Ch 445: Ep. 84 - 1864, I

"Dokja ahjussi?"

I hesitated while watching the distant battle between two Yoo Joonghyuks.

I'd not be any help whatsoever if I joined the fight in my current condition. And when I took a closer look, the ones fighting were [999] and the 'Secretive Plotter'. I wasn't sure why, but [999] must've decided to side with us.

I clenched my fists tightly.

⸢Kim Dokja made a decision. There was only one method remaining.⸥

The [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].

Just like back then against Nirvana, or during the fight against Poseidon…

– Maknae-yah, what are you hesitating for?

The Great Sage Heaven's Equal spoke to me. Even though he was in the middle of a huge battle in the sky, he still sensed my emotions.

I muttered in a voice that could barely be heard. "…I've gotten a little afraid of reading them."

It was probably after fighting against Yoo Joonghyuk back in the 'Isle of Reincarnators'. And more recently, right after I heard what [999] had to say.

⸢"Do you still believe that you can understand someone through just a few lines of text in a couple of chapters?"⸥

Up until now, I had been a 'reader' of the stories. However, for how long would it be okay for me to remain as one?

– Right, you possess the power to read another person.

He had accurately guessed my ability. He stuck around my channel for a long time as the 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband', so it wouldn't have been that difficult to figure that much out.

– There was a time when I too, wanted to know more about someone.

I sensed the Great Sage's gaze landing on Yoo Sangah. Or more correctly, not her exactly but her current 'Incarnation Body'. He was staring at the body's 'former owner'.

– I still haven't fully understood why Sanzang chased me out twice.

During the original 'Journey to the West', Sun Wukong was expelled from the party twice.

– However, I never asked Sanzang about it properly. Maybe it was because of my worthless pride. I was stuck in a loop, thinking and wondering only to myself. Why did that idiot do that? What was the reason for those decisions? What was the point of such obstinacy? What did I do wrong, and where did a problem come from? Even after our journey was over, those questions kept bubbling inside my head.

This would be my first time hearing such a story.

Even to someone like the Great Sage, there were unresolved questions reserved only for him.

– And by the time I finally found the courage to ask, my opportunity had slipped away already.

The faintest trace of dejection could be felt from his voice.

Since I didn't know much about the story after the conclusion of the 'Journey to the West', I had no way of estimating the depths of his sadness.

One thing that I could be sure of, though, was the fact that the real 'Sanzang' was no longer with us in this world, as Yoo Sangah had reincarnated into the Incarnation Body in question.

– And to find out the answers to those questions, we kept repeating this ⸢Journey to the West Remake⸥, hoping that maybe, someone else would tell us the story that I didn't know before, something that I had not read before.

Only then did I realize why the Great Sage participated in this scenario event. I felt curious just then. Did he finally find his answer?

– I couldn't find it. However… I did find a small solace.

The Great Sage's gaze was now fixed on Shin Yoosung. As the <Emperor>'s attacks rained down, he continued to speak.

– And about that solace, let me tell you all about it.

– I'd probably never get to understand certain things. I'd never even get close, and maybe, everything I did might be in vain. However, even if we know it's impossible, we still have to read the Story. That is what it means to exist as 'Constellations', as the stars of the heavens.

The Great Sage failed to understand Sanzang. And quite likely, he'd never get to understand even into the future.

Even then, he didn't give up.

– That's why you should read it.

'However, I alone can't…'

– Why do you think you're alone?

I reflexively raised my head after hearing his words.

– Maybe not like you, but people always are reading each other. So, you should not stop reading, either.

In a way, this advice wasn't really on point.

However, I still ended up feeling a certain something. It was as if small feathers had piled up. I began thinking that maybe this was the solace the Great Sage felt while watching our story.

"Yoo Sangah-ssi."

I called out to her, and she looked at me as if she was waiting. "Will you be alright?"

"Yes. By the way, if it's possible, be gentle…"

Yoo Sangah nodded her head and chanted the Constrictive Sutra in my direction.

My body slumped to the floor as if a fuse had gone out. My consciousness managed to slip out and quickly flew towards where I needed to go.

My vision slowly stabilised and at the same time, powerful strength overflowed within my body. It was Yoo Joonghyuk's strength.

A short while later, the enemy's figure could be seen before us. An existence enveloped in the aura of immense Status and arrogantly glancing at us.

The 'Secretive Plotter'.

The Great Sage was right. That guy could never be defeated alone.

⸢Let's go.⸥

The Transcendent's Status violently raged within my body. I added every ounce of my own Status to Yoo Joonghyuk.

