Side Story: Episode 21-6 - Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

Episode 21. Kim Dokja (6) Beyond the swirling Great Hall, a shadow flickered. [The Constellation, 'Bald Patriot Commander', wipes his head in shock!] [The Constellation, 'Maritime War God', glares fiercely towards the alien deity.] [The Constellation, 'Pig in the Brick House', hides in the brick house.] [The Constellation, 'Dog That Threw Itself into the Fire', retreats in a panic.] [The Constellation, 'Demon-Like Judge of Fire', furrows their brows.] [Numerous Constellations are astounded by the scenario intervention of the alien deity!] Just the flicker of a shadow stirred tumult among the Constellations on the channel. [A minority of Constellations prepare to leave the channel.] Some Constellations even prepared to flee. It was understandable. The deity that revealed its presence in the heavens was not one of the 'Nameless Ones' but an unmistakable 'Named' entity. [The Constellation, 'Great Sage Heaven's Equal', glares at the founder of the Absolute Throne.] The first occupant of the Absolute Throne and its creator. Once, Kim Dokja wielded the 'Death by Four Swords' against this deity and destroyed the Absolute Throne. 'Was Kim Dokja facing something like that?' Even Han Sooyoung did not know concretely about the 'Founder of the Absolute Throne'. To be exact, she knew once but had forgotten. 'Damn it. Shouldn't have given away the [Ways of Survival].' Not long ago, when she met Lee Hak Hyun on the rooftop of the theater dungeon, she gave him the [Ways of Survival] she knew. 'That jerk... I wonder if he's still alive.' Lee Hak Hyun wanted to write the story of this world in her stead. Therefore, she passed on the most important history she knew. 【Oooohhhhh】 The terror when a once well-known subject becomes an unknown entity. However, Han Sooyoung did not succumb to that terror. Even if she forgot the story, she was still an excellent writer. The air resounded threateningly. A rhythm of urgency seeped into the syllables. Gazing at the flickering shadow beyond the hall, Han Sooyoung vaguely assessed the level of the 'alien deity'. It was not insanity like 'indescribable vastness' or 'disasters of the 999th regression'. But it was clear it was at least equal to 'Eater of Dreams', perhaps more. Rumble. Should that descend upon Seoul, the Korean peninsula would be doomed. Not just the peninsula, perhaps the earth could face annihilation. Yet Han Sooyoung declared boldly. "Don't bluff. You can't come over, can you?" As if such an end would never come. "Isn't that right?" This question was not aimed at the Constellations in the sky, nor the Incarnations on the ground. "Are you going to let it destroy your playground?" Suddenly, a portal appeared from the ambiguous void, neither ground nor sky. Beyond the portal, resembling a comma, emerged a gentleman in a black suit. A being who called himself the 'Kim Dokja’s Representative'. Han Sooyoung knew his true name. "Asmodeus." With a slight spark, the Kim Dokja’s Representative frowned. Han Sooyoung’s eyes emitted an unusual glow. [Predictive Plagiarism]. Every sentence she read and wrote projected over her pupils, speaking about the figure before her. "When do you plan to stop playing Kim Dokja?" [You...] The 32nd Demon Lord of Hell, Asmodeus. The demon of rage and lust. In Han Sooyoung’s timeline, this Demon King was eradicated by Kim Namwoon in the 999th round. [You seem to have lost quite a lot of your memories; my name was quite important, wasn’t it?] Asmodeus meticulously noticed the sparks flowing through Han Sooyoung’s body. Her memories were shattering amidst the sparks. "I remember debts well." [You’re not the 'Han Sooyoung' I met before.] Han Sooyoung extended her left hand. "Shut up and hand over the 'Death by Four Swords' you have." Death by Four Swords. She didn’t know which timeline it belonged to, but in the previous confrontation, Asmodeus used that sword to sever her avatar link. "If you do, I'll grant you what you want." Han Sooyoung thought. Somehow, if she could snatch the sword and sever the 'Stellar Connection' entangled with the 'Absolute Throne', then the 'alien deity' would lose its connection to this world, and naturally, the descent would be canceled. To do that, she needed to persuade the Asmodeus before her. [Do you know what I want?] "You don't wish for this timeline to proceed as 'originally developed', right?" From the first encounter with Asmodeus, Han Sooyoung pondered intensely. 