Chapter 736

From the following day, our group resumed engaging with the scenario.

«Honestly, having a mask on is a relief.»

Kyung Sein remarked, and Dansu ahjussi nodded in agreement.

«It’s like being naked and then finally getting dressed.»

It might be hard to grasp how a simple mask could bring such comfort, but after putting it on, my companions’ demeanors shifted noticeably.

[The character ‘Kyung Sein’ is regaining her self-assurance.]

I, too, was glad for the mask. I wasn’t sure I could control my expressions otherwise.

I turned slowly to look at Dansu ahjussi.

[Character information for ‘Lee Dansu’ is being updated.]

A chill traced its way down my spine. I’d received a similar message in Gwanghwamun when Ye Hyunwoo became a ‘character’.

Now, after Kyung Sein, it was happening to Dansu ahjussi.

What defined ‘alternate characterization’? What separated a ‘character’ from someone who wasn’t?

Cha Yerin offered a thought.

«To avoid being consumed by a grand narrative, you conceal yourself within a smaller story.»

«Pardon?»

«Some stories can only be viewed objectively from a place of concealment.»

Belatedly, I understood she was talking about the ‘masks’.

Through the window, I could see prisoners moving about outside.

It was easy to read the expressions of the beastmen who wore no masks—happy, sorrowful, furious, or exhausted.

Now part of the Recycling Center, they were limited to the expressions enforced by ‘Zone 13’.

Kyung Sein murmured, sounding thoughtful.

«They say everything in the <Star Stream> is a story.»

This ‘mask’ was the smallest narrative we could use to shield ourselves.

The Recycling Center was telling us something. To avoid being swept away by a larger tale, you must hold firmly to your own.

Just as Kim Dokja had once done.

[You have grasped the fundamental nature of the ‘Recycling Center’.]

[Main scenario updated!]

As if it had been waiting, the main scenario updated.

I checked the message immediately.

<Main Scenario #8 – Zone 13>

Category: Main

Difficulty: S+

Clear conditions: Unify the beastmen of Zone 13 and contend for the throne of the <Zodiac>.

Time limit: 60 days

Reward: A ticket to the Chinese Zodiac Banquet, a choice of 300,000 coins or 50,000 recycled coins, and the story fragment ‘Understanding of the Unemployed’.

Failure: —

* This scenario contains ‘additional clear conditions’.

Kyung Sein, seeing the reward, spoke up cheerfully.

«The Zodiac Banquet? Isn’t that like the ‘Constellation Banquet’? I really liked that episode.»

«Will we get to see Uriel and the Heavenly Lord?»

«Since it’s under the zodiac’s name, probably only those from the zodiac will attend.»

The Chinese Zodiac banquet.

It was the very event mentioned by ‘The Tiger Who Eats Rice Cake’.

I hadn’t realized it was an event held at the ‘Recycling Center’.

Thinking back, this round’s <Zodiac> was unusual. Normally, the <Zodiac> constellations weren’t a cohesive group.

But this time, they were even running a scenario through the ‘Recycling Center’.

Not knowing what kind of <Zodiac> we would face, the reward for this scenario was very appealing.

「 ‘Understanding the Unemployed’ is a essential story fragment for facing the <Zodiac>. 」

A story fragment mentioned in Yoo Jonghyuk’s memories in ‘Ways of Survival’.

I had to clear this scenario, no matter what.

The issue was the clear conditions.

[Check additional clear conditions.]

—You must gain the backing of the prisoners to achieve the ‘unification of Zone 13’.
—Once you secure support from over 80% of the population, you will be chosen as the ‘representative’ of Zone 13.
—As a district representative, you can establish a committee for Zone 13.

[Currently, 9% of the prisoners in Zone 13 support you.]

«Has everyone seen the additional conditions?»

At Ye Hyunwoo’s question, the group nodded one by one.

«Should we share our approval ratings? Mine is 3 percent.»

«Mine is… zero.»

«One percent here.»

As Kyung Sein and Dansu ahjussi replied, Cha Yerin added hers.

«Two percent.»

Lastly, Killer King, with a knowing smile, answered.

«5%. Kim Dokja, what’s yours?»

«Nine percent.»

Ye Hyunwoo gave a single nod.

«Dokja-ssi will be the representative.»

After the events of 「The Three Little Pigs」, the crane who owned the inn changed his attitude toward us. He provided meals at no cost and even moved us to better rooms.

«I don’t have any special requests.»

That’s what he said, but the crane owner seemed to want to tell us something every time we met.

«If there’s anything you need, please ask anytime.»

The owner said with a faint, weary smile.

