My gaping mouth wouldn’t close.

10 to 0?

Seriously? You got a 10-to-0 contract out of that Bihyung?

When I looked up at the air, Bihyung was sweating bullets with a troubled face. He seemed to be talking with someone, and it was obvious who the other party was.

―The talk’s over. You know we’re the 10, right?

A hollow laugh slipped out.

Right.

Kim Dokja was this kind of person.

‘What on earth did you do?’

He had brought me to the very center of the battlefield, opened a Stream channel, renewed the <Stream Contract>, and lured the stars into this channel.

[A considerable number of constellations are watching your actions!]
[You have received a sponsorship of 300 coins.]

All of this happened in not even five minutes.

―Ready?

I once again felt exactly who I had contracted with.

He was once the prodigy of this <Star Stream>.

A demon king who mocked, despised, or else saved the stars.

“Yes.”

I had five minutes of life left now.

I’ll say it again, I wasn’t afraid.

And now I understood why I wasn’t afraid.

[Constellation, ‘Demon King of Salvation,’ is with you.]

Maybe I had been waiting for this moment all along.

―Let’s start the comeback stage.

When I sprinted with everything I had, Strength at 70 condensed and piled on acceleration.

[Tale, ‘Dogged Martial Master,’ begins its story.]

The Tale of the Ark wrapped around my hand, and more mature magic power drew blue arcs in midair.

With a densely connected trajectory, the ghouls’ necks popped «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» off like toys.

[Constellation, ‘Greatest Sword of Goryeo,’ nods at your rapid progress.]

Somehow, handling the Tale felt more familiar than before.

Was this also the backer’s influence?

Grrroooaaaar!

Far away, an enraged Dragonkin unleashed a blood-red breath with a howl.

[Rank-5 monster dragon species, ‘Variant Imoogi Brachy,’ prepares ‘Breath’!]

A variant imoogi.

It was a monster type that hadn’t appeared in the main story.

―It’s literally just an imoogi. Strictly speaking, it’s not a proper ‘dragon.’

But I had Kim Dokja with me.

―Its breath pattern is vertical. Judging by the markings on its back, it’s a lesser vassal of a fire dragon and an earth dragon. The breath will probably have rock chunks mixed in.

[Rank-5 monster dragon species, ‘Variant Imoogi Brachy,’ uses ‘Breath’!]

Indeed, big chunks of hail were mixed between the incoming breaths.

Watching the incoming fireballs, Kim Dokja calmly kept explaining.

―The flames are clumped around the rocks, so just dodge the big ones and you’re fine. Keep your eyes open, and—ever played a rhythm game?

‘I get what you want to say.’

―From now on, pretend you just entered that game.

It was ridiculous nonsense, but I actually did it.

I bent at the waist in time with the incoming hail, and the small chunks I couldn’t avoid, I burst by sweeping with [Protective Gang Qi]. Even with heat exploding right in front of my nose, I didn’t avert my eyes.

I felt like I could do it.

―Now, next!

The moment I kicked off the ground and sprang up on his cue, I happened to meet Jeong Heewon’s eyes in the air as she was dodging the breath.

“Inho?!”

Before the startled Jeong Heewon could shout anything after seeing me, I pointed behind her.

“Heewon! Behind you!”

The tail of a Rank-4 earth dragon species, aiming for an opening, came down vertically toward Heewon. It was an attack with no discernible angle for evasion.

―Don’t worry.

At the same time as Kim Dokja’s words, a dazzling aura erupted from Heewon’s entire body.

[Incarnation ‘Jeong Heewon’ activates ‘Hour of Judgment’!]

An ultra-powerful skill that manifests overwhelming combat power against monsters.

Only the ‘Judge of Extinction’ could use [Hour of Judgment], and it had shown its efficacy.

“Hold tight!”

Grabbing my hand, Jeong Heewon made an abnormal movement in midair and dropped to the ground.

As the monster dragon’s tail skimmed dangerously past her side, Heewon let out a breath and, still clutching my wrist, shouted,

“When did you even wake up—no, more importantly, why are you here! Do you even know what the situation is—”

“Let’s talk about that later. Heewon, if it’s you right now……”

Glancing at the Rank-4 earth dragon species that had withdrawn its tail and was glaring our way, I continued.

“Can you handle that one?”

No matter that Kim Dokja was with me, with my current specs hunting a Rank-4 monster species was impossible.

But it was different if it was Jeong Heewon.

She was a specialist in hunting great monsters.

With [Hour of Judgment] activated now, she might be able to fight even against a Rank-4.

“If it’s just that one, our odds aren’t hopeless.”

“The other one is the problem.”

