< Episode 15. The World Without a King (6) >
By the time I came to my senses, Song Minwoo was already right in front of me.
An absurd speed.
You'd need at least 40 Agility to move that fast.
"Was it you?"
A growling rumble was woven into his voice.
His transformation into a non-human species was already complete.
[Grade 6 Non-Human Species, 'Werewolf Song Minwoo' activates 'Predatory Intimidation Lv.5'!]
[Character 'Han Sooyoung' activates 'Mental Barrier Lv.3'!]
[Character 'Han Sooyoung' partially resists the effects of 'Predatory Intimidation'.]
In an instant, his arm shot out and seized Han Sooyoung by the collar.
"Ghk—!"
Even accounting for her poor condition, the fact that Han Sooyoung was subdued in a single move—
That kind of strength.
A Grade 6 non-human species.
The worst possible enemy to face right now.
This was nothing like fighting the Grade 5 Fire Dragon.
Back then, I had overwhelming elemental advantage, and I could exploit the sluggish movements of a massive monster-type enemy.
But now—
Song Minwoo's eyes shifted to me.
"You're the ones who destroyed my 'coin farm,' right?"
Even though it was phrased as a question, his tone was already full of certainty.
The moment I saw his bared fangs, Han Sooyoung screamed.
"Fuck—just kill him already!"
I activated Blade of Conviction. Han Sooyoung used [Avatar].
Almost simultaneously, Song Minwoo's powerful kick came flying in.
Thoom!
The head of the avatar that was still forming exploded, and I was sent flying through the air.
[Grade 6 Non-Human Species, 'Werewolf Song Minwoo' is activating 'Acceleration Lv.5'.]
His barrage followed at a speed nearly impossible to see.
Head. Shoulder. Stomach.
Relentless blows raining down without discrimination.
My breath burst out of me.
Han Sooyoung's voice echoed dully in my ears.
"Kim Dokja!"
…No. Even for a non-human species, this doesn't make sense.
It was too late to dodge.
I hurriedly raised my overall stats and curled my body inward.
[16000 coins invested into Vitality.]
[Vitality Lv.24 → Vitality Lv.50]
[Endurance akin to a Giant Race settles throughout your body.]
The pain rapidly dulled, dropping to a level I could endure.
But it wasn't over.
"Kim Dokja…? I've heard that name somewhere…"
I heard Song Minwoo muttering.
His face visible through my guard.
And in that moment, I understood what the problem was.
He wasn't strong.
The problem was me.
[Due to 'Predatory Intimidation,' your fighting will decreases.]
[Due to 'Predatory Intimidation,' your movements slow.]
That's impossible.
I overcame the intimidation of a Grade 5 Fire Dragon—there's no way I'd be affected by a guy like this.
No way.
I have the [Fourth Wall]—
[Exclusive Skill, 'Fourth Wall' is shaking.]
This had happened a few times before.
When I fought Yoo Joonghyuk in the Theater Dungeon. When I immersed myself into Yoo Joonghyuk in first-person perspective.
But now Yoo Joonghyuk wasn't even here—so why?
Song Minwoo snarled, raising his claws as he grabbed my collar.
"…You look familiar. You know me, don't you?"
—Hey, Kim Dokja. What are you doing?
A familiar voice overlapped another identical voice.
[Exclusive Skill, 'Fourth Wall' is shaking.]
I grabbed his wrist and replied.
"I don't."
"Really? I think I remember you."
—Stop reading that crap and go buy some bread. Got it?
[Grade 6 Non-Human Species, 'Werewolf Song Minwoo' activates 'Memory Enhancement Lv.3'.]
"I know you."
[Exclusive Skill, 'Fourth Wall' is shaking.]
…Damn it.
So that's it.
Now I finally understand what the [Fourth Wall] really is.
A smile crept onto Song Minwoo's face.
"How interesting. How did a loser like you survive this long? A guy who did nothing but read novels every day."
"..."
"Haha. You bastard—weren't you the guy I beat the shit out of for secretly reading novels during computer class? Don't you remember me?"
I remember.
Of course I remember.
A delayed rage tore through my mind.
"I'm Song Minwoo. You should at least remember a classmate's face, right? This works out nicely. I was actually wondering if you might still be alive."
When I was seventeen, I used to think—
If only I had power, I wanted to tear this guy apart with my own hands.
Song Minwoo sneered.
"That novel you used to read back then. Where do I go to read it?"
The moment he said that, a scene resurfaced.
Him sitting in my seat, scrolling through the novel I had been reading, while his gang beat me down.
…Don't tell me.
—Seriously, you otaku freak. You actually read crap like this? Is this supposed to be fun?
It's ironic.
Of all things, the novel he read back then—
Thoom!
His fist slammed straight into my abdomen, sending my body flying through the air.
At the same moment my body, unable to withstand the impact, was smashed deep into the outer wall of a building, Han Sooyoung's avatar lunged at Song Minwoo.
KRAAASH!
The shattered building wall collapsed down on top of me.
[Exclusive Skill, 'Fourth Wall' is shaking.]
[Fourth Wall].The exclusive skill I had possessed from the very beginning.
