< Episode 14. The Owner of the Throne (6) >
As expected, the protagonist is still the protagonist.
I'd dropped him all the way in Gangbuk District, yet he already had a black flag.
If someone who isn't a station's representative steals the representative's flag, the hidden scenario "Path of Revolution" opens. He must have known that, so on his way here he killed another station's representative and claimed the position of king.
Kugugugugu.
Judging by how furious Yoo Joonghyuk looked, it seemed Yi Jihye and Jeong Heewon had handled things properly. That was a relief.
I stepped back a few paces and looked at Han Sooyoung.
"Hey. Hand over that sword. Now."
"N-no."
"Do you want everyone here to die?"
Han Sooyoung's eyes wavered, and Yoo Joonghyuk's silhouette moved.
I shouted,
"Gilyoung!"
At the signal, Lee Gilyoung's eyes instantly turned white, as if he'd been waiting for it.
Gooooo—!
A tearing sound echoed from above as the upper part of the cavern split open, followed by the heavy thud-thud-thud of something pounding the dungeon. And then—
With a crackling pajijik, the scythe-like blade of a gigantic mantis burst through one wall of the cavern.
[A Grade-6 Insect King Species, Titanoptera, has appeared!]
As expected, when it came to causing chaos, Lee Gilyoung's ability was unmatched.
Kwarrrrung!
The cavern shook violently under the brute strength of the giant insect king.
As Yoo Joonghyuk turned around in surprise, I slammed the back of Han Sooyoung's small head.
"Ah—ahh…!"
With a groan, Han Sooyoung dropped the Four Yin Slaughtering Sword. I picked it up and, as a bonus, snatched the flag she had wrapped around her neck.
[You have obtained the flag of the 'Hongdae Entrance Group'.]
[Your 'Purple Flag' absorbs the accumulated merits of the 'Black Flag'.]
[Your 'Purple Flag' has evolved into a 'Black Flag'.]
[You may now use the privileges of the 'Black Flag'.]
[Congratulations! You have completed the first 'Qualification of a King'.]
[Current number of remaining kings: 6]
I immediately sprinted toward the Tyrant King.
He was crushed beneath a pile of rubble. His visible body had been mashed like dough—utterly miserable. I had intended to kill him anyway, but I hadn't expected such an absurd end.
Behind me, Han Sooyoung cried out pitifully,
"You thieving bastard!"
Ignoring her, I quickly swept up the Tyrant King's items scattered across the ground.
[You have obtained the item 'Three-Wheeled Ring'.]
[You have obtained the item 'Dragon Jar '.]
The Dragon Jar, a regeneration vessel.
It seemed the Tyrant King had cleared a seven-person dungeon before coming here.
"…Kim Dokja!"
Yoo Joonghyuk chased after me at a terrifying speed. Even with my Agility at 30, the distance between us closed in an instant. I glanced around and, left with no choice, hid behind the nearest king.
"W-what the hell?!"
It was Gu Taeseong, the king of Later Baekje.
"Kraaaagh!"
Yoo Joonghyuk's merciless strike smashed his head, and his flag passed cleanly into Yoo Joonghyuk's possession.
[Constellation, 'Founding Duke of Hannam County', glares at you.]
Sorry, Gyeon Hwon—but it couldn't be helped.
Let's hope we meet again next time.
At that point, I stopped running and decided to play dumb.
"Joonghyuk, wait a second. Let's talk this out."
"That note."
"A note?"
"My little sister."
Just two words—but more than enough to understand everything.
Fortunately, Yi Jihye had completed her task safely.
The note had reached Yoo Joonghyuk at just the right time.
"What about your sister?"
"Where did you hide my sister?"
"What are you talking about?"
[Character 'Yoo Joonghyuk' is using 'Lie Detection Lv.6'.]
[Character 'Yoo Joonghyuk' has confirmed that your statement is false.]
Damn it.
"If you don't tell me right now, you really will die."
Even without Lie Detection, it was obvious he meant it.
Yoo Joonghyuk's late arrival at the cavern was entirely due to my scheme.
