bellalee

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint

65 min read

Author: Singshong

story arcs

  1. Starting the paid service
  2. Protagonist
  3. Contract
  4. Geumho station and hunting
  5. Landlord and emergency defense
  6. Theater dungeon
  7. Capture the flag
  8. Prophets and dragon, first death
  9. War of kings, [King of a Kingless World]
  10. Disaster prevention
    1. Disaster of Questions, [Person Who Opposes the Miracle]
    2. Disaster of Floods, second death
      1. Three promises
      2. Beating up Paul, [One Who Showed Contempt for a Streamer]
  11. Underworld trip
  12. Peace Land, [One Who Hunted the King of Disasters]
  13. Nirvana and the Ultimate Sacrifice, third death
    1. Lee Hyunsung’s awakening
  14. Constellation banquet
    1. Nebula formation
  15. Resurrection, Dark Castle and Paradise
  16. Kim Dokja’s fate
    1. Fighting the Devourer of Dreams, fourth death, [One Who Killed an Outer God]
    2. The 73rd Demon King, fifth death, [Demon King of Salvation]
  17. Story Horizon
  18. Revolutionary game
    1. Biyoo is born
    2. Second revision
  19. First Murim
  20. Gourmet Association and Anna Croft’s scenario
    1. Betting game
  21. Demon King Selection
    1. Kygrios’ return
    2. Peek at attributes window, Looked Into the Abyss
    3. Biyoo kidnapped
    4. Liberator of the Industrial Complex
      1. Twelve zodiacs nebula constellation ambush
    5. Giant Story [Demon Realm’s Spring]
  22. Given the authority of ▪▪️ (^ref-14288)
  23. Outer God Indescribable Distance, third revision
    1. Outer World Covenant
      1. 1863rd regression
  24. Returnee
    1. Gyeonggi alliance
  25. 46th scenario, [Hell of Eternity]
  26. Visit to Eden
  27. Gigantomachia
    1. Underworld King successor
    2. [Torch That Swallowed the Myth]
  28. Saving Sookyung and Yoo Sangah
  29. Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World reveal
    1. Yoo Joonghyuk is upset because Dokja chose to remain in the 1863rd regression (he got a copy of Han Sooyoung’s diary from Secretive Plotter)
  30. Banquet of Good and Evil
  31. Reincarnation Island
    1. [The Pebble and I]
    2. Archangel hunting, Fruit of Good and Evil (^ref-55984)
    3. Duke it out, Yoo Sangah pulls Joonghyuk momentarily into the Fourth Wall then gets sucked out to be reincarnated
    4. Yoo Joonghyuk gets to ask Secretive Plotter one question in exchange for a task — are you Kim Dokja from the future?
    5. Possession scenario
  32. Great War of Good and Evil
    1. Confrontation with Pungbaek
    2. Sabotaging scenarios
    3. Metatron and Agares’ trap
    4. Joonghyuk and Sooyoung discuss Secretive Plotter
    5. Visit to the Underworld — Prince of the Underworld
    6. Fight with Indra
    7. Judge of Evil becomes Judge of Destruction, Hyunsung willingly sacrifices himself to save Heewon, attribute evolution Emperor of Steel
  33. Awakening of the apocalypse dragon
  34. Summoning of Indescribable Distance
    1. [Season of Light and Darkness]
    2. Secretive Plotter is YJH from the future
    3. 3rd turn YJH is actually the 1864th
  35. Kim Dokja gets kidnapped
  36. Journey to the West
    1. The Fifth Sun Wukong
      1. [Liberator of the Forgotten Ones]
    2. Fighting Secretive Plotter
  37. Camping episode
  38. Wizard of Oz
  39. Inter-nebula warfare
  40. Enemy of the stars
    1. Sponsoring probability
  41. The Final Ark
    1. Recreation of the Great War of Good and Evil
  42. Finale
  43. Beyond the Wall
    1. 999s retrieve the Oldest Dream
    2. Kim Dokja’s Company returns
    3. 49-51
  44. Epilogue
    1. The story written for a single reader
    2. The reader that gave the protagonist purpose
      1. 0th regression going so smoothly and KDJ asking YJH if he’s happy leads to him regressing to reach the end, 1864 lives just to meet one person who loves him oh so much
        1. They take turns being each others’ stars
      2. The reader that loved the story with all his heart
    3. The protagonist that saved the reader
    4. The story of the reader that saved his world
    5. A way to create his own ending, thus completing the eternal loop

quotes

highlights

However, thanks to this name that my father gave me, I was simply living as a single man, unremarkable in my loneliness. In short, my life was like this: Kim Dokja, 28 years old, single. — location: 408

[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.] [The main scenario has started.] — location: 476

Like primitive apes in front of a powerful predator, everyone just watched the dokkaebi with terror. — location: 512

[Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World.TXT] — location: 612

I wonder if the author is on his side bc he designed the story but also sent him the file What are the three ways to survive?

Knowing oneself and one’s enemy allowed one to be invincible. However, this was a situation where I didn’t even know myself, let alone the enemy. — location: 619

Reminded me of TCOMC:

‘Admire yourself and others will admire you’, a hundred times more useful in our days than the Greek one: ‘Know thyself’, which has now been replaced by the less demanding and more profitable art of knowing others. – p. 548

Link to original

In this life, he absolutely couldn’t make a mistake. — location: 625

Kim Namwoon. — location: 635

Steel Sword Lee Hyunsung. — location: 564

Han Myungoh. — location: 640

But you know, it is a situation beyond our control. Beyond our control. We will die if we don’t kill. Who will blame us? Are you going to die in the end because of your morals?” — location: 648

They now held the most primitive emotion that a living creature could have. — location: 657

In the original scenario, the grandmother died. So… it wasn’t a sin to observe that death. — location: 664

I wasn’t staying still because I was afraid or Kim Namwoon and the people, nor did I consent to their inhumanity. I was just waiting. It was for this moment that I had to move. — location: 672

Right now, I was facing the explosive madness that tried to kill the grandmother yet a smile emerged on my face. Why? Even in this breathtaking tension, why was my heart beating with joy? — location: 694

Delusion Demon, Kim Namwoon. — location: 716

It was unreasonable to counterattack because I was poor at sports, but I could at least avoid most of the attacks. — location: 746

I wiped at the blood on my cheeks. The blood wasn’t erased. It turned out to be blood on the window. — location: 791

It was my turn to be a clown. I picked up Kim Namwoon’s Swiss Army knife on the ground and thought—feel free to watch. They will end up paying the admission fee with their lives. — location: 817

[Survivors from the 3434 Train to Bulgwang, Carriage 3807: Kim Dokja, Lee Hyunsung, Yoo Sangah, Han Myungoh and Lee Gilyoung. A total of five survivors.] — location: 832

However, the target wasn’t Yoo Sangah. — location: 844

Is a good thing worth doing even when not observed?

