< Episode 25. Those Who Face the Gods (2) >
Commonly, the strongest beings of the Star Stream are said to be the "Constellations."
Observers who watch over the world from the pinnacle of all stories.
However, as I have said before, it is not only Constellations that can oppose other Constellations.
There are Demon Kings who, despite being able to obtain the status of a Constellation, rejected that path and instead rose to the pinnacle of demonic existence.
There are also Dragons—beings who rule from birth over the apex of monstrous species.
Then what about humans?
Humans who walk neither the path of demons nor the path of non-humans—can they truly reach a level capable of standing against Constellations?
The answer to that question stood right before my eyes.
[How interesting. One who abandoned their own existence for the sake of another planet.]
It seemed Kyrios had grasped my true nature with a single glance.
Looking down at Asuka Ren, unconscious beside me, he spoke.
[In recognition of that courage, I'll let this pass once. Take the woman and leave.]
A Returnee.
Those born with extraordinary talent, transcending humanity under the blessings of the Star Stream.
Among them, Kyrios Lordgraim was a particularly exceptional existence.
A Returnee who had acquired such overwhelming power that he was no longer drawn into the narrative gravity created by the Dokkaebi.
Across all of Ways of Survival, fewer than ten Returnees had reached such a level.
"I have something to say."
[…Words?]
Skills that had reached the realm of transcendence bloomed all at once, revealing their presence toward me.
A being of Constellation-class could annihilate a mortal merely by existing.
[Do you believe yourself to be in a position worthy of speaking to me?]
I was shocked to realize just how much moisture my body contained as my back was instantly drenched in sweat.
[You dare, before me—Baek Cheong of the Paradox?]
He's strong.
That a mortal—no, a mere small person—could grow this powerful sent chills down my spine.
[Exclusive Skill, 'The Fourth Wall,' has been activated!]
But I have a "wall."
No matter how terrifying the being beyond that wall might be, as long as they cannot cross it, they cannot harm me.
[Character 'Kyrios Lordgraim' is showing interest in you.]
At that point, Kyrios seemed to notice that something was amiss.
[…You endured it? How? Are you under the protection of some other higher-grade existence?]
Before he could develop a misguided curiosity, I spoke.
"Kyrios. This world needs your help."
Kyrios' expression subtly changed.
[Is that why you sought me out?]
"Yes."
[That little one said the same thing…]
At that moment, the "little one" responded.
[The Small Constellation of the Small Planet gazes at 'Kyrios Lordgraim' with tear-filled eyes.]
[The Small Constellation of the Small Planet has sponsored 10 coins to 'Kyrios Lordgraim'.]
Kyrios frowned irritably.
[Unnecessary.]
[The Small Constellation of the Small Planet is greatly shocked.]
A few raindrops, like a baby's urine, dripped down from the sky.
[…Every world has its time of destruction, and every story has its end. For this planet, that time is now.]
As Kyrios gazed into the distance, there was no emotion in his eyes.
But I knew this—no matter how numb one becomes to everything in the world, no being can escape the shackles of the "story" they have built.
"Then why did you come back here? You left [Peace Land] long ago."
[…Something called me.]
Both Kyrios' and my gaze turned toward the fallen Asuka Ren.
I thought I understood what that sensation Kyrios felt was.
"Stop lying to yourself. Didn't you return to protect your homeland?"
[There are no good memories here. This place is—]
"The place that made you be born 'weak,' correct?"
For the first time, Kyrios' gaze wavered.
"The damned mother star that gifted you that cursed body?"
[…For a mere incarnation of a scenario, you know quite a lot about me. I'll say it one last time. Get lost. There won't be a third—]
"Are you afraid?"
[What did you say?]
"I asked if you're afraid. Afraid of those Constellations ravaging your world—afraid of that vile 'Serpent'—that's what I asked—"
Kuuuuung!
An immense pressure crushed down on me, nearly forcing my eyes to pop out.
[If you wish to die, I'll grant you that wish.]
Even as I gasped for breath, I did not stop speaking.
"Do not deceive yourself about why you came here."
[Constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Cage' finds 'Kyrios Lordgraim's' conduct displeasing.]
[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' criticizes 'Kyrios Lordgraim's' sense of justice.]
[Constellation 'Heavenly Scribe' sternly condemns 'Kyrios Lordgraim's' interference in the scenario.]
