Chapter 753

«Dokja-ssi! I heard your approval rating went over 80%?»

Kyung Sein and the others didn’t know the specifics of my dealings with the ‘Bear Beastmen’ since they had been traveling across Zone 13 to gather more allies.

«Wow, how did you ever manage to convince them?»

«I’m not sure if ‘convince’ is the right word.»

Not every bear was won over.

The former leader, ‘Bear Who Will Spare One’s Life if One Pretends to be Dead,’ rejected my proposal and vanished.

The bear who inherited his narrative and became the new leader told me this.

«The leader completed his duty. He believed this was his ◼️◼️.»

◼️◼️.

Is there an ending to the path even for those whose dreams have faded?

«You shouldn’t feel guilty. The boss simply entrusted us to your care. All we ask is that you keep your word.»

My companions listened to my account with solemn expressions.

«It’s hard to find the right words. In the end, you can’t impose the same dream on every person.»

Though they had fought the bears only days before, no trace of hostility remained in Kyung Sein’s voice now.

Friend or foe, everyone is ultimately just a part of this vast story. That was the lesson we learned while building our narrative here.

«Kim Dokja, when do we leave?»

In reply to Killer King’s question, I looked at the ‘System Message’ hovering in the air.

[You may attend the ‘Zodiac Ball’.]

[You must select the companions you will bring to the ball by midnight tonight.]

[The eighth scenario will conclude automatically upon your attendance at the ‘Zodiac Ball’.]

«By midnight tonight.»

Midnight tonight.

We would finally meet the Constellations of the Chinese zodiac.

Kyung Sein asked, her expression serious, perhaps feeling nervous about moving to a new scenario area.

«Yoo Joonghyuk still isn’t awake. Will that be alright?»

«It’s fine. If he doesn’t wake up on his own, I’ll just smack his rear to wake him up. ‘Like Breaking the Sky Sword Saint’.»

We exchanged looks and laughed.

«But what is the ‘Zodiac Ball,’ exactly?»

«It’s an event that never appeared in the Book of Revelation.»

As Cha Yerin noted, the ‘Zodiac Ball’ was indeed an event absent from ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’.

I could only assume it would be similar in nature to the ‘Constellation’s Banquet’.

«It would be helpful to get some information ahead of time.»

«How?»

I gestured with my chin toward a corner of the inn. A small rat prisoner was tied up there securely.

[The Constellation, ‘Nail-Eating Rat’ is trembling as it looks at you.]

It was six months ago that Kim Soogyeom first became conscious of the possession phenomenon.

‘This ceiling is unfamiliar.’

The moment he realized that, Kim Soogyeom was thrilled.

Well-versed in the concept of ‘possessing people’ from comics, novels, and animations, he was startled by the unfamiliar ceiling but not panicked.

‘I’ve been waiting for this moment.’

To him, a repeat student—to be precise, someone who had failed his college entrance exams twice and was facing a third attempt—this possession felt like a form of salvation.

The problem was what he had possessed.

[Squeak.]

Of all things, why did it have to be this?

[Squeak.]

The only small comfort was that this ‘squeak’ wasn’t a sound but a [squeak].

[The Constellation ‘Nail-Eating Rat’ squeaks.]

The instant he read the word ‘Constellation’ floating in the air, Soogyeom Kim understood what kind of world he had entered.

[Are you here, Sugyeom?]

[Squeak… ah?]

What was even more shocking was that his friends had arrived first.

[I had a feeling you’d come too.]

Two friends had possessed beings alongside Kim Soogyeom.

Their modifiers were:

‘Pig Living In a Brick House’.

And ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’.

—Kyung Sein: Wait, were you originally friends with ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’?

Kim Soogyeom was overjoyed.

I’m not alone!

I’m not alone in this terrible world!

While possessing these Constellations, they decided to call each other by their Constellation names.

‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ was the tiger.

‘Pig Living In a Brick House’ was the pig.

And Kim Soogyeom was the rat.

He wasn’t fond of the name, but he had no choice. The tiger had decided.

