Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Chapter 549 - Epilogue 5 – The Eternity and Epilogue (4)

Yu Jung-Hyeok experienced a vivid dream. It centered on his time participating in the ‘Journey to the West scenario’ alongside the members of the <Kim Dok-Ja Company>. Within the dream, he traversed the surface of the Tongtian River at high speeds. Beside him, he could clearly perceive Jeong Hui-Won, Yu Sang-Ah, Yi Hyeon-Seong, and Shin Yu-Seung also moving across the water.

[[Notnotnotnotnotnotnot]]

Yogoes let out repetitive, dying shrieks.

His recollection of the event sharpened. Right, they had entered the Journey to the West to secure the rescue of Kim Dok-Ja.

But then... where had Kim Dok-Ja vanished to?

Tsu-chuchuchu....

[[....What a pathetic display. How dare you venture to the ‘outside of the story’ with only this much power?]]

A disembodied voice echoed through the air.

[[I wondered why such dangerous Fable ripples were manifest in this area, but... He was the origin, then.]]

[[What shall we do, captain?]]

[[We agreed to cease all interference, did we not? Are you truly planning to lend him a hand?]]

These were voices that felt strangely familiar yet completely alien.

Did this belong to his own memories? Who had uttered those words?

All at once, his vision darkened as a colossal, pitch-black shadow loomed before him, snuffing out the light. An Outer God manifested amidst the gloom. Without even realizing it, Yu Jung-Hyeok instinctively flared with killing intent.

Indeed. He had battled this wretch before, too. The alternate version of himself who had survived 1863 regressions to witness the finality of the world—the ‘Secretive Plotter’.

Before Yu Jung-Hyeok could even deploy a skill, however, the ‘Secretive Plotter’ spoke.

[[Did you truly believe the conclusion for a regressor would come so easily?]]

The Tongtian River erupted. Yogoes surged from every hidden corner of the water, lunging toward Yu Jung-Hyeok. Discarded stories clung to his flesh with desperate intensity. Forgotten Fables began forcing their way into his throat and nostrils. As an agonizing pain surged through his skull, he began to sink beneath the surface.

[[Remember this. We are denied even the mercy of death.]]

Following that authoritative pronouncement, his perspective inverted. Yu Jung-Hyeok jolted awake, gasping violently as if purging river water from his lungs. The Yogoes from his nightmare were nowhere to be found, having vanished into the ether. Instead, he could sense a distinct, new presence.

[Whew. You really gave me a scare there; I thought you were actually gone.]

A crisp, gentle voice greeted him. Yu Jung-Hyeok shook his head to clear the lingering dizziness. A blurred silhouette stood before him, emanating a warm, nurturing aura that seemed to envelop his entire person.

....Was he still trapped in a dream?

As his vision crystallized, the features of the mysterious figure became clear. Yu Jung-Hyeok blinked, unable to reconcile the sight. Was he seeing things? This young girl bore a striking resemblance to Kim Dok-Ja. Her star-like eyes watched him with quiet intensity.

[I didn’t expect our paths to cross here, captain. You must understand now how I felt while drifting across the world-lines, right?]

This child, she...

[There is no need for concern. I have already mended most of your fragmented Fable. Just in case, I initiated a sub scenario, so you should be safe for the time being.]

Could it be...

[How disappointing. Do I really have to speak like this before you recognize me?]

The girl flashed a mischievous smile, and a small horn suddenly protruded from her head. Her lips parted slightly to emit a familiar, long-missed cry.

[Ba-aht.]

*

“Has master reached out yet?”

“Negative. I am certain he is managing things properly,” Han Su-Yeong replied.

Three months had passed since Yu Jung-Hyeok set off on his expedition. Work on the manuscript continued smoothly, with updates transmitted regularly via the Cloud System.

[Number of file downloads: 0]

Nevertheless, Yu Jung-Hyeok had not accessed the Cloud System with his Stigma a single time over these three months.

‘Yu Jung-Hyeok, you absolute fool. What are you playing at?’

A sense of foreboding grew within Han Su-Yeong. She even began to wonder if she should have been the one to embark on the journey instead.

Beside her, Yu Mi-Ah was bathed in sweat, grinding through a set of press-ups.

“I will become powerful enough to shatter both of my oppa’s legs.”

Looking at the fierce resolve in the girl’s eyes, Han Su-Yeong could only offer a nod of encouragement.

Just as she continued her rhythmic typing on the keyboard, a notification flashed in her mind.

[Your Incarnation has logged into the ‘Cloud System’.]

*

After Biyu was briefed on the general situation, she offered her assessment.

[....Right, I see. You intend to broadcast the story received through Han Su-Yeong’s Stigma to other world-lines. That is the core of your strategy, correct?]

“Precisely.”

[And you are counting on the reincarnated versions of Dok-Ja ahjussi to discover that story.]

“That is also correct.”

[Not a bad idea. To think you would conceive of a plan to exploit the inherent nature of the ‘Most Ancient Dream’ in such a way....]

“I, too, considered it a decent pl....”

[....Did you genuinely expect me to be impressed? How could you come up with such a reckless scheme, honestly?!]