It wasn’t foolish sympathy. To put it simply, this was… That’s right. Hypocrisy. — location: 838

Loss of morality. Selfishness, survival

If my expectations were right, there was a way to become strong without a constellation. Maybe it was a way to become stronger than the incarnation of the strongest sponsor. — location: 910

Regressor Yoo Joonghyuk. The grand tragedy of this world began with this person. — location: 1122

In the beginning, Yoo Joonghyuk was more intimidating than any other figure. His personality had worn out after going through regression three times. His principles were cut away in order to maintain his sense of self. — location: 1135

“You can’t break through the 46th scenario alone. Shouldn’t you be well aware of — location: 1185

The only weakness of a regressor was that the future changed when they used their information of the future. In other words, all those who regressed would eventually live in a ‘world they don’t know’. — location: 1198

It was good that I’d spent a lot and bought a smartphone with waterproof capabilities. — location: 1230

I needed more than just ‘sponsorship’ if I wanted to confront Yoo Joonghyuk. That was what I would gain from here. — location: 1247

Star Stream system—the star stream broadcasting was designed to relay its contents to the entire universe. The subscribers were constellations at the top of the distant galaxies, the actors were humans like me, and the storyteller that connected the two sides was the dokkaebi before me. — location: 1278

「With two small horns and wearing a small straw mat, the strange and fluffy creature was floating in the air. 」 「 It was too strange to call it a fairy, too evil to call it an angel, and too tranquil to call it a demon. 」 「Thus, it was called a ‘dokkaebi’. — location: 486

It was the perfect condition to become a scammer. — location: 1347

[No, preferences? Look at this, Constellations. I am a dokkaebi. Don’t you know that I will be extinguished if I do that? Don’t you know that the storyteller vow is never light?] — location: 1373

I hope the story will bless you.] — location: 1408

Bihyung accepted it like he was tired of asking me anything. [Sigh… Do what you want. How much are you going to charge?] — location: 1486

However, it would be impossible to take him if he couldn’t do this much. If he couldn’t even do this much, he would only hinder Yoo Joonghyuk. — location: 1533

I once again realized it. The human imagination was cliché, yet real humans were more cliché than the imagination. — location: 1609

“Why did you do it?” It was a question out of nowhere. In fact, I didn’t expect an answer to this question but at the moment I was about to kick him again, Bang Cheolsoo opened his eyes. “Fuck…just kill me you son of a bitch.” The moment I saw his eyes, I knew he had answered my question in his own way. A look that didn’t show any lingering attachment to life. Yes. It wasn’t because of instincts. Bang Cheolsoo talked in a voice that was subsiding. — location: 1659

In this ruined world, the real danger wasn’t people like Bang Cheolsoo. Humans moving while feeling despair weren’t the least bit dangerous to me. The really dangerous people were those who used the despair of others as a fertilizer for power. Just like this guy. — location: 1705

It was easier for children to break common sense. — location: 1751

To be mature and to be an adult were completely different things. — location: 2073

Sometimes, ‘information’ was more powerful than anything in the world. — location: 2193

The messages continuously popped up. Indeed, eating broadcasts were the best. Everyone was united in front of food. — location: 2241

Those who trampled on someone else to survive couldn’t even bear responsibility for their own lives. — location: 2390

The times when they ate grilled meat, felt the meaning of life, joked while walking, and enjoyed moments of peace all seemed like a lie. — location: 2449

I stared at the unseen sky for a while, resisting some great fate. The noisy constellations had no answer this time. — location: 2454

In times of turmoil, scammers always gained power. — location: 2588

“We are companions separated by life and death.” — location: 2803

Humans no longer had the right to decide on justice. — location: 2897

In the original Ways of Survival, the constellations discovered that Yoo Joonghyuk was a regressor and raised questions about fairness. It was normal for them to say something about the text I was reading. — location: 2951

It wasn’t always possible to expression emotions with words. — location: 2969

“Dokja-ssi is really spiteful.” “I’m sorry I’m not a good person.” — location: 2997

“It is comfortable to live alone, eat alone and survive alone. But…” Why was I acting this way? If anyone asked me, I couldn’t exactly explain. But I could say one thing with certainty. — location: 3043

But hypocrites could speak plausible words. — location: 3216

The person trying to be all alone was the busiest. — location: 3420

This was why I was anxious. What happened to the world after the regressor disappeared? Would it reset with the regression? Or would a parallel universe branch off? The latter would be fortunate, but if it was the former… — location: 3549

This guy was definitely a villain of the scenario and would do bad things. So it was okay to kill him. Funnily enough, it was the logic that Yoo Joonghyuk often spoke about in Ways of Survival. — location: 3769

It was a way of living that destroyed this world. — location: 3775

Counters Han Sooyoung’s philosophy in the 1863rd regression

In fact, sunfish were very durable creatures. They died because they were vulnerable to stress, not because they were weak. — location: 3972

「I am the only living thing in this world. 」 A lonely voice. — location: 3978

「 I am alone. 」 It was as if I was Yoo Joonghyuk or even lived Yoo Joonghyuk’s life. My chest was tight. — location: 3982

The days when I struggled to get a job and when my bosses were vile and abusive. Everything was in order to live. In order to survive every day. “Look around you and try to live somehow!” Even so, I returned home. I felt relieved when reading one novel. — location: 3989

In this damn world where coins represented all values and the constellations decided the development of the world, I still needed Yoo Joonghyuk. Thus, I would protect him today. — location: 4018

Wishing to the beings who would become a source of nightmare, it was probably only human beings who did this in the entire universe. — location: 4079

“It sounds like you know a lot.” “I know him the best in this world.” — location: 4390

Dokja’s hubris in regards to his knowledge (^ref-15603)

“Wait! How did you give birth to a child?” “Ask Yoo Joonghyuk.” Yes, Yoo Joonghyuk, I leave everything to you. The next moment, indirect messages exploded in my head. [Some constellations are greatly affected by the truth of the filtering.] [The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ respects your taste.] [The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ likes your companionship.] [The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ thinks it is ridiculous.] [600 coins have been sponsored.] …Damn, there were other idiots. In any case, I told Yoo Joonghyuk what I needed to. — location: 4406

All her previous ‘specs’ had become obsolete in this new world. But she was too good to be jealous of other people. Thus, her inferiority complex was quietly festering. — location: 4440

This guy approached and bowed before me. I liked it. Then I started the full-fledged Yoo Joonghyuk cosplay. — location: 4521

The coldest and loneliest voice in the world. The sleeping prince had finally woken up from his deep sleep. — location: 5218

By the way… it was a truly unique experience. I shared a first person point of view with Yoo Joonghyuk. If possible, I didn’t want to do it again. — location: 5227

I spoke to Lee Hyunsung, who was looking at me like I was Jesus. “Hyunsung-ssi, do you have anything for me to wear? A poncho or…” — location: 5246

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is looking at the black flame dragon.] — location: 5253

“Give me your smartphone.” “Yes?” “I want a phone.” Lee Sungkook stuck out his phone. It was a good model. It was better than what I used. “Can I have this?” “…Wasn’t the Yoo Joonghyuk concept finished?” “This is my original concept.” Lee Sungkook was on the verge of tears. — location: 5380

–I only believe in people with walls. In order to understand someone, I think I should face that wall first. — location: 5643

In any case, the wall. I was sure that he was right. Some walls couldn’t be crossed no matter how desperate the person. — location: 5645

The character and I needed to be thinking about each other at the same time. — location: 5679

Death would come whether I wanted it to or not. The most important thing was… “At least I feel like I am living right now.” — location: 5928

King Heungmu the Great was watching the world through me. He looked at Gwanchang, Gyebaek and the broken Seoul. I was also watching the world through King Heungmu the Great. The sunlight covered the plains of Hwangsan. — location: 6089

Then Yoo Sangah came forward. “I’ll do it Gilyoung…” “…Can you do it?” “I will still do it.” Yoo Sangah’s tone was unusually stubborn. She looked grimly at Lee Gilyoung. She held a knife and turned her back to me. Maybe Yoo Sangah despised me. Perhaps it was fortunate that I couldn’t read Yoo Sangah’s mind. — location: 6303

If I used this ‘Absolute Throne’ once, I would never be able to reach the end of the scenarios. In the original work, Yoo Joonghyuk noticed this only at the 14th regression. — location: 6704

“But is it enough now? How long will you turn this land into a playground for unhappy guests?” [The constellation ‘One-eyed Maitreya’ is immersed.] “Working up to build up history to become a constellation and then building up narratives to become narrative-grade constellations… then what? The higher the sky, the brighter the star? How long will you continue using the descendants of this land for your own sake?” — location: 6718

