The Big House.

The fact that Heavenly Flying Fox used that term meant that he, too, already knew I had come here to meet the “Second Kim Dokja.”

“You may not remember, but I have met you before.”

Heavenly Flying Fox looked at me with calm, deep eyes, as if he was willing to hear me out for now.

“The first time was during the ‘Zodiac Race’ at the ‘Recycling Center.’”

【Hm. But the ‘Heavenly Flying Fox’ who ran with you back then was not me.】

“But I think the one who spoke at the end was you. Wasn’t it?”

Even now, I clearly remembered his last words.

「“Hmm. So this is how it turns out this time…… I hope we get another chance to meet, young man.”」

Heavenly Flying Fox blinked as if somewhat surprised by my answer, then nodded.

【I never expected you to remember what happened then. Yes. Those were certainly my words.】

“After that, we ran into each other one more time. In the ‘Orient Express carriage’ at the ‘Recycling Center.’”

Back then, I used [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] on Mr. Dansu, and ended up facing Heavenly Flying Fox who was riding with us.

I also remembered clearly what Heavenly Flying Fox said to me then.

He told me that I still could not become a “recorder.” He also said I could not write what came next for the world because there were too many voices holding on to me.

【I must have said too many pointless things to a friend with a good memory.】

“How did you become the ‘Recorder of Horror’? What kind of principle produces a Recorder of Horror in the first place?”

I thought of Lycaon.

Heavenly Flying Fox said he had seen the “end of the world,” but as far as I knew, Lycaon had never seen the “end of the world.”

And yet, both Lycaon and Heavenly Flying Fox became “Recorders of Horror.”

“What is your goal, anyway?”

Lycaon said it.

That “collecting records of twisted worldlines is their job.”

But that job itself would not be the goal. There had to be some huge purpose behind the background of them collecting records.

【You have a habit of asking too many questions at once.】

“Is this question also part of the trade?”

【In principle, yes. So hand your interpretation over to me. If you hand over just that, then questions like those, as many as you want—】

“Can’t I give you a ‘different interpretation’ instead of that?”

【A different interpretation?】

Heavenly Flying Fox tilted his head for a moment, then suddenly threw his head back and started laughing loudly.

【That’s an interesting thing to say. You have not even been in the Horror Realm for very long—how could you possibly have another ‘special interpretation’?】

He was right. The other horrors I interpreted—“Alien Traffic Light” or “Tooth Fin”—were horrors that fell into the catastrophe-class or disaster-class. With horrors of that grade, it would be hard to catch a recorder’s eye.

But.

“It’s not like ‘horror’ exists only inside the Horror Realm.”

【What are you trying to say?】

“I’m talking about the ‘oldest horror’ in this world.”

The oldest horror in this world.

The origin of this universe that no one has interpreted, cannot interpret, and will not be interpreted.

Heavenly Flying Fox’s expression subtly stiffened as he spoke.

【Are you talking about the ‘Oldest Dream’ right now?】

A light spark flew, but the filtering did not trigger. I did not know how powerful Heavenly Flying Fox was as a “Recorder of Horror,” but at that level, it seemed he could speak that name without filtering.

I nodded and answered.

“Yes. I’ll tell you about what that bastard really is.”

【You’re ridiculous. Do you think there is any Recorder of Horror who doesn’t know that?】

“That bastard’s name is Kim Dokja.”

【I know. That is the name of the ‘symbolic body’ that refers to the current dream.】

He did not sound surprised at all. So a Recorder of Horror knows even this much, then?

In that case, how about this?

“Do you know what food that Kim Dokja hates?”

At my question, Heavenly Flying Fox’s expression stiffened for the first time.

【Why would I need to know something like that?】

“Why would you need to know it? Are you saying you’re not curious about the Oldest Dream right now? You, of all people, a ‘Recorder of Horror’?”

【No, that’s—】

“Are you saying this interpretation, which even that great schemer you worship wouldn’t know, is unnecessary, useless, trivial, and not worth recording?”

