After saying that, Han Sooyoung blacked out immediately. When she came to, the Dokkaebi King must've gone somewhere, as it was nowhere to be found. "…This was why I always dozed off back in school." She always wondered why she felt so sleepy whenever she got to school… As it turned, her condition was due to another ego waking up and doing its own thing during the night time. Since waiting for the Dokkaebi King proved to be rather boring, Han Sooyoung did what she could during the early hours of the morning. Most of that was browsing through various blogs. "That guy, I'm pretty sure he was a blogger…" And when even that became too boring, she created a secret folder in the notebook and started writing novels. Most of them were simple 'minifictions' written solely for the purpose of keeping her writer's sense sharp. However, something truly strange happened the next day she completed them. Her 13-year-old ego active during the daytime ended up causing a big event. "Sooyoung-ah, since when did you learn to write so well?" The school suddenly hosted a writing contest and she won the top prize. Not only that, the content of her writing was exactly the same as the minifiction she cobbled together during the early hours, too. "Just, you know, it came flooding out," her 13-year-old self replied. Han Sooyoung looked back, and recalled that people began saying she had a talent for writing around the time she was
13 or so. With here as the starting point, she would earnestly walk on the path of the full-fledged writer. And so, a month passed by like that, then yet another one. Han Sooyoung grew rather invested in spectating her 13- year-old self living her life. As for the 15-year-old Kim Dokja, he too must be living somewhere in this world. When she thought about that, she felt happy for some reason. What should she first say to that unlucky idiot when they eventually get to meet each other? Time went by pretty quickly – September flew by, and it soon became October. Every now and then, her parents would stop by to leave behind presents she didn't want, and went away again. Finally, it was December. It was around here that Han Sooyoung began to realize something didn't feel right. – There are no matching results. Why didn't tls123 start his serialisation already? Did she do something wrong and that changed the future? But, that couldn't be possible. She hadn't even met Kim Dokja yet. …What would happen if the 'Ways of Survival' is not serialised this year? Would this world continue to exist without the 'Ways of Survival'? Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad world, in a way.
If the 'Ways of Survival' didn't exist, then this world wouldn't have to greet its apocalypse, either. If so… It was then she heard the phone go off. She figured it must've been her parents again, but when she picked up the receiver… – I've found him. "What? Where? N-no, hang on. Where are you now?" Her heart began pounding away. Kim Dokja had been found. Finally. However, the next set of words was something that not even her [Predictive Plagiarism] could have predicted. – I'm currently, well… I'm in the place called a hospital's emergency ward." Han Sooyoung avoided the guard's eyes and climbed aboard an early-hours taxi cab. The hospital itself wasn't too far. Doctors and nurses were busily going about their businesses despite the hour being what it was. Screams of pain from the patients intermittently rang out. And empty beds were deeply permeated with the lengthy tendrils of death's scent. Even in a world without scenarios, people continued to die. These were very small apocalypses. This was where lives not recorded went to disappear.
Han Sooyoung, currently half in a daze, scanned all the stretchers. "Ah…" And that's how she found the 15-year-old Kim Dokja lying on one. His face, deeply sunken and pale. An IV needle was stuck in the boy's wrist wrapped tightly in bandages. "I'm telling you, it's not our fault! In his school, he…!" That came from a face not closely resembling Kim Dokja's. A married couple, seemingly cousins once removed from the unconscious boy, were shouting at a doctor in clear bouts of irritation. Han Sooyoung stared at them, before demanding an answer from the Dokkaebi King. "How did this guy end up like this?" "Apparently, he jumped out of the classroom window." Han Sooyoung slowly reached out and checked Kim Dokja's current condition. Crude cast and bandages wrapped around his body. Swollen bruises all over his face. His arm where not one solid muscle could be felt lay powerlessly on the bed. Han Sooyoung held the boy's hand. It was as small as her own. "Do… Do something," she muttered out. "Please don't worry. These aren't fatal wounds. Thankfully, the classroom floor wasn't high, and he collided with a tree on his way down, so…" "That's not what I meant!"
The married couple walking in closer from the distance could be seen. They must've discovered Han Sooyoung, since they seemed to be shouting something or rather in her direction. However, their voices didn't register in her brain. Just why… ⸢"If it weren't for that novel, I'd probably have died back then."⸥ She wasn't sure if this was her own memory, or the 3rd turn's. ⸢"You, you. You and your exaggerations."⸥ ⸢"I'm telling you the truth."⸥ Ancient, creaky memories rushed in like tidal waves while hiding within all the ringing noises in her head. The Dokkaebi King supported her and they left the hospital. She saw the medical staff and the paramedics hurriedly moving the new patient into the emergency ward. "We managed to find him somehow, didn't we?" "…" "Now that I've seen him personally, it was true all along. Did you sense that incredible aura coming out from his entire figure? And now, as soon as he opens his own world, then…" As if it was looking forward to the apocalypse soon to visit this world-line, the Dokkaebi King continued to yap on and on. Han Sooyoung muttered out as she stumbled ungainly. "Kim Dokja said he read that novel when he was fifteen."
"Yes. So, soon it…" "What if he didn't get to read that novel… What will happen to him?" "Pardon?" If the 'Ways of Survival' didn't start, then this world would not be destroyed. However, what would happen to Kim Dokja, instead? "Uhm, hello?" "…" "Are you actually crying?" Kim Dokja's tragedy was a rather common one. If only a small number of gazes fell upon him, if only just a tiny little bit of goodwill was shown his way, then it'd have been easily overcome. However, he couldn't exactly expect those small gazes or goodwill in the situation he found himself in. Realistically speaking, could a 13-year-old elementary school kid be able to save anyone? One who can barely regain her self only during early hours, no less? "But, why are you crying?" That didn't mean she could entrust it to this Dokkaebi King, either. Not only did it speak weirdly, but it also couldn't use the system, and its character couldn't even be trusted, so how could she expect such a bum of a Dokkaebi to… Han Sooyoung dazedly stared at her own hands.
