By the time I opened my eyes, it was already morning.
Seeing me sit up abruptly, Han Sooyoung pursed her lips.
She must have been the last night watch.
"Did you have a nightmare or something?"
"A little."
The embers from the fire that had burned through the night were now glowing white. I poked through them absentmindedly, pressing my throbbing forehead.
What I had seen through the unconsciously activated [Omniscient Reader's Perspective]…
I wonder if Gil-young will be okay.
"What about Yoo Sang-ah?"
"She went on reconnaissance."
Han Soo-young answered with a bored tone, fiddling with her smartphone.
"What are you looking at?"
"A novel."
"Yours?"
"Well, whose else would it be?"
I guess, in a situation like this, reading someone else's novel wouldn't be too strange.
"I've always wondered, do writers enjoy reading what they've written?"
"I do."
"Even if you already know the whole story?"
It was a question I threw out casually, but Han Soo-young's unexpected answer caught me off guard.
"Even when I read the same content, it can feel different."
"What?"
"Being a writer doesn't mean you completely control your novel. If you look back, you'll find a lot of gaps here and there. Reading is really just connecting those irregular gaps in your own way."
"I… don't really get it."
"…It means that over time, what I wrote can feel like someone else's work. Ultimately, every human is an 'other' to themselves."
I was impressed; I hadn't expected her to say something so profound.
"Come to think of it, that makes sense for you. You literally used someone else's novel as your own."
Han Soo-young yelped, and I quickly covered my ears.
Well, who told me to plagiarize?
Turning off her phone, she glared at me.
"Anyway, what are you going to do from now on?"
"What do you mean, what to do? We wait until the scenario starts."
"Who wants to hear some aimless plan? You must have a proper plan."
She seemed to have more to say, so I let her talk. She kept going.
"Let's say the west is handled by Yoo Joong-hyuk, and the north by that wandering woman who calls herself some kind of queen. What about the center?"
"We'll all handle it together."
"There must be an easier way. Did you forget?"
I paused for a moment and stared at Han Soo-young.
"Did you plagiarize that too?"
"…No. It just came to me while I was reading my own novel."
Han Soo-young pursed her lips and muttered evasively.
"Anyway, I'm right, aren't I? As far as I know, there's a simple way to stop the 'Central Disaster.'"
She was correct.
If we actually did it that way, we could clear the fifth scenario and stop all the disasters without much difficulty. Han Soo-young looked at me, her eyes urging me on.
"We're going the easy way, right?"
"Let's… think about it as we go."
At that moment, Yoo Sang-ah appeared in the distance, waving at us after finishing her reconnaissance. Han Soo-young muttered.
"Since that woman came, you look… happier?"
"She's someone I can trust."
"Cheh. If people can't trust you, life must feel miserable."
We set out on the road again.
Only five days remained until the scenario began.
We were moving slowly westward along the Han River.
We had two main objectives.
One was to find Gong Pil-do, who had gone missing somewhere near the Han River, and the other was to hunt nearby monsters to collect coins.
Above all, it was currently a "coin event," so we had to maximize our gains while we could.
"Yoo Sang-ah, go left! Han Soo-young, cover the rear!"
We hunted every Grade 7 monster we came across without exception.
With Yoo Sang-ah joining the hunt, we could easily handle not only Grade 7 but also most Grade 6 monsters. I watched her and thought:
The Olympos bastards probably have no idea.
Calling them out like this was intentional.
Those who had already spent their allocated plausibility couldn't interfere with Yoo Sang-ah for a while. After the battle, I approached Yoo Sang-ah and said,
"Yoo Sang-ah. From now on, use only one Stigmata at a time."
"Ah… I'm sorry. I caused so much trouble last time, didn't I?"
"No, not for that reason."
Beings supported by a constellation are special.
Of course, not every constellation in that star system necessarily backs them, but the basic law of the Star Stream is one constellation per incarnate.
Breaking that law carries consequences, and they fall directly on both the constellation and the incarnate. While constellations can figure out ways to avoid harm among themselves, the problem falls on the incarnate.
"Continuously stacking multiple Stigmata will put a burden on your body."
The damned Olympos wouldn't have told her, but there is a limit to the story one being can handle.
Every Stigmata contains the history of its constellation, and histories mixed indiscriminately into dense time can damage human body and soul.
If Yoo Sang-ah keeps borrowing Stigmata from multiple constellations like this, her remaining lifespan will shorten in an instant.
At this rate… maybe just a year at most.
Yoo Sang-ah gave a faint smile.
"Thanks for worrying about me."
I suddenly realized something and spoke.
"Did you know and do it anyway?"
Yoo Sang-ah lowered her eyes calmly and, after a pause, said,
"Do you still see me as Yoo Sang-ah, the competent office worker?"
Yoo Sang-ah continued to speak.
"I'm different from you, Reader. In this changed world, I'm someone who can't do anything. Here, TOEIC scores, certifications, volunteer hours—none of it matters."
