A suffocating storm of White Azure slammed into the manor.
The three ascenders, their complexions gone blue, all dodged at the same time.

Sparks of Plausibility leaping up ominously inside the dust.

Then sentences floated up.

「This power? No way, that star……?」
「That can’t be. That constellation definitely died back then!」
「This makes no sense……!」

Sentences that seemed like the recorders’ inner thoughts. It didn’t seem like sentences they wrote directly, and maybe it was something like the recorders’ unconscious.

「Everyone, get a grip! The record is leaking!」

When “Unchanging One” warned them, the sentences that had been heard intermittently cut off immediately.

“Don’t panic! It’s the same fable-grade! And on top of that, we’re three!”

Maybe because they still hadn’t grasped the situation precisely, the ascenders looked like they were steadying their momentum again.

I spoke to those guys.

“It’s not the same fable-grade.”

Five stars shining across my entire body. I slowly drew up the power residing in the constellation.

[Your incarnation body is overloaded!]

A power I obtained by enduring the 1,863rd round together with Han Sooyoung.

Also known as “Demon King of Salvation” mode.

Usage time: about 5 minutes.
Instantaneous combat power: “late-stage fable-grade.”

“W-what…… the standing keeps going up!”

“Don’t get scared just from the standing! I’ve heard information about him! That star’s combat capability isn’t that outstanding compared to the standing it has!”

I was a little surprised because it was more accurate than I expected.

Just as he said, “Demon King of Salvation” wasn’t the type whose combat killing power was that outstanding compared to the standing it had.

However, the reason “Demon King of Salvation” was frightening wasn’t because he had “powerful techniques.”

“Eternity. Lend me one more fable.”

With a tztzt sound, one new fable was added to the constellation.

[Fable, ‘Bug Massacre’ begins the story.]

Fable, “Bug Massacre.”

A fable that exerts overwhelming power when the opponent is a “weaker one” than the fable’s owner.

The standing enveloping my incarnation body began to shine even more brightly.

[That fable resonates with the constellation of ‘Demon King of Salvation’!]

The reason the Demon King of Salvation is frightening is because his fable affinity is so outstanding that it can’t even be compared to other constellations.

The power of the fable activated in an instant seized control of the area through my flesh.

“That—”

The ascenders who recognized the fable stepped back.

But it was already too late.

A White Azure sword strike swung in an instant sent the head of one ascender flying.

“One, for now.”

No matter that it was “Bug Massacre” being unleashed by the “Demon King of Salvation,” this fable, whose origin was “history-grade,” doesn’t work well against existences with standing above a certain level.

For example, in cases like Yoo Joonghyuk, who had only ever faced enemies overwhelmingly stronger than himself, “Bug Massacre” couldn’t display its proper capability.

But the guys in front of me were different.

“R-run! We have to tell the other ascenders!”

The ascenders in front of me had trusted only their own standing and had crushed only opponents weaker than themselves. That was why they were dying right now. Their history became their weakness.

“Two.”

[White Azure Qi] layered over [Wind’s Path] cut off another ascender’s neck.

As two incarnation bodies collapsed emptily, a constellation’s horrific scream rang out from the sky.

[Constellation, ‘Twins Who Own Horses’ takes massive damage and withdraws from the scenario!]

What was interesting was that the recorders recording those guys ended up in a similar situation, too.

[Horror Recorder, ‘One Who Records Youth’ loses his record and enters cessation of writing.]
[Horror Recorder, ‘One Who Doesn’t Like Plot Twists’ loses his record and enters cessation of writing.]

It seemed a Horror Recorder who had formed a “record contract” took a big hit when the contracted incarnation died.

Was that why Bihyung said it would be enough to just deal with the contracted incarnation?

Anyway, with that, only one remained.

When I turned my head, a terrified Yoon Hyeonseok was preparing to run.

Normally, since he was cornered, he would be likely to struggle at least once.

[Constellation, ‘Desiring Parrot’ lowers the synchronization with the incarnation.]

Unfortunately, that guy’s supporting constellation seemed to have made a peculiar choice.

“B-back, Backing Constellation?”

Feeling his own standing shrink in an instant, Executive Yoon Hyeonseok wore a blank, devastated expression.

“W-wait. Don’t come! Don’t come, I said!”

If they lowered synchronization with the incarnation in a situation like this, the purpose was obvious.

Since it was a fight they’d lose anyway, they were probably lowering synchronization to reduce the damage to the true body.

But I couldn’t just let him run. I pulled out the “Execution Sword” from inside my clothes.

[S+ grade item ‘Execution Sword’ evolves into the holy relic ‘Execution Sword’.]

Originally, it was an item you could only use by borrowing the power of the Big Dipper, but if you were around a fable-grade constellation, you could substitute that much with your own constellation, too.

My fables settled into the handle of the “Execution Sword,” and bright starlight was engraved along the blade of the sword.

[Constellation, ‘Desiring Parrot’ is shocked and stares at you!]
[Constellation, ‘Desiring Parrot’ begs you. If you do not kill his incarnation body—]

The “Execution Sword,” swung as-is, cut through his chest.

