Chapter 747

747 Episode 30 Zodiac (9)
This was not a figure of speech. The path was physically materializing right in front of me.

A satisfying gust of wind coursed through my entire being.

[Story fragment ‘Way of the Wind’ orbits around you.]

A single step revealed the placement of the next, and the one after that.

This was the essence of [Way of the Wind].

Kim Dokja’s primary skill, widely recognized as the best.

Using this ability, Kim Dokja had advanced step by step until he reached the edge of the world.

[The story fragment ‘Way of the Wind’ gives its approval.]

An observer might have questioned if this was merely [Way of the Wind]. But to me, the significance lay in getting this close to the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ using nothing but [Way of the Wind].

[That power.]

The ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ observed me and spoke.

[Interesting.]

His expression mirrored that of Yoo Jonghyuk from the 137rd round, the one who had vanquished the Dream Eater.

[Is this a story fragment bestowed upon you by the deceased wolf?]

«Lycaon is not dead. He couldn’t have been eliminated by a constellation who is only barely great-grade.»

For a fleeting second, a trace of disturbance crossed the ‘Tiger’s’ features.

«Now, retreat. You must have had your fill of bean rice cakes and sirutteok.»

[My hunger remains.]

«You might not realize it, but that is ‘false hunger’. It signifies that you aren’t truly hungry.»

The ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ is a constellation founded on the narrative of ‘The Sun and the Moon’. While many stories are woven into his being, he is fundamentally a being who attempted to devour the main characters, a brother and sister, failed, and perished in a sorghum field.

Since he never achieved his desire, his story is saturated with bitterness, malice, and insatiable greed.

«If you don’t control this false hunger, you will undergo rapid aging. Aren’t you aware?»

His thirst and hunger were both manifestations of his stories.

[Little one, a human lifespan is too brief to comprehend the constellations.]

But what if the soul of an ordinary person had suddenly taken possession of someone midway through that story?

«Since when have you been a constellation?»

Now I could perceive it. A faint, flickering soul amidst the swirling stories that enveloped him. A tiny fragment, a spirit smaller than a dab of soybean paste.

«I don’t know who you originally were, but I ask you one final time. Please leave this place.»

That constellation was a ‘reader’. If not in the present, he had undoubtedly been one at some point.

That was the sole reason I had tolerated his presence until now.

«I will honor my promise to you. I will absolutely be at the Chinese Zodiac Ball, but I cannot act as your agent.»

In his final moments, Lycaon had said.

「 Become the Kim Dokja you wish to be. 」

The Kim Dokja I want to be.

I don’t know what that means.

Perhaps that person is not Kim Dokja, and maybe such an individual doesn’t exist anywhere.

However, if that ‘Kim Dokja’ is real,

«Get away from here, now.»

then that ‘Kim Dokja’ would offer the ‘reader’ before him one final opportunity.

Naturally, whether that opportunity would be accepted was another matter entirely.

The ground trembled violently with a low, grinding rumble.

Now that the ‘scale of probability’ had vanished, the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ could no longer display the world-shattering power he had before.

Yet, he showed no intention of departing. He still clung to the justification of our ‘contract’.

[Do you believe you have become significant just by grasping the Way of the Wind?]

His tone was utterly contemptuous.

That’s right.

He was still a ‘constellation’, and [Way of the Wind] was, at its core, just a technique used to contain the ‘Disaster of Questions’.

«Are you an expert on the Way of the Wind?»

The ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ wordlessly extended his front paws into the air. The blood-red rope tied to his paw unwound and shot toward me.

It seemed my patience had reached its limit. It was time to suggest a ‘re-reading’ to this reader.

[Your exclusive attribute is activated.]

[Your comprehension of the story fragment ‘Way of the Wind’ is exceptionally high!]

I rapidly ascended to the height of the creature standing tens of meters tall.

I could see the precise points to step on to gain more speed—once, twice, three times. I accelerated until the shouts of the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ faded into nothingness.

At the climax of that acceleration awaited ‘Unbreakable Faith’.

Even though my skill was sealed and I couldn’t summon [White Blue Steel], it made no difference.

[The story fragment ‘Way of the Wind’ aligns with your intent.]

[Way of the Wind was never just a skill for accelerating the body or flying.]

Just as Kim Dokja had used [Way of the Wind] to forge a ‘vacuum prison’ to conquer the disaster of questions, the applications of the technique are infinite, depending on one’s understanding of the wind.

[Little one, if you do not cease immediately—!]

The front paw of the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ swept toward me with precision. I evaded it by a hair’s breadth and drove ‘Unbreakable Faith’ into his forearm.

An attack that should have been ineffective.

But now, [Way of the Wind] was coiled around my ‘Unbreakable Faith’.

A harsh grinding sound echoed.

This was the [Wind Blade]. It was an application of Lycaon’s enlightenment, utilizing the interplay of straight lines and curves to generate constant rotation.

A story deflected off his forearm with a sharp, sizzling noise.

The ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ let out a short sigh and spoke.

[You possess some talent in the minor details.]

I responded with a sharp grin.

«You talk just like a genuine constellation.»

[What?]

«Is there a school that teaches you to speak that way? Or perhaps…»

[The story ‘The old and sick guardian spirit’ is infuriated by you!]

«Are you being manipulated by that ancient story?”

The ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ erupted, unleashing the Tiger’s Claws. It felt as if a bomb made of pure sound had detonated across the sky.