I still don't fully understand all of its functions.
But at least one thing is certain now.
This skill makes me perceive this world as a novel.
To be honest, there were times even I found myself strange.
The decisiveness and ability to act that the real me could never have shown.
The calmness of someone observing this world from the outside.
All of it was possible because of the [Fourth Wall].
"Fuck… what the hell are you doing right now?"
An angry voice.
When the rubble was pushed aside, an enraged Han Sooyoung was standing in front of me.
Dozens of her avatars had multiplied, blocking the building corridor as they fought Song Minwoo and the werewolves. Blood streamed endlessly from Han Sooyoung's nose, veins bulging across her face as she struggled.
Squeezing out that kind of power when her mana was already bottomed out—she really was impressive.
"You told me earlier to trust you, and now you're just lying there getting beaten to shit?!"
As I slowly stood up, the joints I'd been hit in before raising my stats screamed with pain. It was brutally realistic.
I'd forgotten.
The [Fourth Wall] also acted as a buffer against pain like this.
[Many constellations are flustered by the unexpected development.]
Enduring the pain, I brushed off the dust and got to my feet.
"I was in the middle of a self-awakening event."
"…What?"
"If I win too easily every time, where's the fun? You need some adversity once in a while."
"Oh, so that's why you were sprawled out getting your ass kicked?"
"I was just thinking for a moment."
[Many constellations feel reassured.]
The [Fourth Wall] is a skill that makes reality feel like a novel.
So if it was shaking, the reason was obvious.
KRAAAANG—!
It meant that I was perceiving Song Minwoo as reality.
Not as a character.
But as the bastard who beat me, who turned my teenage years into a tragedy.
"…You know that asshole or something?"
For a writer, she was sharp.
When I glared at her, Han Sooyoung flinched and hurriedly added,
"Sorry, I wasn't trying to pry. It just… kind of leaked through."
With [Lie Detection] in play, there was no point hiding it.
"Yeah. I know him."
"I figured as much…"
"From when I was young. Just a cliché trauma."
"…There's no such thing as a 'cliché' trauma. All trauma is serious."
Spitting out the blood dripping from her nose, Han Sooyoung spoke.
"Ptoo! So what's the problem? This noona will awaken you—spill it. In Ways of Survival, someone always gets awakened and becomes stupidly strong after a few words, right?"
"You think I'm Lee Hyunsung or something?"
In the end, this was something I had to deal with myself.
If the [Fourth Wall] shook every time I encountered someone who triggered my trauma, then the road ahead would be nothing but suffering.
More than anything—
I'm 28 years old now.
I'm not some helpless 17-year-old getting bullied by a delinquent.
[A constellation who enjoys revenge narratives reveals their modifier.]
[Constellation, 'Late-Blooming Overcomer of Trials', cheers you on.]
[Several constellations resonate.]
[A Bounty Scenario has arrived.]
< Bounty Scenario – Overcoming Trauma >
Type: Sub Difficulty: C
Clear Condition : Constellations including 'Late-Blooming Overcomer of Trials' have commissioned a bounty scenario. Overcome your trauma within the time limit and escape the specter of the past.
Time Limit: 1 hour
Reward: ???
Failure : Contempt from 'Late-Blooming Overcomer of Trials'.
'Late-Blooming Overcomer of Trials'—I'd seen that constellation in Ways of Survival.
As far as I knew, it was a constellation from another world…
Well, considering who would start appearing around the Fifth Scenario, it wasn't strange that appearances were becoming more frequent.
Either way, this was what you'd call turning misfortune into opportunity.
I tossed Han Sooyoung the ragged robe of the Reverend.
"Wipe your nose and fall back."
"What?"
"That's enough. I've got this now."
Pushing past her avatars, I leapt straight into the pack of werewolves.
[6000 coins invested into Agility.]
[Agility Lv.30 → Agility Lv.40]
[Wind-like swiftness fills your entire body.]
[15500 coins invested into Strength.]
[Strength Lv.25 → Strength Lv.50]
[Your muscles writhe like those of a monster.]
I should've done this from the start.
After taking a hit from that 'Probability Storm,' I'd been holding myself back too much.
Kiiiiing!
[Special option of 'Unbreakable Conviction' has activated.]
[Aether attribute converts to 'Divinity'.]
KRAAAANG—!
There was no reason for me to lose this fight.My judgment had only wavered for a moment because the [Fourth Wall] had shaken.
When I thought about it, I had more than enough means to subdue these guys.
And not just one or two.
Slash—!
The werewolves cut down by my blade collapsed helplessly.
Werewolves possess the Darkness attribute.Which meant they were inevitably vulnerable to the Divine attribute.
Moreover, there was no need to worry about any "non-lethal" penalty with these creatures.
As I've said before, demihuman means not human.
They are not my kind.
From within the pack of werewolves, I caught sight of Song Minwoo's face as he noticed me.
His pupils slowly dilated.
From behind me, Han Sooyoung's panting voice rang out.
"Hey! Are you okay?!"
I didn't answer.
Because, in truth, the situation was familiar.
[Exclusive Skill, 'Fourth Wall' is shaking.]
