< Episode 14. The Owner of the Throne (5) >
Holding up the severed head, I asked,
"So this was an 'avatar' too, huh. Han Sooyoung—is that your real name?"
"Yeah."
Just as I expected, Han Sooyoung was the First Apostle.
That damn plagiarist bastard—I was wondering where he'd been hiding.
"T-that bastard—what the hell is he?!"
Shouts of shock erupted from all around. Voices filled with confusion—talk of betrayal, of internal strife breaking out. Guarding Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung, I retreated toward one side of the hidden cavern.
Of course, with Han Sooyoung's talking head still clenched in one hand.
"So I was right. You're the one who spread the 'text version' of the Revelation, aren't you?"
"That's right. More precisely, I spread the text of your plagiarized novel."
"...The Revelation is not plagiarism."
"It is. You lifted the original setting wholesale, didn't you?"
"Don't compare my work to that kind of trash."
"The fact that you understand what I'm saying means you're not denying that you read the original, right?"
Han Sooyoung glared at me, grinding his teeth.
"Kill him! Kill this bastard! What are you all doing?!"
"T-the head is talking!"
Han Sooyoung's face twisted. Despite the commotion, the people could only panic—they showed no clear action. And soon enough, they wouldn't have the luxury to worry about us at all.
Smiling at Han Sooyoung, I said,
"The cliché you mentioned is about to begin."
As if on cue, a burst of light exploded from the front of the cavern.
Something like rings of light swept through the area, and long crimson lines appeared on several people's bodies.
"W-what…?"
Pshshshk!
Chunks of flesh split apart entirely, spraying fountains of blood. Those at the back of the formation were drenched in gore, screaming in terror.
"Damn it—it's him!"
Sinister magic flickered from the depths of the pitch-black cavern. A crushing presence advanced from the front, pressing down on the entire space.
"Lift the palanquin."
With an androgynous voice, the tip of a massive palanquin came into view. A figure's shadow wavered inside it. I shouted instinctively,
"Ms. Yoo Sangah! Gilyoung! Fall back!"
A voice flowed out from the palanquin.
"Run."
The palanquin charged forward, plowing into people like a war chariot. From within its curtains, tri-colored rings of light burst forth, mercilessly sweeping the battlefield. Dozens of people died all at once.
People foaming blood at the mouth with disbelief in their eyes, bodies writhing with limbs torn away. The front lines were cleared out in an instant.
"Ugh…"
Terrified, the members of the group retreated.
In the sudden silence that followed, everyone shut their mouths as if dead.
The Tyrant King drew aside the curtain and stepped out.
"How utterly pathetic. The kings of the previous age…"
In his hand was [Three-Wheeled Ring ], an item capable of launching condensed rings of magical power. Though it was a hidden item obtainable in northern Seoul, it wasn't something the original Tyrant King had possessed.
So it was true—he really had taken in some of the .
[Activating exclusive skill, 'Character List'!]
Name: Jung Yonghoo
Age: 33
Backer Star: Heoncheon Hongdo Gyeongmun Wimu Daewang
Exclusive Traits:
– Circus Performer (Rare)
– Tyrant King (Hero)
Exclusive Skills:
– [Grappling Mastery Lv.5]
– [Heoncheon Step Lv.3]
– [Weapon Mastery Lv.5]
Stigmas:
– [Palanquin Chariot Lv.5]
– [Cheoyong Dance Lv.5]
– [Tyranny Lv.4]
Overall Stats:
– [Vitality Lv.30]
– [Strength Lv.28]
– [Agility Lv.28]
– [Magic Power Lv.34 (+2)]
Overall Evaluation:
The worst tyrant on the Korean Peninsula has met a resentment-filled commoner. A small citizen long dissatisfied with the social system will not turn away from the opportunity given to him.
Starter Pack currently applied
Growth Package currently applied
New Scenario Commemorative Package currently applied
I understood immediately after seeing his trait window.
He'd already opened three packages—of course he'd be that strong.
A constellation that dangerously enjoyed walking the tightrope of plausibility.
Goooooo—!
And that aura surging from his entire body. The Tyrant King's Backer Star had pushed synchronization to its absolute limit. At some point, several dokkaebis—including Bihyeong—were watching him from the air.
The moment they judged something to violate "plausibility," they'd demand a Plausibility Appropriateness Judgment.
"I was certainly a tyrant. But the tyrant I once was exists no longer."
The Tyrant King—Heoncheon Hongdo Gyeongmun Wimu Daewang—spoke.
"History does not frighten me. Because today, I shall become the new history of this land."
Though he was a top-class tyrant of the Korean Peninsula, he had never been recorded in history as a 'king.'
"I am Yeonsangun Yi Yung !"