Then, along with a horrific scream, the constellation’s message was heard.

[Constellation, ‘Desiring Parrot’ takes massive damage and withdraws from the scenario!]

Leaving behind Yoon Hyeonseok, collapsed on the ground spilling out fables, I recovered the D-coins the dead executives dropped.

[You have acquired a total of 25,300 D-coins.]

As expected of executive-class, the amount of D-coins they had was fairly large.

At this rate, I’d gather 100,000 D-coins quickly, wouldn’t I?

[Fable, ‘Successor of the Eternal Name’ recovers the fable you borrowed.]

Right then, the time limit of “Demon King of Salvation mode” ended. I tasted blood on the tip of my tongue. I swallowed my breath, forcing myself to look calm.

Faint sparks running across my whole body.

As expected, five fables are still too much.

“Benefactor, are you alright!”

“Inho—!”

I could see Namgung Myeong and Gyeong Sein, who had retreated for a moment, approaching this way.

I held out my palm toward them as a sign not to move yet.

Because Yoon Hyeonseok’s breathing was still hanging on.

“Keuhk…….”

Even if he was in a state where he couldn’t use the power of his supporting constellation, I still couldn’t let my guard down to the end.

Maintaining [White Azure Qi], I approached him.

“S-save, save me…….”

Looking down at that guy, I said.

“I have something I’m curious about, regarding your ‘recorder.’”

The moment I mentioned the existence of a recorder, Yoon Hyeonseok’s body trembled as if he’d been struck by lightning.

[Horror Recorder, ‘Unchanging One’ stares at you!]

Then, as if he’d been waiting, a message floated up.

[Horror Recorder, ‘Unchanging One’ expects your magnanimity!]

There was a reason I left this guy alive in the first place. There was information I had to find out.

What, exactly, so many recorders were ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ plotting in this city.

What the hunchbacks were thinking, hiring these guys.

If it was this “recorder” in front of me, he would know all of it.

“If I spare you, what do I get?”

[Horror Recorder, ‘Unchanging One’ says he will give you D-coins!]

“I don’t need that trash.”

Thinking of what my first brother went through, I had no intention of letting even one of these guys live.

Even so, I couldn’t miss a chance to squeeze out information for once.

But the next moment, instead of his answer, I heard his inner thoughts.

「I just need to buy a little more time.」

Huh?

「Soon it’ll be ‘that time.’ If I evacuate to the ‘Record Archive’ before I lose the contract body, I can avoid cessation of writing……!」

Record Archive?

Sensing something off, I was about to swing my blade at Yoon Hyeonseok’s arm.

「Hahahahat! Good! It’s two o’clock!」

Bright light welled up from Yoon Hyeonseok’s entire body, and then something like translucent energy shot up into the sky.

The next moment, something like the pen strokes he left behind rippled in midair. The moment I reached out and grabbed that trace hard, a message floated up in front of my eyes.

[Would you like to enter the ‘Record Archive’ of this region?]

The moment I saw the message, something came to mind.

「“Hmm. They said there’s a subspace only recorders can access……”」

It seemed that place was the “subspace” Bihyung had talked about.

*

A white circular space that reminded me of a gigantic colosseum. Over the blankness of that space, fierce sentences were floating up in real time.

「Blood Jade Fist Demon Jo Jincheol shouted. “Damn it, Radiant Sword Emperor! This time I won’t let you go!”」
「Paradise Holy Emperor Reinheit grit his teeth and said. “So it’s Radiant Sword Emperor after all. As expected, the reputation is well-earned.”」
「A madness-filled Nirvana went “Hahahahat! Where did you go! Become one with me!”」

As various incidents that happened in the city rose neatly across the screen, more than ten recorders checked the facets of the screen and scribbled something.

「……Auction house special notes report…….」
「……Fragment appraisal. Currently judging Plausibility suitability…….」

What was unusual was that all the recorders were wearing different masks. Most were navy or purple masks, but occasionally green and orange masks appeared too.

The one who spoke first was the recorder wearing an orange mask.

【What happened with the order that came down from the nebula? No changes?】

Then the green mask beside him answered.

【It’s the same. We protested several times, but they say there will be no reversal of the decision. The city will be sealed in the next scenario.】

【So it ends up that way, in the end.】

The orange mask spoke in a hollow tone. Beyond the mask, both of his eyes reflected the city’s scenery.

「New Murim Earth.」

Up to now, this city had sustained its life by feeding on the remnants left behind by the destroyed apocalypse region.

A city that refined the apocalypse region’s fragments that were excavated from time to time into “D-coins,” and by sending those “D-coins” to the nebulae of the higher scenario, proved its worth of existence.

However, the life force of that system ended here.

【If that Radiant Sword Emperor bastard hadn’t destroyed the orbital elevator…….】

When the orbital elevator broke, the distribution route of D-coins was blocked, and naturally, the ascenders who grew strong through D-coins also had their path of ascension blocked.

A mere single incarnation had collapsed the city’s entire system.

