The first to react was, as expected, Recluse.

【One of the three is a trap? What do you mean?】

【Exactly what it sounds like.】

An ominous red eye surfaced over Recluse’s monitor.

【What a joke. You think I’d make a deal like this?】

【Then don’t.】

【What?】

【Honestly, your information is something I can hear or not hear.】

The information Recluse had was about “a large fragment of the Oldest Dream.” It was information that would be interesting if you were curious, but in a way, it wasn’t “information I needed to hear right now.”

Maybe their pride was hurt that I’d evaluated their information like that, because Recluse grew openly furious.

【You think you’ll be safe after pulling this? Looks like you think I can’t find out who you are. The moment you leave this room, I’ll track down your contracted body right away and—】

【Yeah, yeah. Sounds like you’re curious about my butt, so go ahead and look as hard as you want.】

At my words, Morality let out a snort of laughter.

I turned to Morality and Cloud Mountain and asked.

【What about you two? What are you going to do?】

【I’ll trade.】

The first to answer was Cloud Mountain.

Since Cloud Mountain was looking for a “returnee from the apocalypse region,” I’d assumed they would accept my trade.

【I’ll do it.】

Morality accepted the trade as well.

Maybe it was only natural.

The information they had about “when Ragnarok will occur” wasn’t very valuable at this point, and it was information whose value would expire soon anyway.

【Then it’ll just be the two of you trading—】

【Wait. I’ll trade too.】

【You said you weren’t going to.】

Recluse answered through gritted teeth.

【I changed my mind.】

【Well, I changed my mind too. I’m not trading with you. You threatened me.】

【That—】

A silence that felt like embarrassment and rage mixed together. Recluse hesitated for a moment, then opened their mouth.

【I misspoke. I apologize.】

As expected—no matter how prideful a “Horror Recorder” might be, a recorder was still a recorder. There was no way they’d miss the chance to obtain an interpretation related to the “apocalypse region.”

Morality and Cloud Mountain, who had been watching our exchange from the side, let out murmurs as if impressed.

【Just words?】

A displeased-looking emoticon floated over Recluse’s monitor.

【Then what?】

【Aside from the spacetime coordinates of the ‘large fragment of the Oldest Dream,’ you’ll have to give me one more piece of information.】

【Earlier you said that was enough—】

【Want to not trade?】

Somewhere, a sound rang out like monitor parts grinding out of alignment, and Recluse asked.

【What information do you want?】

【When you were talking with Cloud Mountain, you said something interesting. That the Radiant Sword Emperor ‘realized what kind of city New Murim Earth was created for.’】

【So?】

【I want to hear what purpose the city called ‘New Murim Earth’ was created for, too.】

Recluse hesitated briefly, then answered.

【You’re a strange one. If you know about the ‘apocalypse region,’ you should be a recorder from an upper scenario, but you don’t know that information.】

I nearly slipped, but I didn’t show it and shamelessly shrugged.

【I wasn’t very interested in that region.】

【Fine. Then I’ll trade by telling you those two pieces of information. However, out of the three of us, I’ll trade first. You don’t have a problem with that, right?】

【If the others are fine with it.】

The other recorders probably didn’t want to clash with Recluse, because they didn’t show any particular dissatisfaction with the order.

While Recluse carefully examined the options, Morality asked.

【Recluse. What are you going to pick? You said there was one trap.】

【It’s obvious. Number 1 is the trap.】

The “Number 1” they were talking about was “the slapstick grand adventure story of the great catastrophe-grade horror, Ms. Kim Anna.”

Morality raised an objection.

【Doesn’t Number 1 look way too blatantly like a trap?】

【If that kid isn’t an idiot, then naturally, they’d make the chooser twist their thinking over and over.】

【So you’re saying the real intention is to make you choose Number 1 by making you overthink it.】

I listened to their logic with interest and nodded along.

【Have you chosen?】

【I’ll hear the information for Number 3.】

Number 3.

You made a good choice.

【Good. Then tell me your information first.】

Something printed over Recluse’s monitor, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ and a small hologram document floated up in front of me.

I narrowed my brow and started reading.

+

The ‘large fragments of the Oldest Dream’ identified so far total three.

1. Entity name: ‘Demon King of Salvation’.

A fragment that went missing along with the closing of the ‘Recycling Center’. It is possible that it was attributed to the incarnation who fought the entity in the ‘Recycling Center’.

…….

+

Honestly, I was surprised because it was more valuable information than I’d expected.

Because this document was a kind of indicator that let you see just how much the “Horror Recorders,” including Recluse, had grasped about the “Oldest Dream.”

+

2. Entity name: ‘King of Terror’.

A fragment torn off when the ‘apocalypse region’ met its end. At that time, part of it is presumed to have been absorbed by ■■■■■■.

…….

+

So this is what was known about the King of Terror.

That ■■■■■■ probably meant Asmodeus.

I continued reading the document.

+

3. ■■■.

+

Unfortunately, the information about the third fragment was filtered. That must mean even the recorder in front of me didn’t properly know about the third fragment.