An overwhelming torrent of magical power erupted from the Tyrant King, whose synchronization had reached its limit.
The bellies of the charging group members burst open all at once. A [Three-Wheeled Ring] wrapped in over thirty points of magic power—getting hit by that would be dangerous even for me.
"Don't fall back!"
"Everyone, fight!"
But the Anti-Tyrant Alliance wasn't weak either.
Setting the other kings aside, the [Earth Dragon King] and the [Maitreya King] were still part of Seoul's Seven Kings, just like the [Tyrant King].
As multiple kings joined forces, the previously one-sided battle gradually evened out. All the kings were pushing synchronization with their Backer Stars close to the limit.
Not only incarnations, but even hero-grade constellations were fighting desperately.
Looking down at Han Sooyoung's head in my hand, I said,
"Aren't you going to fight?"
Han Sooyoung let out a low chuckle.
"You're laughing? Looks like you still have some leeway."
"Y-you bastard… You think everything is going according to plan, don't you? Yeonsangun and the other kings have started fighting each other, so you're deluding yourself into thinking that once they're exhausted, you'll be able to snatch the Four Yin Slaughtering Sword. Isn't that right?"
That was a surprisingly close deduction.
"But it won't happen that way! Spreading the text files helped, sure—but I've been preparing for today far longer than you have."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"In the end, it's the cliché that wins."
A mid-rank dokkaebi's voice echoed through the air.
[Hehe, everyone's fighting quite well. Our hero-grade constellations are really desperate, aren't they? Of course they are. Incarnations, constellations—you all have to give it your all. Everyone wants to rise to legend-grade status, right?]
At the sneering voice of the dokkaebi, the noise of the battlefield momentarily subsided.
[So, I've brought you some good news. From this moment on, the test for the Second Qualification will begin!]
"The owner of the throne must be braver than all others."
― The Absolute Throne never desires a 'weak king.' To challenge the throne, you must be a king who possesses at least the [Black Flag].
"Those who dream of the throne must also be qualified in their desire."
― The number of kings who may challenge the Absolute Throne is fixed. To obtain the right to challenge it, you must eliminate the other kings around you.
The mid-rank dokkaebi smiled coldly.
[For reference, only five kings may challenge the final qualification of the Absolute Throne. The number currently remaining is… let's see.]
[Current number of remaining kings: 14]
People erupted into loud murmurs.
"F-fourteen?!"
"Are there still kings left outside?"
[For your information, there are currently 12 kings inside this 'Hidden Dungeon.']
Even I was a little surprised. I hadn't expected there to be that many kings in this dungeon.
Well, it wasn't like this hidden cavern was the only place kings could exist.
"Who is it?! Who's the king hiding here?!"
The Tyrant King laughed mockingly at the confused crowd.
"Hahaha! How amusing—watching you all stab each other in the back!"
"This isn't the time for infighting! Focus on the Tyrant King!"
Just as the kings barely managed to restore order—
"Here! This guy's a king!"
The severed head of Han Sooyoung, which I was holding, suddenly shouted on its own.
"I saw it! This bastard has a 'flag'!"
"What?!"
…Well, damn.
I immediately stomped on Han Sooyoung's head, crushing it to pieces.
Everyone's gaze turned toward me.
At that moment, one of the 'remaining kings' destined to die had been decided.
"If we just kill that guy…"
But something felt off.
For a scheme by that plagiarist bastard, it felt too shallow.
Wait—don't tell me?
…Interesting. So that was the idea.
While everyone's attention was focused on me, there were those who moved quietly behind the kings. They were the loyal retainers the kings cherished most.
Thud!Thwack!
"Kgh—!"
Thin daggers pierced backs, and the necks of off-guard kings were slit.
[The number of remaining kings has decreased.]
[Current number of remaining kings: 12]
The weakened [Timid King] and [Brawler King] died on the spot, while the [Maitreya King] and [Earth Dragon King] seemed to have taken serious damage from the ambush. Even the [Tyrant King] himself was stabbed in the side and thigh by three attendants who rushed him from behind.
"You wretched bitches…!"
And then I realized who it was that had stabbed them all.
The traitors' heads fell simultaneously—but no blood flowed from their severed necks.
The fallen kings' star jewels vanished, snatched up by someone with lightning-fast hands.
"My jewel! My jewel!"
The star jewels, passed through the hands of hidden [avatars], were soon gathered into a single person's grasp.
"I told you. In the end, the cliché always wins."
A smiling young girl floated upward, stepping on empty air, and stood in a wall alcove of the cavern, grinning smugly.
So that was the plagiarist bastard's true body?
…Didn't expect it to be a woman.
In her hand, the seven gathered star jewels began to shine.
