Chapter 734

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

**734 Episode 29 Recorder of Fear (1)**
「 The cosmos is a vast, locked room. A wall stands at its farthest edge, one we have never managed to reach. 」

—Recorder of Fear

A native of the planet Kronos.

The prince of the Imyuntar species and their primordial wolf—’Lycaon Isparang’.

In the original narrative, this wolf acted as a guide during the ‘fifth scenario’. His fate was left unclear after a confrontation with another guide, ‘Antinus’.

«Can it truly be that same ‘Lycaon’?»

Once the ‘God of the Other World’’s identity was uncovered, the party members each reacted with their own form of astonishment.

Mr. Dansu, who was unable to share in the surprise, asked with hesitation.

«Who is Lycaon?»

«You remember, the guide from the ‘Disaster Scenario’. The wolf that came on the meteor.»

«Oh, that one… I thought he died?»

«His death was never confirmed. The records just state he vanished after that incident.»

«Right. That’s true, but…»

Ye Hyunwoo, shaking his head at Killer King’s comment, shot a glance in my direction.

«Dokja-ssi, how did you know that ‘Lycaon’ had ascended to become a god of another world?»

I had expected Ye Hyunwoo to be the one to ask this. Even with fewer readings of the original story than the other apostles, his mind was the sharpest.

The fact he used ‘Dokja-ssi’ suggested he was anticipating an answer worthy of ‘Kim Dokja’.

«I had no certainty. It was a gamble.»

Unsurprisingly, the original work provided no additional details or epilogue for Lycaon’s character.

Many figures naturally diminish in importance as the scenarios advance, and Lycaon was one such character.

However, my suggestion of him as a candidate for ‘God of the Other World’ wasn’t baseless.

«A thought occurred to me. It’s possible that among the beings we are familiar with, some have evolved into ‘Outer Gods’.»

Many of the ‘Gods of the Other World’ featured in the main story were those who never witnessed the scenario’s ‘conclusion’.

While most lose their sense of self and fade into ‘namelessness’, a rare few retain their ego outside the narrative, growing their power as Outer Gods.

The ‘Asmodeus’ we encountered in this round is one such example.

So, I theorized.

Perhaps, among the characters whose stories were left unfinished, one might have become a ‘god from another world’.

«It was a gamble with very poor odds.»

Ye Hyunwoo was correct.

The probability was low.

However, this was the ‘Recycling Center’, and I believed that very improbability might work in our favor.

And most importantly.

«There were two other possibilities besides Lycaon.»

«Three contingencies. As expected of Kim Dokja.»

«Who were the other two?»

«As you know, among the outer gods, there is another entity connected to ‘wolves’.»

As I said this, I looked down at the small Yoo Jonghyuk.

Perhaps the previous battle had been too taxing?

Or had he fallen ill from eating dirt? Yoo Jonghyuk lay on the ground, completely drained.

I placed a thin blanket over him.

«‘Kkoma Yoo Jonghyuk’ was also in the original story.»

The second ‘Outer God’ I considered did not have a direct association with ‘wolves’.

However, a scene existed where he was metaphorically described as a ‘wolf’, making me think a summons might be possible.

«Hmm. You mean the ‘King of the Lone Wolves’?»

«But would that ‘being’ ever answer a summons?»

«The likelihood was minimal. In fact, we haven’t encountered him at all this round.»

My second candidate was the ‘Secretive Plotter’.

But the ‘Secretive Plotter’ had reached his ◾️◾️ and departed for a completely different dimension, leaving no guarantee he would heed a call.

«What about the third?»

«The third is…»

I gazed upward. In truth, the third option’s chance of success was as slim as the second’s.

The third had the weakest connection to ‘wolves’ of all.

Yet, this is a world where 「a man who eats eight meals a day」 is perceived as a ‘pig’.

«The wolf ears headband. Do you recall it?»

「 A man wearing a wolf ears headband could also be recognized as a ‘wolf’. 」

Ye Hyunwoo, deep in thought, suddenly spoke.

«Wolf ears? Like that time they went to the amusement park in Oz…»

«Correct.»

In a world where all of Kim Dokja’s memories manifest as stories, the fragment of him visiting an amusement park with Han Sooyoung would undoubtedly survive.

[A constellation whose modifier has not yet been revealed is looking at you.]

Even if he isn’t an outer god, Kim Dokja, who possesses that ‘story fragment’, exists.

If Kim Dokja holds a modifier like ‘Demon King of Salvation’…

[‘Sub-scenario—The Three Little Pigs’ has ended.]

At that moment, the scenario conclusion message materialized.

[500 recycled coins have been acquired as a reward.]

[You have cleared the scenario in a previously untried manner!]

[Your accomplishments will alter the very basis of the scenario!]

[The story ‘The Three Little Pigs’ is losing its influence within the <Star Stream>.]

«Ah—»

The environment around us shimmered as the night began to recede.

One by one, our companions’ expressions brightened with the realization.

The event scenario had been lifted; ‘wolves’ could no longer threaten us. Because the ‘wolf’ had just become our ally.

«If we are to confront the <Zodiac> later, we will require his strength.»

I turned to look at Lycaon, who stood about ten paces away.

Kyung Sein asked, her voice tinged with fear.

«Is it safe? He is a god from another world.»

«There is no inherent danger in that. Negotiations with outer gods occurred in the main story as well.»

Lycaon had been muttering incessantly at the sky since his arrival.

Perhaps he was communicating with the Management Bureau regarding the ‘Otherworld Covenant’, or maybe he was in discussions with the ‘Recycling Center’ itself.

