“No, what is that—”

The inside of the auction house swelled with murmuring.

“I didn’t just see that wrong, did I?”

“It’s real. I saw it too.”

“Does this make any sense? I think the scale measured wrong.”

The crowd surged in. Then the scale’s main body writhed, and something like a huge mouth appeared above the scale platform.

[Th?e app?rais?al res?ult for th?is p?art is? 10000 D-coins?.]

Maybe there was a problem with the appraisal—the message’s display state wasn’t good.

Still, the result was clear.

“10,000 D-coins?”

One shocked cry after another burst out among the crowd.

It was understandable.

10,000 D-coins for a single strand of hair.

At this level, it wouldn’t be strange even if coin inflation happened.

[Would you like to exchange the item placed on the scale platform for D-coins?]

So you could exchange it immediately.

“Exchange it.”

The moment my consent fell, the mouth above the scale platform grotesquely swelled and sucked in the hair. Then, with a “bleh” sound, the scale’s mouth began to spit out D-coins. The poured-out D-coins were absorbed into me along with bright rays of light.

“B, Benefactor……?”

Namgung Myeong’s expression changed in real time. From flustered to shocked, from shocked to joy again.

I nodded and answered.

“Making money is easy.”

[A constellation who sold blood to make money is impressed by your price!]

10,000 per strand of hair. If I pulled out just nine more, could I solve the company’s debt too?

Hair grows back anyway, so if I just shaved it all off down to the scalp, I might even become the richest person in <Star Stream>.

But one thing bothered me—

[The ‘Settlement Scale’ looks at you.]

Since when had it been like this? A pair of eyes that had sprouted on the scale was staring at me. I got an unpleasant feeling.

Where did the hair this scale just ate disappear to?

Is it really okay to keep settling things like this?

“What the hell did you do.”

A chilly voice reached my ear.

When I turned around, the employees of <Veda Biotech>—the ones who had submitted the tooth fragment earlier and obtained 3,000 D-coins—were surrounding me with grim faces.

I smiled in an affable way and brushed away the hand that had landed on my shoulder.

“Let go and talk.”

But the supervisor, whose expression had hardened viciously, threatened me again.

“I asked what you did. How did you get an appraisal price like that?”

“You don’t seem to know, but hair is originally precious.”

It was the kind of statement even the Great Sage Equal to Heaven would probably nod at, but the supervisor didn’t look persuaded at all.

“Bullshit!”

The supervisor of Veda Biotech, unable to accept reality, pulled out a weapon and pointed it at me.

I ignored him and looked up at the display board in the air.

+

1st. ■?■?■?■?■?■?■?■?■? hair — 10000 D-coins.

+

The board’s ranking had changed.

[The incarnation who takes 1st place in this week’s appraisal ranking will additionally obtain a small reward.]

[This week’s appraisal ranking closes in 1 hour.]

So that’s why these guys were pissed. In other words, they were mad because their ranking reward got stolen.

“Confess properly. What the hell is that thing you brought?”

“If we go by the scale’s description, it’d be the hair of an end-of-the-world-grade Outer God.”

“An end-of-the-world-grade Outer God can’t exist! Those were all extinguished eight years ago! Grab this bastard! He’s definitely involved in illegal collection!”

Looks like it wasn’t going to end nicely.

Should I use [Incite] and wipe them out? Or should I reveal my Status to an appropriate degree and make them back off?

As I was thinking about which would be more efficient—

[The ‘Horror Recorder’ who writes <Veda Biotech> thinks poorly of you.]

I frowned lightly and looked up into the air.

Come to think of it, last time too, I’d heard messages from the recorder who wrote <Veda Biotech> and <Olympus Technology>.

They were displeased that I’d entered this “New Murim Zone,” and right after I heard those messages, the thugs of <Tamla Heavy Industries> attacked.

Wait. Then even now?

“Did the Recorders tell you to kill me?”

“W, what are you talking about?”

Judging by how flustered he was, it didn’t seem like a completely absurd assumption. I also recalled the words I’d heard in passing at the auction house earlier.

「“At that level, it would’ve caught the Recorders’ eyes too. It’s basically a guaranteed ultra-fast promotion to executive.”」

Most of the Recorders in this city had names connected to <Veda Biotech> or <Tamla Heavy Industries> and the like. Then I could try making this assumption.

What if each company had one “Recorder” attached to it?

“I’ll ask again. Did the ‘Recorder’ tied to your big company order you to stop me?”

“That’s none of your—”

“Who is it. Tell me. Demon King of the Cinema? Flying Heavenly Fox?”

For reference, “Demon King of the Cinema” was Asmodeus’s epithet, and “Flying Heavenly Fox” was Bicheonhori’s epithet.

[The ‘Horror Recorder’ who writes <Veda Biotech> is startled by your remark.]

[The ‘Horror Recorder’ supporting <Tamla Heavy Industries> asks how that guy knows those epithets.]