⸢"That novel saved me. So, I should pay my debt to its protagonist."⸥ The way to… save Kim Dokja. "Hey, you have any money on you?" "Pardon?" "Give me five thousand, no, ten thousand Won." Han Sooyoung quickly snatched the Dokkaebi King's cash and rushed towards the nearby PC Bang. The latter screamed and chased after her. "That's all the money I have!" She sneaked past the PC Bang's owner dozing off, stole a charge card, logged into an unused computer, and clicked on the internet browser. She typed in the address of the webnovel platform she always connected to, and searched for a certain author's name again. – There are no matching results. Even now, tls123 hadn't shown up yet. The end of the year was fast approaching, yet the serialisation hadn't started yet. Han Sooyoung quietly glared at the monitor for a little while, before clicking on the platform's [members registration] icon. She didn't know who tls123 was. However, if tls123 was, at least, not Kim Dokja – if the author of that damn novel was someone else, then…
– The applicable username is currently not in use. Would you like to use this username? Perhaps it didn't really matter who it was? Her hand gripping the mouse was trembling hard. The tragedy's button rested against the tip of her finger. If she clicked it, then… the apocalypse of countless world-lines would begin. However, if she didn't press it… – Yes. …The 'small world' she witnessed would disappear. – Dear tls123-nim. Congratulations on your registration! Han Sooyoung confirmed the remaining time. [Three hours remaining in the self-regulated activity period.] [Once the main ego wakes up, your control will forcibly be rescinded.] She opened up the word processor and began typing away immediately. As if she was unspooling a manuscript stuck inside her head for the longest time ever, her fingers continued to move in a brilliant fashion. She showed not a single error in her typing. Her exquisite sentences that seemingly carved out a world in its entirety. However, arrangements that lacked any consideration towards the potential reader, and expositions that had no immersive devices to speak of. She typed, and typed some more, of this boring story. All the while expecting that…
…Without a doubt, one person would definitely get to read this story. ⸢This is a lie.⸥ Countless worlds were destroyed by her hands. And countless characters died because of her. ⸢At least, until it can become the truth.⸥ All the possibilities that her [Predictive Plagiarism] could guess were overflowing inside her head. Some of them became the narrative, while some others became expositions. And so, how long passed by like that? Han Sooyoung's fingers eventually came to a stop. ⸢Yoo Joonghyuk stood before the vast, endless calamity pouncing on him and spoke.⸥ It was not possible to figure out every facet of the story through the [Predictive Plagiarism]. ⸢"Until I witness the end of the scenario, I shall never give up. That's why…"⸥ She wasn't sure whether Yoo Joonghyuk really said something like that or not. Because all of this was from her imagination, after all. Because she had created everything. That's why she wanted to write these very words. Even if by borrowing Yoo Joonghyuk's mouth, she wanted to write these words and put them in there. ⸢"You shouldn't give up, either."⸥
Han Sooyoung panted breathlessly and slowly raised her head. When she looked behind her, she discovered the Dokkaebi King staring at the computer's screen with an enraptured expression. "Hey, Dokkaebi King?" The creature slowly knelt down before her and waited for her next words. "…I'm going to sleep." [You have spent too much of your mental power during a short period of time!] [Your ego will become subconsciousness, and…] … … … When she regained her consciousness, she was lying on her own bed. It was midnight. It seemed that a full day's cycle went by after she blacked out. '…Goddammit, what the hell did I do that for?' While holding her head, Han Sooyoung got up from the bed. The blue wallpaper of the notebook PC resting on the desk caught her eye. She launched the internet browser without thinking too much about it and connected to the webnovel platform.
Several comments had already popped up on her story she uploaded last night. Most of them were crappy, toxic comments about how 'no jam' it was, or how it was too obsessed with expositions and stuff. "I quickly wrote that in mere two hours, so obviously… Besides, I was trying my best to be as close to the 'Ways of Survival', you know??" Among all those comments, a particular one caught her attention. – Dear author-nim. It was a great read. May I ask about your release schedule? Such an unparalleled naivete that made him use his real name as the username. Han Sooyoung stared at that name for a long, long time. She looked closer, and discovered another comment attached to it. – Are you… going to release another chapter tomorrow? She repeatedly clenched and unfurled her fists many times. Sweat was soaking her small hands. Is it really okay for me to write this? Even then, isn't it fine this way? Han Sooyoung hesitated for a long time, before typing her reply. While thinking about a certain someone, still alive beyond this screen. While thinking about a certain boy who'd breathe, eat, shout some nonsense about 'I'm Yoo Joonghyuk', and do whatever it takes to endure his own apocalypse.
And so, the story of a regressor that reached 3149 chapters started in this manner. – Yes. A new chapter will be published tomorrow.
Chapter 534: Epilogue 3 - Author's words, III Han Sooyoung continued to write. The short period of time given to her during the wee hours was completely devoted to Kim Dokja. "Hey, Dokkaebi King." "Yes, my dear god." "…I told you to stop calling me that. Anyways. The 'Ways of Survival' will be published seven in the evenings from now on. The website doesn't have the feature to schedule the chapter releases ahead of time yet, so you hold onto the manuscript and upload them on time for me. If I upload them during dawn, that kid is going to stay up late and wait. He won't get any sleep." "I shall do as you command."
