Chapter 729

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

I instinctively turned to look behind me.

«Restrain Killer King. Now!»

The wolves are not only outside. This house also contains a wolf.

«Kim Dokja. I do not yield to ‘staging’.»

Killer King, his black wolf mask in place, spoke with conviction.

Naturally, I am aware he will not turn on us. I have faith in him as well.

«I am aware.»

However, I have greater faith in ‘stories’.

«This is for your own protection. You must trust me.»

Killer King observed me for a long moment before finally nodding.

«I trust you, Kim Dokja.»

Throughout all this, one principle remained absolute: He was still an incarnation, and therefore vulnerable to the story’s influence.

Kyung Sein darted forward with the agility of a flying squirrel, binding Killer King securely to a chair, while Cha Yerin coated him in a layer of snail slime. Ye Hyunwoo, taking his time, wound a bamboo stem around Killer King’s legs like a rope.

I had never instructed them to do any of that.

Ye Hyunwoo questioned Killer King, who was wincing.

«Does that hurt?»
«A little.»
«Alright.»

Just as Killer King was fully restrained, sparks began to crackle in the air.

*Tsu-tsu-tsutsu.*

Ancient stories are remembered by the constellations.

They look back on their memories, reminisce, and sometimes even expend probability for a reenactment, savoring stories in their own manner.

[Constellations of the zodiac who recall the legend are delighted.]
[The story ‘The Three Little Pigs’ accelerates its progression.]

The story fragment ‘Brick House’ grew more potent. That was not all. The eyes of the wolves blowing deadly breaths outside the window began to change.

[You—]

A flustered wolf constellation issued a command.

[Stop! Cease this at once!]

Disregarding the constellation’s order, the wolf incarnations began leaping onto the brick house’s roof one after another.

The wolves that had been blowing, and those ramming the walls, all became compelled to jump onto the roof as if possessed.

Even the tightly bound Killer King trembled, his eyes flushing red.

This was the power of stories.

«Kwaaaaaaaa!»

Wolf incarnations that descended the chimney fell into the boiling water and shrieked. Under normal circumstances, mere boiling water would never have been enough to eliminate them. Any incarnation who reached the eighth scenario would possess a significant tolerance for pain.

Yet, under the influence of this 「staging」, such logic was meaningless.

Their core attribute was now ‘wolf’, and the water in the cauldron inflicted pain upon the ‘wolf’ equivalent to Uriel’s [Hellfire].

If you asked why such a thing happens, there is no answer.

Because that is simply how this story goes.

The tale of a little pig who built a brick house and triumphed over the wolves.

The wolf incarnations that entered the chimney began to convulse and scream the instant their feet touched the water. Some scrambled back up the chimney passage with their feet melting in the steam, while others burst out like popcorn.

[The constellation ‘The First Pig To Die’ cheers!]
[The constellation ‘The Chicken That Crows First’ clucks with interest.]
[The constellation ‘The Sacrificial Lamb of God’ remarks that the pig’s story was long overdue.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ yawns.]

And there were constellations that took pleasure in observing their suffering.

[The constellation ‘The Pig Who Built the Brick House’ nods in approval.]

And the protagonists of this 「stage」 were us.
The pitiable ‘Three Little Pigs’.

Although the original story includes the sacrifice of the ‘first pig’ with the straw house and the ‘second pig’ with the wooden house, that part was omitted from this stage.

Even so, no constellation raised an objection.

[Constellations of the Chinese zodiac giggle, saying it has been a while since they heard this tale.]

Because this is a story everyone already knows.

Predictable sacrifice and obvious death offer no inspiration to the constellations.

What they are curious about is not the ordeal of the little pigs.

‘So what happens next?’

Only how exhilarating the revenge can be. And how miserably the constellation in the predator’s role falls.

[Some constellations are anticipating your ‘narrative reenactment’.]
[8,000 recycled coins have been sponsored.]
[A few constellations want you to torture the wolves even more cruelly.]
[A very small number of constellations suggest changing the water to hydrochloric acid.]

