NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31
“[Painter]?”
A woman suddenly appears, claiming to be a [Painter].
And she looks exactly like Lumi.
Jung Seong-min was momentarily taken aback but quickly came to a conclusion.
He might not know how she obtained the powers of a [Painter], but he was aware of the [Abnormality] that mimics others.
“[Faceless Beautiful Figure]?”
One of the three masterpieces of the [Painter].
A kind of doppelgänger that eats a woman’s blood and projects her appearance onto itself.
Though her power pales in comparison to the other two [Paintings], the heinousness of her ability to steal an opponent’s very existence and her exceptional skills in espionage raised the caution of many factions.
‘The fact that she’s taking on Lumi’s appearance means…’
“Is Lumi alive?”
“Well? Who knows?”
Jung Seong-min gritted his teeth.
He had made a mistake.
He thought it would be safer to send her away and finish the job, but he never expected something like this would appear.
If he had known this, it would have been better to keep her close and protect her.
“There’s no way you killed her, right?! That woman is mine!”
Kim Min-seong shouted as if he were having a seizure in response to her answer.
With the arrival of allies, he seemed to regain his momentum and started yelling at the [Beautiful Figure].
The [Beautiful Figure] furrowed her brow, showing her annoyance.
“Indeed, the probability that Lumi is still alive is high.”
It was surprising that Kim Min-seong, a raging piece of trash, would be of any help.
Even if the [Beautiful Figure] gained the powers of a [Painter], Kim Min-seong was still a considerable asset to her side.
She wouldn’t discard someone like him this early if she aimed to take the new position of [Painter] since she would need talented individuals to restore her nearly collapsed faction.
And unless she was planning to cut ties with him immediately, she couldn’t kill Lumi.
Because if she did, Kim Min-seong might do something unpredictable.
“Then the task remains unchanged.”
I must clean this place up quickly and join Lumi.
2 to 1.
It was a bit troublesome, but there was no reason not to do it.
“What, are you still planning to fight?”
Seeing Jung Seong-min taking stance made the [Beautiful Figure] frown.
Even after her joining, does she still think it’s doable?
Good grief.
“How arrogant.”
With that, the fight resumed, starting with the brush swirling in the [Beautiful Figure]’s hand.
*
[Painter]
A man who acted as a commander-like figure in the massive force known as [Artist].
His ability, true to the name of [Painter], is intuitive.
He imbues shapes into his painted pictures, projecting them into reality.
Living [Paintings].
[Abnormality] painting an [Abnormality].
It is undoubtedly a powerful ability, but…
“[Painter]’s strength came from the [Brush], right?”
Even if the [Beautiful Figure] obtained such abilities, the level of execution differs significantly.
It’s not a matter of whether it’s well-painted or poorly-painted.
It’s about the completeness as an [Abnormality].
Compared to the [Paintings] of the [Painter] that possess powers comparable to [Ghost Stories], this is but a flimsy sheet of paper.
Crunch—
I slice through a [Painting] extending like a branch.
Unlike the [Painter]’s [Painting], which has its own will, this just moves in a straight line like a mere model.
“Is this the best you can do to call yourself a [Painter]? You really are clueless.”
“Shut up!”
In response to the [Beautiful Figure]’s shout, thorns erupted from the paint splattered on the floor.
“Is this all you’ve got…!”
“Die!”
At that moment, Kim Min-seong sprang out from between the thorns.
Normally, entering such a wide-range attack would be considered suicide, but for him, it was different.
[Auto-Control].
His body moved automatically, plotting a route to Jung Seong-min while avoiding the thorn strikes.
The swords attempting to slice through the thorns found themselves in a situation where they couldn’t be recovered immediately.
Kim Min-seong thrust his knife hand toward Jung Seong-min’s neck.
Thud—
“Cough!”
“I’m trained enough not to fall to a weakling like you without a sword.”
Jung Seong-min’s kick slammed into Kim Min-seong’s chest.
‘Am I a bit late?’
I was so distracted by Kim Min-seong that I was slow to cut down the thorns.
‘I’ll block it.’
I move my body to minimize the hit zone and block the directly approaching thorns with my sword.
The sword clashes with the thorns.
Kaan—
And then—
Fwoosh—
“Ugh!”
An explosion and shockwave erupted from the hit point.
“What is this [Skill]?!”
“How’s that? How’s your girlfriend’s ability?”
I wanted to retort that nobody’s his girlfriend, but there was no time for that.
As soon as Jung Seong-min got caught up in the shockwave, branches surfaced again, aiming for him.
It was impossible to block them all with an incomplete stance due to the shockwave.
At that moment, one object caught Jung Seong-min’s eye.
Kim Min-seong’s knife.
The weapon dropped by that guy who was knocked down by Jung Seong-min’s kick lay at his feet.
Toss it?
No, I wouldn’t have time to throw it after picking it up.
Then…!
At that moment, Jung Seong-min kicked the handle of the knife.
“Ahhh!”
Was it a coincidence or intentional? The knife that Jung Seong-min kicked embedded itself into the right hand gripping the [Beautiful Figure]’s brush.
