Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: The Reader's Paradox
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Have you all heard of the "Paradox of Reading"?
Of course you haven't. It's a term I just made up.
As mentioned in this episode, O Dok-seo of the 888th round had fallen into an unprecedented slump.
To think she'd rely on tapping away at AI for excuses like "I can't write." Even scanning the entirety of literary history through the ages, it'd be as hard to find a more pathetic figure than "author O Dok-seo" as pulling a non-profane line from Seo-gyu's mouth.
But what about "Awakener O Dok-seo"?
"Uncle."
"Yeah?"
"I'm heading to Seoul for a bit."
Seven years of hiatus.
The readers on SG Net plunged into grief and despair, designating O Dok-seo as public enemy of the martial world.
The day "Literary Girl" showed up even on SG Net's free board, readers swarmed in, hurling double curses together and bonding in camaraderie.
In response, O Dok-seo pulled off the cliché of a protagonist publicly named in a wuxia tale.
She had awakened in the truest sense.
"Why Seoul all of a sudden?"
"Yeah. Thought I'd casually raid the Tower of Sauron."
"...That place has pretty high difficulty, you know?"
"Even better."
O Dok-seo. Hobby: Void extermination.
With the casual tone of someone popping out for a stroll, she skipped out through the Inunaki Tunnel—and sure enough, she returned after smashing a Grand Void all by herself.
"Aw, man. There were rumors of One Piece treasure in the Tower of Sauron clear rewards, but it was all bullshit."
"......"
"Kyaa—. Nothing beats investigating a Void, then chugging an espresso you brew for me, Uncle. That's what life's all about, right?"
"Dok-seo."
"Yeah?"
"That's an expensive coffee cup, so don't channel your aura carelessly. If it cracks, you won't find a replacement anywhere."
"Ah—. Sorry, sorry, Uncle. I've been running Protective Aura 24/7 lately. Still not as proficient as you, so I'm kinda clumsy all around!"
"No....... You're actually doing great. At this point, even Cheon Yo-hwa couldn't guarantee a win against you."
"Aw, come on! Not quite there yet! Hehe."
Rumble—.
O Dok-seo grinned broadly, blood-red aura rippling live across her entire body.
True Conqueror's Haki.
It felt like hearing that a buddy who'd just signed up for the gym to "get in shape" had suddenly qualified for the Bodybuilding Olympia.
Some guild members slipped away under the intimidating aura.
"...G-Guild Leader. I'm heading out first......"
"...Oppa. Bye."
Sim A-ryeon, who'd teased O Dok-seo endlessly just a few years back, couldn't even make eye contact now.
Her survival instincts kicked in: Mess with her, and you might drop dead.
Ha-yul was the same. The two trembled like small, cute critters.
Meanwhile, O Dok-seo glanced at their retreat and scoffed, "Hmph." Despite the blatant mockery, Sim A-ryeon and Lee Ha-yul fled even more pathetically without a hint of resistance......
I gazed up at the ceiling and sighed.
'How did things end up like this?'
It hadn't always been this way.
-Uncle. I'm off to hunt some Voids.
-Voids? Suddenly?
-Yeah. I think what's lacking for me as a writer right now is overwhelming experience.
Seven years ago, O Dok-seo had declared solemnly.
-I need to plunge into battlefields where life and death, reason and anomalies, light and darkness clash fiercely. Only then can I, the literary girl, hammer away at my typewriter......
A common misconception among writers. The delusion that packing in dense "experience" as input would proportionally output badass works—she'd fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
O Dok-seo roamed Voids like a madwoman. Places no sane person would enter even for billions—she dove in willingly.
-Slump! If I can just shake off this fucking slump! I'd sell my soul!
It was madness that'd chew through ten lives, but by her side was me.
From the start, she'd heard my "tales" earlier and more often than anyone. As a monster expert, she was the only one fit to call my direct disciple.
I'd rush in personally to rescue her when things got truly dicey, alerted by the Saintess.
And so.
-Uncle.
-Hm?
-For some reason, anomalies don't scare me anymore.
O Dok-seo, whose practical combat muscles were distinctly more defined than in other rounds and whose aura hue had turned terrifying, declared flatly.
-These days, seeing anomalies, I just think, "What the hell are these puny shits daring to challenge a human like me?"
-......
The Paradox of O Dok-seo.
