Chapter Text
We followed Lee Jihye and entered Chungmuro. Yoo Sangah looked at destroyed door from platform and said.
"... It was a chaotic atmosphere."
When they got off train tracks on line 3, they saw several people sitting.
[You have entered Chungmuro.]
[The third scenario is currently underway.]
[# Channel GIR-8761 is active.]
[# Channel BIR-3642 is active.]
Some middle-aged people saw us and waved.
“Oh, little samurai. You brought newcomers?”
"Yes."
Lee Jihye frowned at middle-aged people.
"Are you drunk again?"
“Hahahat! What is there to do besides drinking when the world has become like this?”
The middle-aged people looked relaxed, unlike those who had experienced a disaster. It's definitely different from Gumho Station.
"But did your friends come through the tunnel? How great...don't they have a lot of coins?"
Then one of the middle-aged men turned to Yoo Sangah.
“Young lady over there, what is your name? Do you want to rent a room cheaply?”
"...Room?"
"Haha, don't you know the system here? This place-"
Lee Jihye interrupted the middle-aged man's words.
“Ajusshi. Don't try to trick newcomers.”
“Uhuh, they definitely know. This is what everyone does for a living…”
"If you don't want to get hurt then get lost."
The middle-aged man paled at Lee Jihye's words.
"This... little kids have learned something bad to eat."
"Hey, Kang-ssi. Stop it."
The middle-aged people turned around. They disappeared into transit line 4 and Lee Jihye kept her sword.
"You're lost too!"
Jihye looked at Namwoon irritably.
"What is your problem?"
"Get your hands off from Naru!!"
"It's up to me."
"You're small..."
"We're the same age you idiot."
"I'm older than you!!"
"How do you know my age? Don't just guess!"
"I know you little bastard."
"Damn you-!"
That's right, right now Cale is being held by Lee Jihye since they entered Chungmuro station. His three uncles let this situation happen because Jihye didn't look threatening, but Cale, who was being trapped by two teenagers, now felt threatened.
let me go first...
"You're the idiot! I said get your hands off me!!"
"Who are you to him?"
"I'm the hyung!!"
"Then I will be his noona"
"You!!!"
Jihye snorted and took out candy from her pocket.
"You want?"
"Ah... thank you..."
+
[Cale : Instead of holding back laughter, you'd better help me.
Kim Dokja : But I want to see this in a moment.
Cale: Hyung...
Kim Dokja : ...only this time you call me hyung obediently?
Cale : ..help me hyung... ]
+
Kim Dokja stared dumbfounded at Cale who was wearing a sad face, he knew it was pretending but his heart still wasn't strong..
"Haaaaa"
Kim Dokja looked around. Chungmuro. This is the third scenario stage, where completely different rules are at play.
“D-Damn! I'll kill you if you get close…”
A man was in the middle of platform for subway line 3, waving a knife around and threatening people.
Underfoot was a tile that was 1 pyeong (3,306 m2) in size, emitting a green light that stretched into the air.
Yoo Sangah asked.
"...Why would he do that?"
"I don't know."
Cale glanced at Kim Dokja who was answering Yoo Sangah's question. He glanced around and saw many spaces with green lights filled with alert people. There is not just one room here.
But Kim Dokja just glanced at them and asked Lee Jihye.
"Is Yoo Joonghyuk here?"
Lee Jihye, who was about to leave after silencing Kim Namwoon to the point that he couldn't speak, turned to Kim Dokja. There was vigilance in her eyes.
"...Who are you?"
"I'm Yoo Joonghyuk's friend who came back alive."
"...friend? How is that possible?"
Lee Jihye looked at Kim Dokja with suspicious eyes. Kim Dokja shrugged his shoulders shamelessly.
“That person will understand if you tell him. Where is Yoo Joonghyuk now?”
"...Master is not here now."
“Really? This is difficult. I have something I need to say.”
Lee Jihye's expression changed as she looked at Kim Dokja with something like betrayal.
+
[Cale : ? What's with that expression??
Kim Dokja : Yoo Joonghyuk has ruined it
Cale: Huh?
Kim Dokja : Basically she felt betrayed because Yoo Joonghyuk had difficulty accepting other people. Maybe she also had a hard time asking to be his student, so hearing the word friend from the others, she felt wary and betrayed.
