Ch 446: Ep. 84 - 1864, II

The 1864th turn.

We were not in the 3rd turn, but in the 1864th world-line.

The moment I saw that attribute window, waves of realizations that I could barely digest right now crashed into me.

⸢…This 'Yoo Joonghyuk' is the one that disappeared during the 1863rd turn?!⸥

⸢How can that even be possible?⸥

⸢But, didn't that Yoo Joonghyuk escape from being a [Character]?⸥

⸢Yoo Joonghyuk from the 1863rd turn escaped from being a [Character] because the 3rd turn exists. But if that's true, then how could he be the 3rd turn Yoo Joonghyuk from the get-go…?⸥

Numerous questions brushed past my head, and the last thing to pop up was the final conversation I had with tls123.

⸢I was thinking of sending you a special gift as a way to express my gratitude, Dokja-nim.⸥

That 'gift' the author was talking about, could it be…

Kwa-kwakwakwa!!

The Story's power overflowed; the surrounding view of the hellish landscape began changing. The world was wailing in sorrow, and Outer Gods fallen into lamentation cried on.

And on that stage of despair, a thin and thread-like, but clear, ray of light existed. It was the sword light belonging to the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword].

The 'Secretive Plotter' asked, but Yoo Joonghyuk didn't reply. I knew why he didn't, of course – the explosive amount of memories were making an utter mess inside his head, that was why.

My reading wasn't perfect.

No matter how diligently I read it, and even though Yoo Joonghyuk worked together with me, it was physically impossible to completely restore the '1863rd Yoo Joonghyuk'.

As he staggered about, fragmented memories continued to enter his head.

⸢"Eat dirt, Yoo Joonghyuk."⸥

⸢"Happy memories! Happy memories!"⸥

⸢"Yoo Joonghyuk, sit."⸥

"You son of a…"

⸢This isn't the time to think about that, you idiot!⸥

I hurriedly awakened Yoo Joonghyuk. Because the [Splitting the Sky Sword] carrying the Status of a Hellscape was slashing towards his nose right at that moment.

Along with "CLANG!!" two swords clashed loudly once more.

The attack still felt considerably heavy. However, it wasn't as intolerable as before.

For the first time ever, the light of emotions began spreading within the Plotter's eyes that used to remain calm no matter what happened. The 'Yoo Joonghyuk' who survived the 'original story' I read, and who saw its finale – the 'Secretive Plotter' was now talking to us.

I had no idea what he was talking about. It seemed that Yoo Joonghyuk, too, had no idea. The stuff I read in great haste was imperfect, and because of that, there were lots of holes in Yoo Joonghyuk's memories.

He then angrily spat out. "Looks like I'll have to teach you how not to speak in riddles."

The Stories we shared were shoved into the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword] simultaneously. The ensuing attack clashed against the [Splitting the Sky Sword]. And the moment two Hellscapes collided, a whole universe opened up between the blades.

It was basically a Big Bang of memories.

The moment I saw the view of the universe, I instantly realized which phenomenon was about to unfold here.

It was none other than the [Disconnected Film Theory].

A similar event also occurred back when the two Shin Yoosungs from the two different world-lines met.

⸢【…This is a new world-line?】⸥

These memories were brought up to the surface after two definitely-similar Yoo Joonghyuks walking on completely opposing paths collided.

⸢【It's not possible for this kind of a world-line to exist.】⸥

These were the Plotter's memories. Memories of the very day that he had discovered this particular '3rd turn'.

…

…

…

The 'Secretive Plotter' couldn't tear his eyes away from the 3rd turn's story playing out before his eyes. Someone he didn't recognise was advancing the story along with himself from the 3rd turn. He couldn't understand how such a thing could even be possible.

They used some methods he recognised, while he hadn't even thought of some others before. Sometimes, they looked to be reckless, and in some other times, they got real lucky. This was a Story he had never seen before. The 'Secretive Plotter' watched the Story of this world-line as if he was sucked right into it.

And so, how long had he been watching this Story?

He finally realized that he had become exactly the same as the Constellations that he loathed so much.

All the 'Yoo Joonghyuks' he had absorbed were talking to him.

– Have you forgotten, the Great Plotter?

– We wish for 'death'.

– That regression turn will not succeed, anyway.

Death. That was the ardent wish of all Yoo Joonghyuks cursed with the fate of regression. The 'Secretive Plotter' existed solely for the sake of fulfilling that mission.

– It's impossible to kill the 'Oldest Dream'.

– As long as we are alive, we must regress again.

– Even if dying is impossible, what would it be like to get infinitely close to it?

The reason for sending Han Sooyoung's Avatar to the 1863rd turn was precisely because of that. By using the irregular discovered in this 3rd turn, they'd complete their 'death'.

He was planning to seal away every Yoo Joonghyuk via the [Disconnected Film Theory] – to merge with the 1863rd Yoo Joonghyuk and fall into an everlasting slumber.

