726 Episode 28 House (4)

t was not simply an incarnation of a constellation with increased synchronization. That was truly the 'incarnation body' of the Constellation himself.

Why is there a guy like that in a place like this?

The nightmare of Washington East emerged again. Memories of being chased by the constellations along with the 'Demon King of Salvation'.

I came all the way here to avoid them, but I met a constellation here too.

No. Now is not the time to feel intimidated.

Now that I think about it, since when have stories been able to express their opinions to me?

Right. Whoever my opponent was, I also didn't have a very easy story to tell.

Above all, my sponsor is the 'Demon King of Salvation'.

As I observed the incarnation of the constellation while taking deep, light breaths, the composition of the story that made up the incarnation caught my eye.

Now, I guess my sense of vision has improved, and I was able to read fragments of the other person's story just by paying attention.

…

Fragments of old and sick stories are visible.

Kim Dokja said:

There is no scenario that cannot be conquered.

I was reminded of Kim Dokja's 'Revolutionary Scenario'.

For example, the 'wolf' now had the same role as the executioner of the demon world.

A position that enters a kind of 'invincible state' during the time when the scenario occurs.

If this scenario were the same, there was also a way to somehow endure the 'night' phase of the wolf and then aim for 'day' when its weaknesses were exposed.

If only it weren't a constellation.

At the constellation's voice, Killer King was taken aback and took a step back.

Even if it is a weakened constellation, there is an indescribable difference in rank from a normal incarnation.

Killer King probably also knew that fact. That's why he probably chose to survive by protecting his companions instead of attacking the scenario.

Unlike during the Demon World, there are not even 'revolutionaries' in this scenario.

There is no way to kill that 'wolf', day or night.

Killer King came to that conclusion.

In my head, I remembered the contents of 'The Three Little Pigs'.

According to the story, a 'brick house' is needed to deal with the 'wolf'.

However, there are no 'bricks' in this worldview.

"I gave the hippopotamus's front leg."

Finally, Killer King showed his teeth. Before we knew it, Killer King, who had taken out his bowgun, took a step back and aimed at the wolves.

"Maybe there’s another way to just kill you all here."

The leading wolves frowned.

In this 'event scenario', the wolf is not killed by 'other animals'.

That meant that they could be killed by other wolves.

Even if there was a constellation over there, if Killer King had his heart set on it, there was no way he wouldn't be able to catch a wolf or two.

—Kim Dokja. It'll be there.

Killer King’s [telepathic sound] was heard in my ears.

— Run away with your companions. Since you have packed your luggage in advance, you can leave through the back door.

Killer King smiled as he caught a glimpse of where I was hiding.

—Don’t worry about me. I won't die.

Actually, I don't think Killer King is very similar to Yoo Jonghyuk. It is the same as Kim Dokja, who constantly shouted, "I am Yoo Jonghyuk," and cannot become Yoo Jonghyuk.

The reason I'm shaking now is probably because I read 'Ways of Survival' right before I came here.

That's what Yoo Jonghyuk of 'Ways of Survival' always said right before he died.

I won't die.

Yoo Jonghyuk always left those words behind when he died.

To Yoo Jonghyuk himself, those words must have been true. Because he is a regressor who never dies.

But are those words true for those left behind after his death?

At the same time as the constellation gave an order, three wolves rushed towards Killer King.

In an instant, the wolf's claws rushed in, aiming at Killer King's front, back, left and right sides.

When did he collect such story fragments?

Killer King's brilliant coat fluttering gesture made his claws snap off cleanly.

A fierce lion's roar erupted from the corner of Killer King's mouth with a heartless smile.

I thought he might be able to imitate regression, but of course I didn't have the courage to test that.

Killer King, who was hit on the back of the head, gritted his teeth and let out a loud noise.

—Kim Dokja! hurry!

It is actions, not words, that determine a person's essence. Sincere actions remain as stories, and they are talked about and become stories.

The legend accumulated by Killer King was shining brightly.

It is not the same as Yoo Jonghyuk's, but it is no less noble.

That narrative dominated Killer King. It was leading him to his death.

"If you leave him like that, he will die."

Little Yoo Jonghyuk was right.

If we leave him like this, Killer King will die.

Just like Sergeant Jung Moonho in Seoul Station and Jung Jaewoo in the Theater Dungeon.

"Yoo Jonghyuk. Let me ask you a favor."

"Ask?"

Little Yoo Jonghyuk looked up at me. Facing his suspicious eyes, I searched for items in the 'Dokkaebi Bag'.

This worldview is a place where the use of 'skills' and 'stigmata' is prohibited. The effect of the item is also halved and it cannot perform as well as it should.

In other words, no matter what I buy from the 'Dokkaebi Bag', there is no way to kill that 'Wolf Constellation'.

However, it may be possible if it takes some time.

I placed the items purchased through the 'Dokkaebi Bag' on little Yoo Jonghyuk’s head.

Little Yoo Jonghyuk was startled and struggled.

The effect of this item is simple.

The wearer becomes a little cuter, more appetizing, and attracts attention.

Although the effect of the item is halved here, this should be enough for now.

"What are you doing—"

The moment little Yoo Jonghyuk, who had barely peeked his head out of the hood, stood up, the gaze of the wolf constellation turned towards him.

If that wolf was a normal constellation, it wouldn't have fallen into this trap.

But there was something different about him.

I was confident because I had already met several other constellations.

An unstable status for a constellation.

