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Chapter 657: The Great Prison Break (6)

A storyteller.

Judging by the situation, it seemed that the rumor about the ‘100-year covenant’ that Yeongwoo had been handing out as the price for passing through black holes had already spread this far.

“A storyteller? Me?”

When Yeongwoo asked into the pitch-black void, the voice in question once again seized control of the space.

● Aren’t you that Jeong Yeongwoo?

“…That’s correct.”

● I heard that if we open a path for you, you will endlessly tell us astonishing and rare stories.

“…….”

Endlessly continuing astonishing and rare stories.

At the very least, none of the covenants Yeongwoo had made so far contained anything like that.

‘These lunatics. They’ve been spreading rumors among themselves and exaggerating the contents more and more.’

It was absurd.

But even so, Yeongwoo was not reckless enough to immediately deny the exaggerated rumors.

After all, what the black hole before him was expecting was precisely those endlessly continuing astonishing and rare stories.

And if the ‘storyteller’ who had finally arrived here were to firmly state that there was no such thing…

‘If I did that, I’d probably get to experience firsthand the caprice and spite of black holes that I’d only heard about in rumors.’

One of the reasons he had managed to survive in this harsh universe until now was precisely his sharp intuition.

Yeongwoo immediately lowered his posture and addressed the other party.

“As you already know, the covenant I offer in exchange for using the ‘passage’ takes effect on a 100-year cycle.”

● Right. I heard you will come to see us directly every 100 years.

“Yes… so, right now, I am in the process of creating the astonishing stories that I will tell you then.”

As Yeongwoo said this, there was a sense that the entire darkness surrounding him swayed.

Kugugugugu…….

● What? Then are you saying you have no story to tell me right now? Why is this different from the promise?

‘No, damn it… when did I ever make that promise?’

Yeongwoo’s insides boiled, but he barely managed to restrain himself from letting out a curse.

“The covenant I offer is that I will return in 100 years and tell you a story. And for the sake of that future, I am asking you to open the passage now.”

If it wanted to hear astonishing and rare stories, then it should first open the path and grant the storyteller time.

As Yeongwoo pleaded into the void like this, the Grade-3 prisoners who had been silently listening to the conversation until now began drawing their weapons one by one.

Shwaaaaaat!

—This is impossible to tolerate.

—Wouldn’t it be faster to subdue it with a sword at this rate?

—A black hole is, at its core, still a celestial body. That means a blade can pierce it.

Grade-3 beings.

As expected of sinners who had solved many things through sheer power, they were thinking of subduing the black hole with their swords and opening the passage.

Of course, not all the prisoners were ignorant about black holes, so more than half still kept their weapons sheathed.

—If you kill the black hole? Then who opens the passage?

—Would a being that lives with eternity submit to a mere sword? Commit a discourtesy, and we’ll be trapped here forever.

—So even the dim-witted can accomplish great feats, it seems.

The division among the “presidents” was extremely swift and fierce.

Those who drew their swords, and those who did not.

As the Grade-3 prisoners split into two factions and growled at each other, Yeongwoo realized two things.

First.

‘Are the presidents saying they can even defeat a black hole? They must have felt its overwhelming presence with their own skin, and yet they’re still talking about stabbing it to death?’

If that were true, then the might of a Grade-3 being was far beyond what Yeongwoo had imagined.

And the second.

‘But more than half of the presidents are trying to avoid friction with the black hole. This isn’t just about simple superiority in strength.’

That was probably due to the unique nature of a black hole.

Hadn’t one of the presidents just said it?

That if they committed a discourtesy, they would be trapped here forever.

Even if one possessed the power to kill the black hole’s main body, one could not alter the fundamental properties of a celestial body.

In other words, no matter how strong one was, one could not defy the laws of nature.

‘On the flip side, that means at around Grade-3, you can actually beat up a black hole, huh.’

As Yeongwoo was thinking this, the distance between the divided Grade-3 prisoners closed in a dangerously threatening manner.

At this rate, it seemed that a full-blown clash between the prisoners was about to break out at any moment.

—You cowards! Draw your swords. Let us decide who is right the way of the universe!

—Who are you calling cowards? It’s just that using a blade against fools like you would be a waste.

At this, Yeongwoo pushed his way between the prisoners, who were practically on the verge of a brawl, and raised Bastard high.

Hwaeaeaeat!

“Presidents! Are you really going to do this? It’s only been a few dozen minutes since we were trapped in Pahalufe, and already you’re showing off your strength?”

At that, the violently surging presences all came to a halt at once.

Partly because of Yeongwoo’s words that reminded them of their grueling imprisonment, but even before that—

—It’s Vesedel’s relic.