I had led him north under the pretense of rescuing his sister, causing him to waste precious time searching the northern districts.
It was a plan only possible because this was the third regression, when Yoo Joonghyuk's personality was still relatively intact.
Calling it cowardly didn't matter. If Yoo Joonghyuk—already far stronger than in the original third regression—had entered the kings' war without restraint, this scenario would have ended entirely on his terms.
And that would never lead to the ending I wanted.
"…Fine. But first, lower the sword and let's talk. I mean, what if I really were a bad guy?"
"You plan to take my family hostage?"
"You're overreacting again. I never said anything that far, did I?"
To begin with, the concept of a hostage didn't even apply.
If this guy decided to activate regression-by-death, everything would be over anyway.
"Then why did you do this?"
"Why do you think I did?"
Perhaps he sensed that I was stalling for time—Yoo Joonghyuk's expression hardened coldly.
"I should've killed you back then… just die already."
The moment Yoo Joonghyuk raised his sword, a voice rang out from the empty air.
[Hey there, everyone, calm down. Fighting already—won't do at all. Let's see now, it looks like all the qualifications have been met.]
A mid-grade dokkaebi. So you finally show up.
Only then did Yoo Joonghyuk notice the notification panel floating in the air.
[Current number of remaining kings: 5]
['Final Qualification of the King' has begun.]
Including Yoo Joonghyuk and myself, the remaining kings' bodies began to be forcibly spatially transferred.
"Kim Dok—!"
Yoo Joonghyuk's sword, thrust out too late, failed to reach me.
At last, we had reached the final phase of this scenario.
[The qualified kings are being transported to the location of the final test.]
The surroundings melted away as the scenery changed. I felt my body being sucked somewhere at incredible speed. Then, in the next instant—thump!—my head collided with something. It took a moment before my consciousness snapped back.
[You have been excluded from the candidates of the 'Final Qualification of the King.']
…What?
Looking around, I found myself standing in the city center of Gwanghwamun. In front of me was a barrier the size of a sports field—the very thing I had just smashed my head into. At the center of that barrier would be the final reward of this scenario: the 'Absolute Throne.'
Why couldn't I enter?
[Hahahaha! Oh dear, oh dear! You focused so much on the big picture that you ended up missing something truly important!]
At the sound of laughter, I looked up to see the sneering face of a mid-grade dokkaebi. I wondered if that bastard had played some trick on me, but then an unexpected message appeared.
[You have failed to occupy the 'Target Station' of the Fourth Scenario.]
[To obtain the 'Final Qualification of the King,' you must first occupy the 'Target Station.']
[Your group's 'Target Station' is 'Changsin Station.']
Ah…
I'd been so focused on the kings that I completely forgot.
I still hadn't done that.
[If you don't properly clear the previous phase, you cannot proceed to the final phase. It's only natural—did you really think you could just gloss over it?]
Inside the barrier, fighting had already broken out.
If things continued like this, everything I'd done so far would go straight down the drain.
It wasn't too late yet—I should run to Changsin Station now.
But then…
Damn it.
If I ran there and back, the entire scenario would already be over.
"Dokja-ssi!"
From afar, Yoo Sangah was running toward me, carrying the unconscious Lee Gilyoung on her back. But looking more closely, there were others with her. Huh?
"Heewon-ssi?"
Jung Heewon was running toward us, tightly holding the hand of an unfamiliar little girl.
"Is my oppa really here?"
"I told you, didn't I? How many times do I have to say it?"
"But I'm hungry."
Jung Heewon wasn't someone who should be here right now.
Her assignment for this scenario was clear: rescue a little girl in northern Gangbuk, then wait at Changsin Station.
"Heewon-ssi, why are you here? I clearly told you to stay on standby at Changsin Station—"
"Oh, come on, this is so frustrating. How long was I supposed to wait there? And besides, this kid hasn't eaten since this morning. You say she's his little sister—aren't you worried at all?"
At Jung Heewon's words, the little girl pointed at me and said,
"That person isn't my oppa."
"Huh?"
