925 Episode 53 Record War (1)

—Bicheonhori King Weilong

Bicheonhori was right. Even if we escape the subspace right now and go rescue Jung Heewon, we'll be late.

By the time I arrive, the [fate] of the recorders will be fulfilled, and the heat of Agni, the purifying flame, will burn everything in the area, including Jung Heewon.

Fortunately, I had a way to resolve this spatiotemporal disparity.

Being located in the subspace created by Bicheonhori proved to be a great help.

At this point, I'm starting to suspect if the whole thing wasn't just a ruse by Bicheonhori, but now I was in no position to be picky.

Furthermore, another obstacle remained. For [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint] to activate, both I and the target had to think of each other simultaneously.

Thankfully, the obstacle was naturally resolved.

The moment I read that sentence, my breath caught in my throat.

Eight years had passed, but Jung Heewon still remembered me.

My heart pounded.

I could read her, leaning against that sentence. I would be able to see the world through her eyes once more.

I definitely should have.

Why? Even though the activation conditions were met, the 'first-person perspective' didn't activate. What's the problem?

I turned around and saw Bicheonhori looking at me with a puzzled smile.

That old man clearly knew I couldn't properly activate [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].

I let out a light sigh and concentrated. If I couldn't use [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint], there was only one way to help her in this situation.

Tsutsutsutsutsu.

That was to manifest the 'power' of the Recorder of Fear.

The [Fate] emblem granted by the Recorders came to mind vividly, clinging to Jung Heewon like a binding.

I reached out for the emblem without hesitation.

Tsutsutsutsu.

The moment my hand touched it, sentences overflowed through my fingers like living loaches. I gripped the slippery words tightly and applied force. Then, the edges of the sentences I touched began to crumble.

Bicheonhori, who was watching me next to me, sighed.

The power to record the legends of characters in real time. To be precise, the power to force the history of a 'specific direction'.

That was the power of 'record' that the recorders had.

The method itself was not difficult. [□□] With a feeling similar to when using the skill, I just need to twist the sentence that comes to mind into the shape I want.

Tsutsutsutsu!

Every time I intervened in the sentence, a threatening afterstorm rushed near me.

Maybe it's because they got wrong with the 'probability' that other recorders put in.

I felt the context of the story shift violently. Sentences, swarming like insects, clung to my hand. The mere touch of their handwriting elicited a sense of discomfort.

I grabbed hold of the words once more and forcefully crushed them.

This was the way the Recorders fought.

A battle of records to determine the future of each character—in other words, their [fate].

Despite the Recorders' struggles, the dominance of the records was gradually shifting to my side. Of course, it's much easier to erase existing sentences than to write new ones.

Bicheonhori spoke, seeming to enjoy the scene.

It seemed like I'd heard something important, but I didn't have the presence of mind to respond.

Even if the binding power of [Fate] had weakened, Jung Heewon was still in danger. Before her stood Agni, the flame of purification, half-descended. Jung Heewon, whose incarnation body had reached its limit, was in a state of peril.

As if trying to help me, Bicheonhori spoke.

As if waiting for that, Bicheonhori added.

I see.

I immediately attempted the 'Record Contract'. But...

When I turned around, Bicheonhori said, still smiling.

It was then that I realized something.

That cunning fox knew from the beginning that I would sign the 'Record Contract' to save Jung Heewon.

In the end, I had to choose a 'Formula' to help her.

A dazzling beam of light floated before my eyes, accompanied by modifiers.

Bicheonhori must have foreseen this situation and created a modifier specifically for me.

If I choose one of these modifiers, I will receive the blessings of a high-ranking recorder and overcome this crisis.

A dazzling beam of light slowly floated before my eyes, accompanied by a modifier.

Bicheonhori stared at the modifier for a moment, then licked his lips and asked.

Naturally, the modifier I chose wasn't the one Bicheonhori had suggested.

I nodded.

What was on Bicheonhori's mind at my words? For a moment, something akin to worry flashed across his eyes.

Interpreting the predetermined future differently... I said, mulling over the words.

If a writer decides to intervene in a character's [fate], they must also be prepared. No matter what events, no matter what adversity befalls them, they must navigate the entire story together with their characters. Even if it ends in catastrophe.

We must keep in mind that that catastrophe could become the eternity of this world.

The One Who Rewrites Eternity.

That was the 'modifier' I had chosen as a recorder.

I looked at Jung Heewon on screen, anxious.

Please accept it.

But Jung Heewon on screen simply stared blankly at the message flashing before her eyes, a confused expression on her face.

A mistake?

A series of facts belatedly came to mind.

Damn, I see.

I forgot about it for a moment in the urgency.

Bicheonhori, who had been saying that, made a dumbfounded expression.

I, too, stared blankly at the screen. As if she could see me here, Jung Heewon was facing me across the screen.

How could that be possible?

She was speaking to me, as if a character had broken through the [Fourth Wall].

It was unbelievable. Even from so far away, Jung Heewon had clearly sensed me.

Then, sparks flew from her eyes.

A brilliant ray of light burst, a faint link appearing between me and her.

The world's landscape shifted, and Jung Heewon unleashed [Vermilion Divine Treasure] to dodge Agni's strike.

Perhaps it was because of her different movements from before, Agni frowned and asked.

I slowly opened my mouth, assessing Agni's predicament.

I wasn't sure if he could hear me clearly. She had little magic left, and her incarnation body had long since reached its limit.

Still, I had to speak. I had to offer even the most obvious words of encouragement. Because in this world of stories, even the most obvious words can serve as a connecting adverb that turns the tide of battle.

The enemy was no less than one of the Lokapalas of Vedas. A narrative-grade constellation comparable to Surya, the 'God of Supreme Light'.

If only we could properly record this battle—

We will be able to obtain a 'giant story' comparable to 「Spring in the Demon World」 in this city.

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