—Ah, Dogo.

—The challenger’s sword.

The fact that the sword Yeongwoo had raised was ‘Bastard’ played a major role.

Bastard.

The final weapon of the fallen royal family Vesedel, and a sword forged to challenge Transcendents.

「Bastard」- Mythical One-handed Sword

【Authority Obstruction】

【Contempt for the weak】

【Challenger】

【Authority Obstruction】

|Weakens the authority of transcendents.

【Contempt for the weak】

|This sword's attack can only be blocked with mythic or higher equipment.

【Challenger】

|Combat abilities increase dramatically when fighting beings of higher rank.

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Bastard itself symbolized a challenge against the strong—an outright provocation.

Thus, the mere appearance of this sword before everyone’s eyes brought many things to mind.

That while everyone present were indeed formidable beings in the universe, there existed things even stronger than them.

The Transcendents who stood above all things, and the Space Police Bureau that had been detaining over a thousand prisoners just moments ago. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Strangely enough, Bastard vividly reminded them that they were still fugitives.

—That’s right. Now is the time to conserve our strength.

—Once we leave here, the Kaujo will pursue us again.

—Dogo must be laughing at us.

Realizing their situation anew, the prisoners’ shoulders sagged.

At that moment, the black hole beyond the darkness stirred again and interjected.

● Prisoners? Are those lumps of stone gathered here prisoners?

Lumps of stone.

It was likely an expression referring to their mass.

Yeongwoo raised his head toward the void and answered.

“Yes. They are prisoners who have just escaped from the Space Police Bureau.”

● Then the ones gathered around me right now must be the police.

It seemed that the pursuit fleet of the Bureau was lined up beyond the black hole’s boundary.

“…Yes. They’re probably waiting for us to be expelled. If you do not open the passage, not only these prisoners but I myself will be imprisoned again.”

If that happened, the 100-year covenant would not be kept either.

● Hah, quite a precarious bunch.

The black hole let out a scoffing snort.

Then it asked Yeongwoo again.

● If I were to open the path, what would happen to you?

“I would flee to the other side of the universe, release these prisoners back into it, and I myself would be pursued by the Bureau.”

● For some reason, I feel like your covenant won’t be kept.

“But if you do not open the path, my story ends right here.”

There was no path of return anyway.

As Yeongwoo pushed forward with sheer resolve, having cut off any retreat, the black hole in the darkness revealed itself for the first time.

Kwaaaaaaaaa……!

The darkness that had covered everything receded like a withdrawing tide, and in the distance, a massive structure appeared.

‘What is that…?’

The structure rising from within the darkness looked like a gigantic hand.

However, it had only three fingers.

● Come closer.

As the black hole beckoned Yeongwoo forward, the prisoners in the area stepped aside to the left and right, opening a path.

And then—

Thud.

Yeongwoo stepped forward between the Grade-3 prisoners.

Splash, splash.

Beneath his feet, darkness flowed like a stream, producing a sound as if he were stepping on water, while above his head, dense darkness rippled like seawater.

And as Yeongwoo alone advanced toward the structure in the midst of all this, the black hole that had been sitting atop the palm finally revealed its form.

● To think you would try to buy our favor by selling your future—your very existence is an interesting story.

The black hole, laughing heartily, was surprisingly in the form of a small boy.

However, instead of hair, scales extended long down his back like a cloak.

He had three eyes, including one set on his forehead, and each of their pupils shone with an immaculate white light.

“It must be impossible for you to even imagine. Having lived as a celestial body your entire life, surviving in this harsh universe as a lesser being is by no means easy.”

● Is that why you drag around all those lumps of stone?

The black hole raised a finger and pointed at the prisoners in the distance.

At that, Yeongwoo glanced back briefly and nodded.

“They are influential figures in my world. Someday, they will be a great help to my survival—insurance, in a way.”

● A complicated life.

“And that is precisely what makes it an interesting story, isn’t it?”

As Yeongwoo said this and sheathed Bastard at his waist, the black hole tilted its chin.

● My name is Turua. Remember it. You must come to see me again in 100 years.

Turua.

The black hole closest to the Jegwit Galaxy, where the Space Police Bureau was located.

Remembering this fact, Yeongwoo immediately replied.

“It is possible that I may meet you again within 100 years.”

● That would be good news for me. But why?

“Because you are the closest to the Space Police Bureau. So when the time comes for me to attack the Bureau, I will come to see you again.”

At those words, Turua burst into loud laughter.

● Now you’re finally telling an interesting story. Good. I will open the path. Initiate the covenant!

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