[You will die.] “It is something that I’ve decided. Then I will start now.” The seven stars were silent. Some time passed. The Big Dipper shone brightly and their signs were engraved onto the sword. [I shall respect your will.] [Even if you die here.] [We will remember you.] A dazzling light wrapped around the Four Yin Demonic Beheading Sword and it started to burn with bright flames. — location: 6762

The ‘probability’ would become ‘plausibility’. I tried my best to make everything plausible. Thus, I could overcome this. — location: 6777

[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ is looking at you.] It was a calm, lonely but gentle gaze. [The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ is looking at you.] Then two. [The constellation ‘Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol’ is looking at you.] Three. [The constellation ‘Slumbering Lady of Fine Brocade’ is looking at you.] ·····. The intermediate dokkaebi called out when he saw the messages from the constellations. [Why…?] Every time a star was added, my pain diminished a little bit. I realized that the constellations were sharing the ‘probabilities’ that I had to bear. The ‘story that isn’t plausible’ became a ‘plausible story’ with the consent of many stars. Numerous stars were wrapping me in their light. The Big Dippers also lent me their strength. [Is this the story that you wanted to show?] I wanted to answer but I didn’t have the power. [We will watch you, king of the world without kings.] The chaotic Seoul night sky. I looked at the stars that sent me light. [The constellation ‘King Heungmu the Great’ is looking at you.] [The constellation ‘One-eyed Maitreya’ is looking at you.] ·····. All the historical-grade constellations of Seoul were shining towards me. There were many stars. Still, it wasn’t enough to overturn the dark night sky. — location: 6779

Lycaon looked at me and prepared for the kill. “Protector… you don’t have any qualities suited for Way of the Wind. No, to be honest, you don’t have the qualities for almost every skill.” If this went wrong, the world might perish because of me. — location: 7468

–The one who told me not to give up on this world will succumb to a disaster of this degree? Laughter emerged. I had to hear this from Yoo Joonghyuk, not anyone else. Suicide wasn’t enough to get rid of the shame. — location: 8025

The second ‘method’ of ‘How to Survive in a Ruined World’. To survive, destroy other dimensions and return. — location: 8057

It was arrogance from knowing the future. I thought I could somehow make it even if the story was distorted. Maybe that led to the current situation. — location: 8209

Reading was different from understanding. Maybe I still didn’t understand one percentage of this world yet. — location: 8325

[You, a puppet of the moment, will never understand. Remember. Once the time comes, if you aren’t standing on the right side―] — location: 8757

It was a flow of time filled with breathless pain. — location: 8763

I would build a ‘story’ that didn’t fall to any myths. — location: 8772

‘In the end, reading is the process of keeping the irregular holes in place’. If there was something a reader had to do, I needed to read it properly. — location: 8824

“I can kill all of them if I want.” Han Sooyoung saw killing intent for a moment on Yoo Sangah’s face and shut her mouth. “Therefore, I can save all of them if I want.” — location: 8845

Of course, I was essentially a different person from Yoo Sangah. All my good deeds were planned activities. — location: 8850

He was fighting to change the past. If someone killed another person because the future was fixed, what did this suggest? — location: 8959

“I know who ahjussi likes.” “…You know who hyung likes? Who?” “An unni.” Lee Gilyoung laughed. “Unni? I think you are misinformed. Hyung likes a man.” “How do you know?” “I’ve been with hyung for a long time.” 」 — location: 9245

Unfortunately, the story that lasted a moment for them was a life for humans. — location: 9973

“I’m glad to be here during this round of regression. It was good to hear Captain say those words.” — location: 9987

I will get revenge for you. 」 I trembled at the sadness in these words. I looked down at disaster Shin Yoosung. I see. This person was already aware of it. She didn’t need to hear it to already know. — location: 10005

“So you also live that way, Shin Yoosung.” “…What?” “If you want, I will bear your hatred.” I couldn’t say anything because I was too saddened by Yoo Joonghyuk’s words. “Survive this round for the sake of killing me.” — location: 9760

My heart ached with an indescribable grief. Little by little, Persephone’s words made sense. There must be something behind in order to go ahead. This was my ‘back’ and at the same time, the ‘front’ that I had to face. — location: 10646

However, sometimes a person had to give up convenience to defend their beliefs. — location: 11110

People became immersed in their role and forgot this fact. They sold their lives to make money. Then that money would be used to buy other stories. Maybe humans always lived this way. — location: 11753

“Kyrgios acts angry when he likes someone. [The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is listening.] — location: 11763

“I heard that we should find the ugliest king.” I suddenly felt a gaze and saw Yoo Joonghyuk staring quietly at me. What was he looking at? — location: 12225

[You are caught in the huge wheel of time.] — location: 12305

“How, how could you become one with someone that isn’t me?!” A dazzling light exploded from Nirvana’s mandala. I urgently whispered towards Yoo Joonghyuk. “Hey, just say that you like him too. Quickly.” “I don’t want to.” “Why not? Listen, just close your eyes and get it over with…” Nirvana was spitting with rage at my whispering. “Don’t whisper in front of me!” Then Yoo Joonghyuk spoke in a loud voice, “I’m not interested in men!” [The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is howling while spitting up blood.] [2,000 coins have been sponsored.] — location: 12327

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ appears late and looks around.] [The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ explains the situation while snickering.] [The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is astonished.] — location: 12317

“I have a companion already.” — location: 12316

And even if I was a bit less happy, I wanted to live longer. That’s why I was a slave to capitalism. — location: 12342

He was a creative person who were more subordinate to the system than anyone else. It was when he broke through this contradiction that his story would begin. — location: 12530

Yoo Joonghyuk was in a terrible state of mind and had a thought for the first time. ‘Kim Dokja…’ Then his vision gradually dimmed. –You jerk, you think quickly. He was mistaken. A familiar voice was heard. –Take a break. Despite his reluctance, Yoo Joonghyuk felt relieved by the voice and easily closed his eyes. — location: 13085

Death was death and it only happened once. A human’s ‘present’ was important because there was nothing after death. This was why Nirvana didn’t know ‘death’ or the ‘present’. “A person who can’t live in the present preaches about the present. There is no contradiction.” — location: 13102

Every human placed value on their life because they only died once. — location: 13132

Then a terrible explosion occurred. The sun carriage shook like it had been hit by something and the horses screamed. I turned back and saw wine pouring from Dionysus’ glass. [Ah fuck. I was so surprised I pissed!] I was afraid to ask what his urine was. I carefully avoided the spilled wine. — location: 13357

He normally wouldn’t have done this for the party. However, Yoo Joonghyuk in this regression was different. Yoo Joonghyuk himself didn’t know what had made him change. — location: 14864

Perhaps he was able to think of it because he was a regressor. He was always one-sidedly read by Kim Dokja but this time he was about to read Kim Dokja’s thoughts. [The constellation who doesn’t yet have a name is smiling.] Yoo Joonghyuk sensed the gaze and his expression distorted. — location: 15047

There was no meaning in saving the world if everyone was dead. Yet he stood by and watched people die. It was as if he took the sacrifices for granted. After seeing Reinheit’s death, Yoo Joonghyuk started to rethink his goal for the first time. “Can I ask for your name?” Someone asked for his name. Being famous in the Star Stream was directly related to the strength of the story. By answering with his own name, he would be able to gain new achievements. Yoo Joonghyuk was well aware of this. Yoo Joonghyuk thought for a moment before slowly opening his mouth. “My name is Kim Dokja.” — location: 15143

“I-I didn’t have any strange thoughts. Don’t be mistaken. The Black Flame Dragon bastard was shouting that I should protect the whale…” [The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is looking at his constellation with embarrassment and agitation.] — location: 15540

I smiled at the thought that Yoo Joonghyuk was joking. The energy of transcendence could be felt by my side. It was strangely relieving despite the presence of a person who had long surpassed my scale. It might be because I felt like we were standing on the same horizon for the first time since the scenario began. I declared towards the stars in the night sky. “I won’t bow to your fate.” I pointed my sword towards those silent gazes. “I will decide my story.” — location: 15831

