they were walking through the dark tunnel to meet up with the rest of the party.
They were currently conversing in Leonese, not that it mattered anymore since Yoo Sangah could translate now. Zhou had to use a bit of Fooling in order to ensure nobody could understand what they were saying.
"That thread…You noticed it too?" Huang was looking at the thin golden thread that Yoo Sangah was carrying.
"It's Ariadne's Thread. There's no way it's not."
"Does that mean her sponsor is Ariadne?"
"Maybe, but I feel like there is something more going on here. Sangah seems very close to Dokja. The two of them apparently knew each other before the scenarios started, and she seems to trust him well. The way she acted earlier was off, she seemed like she really did want to tell him but couldn't."
"Have you tried Divination?"
Zhou let out a tired groan. "I only get interference. It's probably related to the strange properties of the spirit world here, but my Divinations have been mostly ineffective no matter what I try. Even if it's not directed at Dokja, the most I can get are bits and pieces. I feel like I'm back at sequence 9."
Huang chuckled as he held out the box in his hand and inspected it closely. "Well it seems your spiritual intuition works just fine still. I'm assuming this box is the reason why you asked me to join you guys down here?"
"I guess so. Even I didn't know until I saw the energy coming from that box."
"This thing certainly is interesting. If I study this, I should be able to discover more about the power system here."
"That's good. How long do you think it will take for you to get some answers?"
"I'm not sure how compatible my Artisan abilities are with the items here, but it shouldn't take too long regardless. After all, I am a genius. There is nothing I can't handle." Huang said with a wide grin as he flung his arm around Zhou's shoulder in a playful manner.
They continued on for a little while before meeting up with the rest of the group who were holding the entrance of the hole. After giving them some of the food, the group began to walk towards the station.
The strange thing was that dokkaebi Biyoung was following them in silence, but he wasn't doing anything and was just drifting along. Zhou paid close attention and noticed that Biyoung and Dokja occasionally glanced at each other and made faces, as if they were conversing in some manner.
Interesting. Unfortunately, Zhou had no way of confirming. He couldn't access Dokja's thoughts, and he wouldn't risk trying anything with the dokkaebi for something small like this. He was still playing it cautiously around this new system, at least until he got more information.
Eventually the surroundings brightened as they came close to the station. The people could be seen but the atmosphere was weird. There was an urgent a bustling mood. Zhou was about to question why when a couple of messages answered him.
[There are 20 minutes left until the paid settlement.]
[Prepare the survival fee.]
"Coins, coins, please!"
"I don't have enough coins! Please, a few coins…"
"I'll give you one million won—no, ten million won! Who will sell 100 coins?"
The panic was growing as everyone was hurriedly trying to collect enough coins to survive, but there were a few outliers. Cheon Inho and the Cheoldoo Group were watching from the sides while smiling. A few women flocked toward the gang members and cried out.
"Y-You said you would give me 100 coins before!"
"Hrmm, is that so? I don't remember."
"What…?"
"I will think again if you will let me put it in one more time. How about it?"
Zhou's complexion darkened, but his attention was brought towards Jung Heewon who had a strange energy gathering around her as she muttered under her breath, "Those sons of bitches…"
Oh, Zhou-ssi! You came just in time." Cheon Inho smiled as he laid eyes on the returning group. "Zhou-ssi has a lot of coins! How much? You must be the richest one among us after venturing to the surface so many times, right?"
The attention turned towards Zhou and his group as the crowd closed in with a desperate look in their eyes.
"C-Coins?"
"Who has a lot of coins?"
"A-are you Dokja-ssi?"
"Please save me!"
That bastard. He and his group have more than enough coins to save the people here, yet he throws me under the bus? Believe it or not, I don't actually have all that many coins! It's easy to avoid the monsters on the surface when you can teleport right to your location! Zhou counted the heads in the crowd as he sighed. Around 30 of them. I don't even have that many coins, though I could kill off a number of my spirit worms. Even then, it would only buy everyone here another day, and if I gave any more coins, then it would become suspicious where I got so much. As unfortunate as it is, I can't save these people.
