Chapter 740

We immediately set out to ‘reenact the story’. Our first step was to split up into teams.

«I will handle the stage.»

Cha Yerin was the one who took responsibility for the stage.

«I’ve obtained some new abilities.»

Wearing her snail mask, she had recently gained the power to manipulate the narratives contained within the ‘mask’.

Cha Yerin murmured quietly as she pressed a hand against the floor, and a moment later, a snail’s shell grew up from the ground.

[The story ‘Snail House’ begins its storytelling.]

This was no ordinary shell. It was a space spacious enough for two grown men to reside inside comfortably.

What was more fascinating was that the interior of this shell was not actually a ‘snail’s house’ at all.

If it needed to be a bathroom, it became a bathroom. A living room became a living room. A kitchen became a kitchen.

The power of her story, ‘Snail House’, was the ability to fashion its interior into whatever form she desired.

«I’m still new to handling stories, so it only lasts for a day,» Cha Yerin said, avoiding our eyes as if slightly embarrassed. «It also takes about half an hour to create.»

A portable house with a customizable interior. With this, we could stay anywhere without any issue.

Kyung Sein remarked with awe,

«If you had gotten this ability just a bit earlier, we could have used it to clear 「The Three Little Pigs」.»

«It would have been difficult because the outside still looks like a snail shell, not a brick house.»

«Ugh, I can’t fall behind, Dokja-ssi. I’ll go get the stage props. Can I take a gourd and a plate?»

Before I could even reply, Kyung Sein, activating [Way of the Wind], soared into the sky.

Cha Yerin observed,

«She’s become a real flying squirrel.»

Perhaps due to the influence of her flying squirrel mask’s story, Kyung Sein could use [Way of the Wind] more swiftly than anyone else in our party.

Dansu ahjussi, watching from beside her, also spoke up.

«Then I suppose I…»

«You can just remain where you are.»

Seeing the man’s expression darken, I quickly added.

«There are plenty of stories that feature turtles. Your chance to be useful will come soon.»

«In that case, I will practice [Way of the Wind]. Since I am a turtle, I should at least practice it diligently…»

«Good. Please share any new insights you gain.»

Meanwhile, Cha Yerin, having finished preparing the stage, announced.

«The stage is ready.»

The crucial moment in the story we were recreating, ‘The Fox and the Crane’, was when the fox and the crane invite one another to their homes and serve each other soup.

«Oh wow, this is exactly like my old kitchen.»

The crane expressed his admiration for the kitchen Cha Yerin had created.

Lost in a fleeting memory, the crane carefully examined both kitchens.

«This side too… yes. My fox friend’s kitchen was just like this.»

[The activation conditions for ‘Staging’ have been met.]

I gave a nod.

«If everything is ready, let’s begin immediately.»

[‘Staging’ is activated!]

[The story ‘The Fox and the Crane’ begins!]

[Your ‘mask’ corresponds to the fable.]

Along with the system message, my body temporarily took on the appearance of a fox.

This was likely an effect of the ‘staging’ process.

I took a deep breath and spoke.

«I will be your host today.»

「 The ill-tempered fox said to the crane. 」

The voice of the narrative flowed out.

The crane owner looked at the text for a moment with a gaze full of nostalgia, then nodded willingly.

«Very well, let us go to your home.»

「 The crane replied with a smile. 」

We entered the fox’s kitchen together. As everyone knows, the events that were to follow were already set in stone.

The fox purposely serves the crane soup on a flat plate. The crane, with its long beak, cannot eat the soup from the plate, and the mischievous fox laps up all the soup from the plate, as if to mock the crane.

It is a simple story of a petty trick.

«Now, please eat.»

The crane looked at the plate I had offered and smiled.

«The soup looks delightful.»

«It is very delicious soup.»

«I remember the first time you served me this soup.»

«That was so long ago now.»

The crane peered into the soup and asked a question.

«Do you still believe people will enjoy this soup?»

That was a line not present in the original.

Unprepared for the crane’s improvisation, I thought for a moment before answering.

«Not every soup can be loved by everyone.»

«I suppose not. I understand.»

The crane’s eyes held a trace of sadness.

I watched him and spoke again.

«However.»

「 The grumpy fox looked down at the soup for a moment before adding. 」

«Someone will remember this soup. It must hold meaning for them.»

The crane fell silent for a moment upon hearing those words.

A stretch of time passed like that.

Tears from the crane fell onto the plate.

«It seems I still cannot eat your soup this time.»

With no one else speaking, only the story continued its narration.

「 The fox ate the delicious soup, and the crane looked down at the plate of soup he could not eat. 」

It was a flawless recreation of the first half.
If only the next line had not been added.

「 And outside the kitchen window, a panda was chewing on bamboo. 」

[Your approval rating drops.]

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

Once the first half of the 「staging」 concluded, Cha Yerin was the first to speak.

«Is the panda a MacGuffin?»

In another corner, Ye Hyunwoo was repeatedly bowing his head in apology to his companions.

«I’m so sorry… I suddenly had a craving for bamboo.»