[The ‘Horror Recorder’ cheering <Olympus Technology> argues, asking who’s even recording that guy.]

Mm, I see.

Roughly looking at the situation, it seemed like the Recorder I’d made contact with in the “time stratum” wasn’t here.

Still, what in the world was happening that the Horror Recorders were gathered in this city?

The supervisor shouted, seething.

“How dare a mere insect mention the epithets of the great Recorders!”

Incarnations slowly closing in on me.

Then the sky glittered. Entry messages from constellations began to be heard one by one.

[The constellation, ‘Owner of Baekrokdam’, is curious about how you will respond.]

[The constellation, ‘Bald Militia Commander’, enters the channel!]

[The constellation, ‘God of Wine and Ecstasy’, enters the channel!]

…….

After the Recorders, even the constellations.

Too many eyes are watching. If it gets this much attention, solving it with force becomes a bit of a burden.

I still hadn’t confirmed the strength of major companies like <Veda Biotech> or <Olympus Technology>, and if I exposed my strength first here, it could only be a loss. So—

“Well, alright. I don’t want to fight, so I’ll tell you honestly.”

Let’s do it like this here.

“First of all, this hair isn’t something I obtained illegally. I’ve never joined any collection or anything. Why don’t you try using [Lie Detection] or something.”

When I raised both hands and spoke in a nonchalant voice, one of the incarnations who had been pressing me activated a skill as if he’d been waiting for it.

A message rose up.

[Someone is activating ‘Lie Detection’!]

[‘Lie Detection’ has confirmed that your words are true.]

With his expression hardened, the supervisor asked.

“You didn’t obtain it illegally? Then where did it come from?”

Calmly, I pointed at my head.

“Here.”

[‘Lie Detection’ has confirmed that your words are true.]

“That can’t be…… Why is hair from a bastard like you worth over 10,000 D-coins?”

“How would I know? Maybe the scale is broken?”

“The Settlement Scale has never broken even once until now!”

“Really? Then let’s check one more time.”

In front of everyone, I plucked out four hairs and placed them on the Settlement Scale.

“I request appraisal.”

Then, as if faint sparks gathered on the scale, the appraisal result printed out.

[Appraising 4 parts of the same type.]

[Th?e t?otal of th?e app?rais?al res?ults for th?is p?art is? 40000 D-coins?.]

“Exchange it.”

D-coins poured down from the air.

I leisurely collected the coins while looking back at the men with blank faces.

“See? It really seems broken, right? There’s no way human hair is this expensive.”

With [Incite] activated, I slowly looked around at the surrounding crowd. And putting force into each and every word, I continued the story.

“<Star Stream> isn’t perfect either. I also once obtained a bug-like item from an item called a ‘Random Item Box’ in the past.”

[Incite] becomes powerful when it meshes with truth.

[‘Lie Detection’ has confirmed that your words are true.]

Greed began to settle little by little around the eyes of the crowd that had been wavering with distrust.

After watching them for a moment, I grabbed my hair again and said,

“Well. Since it seems none of you believe me, I’ll just keep appraising……”

The supervisor, whose complexion changed instantly, shoved me aside and stood in front of the scale.

“Move!”

That was the start.

“Stop! I’ll try first!”

“No, I’m first!”

“I’m appraising first!”

“Hey, don’t push! I said don’t push!”

In an instant, the front of the scale platform was packed with people. Watching everyone pluck out their hair and place it on the platform, I quietly retreated to the outskirts of the auction house with Namgung Myeong.

From far away, I could see the scale’s mouth sucking in people’s hair.

And a moment later.

[The ‘Settlement Scale’ has detected abnormal appraisal attempts!]

A strange message rang out.

Startled, the incarnations looked at each other and said,

“What the hell. That guy was fine!”

“Wasn’t it an error? My coins—”

The mouth on the scale began to spit back out the hairs it had sucked in.

Just as the people who sensed something was wrong tried to pull their bodies away—

[Costs will be charged for abnormal appraisal attempts!]

[The ‘Settlement Scale’ is proceeding with settlement!]

The scale’s blood vessels writhed, and then tentacles sprang out from inside the scale’s mouth.

“Kraaaaaagh!”

The incarnations caught by the tentacles were being dragged up onto the scale platform. They were all incarnations who had plucked out their hair and placed it on the platform.

Among them was the supervisor who had picked a fight with me.

“What are you all staring at! Untie this right now! Hurry!”

“What is this, why is this—”

[Costs are being charged for abnormal appraisal attempts.]

Along with the message, the scale’s mouth opened. Crunch, the sound of flesh being crushed. Shattered tales scattered in all directions along with sprays of blood.

「“What kind of freak came in here. He doesn’t even know that if you appraise the wrong thing, you get hit with the scale’s curse—”」

So “wrong appraisal” probably meant that.

“Aaaaaaaaaagh!”

