Chapter 531: 531

⸢Once more, one hour before the apocalypse . ⸥

” . . . . Dammit, where the hell am I?”

Han Su-Yeong held her spinning head and hurriedly scanned her surroundings . The last thing she saw was the figure of Yu Jung-Hyeok disappearing within the shower of light . She quickly took a look at her own body .

It was a success .

Her much thinner arms, and muscles that lost their suppleness .

She couldn’t sense any of the Fables she had compiled, the skills she trained in, nor even her Stigma .

However, that wasn’t a problem . They had already thought up of what to do with such issues, when the scenario got underway again . No, the real issue was . . .

“Crap, I don’t have much time left . “

Her smartphone’s battery was almost out of juice, and she couldn’t confirm the wellbeings of her companions at the moment . It was a fortune among misfortunes that she somehow managed to download the locations of her companions from the chat room just now .

” . . . . These guys, they did pretty well without me . “

Just a casual browse-through was enough for her to get a bead on where they were currently with their operation . That wasn’t too surprising, though, considering that she was the one in charge of the operation in the first place .

But then, Han Su-Yeong’s eyes scanning the map of the deployed locations began trembling .

“This idiot . . . . “

She raised her head and looked around her .

Although it could be tight, there seemed to be enough time left still .

*

⸢30 minutes before the apocalypse . ⸥

Yi Ji-Hye’s eyes dazedly staring at the clock was suddenly blocked by a head full of black hair .

“Hey, crybaby . You planning to stay behind for the night classes today?”

“N-no . Uh . . . ng . “

It had already been 28 days since the regression, but she still hadn’t gotten used to that nickname .

‘Crybaby’ .

When was the last time she heard someone call her that?

Once upon a time, she had other nicknames like that . And she had truly returned to such a time .

“Really? I was just asking, but why so suddenly?”

The other girl’s eyes arched as if she was smiling .

For every single day during the past four years, Yi Ji-Hye had never forgotten those eyes . They belonged to a pale-skinned girl somewhat smaller than her . The blouse of her school uniform was missing a button . Her worn-out name tag, where her name could still be found .

⸢When she opens her eyes, the bloodshot irises would be staring right back her . ⸥

Yi Ji-Hye’s trembling right hand was clutching onto the pant leg of her gym uniform .

⸢”Ji-Hye-yah, it’ll be alright . “⸥

Yi Ji-Hye desperately grabbed her trembling hand .

⸢”You must live . “⸥

“Yi Ji-Hye?”

Her friend’s hand approached from the air . Yi Ji-Hye avoided that hand almost as if she was having a seizure .

” . . . . . Ah, sorry . Were you saying something?” She hurriedly asked .

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine . “

“You want to bounce together around seven?”

“We must not!!”

Yi Ji-Hye shot up from her seat and shouted out even before she realised it . Her classmates sitting near her all looked in her direction immediately . She sat back down and spoke again . “We’ll be high school seniors in a little while, right? So we gotta study hard for that . “

” . . . . . Crybaby, you sure you’re not sick somewhere?”

⸢20 minutes before the apocalypse . ⸥

The bell denoting the start of the first night class period went off . Yi Ji-Hye pulled something out from her inner pocket, a small box covered in a crinkled wrapper .

“Bo-Ri-yah . Here . “

“What is it?”

Her friend saw the box and extended her hand . However, before handing over the item, Yi Ji-Hye told her friend in no uncertain terms first .

“You mustn’t open it right now . Okay? Only open it when it’s ten minutes before seven . Understand?”

“You didn’t, like, put insects in this thing, right? You know I’ve got a weak heart, don’t you?”

Yi Ji-Hye momentarily froze at those words . ” . . . . . No, don’t worry . I will definitely make sure you won’t die . “

She finished what she wanted to say and stood up abruptly from her seat . Then, she pulled out a longsword stashed behind the classroom locker . Her surprised friend was still looking in her direction .

” . . . . Where are you going?” Her friend asked .

“Bathroom . “

Yi Ji-Hye immediately left the classroom . With good timing, the teacher in charge was walking towards her .

“Yi Ji-Hye? What are you doing? Go back inside the class! Night classes have begun already! And what are you carrying on your ba-“

“Teacher-nim, are you on duty today?”

It was the ethics teacher wearing the horn-rimmed glasses, with a slender physique and somewhat haggard eyes .

“Teacher-nim, please don’t forget to open the no . 2 locker in the staff room later!”

Yi Ji-Hye slipped past the teacher, but the latter hurriedly reached out to her shoulder .

“What? Where are you . . . Urgh? Why is she so strong . . . Hey! Yi Ji-Hye!!”

Yi Ji-Hye broke into a sprint . She ran down the stairs in an instant, entered the teacher’s staff room and stole the keys to the broadcast studio . She then ran up to the third floor, her heart threatening to explode along the way .

⸢The first scenario of the ‘Taepung Girls’ High’ location began several minutes earlier than other locations . ⸥

That was the reason why Yi Ji-Hye had been deployed in this very location .

