Chapter 550

It had been one year and two months since Yu Jung-Hyeok had left on his journey .

The speed of the manuscript being updated started slowing down around the time the third part was nearing completion . Even though the manuscript was still being compiled diligently, there were just too many voids yet to be filled up .

As the chapter number got higher and higher, stories Han Su-Yeong didn’t know of seemed to also increase in number, as well .

“This might prove to be helpful, at least by a little bit,” said Aileen .

If she didn’t extract Fable fragments from the sleeping Kim Dok-Ja, the work on the manuscript would’ve slowed down even further .

[Fable fragment, ‘Great adventure in the Dark Castle’, has been successfully extracted . ]

[Fable fragment, ‘Memories of 1863rd regression turn’, has been successfully extracted . ]

[Fable fragment, ‘Gourmet Association Story’, has been successfully extracted . ]

These fragments were stories too small to become Fables . Han Su-Yeong read these fragments and filled in the previously-lacking inside of Kim Dok-Ja . Even then, far too many parts remained empty . She didn’t try to forcibly fill those voids, however .

[Your Incarnation has logged into the ‘Cloud System’ . ]

Yu Sang-Ah asked . “It looks like Jung-Hyeok-ssi is doing well . “

“Well, he’s probably busy scaring the living daylights out of the poor webnovel authors,” replied Ham Su-Yeong .

“I’m curious about what other authors are like . Surely, not everyone is like you, Su-Yeong-ssi?”

“Well, no, not everyone’s like . . . Hey, did you come here just to grind my gears?”

“The author in question may not even be a person when I think about it . It could be a highly-developed AI, or . . . . “

Han Su-Yeong reluctantly nodded her head . Indeed, the universe was vast and lots of writers existed out there . And also, writers who got a beating from Yu Jung-Hyeok should be plenty, too .

In any case – judging from how timely the revised manuscript was being downloaded, that dude must’ve been doing his job properly so far .

But then . . .

[Your Incarnation is revising the manuscript you have written . ]

” . . . . What??”

*

[… . Captain, what are you doing??]

“I’m fixing the incorrect portion . “

Yu Jung-Hyeok was in the midst of revising the updated file in real-time while logging into the [Cloud System] . Originally, it was impossible for an Incarnation like him to revise a file updated to the [Cloud System], but . . .

[Your attribute’s effects are activating . ]

[You can now revise the ‘Cloud System’s’ manuscript . ]

[Revision of the already recorded contents requires a great amount of Probability!]

But, it became possible to do so from some time ago . He couldn’t quite remember just when it started, but it might have been when the attribute related to writing sleeping inside him began manifesting its powers . Maybe it had bloomed into life after acquiring the Fables of the ‘Outer Gods’ .

[… . Won’t Han Su-Yeong get really angry?]

“Even if it’s her, she wouldn’t have known every story there is . Some parts especially were in a total mess . “

While saying that, Yu Jung-Hyeok tapped away on the holographic keyboard . Biyu seemed rather impressed by this scene and spoke up .

[Oh . . . Captain, your grammar is better than I thought! Since you liked swinging swords around every single day, I figured you wouldn’t even know the difference between a knight and a night but this . . . . ]

It was right at that moment that Yu Jung-Hyeok’s cursor suddenly began jumping around all on its own .

[Constellation, ‘Architect of the False Last Act’, has revised the latest file . ]

Strange words were suddenly typed over the space where Yu Jung-Hyeok’s cursor had been just now .

⸢Hey, you just messed with my manuscript, didn’t you?! Do you really want to die that badly??⸥

… . So, there was such a way to communicate with her, then .

Yu Jung-Hyeok calmly typed the following sentence .

⸢This is because you failed to store the manuscript properly . ⸥

⸢What bulldust are you spewing now??⸥

⸢There were incorrect parts in the manuscript . I’ve left my opinions on the file, so confirm them yourself . ⸥

After typing that, Yu Jung-Hyeok took another look at the parts he had changed .

⸢Yi Gil-Yeong wearing the black coat looked down arrogantly at the world with his star-like sparkling eyes and spoke up . “Hey, you sooty bastard . You’re so weak . ” – Do you really think this part even makes any sense?⸥

⸢Yi Ji-Hye emitting noble ripples of energy like rushing torrents of a massive river began swinging her sword . “Water the Sky Sword Door, True Body Deep Righteousness Slash Technique, Water the Sky Destroy the Emperor Slash!!” – There is no such sword technique in the Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship . Also, all the Hanja letters are incorrect . ⸥

Han Su-Yeong was silent for a moment there .