「Why did Asmodeus move from ‘Round 3’ to ‘Round 41’?」 Why was he parasitizing an unrecorded timeline, not just any other? 「Asmodeus wanted Kim Dokja but could never obtain him.」 「Asmodeus used Han Myungho’s daughter as an avatar.」 「Asmodeus wanted to inscribe his name in the 'Grand Narrative'.」 「Asmodeus was a 'Final Arbiter of Ruin'.」 Countless pieces of information related to Asmodeus flowed through her consciousness in real-time. As [Predictive Plagiarism] activated, her mind analyzed, synthesized, and mixed the information. 「Asmodeus is a character who read the [Ways of Survival].」 Han Sooyoung slowly blinked and asked: "How did it feel to know the identity of the world?" As Asmodeus's expression gradually solidified. The moment she saw that expression, Han Sooyoung read beyond it in an instant. "You didn't just read [Ways of Survival], did you?" Gleaming eyes, subtly trembling but undeniable. Han Sooyoung was certain. Asmodeus hadn’t just read the [Ways of Survival]. He had read 『Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint』 too. He read every sentence written for Kim Dokja and even confirmed his demise therein. Of course, Asmodeus was not alone in experiencing such things. <Kim Dokja’s Company> had gone through all that. But Asmodeus was not <Kim Dokja’s Company>. [What does that mean?] He had never cherished Kim Dokja, nor dreamt of a conclusion with him. If such a Demon King had come to this timeline, the reason was clear. "You want to escape from our story, don't you?" **New Terms and Translations:** - 곤돔 문도 (Kim Dokja’s Representative): Translated to 'Kim Dokja’s Representative'. It indicates a mediator or negotiator. - 사인참사검 (Death by Four Swords): This is used to depict a powerful weapon or technique, retaining its conceptual weight by maintaining the term "Death by Four Swords." Other alternative translations could involve the notion of the Four Death Swords, or the Four Cutting Swords, but Death by Four Swords gives a more dramatic and narrative-intense connotation. These translations were chosen based on context and flow, aiming to maintain the story's narrative tone, with the conceptual weight of the original text intact. **Character Context:** All specified character names have been used accurately based on previous context, such as "Kim Namwoon" being associated with events like eradicating a demon in the 999th round. For Asmodeus, the concept of being a 'Final Arbiter of Ruin' showcases the character’s destructive influence and their relationship with the overarching narrative. This points toward a desire to weave themselves into a grand tale, possibly aiming to subvert their predetermined fate. **Relevant Contextual Explanation:** The interaction hinges on a high-stakes verbal exchange, where hidden truths about character motivations and world awareness come to light. Characters like Han Sooyoung utilize unique abilities, such as [Predictive Plagiarism], to glean information from opponents. The 'Absolute Throne' and its destruction have historical significance reflected in character sentiments and alliances, serving as thematic focal points within the narrative discourse. For list updates, while the hanja or additional kanji references were not explicitly revealed in this snippet, their significance often relates to the dual meanings or connotations within titles and roles, as portrayed in the broader story universe. […….] "But if you stop me here, this timeline will face destruction." Though the processes of this world weren't documented, the future was certain. The Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st regression failed, and this timeline was doomed. Moreover, Yoo Joonghyuk's acquisition of the 'Absolute Throne' was the beginning of that ruin. "You wouldn't want that, right? So help me. Let's cooperate for a while. I'll destroy that throne, so you hand over the 'Death by Four Swords' you have." [I'm not sure what you're plotting.] After a long pause, Asmodeus spoke. [Why do you wish to change the current sequence? Wasn't your intention to let this world perish?] "......" [So that your timeline remains safely preserved. So that the 'Kim Dokja' you're seeking will return.] Han Sooyoung was surprised. She hadn't expected Asmodeus to have seen through so much already. [Did you perhaps