Zhou then noticed the look that Dokja was giving him, and seemed to grasp his intention. He's glancing at Jung Heewon. Can he sense her gathering energy? He wants this to play out and let Jung Heewon get her revenge here. I just need the crowd to turn on Cheon Inho. Okay then, let's stir the pot.
"I'm terribly sorry, but unfortunately I don't have enough coins for everyone!"
"W-what?"
"That doesn't matter, just give some to me!"
"I only need 30! I can pay you back after I swear!"
The crowd seemed to be getting even more desperate at his words. Good.
"But, you don't need to worry about that. That's because there are people here with enough coins to make sure you all survive!" Zhou wore a wide grin as he pointed to the other end of the station where Cheon Inho and his group were watching.
The crowd turned its attention to the Cheoldoo Group as they tried to push it off.
"Haha, look at this, Zhou-ssi! What are you saying…" Cheon Inho laughed nervously as he looked out at the crowd. "If you kill them, you can steal their coins! What are you all waiting for? You want to live right?"
The crowd turned towards Zhou and his group, but nobody made a move.
"He's right you know, you can take the coins of the people you kill. " Zhou continued on as his smile grew wider. "But how does he know that?"
The crowd seemed shaken at the statement as their eyes turned back towards Cheon Inho and his group with suspicion.
Zhou continued to add fuel to the fire. "Have you ever stopped to consider why they are stronger than you? Why they have more coins than you? Why every time they go out to search for food, some don't come back while the others come back stronger?"
The crowd seemed to be putting together the pieces now as Cheon Inho and his group became increasingly more agitated.
"When I first arrived here at the station, there were around 90 people here, now there can't be more than 50. Why do you think that is?" Zhou's look turned somber as he addressed the crowd one last time. "If you want to live…Take back what was taken from you."
The Cheoldoo Group didn't wait for the crowd to react as they rushed towards Zhou and their party.
All hell broke loose as the station devolved into a warzone. Everyone was in a fight for survival as they desperately searched for a source of coins.
The members of the Cheoldoo Group that charged towards them ended up having their limbs removed by Dokja as he took action to disarm the incoming threats.
Huh, I guess he does have a strict 'no kill' ideology. Zhou lampooned as he noticed Jung Heewon move past him and towards the men lying defenseless on the ground before sticking them with her blade.
"I said I would kill him."
The energy that Zhou noticed earlier in Jung Heewon began to swell as a dazzling brilliance began radiating from her body. He also noticed Dokja looking at her with a smile. Was this part of his plan? To help Jung Heewon 'power up' in this fight after getting her revenge?
"Rest for now," Jung Heewon said. Her eyes were pale blue as she declared, "These guys are my share."
Jung Heewon had a bloody aura around her body as her blade painted an eerie trail. It was a light and precise kendo that moved between the Cheoldoo Group members. Blood spurted everywhere.
"Kuaaaak!"
The three beyonders provided support from the sidelines to try and prevent as many deaths as possible from both their group and the marginalized group. But Zhou was paying particularly close attention to how Dokja was fighting. He really isn't going in for the kill. He doesn't seem like one to shy away from such things. Is he intentionally giving the kills to Jung Heewon to feed her power?
Zhou continued to watch as Dokja would cut off a man's arms, as Jung Heewon would stab him in the heart. He would cut off a leg, and she would slit his throat.
The fighting died down as Cheon Inho was brought to his knees, his men already dead. "Hu, huhu… Y-You…"
He never stopped speaking, but Jung Heewon appeared behind Cheon Inho and sliced through him from top to bottom.
[All constellations in the channel feel intense joy.]
Finally, everyone stopped moving. The fight was over. However, they couldn't feel it. The times when they ate grilled meat, felt the meaning of life, joked while walking, and enjoyed moments of peace all seemed like a lie.
Yoo Sangah was crying. Lee Gilyoung closed his eyes. Lee Hyunsung bit his lips so hard he was bleeding. Jung Heewon exhausted her physical strength and was sitting in a pool of blood. Even Kim Namwoon seemed a bit dazed from all the bloodshed.
The only people seemingly unaffected were Dokja and the three beyonders as they looked at each other.