The story contained in its incarnation was unbalanced, and its 'character' was not perfect.

A rag-like incarnation made up of old story fragments that have not been properly repaired for a long time.

Crucially, 'The Three Little Pigs' was not the only story that constituted the incarnation of the wolf.

Constellations that have lived for a long time have difficulty distinguishing between their own will and the will of the story.

As the story began its storytelling, the instinct of the guy who had been consumed by the story awakened.

Its bright red, bloodshot eyes began to shine, and it started running toward little Yoo Jonghyuk, wagging its tail like a mad dog.

I nodded solemnly towards little Yoo Jonghyuk.

"Let’s run."

"You—"

"If you don’t run fast, you will die."

Little Yoo Jonghyuk gritted his teeth and looked back at me and said.

"I will definitely kill you, Kim Dokja."

Almost at the same time, I ducked for cover.

With the fierce wind blowing, Yoo Jonghyuk and the new form of the wolf constellation disappeared at the same time.

Coo coo coo coo coo.

When I looked up outside the cover, I saw little Yoo Jonghyuk running away and a wolf constellation chasing after him.

It was a dangerous sight, as if he was about to be caught, but Yoo Jonghyuk will be fine. I don't know if the guy's stamina was as low as before, but Yoo Jonghyuk's stamina had recovered quite a bit now.

I saw him sitting on my shoulder, secretly taking out an elixir from his pocket, and consuming it with my own eyes.

He eats eight meals a day, so he should have fully recovered by now.

That's not all.

Is it because it is a 'zodiac' worldview?

'Mask' is the only item here that maintains its original performance.

If the effect of 'Rat Mask', which won first place in the 'Zodiac Race', is that there will be no chance of getting caught for a while.

"You guys."

Meanwhile, Killer King, who had defeated all the other wolves, turned to look at me.

Indeed, the second apostle is Killer King.

Is it possible to subdue a wolf that is not a constellation without using skills or stigmata?

Killer King wiped away his bloody nose and said, glaring in this direction.

"Do you know what you did?"

"I know."

"The southern part of Zone 13 is the territory of the 'wolves'. Now you—"

"I am the enemy of the wolves."

Killer King looked at me as if he was dumbfounded and muttered.

"Have you really become Kim Dokja?"

We started collecting items and story fragments from the fallen wolves.

Some of the story fragments were useful and some were trash.

Not all stories are recycled when they enter the 'Recycling Center'.

"It’s not too late. If you’re going to leave, now is your only chance."

Killer King, who was picking up items, stood up and said.

"Go to another zodiac area. You haven’t lost your mask yet, so there must be a way to escape. I will take care of the rest of the group somehow."

"I don’t like it."

"Kim Dokja.”

At first glance, a scar was revealed on the back of Killer King's hand. It was a wound that had never appeared before.

"This is only the eighth scenario. Do you know how many of the characters we know died on the way to here?"

"…"

"You don’t necessarily need everyone to see the ending."

What Killer King said was right.

Not all characters are needed for the ending of this world.

"I and my companions have now accepted it. This world is not the 'Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint' we used to know.”

No one knows how many more people will die on the journey to the end.

Some people will live and some people will die. Some will be forgotten and others will be remembered.

I also know Killer King knew.

This story will not end with a beautiful ending like a fairy tale.

"I need you to get the ending I want."

"It’s typical of Kim Dokja to be unreasonable. Are you really going to take on that role? I’m sure you know what that means."

I quietly looked into Killer King’s eyes. Now I had no choice but to admit it. That person really read 'Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint' a hundred times.

He really knows what I'm thinking.

I opened my mouth, feeling inexplicably comforted by that fact.

"I know."

"Even though you know that—"

"You seem to be mistaken, but the reason you are needed is because you are so useful."

No matter what I do, I cannot become 'Kim Dokja, the Demon King of Salvation'.

Just as Killer King cannot become 'Supreme King Yoo Jonghyuk' no matter what he does.

Killer King looked at me with blank eyes for a moment, then smiled brightly.

"I see. Somebody needs help…"

"Yeah."

Killer King's eyebrows twitched.

"Is there some kind of solution? As of now, even if you and I work together, we can’t catch that wolf."

"In theory, yes. But isn’t there something strange about this scenario?"

"Strange?"

"The name is 'The Three Little Pigs', but the structure of the scenario is very similar to a scenario we know. The wolf’s position and, of course, the fact that the scenario begins at 'night'."

A game to catch a 'werewolf' that kills people by biting them every night.

We already know a ‘scenario’ that is very similar to that.

"Have you ever wondered why this center is called 'Recycling Center'?"

Recycle. It literally means to reuse something that has been used. Killer King, who was thinking about something in response to my question, took a deep breath and muttered.

"No way…"

I don't know who the director of this 'Recycling Center' is or for what purpose this stage was designed. But.

"If what I think is right…"

I swept the dirt off the floor and gauged the flow of the surrounding stories.

Since when did it start?

One by one, the group approached behindKiller King.

Kyung Sein, Dansu ahjussi, Ye Hyunwoo. And even Cha Yerin.

I thought as I looked at them.

Only the eighth scenario.

As Killer King said, many readers have died. Readers died again and again, as if the world was hostile to them.

"We are the people in the world who can tell this story better than anyone else."

Nevertheless, 'Kim Dokja' still did not die.

"Let’s start the 'Revolutionary Game' now."

From now on, it is Kim Dokja’s time.