come out on her own. She must have seen her subordinate’s death in the future.”

Martinez immediately began to count. His voice was cold, without a hint of hesitation.

But even when he reached one, Anna Croft still hadn’t appeared.

“Guess the prophet’s fame was false. Either that, or—”

The trigger moved.

“She didn’t think much of you at all.”

And someone moved faster than the trigger.

“Anna’s not coming out.”

As always, it all happened in a single instant.

No—maybe it was a rather long and leisurely instant.

Kim Dokja raised his arm slowly and gently wrapped his fingers around the gun’s sight, as if picking up a teacup.

“She can’t see the future right now.”

Even so, no one but me saw his movement.

Not Christina, not Selena Kim, not Martinez. All their eyes were wide in shock.

They couldn’t believe what had just happened.

[Constellation, ‘First Magician of Humanity,’ is astonished.]

Only I knew what Kim Dokja had done.

It wasn’t magic or sorcery.

[Tale, ‘The Pebble and I,’ concludes its story.]

Snapping back to his senses, Martinez pulled the trigger in panic.

Click. Click.

But the gun didn’t fire.

[Tale, ‘The Gun and I,’ continues its story.]

Seizing the weapon in one motion, Kim Dokja pointed it upward like a joke and pulled the trigger.

“Because I’m here.”

Bang!

With that sound, the fireworks announcing our debut in Las Vegas exploded through the air.