I turned my head, following Yu Joonghyuk’s gaze.

What was over there was Master of the Spear. And my incarnation body, dangling with its belly pierced through by Moon Halberd and blood pouring out in streams.

I couldn’t tell whether Yu Joonghyuk was looking at Master of the Spear, at Moon Halberd, or at my incarnation body.

“You.”

One thing was certain: right now Yu Joonghyuk was furious.

Rage that a demonfolk dared to steal his equipment. Or anger at the bastard who’d injured me, when I still had use left.

Seeing Yu Joonghyuk immediately release his tier, I reflexively shouted.

“Yu Joonghyuk!”

The magnitude of the aura he was releasing was no joke.

[‘Truth’s Constraint’ is activating.]
[Part of character ‘Yu Joonghyuk’s’ memories are being sealed.]
[All of character ‘Yu Joonghyuk’s’ overall stats are temporarily breaking through the scenario’s restriction limits!]
[An explosive power is surging from character ‘Yu Joonghyuk’s’ entire body!]

He was releasing [Tale Engraving] just like that?

The first tale engraving, ‘Truth’s Constraint’, was an engraving that sealed part of his memories just by using it.

What memories had he lost this time.

“Yu Joonghyuk! Hey, you bastard!”

Yu Joonghyuk didn’t even glance this way, as if he hadn’t realized I was possessing Jung Heewon’s body.

There was a nameless spear in his hand. Deep magic power was being condensed atop that spear art.

Sensing the threat on instinct, Master of the Spear let out a shout.

[You brat!]

The magic, fired like a ray of light, left a thick trail in the air.

Master of the Spear staggered as he received Yu Joonghyuk’s strike. His expression changed, as if he was surprised by the weight of the magic.

[Today you’re making me exclaim over and over.]

Master of the Spear immediately unleashed his tier as well and began thrusting.

The stabs he had practiced faithfully over hundreds of years poured out through Moon Halberd.

Kududududud!

Even under the storm of thrusts surging in like waves, Yu Joonghyuk didn’t even bat an eye.

[Golden Eye of the Sage] glowing in gold.

His eyes, already at the realm of attainment, broke apart the magic composition of the raining thrusts.

“Spear arts of the Jinju Eon Family (辰州言家), is it.”

Startled, Master of the Spear narrowed his eyes and answered.

[The Eon Family was annihilated. This is just my spear art.]

“The Eon Family’s spear arts resemble the movement of waves.”

Yu Joonghyuk rode the waves made by the spear’s magic. Some waves he cut and knocked aside, others he twisted his body to avoid. In the middle of a barrage of thrusts where there seemed to be no room at all to dodge, he calmly stepped forward one step at a time.

“I once heard a story about a master from the Eon Family who sold off his clan’s martial arts.”

Master of the Spear didn’t answer and continued his thrusts. Swift and heavy thrusts. But not a single one of them landed on Yu Joonghyuk.

In short, it was a technical limit. The extreme of technique that could be displayed within the constrained category of his current tier.

Even so, his thrusts failed to hit Yu Joonghyuk. Proof that Yu Joonghyuk’s understanding of martial arts was higher.

“So the realm you reached, after selling off your clan and dependents, is only this much.”

[I am ‘Master of the Spear’!]

In the end, unable to endure it, Master of the Spear growled.

[I have trained the spear longer than anyone, and as a reward for that effort I received this modifier. This <Star Stream> acknowledged me. I am the ‘Spear King’ of <Star Stream>!]

“Spear King? Sounds like you’ve never met the ‘Progenitor of Humanity’.”

Progenitor of Humanity. I remembered that constellation too.

The star that best wielded weapons among the constellations Yu Joonghyuk had fought.

“I’ve seen more than enough of the types who call themselves ‘King’.”

His voice carried a deep darkness as it flowed out.

“Sword King. Saber Emperor. Fighting King. Fist Emperor…… they were clowns who claimed they’d trained for hundreds of years in some warped time stratum of a dark dimension. Pathetic types who swore they’d one day cut off the constellations’ heads.”

Every time a sobriquet was mentioned, Master of the Spear’s expression changed.

[W-what nonsense are you spouting? How do you know their names―]

“You’re the worst of them.”

With a booming impact, Master of the Spear’s figure was pushed far back. Blood gushed up in a rush. He’d taken a big hit from the previous strike.

Master of the Spear stared at Yu Joonghyuk as if he couldn’t believe it.

[Impossible. That’s impossible.]

When Yu Joonghyuk took one step forward, Master of the Spear took one step back.

[I am Master of the Spear! I have done nothing but train the spear alone for hundreds of years―]

“Only hundreds of years.”

At the indifferent voice, Master of the Spear shuddered his shoulders as if he couldn’t understand.

[What…… are you.]

“A human who has trained a little longer than a few hundred years.”

[Bullshit―]

A harsh cracking sound rang out. Two spears, locked together, swirled and poured out magic.

