For the next hour, I got beaten all over the place by Han Sooyoung until dust flew. Maybe because I got beaten so much, now whenever Han Sooyoung asked a question, the answer came out right away.

"So what department did you graduate from?"

"Creative Writing."

"Oh, so you probably won a few prizes at writing contests when you were younger?"

"Only the voracious reading award. Honestly, I never really learned writing separately, so I wasn't the type with good writing talent."

"Really? Still, once you got to college, you must've learned some, right?"

"I did learn, but…"

There were people who taught me, in a sense. I did graduate from a creative writing department, and I did take fiction classes from this and that professor. But if you asked me whether I learned writing from them, I wasn't sure how I should answer.

Still, there was one professor I remembered.

「"■■. Are things really hard for you these days?"」

Was it around when I got lucky and debuted, but couldn't get a single request for anything?

「"Have you ever thought about web novels?"」

Back then, I still hadn't fully come down from the high of 'serious literature', so I got gloomy thinking the professor meant, "You don't have jack shit talent, so get out of the literary scene." But looking back now, that advice meant, "If you keep squatting here, your life is going to get ruined."

Thinking about my classmates spending their hard years in the literary world drowning them in alcohol, I wanted to bow and offer him a cup in gratitude for his insight, but unfortunately I couldn't even remember that professor's name anymore. It was because I lost a lot of the memories I originally had while passing through the 'apocalypse region'.

"At first, it was hard to adapt when I started writing web novels."

"Well, if you came from serious literature, it wouldn't be easy. The way you write is really different."

"I didn't know I'd flounder that much. Even though I'm from creative writing."

"That can happen. Honestly, our industry has a pretty low barrier to entry, right? Writing is something anyone can do as long as they have a keyboard."

The fact that I was talking about web novels with Han Sooyoung of all people didn't feel real at all.

"Yes. Anyway, I struggled a lot at first."

"No one writes well from the start. Sometimes there are geniuses, though."

"Even you couldn't write at first?"

"I'm that genius."

Watching Han Sooyoung grin smugly, a bitter smile came out of me too.

Even if she talked like that, I knew she was someone who had worked harder than anyone.

More than anything, she was someone who had serialized a novel for over ten years that only a single person read.

"All right, get up. We have to keep going."

Letting out a deep sigh, I stood up.

"You're going to hit me again?"

"Who told you to just take it? You said you'd hit me too. If you do, I'll answer the question you want, right?"

"That's easy to say."

"You just have to land one effective hit. Is that really so hard?"

"It's harder than when I first got into web novels."

She said "one effective hit", but from where I stood, it just looked like Han Sooyoung using training as an excuse to beat me up.

"Maybe it's because you came from serious literature. Your skill usage is so old-fashioned."

"Honestly, how much serious literature have you even read?"

"Your basic stamina is awful too."

"I've never seen a writer with good stamina."

"A writer needs the basic stamina to write for three days and nights without getting tired. Back in my day—"

I quickly used a fable.

[A tale fragment, 'Wind’s Path', begins its story!]

[Wind’s Path], concentrated into 'Unbreakable Conviction', swirled and raised a fierce sword wind.

Han Sooyoung muttered like she found it interesting.

"Oh, this one has decent application, huh?"

Even so, my [Wind’s Path] couldn't even brush Han Sooyoung's collar.

Clenching my lips tight, I swung my sword, and swung again.

While dodging my blade this way and that, Han Sooyoung kept throwing questions at me without rest.

"What's the name of this technique?"

"It's [Wind’s Path]."

"That's the skill name. Originally, [Wind’s Path] isn't used like that."

"I didn't attach a name."

I'm not the Killer King. There's no way I'd slap technique names like "Dark Spinning Breaker" on every move I use.

But Han Sooyoung looked at me like I was pathetic.

"That technique is your original, right? And you didn't even name it?"

"Why do I have to name it?"

"Because it gets stronger if it has a name."

I couldn't understand what she meant.

It gets stronger if it has a name?

"Flower-Extinguishing Sword."

When Han Sooyoung muttered softly, a long, purple sword aura rose from the dagger in her hand.

Staring closely at the shape of that sword aura, I asked,

"Flower-Extinguishing Sword? Isn't that just you stretching [Black Flame] out long?"

"Flower-Extinguishing Sword, First Form. Flower-Extinguishing, Bud-Awakening."

Han Sooyoung shouted out the technique name without caring about my heckling. Then the form of [Black Flame] wrapped around her whole body like a flower bud, and in the next moment, it deflected every single blade storm my [Wind’s Path] had created.

[A constellation, 'War God of the Seas', makes its eyes sparkle!]

[A constellation, 'Bald Militia Commander', is happy, saying it's been a while since seeing the 'Flower-Extinguishing Sword'.]

Constellation messages pouring down from the air.

I felt like I could understand a little of what Han Sooyoung meant about having to name things.

"Second Form. Flower-Extinguishing, Blooming Fragrance."

The flower bud made of [Black Flame] opened. The sight of a flower in full bloom made of pure purple sword aura had a bewitching charm just from looking at it.

In the instant my gaze got stolen by that scene, the purple sword aura that had bloomed began pouring out in all directions, as if the petals were scattering fragrance.

"Kgh."

I hurriedly activated the 'blade of conviction', but it wasn't enough to block the countless sword auras of [Black Flame]. In an instant, small wounds formed on my arms and legs.

Faced with the overwhelming difference in mastery, I was purely shocked.

Just as my techniques relied on the origin called [Wind’s Path], her techniques were also based on [Black Flame]. But the way she used [Black Flame] was far more precise and delicate than the way I used [Wind’s Path].

Shaking her head, Han Sooyoung said.

