Ch 492: Ep. 93 - Omniscient Author's Viewpoint, VI

The announcement of the paywall brought about a deep silence in the channel.

Only Han Sooyoung's heavy breathing could be heard within the pitch-black darkness of the stage.

"If you wish to continue watching this tragedy…"

What <Kim Dokja's Company> lacked right now was 'Probability'.

Probability. The thing that made the story flow naturally and in a plausible manner. The set of rules that could only be changed by the gazes of countless Constellations, and the Coins they sponsored.

"…It's time you guys pay, too."

Only then did she figure out Kim Dokja's plan in its entirety. And because she did, she could say this out aloud now.

Selling off the tragedy of his life lived solely for the purpose of saving his companions, just like how his mother did once upon a time; Kim Dokja wanted to change this scenario by selling the tragedy <Kim Dokja's Company> had created.

Han Sooyoung's declaration caused the Constellations to grow hesitant.

She recalled the memories from back when her novel went behind the paywall for the first time ever.

⸢Author-nim, it'll start from tomorrow.⸥

She felt the exact same emotion back then as today. The feeling of not knowing what would happen in the future.

How many people would end up reading my writing?

How long would I be able to live on by selling off this story?

'You stinking Kim Dokja. So, you slapped me with this kind of role, is that it??'

What she needed to do right now wasn't selling some novels.

…The words written by <Kim Dokja's Company>'s blood and tears.

What she needed to sell was their life story. Stories that she couldn't carelessly change or tell in a jokey manner. Even then, she offered up these Stories for sale to the Constellations.

Biyoo and her concerned eyes were looking at her from the sky. Han Sooyoung smiled as if to say, don't worry.

"There's no one? That's too bad. Things are about to get really interesting from now on."

Only she could do this job. Only Han Sooyoung, designated as the baddie among <Kim Dokja's Company>, could sell this story.

As if to sympathise with her, the movements of the Outer God King was getting duller. Maybe, he was wallowing in sorrow.

The one to shatter this silence was the Myth-grade Constellation, Poseidon. The figures of other Myth-grade Constellations could be seen in the distance as well. They were all mocking Han Sooyoung.

It was the same with the Great Dokkaebis; they all seemed to be thinking that Han Sooyoung's choice was an error in judgement, one made while under the weight of the encroaching end.

Tsu-chuchuchut!

Once the Constellations left, the channel's size shrunk down. Some channels even tried to butt in using this opportunity. Channels that belonged to Dokkaebis hostile towards <Kim Dokja's Company>.

Constellations manning their positions at the back made their moves. They were mostly Myth-grade, or those top-ranked Narrative-grade Constellations that almost equalled them in power.

Indian myth's Brahma.

Aztec myth's Tezcatlipoca.

Even Slavic myth's Perun.

The Constellations from the different large-scale Nebulas that never showed themselves in the lower scenarios until now – their movement alone was 'Story' in itself.

And when the Giant Stories began their actions, the flow pressuring the battlefield intensified even more.

Gah-aaaaaah, Puh-guh-guk!!

The 'Nameless Ones' desperately blocking the Constellations approaching Kim Dokja were blown up indiscriminately.

Myth-grade Constellations possessed the largest shares of the 'Giant Story' of each Nebula. Once they began moving their Probability, the balance of the engagement tilted in their favour in an instant.

Han Sooyoung watched the incoming wave of the stars and muttered out. "Even in places you didn't bother to look, we managed to eke out a living."

The screens might be blacked out, but the sounds still continued to be transmitted. And probably, her voice was being heard by every Constellation in the channel.

⸢Han Sooyoung also knew. Not every Constellation liked them.⸥

<Kim Dokja's Company> had a lot of enemies. Some cheered their Story on, but some others either were jealous of them, or in some cases, even hated them. At times, malice with no basis could be found, too.

However, there was one common denominator among that gamut of emotions. And that was the fact that they had been watching a certain Story for a very long time.

⸢A story that you spent a very long time with will eventually become a part of you.⸥

Just like Kim Dokja and the 'Ways of Survival'.

"However, the moment you close your eyes, this story you've been watching will end right here."

Her words didn't target any particular listener; meaning, it was a declaration aimed at everyone.

Eventually, Constellations annihilated the front ranks of the 'Outer Gods' and rushed in. The <Kim Dokja's Company>'s companions stepped up to block them.

Kwa-aaaaaah!

A baptism of Status in the form of Poseidon's wave with Zeus's lightning added on top, crashed in. Outer Gods burning away like meat being grilled by electricity died in their droves. Even those from <Kim Dokja's Company> wouldn't be able to receive that wave with their current body conditions. Even then, Han Sooyoung believed in her companions.

"Even if I die, I will never stop moving."

Han Sooyoung fired [Black Flame] with every ounce of her energy. However, its power was less than a quarter after being suppressed by the Probability.

And just as Poseidon's wave reached the front of their nose and began pouncing on them…

⸢For a very brief moment there, it felt as if the world came to a standstill.⸥

Also, it felt like a fundamental something that created this world seemed to have changed, as if a thin brush was painting over it. And then in the following moment, the frozen world began moving forward again.