The powers that I earned so far interweaved with that of Yoo Joonghyuk's and began boiling up. Vigorous energy circulated within the blood vessels as if they had a complete overhaul.

Yoo Joonghyuk slowly opened his eyes gleaming in golden light and spoke back to me. 'You're late'.

He didn't get angry or reprimanded me, simply choosing to say that.

He probably knew that I was playing the role of Sun Wukong, though…

⸢I'm sorry.⸥

'Talk about unimportant matters later. Defeating this bastard takes our utmost priority'.

Kwa-aaaaah!!

The Plotter's [Splitting the Sky Sword] lightly danced, and the Tongtian River was split in half. With nary a hair's breadth, we managed to evade the attack. Constellations and Incarnations coincidentally within the range were swept away and became nothing more than fading screams. That was truly a nonsensical attack power.

⸢What is he on about now?⸥

Yoo Joonghyuk running on the river's surface replied in annoyance. 'According to him, I'm not Yoo Joonghyuk from the 3rd turn'.

⸢Really? Then, what?⸥

I reflexively asked him, but to be honest, several dizzying theories were floating around in my brain already. Perhaps this was the question that had been building up from a long time ago.

⸢'The 3rd turn Yoo Joonghyuk shouldn't have known about such information, though?'⸥

Back during the [Green Zone] scenario.

⸢'…No matter what, his rate of growth is just too fast'.⸥

…And even back in the [Cinema Dungeon], too.

All the questions I secretly had every time I checked Yoo Joonghyuk's [Character List] began rising up one after the other. Even the conversation I had with [999] entered my head.

⸢"Yoo Joonghyuk in this world-line said that he was the 'third turn'. So, this place is the third regression turn."⸥

⸢"Trusting such information at its face value. How naïve."⸥

By the time I came around, I was already initiating the [Character List].

It said 3rd turn. He was definitely from the 3rd turn.

In that case, just what on earth were those guys talking about…?

⸢Kim Dok ja re ally ca n't t ell?⸥

Pages of my memories began flipping. Memories that I tried so hard not to recall.

⸢"That 'world' you've shown me, does it really exist?"⸥

⸢[The applicable individual is not a 'Character'.]⸥

'Wake up, Kim Dokja!'

I abruptly regained my wits after hearing Yoo Joonghyuk's shout. Now wasn't the time to think about something else.

The Plotter's Status as he floated up in the air was strengthening gradually.

"…I won't lose so easily this time."

As if to oppose that rising Status, Yoo Joonghyuk raised his own power level. The movement technique, [Red Phoenix Shunpo], and the power of the [Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship] were pushed to their absolute limits. The [Breaking the Sky Thunder Sword] completely covered the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword].

He fought in the same manner the last time. And still lost.

However, those weren't the only things accompanying him this time.

Effects of the [Way of the Wind] were added to Yoo Joonghyuk's [Red Phoenix Shunpo], while the electrical energy from the [Electrification] permeated into the [Breaking the Sky Thunder Sword]. And finally, the power of 'Demon King' was added to the power of 'Transcendent'.

Double the power, triple, quadruple… Yoo Joonghyuk's Status multiplied in an instant and threateningly spread over the Tongtian's surface.

Tsu-chuchuchuchut!

As the sparks danced in the air, we dashed towards the 'Secretive Plotter'. The [Electrification] and the [Breaking the Sky Thunder Sword] permeated in the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword]. The greatest technique belonging to both Kyrgios and the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint emitted blinding light simultaneously, causing a truly incredible storm of sword aura to gush out.

Kwa-aaaaaah!!

This was the power capable of cleanly splitting mountains in half and vaporising the ocean itself.

Unfortunately, the 'Secretive Plotter' remained unperturbed even when facing such power. Two swords then clashed, emitting screeching friction noise. As I was sharing the sensation with Yoo Joonghyuk, I felt the full brunt of the pain akin to my hands being torn to pieces.

We were attacking with both hands, while he used only one. Even then…

…We failed to cut the 'Secretive Plotter'.

Tsu-chut, tsu-chuchuchut.

Sparks exploding around him indicated that he wasn't even going all out. How could there be such a large gap between our fighting power if that was the case?

The surroundings were morphing into his stage. The hell of regression that reached 1863 turns. 'Outer Gods' moaning in pain inside burning craters and countless corpses of the stars strewn about.

That evil demon-like voice came from beyond the hellish landscape.

I was confused. It was as if I could almost get what he was saying, but at the same time, I couldn't readily accept it.

