"Heewon."

"Let go."

"You can’t."

Jung Heewon was glaring at the forest with reddened eyes. I understood her heart, too.

The corpses of incarnations scattered around the forest. Roots that had burst up through the ground were embedded into the incarnations’ corpses like tentacles, sucking out nutrients. Using that nourishment, the forest was growing in real time.

"Calm down, just a little. I’ll find a way, somehow."

Madness was gradually seeping into Jung Heewon’s eyes. Right now, Jung Heewon was in a state where she had obtained the trait ‘Butcher of Madness’. And a Butcher of Madness isn’t good at restraining their emotions.

I was thinking of using [Agitation] if it came to that, but unexpectedly, Jung Heewon’s eyes slowly regained their composure.

[Character ‘Jung Heewon’ strongly resonates with your words and actions.]

"Okay. Just for a moment."

It was unexpected. It looked like she would leap into the forest immediately to save the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint. Maybe this also had to do with understanding a character and the relationship between us.

Either way, I’d bought time, so now it was time to search the forest.

I summoned Yeongwon and immediately took out one tale of the ‘King of Terror’.

[Fable, ‘Friend of Horror,’ sings with its eyes closed.]

As the fable’s singing filled the entire area, I could feel the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint’s fable across the whole forest.

No matter how many times I thought it over, the conclusion was obvious.

「The Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint became ‘horror’.」

All horrors are based on fables. That was true of the ‘Alien Traffic Light’, and it was also true of the ‘Festival Tunnel’.

Then can a ‘being’ become ‘horror’?

Considering that a being’s foundation is a story, it wasn’t impossible. For example, even though Outer Gods clearly possessed a sense of self, inside the apocalypse region they reigned as ‘horror’ as a phenomenon.

The problem was that this place wasn’t the apocalypse region.

[D-coins are resonating with your fables.]

I could feel the ‘D-coins’ that remained as fragments at my fingertips squirming.

Something occurred to me in that instant.

D-coins were a material made from my brother’s flesh and blood. And beyond that forest, I could feel power identical to these D-coins—exactly the same.

"It looks like someone fed D-coins to the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint."

"D-coins?"

"Yes. And a lot of them."

D-coins basically contain the power of ‘Kim Dokja of the Snowfield’. That was why skills or items strengthened using D-coins came to possess abnormal power.

「Then what happens if you feed those ‘D-coins’ to an incarnation.」

Since every being is ultimately made of fables, the act of eating ‘D-coins’ would strengthen the fables of that being.

The problem is when that strengthening exceeds the threshold.

If the fables strengthened by D-coins ran wild inside the incarnation body, and as a result became so powerful that they could be formed outside the incarnation body—

"Who did this?"

"Probably them."

The moment I lifted my gaze to the sky, a familiar star twinkled.

[Constellation, ‘Owner of Baekrokdam,’ holds a sly smile.]

[Multiple constellations criticize the sudden actions of <Tamra Heavy Industries>!]

As expected, was this the work of the <Tamra> side’s constellations? The main one who started it would be that ‘Owner of Baekrokdam’.

"Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint! Where are you! We’re here!"

"Find the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint!"

The incarnations who had been hit by my [Agitation] finally arrived at the forest, too. Maybe [Agitation] had weakened in the meantime; a deeper greed than before was flickering in their eyes.

「A chance to obtain a massive amount of D-coins and offerings.」

Thoughts I could hear even without using [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint].

In the end, this was the current address of Murim. A Murim where chivalry had vanished and been eaten away by capital.

"Uh, uhh, don’t push!"

At that moment, a few incarnations stepped toward the forest. And at the same time, as if they’d been waiting, vines shot out and wrapped around the incarnations.

"Kraaaagh! What is this!"

The captured incarnations had all the D-coins they had on them stolen in an instant.

"M, my coins!"

"Uaaaaah!"

When the incarnations who had drawn their weapons swung their swords, vines that had shot out in an instant pierced straight through the incarnations’ torsos. Screams burst out everywhere.

"It’s a cursed forest!"

"Damn it, the main headquarters of <Tamra Heavy Industries> has been contaminated by horror!"

And so, the forest’s rules became clear.

One, this forest steals the intruder’s D-coins.

Two, this forest annihilates the existence of hostile intruders.

A perfectly ordinary horror logic. That was why I couldn’t understand it.

A ‘horror’ made from the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint’s fable is this simple?

"Is that the ‘Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint’?"

Ascenders who had been watching the situation nearby revealed themselves one by one.

"A forest that absorbs D-coins. Interesting."

Ascenders from each company were gathering in front of the forest in droves. They were people who had already obtained enough offerings to ‘ascend’.

Among them, there was a person I knew well.

"In other words, if we push this forest down, we can obtain an enormous amount of ‘D-coins’."

Reinheit, who had recovered from the damage he’d taken from Jung Heewon, was now leading the front of the Ascenders’ group.

