Episode ■. Dumplings Made by Others - Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

Episode ■: Dumplings Made by Others * This side story contains significant spoilers for the main story of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. Readers who haven't finished the series should take note of this. * “When is your birthday, mister?” He could no longer recall the first time he heard that question. Was it during the second round? Or perhaps the third? At some point, he decided no longer to answer such questions. He thought that knowing his answer wouldn't help those who asked. Yet, there was a time when he did give an answer. “August 3rd.” “August 3rd? Are you sure?” “That’s the agreement we reached.” The child frowned. “An agreement? Who decides a birthday like that?” He began to polish his sword. The child had a point; no one decides their birthday in such a manner. But was that detail truly important? “Who did you make the promise with?” “It’s not something you need to know.” “Was it with a woman?” He glanced at the child with a slight frown. From afar, Kim Namwoon chuckled, his face brimming with amusement. He had a good idea of what was going on. * As the wheel of time turned, many memories faded away. Some were crushed between the gears, while others were thrown in by Yoo Joonghyuk himself. However, some memories didn't disappear. For instance, the memory of when he first learned the sword from the Sword Saint. “Back again? You’re persistent.” The Sword Saint looked down at Yoo Joonghyuk with disdain. Holding a sizable smoking pipe in her mouth, she scrutinized his face with a haughty expression before blowing out a puff of smoke. “It’s not the disciple recruiting period. You can't become my disciple.” Yoo Joonghyuk silently brought over the paper that was posted. <Disciples Recruited Year-Round>. The Sword Saint frowned. “It says year-round, but that doesn’t mean anyone can join.” “I am not just anyone.” “Indeed, you might prove useful with such a face, so I could work you as a slave if you’d like.” “Teach me your martial arts.” The audacious tone in Yoo Joonghyuk’s voice made the Sword Saint quickly scan his entire body. Then she clicked her tongue and muttered. “Even if I taught you, you’d never learn.” “Are you deciding without even giving a chance?” “My martial arts aren’t for small fries like you.” “I am not small.” “And it’s not meant for men.” While speaking, the Sword Saint waved her pipe in the air. Though it seemed like a random movement, Yoo Joonghyuk sensed profound technique in the trail of smoke. “You can’t become as strong as me by learning my martial arts.” “You can’t know without trying.” “Why are you so fixated on my martial arts?” Yoo Joonghyuk slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes burning fiercely. “Because it’s the last remaining ‘true martial art’ in this Murim.” It's not that Yoo Joonghyuk didn't attempt to learn other martial arts. He went to the Namgung family, where the Sword Emperor was said to reside, and to the Zhongnan Sect, who claimed they could cut even the setting sun. But they were all charlatans. No genuine martial arts remained in this <First Murim>. The techniques once called martial arts were standardized into [Skills], easy enough for anyone to learn with [Skillbooks]. However, Yoo Joonghyuk knew. Mediocre skills can't extinguish the stars in the sky. “I need the power to kill a constellatory being.” A human who could slay a Constellation. Those beings known as Transcendants by the <Star Stream>. Among them, the mightiest stood right before him: the Sword Saint. The Sword Saint sighed lightly and spoke. “Defeat him, and I’ll consider it.” The growling beast, the Heavenly Dog, blocked Yoo Joonghyuk’s path. * Reflecting on it, that was the monotonous start to their master-disciple relationship. After finally snatching the Heavenly Dog’s food dish, Yoo Joonghyuk received his first task from the Sword Saint: “Cut 30,000 times.” “You can’t cut 30,000 times a day.” “30,000 cuts are nothing. There’s someone who’s thrusted ten billion times over 40 years.” “Stop lying.” “First, we need to work on your language.” While getting spanked, Yoo Joonghyuk thought. Is this really the path to becoming stronger? Yoo Joonghyuk was punished daily. So passed a week, then a