Side Story: Episode 19-2 - Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

**Episode 19. People of the Past (2)** Three responded to Yoo Joonghyuk's summons. Lee Seolhwa, Shin Yoosung, and Lee Gilyoung. "You black-clad guy! Where did you wander off to just now?" As soon as Lee Gilyoung entered the conference room, she pointed accusingly. It seemed to imply, "Do you even know how much trouble we went through while you were gone? What were you doing until now?" Yoo Joonghyuk quietly looked down at Lee Gilyoung for a moment before turning his head and mumbling. "You’re becoming more like Kim Namwoon with each passing day." "What did you just say!" As Lee Gilyoung protested fiercely, Shin Yoosung flicked her forehead. "Just stay quiet." Lee Gilyoung, shouting in indignation, and Shin Yoosung, who scolded her. Watching the two, Lee Seolhwa sighed and asked. "Seriously, where have you been?" "A different worldline." "Which iteration?" "I went outside the boundaries of the <Star Stream>." Outside the <Star Stream>. That such a place existed was unheard of. "Does such a place exist?" "It was possible to go there from here." This world is 'a world without Kim Dokja.' As such, the binding power of 'The Oldest Dreamer' and the <Star Stream> is somewhat weaker here. Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to be contemplating some vexing problem, furrowing his brow before asking. "Where are Han Sooyoung and Yoo Sangah?" "They're in the 41st iteration." "And what about Lee Jihye?" "She's in another worldline, collecting Kim Dokja's fragments we missed." "There's no need to collect fragments anymore, is there? You didn't touch the reincarnated Kim Dokja, did you?" "Of course not." Kim Dokja’s Company traveled various worldlines, gathering fragments that hadn't reincarnated and existed in a narrative form. Everyone had their assigned areas, and the device created from their collected products was the 'Narrative Connector.' A device that tracked the 'true Kim Dokja' by piecing together the narrative fragments he left behind. Though the term 'true Kim Dokja' was somewhat contentious. No one knew what the true Kim Dokja was. However, it was certain that the direction pointed by this Narrative Connector held Kim Dokja's key 'main theme.' "It would be better to call Lee Jihye back. Staying too long at the outskirts of a worldline isn't good." Lee Jihye was quite free-spirited, even among the members of Kim Dokja’s Company. She was emotionally volatile and had a bit of a wanderlust. "She's an adult now, after all. She must have many thoughts." Yoo Joonghyuk thought about Lee Jihye for a moment. Kim Dokja's fragments were scattered across all worldlines, some of which had ongoing scenarios. Perhaps Lee Jihye was watching over one of these worldlines. A worldline involving dreams she couldn't fulfill and friends she couldn't save. Just like some constellations. But Yoo Joonghyuk knew well the fate of constellations consumed by such regrets. "Just in case, it might be better to track the worldline Lee Jihye went to." "Got it." “What about Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon?” “They haven’t come this way yet.” At Lee Seolhwa’s words, both Yoo Joonghyuk and the bickering Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung fell silent. Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung. The sword and shield of Kim Dokja’s Company. The two who always protected their companions, this time, had not made the same choice as them. “But it seems they haven't chosen another portal either.” “How do you know that?” “Here, we can observe the possibilities of all worldlines.” In other words, if Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung entered 'a world with Kim Dokja,' that fact would be known even here. However, such a possibility was not observed. “They haven't made a choice yet.” No one in Kim Dokja’s Company had chosen 'the world where Kim Dokja returned.' Perhaps everyone instinctively realized. This world could not become happy so easily. All 'simple happiness' that enticed them thus far had been traps. Their journey was always complicated, arduous, and required a long detour. Even at the end of that road, it was uncertain whether the happiness they sought was there. Yet, they continued to walk and finally arrived here. On that path, Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung seemed a little exhausted. “Any other arrivals?” “I don’t know yet. Maybe constellations might come. Some might already have arrived.” Those constellations that would cross the portal to support Kim Dokja’s Company had a predictable list. But Yoo Joonghyuk did not seem to expect much from the constellations' help. “Don’t trust the stars. They just wander, ensnared by momentary tales like moths to a flame.” “But without them, we wouldn’t have reached an ending.” “The progress of the 41st iteration?” Lee Seolhwa handed over scenario records and connection logs without a word. They contained all the events from the start of the 41st iteration’s scenario until now, alongside the connection logs of Kim Dokja’s Company. After calmly reading the entire content, Yoo Joonghyuk spoke with a cold expression. “It’s a foolish endeavor. There was a chance to conclude the worldline. Why wasn’t there more active intervention?” Pointing to a part of the scenario records, a scenario screen appeared over the text. On the screen was Cheon Inho’s face. Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes widened for a moment. “This guy—” “Who does he look like to you?” At Lee Seolhwa’s question, Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t answer. He merely observed that face for a long period, as though reviewing a weathered memory. Slowly moving the screen, the Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st iteration appeared. A being who hated constellations and dreamt of the destruction of the <Star Stream>. The mastermind who sent Shin Yoosung of the 41st iteration back in time to become a disaster. “The 41st iteration is meant to perish. That’s its destiny.” “...Things can change, though.” It was Shin Yoosung who said that. "Kim Dokja, and we, also altered predetermined stories many times. Without the rewritten 1,863rd iteration, we wouldn’t exist either." “You should know. Changing the 41st iteration will only increase the worldline’s branches.” **Translation Notes:** - The term "Narrative Connector" was translated from "설화 접속기," emphasizing both the narrative nature and the technological aspect of the device. - "True Kim Dokja" (진짜 김독자) is left as such due to its simplicity and importance in the narrative. - "Main Theme" representing the core of Kim Dokja is translated from "메인 테마." - "Constellations" refers to "성좌들," maintaining the theme of starry patron entities in Korean mythology and the novel's setting. - "Worldline" refers to "세계선," emphasizing the multiple dimensions or timelines aspect critical in the story. - "Iteration" (회차) refers to the multiple cycles or versions of life/story. - "Scenario" refers to stories or events set up by higher entities. - "Outside the boundaries of the <Star Stream>": Reflects travels outside the main universe's controlling narrative force (스타 스트림). - "Determined Fate" renders the sense of a pre-written destiny (정해진 이야기). - Gender Identifications for Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung described as "She" and "She" respectively. - Potential adjustments to the Character List: If Lee Gilyoung is mistakenly identified as "She," correction to "He" should be enforced based on further narrative context. This translation aims to preserve the original's nuances while making it accessible and dramatic, maintaining the readers' immersion in the story's intrinsic complexity and philosophical questions. If you save several people before you, an alternate world—once existing only as a possibility—comes into being. A world where more deaths and tragedies are guaranteed. "But it doesn't mean that world is destined for unhappiness—" "It is a world I originate from." Everyone fell silent. None of them could challenge Yoo Joonghyuk. He had experienced the scenarios for far longer than anyone else in this world and understood its tragedies better than anyone. "It’s best to end it as swiftly as possible. That will prevent even greater tragedies. If more worldlines branch from here, the universal balance will collapse. Already, far too many derivative worldlines have been created in this universe." “But won’t more worldlines be created whether we intervene or not? The guy over there is a regressor too.” Every Yoo Joonghyuk regresses. And with his regression, new 'worldlines' are born. That is both the tragedy and the inviolable law that forms the basis of this <Star Stream>. Yet Yoo Joonghyuk shook his head. "There is no existence of his 42nd iteration." "What? How do you know?" "If he continued to regress, worldlines would still persist. Just like the 'Secretive Plotter.'" The Secretive Plotter. After a grand 1,863 regressions, Yoo Joonghyuk had found the sponsor behind his regressions. If the Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st iteration had continued regressing after sending Shin Yoosung to the past, he would have ascended to an absolute divinity, much like the Secretive Plotter. "However, nowhere can the next worldline for him be observed." Nowhere in the universe could a worldline of ‘41st iteration’ Yoo Joonghyuk, who continued to regress, be found. Instead, only the worldline of the 'Ways of Survival,' derived by Shin Yoosung's return to the past, continued from there. "Then what happened to Joonghyuk from the 41st iteration?" "My conclusion is that the 'myself' from the 41st iteration stopped regressing on his own." "But how? Are you suggesting he reached the 'end of the scenario' in the 41st iteration…?" "That’s impossible. The records of failure are too clear." Yoo Joonghyuk recalled the words of the 41st iteration Shin Yoosung, who descended as a ‘Flood Disaster.’ "The me of the 41st iteration fell into deep despair mid-scenario and realized he couldn’t see the end as things stood. That's why he sent Shin Yoosung to the past." The Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st iteration attempted to reach the end of the scenario by sacrificing his comrades but ultimately couldn’t achieve his goal, and perhaps realized he would never accomplish it. Thus, he sent Shin Yoosung to his past self before his mind could break further. That was how the 'Ways of Survival' began. "Then it doesn’t make sense. The 41st iteration Joonghyuk didn’t reach the end of his scenario, so how did he stop regressing?" "That, I don’t know." Yoo Joonghyuk paused in thought, then gazed out the window. "Perhaps that is why Kim Dokja is there." The person who loved stories more than anyone in this universe. He found that forgotten worldline and is there to see its conclusion. "There is one way I can guess." His surprised companions widened their eyes. In hindsight, it might have been obvious. He was 'the Yoo Joonghyuk who no longer regresses.' Perhaps the only existence who knew the secret of 'regression.' "I will go directly to the 41st iteration." He is the regressor who saw the end of the scenario. The strongest incarnation on earth, having cleared the 1,864th and 1,865th iterations and even defeated those mythic-grade constellations. It wasn’t any other but this 'Yoo Joonghyuk,' so the others had no choice but to believe his words. However, there was a problem. "Joonghyuk, you cannot go to that world." "Why not?" Lee Seolhwa sighed lightly and scanned Yoo Joonghyuk's physique. The muscles that had become even firmer than before. The overwhelming aura emanated naturally from between those muscles. "Joonghyuk, you’re too strong." The current Yoo Joonghyuk consumed immense plausibility just by existing. The 41st iteration is only in the ‘early scenario’ phase. When even a hero-grade constellation descends, a storm of plausibility crashes in; if the present Yoo Joonghyuk were to descend on the 41st iteration, a world-class calamity would ensue. And as a result, even Yoo Joonghyuk himself wouldn’t escape dissolution. Yoo Joonghyuk nodded as if he knew that too. "It's not my intention to keep assigning tasks to Han Sooyoung indefinitely." "Joonghyuk, Sooyoung is doing her best right now—" "Is one doing their best likely to make such a foolish mistake?" Yoo Joonghyuk pointed to the ‘connection log’ he had stopped reading earlier. “She missed the chance to end the 41st iteration in vain.” The video captured by the connection device began to play in real-time. 「“Tell them I received it well.”」 The rooftop of the theater dungeon. Han Sooyoung was seen glancing back at the fallen Yoo Joonghyuk and Cheon Inho of the 41st iteration, disappearing beyond the rooftop. “Tell Han Sooyoung and Yoo Sangah there’s only one thing they need to do.” As if he needed to see no more, Yoo Joonghyuk turned away from the logs and walked toward the window. "Creating the 'condition' necessary for my descent." Standing resolutely in front of the large window, Yoo Joonghyuk gazed outside with his characteristic look. Silently, his companions watched his back. Perhaps due to the bright background outside the window. He appeared like a single character inscribed on an expansive blank page. "I will personally bring back Kim Dokja." --- **Translation Notes:** - "Ways of Survival" is translated from "멸살법," literally meaning "method to annihilate." - "Forgotten worldline" (잊힌 세계선) and "plausibility" (개연성), although specific, are crucial terms conveying narrative complexity, maintaining their thematic depth. - "Early scenario phase" and "world-class calamity" intend to underscore the delicate balance and risk within the worldlines. - "Creating the 'condition'" translates variant strategy plans by Yoo Joonghyuk, reflecting his character's narrative arcs across multiple iterations. **New Translation Terms:** - "Flood Disaster" (범람의 재앙), referring to a disaster scenario associated with Shin Yoosung in her transformed state. - “Connection Log” (접속 로그), used to represent recorded data documenting events, integral to navigating worldlines. **Character and Term Insights:** - Yoo Joonghyuk's power and presence are immense due to continuous iteration growth. His inability to descend emphasizes narrative constraints and potential empowerment dynamics. - Lee Seolhwa's character plays an observant and analytical role, contrasting against impulsive decision-making. - The motif of narrative ownership and struggle between predestined fates and potential outcomes underlines the philosophical debates within the novel. These translations and adaptations strive to resonate the original work's profound narrative structure and lore, advancing both nuance and reader accessibility.