< Episode 18. The Reader's Fight (5) >
[The Constellation, 'The Demonic Judge of Fire,' gauges your sincerity.]
[The Constellation, 'The Subtle Schemer,' looks somewhat annoyed.]
[The Constellation, 'The Prisoner of the Long Winter,' actively expresses irritation.]
[The Constellation, 'The Prisoner of the Long Winter,' asks if you're really going to switch channels.]
Dokgak smiled, clearly amused.
"A bridge, you say?"
"Connect your channel to mine."
"Wouldn't that result in a duplicate connection?"
"Doesn't matter. That way, the constellations won't have to struggle either—they can just switch channels directly through me, right?"
"Hmmm. That's true. This is interesting."
"And honestly, I'm a little curious too."
"Curious?"
"I want to see what kind of constellations are in the channel I'll be contracting with. I've only ever been in backwater channels like this one, so I'm curious what a big channel is like. I want to take a look beforehand. Is that not allowed?"
I deliberately turned a contemptuous gaze toward Bihyung. Bihyung's face visibly crumpled in real time. A satisfied smile spread across Dokgak's face.
"Bihyung, you really did contract an excellent incarnation. Well—not anymore, that is."
Dokgak's hand moved through the air, and the system began to be manipulated.
"Very well. Then why don't you experience the air of a major city?"
The next moment, I felt something like a new line of code being plugged into my body. A distinct sensation of connection, as though I'd been linked to somewhere else.
As I slowly blinked, countless gazes began to settle upon me.
One. Two. Three…
Every hair on my body stood on end.
This was clearly different from when I'd been in Bihyung's channel.
Just from the gazes alone, I could feel the overwhelming presence of multitudes.
Amazing.
So this is what it's like—the channel of the dokkaebi who dominates the Tokyo Dome?
"How is it?" Dokgak asked. "The new league you'll be active in."
It didn't seem to be limited to Japanese constellations alone.
This bastard—does he even have fixed subscribers from other worlds or continents?
If I worked in a place like this, just how many coins could I rake in at once?
I honestly couldn't even begin to estimate it.
"It's incredible. Seriously huge."
"Then shall we proceed with the contract once more—"
"Before that, I'd like to say a few words. Is that alright?"
"...Very well."
Dokgak looked slightly displeased, but ultimately gave his permission.
With my eyes closed, I began to speak.
"Constellations of the Tokyo Dome. Can you hear me?"
[Several constellations who dislike the Korean Peninsula are watching you.]
"I think some of you may have already heard of me. I am Kim Dokja—the one who destroyed the [Absolute Throne] and became the 'King of a World Without a King.' For reference, I don't have a sponsoring constellation, and… well. That's about it. I look forward to working with you."
[The constellations of the Tokyo Dome listen closely to your words.]
I'd only given a brief introduction, yet several constellations were already beginning to make indirect approaches toward me.
Good.
This is a solid start.
"Now then. Since I've just connected to the channel, I thought I'd host a small event. You could call it a Korea–Japan collaborative event, perhaps… If you're interested, please connect immediately to channel #BI-7623. I'll even raffle off coins for the early arrivals, so be sure—"
Click.
The channel was cut off.
When I opened my eyes, Dokgak was glaring at me.
"What on earth do you think you're doing right now?"
"What does it look like? I'm hosting an event."
"What are you thinking… Do you want to die? You really think the constellations of my channel would fall for something that shallow—"
They will.
Gladly.
Because you cut it off at exactly the point that makes them curious.
And Dokgak's expression slowly began to change.
"W-Wait. Constellations, where are you going right now?"
The flow was starting to shift.
In Bihyung's channel, the number of constellations was steadily increasing.
[A large number of constellations have entered channel #BI-7623.]
[The channel level has increased.]
Smiling, I said,
"Wow, lots of you showed up. Thank you. You came for the event, right?"
[The Constellation, 'The Prisoner of the Long Winter,' expresses irritation at the appearance of lowly constellations.]
[The Constellation, 'The God of Naval Warfare,' fumes at the arrival of hostile constellations.]
"Hey now, don't fight. I didn't invite you here to brawl."
[A constellation who frequently uses Muramasa urges you to hurry up and start the coin raffle.]
[Several constellations ask when the coin event will begin.]
"Don't rush me. I'll do it in a bit. But think about it—are those one or two measly coins really that important? If you don't even have an incarnation, you don't have anywhere to spend coins anyway, right? Let's take it slow. Nice and easy."
[Several constellations glare at you with dissatisfied expressions.]
"In case some of you didn't hear me earlier, let me say it again. I'm Kim Dokja—an incarnation with no sponsoring constellation. I won the War of Kings, and I stopped two disasters before they even began. If you searched the entire world, you'd be hard-pressed to find many incarnations stronger than me. Among those without a sponsor, there are none. But you see… lately, even this has been getting tiring."
As if he'd sensed my intention, Dokgak's complexion turned deathly pale.
"Wait! You—!"
I flashed Dokgak a wide grin.
Production?
Yeah. I'll show you what real "production" looks like.
"The Seoul Dome is currently on the verge of its Fifth Scenario. If you're as smart as I think you are, you know exactly what that means. That's right. Soon, the event you all love so much will take place."
There was less than a week left before the scenario began.
And every 'Disaster Scenario' held a special event before its start.
A banquet for all constellations existing within the 'Star Stream.'
