Chapter 45

6 It wasn’t just my imagination. The man’s eyes widened the moment he heard my name. “Could it be……?” He carefully scrutinized my face. That reminded me of the numerous descriptions of Junghyeok Yu’s appearance in TWSA. Most notably, it was emphasized over and over that he was extremely good-looking. As for my own looks… “Is there a problem?” “N-no, sir.” His tone had suddenly become polite. I was sure all kinds of thoughts were racing through his head. One thing was certain—this guy had read TWSA. For one thing, he wasn’t registered in “Character Profile,” and his surprise at hearing the name “Junghyeok Yu” was a dead giveaway. Looking flustered, he turned his eyes toward Hyeonseong, who was standing next to me. “Search Attribute”… I see. He’s trying to glean as much information as he can. I waited a few moments to give him ample time to examine Hyeonseong, then spoke up. “You’d better watch where you’re looking.” “……” By now he should’ve confirmed two things—Hyeonseong Lee’s name, and the fact that he couldn’t view my attribute window with “Search Attribute.” I didn’t know how much of TWSA he’d read, but without knowing Junghyeok’s face, there was only so much information he could use to determine the validity of my claim. The most poignant piece of evidence he had was the SS-rank skill “The Eye of the Sage,” which could block other detection abilities. And he was starting to believe I had that skill. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice you scanning us with that B-rank skill?” His eyes started twitching from panic, then his whole face contorted. His wandering gaze finally settled on Chungmuro’s red flag on my back. Yes, I’m sure that’s the last piece of evidence you can find to determine whether I’m really Junghyeok Yu. “…Who the hell do you think you are? Talking down to us like—” One of the men near the front of the group, who must’ve had no clue what was happening, stepped up and pointed his spear at me threateningly. Just as Huiwon and Hyeonseong were about to move forward— Whack! The man’s head suddenly burst open, spraying blood into the air. The rest of the group cried out in shock. Behind the blood and gore that was raining down, I saw their leader’s face, looking dead serious. This guy… He pushed aside his group members and slowly walked toward me. “I’m terribly sorry. That was no way to talk to such an esteemed guest.” “And who are you?” I could see that it took every bit of self-control he had not to squirm at my cold tone. You’re really trying, huh? Well, my heart would’ve nearly burst, too, if I were you. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Seongguk Lee. The vice leader of Dongmyo Station.” He bowed politely before me. Time to put on my best Junghyeok Yu impression. I shot him an icy glare and spoke in the coldest voice I could muster, “Dongmyo Station? I see. Then get lost.” “…Pardon?” “This is my station now. So beat it.” Seongguk Lee was in shock. “Wh-what do you mean—?” “Did I stutter?” I looked down at Dongmyo Station’s flag slot. Seongguk Lee finally realized what I meant. “Th-that’s impossible, sir. A station we’ve already claimed can’t be handed over to—” “Do you think I’m stupid?” “Sir?” “A vice leader has the authority to hand over a station. Didn’t you know that?” “……!” “I’ll count to three. Surrender this station, or you’re all dead. One.” Seongguk Lee’s face grew hard. His men moved to surround me, brandishing their weapons. Huiwon and Hyeonseong looked nervous and confused. To them, it must’ve looked like I had suddenly gone crazy. I ignored them and continued to put on the pressure. “You think I’m joking? Two.” It must’ve been, what, ten years since you read TWSA? Looks like you forgot what kind of character Junghyeok Yu was. Maybe this’ll jog your memory. [Exclusive skill “White Star Weapon Aura” Lv.2 has been activated!] [Blade of Faith has been activated!] Seongguk Lee turned pale when he saw the white aura emanating from my sword. This was a game of chicken. This guy remembered Junghyeok Yu’s name, which meant he had at least a vague idea of what the Regressor was capable of. Knowing how merciless Junghyeok was in his early regressions, there was no way Seongguk would keep playing the game. But what if he didn’t know very much about Junghyeok? That was fine, too. If it came down to that, I could fight him. And if that didn’t work out, I could simply run away. I was strong enough at this point that I had plenty of options. “Thr—” “W-wait! I-I’ll do it!” So you did read TWSA. But you didn’t read it properly. “No.” “…Sorry?” “You took too long.” “Pardon?” “One station isn’t enough. Hand over Dongdaemun as well.” Huiwon’s eyes widened in shock. She shot me a look, as