«No, why would you just start eating bamboo there?»

Under Kyung Sein’s scolding, Ye Hyunwoo hung his head as if deeply ashamed.

«Lately, I keep getting this strange urge to chew bamboo in conspicuous places…»

Dansu ahjussi asked me with a concerned expression.

«Can we film the first half again?»

«This isn’t a movie.»

There are no reshoots in a story. Once activated, 「Staging」 is recorded as it happens.

In other words, all stories are like one-take films.

«Why a panda! What is a panda doing there!»

Meanwhile, the owner of the original story was also losing his composure.

I answered, ignoring the original owner’s shouts.

«We’re short on time, so let’s proceed with the second half for now.»

The staging promptly resumed.
This stage was the crane’s home.

「 Meanwhile, the crane, who had been tricked by the fox, decided to seek revenge. 」

The crane owner confidently placed a gourd on the table.

«Please, enjoy. I will be your host today.»

«It looks tasty.»

True to the owner of a story reenacted countless times, the crane skillfully dipped its beak down and began to sip the soup from the gourd.

Naturally, I could not eat the soup. The neck of the gourd containing the soup was too narrow for me to eat from.

「 Then the crane smiled and asked. 」

«Why aren’t you eating? Are you concerned it might be poisoned?»

I offered a wry smile.

«The soup in the gourd looks so delicious that I feel I cannot eat it.»

«Is that so?»

We looked at one another and laughed.

This was the ending of 「The Fox and the Crane」 that everyone knows.
The fox gets a taste of his own medicine and resolves to treat others better from then on.

I wasn’t sure if this kind of story was still in vogue, but it was certain to appeal to constellations who enjoyed wholesome tales.

If it weren’t for the next line.

「 But the fox had anticipated this situation and called for his friend. 」

When I suddenly looked up, the crane owner was also staring at me.

«Friend?»

I don’t recall doing anything like that?

Before I could stammer a response, the door to the crane’s kitchen opened.

「 The fox’s friend, the wolf, was there. 」

«I never understood it, even when I was young,» said the wolf.

「 The wolf walked straight over to the fox and the crane. 」

«Why can’t you eat this?»

「 The wolf muttered, as if perplexed, and snatched the gourd from the fox’s hand. 」

«Can’t you just drink it like this?»

「 The wolf put the bottle to his mouth and gulped down the soup. 」

I stared blankly at the wolf. The astonished crane was doing the same.

「 After a moment, the wolf, who had consumed all the soup in the vial, spoke. 」

«It’s delicious.»

「 While everyone was silent, a panda was chewing bamboo outside the kitchen window. 」

«Cut! Dammiiiiiiit!»

[Your approval rating drops.]

[Currently, 8% of prisoners in Zone 13 support you.]

«Kuuuuuuuh!»

The crane’s feathers bristled. If the nearby prisoners hadn’t restrained him, I might have been killed on the spot.

«You people! You’ve ruined my story!»

[The ‘stage’ is polluted!]

[The plot of the story is distorted!]

«Please, calm down for a moment.»

«Do I look like I can be calm right now!»

I spoke to soothe the crane, who was nearly hyperventilating.

«Don’t worry, this was all intentional.»

«Intentional? Did you just say intentional?»

«Aren’t you here because you wanted us to change the story? That’s why we altered it to a version that’s popular nowadays.»

It was a complete lie.

«I swear on my name.»

This story was a disaster.

Now, the story ‘The Fox and the Crane’ would likely be changed to ‘The Fox, the Crane, and the Wolf—and Sometimes a Panda’.

The title had become bizarre, and the moral foundation of the story had crumbled.

But I thought to myself.

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ approves of the wolf’s inclusion.]

Just because a story is flawed doesn’t mean it won’t be popular.

[The constellation ‘Reclining Dragon’ says he has gleaned a new lesson.]

In fact, some stories succeed precisely because they fail.

[The constellation ‘The One Who Brought Ten Lambs’ says the panda is adorable.]

«The evaluators are giving positive feedback.»

The crane looked confused by my words.

«They are…?»

«These are individuals summoned to serve as story critics.»

I hadn’t launched this audacious plan without any safety nets.

If you are distributing stories, you need standards by which to judge them.

For reference, I had invited a total of three constellations through Bihyung.

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ demands a more exciting story next time.]

The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’.

This entity, who only enjoys stories centered on ‘cider’-like satisfaction, was perfect for representing the impatient constellations.

Of course, not everyone prefers cider like the Black Flame Dragon.

There are certainly constellations in the <Star Stream> who appreciate elegant and cultured narratives.

For example,

[The constellation ‘Reclining Dragon’ senses profound insight in the story’s transformation.]

The cultured faction’s ‘Reclining Dragon’.

This intelligent constellation was ideal for representing those with intellectual vanity.

However, this type sometimes insisted that chaotic stories were good, perhaps driven by a compulsion to find meaning in them regardless.

The third constellation was brought in to counterbalance this.