"Still, this is amusing. A fable that becomes a tree."

The fable of Reinheit, the Paradise Holy Emperor, activated.

"By chance, I also possess a similar technique."

Reinheit’s skin hardened like tree bark. His gigantic body, using Paradise’s ‘Perpetual Engine’ as its power source, began to grow as it extended roots into the ground. Soon, the tree changed into the form of a humanoid giant.

[Fable, ‘Forest’s Giant Divine Tree,’ begins its story.]

The feet of the Giant Divine Tree, reminiscent of enormous tree roots, alternated as it began to advance into the forest.

"Everyone, follow the Paradise Holy Emperor!"

A group of Ascenders charging forward, destroying the forest at random. More and more people were being swept into the forest. Among them were also groups who had been eyeing our offerings.

Whether it was to save the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint, or to protect us, in the end, we had no choice but to enter deep into that forest.

"Heewon, as you know, this forest is a trap."

The incarnations buried in this forest would become offerings for the forest. The massive amount of D-coins would be absorbed by the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint, and in the end it would become <Tamra Heavy Industries>’ share.

Of course, that was only the outcome if no one could interpret this ‘forest’.

「As long as this forest is ‘horror’, an interpretation method must exist.」

If I could use ‘King of Terror’ mode, it would be easier to clear, but since I couldn’t, I had to start interpreting it myself for now.

"Before we go in, there are a few things I need to tell you."

I kept speaking as I rummaged inside my coat.

"From the energy we can feel from the forest, the inside is probably in a state similar to the ‘apocalypse region’."

The thing you had to be most careful of in the apocalypse region was ‘status ailments’. Especially since that forest was specified as ‘end-of-the-world-grade’ horror. Considering the location-specific trait of a forest, the probability of getting hit with a status ailment that contaminates the mind was extremely high.

[Item, ‘Limited Edition Random Holy Relic Box’. Would you like to use it?]

"Use it."

It was finally time to use the item I received when I made a contract with Bihyung.

Limited Edition Random Holy Relic Box.

They called it random, but in reality, with gacha items like these in <Star Stream>, the result value was obvious.

[A hero-grade constellation’s holy relic appears!]

Just as expected, what came out were two low-tier holy relics.

[Holy Relic, ‘Master Samyeong’s Prayer Beads’ x2 have been obtained.]

At this point, it was suspicious enough to make me wonder if Master Samyeong had signed some kind of merch contract with <Star Stream>.

"Dokja, that item."

"Yes, that’s right."

Master Samyeong’s Prayer Beads.

Unlike the item you could obtain at the ‘Master Samyeong Statue’ at Dongdaemun Entrance Station, this item was a real ‘holy relic’.

And it was also an anti-demon type item we needed right now.

"It’s a set item with the mat I gave you before."

At my words, Jung Heewon rummaged around in her clothes and took something out. When I saw the item she handed over, I asked in surprise.

"You still had it?"

"It’s the first item you ever gave me."

What she took out was ‘Master Samyeong’s Mat’ that I saved at the beginning of the scenario. Jung Heewon was still keeping the scrap of cloth that had become embarrassing to even call a mat now.

A needless guilt rose up in me.

"Could you give it to me for a moment?"

Holding the mat I received, I used some of the ‘D-coins’ on top of the mat and the prayer beads.

[100,000 D-coins will be used to strengthen the item!]

[Item, ‘Master Samyeong’s Mat’ evolves into a holy relic!]
[All stats of ‘Master Samyeong’s Mat’ greatly increase!]
[The appearance of ‘Master Samyeong’s Mat’ changes!]

The mat that absorbed a large amount of D-coins changed into something like a pure white coat.

Jung Heewon brightened and took the mat.

"It looks similar to your coat, Dokja?"

Jung Heewon lightly draped it over herself. Thankfully, the mat fit Jung Heewon’s build perfectly.

"It suits you."

Then, when she wore the strengthened Master Samyeong’s Prayer Beads on both wrists, a sacred light began to ripple around her whole body.

[A powerful anti-demon aura protects the user!]

I nodded.

With this level of equipment, even if we entered the forest, we should be fine for a while.

"What about you, Dokja?"

"I’m fine."

"How is that fine. Here. You use one of the prayer beads, Dokja."

"I’m really fine. My mental strength is strong."

"As if."

We entered the forest immediately. The vines that noticed us whipped through the air and flew at us. The moment Jung Heewon drew her sword to respond, a fable bloomed from her entire body.

[Fable, ‘Disciple of the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint,’ begins its story.]

The vines that had been flying in shrank back in an instant, then returned to their places.

「Disciple of the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint」.

The fable Yoo Joonghyuk had possessed.

"It seems like it recognizes you, Heewon."

We used [Wind’s Path] and immediately ran through the forest path.