if to ask if it was really okay to push things so far. Of course it was okay. In fact, I had to push it this far. After all, I was Junghyeok Yu. And to really sell it, I had to be every bit as crazy as he was. I pointed my sword at Seongguk Lee. “Hand over Dongdaemun, or there’s no deal.” “B-but…!” “I’ll count to three again. One.” A mix of emotions flashed across Seongguk Lee’s face in the span of a second, each more desperate than the last. He had started to believe that I was Junghyeok Yu, which must’ve put him in one hell of a tight spot. After all, it was painfully clear what would happen to him should he make an enemy of the main character here. How would he respond? His answer would determine the nature of the relationship between me and his group going forward. “I-I can give you Dongdaemun History & Culture Park on my authority! But…” “But?” “…not Dongdaemun. Please, won’t you meet with our leader?” Good answer. It seemed he was just the level of prey I was looking for. Seongguk Lee continued to ramble on, “Your reputation precedes you, sir, so our leader is very much looking forward to meeting you. Please, give us a chance to talk with you.” “You know me?” “How could we not, Mr. Junghyeok Yu?” Seongguk flinched as soon as he blurted that out. He must’ve realized it was a strange thing to say. It was far too early for Junghyeok to be that famous. “A-anyway, it would be a great honor if I could escort you there.” I stared at him pointedly for a bit before I replied. All right, I’ll give you a passing grade. “Very well. Lead the way.” He brightened up immediately, even adding an unnecessary, “Please, you have nothing to worry about. On the ‘King’s Honor,’ I swear I won’t turn against you.” [The vice leader of Dongmyo, Seongguk Lee has sworn an oath on the “King’s Honor.”] [Seongguk Lee will be severely punished if he breaks this oath.] What an impatient guy. Still, this would be his natural response if he believed I was the main character. It looked like he’d done his homework about how Junghyeok Yu was early on. Then I suppose it’d be rude not to play along. “Turn against me? You fools?” “I mean, not that we could lay a finger on you, even if we attacked all at once. Ha-ha-ha. Uh, then… This way, please.” “Wait.” “Sir?” I pointed at the flag slot of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” “……” [Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station has been transferred to you.] [Currently Occupied Territory: Chungmuro (HQ), Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun History & Culture Park] [Your red flag has accrued more points.] The flag of the station changed before my eyes. What a great start. Is it really okay for things to be this easy? “Let’s go.” I felt strange watching Seongguk Lee’s trembling shoulders. What if I just live the rest of my life as Junghyeok Yu? Soon after, we were entering Dongmyo Station, guided by Seongguk Lee. Their group members, who had no idea who I was, whispered uneasily among themselves. But they didn’t object because Seongguk Lee’s attitude made it clear that it was not a matter for debate. My companions and I were trailing along in the rear. Hyeonseong, who had been eyeing me hesitantly, finally spoke up. “Uh, Dok—” The quick-witted Huiwon jabbed him in the ribs. The big man gasped in surprise and groaned. That’s Huiwon for you. She couldn’t have known what I was up to, but she had the good sense to play along. You know what to do, right? I mouthed at my companions. Yes, I get the gist of it. I glanced at Huiwon, then at the unconscious Ilhun Kang, slumped over Hyeonseong’s back. He was the one I was most worried about. Make sure he doesn’t blow our cover. Huiwon nodded subtly, then did something strange. She dropped down on one knee in a theatrical manner and shouted, “Yes, Lord Junghyeok! Your wish is my command!” She looked like some kind of medieval knight. The funny part was, Hyeonseong hurriedly dropped down to his knee, too, after watching Huiwon. “M-my lord…!” The others must have heard them. Seongguk Lee looked back in surprise. It was quite embarrassing, but this worked out for me. I couldn’t read what was on his mind, but it was probably something like… He must really be Junghyeok Yu. Then our eyes met, and Seongguk Lee quickly turned his head. …So this is what it feels like to be the main character. Soon, we arrived at the platform of Dongmyo Station. They seemed to be a fairly well-established group, judging by the number of people there. Some of them were carrying weapons, like Seongguk Lee’s squad was, but most were unarmed. The latter were most likely drifters who had lost their groups. “Hurry up! Faster!” “Y-yes, sir.” Under the Dongmyo group’s