Being thrown into an unknown world filled with dangers and uncertainties. They handled surprisingly well up until this point, but reality had to hit at some point. At least when I started out, I had people to guide me through it… Zhou couldn't help but reminisce as his thoughts drifted over to his days in Tingen. Captain, Daly, Leonard. Everyone at the Nighthawks. They helped me adjust to that new world. But these people…
Zhou looked to Dokja as they locked eyes. He seems to truly care about these people here. If he really is someone who knows about the truths of this world, he will have to be one hell of an anchor for everyone as they adjust.
…
Yes, this is the truth of this world. Dokja was looking around at everyone after the fight. He knew that this was only the beginning, and that things would only get worse from here.
Dokja noticed the three beyonders looking around, unfazed by the recent events. They wore an unreadable expression, but Dokja swore he could see a hint of understanding, but also sadness, as he met Zhou's eyes.
He looks like he understands completely. As if he's been through a similar situation before. All three of them share that same look. They are looking at everyone with familiarity, not of them, but of the situation they find themselves in…Lost in a new world…Who exactly are these people? Dokja knew he didn't have time to think about this any further.
"Wake up, everybody… This scenario has just begun."
While everyone was in deep thought, Dokja was thinking about the next scenario. His wind was calm as the pages flipped one after another. I had obtained everything I needed from Geumho Station. The next stage was Chungmuro.
—
The next morning, once everyone had time to recompose themselves, the group prepared to head out to the next station. Minus Han Myungoh, who had disappeared at some point, but nobody seemed to care.
"Hey everyone. Are you coming with us?" Jung Heewon questioned.
Those who survived the station fight the other night decided not to follow. There were 12 of them. Not a whole lot, but it would have been much fewer if the foreigners hadn't intervened.
"…We will go separately. We have some coins left."
Zhou had given them some extra coins before departing, so that they could have a few more days to get back on their feet. A mother and her child stood out among the crowd to Dokja as he admired her strength to get them both through the scenario. With enough luck, she should be able to manage just fine on their own.
"Yes. I wish you luck."
Once Jung Heewon turned around, relief appeared on the people's faces. In fact, this response wasn't strange. Certainly, yesterday's situation was a bit shocking. It was understandable. One refused to give out charity while another one brutally killed people, even if there was a reason. To them, Jung Heewon might not be much different from the Cheoldoo Group.
"Are the preparations finished?"
Lee Hyunsung replied, "Yep! It is a bit rough but it is finished. There are plastic bottles to be used as water containers, goods to protect from the cold and emergency supplies…This is all we have. If you need anything else…"
Dokja thought about it for a moment before remembering something. "Oh, can you find me any portable charger?"
"You are talking about a powerbank? Why…?"
It was natural to wonder. A smartphone was useless because no signal was available. Dokja ignored the strange look the foreigners gave him and replied, "I have a place to use it."
Zhou fished around in his pockets for a moment before handing it to Dokja. "Give this back to me once you are finished using it."
How does this guy happen to have all this stuff in his pockets? Dokja thanked him as he plugged in the phone and announced, "We're going."
Dokja, Lee Hyunsung, Jung Heewon, Kim Namwoon, Yoo Sangah, Lee Gilyoung, Shin Yoosung, Zhou, Huang, and Amanises. The group of 10 gathered around and started their trek towards the next station.
Jung Heewon approached Dokja as they were walking and lightly punched him in the arm.
[You have received 1,000 coins from the character 'Jung Heewon'.]
"This…?"
"I am dividing it. I feel too sorry to eat it all alone. I will share it with other people."
I see. The other day, she was the one who got the most kills, mostly because I let her, but still. Dokja felt bad about taking the coins. After all, with his deal with Bihyung, he was probably the richest person here.
[Coins Possessed: 22,550 C]Dokja took some time to invest some coins into his stats as Jung Heewon went around giving everyone a share of the coins. When she got to the foreigners, they insisted that it wasn't needed.
"The coins will serve you better than us, we don't really have a use for them right now. You should keep it and increase your stats." Zhou stated plainly as Jung Heewon retorted.
"You guys can also use these coins to increase your stats. I feel bad for getting the most coins the other day. I'm just trying to balance it out."
"Our stats can't go any higher. They are already at the max for this point in the scenario."