Master of the Spear didn’t know how long Yu Joonghyuk had lived. He didn’t know at all what kind of times, what kind of rounds he had endured to reach this place.

Even so, he was feeling it on instinct. The existence before his eyes was a monster. A pitch-black darkness that his starlight could not illuminate.

[Constellation, ‘Master of the Spear’ is opening his tier!]
[The Administration Bureau is issuing a warning to ‘Master of the Spear’.]

He was afraid of the unknown that darkness might be holding.

[Constellation, ‘Master of the Spear’s’ tier is exceeding the scenario’s Plausibility limit!]
[Some constellations are beginning to take an interest in this battle.]

So Master of the Spear decided.

Even if he broke the rules of the scenario, he would personally annihilate the monster growing before his eyes.

[It’s rather fortunate I met you now.]

Backlash was crashing against Master of the Spear’s entire body as he endured the Plausibility.

[Before you grow any further, I’ll tear you to pieces and kill you thoroughly.]

With another tremendous roar, the two spears collided.

In the exploding dust cloud, I called out to Yu Joonghyuk.

“Yu Joonghyuk!”

No good. If he fought here like this, Yu Joonghyuk would lose. Even if he surpassed the other in technique and proficiency, the opponent was still a ‘constellation’.

Kududududud!

Contrary to my worries, Yu Joonghyuk was fighting well.

The spear art of the Jinju Eon Family and Yu Joonghyuk’s Heaven-Shattering Spear Aura tangled together, lighting up the night sky in dazzling splendor.

A truly evenly matched duel.

Even as I thought I had to help Yu Joonghyuk, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from that blinding battlefield.

[Constellation, ‘Dragon Who Lies Down’ is engrossed in the battle.]
[Constellation, ‘Black Flame Dragon of the Abyss’ is watching Yu Joonghyuk’s battle.]
[Some constellations are hoping this battle doesn’t end.]

Master of the Spear was a top-tier existence even among Great Personage-grade constellations. He had been a formidable enemy whom even Transcendence Form Stage 1 Jung Heewon couldn’t face.

Yet Yu Joonghyuk, with only a single tale engraving released, was holding his own against Master of the Spear.

「In that brief time, Yu Joonghyuk had grown again.」

Once more, I realized that was Yu Joonghyuk.

He was the protagonist of 『Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World』 and the strongest incarnation on earth.

And this damned world was a place where even a human with that overwhelming talent, after regressing thousands of times, could not see a true ending.

Kudududut.

The balance of that evenly matched battle tilted, and blood began to spray from Yu Joonghyuk’s shoulder and thigh.

[Hahahahaha― what a pity!]

Master of the Spear laughed in delight.

Seeing Yu Joonghyuk’s face harden, I immediately saw what the problem was.

His nameless spear, worn down in its spear art, was wobbling as if it would break at any moment.

I squeezed out the strength I had left and raised Jung Heewon’s body. Then I threw myself into the battlefield.

The sharp, wave-like spear strikes that wrapped around my whole body.

[A nuisance.]

A lightly rising wave blasted Jung Heewon’s charging body away.

Even as I was flung back by the wave, I didn’t lose consciousness. Because the important part started now.

[Exclusive skill, ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ is being deactivated!]

While Master of the Spear’s attention was on Jung Heewon, I woke up in my original body. A dizzying pain surged in from my pierced side, but I clenched my ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ teeth and endured it.

I immediately pulled the sword from inside my coat and threw it to Yu Joonghyuk.

“Yu Joonghyuk!”

Riding [Wind’s Path], the fast-flying sword landed in Yu Joonghyuk’s right hand.

It wasn’t a holy sword like ‘Ravebringer’, but at least against demonfolk it was a weapon that could display power on par with a holy sword.

‘Unbreakable Conviction’.

Yu Joonghyuk immediately infused ‘Unbreakable Conviction’ with magic power.

[Activating ‘Blade of Conviction’.]
[The special option of ‘Unbreakable Conviction’ is activating.]
[Ether attribute is being converted to ‘holy’.]

Yu Joonghyuk’s ether blade, converted to holy attribute, drew an arc.

Master of the Spear’s left arm flew off like an illusion.

The shocked Master of the Spear muttered.

[You, that sword is―]

Without giving him any time to breathe, Yu Joonghyuk pressed on. Yu Joonghyuk’s tyrannical sword aura, resonating with ‘Blade of Conviction’, shredded Master of the Spear’s waves into rags.

Normally, the difference in tier would have made it impossible. But in this ‘scenario’, things were different.

The demonfolk of this forest were designed to take massive damage from ‘holy attribute’ items.

[Kraaaaaaah―]

Even so, Master of the Spear resisted to the very end.

Red and white magic collided, causing a tremendous explosion.

Holding Jung Heewon in my arms, I instinctively rolled across the ground.

The whole forest flared white-hot as the shockwave of the magic blast erupted.

The searing heat skimmed past the back of my head.