Yoo Joonghyuk that escaped from a closed universe and dreamed of a new story. I knew of only one 'Yoo Joonghyuk' that fit that criteria.

And if that was true, then…

Then, if the Yoo Joonghyuk I knew was that 'Yoo Joonghyuk'…

'Kim Dokja, we won't win unless you use that powerful skill'. Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly yelled out. 'Utilise the Story from the last time'.

I knew what he meant by 'last time'.

The ⸢Hell of Eternity⸥, the Story that I used while fighting against Poseidon in the past.

Back then, we killed Theseus by borrowing the memories of the 362nd turn Yoo Joonghyuk. I looked at the Story of darkness flowing around the 'Secretive Plotter' and could only sigh in doubt.

⸢Honestly, I'm not sure whether we can win or not even after using that.⸥

The regression turn I used all my being to read back then was only 362nd. Things would've improved somewhat by now compared to then, but still, I couldn't even guess whether that'd be enough to defeat the guy before our eyes or not.

⸢And also…⸥

That wasn't the only thing making me hesitant here.

If I succeeded in borrowing the strength of Yoo Joonghyuk from higher turn than 362nd, then this Yoo Joonghyuk would lose his memories alongside me.

Just like how Constellations and Incarnations read Stories, I too read Yoo Joonghyuk's 'Ways of Survival'.

If I used the ⸢Hell of Eternity⸥ here, then Yoo Joonghyuk would have to experience the 'reading' stained by my misunderstandings along with me.

The 'Ways of Survival' I read in order to survive. History that I 'remembered' as I pleased.

I had one-sidedly twisted or exaggerated the 'Yoo Joonghyuk' in that 'history'. My version was questionable at best, an idealistic depiction of the reality.

⸢…Dammit.⸥

Even then, I had no choice but to do this unfair thing.

While stuck inside the feeling of powerlessness, I flipped the pages. Whether it was before or after the apocalypse, it was the same story – all I could do at any given moment was to flip through the pages of a book.

Countless regression turns of Yoo Joonghyuk went past my eyes.

3rd turn, 4th, 5th… 41st… 182nd…

Memories continued to flow by.

Many Yoo Joonghyuks were now staring back at us.

362nd turn… 598th… 724th…

862th… 999th…

Blood welled inside my throat. Pain pummelled my head as if to shatter it into pieces.

Yoo Joonghyuk's dialogues gradually decreased in the number. This was my limit.

The message popped up like the final score tied to the book report. But I couldn't lift up my head. How could reading something be this shameful and feel so wrong?

It was in exact moment that Yoo Joonghyuk opened his mouth. 'Doesn't matter how you read it, the one to judge it will be me. So, you simply concentrate on reading'.

He deflected yet another one of the Secretive Plotter's attacks even though his body was riddled with wounds. He spoke again. 'It's my freedom to decide what I hear and what I remember. And I shall decide who I am'.

With a voice I knew so well, he was talking about a story that I didn't know.

'You fool, you are not reading it alone'.

The moment I heard him, something woke up inside me.

It wasn't the memories related to the 'Ways of Survival'. No, it was of the conversation I had with my mother a long time ago.

⸢"Why are we rereading the story we know already?"⸥

There were stories that didn't change even if you read it again. It'd not change, because the one reading didn't change.

My mother replied to that question in this manner.

⸢"Shall we read it together, then?"⸥

Reading it together.

As my head became even more of a mess, the pages that I couldn't flip with my powers alone began flipping over.

1146th… 1398th… 1561th… 1733th…

The people I met in this world were flipping the pages together with me. I still failed to understand some things, but I got to figure out a few others just then.

And there were some paragraphs that I'd seemingly never understand.

I thought I heard the 'Secretive Plotter' shout something.

My consciousness continued to waver. Like a man fighting the drowsiness, I continued to flip the pages again and again – while vomiting blood, while enduring against the merciless barrage of sparks.

I still didn't know much about Yoo Joonghyuk.

⸢"You can only return to that world after I die, correct?"⸥

⸢"If you remain here, you won't be able to save that world."⸥

However, what if my misunderstanding built up over the period of ten-plus years could help me reach just a tiny sliver of understanding like some kind of miracle?

⸢"I've become curious about that world's ■■."⸥

Then, I'd be able to read it again.

The Plotter's Status flying in touched the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword] and scattered away.

I dazedly blinked my eyes. As if the overwritten letters were being peeled off, the [Character List] began changing. The number '3' was peeled off, and new numbers were being engraved there, instead.

And on top of this empty piece of blinding white paper, a page I had never read before began unfolding.

It was a completely new story.