Lee Jihye gave the signal.

“Fire!”

Lee Jihye’s ships began their bombardment.

Poseidon, taking the full brunt of the incoming concentrated fire, frowned. As if he couldn’t accept the fact that he was being held back by mere human artillery, he swung Trident with all his might.

[Begone.]

A wave formed from the light of tales swept across the surface of the sea and struck the Ghost Fleet head-on. The ships couldn’t withstand Poseidon’s attack and began to sink.

[Stigma, ‘Ghost Fleet Lv.???’ is reactivated!]

But at a simple hand signal from Lee Jihye, the ships revived. The fleet, completely intact without the slightest damage, began bombarding once more.

“Load! Fire!”

This was why she could reign as an invincible lord upon the great sea. As long as there was a sea, her fleet could never be destroyed.

Brushing aside the bombardment, Poseidon growled as if he couldn’t make sense of it.

[The sea belongs to me! If you don’t clear away that trash this instant—]

“You sound just like Uncle Fildu.”

[What?]

“Why does the sea belong to you? Did you pay money for it?”

Who would dare spew such nonsense in front of a myth-grade constellation.

Frozen for a moment, Poseidon answered in a twisted voice.

[It was our gods of <Olympus> who created the sea. And I am the son of the great mother—]

“What are you talking about. The sea existed long before you lot were even created, okay? Didn’t you ever learn about primordial soup at school?”

In truth, Lee Jihye didn’t really know how the sea had formed either. She’d slept through all her science classes.

But while they were wasting time with that pointless conversation, two people were racing across the hazy cosmic sea.

The Master of the 41st round. And—

‘The Mister of the 41st round.’

Lee Jihye knew that he wasn’t the same Kim Dokja she remembered. But that no longer mattered.

No matter which world’s Kim Dokja he was, Kim Dokja was Kim Dokja.

Lee Jihye had accepted that fact.

「Mister chose this world.」

She didn’t know the reason. She only knew that Kim Dokja had judged that there was an ending which could only be reached by reading this world to the end.

Lee Jihye respected that judgment, and decided to hold back on her own.

She didn’t know whether Kim Dokja would return to them again. She didn’t know whether this world would turn into a comedy or a tragedy. She only knew that just as a Kim Dokja once protected her, she would protect Kim Dokja’s choice.

And at the ending of this world, she would grab the nape of the smiling idiot Kim Dokja and laugh as she said, “I knew it would turn out like this.”

'For that to be possible.'

First, she had to take care of the Poseidon in front of her.

「Myth-grade constellation, Poseidon.」

In the past, he had been a great star she wouldn’t even have dared to look at. Even ‘Wealthy Father of the Night’, the king of the underworld, had once struggled against him.

'But with the me of now…'

Across the sea between them, the ranks of both beings began to rise without limit.

As Lee Jihye’s momentum grew fiercer, Poseidon’s expression also hardened.

“Sea Mister. From here on, I’m going all out. You think you can handle it?”

Even for a myth-grade constellation, there was a burden to erupting with rank above a certain level.

This was a universe without a ‘scenario’.

If they slipped up, they might draw the attention of Otherworldly Divinities.

In other words, even for myth-grade constellations, a fight here was a battle of life and death.

[Human child. Who do you think I am.]

The sea raged. As the storm roared, the waves of the entire region began to swirl, warping all the ships at once.

A violent gale so strong that even nearby drifting stars were swept along.

[Get back—!]

Artemis and Apollo cried out in fright as they retreated. It was a calamity that even Fable-grade constellations wouldn’t survive if they were caught in it.

Only Lee Jihye ran through the storm of that calamity. [Ghostly Footwork], honed to the very limit, supported her steps, and transcendental [Swordsmanship] that had reached its apex carved open a path. Within the spray that covered everything, the eyes of [Ghostslayer] flashed.

Far off in the distance, Poseidon’s divine body could be seen.

Watching the shadow that seemed so close and yet so far, Lee Jihye recalled the face of the old Kim Dokja.

「“Jihye.”」

She had always felt like she was an outsider to this story.

Because she wasn’t as strong as Yu Joonghyuk, nor as smart as Han Sooyoung, nor as kind as Yoo Sangah.

「“Well, so what.”」

Nor was she as honest as Jung Heewon, as steadfast as Lee Hyunsung, or as desperate as Shin Yuseung.

Even when she saw the end of the world, crossed the [Fourth Wall], traversed world lines, and finally reached the moment she lost Kim Dokja—she was still an outsider to the story.

「“You tried your best. I know that.”」

[Pure Kill] pushed the waves apart. The spray that leapt up cut her cheek and arms like blades, but she didn’t stop.

She cut, and cut again. How many cuts had she made.

“Ahhhh!”

One blind wave slashed her side. Bright red blood sprayed, and she was swept away by the torrent. The storm of the myth-grade constellation ravaged her entire body. She saw marine species surging in, drawn by the smell of blood.