1. When "author O Dok-seo" focuses on turning my tales into novels = Less time for self-training, so "Awakener O Dok-seo" weakens.
2. When "author O Dok-seo" slumps and skips serialization to roam around = "Awakener O Dok-seo" grows stronger.
And as examined earlier, O Dok-seo of the 888th round had plunged into an all-time long-term slump.
In other words?
-Ah. Staying home's making me antsy. Muscles are twitching. Can't take it. Uncle! Find me a decent anomaly nearby—I'll go beat it up!
-......
-Last time, I one-on-one'd that alien anomaly till it croaked, so this time, two at once!
The longer the hiatus dragged on.
4 years, 5, 6, 7 years.
O Dok-seo's aura blazed fiercer than a wildfire.
Even Seo-gyu, who never picked opponents except me and suffered anger management issues, started avoiding her.
-Huu......
Then one day, the overflowing aura across her body vanished without a trace.
Not gone.
Perfectly "contained."
O Dok-seo opened her eyes serenely.
-Uncle. No, Master.
-......
-Your disciple thinks she gets it now—what aura really is. So this is the realm you've been aiming for.
Exactly.
In the 888th round, O Dok-seo had devolved into an FFF-rank author—.
But at the same time, sacrificing readers' grudges, resentments, and outrage, she'd ascended to SSS-rank Awakener...!
One day.
A notice went up on SG Net's peaceful novel serialization board.
[Literary Girl] It's me. (5 minutes ago)
[Literary Girl] It's O Dok-seo....... Taking a break for some recharge time....... (7 years ago)
Readers were stunned.
The hack author—no, author bastard—who'd ghosted for 7 years while brazenly shitposting on the free board had posted a new notice?
'No way, resuming serialization?'
'Turns out authors always return after 7 years per the rule?'
Thump-.
Readers clicked the notice eagerly. They'd cursed the bastard to hell daily but still couldn't quit the unique flavor, binge-rereading 3rd, 4th times over.
They didn't dwell on why the writer who always titled "It's O Dok-seo......" had switched to "It's me." No time for that.
Readers who pored over the notice began doubting their own eyesight.
――――――――――
[Literary Girl] It's me.
Sorry for ghosting without a word and halting serialization for 7 years.
I'm a shitty author.
But I want to rest more.
――――――――――
?
Question marks popped up in readers' heads.
The notice continued regardless.
――――――――――
No long excuses from this mouth.
I want to rest, and some of you want to beat me into serializing.
To get what you want, what's needed?
Fancy talk? Glorious connections? Flashy schemes?
All wrong.
The answer is "fists."
――――――――――
??
――――――――――
Starting next Monday, for 4 weeks—28 days—I'll be at Busan Babel Tower Square from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.
One-on-one.
28 days, one challenger per day, first-come-first-served.
If even one reader beats me in that time, no excuses—I'll serialize the next episode of [Epilogue of the Regressor] starting the very next day.
Not dropping after one. Sis doesn't play games. Straight to steady serialization.
If no one beats me, [Epilogue of the Regressor] officially goes on indefinite hiatus after this long break.
Life-or-Death Duel.
Your wish for resumption.
My wish for cessation.
Whose will is stronger? We'll settle it on the line between life and death.
With fists only.
――――――――――
???
Question marks lingered in readers' minds after finishing.
Just with extra words prefixed.
'What the fuck is this crazy bastard saying?'
Readers panicked.
The post reeked of Babel and dumbbells you couldn't hide.
Literary Girl was a nickname blending "literature" and "girl"—far from rebar. Words favored by the scrawny-framed.
SG Net erupted instantly.
-Anonymous: Hacked?
First up: "hacking theory."
But unlike the frail pre-Apocalypse civilized internet, end-times net had no room for hacking tricks.
SG Net accounts linked directly to souls. Hacking theory debunked fast.
-Anonymous: Smart fucker lol. Ghosted 7 years, feels bad coming back quiet, so drumming up justification lololol
└[Baekhwa]High Schooler12thYear: Ohhh, got it! Totally understand >_<)!!
-Anonymous: Fr, sorry to fans who waited 7 years, so taking some headshots before returning heh heh
└Anonymous: Yeah after 7 years wait, gotta take those headshots fr lololol
└Anonymous: Head-smashed reader vs head-to-be-smashed author... heart swells...
-Anonymous: Literary Girl's clever yy
Next dominant: "justification theory."