«You are all very courageous. Just don’t be too disheartened if others aren’t as brave.»

Surprised by his candor, I paused before responding.

«It’s alright. That’s just…»

«The sight of you defeating the pig was remarkable. Some beastmen were undoubtedly moved. Others felt their spirits stir. However.»

He paused briefly before continuing.

«Not everyone can act like that. Some here will look at you and feel only fear.»

It was confusing at first, but upon reflection, it made sense.

«They’re afraid of change?»

«Something like that.»

«But they can’t go on like this forever, can they? Even after ‘The Three Little Pigs’—»

«These prisoners have been here for too long.»

Too long.

It felt familiar.

Was it in the Demon World? Or Paradise?

I think Kim Dokja heard something similar somewhere.

«Not everyone desires to possess their own ‘mask’.»

The owner’s voice carried a deep fatigue. A thought struck me.

Perhaps the beastmen here aren’t scared of the Zodiac.

Having a mask means crafting your own story.

They are afraid of the responsibility that comes with owning their narrative.

After quickly finishing the omelet rice prepared by the chef, I went to an empty lot and reviewed the stories I had gathered so far.

[A new story is beginning to grow within you.]

Aside from ‘Persistent Murim Master’ from the Dragon Head Ark, I had four stories I’d built myself.

「 Recorder of things that will disappear from Seoul Station. 」
「 Heir to the Eternal Name from defeating the Deity of the Other World with Han Sooyoung. 」
And 「The One Who Rewrites Fate」 from confronting the giant nebulae as the Demon King of Salvation.

Finally, the new story I would gain here.

Even though my sponsor contract was complete, having five stories wouldn’t instantly make me a constellation, but I felt I had built them up steadily, even compared to the main story’s Kim Dokja.

[A new story awaits your further accomplishments.]

[Additional achievements are needed for the story to fully bloom.]

It was a message I hadn’t heard before, but it wasn’t unwelcome.

Quite the opposite.

The longer it took for the story to bloom, the higher its rank would be. If I could develop high-level stories, the name ‘Kim Dokja’ would spread even wider.

[A few constellations in the <Zodiac> nebula are expressing hostility toward you.]

As if aware of this, the Zodiac constellations were watching me closely.

Yet, none directly interfered in Zone 13.

I knew why they hesitated.

【Student.】

It was because of this wolf.

【That is not the correct method.】

A god from another world who had defeated the pig constellations that activated 「Staging」.

Since yesterday, I had been learning [The Way of the Wind] from him.

【I will demonstrate once more.】

[The Way of the Wind was one of Kim Dokja’s key skills.]

Kim Dokja had also struggled to learn it.

【I cannot comprehend why you are unable to perform this.】

«Maybe it’s because I lack the charm?»

Originally, [The Way of the Wind] was a skill for those with the ‘Imyuntar Charm’, which I missed by not joining the ‘disaster scenario’.

【As I am no longer the scenario’s ‘guide’, I can teach [The Way of the Wind] regardless of the charm.】

«But skills are restricted in Zone 13. Maybe that’s why—»

【That is precisely why it is being taught as story fragments. Skills are fixed names, and names are refined tales. Therefore, if you know how to handle stories, you can use [The Way of the Wind] without activating the skill.】

«Right.»

Yes. I am tragically untalented.

【Watch carefully one more time and follow along.】

Lycaon closed his eyes slowly and took a deep breath.

【A gale in my left hand, a storm in my right hand. Where straight lines and curves meet, the path of the wind shall open.】

A fierce wind split before my eyes, truly opening [The Way of the Wind].

I was amazed once again.

This was the authentic [The Way of the Wind].

It felt different from how the Demon King of Salvation had used it.

【Now, try to mimic me. A gale in my left hand.】

Hesitantly, I copied Lycaon.

«Gale in the left hand.»

【Crung! With more force! A storm in my right hand.】

«In my right hand… a storm!»

【Where straight lines and curves meet, the path of the wind shall open! Declare it with conviction!】

The only ones who could shout such lines without shame were probably Kim Namwoon or Yoo Jonghyuk. The first is that type of person, and the second is cool no matter what he does.

Being neither, I mumbled like a timid octopus.

«Where straight lines and curves meet, the path of the wind shall open…»

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ appreciates ‘The Way of the Wind’.]

Naturally, [The Way of the Wind] did not open.

Lycaon stared at me blankly and asked.

【Why can you not do it? I explained it all. Again! A gale in your left hand!】

Finally, I couldn’t hold back and replied.

«It’s just shouting words.»

【No. Understanding this ‘enlightenment’ is crucial.】

What profound meaning could there possibly be in ‘gale’ and ‘storm’?