....Had Biyu always possessed such a personality?

[Though, I suppose you are the type of captain capable of such madness without blinking an eye.]

Yu Jung-Hyeok scowled at her mocking tone. The longer they spoke, the more her mannerisms began to echo those of Kim Dok-Ja.

[The probability of fruition is quite slim, you realize.]

“I am aware.”

[The ‘Most Ancient Dream’ in those world-lines might never even come across the story. Furthermore, as civilizations advance, the importance of purely written content diminishes. You might not even gain an opportunity to approach such worlds.]

“The primary obstacle is navigating the world-lines themselves.”

Yu Jung-Hyeok cast a sullen gaze toward the heavily damaged ark. While Biyu’s intervention had kept him alive, traveling between world-lines remained impossible without a functioning vessel.

Biyu pondered for a moment before voicing her thoughts. [Why exactly can you not travel? What are the coordinates? Present them to me.]

With a lingering look of doubt, Yu Jung-Hyeok surrendered the coordinate list shared by Yu Sang-Ah. Biyu reviewed the world-lines and offered a brilliant smile.

[You remember who I am, correct? I am none other than the ‘Dokkaebi King’.]

In that moment, an obvious truth struck Yu Jung-Hyeok.

The [Final Ark] was a creation of the Bureau. And the supreme authority within that Bureau was, indeed, the ‘Dokkaebi King’.

[Can you fathom how I spent my time in the ‘Dark Stratum’? While you and your companions ventured toward the 1865th turn, I was working tirelessly elsewhere, I assure you.]

A profound, eternal wisdom glimmered behind the arching curve of Biyu’s eyes.

The Dark Stratum—a place where the passage of time held far greater density than any normal spacetime.

Just how long had Biyu been sequestered in that realm?

She withdrew a Wenny pouch from her coat, continuing her explanation.

[I managed to acquire the dimensional gateway of the deceased Wenny King, so jumping to the nearest world-line will be trivial. As for the more distant ones... well, once the ark is sufficiently repaired, I believe it will be possible. The issue lies in finding a suitable energy source for fuel....]

Yu Jung-Hyeok looked down at his own Incarnation body. While Biyu had stitched him back together, the majority of his Fables remained mangled, battered by three hundred days of celestial drift and the assault of the hounds.

[It appears that, too, has been resolved.]

“....Hm?”

He could not pinpoint the cause, but his internal essence was brimming with Fables. An extraordinary quantity of them churned within his core, poised for release.

[Where exactly did you obtain the Fables of the ‘Nameless Ones’? And in such staggering abundance, no less....]

Fables cast aside by the scenario now whispered to him.

[Fables with unknown names from ‘Outer Gods’ desire to travel with you.]

These were the same ‘Nameless Ones’ he had encountered long ago in the final scenario. Beings born in places where no star dared shine, forced to perish in obscurity.

They were currently reaching out to Yu Jung-Hyeok.

[Fables with unknown names are detecting the scent of an ancient dream upon you.]

[Now that I reflect on it, something felt strange when I retrieved you. The ‘Nameless Ones,’ devoid of any ego, were actually protecting you, you know?]

Yu Jung-Hyeok remembered his recent dream—the Journey to the West, and the voices belonging to the ‘Secretive Plotter’ and the individuals of the 999th turn.

....Surely, that could not be it.

He strained his senses, yet could detect nothing. Listening to Biyu, Yu Jung-Hyeok watched the expanse of space unfold like an infinite sea.

[Using those Fables as fuel should suffice for long-distance travel. Let us begin. The hounds’ territory lies nearby, and we risk complications if we linger here too long.]

Holding no desire to re-engage with those hounds, Yu Jung-Hyeok offered a swift nod.

[It is rather cramped for two occupants, so... Ba-aht!]

A coat of pure white fur erupted from Biyu’s form as she suddenly condensed to the size of a fist.

[Dokkaebi King ‘Biyu’ has initiated the ark’s departure!]

Followed by this notification, the ark’s main engine roared to life. The vessel left burning blue traces of Fables in its wake, vanishing into the distance in a heartbeat.

...

.....

.......

Shortly thereafter, five shadows manifested where the ark had rested.

[[Do you believe he will prevail?]]

[[The outcome is uncertain. Still, this is the limit of our assistance.]]

[[Shall we hasten our return? Today is parents' day at school, after all. Who promised to accompany Dok-Ja?]]

[[Me, me, me, me!!]]

[[You idiot are clearly unqualified.]]

The ‘Secretive Plotter’ fixed his gaze on the ark disappearing past the distant galaxy and murmured.

[[I pray that we do not cross paths again, Yu Jung-Hyeok.]]

*

Jang Ha-Yeong, laboring over the revision of the second act, let out a massive yawn born of boredom and posed a question. “Hey, Han Su-Yeong? Could I ask you something?”

“Negative.”

“What strategy did you discuss with Yu Jung-Hyeok regarding the delivery of the manuscript?” Jang Ha-Yeong asked, her voice betraying deep distrust. “I’ve seen him, and besides his gaming skills, he doesn’t seem fluent with computer usage. Would he even comprehend how to upload a novel to a website?”