As her concentration broke from the pain, it affected the [Painting], distorting its shape.
The shapes lost their form and spilled onto the floor as paint.
‘Now’s the chance!’
I have to finish before the [Beautiful Figure] regains her composure!
Stepping once.
I step onto the surface of space.
Twisting—
Using the technique I received from the Alliance Leader.
Though I can’t transcend space like the Alliance Leader yet because I’m still inexperienced, I’m speeding through the surface.
Just a few seconds.
Jung Seong-min reaches in front of the [Beautiful Figure].
“Die!”
Jung Seong-min’s sword descends toward the [Beautiful Figure].
*
The battle taking place at Ewha Womans University was also being observed from the main base of the [Broadcasting Station].
Despite being isolated due to the [Landscape Painting], the system was still operational.
Not to mention, the betrayer was clearly identified.
There was no way the [Broadcasting Station] wouldn’t monitor that.
“[Painter], huh.”
As Han Yu-seong looked at the crumbling backdrop of the [Landscape Painting], he asked.
He forcefully pulled power to break the barrier, but it was still a bit lacking.
“What about the one we secured?”
The newly born [Painter].
Like the executives of [Artist], the [Painter] was also an [Abnormality] existing due to some kind of faith.
Although it’s a low-level faith maintained by followers who cannot become [God].
So then, what happened to the original [Painter] now that a new object of worship was born?
“He’s dead.”
With the birth of the new [Painter], the existing [Painter] died.
A generation shift in faith.
No, in this case, it’s more accurate to say he was devoured.
As Jung Seong-min’s sword fell toward the new [Painter], the brush of the [Painter] began to move, and thorns erupted.
-What are you doing…
The target of the thorns was not Jung Seong-min, who was attacking her.
It was Kim Min-seong, who had fallen after getting hit by Jung Seong-min.
Thorns began to emerge from beneath him, piercing through Kim Min-seong’s body like a skewer.
-Cough.
With a short gasp, Kim Min-seong took his last breath.
At the same time, the [Painter]’s wound inflicted on Jung Seong-min healed.
“What about Kim Min-seong’s broadcast?”
“… It remains as is.”
Just like with Lumi.
System confiscation.
The [Beautiful Figure], hidden among the hostages, ambushed Lumi and stole her appearance and system.
Not just her appearance, but also replicating her very soul as an [Abnormality].
This was the reason the [Painter] could use Lumi’s [Skill].
-Sorry. I didn’t plan to abandon you. But it looks like it’s tough for us to win, so give me your power, too.
“Now there’s no need to steal her appearance anymore.”
The [Beautiful Figure] was an artificially created [Abnormality].
She wasn’t a normal [Abnormality] made by gathering thoughts.
Just an incomplete [Abnormality] born from the [Painter]’s [Painting].
She had sufficient strength and talent.
Yet, despite that, she was not recognized within [Artist].
Because her existence was too incomplete to be a target of faith and to become a complete [Abnormality].
That’s why she coveted Lumi.
A beautiful woman she could replicate and at the same time, a chaotically worshiped [Streamer].
An existence composed of thoughts systematically filtered to not be negative toward humans.
Even among them, resembling radiant thoughts that showcase hope to others.
And in the end, the [Beautiful Figure], who had copied Lumi’s form, sensed her plan had succeeded.
The incomplete existence was solidifying.
Faith began to coalesce around her.
It was possible because the [Streaming System], which had been granting power to Lumi, mistook the [Beautiful Figure] for Lumi.
Thus, the incomplete [Beautiful Figure] became a complete [Painter].
No longer did she need to replicate others.
She was a [Painter], not a [Beautiful Figure].
Yet, her power did not fade away.
The essence of her as a [Beautiful Figure].
The power of an [Abnormality] that mimics others and steals their existence.
Kim Min-seong’s system was absorbed by the [Painter].
“With this, it becomes that Lumi killed the [Painter] and the betrayer.”
The [Streaming System] is currently mistaking the [Painter] for Lumi.
In other words, it means that the achievements of the [Painter] who stole the faith and killed would be counted as Lumi’s achievements.
“What happens to the rankings?”
The absolute number itself may fall short, but the quality overwhelmingly excels.
The betrayal by the silver-tier [Streamer] and the extermination of the [Painter], an executive from [Artist].
1st place. Lumi-chan.
Lumi, a relatively latecomer, soared to the top rank.
The record of exterminating the [Painter] was acknowledged and reflected in the rankings.
“Are you still alive?”
“Yes, thanks to the hostages, I’ve managed to stop the bleeding and regain my consciousness.”
Then…
“[Painter] is dead, so the event can end here.”
There was initially no announcement about an end date anyway.
*
Ziiiiing—
“This is…”
Something appears before Lumi, who is finally regaining her composure, and falls to the floor.
It’s something with a length similar to a human arm, covered in soft fur…
“[Brush]?”
At that moment, messages began popping up in front of the camera that flew in from somewhere like a smartphone’s status screen.
> [World Quest] Extermination of the [Artist] has concluded.
> Calculating rankings.
> Confirming 1st place ranking.
> Rewards will be distributed.
And then.
> A message has arrived from the administrator.