Chapter 535

[ is looking at its creator . ]

Her eyelids soaked in fatigue slowly closed . As she drifted into the languid sea of unconsciousness, Han Su-Yeong listened to the Dokkaebi King’s voice .

“Please, rest now and sleep, my noble god . “

And on the next day, the ‘Ways of Survival’s’ final chapter was completed .

*

⸢ . . . . Three ways to survive . I’ve forgotten a few . But one thing’s for certain . That is . . . . ⸥

After she finished typing the very last sentence, Han Su-Yeong kept her eyes closed for a very long time . She knew a day like this would eventually come . But now that it was finally here, it didn’t feel real to her at all .

Her lengthy serialisation had finally come to an end .

When she slowly looked behind, the Dokkaebi King was standing there just as she suspected . With a pair of deeply-moved eyes, it was staring at the computer monitor .

“Hey, you,” said Han Su-Yeong .

“Yes, my god . “

“Can’t you, like, not do the paid service?”

“Dear god-nim, even if I don’t, the story will commence regardless . “

Han Su-Yeong could only smile bitterly at the Dokkaebi King speaking like a stubborn devotee .

The daylight was breaking outside the windows . The sun would rise, and when it was time to set again, the apocalypse would come to visit this world .

⸢And then, Kim Dok-Ja’s story will begin . ⸥

” . . . . . And I’m destined to disappear, right?”

Tsu-chut, chuchuchut . . . .

Her Fable, what little remained of it, wiggled slightly . There were some stories that might not seem all that excellent or special, but still required an untold sacrifice to complete . To her, the ‘Ways of Survival’ was one such novel .

[Your existential Fable is in a precarious state . ]

If the future about to unfold was correct, her ego would soon disappear into the main body’s vast, boundless subconsciousness . And only after the main body learns the [Avatar] skill would she be reborn with a tiny bit of the old memories . And then, get to live the 1863rd regression turn .

⸢If that’s indeed the case, what did my life exist for?⸥

Han Su-Yeong dazedly approached the window . The light grew brighter beyond the pale-naked skies, and the stars were receding away .

[[Everything has already been written, and at the same time, still being written . ]]

The ‘Outer God’ who sent her to the 1863rd turn said that to her . A universe of repeating cycle . And in this universe, the result birthed the cause, and the cause would eventually become the result .

In order to create a complete story, the result rejected the cause, while the cause devoured the result in order to exist . The moment she understood that vast, mysterious rule, Han Su-Yeong began thinking that this world resembled a chessboard . A chessboard that pursued the highest degree of completion, ruled by a certain gigantic ‘will’ with an unknown origin and form .

Even if she was the creator of the apocalyptic scenario, wasn’t she merely another chess piece, a ‘knight’, in this chessboard of the universe?

While sensing the waves of sleepiness crashing in, she slowly got up from her seat .

[Your mental power has reached its limit!]

Han Su-Yeong fought against the horrifying level of tiredness, fumbled around to put on some clothes, and left her room . The hour was still very early, but the people waking up early should be getting ready to go to work round about now . The Dokkaebi King was following after her .

She addressed the King while not even bothering to look back . “You worked hard trying to edit the novel until now . “

“If you go outside, you’ll die . “

She already knew that . Because, the sun was rising .

Han Su-Yeong looked up at the break of dawn and spoke . “My role’s already finished, anyway . You’ll take care of the rest from now on, right? It’ll be the end when you hand over the text file to him on the designated time . I wrote that revised version too, the one we talked about, just in case . But . . . that’s incomplete, so you decide what to do later . “

“But . . . . “

“It’s been over ten years . ” Han Su-Yeong glared at the Dokkaebi King several hand-spans taller than her . “Can’t I do what I want at least once?”

The reason why she came to this world – it was to meet Kim Dok-Ja she ran into back in the 1863rd turn one more time .

She leisurely warmed her muscles, and started jogging .

⸢Han Su-Yeong imagined Kim Dok-Ja, on his way to work at Mino Soft . ⸥

She heard news from the Dokkaebi King every now and then, and there were also the comments Kim Dok-Ja himself had written . And that’s how she knew a lot about him .

– Author-nim! I’ll be living by myself starting this year!

– I’m now living near this place . And it’s really weird reading about it in a novel .

