< Episode 18. The Reader's Fight (4) >
Han Sooyoung asked, looking utterly dumbfounded.
"What the hell? What's all this noise about? Why are they suddenly picking a fight over plausibility when everything was fine?"
"What do you think? They're just trying to start trouble."
"Trouble? Why?"
Why else?
Because I turned down the transfer offer—so this is how far he's willing to go.
Floating in the sky, Dokgak could be seen submitting a report to the Administration Bureau.
Plausibility compliance review…
I never imagined he'd use it like this.
I'd expected that other large channels would eventually start messing with us, but not in this way.
Bihyung, who clearly had something to feel guilty about, had gone pale and was glancing back and forth between me and Dokgak, his face crumpled as if he were about to cry at any second.
—W-What do we do? What should we do?
—Be honest. Did they find out about our contract?
Bihyung shook his head vigorously.
—Then did they find out you opened the goblin bag for me?
—Th-That's not it either.
—You're sure?
—M-Maybe… probably…
—Then there's nothing to be scared of. Even if all of that were discovered, it's still not something that warrants a plausibility compliance review. None of that violates the rules in the first place.
What I said was true.
There were no precedents of incarnations directly signing stream contracts or using goblin bags—but that didn't mean those actions violated the Star Stream's core regulations.
Reassured at last, Bihyung nodded.
—O-Okay. Got it.
Watching Bihyung flail like a lost child, I honestly couldn't tell anymore which of us was supposed to be the goblin.
I turned my gaze back toward Dokgak and the low-ranking goblins.
[#BI-7623 Channel's scenario manipulation history has been reported.]
[The Administration Bureau is currently reviewing the matter.]
If my judgment was correct, the compliance review would eventually be dismissed.
Unless Dokgak had concrete evidence that actually infringed on 'plausibility'…
But he was hiding his cards, and I had no way to find out what they were right now.
Which meant there was only one option left.
"Hey, stop dragging this out and just hand over the rewards already. Can't you see the constellations are getting bored?"
[That's difficult. This matter is far more important than reward distribution.]
—Have you changed your mind? If you accept the offer I made earlier, we can pretend all of this never happened.
I silently looked up at Dokgak.
So that's how you want to play it—head-on?
"What exactly is this 'matter'? Let's hear it. What part of my channel's operations counts as illegal manipulation? Do you have proof?"
If he actually had evidence, this would confirm it.If he was bluffing, this farce would end immediately.
But as if he'd been waiting for this, Dokgak smiled.
[Do you really want to hear it? You'll regret it.]
"Say it."
[This matter also concerns you, Kim Dokja.]
"…Me?"
My thoughts raced.
Was it because I possessed the text and was using future knowledge? But due to filtering, that information shouldn't be visible to constellations or goblins. If that were the issue, I should have been hit by a plausibility storm long ago—
[Can you see the screen?]
I looked up at the massive screen that had appeared in the air.
Scenes from my recent battles were being played.
The first screen showed my decisive fight against Dokhee Lee Seolhwa.
[This is the evidence.]
"…What exactly is supposed to be the evidence here?"
All the screen showed was me not killing Lee Seolhwa.
Dokgak switched the display.
[This is also evidence.]
The second screen showed me watching the battle between Lycaon and Antinous.
What the hell—
[And the third piece of evidence is this.]
The third screen.
On it, I was attacking Myung Ilsang—the Disaster of Questions—together with my companions. The seal on Myung Ilsang continued to break. A suffocating pressure tightened in my chest.
[Do you not see the commonality between these scenes?]
At that moment, I realized it.
He wasn't speaking to me anymore.
[Constellations watching this screen—do any of you see it?]
Silence fell over everything.
[The battle with Dokhee, the battle with Antinous, and the battle with the Disaster of Questions. These three battles share one thing in common.]
The screens began to rotate.
[He could have killed Dokhee and stopped a 'disaster.']
Dokgak pointed at Dokhee.
[He could have killed Antinous and stopped a 'disaster.']
He pointed at Antinous.
[And he could have stopped the 'Disaster of Questions' before the seal was broken.]
He pointed at Myung Ilsang.
And finally—
He pointed at me.
[Yet he deliberately chose not to do so.]
"Wait—what are you saying right now—?!"
Only then did I realize what Dokgak was trying to do.
A chill crept slowly up my spine.
So that's how it is.
So this is the meticulous cruelty of goblins.
[Constellations. The incarnation Kim Dokja colluded with the channel's storyteller, 'Bihyung.' He deliberately concealed his true strength and manipulated the progression of the scenarios. He toyed with the scenarios through forced direction and deliberately staged frustration for malicious purposes.]
The final screen appeared.
In it, I was using [Wind's Path] to finish off Myung Ilsang.
[All for the sake of 'directing' the catharsis that would come at the very end.]
That bastard never intended to request a plausibility compliance review from the start.
Dokgak…
His real objective was—
[To squeeze coins out of you.]
To completely destroy Bihyung's channel.
[Several constellations fall into uneasy silence.]
In truth, the evidence Dokgak presented didn't violate any clause of a plausibility compliance review.
It was common practice for goblins to manipulate incarnations to make scenarios more entertaining.
The problem was that some constellations hated that fact.
The moment the constellations felt I wasn't taking the scenario seriously, they lost interest.
