< Episode 18. The Reader's Battle (3) >
I stared at the system messages left behind by Myung Ilsang's death.
In this world, death remained behind as nothing more than a few lines of text.
[Constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is moderately satisfied.][Constellation 'The Secretive Plotter' tilts their head in slight dissatisfaction.][Constellation 'Demonic Judge of Fire' is greatly pleased with your story.][Someone has recommended your scenario to the Star Stream.][You have received a donation of 25,000 coins.]
I stood up and slowly looked around.
The ruined landscape of Gangdong District. Just one disaster passing through briefly had destroyed nearly all surface facilities, and every high-rise building had collapsed.
As the sunset-stained streets came into view, people covered in black dust crawled out one by one.
They were all people who had rushed here chasing after items.
People who wanted to become protagonists—but could only remain [Characters].
Some clutched their wounds and groaned. Others wiped away tears. A few bowed their heads toward me. But most lay on the ground as cold corpses.
I had thought I'd read Ways of Survival from start to finish.
That I understood every setting, chewed over every explanation, and finally grasped the author's intent. Yet nowhere in Ways of Survival was there a sentence that described their deaths.
When I turned my head, Yoo Joonghyuk was looking at the same scene.
He had probably seen this sight alone countless times before.
"Yoo Joonghyuk."
He turned to look at me.
I rolled my words around on my tongue several times—then closed my mouth again.
"…It's nothing."
The scenarios would continue, and I would see moments like this again and again. Again and again, I would face scenes that were never written down as text.
Just then, a translucent window floated up before my eyes, and an unexpected message appeared.
[The dokkaebi 'Dokgak' invites you to his channel.]
…Who's inviting who to whose channel?
Startled, I decided to pretend I hadn't seen it.
Then the message appeared again.
[The dokkaebi 'Dokgak' invites you to his channel.]
When I looked up at the sky, I saw a group of dokkaebis staring down at us.
At the front was a one-legged dokkaebi wearing a smug, unlucky smile. Behind him, Bihyung was hunched over, darting miserable glances between me and Dokgak.
Even among dokkaebis, power harassment existed.
…Yeah. I think I get what's going on.
I took a short breath and deliberately spoke in a casual, flippant tone.
"So what? Aren't you giving out the rewards?"
Dokgak's sparse eyebrows twitched.
But his lips still held a relaxed smile.
[Ah, of course we must. My apologies. That was quite a careless mistake.]
Dokgak was a dangerous dokkaebi. Fundamentally different from the airheaded Bihyung or the prideful mid-level dokkaebis.
Not just anyone could become a storyteller of a major channel like his.
[Sub Scenario — 'SSS-Rank Hunt' has concluded.][Reward calculation has begun.][You have obtained 50,000 coins as a reward.]
When the massive amount of coins suddenly poured in, I couldn't help but feel a bit better.
Fifty thousand coins from a single scenario.
This really was a ridiculously generous scenario.
Considering that sub-scenarios were arbitrarily created by dokkaebis, most of these coins probably came straight out of Dokgak's pocket. I thought he'd be annoyed—but instead, he was smiling.
[Watching an interesting story is one of a dokkaebi's greatest joys. How could I not be pleased?]
He muttered as if he'd read my thoughts.
Well, he did own the Tokyo Dome's massive channel—this level of expense probably didn't even faze him.
Who was doing well in Japan right now, anyway?
Since it was still the era when historical-grade figures dominated, it was probably Oda Nobunaga or Miyamoto Musashi.
Right… so his affiliated incarnations were raking in money for him.
"Then hurry up and give the additional rewards too. This can't be everything, right?"
[Ah, of course. Naturally, I must. You are the very person who made this scenario entertaining.]
That sarcastic tone somehow made it more irritating.
If it weren't for that bastard, the [Disaster of Questions] scenario would have ended much more easily. From behind, Bihyung—who'd been sneaking glances—sent me a private transmission.
—Hey… listen…
But before he could finish, Dokgak cut him off.
[Bihyung, prepare the rewards.]
Bihyung flinched in shock.
[W-what?]
[Prepare the rewards. Do I need to say it twice?]
Oh wow… would you look at this guy?
Hesitating, Bihyung spoke again.
