Kang Yuhyeon's cold gaze scans Kim Dokja and Han Sooyoung quickly.
At that moment, Han Sooyoung's complexion worsened rapidly as if she would faint at any moment, and Kim Dokja barely succeeded in maintaining his reason thanks to the Fourth Wall.
However, that did not mean the situation had improved.
[Exclusive skill, 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' Stage 1 activates!]
Because his exclusive skill was warning him strongly that Kang Yuhyeon, who was making a nonchalant expression in front of his eyes, was aiming for Han Sooyoung's head.
「 Head 」
「 Head 」
「 Head 」
「 Head 」
「 Head 」
.
.
.
.
"Kuhup…!!!"
"…."
-Clang—!!!
Kim Dokja's Unbroken Faith and Kang Yuhyeon's technique, Dismantle (解), clashed, and a sound of overlapping metal reverberated as if hard steel collided.
Han Sooyoung dyeing with shock. Kang Yuhyeon frowning slightly.
Honestly speaking, one could know without even thinking whose side one should take between the two.
However, if he thought complacently like that, Kang Yuhyeon would end up becoming an uncontrollable Great Evil.
And furthermore, he himself wouldn't be able to reach the 'Conclusion' (Gyul/結) he desired so much.
-Shing….
"H, hey. Kim Dokja…."
"…."
Han Sooyoung's pitiful voice called his name.
However, he had no leisure to answer her call.
「 Head 」
「 Heart 」
「 Leg 」
「 Wrist 」
「 Ankle 」
「 Eye 」
「 Finger 」
「 Thigh 」
.
.
.
'…How on earth am I supposed to block this!?'
For a moment, Kim Dokja wondered if he should urgently reinforce his Physique with Coins.
Because the amount and range of attacks Kang Yuhyeon was directing at him were beyond imagination.
'Yoo Joonghyuk too, and why is Kang Yuhyeon's growth rate so fast in this regression turn?!'
Kim Dokja gritted his teeth and gripped his Unbroken Faith tightly, waiting for the countless Dismantles that would soon pounce on him.
But, for some reason.
'…The attack, isn't coming…?'
Things flowed differently from his worry.
[Exclusive skill, 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' Stage 2 activates!]
Kang Yuhyeon, he absolutely does not miss a traitor. It was safe to say this was an absolute rule applicable in any regression turn.
Perhaps because of that, when Kim Dokja looked at him as if unable to understand this situation, his exclusive skill activated just in time.
「 Is Kim Dokja, this guy also being deceived by the King of Prophets? 」
「 This is troublesome. I wonder how I should explain this. 」
「 Or, maybe it's better to explain after killing her first. 」
Kang Yuhyeon's thoughts flowing in through [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].
Since every single thought was quite murderous, Kim Dokja spoke to him urgently.
"Kang Yuhyeon-ssi. First of all, let me say this, Han Sooyoung…, I mean, this guy is not an enemy."
"…."
Kang Yuhyeon's eyes sank even more bleakly.
Then, for an instant, his vision blurred, and certain scenes played back.
Kang Yuhyeon, whose abdomen was pierced by Ha Seo-yeon…, that is, Han Sooyoung's Avatar.
Kang Yuhyeon, who was extremely shaken to the point where one would doubt if it was really him.
Kang Yuhyeon, emitting killing intent at Han Sooyoung's mocking laughter and using that technique which appeared in Ways of Survival but shouldn't be usable in the current scenario in any regression turn, for some unknown reason.
…Damn it. Han Sooyoung, this girl. Does she even know what she has done…?!
"So what do you want me to do. That woman is an enemy who aimed for my life. My personality isn't generous enough to leave a beast alone that tried to bite me once. So step aside quietly."
"…Kang Yuhyeon-ssi. This guy will be of great help in the upcoming scenarios."
"Because she is a Prophet…, meaning she knows the future?"
At his question, Kim Dokja nodded carefully.
At that sight, Kang Yuhyeon fell silent again.