Soon, the second
I continued.
"So, to commemorate the occasion, I thought I'd run a little surprise event of my own. If, by the day of
[The Constellation, 'The Prisoner of the Long Winter,' gulps.]
"I will choose one of the constellations in this channel as my partner."
[The Constellation, 'The Subtle Schemer,' looks at you with interest.]
"Gender, race, or world of origin doesn't matter. Strong or weak. Famous or unknown. Either is fine. What I care about is passion alone—the passion to see the end of this damned story with me."
[The Constellation, 'The Bald Volunteer Commander,' wipes his head.]
"Anyone is welcome. I'll be waiting for you here. Ten thousand. You remember that, right? Make sure you spread the word properly."
"H-Hey! Wait! Just a moment—!"
Dokgak stammered too late. The damage was already done.
Dokgak's screaming voice.
Endless channel messages exploding one after another.
Indirect messages pouring in from all directions—I was on the verge of feeling dizzy.
How much time passed like that?
Cold fury rose in Dokgak's vacant expression.
As if he'd made up his mind, he raised his hand toward me.
"Incarnation Kim Dokja. You must die here."
Yeah. I figured you'd say that.
I forced a calm smile.
"A lot of constellations are watching this right now. Aren't you afraid of the backlash?"
"Do not underestimate the master of the Tokyo Dome."
There wasn't a shred of patience left on Dokgak's furious face.
Damn it.
"Do you really think I can't handle the plausibility backlash of killing a single insect?"
Dokgak's fingers snapped together casually.
It was the careless gesture of someone crushing a bug.
Pajijijik!
A powerful spark erupted around me.
It was Dokgak's specialty—'Bursting the Balloon.'
That current would swell my body like a balloon, then make it explode.
My bloated organs would scatter as fragments, and every piece that had once been 'me' would turn to dust, dispersing into the debris of the universe.
That was how it should have gone.
"…Why isn't this working?"
Snap!
Again.
Snap!
Dokgak snapped his fingers twice more.
But nothing happened to my body.
Moments later, even the sparks vanished.
"W-What the hell is this…?"
A flustered Dokgak stared at his fingers.
But he didn't know.
That the problem wasn't his fingers.
A chill ran down my spine as an enormous shadow fell over my vision from behind, blotting out the light.
"Hey. You damn Jap dokkaebi."
Then, a voice reached me.
Instinctively, I knew. The owner of that voice had just protected me.
Thinking about it, it made perfect sense. The only ones who can stop a dokkaebi using the system are those who use the same system.
"Having fun flexing your power?"
It was the first time I'd ever heard Bihyung's voice.
A shocked Dokgak stammered,
"H-How did you break the [Binding Script]…?"
"Oh, that? I just put a little strength into it, and it snapped."
Dokgak's face flushed red.
Now fully regaining his senses, fury surged across his expression.
"A mere low-grade dokkaebi…! Bihyung! Do you have any idea how disrespectful this is?"
"Low-grade? You're low-grade too—you just have more subscribers."
"I've simply chosen not to be promoted. How dare you challenge me, the master of the Tokyo Dome?"
"Tokyo Dome? Sure, Tokyo Dome. Plenty of good constellations there."
Bihyung stepped out from behind me and strode straight toward Dokgak.
"But were you always this small?"
Why was that?
His appearance hadn't changed, yet Bihyung looked several times larger than Dokgak.
The giant-like shadow cast behind him proved it.
As I've said before, a dokkaebi's authority grows stronger the more subscribers they have.
Terrified, Dokgak staggered backward.
"H-How…?"
"You were talking a lot earlier. What was it? That I illegally manipulated the scenario?"
From Bihyung's shadow, a black arm suddenly burst forth, grabbing Dokgak by the collar and lifting him into the air.
"You openly steal someone else's incarnation, and now you want to talk about business ethics? Did you learn manners from some humpbacked old geezer?"
"Ugh—ugh. If you do something like this, you won't get away with it either—!"
"Like I give a shit!"
The shadow's right arm swelled grotesquely large.
"Go find the common sense you lost in Andromeda!"
KWA-AANG!
Struck by the shadow's fist, Dokgak blasted through the ceiling's barrier and was sent flying into the far reaches of outer space.
He's a dokkaebi, so that won't kill him—but he'll be seriously shaken for a while.
Letting out a rough breath, Bihyung seemed to have vented some of his anger.
Man… I almost died.
Exhaling in relief, I loosened my stiff neck and walked toward Bihyung.
The channel had merely grown, yet Bihyung somehow looked unfamiliar now.
As we awkwardly stared at each other, Bihyung's vacant eyes met mine.
His lips curved into an expression I couldn't tell was a smile or tears.
Maybe that's the face a dokkaebi makes when it's truly happy.
"Do you know what I'm looking at right now?"
I didn't.But somehow, I felt like I did.
It probably wasn't much different from what I was seeing.
[The channel level has increased.]
[The channel level has increased.]
[The channel level has increased.]
[A constellation that likes the Korean Peninsula wishes to become your sponsoring constellation.]
[A constellation that desires historical reconciliation wishes to become your sponsoring constellation.]
[A constellation that enjoys changing genders is curious about your true intentions.]
[A constellation that enjoys subculture takes an interest in you.]
The endless stream of messages began to fill the space around Bihyung and me.
At last, the stage would expand—from here, to the entire world.