1031 Episode 63. Ragnarok (5)

The Handsome Monkey King was not in a good mood today. There were many reasons for his bad mood, and to be more precise, it wasn't just today that he was in a bad mood.

[Damn bastards.]

For a constellation of the Handsome Monkey King's level, it was possible to read the heavenly secret of the <Star Stream>. Though it was called a heavenly secret, to put it simply, it felt like this:

Reading the heavenly secret was similar to analyzing the stock market for humans.

For reference, the market trend of the <Star Stream> today that he had read was as follows:

[Did everyone really die?]

Of course, the stars in the sky weren't actually all delisted. Nevertheless, the stars were clearly declining. The light of the once-powerful 'giant nebulas' was going out, and the stars that had looked down on the world from the top of the sky suddenly vanished or fell.

[Are you really going to give up like this! Where did all those myth-grade constellations who used to show off so much go!]

There is nothing more helpless than waiting for the end in a world that might perish at any moment. The Handsome Monkey King stood up abruptly, swallowing his anger.

[If we're going to die anyway, we should at least struggle!]

Currently, he was one of the four 'Kings' ruling this 'Hall'. Specifically, he was called the 'Monkey King' of the North.

[U-Uaaah!]

[My King!]

Whenever he passed by, the foolish constellations wearing monkey masks shouted.

Because they had witnessed the great catastrophe of 'Ragnarok' with their own eyes, their minds had collapsed and their stories had shattered, leaving them unable to live without relying on the stories of other stars.

The Handsome Monkey King patted the shoulders of those stars lightly, then glared at the sky and said:

[If worst comes to worst, I want to invade even if I'm alone, but...]

The Handsome Monkey King also didn't fail to understand the feelings of the stars that fled from the end. Beyond the 'gate' that this Hall sealed, there were indeed such monsters teeming. The Handsome Monkey King had also clearly seen what monsters were on the main battlefield of 'Ragnarok'. Even his brothers were all killed by those monsters.

Great Sage Heaven's Equal.

Bimawen.

Victorious Fighting Buddha.

He and his brothers had all participated in 'Ragnarok'. His brothers' plan was simple. They planned to take advantage of the chaos in the heavenly realm to steal core stories from <Emperor>'s Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, thereby leaping to become 'myth-grade constellations'.

The plan proceeded sequentially, and a myth-grade constellation was just around the corner. That was, until the 'great catastrophe' of 'Ragnarok' suddenly opened its eyes.

Among the shattered half were his brothers. Fortunately, his brothers had transferred all of their stories to him right before their dissipation, but in return, their souls disappeared from the <Star Stream>.

Fortunately, the Handsome Monkey King was in an area far from the catastrophe, so he was able to avoid the dissipation of his incarnation body. But his other brothers were not so lucky. Clenching the stories of his brothers lodged inside him, the Handsome Monkey King bit his lips tightly.

His brothers were all detestable fellows. But no matter how detestable they were, brothers were brothers. He had not ruled out the thought of revenge either.

The one who stopped him was the incarnation he cherished. The incarnation of the Korean Peninsula, Min Jiwon. Using the 'Pluck of Request' that the Handsome Monkey King had given her once, she banished his incarnation body from the 'main battlefield'.

To survive and plot for the future. That was her last message.

Since then, he had tried contacting her several times, but no news returned.

By tomorrow, it would be two months since the Handsome Monkey King came to this 'Hall'. During those two months, he recovered his strength and prepared to return to the 'main battlefield'.

The problem was that in order to return to the 'main battlefield', he needed the cooperation of the other Kings.

Because of this issue, the Handsome Monkey King had gone to see the other Kings several times. Saying that his strength was fully recovered, so let's go up to the battlefield once more and fight against the catastrophe. But none of the other three Kings had any intention of opening that 'gate' again.

[Cowards.]

Only then did the Handsome Monkey King think that perhaps his ■■ ended here. His long-cherished wish to rise to the myth-grade and take revenge on the heavenly realm had gone awry, and the giant nebulas he hated had fallen.

[Is it really up to here.]

Had he ever seen such a dark sky in the <Star Stream> before? Looking at the sky of the <Star Stream> which had now lost even its day, the Handsome Monkey King remembered his brothers.