[But why did we possess characters in this novel?]

The rat answered the tiger’s question.

[It’s your fault. You’re the one who loved this novel.]

[The rat says you read it too.]

[I didn’t love it that much.]

However, no amount of thinking could change the fact of their possession.

[What scenario are you all in now?]

[I’m in the 69th. The rat is in 63.]

[I’m in the 71st. I’ve progressed the farthest, but honestly, judging by the scenario difficulty, I don’t think we can reach the final scenario on our own.]

[That’s how it was in the original.]

[Ah, why did we have to possess animal Constellations? It would’ve been better to be someone like Sun Wukong or Hades.]

[What do we do now?]

[We need to find Kim Dokja.]

But they soon realized.

[I think we are ◼️ here.]

There was no ‘Kim Dokja’ in this world.

But they weren’t disheartened.

What did they need Kim Dokja for? They could just make their own Kim Dokja.

[What do you think? Who should we sponsor?]

[How about that guy over there?]

[Wasn’t he a villain originally?]

[He is, but… Uh? Wait, something’s off about that, isn’t there?]

[Huh? Uh huh?]

[Squeak!]

When the first scenario ended and they saw Cheon Inho alive at Geumho Station, the three friends understood something.

[I choose you.]

—Lee Dansu: Oh, by any chance, during the ‘Sponsor Selection’ back then…!

From that point, Kim Soogyeom and his friends began their sponsorship.

Unfortunately, all three failed to become Cheon Inho’s Constellation, but as mere Great-grade Constellations, it was beyond their reach anyway.

During this time, they discovered another Constellation in a similar situation.

[The Constellation ‘Cow of the Beginning’ shrugs.]

They also learned that there were Constellations plotting malicious schemes.

—Cha Yerin: The Misreading Association.

The two factions immediately became rivals.

One side wanted to support the protagonist and see the ending, while the other wanted to exterminate the protagonist and his supporters to become the main characters of this world themselves.

[The Constellation ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ roars!]

[The Constellation ‘Snake cutting its tail’ screams!]

[The Constellation ‘Pig Living In a Brick House’ builds a brick house.]

[The Constellation ‘Rat Bringing Plague’ begins to eat the bricks.]

After fighting whenever they crossed paths, the Constellations eventually agreed to meet for negotiations.

Of course, the negotiations were doomed from the start.

[Snake, I’m warning you. Don’t interfere with the narrative. Unless you truly wish to be lost.]

[How pathetic. Are you really going to let the story slip into the hands of such people? We are Constellations.]

[Birds who use illegal downloading◼️ should keep their beaks shut—]

[So, did you guys actually pay for everything?]

[Of course we…]

[Swear it on the <Star Stream>. You’ve never read a novel on an illegal site?]

—Killer King: So who didn’t take the oath?

They continued to fight, oppose each other, and clash for several months.

Those months changed them significantly. They began to speak, think, and act like true Constellations.

[The Constellation ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ cheers for Cheon Inho.]

Perhaps that wasn’t such a strange transformation.

[The Constellation ‘Cow of the Beginning’ is amazed by Jung Heewon’s majesty.]

Maybe they had lived similar lives even before becoming Constellations.

[The Constellation ‘Pig Living a Brick House’ feels frustrated with Yoo Joonghyuk.]

They felt happiness, sadness, and anger while watching their incarnations’ scenarios, and were sometimes even moved.

And at some point, they forgot the scenario they themselves needed to clear.

Some friends even aided the main character by exceeding the permitted probability.

The ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ was one of them.

His condition began to noticeably worsen after he sponsored the ‘core of the devil species’ as material for ‘Unbreakable Faith’.

[Tiger, are you okay?]

[Hmm? Rat, what is it?]

[I’m asking because you look pale.]

One week, two weeks, one month.

Time marched on.

Not wanting to be left out while his friends laughed and cried, Kim Soogyeom occasionally sent indirect messages. But each time he did, he felt something was amiss.

[The story ‘The Rat Who Desires an Incarnation’ urges you to find a new incarnation.]