⸢ . . . . What the hell, I don’t remember ever typing these sentences before? Wait, these haven’t been published yet, right?⸥

⸢There are still some time left until the update, so fix them quickly . ⸥

Yu Jung-Hyeok could pretty much figure out what happened here .

⸢Seriously, those two . . . With my notebook PC . . . . ⸥

Undoubtedly, Yi Gil-Yeong and Yi Ji-Hye must’ve changed the scheduled update file without Han Su-Yeong’s knowledge .

Biyu observed the sentences hurriedly being revised before their very eyes and spoke up . [Looks like you two have become quite close . ]

“We’re merely communicating like this for the purpose of the mission . “

Judging from how the revised version continued to be updated, Han Su-Yeong must’ve been hard at work trying to reconstruct Kim Dok-Ja’s story in the most preserved, complete state .

This novel would become divorced from the reality they had to live through when more and more parts of it were filled up via dramatisation or imagination . As their goal was to recover Kim Dok-Ja, this story had to reflect the reality they had lived in .

[As long as this is a story, it’s impossible to perfectly recreate something . Every story would be distorted by the narrator, after all . ]

“I’m aware of that . It’d be the same even if Kim Dok-Ja himself personally wrote it . “

Yu Jung-Hyeok thought about something related to that for a moment or two . If it was impossible to restore the complete ‘Kim Dok-Ja’ no matter which story you wrote, then just what was the existence called ‘Kim Dok-Ja’, in the first place?

Yu Jung-Hyeok shook his head .

Back then or even now, no one could know that . Well, no one in this world knew who they were exactly, after all .

He looked at Han Su-Yeong’s manuscript . Those who had forgotten about themselves were probably reading her work right about now . They should be reading this sentence over here, then afterwards, read the one over there next .

What Yu Jung-Hyeok and Han Su-Yeong wished from them was just one thing – wishing for a ‘happy ending’ that they didn’t know to become real within someone’s imagination .

Wishing for the world they had never witnessed before to safely exist somewhere out there in this universe .

[Constellation, ‘Architect of the False Last Act’, has revised the latest file . ]

⸢By the way, Yu Jung-Hyeok? Just how many years have you been wandering . . . . ⸥

[Error has occurred in the ‘Cloud System’ due to incorrect usage!]

[Due to the storm of Probability’s aftermath, the Stigma will temporarily shut down . ]

It seemed that using the manuscript in this fashion was pushing it a little too far .

Yu Jung-Hyeok slowly raised his head and looked at his face reflected on the ark’s window . He could see subtle little premature grey hair spots here and there on his head .

[Captain, it’s not even 100 years yet . ]

“I’m aware . “

[The time moves really slowly, doesn’t it?]

Her voice passing them by indifferently caused Yu Jung-Hyeok to falter just a little . Biyu still in the form of little furball was staring at the passing scenery of the Dark Stratum outside with an unreadable expression on her face . Suddenly, he became conscious of her being Shin Yu-Seung in her previous life once more .

⸢”Did you know, captain? Did you know that I had to endure incredibly difficult years so that I can grant your request?”⸥

She was an existence who had to wander the world-lines as a lost, forgotten being for thousands of years just to pass on the information to the past regression .

Yu Jung-Hyeok’s lips parted and closed several times . He eventually managed to squeeze some words out . ” . . . . It must’ve been difficult . “

[Right . It was really tough . I resented you a lot too, captain . ]

The disaster of flood, Shin Yu-Seung . The Dokkaebi King Biyu used to have such a name once upon a time .

[Still, these days I feel relieved to have reincarnated . Because, I got to keep the promise I made with you back then . ]

“The promise?”

[Back when I was still Shin Yu-Seung, you promised me this, captain . You said, we’d go on a trip together after the scenario comes to an end . ]

While listening to Biyu’s voice continue on, he began digging through 41st turn’s memories . Maybe it was due to the memories given to him by the Secretive Plotter, he could just about barely recall some things about that day . Shin Yu-Seung, talking to him about what she wanted to do after the scenario had ended .

The 41st turn’s Yu Jung-Hyeok couldn’t keep that promise .

⸢”Shin Yu-Seung, you’re the last one . “⸥

His companions died one by one, and during the final moments, he sent Shin Yu-Seung away to the outside of the world-line .

The memories from that day – just where did the moments from that day disappear to?

He didn’t know . They could have become the ‘Nameless Ones’ .

