Lee Seong-guk muttered in shock at the system message.
"Another new scenario already…."
It certainly wasn't good timing.
Before we'd even completed the clear conditions of the existing scenario, a new one had appeared.
I opened the newly arrived scenario.
Classification: Main
Difficulty: A
Clear Condition: Occupy the 'Absolute Throne' located at Gwanghwamun Intersection.
Time Limit: 8 hours
Reward: 10,000 coins
Failure: —
This scenario can only be attempted by those who have completed the hidden scenario 'The King's Path.'
The king who occupies the Absolute Throne will possess absolute authority of command over all other kings.
Additional special clear conditions exist for this scenario.
The situation was bad.
Our group hadn't even occupied our target station for the 'Flag Capture' scenario yet.
The burden had effectively doubled.
We had to defeat the Tyrant King, seize Changsin Station, and on top of that complete the scenario tied to that throne.
The intermediate dokkaebi spoke.
[Heh heh, you all look quite flustered. But don't worry too much. This scenario will proceed at a leisurely pace.]
Despite being a situation that would shake anyone, Gwanghwamun remained quiet.
Naturally so. Any king who had survived this long knew just how important it was to listen carefully to what the dokkaebi said.
[As you've probably guessed, the purpose of the fourth main scenario is to select the one and only king who will sit upon that 'throne.' Of course, not just anyone can sit there simply because they are a king.]
The intermediate dokkaebi continued, wearing an unpleasant smile.
[Only those who prove their own 'qualification' may take that seat.]
[Now then, I shall reveal the 'first qualification.']
「The master of the throne must be braver than all others.」
— The Absolute Throne will never accept a 'weak king.'
To challenge the throne, you must be a king who possesses at least a [Black Flag].
(Additional qualification conditions will be revealed shortly.)
A Black Flag.
Of course—starting right off with a damn bastard of a condition.
[Heh heh, now that you've been given motivation, do try to create an entertaining story!]
As the intermediate dokkaebi vanished, Yoo Sang-ah's face filled with concern.
"A Black Flag… doesn't that require occupying at least twenty stations?"
"That's right."
Our group's flag was a [Brown Flag].
A flag earned by occupying ten or more stations.
"What do we do? To make a Black Flag, we still need to occupy ten more stations—but there's no way there are any empty stations nearby…"
"That condition exists precisely because there are no empty stations."
"Huh?"
As far as I knew, there wasn't a single king at this point who had achieved a [Black Flag].
"Did you forget? There's more than one way to change a flag's color."
Occupying stations increases a flag's merit score. But there was a much faster way to gain merit.
"Ah…!"
Stealing the 'flag' of another group's representative.
And right now, Gwanghwamun was packed with kings carrying flags.
I calmed my companions and spoke.
"Don't panic. This isn't something we didn't anticipate. We just stick to the plan."
Stick to the plan—easy to say, but it wouldn't be easy.
A subtle air of impending war hung over all of Gwanghwamun. The precarious tension of a moment just before a storm broke. It felt as though the sounds of weapons being drawn and voices tightening their formations echoed between the desolate forest of buildings.
In just a little while, people would begin to move.
Those who once competed for promotions would now take up real blades and kill each other. Those who wanted bigger homes would seize one another's flags to occupy more stations.
Killing each other. Claiming better items.
To survive.
Staring at the cold city buildings finished with perlite boards, Lee Seong-guk muttered in an unreal voice,
"It's terrifying. I can't believe this is really Korea…"
"It's a place that used to be Korea. And in a way, it still is."
"Aren't you scared, sir?"
"I am scared too."
That wasn't a lie.
There were definitely times when I was afraid.
To be honest, it happened often.
Even though I'd read Ways of Survival, strictly speaking, I was still just an ordinary office worker.
I didn't show it, but several times a day I wondered, Will I be able to survive?
Of course, the worry never lasted long.
Because thinking about it was pointless.
That was true in any world.
For Kim Dokja who worked at Minosoft, and for Kim Dokja who now lived in the world of Ways of Survival.
Death would come, whether you wanted it or not.
What mattered was—
"But at least right now, it feels like I'm truly alive."
[Exclusive Skill, 'The Fourth Wall,' has been activated!]
When I turned around, I saw Lee Seong-guk looking at me with eyes full of reverence.
"Sir, when I see you like this, you really…"
"Strike!"
Before Lee Seong-guk could even finish speaking, someone's shout rang out.
From about three hundred meters away, a king began advancing northward.
He carried the same brown flag as us. I couldn't see his face at that distance, but he was probably a minor regional king.
Almost simultaneously, armed factions that had been hiding throughout Gwanghwamun began to emerge—each of them equipped with impressive weapons and gear.
"Hahaha! Looks like some small fry have come knocking!"
The owner of a great warband appeared with a thunderous voice.