Now we were the agents of that revenge. Beings who reproduce old stories for the constellations and reinterpret narratives on their behalf.

Thus live the incarnations who receive coins.

[5,000 coins have been sponsored.]

This was the world Kim Dokja had always inhabited.

Kyung Sein grabbed my sleeve.

«What if.»
A faint tremor traveled through the fabric.
«What if we had all chosen the wolf camp… what would have happened?»

There was no need to ask.

«Everyone would likely be dead.»

[3,000 recycled coins have been sponsored.]

The story was successfully recreated, and the wolf incarnations that threatened us were exterminated.

Did we make the correct choice? Did we successfully clear the ‘event scenario’?

[The ‘Recycling Center Director’ is paying attention to your choice.]

Then why is the center still awaiting my ‘choice’?

「 Is there still something left to ‘choose’ in this story? 」

As I slowly turned my head, I noticed the other prisoners who had been unable to evacuate and remained inside the inn.

Even though the wolves that had tormented them were suffering miserably, their expressions were not happy. Some were even distorted or sorrowful.

「 This is a place where animals that do not belong to the zodiac live together. 」

And the beings watching this story from the sky right now were all from the ‘zodiac’.

«Dokja-ssi. Killer King—»

Killer King’s eyes were glowing red and his breathing was becoming ragged. The ropes binding him grew taut, threatening to snap.

The story was encroaching upon Killer King.

[Very few constellations are wondering why there is a ‘wolf’ inside the brick house.]
[A very small number of constellations order you to kill the ‘wolf’ inside the brick house.]

«Tighten the bonds! Just hold on a little longer!»
«Should we pour a drink on him?»
«Do it yourself!»

Killer King’s screams echoed. But screaming was preferable to dying.

[Some constellations are puzzled by your judgment.]
[Very few constellations say that eliminating all wolves will yield a greater reward.]

A greater reward. Their words sounded almost persuasive.

No one in the group wished to sacrifice Killer King.

He had chosen the wolf camp himself and protected his party for a month.

Would we kill him simply to complete one 「staging」?

«Hey, wolf!»

I shouted to the wolf constellation beyond the wall, ‘The Wolf Who Likes Little Red Riding Hood’.

«Show some restraint. You know what will happen if this 「staging」 continues.»

‘The Wolf Who Likes Little Red Riding Hood’ had not yet climbed onto the roof.

This was likely because this 「staging」 was imperfect, allowing the constellation to resist its influence to some degree through his own will.

Even so, if things continued, the story’s ending was inevitable.

[The constellations of the Chinese zodiac want you to finish off the ‘wolf’.]

But would Killer King be able to last that long?

I took a deep breath, gathered my thoughts, and continued.

«I know. It must feel unjust to you as well. You aren’t even part of this story. So let’s stop.»

『The Three Little Pigs』 was an old story.

Now, no wolf exists that tried to eat the pig, nor is there the youngest pig that fought the wolf bravely.

All that remains are the constellations in the sky, twinkling placidly as they chew, bite, and taste old stories.

[The constellations of the zodiac look at ‘The Wolf Who Loves Little Red Riding Hood’.]

Outside the dim window, I could see the wolf’s incarnation body trembling.

Certainly, the ‘wolf’ was the villain in 『The Three Little Pigs』. But in this world called the <Star Stream>, are wolves still the villains?

What was that predator so afraid of that made him tremble so?

[The constellation ‘The First Pig to Die’ tilts its head at you.]
[A few zodiac signs are confused by your choice.]
[A very small number of constellations ask if you are now supporting the wolves.]
[Some constellations ask the wolf if he feels remorse for the dead incarnations.]

Right. Clearly, the wolf of Zone 13 was a villain. However, the animals here did not seem particularly afraid of the wolves.

Rather, they were anxious about the wolf’s behavior.

In particular, the crane owner looked as if he might collapse at any moment.

«Please, you must stop. That wolf cannot die. An even greater tragedy will occur.»

What were these animals truly afraid of?

[The constellation ‘The Wolf Who Likes Little Red Riding Hood’ roars.]

The blood vessels around his eyes burst as the wolf lost control, his body slamming against the brick house. A dull impact resonated.

