993 Episode 60 Star Fragments (1)

—The Evil Sophist.

At Zeus's words, several constellations stirred here and there.

Not everyone had lost hope just because they were trapped in this world. While some, like Odin, dismissed the <Star Stream> as a delusion, and others, like Poseidon, had adapted in their own ways, there were stars who still could not forget their former stature.

I looked at the culprit who had orchestrated this entire situation.

Zeus, leaning against a table with a relaxed smile, was looking at me with a somewhat triumphant expression.

To think that even 'Zeus' himself would be trapped here.

Come to think of it, there was no way the gentleman obsessed with 'collecting Kim Dokja fragments' the other day would miss this feast.

Several excited constellations approached the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal and caused a ruckus. I was worried an accident might occur, but unexpectedly, the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal remained calm.

"What are you going to do if I let you go?"

"Do you really think your Nebula will come to rescue you? Why would they bother with losers like you?"

The thunder echoing from outside grew even louder.

Even though [Incite] is my specialty, this was not a situation where I should get involved. Besides, there was already someone here better suited to rallying the stars than I was.

"Dansu ahjussi."

Dansu ahjussi, who had been sitting beside me with a pale face, nodded and approached.

I remembered the man named Lee Dansu well. He was an incarnation living in this world to save his daughter—a father who had steadfastly built his history to face his daughter with dignity.

The constellations must have recognized Dansu ahjussi's character as well. After all, the legend of a good person is bound to show through.

"I need help."

I thought Dansu ahjussi would understand immediately, but his reaction was unexpectedly lukewarm.

"What kind of help do you need, my friend?"

"I mean the constellations."

While the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal held off the crowd, I briefly whispered the plan to Dansu ahjussi. Fortunately, he grasped it quickly.

"The stratagem of 'borrowing a sword to kill'… Are you suggesting we rally the constellations to stop the intruders?"

"Yes. I thought they would listen to you better than me. The constellations seem to follow you."

At this, Dansu ahjussi replied with a bitter smile.

"I was just telling them a story about the past with my friend."

I heard it too. Even after so much time had passed, he still cherished his memories of me. It is rare to find someone who keeps another's story so preciously. Dansu ahjussi was such a rare and good person.

"Then please make use of that story."

And I must make such a good person do something a little bad.

"Please persuade the constellations to help us. You can set a plausible bait. Like, if they help us, we will let them escape this worldline—"

"Are you really going to do that to the constellations, my friend?"

I was speechless for a moment. Ahjussi's gaze was serious, but this was not a matter I could compromise on.

"Even if you can't do it, you must say that you can right now."

I know ahjussi is a good person, but those standing there now were 'constellations'.

"Hyunsung-ssi is in danger. We cannot save him with our strength alone."

I know those constellations might not be much help. Since they were all captured by the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, most of them must have had their powers sealed. Still, we were in a desperate situation where every hand counted.

"They cannot fight. To be precise, they are not in a state to fight."

For a moment, I couldn't understand why this old man was protecting these constellations to such an extent.

"That doesn't matter."

Those words slipped out before I realized it. Was this feeling mine, or the Third's—or perhaps the nameless Kim Dokja's?

Perhaps this is an old, deep-seated emotion of Kim Dokja's.

I glanced at the constellations once more. From the marine Poseidon to the master sculptor Odin, and even the electrician Zeus. That scene, resembling a nursing home for retired elders, was somehow delightful and comical.

But that was as far as it went.

I remembered clearly what they had done in the scenarios and the Fear Realm. I remembered everything they had done to the people I loved.

Nevertheless, Dansu ahjussi shook his head.

"My friend, you still don't know."

Dansu ahjussi gazed at me with sorrowful eyes.

"Those stars..."

The moment I heard his voice, I felt a sense of unease.

At first, I thought they were merely stars gathered to claim the 'third Kim Dokja', just as they had sought the 'Oldest Dream' to control the 41st worldline.

The pinnacle of the <Star Stream>—the stars of the 'Round Table' that rule over everything.

Mitra's voice wavered in my mind.

Did the stars of the Round Table, more cautious and cunning than any other, really risk their lives to enter this worldline solely because 'the third Kim Dokja' was here?

Thump.

A deafening roar echoed from the front of the abandoned factory.

Headlights flashed outside the window.

Poseidon muttered.

"They have arrived."

Several constellations pushed aside the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal and ran toward the entrance.

As expected, Zeus was the first.

"My children have come."

The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, Dansu ahjussi, and Jung Heewon exchanged glances and followed. As I approached the entrance, a sense of foreboding grew. An unprecedented energy was gathering in this world where stories could not exert their power.