A man wearing a splendid dragon robe, seated atop a grotesque palanquin.
I didn't need to ask who he was.
Our target—the ruler of Dobong-gu and Seongbuk-gu, the Tyrant King.
"Kill them all!"
Seeing him in person felt strangely different.
Among the Seven Kings of Seoul, the Tyrant King ruled the largest force of all. Now that he had made his move, the First Apostle and the kings of the Later Three Kingdoms would soon follow.
What mattered now was how the remaining kings would act…
"Most of them will probably move for the Four Yin Demon-Slaying Sword."
Indeed, the directions of the advancing kings all pointed toward the northern National Palace Museum, where the sword was said to be. Though I couldn't see him, the plagiarist author was probably already moving that way as well.
Some factions were even charging toward the museum without regard for casualties.
I could understand why.
Since not all the qualifications for becoming king had been revealed yet, it made sense to secure powerful items first.
An item like the Four Yin Demon-Slaying Sword could instantly close the merit gap created by flag differences.
Lee Seong-guk asked anxiously,
"Aren't we going too? The Four Yin Demon-Slaying Sword is a pretty good item."
"If we go, we'll just end up getting crushed like shrimp."
Our group wasn't large.
And over there were enemies backed by fairly well-known constellation patrons, even among heroic-grade ones.
"We're heading west."
I led the group forward at once. With nearly all the kings moving toward the northern palace museum, the western boulevard was relatively empty.
True to Gwanghwamun's long history, museums dotted the route—the Newspaper Museum, the Museum of Korean Finance, the Police Museum…
Yoo Sang-ah asked,
"Is there any point in going to places like those?"
"We should avoid places with lots of modern exhibits."
The older the relic, the better.
Of course, simply being "old" wasn't enough. Even a hoe used by a farmer in the Iron Age could become an item—but it would only be rated F-rank. What mattered were artifacts connected to famous historical figures, legends, or convincing "stories."
"Let's go there."
We stopped in front of the Seoul Museum of History, which faced Gyeonghuigung Palace.
A glint appeared in Yoo Sang-ah's eyes.
"What should we look for here?"
"Something called a Ganpyeongui. It's a Joseon-era artifact that looks like a disc. I don't know which floor it's on."
"Okay, I'll start looking!"
"We need to hurry, so let's split up. Gil-young, you move with Sang-ah. And Mr. Lee Seong-guk—"
Piyuung—crack!
Before I could finish, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air behind us.
I reflexively crouched down, pulling my companions with me.
An arrow had pierced straight through the building's outer wall. A faint trace of magic clung to the shaft.
A chill ran down my spine.
[Reinforced Magic Arrow].
Someone who had properly learned archery skills.
Who the hell was it?
The unexpected attack threw my thoughts into chaos.
Did someone really read our movement pattern?
"Everyone, get inside! Now!"
Several more arrows flew toward us.
[Activating 'Blade of Conviction'!]
I widened the arc of my swing and knocked the incoming arrows aside. Fortunately, the amount of magic imbued in them wasn't great—it wasn't hard to block.
The problem was their number.
Pssht!
One arrow shot in from a blind angle, grazing the outside of my thigh. I quickly retreated behind cover.
"Hahaha! Where do you think you're aiming, rookie king!"
A booming voice, like a tiger's roar, echoed across the area.
From about four to five hundred meters away, a group armed with bows and swords came charging toward us.
I couldn't see any flags.
Which meant they'd sent out a detached unit.
Looks like there were kings smarter than I'd expected.
Snatch items while they're at it—and steal the flags of minor regional kings too.
[Exclusive Skill, 'Character List,' has been activated.]
I used the skill on the burly man charging at the front.
Name: Chu Wang-in
Age: 33
Supporting Constellation: The Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol
Exclusive Trait: Supporting Actor (Normal)
Exclusive Skills:
[Weapon Refinement Lv.4], [Acting Lv.1], [Weakling Detection Lv.1]
Stigmas:
[Baekje Swordsmanship Lv.4], [Last Stand Lv.2], [Detached Unit Command Lv.3]
Overall Stats:
[Stamina Lv.19], [Strength Lv.19], [Agility Lv.21], [Magic Power Lv.15]
Overall Evaluation:
A clear example of how even an unremarkable human can grow by meeting an outstanding supporting constellation. His synchronization rate with his constellation is high, greatly enhancing the power of his stigmas—caution is advised.
Damn it. They say speak of the tiger and it appears—
And of all people, to run into a famed general of Hwangsanbeol here.
Those with actor-type traits tend to attract constellations like this.
"If you know the honor of kings, surrender your flag peacefully. Do that, and I'll spare the lives of your group members."
Judging by that awkward historical-drama diction, I could see exactly why his trait was Supporting Actor.
To think that General Gyebaek—the last hero of Hwangsanbeol—would end up attached to a guy like that.