How long did we run along the path swept through by Reinheit’s Giant Divine Tree? Before long, the vanguard’s cheers grew close.

That was when a foreboding premonition brushed past me.

"Heewon, wait a—"

The smell of fables brushing past the tip of my nose changed. The forest’s ‘pattern’ had changed.

The moment Jung Heewon looked back at me, a massive amount of vines burst out of the ground and wrapped around Jung Heewon and me.

"Ah."

I tried to break the vines with sheer strength. But the vines didn’t break.

It was impossible. Even without using a special ‘mode’, right now I should be able to exert strength comparable to hero-grade.

After struggling for a while, Jung Heewon said.

"It won’t break."

Right now Jung Heewon’s strength was at a level that didn’t lose out to most constellations. But even Jung Heewon couldn’t break the vines?

"Over there, that way!"

Incarnations who had found us tied up were approaching.

Their purpose was obvious without even asking.

No choice, then.

The moment I let out a light sigh and was about to activate ‘Demon King of Salvation’ mode.

"Rescue them!"

Men who had rushed over swiftly began swinging their swords at the vines wrapping around me and Jung Heewon.

"It doesn’t cut well!"

"Keep cutting the same spot! Then you can cut it!"

Vines that wouldn’t break when you were alone were cut away in an instant once several people joined forces. It was strange. Incarnations who weren’t even early hero-grade cut vines that even I and Jung Heewon {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} couldn’t cut?

Even stranger was their attitude.

"Great Hero, are you all right?"

For some reason, they looked purely happy that they had rescued us.

"Save the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint!"

Between the vanguard’s slogans, the forest’s fable could be heard in fragments.

「“If one tree cannot become a forest, then how many trees are needed for it to become a forest.”」

We blended in among them and moved toward the forest’s center. Soon, the sounds of weapons began to be heard. A fierce battle was unfolding right ahead.

"I’ll break through!"

"Everyone, fall back!"

"The left is dangerous! Support that side first!"

A gigantic thicket wrapping around the forest’s center. Thorny vines that shot out like tentacles from between the thicket were fighting a fierce battle with the incarnations.

Reinheit, who was dealing with the large central tentacle-thicket, shouted.

"I will break through the center no matter what! Please take care of the smaller thickets! Even if I have to stake my life, I will open a path!"

What was there was clearly one of the Ten Evils—the Paradise Holy Emperor Reinheit.

"We must save the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint!"

But as he shouted like that, he really looked like someone there to save the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint.

"Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint! The Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint is in there!"

It was strange.

The incarnations gathered here were all affiliated with different companies. They were people who entered this forest to get more D-coins, to steal other people’s offerings.

"Entering! Watch the front!"

Then what in the world is this scene?

"Aaaagh!"

When an incarnation fighting the foremost thorn thicket was grievously wounded, two more incarnations jumped in to save him.

"Kgh! Hurry and move your body away!"

An incarnation dying while swinging a sword. Incarnations throwing themselves in again to protect that incarnation.

"I’ll be the shield!"

Incarnations who charged bravely at the thicket met a horrible end. The upper body of an incarnation whose waist was torn cleanly apart rolled across the ground.

Right up until his breath cut off, he muttered something with an enraptured expression.

"No! I’ll die! Kill me first!"

Jung Heewon, who had been blankly watching that scene, walked forward and gripped her sword hilt. I reflexively grabbed her wrist.

"Heewon."

Startled, Jung Heewon looked back at me, then put her sword away again.

[Fable, ‘Regret, Ruin, Obsession,’ stops its story.]

I saw a faint emotion flicker in her eyes, then vanish.

I got goosebumps.

Even Jung Heewon, wearing the holy relic set of Master Samyeong, was having trouble enduring it—status ailments powerful enough for that were occurring across the entire forest.

"Protect each other! If we fight together, we can win!"

Listening to the deeply roused incarnations’ shouts, I thought about the owner of this forest.

「What kind of person was the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint.」

The Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint. The strongest Transcendent and Yoo Joonghyuk’s master. The successor of the [Heaven-Breaking Sword Art] and the god of <First Murim>. A descendant of the extinct Giant race.

「How could a place with trees be the only thing called a forest.」

Each time I took a step toward the forest’s center, it felt like her voice was echoing in my ears.

「Even if not even a single blade of grass grows on this land.」

Maybe this was the answer the Heaven-Piercing Sword Saint herself gave.

The answer of a Transcendent who had pondered and pondered what Murim is.

「If a group of people holding the same conviction gather their wills.」

There was an unprecedented heat boiling up deep in my chest. An emotion that anyone who was a Murim person of <First Murim> would feel.

「Only then does that place become ‘Murim’.」

People swept up in abnormal madness, blindly saving each other and dying.

Only then did I realize the essence of the status ailment placed on this forest.

「This forest is forcing ‘chivalry’ onto its entrants.」