Chapter 756

756 Episode 32 Monkey King (3)
The view of the cloud-strewn path streamed past the window.

Kim Dokja must have witnessed this very same scenery someday. What thoughts had crossed his mind while traveling this road?

I couldn’t say.

Back then, Kim Dokja had been a passenger in the symbolic form of Dionysus.

Perhaps he’d been too preoccupied wondering if the wine in Dionysus’s cup was the real thing.

These two hadn’t questioned why I wore Kim Dokja’s face.

Just as Kim Dokja had never asked if the wine in Dionysus’s glass was actually his urine.

The only sounds were the skittering of rats racing along the cloud road and the soft whisper of the wind.

When I slowly turned my gaze from the window, I met Cha Yerin’s eyes.

«Are you alright?»

I gave a nod in reply.

«I’m fine.»

«But it’s Kim Dokja’s face.»

She had likely recognized it so instantly because it matched the Kim Dokja from the cover of the original novel.

«Right. This is Kim Dokja’s face.»

It felt like a pointless exchange, but I had no better answer. After all, I truly did have his face.

«He’s more handsome than I imagined.»

«Pardon?»

«His assumption was right.»

«What… what did Seongwoo-ssi say?»

«That Kim Dokja isn’t ‘ugly’ but ‘unformed’.»

I finally recalled the nickname bestowed upon Kim Dokja.

‘The Ugliest King.’

Now that I considered it, the first title Kim Dokja ever received wasn’t ‘Demon King of Salvation’ but ‘The Ugliest King’.

Ji Eunyu, who was listening nearby, asked.

«What’s the difference?»

«Ugly is simply unattractive, but ‘unformed’ implies something not yet fully realized.»

«I see.»

It was a very subtle distinction.

Naturally, from my perspective as the one who had written that description, I wondered what my specific intention had been…

As if she’d read my mind, Ji Eunyu answered.

«But I don’t believe there was any deep meaning—»

«What are you saying, editor? It was absolutely intentional. Most importantly, Kim Dokja was shielded from external perception by the [Fourth Wall]! Others couldn’t properly see his face!»

Hearing my explanation, Cha Yerin shook her head in amazement.

«But even with the [Fourth Wall], I can see the Author’s face clearly.»

«Well, I don’t have the [Fourth Wall] active…»

I stopped mid-sentence.

Now I was the representative of the ‘Demon King of Salvation’.

Even if the [Fourth Wall] was active, it shouldn’t be strange at all.

«Open up, Fourth Wall.»

There was no particular response from the [Fourth Wall] to my command.

Ji Eunyu asked, sounding doubtful.

«Will it open if you do that?»

«I was just testing it. But can you see my face clearly right now?»

«Yes. What about you, Yerin-ssi?»

«It looks fine.»

Did this mean the [Fourth Wall] wasn’t functioning correctly?

[The ‘attributes window’ cannot be activated due to a current system error.]

However, the ‘attributes window’ remained invisible.

Ji Eunyu, who had been quietly studying my face, went on.

«Yerin-ssi, you said the Author looks like Kim Dokja right now, correct?»

«Yes.»

«That’s a little surprising. He doesn’t appear that way to me.»

I asked, curious what she meant.

«How does it look to you, then?»

«It just looks like the Author’s original face.»

«My own face?»

«It’s not exact, but I think so. Author, haven’t you always looked like this? Your hairstyle is quite different, though…»

A question immediately sprang to mind.

「 What did I originally look like? 」

Had it been too long since I possessed this character? Even when I saw my reflection in the window and touched it, I couldn’t summon a clear image of my old face.

It felt as if my face had always been this way.

A flicker of fear went through me at that sentiment, which held not the slightest trace of discomfort.

[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ is looking at you.]

I couldn’t tell these two.

The ‘story’ I possessed was said to be consuming ‘Kim Dokja’s fragments’, and to the extent I had absorbed those fragments, I was becoming more like Kim Dokja.

[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ opens its eyes greedily.]

Even now, my story was coveting the two people before me.

「 If you lay a finger on either of them, I will never speak of you again. 」

[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ frowns and steps back.]

Fortunately, the story settled down quickly.

However, in that brief moment, someone had witnessed the exchange between me and my story.

[I never imagined there would be another like us in this universe.]

It was Meihouwang. He delivered his mantra via telepathic voice so the other two couldn’t hear.

[When one being becomes many, complications arise. Get your mind in order. Unless you wish to be devoured by ‘a single story’.]

