Chapter 52

2 My consciousness was quietly rising to the surface, and my senses slowly returned to reality. [Exclusive skill “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint” Lv.3 has been deactivated.] I couldn’t use level 3 for very long. It was exhausting. And I found out one disappointing fact: I wouldn’t get a reward every time I used the skill. Maybe I only get a reward if I enter “First Person Main Character’s Viewpoint”? Unfortunately, I didn’t know the conditions for that. It would’ve been great if I could get Junghyeok’s skills through “First Person Main Character’s Viewpoint” every time I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes and got up, Huiwon was there, looking at me. “You were talking in your sleep again.” Talking in my sleep? No way. “What did I say?” “‘Mom’… I think that’s what you said.” “…‘Mom’?” Why would I say that? Whatever it was, it couldn’t have been good. Huiwon kept looking at me with an ominous smile on her face. I came up with an excuse. “Well, I’m worried about my mother, too. Anyway, Huiwon, I have a favor to ask.” “What is it?” “The upcoming battle at Gwanghwamun…I don’t want you to fight in it.” “Why not?” “There is something I want you to do. You’re the only one I can trust with it.” Huiwon acted disappointed, but I saw her lips twitch at the word “trust.” “So what do you need me to do?” As soon as I finished my conversation with Huiwon, I decided on who would stay in Chungmuro and who would head to Gwanghwamun. “Other than Huiwon, who has a different task, I’ll be choosing who stays in Chungmuro.” Some of my companions gulped. They looked like subjects eager for a chance to serve their king. “First, Pildu and Hyeonseong: You’re staying behind.” “Hmph, treating us like slaves.” Pildu sneered as if he was expecting this. The problem was Hyeonseong. The big man turned pale, like a soldier who had been denied a chance at promotion. “Hyeonseong, you should stay here because you need to help Pildu protect the area. I know you can lead our group just as well as Sangah if Chungmuro is attacked.” “Yes, I understand.” He still looked disappointed, but I had a reason for leaving the reliable Steel Blade behind. “You already have great skills, Hyeonseong. The problem is, their levels are too low. While we’re gone, increase the proficiency of ‘Great Mountain Push.’ I’ll be counting on you a lot after this scenario.” He finally brightened up those words. “Yes! Leave it to me.” Soldiers are at their best when they have a set routine. After that, we began the journey to Gwanghwamun. Leaving out Junghyeok and Jihye, who were not under my control, that left me Sangah, Gilyeong, and Seongguk. The four of us formed the core of the group that headed to Gwanghwamun. The rest of the Chungmuro group waved to us as we departed. “We’ll see you again, vice leader!” “Be careful out there!” It had only been a few days since I’d appointed Sangah, but it seemed she was already quite popular. Everyone was clearly worried about their beloved vice leader. But Sangah looked uneasy as we left the station. “Dokja, are you sure I’ll be of any use?” I had to be clear and firm in this kind of situation. “Sangah, have I ever taken people along without good reason?” “I know that, but…I’m not sure I’ll be as helpful as Hyeonseong or Huiwon.” “There’s something you can do that those two can’t. You’re crucial to my plan.” Sangah brightened up a bit at my reassurance. And I wasn’t lying, either. She was indeed a wonderful talent. “You have a certificate in Korean History, right?” “Ah, yes.” Her face lit up when I mentioned her past. But it didn’t last long, and soon she looked down again. “It’s useless now, though…” “It’s not. It’s why I’m taking you, Sangah.” I hadn’t originally planned to give her this duty because there was another good candidate at Gwangjin-gu, but there was no time to look for him and Sangah was perfect for the job, anyway. After all, the Sangah Yu I knew was smart enough to memorize all of Korean history just to get a certificate. “Do you remember the item I got from the statue of the Great Monk Samyeong?” “Yes.” “There will be a bunch of stuff like that on our way to Gwanghwamun. The National Museum is in that direction, not to mention more historical monuments.” Sangah quickly caught on to my plan. “Oh, I see! We might find other artifacts imbued with the power of constellations.” “Exactly. I’m counting on you to spot those for us.” “Got it! I’ll do my best!” “The best outcome would be if we can find relics or sites that are associated with famous historical figures but aren’t very well known.” Even among the historical-grade constellations, each constellation’s power varied. You could see it in the difference between the Great Monk Samyeong and Chungmugong. The Great Monk Samyeong’s artifacts were B-grade, but Chungmugong’s Twin Dragon Sword was S-grade, even though it wasn’t for combat use. “It’s crucial that we nab as many items as we can on the way since we’ll be outnumbered by the other groups.” The Tyrant King has hundreds under his command, and the plagiarist should have a sizable force as well. I also have to watch the kings from