Cale : Hm.. ]
+
Lee Jihye called out to a boy squatting in the corner.
"Hey, over there!"
"Eh? Yes yes!"
“Watch these people here! I'll look for master.”
The boy looked at group with confused eyes.
"...Who are they?"
“I don't know. Master's friends?”
Hearing Lee Jihye's words, eyes of the people on platform became bigger. They looked at group in amazement and wonder.
"... Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi's friend?"
That boy ran towards us and shouted. It was a boy who looked around Lee Jihye's age.
"Are you really Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi's friend?"
"He's a good friend."
Cale snorted at Kim Dokja's words, then...
"Hey, where are we going?"
"Hm? Looking for master"
"No, why would I come with you?!"
"Yes!! Why is Naru coming with you?!"
Jihye took Cale away, followed by an excited Kim Namwoon.
"Because that person seems hard to trust. You'll be safe with me."
"I not coming!!!"
"He's not coming!!"
Cale and Namwoon shouted at the same time.
And after a 'come with me, I'm not' session that lasted almost half an hour, Lee Jihye finally deflated and left. She looked back regretfully many times before disappearing.
While taking care of the unconscious Jung Heewon, they heard about Chungmuro from the boy. Together with Lee Jihye, this boy is one of Yoo Joonghyuk's followers.
"...So, we followed Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi. Are you listening to me?"
"Yes. Three days ago, Yoo Joonghyuk appeared and saved some of you, including Lee Jihye, from monsters. Isn't that the story?"
That boy frowned when story was summarized so simply.
"Eh, the story is not that simple..."
+
[Kim Dokja : He must be fascinated by Yoo Joonghyuk. Suddenly, a presence with extraordinary power saves them. It would be strange if they didn't follow suit. But the boy didn't know. That boy survived not because Yoo Joonghyuk was a good man, but because that boy was lucky to be with Lee Jihye.
Cale : He's that cruel?
Kim Dokja: He won't care about other lives, as long as they don't get in his way.
Cale : Cruel bastard.
Kim Dokja : It wasn't like that at first, but a failed regression made it so.]
+
"I'm going to the restroom"
Cale said in a whisper towards the 3 uncles and Kim Namwoon.
"Shall I accompany you?"
"Just going to the restroom?"
Cale raised his eyebrows at Sayeru's question, then he stood up and left.
+
[Kim Dokja : Where?
Cale : Kids' secret
Kim Dokja : ... ]
+
Cale left behind Kim Dokja who was silent and Hyunsung who was asking many questions while writing in his notebook.
Cale looked around and found the direction of the restroom with the help of the Secretive Plotter.
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' says to your left is the restroom.]
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' says that the restroom is guarded by evil people.]
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' said you have to pay if you want to use the restroom.]
"This is a public facility, right?"
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' nods.]
Cale stopped in front of the same green space he saw below.
[Green Zone 56/70]
Cale squatted down and looked at green zone in front of him.
There were many people crowding around and there were also people begging to stay one more day in this zone.
"Hey kid, what are you doing?"
Cale looked up to see a scary old man holding an iron pipe crouching in front of him.
"I want to go to toilet?"
Cale tilted his head as innocently and cutely as possible, if he could, he wanted to go to the free toilet. It's not that he doesn't have coins, but free ones are the best.
"You have to pay if you want to go to the toilet"
"But.."
Cale squeezed his 'luxurious' robe and looked at man's face with teary eyes.
"..I-I don't have..."
coins to waste on you..
Cale continued his words silently.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Then the crowd fell silent.
"What is it?"
Then another old man wearing a hat approached the person in front of Cale who had a blank face. He was holding a rolled up newspaper and looking at Cale.
"Th-that, this child wants to go to the toilet and doesn't have any coins"
"Hoo, what's your name kid?"
"Na-Naru..."
"Are you a foreigner? Where are your parents? Do you have a guardian?"
"My parents, that... M-my father was a bad person, I-I was locked in his house and couldn't go out, then my mother committed suicide. So-so I ran away from home... sniff"
Cale wasn't lying, he was just telling an unclear story.
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' widens his eyes and asks if it's true]
Cale nodded, and wiped his tears with the back of his hand. He lowered his head and cried sadly after he thought that the god of death was the reason he experienced this troublesome thing and could not be slacker.
god of death is such a bastard.. snifff.. damn.. sniff sniff.. my slackerlife...