What? All three of them maxed their stats already? But how? Dokja couldn't help but overhear this conversation as he looked back to the foreigners with surprise.
The other members also seemed surprised, but Zhou brushed it off, saying he collected plenty of coins on his trips to the surface gathering food, and me gave some to Amanises and Huang to get their stats up.
I guess that makes sense. I've seen how powerful he was. If he was clearing monsters the entire time I was in that stomach, he would have quite a bit of coins… Dokja accepted Zhou's excuse as a screen popped up in front of everyone.
[Main Scenario #2 – Meeting]
Category: Main Difficulty: E
Clear Conditions: Cross the tunnel and meet the survivors in the first main base.
Time Limit: None
Compensation: 500 coins
Failure: ???
[The next main base is 'Chungmuro'.]
"Is it Chungmuro? It is only three more stops…" Yoo Sangah spoke up after seeing the message.
"Three stations…" Jung Heewon sighed.
The group had already cleared their way through one station before this, having to deal with around 30 ground rats before moving on. It made sense that everyone was getting tired, especially after realising they would have to do that at least 3 more times.
Lee Hyunsung stepped up. "I'll take the vanguard."
"No, don't bother." Zhou stepped forward with Amanises. "You guys are still tired after last night. Take a break, we will clear the rest of the way."
Dokja noticed that Huang didn't step up. Instead, he was in the back messing around with the random item box. That doesn't matter. Between the two of them, they will be more than enough to clear the way.
"Are you sure?" Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung questioned at the same time.
Even though Dokja mentioned earlier that they were powerful, they still found it hard to believe that just the 2 of them could clear the rest of the way without any help.
Zhou simply smiled as he waved them off with his hand. "We will be just fine, don't worry."
The group continued to travel down the tracks with Zhou and Amanises taking the lead. When they got to the first station, they expected to be held up for a while as the two foreigners cleared a path. Instead, they watched as the two of them cleared the entire station in less than a minute without even breaking a sweat.
"Wow…" The party watched in awe as they continued through the stations. Other than Dokja and Kim Namwoon, this was their first time really seeing them in action.
When they reached the third station, they decided to stop and rest before continuing on to Chungmuro station. Jung Heewon and Yoo Sangah went off to the bathroom while he others scattered to search for any extra supplies left behind. Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung found a place to sit down and rest for a bit, and Huang approached and sat next to them as well, still tinkering away at the box.
"I'm going out for a bit." Dokja decided to head to the surface with a specific purpose in mind.
"Do you mind if we come with you?" Zhou and Amanises approached as he was about to head out.
Umm, things might get a bit complicated if I have to explain what I'm about to do. Dokja put on a smile. "That's okay. You guys can rest here. You must be tired after clearing the way for us. Thank you by the way."
"It's nothing. We actually wanted to have a talk with you about something and figured this would be a good time." Zhou insisted.
Talk? This can't be anything good. I don't think they will let me leave without agreeing to let them come. Dokja let out a sigh. "If you insist."
The three of them headed up the stairs to the surface. As Dokja prepared an item to negate the poison air, Zhou held out his hand to stop him as the gas began to part around the group as they walked forward.
Huh, I guess that's how he could venture out easily. The trio continued to walk for a while, following Dokja's lead. Zhou gave Amanises a look as Dokja felt a strange sensation overcome him, as if someone draped a blanket over his entire body.
"You are quite knowledgeable." Zhou broke the silence after a few minutes.
Shit, here it comes. Dokja casually remarked, "I just pay close attention to the little details. Things become more obvious if you pick up on all the hints."
"I agree. And you offered quite a few hints yourself, you know that?"
"How do you mean?" Dokja feigned ignorance as he spoke calmly, but his mind was a mess. Shit. How do I get out of this situation? They caught on too quickly.
Zhou looked to Dokja and put on his signature smile. "I'm just going to be blunt here, no point beating around the bush. I have a theory about you and I wanted to confirm it."
"A theory?"
"I think that you know a lot more than you let on. I think that everything that's happening here is following a certain path. A path that you know the end of. A path that you are trying to change."
Dokja stopped as he turned to fully face Amanises and Zhou. Shit. I guess the cat's out of the bag now. But I can't say anything now while the constellations are listening.