As those indirect messages appeared in succession, Kyrios' momentum eased slightly.
[You have some peculiar beings following at your heels. The Monkey King and even a Grand Archangel? How strange. Those prideful ones, of all beings…]
Spitting out the blood that had pooled on my lips, I spoke again.
"Focus on what I'm saying. You came here to witness this planet's end, didn't you?"
[I cannot help this planet.]
Patzzt—!
Blue sparks burst from his body.
A plausibility backlash.
It was the aftereffect of killing the two Wind Shadow units earlier.
Because he was not a being summoned by necessity of the scenario, Kyrios was subject to the constraints of plausibility to a certain extent—if not as severely as the Constellations watching from the sky.
Clenching the sparks that leapt across his palm, Kyrios spoke.
[If I act first and bear the weight of plausibility myself, I will only hasten this planet's destruction.]
I understood what he meant.
To beings of Constellation-class, plausibility was like a scale.
If one side altered the flow of the story without sufficient justification, the laws of the Star Stream would forcibly move to restore balance.
[If I interfere with the scenario, the other Constellations who have been observing it will gain plausibility to act as well. Therefore, all I can do is… record the final moments of my homeland.]
I remembered.
That was the true Kyrios Lordgraim I knew.
One who had left his homeland, overcome countless trials, and returned—only to become too powerful to save it.
That was the Paradoxical Baek Cheong, Kyrios Lordgraim.
"You don't need to act personally."
If I were going to retreat here, I would never have come to meet Kyrios in the first place.
"Aren't the Heavenly Mechanisms already demanding that you leave behind a disciple's legend?"
Even the usually composed Kyrios looked genuinely shaken this time.
"Take me as your disciple. I'll become your proxy and drive away the calamity threatening [Peace Land]."
But his hesitation lasted only a moment.
[…I do not take outsiders as disciples. And you lack the qualifications to inherit my power.]
That stung my pride a little.
If it had been Yoo Joonghyuk standing here instead of me, would Kyrios have accepted him without hesitation?
"Then what about this? Would this be enough qualification?"
I picked up a nearby tree branch.
Kiiiiing!
The mana of [Baek Cheong Force] was drawn out in full, and a vivid blue wave of energy surged and rippled from the tip of my blade. Its power was still insufficient—but more than enough to demonstrate my level of attainment.
Kyrios' eyes slowly filled with shock.
A hidden skill I had purchased immediately after the end of the second scenario.
Baek Cheong Force —the signature technique of Kyrios Lordgraim himself.
"Allow me to greet you properly once more. I am Kim Dokja, an outer disciple of the Baek Cheong Sect, paying respects to an elder of the school."
.
.
Kyrios made his decision about two hours later.
Dispelling the Baek Cheong energy that had been blazing across his entire body, he spoke in a human voice.
"The Baek Cheong Sect should have been annihilated after I left. I never expected there to still be remnants."
He made me stand there for two hours just to say that.
They said the powerful of the Star Stream lived within 'personal time' to preserve their sense of self over long ages—perhaps that saying was true.
"Very well. I will take you as my disciple."
Kyrios did not ask how I had learned Baek Cheong Force, nor how I knew his secret techniques.
And so, the training began.
「…Kyrios Lordgraim was a 'Returnee of the Murim World.'
Despite the innate limitations of being a 'small person,' he possessed unprecedented effort. Without the aid of the system, he mastered martial arts and succeeded in transcending his species.
Numerous legends remain of him after he entered the
Among these tales, the most famous is his connection with the Constellation known as 'The One Who Slays the Serpent'…」
"…Your smartphone shrank too?"
At Han Sooyoung's approaching voice, I turned off my phone and stood up.
"I put it in the subspace coat, and it ended up like this."
"Damn it. You always hog all the good stuff."
Grumbling, Han Sooyoung had successfully shaken off the Wind Shadow units and rejoined us. Apparently, 'playing dead' had worked again—something I found believable, since it had fooled me before.
"I never imagined the strongest warrior of the
"He's not officially labeled the strongest, but he's about as close as it gets. You knew about him?"
"His name shows up in the early parts. First time seeing him in person, though."
"Same here. Anyway, take Ren and wait nearby."
I was learning Kyrios' martial arts under his guidance, within the formation of bizarre rock spires.