Fighting fate together…

Cheok Jungyeong gazed at the night sky through my eyes. I could feel the explosive emotions mixed in the silence. Cheok Jungyeong’s rage and sadness. His grief… And… his decision. [You can feel proud.] Cheok Jungyeong spoke to me. [Those who are at the highest point in this damn world are afraid of you.] “…What is pride worth when I am going to die?” [You won’t die.] They were just words, but they were words spoken by a constellation. As if putting a buoy against fate, all the stories built by Cheok Jungyeong were rooted in my existence. [I won’t let you die.] — location: 15851

Yet there would be nothing left for me if I survived alone. — location: 15996

Just because he knows doesn’t mean he understands everything. — location: 16258

“Can you promise not to give up on that goal, no matter what?” …What was with this guy all of a sudden? I wanted to turn it into a joke but I couldn’t help feeling serious when watched Yoo Joonghyuk. “Of course I won’t give up. By the way, why are you asking?” “It’s nothing.” Yoo Joonghyuk looked away from me towards the party members. His left eyebrow was twitching. I saw the eyebrow wriggling like a caterpillar and sensed something in my heart. “Hey, you…” I knew because I had read to the end of Ways of Survival. Yoo Joonghyuk’s left eyebrow only twitched when he made a serious decision. Once this guy made a serious decision, there was always a high probability of death and regressing. — location: 16392

[Your modifier is the ‘Demon King of Salvation’.] — location: 16905

What if Yoo Joonghyuk went back and there was no Kim Dokja? Or what if Kim Dokja didn’t act like this again? Yoo Joonghyuk was afraid of something for the first time. The Kim Dokja of this life might only appear in this life. Shin Yoosung of the 41st regression never talked about Kim Dokja and he never met Kim Dokja in his past few lives. Even if he went back to the past, the Kim Dokja of this life might not return. — location: 16945

Maybe it wasn’t just the constellations who needed stories. The stories were necessary for everyone. — location: 17693

“Don’t regard past failures as scriptures. There will be no change if you don’t do anything.” — location: 17907

“I think there is a huge wall.” [The Fourth Wall is looking at you.] “You and I are talking like this but we’re not really communicating. There is no such thing as communication in this world.” [The ‘Unidentified Wall’ is looking at the Fourth Wall.] — location: 19198

“However, we still have to talk. Even if there is a huge wall, there is a person behind that wall.” “…What can we say when there is a wall?” “Write on the wall.” My mouth dropped open at the brazen words. “If you shit or pee, you will leave something on the wall. That way, the other party will recognize it.” “Why would you do such a thing? The other person is beyond the wall anyway…” “Still, you should leave a mark.” “Does that make sense?” “There is no apparent meaning.” “Then?” “It is just important that you left it.” “The other party won’t know so why?” “At least the wall has changed.” I was speechless for a moment. Jang Hayoung spoke in a resolute voice. “Then one day, someone might read it.” — location: 19204

There was the sound of teeth grinding. Heavy flames emerged from the power plant side of the Factory as if it was satisfied. — location: 19321

Reminds me of Howl’s Moving Castle

“…He came.” I was so happy that I wanted to call out his name. — location: 19611

“In fact, I’m not sure why there is a score on the stories. Every story has value. It is a story that is interesting to some people and salvation for others.” — location: 21110

[The story ‘Life and Death Companions’ wants to continue.] — location: 23719

Chapter 270: Ep. 50 - Dokja’s Story, VII — location: 23843

One of my favorite chapters

Han Myungoh strongly hugged Asmodeus without answering. A blind and big heart could be felt. The emotions weren’t directed at Asmodeus. — location: 23909

Eventually, everything became a story. It was hard, sad and even something I wanted to forget. After all, everything was a story. — location: 24176

As Persephone told me, an existence was a story. Memories of sentences that had been read for many years. Everything that I had read and seen now became me. — location: 24243

Yoo Joonghyuk raised his upper body with a groan and saw a small pocket watch wrapped around his arm with a watch strap. The moving hands of the clock were like his heartbeat. Yoo Joonghyuk looked down at his watch. — location: 24911

Eternity. Final chapter. Two opposing meanings were implied in one word. — location: 24989

The unknown can’t be revealed in human language. — location: 25003

“The ending is only meaningful if they are there.” — location: 25017

Every sentence had a different meaning to the interpreter. — location: 25032

I have lived watching such a Yoo Joonghyuk. I could live because of him. Thus, I didn’t want to let him die. — location: 26240

No one had the same story. Everyone lived a different history and understood things using different contexts. — location: 27580

The back that was now carrying her had actually carried her son. The middle school Kim Dokja and the high school Kim Dokja. He was the support. He raised the child she couldn’t carry. He made the child live. — location: 28757

Someone was also holding onto the spear from behind me. It wasn’t Lee Hyunsung but there was no need to think. Only one incarnation in all of Ways of Survival could take on the weight of this spear lightly. In the first place, this incarnation was an ally. “Kim Dokja, there is only one chance.” It was an eternal ‘once’. A ‘once’ made with the countless failures of the regressor. “It has always been ‘once’ for me.” Thus, this one chance couldn’t fail. We threw the spear at the same time. — location: 29136

Behind the torch that was dying out, a man in a black coat was running with everyone’s stories on his back. — location: 29704

Outside the stage. It was the ‘reality’ I lived in. — location: 31154

I couldn’t figure out how to react when the party took care of me this way. –If we are characters, Dokja-ssi threw yourself several times in front of these characters. I remember it and I’m sure the others do as well. — location: 31319

[It’s great. Even narrative-grade constellations can’t easily rush at you now.] Yoo Joonghyuk turned his head and saw a pale-faced archangel. The person who recorded everything in Eden. Metatron laughed as Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes asked why he came. [ I came to give a bit of advice. If you are going to remove your top every time you train, you should move to another place.] “The probability density of Eden in this place is the most appropriate for training.” [It is thanks to you that the little angels’ morals are…] — location: 31364

My body began to glow brightly after receiving the starlight. The feathered wings dyed in black morphed into pure white ones, and the demon’s horns growing on top of my head withered away. Warm, pure energy filled up the entirety of my Incarnation Body. — location: 32474

Even though no one in this world would call that a ‘conversation’, but still.)⸥ — location: 32775

they always communicate through fighting reminds me of Hektor’s description of battle in the Iliad

He didn’t bother to ask, and I didn’t bother to reply. No, we just swung our swords again and again. And instead of our mouths, our Stories told the tales for us. — location: 32790

From that sword energy, I was able to read his true intention. I saw how desperately he was standing his ground right now. He didn’t bother to ask, and I didn’t bother to reply. No, we just swung our swords again and again. And instead of our mouths, our Stories told the tales for us. — location: 32789

‘Beyond this wall, there might be…’ If it didn’t want to open up, then until it did; if it couldn’t be broken, then until he broke it down. Again, and again. — location: 32887

The shadow wavered around as if it was cackling. Yoo Joonghyuk remained calm and spoke his piece. “All of your schemes were to destroy Kim Dokja.” [Why do you think that? Do you have any reasons to believe that’s the case?] “Maybe I do. Maybe I do have a pretty good reason.” This Constellation, holding a mysterious animosity towards Kim Dokja, and at the same time, didn’t exist in the ‘original work’, just like him. Yoo Joonghyuk had been chasing after this Constellation for a long time. And he had finally reached the answer to his pursuit in this very moment. “Secretive Plotter. Are you the ‘Kim Dokja’ from the future?” — location: 33089

What if the action of me reading this thing only sets the ending in stone instead? — location: 33101

