Pick Me Up Infinite Gacha! Novel - Chapter 325
Pick me Up – Chapter 325 – The King of the Limit (2)
The pale face of Siris began to acquire a peach tone.
The infinite power was knitting together her fractured bones and muscles, reconnecting her severed nerves and blood vessels.
Her heartbeat grew stronger. And then…
“Ugh!”
Siris spat out dead blood from her mouth.
“Cough! Cough! Cough!”
“Siris! Don’t die!”
Nihaku exclaimed, clutching her tightly.
I pulled my hand out from Siris’s chest and murmured.
“Don’t cry. She’s not dead.”
I placed my hand on Nihaku’s head.
Then, Siris’s eyelids trembled, and her green eyes lit up.
“Siris!”
Nihaku hugged Siris tightly.
I stood up. I didn’t want to interrupt the moment.
She had been through a lot too. Not only did she face someone like me, but she also had to stab a dagger into my heart. It wasn’t a small effort. And as a result, she died once.
“…Master.”
Siris, still lying down, looked at me.
Her weak voice whispered in my ears.
“Don’t call me that.”
The game was over.
Once Anything, the last master of Pick Me Up, disconnected, the server wouldn’t open again.
The intersection between Mobius and Earth would disappear forever.
“I… ugh…”
Siris tried to get up but frowned.
She hadn’t fully recovered yet. Even though she was connected to the infinite cup, she would also need time to adapt to her new power.
“Siris! Don’t push yourself! If you fall again, what will we do!”
Siris gave Nihaku a bitter smile.
Then, she looked at me again.
“Rest. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“I… need… to… apologize…”
“Apologize? Ah, for trying to cast me to Earth? I forgot about that a long time ago.”
I scratched my neck.
If I think about it, I received a lot of help from Niflheim. When I was playing, I didn’t consider the heroes’ circumstances at all. Siris, Yurnet, Lidygion, Muden, and Nihaku. They all nearly died or lost valuable comrades because of me. I really exploited them.
‘It’s a miracle they didn’t stab me.’
I never thought they would be so loyal.
“You’re missing an arm and an eye. Wait, I’ll regenerate them.”
“I’m fine.”
Siris shook her head.
“I’ll carry this as payment for my mistakes.”
“You’re going to live without an arm and an eye?”
“It won’t affect my fighting. I’ll learn new techniques.”
Siris’s eyes didn’t waver.
It was an expression of firm determination. I thought of arguing, but I shut my mouth. It was better to leave it for now. There would be opportunities to persuade her later.
[Loading…]
[Niflheim is regenerating.]
I turned around.
Rumble! Next to where Bifröst was embedded, a huge pillar emerged, resembling a great tree. The identity of the pillar was obvious. It was the central structure of the Niflheim Lobby, which I had designed with great effort.
“Yggdrasil.”
Yurnet, next to me, spoke.
“From that tree, the new Niflheim will be born.”
A slight vibration shook the ground.
Numerous branches extended from the pillar. Light spread from the branches, filling the space.
The ground, which had been dark and empty, was now covered with clean tiles.
The dark horizon was replaced by thick, sturdy walls.
A fountain in the plaza spewed transparent water, and benches assembled around it.
‘This view…’
I had seen it before.
When I first fell here, it was the same scene when the Lobby was created.
The light scattered from the branches restored the landscape of Niflheim that I knew. It infused new light and color into this limit where there was previously nothing.
“My king.”
Yurnet bowed her head towards me.
“Who is king?”
“He said not to call him master.”
“I’m not a king. Don’t use that title.”
Yurnet looked at me perplexed.
She wanted to give me a name. Neither master nor king.
So, who am I?
Han Seo-jin.
I left behind my life on Earth.
Han Israt was also left behind. Although I have to visit Taonier to see Pria and other comrades, I can’t stay there. That name has also ended.
“Loki.”
A god from mythology who destroyed the world.
It was also my account name.
“Lord Loki.”
Yurnet murmured.
Then, she grumbled.
“But I like the title of king.”
“Eh?”
“In our world, the king was also a mythical figure. A leader who guided his people to victory and prosperity… a legend.”
Earth is no different.
There, kings are relics of the past.
I only knew them from history books. It doesn’t fit me at all.
“Ah, I understand.”
When I explained this, Yurnet nodded.
And she smiled.
“Then, my role will be to guide you, Lord Loki, to the true throne of the king.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry. We don’t know much about what it means to be a subject or what loyalty means either. We can learn together. Someday, I think we’ll have a satisfactory relationship.”
I was stunned by Yurnet’s bright smile.
It was ridiculous.
“We finally united. You can’t run away anymore. Haha.”
“……”
“Now, I don’t think you’ll break the contract, Lord Loki.”
Yurnet finished speaking.
Well, this is what I have to assume.
I was the one who accepted them.
Toot!
The sound of a trumpet echoed.
I looked up.
<All Niflheim forces, advance!>
Beyond the dimensional portal, countless airships were gathering.
Finally, the main forces of Niflheim had arrived.
<Ignite the flames of hell!>
The sky of the vast limit was covered.
Around the flagship, Brünnhilde 01, a fleet of hundreds of large and small airships was forming.
They advanced with the ram statue, the symbol of Niflheim, at the forefront.
“We will grant eternal victory… to Lord Loki.”
“If we leave them like this, won’t they die?”
“…That’s true.”
I sighed.
The fight here is completely different from the outside.
To make them useful, I’ll have to start from scratch.
[Mwahahaha!]