While panting breathlessly, she managed to unlock the door to find the rather familiar sight of the studio . The Taepung Girls’ High boasted pretty high-end broadcasting equipment . Not only that, the school was given the authority to make broadcasts to the surrounding regions in case of emergency, as well .

While listening to the voice of the teacher still looking for her coming from downstairs, Yi Ji-Hye pulled out the emergency power source prepared earlier . She then calmly set up the broadcasting equipment .

As she connected the wiring, some memories in her mind also began to get connected, as well .

She used to work here as a crew member, and during the lunch hour, she’d play the music she liked . That was her life .

⸢At least, until the apocalypse came knocking . ⸥

She realised it once more while looking at her still-alive friends . The only person to survive in the classroom on that fateful day was her and her alone .

” . . . Yi Ji-Hye . “

She was startled by the voice and looked back, only to find an unexpected person there .

“Su-Yeong eonni?”

She must’ve been waiting for a while . Han Su-Yeong raised her body up from the darkness and quietly studied Yi Ji-Hye’s face, before speaking up . “You don’t look so good . “

“I’m fine . ” Yi Ji-Hye stayed silent for a little while, then spoke again . “The scenario . It’s going to start, right? Otherwise, I might get suspended later, you know . “

“It’ll start . By the way, you don’t really have start yours from here . You should hurry up and go to another location . Let me take care of this place for you . “

“No . This is where I need to start . ” Yi Ji-Hye smiled . “Because, this is where the ‘wounded sword demon’ was born, after all . “

She then slowly sucked in her breath .

The setting-up of the equipment was finally finished .

⸢Ten minutes before the apocalypse . ⸥

And then, ‘it’ began .

Along with the ‘Ku-gugugu’ noise, the sensation of the world’s ‘nature’ changing could be felt . Then, the sounds akin to drums being ripped apart came from an unknown location . And what came after that was . . . .

[Oh, my . The channel here opened up sooner than scheduled . Ah, ah, can you hear me?]

Yi Ji-Hye looked at Han Su-Yeong . The moment she saw the latter’s face, she knew . Somewhat humorously, they had been living only for this moment .

[There is no need to panic, everyone . Let me say this first of all . This situation, it’s not a film shoot . It’s not a terror incident, nor are you currently dreaming . No, everyone, you’re-]

That was the voice of the Dokkaebi she hated the most .

Screams resounded out from every classroom .

[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Worth has begun . ]

That was the signal to commence with their planned operation .

– Emergency broadcast will now begin .

Yi Ji-Hye’s own voice was coming out from the speakers .

– Everyone, please listen to me . Those inside the classrooms, please open up the cabinet for the cleaning tools, while those in the staff room, please open the no . 2 locker! Hurry!

Yi Ji-Hye knew . Her companions must be making the exact same face as hers about now . Everyone should be witnessing this sight through the display panel the Dokkaebi had brought up .

– There is no need for you to kill each other . At least this time, there is no need .

Yi Ji-Hye thought about her companions . She recalled the promises made to them before coming to this world .

⸢” . . . . At least I want to choose what I kill . “⸥

Shin Yu-Seung wouldn’t start by killing a puppy anymore, and . . .

⸢”I’ll save my aunt . “⸥

Yi Gil-Yeong would get to save the person he detested .

⸢”Rather than going to the army again, I’ll kill myself first . “⸥

Yi Hyeon-Seong would leave the army, and . . .

⸢”I really want to save that grandma from back then . “⸥

Yu Sang-Ah would get to save the person she didn’t .

⸢”The Probability will only allow for one opportunity . Meaning, the ‘Group Regression’ can’t be used twice . ⸥

And Yu Jung-Hyeok would never regress again .

Finally . . .

⸢”During this turn, I won’t become the ‘wounded sword demon’ . “⸥

As the clamour of the school’s interior gradually died down, Yi Ji-Hye opened her mouth once more .

– Everyone, have you all found one for yourselves?

Just like Kim Dok-Ja of the past chucking the grasshoppers to other people . . .

– Everyone, throw those things down to the floor with everything you got!

Along with those words, Yi Ji-Hye broke the ampoule held tight in her hand .

[You have slaughtered a total of 133 lifeforms . ]

[Slaughter breakdown: 133 frog eggs]

[Acquired coins will be halved as you have slaughtered lifeforms lacking defensive capability . ]

[Total of 6650 Coins have been acquired . ]

… .

… . . . . .

… . . .

[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Worth has concluded . ]

⸢Once more, they shall create a story not found anywhere . ⸥

The Dokkaebi in charge belatedly discovered the unfolding situation and appeared before Yi Ji-Hye .

[What the . . . Look here, you! What’s the meaning of this? How can you even . . . . !]

And right next second, a powerful storm of Probability’s aftermath began slamming into the entirety of the scenario . Also, the noises of massive amounts of Coins being sucked out came from an unknown direction, too .

Yi Ji-Hye realised what was happening here .

Tsu-chuchuchuchut!