Poseidon's wave and Zeus's lightning pounced on her and <Kim Dokja's Company>.

Kwa-dudududu!!

More correctly, pounced on the protective barrier in front of them.

It was the sturdy, vast wall of forged steel. Which was Lee Hyunsung's Story. His Story that blanketed the entire planet back in <Oz> was now protecting his companions.

But, he should still be under the restrictions by the Bureau. So how could he?

"Sooyoung-ssi."

A terrifying amount of sparks was streaming all over Lee Hyunsung's body. But, it wasn't only him. Everyone from <Kim Dokja's Company>, wasting away under the Bureau's restrictions, were now enveloped in the dancing blue-hued sparks. Their once-imprisoned muscles regained their freedom, and the arrested magical energy was being freed as well.

The message entered their ears in the next moment.

Biyoo could be seen crying softly in the air next. At the same time, an incredible amount of indirect messages smacked Han Sooyoung in her ear.

Just how much was the half of Coins amassed by a Constellation at the cusp of reaching the Myth-grade? Han Sooyoung couldn't even estimate the amount.

So, so many stars began glowing brightly.

The Nebula's safe started filling up rapidly with wealth.

…

…

The total Coins surpassed 100 million in no time, before breaking past a billion mark.

That pretty much determined what Han Sooyoung should do next. Which was to spend every single cent of that donated amount into the Probability.

Tsu-chuchuchuchut!!

"Everyone, hold on!"

The geezer wearing the pineapple-themed T-shirt.

Back when Han Sooyoung went to shoot a commercial for the [Ferrarghini], she had a chance to chat to him for a brief spell.

⸢You really think such adverts will sell your car?⸥

When Han Sooyoung asked, the Mass Production Maker replied in a somewhat obtuse manner.

⸢I'm not advertising to sell, but advertising the product about to be sold.⸥

And now, she thought she could understand that answer just a bit.

Constellations of familiar Modifiers.

Constellations that were familiar, but not counted on.

And finally, even the Constellations they didn't know.

Every Constellation that came along for the ride with <Kim Dokja's Company>'s Story was now sponsoring their story.

Light returned to the once-darkened channel, and the broadcast began once more.

The story was starting again. All these Coins contained the wills of the Constellations.

⸢Their desire to see the end of this Story.⸥

Han Sooyoung too understood this desire. However, there were some who failed to do so.

The Great Dokkaebi roared out. That prompted someone to answer back.

Tsu-chuchuchu…!

An incredible storm of Probability was pushed back, and Poseidon's wave sunk back to the ground.

Han Sooyoung slowly closed her eyes. A breeze was blowing in.

Something was changing.

All Probability from the Bureau ruthlessly suppressing her and her companions were dissipating away. The scenario's balance that had been heavily tilted out of equilibrium was regaining itself.

Kim Dokja remained difficult. However…

…However, it wasn't as if nothing had changed.

Han Sooyoung slowly looked around her.

The surrounding view began changing as if a layer of the world had been peeled back.

A man astride a horse brushed past Han Sooyoung's side. Without a doubt, he used to be an Outer God only until a second ago. An existence that used to be a 'Nameless One'. The strange monsters covered in tentacles and sticky fluids, and caused one to feel instinctive fear simply by looking at them.

Their figures were changing. Some changed into people, some into dwarves – they were from all sorts of different species, but regardless of what, they were no longer the existences of unknown.

All those 'Nameless Ones' now had names in this place.

These beings rushed towards the Constellations as dusk fell on the battlefield. They formed ranks and advanced towards the Constellations.

Among them was a man who resembled Lee Hyunsung, and also a child resembling Shin Yoosung. Even some that resembled Jung Heewon, Lee Gilyoung, and Lee Jihye.

For a brief moment there, Han Sooyoung saw a girl who seemed to resemble her, too. And all of them were fighting as the ally of the ⸢Enemy of the Story⸥.

Her dazed eyes chased after their backs.

⸢Every abandoned world-line was converging here.⸥

The world that she couldn't express with mere words. The world that the [Predictive Plagiarism] couldn't read, because it could only be imagined by a reader.

⸢This was the world Kim Dokja had been dreaming of.⸥

Han Sooyoung slowly turned around towards the spot where the Outer God King was only until a moment ago. And a certain man stood on that very spot where a deep abyss cast by the massive creature's size used to exist.

⸢"Han Sooyoung, what should an extra do in order to garner attention?"⸥

The white coat revealed itself fleetingly underneath the tattered and torn black coat.

⸢"You're an extra because no one pays you attention."⸥

Han Sooyoung staggered towards that spot.

⸢"Well, there isn't any clear solution. Normally, you grab some attention by sacrificing yourself, or…"⸥

She walked and walked some more, and eventually, reached the front of that man.

⸢"…Or, you give them stories of their own."⸥

The man quietly stood there and waited for her.

Han Sooyoung stood up straight in front of Kim Dokja. Quite unlike her usual self, she thought she might start crying now. Her vision blurred and couldn't see his face properly.

"You did well."

And Kim Dokja was standing there.

*