Han Sooyoung spat out a lengthy groan and shifted her gaze back to the manuscript she'd been working on. ⸢Yoo Joonghyuk examined the events of the previous regression turn.⸥ She couldn't possibly write a life that lasted for 1863rd regression turns. 3149 chapters were simply too short to contain a life lived for 1864 times. She had to omit some regression turns, while some others had to be greatly reduced in length. She knew that life didn't really work that way. But at the same time, she had to acknowledge that some lives could only be written in such a manner. Once she came to accept that, writing those lives didn't prove to be too difficult for her. The life of 1863rd turn Yoo Joonghyuk was given to her in its entirety, while she also possessed information from the 3rd turn Kim Dokja, as well. Most importantly, though, she was an excellent writer. The margins she couldn't fill up, they would instead be lived out by Yoo Joonghyuk himself. Yoo Joonghyuk, who'd take his breaths among the flowing contexts of the words, and step above the hard ground covered by the pitch-black letters. All she could do was to deliver such Yoo Joonghyuk's story. Every time she wrote a single chapter, Kim Dokja's life was extended by yet another day. As one sentence after another was compiled and recorded, her own time also ticked forward little by little.
The 13-year-old Han Sooyoung became 14. Then, 15 years old. ⸢A serialisation that would last for ten long, arduous years had begun.⸥ It was tough. She didn't have enough stamina, and her young body was simply too frail. Even then, Han Sooyoung endured. She thought about Kim Dokja beyond the computer screen, also getting older like her. Kim Dokja, who hadn't died, hadn't given up, and was still enduring his life. – Dear author-nim, Today, Joonghyuk did… Are you really enjoying a story like this? Although half in doubt, Han Sooyoung still continued to write the story. ⸢"The information I gave you will come in handy later down the line. So, take a look whenever you have time."⸥ The story would not end as long as someone was reading it. That's how it was with the 1863rd regression turn, once thought to be the last. – Author-nim. I've been thinking, how about creating a new character by using this opportunity…? She checked the comments Kim Dokja left behind every day. As she was active only around the early hours, communicating with him in real-time was difficult, but she did reply to the questions that seemingly required one. – Should I create another main character?
– If possible, might as well as make her a pretty female character… – Aha, you mean a beautiful young girl. ⸢Facial features more than enough to slap Yoo Joonghyuk's cheeks twice. A beautiful young boy with brilliant blonde locks glared at Yoo Joonghyuk and shouted out. "Hey you, dumpling man."⸥ – …But, author-nim?? Kim Dokja, 16 years old. 17, 18. He'd consume this story and grow older, and eventually, become the 'Oldest Dream'. Despite knowing that fact, Han Sooyoung still enjoyed this time period. A world of a purewhite snowfield where letters were wandering around freely. Above this world existed Kim Dokja, and so did Han Sooyoung. – Author-nim. I was wondering if Joonghyuk-ie is suffering way too much lately… Sometimes, she'd put Yoo Joonghyuk through the wringer. It only happened because of her desire to realistically copy and paste the story she already knew. While writing the novel in this manner, she'd fall into a pit of confusion every now and then. Did this event really happen in the past? Couldn't it be more like, it happened because I wrote this? Whatever the truth was, she still gave it her all. She took pride in her work. But at the same time, she had to admit that it was impossible for her to completely rule over her own work.
⸢With a pair of seething, boiling eyes, Yoo Joonghyuk glared up into the heavens.⸥ Sometime in the future, Yoo Joonghyuk created by the tips of her hands would meet that Kim Dokja for real. Just thinking about that event nearly made her go crazy from time to time. – Unprecedented hit novel! ⸢⸢SSSSS-grade Infinite Regressor⸥⸥! Around that time, the 'daytime ego' began working as an author in earnest, as well. Of course, she had stolen the nighttime Han Sooyoung's talents wholesale, so there was no way that her novel would fail. Not only that, the 'daytime ego' even went to the trouble of creating an anonymous account to leave behind a toxic comment on the 'Ways of Survival', too. – I'm really worried about the life of the dear author-nim actually writing this junk. …What was even more flabbergasting was Kim Dokja's DM. – Author-nim! Do know about the novel called SSSSS-grade Infinite Regressor? That novel's setting is exactly the same as the Ways of… Han Sooyoung smirked and began typing her reply. She thought, right, the dude writing a DM like this accused me of being a plagiarist during the 1863rd turn, did you? – I'm happy that my viewcount has gone up thanks to the exposure, actually. When she was finished typing the reply, the faint rays of the daybreak had cast onto the world outside the window.
Starting from a while ago, she didn't feel refreshed even after waking up. She'd often use up all of her allotted time on writing the novel, and there were times when she couldn't endure the fatigue anymore and fall asleep despite the selfregulated activity period not having ended yet. To make matters worse, her memories were gradually deteriorating, as well. Information she heard from Yoo Joonghyuk, and received from Kim Dokja – she couldn't recall them well. Things that happened back in the 1863rd turn were getting blurrier. And also… [Your Story is being consumed.] Even the length of her self-regulated activity period was decreasing gradually. The time continued to tick by, and Han Sooyoung continued to write almost every day. At times, she couldn't wake up and ended up wasting an entire day. And due to the worsening fatigue, the number of days she couldn't read Kim Dokja's comments increased as well. – Author-nim. I'll be joining the military the day after tomorrow. Looks like I'll be sent to the frontlines. – It's Kim Dokja. I'm here at Yanggu. – Joonghyuk-ah… I wonder, have you ever shovelled snow before?