【I never said it to that extent! It’s just—】

Heavenly Flying Fox hesitated with a thoroughly confused expression, then, as if he had made up his mind, gripped his pen.

【The food Kim Dokja hates…… what is it?】

“Tomatoes.”

Heavenly Flying Fox opened his eyes wide and began writing something in midair.

【Interesting. Why does he hate tomatoes?】

“From there, it’s part of the trade. Are you curious?”

Watching Heavenly Flying Fox’s dumb expression was quite enjoyable.

As if he had taken a hit, he pushed out his lips and asked.

【I see. What did you say you were curious about earlier?】

“How a Recorder of Horror is born.”

【I don’t know exactly what process gives birth to a Recorder of Horror, either. Every recorder has a different trigger.】

A different trigger?

【Some become recorders because they despaired at the end of the world and wanted to leave that despair behind. Some become recorders to realize an unfulfilled wish in a different universe. And some—】

After pausing for a beat, Heavenly Flying Fox looked me straight in the eyes and continued.

【After cursing the ending of a universe, some become recorders in order to write a new ending.】

“That explanation is way too vague.”

【But I can only tell you this much. In any case, ‘recorders’ are those chosen by the ‘Oldest Dream.’】

Those chosen by the Oldest Dream.

【Becoming a Recorder of Horror means that you carry the potential for a record the ‘Oldest Dream’ can look forward to.】

“Is that your answer? I don’t even know what that means, and it’s an answer with no trade value.”

【Huh, you—】

“Fine. Then I’ll ask one more question. What is your goal? Why do you collect interpretations in the Horror Realm, and gather records of twisted worldlines?”

【That isn’t one question, is it?】

“You’re just going to gloss over it with vague, fancy words anyway, aren’t you? Hurry up and say it.”

Now Heavenly Flying Fox looked dumbfounded. But the one who was curious about why Kim Dokja hated tomatoes had no choice but to answer.

【The reason we gather records of twisted worldlines is to write a single, unique ‘sentence.’】

“More details.”

【Do you know what the very first thing you must do to become a good writer is?】

“Well…… read a lot, write a lot, and think a lot, I guess.”

What I said was the basic aptitude of a good writer.

Read a lot. Write a lot. Think a lot.

Heavenly Flying Fox nodded as if he agreed.

【Before the end of this universe arrives, every ‘Recorder of Horror’ is destined to be able to write their own ‘sentence’ that will remain forever.】

A sentence that will remain forever.

【All Recorders of Horror live their entire lives for that one sentence from the moment they are born. For that sentence, they collect other interpretations and gather records of twisted worldlines.】

Suddenly, I thought they resembled constellations.

Just as constellations piled up fables and carried out scenarios to complete their own ■■, recorders, too, were repeating the same acts in order to write their ultimate “sentence.”

“So the reason you want my interpretation is for the same reason.”

【That’s right. I thought I would need to refer to your interpretation in order to complete my ‘sentence.’】

“If you become able to write that ‘sentence,’ what happens to you?”

【That is…….】

Heavenly Flying Fox smiled slightly and continued.

【I’ll tell you after I hear your answer. Now, tell me. Why does Kim Dokja hate tomatoes?】

Just as expected of Yoo Joonghyuk’s bag of tricks.

You were not going to hand everything over obediently.

【Hurry. Why does he hate tomatoes? Is it because tomatoes remind him of ‘blood’?】

I had not thought of that.

Perhaps seeing my expression, Heavenly Flying Fox brightened and asked.

【Is there another reason?】

“Because they just taste bad.”

Heavenly Flying Fox stared blankly.

【That can’t be true.】

“It is.”

【Don’t be ridiculous. How would you know that? It’s not like you asked the ‘Oldest Dream.’】

“Because I hate tomatoes too.”

【What the hell—】

“Because I’m Kim Dokja too. Did you forget?”

As if he had taken another hit, Heavenly Flying Fox opened his mouth.

I grinned at him and said.

“Then that’s the end of the trade. If there’s a chance next time, I’ll see you again.”