“He cannot serialize it himself. That would trap him in a single world-line for an eternity.”

“What shall he do, then?”

Han Su-Yeong contemplated this for a moment before murmuring. “The most logical course is to recruit an author who can handle the serialization on our behalf....”

*

⸢The planetary system Z865123. In the 2020th year of the imperial calendar....⸥

On that very day, a writer named Lee Hak-Hyeon was struggling through his manuscript in a cramped studio flat, eventually devolving into a heated verbal argument with his editor over the phone.

– Author-nim, what are your intentions for this project? What is the title of the novel?

“....It is titled the Me-sword Master.”

– The Me-sword Master? What is the premise?

“Well... the protagonist is a method actor in a fantasy setting who masters his craft to eventually emerge as a swordmaster....”

– Ah, I see. Spare me the rest. Also, have I not warned you repeatedly never to open with the phrase ‘imperial calendar’?

Lee Hak-Hyeon suffered through the editor’s prolonged tirade, his expression darkening with every passing second.

– Have you forgotten the outcome of your previous work? Please, Author-nim, use some common sense. I am begging you...

Lee Hak-Hyeon reflected on his past failures.

His first work, ⸢⸢Orc Philosopher⸥⸥, had tanked with an abysmal score—the paywalled chapters had been purchased solely by his best friend—and his follow-up, ⸢⸢How to Become a Famous Author⸥⸥, plummeted because, at the time, he was decidedly not a famous author. This was his third attempt at redemption.

“Some are destined for success, others for failure. I am clearly among the latter.”

He was three months behind on his rent, and his dwindling finances barely covered the cost of dinner for the evening.

Lee Hak-Hyeon stared at the blank screen of the Korean word processor before trudging to the building’s rooftop. The ground below looked quite distant from the fifth floor.

“.....Nah. Even now, this seems... Hah-ah..... Ng?”

Lee Hak-Hyeon rubbed his aching eyes. Was this a hallucination? The air seemed to ripple before his sight.

“What is this? My tears?”

A man stood before him. He was not just any man, but an imposingly handsome individual draped in a long black coat. A fluffy creature perched upon his shoulder. Even with his vision blurred, he could tell this being was extraordinary.

He would make the perfect protagonist for a novel, truthfully...

“You there. You appear to be a writer.”

The intense pressure radiated by the man in the black coat caused Lee Hak-Hyeon’s legs to buckle involuntarily. He squeaked out a reply. “Y-yes, I am.”

“In that case, you should possess the skills to serialize a novel.”

“Well, that is....”

A realization struck Lee Hak-Hyeon instantly. He had heard rumors of this—a legendary tale of authors who vanished mysteriously, only to return with ground-breaking epics in hand. A stroke of incredible fortune meant only for the most blessed writers.

Lee Hak-Hyeon understood the gravity of his situation, his shoulders beginning to quiver.

‘A-a-are these the protagonist tropes??’

If the books he had read held even a grain of truth, that man in the black coat would transport him into a novel’s world. Then, he would be ordered to fix the conclusion authored by someone else. He would apply the wit he had honed from years of reading tropes to perform incredible feats.

“Yes, yes! I have the skills! I shall rewrite your world’s destiny!”

“...??”

“Please, take me with you immediately! I may look unassuming, but I am a professional writer with a background in paid serialization....”

A dull thud echoed as something struck the back of Lee Hak-Hyeon’s head. His world immediately went black.

*

[Wait one second, captain!! What are you doing, knocking the man unconscious!!]

Biyu shrieked in protest.

They were currently in the Z865123 planetary system. They had navigated through seventeen layers of the [Dark Stratum] from the Earth they had recently departed to even reach this world-line.

“It was necessary. He possessed too loose a tongue.”

[....Now what is the plan?]

Yu Jung-Hyeok began withdrawing various instruments from his pocket. “Now, we must manually force the upload of the novel Han Su-Yeong composed into this man’s mind.”

[What are you suggesting?! Do you have any idea how much time that requires?! Do you truly intend to brainwash random civilians every time you visit a world-line??]

“That is....”

Upon reflection, he realized this approach had its limitations. They could not remain forever to observe this man, and the induced brainwashing might expire after he stepped into another dimension.

[You mentioned Han Su-Yeong had not quite finished the novel, correct? We have no leeway to revisit this world later. If we hand over an incomplete manuscript, the serialization might cease halfway, you know!]

“Han Su-Yeong, that foolish woman....”

[Cease your blaming and activate that ‘Cloud System’ thing. Quickly.]

Since she seemed to have a workable strategy, Yu Jung-Hyeok complied without further argument.

[Sync your display with mine.]

Biyu then began prodding through the [Cloud System] files suspended in the air before them. Her movement ceased upon reaching a specific file.

[Dokkaebi King ‘Biyu’ is attempting to access the Cloud System via Bureau authority.]

[Do you grant access to these files?]

Yu Jung-Hyeok selected the confirmation icon. Instantly, a transparent string of energy extended, linking the file to the unconscious writer’s mind.

[Dokkaebi King ‘Biyu’ has exercised her authority and modified the ‘Cloud System’.]

[The]