"Demon King?"

At Jo Jincheol’s single word, the screening officer’s complexion changed.

"Great Hero Jo! When you say Demon King…?"

"With that three-inch tongue… you toyed with people?"

"T-Tongue? Is there a Demon King related to tongues?"

As the incarnations gathered there began to take interest one by one, Jo Jincheol’s mouth kept running on.

"…A new world needs new rules."

Huh?

"I’ll drop all of you from that damned sky!"

Huh?

"…I have a life of my own?"

Wait. What tale is this bastard even looking at?

"What on earth are you talking about, Great Hero Jo? What kind of existence is this newcomer supposed to be?"

Jo Jincheol answered, groaning low.

"Interesting. Looks like the only tales you have are a few history-grade ones, but with a tale structure like this, you might be exactly the kind of talent our ancestor Constellation was looking for."

"Our ancestor Constellation…?"

"The owner of the great <Black Cloud>, of course!"

"H-Huh…!"

Watching the screening officer topple over in shock, I briefly wondered if this was some kind of surprise newcomer party.

"On the planet I lived on, there were guys with a trait called ‘middle school syndrome.’ A devilish talent that pushes their delusions to the bitter end, until they finally turn those delusions into reality…."

Listening to him, I felt like I could vaguely tell what Jo Jincheol had glimpsed in me.

「“Most of the constellations who look at you will probably experience cognitive dissonance. They’ll find it hard to accept the fact that someone who is neither a constellation nor a transcendent has an unusually large ‘realm.’

If they acknowledge you, constellations will have to accept that an incarnation who is nothing can be stronger than them.

So ordinary stars won’t be able to face your existence head-on, and they’ll only read distorted fragments of tales.”」

So that was why he said he was curious what other constellations would see in me.

I was about to tell him it was a complete misunderstanding, but Jo Jincheol’s eyes had already changed, and he shouted boldly at me.

"Come to our <Black Cloud Foundation>. With talent like yours, I can contact the foundation’s main server right now and help you download [Black Flame Mad Heaven Art]."

Black Flame Mad Heaven Art. Just hearing the name made me not want to learn it.

But it seemed other people thought differently.

"<Black Cloud Foundation> made the first recruitment offer?"

"[Black Flame Mad Heaven Art]! My god. Isn’t that the exclusive secret art of <Black Cloud Foundation>’s executives?"

"What an enviable newcomer."

Things were turning weird.

The screening officer lightly patted my shoulder and said,

"You’re really lucky. From your expression, it looks like you still don’t understand what’s happening, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"…."

"<Black Cloud Foundation> is one of the top corporations on ‘New Murim Earth.’ If you can ascend through that corporation, your future…."

I was about to say it didn’t sound like a particularly positive future, when the crowd’s voices reached me right on time.

"Damn it, another parachute hire showed up. Those damn star-spoon bastards."

"Still, I’m jealous."

Faces full of envy and jealousy.

Listening to the murmuring voices made my feelings complicated for no reason.

Maybe an incarnation’s potential is mostly decided in the first scenario, ‘Proof of worth.’

Incarnations who survived to this point without receiving a proper backer choice still had to endure life while waiting only for the selection of higher constellations.

"Damn it. If only I could get into a major corporation too…."

In the main story, Kim Dokja became a constellation on his own without a backer constellation, but not everyone can walk that path.

Once again, I worried about my companions. Uncle Dansoo and Ji Eunyu had been chosen by tale-grade constellations, so they were one thing, but what about the other companions who didn’t choose a backer constellation?

The screening officer patted my shoulder again and said,

"…So, if you join Black Cloud Foundation and hone your tales for about ten years, you can become an ascender like Great Hero Jo and become a dragon person who serves the great owner of Black Cloud. You know what kind of being the owner of Black Cloud is, right?"

"I’ve heard of them."

"Of course. Haha, there’s no way you wouldn’t know. That person is closer to the ‘Final Dragon of the Apocalypse’ than any ancient dragon in existence!"

In other words, if I got hired there and suffered like hell for ten years, I could become something like a shoe-wiper for the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon.

This guy would probably faint if he knew I once received the backer choice of the ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ in the first scenario.

I was about to express my refusal without delay, but unfortunately, someone cut me off and jumped in.

"Why are you having such a pleasant conversation while leaving only me out of it?"

It was Paradise Holy Emperor Reinheit.

Maybe he sensed something off, because Jo Jincheol quickly stepped in front of him and warned him.

"Paradise Holy Emperor. This isn’t your place to butt in. We’ve already decided that our Black Cloud Foundation will recruit this cute little guy."

"I don’t think you’ve heard that incarnation’s opinion yet."

"There’s no need to hear it! What incarnation would dare refuse the foundation’s recruitment?"

"It seems you’ve already forgotten the Mad Sword Emperor incident."

Jo Jincheol’s expression hardened.

"Mad Sword Emperor! Why are you bringing up that crazy ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ woman?"

"Back then, didn’t you read the tale wrong and try to recruit recklessly, only for the foundation branch to nearly be wiped out?"

"You bastard!"

"Give me a chance as well. Maybe they’re a talent better suited to <Olympos Technology> than to <Black Cloud Foundation>, don’t you think?"

Ignoring the indignant Jo Jincheol, Reinheit shone an ominous light at me.

"Hm…."

He manifested a constellation’s authority and began reading my tales. It was the exact same method Jo Jincheol used.

I thought I’d hear some other bizarre nonsense again, but—

"Amazing. Even that ‘Qi-Hwa Demon Saint’ wouldn’t have built up tales this noble in a scenario of the same grade…."

