Chapter 417: 417

I took my time studying the person before my eyes . My heart rate sped up greatly, and my breathing became ragged, as well . Something touched a box of memories that shouldn’t be touched, and words began leaking out from this box buried deep within the recess of the darkness .

⸢”Where is the Arondight? Are you the one hiding it?”⸥

That was the first time I encountered that dude . While firmly holding me by my collars, he asked me that question .

⸢”If you’re not planning to answer me, then I shall use force to find out . “⸥

The golden [Eye of Sage] gleaming brightly just like back then was right there, waiting .

A migraine assaulted me, and my view distorted like that of an abstract painting . The voice from the memories continued on in the meantime .

⸢”That ‘world’ you’ve shown me, does it really exist?”⸥

… .

… . . .

… . . .

⸢Applicable individual isn’t a ‘Character’ . ⸥

There existed certain memories that should never be forgotten even if one wanted to, and perhaps the memories of that regression turn were precisely ‘that’ for me .

I failed to save Yu Jung-Hyeok of that turn . He left for the next turn, still wearing the white coat .

I had never forgotten the sight of his back, surrounded by bright light and leaving me and Han Su-Yeong of the 1863rd turn behind in complete freedom .

“You are . . . . “

For the longest time, I lost myself and stared at the ‘Yu Jung-Hyeok’ sitting on the throne . The scar on his sunken cheeks, those dark, deeply withdrawn eyes – everything belonged to the 1863rd turn Yu Jung-Hyeok that I remembered .

However, my shock didn’t end there .

[Constellation, ‘Secretive Plotter’, is looking at you . ]

… . The Secretive Plotter??

Only then did I finally discover the ominous, evil aura rising up from that Yu Jung-Hyeok’s entire figure . This ‘evil’ was different from that of the Demon Kings . No, this was Chaos that the didn’t recognise as either ‘Good’ or ‘Evil’ .

I was about to say something, but then, something emitted bright light from within my inner pocket .

[Exclusive Attribute, ‘Scenario Interpreter’, is activating!]

[Great Fable, ‘Season of Light and Darkness’, is reacting to your Attribute . ]

As if it was waiting for this moment, the Fable began telling its story . Two Yu Jung-Hyeoks were in a certain place .

⸢[Go back . You can’t save anyone . ]⸥

⸢” . . . . The Secretive Plotter?”⸥

As if they were stuck in fast-forward, scenes sped along in my mind . They were fragmented information, sure, but still, they were also plenty enough for me to figure out the current situation .

… . So, that’s what happened .

I began to gradually understand what was going on here .

Next up was the sight of Yu Jung-Hyeok crashing, Yi Ji-Hye catching him, and finally, the Ark leaving the Isle . It seemed that the had safely escaped from the ‘Isle of Reincarnators’ .

[Great Fable, ‘Season of Light and Darkness’, has stopped its storytelling . ]

I sighed softly under the breath and shifted my gaze over to the existence atop the throne . The ‘Secretive Plotter’ looked down at me from his spot at the same time .

[‘The 4th Wall’ is strongly activating!]

My heart calmed down and my reasoning returned to me bit by bit . I sucked in a couple of quick but deep breaths and opened my lips to speak . “If you were planning to make me panic using that appearance, then well, congratulations, you succeeded splendidly . “

[Have you not used polite speech towards me earlier?]

“I’m merely treating you the way that fits with your choice to appear as Yu Jung-Hyeok . “

I appeared completely unflustered by his aura, and as if he was amused by it, the Plotter’s lips twitched slightly . Not caring whether he did or not, I simply continued on . “The ‘Secretive Plotter’ . I suggest we do the ‘Three Divine Questions and Answers’ . “

[And why would I agree to do that?]

“There’s no way that you’re the 1863rd turn Yu Jung-Hyeok . It’s impossible, actually . “

[What makes you think that?]

“You wish to know? As an aside, there are three reasons, you see . “

A faint flash of light flickered in the ‘Secretive Plotter’s eyes .

“So, are you interested or not?”

[Although tempting, it’s not a fair trade, is it . ]

The ‘Secretive Plotter’ stared at me with a pair of quiet, contemplative eyes . He seemed to be thinking about something, and also, maybe a bit angry, as well .

Just how long passed by like this? His left eyebrow quivered rather greatly . I suddenly recalled a certain passage from the ‘Ways of Survival’ just then .

⸢Whenever Yu Jung-Hyeok makes a serious decision, his left eyebrow would quiver . ⸥

The Secretive Plotter spoke . [I’ll put forth a condition . ]

“What kind?”

