Chapter 482: 482

Two days after the ‘Great Apocalypse Scenario’s conclusion .

During these two days, the 98th scenario meandering nowhere fast also ended, as well .

[98th scenario – ‘Candidate Selection’ has automatically ended . ]

[No one has challenged your Nebula . ]

[Number of victories: 1]

[Contents of your reward is currently being finalised . ]

[Clearing of the ‘Great Apocalypse Scenario’ has been linked to your reward, and the contents are still being discussed . ]

Perhaps that was inevitable . While Nebulas were busy fighting each other, we actually were victorious in the ‘Great Apocalypse Scenario’ . We fought off the ancient ‘Outer Gods’ and protected Earth . Not only that, with only the strength of our Nebula alone, too .

[A large number of Constellations respect you and your Nebula . ]

[Nebula ’s fame is spreading far and wide in . ]

[Every Constellation in the Final Scenario is now aware of your Nebula . ]

[Every Constellation in the Final Scenario is curious of your ‘Conclusion’ . ]

And now, everyone in this knew of us .

– Representative-nim! Representative Kim Dok-Ja! Please say something!

Voices from the megaphones came from outside the [Industrial Complex] .

Whether it was the hologram panel or the regular TV – didn’t matter where or what, our story dominated them all . Every broadcasting station, including terrestrial and cable, was showing the front yard of the [Industrial Complex] in real-time .

Also, the interview footages of the Complex’s residents were being repeated ad nauseam, too .

– ‘Judge of Apocalypse’-nim! Can you tell us the future plans of . . . . .

– Call me by my name when in public, please . Han Su-Yeong likes that stuff . I don’t .

– Hey, Jeong Hui-Won . Wanna die?!

… . I couldn’t remember just how many times I had heard that “Wanna die” by now .

– The true influence behind the ‘Kim Dok-Ja Company’, ‘Han Su-Yeong the Black Flame Demon Empress’ . It is now revealed that, before the apocalypse, she was a famous author . . .

Reading the ticker proclaiming [Genius author’s insight demolishes the Final Scenario!], I could seriously re-appreciate the fact that I had indeed reached this far .

-We heard that your representative-nim has become a ‘Myth-grade Constellation’ after defeating the ‘Midday Sun’ . Does that mean our South Korea now has a ‘Myth-grade’ Constellation that can step up to the limelight?

– Incarnations are currently locked in a fierce debate after witnessing the footages of the battle’s final moments . Just what are the true identities of the ‘Outer Gods’?

– Why did representative Kim Dok-Ja-nim suddenly become a blonde?

The battles we fought were broadcast not only on , but throughout Earth as well – from Yu Jung-Hyeok kicking ‘Ra’s’ butt, all the way to us fighting against the lava wave created by the 999th turn’s Outer Gods .

[Constellation . ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’, is quite proud of herself . ]

[Constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’, is turning its nose up . ]

[Constellation, ‘Most Ancient Liberator’s’, lips are twitching . ]

And every one of those scenes was accompanied by an interview with someone .

– You see, me? I recognised that friend’s greatness even back when we were working in the same company . Ng? Just which new employee tries to be the first to go home as soon as time’s up . . .

Department head Han Myeong-Oh? I definitely told him not to do any interviews, though?

He was smiling brightly, his left hand holding onto his daughter’s . It seemed that he had managed to safely rescue his child .

– He was just a regular friend . Mm, well, you know, those types of kids? There’s always someone like that in a class, that type of a person .

Now that some time had passed by, even a person claiming to be my school mate popped up . I began thinking that maybe some managed to survive until now .

… . Those faces that I couldn’t even place a name on .

– Kind, quiet, likes to read a book by himself . . .

Although not technically wrong, that explanation wasn’t right, either .

Some words were quite convenient to use . And those words usually couldn’t explain anything because of that convenience .

The school mate muttered on about the obvious stuff for a while, before excusing himself with a stutter as if he found the camera a bit too much . He probably ran out of things to say .

– About Earth’s saviour, the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ .

Another program started after that with a piece of rather sad-sounding music . It was a specially-compiled documentary .