According to the analysis of the best expert alive on the novel ‘Ways of Survival’ – me – the ‘three ways’ in its title referred to the three main characters of the novel itself. — location: 33111

“He is everywhere, yet at the same time, nowhere.” — location: 33127

[You’ve settled on a rather provocative solution. You’re correct. Anyone can become a Buddha once they become enlightened.] — location: 33134

An ethereal, subtle aura was oozing out from his entire body. His irises were now dyed in pure white, and within them, the shadow of a mandala spun anti-clockwise. — location: 33135

the ‘Mandala’s Guardian’ was the owner of the [Wall that Decides Samsara]. — location: 33146

The ‘Mandala’s Guardian’ was neither on the side of ‘Good’ nor ‘Evil’. If I were to describe it in words, then he was an existence far closer to ‘nothingness’. So, there was just no way that such a being would welcome the authorities of ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’ growing larger within his territory. — location: 33171

I was greeted by this overflowing sense of happiness. When the arrestingly-beautiful sword light danced and sparkled within the audience chamber, the royal guards rushing in all collapsed one after another like puppets with strings cut. There was someone who’d never change even if the worldview or scenarios around him did. Indeed, there would ever be only one such person even if you searched through this entire world-line. But, I closed my lips just as they opened up half-way. I wasn’t sure why, though. [Giant Story, ‘Kaizenix Archipelago’, is enjoying the bloody, gory battle.] My companions so far had forgotten about me. I was sure it’d be the same story for that dude, too. In a way, it might be the best thing for him, I thought. [Story, ‘Life and Death Companions’, has begun its storytelling.] It was then – the First Prince suddenly glared at me. And then, a message popped up in my head. – You fool. You must be Kim Dokja. — location: 33420

I finished preparing myself and opened my lips. “Hyung.” Yoo Joonghyuk’s expression crumpled into something unsightly. – Hey, don’t make a face like that. This is the restriction of our current scenario. Do you think I’m enjoying this, either? — location: 33486

Someone here was still unhappy about my reading speed, however. “You’re reading it way too quickly.” “It’s you who’s slow, ‘hyung’.” “What does it say?” I didn’t reply right away. — location: 33550

I read and re-read the words that Han Sooyoung had written with so much care. As if I was drunkard walking straight into another world, I voraciously ate up her words. Because that was the only courtesy I could pay to the author of this story as its reader. — location: 33608

One step, two steps… Finally managing to get close, Lee Hyunsung stared into her eyes and, for the first time ever, spoke the words he couldn’t say for the longest time, and quite likely, he’d not get to say ever again. – I love you, Heewon-ssi. — location: 33742

“This is all because I made a deal with the ‘King of Reincarnators’.” ⸢It ‘d b een be tter if I sac rificed myself ins tead.⸥ I turned my head to discover Yoo Joonghyuk glaring at me as if I was a pathetic fool. His lips bobbed up and down several times, but then, squeezed his eyes shut as if to suppress his anger and leaned his back against the couch’s cushions. — location: 33927

I could sympathise with her, who had no choice but to say something like that, but at the same time, I could not claim to sympathise with her point of view. Because we weren’t living in the same Story. — location: 34006

“I will not say that everything we do will be righteous. However, the paths we tread will be decided by us alone.” — location: 34323

It didn’t matter what others said about our Nebula. No, we only had to move forward towards the story we believed to be the right one. — location: 34344

[Constellation, ‘Hell’s Scribe’, is letting others know that the hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who maintain neutrality in times of moral crisis…] “That wasn’t even something he originally said, yet why is he being so damn chatty with that line??” [Constellation, ‘Hell’s Scribe’, flinches in surprise and has closed his mouth.] This ‘Hell’s Scribe’ was actually the author of [Divine Comedy], Dante Alighieri. And that famous line often credited to him actually had been repurposed by the politicians of a later era. Still, that quote served to enhance his fame in the long run, so he should have accepted that as a part of his own Story. — location: 34384

To forget that they were being consumed by the scenario, and to live for yet another day, Constellations had to consume other Stories. They would spectate on the scenario, get angry at someone’s situation, pour out their criticism, show respect, or be moved by what they saw. — location: 34411

“Let me be more clear. He said, ‘Once upon a time, I might have been someone, but now, I am no one’.” — location: 34684

“I’ll enter the 121st Gate alone.” Yoo Joonghyuk glared at me and wordlessly grasped the hilt of his sword, so I quickly made myself clear. “N-no, I’m not saying that I’ll really enter alone, you know.” — location: 34781

Marry Bihyung? I’d rather kill myself. — location: 34876

A voice that seemed to blanket the world in pure darkness began pressing down on the entire palace. — location: 34883

[Hades and I forced our way past many things for a very long time. We knew that we couldn’t have children, but we were never unhappy. Even if the Underworld would come to an end in our generation and no one would remember the Stories we had lived through – we are different from the 12 gods, that we’re different from those parents who forcibly passed on their Stories to their children. That we are complete as just us.] — location: 34971

[He said that he started watching your history from when you managed to survive in the subway. At first, I could hardly believe that there was a child like you. Because I believed that such Stories were over in this world. I can still remember his excited voice when he talked about you.] ”…” [We watched a small Story that grew up all alone fighting against the world itself. We watched, as you challenged the mighty Constellations, faced off against the Outer God, and while resisting against Dokkaebis’ scenarios… managing to amass five Stories to be reborn as a small Constellation among the stars.] I recalled the moments of Kim Dokja’s Company being born a long time ago. Back then, Persephone was one of the five Constellations who supported me. [That was when we first began thinking about this – that we wanted to become your parents.] I barely managed to swallow back a certain something trying to well up. I felt that I could just about understand the truth of the affection Persephone had shown me all this time… Just a tiny little bit. [Both Hades and I do not wish for you to end up as the ‘King of the Underworld’. We also do not wish for you to be bound to us, and do not wish for the lives we’ve lived, our history, to become the rules that you must abide by. No, all you need to do is to advance forward towards the end of all scenarios, like you’ve been doing all along.] — location: 34975

[Both Hades and I do not wish for you to end up as the ‘King of the Underworld’. We also do not wish for you to be bound to us, and do not wish for the lives we’ve lived, our history, to become the rules that you must abide by. No, all you need to do is to advance forward towards the end of all scenarios, like you’ve been doing all along.] “But, I… I am the Underworld’s…” [You’re our son. That is all that matters.] I didn’t possess a single thing to repay that kindness. All I could give them was just the promise of a future that hadn’t been written yet, the one without any guarantees. — location: 34982

Hades, possessing the shadow of the noble night, stood waiting at the far end of the terrace. He was staring at the sight of the Underworld stretching to the other side of the palace. — location: 34990

While Constellations were fulfilling their desires in the scenarios, souls sacrificed to those desires were swept into this place. The world of those who were discarded, wounded, and broken by the scenarios – that was the Underworld. I shifted my gaze over to Hades. He understood this darkness and became the ‘King of the Underworld’. …While never turning away from the tides of sadness rushing in from the world of the living, while saving each and every one of those souls. While listening to other people’s stories for thousands of years, nay, even tens of thousands of years. At that moment, I thought for some reason, I could say the words I held back for the longest time. “…Father.” — location: 34995

So, what did one need in order to cut a star down with just a single sword? Kaaa-boooom!! One of Yoo Joonghyuk’s legs exploded in mid-air. It wasn’t because of Indra’s thunderbolts, however. His muscles, tightly bunched together to a nonsensical degree, exploded with a loud noise; this noise was caused by the Stories permeating into every corner of the muscle fibres, exploding to create a forward thrust. — location: 35173

For him, this was a battle against himself. — location: 35164

– Yoo Joonghyuk, you stupid bastard!! Yoo Joonghyuk heard the loud yelling from the one standing at the forefront of that army and spoke up. “…Because I have allies in this turn who won’t betray me.” [Nebula, Underworld, has joined the ‘Great War of Saints and Demons’.] — location: 35202