[The story ‘Back Alley Thief Rat’ orders you to lick the story off the floor.]

[The story ‘Gluttonous Rat’ wants to devour new stories.]

When had the stories started speaking to them?

Or had they been speaking all along, and they just hadn’t noticed?

Was supporting the main characters and consuming their stories all just the command of the stories themselves? If so,

[The story ‘Nail-Eating Rat’ is looking at you.]

Were they now being consumed by the ‘stories’?

Terrified, Kim Soogyeom abandoned his story and fled. Stories pursued him wherever he went, but fortunately, he was a ‘Rat’ skilled at evasion. Among the zodiac animals, the rat was the fastest.

But unfortunately, his friends were not ‘rats’.

Killer King, who had listened to the rat’s tale to the end, shook his head.

«So that’s how it was.»

Hearing the story helped me understand why the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’ had changed so drastically.

Most of the animal-type Constellations above, including the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’, were likely in a similar state.

They were no longer ‘readers’.

[I, I came to tell you this. Don’t go up. The Constellations at the ‘Zodiac Ball’ are all insane. And the ones from the Five Dogs Association—]

The rat’s mouth suddenly froze mid-sentence.

[The Constellation ‘Nail-Eating Rat’ screams!]

A terrible scream erupted from the rat as horrific sparks burst from its incarnated body.

[The Constellation ‘Nail-Eating Rat’ suffers a massive blow and is expelled from ‘Zone 13’.]

It happened too fast for anyone to react.

I looked down at the small claw left behind where the rat had been.

Killer King asked.
«Just now…»

«It’s difficult to believe he was simply overwhelmed by his story.»

Regardless of his degraded ‘status,’ he was still a ‘Great-grade Constellation’. If a story had dominated him like the ‘Tiger Eating Rice Cake’, other symptoms would have appeared.

I spoke, gazing up at the now dark night sky.

«There’s someone else…»

This was clearly the work of an entity from a higher-level scenario. A being capable of exiling a powerful Constellation like the ‘Nail-Eating Rat’ with a single strike.

«Within the ‘Zodiac’, there is a being on par with a ‘Narrative-grade Constellation’.»

Normally, Kyung Sein or Dansu ahjussi would have gasped in fear. This time, no one spoke. They already knew a powerful enemy awaited above.

«Let’s prepare to ascend immediately.»

Exactly one hour later, we finished our preparations and gathered in the central clearing of『The Fox and the Crane』.

A small platform was rising in the clearing’s center, likely prepared in advance by the crane owner.

We naturally took seats around the bonfire.

«Zone 13 is our last stop too.»

Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Kyung Sein was the first to break the silence.

«Dokja-ssi, may I ask you something?»

«Of course. Go ahead.»

«By any chance… have you become a Constellation?»

I answered with a wry smile.

«It’s more of a substitute.»

«A substitute? Is that possible?»

I gave a brief explanation of my situation.

«So, for now, you can function as a Constellation.»

«I suppose so.»

«Are you alright, Dokja-ssi? I worry if the stories are speaking to you like they did to those other Constellations…»

«Ah, me.»

[The story ‘Heir to the Eternal Name’ is grumbling at you.]

«Some do pick fights occasionally, but it’s manageable. It’s not unlike what Kim Dokja went through.»

After a moment’s hesitation, Kyung Sein added.

«It somewhat mirrors the flow of the Book of Revelation. I believe Kim Dokja gained his qualifications as a Constellation around this time in the original.»

That was true. I think it was around then.

«If Dokja-ssi is Kim Dokja, then we all have our roles, right? For me, it would be Lee Hyunsung. And Dansu ahjussi is… Han Myungoh?»

«Now, Sein-ssi.»

«Of course, Yerin-ssi is Jung Heewon, and…»

Kyung Sein trailed off, likely thinking of Ye Hyunwoo.

Killer King stepped in smoothly.

«Obviously, I am Yoo Joonghyuk.»

«Right. I suppose the second apostle would be Kim Namwoon.»

«You.»

The group shared a light laugh.