It didn’t end there.

+

Additionally, the location of a ‘fourth giant fragment’ has been observed.

+

A fourth fragment.

At last, it was the information I’d been looking for.

+

At present, the fragment is believed to not exist within the interior of the corresponding world-line.

+

I read that passage again and again with blank eyes.

Instinctively, I could tell.

This was a clue about the “third Kim Dokja.” These damned bastards had found the whereabouts of the “third Kim Dokja” before I did.

+

The spacetime coordinates of the fragment cannot be precisely specified.

However, ‘some constellation context’ intertwined with it has been observed. The keywords extracted from the context are as follows.

Emperor. Monkey. Sword and shield.

+

Emperor? Monkey? Sword and shield?

I chewed on those keywords several times, then asked.

【Is this the answer? What I asked for was ‘spacetime coordinates.’】

【I couldn’t determine it that far. Still, you can infer a certain amount with the keywords I attached. This should be sufficiently valuable information, shouldn’t it?】

Listening to that true-word with a fishy smile to it made me want to smack them in the head.

【Send the other information too.】

【I already sent it.】

The second piece of information I’d requested from Recluse was about “the purpose behind the birth of New Murim Earth.”

After speed-reading the second document, I smacked my lips briefly.

I see. I’d expected it, but as I thought, the origin of why this city was made really was that.

【I’ve confirmed it. Now I’ll give you my information too. You said you chose Number 3, right?】

The third option Recluse chose was 「the secret of the ‘Oldest Dream’ that the recorder ‘Heavenly Flying Fox’ was curious about」.

I wrote a sentence in midair and transmitted it to them.

「The secret of the ‘Oldest Dream’ that Heavenly Flying Fox was curious about is…….」

As I wrote, an old memory welled up vividly.

That day, I’d told the secret at Heavenly Flying Fox’s inn.

「It’s about ‘the food the Oldest Dream hates the most.’」

When Recluse checked the sentence, I could see their head shaking violently.

【What is this……】

I could feel their emotions changing in real time. Confusion, shock, and then…….

【That…… what food is it?】

Curiosity. Their excited true-word was getting more and more heated.

【Say it. What kind of tale is that?】

【It’s not a tale, it’s food.】

【What?】

It looked like there was some misunderstanding, so I decided to be generous and wrote the next sentence too.

「The food the Oldest Dream hates is ‘tomatoes.’」

Recluse stayed silent for a long time after reading it. It looked like they were analyzing my sentence, and also like they were chewing it over and savoring it. Or maybe they couldn’t understand it at all.

Watching that from the side, Morality asked.

【Recluse, what information did you receive, exactly?】

Instead of answering, Recluse’s body jerked in a spasm, and suddenly they began blasting qi-force at me.

【Are you mocking me right now?】

I’d expected them to get mad. But I’d only given options, and in the end, they were the one who chose.

【This makes no sense. There’s no way this is all—】

【This is all of it.】

[Someone is activating ‘Lie Detection’!]
[‘Lie Detection’ has confirmed that your words are true.]

【That can’t be! The ‘Oldest Dream’ is only that, the great ‘Heavenly Flying Fox’ is only that, there’s no way they’d be curious about information like this—】

【That’s all.】

【Explain it properly. What does tomatoes mean? What interpretation did Heavenly Flying Fox obtain, exactly?】

It looked like they really weren’t understanding what I was saying, so I decided to show a bit more kindness.

「All right, I’ll explain briefly from here, so listen carefully. You know that the original form of the ‘Oldest Dream’ is ‘Kim Dokja,’ right? I mean Kim Dokja of Planet 8612 who completed ‘Ways of Survival.’ This isn’t an analogy or a metaphor. I’m talking about plain fact. Tomatoes are a food Kim Dokja hates. Tomatoes! I mean tomatoes literally!」

And then, the next moment, something strange happened.

「■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■…….」

The message I sent began getting filtered in its entirety.

【Kghk.】

It felt like a pop sounded right in front of my eyes, and I saw something leaking out of Recluse’s head. A blood-colored juice-like substance was dripping down onto the floor.

【You…… what the hell did you send me?】

Recluse’s divine body, which had been glaring at me like it couldn’t understand, scattered just like that. It was unexpected. Kim Dokja’s name wasn’t exactly a secret anymore, and I’d thought it would be fine because even Heavenly Flying Fox or Asmodeus talked about information at that level without any problem…… wasn’t that the case?

When Recluse vanished in an instant, Morality, who was standing beside me, said with admiration.

【Huh…… incredible. Information dangerous enough to forcibly evict red-grade Recluse. It was extremely dangerous information.】

It felt like there was some misunderstanding, but it wasn’t important, so I didn’t bother pointing it out.

【Cloud Mountain. May I take my turn next?】

【Do as you like.】

Right away, the information Morality sent floated up in front of my eyes.

The approximate time Ragnarok would occur, and brief information about the stirring of the Great Nebulae.

It wasn’t amazing information, but right now, it was absolutely information I needed.