"It's not a difference in mastery. It's a difference in imagination."

A difference in imagination.

"Even if you handle fables the same way, depending on how you name it, the image of that technique changes completely."

Only then did I realize what she meant. Sure enough, she had only attached a name, but the technique's image felt much clearer.

A crouched flower bud, and petals scattering as it bloomed.

A defined name creates a frame for imagination, and stirs the constellations' curiosity.

[A constellation, 'Number One Sword of Goryeo', feels nostalgia for an old martial world.]

Then, if that's the case—

"Pungnang Flash."

I thrust my sword with all my strength. As the magic power drained out of my whole body, the shape of the blade storm created by [Wind’s Path] changed.

I recalled the wolf who had taught me [Wind’s Path]. The wolves of Immuntar running across the plains of Kronos. Facing the sunset, the wolves running forward began to howl all at once.

Kudududud!

The energies of [Wind’s Path] and [Black Flame] collided and raised a violent gale.

The one being pushed back, just slightly, was this side.

Without stopping, I supplied magic power and layered [White Azure Qi] over the blade.

"White Wolf Flash."

The manes of the howling wolves scattered in silver. Some wolves died, cut down by petals, but some wolves succeeded in the end in biting those petals apart. With a pasusss sound, magic power was neutralized in the air, and [Black Flame] and [Wind’s Path] scattered into ash-gray.

Han Sooyoung smiled like she found me commendable.

"Good at learning. Did you borrow 'Pungnang' from Lycaon's name?"

"That's right."

After that, I activated other fables and skills in succession.

[A fable, 'Tenacious Murim Master', begins its story!]

A fable I got from Cheonga, the Dragon Head Ark of the Beggars' Sect.

[Exclusive skill, 'Nagak Breathing Lv.10', is activated!]

The long breath I drew in with [Nagak Breathing] strengthened the mana circulation efficiency of 'circulation delay'. It was the result of me repeatedly drilling the skill linkage ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) the Demon King of Salvation had pointed out back then.

After exchanging over a hundred blows with me in an instant, Han Sooyoung nodded and said.

"Your set of techniques isn't that great, but your linkage isn't bad. You worked hard in your own way, huh?"

For no reason, my mood lifted.

I worked hard. It felt this good to have that acknowledged.

It felt like some sensation I'd forgotten for a long time was waking up again. Just clashing swords, just telling the fables I'd built up, and yet.

"Don't get excited for no reason. You're still far off. Anything else you can do?"

"I can use Kim Dokja's power."

Right now, I had accepted the 'first Kim Dokja', the 'Demon King of Salvation', and the 'second Kim Dokja', the 'King of Terror'. I could borrow their power staying in the [Fourth Wall] through the authority of 「Successor of the Eternal Name」.

"Use it."

"I can't right now."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

[Currently, part of the 'Fourth Wall' is being restored.]

[A fable, 'Successor of the Eternal Name', refuses your request.]

Seems like the state of the [Fourth Wall] wasn't good. Even that Eternal bastard wasn't listening for some reason.

Smacking her lips, Han Sooyoung asked.

"That's a problem. Anything else?"

"I can use Cheon Inho's techniques too."

"[Incite]?"

"Yes."

"Then use that at least."

Even with Han Sooyoung's suggestion, this time I hesitated a little. After going through Cheon Inho's '40th round' in the time stratum of the apocalypse region, my [Incite] had become quite powerful. Right now, I was confident I could make some middling hero-grade constellation kneel with [Incite] alone.

"You'll get hurt."

"Me?"

Han Sooyoung let out a snort and said,

"Wanna bet? If your incitement works even a tiny bit, I'll grant you one wish."

"A wish?"

"Yeah."

"Don't regret it."

Without hesitating, I opened my mouth.

"You…"

I thought for a moment about what kind of [Incite] I should use. Since it was the first time, should I go with something safe?

"You write worse than me."

[Exclusive skill, 'Incite Lv.???', is activated!]

Tststst.

Sparks crackled once in the air.

Han Sooyoung staring at me with a blank look.

Then I felt a strong backlash in my incarnation body.

[A fable, 'One Who Rewrites Fate', offsets your Backlash of Plausibility.]

As expected, did I fail?

"Like hell that kind of spell would work."

"You never know."

"You don't have the basics. Before you [Incite], you have to analyze what emotional state the other person is in first."

I almost said I did analyze it a little, then stopped.

"If I even had the slightest thought that I might lose to you, then maybe, but you think an [Incite] like that will work?"

"Then what should I have [Incited]?"

"That's for you to figure out. Anything else besides this? Got anything else?"

"I don't anymore."

[Exclusive skill, 'Incite Lv.???', is being activated!]

The smile on Han Sooyoung's lips deepened.

"Not bad. I almost believed it."

"That's too bad."

In fact, Han Sooyoung was right. I still had one important reserve left.

"Hey, you have a 'Giant Fable', don't you?"

"I do, but I still don't know how to use it. More precisely, I'm in a state where I can't use it."

"What do you mean?"

After thinking for a moment, I decided to honestly confess the truth.

"It's not only 'techniques' that need a name to be used properly."

"Don't tell me you still haven't named the fable?"

"Yes."

"When did you even get that giant fable?"

"Well, if you go by time, it's been quite a while."

"Then <Star Stream> would've named it on its own."

With a look like she found it strange, Han Sooyoung strode toward me and grabbed my wrist. Then her fable began pushing into me. And as if resisting her fable, a fierce energy churned inside me.

The 'Giant Fable' was resisting Han Sooyoung's fable. As if rejecting all of her stories.

"Well, would you look at that?"

After facing off with the fable for a moment, Han Sooyoung spoke like she found it interesting.

"This guy is refusing to be given a name."