[Dear Constellation-nims!! This is a misunderstanding! Director . . . No, wait! This isn’t my fau . . . . The Bureau’s inventory . . . Uwaaaah!]

Accompanied by the noises of the channel being disbanded, the low-grade Dokkaebi screamed and disappeared .

⸢7:00 PM⸥

And that was the beginning .

The night skies of Seoul were reflected on the windows of the studio .

She saw the rift opening up on the other side of the sky .

⸢Subway’s third line . ⸥

“Everyone, please stay calm! Grab one of these, and throw it down! Hurry!”

⸢Gwanghwamun . ⸥

“Do not panic, and break the bottles you just received on the floor! Do that and you will survive!”

⸢The hospital . ⸥

“Anyone who didn’t get an ampoule yet??”

Throughout all the locations in Seoul, unexpected events were taking place at the same time .

The prearranged scenario was changing .

[Unbelievable achievements are occurring simultaneously in every location of the scenario!]

[A massive amount of Coins are being taken out from the Bureau!]

The whole of was shivering from the explosion of Coins .

[ is stunned by the sudden upheaval of the scenario!]

[Dokkaebis of the Bureau are freaking out at the excessive amount of Coins being taken out, and . . . !]

[Many Constellations observing the Korean Peninsula are . . . . !]

The baptism of Coins exploding in the air like fireworks – it was the sight of a world coming to an end . Yi Ji-Hye looked to her side and found Han Su-Yeong also looking up at the same skies as her .

As if, she was searching for those who should be looking at them from the night sky .

“Let’s go and save ahjussi . “

Their operation had just got underway .

*

While gasping out rough, heavy breaths, I regained my consciousness .

⸢It was unknown how much time had passed by . ⸥

I slowly tried to move my body . Arms, legs, shoulders . . . without a doubt, the feedback I got had changed a lot from before .

⸢Kim Dok Ja y o u got a lot sm all er⸥

I smiled bitterly and looked down at my shrunken hand . The digits of my fingers had shortened by at least one centimetre compared to the last time I saw them . With a slightly exhausted voice, I asked a question . ” . . . . . How many regression turns have I seen so far?”

⸢7 8 6th tu rn⸥

I had no idea that reading something with every fibre of your being would be this difficult .

Every time Yu Jung-Hyeok and his comrades lived through one regression turn, I too had to live through it .

The second turn, the third, the fourth, and the fifth . . .

⸢Th at is th e des ti ny of th e Most Ancient Dream⸥

I read, and then read again, the Fables created by the countless choices, and I watched various world-lines spun off from them over and over again .

⸢Kim Dok-Ja read the world as if he was walking along a distant beach . ⸥

Fable’s waves rolled in and rolled out . And I gradually lost something of mine every time that happened . When I recalled something abruptly and looked back, I saw my own footprints left behind . Those prints were soon washed away by the incoming waves, and after staring at the disappearing traces, I’d resume my walk forward .

Whenever I recalled the fact that I was gradually forgetting things within this flood of Fables, I began thinking about the regression turn I lived in . And then, the happiness of the people who should still be living there .

If I did . . .

” . . . . . Uh?”

The tips of my hands were trembling .

I suddenly couldn’t remember the regression turn number I lived in . I unknowingly looked behind me, but the only things remaining there were Yu Jung-Hyeok’s past regression turns .

⸢And what remains at the end, will be the desire to see the ‘next story’ . ⸥

I looked down at my hands, now much smaller .

What was waiting for me at the end of this long, long journey?

⸢Kim Dok-Ja recalled the ‘Most Ancient Dream’ he saw during the Final Scenario . ⸥

Would I eventually become the ‘Most Ancient Dream’ I saw back then?

Would I lose all of my memories and become a giant mass of unconsciousness that dreamt of an infinite universe?

⸢He didn’t want to end up like that . ⸥

I needed to think . I needed to remember .

When I came to, my hand was clutching onto my smartphone out of an old habit . This small world protected me whenever I became too anxious and too nervous .

The black screen, its battery having lost its charge a long time ago, reflected my face .

I crafted a simple Fable and used it to operate the phone . That prompted a familiar wallpaper to pop up . And that’s where the novel that started all of this was .

– Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World (final version) . txt

Until now, I deliberately avoided reading this final version .

I was scared that, if I read it, something somewhere would become set in stone . I didn’t want the future my comrades were supposed to live in to be decided by a story written by someone else .

⸢However, shouldn’t it be okay now?⸥

The ’s story had ended, and my ■■ had been decided, as well .

⸢If I read this, wouldn’t I be able to remember all those that I’ve forgotten?⸥

I still didn’t know who tls123 was .

And that’s why I was curious .

What did the author write on this ‘final version’?

What was the conclusion the author came up with?

And this story, where and how was it supposed to end?

I slowly sucked in my breaths and extended my shrunken finger towards the text file .

Just like that day when I first began reading the ‘Ways of Survival’ .

⸢And so, that’s how Kim Dok-Ja’s last reading session began . ⸥

Fin .