I spoke while looking at the charging Rank-5 monster dragon species.

“I’ll take the Rank-5. You take the Rank-4, Heewon.”

“Wait, you can’t just—”

“You know better than anyone what matters more right now. If we don’t kill them, everyone here dies.”

At my words, Jeong Heewon hurriedly looked back.

Sergeant Kim retreating to the rear with Jeong Eunho on his back. And the group of Bang Cheolsu protecting him.

Furrowing her brow, Jeong Heewon let go of my wrist and said,

“I’m going to grill you with questions later.”

She dashed straight at the Rank-4 earth dragon species. The earth dragon, as if it had been waiting, swung a massive forepaw at her.

A split second later, an eardrum-splitting boom erupted. An impact that would have smashed an ordinary incarnation flat into the ground.

But Jeong Heewon endured it.

Grrroooaaaar!

Her physical specs had risen dramatically while breaking through the Seventh Scenario. Add [Hour of Judgment] and [Madness] buffs to that.

At this point, she wouldn’t lose ground even if her opponent were Yu Joonghyuk of the 41st round.

I called to Kim Dokja in my head.

‘Hey, Mr. Kim Dokja.’

I knew it was a fight so gripping I couldn’t tear my eyes away, but there were still things to do.

―Ah, sorry. Got a little nostalgic.

Nostalgic.

It wasn’t hard to imagine the kind of thoughts the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ Kim Dokja would have while looking at Jeong Heewon.

‘Except I’ve got exactly three minutes of life left right now.’

―Don’t worry. You won’t die here.

‘Do you have to say it in such an ominous way?’

The Rank-5 monster dragon species, having reorganized its offensive, charged at me again.

Rank-5 was the kind of monster that, forty-five days ago, we couldn’t kill even by swarming it with the readers.

We had had to buy time using the ‘Labyrinth Warden,’ have ‘Uncle Dansoo’ die once, and I had to risk my own life to finally hunt it.

Could I kill that kind of monster by myself?

―Strictly speaking, that one isn’t catastrophe-class. At least it can’t use a ‘party wipe’ move. Those only trigger during catastrophe scenarios.

‘Not having a party-wipe doesn’t change that it’s strong.’

―With your specs now, it’s enough. We’re short on time, so let’s go swift and decisive.

I nodded.

Even without being told, what I needed to do was vividly clear in my head.

―Sylphid’s Leaping Boots.

[Special option ‘Leap’ activates.]

In an instant I vaulted up along the monster dragon’s torso.

―Now.

When I activated the ‘Blade of Conviction’ through ‘Thoughts,’ the strike, further sharpened by [Leap]’s acceleration, drove into its spine.

The feeling of the blade going in was clearly different from during the Fourth Scenario.

No doubt thanks to my massively increased physical specs.

Gyaaaargh!

But a hit like this wasn’t enough to bring it down. I needed a more decisive blow.

―[Sentence Enhancement] with [Agitation]. You know it?

The combination of [Sentence Enhancement], which amplifies actions, with [Agitation]. One of my few specialties, where I [Agitate] myself into a specific character and borrow that character’s strength.

‘Should I go with Yu Joonghyuk?’

―How are you going to emulate Yu Joonghyuk at your current level?

‘I have imitated him before, though.’

It was true.

It had been brief, and it hadn’t gone that well.

―Your opponent is a monster dragon species evolved from an imoogi. It’s obvious who you should imitate, isn’t it?

‘Ah.’

I nodded.

It was the Seventh Scenario now.

I had three Tales.

Considering one of them was quasi-mythic, even at my level there was a character worth attempting [Agitation] with.

All the more if that thing’s true body was an ‘imoogi.’

Gyaaaaaargh!

Its razor claws scraped past my thigh.

Grinding down the pain, I activated [Sentence Enhancement].

[Sub-skill, ‘Sentence Enhancement,’ activates!]
[You can input your action.]
[The action you input will be ‘enhanced.’]
……
[An error has occurred!]
[You cannot activate ‘Sentence Enhancement’ right now!]
[You have exhausted all plausibility required for Sentence Enhancement!]

Only then did I recall the last time I used the skill.

Back then, to kill the ‘Founder of the Absolute Throne,’ I had drained all plausibility through my contract with the ‘Demon King of Salvation.’

‘I think we’re screwed.’

―It’s fine. Use [Agitation] at least!

‘[Agitation] can’t imitate a character’s skills.’

―Doesn’t matter, trust me! Hurry!

[Exclusive skill, ‘Agitation Lv.10,’ activates!]

“I am—”

Pages of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint began to flip in my head.

A being who could effortlessly subdue the imoogi before my eyes.

