Deep Sea Fish Hunting Specialty Broadcast

EP.108 The Answer We Had Been Searching For Was Not Far Away (4)

Parang’s eyes trembled.

Her expression became extremely, extremely uncomfortable.

What could the Kraken’s true identity be, for Alice to know even this much?

There were two reasons.

First, obviously because Alice’s question came too suddenly.

“How do I think of you… Well.”

Second, the doubt about whether Alice really didn’t know Parang’s answer to this question.

“Well, of course I think of you as a living person.”

Since awakening in this world, not once had she thought of the people around her as mere ‘characters.’

The orphanage director who was endlessly loving to the children, yet secretly sighed over money worries.

The village elders who deeply cherished Parang while secretly competing among themselves to make her their daughter-in-law.

Manager Choi from the Association who looked after his subordinates even while being worn down by work.

Yuna, who seemed careless and clumsy yet occasionally showed flashes of sharp insight.

Branch Manager Seo Sunwoo, who sacrificed himself to defeat evil, though he himself was no saint.

Natsuko, who despite having spent a happy childhood with precious friends, fell to corruption, seduced by the pleasure of power.

And her irreplaceable friends, the Oceanos.

Parang had never once thought of them as mere characters in a novel.

She swore to herself, not even once.

They were all ‘people’ who lived and breathed beside her, creating their own stories.

That’s why they didn’t move according to Parang’s predictions, sometimes surprising her, and occasionally showing strategies that overwhelmed her.

And Parang felt no sense of discomfort or betrayal about that.

Because they weren’t characters, but people. Because they were beings equal to herself.

That’s why Parang lived so intensely. So she wouldn’t fall behind these people who each shone in their own place.

So that this ‘world’ where such people lived could remain peaceful.

So that she wouldn’t lose these precious ‘people.’

There was a time when Parang too had struggled with the boundary between fiction and reality. There had certainly been times when she searched for a way to return to her original world. But after making up her mind, she never changed her thinking.

That’s why when she learned of the Slayers’ death and the world facing destruction, she could steel her resolve without a moment’s hesitation.

That she wouldn’t stand by in the face of this world’s threat. That she wouldn’t run away from this world.

That she would protect this world she had lived in with all her might.

She didn’t even want to return to her original world.

Throwing away all the connections, life, and everything else she had built in this world like an old shoe was never even an option.

Besides, if she returned to the original Earth, she wouldn’t be able to live in the ocean anyway.

And in Parang’s opinion, Alice was definitely not someone who wouldn’t understand these thoughts of hers.

Even if Parang came from inside a novel, anyone could understand her thoughts just by looking at her actions so far.

So Parang calmly shared her thoughts briefly in response to Alice’s question.

“I’ve never thought of anyone, including you or anyone else I’ve met, as a ‘character.’ This is my reality, and this is the ‘world’ where I and others live and breathe.”

She didn’t elaborate further. It didn’t seem like Alice had asked this question wanting to confirm all the details of Parang’s feelings.

Parang’s prediction was correct. After hearing Parang’s brief answer, Alice brought up the question she really wanted to ask.

“Then, what about Han Siwoo and the Slayers? Are they characters to you, or people?”

“…That…”

Unlike the previous question, Parang couldn’t readily answer that one.

Han Siwoo and the Slayers were different from other characters – they were true ‘characters’ she had read about in the novel.

Parang had predicted their actions and knew their personalities.

In reality, they never exceeded her predictions. At least not until the ascension.

When Parang witnessed their annihilation, her sorrow came more from ‘beloved novel characters suffering’ rather than ‘innocent people falling victim to monsters.’

That’s how much the Slayers were alien entities in Parang’s worldview.

However.

After answering Alice’s previous question and reflecting on it, Parang could somewhat confirm the thoughts she held.

That she viewed this world as reality more than she had thought. That she respected those living in it as ‘people.’

If that was the case, she felt there was no reason to exclude the Slayers from that boundary of respect.