20 years old, 21, 22… 371st turn, 621st, 972nd… As Yoo Joonghyuk's regression turn numbers grew higher, so did Kim Dokja's age. Kim Dokja feeding on Yoo Joonghyuk's tragedy became a high school student, then a university student and eventually, a soldier. Han Sooyoung observed the growth of such a man. Her free time decreased even more as the 'daytime ego', now an adult herself, began staying up during the dawn as well. As the time to polish up the novel gradually dissipated, the Dokkaebi King's role also naturally grew much more substantial. "Please don't worry. I shall fix all the errors," said the Dokkaebi King. "Do you even know anything about grammar?" "Yes, I do. I'm planning to earn my living that way. A publisher was looking for a part-time proofreader, so I confidently applied for the position." This guy still came across as somewhat unreliable, but she couldn't get anyone else to help her, anyway. She definitely couldn't get the help from the 'daytime ego', for instance. A lot of her strength had been exhausted and her forgetfulness had worsened greatly in recent times so it took a lot out of her just to post a reply to Kim Dokja's comments. ⸢And just like that, a few more years went by like fleeting magic.⸥ While writing that sentence, Han Sooyoung thought that her life wasn't all that different from Yoo Joonghyuk's, in some
ways. Sometimes, a life really did get omitted like this. However, that didn't mean a life omitted as such left nothing of itself behind, either. That's what she thought while staring at the novel numbering over 3000 chapters currently compiled before her eyes. On a certain day before the completion, Han Sooyoung opened up the platform's chat window in order to write a comment as usual. – Please don't give up, dear reader-nim. …Did I post a comment like this before? Initially, she figured this was a result of her typing some random things while half-submerged in drowsiness. However, there was more than one post that she couldn't remember ever posting here. – To answer your question… Just when did she post such replies before? No matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn't recall. Not only that, the timestamps of the posts were weird, as well. – Actually, rather than a mistake in the setting, it's… Han Sooyoung summoned the Dokkaebi King right away. When she did, the creature wearing a fedora appeared from the thin air accompanied by the 'Tsu-chuchut!' noise. She asked. "Did you write this?" "Yes." "On whose authority?"
"I sincerely apologise for not getting your permission beforehand. You seemed very tired lately." Han Sooyoung quietly stared at the Dokkaebi King. This creature came to this world searching for its 'god'. And it now knew who its creator was. "Just what are you aiming for?" "I am merely a 'storyteller'. And as it is with every storyteller, I love to tell a great epic. The world you have created, of course." "There is only one reader of this story, though." "Do you really believe so?" She narrowed her eyes and shot back. "I already know what you're scheming, okay? You're planning to turn my novel into a 'paid service', aren't you?" Ever since arriving in this world, she constantly thought about 'that day'. The novel she wrote would become the 'scenario' that would go on to destroy this universe. However, who would dare to do something so horrifying like that? The answer was quite simple when she thought about it. There was only one existence capable of doing something like that in this world-line, after all. "You brought me here for that very purpose, didn't you?" "I won't deny that. Even though it hadn't been long since I realized what my true role was."
Faint sparks were dancing all over the Dokkaebi King's body. That was the evidence of the system's Probability growing stronger. Also, it meant that this Dokkaebi was gradually regaining the power of the King of the storytellers. Han Sooyoung stared at the dancing sparks before speaking up. "…So, then. The apocalypse will really begin, is that it?" "Yes." "Honestly, I don't get it at all. You know the chronological sequence doesn't make sense, either." "…The chronological sequence?" "The only reason why I can write this is because Yoo Joonghyuk will live his life in the future, and Kim Dokja had read the novel. But for me to write a novel that Kim Dokja will read, that's…" "…The time paradox. That's what humans call this. However, there are universes that do operate on that principle. A universe where the future is written before the past, and the cause is created for the purpose of the end result. I'm sure you're already familiar with such a universe?" Han Sooyoung frowned as if to ask, what on earth are you talking about? The Dokkaebi King grinned and lightly tapped the computer monitor. "Aren't you currently writing one?" The stray thoughts and fragments of letters she had thrown around could be found in there. Countless scenes existing outside the time itself, outside the world, waiting to be connected as one. Some scenes became futures despite being written earlier, while some scenes,
despite being written later, became the past. Han Sooyoung's eyes trembled. "…Are you saying this whole universe is just a novel?" "If I am to compare it, then yes, something like that." The letters within the screen seemed to ripple. Letters wishing to be loved by someone were flowing outside the monitor after forming pairs and groups with each other. Sentences, that sparkled like the stars. Some sentences willingly became the darkness for other sentences, while a certain sentence became light only through those dark words. Some sentences existed for the next sentence, while the next sentence gained its meaning because the first sentence existed. "There is no 'before and after' in this universe. And that is precisely the reason why the 'First World-line' is being completed very last." Within this giant, endlessly connecting chain, the Dokkaebi King was smiling rapturously. "The universe was created just now, but at the same time, it has existed for the past billions of years, as well. And a certain beginning only appears after the apocalypse has commenced." Sentences cascaded like a meteor shower. <Star Stream> was singing towards its god. Because Han Sooyoung wrote the Ways of Survival, Kim Dokja got to read it. Because Kim Dokja read the Ways of Survival, Yoo Joonghyuk began his regression.
Because Yoo Joonghyuk began his regression, Han Sooyoung was able to write the 'Ways of Survival'. She might have written them, but these words were completed only after leaving her hands. ⸢The story that would save someone, destroy, and help him live.⸥ Han Sooyoung stared at the horrifying trajectory drawn out by those words and became acutely aware of the fact that she had been thrown into this neverending cycle. She might be the author responsible for creating this world, but she was also a powerless god. A god that couldn't even save a single reader. A god who was simply a part of this vast, boundless story. [<Star Stream> is smiling in your direction.] "Now, behold. Isn't this a truly perfect story?"
