Chapter 532: 532 My thumb slowly extended and touched the cold screen . Right at that moment, something like a spark danced just above the display . [A new file has been downloaded . ] - Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World (final revised version) . txt In that short time period, the name of the file had changed . … . The 'final revised version'? I clicked on the file almost subconsciously . But, why was this? The file had been scrolled almost all the way down to its bottom-most section from the get-go . It felt as if the edits had been finished only a few moments ago . Without thinking too much about it, I scrolled down even further . Did the 'epilogue' of the 'Ways of Survival' get added at the end, the one I didn't get to read? The file continued on from the point where the original novel came to an end . It was a story that I hadn't seen before . I unconsciously began reading it out loud . Epilogue 3 . Author's words Each regression turn would reach their conclusion in their own terms . It was the same story for the 1863rd turn . [You have cleared all the scenarios of <star stream=""> . ] She did it . Countless sentences brushed past her head the moment she saw that message . The 'Dokkaebi King' was collapsed on the ground before her eyes, and the companions from the 1863rd turn she had led were all here, too . "Captain! We won!!" Kim Nam-Woon was sobbing away nonstop . Only after spotting Yi Hyeon-Seong walking in closer to support her did it feel real to her, that she had finally done it . ⸢This was the end of the 1863rd turn . ⸥ What a long battle it had been . From when she of the 3rd turn was suddenly summoned to the 1863rd, all the way to greeting the suitable end of this world . She nearly gave up several times in the middle, though . Even then, the reason why she didn't was because of what 'that idiot' said back then . ⸢"Going to the next scenario is better than sleeping forever . "⸥ That idiot, who also came from the same 3rd turn as her . The man who wore the same coat and used the same weapon as her . ⸢"The Apocalypse Dragon being freed doesn't mean everything's over . You know it too, don't you?"⸥ That idiot who ruined her plan, freed the Apocalypse Dragon, and eventually, managed to even eject Yu Jung-Hyeok from the scenario, too . Even now, she could vividly recall the scenes from those moments by closing her eyes . The scene of a 'Character' breaking past his story and gaining his freedom . . . "Captain, we did it . We really did it!" Yi Hyeon-Seong could barely hide his joy . Han Su-Yeong killed the lit cigarette in her hand and addressed him . "Support everyone and return to base . " "What about you, cap . . . . ?" "I'll be right behind you after smoking one more . So, go on ahead . " " . . . . We can't do that!" … . This slow dude, why was he so quick on the uptake now? Han Su-Yeong glanced at the Archangel standing next to Yi Hyeon-Seong . "Jophiel . " The commander of the crimson cosmos, Jophiel, the Archangel that crossed to this world-line together with that idiot from the 3rd turn .
[Let's go, meat shield . ] "No, hang on a minute, captain!" While lighting up her very last cigarette, Han Su-Yeong watched on as the Archangel took her companions back to Earth . The companions from the 'Ways of Survival' were getting further away . She saw how they kept shedding tears of satisfaction derived from successfully clearing all the scenarios and could only smile wryly . Jophiel, her wings spread out wide, glanced in Han Su-Yeong's direction as she grew further away . - Are you planning to go alone? Instead of a reply, Han Su-Yeong waved around her cigarette light . And then, after all of her companions had disappeared, she slowly looked behind her . ⸢The Final Wall . ⸥ The wall that blocked the end of this world-line, and also, recording everything found within this universe . Han Su-Yeong was aware of this wall's existence, and not only that, she knew how to open it, too . She got to take a peek at a few scenes while connected to the 3rd turn's Han Su-Yeong, and more importantly, information she got from Kim Dok-Ja paying a visit to this world-line proved to be the crucial key, as well . [The 'Wall that Decides Samsara' has discovered its intended position . ] Han Su-Yeong began slotting in the [Walls] she had gathered ahead of time into their spots . [The 'Wall that Divides the Good and Evil' has discovered its intended position . ] [The 'Wall of Impossible Communication' has discovered its intended position . ] However, she was still short of one fragment . Throughout the entirety of the universe, only one guy possessed this fragment – [The 4th Wall] . Han Su-Yeong silently stared at her own hand, before slowly placing it against the last open spot on the wall . [Fable, 'Predictive Plagiarism', has begun its storytelling . ] She certainly didn't possess that [Wall] . Even then, shouldn't she be able to craft a fragment similar to that, somehow? [Fable, 'Ultimate Lie' has begun its storytelling!] Han Su-Yeong began squeezing out every Fable she could imagine . She had witnessed the actual form of [The 4th Wall], just once . She definitely saw a portion of that wall when it blocked her attempt at using the [Eye of Truth] . [Fable, 'Predictive Plagiarism', is being pushed to its absolute limit!] Her fingers moved rapidly and began writing a Fable – a Fable of the wall that she came up with . The one single story that might be the basis of this wall . Tsu-chuchuchuchut . . . . ! ⸢"I'm Dok-Ja . "⸥ ⸢Kim Dok-Ja(金獨子) . My father wanted me to become a strong man even if I was left alone so he gave me such a name . ⸥ Right next moment, Han Su-Yeong's hand submerged into the wall .