My goal was to master Kyrios' secret ultimate technique within two weeks and then return to 'Royal Castle Veronica.'
According to the original story's progression, that was around the time the Japanese king—the 'Eight-Headed Sovereign'—would begin moving to trample all four royal castles.
Of course, things were never destined to go that smoothly.
On the very first day he began teaching me, the task Kyrios assigned was this:
"Do this one million times."
"…One million times?"
"Yes. One million. You watched what I just showed you properly, didn't you?"
I had watched it.
Kyrios stood before me in a composed posture, then extended his sword and thrust it into empty space.
It was a basic thrust.
"Why do I have to do this…?"
"All Baek Cheong martial arts begin here. Opening the smallest 'point.' From a single point—extremely condensed and perfectly restrained—the universe is born."
"…I see."
I had no idea what he was talking about.
"Those born into large-bodied races like you wouldn't understand the meaning of 'smallness.'"
At that, something suddenly came to mind.
According to Ways of Survival, Kyrios has a complex about his height.
"Humans aren't exactly big either."
"Yes. That is precisely my point. From a cosmic perspective, all beings are less than specks of dust. Thus, calling Small Folk 'small' is a mistake. Humans and Small Folk alike are nothing more than dust."
It felt like he was rationalizing his own 'smallness' on a cosmic scale.
"But surely there's a difference between big dust and small dust?"
"What matters is not the size of the dust, but the size of the universe. Even a speck may attain a higher existence depending on how vast a universe it perceives. No—rather, the smaller one is, the closer one stands to the origin of the universe, and thus the better positioned to grasp its essence."
It sounded impressive, so I nodded along for now.
"Ah, I see."
"Do you understand?"
"But what does that have to do with thrusting?"
Kyrios looked at me with utter contempt.
"…This is why those born big are hopeless. Just keep practicing your thrusts."
Leaving those words behind, Kyrios vanished.
He seemed disappointed in me.
Which was understandable.
My trash-tier talent had already been proven during the [Path of the Wind]. If I truly tried to learn martial arts properly, it wouldn't take two weeks—it might take decades.
Four days passed.
"Do it properly. If you're born useless, the least you can do is work harder."
Five more days passed.
"This is why those born with big bodies are…"
A full week went by.
Kyrios' disdain for Large Folk showed no signs of fading.
"Why weren't you born as a bug instead? Even a cockroach would learn better than you."
"If such a cockroach exists, I'd like to take it as my master."
"Do you want to die?"
And finally, on the evening of the second week—
I collapsed from exhaustion mid-thrust.
"You…"
I still hadn't learned a single skill.
Deeply disappointed by my lack of talent, Kyrios stared at me with a pitiful gaze before disappearing. It seemed he had gone out to get some air.
Once I confirmed he was completely gone, I went to find Asuka Ren and Han Sooyoung, who had been waiting nearby.
"Let's run."
"What? You learned everything? You couldn't do a single thing earlier."
"I stole it all."
I quietly closed my eyes and murmured something.
The next instant, violent blue-white lightning erupted around me as Baek Cheong energy surged to life.
Kyrios' secret ultimate technique—
[Electrified Human Transformation].
"Huh? What is that? Earlier you clearly—"
"I told you. I stole it."
['Kyrios Lordgraim' has been added to Bookmark No. 5.]
This had been my goal from the very beginning.
To place the strongest Returnee, Kyrios, into my [Bookmarks] and raise my understanding of him as high as possible.
Kyrios never intended to truly teach me from the start.
Powerhouses like him wouldn't be foolish enough to hand over their true techniques just because of a few sweet words.
His real plan was likely to keep me here until the scenario ended—and then torture me afterward to extract the information I possessed.
"So we need to escape. Fast."
"Damn it. Fine."
As a grumbling Han Sooyoung finished preparing, the soon began to rise in the distance.
The warmth of dawn spread across the land.
In [Peace Land], the seasons change once every two weeks.
It had been winter when our training began—but now, spring had arrived.
That was when Asuka Ren's face turned pale.
"…The 'Eight-Headed Sovereign' has begun to move."
"Are you sure?"
"I can hear him calling the Japanese people to the [Absolute Throne]."
I'd figured the time was coming.
Spring—the season when creatures that had sought hibernation awaken one by one.
At last, the season of serpent hunting had arrived.
< Episode 25. Those Who Face the Gods (2) > End