"So you thought that if you became stronger, that would solve everything?"
"A little, yes."
Her words were correct.
In reality, strength only solves the world's problems a little.
"I decided to build skills that are useful in this world. That's all I can do."
Even as she spoke, Yoo Sang-ah's hands were covered in countless scars.
To me, those scars felt like enormous gaps. Han Soo-young had said that reading is the act of connecting irregular gaps in one's own way.
If that is truly the work of a reader, then I may still be a person far too inadequate to fully understand what I'm reading.
Vrrrrr.
A vibration came from my pocket. Opening my smartphone, I saw a yellow notification message:
―Han Dong-hoon: Hyung, are you okay?
It was Han Dong-hoon, the reclusive King of Shadows.
I froze for a moment as I read the message.
―Han Dong-hoon: The internet hasn't been working well lately, so it took a while to connect. Even with my ability, it was difficult...
It seemed he had been sending messages for quite a while; they had accumulated considerably.
Probably, once the internet connection was restored, all the delayed messages arrived at once.
To change the mood, I showed the messages to Yoo Sang-ah.
Seeing her smile gently bloom, I thought to myself:
Maybe I'm not a completely useless reader after all.
Han Dong-hoon was the only one I could reach through the messenger, but through him, I could hear about the others.
―Han Dong-hoon: We're over in Yongsan District. Gil-young is with us too.
―Kim Reader: Gil-young's there too?
―Han Dong-hoon: Yes.
I had a rough idea of where the main party members were.
I had also confirmed Lee Hyun-sung and Jeong Hee-won's locations through [Omniscient Reader's Perspective], so the important thing was just regrouping.
I was a little curious about what had happened to Jeong Min-seop or Lee Sung-guk, but I couldn't concern myself with that right now. Still, since they had some prior knowledge, they'd probably manage.
As for Lee Ji-hye… well, Yoo Joong-hyuk would handle her.
―Kim Reader: Don't leave Yongsan for now. We'll head there soon. Try to contact the others if possible.
No reply came back.
The connection must have cut off again.
I looked at my group and said,
"It looks like we'll have to cross the river soon."
We were currently south of the Han River, and Yongsan District was on the north side.
"You want to cross that?"
Han Soo-young looked at me in disbelief.
It wasn't strange. I looked at the Han River alongside her.
Gyaoooooo.
Amid the undulating currents, shadows flickered. The sea dragons that had once roamed near Dongho Bridge now dominated the swollen Han River.
We had followed the river all along but never tried to cross it because of them.
"You saw Cheonho Bridge, right? It's all broken."
Sea dragons are Grade 7 monsters. They're not impossible to defeat, but the problem is their numbers.
It wasn't just one or two—they were countless. Facing them all would take days. And swimming across the river in that situation? Impossible.
"Let's move along the river for now. There might be a bridge that's still intact."
We spent several hours moving downstream, but unfortunately, we couldn't find any functional bridges.
Instead, we came across a group of wanderers.
As Han Soo-young frowned and reached for her firearm, Yoo Sang-ah stepped forward first. She pulled some meat from her backpack, prompting Han Soo-young to snap.
"What are you doing now?"
"They're hungry people."
"So what? You're going to hand that out? Are you insane? Don't you know people are the most dangerous thing in an apocalypse?"
"I could kill all of them if I wanted."
Hearing that, Han Soo-young went silent at the fleeting hint of violence on Yoo Sang-ah's face.
"But… I could save them all too, if I chose to."
Yu Sang-ah silently handed out the monster meat to the people.
Some of them bowed in gratitude.
"Hey… that…"
"It's leftover anyway. Doesn't hurt to give it away."
I ignored Han Soo-young, who was about to lose it, and took out a Yanaspreta stem from my bag.
Even though the world had come to this, not everyone could hunt.
By now, people worldwide were probably researching all sorts of monsters.
The man who received the stem from me repeatedly bowed.
"Ah! Thank you so much…"
"No problem. In hard times, you have to share."
Of course, I was fundamentally different from Yoo Sang-ah. All my "good deeds" were ultimately part of a planned economic activity.
[Some people develop a strong liking for you.]
[Understanding of character 'Shin Yoo-in' has increased.]
[Understanding of character 'Ma Kang-cheol' has increased.]
[New characters have been added to the bookmarks.]
Han Soo-young sneered.
"What a show-off."
"…I do good deeds sometimes too."
[Constellation, 'Demonic Fire Judge,' is impressed by your good deeds.]
[400 coins have been donated.]
Han Soo-young grumbled, looking at Yoo Sang-ah.
"Damn, I thought girls like her only existed in novels."
I agreed. Even before the apocalypse, Yoo Sang-ah had always felt more like a heroine from a story than a real person.
Now that reality itself had become a story, it wasn't much different…
At that moment, a child from the group of wanderers approached me.