*Coo coo coo coo.*

The wind he exhaled became a powerful gale, shaking the brick house. Once again, his massive form crashed into the unyielding wall.

Again and again, it was not the house that broke, but the body of the wolf.

The crane owner and the other beastmen screamed.

«No! I would rather offer meat. Please, I beg you!»
«Wasn’t this wolf the one harassing you?»

The crane owner’s eyes widened at my words.

«Yes, it may seem that way. But you don’t truly understand how this district operates. His death changes nothing. This story—»

For a moment, I felt I understood something.

It wasn’t the wolves they feared.

Rather, they feared beings ‘far above’ those very ‘wolves’.

[Some constellations belonging to the nebula <Zodiac> are pleased.]

The wolf constellation was dying. His incarnation was a wreck, and most of his stories were destroyed.

Now, the wolf scarcely retained any memories of the ‘Three Little Pigs’.

Even his modifier was unrelated to ‘little pigs’.

Nevertheless, he became part of the stage simply for being a fellow wolf.

I spoke to him. But he could not hear me.

The blood-soaked wolf constellation was staring at the sky.

He was addressing the stars that laughed at him.

[Fine. If this is the story you all want, then watch. Have your fill.]

As I watched the wolf hurling himself against the unbreakable wall, a strange feeling came over me.

I was swept up by emotion.

[Some constellations belonging to the nebula <Zodiac> rejoice at the wolf’s fall.]

Perhaps I, too, know the story of a man similar to him.

A man born against his will, caught in a scenario unrelated to his own.

He threw his life away countless times to break the scenario, yet he never overcame the final ‘wall’.

In the end, the ‘wall’ is,

[The story ‘Heir To The Eternal Name’ squirms.]

a barrier that only opens from the other side.

I heard someone shouting at me. A voice of dissuasion. Indirect messages from constellations. Screams and howls.

All those sounds blended into a cacophonous noise.

The moment I opened the door of the brick house, it all dissipated like magic.

The scenery outside was surprisingly calm. Neither the constellations’ messages nor the screams of the incarnations could be heard.

Just raindrops falling from a gloomy sky.

A wolf constellation wearing a bloodied mask was looking down at me.

I said to him.

«Please, come inside.»

[What?]

A sharp anger rose from the wolf constellation’s front paws. It seemed he might tear me apart at any moment.

«The game is over. You must know you cannot win once 「Staging」 has begun?»

The chance of success was slim, and the risk was immense.

Nevertheless, the reason I dared to do this was,

«You may not know this, but this ‘story’ has no single definitive ending.»

Perhaps it was because a similar story flowed within me.

«The Three Little Pigs is a traditional fairy tale. Depending on the telling, it has various endings. While the three brothers working together to defeat the wolf is constant, what happens afterward differs.»

If I remember correctly, this story possesses an ‘open ending’.

Like another story I know.

«In some versions, the wolf is thrown into the boiling water and becomes soup. In others, he is fried to death like popcorn. And in still others—»

I know the odds are slim.

The probability of the ending I desire is likely as low as the odds of <Kim Dokja Company> finally retrieving Kim Dokja and all living together in a big house.

Even so, if this gamble pays off…

«The wolf reconciles with the three little pigs, and they all live together in the brick house.»

In this 41st round, stories impossible in any other world line may finally become possible.

[I—]

The wolf began to speak.

But unfortunately, the wolf had no say in this story.

[The constellation ‘The First Pig To Die’ opposes your ‘recycling method’.]
[The constellation ‘The Liverless Rabbit’ opposes your ‘recycling method’.]
[The constellation ‘The Philosopher’s Words’ questions your ‘recycling method’.]
[Some zodiac signs strongly oppose your ending!]

With these ominous messages, the wolf’s eyes began to glow red once more.

[The probability of 「staged drama」 is strengthened!]

Lightning struck from the stormy sky. A vast hole appeared in the swirling heavens.

«Kim Dokja.»

Little Yoo Jonghyuk hurriedly stepped in front of me, saying.

«Something is wrong.»