“I . . . . “

[Let me say this right now . Don’t apologise . The person who should apologise, and the person that apology is intended for, they don’t exist in this world anymore . ]

She was right . In a way, the person saying it and the person listening right now weren’t exactly the right people . Yu Jung-Hyeok had lost the 41st turn’s life, and he had forgotten most of the memories from that period of history ever since Biyu reincarnated . It was now just an old story that connected them . They thought about that story for a little while .

[Shall we get going, then?]

“Alright . “

All they could do for now was to complete this lengthy journey, and also, to find the suitable intermediary who could deliver their story .

“This time, the married couple writers over there look to be good candidates . “

More than likely, this trip would last for much longer .

But Yu Jung-Hyeok didn’t feel that was such a bad thing .

*

As the serialisation grew longer and longer in length, the number of episodes that couldn’t be filled up only through Kim Dok-Ja’s Fable fragments or interviewing the companions, happened more frequently .

Yi Gil-Yeong grumbled unhappily . “Can’t we, like, just gloss over it like the last time?”

“Since when did I ever gloss over anything? Yi Seol-Hwa, that thing I asked you about, get it ready!”

The moment Han Su-Yeong finished saying that, Yi Seol-Hwa wheeled in a strange device with multiple suction cups connected to it into the hospital room .

Yu Sang-Ah spoke up . ” . . . . Isn’t that the Fable fragment extractor?”

Yi Seol-Hwa nodded her head . “Yes . And from now on, we’ll start extracting Fable fragments from everyone . “

“Our Fables?”

“It’s possible that you aren’t remembering everything, and some could be hidden below your subconsciousness, as well . I’m sure you’re all aware of it by now, but the majority of a Fable is usually accumulated within one’s subconsciousness . “

“Ah, but, it’s kinda embarrassing . . . What if weird Fables suddenly pop out?”

As if she was obviously hoping for that, Han Su-Yeong cut in with an evil-sounding voice . “Hey, Yi Gil-Yeong, Yi Ji-Hye . You two go first . “

That caused the duo being called out to back away while hesitating somewhat .

“Argh, why should I? We already told you everything we know, you know? Right, noona?”

“Of course, of course!”

Completely disregarding whether they did that or not, Han Su-Yeong grabbed and shoved them down on some chairs, before placing the suction cups on the duo’s heads .

Yi Gil-Yeong freaked out . “Ahhh? That feels super weird, you know! Feels like you’re putting a plunger on my head!”

Tsu-chuchuchu!

“Euh-hihiheek?!”

[‘Yi Gil-Yeong’s’ complete Fable has been extracted!]

[Fable, ‘Demon King Fanatic’, has started singing . ]

⸢”Oh, oh~ Dok-Ja hyung said this~ back then . . . . “⸥

“I knew it . Even the name of the Fable has ‘Fanatic’ in it . “

Yi Gil-Yeong didn’t say anything as he slumped on the seat . Han Su-Yeong narrowed her eyes and glared at the boy, before shifting her glare over to Yi Ji-Hye next . With excellent timing, that girl’s Fable had just been extracted, as well .

[‘Yi Ji-Hye’s’ Fable fragment has been extracted!]

[Fable fragment, ‘Natural-born Bender of Facts’, has begun its storytelling!]

“Oh, my? Hey, why don’t you write the novel instead of me?”

Yi Ji-Hye avoided meeting Han Su-Yeong’s glare and whistled nervously .

“You two, touch my manuscript again, and Imma kill you dead . You hear me?”

” . . . . We won’t . “

“Fine . As for the others . . . . “

Han Su-Yeong shook her head grandly and while holding a suction cup, she turned around – only for Jeong Hui-Won carrying a mischievous expression to plonk a suction cup on the former’s head first .

“Ah?! What the hell! Take it off! Right now!”

[‘Han Su-Yeong’s’ Fable fragment has been extracted!]

[Fable fragment, ‘Memories of a Lemon Candy’, has begun its storytelling . ]

⸢”By the way, I’ve been sucking on that, you know?”

“Okay . So?”

” . . . . You can be so boring sometimes . You know that?”⸥

Jeong Hui-Won spoke up in a teasing tone of voice . “Oh-hoh, would you look at that? Our dear author-nim, why did she omit such a delicious scene from the main story, I wonder?”

” . . . . . . . “

“Sang-Ah-ssi, let’s try it out ourselves . We need to extract ours quickly so that our dear author-nim can finish her manuscript . “

While Han Su-Yeong was angrily gnashing her teeth, the rest of the companions put the suction cups on and started with their Fable fragment extraction .