Still—this was clearly different from before.
"I'm fine. The awakening event's over."
I charged straight toward Song Minwoo.
Grrrraah—!
Several thoughts flashed through my mind. If I activated [Judgment of] here and summoned someone like the 'Hunter of the Six-Pointed Star,' the fight would be decided instantly. But if I fought that way, there was no way I'd overcome my trauma.
This time, I had to fight with my own strength alone.
[6th-Grade Demihuman, 'Vagabond Song Minwoo' activates 'Acceleration Lv.5'.]
Song Minwoo's body, empowered by acceleration, moved at tremendous speed.
Even though his Agility should've been around forty, the effects of a Level 5 acceleration skill seemed to boost his base speed drastically.
Lacking any proper footwork technique, I had no choice but to rely on a workaround.
[7,000 coins invested into Agility.]
[Agility Lv.40 → Agility Lv.50]
[Gale-like swiftness fills your entire body.]
If you don't have skills, you make up for it with stats.
Lightly evading the claws flying at me, I swung my sword upward.
"KRAAAAGH!"
As his severed arm flailed uselessly through the air, I cut off his other arm as well. Losing his balance in panic, he staggered—and I didn't miss the opening, slicing through his legs too.
Sgak!
Song Minwoo roared as all four of his limbs were severed in an instant.
Along with the roar, his chopped-off arms and legs began regenerating.
It was [Physical Regeneration], a privilege of werewolves.
But at that regeneration speed…
…This bastard must be receiving a blessing from someone.
Good.
Even better.
[Constellation, 'Late-Blooming Overcomer of Trials', focuses on your actions.]
The objective of the bounty scenario wasn't to kill him, but to overcome my trauma. Killing him too easily wouldn't satisfy the constellations.
I deactivated the 'Blade of Conviction' and raised my fists instead.
[8,000 coins invested into Strength.]
[Strength Lv.50 → Strength Lv.60]
[Your power begins to draw the interest of the Giantfolk.]
[Your total stats are nearing the scenario's upper limit.]
Grabbing Song Minwoo—whose limbs had regenerated—by the collar, I yanked him up.
[Exclusive Skill, 'Fourth Wall' is shaking.]
Looking at his face, I felt the 'seventeen-year-old Kim Dokja' inside me shrink back.
Pitiful, really.
From now on, this older brother will take revenge for you.
"Minwoo. Guess I didn't greet you properly earlier, huh?"
"W-What…?"
"Nice to see you."
I slammed my fist straight into his abdomen.
"Kuh—huuugh…!"
"But you know… back then, it really hurt."
Seventeen-year-old Kim Dokja was watching me from within my memories.
Watch all you want.
See just how small the vessel of the bully you feared really is.
"If you had even a shred of conscience, shouldn't you be apologizing first instead of calling me a 'classmate'?"
Holding him with one hand, I kept punching.
His chest.His stomach.His face.
"What was so wrong about reading novels? Huh? Did I ever do anything to you?"
On behalf of seventeen-year-old Kim Dokja, I hit him again and again.
"Hell, if you'd at least chipped in some money for the books, maybe I'd understand."
Under the merciless beating, his teeth shattered, his abs collapsed, and the bones in his limbs snapped. Overwhelmed by the sheer violence, the nearby werewolves growled but couldn't bring themselves to approach.
I didn't even need something like [Predatory Threat].
Fear could be inflicted easily enough.
Because true fear is born from overwhelming strength on an entirely different level.
About ten minutes passed.
With his ruined mouth, Song Minwoo began to beg.
"Ghh—grrrk! I-I'm sorry… I'm sorry…!"
"Oh? Sorry?"
"Grrk—yeah! I'm really, really sorry! B-back then, I was immature…!"
Of course.
I knew that.
I was old enough now to understand the malice of immaturity.
But—
"You're mistaken about something."
"I'm not hitting you to hear an apology."
There are things you can understand, but never forgive.
"In the first place, the person you should be apologizing to isn't me."
"W-What are you talking about…?"
"For now, just keep taking the hits until my trauma goes away."
Watching Song Minwoo crumble, I found myself recalling a fleeting season of my teenage years.
Powerless.Weak.A kid who knew nothing but books.
In truth, Han Sooyoung was right.
There's no such thing as a 'cliché' trauma.
All trauma is serious to the person who bears it, and I never believed that something like this would completely erase mine.
I'll probably keep having nightmares.Seventeen-year-old Kim Dokja will remain frozen in that time, endlessly reliving his tragedy.
Still—
This might offer a little comfort.
Just like Ways of Survival once did for me.
The fists wielded by twenty-eight-year-old Kim Dokja might, if only for a moment, help seventeen-year-old Kim Dokja escape his nightmare.
Just as the 'Yoo Joonghyuk' of that time once did for me.
"Kuh! K-ghhk! S-stop… please… stop…"
"Uuugh…"
How much longer did I beat him?
Eventually, there came a moment when looking at Song Minwoo's face stirred absolutely nothing in me.
[Exclusive Skill, 'Fourth Wall', has stabilized.]
[The Bounty Scenario's clear conditions have been fulfilled.]