【In truth, even if it wasn’t Radiant Sword Emperor, it was something that was foreseen. Wasn’t the situation already that there were almost no tale fragments left to be found in the apocalypse region?】

Radiant Sword Emperor is only the trigger. The constellations of the higher scenario probably just judged that this city had used up its usefulness.

【That’s true. Was there no usable harvest this week either?】

【There was talk that an ‘end-of-the-world-grade fragment’ was found during the day, but…….】

【End-of-the-world-grade fragment?】

【Yes. Since it was an impossible situation, I heard the rookies stepped in and corrected the record. The Administration Bureau is also investigating the Plausibility of the scale, apparently.】

【End-of-the-world-grade…….】

If that was true, even the upper Great Nebulae might change their minds.

Thinking that, the orange mask shook his head.

‘There’s no way an end-of-the-world-grade fragment of horror exists.’

If something like that had still been left, the “Twelve Divine Seats” of <Olympus> or the “Lokapala” of <Veda> would have already descended and turned the city upside down.

【When is the next scenario’s activation time?】

【One hour from now.】

【And Radiant Sword Emperor? You’re just leaving him alone, or what?】

【A small-scale [Fate] activation order will come down from the ‘Great Nebula’ soon.】

[Fate].

At that word, the recorders in the room murmured.

【You’re using [Fate] just to deal with a single incarnation?】

【It’s not just a single incarnation. We put in ascenders and still haven’t been able to hunt him. He’s an incarnation with at least mid-stage fable-grade combat power.】

Listening to the recorders’ private talk, the orange mask asked.

【Where was he last discovered?】

【Near <Tamla Heavy Industries>.】

【Then the objective is clear.】

The orange mask stared at the main building of <Tamla Heavy Industries> floating on the screen.

In that company’s underground, there was a monster that the recorders had once joined forces to seal.

As if he’d thought of something, the orange mask smiled faintly.

【Since it’s come to this, let’s make a proper final stage. If it’s a scenario of this scale, even the ‘high-ranked recorders’ will take interest.】

The goal of all “Horror Recorders” is obvious. It is to complete the “ultimate single sentence” to leave on the “final wall.”

However, not all recorders could reach the “ultimate single sentence.” Only chosen recorders could leave great records.

Thus, most recorders wanted at least to write some “annotation” to attach like a side piece to such a “great single sentence.”

【Listen carefully, all of you. If we succeed safely in just this scenario, we may even be able to demand a position of ‘annotation’ from the high-ranked recorders who monopolize the interpretation of the wall.】

【T-that, is that really true?】

【It is.】

The recorders were frightened, yet their eyes were excited. And that made sense, because for them, the <Star Stream> “high-ranked recorders” were existences they couldn’t dare even look at— they couldn’t even hear a true utterance from them— they didn’t even know their true names.

But if they could help those high-ranked recorders and complete the “ultimate single sentence”……

It was then that one recorder checking the screen came running.

【Urgent report. Two recorders have just entered cessation of writing, they say.】

Cessation of writing. At the weight carried by that word, the recorders’ expressions stiffened in an instant. Because for recorders, “cessation of writing” was a punishment close to “eternal extinction” for constellations.

The orange mask asked.

【Which ones?】

【They’re rookies. ‘One Who Records Youth’ and ‘One Who Doesn’t Like Plot Twists,’ they say.】

The orange mask’s eyes narrowed.

In this city, it wasn’t easy to cause an incident serious enough to warrant “cessation of writing,” no matter what you did.

If there was a possibility, it would be if the “record contract” incarnation body died.

The orange mask spoke in a heavy voice.

【It might be Radiant Sword Emperor’s doing.】

Radiant Sword Emperor. The tense recorders exchanged glances.

【Dispatch ascenders to nearby regions. If Radiant Sword Emperor is found—】

Then the order came down.

【Prepare to activate [Fate] immediately.】

*

Right in front of me, the “Horror Recorder” was trembling.

【H-how. How is this……】

To explain the situation simply, it’s like this.

The moment it became two in the morning, he moved to this place called the “Record Archive,” and I followed him.

The guy who had been giddy, thinking he’d escaped safely, was now making a face like he was about to faint after turning back and seeing me.

The guy hurriedly fixed his expression and started speaking.

【D-don’t tell me you were the same ‘recorder’? But how can the contract body and the recorder be the same person……?】

I silently stared at that “Unchanging One.”

Since he was called a “Horror Recorder,” I thought he would have some impressive appearance, but he was just a young man wearing glasses. Compared to “Asmodeus” or “Flying Heavenly Fox” I had met before, the standing I could feel from him was at a pathetic level.

At my silence, maybe thinking something, he threw himself flat on the ground and shouted.

【Spare me! I will never touch your contract body again! I will not even come near you! I will not append even a single conjunction, a single adverb, to the place where you are!】

I watched that pathetic sight for a moment, then opened my mouth.

But no voice came out. In this space, was it impossible to speak out loud? If so……

【So this is how you speak.】

At that moment, upon hearing my voice, “Unchanging One” opened his eyes wide.