Whether it's constellations or people, in the end, partner luck matters just the same.
Still, this is troublesome.
General Gyebaek's stigmas—[Baekje Swordsmanship] and [Detached Unit Command]—are both at very high levels.
On top of that, considering the size of his force, it doesn't look like we can deal with them all without boosting our overall stats.
[Coins Owned: 68,150C]
Damn it… should I just use coins here?
But if I recklessly raise my overall stats now, the difficulty of the final phase of the fourth scenario will spike sharply.
That would throw the entire plan off.
What if I just grit my teeth and spend about 20,000 coins…
"Isn't it shameful to oppress the king of a mere weak nation while bearing the name of the Three Kingdoms?"
At the sudden voice, I turned—and there was a familiar figure approaching. Chu Wang-in, Gyebaek's incarnation, twisted his face into a vicious scowl.
"Why has the damned Queen of Twin Blades graced this place?"
"Just as expected of a general from a fallen dynasty—your language is crude as well."
A woman stood there, shooting back calmly.
The Beauty King, Min Ji-won.
No—why is this woman here again?
…Don't tell me she followed me?
No. That can't be.
Min Ji-won's eyes flicked briefly toward me.
[Character 'Min Ji-won' feels faint affection toward you.]
…Seriously?
"Shut up! A cowardly descendant of Silla dares to call herself a king of the Three Kingdoms now? A lowly woman like you will never be acknowledged as a king!"
A furious roar burst from Chu Wang-in's entire body. Still, for a supporting actor, he sure was loud—even without a Lion's Roar–type skill.
But this is fascinating.
Queen Jinseong and General Gyebaek were born in completely different eras, yet now that they're constellations, they can face each other like this.
I asked Min Ji-won,
"Why are you helping me?"
"Silla does not turn its back on weak nations."
"Silla was the one that destroyed Gaya."
"…Are you also certified in Korean history?"
"That much, anyone knows after graduating high school."
Min Ji-won's face darkened slightly.
"I didn't really go to high school, so I don't know."
That made sense.
According to the story's setting, Min Ji-won had been an actress since her teens.
Having lived as a female actress from an early age, she probably learned other things from society instead of history.
"You're right. Money can't save people. I'll repay the debt for my rudeness earlier. That's all."
Because I knew Min Ji-won's backstory as an actress, I could feel the sincerity in her words. Still, it was unexpected. To think the proud incarnation of Queen Jinseong would bow her pride this easily.
Hearing our exchange, Gyebaek's incarnation let out a rough laugh.
"Hahaha! A king swayed by personal matters? That's why women—"
Stepping forward in Min Ji-won's stead was the Hwarang captain.
"Insolent! How dare a mere general address the king of a nation so!"
Gyebaek's incarnation swept his gaze over the Hwarang, a strange light entering his eyes.
"Hwarang…? Hahahaha! This is amusing. Don't tell me someone contracted with that brat of a constellation?"
At those words, the Hwarang captain's face flushed red.
Come to think of it, his supporting constellation was Gwanchang.
"Do you wish to lose your head, just like your supporting constellation?"
Those who know history know this well—Gwanchang was beheaded by Gyebaek at the Battle of Hwangsanbeol.
"Enough!"
I was grateful for the help, but the compatibility between these constellations was the worst possible.
And because their synchronization rates were high, it was even worse.
Among hero-grade constellations, hierarchical relationships exist based on their historical lives.
A general cannot defy the king of his own country, and sworn enemies are assigned compatibility based on historical records.
For example, the Japanese general Kurushima Michifusa can never defeat Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
Just as Gwanchang could never beat Gyebaek, no matter what.
Min Ji-won seemed to know this too; her expression darkened.
I spoke first.
"Just pull your troops back. You can't win."
The Baekje forces were slightly larger as well.
Gyebaek was, fundamentally, a commander—and the more troops he led, the more powerful he became. Compared to him, Gwanchang wasn't even in the same league.
That was when Yoo Sang-ah's voice rang out.
"Dokja! I found it!"
From behind us, Yoo Sang-ah came running, holding an artifact shaped like a small disc.
Already?
[Ganpyeongui ]
The artifact, resembling a wall clock, began to glow in Yoo Sang-ah's hands.
My thoughts raced.
I looked once at the Ganpyeongui, once at Min Ji-won, and then at the terrified incarnation of Gwanchang.
And then I made a decision.
Maybe… just maybe, we can win this without using coins.
"Charge!"
[Character 'Chu Wang-in' activates stigma 'Detached Unit Command Lv.3'!]
Overwhelmed by the Baekje forces, the Hwarang fell one after another, powerless.
Turning to Min Ji-won, who looked at me with urgency, I said,
"I think we can win."
"…What?"
"Let's recreate the Battle of Hwangsanbeol here."
As those who know history know—
Hwangsanbeol was originally a battle that Silla won.