Parang slowly nodded.

“Yes. They too are living people. I can’t think of them as just characters in a novel anymore.”

Only then did Alice nod with a faint smile.

“That’s the answer I wanted to hear.”

Now it was Parang’s turn to ask.

“…Why did you want to hear that answer from me? Is it really that important how I think about the Slayers?”

“Yes. It’s important. Very much so. Parang, I can see tens of thousands of possible endings this world could reach. Almost all of them end in destruction, chaos, and despair.”

Alice continued with a serious expression.

“But among them, there definitely is a ‘happy ending.’ And you are the only key to reaching it.”

In the quiet stillness, only Alice’s calm voice resonated.

“As someone who knows the truth of this world, and as your friend, I have a duty to help you stay true to yourself and walk that path firmly. My question today was part of that.”

Alice’s gaze as she looked straight at Parang was deep. Within it was pure sincerity, without a trace of deception.

“Finding answers to the questions in your heart is just as important as devising strategies and building strength to defeat that monster. Because with such confusion in your heart, you can never reach happiness.”

Faced with that profound sincerity, as deep as the ocean itself, Parang could no longer press Alice further.

Though uncertain what results Alice’s sudden counseling session would bring, it was clear at least that she had no ill intentions.

“What if… what if I had answered that question differently?”

“I would have tried my best to convince you.”

“…And if you couldn’t convince me?”

“Well… in that case, since it would mean this world’s bad ending was confirmed, I probably would have sat down in despair. Then calmly… waited for the regression.”

Seeing how dark Alice’s expression became as she said this, Parang decided to change the subject. There were also things she absolutely had to ask about.

“Alice. Just what… what is the Kraken?”

What is the Kraken’s true identity? It’s certainly not just a powerful monster fish.

Just what is it, to have turned Alice into this kind of being?

If Parang were to summarize what she’s learned about the Kraken so far, it would be roughly as follows:

1. The Kraken launches mental attacks so powerful that merely looking at it can drive people insane.

2. The Kraken turns all living beings it touches into ‘itself.’

3. Parang can summon the Kraken and is immune to its mental attacks. The skills of people absorbed by the Kraken flow into Parang.

4. The Kraken appeared in this world the moment Parang chose to become ‘the Kraken’s daughter,’ and the world is regressing to the point when the Kraken emerged.

5. The Kraken can sense when Parang dies.

6. The Kraken has the ability to see countless future possibilities.

7. The Kraken knows that Parang came from outside this world.

It feels just out of reach. Like she could figure out its identity with just a few more clues.

Like she’s just a few steps away from understanding.

Since Alice had glimpsed the Kraken’s memories, wouldn’t she know its identity? Or at least have some clues about it?

“It’s fine if you don’t know exactly what it is. Just tell me what you do know.”

“That’s…”

Alice hesitated at Parang’s words, then thought for quite a while.

“Could we postpone the answer to that question? Not for long. That topic… I think it would be better as the final subject of our conversation today.”

“The final subject of today’s conversation…”

“Yes. It would be better for you too if we discuss other things before getting to that topic.”

Parang considered for a moment. It didn’t seem like a big issue. It’s not like Alice was refusing to tell her.

“…Alright. Let’s do that.”

“Thanks.”

“So, what are these other things we need to talk about?”

“Three things. First is about the rising monster fish layer, second is about the ascension ritual, and third is… about the being that’s been appearing in your dreams lately.”

“Hmm…”

Parang let out a sigh. All three were crucial information for her.

“Let’s start with the monster fish layer rising. We can’t stop it. It’s already begun.”

“It’s already begun?”

“Yes. This isn’t something I learned through the Kraken – I investigated it myself using Capulus. The monster fish layer is definitely rising. Right now it’s only risen about 10 meters from its original level, so it’s not noticeable yet.”

“Then, how high do you think it will rise…?”

“…Most likely, it will reach sea level.”

“Ah, damn…”

Parang swallowed the curse that rose to her throat.

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