Amid the horrific scene, incarnations screamed.

The auction house became a living hell in an instant.

Only the starlight glittering in the air quietly watched everything.

[The constellation, ‘Owner of Baekrokdam’, makes an impressed expression.]

[The constellation, ‘Bald Militia Commander’, turns away from the cruel scene.]

[The constellation, ‘God of Wine and Ecstasy’, is curious about your identity.]

[The constellation, ‘Reclining Dragon’, enters the channel!]

[The constellation, ‘Reclining Dragon’, asks what in the world is happening.]

[Constellations of the Absolute Evil alignment sponsor you with 20 D-coins!]

Along with the pouring sponsorship from constellations, messages filled with the Recorders’ anger rang out as well.

[The ‘Horror Recorder’ who writes <Veda Biotech> is greatly enraged!]

[The ‘Horror Recorder’ supporting <Tamla Heavy Industries> frowns.]

[The ‘Horror Recorder’ cheering <Olympus Technology> shakes their head.]

[The Recorders have begun a ‘narrative consensus’.]

With a feeling like my vision creaked for a moment, sentences appeared before my eyes.

「The auction house fell into a living hell. It was impossible. Mere hair from a single incarnation was being treated as a part of an ‘end-of-the-world-grade Outer God’.」

After coming out of the apocalypse region, I was startled for the first time.

Sentences being narrated in a colorless landscape.

「The owner of the apocalypse region perished eight years ago, and every last part of him was collected. Yet the scale just appraised a part of an ‘end-of-the-world-grade Outer God’. What this meant was clear.」

It wasn’t my thought, nor the record of Ways of Survival or the [Fourth Wall].

「The ‘Settlement Scale’ broke.」

A landscape similar to when I used [□□].

Someone was interpreting the reality in front of me however they pleased.

「The matter was immediately relayed to the ‘Administration Bureau’.」

The next moment, an intense Backlash of Plausibility swept out from the scale, and then the scale’s function stopped.

[A new notice from the Administration Bureau has arrived!]

[A ‘Plausibility suitability judgment’ will soon proceed in this region!]

[While the ‘Plausibility suitability judgment’ of this region is proceeding, use of the ‘Settlement Scale’ is temporarily suspended!]

Incarnations’ laments followed.

“What, so it really was a bug?”

“Then what was that bastard earlier! Only that bastard profited?”

“Where did that guy go!”

“Supervisor! Move the supervisor!”

Having pulled out early, I was hiding in an alleyway within the chaos-filled auction house together with Namgung Myeong.

After catching his breath, Namgung Myeong asked in a tense voice.

“Benefactor, just now… was the scale really broken?”

“Who knows.”

Staring at the Administration Bureau messages blinking in the air, I thought.

「There was no bug.」

The reason my hair received an “end” evaluation was because I had inherited the tale of the “King of Terror.”

However, someone watching this situation was denying that fact and trying to conclude the matter as “the scale breaking.”

The reason was clear. They didn’t want me to gain any more profit from this incident.

[The ‘Horror Recorder’ who writes <Veda Biotech> looks for you with displeased eyes.]

“Myeong. Why are the ‘Horror Recorders’ here?”

At my question, Namgung Myeong’s eyes slowly widened, as if he’d thought of something.

“Benefactor, could it be that you have been chosen by a ‘Horror Recorder’?”

“What are you talking about now.”

“Ah…… you haven’t?”

Namgung Myeong added, hiding his disappointment a little.

“I’ve heard that sometimes the ‘Horror Recorders’ make special proposals to incarnations who show outstanding performance in the ‘New Murim Zone.’ Especially for incarnations who rise to an ‘executive-class’ standing at a fast pace, most of them are said to have been chosen by the Recorders.”

Chosen by a Recorder?

It wasn’t some sponsor selection—why would a “Horror Recorder” choose an incarnation?

This world isn’t even the apocalypse region’s “time stratum”……

[You have attracted the interest of the ‘Horror Recorders’ of this region.]

Huh?

[A small number of ‘Horror Recorders’ propose a ‘recording contract’ to you.]

[From now on, you may choose a ‘Recorder’ who will record your tale.]

Wait. Don’t tell me this is—

[If you accept the ‘recording contract,’ the ‘Horror Recorders’ will record you on the ‘Final Wall’ with their own hands.]

[In order to complete an interpretation favorable to you, the ‘Horror Recorder’ will spare no effort of their writing power.]

[Tales recorded through a contract greatly rise in standing within <Star Stream>!]

Starting from that, countless messages appeared before my eyes.

[A Recorder who is not yet cheering anyone wants to record your tale.]

[A Recorder who likes large-scale fraud wants to record your tale.]

[A Recorder who likes squint-eyed characters wants to record your tale.]

As I examined the Recorders’ proposals one by one, there was one message that stood out in particular.

[A Recorder who hates regression wants to record your tale.]