「 Knowing the future is an important matter. 」
「 But the King of Prophets, that guy isn't a Prophet. Meaning she can't read the future perfectly. 」
「 There is no way Kim Dokja, this man doesn't know that fact. 」
「 Then does it mean he is protecting her for another reason. What on earth is that reason…. 」
Kang Yuhyeon's thoughts flowing in through Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.
Unlike Yoo Joonghyuk who threatens to kill him every time he sees him, for some reason he was trusted very much by Kang Yuhyeon, so it was quite awkward how to accept this.
Whether to be happy…. Or to be nervous because his life depended on it.
「 Did they perhaps become lovers in that short time? 」
'…What?'
For a moment, Kim Dokja almost blurted out words aloud at his guess which was completely off the mark.
He wanted to ask him on what grounds he made such a guess, but he barely held it back.
「 First of all, whatever the reason, what would happen if I kill the King of Prophets…, that is, Han Sooyoung here. 」
「 For now, it would be good in its own way since I killed the one who betrayed me. But what if Kim Dokja threatens me? 」
「 Of course, killing him following Han Sooyoung is an easy task. Even if his party gets angry at me and tries to kill me, dealing with them is also an easy task. 」
A chilling atmosphere spreads instantly.
Han Sooyoung had fainted long ago, and Kim Dokja was incredibly nervous inside but looked at him as if nothing was wrong on the outside.
With the hope that he would please reconsider once more.
「 But because of that 」
Sure enough. That earnestness.
「 Losing people useful for clearing scenarios is quite a bothersome thing. 」
Seemed to reach him.
「 Scenarios so far have flowed smoothly. But there is no guarantee that all upcoming scenarios will flow this way. 」
「 Who knows, maybe a day will come when we have to clear a scenario as a group. 」
「 Moreover, I am currently in a state where I cannot use Cursed Energy properly. Is that all? I even have to take care of a clever brat. 」
「 Therefore, whether I like it or not, I must maintain trust with Kim Dokja for now. 」
After a long contemplation, Kang Yuhyeon finally opened his mouth.
"Then I will give you a choice. Hand over that woman, or hand over the price of that woman's life."
"…Price of life, you say?"
"Yes. That sword you are holding, a total of 300,000 Coins, and an Existence Pledge from you, that woman, and each party member that you will not betray me is sufficient."
"…."
For a moment, Kim Dokja wondered if he heard something wrong.
He was surprised that the Kang Yuhyeon he knew said he would forgive a traitor, of course.
But the conditions he proposed were just too preposterous.
His sword, Unbroken Faith, was one of the very rare items, practically priceless as a Star Relic grade.
300,000 Coins? 300,000 Coooooins? Is he joking right now? Because he consumed a quite large amount of 72,000 Coins in the fourth scenario, he was practically broke right now.
…Of course, it didn't mean he really lacked Coins like other Incarnations who ran Coin Farms, but still.
Anyway, to that extent, the proposal Kang Yuhyeon was currently offering was so preposterous that it was laughable.
"…May I modify the content of the proposal?"
"It sounded to me like you were saying you would hand over that woman's life to me."
"Kang Yuhyeon-ssi. I will give you something more valuable to you than what you proposed."
"Kim Dokja."
Kang Yuhyeon.
Unlike Yoo Joonghyuk, he does not commit rudeness blindly to others.
He respects those he meets for the first time whom he considers not to be evil in his own way, and uses honorifics for those older or similar in age to him if they are worthy of respect.
Therefore, the fact that he uses honorifics also implies the meaning 'I will not kill you.' In fact, it was described that way in Ways of Survival too.
So conversely, the meaning of him not using honorifics was.
-Zip—!!
"I am showing mercy, not trying to make a deal with you."
It meant 'I can kill you anytime.'
-Trickle….
A thick line was drawn on Kim Dokja's cheek, and blood began to trickle down from there.
At that moment, if he were an ordinary person, it would have been normal for him to collapse just like Han Sooyoung who was already kissing the floor, but.
[Exclusive skill, 'Fourth Wall' is active.]
Thanks to his another exclusive skill, he swallowed his saliva and could continue his words.
"…Somehow your technique seems weaker than usual? The precision too."
"…."
Kang Yuhyeon's face frowned slightly.