[I’m sure you’re curious as to why I brought you here . ]

I nodded my head . Of course I was curious .

[However, you can’t ask me about that . Because, I can’t tell you . Some answers can only be resolved by you actively searching for the right question first . ]

“What kind of a Buddha-like utterance is that??”

[I shall agree to the ‘Three Divine Questions and Answers’ now . You can ask me about three things, but you can’t ask me a question related to ‘why you’ve been brought to here’ . ]

“Is that your condition?”

[One other thing . When you’re done with the Three Questions, you must figure out the ‘reason you had to be brought’ here . ]

Now that was something I didn’t expect at all and I momentarily panicked . “What if I fail to do that?”

The ‘Secretive Plotter’ didn’t reply . Instead, he raised his lengthy finger and rested it on the armrest of his throne .

Just that simple action alone sent a chill down my spine .

⸢Can I defeat him in my current condition?⸥

I began inspecting all the Fables I possessed, from the legendary grade one all the way to the Great Fables… .

“It’ll be better for you to stop doing something foolish . “

It was none other than the kkoma Yu Jung-Hyeok number [999] standing next to me who said that . I smirked and looked down at him . “Are you worried about me?”

“It’s annoying to remove a corpse, that’s all . “

” . . . . What are you exactly, anyway?”

[Are you using your allotted questions, then? Good . ]

“No, hang on a minu . . . “

Before I could finish my sentence, though, messages began floating up .

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www . webnovel . com for visiting .

– Three Divine Questions and Answers has begun .

– Both sides can exchange three questions and three answers .

– Both sides can refuse to answer one question each .

– Questions and Answers will not end until both sides have asked a question and answered it properly .

– You are now using your right to ask the first question .

I caught the kkoma Yu Jung-Hyeok number [666] grinning slyly on the side . Sons of bitches .

Still, now that things had ended up like this, I figured it’d not be so bad to hear their story now .

[They are my dependents . ]

“I hope you aren’t planning to end your answer like that . I’d prefer for you to be a bit more in-depth now that you’re planning to tell me things anyway . I’d be eternally grateful if you so graciously explain yourself properly on what your definition of dependents are, whether it’s something like [Avatar] or if it’s something similar to the dependents Demon Kings have . “

I spoke as cautiously as possible to make sure that what I said didn’t sound like the second question . That prompted the kkoma Yu Jung-Hyeok number [777] to sigh in admiration and speak up . “He sure talks a lot, doesn’t he . “

“I wasn’t talking to you . “

[They are beings that have received my memories . ]

– You have acquired the first answer .

“So, it’s similar to the [Avatar] skill, then . “

[It’s my turn . Tell me the first reason why I can’t be the ‘1863rd turn Yu Jung-Hyeok’ . ]

“If you were really Yu Jung-Hyeok from the 1863rd turn, then there’s no way you’d be wearing that white coat . “

[ . . . . Why not?]

“The Stigma ‘Regression’ only sends back one’s soul . It doesn’t send back the items in your possession . The coat I gave to the 1863rd turn’s Yu Jung-Hyeok was destroyed as he regressed . So, if you’re really from the 1863rd turn, you shouldn’t be wearing that coat . “

[Interesting . However, this is merely an item I personally purchased . ]

“Yu Jung-Hyeok doesn’t wear the colour white often . “

[ . . . . Ask your second question . ]

– You are now using your right to ask the second question .

I didn’t hesitate and spoke up . “My second question . Are you the ‘1863rd turn Yu Jung-Hyeok’?”

My question caused the Secretive Plotter’s complexion to waver ever so slightly . [ . . . . Are you trying to mess with me?]

“No, I’m being dead serious . “

[I am Yu Jung-Hyeok who had experienced the 1863rd turn . ]

“In the past tense, is it . “

[I’m merely the ‘Secretive Plotter’ now, that’s why . ]

– You have acquired the second answer .

Unless one placed a special condition, one had to speak only the truth during the ‘Three Divine Questions and Answers’ . If one didn’t, then one would be swept up in the storm of Probability’s aftermaths immediately .

However, I didn’t spot any signs of the storm around the ‘Secretive Plotter’ .

[Now, speak the second reason why I can’t be the ‘1863rd turn’s Yu Jung-Hyeok’ . ]

“There are just too many inconsistencies for you to be the Yu Jung-Hyeok from the 1863rd turn . “

[What kind of inconsistencies?]

“If you’re really him from the 1863rd, then why did you send me over there to kill yourself? Logically speaking, it doesn’t make sense, does it?”

