1029 Episode 63 Ragnarok (3)

I began reading the story of Killer King—Cha Seongwoo. I read it sentence by sentence, like someone trying to swallow every single sentence contained in the book without missing a single one.

The Cha Seongwoo inside the book was reading a story I knew well.

What kind of expression did Kim Dokja make when reading a sad story? Since he was the kind of guy who liked sad stories the most, did he read even that with a smile?

As I read his story, I didn't know what expression to make. Even though I knew that if I finished reading this story, I would become the most miserable person in the world, I simply couldn't stop reading.

Just as I read him, the Cha Seongwoo inside the book also read the novel.

Returning to previous pages again and again like a time traveler in front of scenes he liked. Or adding footnotes as he pleased.

A person's reading contains their worldview. Just by knowing what kind of stories they like, we can learn a great deal about them.

In that sense, Cha Seongwoo was a very meticulous person. He did not simply gloss over stories just because he already knew them. The more familiar a scene was, and the more times he had read it, the more diligently and slowly he read it.

Just like Kim Dokja who read 'Ways of Survival'.

Watching Cha Seongwoo unconsciously repeat his favorite lines over and over, and seeing his page-turning speed slow down the more he read, I, too, was afraid to turn the page.

I was afraid to see the end of the story. But just as Cha Seongwoo did in the story, I, too, read his story. I had to read it.

Solely reading. Reading with all one's might and recreating the story in one's mind. Because that is the job of a reader.

"Ah."

Finally, with the 99th reading, Cha Seongwoo's reading came to an end. And that was the entirety of the story of Cha Seongwoo that now rested in my hands.

This single book was a record of Cha Seongwoo reading the story he loved from beginning to end.

Tsutsu.

The moment I closed the book, stories settled into my fingertips with a faint spark. An infinitely warm, persistent, and cozy sensation.

"This."

The moment my hand touched stories, a scene unfolded in my mind.

Cha Seongwoo collapsing, and 'Snowfield Kim Dokja' gazing at his soul.

I got goosebumps.

'Snowfield Kim Dokja' is a being who lives to become 'the one and only Kim Dokja.'

For the sake of his own purpose, he would never simply abandon the soul of Cha Seongwoo, who was dying before his very eyes.

However, Snowfield within the landscape let Cha Seongwoo go with those words.

While restarting the scenario and retracing all the history that Kim Dokja had lived through, Cha Seongwoo was always by Snowfield's side.

Cha Seongwoo cleared the scenarios together with him and fought against the constellations.

Perhaps that is why Snowfield could never fully absorb Cha Seongwoo as 'Kim Dokja'. Because the Cha Seongwoo he remembered—perhaps not the image of the 'Kim Dokja' he wanted to unite into one.

I was somewhat surprised by Snowfield's human side, yet at the same time, I felt pity.

Only after confirming the entire landscape did I understand how Cha Seongwoo's soul had come to this place.

Perhaps Ji Eunyu led Cha Seongwoo’s soul to her 'archive' and delivered it to me here.

As I placed my hand upon Cha Seongwoo’s soul, which took the form of a small baby, it felt as though I could hear his voice.

Even though it is the same name, the temperature of the voice can be so different depending on who calls it.

I thought of the man who loved this story more than anyone, the man who had read the single story a hundred times. Then, I felt the man’s soul slowly seeping into me.

Cha Seongwoo’s soul flowed into the wall in an instant.

With that, I felt as though something very important within me had been completed.

As if knowing it would eventually turn out this way, the story within me began to stir.

Kyung Sein, Dansu ahjussi, Cha Seongwoo—in the end, I made it this far while losing all my comrades.

Will I truly be able to say that I am a 'Kim Dokja' better than any other 'Kim Dokja' at the end of this world?

"Editor-nim."

I called out to Ji Eunyu. There were many things I wanted to ask. But above all, there was something I had to ask first. It was because of the scenery I had seen earlier.

The final encounter between Cha Seongwoo and 'Snowfield Kim Dokja'.

It was a fleeting scene, but I clearly saw the people standing in the background of that landscape.

My heart pounded.

"Did you happen to meet <Kim Dokja Company>?"

Ji Eunyu slowly nodded.

"Yes, I met them."

The moment I saw her expression, a flood of mixed emotions washed over me.

But at the same time, a question arose. Why did they, who had remained silent all this time, have to choose to come here of all places?

"Because I summoned them."