Next up was her arm, shoulder, head, and her torso . . . And eventually, her entire figure sank into the wall . [The 'Final Wall's system' is surprised by your Fable information and . . . . ] [Temporary error has occurred in the system!] Han Su-Yeong fought back against the rising vomit and felt around the ground . She did it . She managed to infiltrate inside this stinking wall unscathed . The first thing she saw after raising her head was a small room . There were quite a few bundles of packed luggage, and several small display panels decorating this place . She was familiar with the Fable coming out from those panels . ⸢Constellation, 'Demon King of Salvation', has reached his ■■ . ⸥ ⸢'Demon King of Salvation's' ■■ is 'Eternity' . ⸥ That was the conclusion of the 3rd turn . That idiot had also cleared the scenario of his world-line to its very last, in other words . And at long last, he had decided to become this world's sole reader . ⸢In the world without the scenarios – filled with only the desire to see the next story . . . A certain child, possessing a truly horrifying power of imagination . ⸥ He'd continue to become smaller, and eventually become this world's subconsciousness . And with that, he'd continue on with this neverending story . The 1863rd turn's Han Su-Yeong could tell . If you ask her how she knew, well, she just did . 'Even I would've chosen that conclusion, after all . '
This world existed for the story . Even Yu Jung-Hyeok's story, even Kim Dok-Ja's – in the end, they were all simply 'stories' marching forward towards the one true completion . Han Su-Yeong stared at the subway train travelling further and further away inside the screen . For a long while, she wordlessly stared at this universe's god journeying towards the world that no one would ever remember . And then, a few steps in front of her, there was a certain existence staring at the same screen while dabbing away its tears with a handkerchief . [Hiii-eeek?!] "So, then . You are the true 'Dokkaebi King' aren't you?" [… . How did you manage to enter this place?] The Dokkaebi King her group definitely killed outside was standing completely fine before her eyes . Han Su-Yeong unsheathed the [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword] and asked . "I was wondering why you were so weak . Okay, so . Why didn't you fight us seriously? And what exactly have you been doing in here?" [Uh-uh . Hang on a second . The scenarios are already over . I don't have any thoughts of fighting you . ] It was true, she couldn't sense any fighting intentions from the Dokkaebi King as it hurriedly waved both of its hands . Its eyes gleamed as it observed the sparks faintly dancing around Han Su-Yeong's entire figure . Its irises were fixed on the [Final Wall] suffering from error . [You repaired the 'Final Wall' . . . . ? What a shocking talent that is . . . Just who are you? Your soul is . . . it's like the amalgamation of various talents . ] "What were you planning by using such a puppet? Are you looking down on this world-line?" [Hu-hut, what do you mean, looking down? Every world-line is precious . It's just that . . . This world-line has lost its meaning now . Its most important Fable had come to an end just now, after all . ] While saying that, the Dokkaebi King shifted his gaze back to the panels . Han Su-Yeong quietly roused up her Fables, but the King simply snickered back at her . [What are you getting so angry for? Regardless of what, the story of you and your group has concluded safely, didn't it?] "Don't ever mess with this world-line's conclusion . "
The moment she said that, the scenes from the 1863rd turn popped up on the panels . Yi Hyeon-Seong and Kim Nam-Woon were supporting each other . The backs of her companions were captured in a wide-screen shot . [Ah, of course, I won't . It's not even an important world-line, anyway . . . . ] Han Su-Yeong saw how the Dokkaebi King shrugged its shoulders in total disinterest, and felt this powerful sense of futility . Was this how the story of this regression turn ends? Was it really okay to end it in this fashion? [And besides . . . the new 'Most Ancient Dream' would not wish to see such a thing happen, anyway . ] After hearing that, Han Su-Yeong looked up at the empty air above without even realising it . The 'Most Ancient Dream' . The 'Kim Dok-Ja' she knew had become one such existence . Which meant that the current him might be looking at this spectacle, somehow . [You think he will reply to you because you looked up like that? Your world has people who believe in their chosen deities . But, did those gods ever respond each and every time their believers called out to them?] "This and that aren't the same . " "Well . . . You can think of it any way you want . Anyways, this one would like to 'abscond' from here, so can I leave now?] "Where are you planning to go?" [Since this world-line's story has ended, I should go to another place, don't you agree? I've been working hard all this time, so . . . Well, there's this place I really wanted to visit since from a while ago, and . . . . ] "Oh, so you