After a moment, I raised my head and looked toward the epicenter of the explosion. Tattered all over, Yu Joonghyuk was catching his breath with his sword stuck into the ground.

The incarnation body of Master of the Spear, who had been standing opposite, was nowhere to be seen. Only Moon Halberd, stuck in the ground, was trembling as if it recognized its true master.

[Constellation, ‘Master of the Spear’ has taken a terrible blow and is exiting the scenario.]

Yu Joonghyuk had won.

[You have defeated higher-grade demonfolk, ‘Master of the Spear’!]
[You have become a major contributor to this scenario!]
[You will receive additional rewards if you clear the scenario to the end.]
[A new tale that is germinating is being influenced by your achievements.]

Yu Joonghyuk grabbed his Moon Halberd lying on the ground, then turned to look at me.

“You’re alive.”

“Were you hoping I’d die?”

I answered with a bright smile.

But to be honest, I felt like I’d die any second now. Too much blood had flowed from my pierced side. My vision was flickering as if I would faint at any moment.

Yu Joonghyuk glared at me with sharp eyes as if displeased, then pulled out a golden pill from his coat and tossed it over.

Then he sat down cross-legged right next to me.

“To wipe out the Great Demonfolk, I need to store my strength. Because of you, I wasted unnecessary power.”

Yu Joonghyuk immediately entered meditation to circulate his qi.

I was so dumbfounded by that one-sided notice that I just sat there blankly, then belatedly looked down at the pill he’d given me.

And after a moment.

My eyes flew open so wide I was practically squinting.

Holy crap, this was the Great Reversion Pill.

What was the Great Reversion Pill.

The supreme elixir of Murim, where even a single pill gave you one gapja’s worth of magic power.

And he’d handed over such a treasure just to use it for recovery?

This guy. Was he maybe a good person?

At the stupid thought that flashed through my mind, I shook my head.

He wasn’t a bad guy—but that didn’t mean he was a good guy either.

It just meant that Yu Joonghyuk was that desperate about this scenario too.

I split the Great Reversion Pill in half, ate one half, and fed the remaining half to the fallen Jung Heewon.

Because of the aftereffects of [Madness], Jung Heewon had been convulsing, but once the effect of the Great Reversion Pill kicked in, she gradually began to stabilize.

We’d barely managed to catch our breath, but the situation could by no means be called good. Above all, there were now two more people who couldn’t move freely.

―Author-nim!

Just then, a welcome transmitted voice came through.

―I’m sorry. I was going to help right away, but my ankles got grabbed too……

Ji Eunyu poked her head out from between the long grass. Her whole body was covered in dust. Judging from the thin cuts on her arms and legs, it seemed there were still demonfolk individuals left in the area.

Thinking that was just as well, I waved a hand.

As if she knew exactly what I was about to say, Ji Eunyu spoke first.

“Don’t say anything. Just stay put.”

“…….”

“You saw what kind of bastards they were. There were three more higher-grade demonfolk like that. No, there might even be more of them swarming over there.”

There were three higher-grade demonfolk who’d gone after Gu Seonah and <Kim Dokja Company>. Even if just one monster like Master of the Spear was mixed in, the situation wouldn’t be good.

“I can’t just let them die.”

“I know. But―”

Thanks to taking the Great Reversion Pill, the wound in my side was healing fast. I had no problem moving my body right now.

“I know Seonah has hostility toward me. But we still have to talk. If there’s a misunderstanding, we have to clear it up.”

“And if she’s not someone you can talk to? If Gu Seonah turns out to be an unforeseen villain―”

Without answering, I looked at Ji Eunyu. Feeling my gaze, Ji Eunyu also closed her mouth.

Sometimes, silence produced deeper understanding than a hundred explanations. All the more so between Ji Eunyu and me.

Because we were people who had made the same work.

She was the one who understood the subtext I left behind better than anyone. Even if I didn’t write it, she already knew what I was going to say.

And she also knew better than anyone that that sentence could never be revised.

With her head deeply bowed, Ji Eunyu spoke in a small voice.

“Ha…… so this is how Yoo Sangah feels.”

“I’ll be right back, so please stay here. Look after the two of them.”

“If something happens, I’m going to run away by myself, so come back quickly.”

With a wry smile, I glanced at Yu Joonghyuk, who was meditating, and Jung Heewon, who was unconscious, then immediately started running along the forest path.

Traces of Gu Seonah’s party and the foul aura of the higher-grade demonfolk who chased them were left all over the grass.

Not far away, I could feel a powerful energy. My heart was pounding. A familiar energy.

I knew someone whose energy was similar to this.

‘Demon King of Salvation’.

It was a little different, but it definitely felt similar to my backer constellation.

Could Kim Dokja possibly be nearby.

When I finally pushed through the grass and stepped out, I found the corpses of fallen higher-grade demonfolk.

Corpses of demonfolk that had been torn apart in a gruesome way.

When I slowly lifted my head, my eyes met the gaze of someone standing beyond the grass, looking at me.

There stood my brother, who looked exactly like me.