Yeongdeungpo, Yongsan, and Seongdong-gu. The fourth scenario would eventually turn into a proxy war between historical-grade constellations. After all, an event coveted by that class of constellations was hidden at the end of this scenario. Incarnations with a high sync rate with their constellations would appear, adding to the danger. The compatibility for a historical-grade constellation was decided based on how they lived when they were alive, so Sangah’s knowledge of history would be extremely useful. “Oh, I just thought of something.” “Already?” “If I remember correctly…there should be a shrine nearby.” “A shrine?” “It might contain the power of a legendary figure, so it could be worth a look…even though he’s not from Korean history…” Not from Korean history? A shrine in this area… I had never heard about it, even though I read all of TWSA. Anyway, we decided to take our journey above ground and follow Sangah’s lead. We walked for some time, until Seongguk shouted. “Uh, is that it?” There really was an old shrine. I couldn’t believe that there was such a thing in the middle of Seoul. I was even more surprised by the description on the side of its gate. Whoa, are you telling me…? It was dedicated to someone totally unexpected. A shrine to one of the greatest war gods of China was the middle of the Seoul… Sangah looked at me nervously. “What do we do now…?” I looked around but didn’t see any idols. “Let’s try paying our respects.” I can’t act like I did back with the Great Monk Samyeong. If I act rashly, I won’t get good rewards. We put a bowl of water down and quietly prayed. A little later, we heard the system’s messages. [This shrine was abandoned for a long time.] [A constellation who wields a crescent blade is pleased by your visit.] [A constellation who wields a crescent blade reveals his epithet.] [Constellation Lord of the Beautiful Beard grants his blessing.] Lord of the Beautiful Beard. Despite being a Chinese figure, everyone in Korea knew him. This constellation was none other than Guan Yu from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. [Your stamina and strength will be increased by five for the next twenty-four hours.] Seongguk was ecstatic. “Wow, that’s a huge boost, isn’t it?” “It’s a good start.” I don’t know why Guan Yu’s shrine is in Seoul, but it’s not that strange since Chungmugong has a shrine in Japan, too. Guan Yu is better known worldwide than Chungmugong, so getting a buff like this is understandable. But… “I don’t think we’ll get an item here.” “That’s too bad. Imagine if we got the Green Dragon Crescent Blade here…” Even if there was an idol, we wouldn’t receive a good item in Korea since he was a Chinese figure. Which incarnation had Guan Yu as their sponsor in China…? Guan Yu isn’t quite at the level of Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal or Uriel, but whoever has his support could have a shot at conquering all of China. Gilyeong grabbed my shirt. “Dokja.” His cockroach’s antennas quivering. I had a bad feeling as I spotted a group of people marching toward us in formation. Around fifty people. I used “Sharp Observation” and saw that their average physical stats were around forty. They weren’t as powerful as the Disciples, but they were good enough to be called an elite army. A faction that commanded fifty soldiers of that caliber… “Those outfits look familiar…,” Seongguk mumbled. The men were wearing historical outfits reminiscent of the hwarang, the elite knights of the Silla dynasty. All of them were wearing makeup and looked very handsome. “The guy at the front…isn’t he Seungmin Hwang? I think they’re actors,” Seongguk whispered. It might’ve looked like they were filming a historical drama, but the hostility in their eyes was not an act. One of them stepped forward and pointed his spear at my neck. “Who dares to block the king’s way?” “And who are you?” Though I had a pretty good guess, I still asked. I hadn’t expected to encounter them this soon. A woman’s voice came from the middle of the group. “A brown flag… Are you also a king?” “Yes, I am.” “I can’t believe there is a king in Jung-gu. What a surprise.” Her voice was soft, like petals floating on a spring breeze. I had no doubt this was very well-practiced tone. “Kings are quite common in this world,” I replied. “Even if kings are common, that doesn’t mean anyone can become one. At ease, men!” The hwarang formation spread apart, and a woman in royal clothing appeared from the middle of the group. Her silken hair was in a graceful updo. She was a striking beauty, the type you’d expect to see as the main character of a hit historical drama. Seongguk stammered. “Th-that’s… Isn’t she Jiwon Min?” “……Oh? Do you know who I am?” The woman smiled softly. “I’m a huge fan!” Seongguk stepped forward, completely spellbound. You idiot. What kind of hypnotist gets mesmerized like that? [Exclusive skill “Dispel Evil” Lv. 2 has been activated.] Seongguk’s dazed eyes snapped back to focus. “Huh? I—I am sorry.” A strange look briefly flashed across the woman’s eyes. As silly as this situation was, I was intrigued. Seongguk recognized her, which meant this “Jiwon Min” was