wish to run away all the while abandoning the scenario, just like that?" [Why didn't you get born in a world-line with an honest, hard-working Dokkaebi King, then?] Han Su-Yeong frowned deeply and emitted waves of energy once more . "Hey . I clawed and fought my way to get here . . . So, shouldn't you give me some kind of a clear reward or something?" The 'Dokkaebi King' spat out a long sigh . [Well, fine . Granting one wish shouldn't be so hard . ] " . . . . . I want to meet that idiot . " Almost immediately after saying it, Han Su-Yeong couldn't believe what she had done . Why did she blurt that out, of all things? ⸢"Because, you are also there . "⸥ ⸢"I believe in 'you' of the 3rd turn, you see . "⸥ She wasn't sure what this frustration in her heart meant . Just that, meeting that guy again might help her understand what she felt so frustrated about, or so she thought . The Dokkaebi King tilted his head . [When you say that idiot, you . . . . ] Han Su-Yeong pointed to the panels with her chin . The Dokkaebi King jumped up in shock and roared out . [Are you freaking blind or something?? That great one is no longer an existence the likes of me can ever meet . ] "I don't care if it's a version of him from another world-line . I also don't care even if he's a version who hasn't seen the end yet, too . " Kim Dok-Ja couldn't be seen anymore within the panels . "I want to meet that idiot one more time . " [There is only one of him in this universe . ]
Since the Dokkaebi King was being so adamant, it could only mean that her wish was truly impossible . But then, the creature stared at the downhearted Han Su-Yeong and opened its mouth with a sly look on its face . [… . Well, actually . There is a way to make your wish come true . ] "What was that?" [Now normally, that world-line is forbidden from entry, but I've memorised its coordinates while the new 'Most Ancient Dream' was ascending to his position . . . However, the 'Most Ancient Dream' in that place will not recognise you . ] Han Su-Yeong's expression brightened as she asked . "Where is that place?" [It's the place I wanted to visit originally . I've always longed to go there at least once when this universe's great epic came to its conclusion, you see . ] While saying that, the Dokkaebi King raised both of its hands up high in the air . The aloof universe of <star stream=""> was unfolding up there . The Dokkaebi King looked up at that view with a solemn expression and addressed her . [Aren't you curious? Where did this universe start from, who crafted these intricate galaxies of Fables, who created this thing called 'scenario' in this world – just who is responsible for perfecting the world of pure contradictions where the result gives birth to the cause, and the cause becomes the result??] Han Su-Yeong finally figured out the Dokkaebi King's true aim . This guy, it was trying to head towards the world-line where this universe actually began . ⸢The world where the 'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World' began . ⸥ "You . . . . !" ⸢The universe where tls123 was . ⸥ [I'm going there to meet my god . If you want, I'll let you tag along on my journey!] Tsu-chuchuchchut! Along with the deafening roar, the storm of Probability's aftermaths powerfully rampaged between her and the Dokkaebi King . As she got sucked into this wall of pain akin to her soul being ripped into tiny shreds, she briefly caught the Dokkaebi King's grin . [Let's meet again after making through this alive, shall we?] That was the last memory Han Su-Yeong could remember of the 1863rd turn . * "Heok!" She shot up from her bed; the time was two in the morning . Her entire back was soaked in sweat . The second hand of the clock continued tick by . … . Was it all a dream? Han Su-Yeong ungainly got up . The sensation of soft, luxurious duvet wrapped around her limbs – for some reason, this bed felt alien to her . She drank the water located on the bedside bureau, entered the adjoining bathroom and switched on the light . The orange lightbulb illuminated the darkness and her figure was reflected on the mirror . Her neatly-trimmed hair that had grown all the way down to her shoulders . The beauty spot that seemed to get even more pronounced when she narrowed her eyes – this was undoubtedly her own face . Indeed, it really was, yet . . . " . . . . . What the hell??" Suddenly, it felt as if her heart was tightening up . [You have entered the 'First World-line' . ] She dashed outside the bathroom . Plastic figurines were displayed on the dressing table alongside the volumes of manga . She also spotted the familiar school bag next to the bed . Eventually, the darkness within this house no longer felt foreign to her . Her trembling hands opened the school bag, only for the textbooks within to tumble out . Neatly-written words could be seen on the cover of one of those books . - Han Su-Yeong, student no . 2, classroom 2, sixth year . Han Su-Yeong had become a 13-year-old girl . <epilogue 3 . ="" author's="" words="" (1)=""> Fin . </epilogue></star></star>
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