A young girl, about the same age as Gil-young.
"What's the matter?"
Her cheeks were plump, her eyes Western-shaped, and her irises glowed faintly red. Her face exuded an exotic kind of cuteness.
The girl came straight up to me and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
"Thank you very much."
She was a polite child. I looked around, but there was no one who seemed to be her parents. Noticing my gaze, she spoke.
"They're not here anymore."
"Both of them?"
The girl nodded slightly.
I was a little taken aback.
A young child, without guardians, surviving alone up to the fifth scenario…
In the "Extinction Law," that's almost impossible unless they somehow fell from the sky.
…Wait, fell from the sky?
As I activated [Character List], the girl spoke again.
"Then, I'll be going now."
Could it really be that she had come just to say goodbye?
I instinctively reached to stop her, but instead glanced at Han Soo-young beside me.
She was looking the other way.
"…Go carefully."
Soon, night fell.
After a moment of thought, I gathered the group.
"Let's rest somewhere nearby tonight."
We searched for a suitable place to sleep. Since it was cold near the Han River, even with a fire, we decided to use a partially ruined building. Han Soo-young, who had been on high alert, warned Yoo Sang-ah.
"Watch out. Those kids will come back. Didn't you see how they eyed our weapons? They always repay kindness with harm."
Han Soo-young proclaimed that humans were all villains, and that everyone repays good intentions with evil. I cautiously glanced at Yoo Sang-ah and added:
"Not everyone in the apocalypse is bad."
"Nope. Almost everyone's bad. Practically everyone."
And an hour passed.
"They'll be here soon. Any minute now, drooling as they come."
Two hours passed.
"Huh, they're really patient."
Three hours passed.
"…This can't be happening."
Finally, four hours later, I began to sense someone outside.
Yoo Sang-ah's expression darkened slightly, while Han Soo-young broke into a triumphant smile.
"See? What'd I tell you?"
As Han Soo-young drew her firearm and growled, someone entered the ruined building.
"Um… is anyone here?"
Han Soo-young froze, about to spring into action.
It was the young girl.
The same child who had politely greeted me earlier in the day.
Her cheeks slightly flushed, she held something out.
"This… this is for you…"
It was a rolled-up blanket, somehow obtained nearby, probably thinking we might be cold.
Han Soo-young was shocked, and Yoo Sang-ah was stunned.
Even in an apocalypse, goodwill isn't always repaid with malice.
[Constellation, "Demonic Fire Judge," smiles kindly.]
[2,000 coins have been donated.]
Yoo Sang-ah stepped forward on behalf of the group.
"Thank you. I'll put it to good use."
"Y-yes…"
"But you're alone, right? It's dangerous to wander around this late at night."
"Everywhere's dangerous now."
Her tone, as if dismissing the concern, made her expression darker.
"Do you want to stay with us?"
"Huh?"
"If you stay with us, you'll be safe."
Yoo Sang-ah looked at me as if asking for permission.
But the girl responded even faster.
"I don't want to be a burden."
Just as she bowed and tried to dash away, a throwing knife suddenly landed at her feet. Startled, she fell backward, and Han Soo-young's harsh voice followed.
"Wait. You're not going anywhere."
"What are you doing?"
Yoo Sang-ah looked at Han Soo-young, her voice cold and tense. But Han Soo-young was looking at me.
"Kim Reader, you know what to do, right? That's why you suggested we stay here, isn't it?"
I slowly closed my eyes.
Damn… I thought she hadn't noticed. But I was wrong. Han Soo-young, who instinctively uses [Analyze Traits] on everyone she sees, couldn't have missed it.
Han Soo-young said:
"Ah, are you going to play hypocrite again? Just because the other party's a child?"
"…."
"You're going to act like the good one again, huh? Then I, the villain, will handle it."
Han Soo-young advanced, twisting her hand toward the girl, but Yoo Sang-ah stopped her.
"Stop."
"Move aside. Are you going to kill her?"
"Why would you kill a normal child all of a sudden?"
"Normal child?"
Han Soo-young smirked and raised her hand toward the girl.
"I told you to stop."
At the same time, Yoo Sang-ah's dagger was aimed at Han Soo-young's neck. Han Soo-young summoned a dozen or so avatars and growled.
"Kim Reader, explain quickly, before I get pissed and kill everyone."
…So it comes to this, huh.
I sighed and spoke.
"That child…"
Looking into the innocent eyes of the girl, I felt an indescribable sorrow.
"…In five days, she will destroy Seoul."
Yoo Sang-ah's eyes trembled.
If I hadn't noticed, we might have let it slide—but now, there was no escaping it.
This damn scenario will never lead to the happy ending we want.
[Constellation, "Abyssal Black Flame Dragon," smiles.]
[Many constellations are interested in the development of this scenario.]
It had been a long time since messages from the constellations had felt this hateful.
"That child… is the final calamity of the Fifth Scenario."