Even as she was tossed about here and there, she didn’t let go of her swords.

「“I really liked your story.”」

The ‘Lee Jihye’ Kim Dokja had spoken of that day hadn’t been her. So she tried. She swung her sword again and again to become the Lee Jihye Kim Dokja had spoken of. To reach the sentences Kim Dokja had read, and ultimately to surpass those sentences so that someday that damn Mister would read the living her standing here.

「Heaven-Breaking Sword Sect (Heaven-Breaking Sword Gate).」

The sentence she had barely obtained after training and training again.

「True Body’s Profound Secret Ultimate Technique.」

The Heaven-Breaking Sword Sect had no such technique.

If her Master or Grandmaster, Heaven-Breaking Sword Saint, had seen it, they would have flown into a rage at this technique that didn’t appear in the ‘Annihilation Methods’.

「Heaven-Breaking Emperor-Annihilating Sword.」

That sword strike, made possible only in Lee Jihye’s swordsmanship, shone.

「A slash to annihilate the king of a world.」

She didn’t know if Kim Dokja was watching this.

But if he was, there was something she definitely wanted to say.

Kwaaaaaaaaaa—

The exploding sea screamed, and Poseidon’s incarnation body flew up.

The moment Poseidon, his side deeply torn, let out a fierce scream, Lee Jihye’s sword cut him.

Through the scattering water droplets, the scenery of the ‘Recycling Center’ could be seen in the distance.

Seeing the school’s grounds being destroyed in the storm, Lee Jihye spat up a mouthful of blood and gave a bitter smile.

'Make sure you come to the next graduation ceremony.'

*

「Tales were pouring out of Kim Dokja’s heart.」

Sentences appearing in real time on top of the newspaper.

「Yu Joonghyuk ran while holding those tales in so they wouldn’t leak out.」

At this rate, the youngest would die.

The Demon King of Salvation tried to soothe his troubled heart by scolding the little kid Kim Dokjas around him.

「“Hey, don’t you guys have any ideas?”」

The little Kim Dokjas all turned to stare at the Demon King of Salvation. Their look clearly said, why are you asking us that.

「“Wasn’t he supposed to be the biggest Kim Dokja?”」

「“What a useless hyung.”」

Having suddenly become the target of concentrated fire, the Demon King of Salvation gaped in shock, and a little Kim Dokja with her hair in a ponytail spoke.

「“You said you were the first Kim Dokja.”」

When the Demon King of Salvation nodded, the ponytail Kim Dokja asked again,

「“Then doesn’t that mean there’s a ‘second’ one too?”」

「“That’s…”」

「“I don’t know what your situation is, but this doesn’t seem like the time to be weighing pros and cons.”」

The Demon King of Salvation twitched his lips, then let out a light sigh.

The little Kim Dokja was right. The most important thing right now was the youngest’s survival. For that, the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ could do anything.

Drawing a slow breath, he opened his mouth and shouted in a loud voice.

「“Second. Can you hear me?”」

The ‘second Kim Dokja’ wasn’t here.

But even if he wasn’t here, he would be listening.

「“I know you’re mad about the decision I made. You probably wanted to stay by the <Kim Dokja Company>.”」

If he couldn’t hear it, then the [Fourth Wall] would relay it in his stead. That skill was his too.

「“It’s all my fault. I admit it. So just once—”」

Eyes squeezed shut, the Demon King of Salvation thought of the ‘second Kim Dokja’.

「“Just this once, can’t you help the youngest.”」

He was a Kim Dokja who understood deeper sorrow than anyone in this world.

「“If things go on like this, another one of those sad tales you like is going to be born.”」

And a moment later, sentences began to appear on the newspaper once more.

*

Yu Joonghyuk ran through the darkness with me. The universe was pitch-black, and nothing could be seen. We ran through that universe together. Or more precisely, Yu Joonghyuk ran alone, with me tucked under his arm.

Forcing out a voice that wouldn’t come, I spoke.

“Yu Joonghyuk.”

“Don’t talk. The tales will leak.”

Yu Joonghyuk pulled out Heavenly Silkworm Silk from his clothes and wrapped my wound. To think he’d use Heavenly Silkworm Silk, a treasured treasure of the martial world, on me. Honestly, I was touched.

“You really are a good guy. My eyes weren’t wrong.”

As if to ask what nonsense I was spouting now, Yu Joonghyuk glared at me with his fierce eyes, then slung me over his shoulder. Booming explosions rang out from far away, here and there.

What had happened to Lee Jihye.

Even if it was that Lee Jihye, could she really defeat Poseidon.

Even defeating Poseidon wouldn’t be the end. There were many powerful gods in <Olympus>. There was Zeus, higher up the line, and the other Twelve Chief Gods as well.

Just one <Olympus> alone was at that level.

And the ones chasing us now were not just one.

[Great Nebula, <Veda>’s constellations are searching for you!]

