“Dok-Ja ahjussi?”
I hesitated while watching the distant battle between two Yu Jung-Hyeoks.
[Your Incarnation Body's condition is currently unstable!]
I'd not be any help whatsoever if I joined the fight in my current condition. And when I took a closer look, the ones fighting were [999] and the 'Secretive Plotter'. I wasn't sure why, but [999] must've decided to side with us.
I clenched my fists tightly.
⸢Kim Dok-Ja made a decision. There was only one method remaining.⸥
The [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].
Just like back then against Nirvana, or during the fight against Poseidon….
– Maknae-yah, what are you hesitating for?
The Great Sage Heaven's Equal spoke to me. Even though he was in the middle of a huge battle in the sky, he still sensed my emotions.
I muttered in a voice that could barely be heard. “….I've gotten a little afraid of reading them.”
It was probably after fighting against Yu Jung-Hyeok back in the 'Isle of Reincarnators'. And more recently, right after I heard what [999] had to say.
⸢”Do you still believe that you can understand someone through just a few lines of text in a couple of chapters?”⸥
Up until now, I had been a 'reader' of the stories. However, for how long would it be okay for me to remain as one?
– Right, you possess the power to read another person.
He had accurately guessed my ability. He stuck around my channel for a long time as the 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband', so it wouldn't have been that difficult to figure that much out.
– There was a time when I too, wanted to know more about someone.
I sensed the Great Sage's gaze landing on Yu Sang-Ah. Or more correctly, not her exactly but her current 'Incarnation Body'. He was staring at the body's 'former owner'.
– I still haven't fully understood why Sanzang chased me out twice.
During the original 'Journey to the West', Sun Wukong was expelled from the party twice.
– However, I never asked Sanzang about it properly. Maybe it was because of my worthless pride. I was stuck in a loop, thinking and wondering only to myself. Why did that idiot do that? What was the reason for those decisions? What was the point of such obstinacy? What did I do wrong, and where did a problem come from? Even after our journey was over, those questions kept bubbling inside my head.
This would be my first time hearing such a story.
Even to someone like the Great Sage, there were unresolved questions reserved only for him.
– And by the time I finally found the courage to ask, my opportunity had slipped away already.
The faintest trace of dejection could be felt from his voice.
Since I didn't know much about the story after the conclusion of the 'Journey to the West', I had no way of estimating the depths of his sadness.
One thing that I could be sure of, though, was the fact that the real 'Sanzang' was no longer with us in this world, as Yu Sang-Ah had reincarnated into the Incarnation Body in question.
– And to find out the answers to those questions, we kept repeating this ⸢Journey to the West Remake⸥, hoping that maybe, someone else would tell us the story that I didn't know before, something that I had not read before.
Only then did I realise why the Great Sage participated in this scenario event. I felt curious just then. Did he finally find his answer?
– I couldn't find it. However…. I did find a small solace.
The Great Sage's gaze was now fixed on Shin Yu-Seung. As the
– And about that solace, let me tell you all about it.
[Great Fable, 'Journey to the West', is continuing with its storytelling.]
– I'd probably never get to understand certain things. I'd never even get close, and maybe, everything I did might be in vain. However, even if we know it's impossible, we still have to read the Fable. That is what it means to exist as 'Constellations', as the stars of the heavens.
The Great Sage failed to understand Sanzang. And quite likely, he'd never get to understand even into the future.
Even then, he didn't give up.
– That's why you should read it.
'However, I alone can't….'
– Why do you think you're alone?
I reflexively raised my head after hearing his words.
– Maybe not like you, but people always are reading each other. So, you should not stop reading, either.
In a way, this advice wasn't really on point.
However, I still ended up feeling a certain something. It was as if small feathers had piled up. I began thinking that maybe this was the solace the Great Sage felt while watching our story.
“Yu Sang-Ah-ssi.”
I called out to her, and she looked at me as if she was waiting. “Will you be alright?”
“Yes. By the way, if it's possible, be gentle….”
Yu Sang-Ah nodded her head and chanted the Constrictive Sutra in my direction.
My body slumped to the floor as if a fuse had gone out. My consciousness managed to slip out and quickly flew towards where I needed to go.
Chapter end
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