fortnight. “How many thrusts have you done?” “About ten thousand.” “And cuts?” “Twenty thousand.” “I told you to do twenty thousand of each.” “Don’t spank my backside.” Yet again, Yoo Joonghyuk was spanked. Despite only a few hits, the pain felt as if he’d been spanked twenty thousand times. And so a month passed, then two. In short, Yoo Joonghyuk never learned the [Razing Sword Path]. What the Sword Saint did with Yoh Joonghyuk, whom she let call himself a disciple, was mostly lounge on the porch admiring his sculpted muscles, assigning basic training, or sending him on bizarre errands. “When will you teach me the sword?” “Go to Cheongcheon Peak in the <Second Murim> and fetch me the White Spirit Herb.” Yoo Joonghyuk climbed Cheongcheon Peak with all his might, hunted by the Nine Sect Clans. He crossed swords with the Taoists of Wudang and Kunlun, slipping off cliffs in the rain several times. In the end, Yoo Joonghyuk succeeded in securing the White Spirit Herb. “I’ve brought it.” “Oh, just place it over there.” “Why did you ask me to get this?” The Sword Saint looked at the refreshing scent emanating from the White Spirit Herb with a satisfied smile. “It purifies the air.” “Will you teach me the sword now?” “There’s been a sighting of Jang Bodo in the <Fourth Murim>. It’s the ‘Hidden Realm of the Scholar’. Enter the realm and retrieve the elixir left by the scholar.” “What?” Beside him, the Heavenly Dog barked, “Woof woof.” The Sword Saint said, “This little one’s body is a bit weak these days, so I must feed him some elixir.” Yoo Joonghyuk set out on the road to find an elixir for a dog. Given the name <Fourth Murim>, he assumed only weaklings would be present, but the experts of <Fourth Murim> were formidable. Especially those ranked among the top ten masters—they were beyond Yoo Joonghyuk's ability to handle at his current level. Encountering a top master and returning was actually a fortunate event. “Go to the Demonic Cult of <Third Murim> and get the Eternal Cold Ice. It’s been too hot lately, and I lack the motivation to teach martial arts.” During his visit to the Demonic Cult, he nearly died. He met the leader known as ‘Heavenly Demon,’ and even if all ten of the top masters gathered, they couldn’t defeat him. And this ‘Heavenly Demon’ was merely the Heavenly Demon of <Third Murim>. According to the Sword Saint, the true Heavenly Demon was several times stronger. “Go to Shaolin and steal the Great Rejuvenation Pill. Be wary of those monks.” Yoo Joonghyuk had heard of Shaolin’s reputation. Yet, he regarded it simply as a place where monks gathered. Having already faced top masters and the Heavenly Demon, he thought no monk would be a match for him. But thinking that, he let his guard down, and a monk’s surprise attack left him shaved and confined in a penitent chamber for three months. He barely managed to escape and steal the Great Rejuvenation Pill, but breaking through the Eighteen Arhat Formation was nearly fatal. “It took you a while this time. And what happened to your head?” Yoo Joonghyuk’s bald head was the handiwork of Shaolin’s greatest monk. Fortunately, his losses weren’t in vain. He had also learned Shaolin’s [Hundred-Pace Divine Fist]. In this manner, three months passed, six months, and then a year. His hair grew back quickly. During this time, Yoo Joonghyuk overcame multiple life-threatening errands. It was arduous enough that he considered regressing to start everything anew. The <Star Stream> was vast, filled with masters. How much stronger did he need to become to see the end of this excruciating scenario? Occasionally, he would impulsively challenge the Sword Saint with his sword drawn. He nearly died. The Sword Saint was someone even the greatest masters, including the divine monk and the Heavenly Demon, could not defeat. Yet, despite having his backside thoroughly beaten, Yoo Joonghyuk was content. After all, his master was stronger than even the divine monk and the Heavenly Demon. “Why did you decide to teach me in the first place?” “Because you're good-looking.” “What does that have to do with anything?” “An opportunity to smack the backside of a handsome guy doesn’t come often.” Another year passed. During that time, Yoo Joonghyuk encountered, fought, and vanquished many masters. Due to his growing