356-2. Childhood Ep – Compensation

‘What is this?’

Reb is walking away. It’s good that things are good, but Minseo was left puzzled.

Every time the ending occurred, I was sucked into this dark place with Leo, gradually regaining my composure while reading the ending credits. Leo’s consciousness clearly faded away with time…

As always, while reading through the rising credits, Minseo soon realized.

Where all those Leos who had vanished in the meantime had gone. She screamed as she understood why our lives had been so painfully torturous until now.

…The Leos had been ‘offered.’

When she obtained information about the {History of Ashin}, she discovered how the Ashin accumulated power and what tributes they received.

They accepted anything deemed valuable.

What they found valuable wasn’t so different from what humans considered precious; anything imbued with emotions of the ‘creatures’ was acceptable.

For instance, the heads and hearts of game that a Hunter father offered to Barbatos contained his dedication and gratitude.

And the game must have been very sorry to have lost its heart and head… Leo’s life was just like that.

‘Replicas’ filled with emotions experienced over a session.

The emotions of hard work during that session and feelings towards Lena formed a beautifully arranged tribute. And the payment for that tribute was the ‘ending rewards’ we eagerly received in each session.

Minseo couldn’t help but recall all the rewards we had received in abundance.

[ Leo, you became a great hunter… thus, a part of Leo’s {Hunting} ability is inherited. ]

[ Leo, you became a knight… thus, a part of the {Swordsmanship} ability is inherited. ]

[ Leo, due to poverty, your beloved younger sister… a sum of {initial funds} is provided as a gesture of consolation. ]

[ Leo, you were too naive… here is information on the {Rules of the Underworld}. ]

[ Leo, you joined forces with Lena… here is the {Joint Technique} ability. ]

[ Leo, your achievements are surpassed by Lena’s… part of Lena’s {Magic Defense} ability is inherited by you. ]

[ Due to the interference of nobles, Lena’s dream… here is information on the {Noble Society}. ]

[ Leo, you received the sword of a Swordmaster… here is the {Swordsmanship.2v} ability. ]

[ Leo, you spent your remaining life searching for Lena… the {Tracking Skill} ability is granted. ]

[ Leo, you wielded the sword of someone who pushed swordsmanship to its limits… here is the {Swordsmanship.3v: Bart-style} ability. ]

[ Leo, you encountered Ashin… here is information on the {History of Ashin}. ]

[ Leo, as an Apostle of Barbatos, you served faithfully… here is the {Bracelet of Barbatos}. ]

[ Leo, you engaged in fierce battles against the Swordmaster… here is the {Swordsmanship.4v: Jacob-style} ability. ]

[ Leo, you wounded the strongest swordsman on the continent… here is the {Swordsmanship.5v: Forte-style} ability. ]

[ Leo, you were betrayed… your ‘Master-Servant Relationship’ achievement is strengthened. ]

[ Leo, you became the strongest swordsman on the continent, but Lena… here is the {Swordsmanship Instructor} ability. ]

[ Leo, you became the king of the Conrad Kingdom and a great general… here is the {Tactics} ability. ]

All of this was the price paid with Leo and his emotions. Minseo now understood why, no matter how much we struggled, we consistently faced tragic endings.

The Lord of all things had not received offerings since ancient times and could not even receive them.

Offering something belonging to the master to the master held no meaning, so someone had manipulated the lives of Leos.

To accumulate resentment.

So that Leo’s emotions would reach the heavens, impressing even the indifferent Lord, Leo’s fate and [System] were designed.

It was likely the work of Namers, the god of patience and devotion.

‘……’

Minseo zoned out for a moment.

Her overwhelmed head ached, and she shuddered at Namers’ coldness. The Leos were literally ‘dying’ to raise their Lenas.

To Minseo, the empty space of this twenty-sided die where the ending credits rose began to feel like an altar filled with the corpses of Leos. They were here, shattered into pieces, having disappeared.

Still longing only for Lena’s happiness.

‘…’

Minseo collected herself and repeatedly read the three pictures and the ending credits that had come to mind.

Except for the part about Lean kidnapping Ksenia and forcing her into marriage, there wasn’t much noteworthy content.

He didn’t manage to win Ksenia’s love until the end, and since she couldn’t give birth to a child, he eventually married Reriana to carry on his line; it was all horrendous but not crucial information.

Simply because they couldn’t reach Oberg. More than that, the bright smile of Reb in the photo with Leah caught her eye. It’s the first time she’d seen Reb looking so happy.

‘…Congratulations.’

It’s a cruel system, but still, ever since seeing the true ending, it seemed to let go of the Leos.

That was why there hadn’t been a reward when she caught Malhas during the last engagement ending.

Back then, she hadn’t thought it strange that Ray’s spirit hadn’t followed after Ray died and the ending came.

I couldn’t grasp the reason for not giving ending rewards, so I had been angrily voicing my frustrations… but now, not receiving an ending reward wasn’t so regrettable.

Minseo reminisced about the rewards she had amassed and chose the last session. Leaving behind the scattered heap of Leos, she felt grateful and turned towards the future.

To reclaim our final happy ending.

Time rewound.

   

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