“The Recorder of Horror I’ll choose is—”

Without question, the Recorder of Horror I was going to choose was the “Designer of the False End.”

There was no reason to hesitate.

Because that recorder’s true identity had to be Han Sooyoung.

“The Designer of the False—”

But the moment I got that far, fierce sparks burst up in front of my eyes.

[That ‘Recorder of Horror’ does not exist on the list.]

“Huh?”

It was strange.

No, I definitely saw it.

Right after I killed the “Founder of the Absolute Throne,” I had definitely received a message saying the “Designer of the False End” was interested in my interpretation.

I called the same modifier again.

[That ‘Recorder of Horror’ does not exist on the list.]

“Let me meet Han Sooyoung.”

This time, there wasn’t even a response.

Maybe I looked ridiculous, because the Transcendents who had been watching nearby started murmuring.

“Was there a recorder with that name?”

“First I’ve heard of it.”

What the hell is going on?

—What is it?

Kim Dokja, who only showed up when he had something to say, appeared again right on schedule.

“Didn’t you just see it?”

—See what?

“Han Sooyoung was there.”

—What are you talking about? Why would Han Sooyoung be here?

“No, the ‘Designer of the False End’—”

That was the last thing I heard before the line cut again.

Was the call connected for a moment because of the sparks? Either way, this person is never any help when it actually matters.

And if even Kim Dokja didn’t see that message, did that mean the message was shown only to me?

One last time, I called her modifier again.

[That ‘Recorder of Horror’ does not exist on the list.]

[Rechecking the list of ‘Recorders of Horror’ currently available for contact.]

+

—The Fox Who Commands the Sky
—Wolf Prince
—Demon King of the Theater
—Evil Sophist

+

It wasn’t there.

Worse, in the spot where the “Designer of the False End” should have been, some shameless bastard called the “Evil Sophist” had taken its place.

What is this, giving me lemon candy and then snatching it back? How does it make sense for it to vanish like that?

I wanted to complain immediately, but I didn’t even know where I was supposed to complain. With even system messages being treated as “horror” in this place, if there was false information, there was nothing I could say about it.

Fine. For now, I had to choose a Recorder of Horror other than Han Sooyoung.

I stared at the list again and again.

As I did, I felt like I’d been thrown back to the days of choosing a sponsor.

First, “The Fox Who Commands the Sky.”

If my guess was right, this existence was already a Recorder of Horror I had met before.

The recorder who approached me at the recycling center—the Flying Heavenly Fox.

Its very alias had “fox” in it, and considering that this figure had been called “Yoo Joonghyuk’s bag of tricks” in Ways of Survival, the first option had to be “Flying Heavenly Fox King Wang Weirong.”

That Flying Heavenly Fox became a Recorder of Horror… what exactly was the standard for becoming a Recorder of Horror?

Second, Wolf Prince.

The first thing that came to mind the moment I saw it was Yoo Joonghyuk.

And for good reason—I had seen the Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st regression turn into a “black beast.”

That wasn’t all. In the original story, the Yoo Joonghyuk of the 1,863rd regression had been compared to a “wolf” before, too.

There was no way the Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st regression suddenly became a “Recorder of Horror”…… # Nоvеlight # so then, could “Wolf Prince” possibly be the “Secretive Plotter”?

My heart jumped for a moment, but when I thought it through, there was no way.

In the first place, considering that the being the “Recorders of Horror” worshiped the most was the strongest Outer God, the “Secretive Plotter,” there was no chance the “Secretive Plotter” itself would become a recorder.

Then…… this was most likely Lycaon.

Lycaon had once appeared under the nickname “Lost Guide,” but after interacting with me, it was possible its force had risen and it had obtained a new modifier.

Third, Demon King of the Theater.

Honestly, the third one was the hardest to guess. “Theater” and “demon king.” It felt like two keywords that were far apart had been forcibly stitched together.

But if I looked only at the keywords, it wasn’t like no one came to mind. As it happened, in this worldline there was exactly one person who satisfied both keywords at the same time.

Asmodeus, the Demon God of Wrath and Lust.

If the bastard who owned a “theater” full of readers was a Recorder of Horror, then the incomprehensible miracles it had been pulling off until now would be somewhat easier to understand.

Last, “Evil Sophist.”

This one… yeah. There was no need to even ask.

My deliberation was short.

If I couldn’t meet Han Sooyoung, then I only had one choice anyway.

「Meeting Cheon Inho of the 40th regression.」

Hearing out the Flying Heavenly Fox’s story, or meeting Lycaon again, would have its meaning, but right now, the one who held the most valuable information was the “Evil Sophist.”

Evil Sophist.

That was the nickname of “Cheon Inho of the 40th regression.”

I was curious. What kind of person was Cheon Inho of the 40th regression, whom neither Yoo Joonghyuk nor Anna could properly remember?

Why was it that I had possessed Cheon Inho specifically in the 41st regression?

If it was the “Evil Sophist,” it would definitely know.

As I thought that and opened the door—

[Your ‘interpretation’ has been recognized by the Recorders of Horror as having special value.]

[You have gained the opportunity to meet all four ‘recorders’ in private, once each.]

Along with the unexpected message, a vast plain spread out before my eyes.

A pleasant wind brushed the tip of my nose.

Somehow, I felt like I knew where this was.

【Australia.】

A gigantic wolf stood where I turned.

“Lycaon!”

The prince of Planet Clonos.