Chapter 535: Epilogue 3 - Author's words, IV [<Star Stream> is looking at its creator.] Her eyelids soaked in fatigue slowly closed. As she drifted into the languid sea of unconsciousness, Han Sooyoung listened to the Dokkaebi King's voice. "Please, rest now and sleep, my noble god." And on the next day, the 'Ways of Survival's' final chapter was completed. ⸢…Three ways to survive. I've forgotten a few. But one thing's for certain. That is…⸥ After she finished typing the very last sentence, Han Sooyoung kept her eyes closed for a very long time. She
knew a day like this would eventually come. But now that it was finally here, it didn't feel real to her at all. Her lengthy serialisation had finally come to an end. When she slowly looked behind, the Dokkaebi King was standing there just as she suspected. With a pair of deeplymoved eyes, it was staring at the computer monitor. "Hey, you," said Han Sooyoung. "Yes, my god." "Can't you, like, not do the paid service?" "Dear god-nim, even if I don't, the story will commence regardless." Han Sooyoung could only smile bitterly at the Dokkaebi King speaking like a stubborn devotee. The daylight was breaking outside the windows. The sun would rise, and when it was time to set again, the apocalypse would come to visit this world. ⸢And then, Kim Dokja's story will begin.⸥ "…And I'm destined to disappear, right?" Tsu-chut, chuchuchut… Her Story, what little remained of it, wiggled slightly. There were some stories that might not seem all that excellent or special, but still required an untold sacrifice to complete. To her, the 'Ways of Survival' was one such novel. [Your existential Story is in a precarious state.]
If the future about to unfold was correct, her ego would soon disappear into the main body's vast, boundless subconsciousness. And only after the main body learns the [Avatar] skill would she be reborn with a tiny bit of the old memories. And then, get to live the 1863rd regression turn. ⸢If that's indeed the case, what did my life exist for?⸥ Han Sooyoung dazedly approached the window. The light grew brighter beyond the pale-naked skies, and the stars were receding away. 【Everything has already been written, and at the same time, still being written.】 The 'Outer God' who sent her to the 1863rd turn said that to her. A universe of repeating cycle. And in this universe, the result birthed the cause, and the cause would eventually become the result. In order to create a complete story, the result rejected the cause, while the cause devoured the result in order to exist. The moment she understood that vast, mysterious rule, Han Sooyoung began thinking that this world resembled a chessboard. A chessboard that pursued the highest degree of completion, ruled by a certain gigantic 'will' with an unknown origin and form. Even if she was the creator of the apocalyptic scenario, wasn't she merely another chess piece, a 'knight', in this chessboard of the universe? While sensing the waves of sleepiness crashing in, she slowly got up from her seat. [Your mental power has reached its limit!]
Han Sooyoung fought against the horrifying level of tiredness, fumbled around to put on some clothes, and left her room. The hour was still very early, but the people waking up early should be getting ready to go to work round about now. The Dokkaebi King was following after her. She addressed the King while not even bothering to look back. "You worked hard trying to edit the novel until now." "If you go outside, you'll die." She already knew that. Because the sun was rising. Han Sooyoung looked up at the break of dawn and spoke. "My role's already finished, anyway. You'll take care of the rest from now on, right? It'll be the end when you hand over the text file to him on the designated time. I wrote that revised version too, the one we talked about, just in case. But… that's incomplete, so you decide what to do later." "But…" "It's been over ten years." Han Sooyoung glared at the Dokkaebi King several hand-spans taller than her. "Can't I do what I want at least once?" The reason why she came to this world – it was to meet Kim Dokja she ran into back in the 1863rd turn one more time. She leisurely warmed her muscles, and started jogging. ⸢Han Sooyoung imagined Kim Dokja, on his way to work at Mino Soft.⸥ She heard news from the Dokkaebi King every now and then, and there were also the comments Kim Dokja himself had written. And that's how she knew a lot about him.
– Author-nim! I'll be living by myself starting this year! – I'm now living near this place. And it's really weird reading about it in a novel. – Have you heard about Mino Soft? It'd be nice if your novel gets a game version, too. Maybe I should suggest it to the… She knew when he became independent from his tragedy, and from where he started dealing with yet another tragedy. And also, in what shape or form this new tragedy appeared as. [The main body's ego is trying to wake up from her dream!] [Warning! Your self-regulated activity period has ended!] [Further exercising of control will cause your ego to…] Han Sooyoung ignored the messages and continued to run. She ran, and ran again until she could barely breathe. She ran hard, the words Kim Dokja wrote the only things occupying her thoughts. – Author-nim. I don't remember how many times I've said this before, but… Those words… she'd forget them all. [Your actions are in serious violation of the Probability.] She'd forget the memories of the 1863rd turn. And she'd also forget the fact that she wrote a certain novel, as well. [Your Story is disappearing.]
She'd forget that a story existed just for its sole reader. However, even then, even if she forgot everything… ⸢Han Sooyoung's running slowly came to a halt.⸥ There he was. A man who existed only as texts for a long, long time ever since that day she last saw him in the hospital's emergency ward. ⸢In the distance, Kim Dokja was walking forward.⸥ That was the exact same face of Kim Dokja she remembered. The man who came to her 1863rd regression turn. The man who she wanted to see again. The detestable man with his own brand of ass-kissing. The man who lied really easily. The man who she enjoyed being around, since they could lie about something together and snicker among themselves. "----" The man, who didn't remember her. "----!!" Her voice didn't want to come out. She couldn't tell whether it was because she was choking up, or the control of her body was slipping away from her. Han Sooyoung staggered and walked closer to Kim Dokja. Several passersby brushing past her looked back in suspicion. Kim Dokja was now walking down the subway's steps.
Kim Dokja, with earphones stuck in his ears and reading something on his phone while walking downstairs. She knew what he was currently reading. "---!!" She barely managed to shout, but her voice still didn't come out. So, she desperately chased after him. – Because of the story you wrote, author-nim, I was able to survive until now. Han Sooyoung was also able to survive while reading the sole reader's words. She managed to write the next part of Yoo Joonghyuk's life through them. She was able to endure her boring and stuffy teen years, the days she never wanted to go back to, thanks to those words. – This train is bound for… She spotted Kim Dokja standing on the platform, waiting for the next train to arrive. A person hiding within the small world crafted out of letters to protect himself was standing right there. Kim Dokja, who didn't know anything about the apocalypse about to happen. Kim Dokja, who'd get to live on the expansive world of the 'Ways of Survival'. Kim Dokja, who'd get to meet the protagonist he so longed to become.
