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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 442: Beyond the Line of the Universe (3)
Becoming the fear of the universe through unpredictability… Upon hearing this, the planets plunged into greater confusion.
For planets that had lived their entire lives in predictability, gaining unpredictability was an exhilarating idea, but daring to become the fear of the universe?
That was an outrageous overreach for a mere planet.
『W-What should we do?』
『Did he say… the fear of the universe?』
『Ah…』
From Jupiter, who had already experienced the harsh reality of being deemed "predictable" through orbital bombardment, to Pluto, who had been personally beaten up by Jeong Yeongwoo — all stood frozen, wearing complex expressions.
『Isn’t this way too blasphemous?』
『Are we really going to stop being planets…?』
『This is probably being recorded in the records too.』
And seeing all this, Yeongwoo felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
It looked just like people hesitating in front of a massive currency exchange center on the first day of the reset.
‘In the end, it’s just a difference in scale. Wherever you go, life looks the same.’
Of course, the fact that this was the solar system might not be irrelevant.
Wasn’t the only “resident” of the solar system a human?
That might explain why the planets resembled people so closely.
In other words, the personalities of the solar system’s planets might naturally resemble humans.
‘Or wait… maybe it’s the other way around. Maybe humans inherited the solar system’s personality?’
Either way, Yeongwoo was the one who had already crossed the line first.
So, as someone with more experience, he decided to give the planets some advice.
“If you can’t even step over this one small line, you’re not fit to live as a main character. If you’re scared, stay where you are. That’s the role you were given, and frankly, it suits you.”
『What?!』
The one who snapped back first was, of course, Jupiter — Voltu.
The planet that had first experienced the prototype planetary-killing weapon crafted by the alliance of Yeongwoo and Earth.
『You crazy— You’re planning to go rob the universe, and you dare lecture us?!』
“……!”
Yeongwoo flinched for the first time.
Come to think of it, wasn’t the only family in the solar system — the Renaissance family — well known among the planets?
『Don’t forget! The Earthship is owned by the Renaissance family. Their main line of work is robbery and assault!』
Jupiter turned toward the other planets and practically incited a riot.
『So if we break orbit and head out there, the only thing we’ll end up doing is robbing people. That guy’s not talking about being the fear of the universe for no reason!』
‘…Shit. That bastard’s smarter than he looks.’
Yeongwoo felt a cold sweat break out and discreetly wiped his forehead.
Jupiter, the solar system’s strongest planet, hadn’t said a single false or exaggerated word.
So Yeongwoo—
“Jupiter’s right.”
—chose to confront the issue head-on.
“What we’ll probably end up doing out in the universe is robbery and violence.”
『What?!』
『Uh… what did he just say?』
Sure enough, the planets stared blankly at the only human among them, stunned, as Yeongwoo added:
“But come on, seriously — the whole universe is a world of violence anyway, isn’t it? That so-called ‘Prestige level’ is just a measure of brute strength.”
『That’s…….』
『N-Not exactly wrong, but still.』
The planets couldn’t come up with a proper rebuttal.
Seizing the momentum, Yeongwoo got to the real point.
“So yeah, whether it’s robbery or violence, it’s all aligned with the universe’s own rules. One more thug in a world of thuggery — what’s the big deal?”
Swish.
Yeongwoo puffed out his chest and looked around at the planets.
“And most importantly — we’re already the main characters.”
『……!』
“Which means, by narrative logic, the genre we’re starring in is picaresque.”
Picaresque — a genre where rogues and villains are the main characters.
“So sure, the things we do out there might be rough. But that’s not something to worry about. It’s just the role we’ve been given. The only thing you really have to consider is…”
Claaang!
At that moment, Yeongwoo drew his mythical cursed sword, Bastard.
“Will you live your whole life as background in the universe — or become active protagonists writing a new story?”
『Wait, we’re still villains, aren’t we…?』
Someone in the crowd raised a perfectly reasonable objection, but it was immediately overshadowed by the movement of a tremendous presence.
Step.
That presence belonged to none other than Saturn — Meren.
The second-largest planet in the solar system, who, true to its physical form, wore a massive circular ring around its body.
『I’ll do it. Be the main character.』
“……!”
With the emergence of the first volunteer, Yeongwoo’s eyes widened.
Meren continued calmly.
『I’ve never once lived as a villain. Never had the chance. Never had the ability.』
Then, tilting its head slightly, Meren glanced back at the other planets.
『But now, it feels like that chance has come. Not a dream come true — maybe more like a nightmare.』
That likely applied to the other planets as well.
Who ever dreams of becoming a villain?
But still…
『But if it’s the main character… that changes everything.』
『……!』
『What?』
『Meren… what are you saying right now?』
Coming from one of their own, even something this radical felt different.
『If I were just a side-character villain, I wouldn’t even hesitate to decline. We all know how that story ends. But this…』
Swish.
Meren lifted his gaze to the sky.
『This is the main role. Other villains are there to be punished by the protagonist. But what if the protagonist is the villain?』
And with that, Yeongwoo dashed forward and grabbed Saturn’s hand.