The wolf of Imuntar that had sacrificed itself for me again.

[You have entered the room of the Recorder of Horror, ‘Wolf Prince’.]

【Australia. There is no time, so I will speak simply.】

Before we could even exchange a greeting, Lycaon’s body was already fading away into the blowing wind.

“Lycaon?”

【Australia, thank you. Thanks to Australia’s record, I received a new modifier. However, I have not yet recovered enough power to make contact with Australia. The reason I came here is……】

Lycaon’s rapidly shouted voice scattered into the wind in real time.

【Until you confirm it with your own eyes, do not believe any record! All ‘recorders’ of the apocalypse region will, in the end……!】

The moment Lycaon got that far, I heard the light snap of someone flicking a finger.

【Tsk. A low-grade recorder shouldn’t cut in line.】

And as if by magic, Lycaon’s room vanished.

[The turn of the Recorder of Horror, ‘Wolf Prince’, has ended.]

What appeared next was a murim-style backdrop.

[You have entered the room of the Recorder of Horror, ‘The Fox Who Commands the Sky’.]

The voices of murim people outside. People having a light meal, mixing thin noodles into chicken broth.

The Fox Who Commands the Sky—the Flying Heavenly Fox—existed at the center of that peaceful scene like a still life painting.

【Sit.】

To be honest, I found myself a little overwhelmed. The air of transcendence I felt from him was subtly different from what I’d felt when meeting constellations.

If I had to compare it, it was closer to the sensation of facing an Outer God or a horror.

When I carefully sat in the seat across from him, the Flying Heavenly Fox quietly raised a hand and ordered off the menu.

【Two bowls of thin noodles in chicken broth.】

The cook who took the order promptly brought steaming chicken broth and thin noodles.

Murim set meal, out of nowhere.

Honestly, I had no idea what was what, but since it was there, I decided to eat it. And the moment I slurped down a bite, I realized it.

「This is ‘real.’」

A taste that denied every bowl of thin noodles I’d ever eaten.

It was the kind of taste that even Yoo Joonghyuk would have no choice but to acknowledge.

Maybe my expression amused him, because the Flying Heavenly Fox asked.

【Is it good?】

“Yes, it’s good.”

【That’s a relief. It’s a place I liked. Though it’s gone now.】

It seemed this “space” was a kind of “time stratum” owned by the Flying Heavenly Fox.

For a while, we watched the people passing by near the inn.

Soft voices. The smells of ingredients being stir-fried and steamed.

Even in a world of scenarios, peace still exists between the lines.

I didn’t know what “regression turn” this stratum’s scenery belonged to. But I felt like I understood what this place meant to the Flying Heavenly Fox.

“Is this your ‘regression turn’?”

After a brief pause, the Flying Heavenly Fox answered.

【It is. In this regression turn, I saw the end of the world.】

The end of the world.

The weight of that suddenly tossed-out phrase shook me.

“You mean… you cleared the ‘Final Scenario’? Did you see the [Final Wall]?”

The Flying Heavenly Fox only gave me a vague smile.

It probably meant he couldn’t answer. Or it could mean the trade had already begun.

【That is a question I can answer only through a trade. Shall we begin the trade?】

As expected.

【I am interested in the ‘end-of-the-world-grade horror’ you interpreted.】

Maybe he was impatient by nature, because the Flying Heavenly Fox continued quickly.

【With your force, you could never have hunted the ‘Founder of the Absolute Throne.’ Even if the Twelve Olympian Gods of <Olympus> came, hunting it would be difficult.】

“……”

【But you did it. I want the ‘story’ embedded in the background of that achievement.】

What let me defeat it was the power of 「Dramatization」. The Flying Heavenly Fox was probably curious about what that legend really was.

But I had no intention of handing over my only card that easily.

“I’m not planning to hand over the interpretation yet. And I haven’t met the other ‘recorders’ either.”

【Hmm. What other recorders can give you, I can give you as well. Right now, you seem to be in a state where you must achieve transcendence quickly. Am I wrong?】

Still smiling, the Flying Heavenly Fox continued.

【As you already know, your incarnation body does not fit your force. In your current state, it will be difficult to properly use even thirty percent of the force you possess. But if I help you, the story can change.】

That I had no intention of handing over the interpretation immediately was the truth.

Because I only had one chance to trade with a “Recorder of Horror.”

However, the offer that followed was something I couldn’t help but find tempting.

【I will grant you the time stratum of <The 0th Murim>.】

<The 0th Murim>.

A place packed with all kinds of miraculous elixirs, comparable to the sacred milk of a nebula.

Considering that it also offered access to treasures and martial arts of the primordial murim that were difficult to obtain, it was easily ranked among the very best “time strata” one could choose at the current point.

If I could use that place, it would make it possible not only to become a Transcendent, but also to fully unlock the power of a legend-grade constellation.

【Is there any need to think further? I can give you everything you want. The path to becoming a Transcendent, items—anything.】

I fell silent for a moment.

Becoming a Transcendent?

Of course it mattered.

<The 0th Murim>?

A truly captivating choice.

But there was one prerequisite task that mattered more to me than anything else.

The most important reason I had come to this “apocalypse region.”

【I see. Come to think of it, you were ‘Kim Dokja’ as well. Then how about this?】

This clever fox seemed to have already noticed that reason, too.

【If you hand over that interpretation to me, I will help you go to the ‘big house’.】