The bow of Brünnhilde 01.
A fairy with a pirate hat and an eye patch laughed maniacally.
[Now that I’m a full member, no one can stop me! Fragments, behold! My ultra hyper mega super golden fleet! Tremble in fear, mwahaha! Come if you dare!]
“Make her internal again.”
“Yes.”
My cape fluttered.
The newborn Niflheim beneath my feet was being rebuilt.
‘My domain.’
Niflheim.
From now on, it will be my fortress and my castle.
‘This will be fun.’
It feels like starting a new game.
I’ll be the master again.
The difference is that now my fate is tied to Niflheim’s.
“Keep that in mind.”
I murmured.
My voice imbued with power spread throughout the limit.
“Once you’ve made the contract with me, you won’t be able to die, even if you die.”
They will come back to life to continue fighting.
We are one and at the same time all.
The infinite cup is no longer just my power.
“In return, I will give you the strength to fight.”
In a war with no end in sight,
To achieve victory.
“Victory for the king.”
Lidygion recited.
<Victory!>
<Victory!>
<Victory!>
<Victory for our king!>
<Victory for the king of the limit!>
A vast chorus resounded.
“We will need new forces. I will establish contacts in all dimensions of Mobius. Those who seek war and honor will be able to join us.”
Yurnet spoke.
“We will be known as Valhalla.”
Valhalla.
It doesn’t sound bad.
“There are several promising candidates in Taonier. Do you want to hear about them?”
“That…”
It’s something for later.
I smiled broadly.
“Aaron.”
“Yes.”
“Do you regret coming here?”
Aaron caressed his spear.
“I’m tired of regret.”
“Really?”
“I’ve been doing it for thousands of years, to the point where I’m sick of it, to the point where there’s nothing left.”
I’ve been a terrible person.
If Aaron had remained as an instructor, he wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.
He could have lived comfortably with his share.
He could be laughing alongside his sister.
‘This is my fault.’
I’m responsible for what happened to him.
For pushing him into this eternal struggle.
“Brother.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t regret it anymore.”
Aaron looked at me with a certain expression.
“It’s an honor to be able to keep fighting by your side.”
“Honor?”
Thank you for following me.
Even when there was no progress for so long, you never blamed me.
You always took all the responsibility on yourself.
I looked at Lidygion.
He didn’t say anything.
He just showed the hilt of his sword from afar.
‘No need for words.’
Nihaku was crying in a corner.
“Master, I’m really glad… Master…”
I shrugged.
And then.
“Siris.”
She seemed to have recovered a bit.
Siris staggered towards me.
The eye bandaged with a cloth and the empty sleeve of her right arm looked lonely.
‘My…’
Sub-master.
The hero I cherished the most.
At first, I took care of her because she was the only four-star, but I soon realized she was different from the other heroes.
Sometimes she made mistakes,
But she always found the right path.
“You don’t look well. Regenerate your arm and eye.”
“Someday.”
Siris spoke.
A satisfied smile appeared on her face.
“When I feel I have fulfilled my responsibility, I’ll recover them.”
“You’re stubborn.”
That’s typical of Siris.
‘Master and hero.’
That one-dimensional relationship is over.
It’s time to build a new relationship in this long struggle.
‘Be happy.’
The master’s last command.
I don’t know what it means, but I plan to try.
‘Master.’
I looked to the side.
Anything’s control screen was flickering.
It can’t last long. It will disconnect soon.
Above the limit.
From the small screen of the smartphone,
Anything was watching me.
[Warning!]
[The server is unstable!]
[Prepare for disconnection!]
It’s the end.
Our paths are too different.
‘You should play less.’
It seems your mother is very worried.
Playing can relieve stress, but it should be done in moderation, without interfering with daily life.
Maybe I’m not the one to say this.
Well, it doesn’t matter.
“Hey.”
I have something to say before you go.
“Can you change this?”
I lifted the Warhorse Statue.
It was so worn out that it was missing its head and legs.
It was no longer a statue, just a deformed mass.
[Gift Shop.]
[Buy the Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold.]
[Gift the Warhorse Statue to Han!]
Clink!
[Han is happy to receive the Warhorse Statue.]
I whistled and accepted the new statue.
And said.
“Goodbye.”
Chiiiis. With some noises, Anything’s control screen shut down.
[Error!]
[Connection lost.]
The light floating in the air disappeared.
I stroked the statue and spoke.
“Don’t you think we should change Niflheim’s symbol?”
Yurnet blinked.
I put the statue in a bag on my belt.
“The ram is outdated. It’s not elegant. Since we’re starting anew…”
“If you mean the toy you have in your hand, no, thanks.”
Siris coughed.
“You just said you regretted it.”
“That’s different.”
Siris smiled.
‘Wow.’
They don’t understand good taste.
I clicked my tongue.
Grrr.
At that moment, I heard a roar.
I extended my hand. The Bifröst sword, embedded in the ground, flew into my hand.
No need to say anything.
Everyone was ready for battle.
Their expressions were full of tension, as if they had never been relaxed.
‘I’m not alone.’
It was a strange feeling.
To have someone by my side.
A tingling sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time.
And at the same time, a new determination ignited.
‘The end exists.’
Someday, there will be a conclusion.
This long war will also end someday.
Will I be able to stand until then?
Of course.
I smiled. Even when I was alone, it was like this.
I don’t fight hopeless battles.
Roar!
Thousands of fragments emerged.
Of course, I’ll win…
“Here.”
I raised the Bifröst.
Other heroes jumped to my side.