[But the sub-scenario supervisor is Dokgak-nim right now…]
[Interesting, Bihyung. Are you trying to throw your weight around just because incarnations are watching?]
As if to put on a show, a merciless aura pressed down on Bihyung's entire body. A dokkaebi's power was directly determined by the size of their channel.
[I heard your channel's been growing lately. Seems that was true.]
At Dokgak's calm voice, Bihyung's small body shrank even further.
[N-no! That's a misunderstanding!]
[The sixth scenario involves both Korea and Japan, doesn't it? Have you forgotten?]
[S-sorry! I'll prepare it immediately!]
[Begin at once.]
[Y-yes!]
They say familiarity breeds affection—but watching Bihyung, who manages my channel, bow and scrape like that still didn't make me feel very good.
If I had to compare it, right now Dokgak was to Bihyung what Song Minwoo—the guy who used to bully me back in high school—had been to me.
[Additional reward settlement will now begin.]
[You have obtained the basic reward: 'Parasite Species Talisman.']
[There are additional optional rewards.]
[You are the highest contributor to this scenario.]
[You have priority selection rights for the additional rewards.]
I looked at the translucent catalog floating in front of me.
As expected—since we'd taken down a calamity, they were offering some pretty decent stuff.
[Infinite Dimensional Subspace Coat] – SSS-grade[Blackflame Half-Gloves] – SSS-grade[Sylphid's Leap Boots] – SSS-grade
Triple-S–grade reward items.
I skimmed through the options.
The [Infinite Dimensional Subspace Coat], which had a special 'subspace' option in its inner pocket, allowing you to store large amounts of items.
Then the [Blackflame Half-Gloves], which greatly amplified the performance of darkness- and flame-attribute skills.
And finally, the [Sylphid's Leap Boots], which let you use the special option 'Leap' up to three times a day.
They weren't quite relic-tier, but they were still items I could easily use well past the tenth scenario.
Of course, someone unfamiliar with this world might scoff and say, "What? Even SSS-grade items only last until the tenth scenario?"
But that's just how the world of Ways of Destruction works. What was I supposed to do about it?
Item-grade inflation in Ways of Destruction is brutal. Even if two items share the same grade, there's often a huge performance gap between something obtained early on and something acquired in the mid to late stages.
That said, just because an item is SSS-grade now doesn't mean you have to discard it later. With special materials, you can transcend equipment.
That was exactly why relics were so valuable.
Unlike standard graded items, relics don't require transcendence. As scenarios unlock, relics naturally recover their original power, free from the constraints of plausibility.
[······Please choose your reward.]
Bihyung said, his face utterly dejected.
Seriously—his kid gets bullied once and he loses all his spirit.
Then I heard Bihyung's goblin communication.
—Personally, I'd recommend the [Infinite Dimensional Subspace Coat]. It's got an extra hidden option. And it's easy to transcend later on, too.
Well, I guess he is my manager, in his own way. At least he's doing his job.
The sharp-witted Dokgak immediately shot Bihyung a glare.
[Bihyung?]
[······Y-yes!]
[You're supposed to explain the items to the constellations as well. Have you forgotten?]
[Ah—r-right!]
At Dokgak's words, Bihyung began explaining the items to the constellations watching the Seoul Dome channel.
While that was happening, I turned to Yoo Joonghyuk.
"Yoo Joonghyuk, what are you going to pick?"
The priority choice was mine, but this time I decided to let Yoo Joonghyuk have it. He had helped out, after all.
…Of course, it's not like I expected that to make him go easy on me later.
"Yoo Joonghyuk?"
No answer.
He was just glaring at me.
"Did you pass out standing up again?"
I waved my hand in front of his face a few times, but there was no change in his pupils.
[Character 'Yoo Joonghyuk' is currently using 'Recovery Hibernation Lv.3.']
…Well, considering how recklessly he'd been moving in that condition, I guess that was to be expected.
If he'd gone as far as activating [Recovery Hibernation], his body must be completely wrecked.
Still, I couldn't just choose for him outright, so I left a brief message using [Midday Tryst].
As I did, Han Sooyoung—who had been watching from the side—suddenly cut in.