[The turn of the Recorder of Horror, ‘The Fox Who Commands the Sky,’ will soon end.]

As the surrounding scenery began to scatter along with Heavenly Flying Fox’s form, he shouted urgently.

【You can’t keep dodging with wordplay forever! In order to go to the ‘Big House’ you want, you have to clear one of the strata held by us recorders……!】

“If that was a condition, you should’ve told me that first, long ago.”

Unfortunately, Heavenly Flying Fox’s new incarnation was already almost gone.

With a slightly sulky expression, he finished his words.

【If possible, it would be better to trade with me. The next ‘recorder’ will be a far more devious friend than I am, so think carefully…….】

With those final words, the scenery of the martial arts inn vanished completely.

And when I opened my eyes again.

[You have entered the room of the Recorder of Horror, ‘The Demon King of the Theater.’]

I was sitting in a movie theater. On the screen hanging in the darkness, a long horizontal line had been drawn across it. A screen that looked like someone had torn it apart and then messily taped it back together.

Small back-of-heads, clustered together, were watching that screen.

Because I knew where this was, I did not panic, and I watched the screen together with the little Kim Dokjas.

「“Cheon Inho, that bastard.”」

The movie on the screen was already a story I knew.

A story that began when one dumb Kim Dokja fragment possessed “Cheon Inho” out of the countless characters.

【Why did it have to be Cheon Inho? Aren’t you curious?】

When I turned my head, the Demon King of the Theater was there, sitting with legs crossed and chugging down zero soda.

【No one would have expected a protagonist like that, would they.】

Instead of answering, I also chugged down the zero cola placed beside me.

When I did not respond to the provocation, Asmodeus lightly twitched an eyebrow and asked.

【How does it feel to be born as a protagonist like that?】

“Are you doing this because I messed up your theater?”

【…….】

“You petty bastard.”

Watching Asmodeus’s eyebrow bend, I kept firing back.

“I can see exactly what you’re trying to do. You’re going to play videos like that again and start gaslighting all over again. That I’m not the real Kim Dokja, that the protagonist people want is some kind of being, and so on.”

【…….】

“Do I look like the kind of person who’d still hear that and get shocked into ruining my ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) own life?”

【Oh? So you’ve grown.】

“I have. And I have no intention of trading with you. Maybe you do, but I don’t.”

【Then why did you come here?】

As if it was fun watching us fight, every little Kim Dokja in the audience was looking this way.

I gave them a small wave and said.

“I came to see my readers’ faces.”

I looked at a little Kim Dokja peeking their head out between the theater seats. A particularly young-looking kid had a name tag pinned to their chest, lightly swaying.

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I knew who that “little Kim Dokja” was.

“Have you been well?”

Noh Jiyoon.

Mr. Dansu’s daughter.

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely save you.”

Whether the little Kim Dokja understood my words or not, their eyes quickly brimmed with tears.

Asmodeus muttered, sounding dumbfounded.

【When you say it like that, it really makes me sound like the villain who kidnapped these kids.】

“Then aren’t you?”

I glared at him as if we were facing off for a moment.

【At least I’ll have to admit that your guts alone are protagonist-worthy. But I’m really curious whether you can keep running your mouth even after you see this.】

With those words, Asmodeus whistled. Then the theater lights turned on brightly, and the little Kim Dokjas, whose eyes had been shining in the dark, all lowered their heads at once.

【Let me introduce them. A new rookie Kim Dokja who came in this time.】

At Asmodeus’s signal, one little Kim Dokja who had been sitting in the seat next to him stood up, stepping out with a small leg.

rlaehrwk244.

A name tag I had never seen. It seemed like a Kim Dokja who had recently been caught by Asmodeus.

Snow-white skin, eyes shining like stars.

Just as every other Kim Dokja was “Kim Dokja,” they, too, possessed Kim Dokja’s traits in full.

However, that little Kim Dokja was holding a single book in their hands.

【Can you figure out who it is?】

The moment I saw the title of the book, goosebumps rose all over me.

They were someone I knew.