[The 'False King' Han Sooyoung has obtained all seven star jewels!]
[Using the seven star jewels as offerings, a new item is being summoned.]
[The 'False King' Han Sooyoung has summoned the Four Yin Slaughtering Sword!]
In the end, that plagiarist bastard became the owner of the Four Yin Slaughtering Sword.
And the trait [False King], too.
Surprisingly fitting.
"Dokja-ssi… what do we do?"
At my calm response, Yoo Sangah looked puzzled.
"Is it really okay to stay so composed? You said that item is incredibly powerful."
She was right. It was indeed an S+-rank item.
But by that logic, Yeonsangun's [Three-Wheeled Ring] was also an S-rank item.
There was a difference in performance, sure—but it wasn't an overwhelming gap.
"Hahahaha! Die! Just die already!"
A dazzling surge of magic burst forth from the Four Yin Slaughtering Sword, sweeping across the battlefield.
Yet people did not die easily. Those who should have exploded spectacularly instead endured her power by sheer force of will, teetering on the brink but somehow holding on.
Part of it was because her magic reserves had been heavily depleted from using so many [avatars], and more importantly, because three kings were still standing.
A flustered Han Sooyoung shouted,
"W-what is this? Why—why is it so weak…?"
"Kill her! Kill that bitch and take the sword!"
"U-uaaagh! Fall back! Fall back, I said!"
I had a feeling it would turn out like this.
Before long, Han Sooyoung—now being pushed back—staggered toward where my companions and I were. I sneered at her.
"Nice job breaking the cliché. You should try writing like that more often."
"Shut up!"
"Want some help?"
"I don't need it!"
Han Sooyoung shouted bravely and swung her sword again—but it was obvious she was being steadily driven back.
I felt like saying one thing to that foolish woman: that weapon wasn't famous because it was strong—the original owner was strong.
"I'll kill you all!"
The Tyrant King, regaining his confidence, launched his attack, and the other kings also plunged into the fray.
Before anyone realized it, the battle had turned into a chaotic melee with no clear sides—enemy and ally alike mixed together.
Still… it should be about time.
Don't tell me he's still wandering around?
The distance from here to the northern district was considerable, but for that guy, there should've been more than enough time to make it back.
[Current number of remaining kings: 11]
Then the number on the floating notification board changed.
[Current number of remaining kings: 10]
Ah—figures.
[Current number of remaining kings: 9]
So he's arrived.
"W-what?!"
"The number's dropping all of a sudden!"
The terrified kings looked around frantically.
Kings were dying—without anyone knowing how or where.
[Current number of remaining kings: 8]
When the count finally dropped to a single digit, the kings' fear reached its breaking point.
"There's someone out there! Someone is killing only kings!"
Meanwhile, one man was enjoying it.
The Tyrant King.
"Hahahaha! Who cares! You die too!"
Just as the Tyrant King's [Three-Wheeled Ring] was about to erupt again, the ceiling of the cavern collapsed, crushing him beneath it.
KWA-AAAANG!
A catastrophic storm of magic erupted. Beneath it, the Tyrant King let out a scream of agony.
The overwhelming magical tempest—capable of breaking down all life into particles—ground his entire body into nothingness.
"Uuugh… aaah… AAAAAARGH!"
And then—
[Current number of remaining kings: 7]
Only the cold, merciless number remained before everyone's eyes.
Those nearby trembled and collapsed, shaken by the utterly abnormal scene.
"W-what… what is this…?"
The man who had blown apart the terrifying [Tyrant King] in a single strike—killing him like an insect.
From within the acrid smoke of the explosion, a man slowly emerged.
Dead kings.
Living kings.
All of them stared at him in stunned silence.
Han Sooyoung, her legs shaking, backed away in terror.
"This can't be… this can't be real!"
Suddenly, I remembered something her avatar had once said.
That the strongest among the kings of Seoul was the Tyrant King.
I'd thought this earlier too—but that was wrong.
So far, the Seoul Seven Kings I'd encountered—including Han Donghoon, who had failed to become a king due to the —numbered five.
Han Donghoon, the King of the Reclusive Shadow.
Min Jiwon, the King of Delight.
Cha Sangkyung, the Maitreya King.
Gu Taeseong, the Earth Dragon King.
And Jung Yonghu, the Tyrant King.
Even excluding the still-unrevealed Neutral King, there was still one seat left.
So whose seat was it?
The answer was simple.
After all, I had met this guy before any other king.
An enraged voice echoed throughout the cavern.
"Kim Dokja…"
Smiling, I waved at him.
Behind him, fluttering wildly as he strode forward, was the [Black Flag].
"You're dead…"
The strongest of the Seoul Seven Kings was, of course—
The Overlord , Yoo Joonghyuk.