【I’ve confirmed it. Which option will you choose?】

【I’m also very curious about the third information, but.】

【Then should I tell you the third?】

【No, I…….】

Surprisingly, what Morality chose was the first option.

「The story of the catastrophe-grade horror ‘Ms. Kim Anna.’」

Honestly, I hadn’t expected them to pick that. Maybe they were afraid that if they picked the third for no reason, they’d end up like Recluse.

I briefly conveyed to Morality the interpretation regarding “Anna Croft” that I had witnessed in the apocalypse region.

Ms. Kim Anna, who fled from <Asgard> and chose to become a Transcendent.

Ms. Kim Anna, who almost died talking too loudly on the “after-work subway.”

Ms. Kim Anna, who ran in panic when they encountered a disaster-grade horror.

Ms. Kim Anna, who brewed coffee for me…….

Reciting those memories made me feel newly nostalgic.

Ms. Kim Anna, I wonder if you’re doing well.

【This is…….】

Morality looked like they were reading the sentences I gave with relish.

It made sense. Even if it was a chain of severed memories, and no more than a record of observing a single incarnation—

【Truly amazing. You really did witness the ‘apocalypse region.’】

At the very least, this record definitely contained a clear landscape of the “apocalypse region.”

【Honestly, I thought I picked a dud, but I received an interpretation that’s far too excessive compared to the information I gave.】

Morality glanced at me for a moment and hesitated, like they had something to say. It was then that their divine body wavered with a tsu tsu tsut sound.

【Well now, I’ve been summoned, so I should get going.】

At the same time, a sentence floated up in front of my eyes.

「I don’t know which scenario you reside in as a recorder, but—」

As Morality bowed lightly, the sentence continued over their head.

「When you need it, just once, call this ‘Morality.’ I will help you.」

It was unexpected goodwill. Despite their behavior, was Morality more decent than I’d thought?

I nodded as a sign of gratitude.

After the two left in a short span of time, only Cloud Mountain and I remained in the subspace.

Cloud Mountain, who had been looking at me, spoke first.

【I’ve been summoned too, so if you’re okay with it, let’s start trading right away.】

If all of them had been summoned at once, then something probably happened in their scenarios.

【All right.】

We traded information right away.

The information she gave was about the Radiant Sword Emperor’s current situation. As I read it, I found it hard to hide my stiffening expression. If this was true, then I had to leave here immediately.

Fortunately, Cloud Mountain also looked like she was in a hurry.

【I’ll choose the second.】

As expected, Cloud Mountain chose the second information.

+

Additional survivor information from the ‘apocalypse region’.

+

I wrote down the names of the survivors I remembered and sent them. It was the list of those who escaped by riding the “train” on the day the apocalypse region met its end.

Cloud Mountain read the list over and over for a long time, then asked.

【Is this all?】

【As far as I know, that’s everyone who got on the train. And the apocalypse region met its end.】

Since her face was hidden behind a mask, I couldn’t see Cloud Mountain’s expression. Still, seeing Cloud Mountain’s head droop slightly, I could tell she was disappointed.

【Do you have to go now?】

Cloud Mountain nodded, and her divine body began slowly scattering from the bottom up.

When her divine body had vanished up to her knees, I asked.

【Cloud Mountain. What is the name of the being you’re looking for?】

【Is this a trade?】

【Think whatever you want.】

Cloud Mountain stared at me for a moment, then answered.

【A name that can’t be spoken.】

【Why can’t it be spoken?】

【If I say that name, someone else will notice.】

I silently nodded.

Cloud Mountain, who had been looking at me, asked.

【I’ll ask one too.】

【Go ahead.】

Now more than half of Cloud Mountain’s divine body was gone. Cloud Mountain, scattering as if a mountain were collapsing, asked.

【Which option was the ‘trap’?】

Cloud Mountain was looking at me as she scattered away. I looked back at Cloud Mountain.

The masks we wore had a tale of “recognition interference” placed on them, and because of that, we couldn’t recognize who the other was. And yet.

【The trap was.】

Even if eight years had passed for us.

【The second information.】

Beyond Cloud Mountain’s mask scattering in the light, it felt like I could catch a glimpse of her face. It felt like I could see eyes slowly widening.

【Wait, then—】

Maybe this was an elaborate illusion we’d created. Maybe in front of someone completely unrelated, we were endlessly repeating the name of the person each of us was searching for. And yet, in that moment, in front of each other’s masks, we reached one identical interpretation.

【Ja……!】

With a beam of light, Cloud Mountain disappeared.

I stared blankly at the place where she had vanished. I wanted to call her name right then.

Whether you really were the person I thought you were, and if you were, then why, by what path you became a “Horror Recorder.” Or why you had to become that.

I couldn’t ask.

Maybe because eight years lay across our path, and also—

【Looks like you enjoyed yourself enough. If you’ve seen everything, then come out already.】

Because the one who knew those eight years was here with me right now.

I glared into empty space and said,

【Heavenly Flying Fox King Wei Long.】