a real person. …The King of Beauty, one of the Seven Kings of Seoul, is a real person? I felt disoriented because her name in the novel…was also Jiwon Min. Coincidence? Well, I can check. [Exclusive skill “Character Profile” has been activated!] Luckily, the skill was properly activated. <Character Profile> Name: Jiwon Min Age: 26 Sponsoring Constellation: Lady of the Sleeping Brocade Exclusive Attributes: Actor (Rare), King of Beauty (Heroic) Exclusive Skills: [Weapon Proficiency Lv.5], [Command Army Lv.2], [Femme Fatale Lv.4], [Thousand Faces Lv.3], [Complexion Filter Lv.1], [Acting Lv.2]… Stigma: [Divine Charm Lv.4], [Girlboss Lv.3] Total Stats: [Stamina Lv.18], [Strength Lv.18], [Agility Lv.21], [Magic Power Lv.23] Summary: A match between an exceptional constellation and an exceptional incarnation. Her beauty will shine even brighter with her constellation’s blessing. For as long as her beauty lasts, she will have her army’s undying loyalty. As I thought, she’s a character in the novel. Judging by the fact that “Character Profile” was activated, she can’t be a real person… So how does Seongguk recognize her? Did it have anything to do with Seongguk being registered in “Character Profile”? I bowed before addressing her. “Ms. Jiwon Min, it’s an honor to meet you.” “Are you a fan as well?” A fan, huh…? Well, she’s pretty, but not my type. And, objectively speaking, Sangah could give her a run for her money when it comes to looks. Seongguk was probably mesmerized earlier because of her skill. I purposefully spoke like someone from a historical drama. “A fan, I am not. But I would be remiss not to recognize the king of Seongdong-gu.” She looked stunned by my answer. “Who are you…?” The Lady of the Sleeping Brocade. Only one constellation had that epithet in TWSA. “It appears you have a very strong connection to your sponsoring constellation, so please tell her it’s a tremendous honor to meet the last queen of Silla.” The Lady of the Sleeping Brocade was the epithet of Queen Jinseong, the last queen of the Silla dynasty. [Character Jiwon Min’s sponsoring constellation is astonished.] “No need to be wary. You’re here to realize the long-held dream of Silla, no?” This happens sometimes in TWSA. The sync between a constellation and their incarnation grows too strong and the former forces their regrets and unfulfilled dreams on the latter. It was a common mistake made by historical-grade constellations holding grudges. Unaware that the storm of plausibility would destroy them. Jiwon’s eyes narrowed. “You…” According to TWSA, three areas of Seoul—Seongdong-gu, Yongsan-gu, and Yeongdeungpo-gu—were locked in fierce conflict. As if this were the Later Three Kingdoms period of Korean history. Just then, an unexpected message came through. [A bounty scenario has arrived.] Huh? Bounty? <Bounty Scenario – Unite the Later Three Kingdoms> Category: Bounty Difficulty:??? Mission: Historical-grade constellations of Silla, including Lady of the Sleeping Brocade, want the incarnation Jiwon Min to be the King of Seoul. Assist incarnation Jiwon Min as she takes down the kings who are backed by constellations of Later Baekje and Taebong. Completing this scenario will earn you the favor of the constellation Lady of the Sleeping Brocade. Time Limit: 38 hours Reward: 2,000 coins Penalty for failure: — As I stared blankly at the scenario, I noticed that Jiwon was smiling oddly. “My sponsoring constellation would like to see proof of your sincerity. Surely, you’ll accept? I won’t beat around the bush—enter my service.” She sounded like she was sure I couldn’t possibly turn down a whopping two thousand coins. How absurd. I tried to be nice to constellations, but do they think I’m some kinda penniless loser? [Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband despises incarnation Jiwon Min’s sponsoring constellation.] [Constellation Secretive Plotter scoffs at the financial capability of historical-grade constellations.] [You have received 2,000 coins as a donation.] [5 copies of the Revelation, SSSSS-Rank Infinite Regressor, have been sold at the auction house.] [You have gained 5,000 coins.] I wondered what Jiwon’s face would look like if she could hear those messages. For a measly two thousand coins, she wanted me to do what? [Constellation Lady of the Sleeping Brocade is waiting for your decision.] Jiwon looked confident, as if I had already become her subordinate. I shrugged, then told her: “No thanks.” Her eyes darted about. The jaws of some of the hwarang dropped. Even the seasoned actress couldn’t control her expression. She replied with a dumbfounded voice. “…What?” It seemed she’d chosen to question her own hearing rather than accept reality. “I think I heard wrong… Could you repeat that one more time?” “I’m saying I’m not going to be your minion.” She wants me to become her minion for a mere two thousand coins? Ridiculous. I looked back at my companions waiting behind me. “Let’s go. We don’t have time for this.” As we turned around without hesitation, Jiwon cried out in an urgent voice. “Wait! If that’s not enough, I can offer more coins! If I talk to my sponsoring constellation, I’m