[Constellation . ‘Goryeo’s First Sword’, is nodding his head . ]

[Constellation, ‘Maritime War God’, is proud of you . ]

While watching the footages, I began recalling the time before the apocalypse . The dreams I had, the things I thought were important, etc .

The fact that all these things came across as distant memories felt very alien to me . Of course, not everything was totally alien, though .

– He endured a painful youth stained by domestic violence, and . . .

Someone suddenly switched the TV off .

“Dok-Ja-ya . “

My mother was standing by the entrance of the reception room .

I smiled nonchalantly while staring at her . “You’re here . “

She nodded as a bout of silence filled the room . I stared at the TV within this silence . The darkened screen reflected both my mother and myself .

A faint aroma of perfume wafted past my nose, making me feel rather strange in the process . Once upon a time, she was the one person I just couldn’t understand .

But now, I didn’t even need to resort to [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] to figure out what she was thinking about .

“I’m fine, mother . Please don’t worry . “

A soft sigh could be heard next .

“I’m sorry, son . “

“But, you haven’t done anything . “

“This time, it . . . . “

“There’s been a lot of interview requests, hasn’t it?”

“They have been declined . There’s no need for you to personally step up . You saving this world or destroying it, it matters not to them . “

The voices from the megaphones were still coming from afar .

I knew very well what my mother was worried about, and what she was apologising for .

“I’m not the ‘Kim Dok-Ja’ from back then . “

I pulled the curtains back on the window, and the cameras pointing at the plaza all shifted towards in my direction .

In the past, I was scared of the cameras; scared of someone looking at me, and terrified of strangers yapping about me in strange languages .

“I’ll do an interview . “

” . . . . . Are you sure about this, son? How about giving it another thought . . . . ?”

“They also have the right to know, you see . “

I switched the TV on again . I saw the news headline pop up on the upper part of the screen .

– What is ’s goal?

– [Industrial Complex] hasn’t revealed the Final Scenario’s contents yet . . .

[A portion of Nebulas are focusing on your next course of action!]

[ wishes to tell the story of your ‘Conclusion’!]

[Great Dokkaebis are summoning you to the ‘Final Scenario’ location . ]

[A portion of Nebulas wish to form an alliance with your . . . . ]

“At 8 o’clock tonight . Please contact both the Dokkaebis as well as the Constellations . “

*

Been a while, but I found and read the first version of the ‘Ways of Survival’; the pure, unsullied version, before the author decided to alter it .

[Currently, both you and your Nebula have acquired the qualification of the ‘Final Scenario’ . ]

[You can enter the ‘Final Scenario’ location at any time . ]

The Final Scenario from the ‘Ways of Survival’ was actually a great war against the ‘Outer Gods’ .

Yu Jung-Hyeok from the original cut the Outer God King’s head off during that scenario and completed his own ‘Conclusion’ that way .

In a certain way, it was rather similar to the ‘Great Apocalypse Scenario’ we had experienced already . Actually, if we were unsuccessful in our quest to stop the Great Apocalypse, then it’d probably go on to become the prelude to the Final Scenario, instead .

⸢The ‘Outer Gods’ that were supposed to become the Final Scenario’s calamities have been sealed away . ⸥

I looked at the three sealing spheres located in the middle of the [Factory] . That’s where the ‘Kings’ that descended to this world was currently asleep . The ‘Living Flame’, the ‘Master of the Sunken Island’, and even the ‘Monarch of the Great Abyss’ – all three of them .

The only one not sealed away was the ‘King of the Silverlight Heart’ who didn’t appear as a calamity .

– We shall watch your Fable until its end .

The 999th turn’s Uriel said that to me during the final moments before sealing herself and her comrades within the [Apocalypse Dragon Sealing Sphere] . She estimated that an incredible aftermath’s storm would ravage them after they willingly went against the agreement with the Bureau and gave up on the positions of the calamities .

[You have concluded the ‘Great Apocalypse Scenario’ in an abnormal manner . ]

[A portion of Constellations are expressing their dissatisfaction at your manner of progressing the scenario!]

[A portion of Great Dokkaebis hold inexplicable animosity towards you . ]

[A small number of Great Dokkaebis acknowledge your achievement of convincing the ‘Outer Gods’ . ]

[Currently, a number of the Wennys hold a favourable view of you . ]

Countless messages continued to rise up in the air even now .