Zhou read Dokja's face and realised what he was thinking as he reassured, "You don't need to worry about any unwanted listeners. Amanises here is ensuring the only ones privy to this conversation are us."
Zhou pointed up towards the sky. Dokja looked up towards the sky where the constellations resided. Is she able to block out the view from the constellations? That shouldn't be possible, but they both seem so confident. Is this that blanket feeling I got earlier?
Dokja decided to roll with it as he let out a sigh. "If I do confirm anything about your theory, what are you going to do?"
"We have no intention of interfering with you regardless of the outcome of this conversation. If anything, we would be more inclined to help you depending on how this plays out." Amanises spoke up for the first timeshe's telling the truth, maybe this could be a boon for me. Fuck it, let's see what happens. I can't talk my way out of this one anyway. Dokja continued walking in the direction of the statue as he stated, "You are right. Everything that is happening here is already laid out. It is less of a path, and more of a story."
"A novel. One that you have read?" Zhou interrupted.
"Yes," Dokja wasn't surprised anymore at their deductions. "Everything that is happening right now is part of a story. And some of the people down there are even characters of that story."
"Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon?" Amanises asked.
"Wow. Am I really that easy to read?"
"You seemed to know more about those two, that's all," Amanises stated plainly.
"I see, well what else is there that you have noticed?"
"I made the guess that Yoo Joonghyuk was the protagonist of this story. I also overheard a little bit of your 'discussion' on the bridge. But I haven't figured out how he has information on the future different from you."
"You are correct. He's the protagonist, and the reason he is, as well as the reason he has information on the future, is because he is a regressor. Do you know what that means?"
"That's like Groundhog Day, where you go back in time every time you die?"
"Correct. Right now, this scenario is taking place at the beginning of this story, where this is Yoo Joonghyuk's third loop." Dokja's demeanor changed into a more somber one as he stopped again and looked at the Zhou and Amanises. "The thing about this story is…The ending isn't something I want to see again. If it's possible, I'd like to change it. The reason why I decided to come clean to you guys is to ask you and your friend Huang for help. I have information on these scenarios and the future, but that doesn't mean I have the ability to make any meaningful changes. But you guys are powerful, and if we work together, then the chances of making significant changes will hopefully increase. So I propose a deal. I can supply you with any information on these scenarios that you want, if you help me create the ending to this story that I want to see."
Dokja looked to Amanises and Zhou as the two of them turned to each other, silently communicating with their eyes. Zhou eventually pulled a coin out of his pocket and flicked it into the air before closing his eyes for a moment as he caught the coin.
"Tsk, I'm still not used to not being able to read anything from you," Zhou said with a grin. "But your deal seems favourable. And I am a fan of equivalent exchange. I just have one last question. Is ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■?"
"...What?" Dokja looked at Zhou as everyone seemed confused as to what had just happened. I couldn't hear the question? Was it censored? Why? What could the question have possibly been to be censored?
"Huh, that's interesting," Zhou said as he started mumbling off things that continued to be censored to Dokja.
"The information is under some form of Concealment, even my authority over it can't override it. This place is really starting to annoy me." Amanises clicked her tongue.
"It's fine. The fact that it was censored gave me a partial answer." Zhou quickly moved on. "Alright Dokja, we will help you to the best of our abilities where we can. So how about you tell us what to expect from this next scenario?"
The trio continued to make their way towards the statue as Dokja filled them in on all that he expected to happen and his plans on how to deal with it. Once they arrived at their destination, Dokja did some questionable things to earn some items from a constellation before the group turned to head back.
…
Dokja, Zhou, and Amanises had made their way back to the rest of the group as they continued onward towards Chungmuro Station. Dokja was handing out the items he acquired while Amanises filled in Huang on the details they learned from Dokja. Zhou was organizing his thoughts about all the information he learned.
I was right. This whole situation is a story, and Dokja has read the story and knows many details about this whole scenario. Yoo Joonghyk is the main character and a regressor, so he has also been through these before, but he has yet to reach the end in his previous runs. Zhou broke down what he knew before starting to think about what he didn't. I'm curious to know why my question was censored from him. I wanted to confirm if this place was a dream, but it seems Dokja either doesn't know or isn't supposed to know. Either way, it almost confirms that this is indeed some sort of dream. If it wasn't, then there would be no point in censoring false information.