[Nebula, Underworld, has handed down the divine punishment of wrath!] [You see, my parents? They can get really terrifying when they are angry.] [Constellation, ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’, nods her head.] [Blessing from the Constellation, ‘Father of Rich Night’, is protecting you.] — location: 35335

I also felt like collapsing on the ground right about now. Just from thinking about that made me realize how incredible Yoo Joonghyuk was. He managed to defeat Indra in the Half-God Body State with one attack without the blessing of Underworld. Obviously, I must not lose to him. — location: 35352

Jung Heewon struggled desperately and hugged the person protecting her to roll around on the ground. It was a person’s body, torn to bits by the bullets. A bloodied face was smiling towards her. He was saying something, but slowly, so slowly, he closed his eyes. — location: 35694

Death was nothing in this place. Death could not separate them. — location: 35705

Jung Heewon looked at the collapsed Lee Hyunsung.- at his cold, unmoving body. This judgement would be for him. — location: 35771

A tragedy for one side would become a farce for the other. — location: 35785

[Constellation, ‘Master of Steel’, is looking at you.] They were the ones who loved the same thing as her. — location: 35828

Jung Heewon pulled Lee Hyunsung’s sagging body closer and hugged it. Hyunsung-ssi. I really did my best. I don’t have a single regret left now. — location: 35853

All those hoping to convert Jung Heewon’s and Lee Hyunsung’s story to a tragedy were now the subjects of Lee Jihye’s wrath. ‘Our Stories aren’t for your entertainment’, she said. — location: 35896

‘Jung-ui’ (Justice, 正義) had morphed into ‘Jung-ui’ (To define, 定義), and along with that, ‘anger’ had been invented. — location: 36373

“Yeah, well, sure. You have your reasons. Honestly, I knew you’d say no, anyway.” “What? Why?” Han Sooyoung’s sigh-filled replies were followed up by Yoo Joonghyuk. “Because that’s how you operate, you fool.” — location: 36497

I realized something just then. I managed to get this far because these two lived on their own terms – respected my decisions in their own ways. — location: 36502

While stuck inside the deadly battle, the Demon King continued to suck on his cigarette. Not just one, but several of them, in fact. [Stigma, ‘One Ciggie for Prodigious Strength Lv.???’, is in activation.] [Stigma, ‘One Ciggie for Agility Lv.???’, is in activation.] [Stigma, ‘One Ciggie for Magic Power Lv.???’, is in activation.] That was Agares’s Stigma, [Universal Cigarette], at work. Its speciality, developed after living as a smoker for a very long time. A unique Stigma for the Demon King that possessed the Story to overclock the Incarnation Body’s abilities. — location: 36575

His enemy was gone, and only the ‘Good’ remained. Was this a sense of loneliness, or a type of freedom he felt? Metatron couldn’t tell. — location: 36601

Abruptly, a corner of my heart began tingling just a little. I ended up remembering the empty spots reserved for my parents during school events, back when I was still a student. I always wondered how my friends felt back then. What did it feel like, having someone fill up those spots, having someone who’d come to you when you called out to them? [Constellation, ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’, has unleashed her Status!] And now, I thought I could finally understand what they felt back then. — location: 37051

[Constellation, ‘Father of the Rich Night’, is wobbling as he looks back at his wife.] — location: 37059

The distortions of the world, saved up for the purpose of summoning an Outer God, was trying to eliminate me from the scenario itself. — location: 37187

Except that, as I listened to that faint song… [Story, ‘Life and Death Companions’, is continuing with its storytelling.] …I realized that I didn’t want to die. — location: 37201

Jung Heewon unsheathed her sword and spoke. “I don’t know anything about the future. However, I do know this. You said that you want to save this world? It’s the same for me, too.” Her determination manifested in the whitish flames billowing on the [Sword of Judgement]. “That man is the world I wish to save.” — location: 37244

[What rules this world is neither ‘Good’ nor ‘Evil’. It’s ‘capital’.] — location: 37335

The ‘Good and Evil’; they might be on the opposing sides, but they understood each other better than anyone else in this world. — location: 37528

Metatron heard Agares’s sullen voice and couldn’t help but feel strange. Why did the demon he fought against for such a long time feel so, so close today? — location: 37552

The Archangel and the Demon King held each other’s hands. With that, the sealing tool emitted blinding rays of light and began expanding at a rapid pace. — location: 37558

[Isn’t this quite beautiful, Metatron? This is our end.] The duet of ‘Good and Evil’ dimly continuing on was now flowing within the night sky of the apocalypse. — location: 37576

Yoo Joonghyuk extended his hand without much energy, but by then, the star had grown far too distant to reach. He no longer possessed any strength to go to that star now. — location: 37925

But for those living on a certain planet, that particular star would be everything they knew about the light itself. — location: 37976

“If this story is brought to its conclusion as it was, then what was the purpose of the life I’ve lived so far?” — location: 38283

My entire life amounted to nothing but me reading about someone else’s sorrow and pain? In that case, how was I any different from those damn Constellations up in the sky? — location: 38328

What would be the reason for an existence that knew the story inside out to read it again? — location: 38359

“Do you still believe that you can understand someone through just a few lines of text in a couple of chapters?” — location: 38494

⸢Emotions, passed down from the distant, remote universe. That is the flow of the ancient times that this writer could never follow after. We were terrified.⸥ — location: 38531

The one who stares into the abyss will have no choice but to either go mad, or become the abyss itself.⸥ — location: 38538

Foreshadowing — Dokja already acquired the achievement Looked Into the Abyss

Even if it was not an ‘Outer God’, it was true that we couldn’t fully understand each other. We might feel like we could, but that was nothing more than a momentary delusion on our part. — location: 38543

I always regretted about something in my life. However, my regret over the things I hadn’t done was way bigger than for those that I did do. — location: 38555

Stories discarded by the world-line and couldn’t be acknowledged as ‘Stories’. And the fragments of Stories that became the subconsciousness of the worlds, drifting around in the universe and ruminating on the ancient memories. — location: 38578

Each of his steps contained the solitude of indescribable eternity as well as the entirety of the 1863rd lives he had experienced. — location: 38672

⸢That’s because he didn’t like the end he witnessed.⸥ — location: 38685

[Stream of the great main scenario is now dwelling in you.] — location: 38697

[Your second Modifier is the ‘Watcher of Light and Darkness’.] — location: 38702

These were simply by-products of the failed world-lines, a collection of memories with no meaning to them anymore. The precious something that Yoo Joonghyuk had been protecting even at the cost of becoming the ‘Secretive Plotter’. — location: 38724

I knew. But I couldn’t understand. Because I wasn’t them. — location: 38731

[You shall become a Story once more and be a part of the story within the stream of stars. That is, as long as that unfortunate Constellation is willing to sacrifice himself for your sakes.] — location: 38760

“You don’t have to fight alone in this regression turn.” — location: 38856

The story of when he was still the puppet of the Oldest Dream, repeating countless lives and fighting over and over again. […Oh, you foolish puppet. You, can’t, save, anything.] — location: 39536

‘To see the end of this damn regression’. For that sole purpose, he persisted and got himself here. Unfortunately, a wall prevented him from ‘going beyond’. — location: 39564

⸢Kim Dokja thought to himself. ‘I’m Yoo Joonghyuk’.⸥ I bit my lips and formed the expression similar to the coolest person that I knew. — location: 39780

“They are folks who also carry out the ‘scenarios’ as well. You’re supposed to pursue Buddha’s teachings or discuss the true meaning of the universe and be on the righteous path, so how come you’re so disinterested in the lives of those that are not human?” — location: 39816

Yoo Joonghyuk was holding my right wrist with enough force to pop it like a balloon while feeling for my pulse. Now that I thought about it, this guy possessed the next best medical skills after Lee Seolhwa in our group. — location: 39893