It was like the alienation effect in theater: the moment the fourth wall between audience and characters collapses, the audience's immersion dies instantly.
And that was exactly the point Dokgak was aiming for.
[Constellation, 'The Bald Volunteer Commander,' gapes blankly.]
[Constellation, 'The Prisoner of Longing,' snickers.]
[Constellation, 'The Secretive Schemer,' shrugs as if it doesn't matter.]
Some constellations were shocked. Some were indifferent. Some were bored.
The real problem was the others.
[Some constellations, their immersion broken, leave the channel.]
[Constellations questioning the channel's fairness leave the channel.]
[Some constellations request coin refunds.]
The number of constellations in Bihyung's channel began to drop.
[The channel's scale is decreasing.]
Indirect messages poured in without pause.
Bihyung's pale body was slowly shrinking.
His horns were getting smaller.
I let out a sigh.
"The channel's done for."
There was only one option left now.
Watching the number of constellations dwindle, I spoke to Dokgak.
"Alright, I get it now. So if you're done talking, hand over the reward. I'll accept your offer."
The corner of Dokgak's mouth curled upward.
—Seems you still have some sense left.
Bihyung's eyes widened in disbelief.
[Y-You…!]
"Don't look at me like that. What choice do I have?"
I shrugged and spoke in a deliberately contemptible voice.
Bihyung's horns trembled violently, shaking with betrayal.
The kid's really terrified.
—Bihyung. Do you trust me?
—What…?
—Just trust me once. Just this once. Either way, everything's about to collapse anyway, isn't it?
After ending the transmission, I spoke to Dokgak again.
"Let's move."
[Very well. Then let us enjoy a moment of sweet reward.]
The moment Dokgak snapped his fingers, the surrounding scenery vanished.
What appeared was a room reminiscent of a luxury hotel's suite.
…So this was his 'gatu.'
Suppressing my tension, I scanned the surroundings. On the plush carpet were low tables and chairs, sized for goblins.
A variety of liquors were displayed in one corner of the cabinet. Only then did I recall that goblins were, by setting, quite the heavy drinkers.
After roughly taking stock of the room, I approached the window.
And the sight outside—
My god.
Endless darkness filled my vision.
Between the vast blackness of space, distant streams of glittering stars flowed. A magnificent vista of the greater universe, cascading like a torrent of jewels. Constellations forming massive galaxies, each revolving and rotating in their own orbits.
Absurdly enough, in that moment, I felt genuine awe.
So this is the Star Stream.
The great current of stars that governs all scenarios.
This was where every story began.
"A magnificent view, isn't it?"
Turning around, I saw Dokgak standing there.
"Sometimes I find myself staring at that scenery in a daze. No matter how many times I see it, it never grows old."
"You just now—"
"Oh, were you surprised? This is my 'real' voice."
It was the first time I'd heard a goblin's voice in person.
The goblin voices I'd always heard had been through broadcasts.
Which meant that the Dokgak standing before me now was his true body.
Dokgak's eyes shone quietly.
"You're not thinking of doing anything foolish, are you?"
"What kind of foolish thoughts? Oh—are you worried I might try to kill you?"
A soft chuckle escaped him.
"You know that's impossible."
"I'm not crazy enough to go up against a goblin."
"I like that. Then let us begin the contract."
Dokgak snapped his fingers once more. A contract appeared before me, along with another goblin.
Bihyung.
Bound head to toe by system text strings coded with constraints, his mouth sealed shut, Bihyung glared at me with resentful eyes.
"I brought Bihyung as a notary. And in any case, you'll need to terminate your contract with him in order to sign one with me. Bihyung will bear the termination penalty himself."
I was slightly surprised.
So he really had known about my contract with Bihyung all along.
Which meant he'd approached me from the beginning, fully aware that I was a suitable asset to gather incarnations.
Maintaining a calm façade, I replied,
"Do whatever you like. I don't care."
"Good. I appreciate decisiveness. Would you like to review the contract first? This is actually my first time doing a direct contract of this sort."
I read through the contract.
Needless to say, the terms were overwhelmingly unfavorable.
Sponsorship revenue split fifty-fifty.
Several clauses that restricted my freedom.
And on top of that, I was no longer the 'party in power,' but the subordinate.
Dokgak asked with a smile,
"What do you think? This is industry standard. Of course, if you'd like, we can make some adjustments."
Industry standard, my ass.
Even Bihyung hadn't shoved something like this in my face from the start.
I nodded and said,
"Well, it's not terrible. But before we sign, I have one proposal."
"A proposal? What would that be?"
"It'd be a bit disappointing if I were the only one switching channels. You're not planning to be satisfied with just me, are you? There are a few pretty powerful constellations in Bihyung's channel."
"Oh? And who might they be?"
"The Prisoner of Longing, the Black Flame Dragon of the Abyss, and the Devil-like Judge of Fire, among others…"
With each title I named, astonishment filled Dokgak's eyes.
"The Prisoner of Longing? To think he had a constellation like that… Bihyung, you did rather well."
Muffled by his restraints, Bihyung let out a desperate mmph.
I continued.
This was the most important part.
"Honestly, it'd be a waste to leave those constellations behind. So here's my suggestion—why don't you help set things up so they can move channels with me?"