[That’s because that action would create me . It’s a simple time paradox . I was Yu Jung-Hyeok from the 1863rd turn, and only by you killing me there would I be reborn as the ‘Secretive Plotter’ . ]

“Sounds like you’ve been rehearsing that answer for a while there . It sounds so natural, too . Even if I assume that you’re being truthful, quite unfortunately for you, you seemed less than satisfied after I succeeded in my mission . Also, you looked quite surprised, too . “

[ . . . . Ask your next question . ]

“No, you go ahead first . I’ll ask mine last . “

The ‘Secretive Plotter’ stared at me for a little while before eventually opening his lips . [Fine . What is the final reason why I can’t be ‘Yu Jung-Hyeok from the 1863rd turn’?]

“I have a special method to find that out . I possess a skill that allows me to read the inner thoughts of the other party, you see . “

[So?]

“But then, the 1863rd turn’s Yu Jung-Hyeok became an existence that I can’t read anymore . “

I clearly remembered the moment that Yu Jung-Hyeok left for the next turn . The moment when he broke free from being a ‘Character’, and even my exclusive skill, ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ could no longer read him .

[Does that mean you can read my private thoughts?]

“No, I can’t read yours also . “

[Then, what?]

“However, the reason why I can’t is different . “

[Activation of the skill ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ has been cancelled!]

[Your degree of understanding on the applicable individual is simply far too inadequate!]

[Your degree of understanding simply can’t catch up to the Status of the applicable individual!]

I quietly looked up at the messages floating up in the air .

The ‘Secretive Plotter’ frowned deeply . [I can’t accept that as your reason . You are . . . . ]

“I’ll ask my last question,” said I, not giving him any chance to speak . “Back in the planet where I used to live, there happened to be a novel called ‘Three Ways to Survive a Ruined World’ . “

Almost instantly, the surrounding atmosphere changed . The expression on the Secretive Plotter’s face sunk to its coldest yet . His eyes had become cold-blooded, as if he’d murder me at any given second .

I desperately resisted that aura and continued on . This was one question that I wanted to ask all along . “‘Secretive Plotter’ . Are you someone who knows the epilogue of that novel?”

*

Yu Jung-Hyeok had a dream .

It was a really old and worn-out dream .

For some reason, he was wearing a white coat inside it .

He held the [Heaven Shaking Sword] that fit him like a glove . While gripping that weighty weapon, he was fighting against someone . When he took a closer look, he realised that the person in front of his eyes possessed the exact same countenance as he did .

It was another Yu Jung-Hyeok, but wearing a black coat, instead .

He wasn’t sure of why he had to experience such a dream .

‘The 1863rd turn . ‘

Maybe, it was because he ended up running into that guy . That was probably why he had to dream about something like this .

Yu Jung-Hyeok gritted his teeth . The gap he felt between his and the ‘Secretive Plotter’s overwhelming Status the moment they clashed remained so vividly etched in his mind even now .

Utterly disregarding his sentiments, though, the memories continued to slowly seep into him . He had become the Yu Jung-Hyeok from the 1863rd turn and was swinging his sword around .

⸢I’ll die . ⸥

⸢I’ll regress . ⸥

Every time the swords collided, Yu Jung-Hyeok felt the despair and loneliness of the 1863rd turn . Strangely enough, everything felt so natural to him .

As if those emotions were his all along, since from a long time ago .

Stab!

Finally, the two swords stabbed deeply into the two stomachs .

⸢This story will come to an end here . ⸥

⸢Even then, everything will start from the beginning once more . ⸥

Yu Jung-Hyeok wearing the black coat scattered away first, and soon, even himself began scattering as well . The memories dissipated, and the emotions he barely managed to comprehend began abandoning him . He summoned up the last of his remaining energy and looked behind .

His vision blurred and he couldn’t see clearly what was there .

However, it felt as if he had seen a bright and pure star .

⸢”I had grown curious of that world’s ■■ . “⸥

⸢”For the next regression . . . . “⸥

Yu Jung-Hyeok’s eyes shot open along with the loud noise of ‘Beeeeep!’

He panted heavily and spotted the white ceiling of the hospital room . And then, also heard someone’s voice, too .

“Finally, our slumbering prince of the forest has woken up . “

He turned his head to the side to find Han Su-Yeong and Jeong Hui-Won . The former bit and broke the lollipop before spitting out the stick and began growling at him . “Time to tell us just what happened back there, Dear Good Regressor, sir . “

Fin .

TL: For some reason, TL note section of the chapters 416 & 417 are not working atm . I alerted the relevant parties, but who knows when it’ll be fixed . Anyways, I’ll publish another chapter later today at 19:00 GMT .