A star who slew Yamata no Orochi in ‘Peace Land,’ the ‘Sixth Scenario.’

“I am ‘Kim Dokja,’ who slew the ‘Eight-Headed Lord’ in ‘Peace Land’!”

‘[Agitation] fires at its limit!’

With the activation of [Agitation], a fierce conviction surged from deep within my cells.

「I am Kim Dokja. The very Kim Dokja who hunted Yamata no Orochi.」

Then the monster dragon in front of me truly looked like nothing.

Right. I once hunted even the ‘shadow of a constellation of Tale rank.’ What’s so scary about a mere Rank-5?

With overflowing confidence, I swung my sword at it.

I can win. I can kill it—

KAA-GANG!

The ‘Blade of Conviction’ was blocked with ease.

Right before me, its massive jaws gaped wide.

Kwooooooosh!

I scrambled to dodge the pouring breath and screamed.

If that had hit me just now, I would have died.

I would’ve actually died.

―Are you insane? How do you just charge in there?

‘You told me to believe you!’

―You can’t win with just [Agitation]! Hand over 20,000 coins, quick.

‘Ex— wait, how much?’

Kim Dokja didn’t answer. And then—

[Backer Contract clause triggers!]
[Your backer extorts a portion of your scheduled sponsorship amount.]
[Constellation, ‘Demon King of Salvation,’ has obtained 20,000 coins.]

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Sounding satisfied, Kim Dokja spoke.

―Good. Let’s get started.

[Constellation, ‘Demon King of Salvation,’ uses coins.]

In that instant, I realized what Kim Dokja intended.

He was paying the production cost.

Twenty thousand coins—the bare minimum plausibility to put my ‘fake acting’ on a ‘real stage.’

[Tale, ‘The One Who Hunted the King of Disaster,’ begins its story.]

The One Who Hunted the King of Disaster.

A legendary Tale of Kim Dokja, earned by cleaving the shadow of Yamata no Orochi, which bore the power of an Otherworldly Divinity.

That Tale was settling into every inch of my body.

[「Stagification」 begins.]

According to the Tale’s influence, the stage before my eyes began to change.

A part of Gwanghwamun’s scenery flipped in an instant into ‘Veronica Castle,’ the stage of ‘Peace Land.’

[The current reproduction level of 「Stagification」 is low.]

Though the opponent wasn’t ‘Yamata no Orochi,’ and the reproduction level was low, this much was enough right now.

Grrraaaaar—!

As proof, the momentum of the Rank-5 monster dragon species clearly changed. Unlike before, there was a strange fear in its eyes.

Naturally so.

[Constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon,’ is startled by your Tale!]

This was a story of slaying nothing less than the ‘King of Imoogi.’

[Constellations of the dragon lineage doubt the plausibility of the ‘Demon King of Salvation’!]
[Constellation, ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire,’ watches your performance with shining eyes.]

I ran as if I had truly become the Kim Dokja of ‘Peace Land.’

With jaws spread as if to bite me in half, the Rank-5 monster dragon species rushed in.

―Dive in!

On Kim Dokja’s cue, I triggered [Leap] and simultaneously shaped ‘Thoughts’ into mimicry.

‘Transform into the Protean Stealth Suit.’

[The effect of ‘Protean Stealth Suit’ activates!]

Just as when I had entered the ‘Stargem Dungeon,’ I used the ‘Protean Stealth Suit’ to reduce my body size.

The moment the flustered monster dragon opened its mouth, I shot inside like a small meteor. In a flash, I passed its uvula and drove down its esophagus, and Kim Dokja signaled.

―Now.

Canceling the stealth suit, I shoved a hand into my bosom. There lay the true ‘Unbreakable Conviction’ that the vanished Han Sooyoung had left behind.

‘Help me, Han Sooyoung.’

Gripping the hilt as if in prayer.

On my strength alone, it’s impossible.

Because the story you wrote existed, I, too, came this far.

[Tale, ‘The One Who Hunted the King of Disaster,’ roars!]

Shameless as it was, I needed that story’s strength one more time.

Vvveeeeeen!

Light exploded from ‘Unbreakable Conviction,’ and a high-intensity ‘Blade of Conviction’ surged forth.

The trait of [Circulatory Delay] triggered, pouring out magic power like a waterfall.

Stronger, faster.

[Constellation, ‘Demon King of Salvation,’ nods.]

I could never become the Kim Dokja who slew the King of Disaster—but if I had even a shred of right to the name ‘Kim Dokja.’

If that name was still permitted to someone like me.

「For this one moment, I will not doubt that I am Kim Dokja.」

Deep azure-and-white mana traced a dazzling arc.