[Hidden scenario – ‘One Single Fable’s’ completion is imminent . ]

[A satisfactory ‘Great Fable’ has been completed due to the latter half of the ‘Conclusion(結)’ . ]

[ is recommending possible names for your final Fable . ]

[Please select the Great Fable’s name . ]

[Depending on your selection, your ‘Conclusion’ will be decided . ]

I still hadn’t picked a name from among the ’s recommendations .

“Kim Dok-Ja . “

Han Su-Yeong entered while pushing open the creaking door .

“How are our companions feeling?”

“About the same . Yu Jung-Hyeok’s a bit injured, but it’s not so bad . The [Life and Death Pill]’s effects are seriously no joke, you know . “

She then proudly boasted that she got herself another pill – which wasn’t like her – before placing that very pill on my palm .

“Eat it if you think you’re about to croak, okay?”

“If only you sounded nicer . I’d have been moved to tears . “

Han Su-Yeong stared at my face with unreadable light in her eyes . This soft darkness was scattering away like a screen of fog between us .

A faint trace of light leaked out from the sealing sphere trapping the 999th turn’s Uriel . Han Su-Yeong’s face glowed warmly under that light .

“I guess this really is the end . “

I nodded my head .

“What was it like, back in the original? The Final Scenario, it . . . . . No, never mind . Things have changed completely from the original, anyway . “

She was right .

We had already ended the war against the ‘Outer Gods’ that’s supposed to be the original novel’s Final Scenario . So, the ‘Final Scenario’ we were about to face should be very different from the original .

“What happens when you complete the ‘Conclusion’?”

“Probably a meeting with the King of Stories . “

“You mean, the Dokkaebi King?” asked Han Su-Yeong . She pondered something for a bit, then continued on . “Are you going to meet that guy?”

“I will . Not right away, but still . “

“What do you mean? Don’t make me worried here . “

There was the sound of knocking, and a faint wind blew across us . One of the Complex’s residents peeked his head through the open gap of the door Han Su-Yeong had left behind .

“Representative-nim? We have a guest, sir . “

A guest?

[It’s been a while, descendant . ]

An old-fashioned tone of voice greeted me . An unexpected existence came to visit, as it turned out .

” . . . . Pungbaek?”

*

Heaven’s wind god, ‘Pungbaek’ .

Only then did I remember what my mother told me earlier . She said that I should meet up with Pungbaek before I entered the ‘Final Scenario’, didn’t she?

[Descendant, your choice was reckless . Letting the ‘Outer Gods’ live is no different than you embracing the calamity itself . ]

… . Did he show up here to spout more kkondae-like rubbish?

Pungbaek must’ve found my actions not to his liking, because he began a lengthy sermon at my expense . Such as, the young ones looking down on scenarios nowadays, us not being serious about the scenarios, etc, etc . . . .

“Excuse me, grandpa?”

[I don’t have the time to waste, so I shall get right to the point . Descendant, you might find yourself in great danger once you enter the Final Scenario . ]

“Great danger?”

[I say this because I’ve been observing your methods for a very long time . ]

He spoke as if he knew just about everything I was planning to do in my future . Han Su-Yeong next to me cackled as if she was greatly amused by this . I shot her a glare and asked Pungbaek .

“Just what is it that you came here to tell me?”

[ can lend you aid, descendant . ]

I ended up frowning without realising it . I now could figure out why he was here . This dude, even until the end . . .

“I don’t need it . You probably will demand some kind of nonsensical payment, anyw . . . . . “

[We don’t need things like that . Witnessing the birth of a ‘Myth-grade Constellation’ from the Korean Peninsula is more than enough for us . ]

I couldn’t help but doubt my own hearing just then .

[You’ll find ’s founding gods among the Myth-grade Constellations in the Final Scenario . If your situation turns for the worse, ask them for their aid . If you’re genuine in your request, they should be compelled to make a move . ]

” . . . . Have you come here to tell me that?”

Pungbaek expressionlessly stroked his beard and replied . [Correct . ]

“I’m a bit moved, actually . “

Pungbake lightly coughed to clear his throat, then his body scattered away in winds .