Kim Dokja, who'd become the 'Demon King of Salvation'. Kim Dokja, who'd sacrifice himself multiple times for the sake of his companions, and as a result, came to the 1863rd turn and met her. Kim Dokja, who was destined to become the 'Oldest Dream', the price he paid for loving a certain story too much. [Your mental state is crumbling!] [The main body's ego is regaining its control.] [Your Story is being extinguished.] Her legs grew heavy, and her arms didn't want to move anymore. Her body was gradually becoming not hers. Even then, Han Sooyoung wanted to tell him. ⸢To tell him that he was definitely not at fault for this story being born. And to tell him that the things he was about to experience were not his sins.⸥ Because her past 13 years existed solely to say those words to him. ⸢To say that, though you have grown up while reading this story, there's no need for you to become it.⸥ She barely managed to reach out, the tips of her hand touching Kim Dokja's shoulder. [Your ego will convert into the 'subconsciousness'.] Kim Dokja felt that sensation of touch on his shoulder and looked behind him.
However, the incoming waves of commuters heading to work swept him up, and he got pushed into the subway, instead. And after the crowd had left, only Han Sooyoung and her dazed expression remained on the empty subway platform. "…What the hell? Why the hell am I standing here??" Han Sooyoung tilted her head, before scratching her hair hard while wondering out loud, "Did my sleepwalking flare up again??" She confirmed the time with her smartphone and exploded in irritation. "Son of a… And I haven't even finished writing today's chapter, too!" … … … … [Story, 'Predictive Plagiarism', has plagiarised your lost memories!] … … … … Tsu-chuchuchuchu… "Han Sooyoung?"
Tsu-chuchu… "Han Sooyoung!!" She heard someone call out to her among all the terrible ringing in her ears. "Han Sooyoung!" And right next instance, a powerful impact landing on the back of her head helped her to regain her wits. The pain emanating from the back of the head was hellish. She already knew which fool would hit her so mercilessly like this. "Joonghyuk-ssi!! What are you doing, hitting her so hard like that?! You could've killed her right as she's waking up!" Han Sooyoung slowly raised her head and discovered Lee Seolhwa supporting her, as well as Yoo Joonghyuk and his massive scowl. Also, the other members of <Kim Dokja's Company>, too. Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, Shin Yoosung, Lee Jihye… Companions, currently covered in dust from head to toe. Han Sooyoung intently stared at them as if to study each and every one present. Eventually, her gaze shifted over to Yoo Joonghyuk. "…I think I now know how you felt back when you finally recalled the 0th turn." "What rubbish are you talking about now?" "…I remember." Han Sooyoung looked around here and there as if it still didn't feel real to her yet. Then, she slowly looked behind her. That's where the field covered in dense fog created out of letters could be seen. That was the gateway they passed
through just now, and also, the hurdle where she nearly died, as well. Lee Jihye checking out Han Sooyoung's complexion asked. "Eonni, are you really alright? You were mumbling some incoherent stuff about going somewhere to sign a contract for a novel and stuff…" [Story, 'Predictive Plagiarism', has stopped its storytelling.] Han Sooyoung looked down at her own trembling hands. Why did these memories return to her only now? …No, hold on – were they even real, to begin with? ⸢Once upon a time, she wrote a certain story with these very hands.⸥ Faint memories that were still overflowing with vividness. Han Sooyoung organised her thoughts in a sequential manner – why she was here, what had happened so far, and what she needed to say now. "I'm… the 'Ways of Survival's'…" Han Sooyoung barely managed to breathe in a couple of times, and just as she was about to open her mouth again, Yoo Joonghyuk abruptly cut her off. "Stop wasting time with unnecessary remarks, and let's head out." She raised her head after hearing those words. [Main Scenario has been updated!] ['Final Scenario' will now commence.]
Even as she stared at the scenario messages unfolding before her very eyes, everything still didn't feel real to her. But, she knew why those messages were floating around in her vision, though. ⸢The companions had broken past the 99 scenarios once more.⸥ "…Why are you acting so dazed like this?" This was the tragedy that she set in motion. And the very people who faced this tragedy head-on were extending their hands towards her. "Let's go, Sooyoung-ssi." Yoo Sangah lightly tapped Han Sooyoung's back and took the lead. The backs of her companions walking ahead of her were murky, cloudy. This was impossible. This was not something you could pull off because of your desire to save someone else. Even then, they still did it. In the far-off distance, the wall of letters covering up the end of the world could be seen. The 'Final Wall'. The companions exchanged knowing glances and began pulling out their weapons one by one – and simultaneously, the roars of the Constellations came from afar. Yoo Joonghyuk watching this scene unfold also unsheathed his [Black Heavenly Demon Sword]. "That fool is beyond that
wall." The Dokkaebis from the Bureau were blocking their path, and the Dokkaebi King's figure could be seen guarding the Final Wall itself. Han Sooyoung slowly sucked in her breaths and got up from her spot. It truly had been a lengthy story. And finally, its ending was right before her eyes. ⸢They have finally reached the conclusion she had written.⸥
Chapter 536: Epilogue 4 - The Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, I I remembered the first time I read that novel. A really stuffy, boring hospital's ward. A single PC located in its lobby. When I stood in line to have a go at it, a gentleman wearing a fedora stepped aside for me. The computer screen at the time was showing the webnovel platform that enjoyed visiting. I dazedly stared at the screen before inputting the keywords. I might have inserted three or so words, but couldn't quite remember what I typed back then. However, I still remembered what I was thinking of back then. The mechanical pencil leads strewn about on the classroom floor, the indigo-hued skies extending far beyond outside the windows.