command, the drifters were doing manual labor, such as cutting up ground rat meat, or fashioning weapons out of monster body parts. They had become a “slave class.” This would become a common sight in the scenario zones once the age of kings began in earnest. “What is this, a kingdom…?” Huiwon frowned. “Don’t do anything hasty. Stay here and keep watch,” I ordered her. “Yes, my lord…” I ignored her and scanned the area. I wanted to be prepared for any unforeseen variables. Dongmyo Station was an important staging area in TWSA as well. If I remembered correctly, the leader should’ve been that recluse. However, now that the Oracles were involved, there was a high chance that things were different from the original story. I organized my thoughts as I stared at the back of Seongguk Lee, who was walking in front of the group. At this point, there were two things I wanted to know. First, whether Seongguk Lee possessed the same file I had. Second, how many Oracles there were. And, if I had to pick a third, whether he had the same skills as I did… My guess was no. If he did, he would have used “Character Profile” on me earlier, rather than “Search Attribute.” And he likely didn’t have “The Fourth Wall,” either, since I didn’t get a message saying my skill had been blocked when I had tried to view his info with “Character Profile.” In other words, Seongguk Lee was a similar case to Sangah and Gilyeong. I thought that made sense. After all, I was the only one who had read the entire novel, all three-thousand-plus chapters of it. It would’ve been unfair if the so-called Oracles, who had only dabbled in the first few dozen chapters, had gotten the same special bonuses I’d received. That said, what’s that bastard reading so intently? Seongguk Lee had been staring at his phone screen for some time. [You have invested 5,000 coins on agility.] [Agility Lv.20 -> Agility Lv.30] [Your body moves with an incredible deftness.] I moved like a ghost. I was standing behind Seongguk Lee in the blink of an eye. “What’re you reading?” “Ack. It’s nothing, sir!” Seongguk hastily turned off his phone and put it away. It was only for a brief moment, but I caught a glimpse of the screen. A yellow background with the all-too-familiar word balloons. It was something I’d seen countless times, but it felt so out of place in the fallen world. Unless I was mistaken, it had been a group chat. They have internet? Here? That couldn’t be true. Ever since the scenarios began, the internet had been cut off in Seoul as the goblin channels had been activated. Oh, right. This is Dongmyo, and that “recluse” is here…… I see, so that’s how they have internet. Seongguk Lee, who had been eyeing me nervously, spoke up. “Uh, Mr. Yu?” “What is it? “We’ve arrived, sir. Our leader is waiting for you inside.” I looked at the shoddy-looking tent located in the middle of the platform. I couldn’t help but smirk at this shabby attempt to set up special accommodations for the leader. “Lead the way.” Seongguk Lee bowed politely and guided me inside. I pushed aside the front flap of the tent and entered. The interior was fancier than I’d expected. I almost couldn’t believe this luxurious space was the same grubby tent I’d seen from the outside. The floor was covered with a thick red carpet, and there was an expensive-looking bed they’d likely stolen from some fancy hotel. I saw a round table for meetings, and even a small desk with a computer on it. What caught my eye more than anything was a young boy surfing the web on that computer, thoroughly immersed. He looked to be a couple of years older than Gilyeong. He was sitting on a chair, wearing pajamas, staring at the screen with sunken eyes. A navy-colored flag was tucked tightly into his shirt. Incredible. This boy had already completed half of King’s Path. [Exclusive skill “Character Profile” has been activated!] <Character Profile> Name: Donghoon Han Age: 17 Sponsoring Constellation: Shadow Behind the Curtain Exclusive Attribute: The Noble Reclusive Loner (Heroic) Exclusive Skills: [Wide Area Network Lv.5], [Comment Manipulation Lv.3], [Keyboard Attack Lv.3], [Small Eater Lv.6], [Block Soundwaves Lv.2]… Stigma: [Lack of Presence Lv.2] Total Stats: [Stamina Lv.10], [Strength Lv.10], [Agility Lv.19], [Magic Power Lv.26] Summary: He is the “Noble Reclusive Loner,” the pinnacle of reclusive loners. His skill “Wide Area Network” can get past the goblins’ channel network and connect virtual LAN cables to devices of his choosing. Though he has an outstanding talent for manipulating public opinion, his defense mechanisms are not sufficiently developed, leaving him mentally vulnerable. His sponsoring constellation is distressed at the state their incarnation is