I let out a soft sigh and addressed my companions.

«And here. These are the ‘masks’ we retrieved earlier.»

A primary goal of this ‘scenario’ was to secure new ‘masks’ for the group.

«Ah. When did you manage to get those—»

They were masks taken from the wolf incarnations we had defeated.

«Are you certain it’s alright for us to take these?»

As Mr. Dansu bowed his head apologetically, the other party members followed suit, looking abashed.

Kyung Sein spoke in a tremulous voice. «I-I really wasn’t any help at all.»

«On the contrary, you all performed admirably.»

I slowly scanned the group, emphasizing my words.

As the party members who had recovered the masks put them on, their transformed bodies began reverting to their original states.

In their place, faces reflecting their prisoner-era characteristics materialized on the masks’ surfaces.

Kyung Sein’s showed a squirrel.
Mr. Dansu’s, a turtle.
Cha Yerin’s, a snail.
Ye Hyunwoo’s, a panda.

As anticipated, the ‘mask’ appeared to mirror the user’s innate traits.

Then, why was I still thinking, ‘I’m free from impunity’? Was there an animal that resembled that?

While the group breathed collective sighs of relief, Killer King, the only one who hadn’t lost his mask, approached me.

«Still, you got lucky this time. You know that, right?»

I nodded in agreement.

«The ‘original owner’ of the story chose not to intervene.»

This 「staging」 collapsed quicker than anticipated because the narrative’s owner, the 「Pig in the Brick House」, offered us no assistance.

Had the ‘Pig In The Brick House’ entered the stage, the conflict would not have concluded so easily.

Naturally, even if it had, it wouldn’t have been a total loss.

Had the ‘pig’ prevailed and reinforced the original narrative, we were fighting on its side. Even without crafting a new story, we would have gained some advantage.

Nevertheless, I was curious.

Why had the ‘Pig in the Brick House’ not intervened? It was a constellation that had been observing me since the scenarios began.

«Ah, ahhh… I know what you people are doing!»

«We’re all doomed! We’re all going to die!»

With the scenario over, the prisoners hiding beneath the tables began to emerge.

«The other Zodiac signs will never forgive Zone 13.»

«Why, why would you do this—»

I offered a bitter smile at the terrified prisoners.

Having low expectations from the start, I wasn’t deeply disappointed. Those trapped in this scenario inevitably fear change.

But not every incarnation shared that sentiment.

The crane owner stared at me with an expression of sheer disbelief.

«Your name was Kim Dokja…?»

Some stories are unchangeable prisons.

Prisons that confine existences to a fixed frame, force them to repeat the same routines, and reduce them to mere material.

But these prisoners witnessed firsthand that the prison could be shattered.

[Your new ‘story’ is beginning to influence ‘Zone 13’.]

[The name ‘Kim Dokja’ is starting to circulate through the ‘Recycling Center’!]

This was sufficient for now.

Standing beside Killer King, I watched the beastmen for a moment.

«The Demon World scenario must have been much like this.»

«I suppose it was.»

«It’s a sight I’ve always favored.»

Ye Hyunwoo, now masked, came to stand beside us.

Killer King, noticing him, opened his mouth, his eyes narrowing with faint disapproval at Hyunwoo’s presence.

«Inho-ssi. But is this wise? Can you continue operating under ‘that name’?»

«7th Apostle. This is Kim Dokja—»

«I’m asking Cheon Inho right now, not Dokja-ssi.»

I met Ye Hyunwoo’s perceptive gaze through his mask.

I recalled there had been an issue before about Ye Hyunwoo using the name Kim Dokja.

«Does it make you uneasy?»

«Not exactly. I acknowledge it now. Among us, Inho-ssi is the one who most embodies that name. However.»

I understood his concern immediately.

Within the <Star Stream>, stories are more sensitive to names than anything else.

That is, if I continued to impersonate Kim Dokja—

«If this continues, every story Inho-ssi builds will become part of ‘Kim Dokja’s’ stories.»

His point was incisive.

«It’s fine. That was the plan.»

«You intended for that to happen?»

In truth, I had a critical reason for impersonating ‘Kim Dokja’ upon entering the ‘Recycling Center’.

[A new story is being recorded under the name of ‘Kim Dokja’.]

Accompanying the message, the newly sprouted power of a story stirred within me.

Its name was not yet decided.

A story that refused to be lost.

Perhaps because I, too, am the ‘youngest Kim Dokja’, a portion of the story was absorbed by me, while the remainder drifted upward through the ceiling of the Recycling Center.

[Your story will be shared with your sponsor.]

A small wave of relief washed over me as I watched the tale’s tail disappear.

Thank goodness. He’s still there.

«A similar situation happened in the demon world. Do you recall?»

«You mean when Kim Dokja impersonated Yoo Jonghyuk?»

Every story has a protagonist and is constructed around them.

By impersonating Kim Dokja, the stories I accumulate will continually enhance Kim Dokja’s status.

The forged narrative will spread his fame, and people will call upon his name.

And Kim Dokja will hear that call.

«Wait a moment, it can’t be—»

«I pondered it extensively. But no matter how I looked at it, this seemed the only viable path.»

I have grown fond of this 41st round. I wish for this world line to endure.

Yet, I know that protecting this world line might lead to the destruction of others. A catastrophe far greater than the original story’s could unfold.

But the tragedy remains unwritten, and the story continues.

Therefore, I can do this.

Precisely what is needed.

「 A being capable of ‘rereading’ every possible ending of this story. 」

Someone who can transform my ‘square circle’ into reality.

«My intention is to summon ‘The Oldest Dream’ to this world line.»