Clasp!
『……!』
"We're going outside the orbit to find out the truth! Meren, I’ll cast you in your dream.”
Thus, the first crew member of the Intergalactic Pirate Crew Renaissance made their appearance.
Ranked 2nd among the planets of the Solar System: Meren.
As Meren, holding Yeongwoo’s hand, looked toward the other planets, Mercury and Venus began to step forward as well.
Step.
『I… I’ll join too.』
『A lead role… better that than a predictable life. I’ll take the adventure.』
Then even the Sun widened its eyes in surprise.
After all, these were the ones who had run alongside it for countless ages along fixed orbits — beings steeped in a life that was given to them.
And yet, to possess this much “energy”...
Enough daring to suppress the planetary instinct to remain in orbit — it was astonishing.
『Are you all serious? Leaving your orbit means ignoring the order of the galaxy. Think this through.』
The Sun, Moro, demanded reconsideration from the planets who had stepped forward.
But instead, even more decided to take on the role of the "lead."
Swish.
Dwarf planet Ceres traced a smoky trail as it stepped ahead.
『Now that the Sun has decided to leave its orbit, our planetary system is no longer the same.』
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Then, it added a rather sharp line:
『The shift in order has already occurred.』
In other words, the event had already happened.
The moment the Sun left its original orbit with Earthship, all the planets in the solar system inevitably lost their original orbits too.
Even if they chose to remain.
And from the moment Ceres said that, many planets that had been hesitating began to move.
『Indeed. We might as well admit the change has happened.』
『The role of the lead has already been assigned.』
『Remaining in our original state is no longer an option. We now must choose between two paths of change — and I’d rather live as a lead.』
With Uranus’ final words, every planet except one decided to walk the path of the lead role with Earthship.
And the last remaining planet was—
『…….』
One-armed Jupiter, Voltu of the Thunder Sea.
『This is bullshit.』
Jupiter clenched his teeth as he looked at the planets lined up opposite him.
Naturally, the others’ eyes drifted toward Jupiter’s left arm — or rather, where the lower half used to be.
Now, an empty void.
Jupiter growled, making an expression that looked unmistakably human.
『Don’t look at me like that. I’m still Jupiter!』
Jupiter.
Ranked 1st among the planets of the Solar System.
Although he had lost some mass due to a bombardment by the "Planet Hunter," he was still the most powerful among them.
In other words, even if he became a wandering planet beyond the Solar System, he had a higher chance of survival than any other.
And as Yeongwoo watched him—
‘…What is this? Something feels off.’
Maybe it was all the bad karma he’d accumulated over the years?
He had a gut feeling that this event was the beginning of another massive karmic storm.
Of all times — when they were about to rise as “lead roles” — it had to be one-armed Jupiter falling out of orbit.
Anyone could see that this was the seed of a future villain.
‘This guy… If I let him go like this, he’ll definitely come back as a massive threat someday. He’s the type who’d survive out of sheer spite.’
So the best course of action was to blow a giant hole in that guy’s forehead right now.
“……”
But Earth wouldn’t give him the coordinates to take Jupiter out.
Especially not in this kind of atmosphere.
‘The chairman said the best way to solve a problem is to eliminate it.’
But since the planetary ship hadn’t even launched yet, Yeongwoo currently had no way to kill the planet standing before him.
‘Then what now? If I let him go like this, he’ll definitely be a ticking time bomb.’
As Yeongwoo hesitated, fiddling his fingers, Earth cautiously approached, sensing something.
『What’s wrong? It’s a relief that almost every planet decided to join us, right?』
Yeongwoo just mouthed words, not speaking aloud.
Should he say it?
Or should he stab Jupiter right here and now like some bastard child?
If he wanted to kill him, that wouldn’t be the worst plan.
Except… that would instantly lose the goodwill of everyone gathered here.
‘Ugh, this is suffocating.’
Without realizing it, Yeongwoo struck his chest with his fist, and Earth’s eyes widened in surprise.
『What? What’s going on all of a sudden?』
The planets that had been murmuring among themselves also turned their attention to Yeongwoo in shock.
Then Yeongwoo—
“M-My chest…”
He quickly changed his expression to one of sorrow.
『Your chest…?』
“No, it hurts… My heart hurts. It was because of my poor decision that Jupiter lost his arm!”
『What……?』
Earth took a step back at the sudden mention of Jupiter.
And in that moment, Yeongwoo knelt down, clutching his chest — right in front of Jupiter.
“I beg your forgiveness. You looked so strong… I was afraid! So I tried to kill you with a cannon!”
『Wh-What the hell are you talking about?』
Jupiter was just as taken aback, stepping back even though the other had only kneeled before him.
『What kind of nonsense is this?』
“But now I see how terribly wrong I was. To think I tried to make an enemy of the strongest among the planets…”
Then Yeongwoo grabbed the blade of Bastard, holding the hilt out toward Jupiter.
Slide.
『…What’s the meaning of this?』
“It’s a token of apology. You cut off my arm too. In return, you join us.”
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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