sure she’ll—” “I don’t need it.” “I said, wait!” Looking desperate, she ran over to stop me. She moved faster than her agility stat would indicate. “You know two thousand coins is a big deal, right? You should know that this is no time for you to be acting snobby.” “…Snobby?” “A war will soon break out between the kings. I don’t know who your sponsoring constellation is, but all the small groups in the area will be subjugated. If anything, you should be paying me to take you in. Know your place! I’m the monarch of Silla. That means I’ll be the one to unite the Three Kingdoms!” Ms. Actress is too deep into her role. She’s too much. Well, Jiwon Min was that kind of character. In TWSA, she was a talented actress, and for a while she thought she really was the last queen of Silla. This was the problem with method acting. “It looks like you’re mistaken about the era we’re living in now. It’s not the Later Three Kingdoms.” “You’re the one who’s mistaken. The Republic of Korea is over. You’re not still waiting for the government to rescue you, are you?” She was talking nonsense until a few minutes ago, but now she was speaking articulately. “A new era is coming, and it begins with me, Jiwon Min.” She’s completely deluded. But I guess even a string of nonsense can sound convincing if a skilled actress says it. I was thinking of way to let her down politely when Sangah thankfully interrupted us. “Um, Your Majesty?” “What?” “To my knowledge, Silla was the weakest of the Later Three Kingdoms… Don’t you think you’re being a bit too ambitious? Historically speaking. I mean, how do you plan to unify—” The unexpected attack drained all the blood from Jiwon’s face. “Wh-what do you know?! Stop bragging!” “Well…I do have a Level-1 certificate in Korean History.” “L-Level-1…” Jiwon stammered as if she was caught off guard. “So what? That’s nothing to be smug about!” “Let’s just go, Sangah. She doesn’t seem to know much about history.” Jiwon’s face turned even redder. “Wait! I’m not done yet. How about three thousand coins?” I turned around as if I didn’t hear anything. “3,500! I’ll give you 3,500 coins!” The rate of increase had decreased by half. Sounds like our queen’s reaching the limit of her finances. The wealth of historical-grade constellations was often tied to their renown. I kept walking. “3,600… No, 3,700…!” I stopped walking. When I turned around, Jiwon had a haughty smile, as if to say, “I knew it!” I’m such a terrible person. I know I can just walk away, but I want to teach her a lesson. I spoke to her in a cold tone, “Actually, how about I make you an offer?” “What are you talking about?” “Ten thousand coins. What do you say?” “…Ten thousand?” “Oh, is that too low? Well, I suppose you do call yourself a king… Fine, let’s do twenty thousand.” Jiwon’s face slowly grew cold. She crossed her arms and glared at me. “Are you kidding me? Twenty thousand coins? Do you seriously believe you’re worth—” “No, I’m saying I’ll pay you twenty thousand coins to join me.” “Huh?” “You and your entire group, to be precise.” Jiwon looked stunned, and her mouth was open. But she quickly came back to her senses. “Th-there’s no way you have that kind of wealth.” “A word of advice—just because you don’t have that much, doesn’t mean others don’t.” I snapped my fingers. A flash of light, and some of my coins materialized in the air. [20,000C] Jiwon, who had been barely maintaining her poker face, finally broke down. “No way…” “Do you believe me now?” It didn’t take too long for her to go from disbelief to astonishment, and from astonishment to greed. It was understandable, since twenty thousand coins was enough for her to raise her stats to levels she couldn’t dream of before. It wouldn’t be enough to settle the whole Later Three Kingdoms conflict, but it could make a big difference. Sadly, even her greed wasn’t enough to overcome her pride. “Are you saying you want to buy me with money?” “Is that a problem? You’re the one who made offers to me first.” The leader of the hwarang was the first to step forward. “How dare you!” He was a handsome, sophisticated-looking man with a slim build. While not being very muscular, he had a distinct air of inner strength. “Dokja, the man standing beside her…,” Sangah said. I realized it too as soon as she spoke. Right, this constellation was in Silla… Their faction definitely wasn’t in a bad position in the war of the Later Three Kingdoms. If you considered the whole history of Silla, there were great generals like Kim Yu-sin… The problem was Kim Yu-sin wasn’t with Silla in this loop. “Gwanchang is a good constellation, but you’re a bit too reckless. What would you do if my sponsoring constellation was Gyebaek? You don’t want to replay the Battle of Hwangsanbeol, do you?” The man’s eyes went wide with shock. “You… Are you Baekje’s spy? [Constellation Hwarang of No Retreat is furious at your statement.] I knew it. This guy’s sponsoring constellation is Gwanchang. Gwanchang—Hwarang of No Retreat. This constellation’s stigma wasn’t anything to write home about, but his loyalty to his kingdom was unmatched. “I’m not from Baekje. I’m an ordinary Korean.” “How dare you!” “I