Aggro stunt/event to reignite interest in [Epilogue of the Regressor] after 7 years—masterful ploy.
Ultra-rational, it swept as consensus.
Old fans took it as "fan meet," newbies as "fun author's promo."
-Anonymous: Incheon) Anyone heading to Busan together??
-Anonymous: Kinda thrilling seeing author IRL heh
-Anonymous: Regressor fans must-read!! Busan budget lodging recs! ☆Food list too☆
Literary Girl fans halted curse-machineguns for once, chattering amiably haha hoho.
Pitiful citizens still believing human affairs ran rationally, long after tasting anomalies.
Of course, a tiny minority dissented.
-[National Highway]Historian: Everyone, gathering's fine, but author declared only one duel per day for 28 days. Readers can send max 28 champions. Shouldn't we discuss how to select those 28 champions and the criteria?
└Anonymous: lol what lol
└Anonymous: Why you so serious alone lololol
But when have rational minority views ever been adopted here?
With festival vibes brewing, the buzzkill minority got scorn and dismissal.
SG Net [Epilogue of the Regressor] diehards converged on Busan Babel Tower Square, expectations sky-high.
Monday. 6 a.m.
O Dok-seo showed as promised.
"Author!"
Fans who'd pitched tents overnight swarmed her.
Weird for 6 a.m., but in apocalypse sans modern civ, time sense differed.
Forced healthy routines left modern folk chipper.
"Wow, real Literary Girl author?"
"I'm a fan! Author!"
"Handshake please!"
"......"
O Dok-seo scanned surroundings crookedly.
Feet planted firm, arms crossed, worn-out cap flipped backward, she ogled the twenty-odd readers.
"Who's the rep?"
"Pardon?"
"The reader rep to face This One. As promised, today only one life-or-death duel."
"Ah......"
"Me! Me, me! Author! Pick me!"
A diehard self-proclaimed quick-on-uptake raised hand fast.
Ahh, others thought regretfully. Could've been me!
But why's our author's speech so weird? Kinda dumb? Nah, her dork charm's always been hot.
"Hmm."
Ignoring thoughts, O Dok-seo eyed him up and down.
Then chewed bubblegum smacking.
"9 seconds."
"Pardon? What?"
"I'll yield 9 seconds. Nine formed stances as first strikes."
"Ah. Aaaah, th-that! The classic wuxia thing! Haha! Got it!"
Naive diehard thought, grinning.
Author giving 9 free headshots! Don't wanna upset, so playful light taps!
"Charge to kill."
"Haha! Yep! Hiyah!"
Diehard roared, but hand slapped cheek like swatting mosquito.
Smack......
Too gentle for headshot. Yet hitter and watchers alike freaked.
"Arghhh! Actually hit!"
"Too much!"
"Sorry, Author! 8 more!"
Smack. Smack.
All laughed, some snapped pics/vids for SG Net, hyped for fave series resuming post-7-year hiatus, rowdy.
"Hm."
Only O Dok-seo stayed silent.
"All done?"
"Yes!"
"Then This One's turn. Here I go."
"Haha, n......"
KABOOMMMMM!
Ear-splitting blast.
Diehard probably meant to say "no."
Couldn't finish Korea's most uttered monosyllable—his physics flung him too far from square.
Folk blinked.
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Diehard embedded in distant building wall. Classic US cartoon "outline hole in exact pose" left behind.
Silence, dead.
"Didn't kill."
Smack. O Dok-seo chewed gum.
"Wrapped him in full-body aura before launch—no breaks. Just KO'd from speed."
"......"
"This One's mercy ends today. Return tomorrow."
Pop—bubble burst.
Readers couldn't know: gum not for bubbles, but O Dok-seo finely manipulated aura to force/inflate/perfect-burst it.
Nor cared to.
Brains overloaded from back-to-back shocks too wild for human minds.
'Author—.'
'Pummeled a reader?'
'And not just any—.'
'One who waited years for return, camped overnight for IRL sight?'
'Moreover—.'
'Awakener vs. normie?'
'Just 'cause—.'
'Wants to keep hiatus-ing 7-year-old series, i.e., hates writing?'
Minds clashed.
'Is that—.'
'Even human?'
Step.
O Dok-seo walked back to dawn sun. Brilliant rays poured from horizon.
Her name: O Dok-seo—
Peerless writer mastered in martial arts.
And ugliest author through ages.