currently in. *This character is currently under a powerful hypnosis. I remembered him clearly. The King of Dongmyo. The boy who would one day come to be known as “the Reclusive King of Shadows.” However, for now, this poor child king was in the middle of writing online comments. Is it true that only seoul is isolated? RIP gangnam real estate lol Re: No, other capital cities around the world like Tokyo and Beijing are also encased in those round domes. Re: What happened to the plan to take back Seoul? Didn’t they say they’d start yesterday? Lol I heard the ppl inside got superpowers like in some kind of fantasy novel. just a rumor tho Re: Yeah, it’s a fantasy. I mean there are monsters and stuff Seeing the internet felt weird. It had been so long. I was reminded all over again what kind of situation we were in. The people outside Seoul still had little clue what was happening. The boy king’s fingers danced over the keyboard again. Btw have you guys heard of the Oracles? Don’t know who they are but they claim they know the secret behind all this. [Character Donghoon Han has activated “Comment Manipulation” Lv.3.] As soon as he posted his comment, dozens of replies attached themselves like magnets. Re: u believe that crap? Stupid Re: Dude I thought it was BS too, but all their “prophecies” so far came true. Look it up. I think they’re the real deal. Re: Really? Where can I find that? Do you have the link? Those comments would spread to various corners of the net, like soldiers on a mission. I was amazed he was already using this ability so effectively. “Mr. Han? Sir?” The boy finally looked up at Seongguk’s call. “We have an important guest.” Donghoon Han’s tired eyes turned to me. “O-oh, h-h-hello…” He was clearly not in good shape. One of the seven kings of TWSA, reduced to this sorry state. He had social anxiety in the original story, too, but it wasn’t this bad. The boy staggered to his feet, slumped down on a chair near the round conference table, then began to chew his nails. Seongguk smiled, as if he was satisfied. “Mr. Yu, you’ve met our leader now. Shall we talk, then?” I quietly stared at Donghoon Han for a bit and scoffed. “Talk? What talk?” “Pardon?” “Do you take me for a fool?” Donghoon Han’s eyes were blank. “…Your ‘leader’?” According to TWSA, this boy was indeed the leader of this station. That was his title. But…the title of leader didn’t always equate to real authority. “How long do you plan to keep up this charade? You expect me to talk to a puppet?” I glanced to my side and saw Seongguk’s trembling hands. He probably didn’t think “The Eye of the Sage” would be able to catch something like that, too. He quickly took out his smartphone to check something, then let out a deep sigh. “…Mr. Yu, nothing gets past you indeed. Please, forgive my mistake.” “You’re the real leader here. Am I wrong?” “Yes, you’re right.” “Do the others know about this?” “Only a few in the inner circle.” Use someone with a powerful ability as the puppet leader and take control of the station—it was a tactic often used in TWSA, but it felt strange to see it in real life. “Why bother bringing me all the way here if you’re the one with real authority?” “It was so we could talk in private, sir. I’m not sure if you noticed, but this tent is surrounded by a ‘Block Soundwaves’ skill.” I thought that might be the case. It was one of Donghoon Han’s abilities. “Why this level of secrecy? Is it that big of a deal?” “Yes, sir. What I’m about to say is very important to you. And to us all.” Seongguk Lee took a deep breath. “I’m an Oracle. Well, to be exact, I’m one of them.” Finally, some real answers. I quietly waited for him to continue. “You have no idea how thrilled we are right now. You see, my colleagues and I have been waiting for this day, the moment that will be a milestone in your great victory.” He was suddenly talking nonsense. “We know about your special ability, the miracle of regression that sends you back in time upon death. The power only you possess in this world!” I was a bit worried about how this would be censored to the constellations, but I decided to let him continue. “I’m sure you’ve already repeated many lifetimes. You’ve faced horrific enemies and fought to protect humanity from otherworldly threats. A bitter, lonely struggle only you remember… We have nothing but reverence for your noble mission.” This guy knows how to kiss ass. If Junghyeok heard this, he’d be moved to tears. Next time I see him looking depressed, I should tell him all this like I came up with it myself. “But you must’ve realized through your numerous regressions—even you, a hero capable of miraculous deeds, cannot stand against the coming catastrophe by yourself.” Well, he actually has a point there. “But Mr. Yu, this loop will be different. Because we, the Oracles, have received a special blessing, and were dispatched to this timeline to aid you.” Wow, get a load of this guy. A faint smile spread across his face. “You must be confused. ‘Where did these people come from? They weren’t in any of my previous regressions.’ I’m sure this is a lot to take in at once, but I hope you’ll believe us. After all, we have received a Revelation and have been preparing for this day for ten years.” “…A Revelation?” “Yes. In the current loop, there is a book of Revelations shared among the Oracles in secret, a compilation of the legendary feats you have and will accomplish. In other words, the one true Revelation that contains records of the past and the future.” Wait. Then this “Revelation” must be… “Ah, it looks like you still don’t believe me. We already knew you’d be accompanied by Steel Blade Hyeonseong Lee. And, though they’re not here now, I’m sure you’ve also taken Delusional Demon Namwoon Kim and Naval Commander Jihye Lee under your wing. But with all due respect, they alone won’t be enough. You see, according to the Revelation—” I tried to hide my anxiety as I asked, “Where is this book of Revelations?” “Unfortunately, the original copy has been damaged and lost. But do not worry. Each of us remembers pieces of the Revelation, and we’re using that knowledge to prepare the right path for you.” …Uh-huh. Sure you are. “If you try to go through this loop the same as you did the previous ones, you will…meet your end again. But with us, it will be different.” Seongguk Lee rambled on. I slowly closed my eyes and opened them again. “I see.” Seongguk Lee immediately stopped talking. He must be extremely nervous. After all, Junghyeok Yu had the “Lie Detection” skill. Of course, I didn’t have it. But even if I did, it wouldn’t have caught his story as a “lie.” When it came to metaphorical speech, “Lie Detection” could not separate the truth from falsehood. So how did I feel about it? “…Incredible.” I really meant it. As in, what an incredible fake backstory he’d fabricated. I was genuinely impressed he’d come up with all this in such a short time. Human creativity never failed to amaze me. “Seongguk Lee, was it?” “Yes, Mr. Yu.” You should be the writer of TWSA. Readers who received a Revelation and entered the novel to aid the main character who kept dying like a sunfish? I almost thought that was a more interesting story than TWSA itself. But that was just how I felt… “Stop beating around the bush…” …and there were more pressing matters at hand. “…and get to the point.” I’d heard enough of his fake backstory. It was time for me to talk. “Let’s say you really did receive a Revelation about the future. What is it you want to do?” Seongguk Lee answered without missing a beat, “We would like to ally with you. I—I mean, an alliance on paper, but in reality, we’d be, uh…entering your service. Yes, that’s it.” What a clown. So that’s what you’re after? Basically, you just want to hitch a free ride on the main character’s back, huh? “I see. An alliance. That’s what you want?” “Yes, sir.” “An interesting offer.” “Does that mean you’ll—” I tapped the desk with my finger. “But you got the order wrong.” “Pardon?” “How can I form an alliance with people I don’t even know? If you want to join me, shouldn’t you reveal your identity first?” “M-my identity…? But I already told you all about—” I got up from my chair and sat on the luxurious bed. I crossed my legs. “On your knees.” “Sorry?” “I said, kneel.” Seongguk Lee froze for a second, then got down from his chair, desperately trying to hide his panic. He lowered his knees slowly, until they touched the floor. “Tell me about your attributes.” I already had an idea what it might be, based on the fact that he’d put a powerful hypnosis on Donghoon Han, who was a candidate to be king, no less. But I had to be sure. Seongguk Lee looked up at me, looking conflicted. I bet his brain was going into overdrive, thinking things like— Junghyeok Yu can see my information with “The Eye of the Sage.” Why is he asking me for something he already knows? He thought hard for a long time before he reluctantly opened his mouth. “My attribute is…Hypnotist.” Hypnotist. As I thought. “I see.” His face brightened up a bit when he saw me nod. He seemed to think that he’d passed the test. “Is that all?” “…Sorry?” Seongguk’s eyes darted about nervously. “…Th-there’s one more.” I nodded. “Tell me.” “…Th-The Ninth…” “Ninth?” Seongguk Lee lowered his head, as if what he was about to say was incredibly humiliating. “I’m the Ninth…Renouncer.” I see. So he’s the Ninth… ……Wait, hold on. Just how many of them are out there?