[‘Yu Sang-Ah’s’ Fable fragment has been extracted!]

[Fable fragment, ‘Hard work, sincerity, patience’, has been extracted . ]

” . . . . What the?? Was that your family motto?”

“Everyone should learn from Yu Sang-Ah-ssi’s example . “

[Additional Fable fragment has been extracted from ‘Yu Sang-Ah’ . ]

[Fable fragment, ‘Memories of their first sharp, cold hand-holding’, has been extracted!]

Eyes of Jeong Hui-Won confirming that Fable gleamed a little . It was a Fable she also knew, that’s why . However, there were some people here who didn’t know what it was about .

Han Su-Yeong asked . “What’s this? You held Kim Dok-Ja’s hand before?”

“Mm~ . I’ve completely forgotten about it . There was something like that, wasn’t there . “

“Why did you hold his hand?”

“Are you curious?”

“I need to write the novel, so hurry up and spit it out!”

Next to the duo, Jeong Hui-Won wearing the suction cup on her head smiled at them . “Hey, Han Su-Yeong . It’s not that strange for close comrades to hold each other’s hands, right? Why do you react so . . . . “

[‘Jeong Hui-Won’s’ Fable fragment has been extracted!]

[Fable fragment, ‘I’ve seen the Demon King of Salvation’s Black Flame Dragon’, has been extracted . ]

Han Su-Yeong narrowed her eyes . “Oh, so really close comrades can show each other stuff like that too?”

“Hahaha . . . Well, I think this device has developed some kind of an error . “

[‘Yi Hyeon-Seong’s’ Fable fragment has been extracted!]

[Fable fragment, ‘I’ve seen the Demon King of Salvation’s Black Flame Dragon’, has been extracted!]

Jeong Hui-Won asked, utterly taken back . “Hyeon-Seong-ssi? Why do you also have that Fable?”

“Hui-Won-ssi, have you forgotten? We saw it together, didn’t we?”

“What is it, what is it? What did you two see together??”

When Jang Ha-Yeong began her nagging, Jeong Hui-Won faltered a bit and started mumbling away about some random stuff in a clearly troubled tone of voice .

While the intense scrutiny was focused elsewhere, Han Su-Yeong sneakily left her spot and approached the Fable extractor . For some reason, she seemed deeply anxious . She alternated her gaze between the companions and the extractor with a complicated expression, before cautiously extending her finger towards the device’s power button .

Jeong Hui-Won belatedly discovered that sight and cried out . “Han Su-Yeong, what are you doing?! You better listen well now so you don’t get things mixed up la . . . . “

[Analysis on the additional Fable fragment of ‘Han Su-Yeong’ has been completed . ]

[Fable fragment, ‘I burst Demon King’s Black Flame Dragon by mista . . . . ]

Almost at the same time, Han Su-Yeong switched the device off .

*

⸢”Okay, so . The attack from Jeon Woo-Chi flew into . . . . my ‘that place’, is that it?”⸥

While belatedly typing up the additional contents for the first part, Han Su-Yeong softly grumbled to herself . “Dammit, what a weird event that was . “

Her strange-sounding Fable almost got discovered by the companions .

In any case, she got to write the manuscript largely trouble-free all thanks to extracting Fable fragments from the companions .

Here was a novel she wrote while using the definite information as her foundation while omitting those parts she didn’t know of . At this point, she wasn’t even sure whether to call this a novel or an essay .

“Fuu . . . . “

As the work inched closer to the latter half, the shades of pain began creeping up on the companions’ expressions . The memories of their happier times would eventually end up as the conclusion they had to face .

An ending where all of their effort had turned into nothing more than bubbles, and Kim Dok-Ja failing to return to their side .

Yi Gil-Yeong asked . ” . . . . What meaning is there in writing a tragedy like this?”

“There is some . “

They might have failed in changing anything, but that didn’t mean they had given up .

That fact alone was enough to console someone . Even if that someone happened to be themselves .

And so, around the time when another eight months had gone by, Han Su-Yeong managed to write her way past the fourth and fifth part to reach the epilogue . And as the feelings of liberation and heightened excitement enveloped her, she began to work on the final part of the manuscript .

[The applicable world-line’s system has reached the limits of its senescence . ]

It was also then that something no one could have foreseen happened .

[Every system in the applicable world-line is entering the extinction phase . ]

” . . . . What?!”

[Stigma, ‘Cloud System’, has ceased to function . ]

Fin .