997 Episode 60 Star Fragments (5)

"It's over there!"

We rode the refrigerated truck driven by Jung Heewon straight toward the high-rise building.

I was certain of one thing, if nothing else.

With the sound of tires grinding, the truck came to a stop. As the Great Sage Equal to Heaven kicked open the truck door and stepped out, we saw men in suits rushing toward us as if they had been waiting. the Great Sage Equal to Heaven swiftly knocked one of the men down, then swung the iron pipe he was holding like a staff and shouted.

"That is the building. Go inside!"

The men in suits surrounded the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and attacked him. Amidst the mercilessly ringing sounds of gunfire, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's lion's roar could be heard.

"Youngest! Can you hear me!"

Hearing that desperate cry, we entered the building through the opening that the Great Sage Equal to Heaven had made.

It was a skyscraper that looked at least 50 stories tall at first glance. I immediately checked for the elevator. However, the area in front of the elevator was packed with people. On top of that, there were men in suits chasing us. If we got on the elevator and were trapped inside, this world would end right here.

"Let's take the stairs."

At Jung Heewon's words, we turned toward the emergency staircase. Since many of our group were elderly, we wanted to avoid the stairs at all costs, but we had no choice.

"Don't worry! My body is hardened by walking 10,000 steps every day!"

Poseidon, adjusting his Marine Corps cap, shouted boldly as he walked past me. Indeed, does the God of the Sea climb stairs well? I don't know where on earth he walked 10,000 steps while being trapped in an abandoned factory all this time, but—following the constellations letting out thunderous shouts, I climbed the stairs feeling like the youngest member of a hiking club. Honestly, climbing stairs was torture for me, too. And 50 floors to begin with. With a body that couldn't even use the system, it was a height no different from Mount Everest.

He simply couldn't hold back his rising breath without writing it down.

I wondered if I really needed to be Yoo Joonghyuk just for something as trivial as climbing stairs, but there was no other way right now.

"Hah, hah, damn it."

We had climbed just over ten floors when Poseidon and Zeus, who were a few steps ahead, gasped for breath and bent over. Demeter, feeling dizzy, was also supported by Dansu ahjussi. You really can't hide your age.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you coming quickly?"

Jung Heewon, who had been running at the front, shouted as she looked down at the landing. Her entire body was covered in someone's blood, suggesting the cleanup upstairs was already finished. She grabbed my wrist and pulled me along, glancing at the constellations behind her.

"Leave them behind. You said there was no time."

It seemed Jung Heewon hadn't placed much hope in the constellations to begin with. However, I couldn't simply cast aside even a small part of my strength.

"Heewon-ssi, over here!"

The emergency exit on the stairwell opened, and the men in suits who had been waiting rushed in. As Jung Heewon swung her wooden sword to push them back, screams began to be heard from the floor below. The constellations, caught by the tail, were being brutally beaten by the men in suits.

Finally, unable to stand it any longer, Poseidon stepped forward.

Toward the men charging in with a human wave, Poseidon began spitting water from his mouth.

"Ooooooh!"

The men in suits, suddenly struck by a water cannon mixed with Poseidon's saliva, recoiled in anger. The cannon soon turned into a weak stream of water.

"Cough, darling, just a glass of water—"

Demeter, holding a water bottle nearby, quickly gave Poseidon some water.

"Hit him now!"

While Poseidon hesitated, the men in suits had come right up to his face. Poseidon, whose water cannon hadn't finished recharging yet, stood awkwardly, clutching a broken recorder.

It was Zeus, who had been watching all this time, who pushed Poseidon aside and stepped forward.

Tsutsutsutsutsu!

The sound of an electric shocker striking the floor. The men, electrocuted in succession, recoiled in shock and fainted. However, only the men in the front row had collapsed. The lower floor was still packed with men in suits chasing us. Constellations and men were engaged in a chaotic battle all around.

"Leave us behind. It will be troublesome if we get delayed."

Demeter spoke to me, looking at me. It was the first time she had spoken in such a clear voice, so I listened to her with a slight surprise.

"I don't know what is going on, but you are likely the only one here who can stop 'him'."

Demeter spoke as if she knew who was waiting for me on this rooftop.

"I will chase after them soon. I have no intention of yielding this myth to you."

Zeus added, growling as well. Judging by the situation, it seemed I should leave this place to them and head up.

I exchanged glances with Dansu ahjussi and Jung Heewon, then immediately went upstairs.

Before I knew it, the floor count had passed the 20th and then the 30th. However, the situation was not going smoothly. Just as we reached the 35th floor, we came face-to-face with a massive wall in the middle of the landing.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't a wall, but a human back.

"Hyunsung-ssi?"

Lee Hyunsung, his eyes strangely clouded, turned to look at me.

"Dokja-ssi... I'm sorry."

"Yes?"

Just as I thought something was off, Jung Heewon pushed me aside and ran forward. At the same time, Lee Hyunsung, who had rushed forward, collided with Jung Heewon in the middle. Lee Hyunsung's fist and Jung Heewon's wooden sword clashed, and the broken tip of the sword tumbled across the floor.

"Heewon-ssi! Hyunsung-ssi!"

I quickly used 「Revision」.

But for some reason, Lee Hyunsung could not regain his senses.

Jung Heewon, rolling on the floor and struggling with Lee Hyunsung, shouted.

"This person is unconscious!"

"Dokja-ssi, I'm sorry..."

Lee Hyunsung, who was merely repeating the same words. He was currently in a state where normal 'record execution' was impossible.

"Go up! I'll hold him!"

Jung Heewon's gaze changed completely upon receiving my record. Throwing away the broken wooden sword, Jung Heewon clutched the telescopic baton thrown by the men in suits.