Startled, the Handsome Monkey King glared at the sky with wide eyes. A star he had never seen before, yet its bright light gave him a sense of déjà vu. At the same time, the Handsome Monkey King sensed an unusual current pervading the battlefield.

The shaking ground. The sound of chains breaking.

The moment I saw the constellation in front of me, sharp memories rushed in. The image of my big brother, who threw away everything to save me, was vivid in my eyes.

"You are..."

After taking a breath, the memories receded like the tide, and the being in front of me was clearly visible.

"You are not the Great Sage Heaven's Equal."

It was a subtle difference, but I could tell. The 'Monkey King' in front of me was not the Great Sage Heaven's Equal. He was his brother, who possessed the Great Sage's story.

"Are you... the Handsome Monkey King?"

At my call, the Handsome Monkey King's lips twitched.

[I asked. How did you get my star relic—]

"This vase is not from this world."

Instead of a detailed explanation, I threw the star relic 'Yangji Jade Vase' to him. Receiving the star relic in a daze, he opened his eyes wide and began to examine the 'Yangji Jade Vase'.

I looked at the Handsome Monkey King and asked:

"Are your other brothers here by any chance?"

The Handsome Monkey King's presence here meant that his other brothers must have also participated in 'Ragnarok'. But his answer completely betrayed my expectations.

[Some are dead, and some are inside me.]

Watching the Handsome Monkey King continue his chilling tale without any change in expression, I realized anew that the end of the <Star Stream> was truly right in front of us.

I had expected it to some extent, but seeing him unified in an incomplete state made my mind complicated.

After looking at the Yangji Jade Vase for a long time, the Handsome Monkey King snapped his head up.

[Wait a minute. Are you... that guy from back then?]

Recognizing me late, the Handsome Monkey King's eyes widened. In fact, I was acquainted with the Handsome Monkey King. I had met him once when doing a scenario related to the 'Twelve Zodiacs' at the 'Recycling Center'.

"Yes. Let me introduce myself again. My name is..."

[Kim Dokja.]

The Handsome Monkey King glared at me as if he detested that name.

[I know. Because I know the 'catastrophe' with the exact same name as yours.]

As if he already knew of 'Snowfield Kim Dokja', the Handsome Monkey King spoke without hiding his anger in the slightest.

I hid my bitter smile at this ironic play of fate and said:

"Yes. I came to stop that guy."

[Stop... the catastrophe?]

"Yes."

The being in front of me was that 'Handsome Monkey King'. I believed that he, of all people, would understand my heart.

[You are talking nonsense.]

But the Handsome Monkey King's response was cold.

[What on earth are you going to stop! How is someone like you going to stop the 'catastrophe of Ragnarok'? The great catastrophe that even myth-grade constellations couldn't stop—]

"I can do it."

The Handsome Monkey King glared at my calm answer. Then, as if hiding a trembling voice, he said:

[Even if that were possible, it's too late. The battle of 'Ragnarok' already ended two months ago.]

Looking at the 'gate' shrouded in an ominous aura, he added with a sigh:

[Now this world has nothing left but destruction.]

For a while after that, I sat near the 'gate' and listened to the story of what had happened to the scenario from the Handsome Monkey King.

I thought that might be the case. It was something I had expected ever since I met Ji Eunyu in the 'record archives'. Once again, I had ended up late. But being late was a regular occurrence for me. The important thing was how to make up for that lateness from now on.

[Do you really intend to go to the 'main battlefield'? Even though the battle is over?]

"Yes."

[There will be no constellation to help you.]

"Aren't you here?"

The Handsome Monkey King's face contorted at my cheeky answer.

[It's obvious that entering there will lead to dissipation, so why should I help you?]

"You still want to fight, don't you? Isn't that why you waited here?"

The Handsome Monkey King only pouted his lips without agreeing or denying.

[What do you know...]

Even though he spoke like that, I knew what kind of constellation the Handsome Monkey King was. After mumbling to himself for a while, the Handsome Monkey King suddenly turned his head toward me and asked:

[Were you planning to break the 'gate' and enter?]

"That's right."

[If you force that gate open, there will be a penalty.]

"I don't care."

To be honest, if I hadn't met the Handsome Monkey King, I would have broken the gate and gone up anyway.