A belated sigh escaped my lips.

Ji Eunyu continued speaking.

"Summoning them was the last resort I had in mind. Snowfield Kim Dokja had become too strong, and I felt that borrowing the power of any other group wouldn't be able to stop him."

I nodded. Snowfield Kim Dokja must have obtained just as many 'Kim Dokja Fragments' as I do now. Moreover, having lived as 'Kim Dokja' for much longer than I have, his 'dream control' must be at an unimaginable level.

"I thought they would be able to stop him."

Ji Eunyu's judgment was not wrong.

In fact, the <Kim Dokja Company> of the 1,864th round was the strongest force across the <Star Stream> of all worldlines. Even for 'Snowfield Kim Dokja', it wouldn't have been easy to face that <Kim Dokja Company>.

"It was a gamble that could only be attempted right before the conclusion."

I nodded in agreement.

Unlike in the 'Missing Thicket', the probability of <Kim Dokja Company>'s arrival would have been resolved to some extent in 'Ragnarok'.

However, there was one thing that bothered me.

Snowfield Kim Dokja had attempted to summon <Kim Dokja Company> using his fragment in the world where the 'Third Kim Dokja' existed, and had tried to recreate the 'Big House' in that world.

That plan failed because of me and Yoo Joonghyuk, but the words left by the fragment of Snowfield at the very last moment still lingered in my mind.

"So, what happened?"

I had a strangely ominous premonition.

What if all of this was part of 'Snowfield Kim Dokja's' plan? What if his real plan from the very beginning was to bring <Kim Dokja Company> down to 'Ragnarok'?

Trying to suppress the anxiety swirling in my head, I recalled the <Kim Dokja Company> I knew. I thought of Yoo Joonghyuk, stronger than anyone in this world, and the wise Yoo Sangah. I thought of Lee Jihye, unrivaled at sea; Lee Gilyoung, the contractor of the Demon God; and Lee Seolhwa, who always revives every comrade.

Surely, they would have safely subdued 'Snowfield Kim Dokja'. If even they couldn't do it, it was a task no one else could have accomplished.

Ji Eunyu still did not answer.

"Editor-nim?"

I wonder when it started. Ji Eunyu's presence had faded slightly. In that instant, I realized something.

I grabbed Ji Eunyu's wrist.

"Editor-nim."

My mind was spinning.

"You don't have to say anything. Don't say any more."

I could see the wrist I was holding gradually fading. Her soul, story, was disappearing.

I wanted to erase the record being written in my mind. I didn't want to admit that fact.

I held onto Ji Eunyu, injecting stories with all my might. Ji Eunyu looked at me quietly, then smiled faintly.

"I'm fine, Author-nim. This story has reincarnation and resurrection, you know."

"…"

"Every time Kim Dokja kept dying, I wondered if it was okay, but now I'm glad this is that kind of story."

"Editor-nim."

I knew what Ji Eunyu was trying to say. Perhaps that is how many stories we had shared. Or perhaps I thought we had shared them.

However, despite having shared so much, I felt that I still knew absolutely nothing about the person named Ji Eunyu.

"You said it, didn't you? That you didn't write this story. That you merely transcribed what Han Sooyoung wrote."

The sensation in the wrist I was holding gradually faded. Ji Eunyu continued speaking.

"I don't think so. Even if that were true, you are the one who wrote this story to me. So, Author-nim."

I wanted to say anything to her as she disappeared. But once again, I couldn't find the right words. That is why the one who filled the last blank space given to me was always the person who read this story for the first time.

"I hope Kim Dokja survives this time, too."

Ji Eunyu's figure scattered like magic. Following her, the books she had collected began to vanish. The 'Archives' were disappearing. The records she had gathered, all of time, were vanishing and scattering away.

I couldn't believe it. It was none other than Ji Eunyu. The person who understood this story just as well as I did.

"Editor-nim."

I called out to her in vain.

"Ji Eunyu-ssi!"

I called again. No answer came back. Only then did the reality of what had happened begin to sink in.

With the sensation of the connection being severed, I found myself back in the 'Yangjiokjeongbyeong' before I knew it.

I did not know whether to rejoice or grieve at that fact. Where had Ji Eunyu's soul gone? Was she really dead?

<Kim Dokja Company> truly, to 'Snowfield Kim Dokja'...

With my mind in turmoil, a scenario message appeared before my eyes.

In the end, to uncover the whole truth, I must return to the scenario once again.