At Reinheit’s words, the screening officer jumped again and asked back,

"You’ve seen Qi-Hwa Demon Saint?"

"I met them once from afar. As the rumors said, a beautiful person. I couldn’t get close because of the Monkey King’s tale, though…."

Monkey King?

That sounds like someone I know.

"Anyway, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen an incarnation climb this far while maintaining such a pure soul."

At that moment, Reinheit’s [Voice Transmission] reached my ear.

—Excuse me, but which Great Demon King’s subordinate are you?

Huh?

"You must be someone who saved countless souls and built up good tales."

When I glared at him, he kept up his [Voice Transmission] with a thick smile.

—Although I can’t read your essence, I can strongly feel the tale of ‘hypocrisy’ from you. Heh heh, just how many beings have you deceived?

Look at this bastard.

"Unless you received a great archangel’s grace, it would be difficult to build up only such good tales…."

—With this level of demonic energy, you must have deceived countless stars and made it here. More than anything, those half-lidded eyes of yours that even this power can’t peer into….

The spectators of the ascension ceremony stirred loudly once again.

"A great archangel’s grace? Don’t tell me they’re from <Eden>?"

"But <Eden> wouldn’t have opened a branch in ‘New Murim Earth’—"

"They could be an incarnation who only received grace. Either way, it’s incredible."

Before I knew it, the whole area was buzzing with talk about me.

Riding the atmosphere, Reinheit made an offer.

"Come to our <Olympos Technology>."

—I don’t know why you left the Demonic Realm and came here… but if an acting agent of a high-ranking Demon King made it all the way here, that means you had no choice. <Olympus> can protect you. Even if you’re being chased by <Eden>, too.

It seemed he was firmly misunderstanding me.

He apparently judged me to be a subordinate of a high-ranking Demon King who was chased out of the Demonic Realm, or something similar….

Thinking about it carefully, it was frustrating that I couldn’t exactly say it was a misunderstanding.

Just then, Jo Jincheol cut in again.

"What nonsense are you spewing, Reinheit! I heard you only chased after the ass of the goddess of beauty, but it looks like your eyes have gone crooked. Great archangel? Good tales? Where the hell are you reading tales like that from this guy! This guy is talent for ‘Black Cloud Foundation’! Hey, ignore that nonsense! I’ll personally write you a letter of recommendation!"

"A-An ascender’s letter of recommendation!"

I didn’t really know what a letter of recommendation was, but it seemed like a huge privilege here.

Maybe he read my expression, because the screening officer nodded with satisfaction and explained.

"You’re still a newcomer, so you don’t know, but if you get a recommendation letter and get hired, depending on your effort, you can at least qualify for ascension within 5 years. And if you even learn [Black Flame Mad Heaven Art]…!"

In short, he was saying he’d cut ten years of becoming the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’s shoe-wiper down to five.

What an amazing benefit.

I was about to cheerfully refuse, but this time Reinheit cut in.

"If you join our <Olympos Technology>, I’ll put you on the ascension platform within 3 years."

"3 years! My god!"

I gave a bitter smile.

If I had to guess, there was probably a heated debate going on inside the [Fourth Wall] right now along the lines of ‘Become an Olympus slave vs become a Black Flame Dragon’s shoe-wiper.’

"This isn’t the end. If you become an ascender, I’ll personally recommend you as an incarnation of one of <Olympus>’ Twelve Divine Seats."

The hall was truly covered in shock.

The Twelve Divine Seats of Olympus.

If I didn’t know <Olympus> well, it would’ve been a tempting offer.

"My god! Is Paradise Holy Emperor serious?"

"Of course Paradise Holy Emperor can do it. I heard Paradise Holy Emperor was also selected this time as an incarnation candidate for one of the Twelve Divine Seats."

This time, even I was a little surprised.

That Reinheit is a candidate incarnation for one of the Twelve Divine Seats?

[The exclusive skill, ‘Fourth Wall’, activates!]

Instinctively, my guard went up.

If Reinheit was a terminal incarnation directly connected to one of <Olympus>’ Twelve Divine Seats, this situation was dangerous.

<Olympus> had a history of clashing with me multiple times in the ‘Recycling Center’ and the ‘apocalypse region.’ Even if quite a bit of time had passed, at the level of the Twelve Divine Seats, they might recognize my identity.

Just then, the sky above the ascension platform rippled ominously.

Intermittent sparks began to flow, centered on Reinheit’s Thunder God Spear.

I quickly pulled my hood over my head and asked,

"Sorry, but there’s a corporation I want to join separately."

At my words, the screening officer asked in shock,

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

I looked around the hall. The incarnations gathered here were wearing uniforms with the symbols or names of different corporations engraved on them. But no matter how I searched, I couldn’t see the corporation name I was looking for.

"That guy’s insane. With ascenders from <Black Cloud Foundation> and <Olympos Technology> right in front of him, he says he’s looking for another corporation?"

"Is he a brat who still doesn’t have an eye for things?"

If I was going to become the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’s shoe-wiper or a terminal incarnation of <Olympus>, I wouldn’t have gone through all that hell and made it here in the first place.

While everyone was making dumbfounded expressions, only Reinheit was staring at me with profound eyes.

"Interesting. You reject <Black Cloud Foundation> and <Olympos Technology> and choose a ‘third option’? It reminds me of a famous anecdote for some reason."

"Heh heh. Kuhahahahat!"

Maybe my answer was that funny, because Jo Jincheol burst into loud laughter as well. Then, in the middle of that, Jo Jincheol abruptly stopped laughing and peered at me.

"You bastard… are you thinking you’re ‘Kim Dokja’ or something?"