[Foolish! If you really intend to go up and fight, why on earth would you do that? How are you going to challenge an opponent you have no chance against even without penalties, while carrying a penalty on your back!]

"So, will you help me?"

The Handsome Monkey King glared at me with his burning Golden Pupils, then answered like a sigh:

[Fine, I'll help.]

I didn't expect him to agree so quickly. Avoiding my gaze, the Handsome Monkey King turned his eyes back to the 'gate' and said:

[The incarnation I cherished often spoke of you.]

I immediately understood whose story that was.

[Even at the moment she sent me here... for some reason, she seemed to be waiting for you.]

"......"

[I thought that if I helped you one last time, she would like it. It's not like I believe you can defeat the catastrophe.]

"What happened to her?"

[Her incarnation body vanished. But I don't know if even her soul has perished. Because she had the power of a 'recorder'.]

That's right. Ji Eunyu was a being who became the 'Recorder of Fear' through her contract with the lump-headed dokkaebi. If so, there was still hope.

"Is it true that the catastrophe used the power of 'the Oldest Dream'?"

The Handsome Monkey King said. Snowfield Kim Dokja exerted the authority of 'the Oldest Dream', and at that moment, half of the stars in 'Ragnarok' disappeared.

[That's right.]

I could vaguely guess what kind of power he had used.

Perhaps 'Snowfield Kim Dokja' had manifested the authority to 'no longer read' some of the constellations existing in this world. But there was something I couldn't understand. If he really was able to use the power of 'the Oldest Dream', there was no need to go through the troublesome effort of reducing the stars by half. Yet the fact that he did such a thing meant...

[That entity is not the only threat. The 'catastrophes of another world' are protecting him. They are terrifying guys who suddenly appeared two months ago.]

Otherworld catastrophes? I wondered who on earth that was referring to for a moment and asked:

"By any chance, have you heard any news about <Kim Dokja's Company>?"

[Kim Dokja's Company?]

The Handsome Monkey King looked at me as if I were talking nonsense. Apparently, the Handsome Monkey King didn't know who <Kim Dokja's Company> referred to.

I thought for a moment and gave an example of one of them.

"Well, with a handsome face—"

[Handsome? How much?]

"You'll know as soon as you see him. And he always wears a black coat..."

[Ah! Was that guy from <Kim Dokja's Company>? If it's him—]

Indeed, no matter what, there was no way he wouldn't recognize Yoo Joonghyuk.

[That guy should still be on the 'main battlefield'.]

The moment I heard his answer, a message rose above the 'gate'.

Three percent. That dizzying number was proof that Yoo Joonghyuk was still fighting in that world.

"Didn't you say the battle was over?"

[It's three percent. Don't you know what that means? It's practically over...]

"I will go meet the other Kings immediately."

According to the Handsome Monkey King, in order to open the 'gate', the consent of the other three Kings, including himself, was required. I thought it was actually better. Beyond that 'gate', the forces of the 'Catastrophe Camp', including Snowfield Kim Dokja, would be waiting. If I could borrow even one more star's hand, it would be a huge help.

But the Handsome Monkey King didn't seem to agree with my thoughts.

[It won't be easy. The other 'Kings' except for me are all...]

It was then that a sound like a jet plane was heard from the sky.

[Damn, one guy has already arrived.]

Along with a massive sonic boom, something was seen descending toward this place. It was a flying vessel of splendid design.

[He's the King of the South. He's called the 'Wealth Emperor' (재황).]

The Wealth Emperor of the South.

[No matter who you are, you'll never be able to convince that guy. He's not someone who listens to anyone in the first place.]

The Handsome Monkey King glared at the flying vessel and frowned.

[He's a miser who knows nothing but coins. Unless you have the spare capacity to give him enough coins to satisfy him, no matter how hard you wag your tongue...]

The moment I saw the familiar emblem engraved on the flying vessel, I wondered, 'No way—'. Soon, the one who got off the flying vessel was an old man in a Hawaiian shirt. The moment he confirmed my face, he recognized me too.

[I wondered who touched the 'gate', and as expected, it was you.]

I was deeply moved to hear his voice after a long time and replied:

"You were here."

[It's been a while.]

Naturally, I thought he would have survived until now. Because he was the star with the most coins in this world.

Perhaps one of the most necessary allies for me right now.

"It's been a long time, Mass Production Maker."