respect your loyalty to your kingdom, but you should be more cautious. Twenty thousand coins isn’t all I have, either.” When I snapped my fingers once again, the number of coins indicated in midair started going up. Little by little, the man’s face went pale. A small amount of wealth became the subject of desire, but an overwhelming amount of wealth became the subject of awe and fear, especially to those who knew the power of coins. “Who are you?” Took you long enough. Naturally, I had no intention of answering her. “Ms. Jiwon Min. Money can’t solve all the problems of the world. I figured you, an actress, would know this better than anyone. I’m disappointed.” With that, I turned around for good. My team followed me, as did Jiwon’s pitiful voice. “Wait! Hang on!” But she couldn’t follow us any longer. When we got far enough from them, Sangah spoke up, sounding a little sullen. “Dokja, can I ask you something?” “Sure.” “Is she someone famous?” I wasn’t expecting that at all. I hesitated for a moment. “Huh? Um… I think she is?” “I see. Seemed like you and Seongguk recognized her, but I didn’t… I watched quite a lot of historical dramas, but why couldn’t I remember her?” That’s what was bothering her? Gilyeong chimed in. “Sangah, I don’t know her either.” “Oh, really? Then I’m glad I’m not the only one.” This wasn’t strange. If Jiwon Min is a character from the novel, it makes sense that Sangah and Gilyeong wouldn’t know about her. But the problem was Seongguk. “Hey, Seongguk.” “Huh? Yes?” Seongguk, who was peeking back at the Silla squad, flinched at my call. It seemed the queen’s beauty had left quite an impression on him. “You said you were a fan of Jiwon Min’s…” “Hm? Ha-ha. Yeah. Don’t you know her? She’s a famous actress… Huh…?” Suddenly, a strange look came across Seongguk’s face. “Uh… Jiwon Min…? Wait, what? How do I know her? Or have I always known…?” I activated “Character Profile” right away. [Exclusive skill “Character Profile” has been activated.] <Character Profile> Name: Seongguk Lee Age: 25 Sponsoring Constellation: Manager of the Old Pendulum Exclusive Attribute: Hypnotist (Rare), Exclusive Skills: [Hypnosis Lv.3], [Bluff Lv.5], [Weapon Proficiency Lv.3], [Search Attribute Lv.2]… Stigma: [Comfortable Sleep Lv.1] Total Stats: [Stamina Lv.13], [Strength Lv.13], [Agility Lv.17], [Magic Power Lv.18] Summary: The summary is currently being prepared. This was the second time I had looked at Seongguk’s character profile. Not much had changed except for one thing. The Ninth Renouncer attribute has disappeared. “Seongguk?” “Hm… Yes?” “…No, it’s nothing.” I kept quiet to prevent unnecessary confusion, but in TWSA, an attribute only disappears when the character loses their qualification for it. All renouncers knew the future. But Seongguk only knew about the very beginning, the prologue. The current scenario had caught up to the information he had about the story. A theory then came to me. Does that mean once a renouncer reaches the limit of their knowledge of the future, they become another character in the story? It sounded a bit much, but it was theoretically possible. If that was the case, it made sense why I started seeing Seongguk and Minseob’s info through “Character Profile.” If that’s the case…eventually will I also be— [Character Jiwon Min feels a slight attraction to you.] All the complex thoughts being layered in my head collapsed immediately because of this unexpected message. I reflexively looked back. Jiwon was tiny in the distance, but she was still looking in my direction. I couldn’t see her face, but based on her gestures, she seemed upset. Then this message is— No, hang on. I can’t believe I forgot about that episode. I suddenly remembered. Was it the eleventh loop? In one of his regressions, Junghyeok aggressively grabbed Jiwon Min by the collar, and for the rest of that loop, she was… No, there is no such person in real life. It’s something that could only happen in a novel, literally… I have a bad feeling about this… Surely not, right…? It’s not like I grabbed her by the collar… An hour later, we moved as fast as we could above ground and hid ourselves between the tall buildings near Gwanghwamun. We couldn’t see anyone, but it was obvious the kings who had bought my file were hiding somewhere nearby. I bet they’re waiting for the right time to make their move. We’ll set out once they do. I cautioned everyone as we moved bit by bit. The other kings’ goal was obvious. The moment he arrived at the National Museum of Korea, his heart began to race. Most of the relics here were trash. But one of them was the real deal. The Four Tigers Evil Slayer. The most powerful SSSSS-Grade item in Gwanghwamun was hidden here! I was the one who wrote it, but I cringed reading it. It was true that the Four Tigers Evil Slayer was in the National Museum of Korea. Obviously, there was no such thing as SSSSS-Grade items, but the Four Tigers Evil Slayer was indeed an excellent sword. After all, it was Junghyeok’s go-to weapon early in his third loop. Dokja, shouldn’t we be going after a crazy item like that? We don’t need it right away. The Four Tigers Evil Slayer was a great