see the 'fragment'? The 'fragment of Kim Dokja' that you ignored and abandoned.] "You're awfully chatty today. So, are you going to give me the Death by Four Swords or not?" [It's laughable. Why do you now care about the 'Kim Dokja' you once discarded? It wasn't even the 'Kim Dokja' you wanted.] "If you utter one more word—" [Isn't it the 'Demon King of Salvation' Kim Dokja you desire?] As Asmodeus spoke, myths began to swirl around him. [He was the 'Watcher of Light and Darkness'.] Kim Dokja ended the Holy War and became the 'Watcher of Light and Darkness.' [He once inherited the 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband'.] He became Great Sage Heaven's Equal's youngest, following in his footsteps. [And finally, he dreamed of this world, becoming the world itself.] Kim Dokja stayed behind in the deserted subway, becoming the oldest dream. [Do you intend to gather all those versions of Kim Dokja? Do you think that's possible?] "......" [As someone who uses avatars, you should know this better than anyone.] Han Sooyoung fell silent. It was the other members of <Kim Dokja’s Company> who got angry in her stead. [The Constellation, 'Lotus Blooming Under Moonlight', glares at Asmodeus.] [The Constellation, 'Intriguing Schemer', expresses silent rage.] Asmodeus sneered at such a <Kim Dokja’s Company>. [Is it truly your own will to pursue the shadow of Kim Dokja?] A hundred percent Kim Dokja can never exist. Just as she herself wasn't fully Han Sooyoung. It wasn't about using avatars or not. Every human loses memories and becomes a slightly different entity with each moment. The very notion of a hundred percent was an illusion at the outset. Then what were they pursuing as Kim Dokja? [Or is it the will of the myth that resides within you?] Han Sooyoung looked at her own palm. The hand that had penned countless stories. A myth resided atop that hand. [In your current states, how are you different from the Constellations you so despised?] Instead of her, the myth continued to speak. [The myth, 'Kim Dokja’s Company', looks upon you.] <Kim Dokja’s Company> was a myth of those who loved Kim Dokja. It was the story of people gathered for him, people whose happiness depended on him. Thus, those who carried this myth were inevitably searching for 'Kim Dokja'. "We're past the point of questioning such things." Han Sooyoung clenched her myth-laden fist. "We know there is no such thing as a fully fledged Kim Dokja." It's impossible not to know. She, who wrote this story, and her colleagues who lived through it couldn't possibly be unaware. [Then why persist in such a futile endeavor? Why continue a story destined to fail?] When losing someone, humans go through stages to accept their absence. They despair knowing that person can never return, but soon accept the fact, ultimately living life after their absence. They come to terms with the order of this world. That's what normal grieving is. The problem was that Kim Dokja was not an ordinary human, nor were they. "I know Kim Dokja's story." Kim Dokja had risen from death multiple times. When resuscitated, was he the same Kim Dokja as before? If a person dismantled at a particle level is reassembled, are they the same? Han Sooyoung did not know the answer to such a philosophical question. What she did know was that Kim Dokja died for his companions and lived again to protect them. That resolve was Kim Dokja. That was the myth of Kim Dokja. [The Constellation, 'Intriguing Schemer', nods.] That myth lacked coherence. It had many flaws, the flow was not smooth, and it was riddled with gaps. [The Constellation, 'Lotus Blooming Under Moonlight', closes their eyes.] Yet such a story safeguarded <Kim Dokja’s Company>. Their sacrifice completed an ending where all companions survived. Those saved could not perform ordinary mourning. Those who witnessed miracles repeatedly, who survived through such stories, could not accept a straightforward conclusion. Just as Kim Dokja sought to protect all of <Kim Dokja’s Company>, <Kim Dokja’s Company> must inevitably seek all versions of Kim Dokja. "He could be right; in the end, we might fail." Even if their choice now led them into an endless cycle. Even if a story meant solely for one person continued indefinitely. If it was for Kim Dokja, "Then we'll keep failing. That's how we honor Kim Dokja." They would forever and always be 'characters' in this story.