[I’ve conveyed everything I wished to say . Let us meet again in the Final Scenario . ]

Less than a blink later, only the chilly wind remained there .

Han Su-Yeong piped up, sounding somewhat bemused . “He’s really coy, isn’t he? How adorable . “

“Well, he was a good Constellation back in the original, so . “

“I guess we do have some allies, then . Your life wasn’t in vain, man . “

I’d be happy if that was truly the case .

[Constellation, ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’, says she’s also here . ]

[Constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’, argues that only the bad companions can be true comrades, and . . . . ]

[Constellation . ‘Most Ancient Liberator’, is . . . . ]

I looked up at the sky and smirked a little .

Han Su-Yeong spoke up . “You, you grinning that unlucky grin again . It’s almost 8, so get ready . People are waiting for you . “

I nodded before heading to the upper levels of the [Factory] . I could hear the murmurs coming from the interior . All manners of media houses, Dokkaebis, and Constellations were waiting for me .

Before I could make my entrance to the press conference venue, though, one of the Complex’s residents stopped me .

“Excuse me, representative-nim . Preparations aren’t finished yet . “

… . Now that I thought about it, since when did people of the [Industrial Complex] start calling me with that title?

Didn’t they used to call me the ‘Demon King’ all this time?

“I ordered them to call you that . You being called Demon King-nim every single time kinda made me feel like we’re this world’s enemies or something . “

“Well, sure, I guess . . . . . But, uh, Seol-Hwa-ssi, is this really necessary?”

Before I knew it, I was pushed down on a chair . And then, my lips began quivering from the sensation of a soft brush tickling my cheek .

The focused Yi Seol-Hwa replied seriously while painting my face . “You’re supposed to be our representative, so we must ensure that you look presentable first . “

“Your words hurt in a variety of ways, you know . “

My companions were watching us from nearby as if they had found something quite entertaining . I felt like a monkey in a zoo .

Han Su-Yeong fidgeted around with my hair from behind and asked me . “By the way, will you remain as a blondie forever?”

“No, it’s because of the Great Sage’s Status seeping into me . I should go back to normal in a little while . “

“Your hair is really soft, though . “

[Constellation . ‘Most Ancient Liberator’ says that his hair is the result of an extensive, arduous training regime . . . . ]

“It’s finished . “

Yi Seol-Hwa finished painting me in an instant and spoke while placing a mirror before me . Although it was a bit embarrassing to say this myself, a man handsome enough to ponder whether to slap Yu Jung-Hyeok’s cheeks or not was staring back at me in the reflection .

I sneaked a glance to my side, but my companions weren’t saying anything . Several steps away, Yu Jung-Hyeok was glaring at me with eyes implying how unimpressed he was .

“Kim Dok-Ja . “

I nodded, put my coat on, and placed the [Unbreakable Faith] on my hips . With the exception of the formal business suit underneath, this was my regular combat outfit, through and through .

“Let’s go . “

We entered the press conference venue . Countless stars and cameras were now looking at me in this wide-open outdoor venue .

Near-blinding rays came down from the spotlights above . My companions and I were being projected on a giant holographic panel .

Loud cheerings came from the residents of the Industrial Complex . What accompanied the outpouring of their cheering were the stories of those waiting for me .

[The absolute majority of Constellations are focusing their attention on your decision!]

[The absolute majority of Constellations are curious about the name of your final Fable!]

Those that worry about the safety of the Korean Peninsula, and Constellations that were curious about this planet’s future .

Those who were scared of what lay waiting in the Final Scenario, and those who worried about their own survival .

Beings who were concerned about the power we possessed and were trying to take it away .

Those saying why we chose to appear only now, and the Incarnations pleading with us to take them to the ‘Final Scenario’ . . . .

[Constellation, ‘Demon King of Salvation’, is starting his story . ]

As the countless questions flooded in, my Fable made a move . The skies wavered and the ground quaked – when the Status of a Myth-grade Constellation was unleashed, the entirety of the Peninsula seemed to sink into a pit of silence . Every single one waiting for my answer looked at me .

I slowly opened my lips .

[Everyone . ]

And then, I began my story .

[I have no thoughts of saving you . ]

Fin .