A single story.

I hadn’t expected to hear those words here and suddenly looked at him. But Meihouwang seemed to have no more to say, yawning repeatedly behind a mask of boredom.

[Wake me when we arrive.]

Meihouwang took a deep breath and soon fell asleep in Ji Eunyu’s arms.

The moment he drifted off, a small display materialized above the carriage window.

[Welcome aboard the ‘Orient Express Wagon’.]

I’d thought it was just a golden carriage, but its internal facilities were clearly state-of-the-art. Well, I should have guessed from the moment the fragment of the 「Fingerprint Recognition」 story attached itself.

The carriage moving along the cloud path seemed to tilt slightly.

[The carriage will switch to ‘manual operation’ shortly.]

What, already?

As the message finished, a controller appeared out of thin air. It was a standard controller, like those used for video games.

[Participants of the ‘Zodiac Ball’ must use the ‘controller’ to operate the carriage themselves.]

[The destination is displayed on the panel.]

[You may attack or be attacked by another carriage en route to your destination.]

[Special prizes will be awarded to the passengers of the first carriage to reach the destination.]

A large panel materialized before my eyes. A dot on the panel marked our carriage’s location.

Other dots, presumably other carriages, were moving nearby.

Perhaps among them were carriages carrying Killer King or Lee Dansu.

[‘Manual driving’ will commence in 30 seconds.]

Only 30 seconds. There wasn’t much time.

I swiftly turned to Ji Eunyu and spoke.

«Editor-nim.»

«Yes. You want me to knock you out?»

I didn’t know how Ji Eunyu knew, but she was already pulling a large hammer from her pocket.

Cha Yerin also chimed in, clashing her iron fists.

«If it’s about knocking someone out, I’m skilled.»

I looked at them for a moment before answering.

«I’ll handle it myself.»

I was fortunate this wasn’t ‘Zone 13’.

From now on, I could use my skills freely.

«I’m going to be unconscious for the next 30 seconds.»

[This area permits the use of ‘skills’.]

[Exclusive skill ‘Incite Lv. 10’ is activated!]

[Your understanding of the story fragment ‘Incite’ is exceptionally high.]

[The story fragment ‘Incite’ greatly influences the proficiency of the skill ‘Incite’.]

Feeling my consciousness sink, I activated [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint].

[Exclusive skill ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ stage 2 is activated!]

Let’s see.

I should check on Yoo Joonghyuk’s side first.

As I pictured the boy from the 41st round, Yoo Joonghyuk, the interior of another carriage swam into view.

「 «That guy must be in a carriage too.» 」

The conditions for the skill were met. It seemed he was thinking of me as well.

And the one riding with Yoo Joonghyuk was—

「 ‘If you say that guy, do you mean Kim Dokja?» 」

Dammit, why was it Killer King?

The boy Yoo Joonghyuk and Killer King were seated opposite each other, locked in a stare.

「 «Why do you refer to Kim Dokja as ‘that guy’?» 」

「 «It feels right in my heart.» 」

「 «Only close friends use that term. You and Kim Dokja aren’t close. I’m the one who’s actually close to him.» 」

「 «You don’t seem particularly close either.» 」

The two growled as if ready to fight, then simultaneously looked at the controller that had appeared in the air.

「 «I’ll do it.» 」

I immediately switched the view.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t worried, but upon reflection, I thought this team might be okay.

Yoo Joonghyuk’s background was as a pro gamer, and Killer King was also talented at games.

The real problem was the other team.

「 «Aaaah! Dokja-ssi, what do I do? What do I do!» 」

As I feared, Kyung Sein was already calling my name.

Next, the resigned face of Lee Dansu came into view.

As expected, Kyung Sein and Dansu ahjussi were teamed up.

I used [Group Chat] to speak to them.

—Has either of you ever played games before?

Dansu ahjussi and Kyung Sein both looked up at the same time.

「 «Wow, is that really Kim Dokja talking? Is this the [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint]?» 」

—Yes. Please answer quickly, we’re short on time.

「 «Hmm, I’ve never had any talent for games, even when I was young—» 」

「 «Well, I enjoy games, but I’m not good with the controls… so my friends usually don’t want to play with me…» 」

Dammit, I had a feeling.

At that moment, several other carriages began approaching theirs. They certainly didn’t seem to be coming with friendly intentions.

—Watch out!

A window on a parallel carriage slid open, and a volley of sharp shuriken shot inside.

