Chapter 749

749 Episode 31 Yoo Jonghyuk (1)
「 The universe began abruptly one day. No one can say what came before it. 」

「 Perhaps that is the reason the ‘Oldest Dream’ must never stop dreaming. 」

—Lost guide

My companions voiced their awe as Yoo Jonghyuk moved ahead.

They were likely recalling ‘that line’. It was similar to what Yoo Jonghyuk had declared when he defeated Poseidon.

«Oooooh!»

«That sounds familiar.»

«It’s so like him.»

«Ah.»

«I never thought I’d hear that myself one day.»

Dansu ahjussi, Kyung Sein, Killer King, Cha Yerin, and Ye Hyunwoo each spoke in turn, then all looked back at me simultaneously.

No one said it aloud, but I understood their shared question.

«So, is it true?»

Logically, it seemed impossible for him to have slain a great-grade Constellation twice by only the 41st round.

That was the heart of their doubt.

I gave a slight nod. It is true. This particular ’41st round’ is an exception.

«Oooh!»

As if my confirmation was all the permission she needed, Kyung Sein grew excited, clapping her hands and chanting his name.

«Yoo Jonghyuk! Yoo Jonghyuk! Yoo Jonghyuk!»

Dansu ahjussi also yelled out, caught up in the fervor.

Killer King gave a quiet nod and muttered under his breath.

«Go on, Supreme King.»

Amid the rising cheers, Yoo Jonghyuk shot a glance in our direction.
The frown on his face suggested a foul mood.
Well, such sudden, fervent support would make anyone uncomfortable.

Finally, his gaze landed on me. Then, an [electric sound] buzzed in my ear.

—Once I finish him, you’re next.

Seriously, why?

A sudden memory surfaced.

「 «Eat it, you bastard!» 」

Was it because of the dirt-eating incident?

But that’s unjust.

I never actually forced dirt into his mouth. I only fed him the ‘story about eating dirt’.
He was the one, influenced by the narrative, who picked up the dirt and ate it himself.

Damn, this is exactly why I wished his memories would return later.

Still, it was some small comfort that I wouldn’t be the first to face his wrath.

[The Constellation ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ is growing cautious of the incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’.]

The reaction was unexpected.
Normally, this would provoke indignation—»How dare a mere incarnation threaten me!»—or a furious charge.

[The Constellation ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ watches the incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ with a guarded expression.]

He was no longer a ‘reader’.
Yet, his wariness towards Yoo Jonghyuk meant the stories controlling him were aware of Yoo Jonghyuk’s threat.
He might have even accessed some of the ‘reader’s’ memories.

[Have you perhaps reached transcendence?]

A Transcendent.
The sole mortal designation capable of confronting the immortal Constellations within the <Star Stream>.

However, to my knowledge, Yoo Jonghyuk had not yet transcended. If he had, a system message would have announced it.

«I can defeat you without needing transcendence.»

[A mere mortal who hasn’t transcended dares to challenge a Constellation?]

Right, that’s the reaction I expected.
His manner of speech indicated the ‘old and sick guardian spirit’ story was active again.
The more he acted like a typical Constellation, the more vulnerable he became.

[The Constellation ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ lets out a roar!]

The ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ was a great-grade Constellation channeling a portion of his true form’s power.
Though somewhat constrained by probability, he was a far more formidable opponent than the demon marquis we faced earlier.

So this time, Yoo Jonghyuk would also need to go all out.

[‘Redemption of Truth’ is activated.]

Without a second’s hesitation, Yoo Jonghyuk activated his ‘Story Imprint’.

[A portion of incarnation Yoo Jonghyuk’s memories are sealed.]

Redemption of Truth is a ‘story imprint’ that unleashes its power by locking away fragments of memories from previous regression turns.

I watched as pieces of memory, sealed away, flowed into me.

「 «Captain.» 」

This was a part of Yoo Jonghyuk’s history never recorded in ‘Ways of Survival’ or ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’.

Yoo Jonghyuk’s 24th turn.