What I could tell for sure was that my hands, used to open the classroom window, had typed something and that lead me to discover that novel. ⸢Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World⸥ Through that story, I survived. ⸢He was definitely not at fault for this story being born⸥ I felt sick inside. I couldn't fight against the dizziness and collapsed on the floor. The texts before my eyes were blurry and hard to see. ⸢Han Sooyoung was tls123.⸥ While panting heavily, I lay unmoving on the floor for a long time. Only the same exact question continued to swirl around in my head – the question of "But, why?" ⸢Why, for someone like me?⸥ I remained collapsed for a while. I thought I cried, too. However, no matter how I thrashed and screamed and sobbed, the already-written sentences couldn't be changed. Han Sooyoung had to spend 13 years of life just for me, and helped me live by crafting sentences literally carved out of her. And then, she was extinguished. ⸢Kim Dok ja⸥ [The Fourth Wall] was calling out to me. I quietly listened to the next words. ⸢Y o u sho uld r e a d⸥ I gingerly stood back up. My reflection on the windows was a complete mess. It'd be hard to call my body an adult's
anymore. My height had decreased a lot, and my face had gotten younger, too. The coat I wore no longer fit me. I stared at that face for a long time, before taking the coat off for good. "…How many years has it been?" ⸢Ear th's ti me h a s no mea ning he re⸥ I understood what that meant. This subway was the location where the 'Oldest Dream' had his dreams. So, the time of other world-lines couldn't measure the 'time' flowing within this train. In all honesty, I had completely lost all sense of time after entering this train, anyway. "Even then, there should still be this thing called perceived time, right?" ⸢Ar ound 21763 y e a r s⸥ "It's not as long as I thought. I'm still way younger than the 'Secretive Plotter', right?" ⸢St ill a li ttle r un t⸥ I heard [The Fourth Wall] cackle away. If it wasn't for this guy's presence here, I'd have gone insane a long time ago. Along with the 'Pah-sususu' noise, the tip of my pinky decreased a little. Since when did this start from, I wondered. I didn't do anything, yet my body continued to grow smaller. Well, if I were to be more specific, it wasn't really 'I didn't do anything', though.
"…Will I keep getting smaller?" I stared at the crumbs of Stories drifting away outside the windows and asked. "Where are those Stories going off to, anyway?" ⸢To uni ver se's sub con scious ness⸥ "And where is that?" ⸢In a wor ld-li ne y o u ar en't con sci ous of⸥ The role of the 'Oldest Dream' was to imagine all of the world-lines. Even if I wasn't conscious of it, my subconsciousness was still continuously watching the worldlines. ⸢Tho se Stories wi ll be reb orn as ano ther Kim Dok ja⸥ "As another Kim Dokja?" ⸢Me ta phor ica lly spea king its li ke th at⸥ I thought I could understand what [The Fourth Wall] was saying. Stories were streaming beyond the galaxies to head towards another world-line. Those Stories were, in essence, 'me'. Just like the 49% version of me living along with my companions somewhere in the 1864th regression turn, my fragments could very well be reborn as 'Kim Dokja' in a world-line somewhere out there. "If it's only that little, I think it'll be a bit of a push to call that guy 'Kim Dokja'. I mean, he won't be the same as me with such a small fragment."
⸢Y o u mi ght be ri ght⸥ An existence that might have a different name and face to me. Even then, that existence would come to life and start imagining the universe. He'd be moved after reading the story, and then, stare at the world-line. And just like that, he'd maintain this universe. "…I see." Somehow, I thought I could understand the principle of this universe just a little. I pressed my crumbling fingers against the window. When I did, the rate of crumbling began accelerating. ⸢If y o u do th at⸥ "This is my way of atoning for this story." Not just from my fingers, but the Stories began scattering away little by little from the shoulders as well as my legs, too. The scattered Stories would fly around in the universe and become sentences that go on to support this universe from somewhere. ⸢To say that, though you have grown up while reading this story, there's no need for you to become it.⸥ That's what the author of the 'Ways of Survival', Han Sooyoung said. I had clearly heard her. Even then, I couldn't heed her words.
How could I make any other choice when looking at such a story? When I closed my eyes, the overview of the entire universe would get drawn inside my head. Han Sooyoung wrote the story. Yoo Joonghyuk lived that story. And, I read that very story. And that's how this world barely managed to reach its completion. ⸢"Dokja-ssi."⸥ Because this tragedy existed, I got to meet certain people. Someone was able to get saved, too. ⸢Kim Dokja stared into the universe with no visible end.⸥ And now, I knew what my future was like. Every time I read something, I'd crumble away. My crumbling Stories would scatter to countless world-lines out there and become the 'gaze' that maintained this universe. I would lose all of my memories, and lose everything that I hold dear. And in the end, only the desire to see the 'next story' would remain in me. But, without that desire, this universe couldn't continue. This universe could only continue telling its story as long as someone was looking at it. Being stuck and unmoving in this universe meant death.