"…Hey, can I choose for him instead?"
"If you feel like getting beaten half to death by Yoo Joonghyuk later, go ahead."
Han Sooyoung went silent instantly.
I turned toward Bihyung and spoke.
"I'll take the [Infinite Dimensional Subspace Coat]."
But the one who responded wasn't Bihyung.
Dokgak nodded and snapped his fingers, and the catalog vanished.
[A fine choice. Then let us move directly to the distribution location.]
Distribution location?
[Additional rewards cannot be distributed here due to procedural regulations.]
Well, look at that.
"Then where are we going?"
[I will escort you using my 'Goblin Gatu.']
Goblin gatu.
In folktales, a gatu is a type of headwear—but here, it meant something else. A gatu was a kind of 'room' that every goblin possessed. A space that concealed their true body.
"That's inconvenient. I'd rather you just give it to me here."
The gatu was his personal domain. There was no telling what might happen if I went in.
Besides, as far as I knew, there was no such procedure as moving to a goblin's gatu just to receive additional rewards.
Honestly, I could already guess what kind of proposal he was planning to make once I stepped inside.
Beside me, Bihyung was watching nervously.
Dokgak's eyes narrowed as he looked at me.
[Hmm… if you keep complaining, I might have to cancel the item distribution altogether.]
"Go ahead."
When it came to scenario rewards, the Star Stream was ruthlessly strict.
No matter how discretionary a 'sub-scenario' might be, once a scenario ended, items that had been promised could not simply be taken back.
The smile on Dokgak's face deepened.
[Interesting.]
—That won't end well for you.
Goblin communication.
As Dokgak slowly opened his mouth, two voices overlapped as they spoke.
[Kim Dokja. I've heard your story quite often. You're so famous that even the constellations across the sea are aware of you.]
—I already know you've contracted with the goblin Bihyung. However, among goblins, something called 'Avatar Transfer' is possible.
[I heard you don't lose your composure even before goblins. Seeing you today, it seems that rumor wasn't exaggerated.]
—Let me be direct. Come to my channel. I'm planning to expand my channel's scale into the Korean Peninsula. If you have any desired contract terms, I'm willing to accommodate them.
Interesting.
I hadn't expected a scouting offer like this.
In football terms, Dokgak's proposal was equivalent to being recruited from a solid mid-tier Asian league team straight into a top club in La Liga.
Looked at that way, it was an attractive offer.
But the problem was… what came after the transfer.
I knew exactly what kind of being 'Dokgak' was.
"You must be mistaken about something. I'm actually a very timid person. I'm shaking just talking to you right now. So I'd really appreciate it if you'd just hand over the item and get lost."
For the first time, Dokgak's confident expression stiffened.
[Interesting. And humble, too.]
—Insolent to the extreme. But there will come a day when you'll learn humility.
"…What do you mean by that?"
—Because Bihyung's channel is going to disappear soon.
A subtle smile crept onto Dokgak's lips.
[If that's how you choose to act, then I suppose there's nothing to be done. I was planning to announce this after distributing the rewards, but… how unfortunate.]
…Announce? Announce what?
Dokgak looked away from me and raised his gaze to the sky.
Facing the radiant constellations, he slowly opened his mouth.
His voice rang out thunderously, as if it would echo across all of Seoul.
[To the esteemed constellations who have been enjoying the scenario so far, I regret to inform you of some rather unfortunate news.]
The group of low-ranking goblins quickly withdrew from around Bihyung. Bihyung stood there, wearing a bewildered expression.
Whenever goblins took up positions like that, something bad was always about to happen.
[Unfortunately, among the channels operating in the Seoul Dome, one has been discovered to have committed illegal scenario manipulation.]
[A significant number of constellations focus their attention on 'Dokgak.']
[That channel is none other than Goblin Bihyung's #BI-7623 channel. Following our investigation, we—the low-ranking goblins of the Seoul Dome—have concluded that excessive scenario manipulation by this channel has violated 'plausibility.']
…Wait. What did he just say?
[Therefore, this goblin formally requests, on behalf of the low-ranking goblins of the Seoul Dome, an official 「Plausibility Compliance Review」 of the aforementioned channel by the Administration Bureau.]