reputation throughout <First Murim>, the fame of the Sword Saint had also risen significantly. “I’m the one defeating the masters, but your reputation increases. I don’t understand.” “The world recognizes the shadow of an exceptional master.” “A master is someone who provides teachings.” “Now that you mention it, you haven’t been pestering me to teach you the sword lately.” The Sword Saint chuckled and sat on the porch as usual. As the young ladies from the noble families who always came to watch Yoo Joonghyuk train slowly left, the cool night air settled in. Two years passed since Yoo Joonghyuk had come to Murim. Panting, the Heavenly Dog came up to the porch and lay beside Yoo Joonghyuk’s leg. A dog stronger than him. Moreover, since it began its training earlier, it had become his senior disciple brother. After consuming the secret pill of the Scholar and the Great Rejuvenation Pill, the dog had developed the strongest internal power in Murim. “Woof woof.” Yoo Joonghyuk sighed softly and petted the dog's back. The Heavenly Dog wagged its tail contentedly. The gentle sound of water trickling nearby could be heard. In the grass, crickets chirped. Yoo Joonghyuk exhaled quietly. The leaves of the White Spirit Herb swayed, spreading the cool chill of the Eternal Cold Ice. The heat of the day receded as night arrived. The night sky of Murim was beautiful. “Share a story about yourself.” Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have started talking just because his shameless master asked. He was always vigilant and seldom spoke of himself. Perhaps he started speaking because he believed this life was a lost cause anyway. Or it might have been because of the soft fur of the Heavenly Dog brushing against his thigh. Or perhaps it was because the Sword Saint’s playful smoke rings in the night sky amused him. The noise of the chirping crickets and flowing water was so loud, and the cold stars in the Murim sky were so dazzling, that he might have mistaken that no one would listen to his story tonight. For whatever reason, Yoo Joonghyuk opened his mouth and began a rambling narrative. He spoke of the day he first participated in a scenario. Of starting to regress and reliving the world over and over. Yoo Joonghyuk rambled on about a story that nobody could understand. Whether or not the Sword Saint listened didn’t matter. Yoo Joonghyuk simply wanted to talk for once, and there was someone there to listen. Like a tree that had lived for many years, the Sword Saint listened to his story. The only indication that she’d heard him was the shimmering eyes of wisdom in the gentle night air. Eyes of wisdom, capable of understanding the emotions of others. Those eyes neither consoled nor blamed him, providing Yoo Joonghyuk with an inexplicable comfort. And how long did it last? Finally, Yoo Joonghyuk finished his story. The Sword Saint pondered briefly before speaking. “You’ve seemed like someone without parents from the start.” Yoo Joonghyuk thought for a moment and asked. “Are you insulting me?” “You always looked like someone who fell straight from the sky.” Yoo Joonghyuk quietly looked up at the sky. Perhaps the Sword Saint’s words weren’t so far from the truth. In truth, he didn’t know his parents’ faces. “When is your actual birth date?” “I don’t know.” “No one ever told you?” Yoo Joonghyuk nodded. Of course, he had a designated ID number. But he knew that it wasn’t his real birthday. “All I know is that I was born in the summer.” The fleetingly beautiful sky of Murim. Somewhere at the brilliant end of the <Star Stream>, there had to be a being responsible for creating all these scenarios. “Why do you want to become a transcendental being?” Yoo Joonghyuk wordlessly gazed up at the sky. The Sword Saint also looked at Yoo Joonghyuk's sky. Sometimes, simply gazing at the same place conveys unspoken emotions. The Sword Saint slowly rose from her seat and drew her sword toward the sky. It was a beautiful sword movement. Delicate yet powerful, elegant yet restrained. The way her sword extended toward the sky seemed to break it open. Was it an illusion? It felt as though stars were falling from the sky she slashed. Yoo Joonghyuk watched, entranced by the falling stars. Even knowing it was an illusion, he couldn’t avert his eyes. How long did he