「 «I need to ask a favor, Captain.» 」

The view of a vast ocean shimmered, waves rolling before my eyes.
It must have been a scenario on a coast. Yoo Jonghyuk and Shin Yoosoung stood on a beach littered with shipwrecks. The young girl had a grievous wound in her abdomen.

「 «I wish I could go back to school one day.» 」

An injury beyond the healing of either the ‘Spirit of Elaine Forest’ or the ‘Great Hwandan’.
The girl hid the wound with her hand, pretending it wasn’t there.
Shin Yoosoung drew her last breaths in Yoo Jonghyuk’s arms.

「 «If this world is saved—» 」

Shin Yoosoung knew.
The schools would never reopen. The students would never return. She would never attend class again.

「 «Please come to my graduation ceremony.» 」

Despite knowing all this, Shin Yoosoung had to say it.
She knew exactly what kind of eternal memory it would become for Yoo Jonghyuk.

Yoo Jonghyuk now answered that eternal request.

«I cannot attend your graduation ceremony, but—»

His 24th attempt had failed. The world was ruined, and the past could never return.
The Shin Yoosoung of the 24th round did not graduate.

«I will not allow you to die before me.»

His memories were being sealed away.
The Yoo Jonghyuk I knew would never have sealed these. But the more precious the memory, the greater the power ‘Redemption of Truth’ unleashed.
And now, Yoo Jonghyuk needed power that strong.

I reached out my hand. I wanted to shout that those memories must not be locked away. To forget them would be to erase that world as if it never was.

But at that moment, my eyes met Yoo Jonghyuk’s.

«I.»

It might be an absurd leap in logic.
There was no reason for the 41st round Yoo Jonghyuk to think this way.
Yet now, Yoo Jonghyuk knew clearly that I was witnessing his memories, that I was the sole observer of what he was about to lose.

«I want you to remember this memory for me.»

I watched, fists clenched, as Yoo Jonghyuk’s memories were sealed away. I committed the fading image of Shin Yoosoung and the entire 24th Round to memory, not missing a single detail.

When I nodded, Yoo Jonghyuk turned away.

[All comprehensive attributes of incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ temporarily exceed the scenario’s limit!]

[An explosive power surges through his entire body!]

Yoo Jonghyuk lunged forward with immense energy. Magical power overflowed from his entire being.

*Quad deud deuk!*

Yoo Jonghyuk’s swift sword strike clashed with the front paws of the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’.
Having lifted one seal in the Washington Dome, Yoo Jonghyuk had reached a level comparable to a ‘Demon Marquis’.
But that wouldn’t be enough this time.

[Is that all?!]

As the Constellation’s smug message echoed, Yoo Jonghyuk immediately activated a second narrative engraving.

[Incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ activates ‘Restraint of Emotions’!]

Restraint of Emotions.
I felt a spike of anxiety. It reminded me of the ‘Black Beast’ that had turned Washington Dome into a hellscape.
Back then, the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ had been there.
But if Yoo Jonghyuk’s transformation spiraled out of control now, who could stop him?

—Do your job properly this time.

Yoo Jonghyuk’s voice reached my ears.
I remembered, a bit late, my promise to him. The reason he had wanted me in the Washington scenario.

「 «You stop me.» 」

He trusted that I would bring him back if he lost himself.

«I’ll try.»

I muttered the words without thinking.
Killer King glanced in my direction. Fortunately, Yoo Jonghyuk’s transformation began before he could speak.

I watched the change, holding my breath.
Would he become the ‘black beast’ again, or…?

[Incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’’s story engraving skill level has increased significantly.]

[‘Restraint of Emotions’ is evolving!]

In a dazzling flash of light, pitch-black fur sprouted and covered Yoo Jonghyuk’s entire body. But this time, it wasn’t the ‘black beast’.
The dark fur grew rapidly, forming a coat reminiscent of the [Beast Lord’s Sensitivity] used by the ‘Beast Lord’ Shin Yoosoung.
The difference was that Yoo Jonghyuk’s fur was entirely black.

Killer King, watching from the side, widened his eyes.
«Long hair, a fur coat… Is that the Emperor of Heilang?»