Dansu ahjussi spoke up, as if to set things straight.

«We are just ourselves. I don’t think we need to compare ourselves to anyone else. I’m certainly not saying this because I was compared to Han Myungoh.»

He was right.

We could not be <Kim Dokja Company>.

The man named Lee Dansu, awkwardly rubbing his knee, added:

«But honestly, at this stage, I don’t think we’re inferior to <Kim Dokja Company>.»

That was also true.

Above all, everyone in the party had learned [Way of the Wind]. Individually, our growth rate was impressive.

Not only could Kyung Sein tank as effectively as Lee Hyunsung from the same period, but she also possessed far greater agility.

Dansu ahjussi was backed by the ‘Sneaky Schemer’ Constellation and possessed the ‘Immortal King’ characteristic.

The talented Cha Yerin, the first to master [Way of the Wind], needed no explanation.

And then there was Killer King.

«Kim Dokja, you’re looking at me with a disagreeable expression.»

Most importantly, we had the Yoo Joonghyuk from the 41st Round. In terms of pure potential, our protagonist possessed more formidable combat power than any other iteration.

«It’s not like we’re without our own versions of Jihye-ssi, Hyunsung-ssi, Heewon-ssi, and Yoosoung-ssi… Isn’t this Round quite compelling?»

I had almost forgotten about them.

Upon reflection, the 41st Round’s power was arguably stronger than any other, featuring key figures like Lee Jihye, Lee Hyunsung, and Kim Namwoon.

Now that I thought about it, where were the others like Jung Heewon and Shin Yoosoung? Ji Eunyu and Anna Croft were also absent.

They probably ended up in areas other than Zone 13…

I might encounter them at the ‘Zodiac Ball’.

[The story ‘Between Truth and Lies’ is looking at you.]

A murmuring story was communicating with me. It felt like Yoo Joonghyuk had awakened.

It was my signal that it was time to depart.

Sensing the story’s energy, Killer King asked.
«Is that a story you recently acquired?»

«Yes.»

His eyes held a mix of envy and admiration.

Killer King gazed at the story floating above my head for a long moment. Then, pressing his lips together a few times, he slowly spoke.

«I am Cha Sungwoo.»

Cha Sungwoo.

The group turned to look at each other at the soft-spoken name.

The name of the person Killer King possessed was Kang Ilhoon, but he had given his name as ‘Cha Sungwoo’.

«My name is Noh Kyunghwan. I’m sure everyone knows it already.»

The next to speak was Dansoo ahjussi. I knew the man’s real name well, but it now carried a different weight.

As the bonfire’s embers danced lightly, another voice took up the baton.

«I’m Sung Minwoo.»

Judge Heewon— alsdn0905.

The person we had called ‘Kyung Sein’ until now smiled sheepishly.

«This is the first time I’ve said my name.»

As she scratched her cheek shyly, Literature Girl 64—Cha Yerin, beside her—said.

«I’m Cha Yerin.»

Cha Sungwoo, Noh Kyunghwan, Sung Minwoo, and Cha Yerin.

The names of the people who had endured Geumho Station, Chungmuro Station, Gwanghwamun—who had survived those brutal scenarios together.

Cha Yerin said to me as I hesitated.
«You don’t have to tell us your name. We just wanted you to know ours.»

In that moment, I realized something.

「 They know. 」

Since when? I had no idea.

But they knew who I was. And yet, until now, they hadn’t asked a single question. Who I was, where I came from, what I was doing with them.

There is only one name permitted for me in this world.

«I.»

But could that name truly explain me to the people before me?

I looked down at my hands. The bonfire’s warmth seeped into my fingertips as I formed the words.

Every story in this world is a fiction existing for just one person.

Even so, the warmth of this moment was never a lie.

I opened my mouth.

«My name is.»

This bonfire we’ve gathered around will eventually turn to ash.

This warmth, this scene, the fact we shared this story—all of it will be forgotten forever.

That’s okay.

«It’s Lee Hakhyun.»

Because at least in this moment, we are reading this story together.