– Have you heard about Mino Soft? It’d be nice if your novel gets a game version, too . Maybe I should suggest it to the . . .

She knew when he became independent from his tragedy, and from where he started dealing with yet another tragedy . And also, in what shape or form this new tragedy appeared as .

[The main body’s ego is trying to wake up from her dream!]

[Warning! Your self-regulated activity period has ended!]

[Further exercising of control will cause your ego to . . . . ]

Han Su-Yeong ignored the messages and continued to run . She ran, and ran again until she could barely breathe . She ran hard, the words Kim Dok-Ja wrote the only things occupying her thoughts .

– Author-nim . I don’t remember how many times I’ve said this before, but . . .

Those words . . . she’d forget them all .

[Your actions are in serious violation of the Probability . ]

She’d forget the memories of the 1863rd turn .

And she’d also forget the fact that she wrote a certain novel, as well .

[Your Fable is disappearing . ]

She’d forget that a story existed just for its sole reader .

However, even then, even if she forgot everything . . . .

⸢Han Su-Yeong’s running slowly came to a halt . ⸥

There he was . A man who existed only as texts for a long, long time ever since that day she last saw him in the hospital’s emergency ward .

⸢In the distance, Kim Dok-Ja was walking forward . ⸥

That was the exact same face of Kim Dok-Ja she remembered .

The man who came to her 1863rd regression turn . The man who she wanted to see again . The detestable man with his own brand of ass-kissing . The man who lied really easily . The man who she enjoyed being around, since they could lie about something together and snicker among themselves .

“—-“

The man, who didn’t remember her .

“—-!!”

Her voice didn’t want to come out . She couldn’t tell whether it was because she was choking up, or the control of her body was slipping away from her .

Han Su-Yeong staggered and walked closer to Kim Dok-Ja . Several passersby brushing past her looked back in suspicion .

Kim Dok-Ja was now walking down the subway’s steps .

Kim Dok-Ja, with earphones stuck in his ears and reading something on his phone while walking downstairs .

She knew what he was currently reading .

“—!!”

She barely managed to shout, but her voice still didn’t come out . So, she desperately chased after him .

– Because of the story you wrote, author-nim, I was able to survive until now .

Han Su-Yeong was also able to survive while reading the sole reader’s words .

She managed to write the next part of Yu Jung-Hyeok’s life through them .

She was able to endure her boring and stuffy teen years, the days she never wanted to go back to, thanks to those words .

– This train is bound for . . .

She spotted Kim Dok-Ja standing on the platform, waiting for the next train to arrive . A person hiding within the small world crafted out of letters to protect himself was standing right there .

Kim Dok-Ja, who didn’t know anything about the apocalypse about to happen .

Kim Dok-Ja, who’d get to live on the expansive world of the ‘Ways of Survival’ .

Kim Dok-Ja, who’d get to meet the protagonist he so longed to become .

Kim Dok-Ja, who’d become the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ .

Kim Dok-Ja, who’d sacrifice himself multiple times for the sake of his companions, and as a result, came to the 1863rd turn and met her .

Kim Dok-Ja, who was destined to become the ‘Most Ancient Dream’, the price he paid for loving a certain story too much .

[Your mental state is crumbling!]

[The main body’s ego is regaining its control . ]

[Your Fable is being extinguished . ]

Her legs grew heavy, and her arms didn’t want to move anymore . Her body was gradually becoming not hers .

Even then, Han Su-Yeong wanted to tell him .

⸢To tell him that he was definitely not at fault for this story being born . And to tell him that the things he was about to experience were not his sins . ⸥

Because, her past 13 years existed solely to say those words to him .

⸢To say that, though you have grown up while reading this story, there’s no need for you to become it . ⸥

She barely managed to reach out, the tips of her hand touching Kim Dok-Ja’s shoulder .

[Your ego will convert into the ‘subconsciousness’ . ]

Kim Dok-Ja felt that sensation of touch on his shoulder and looked behind him .

However, the incoming waves of commuters heading to work swept him up, and he got pushed into the subway, instead .

And after the crowd had left, only Han Su-Yeong and her dazed expression remained on the empty subway platform .

” . . . . . What the hell? Why the hell am I standing here??”