"He's uglier than my oppa."
You little brat.
Jeong Heewon looked flustered, glancing back and forth between me and the girl.
"Huh? She wasn't your sister, Dokja-ssi? I thought she was, so I went to rescue her."
"She's not."
"Then who is she?"
Jeong Heewon probably had no idea what she had actually done.
Who on earth would think that this little girl was that psychopath's sister?
A rumbling growl came from the girl's stomach. Listening to the sound, I let out a hollow laugh.
…Don't tell me my perfect plan is going to collapse here?
"Dokja-ssi, where are you going?"
"To occupy Changsin Station."
Even if it was late, I had no choice but to try.
If only I had a long-distance teleport scroll—but with the mid-grade dokkaebi watching, I couldn't even open the dokkaebi bag.
Then Jung Heewon, who had been watching me, spoke up.
"Why go there?"
"Pardon?"
"Hey, take it out. The thing unnie gave you earlier, remember?"
"Okay!"
Yoo Joonghyuk's sister, Yoo Mia, reached into her mouth. A moment later, her mouth stretched unnaturally wide, and an equally unnatural mass of stone began to emerge. It was Yoo Mia's exclusive skill: [Inventory]. I stepped closer to the stone block.
"What is this?"
"What do you think?"
I examined the smooth upper surface of the block.
There was a small groove there—something could be inserted into it.
…I never imagined this.
That something like this was even possible.
In no regression of Ways of Survival had anyone ever done something like this.
Jung Heewon said shamelessly,
"You just need a 'flag socket' to occupy a station, right?"
What kind of barbaric person would ever think of something like this?
Jung Heewon had literally cut out and brought the entire floor containing the 'flag socket' of Changsin Station.
[Constellation, 'The Adventurer Who Made the Egg Stand,' marvels at Jung Heewon's idea.]
I was about to say something, then closed my mouth again.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"…No."
"Then what are you standing around spacing out for? Hurry up—stick it in and let's go."
I nodded and took out the flag.
[Your group has occupied 'Changsin Station'.]
[As a reward for the 'Flag Capture Battle,' you have received 2,000 coins!]
It works.
It actually works.
[Your group has secured the 'Target Station'.]
[Your body is being transported to the battlefield of the 'Final Qualification of the King'.]
With a whooosh—my consciousness flickered once more.
Messages surfaced in my mind, and new conditions were added to the qualifications of the king.
"The one who would claim 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].
"Those who dream of the throne must also be worthy of that desire."
— The number of 'kings' who may challenge the Absolute Throne is limited.
To obtain the right to challenge it, you must eliminate the other kings around you.
"Thus, the one true king must stand alone, without the aid of others."
— A king who challenges the Absolute Throne must be able to prove their strength with nothing but their own body.
[Constellation, 'God of Naval Warfare,' calmly observes the situation.]
[Constellation, 'Bald Righteous Army Commander,' cheers on the Hero-grade constellations.]
[Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Long Winter,' snickers while popping his ears.]
[Constellation, 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon,' picks his nose at the Hero-grade constellations.]
Unlike usual, the constellations showed divided reactions.
Not all constellations were of the same rank.
The gap between Hero-grade and Myth-grade constellations was as vast as that between a child and an adult.
That was why the reactions of the viewing constellations varied.
Just as adults have little interest in children playing hide-and-seek, this scenario meant little to Myth-grade constellations and above.
But for Hero-grade constellations, it was different.
The Hero-grade constellation that won this scenario could ascend the 'Absolute Throne' and build a new 'myth' of their own. That was why the Hero Kings had seemed so impatient ever since the 'Qualifications of the King' scenario began.
And when I opened my eyes, the [Battlefield of the Kings] finally came into view.
[From now on, no king may receive support from their sponsoring constellation.]
[From now on, the attack power and defense of all items are restricted.]
[From now on, all skills, stigmas, and special options of items are sealed.]
[From now on, the total attributes of all kings are adjusted to 10/10/10/10/10.]
[The 'Final Qualification of the King' will continue until only the last survivor remains.]