item, but it wasn’t necessary right now. But the plagiarist and other kings would have a different opinion. With a sword like that, you’d be one of the strongest incarnations in the early scenarios. All the people who read the “Revelation” we leaked should have been going after it. So our plan was simple: We were going to nab some other relics while everyone else was busy looking for the sword. The problem was knowing when they were going to make their moves… But I didn’t need to worry about that, either. There were always those who moved in when a scenario was progressing slowly. Ha-ha. Look at you. You’re all gathered here without being told to. As I expected, the mid-level goblin appeared with sparks in the air. Good children deserve a reward, hm? Something started to rise up in the middle of Gwanghwamun with a rumbling sound. It was a golden throne, gleaming with a radiant light. The sound of gasps came from all sides of Gwanghwamun. There was no guide yet, but every king realized at that moment—only one of them could sit on that throne. [The main scenario has been updated.] [Main Scenario #4 - The King’s Qualification has begun.] Seongguk was startled by the system’s message. “A new scenario…?” The timing was not good. A new scenario had appeared even before we cleared the current one. I opened up the newly arrived scenario. <Main Scenario #4 – The King’s Qualification> Category: Main Difficulty: A Mission: Occupy the Absolute Throne located in Gwanghwamun intersection. Time Limit: 8 hours Reward: 10,000 coins Penalty for failure: — *Only those who have completed the hidden scenario, King’s Path, can participate in this scenario. *The king who occupies the Absolute Throne will have absolute command over the other kings. *This scenario has an additional special clear condition. This was not good. We hadn’t even taken our target station for Capture the Flag yet. It was double the pressure. We had to defeat the Tyrant King while taking over Changsin Station and we had to clear the scenario about the throne. The mid-level goblin spoke. Fu-fu. You look surprised. But there’s no need to worry, you can take your time with this one. Despite the game-changing developments that had just been revealed, Gwanghwamun was silent. Obviously, the kings who had survived until now knew well how important it was to pay attention to what a goblin had to say. I’m sure you’ve already guessed, but the purpose of the fourth main scenario is to select the one king who will sit upon the throne. Of course, not every king has the right. Only the one who can prove their qualifications may take the throne. The mid-level goblin continued with a creepy laugh. Then, without further ado, here’s the first qualification. <King’s Qualification> 1. Only the brave shall sit upon the Throne. The Absolute Throne will not accept a weak king. You must be a king with a black flag in order to participate in the scenario. (Additional qualifications will be revealed in the future.) A black flag. The very first condition, and it was already looking bad. Fu-fu. Now you have a motive, so please make a great story! As soon as the mid-level goblin was gone, Sangah voiced her concern. “A black flag… You can only get that if you occupy at least twenty stations, right?” “Yes.” Our flag was brown, which was acquired after claiming ten stations. “What should we do? We’re ten stations short of the requirement. Are there any unoccupied ones nearby…?” “They set this condition because there aren’t any.” “Pardon?” To my knowledge, no king has acquired a black flag at this point. “Remember? There’s more than one way to change the flag’s color.” Acquiring a station gave accomplishment points, but there was a much faster way to get those points. “Oh…!” Seize flags from other groups. Currently, there were many kings with their flags in Gwanghwamun. I tried to keep my group calm as I explained. “Don’t panic. This was expected. We just have to stick to our plan.” Our plan. Despite what I said, it wouldn’t be easy. The sense of impending war permeated Gwanghwamun, like the thrilling calm right before a storm. The sound of weapons being unsheathed and voices barking out orders rang out from all corners of the concrete jungle. The various factions would be making their move soon. People who used to compete for promotions at work would kill each other with swords. And people who used to dream of buying bigger houses would take other people’s flags to acquire more stations. Kill others, acquire better items, and survive. As Seongguk looked at the perlite board buildings of the cold city, he mumbled in disbelief. “I’m scared. Is this really happening in modern-day Korea?” “You mean, the place that used to be Korea. And still is.” “Sir, aren’t you scared?” “I am.” That was the truth. I, too, got scared sometimes. To be honest, it happened often. After all, I might have read TWSA, but I had been just an ordinary office worker. I didn’t let it show, but several times a day, I wondered whether I could survive. Of course, the thought never lasted. Because it was useless to agonize over such things. It was the same for the old world and this one. For