The reason wasn't because he was angry at being suddenly criticized. It was because he suspected whether Kim Dokja noticed his condition with just that.
Of course, it wasn't because Kim Dokja was proficient enough in techniques to think 'Ah, his condition is really bad today' after getting hit by Dismantle once. It was thanks to his exclusive skill [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint]. But what does that matter?
'Talking back to Kang Yuhyeon…, somehow my heart trembles much more than with Yoo Joonghyuk.'
The fact that he knows it is important.
"There's no way you would use your technique like that on purpose in this situation, so then the reason is only one. Something went wrong with your technique, right?"
"…."
"To be precise, from the moment you obtained a certain Fable."
"…!!"
Kang Yuhyeon flinched for a moment and glared at him, but Kim Dokja puffed out his chest confidently, disregarding such a gaze as if to show off.
Kim Dokja, he is the sole reader of a certain novel. And a reader who re-read it so many times that the count of 100 seems laughable.
Would he, who was such a reader, have never seen such a situation of the main villain, Kang Yuhyeon?
And above all.
[Memory for pages already read increases due to the attribute effect!]
Due to his attribute, he couldn't forget the contents of Ways of Survival even if he wanted to.
「Kang Yuhyeon, he had difficulties using techniques several times. One of them was exactly when he obtained the Fable called 'King of Curses'. All Fables sing their own stories to announce that they existed in this world. However, 'King of Curses' was particularly spiteful among such Fables. When it felt like it, it assisted his technique and strengthened his Cursed Energy, but when it didn't, it interfered with him crazily. It was exactly because of this that he struggled against insignificant opponents too.」
"I will help so that condition can improve. And I will also give you a weapon worthy of you. How about this much?"
"…."
Kang Yuhyeon continued to ponder for a while.
However, Kim Dokja let out a sigh of relief as if he already knew what decision he would make, and glared slightly at Han Sooyoung sprawled on the floor.
Since he suffered this much loss, with the resolve that he would definitely rip this loss off from Han Sooyoung.
"Add 200,000 Coins to that."
"200,000 Coins is too much. Let's make it 100,000 Coins."
"180,000 Coins."
"…120,000 Coins."
"Then 150,000 Coins."
With those words, Kim Dokja and Kang Yuhyeon shook hands.
At that moment, honorifics finally returned, and only then could Kim Dokja truly be relieved.
"…Phew, if I make another deal, I'll really go broke."
Kim Dokja slumped down and began to think about future events one by one.
He has to stop the upcoming scenario, that is, the Disaster. And before that, he has to find that child who will become the Disaster of Floods. Furthermore, he has to think about Peace Land too.
Future events that make his head feel like it's going to explode already.
In the midst of that, a sudden question arose in Kim Dokja.
"…May I ask one question?"
"What is it."
"Why do you suddenly need so many Coins?"
Unlike him, Kang Yuhyeon cannot use the Dokkaebi Bag.
Therefore, the places to use Coins are only for scenario penalties or strengthening physical abilities, so the usage was extremely limited.
And due to the nature of the scenario, it wouldn't strengthen physical abilities beyond a certain point, and above all, he didn't like the act of strengthening physical abilities with Coins very much.
He even killed indiscriminately if it was someone who threatened him first or an existence he considered evil. Moreover, since Coins drop every time he catches monsters in this scenario, he must possess quite a lot of Coins.
But he intends to gather more Coins suddenly? Is it perhaps to prepare for future scenarios?
Kim Dokja's question could be solved before long.
"Because a troublesome brat got attached to me."
"…Troublesome, brat?"
At that moment.
"Haa, haaaa. Haaaaa…!! O, Oppaaaa…!!"
A voice of a young girl was heard.
"Just in time."
"…?"
When Kang Yuhyeon stood up, Kim Dokja also turned his body toward where the girl's voice came from.
At that moment, the appearance of the girl entering his eyes.
「Brown hair, short cut without bangs, good and cute impression, and chubby cheeks. Who would have known that this young child would become the last Disaster of the fifth scenario, the 'Disaster of Floods'.」
"Don't tell me, that child is…."