Zhou began to formulate a plan of action now that he knew what to expect from the coming scenario as well. Dokja gave a rough idea of what his plan was, and the beyonders agreed to go along with it and offered some of their own suggestions, but that doesn't mean there wasn't room for improvement.
Zhou still didn't know if they could truly trust Dokja. Even if Dokja meant no harm, he could simply be a pawn in a larger game. But his spiritual intuition told him in the moment that he should go with it, so he decided to listen.
Eventually, they reached a certain section that Dokja had warned them about, as a message popped up in front of everyone.
[A new sub-scenario has arrived!]
[Sub Scenario – Phantom Prison]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: D~F
Clear Conditions: Escape from Phantom Prison within the time limit.
Time Limit: 1 hour
Compensation: 300 coins
Failure: ???
[Sub-scenario – Phantom Prison has begun!]
"Everybody step back," Dokja warned.
Yoo Sangah asked, "Phantom Prison? What is this?"
"It is coming. Everyone, please keep your mind straight." Dokja ignored her momentarily to continue giving advice to everyone.
When Dokja had warned Zhou and Amanises about this sub-scenario, Amanises said she had a solution and that she could cancel out the effects. All they had to do was endure it for a moment.
A haze overcame the party as the fog that instantly occupied the tunnel blocked the field of view. The party members in the immediate vicinity couldn't be seen. Everything appeared as a distorted scenery, as if they were on drugs.
"Uwah…I feel bad!" Jung Heewon screamed.
Zhou was also affected by the Phantom Prison as he closed his eyes and entered cogitation. For a brief moment, he was back in Tingen, on the day Megose arrived at the Nighthawks headquarters. Even though he was lucid thanks to Amanises, it still hurt to see Captain Dunn with a hole through his chest and his heart lying still on the floor.
A wave of tranquility washed over the entire party as everyone's dreams shattered and they snapped back to reality. Amanises was standing in the middle of the group as the silent waves continued to emanate from her person.
It took a minute, but everyone seemed to regain their composure. Almost everyone that is.
"…I will kill all of you." Jung Heewon was still lost in a trance as she lunged at Dokja with her sword.
He easily dodged out of the way and hit her in the back of the neck, knocking her unconscious.
"Yoo Sangah, please look after Jung Heewon-ssi." Dokja handed the limp body of Jung Heewon to Yoo Sangah.
"…Yes, yes!"
"It isn't over yet."
[You have met the conditions to clear the sub-scenario!]
[You have earned 300 coins.]
Monsters appeared as soon as the clear message showed up, just as Dokja had warned. They were a mass of liquid, reminiscent of ectoplasm. The 8th grade specter. It was the specters who made Phantom Prison.
Amanises simply put them to eternal rest as their souls found peace. Dokja collected the stones that they dropped and gave one to each of the foreigners.
After a bit more walking, they eventually ran into someone new.
"Who are you? Don't you know that this area is our hunting ground?" In the faint light of the entrance, a girl holding a long sword stood. She looked to be 17 and was wearing a school uniform. She was wearing a hood like she was trying to hide her name tag, but her appearance was noticeable.
Zhou recognized the girl from the screen back in the subway. So she is another side character from the story. Lee Jihye, was it? Dokja said he wanted to recruit her at some point and that she would be useful.
Lee Jiye noticed the specter stones in their hands and was surprised. "…Did you guys beat the specters? How did you…only Master could catch them?"
After brief introductions, she began to lead the group into the station, as messages appeared in the air.
[Main Scenario #2 – Meeting has ended.]
[The compensation will be settled.]
[You have entered Chungmuro.]
[The third scenario is currently in progress.]
[#GIR-8761 channel is active.]
[#BIR-3642 channel is active.]
More channels are active here? So there is going to be a larger audience just as Dokja said. Tsk. Before, I would have complained about needing to keep things down low in front of the constellations, but now that I know their true nature… Zhou couldn't help but smile as he felt more gazes looking down upon him. It's time to give them a story they won't forget.