stare at the fireworks-like display of lights, scattering so beautifully? Somewhere in between, the Sword Saint had returned with a small package in her hand. “Eat it. It’s my favorite food.” Steam wafted invitingly from the bag. Yoo Joonghyuk frowned. “I don’t eat food made by others.” “I went out of my way to get this for you. Eat it.” “No.” “Let’s see. Today is…” Amid the radiant summer starlight, the Sword Saint's sword traced the numbers eight (八) and three (三). “From today, this is your birthday, disciple.” * It would have been nice if that was the end of the birthday-related memories. But as always, the <Star Stream> does not favor happy endings. Exactly one year following the summer night fireworks. A hot and humid summer. It was the night of a raging storm. “Master.” The Sword Saint was under attack by the combined forces of the Heavenly Demon and the Blood Demon. Thousands of top-tier fighters had died, and the Sword Saint fought alone against the Returnee’s Alliance to protect her Murim. Yoo Joonghyuk ran through the air, carrying the collapsed Sword Saint on his back. Both he and the Sword Saint knew her wounds were beyond recovery. “Sword Saint!” Despite Yoo Joonghyuk’s call, there was no response from the Sword Saint. After laying her in a safe house, Yoo Joonghyuk poured every elixir he had collected into her mouth. These included the White Spirit Herb, the Scholar’s Elixir, the Great Rejuvenation Pill... But the Sword Saint’s aura only grew weaker. The myth of the Sword Saint was breaking. Yoo Joonghyuk cursed. Please. The being that seemed as large as a forest. She too was merely a tree. A tree that fell when storms and lightning struck. Perhaps he should have turned back time. If he regressed now, if only to save his master... If time were reversed, the Sword Saint as he knew her would vanish. Slowly, his master opened her eyes, looking at him. Her large hand cupped Yoo Joonghyuk’s cheek. “Disciple.” “I still haven’t mastered the Razing Sword Path.” “You already know it.” The Sword Saint was aware of Yoo Joonghyuk’s talent. His demonic ability to learn and absorb everything he observed, even from over the shoulder, had already allowed him to grasp the basics of the [Razing Sword Path]. Yoo Joonghyuk shook his head. “You promised to make me a transcendental being. That you’d help me kill Constellations, that I’d be able to shatter this <Star Stream>…” Without you, I can't become stronger. I... “Joonghyuk.” His master’s eyes were on him. “You are already stronger than I am.” Yoo Joonghyuk’s shoulders trembled. He was about to protest. “You’re refusing to become stronger than me.” Yoo Joonghyuk’s head slowly dropped. His breathing became ragged, fingers twitching involuntarily. He’d forgotten this feeling in the past year’s peace. Everything seemed to be repeating again. “Sword Saint, I—” “I know.” The Sword Saint’s large hand covered Yoo Joonghyuk’s head. As if she truly understood him, she smiled faintly. “My handsome disciple. I hope you don’t relearn the Razing Sword Path.” His master’s words echoed in his mind. Perhaps he never should have sought the Sword Saint. Perhaps he shouldn’t have tried to learn the Razing Sword Path. Perhaps coming to Murim was a mistake. “I wish you could lounge leisurely on the porch, eating dumplings made by others.” She knew what he intended to do. She understood which skies he wanted to break with her [Razing Sword Path]. That’s why she hadn’t taught him the sword. She hoped, somehow, he would give up. “But you’ll go fetch the White Spirit Herb again. Even knowing why I sent you, you’ll insist on doing it.” That’s why she assigned those arduous errands. “You’ll tackle the Scholar’s Hidden Realm, steal the Eternal Cold Ice and the Great Rejuvenation Pill over and over again—until you’re twenty-nine, until you reach maturity.” Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands shook. He wanted to say something, but no voice came out. The Sword Saint continued to speak. “I will ask you for your birthday, unaware of anything. People will celebrate when you turn twenty-nine, when you reach maturity, not understanding what it means to you…” As if gazing into the distant future of her disciple repeating the same time once more, the light faded from the Sword Saint’s eyes. “But don’t hate people too much, disciple.” He was a regressor. A being who walked alone, remembering all the times he lived. “They’re just happy you were born.” Watching his master’s hand slowly slip away, Yoo Joonghyuk lifted his head. Once again, he looked up at the sky of the <Star Stream>. Even with just one pair of eyes less gazing at the same sky, the stars there appeared different than usual. Yoo Joonghyuk slowly rose from his seat. Just as a tree grows by receiving light and water, myths grow by consuming tragedy. In the scenario, humans only grow stronger by losing something. The night in Murim was no longer beautiful. Yoo Joonghyuk grasped his sword, and in that moment, was truly born. At that moment, he was neither a Constellation nor a star. Yet, to the Constellations far in the universe, Yoo Joonghyuk shone like a bright star. In this way, Yoo Joonghyuk became a Transcendent. * With the bright rays of light, the video ended. Sitting on a park bench, [41] muttered as they both watched the recording. “Did I have a memory like this?” The Secret Schemer slowly shook his head. Though he had the long-standing habit of revisiting life by borrowing the memories of minor Yoo Joonghyuks, this was the first time he witnessed such a memory. “Is there a memory even you haven’t seen? Aren’t you a Yoo Joonghyuk who remembers all ‘Yoo Joonghyuks’?” 【Even I have unknown memories, 41. Just as you have forgotten parts of your own life.】 Upon hearing this, [41] fell silent. The Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st round. He was the only Yoo Joonghyuk across all rounds who couldn’t recall most of his life. As a result, even the Secret Schemer couldn’t precisely know what happened in his life. 【Perhaps it’s a newly observed memory.】 With 1,863 rounds lived, Yoo Joonghyuk’s memories were as vast as the universe. Some memories existed without being recorded. It might sound unfathomable, but the universe itself was constructed that way. Suddenly recalling something, the Secret Schemer pulled out a book from his coat. 『Kim Dokja's Comment Records』 Seeing the book’s title, [41] widened his eyes in surprise and asked. “What’s that?” 【It’s a collection of what he wrote.】 “No, what I mean is, why are you holding onto something like that?” Without a word of response, the Secret Schemer flipped through the pages and paused at a certain spot. 「Author, when is Joonghyuk’s birthday, by the way?」 The Secret Schemer stared at the comment for a long time. Was Kim Dokja’s comment left before or after the Sword Saint declared his birthday? It was then that a message alert chimed. —Boss. You’re coming at 8 today, right? Everyone’s waiting. Attached to the message was a photo. It depicted Lee Ji-hye, her cheeks dusted with flour, making a V sign while seemingly making dumplings with others. Next, Kim Namwoon scowled, while Lee Hyunsung looked flustered holding a burst dumpling. Uriel shaped a dumpling into a massive sheep. At the photo's edge, a hand that appeared to belong to a teenage boy was visible. The Secret Schemer texted back: —I don’t eat what others make. The reply came swiftly. —Even this? Lee Ji-hye had sent a picture of an enormous dumpling as big as a person’s head. A size no human should contemplate eating, defying even his broad-ranging tastes. On the dumpling, written clumsily in what seemed like ketchup, were the wobbly words. Dumplings Made by Others The Secret Schemer stared at the picture for a while before typing his response. —That’s why I don’t eat things made by He paused there and hit the backspace, deleting the unfinished sentence. Watching this, [41] chuckled softly. The lingering image of [41] slowly dispersed and merged into the Secret Schemer. Silently, the Secret Schemer stood up. The sun had nearly set. Glancing at the clock, it was already 7 PM. Normally, it would mark the beginning of the scenario’s paid phase. However, no matter how long he waited, the scenario did not begin. Beside the blinking clock, digits displayed the date. August 3rd. A solar calendar day that had no connection to him. The sun was not his patron star, and naturally, the solar calendar was not his time. No one lived the same time as he, nor could they. Yet, those who remembered him claimed today to be his birthday. By now, that fact did not sadden him.