"And—"

Every time Lee Hyunsung's fist and Jung Heewon's baton clashed, a voice called out to me.

"Because I wanted to fight this person at least once."

The power of the story was growing stronger. The story of <Kim Dokja Company> was reacting. I could feel the gravitational pull of the story intensifying. If I delay any longer here, another <Kim Dokja Company> member might really come here as well.

"Please."

Before that, I had to reach the rooftop of the building and stop 'Snowfield Kim Dokja'.

44th floor, 45th floor… We continued running upwards. Dansu ahjussi gasped for breath but never once showed a hint of fatigue. Just as we reached the 46th floor, I glanced back at him and asked.

"Ahjussi."

"Yes."

"About what you said earlier..."

In the truck, Dansu ahjussi apologized to me.

"Did you happen to give the 'Book' to Kim Dokja in this world?"

Dansu ahjussi nodded without showing any signs of being flustered.

"That is correct."

"Are you going to stop me?"

If it is certain that Dansu ahjussi gave the Book to the Third, then he is ultimately helping 'Snowfield Kim Dokja'.

His profile suddenly felt unfamiliar. He was still my friend, but at the same time, he was the Lee Dansu who had lived for eight years I was unaware of.

"I have no intention of doing that, friend."

Dansu ahjussi shook his head coolly and gazed at the marker indicating the ascent to the 47th floor.

"Because I understand why my friend wants to see the end of this world."

I nodded, too.

There must be a reason why he is being honest with me. Perhaps he is in a state where it is difficult for him to take a definite side, either me or Snowfield Kim Dokja.

"However, there is still something I cannot give up."

I thought about what he cannot give up. It was probably about the person he has been searching for all along.

His daughter—Jiyoon's soul is in the theater of 'Asmodeus'. If so, perhaps he has decided to get Jiyoon back in exchange for delivering the 'Book' to the third child.

"Friend."

However, the moment we reached the 48th floor, Dansu ahjussi's expression changed. I, too, stopped in my tracks. An ominous vibration was spreading throughout the entire building. We looked out the window. Just as the sunlight seemed to vanish in an instant, a massive shadow enveloped the building. Screams could be heard from somewhere. The sensation of the unreality becoming reality. The downy hairs on my body stood on end.

With a deafening roar, the building's exterior wall was torn off in its entirety. I crouched in the thick dust, gripping the handrail on the landing. Sparks of probability raging in the void. When I opened my eyes again, I saw the piercing eyes of a monstrous creature through a crack in the shattered exterior wall.

It was a monster I knew well.

The Beast Lord's partner.

The Mad Dragon, who had understood her sorrow longer than anyone else, was there.

The moment I looked into its eyes, I realized. That 'Chimera Dragon' was not in its right mind, just like Lee Hyunsung downstairs.

With a chilling sensation, I turned to look beside me.

"Ahjussi! Hurry—"

Dansu ahjussi, who had definitely been by my side until the end of the battle, was nowhere to be seen.

"Ahjussi?"

Ahjussi's shoes were rolling on the floor. A piece of debris that looked like his leg lay scattered across the ground. It felt as if the world had stopped.

"Ahjussi—"

The moment I stood up blankly and reached out my hand toward the traces of ahjussi, the Chimera Dragon opened its massive mouth toward me.

The moment a fierce breath spewed from the Chimera Dragon's mouth.

Bang!

Someone struck its snout. The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, with his dazzling golden hair fluttering in the wind, was struggling atop the Chimera Dragon's head.

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, meeting my gaze, shouted.

"Go! Hurry!"

I shook my head. Even for you, it is impossible. With your current body, you cannot face a monster like that.

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven spoke.

"Have you forgotten who I am?"

Dazzling stories were shimmering across his entire body.

The golden robes that enveloped the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's entire body, Thunder flashed from the clouds enveloping his feet.

Only then did I realize what had happened.

Now, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven has amplified his stature precisely on the scales of probability to the point of grandeur, while maintaining a precarious balance just enough to prevent this world from collapsing.

"Calm down, demon! If your master knew you were doing this, he would be sad!"

While the Great Sage Equal to Heaven bought time, I hurriedly searched for Dansu ahjussi.

"Ahjussi!"

Dansu ahjussi was nowhere to be seen. He might have been swallowed by the Chimera Dragon, or he might have crashed to the ground. The Great Sage Equal to Heaven's voice rang out once again.

"Go! I will find that fellow!"

Right now, I have no choice but to trust the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. I have no choice but to believe that he will save ahjussi somehow. I started climbing the stairs again.

The 49th floor.

As I finally reached the top floor of the building, it felt as though I could smell the scent of winter from somewhere.

I recalled the moment I first encountered 'Snowfield'. I thought of the guy who used to cheer me on. I thought of the guy who liked warm tea, the guy who felt sad or happy at the story, and the guy who hated the 'Demon King of Salvation'.

A sign reading 'No Entry for Unauthorized Personnel' was posted in front of the door leading to the rooftop. It seemed as though the sign was speaking. That from here on, only those involved in this story are allowed to enter.

As if asking, "How dare someone like you call yourself an 'authorized person'?"

Certainly, in the past, I might have hesitated here. But not now. The history I had walked and the people I had loved were speaking for me.

I placed my hand on the doorknob without hesitation.

As I opened the door, the expansive view of the rooftop came into sight. Standing there, where pure white snowflakes fluttered as if snow had fallen, was a man who looked better in a white coat than anyone else.

"You're late."

Snowfield Kim Dokja was there.

And beside him stood the third, who had been stripped of all his stories and reduced to the form of a small baby.

The third was sleeping peacefully, using a volume of 『Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint』 as a pillow.

As if finding the third adorable, Snowfield Kim Dokja gently stroked his head and smiled, saying,

"Welcome to the big house."

The sky began to open.