[Way of the Wind was pushed to its limit to mitigate the impact.]

I was thrown to the ground, tumbled across the clearing, and forced myself back up. A trickle of blood escaped the corner of my mouth.

Am I still not ready?

Well, if simply learning [Way of the Wind] could match a great-grade constellation, Kim Dokja wouldn’t have struggled so much.

At least my provocation had been effective, agitating the old stories from the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’’s predecessor into a frenzy.

Had I bought enough time?

«Kim Dokja, what exactly is going through your mind?»

The Killer King, who had flown to my side using [Way of the Wind], supported me and asked.

«It’s exactly as you see.»

I replied, my gaze fixed on the rampaging ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’.

«I intend to fight that thing and emerge victorious.»

«You’ve lost your mind.»

The Killer King fell silent for a beat.

He simply shook his head in exasperation and added, deliberately avoiding my gaze.

«My apologies.»

«For what? I chose this because it’s more entertaining.»

«…Entertaining?»

«Because it will make for a better ‘story’.»

Kim Dokja always said something like that whenever he made an outrageous choice.

Because this is more fun.

Because the constellations will prefer this progression.

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ scoffs.]

[The constellation ‘Reclining Dragon’ is astonished by your decision.]

But was that truly just a calculation for the constellations’ benefit?

[The constellation ‘The One Who Brought Ten Lambs’ is concerned for you.]

Perhaps, in truth, Kim Dokja himself desired that very development.

«Dokja-ssi.»

«Yes.»

Before I knew it, Kyung Sein had flown over and was standing beside me.

«Thank you.»

Before I could respond, Kyung Sein blurted out the words she had been holding back.

«I was so scared you were actually going to leave us behind! Even though I trust the other members—»

«Didn’t we all come together because of ‘Kim Dokja’?»

The Dansu ahjussi added his thoughts.

Cha Yerin and Ye Hyunwoo also moved to flank the group, signaling their agreement.

The Killer King asked,

«What’s the plan?»

«We just need to hold out. Until his probability diminishes further.»

«Is that even a strategy?»

«I thought it was a plan fitting for the Killer King.»

I quickly briefed my companions through the [group chat].

I explained the ‘invitation to the Chinese Zodiac Ball’ that connected me and the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’.

The Killer King, after hearing everything, spoke with a note of respect.

«I understand. It’s a viable plan.»

«Really?»

«But can that also be considered a probability event?»

I nodded in answer to Kyung Sein’s question.

«It’s a minor probability. Therefore, he won’t be able to maintain this strength for long. He can’t properly utilize his full power.»

«What if you’re mistaken?»

«Even if I am wrong.»

I continued, gauging the depth of the night sky.

«If we can last until midnight tonight, victory is certain.»

«Midnight?»

[A new sub-scenario has arrived!]

The sub-scenario had just appeared.

The ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ had been uncharacteristically still for a while; this must have been the reason.

<Sub Scenario – Chinese Zodiac Race>

Category: Sub

Difficulty: S+

Clear conditions: Survive the zodiac ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’.

Time Limit: —

Reward: Unidentified story fragment, 300,000 coins, ???

Failure: Death.

The objective was ‘survive’, not ‘kill’.

That confirmed this fight was stacked against us.

As the scenario began, the ‘Tiger’, who had subdued his turbulent stories, scowled.

[You are truly troublesome individuals.]

Though his voice was menacing, he could no longer unleash devastating attacks in succession like before. No matter the probability granted by his contract with me, he couldn’t recklessly expend energy as he had against Lycaon.

[The story ‘The One Who Calls The Ghost’ begins its storytelling.]

Still, he remained a ‘constellation’.

[Rise, my devils.]

Changgui.

An ancient term for the ghost of one who had been killed and eaten by a tiger.

It was a story similar to the 「King of the Dead」 utilized by ‘Davids’, a high-rankers from the Dark Castle.

A low, collective moan rose.

The incarnations buried throughout Zone 13 began to stir and rise one by one. Their eyes were hollow voids fixed on me. They were all prisoners slain by tigers.

«Damn, are these zombies?»

«Similar. But I can’t use my original abilities properly against them.»

There were many, but judging by their sluggish advance, none seemed to be powerful incarnations.

This should still be manageable…

[The story ´Compatible Mama’ begins its storytelling.]

One of the prisoners standing nearby suddenly clutched his head in terror.

The moment I urgently reached out toward him.
«Save me—»

The beastman’s head exploded with a sickening pop.

A chill ran down my spine.

He was using this story too?

A crackle of white sparks.

The ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ had made a decision.

He would end this scenario his way, even if it meant enduring some backlash.

«Everyone, focus on the masks you’re wearing!»

I shouted to my companions and the prisoners.

「 Compatible Mama. 」

A story referencing both a ‘tiger’s misfortune’ and a ‘plague’.

Its defining trait is ‘the contagion of fear’.

Incarnations consumed by fear lose their sense of self; their heads explode, and they die.

«We have to counter the narrative! Stop the fear from spreading!»

Fear is ultimately a fear of the unknown.

To conquer it, one must focus elsewhere. They must listen to the stories they know well, the stories that define who they are.

[The story ‘Recorder of Things That Will Disappear’ nods in agreement.]

I was largely unaffected by 「Compatible Mama.」

However, my companions seemed to be struggling more under its influence.