the Dokja Kim who worked for Mino Soft, or the Dokja Kim who was living in the world of TWSA…death would come, whether I liked it or not. What’s important is… “But at the very least, I feel like I’m living the right way.” [Exclusive skill “The Fourth Wall” has been activated.] “Sir, sometimes it feels like you’re—” “Attack!” Someone yelled before Seongguk finished his sentence. A king and his army began marching from three hundred meters away. The king had a brown flag like me. I couldn’t see his face at that distance, but he was probably a king from a small area. Almost at the same time, different armies hiding out in Gwanghwamun began to appear. They were armed with excellent weapons. A man in king’s clothes sitting on a bizarre-looking palanquin stood out. I knew who he was even without asking anyone. He was the Tyrant King, the ruler of Dobong-gu and Seongdong-gu. He was also our target. He ruled the largest area of the Seven Kings of Seoul. Since he made his move, the First Disciple and the kings of the Later Three Kingdoms would make their moves as well. “Most of them will probably go after the Four Tigers Evil Slayer.” As I predicted, they began to head toward the National Palace Museum of Korea, where the Four Tigers Evil Slayer was. I didn’t see the plagiarist, but he was probably also on his way there. Some groups were even ignoring their injuries and running toward the museum. I could understand what they were thinking. The king’s qualifications hadn’t been fully revealed yet, and having a powerful item would help them deal with whatever contingencies arose. A weapon like the Four Tigers Evil Slayer could make up for the gaps between kings with different accomplishment points. “Don’t we have to go there, too? The Four Tigers Evil Slayer is a great item,” Seongguk asked with concern. “We’ll only get sucked into the conflict between larger factions.” Our group wasn’t big. Some of our opponents had historical-grade constellations as their sponsors. “We’re heading west.” My team and I made our move. The westbound road was deserted since all the kings were heading to the National Palace Museum of Korea to the north. Gwanghwamun was a historic area, so it had the Newspaper Museum, Korean Financial History Museum, the Korean National Police Museum, and so on. “There’s no need to go into those museums, right?” Sangah asked. “We have to avoid places with modern-day relics.” The older the relic, the better. Being old was not enough, though. A hoe used by a farmer in the Iron Age would be classified as an F-grade item. Items related to famous heroes, historical tales—in other words, items with stories behind them were the ones we wanted. “Let’s go over there.” We stopped at the Seoul Museum of History, which faced Gyeonghuigung Palace. Sangah’s eyes narrowed. “What do we need to do here?” “We’re looking for something called Ganpyeongui. It’s a disc-shaped relic from the Joseon Dynasty. I don’t know which floor it’s on.” “Okay. I’ll do my best.” “We need to find it fast, so let’s split up. Gilyeong, go with Sangah. And Seongguk—” At that moment, I heard something cutting through the air behind us. I reflexively dropped to the ground and covered my people. An arrow struck the building’s outer wall. I could see a trace of magic power on its shaft. A chill ran up my spine. Reinforced Magic Arrow. It must be a skilled archer. Who could it be? Had someone seen through our plan? “Everyone, get inside. Hurry!” A few more arrows came at us. [Blade of Faith has been activated!] I swung my sword wide to block the arrows. Luckily, they didn’t contain much magic power, so they weren’t hard to stop. The problem was the number of them. An arrow coming from a blind spot grazed the outside of my thigh. I quickly stepped back and found cover. “Ha-ha-ha! Where art thou going, greenhorn?” A loud tiger-like voice was echoing everywhere. A group of people armed with bows and swords were approaching us from four to five hundred meters away. I couldn’t see a flag. That meant they were a special unit. I guess some kings were smarter than I thought. They planned to acquire items and take another king’s flag as well? [Exclusive skill “Character Profile” has been activated.] I used my skill on the big guy on the front line, running toward me. <Character Profile> Name: Wangin Chu Age: 33 Sponsoring Constellation: Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol Exclusive Attribute: Extra Actor (Normal) Exclusive Skills: [Weapon Proficiency Lv.4], [Acting Lv.1], [Find the Weak Lv.1] Stigma: [Baekje Swordsmanship Lv.4], [Fight to the Death Lv.2], [Command Detachment Lv.3] Total Stats: [Stamina Lv.19], [Strength Lv.19], [Agility Lv.21], [Magic Power Lv.15] Summary: He is living proof of how an unremarkable person can become powerful when matched with an exceptional constellation. Due to his high rate of sync with his sponsor, his stigmas are a force to be reckoned with. Caution is advised. What an unfortunate turn of events… I didn’t expect to face Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol here. An incarnation with an actor attribute can easily have this kind of constellation. Moreover, historical