3rd turn, 4th, 5th… He always was looking at his companions from a certain distance. He stood there and protected them, and faced off against their enemies. — location: 39910

Lee Jihye to my side complained a little while chuckling out. “They say that if you can’t get a pheasant, then get a chicken instead. I mean, it’s nice to see you eat well and be healthy, you know. If only we fed that guy as diligently as we’re doing now.” — location: 39961

His jet-black coat danced in the air. It was as if he had suddenly transformed into a black hole; his back faced us as he stood there against the lights shining from 28 stars. That was the back of a man who had been silently protecting certain people. — location: 40380

Creatures born out of all the countless world-lines where Yoo Joonghyuk had failed. The worlds that allowed me to live on until now. The traces of the worlds that I loved so much. — location: 40451

Even if I got to read them all again, would I be able to regain the emotions I felt back then in full? — location: 40540

The despair of a person risking his life trying to save someone else, and another’s grief borne from powerlessness while watching that feat unfold, would never carry equal weight. In the end, to every human being, the most precious thing was themselves. And Kim Dokja risked everything of his, always. — location: 40605

[He has been alone for a very long time.] Kim Dokja (金獨子). [To someone like that, telling him that he’s not alone a few times won’t suddenly change anything.] Shin Yoosung was Kim Dokja’s Incarnation. [You need to tell him, always be next to him, and reaffirm it for him.] As she cried, Shin Yoosung stepped forward. [Until he realizes that he’s truly not alone anymore.] — location: 40628

Not everyone could use special methods to communicate, and that was why Stories existed. Words that couldn’t be conveyed would become stories eventually. — location: 40637

And that was why that ordinary happiness… …Was the greatest luxury in a ruined world. Even then… [Audience members are paying the cost to reveal their Modifiers.] [Constellation, ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’, is…] [Constellation, ‘Bald General of Justice’, is…] Even then, — location: 40746

I… wanted to move. I wanted to wipe her tears away. I wanted to kneel down and hug her, before telling her that, her wishes were… …Also mine, too. — location: 40804

But, why? Why were they doing this for me? The Great Sage smirked and replied. [Because we like your Story. That’s all.] — location: 40856

As his black coat danced in the air, [999] addressed his counterpart. “Remember. Remember who you really are. Remember what you wished to achieve by coming this far.” — location: 40996

【The price for escaping the closed universe and dreaming of a new story is for you to not even remember who you are. Is that the world you’ve been truly wishing for?】 — location: 41345

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. — location: 41359

‘It’s my freedom to decide what I hear and what I remember. And I shall decide who I am’. — location: 41371

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. — location: 41425

⸢That fool definitely said it. He said that universe definitely exists.⸥ — location: 41452

Every regression he experienced was used as a sacrifice to create this ‘world-line above the Wall’. — location: 41462

If his life didn’t exist, if his failures didn’t exist… …Then none of us would have survived until now. 【So, how did you all manage to survive??】 And now, he was asking us. 【Why, why is it not me, but you??】 — location: 41478

Yoo Joonghyuk continued to speak. ‘He could be right. His decisions might have been right, too. However, it’s still not a good enough reason for you to yield to him’. [Story, ‘Life and Death Companions’, has begun its storytelling.] ‘Because we are also right,’ said Yoo Joonghyuk, the one who also endured the tragedies of the 1863 regression turns. Without a doubt, he too was also ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’. ‘It still doesn’t really feel real to me, but if I have been truly experiencing the 1864th turn, then…’ — location: 41510

“…He’s a pathetic fool, indeed.” Yoo Joonghyuk cut him off in the middle. “He was just some contracted worker for a no-name game developer, and his hobby was reading novels.” His shabby self-introduction-like words reverberated around the sky. Those were the things I told Yoo Joonghyuk some time ago. “His specialty is to run his cocky mouth off, and he has this habit of throwing his life away so that we can overcome any and all impossible situations hindering us.” Yoo Joonghyuk was talking about me that even I didn’t know about. “Someone like that managed to lead his companions this far.” — location: 41577

“How does it feel like to end up as a dumpling?!” Not sure when they popped out, but well, a lynch mob of the kkoma Yoo Joonghyuks rushed at me and began kicking me around. Thankfully, it didn’t hurt all that much due to them being all kkomas. — location: 41823

【I was curious about what my life meant through the eyes of someone other than mine. That’s all.】 — location: 41922

“It’s more correct to say that you can’t even imagine it, actually. However, as texts, as paragraphs, they certainly can exist. What’s happening right now is just like that. To us, it might be a time paradox, but as texts of a novel, it’s completely possible, you know. I mean, you can just say, there it is, so deal with it. It’s not the issue with understanding it, but rather, accepting it. So, let’s look at it in a simpler way. We’re currently stuck inside a crap novel. Since the original was crap, this is the end result.” — location: 42287

“A world with broken Probability will collapse by itself. I know of quite a few stories that ended in that manner. Worlds that even their authors gave up on.” — location: 42293

Could it be that I had failed to understand a single thing about the ‘Ways of Survival’ – no, wait, regarding my companions, instead? Maybe, because I was drunk in the fantasy of witnessing the Conclusion, I actually ended up missing all the countless words that had to be read in order to reach the true Conclusion? — location: 42414

“…And why should I share my cooking with you?” He glared at the rest of the group with a menacing glare, before turning around to leave while throwing these following words behind. “…There are leftovers that side, so why don’t you eat that.” — location: 42510

The Plotter didn’t reply again. Without saying anything, he stared at Yoo Mia. He stared for a long time at the one person that no longer existed for him. And for the first time ever, a faint smile formed on his lips. — location: 42653

[Story, ‘Hell of Eternity’, is wondering if you have dyslexia.] — location: 43794

The reality was, all those starlights in the sky were nothing more than ornaments to hide the fact that the darkness existed there. — location: 44873

What this crowd wanted wasn’t peace for everyone, but for ‘individuals’. — location: 45629

All the characters would start acting on their own the moment they are created. Authors simply provide them with stages, that’s all. It’s all up to the characters themselves on how they would respond to the situation and make their moves. — location: 46084

Kim Dokja’s salvation was cruel. Like rescuing a drowning person with a blade, those saved by him were inflicted an unhealable wound. — location: 46225

This wall existed in order to let others know that someone was beyond it. To let them know there was a person requiring a wall in this world. — location: 46468

⸢A story that you spent a very long time with will eventually become a part of you.⸥ — location: 46602

Every Constellation that came along for the ride with Kim Dokja’s Company’s Story was now sponsoring their story. — location: 46640

⸢Every abandoned world-line was converging here.⸥ — location: 46664

A scenario that changed scenarios. A scenario that didn’t stick to the pre-determined conclusion. A scenario where everyone could reach the end together. — location: 46761

Neither he nor I were wrong. Just that the Stories we compiled were different, that’s all. — location: 46824

Bihyung let go of Baram’s hands and smiled. He knew of a guy who always smirked just before dying. He couldn’t understand it before, but now he thought he could figure it out. That guy must’ve been feeling this way, too. [It’s likely that I have grown to love that story.] — location: 47020

⸢There is no story where no one was sacrificed.⸥ To protect the story, to guard the Probability, and to become the ‘One Single Story’ reaching the ⸢Final Wall⸥, this action had to be performed. ⸢Dokkaebi Bihyung had finally decided on his full stop.⸥ The ‘Pah-su-sut’ noise of something being pierced could be heard next. He looked back and for a second there, he thought he saw Kim Dokja’s face. [Your ■■ is ‘sacrifice’.] — location: 47030

Bihyung was dead, yet the Story he left behind was still alive. — location: 47086