「 «Waaaaaaah!» 」

The shuriken scraped against the carriage with a grating noise. It was clearly an attack infused with powerful magical energy.

[The carriage’s durability has decreased!]

I couldn’t just leave them.

[10 seconds remain in the stunned state.]

I made a quick decision.

«I will be unconscious for one more minute.»

[Exclusive skill ‘Incite Lv. 10’ is activated!]

[Stun time extended!]

[The usage time of the exclusive skill, ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ stage 2, is extended!]

—Grab the controller! Now!

Kyung Sein seized the controller and tried to accelerate. The gap between the carriages didn’t widen. Instead, the other carriages naturally surrounded them like players in a game.

As shurikens flew in from both sides, scraping the carriage wheels, the interior shook violently as if it might flip over.

The screams of Kyung Sein and Dansu ahjussi echoed.

Then, thin, pale smoke began to rise from the front of the carriage.

[Warning! The carriage’s durability is below 20%!]

As the carriage slowed, others sped past mockingly. Luckily, they didn’t seem intent on finishing them off just yet.

But those carriages were moving strangely fast—

[The constellation ‘Liverless Rabbit’ is grinning.]

[The story fragment ‘Running Rabbit’ begins its storytelling.]

[The carriage receives an acceleration correction from the story.]

Dammit, it had to be the carriage with the ‘Rabbit’ zodiac.

Other nearby carriages also overtook them.

[Warning. The last carriage to arrive at the ‘destination’ will be denied entry to the ‘Zodiac Ball’.]

The expressions on Kyung Sein and Dansu ahjussi’s faces hardened at the message.

[All passengers of a carriage that fails to arrive at the ‘destination’ will die.]

Those were the rules of this game.

A game where incarnations who didn’t reach the destination were ‘guaranteed to die’.

That was the ‘Orient Express Carriage’.

And if this continued, Dansu ahjussi and Kyung Sein’s carriage would most likely end up in last place.

I spoke urgently.

—Ahjussi, use a story.

「 «A story—» 」

—Have you forgotten which ‘animal mask’ you’re wearing?

At that moment, Lee Dansu’s eyes widened in realization.

He finally understood.

An animal that runs slowly but steadily.

And an animal that, at the very least, doesn’t lose to ‘rabbits’.

—You might not know from other zodiacs, but no matter what, the turtle never loses to the rabbit.

「 «But will the stage work properly?» 」

—Of course. Because.

Because the conditions for staging this story had just been perfectly met.

[The story fragment ‘The Turtle Incubating Someone Else’s Egg’ begins its storytelling.]

[The story fragment ‘The Turtle Incubating Someone Else’s Egg’ encounters the story ‘Running Rabbit’.]

[The story ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’ begins.]

As the stage scene unfolded, the carriage’s durability gauge began to slowly climb.

[The story ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’ repairs the ‘Orient Express Wagon’.]

The carriage’s speed also began to steadily increase. It moved at an honest, unwavering pace.

Before long, the carriages that had passed them started to come back into view.

「 «Okay, okay! We’re really catching up!» 」

Good. Now, as long as they drove carefully, this carriage would reach its destination safely.

「 «Hmm.» 」

The voice that spoke up wasn’t from Dansu ahjussi or Kyung Sein.

Had I been too focused on the external situation? I hadn’t noticed there was another passenger in their carriage.

When I looked closer, I saw it was someone I recognized.

「 «You.» 」

Dongzhongshang

「 «You can already wield the power of the Oldest Dream.» 」

He spoke as if he could see me floating there.

「 «But you would be wise not to abuse that power.» 」

How had Dongzhongshang detected my presence?

Bicheonhori silently pointed a finger behind me.

「 «Dokja-ssi.» 」

A voice from behind me, coming from very far away.

A voice that seemed to place a heavy weight on the heart.

Right. [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] was that kind of skill. It was,

「 «Dokja hyung!» 」

A curse.

「 «Ahjussi!» 」

They were calling for me.

Dongzhongshang smiled as if he had wanted to see this.

「 «You cannot become a ‘recorder’ yet. With so many voices holding you back, how can you write this world’s next story?» 」

Even after hearing his words, I couldn’t stop myself from looking back.

Now I was the ‘Demon King of Salvation’.

A constellation that loved stories more than anyone else in this world.

「 «Kim Dokja.» 」

The moment I looked back, the scenery of the story shifted once again.