After that, Kim Dokja and I heard from Jung Heewon, who had returned from sparring with Lee Hyunsung, that the others had already moved to Yongsan Station. Kim Dokja carried Yoo Sangah, who still hadn't recovered from her hangover, while I carried Eshil on my back as we headed to the station with the rest of the group.
Of course, I had to endure the burning glares from the girls the entire way there.
By the time we arrived at Yongsan Station, a massive crowd had already gathered.
"I can't believe there are still this many people left in Seoul..."
Jung Heewon muttered in a voice filled with awe at the sea of people before her.
The group nodded at her monologue, scanning the waves of people surrounding them.
Soon, we pushed through the crowd and moved forward. People were staring up at a massive screen floating in the air.
"Ah...? Is that the place?"
"A forest...?"
"Look over there! There's someone inside the screen!"
The collective murmurs of tens of thousands of people coming from one spot made my ears ache slightly, but I endured it and looked up at the giant screen like everyone else.
On the screen, a man was shown hunting monsters with four arms.
With long hair and masterfully wielding a naginata—a type of Japanese polearm—he was the King of Japan, the man who had seized the Absolute Throne of his country.
[The Fable 'Adversary of the Absolute Throne' is reacting violently.]
'So that's him... Izumi Hiroki.'
He was the owner of the Absolute Throne and the incarnation of the Sovereign of Eight Heads. He was a tragic man who would eventually lose his body through a contract with his sponsor, becoming a King of Calamities and meeting his end at Kim Dokja's hands in the original story.
"Those dokkaebis... they've edited it to look like some vacation destination..."
Shin Yuseung from the 41st round—commonly known as Big Yuseung—muttered as she watched the screen provided by the dokkaebis. Just as the rest of the group, who were ignorant of the scenario, were about to ask her for details—excluding myself and Kim Dokja—a sound rang out.
Ding!
[A new main scenario has arrived!]
Category: Main
Difficulty: ???
Clear Condition: ???
Time Limit: ???
Reward: ???
Failure: —
People nearby began to sound highly flustered or bewildered at the newly updated scenario message, and the confusion soon spread in all directions.
"Huh? There's no difficulty or clear condition?"
"...How are we supposed to do this? Everything is just question marks."
"...It couldn't be more dangerous than the fifth scenario, could it?"
The party also checked the scenario repeatedly with bewildered faces, just like the people around them. But just as they were about to ask Big Yuseung for more information, a voice spoke up from beside them.
"I heard only a select few can carry out this scenario."
I turned my head toward the source of the voice. Standing there was a tall, middle-aged man wearing a gonryongpo—royal robes.
'It's Jeon Ildo...'
The 'Neutral King,' Jeon Ildo.
He was one of the few kings of Seoul who survived the struggle for the Absolute Throne alongside Beauty Queen Min Ji-won. Later, he would be the one to betray us by siding with Nirvana.
"You are..."
"Kim Dokja-ssi, Kang Yuseong-ssi. This is the first time we've greeted each other formally."
Approaching us, Jeon Ildo extended his hand for a handshake.
"I am Jeon Ildo."
"I'm Kim Dokja."
"I'm Kang Yuseong."
After the brief introductions, Jeon Ildo looked at us and spoke again.
"I watched both of your performances during the struggle for the throne and this time with great interest. I can't tell you how much my sponsor prattles on about the two of you, telling me to be at least half as good as you are."
Jeon Ildo gave a friendly-looking smile.
[A constellation who advocates for neutral diplomacy reveals their modifier.]
[The constellation, 'Expert of Two-Timing,' expresses goodwill toward you.]
To an outsider, the modifier 'Expert of Two-Timing' might make the constellation sound like some outdated figure with a complicated love life, but that would be a huge misunderstanding.
The true identity of the Expert of Two-Timing was the modifier for 'King Gwanghaegun,' a king of Joseon famous for being a master of neutral diplomacy.
At that moment, Kim Dokja asked Jeon Ildo a question.
"I'd like to hear more about what you just said. What do you mean by 'only a select few' performing the scenario?"
"Ah, as expected, you weren't aware."
Jeon Ildo readily shared the information he knew.
"According to information revealed by low-grade dokkaebis this morning, they will be selecting volunteers separately for this scenario."
"Volunteers?"
"Yes. Not everyone needs to participate in this scenario. Furthermore, there's no penalty even if you don't join. Considering the scenarios we've faced so far, it's an unbelievable condition."
"And the participants will be sent to that place shown on the screen?"
"That is what I've heard."
Some of the incarnations eavesdropping nearby let out sighs of relief, while others began checking their equipment.
"Jeon Ildo-nim! Where are you!"
Suddenly, a voice calling for Jeon Ildo came from outside the crowd.
"Has it been that long already?"
"Go ahead. We're fine."
"No, I cannot go alone. That would defeat the purpose."
"......What do you mean by that?"
Jeon Ildo checked his wristwatch as he continued.
"To be honest, I came here to escort the two of you."
"To escort us?"
At Kim Dokja's words, Jeon Ildo nodded.
"A world without kings."
As the nearby incarnations focused their attention on him, Jeon Ildo spread his arms and continued with an unreadable smile, as if intentionally making the situation known to all.
"The kings remaining in that unfortunate world are waiting with bated breath for your arrival."