[The constellation ‘The One Who Brought Ten Lambs’ appreciates the friendship between the fox and the crane.]

The sensitive one, ‘The One Who Brought Ten Lambs’.

Bihyung had recommended this constellation, but I hadn’t yet discovered their true identity.

Even though ‘sheep’ is part of their modifier, they didn’t seem to belong to the <Zodiac>.

Yet, judging by their story evaluation standards, which seemed quite emotional, they could compensate for the other two constellations’ shortcomings.

«If we can satisfy all three, we should be able to capture 80% of the <Star Stream> audience.»

«Truly?»

I nodded and looked up at the sky.

‘Bihyung, are you ready?’

Then Bihyung responded as if he’d been waiting.

—Are you absolutely sure about this?

‘I heard the Constellations are waiting outside for news from me right now?’

—Yes, but.

‘Then, even if we serve them a story like 「Dung disguised as soybean paste」, they’ll still consume it. Which channel will you use to distribute the stories?’

—I arranged to go through the Gourmet Association. The center director approved distribution there.

Right. The ‘Gourmet Association’.

‘That’s perfect; there are many constellations there with peculiar tastes.’

—Did you have any previous connections with the Gourmet Association constellations?

‘I just picked up the information somewhere.’

[The story you participated in has been submitted through the management bureau.]

[The story’s name has been altered due to a malformed staging.]

[The story ‘The Fox, the Crane, and the Wolf—and Sometimes Panda’ is being transmitted.]

The bizarre story we had created shot through the center’s ceiling and vanished, leaving a long trail behind.

Watching the fading tail of the story, I felt a pang of nostalgia.

It reminded me of how I felt when I published my first series.

After a moment, I turned on my smartphone and checked 「Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint」 on the platform.

The side story was still being serialized in real time there.

I clicked on the latest episode and scanned the comments.

[One free daily pass will be deducted.]

[Regardless of order, one random comment from that episode will be revealed.]

—Poo◼️Oh?

I looked at the comment for a moment, then tilted my head. What is ◼️?

‘Oro Castle’ in the dark dimension.

This territory of ‘Immeasurable Strictness’, one of the 72 Demon Kings, hosted informal gatherings held on a regular schedule.

In the <Star Stream>, it was the meeting place for a group of constellations who loved stories more than anyone, so much that they had grown slightly jaded.

The Gourmet Association.

Like the hipsters of the <Star Stream>, their routine was to critique each other’s story tastes across generations.

But today, a different culinary wind was blowing through the Gourmet Association.

«Hey, have you tried that one?»

«Oh, of course.»

Normally, they would be rehashing sword master tales, but today they were discussing a strange story.

The Demon King ‘Worthless Darkness’ remarked with admiration.

«My goodness, this is a fable, isn’t it? A first-generation story.»

«It uses the first generation as a base, but it’s cleverly adapted.»

He added, as if intrigued by the concept of ‘a person who overcomes trials one step too late’.

«The title has a bit of a ‘Takamagahara’ ring to it. Shutendōji, do you know anything about this?»

«Kyung! We didn’t produce it. I usually find animal stories to be quite dull.»

As the ‘Old Drinking Man’ spoke grumpily, the ‘Impatient Swamp Predator’ added:

«The lines this fox delivers are rather tasty.»

«And what’s with this panda?»

«I believe that’s the highlight. It’s unique.»

Next, the ‘Lord of Forgotten Envy’ and the ‘Owner of the White Castle’ contributed their thoughts.

«Interesting.»

Even constellations who were typically at odds with each other found agreement.

A rare tranquility had settled over the Gourmet Association.

The constellations were lost in their own thoughts during this brief peace.

It was at that moment that a group of troublemakers burst through the main gate of Oro Castle.

«What is everyone eating?»

A young monkey grown into a golden beauty. Some of the constellations who spotted the monkey muttered under their breath.

«Damn it, the monkey fiend is here.»

As the constellations began to slowly rise from their seats, only one greeted him.

It was the ‘One Who Overcame the Trials One Step Too Late’.

«Ah, King Mifu. You’ve arrived?»

The ‘King of the Stone Monkeys’ gave a slight nod and asked.

«I don’t see Jeongjunjwa here today?»

«That one doesn’t appear often lately. Instead, you should try this.»

«What is it?»

«It’s a popular story these days. A tale from the animal world. Haven’t you heard of it?»

The ‘King of the Stone Monkeys’ looked down at the story offered by the ‘One Who Overcame the Trials One Step Too Late’ and frowned.

«It doesn’t look appetizing. It’s a story about creatures who didn’t make it into the Chinese Zodiac.»

«Try it and see. It’s a story we went to great lengths to acquire.»

The Monkey King shrugged and reluctantly picked up a fragment of the story.

A short while later, fur began to sprout on the Monkey King’s arms.

«This… where does this story originate?»

«From the Recycling Center.»

«Who created it?»

King Mifu’s hand began moving toward the story with increasing speed. The ‘One Who Overcame Trials One Step Too Late’ smiled and answered King Mihu.

«A fellow named Kim Dokja.»