But on the verge of that plan's completion, he had a sudden change of heart.

⸢"I'm simply heading towards the 'Final Chapter(終章)'."⸥

It was because of one certain Constellation that searched for his own ■■.

The Final Chapter. The name of ■■ that he dearly wished for, but never received.

…

Yoo Joonghyuks from all the regression turns inside him also witnessed that spectacle. Some Yoo Joonghyuks marvelled, some despaired. And some Yoo Joonghyuks grew furious.

The 'Secretive Plotter' belonged to the last category.

His world had already come to an end. He had reached his 'Conclusion' by going through trials and errors of the 1863rd regression turn. He had lost everything, and he witnessed the end of all scenarios. And he reached that Wall.

He hadn't been wrong – and he wanted validation for it.

And so, the 'Secretive Plotter' sent Kim Dokja to the 1863rd turn.

He made the fool witness the end of the story.

To tell him, "This is the true 'original story'."

To tell him, "This is the end of the world I have decided on, and nothing can change that fact no matter what."

⸢"I'll end your story for you."⸥

However, Kim Dokja, he…

⸢"I won't be returning to the 3rd turn. I'll remain here and witness the end with the people of this place."⸥

…He changed that.

Tsu-chuchuchuchuchut!!

The Yoo Joonghyuk sealing plan failed, and the direction of the story that should've been set in stone was diverted.

⸢"I wish to live."⸥

Yoo Joonghyuk who should've been sealed away, chose 'regression' instead, and entered a brand new world.

The 'Secretive Plotter' hurriedly collected the memories of all the 'dead' Yoo Joonghyuks and chased after him. He chased after the Yoo Joonghyuk wearing the white coat, crossing the blinding starlights of the world-lines while his memories scattered away.

This Yoo Joonghyuk had cast off the mask of [Character] and flew towards the brand new world.

Only the 'Secretive Plotter' knew of this world's conclusion.

The 1863rd turn was the 'end of all stories'. And after it was…

⸢I wish to witness that 'world'.⸥

The 'Secretive Plotter' roared out. Even if the 'Oldest Dream' permitted this regression, in the end Yoo Joonghyuk was bound to repeat the nightmare again. And not to forget, him starting the scenarios without his memories would mean…

⸢That fool definitely said it. He said that universe definitely exists.⸥

Yoo Joonghyuk was reaching out. He was now picturing it, a world located so far away. A world that didn't exist within the universe of the 'Ways of Survival'.

The 'Secretive Plotter' managed to catch up to Yoo Joonghyuk's soul form in the nick of time. But what he grabbed onto was simply the white coat. Yoo Joonghyuk's body had already disappeared by then.

The 'Secretive Plotter' muttered out hollowly. 【You fool…】

The 'Yoo Joonghyuk' who lost his memories succeeded in regressing.

This would be another futile story where the beginning and the end were already set in stone. The everlasting nightmare was about to repeat itself again in that place.

The 'Secretive Plotter' began searching for this world-line.

He wanted to learn more about the world-line that the oh-so-amazing idiot disappeared into even at the cost of his memories. The Plotter thought that he'd feel better about himself after witnessing that fool living out the scenarios in wretched, broken misery and regret.

Eventually, he discovered the world-line in question. Shockingly enough, he knew about this world-line already.

But only then, everything seemed to click into place.

The reason why a world-line he didn't recognise suddenly appeared.

The reason why a completely different world-line existed where the 3rd turn should've been.

Every regression he experienced was used as a sacrifice to create this 'world-line above the Wall'.

This was the impossible world-line created by the end result interfering with the cause.

His universe was shaking now.

…

…

…

As the explosion resounded out, Yoo Joonghyuk's and the Plotter's figures separated. We fixed our grip on the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword] and glared at the enemy before us.

The 'Secretive Plotter' spoke. 【…Now you know. This universe shouldn't even exist.】

Finally, I could understand what this guy was talking about. And also, I could understand just a little how this world-line came to be, and why these events had occurred.

The 'beyond' that Yoo Joonghyuk from 1863rd turn chose during his regression – that was the regression turn we were experiencing right now.

His tone of voice was heavy with grief. I couldn't even fathom the depths of resentment contained within his words.

The Plotter's [Splitting the Sky Sword] was drawing a long trajectory in the sky. It contained the weight of the 1863rd turn.

The one who used to be Yoo Joonghyuk once upon a time, but now lived on as the 'Secretive Plotter'. The one who dreamed of the death of all the 'Yoo Joonghyuks' in the world.

He spoke up once more. 【The only reason why all of you managed to survive was because I exist.】

And that existence was wielding his history like a weapon.

He was right.

If his life didn't exist, if his failures didn't exist…

…Then none of us would have survived until now.

And now, he was asking us.