The constellations combined their strength to force open the factory gates. Soon, amidst the bright beams of headlights, men in black suits appeared.

The men in suits looked surprised to see the constellations welcoming them.

"What are these people?"

The men in suits stopped, wary of the situation. A muscular man in sunglasses at the front restrained his subordinates as if sensing something unsettling.

"Wait."

The moment I heard his voice, I instinctively sensed it.

Just like the constellations here, 'something' was possessing the man in the suit.

"Well done, you managed to make it this far."

As if recognizing him, Zeus approached with open arms.

As he stepped out of the gate, sparks flew from the leash Zeus shared with the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, but the God of Thunder endured the pain and kept walking.

As Zeus stopped in front of him, the man in the suit flinched.

"No way?"

Removing his sunglasses, the man widened his eyes.

I had never seen him before, but strangely, I felt I knew who he was. The shimmering stories of <Olympus> provided the record.

Zeus took him by the shoulder, welcoming him.

"My son! Perseus!"

Perseus. The legendary hero who defeated Medusa was standing before me.

Perseus’s expression changed as he recognized Zeus.

"Father? You were really here?"

"Yes, my son."

"To think the rumors were true... It is an honor to meet you."

As a smile spread across Perseus’s lips, Zeus’s complexion brightened. He turned toward the constellations and shouted.

"Come out, all constellations. My son has come to take us."

The constellations poked their heads out one by one. As if asking why they were so frightened, Zeus shouted.

"The time we have been waiting for has come. It is time for us all to escape this damn worldline together—"

The moment he spoke, a stream of blood shot into the air. The smell of copper spread through the drizzle. As the stars held their breath, Zeus turned with a look of foolish confusion. There stood Perseus, still smiling.

"Father."

Perseus struck Zeus's arm once again with a thick machete.

"It is truly an honor to be able to kill you."

With a whoosh, one of Zeus's arms flew into the air.

Zeus, eyes wide, screamed as he watched the blood gushing from his shoulder.

"Aaaargh—!"

It was an unbelievably weak scream for a myth-grade constellation.

Perseus, looking at Zeus with curiosity, turned toward the constellations with a cold gaze.

"It was true that the myth-grade constellations are all trapped here."

Perseus was not alone. The men in suits behind him glared with menacing intensity.

Perseus let out a booming voice.

"The opportunity to achieve the impossible has arrived."

A strange desire blazed in his voice.

"If we successfully complete the mission of this worldline, we will leap into the realm of myth that we have so long awaited!"

The men in suits began to approach. The myth-grade constellations, trembling helplessly, slumped to the ground. It was the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal who lifted them up.

"What are you doing, you fools!"

Snatched by the nape of the neck, Zeus was pulled back into the factory by the Great Sage.

"Everyone, go inside! Close the gate! Do you all want to die?"

The constellations followed in a panic.

Several men in suits rushed to open the door, but they were sent flying by the Great Sage's kicks.

The factory door slammed shut, and the shouts of the men in suits echoed from outside.

"Hiding is useless! You cowardly constellations!"

"Hahahaha! Serves you right!"

The myth-grade constellations trembled at the mocking laughter.

It was a strange sight.

I knew many constellations aspired to 'myth' status, but to kill the 'myth-grade constellations' of their own nebula?

It should have been impossible. No matter how blinded by status, a star could not easily turn its back on its elders.

The history they lived had imposed a taboo.

If they annihilated Zeus and the others, the power of the nebula would weaken despite their individual rise.

This meant they had a justification that went beyond the restraining force of that 'Giant Story'.

"I told you, friend."

Dansu ahjussi spoke as he approached. His calm eyes were fixed on the constellations.

"Now, my friend will be able to see them too."

I gazed at the constellations—stars abandoned by the nebulae. The old men were trembling, clutching their narrow shoulders.

"…Yes."

Grains of stories drifted unsteadily over Zeus's wound. Only then did it make sense.

The reason these 'myth-grade constellations' were so helpless. The reason they were old men, easily subdued and imprisoned.

I spoke, gazing at the shadowless elders.

"So, all the 'myth-grade constellations' here were their 'fragments'."

It was natural. The true 'myth-grade constellations' ruling the Round Table would never risk their own lives directly.

These old men were merely 'fragments' chosen by the constellations—clones deployed on the most dangerous missions. Beings sacrificed without consequence in a world where one wrong move meant death. In other words, they were—

The abandoned fragments of the stars were howling in the light right before my eyes.