Normally, I would have dismissed Killer King’s nonsense, but I was too captivated by Yoo Jonghyuk’s new presence to reply.
Clad in the black fur coat, Yoo Jonghyuk truly resembled a demon world prince commanding ten thousand beasts.
Perhaps this was another manifestation of the ‘Black Beast’.

[How—]

While the ‘old and sick guardian deity’ narrative continued to falter, Yoo Jonghyuk’s new form moved.
His speed was blinding.
Even after learning [Way of the Wind], I couldn’t follow his movements with my eyes.

The startled tiger roared. But neither the lunging spear ghosts nor the tiger’s own paws could catch Yoo Jonghyuk.
No story in this world could redeem Yoo Jonghyuk now.

Breaking The Sky Sword Technique.
A skill honed through relentless training to its absolute peak.
In a sense, this ‘Recycling Center’ was his solo stage.
All his techniques had surpassed mere ‘skill’—they were no longer bound by skill seals.

Breaking The Sky Meteor Strike.
A meteor bloomed within the swordplay of ‘Sain Tragedy Sword’. Stars seemed to weep along every arc of his blade.

«Gaaaaaagh!»

The ghosts struck by meteor fragments vanished into light.
A truly overwhelming force.
The meteor shower pierced every part of the tiger’s body like a storm.

[Kaaaaaa!]

The Constellation’s scream echoed throughout Zone 13.

[The Constellation ‘Liverless Rabbit’ stares in astonishment!]

[The Constellation ‘Rat spreading plague’ feels fear.]

[The Constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ holds his breath.]

The tiger’s front paw moved slowly. Yoo Jonghyuk didn’t miss the brief opening, striking back and forth.
His sword plunged into the holes torn by the meteor shower, connecting them like constellations.

With a sound of shattering, the tiger’s front paw was severed and sent flying.

[The Constellation ‘Reclining Dragon’ is overwhelmed by the power of incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’.]

[The Constellation ‘The One Who Brought Ten Lambs’ cannot look away from incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’.]

A thrill ran through me amidst the ecstatic tales scattering everywhere.

「 A black wolf was hunting a tiger. 」

There was no trace of human emotion in his graceful swordwork. Reflected in its trajectory was simply the immense hardship Yoo Jonghyuk had endured.
Memories of training day and night to one day defeat the Constellations in the sky.

[K-keaaaa—my arm! My arm—how dare you—!]

All those memories were now concentrated and embodied in a single form.

He closed the distance with [Red Pheonix Steps], parried incoming blows with [Defense Strength], handled the spear ghosts with [Hundred Step God Fist], and severed the Constellation with [Breaking The Sky Swordsmanship].

Breaking The Sky Mad King’s Dance.

Dozens of sword lights pierced both of the tiger’s legs. One knee buckled, then the other.
The massive tiger’s body lost its balance and began to fall forward. Yoo Jonghyuk seized the opportunity, leaping towards its neck.

He was only in the eighth scenario.
Yet here, in the eighth scenario, Yoo Jonghyuk was attempting the incredible feat of felling a Constellation from the sky with his own strength.

[The story ‘Old and Sick Guardian Deity’ has disappeared.]

[The story ‘Rotten Dongajul’ is activated in exchange for the ‘Old and Sick Guardian Deity’!]

「 Rotten Dongajul. 」

The unique story of the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’, used to escape a desperate crisis.

[The story ‘Rotten Dongajul’ begins its storytelling.]

Though similar to Nirvana’s [No Possession], this story demanded an even more terrible price.

Just before Yoo Jonghyuk’s sword could meet the tiger’s neck, a bright red fireball erupted from the tiger’s chest with a sound like *fu-chem*. Red snowflakes scattered across the ground, painting a field of red sorghum.
The figure of the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ began to dissipate like smoke within the blood-stained field.

[This is most unsatisfactory. Since I could not obtain the little one—]

The mantra of the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ rang out, full of sorrow.
His hate-filled gaze, which had been fixed on me, soon shifted to another.

[I will take the other one instead.]