Yoo Joonghyuk then powerfully threw Kim Dokja forward, but also stepped onto the latter’s back – and they began scything past the storm as if he was surfing the waves. — location: 47302

[Now, go. Do not ever look back. Go, and witness the end you wish to see.] — location: 47434

[It’s been fun, oh the great, noble star.] — location: 47452

⸢A choice that only the one filled with greed and obstinacy to see the desired ending could make.⸥ — location: 47482

⸢What blocked light wasn’t darkness, but another light.⸥ — location: 47661

The ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ looked at me and smiled. His child-like eyes were now dyeing the world in the night of apocalypse as if he was satisfied by the role he had found. — location: 47827

⸢The ‘two’ needed something to connect the divided two. An existence that would live through all the Stories, and act as a proxy to their good and evil, their communications, and their Samsara.⸥ My feet came to a dead stop just then. ⸢The ‘Character’.⸥ — location: 48207

“Release my companions.” [They are just the means to an end that served their purpose. What meaning is there for you if I released them?] “…They are my everything.” — location: 48264

[If you wish to save them, you must acknowledge the fact that everything you love has no meaning, that the already-written Stories are simply illusions that can be changed easily, and that they are just shadows of the great, noble daydream.] — location: 48348

And there was only one price to pay for that salvation. ⸢To give up loving that story.⸥ — location: 48352

They all hated the ‘Secretive Plotter’. However, that hatred was born out from the deep-seated yearning they all held. ⸢No one treasured ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’ as much as them in any of the universes out there.⸥ — location: 48525

[The current you can’t save them. The one who loves the story can never change that very story.] Can’t change it, because you loved it. [Only the one who overcomes the story, the one who understands the trivial nature of everything, can escape from the suppression of the Probability.] — location: 48586

⸢This tale was a story of a reader who wanted to change its conclusion.⸥ — location: 48783

⸢This tale was a story about an ‘impossible communication’.⸥ — location: 48773

⸢This tale was a story about indistinguishable ‘Good and Evil’, and…⸥ — location: 48776

⸢And, this tale was a story about a tragedy locked in a cycle.⸥ — location: 48779

My friend. Even during our next life, accompany me. — location: 48834

[I’m saying, what meaning is there to knowing that this world was just a portion of a vast dream?] — location: 48864

I, someone of no redeeming quality, could be loved by the others. — location: 49028

The world was far too cruel a place to debate the ethics of life, and the volume of despair was far too great to tell the tale of hope. However, Yoo Joonghyuk remained resolute because he didn’t try to justify himself. — location: 49042

Maybe, this might be my punishment. It might very well be the time to pay the price for the salvation I received. — location: 49069

The existence that dreamed of all these worlds. And in his dream, I too was nothing more than just another character. — location: 49114

Sentences that kept me alive, and eventually would kill me, too. — location: 49170

When was the dream supposed to end? That would be… ⸢…When the dream was no longer a dream.⸥ — location: 49263

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’s’ ■■ is ‘Oldest Dream’.] — location: 49270

It was just that, they were quietly staring at Kim Dokja and his Story. ⸢The world that couldn’t be lived in, unless one read it.⸥ The child who had to read something, anything, if he wanted to live. — location: 49314

The ‘Kim Dokja’ they remembered was different from people to people. If Kim Dokja was a ‘reader’ to Han Sooyoung, then to Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung, he was the ‘parent’. To Lee Hyunsung, he was the ‘spent cartridge’, and to Yoo Sangah, the ‘work colleague’. To Lee Jihye, Jung Heewon, Jang Hayoung, and also to Lee Seolhwa as well as Gong Pildu… “That person is also Dokja-ssi. Doesn’t matter how much percentage he is made out of, there’s no doubt that he is Dokja-ssi. Dokja-ssi who journeyed together with us.” — location: 49963

And fortunately enough, this story happened to be the one I loved the most. — location: 50179

“Tell me, you fool. If I continue to regress, will I ever get to meet you again?” — location: 50404

From the get-go, the meaning of liking someone was that you liked certain parts of that person. — location: 50437

The locations where each of the companions joined the group might have been different. The time they remembered, and the ‘Kim Dokja’ they remembered, were also different. Despite all that, just like how Yoo Joonghyuk’s numerous regression turns eventually gathered to become ‘one person’, it was a similar story for Kim Dokja, as well. — location: 50581

She slowly turned her head, her eyes still radiating some warmth. Warmth, left behind by a certain someone. Lee Sookyung knew whose Story that was. [Story, ‘Promise of the Darkest Night’, is continuing on with its storytelling.] It was from the King of the Underworld, who swore to be by her side until the end of the world. And like he promised, he died instead of Persephone at the end of the world. [Let us go. We must save that child.] — location: 50757

Han Sooyoung continued to write. The short period of time given to her during the wee hours was completely devoted to Kim Dokja. — location: 51377

Every time she wrote a single chapter, Kim Dokja’s life was extended by yet another day. — location: 51389

Did this event really happen in the past? Couldn’t it be more like, it happened because I wrote this? — location: 51406

A universe of repeating cycle. And in this universe, the result birthed the cause, and the cause would eventually become the result. — location: 51494

Because of the story you wrote, author-nim, I was able to survive until now. Han Sooyoung was also able to survive while reading the sole reader’s words. — location: 51527

Kim Dokja, who was destined to become the ‘Oldest Dream’, the price he paid for loving a certain story too much. — location: 51534

⸢Why, for someone like me?⸥ — location: 51584

Han Sooyoung wrote the story. Yoo Joonghyuk lived that story. And, I read that very story. And that’s how this world barely managed to reach its completion. — location: 51614

“If I forget about everything… I won’t feel this pain anymore, right?” ⸢Y o u wo nt re mem ber any th ing af ter all⸥ To someone who even lost the traces of his loss, no such thing as ‘loss’ existed. — location: 51621

To tell her that I could only come this far because of the story you gave me, that I loved your story more than anyone in this world. — location: 51631

There were some people who, despite wishing to be saved, couldn’t bring themselves to ask others to save them. — location: 51907

The vast, indescribable time would cycle over and over again, leading them to reach and meet one another, only to part ways again. — location: 51971

⸢It’s fine if the story is imperfect.⸥ Han Sooyoung’s hands powerfully gripped onto the circle’s crack. The surface of the gripped wall began tearing apart. ⸢If that story can make someone happy, then…⸥ — location: 51974

The act of understanding someone started off with admitting that you didn’t know anything about that person. — location: 52022

An individual created solely for the sake of one reader. An entity tougher in body and nobler in heart than any creature in this world. The man who managed to bring down all the stars in the skies to end his truly lengthy regression turns, and eventually, even succeeding in destroying the system of the world. — location: 52062

⸢He was no longer the protagonist of the story.⸥ His story came to an end when the lone reader went away. Along with his final regression, too. — location: 52227

“Just like what you said earlier, the author of the novel probably didn’t think about stuff like this. However, it is up to you to decide on what you’ll get out of reading the novel. If you only find trash within, then it’ll simply end as trash. But if it can impart just a tiny little bit of deeper meaning to you, then that alone will improve this work in your eyes. — location: 52376

⸢Kim Dokja survived through a story called ‘Ways of Survival’. In that case, which story allowed us to survive?⸥ Actually, Han Sooyoung already knew the answer to that question. “It’s a story I wanted to show to that idiot.” A story still remained for them. A story of a person they all loved. — location: 52480

“Do you think that that fool has become happier now?” — location: 52685

What made a person truly exhausted was not despair. No, it was ‘hope’ that seemingly was on the cusp of coming true but would never become reality. — location: 52754

Even if it was for Kim Dokja, could anyone be able to last that lengthy period of time without losing their sanity? — location: 52846

Well, no one in this world knew who they were exactly, after all. — location: 53232

An existence who had never imagined his own happiness. The ‘Kim Dokja’ they knew was such a person. — location: 53411

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