Tsu-chuchuchu… The countless 'me' divided into particles continued to spread out to the numerous world-lines out there. The rate of the Story's scattering continued to hasten. "If I forget about everything… I won't feel this pain anymore, right?" ⸢Y o u wo nt re mem ber any th ing af ter all⸥ To someone who even lost the traces of his loss, no such thing as 'loss' existed. While picking up the smartphone rolling around on the floor, I spoke up. "…Will I have enough time to read it one more time, I wonder?" I opened the file for the 'Ways of Survival', and scrolled up past the [Author's words] that I had to read with great difficulty. ⸢Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World.⸥ I started reading this novel from the very beginning. I read Yoo Joonghyuk's 3rd turn. Some stories, I already knew. While some others felt brand new to me. The so-called final revised version was exactly the same as the original that I remembered. 'Kim Dokja' didn't exist in it. Pah-susususu… Just as my Story scattered away, the sentences from the 'Ways of Survival' filled me up inside. When I got tired, I
closed my eyes for a little bit and rested, and after resting, I continued reading the novel. Fifth turn, sixth… 64th… 129th… 672nd. 914th. 1642nd… The page continued to scroll down, and I was overjoyed or saddened several times. Not being able to comment did bum me out. I wanted to let Han Sooyoung know of my emotions one more time. To tell her that I could only come this far because of the story you gave me, that I loved your story more than anyone in this world. And so, I read. I read, and then, read some more. How long did I read this very story? Tsu-chuchuchu… ⸢…⸥ By the time I reached the epilogue, my vision suddenly grew fuzzy. I even wondered if I became blind after reading a novel for far too long. [A new update has been completed.] But then, my vision was slowly restored. What I saw weren't proper sentences, however. Sentences and paragraphs had
become individual fragments. Words that were no longer in the form of a completed novel. Even then, I could still read them somehow. ⸢A world had been destroyed, and a brand new one was being born.⸥ My heart was beating loudly. A story I was intimately familiar with was there. ⸢I was the sole reader who knew the conclusion of this world.⸥ Within this story, I existed. And… ⸢"I'm Yoo Joonghyuk."⸥ ⸢"Ah, it seems that I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Han Sooyoung. I'm the assistant to Cha Sang-Gyeong-nim in the group.⸥ And, they were there, too. ⸢"What if the 'scenarios' didn't start, what would've happened to us?"⸥ ⸢"Dokja-ssi, your sponsor isn't something like the 'One-eyed Fortuneteller', right?"⸥ ⸢"Dokja-ssi, have you thrown a hand grenade before?"⸥ ⸢"Ahjussi, do you have any particular food you like?"⸥ We broke past the scenarios, together. ⸢Hyung, are you maybe a god?⸥
⸢"Load the cannons."⸥ ⸢"Everyone, fight to your hearts' content. I won't let anyone die."⸥ ⸢"You stinking bastards!! Again, you didn't even come to fetch me…!!"⸥ ⸢"The one I like isn't you, but the 'Demon King of Salvation'…⸥ ⸢[Baat!]⸥ And, I lived my life together with them. ⸢"The next scenario is…"⸥ We experienced trials, and had to face off against lifethreatening situations many times. We met Constellations. We broke past seemingly-impossible scenarios several times. And eventually, reached the end of the hellish scenarios. ⸢[Your ■■ is 'Eternity'.]⸥ The companions returned to their everyday lives. ⸢Some people were rebuilding the destroyed PC Bangs. They were putting up the torn posters of the computer games once more. In the world where the apocalypse had been overcome, people would search for other forms of entertainment once more. Yoo Joonghyuk observed this spectacle, and quietly clenched his right hand that hadn't held a mouse in a long, long while.⸥
⸢Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung were enrolled into a temporary school. Not an elementary, not a secondary, nor was it a high school – no, it was as the word implied, a 'temporary' school. Shin Yoosung was surprised to learn that such a place could exist in this world.⸥ ⸢Lee Jihye stared at the sight of the destroyed 'Taepung Girls' High' for a long time, then started walking on the school's athletics field. She used to run on this very field with her friends once upon a time. She quietly stared at the worn-out track lines, before cautiously assuming the starting posture.⸥ While reading the continuing stories of my companions, I wiped my eyes several times. This was the ending to this story. The companions were definitely living their lives in that place. They ate, they slept, they met with each other and talked. And 'I' was there, too. The 49% version of me. Kim Dokja that had the memories of the companions, but didn't know anything about the 'Ways of Survival'… ⸢And Kim Dokja read those sentences.⸥ But then… ⸢"You, just who the hell are you?"⸥ What was going on here? ⸢"Speak. Who the hell are you?"⸥ It wasn't supposed to be like this. ⸢"I'm sure of it. Kim Dokja is still in that place."⸥
But, how… ⸢"If you get a chance to run again, do you believe you can see it better the next time?"⸥ …Why? Tsu-chuchuchuchu… The story was continuing on. The story that should've ended didn't end. More correctly, they chose to 'not end it'. ⸢[Stigma, 'Group Regression Lv.1' is activating!]⸥ I read that sentence half in despair. This shouldn't have happened. This sentence, it should never have been written. But the sentence uncaringly led to the next one. ⸢"Remember this. We have only one opportunity."⸥ The companions, they were fighting again. The hellish scenarios were a place they shouldn't have gone back to, no matter what their reasons were. Even then, my companions returned to that place. ⸢"Hey, shorty. You aren't going to flip a coin this time?" "It'll be the same whether I do or not, you know." "What do you mean?" "Even if I flip it a hundred times and it comes out only once, even if only one percent of hyung remains in that place, I'll
still go there to rescue him. Because that one percent is still hyung."⸥ Then, the scenario commenced. And in the midst of the banquet of Coins exploding in the air, Dokkaebis of <Star Stream> were clearly freaking out. Within the explosive level of interest shown by the Constellations, the companions were shouting out loudly. ⸢"Hey, Abaddon! Choose me! I'm gonna absolutely become hundreds of times stronger than that sooty bastard in the future!"⸥ ⸢"General-nim! Are you there? I know you're looking at me right now!"⸥ ⸢"I don't need any sponsors, so please just give me Coins, instead."⸥ ⸢"…Black Flame Dragon, stop pestering me with messages while I'm still being civil, okay? I told you I won't choose you this time around."⸥ They had to be insane. ⸢"Fufufu, you sure took your sweet time getting to Chungmuro. You think you can rescue that 'Bi-sil-ie' like this? As an aside, this whole area is now this great one's territo…" ⁽¹⁾ "Will you just shut up and hand over the flag, Gong Pildu?"⸥ These people who lost their minds were clearing the scenario with insane methods. Dangerous moments came in their direction many times, but the companions never yielded once.