Han Su-Yeong tilted her head, before scratching her hair hard while wondering out loud, “Did my sleepwalking flare up again??”

She confirmed the time with her smartphone and exploded in irritation . “Son of a . . . And I haven’t even finished writing today’s chapter, too!”

… .

… . . . .

… . . . . .

… . . .

[Fable, ‘Predictive Plagiarism’, has plagiarised your lost memories!]

… .

… . . . .

… . . . . .

… . . . . .

Tsu-chuchuchuchu . . . .

“Han Su-Yeong?”

Tsu-chuchu . . . .

“Han Su-Yeong!!”

She heard someone call out to her among all the terrible ringing in her ears .

“Han Su-Yeong!”

And right next instance, a powerful impact landing on the back of her head helped her to regain her wits . The pain emanating from the back of the head was hellish . She already knew which fool would hit her so mercilessly like this .

“Jung-Hyeok-ssi!! What are you doing, hitting her so hard like that?! You could’ve killed her right as she’s waking up!”

Han Su-Yeong slowly raised her head and discovered Yi Seol-Hwa supporting her, as well as Yu Jung-Hyeok and his massive scowl . Also, the other members of , too . Jeong Hui-Won, Yi Hyeon-Seong, Shin Yu-Seung, Yi Ji-Hye . . . Companions, currently covered in dust from head to toe .

Han Su-Yeong intently stared at them as if to study each and every one present . Eventually, her gaze shifted over to Yu Jung-Hyeok . ” . . . . . I think I now know how you felt back when you finally recalled the 0th turn . “

“What rubbish are you talking about now?”

” . . . . . I remember . “

Han Su-Yeong looked around here and there as if it still didn’t feel real to her yet . Then, she slowly looked behind her . That’s where the field covered in dense fog created out of letters could be seen . That was the gateway they passed through just now, and also, the hurdle where she nearly died, as well .

Yi Ji-Hye checking out Han Su-Yeong’s complexion asked . “Eonni, are you really alright? You were mumbling some incoherent stuff about going somewhere to sign a contract for a novel and stuff . . . . “

[Fable, ‘Predictive Plagiarism’, has stopped its storytelling . ]

Han Su-Yeong looked down at her own trembling hands .

Why did these memories return to her only now?

… . No, hold on – were they even real, to begin with?

⸢Once upon a time, she wrote a certain story with these very hands . ⸥

Faint memories that were still overflowing with vividness .

Han Su-Yeong organised her thoughts in a sequential manner – why she was here, what had happened so far, and what she needed to say now .

“I’m . . . . . the ‘Ways of Survival’s’ . . . . “

Han Su-Yeong barely managed to breathe in a couple of times, and just as she was about to open her mouth again, Yu Jung-Hyeok abruptly cut her off . “Stop wasting time with unnecessary remarks, and let’s head out . “

She raised her head after hearing those words .

[Main Scenario has been updated!]

[‘Final Scenario’ will now commence . ]

Even as she stared at the scenario messages unfolding before her very eyes, everything still didn’t feel real to her . But, she knew why those messages were floating around in her vision, though .

⸢The companions had broken past the 99 scenarios once more . ⸥

” . . . . Why are you acting so dazed like this?”

This was the tragedy that she set in motion . And the very people who faced this tragedy head-on were extending their hands towards her .

“Let’s go, Su-Yeong-ssi . “

Yu Sang-Ah lightly tapped Han Su-Yeong’s back and took the lead .

The backs of her companions walking ahead of her were murky, cloudy .

This was impossible . This was not something you could pull off because of your desire to save someone else .

Even then, they still did it .

In the far-off distance, the wall of letters covering up the end of the world could be seen .

The ‘Final Wall’ .

The companions exchanged knowing glances and began pulling out their weapons one by one – and simultaneously, the roars of the Constellations came from afar .

Yu Jung-Hyeok watching this scene unfold also unsheathed his [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword] . “That fool is beyond that wall . “

The Dokkaebis from the Bureau were blocking their path, and the Dokkaebi King’s figure could be seen guarding the Final Wall itself . Han Su-Yeong slowly sucked in her breaths and got up from her spot .

It truly had been a lengthy story . And finally, its ending was right before her eyes .

⸢They have finally reached the conclusion she had written . ⸥

Fin .