【Observe them.】

Lycaon pointed toward our group members practicing [The Way of the Wind] a short distance away.

The first one I noticed was Cha Yerin.

«Left hand. Gale. Right hand. Storm.»

Wind energy swirled around her hands as she recited the incantation freely.

It wasn’t as powerful as Lycaon’s, but it was unmistakably [The Way of the Wind].

【Remarkable! She is an exceptionally gifted incarnation. She truly comprehends the wind’s essence.】

For reference, Cha Yerin learned [The Way of the Wind] in thirty minutes.

When I asked her secret, she simply said:

«I just… did it, and it worked.»

Some people are just natural geniuses.

Giving up on uncovering her secret, I observed the others.

The man who had been repeatedly clenching his fist in a corner sighed lightly.

«Age makes learning new things difficult.»

For reference, Dansu ahjussi mastered [The Way of the Wind] in five hours.

Kyung Sein, practicing nearby, added:

«You’re too modest. You learned it an hour faster than I did…»

«Hmm, as Kim Dokja said, in this world, age and gender don’t matter.»

«Wow, you remember that too.»

«I have a fairly good memory.»

I wondered if this was the same Dansu ahjussi who mistook Sneaking Schemer for Secretive Plotter.

«Anyway, Hyunwoo is taking his time.»

«He went scouting to test The Way of the Wind, so he’ll probably be back by evening.»

Ye Hyunwoo, who had mastered [The Way of the Wind] early, was already soaring around Zone 13.

For reference, it took him three hours to summon his first wind—the second fastest after Cha Yerin.

«Kim Dokja, don’t tell me you still haven’t gotten it?»

I forced a grin at Killer King, who sauntered over. I never thought I’d be happy to see that face.

«Killer King-ssi, you learned it, right?»

«What are you talking about? I got it immediately.»

With utmost confidence, Killer King spread his arms wide and bellowed.

«A gale in my left hand! A storm in my right hand!»

I realized then that besides Kim Namwoon and Yoo Jonghyuk, there were others who could shout such lines without shame.

«…The path of the wind shall open!»

A faint gust of wind accompanied his shout.

I looked at Killer King skeptically.

«Wasn’t that just you clapping your hands really fast?»

«My training ends here. I have mastered all of [The Way of the Wind].»

He was clearly giving up and fleeing. Lycaon, watching from afar, murmured in admiration.

【It was successful.】

«That counted as success?»

【The texture of the wind is faint, but it is there. A truly diligent worker. Impressive. However, it does not seem you grasp the essence of ‘The Way of the Wind’ at all…】

Suddenly, I was the only one who hadn’t learned [The Way of the Wind].

Strangely, I didn’t feel too upset.

I watched the group chatting and laughing together, and little Yoo Jonghyuk napping peacefully on a bench.

Behind them stood our small brick house. It wasn’t the large home Kim Dokja Company dreamed of, but it was our first house.

【Student.】

«Yes.»

【Even reincarnated, you remain unchanged.】

Shortly after being summoned, Lycaon realized I was Kim Dokja’s reincarnation.

It was inevitable.

He was a ‘god from another world’.

Lycaon must have quickly sensed that my stories differed from the ‘Kim Dokja’ he remembered.

Yet, his attitude toward me didn’t change. Even without a ‘favorite friend’ or shared memories, he treated me as the ‘Kim Dokja’ he knew.

Perhaps it wasn’t for me, but out of respect for the story left behind by the ‘Demon King of Salvation’.

«I’m sorry. I thought it would be easier this time since I learned it in my past life, but it seems I lack the talent.»

Lycaon looked at me with a peculiar expression.

One that seemed sympathetic, lonely, or simply observant.

【Even in your past life, student never truly learned any skills. Despite having used them.】

«Well… I did.»

I’d love to steal them, but damn it, I don’t have [Bookmark].

【Does student know why you cannot learn [The Way of the Wind]?】

«Hmm.»

I recalled a passage about [The Way of the Wind] from memory.

「 ‘When one wind meets another wind, it forms Taegeuk, and when one wind meets another wind, it forms yin and yang.’ 」

It was explained in ‘Ways of Survival’, and reread by Kim Dokja.

«‘Four winds meet to form a direction, and then four more winds are added to form the Myo of the Eight Trigrams. Thus, the wind is everywhere and nowhere.'»

I remembered every single word.

Maybe that was the problem.

【You are a being who cannot comprehend [The Way of the Wind]. To be precise—】

Some understandings only come when you release what you already know.

But I can’t do that.

【It seems [The Way of the Wind] has already been ‘recorded’ within you.】