[Great Nebula, <Asgard>’s constellations are searching for you!]

[Great Nebula, <Guyuok>’s constellations are searching for you!]

……

The tales of the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ had spent themselves, and I was no longer a constellation or a constellation’s proxy. I was just an incarnation with a few plausible tales.

In this frail incarnation body, whose voice could barely come out anymore, the only thing I could do was use items to communicate my intent.

[You have requested ‘Midday Tryst’!]

Yu Joonghyuk frowned for a moment, then hesitantly nodded.

[‘Midday Tryst’ has been connected.]

Honestly, if he was going to accept anyway, why bother getting annoyed.

―Leave me and go.

I could sense the presence of the stars chasing us from afar. Even for Yu Joonghyuk, it was impossible to face all of them. It would be impossible even if he used every last tale engraving.

―I know you received a Personal Scenario. But even if you fail that, there’s no particular penalty, right.

Yu Joonghyuk’s Personal Scenario had been established under Uriel’s authority.

There was no way that Uriel would propose a scenario with [N O V E L I G H T] excessive penalties to Yu Joonghyuk.

―I’m going to die soon anyway.

Of course, I didn’t actually intend to die. There was a way to survive somehow.

There had to be.

But if Yu Joonghyuk stayed with me, it would be a problem. If Yu Joonghyuk was here, in the end he would be put in danger too.

―Why are you trying to save me.

So I made up my mind.

―I’m nothing but a hindrance to you anyway, aren’t I. You’ve thought I was a pain from the very beginning.

No matter what, I would shake this guy off.

―I’m not the Cheon Inho you were looking for. I’m not the one who deceived the stars, or some great villain who can recruit the Ten Evils. I’m just…

“I know.”

―Know what. Out of all the Yu Joonghyuks I know, you’re the one who knows the least. I’m just…

“You’re not Cheon Inho. I know that.”

Cutting off my words, Yu Joonghyuk looked at me and spoke.

“You are Kim Dokja.”

Kim Dokja.

“I don’t know whether that’s your real name or not, but for now I’ll call you that.”

Seeing the Yu Joonghyuk of the 41st round say that name felt strangely unfamiliar.

With a bitter smile, I said,

―Sure. Do that. And put that Kim Dokja down and run away. That’s what you’re supposed to do.

“What I’m supposed to do is save you.”

―No, seriously, why.

Crows cawed nearby. It seemed Odin’s ‘night ravens’ had come close.

We really were running out of time.

But Yu Joonghyuk continued speaking in a calm voice.

“At Geumho Station, you saved both the main group and the underdog group.”

―I did.

“It was a foolish thing to do. There’s no particular meaning or gain in forcing together, as one group, humans who will inevitably split apart anyway.”

I wanted to argue on the spot, but Yu Joonghyuk went on.

“In the Chungmuro group, you pulled another weird stunt.”

I recalled what had happened at Chungmuro Station.

“You blocked the ‘Emergency Defense Battle’ I sent into a rampage. That was a pointless thing to do. The humans of Chungmuro Station were all destined to become the Ten Evils’ subordinates.”

―No, wait a second. What are you even trying to say…

“When we were electing the station representative, I clearly yielded the flag to you. Yet you dared to refuse becoming ‘representative’. Thanks to that, everything went astray.”

―That’s…

“At the Washington Dome too, you did things you shouldn’t have done.”

As if he didn’t care to hear any answer from me, Yu Joonghyuk poured out his words.

In short, I had picked out only the things I shouldn’t do and gone ahead and done them.

“All those actions ultimately led you to your death.”

So that was what he’d been trying to say.

With a bitter smile, I nodded.

―Yes. They were lousy choices.

But Yu Joonghyuk still wasn’t finished.

“Why did you save me.”

―What?

“I tried to kill you over and over. At Geumho Station, at Chungmuro Station, in the theater dungeon. And yet you—”

Come to think of it, in this round I had saved Yu Joonghyuk quite a few times. In the theater dungeon, at the Washington Dome.

It had just somehow turned out that way.

―You always saved someone too, didn’t you. Sometimes the opposite can happen as well, right?

Yu Joonghyuk opened his mouth after moving his lips several times without speaking.

“With a story that naive, you’ll never reach the end of the scenario.”

I had no idea what this regressor was trying to say.

Was he trying to unload his criticism now that I was about to die?

Just then, I saw my tale leaking out through the Heavenly Silkworm Silk that had been tied tightly.

In silence, Yu Joonghyuk stared down at that tale.

Only then did I realize what this damn regressor had been trying to say.

「How could Yu Joonghyuk know everything that had happened to me.」

I had thought that no one would ever read it. How I had lived, what kind of story I had piled up, that it would never be fully remembered by anyone.

“Even so, that pathetic tale—”

But there was someone who had read that entire story.

“It was the first story I’d ever seen.”

He was the protagonist of this world.