dramas were often filmed in Gwanghwamun. “If you have a king’s honor, surrender thy flag to me. Then perhaps I shall spare your men.” That awkward historical dialect, though… No wonder he’s just a background actor. Why did General Gyebaek choose a guy like him? It doesn’t matter whether it’s a human or a constellation, a good partner is valuable. Anyway, it wasn’t good. General Gyebaek’s stigmas, “Baekje Swordsmanship” and “Command Detachment” were too strong. And considering how many men he had, I wouldn’t be able to handle him without raising my stats. [Coins Owned: 68,150C] Should I use some coins here? But I had to save as much as I could for the last phase of this scenario. Otherwise, the whole plan would be ruined. Damn it. Maybe just twenty thousand coins? It sucks, but I’ll have to— “A general of one of the Three Kingdoms, preying on the weak? Have you no shame?” As I turned toward the voice, I saw a familiar figure approaching. Wangin Chu, the incarnation of Gyebaek, scowled with disdain. “If it isn’t the damn Queen of Silla herself? What brings you here?” “How vulgar… As expected from a general of a ruined kingdom.” It was a woman with a haughty look on her face. Jiwon Min, the King of Beauty. What’s she doing here? …Wait, did she follow me? Nah, there’s no way. Surely not. As she surveyed the scene, her gaze lingered briefly on me. [Character Jiwon Min is slightly attracted to you.] …For real? “Ha-ha-ha! A cowardly descendant of Silla is calling herself King of the Three Kingdoms? Not only that, but you’re a mere woman.” It felt like the loud voice emanated from Wangin’s whole body. He may have been just a background actor, but his voice was quite loud, even though he didn’t have the “Lion’s Roar” skill. Quite interestingly, Queen Jinseong and General Gyebaek were born in different times, but here they were in the same place and the same time after becoming constellations. “Why are you helping me?” I asked Jiwon. “Silla doesn’t turn its back on a weak country.” “Wasn’t it Silla that destroyed Gaya?” “…Do you also have a certification in Korean History?” “You’d know that much if you graduated from high school.” Jiwon looked a bit wistful. “I was absent a lot when I was in high school.” This was understandable. In TWSA, Jiwon had been an actress since she was a teenager. From a young age, she had lived the life of an actress and experienced the cruelty of the real world, something no textbook could teach you. “By the way, you were right. You can’t buy people with money. I’m here to repay you for my rudeness earlier. That’s all there is to it, so don’t get any weird ideas.” Since I knew her whole history of living as an actress, I could feel her sincerity. Still, it was unexpected that the incarnation of Queen Jinseong would swallow her pride this easily. The incarnation of Gyebaek laughed loudly, as if he had overheard our conversation. “Fretting over such trivial things… And you call yourself a king? This is why Silla—” The leader of the hwarang moved toward Jiwon. “Insolence! How dare a mere general insult the ruler of a nation!” The incarnation of Gyebaek turned his attention to the hwarang. “A hwarang…? Interesting. So that pip-squeak of a constellation went and got himself an incarnation, eh?” The leader of the hwarang flushed. His sponsoring constellation was Gwanchang. “Want me to chop off your head like I did your sponsor?” Anyone who studied Korean History knew that Gwanchang lost his head to Gyebaek’s blade at the Battle of Hwangsanbeol. “Silence!” I appreciate that they came to help, but this pairing of constellations couldn’t be any worse. Worse, because these incarnations were highly synced with their constellations. Among historical-grade constellations, there was a clear hierarchy based on the relationship or interaction they had in life. For example, a general could not disobey their king, and past rivals had advantages or disadvantages depending on who came out ahead historically. Gwanchang could never win against Gyebaek because of this. Jiwon looked as if she was aware of this as well. I spoke first. “Withdraw your army. You can’t win against them.” Baekje’s army had more soldiers as well. Gyebaek was a commander, and the more people he led, the more powerful he became. He was incomparably strong against Gwanchang. It was at that moment that I heard Sangah’s voice. “Dokja! We found it!” Sangah was running up to me from behind us while holding a small disc-shaped object. She found it already? [Ganpyeongui] A relic that resembled a wall clock was shining in Sangah’s hand. I looked at Ganpyeongui first, then Sangah, then the incarnation of Gwanchang. Many thoughts and calculations ran through my head at that moment. I might be able to win here without spending coins. “Charge!” [Character Wangin Chu has activated the stigma “Command Detachment” Lv.3!] Intimidated by Baekje’s army, the hwarang were easily overwhelmed and defeated. Jiwon shot me an urgent look. “I think we have a chance now,” I told her. “What?” “Let’s reenact the Battle of Hwangsanbeol here.” Again, anyone who studied Korean history knew Silla won the Battle of Hwangsanbeol.