Without Cale realizing, old man frowned and asked the others to step back, then he carried the cute child with light gray hair.
"Okay, this time uncle won't ask you to pay coins"
"Really?!"
Cale looked at the old face in front of him with a sparkle. The others even had to narrow their eyes at Cale's sparkling glare.
"But where is your guardian?"
The old man took Cale toward the restroom.
"My uncle is downstairs... we just arrived..."
"Good"
The old man dropped Cale off in front of restroom.
"Finish it then go back to your uncle, it's not good for a child to be alone. And next, I'll ask you to pay, okay?"
"Yes, good Uncle!! Thank you!!"
With that, Cale managed to enter the restroom for free.
"Hm?"
Then Cale heard a commotion outside as he was about to enter the toilet cubicle, if he heard correctly... was that Kim Dokja's voice?
"Hmmm..."
Cale was deciding whether to go out to help or go in. And it didn't take 1 second, Cale decided to let Kim Dokja do what he wanted.
After all, he definitely had a plan
Cale did see a green window appear, saying about someone named Gong Pildu being interested or a reader who read Gong Pildu's character information, while he was still in the toilet cubicle. But..
"How did you get in?"
Cale looked at Kim Dokja after he came out of one of toilet cubicles.
"Through the front door?"
Cale tilted his head at Kim Dokja's question, then took out the robe that he had previously put in his spatial bag.
"No... I mean... how much did you pay?"
"Why should I pay?"
"Hah?"
"Hm?"
"..."
Cale was wearing his robe which was now as clean as new when Kim Dokja made a dumbfounded face.
By the way, he took a while in the toilet, because he was refilling the magic supply in the robe with magic stones. It costs 3 high quality mana stones.
"You came in without paying...?"
"Yeah, but next time I have to pay. Yeah, but why do I have to use the restroom so many times?"
"..."
"Did you really pay?"
-Syuuuurrrr
Cale turned on the faucet and turned off the vampire treasure, returning to its original appearance. He cleaned his face with water.
this is fresh...
"We didn't pay either... thanks to Yoo Joonghyuk..."
Cale hearing the name Yoo Joonghyuk was like hearing the name of the god of death, no, the god of death only made him annoyed, not afraid. The truth is like hearing that he won't achieve his slacker life, panicking and turning on the vampire treasure hastily.
"W-where is he now?"
Cale looked around toilet, he swore, he would immediately run away with wind, if Kim Dokja said Yoo Joonghyuk was here too.
"He's waiting outside..."
"Have you finished using the toilet?"
"...Already..?"
"Come out quickly, and tell me if that person is gone!!"
"..."
In the end, Cale was unable to persuade Kim Dokja to be his shield and had to come with him out.
But after much deliberation and commotion, Kim Dokja told Cale an item in Dokkaebi's bag.
[Recluse's Cloak (King)]
+
This is a five (5) use consumable item that allows the user to maintain 'absolute stealth' for 1 Hour after activation. Ineffective against Incarnations with the Absolute Senses skill at Lv 15 or higher.
+
Kim Dokja initially offered 3,000 coins from gold members, but apparently Cale had become the highest member, so he took 10,000 coins. Which could be said to be quite effective against Yoo Joonghyuk.
He took off his luxurious robe and put on Recluse's Cloak, following Kim Dokja out.
+
[Cale : Where's my uncle?
Kim Dokja : They said they would go around and look for information
Cale : Should we be grateful that they're not there...?
Kim Dokja : There will be no fighting, and this should be grateful...
Cale : But I can guarantee that they won't immediately fight if they meet.
Kim Dokja : ?
Cale : I asked them to sell you if they met protagonist.
Kim Dokja : ...
Cale : Sayeru is a good former lawyer. He will be able to talk.
Kim Dokja : ....
Cale : There won't be any accidents
Kim Dokja : ...
Cale : At most, Yoo Joonghyuk will threaten you not to let them run wild. ]
+
Kim Dokja put on a very tired resigned face, he now hoped that three criminals would not meet Yoo Joonghyuk.
After they went down to platform line 3. Kim Dokja smiled broadly.
"Nice to see you, you bastard."
"...You're alive."
+
[Kim Dokja: In conclusion, Yoo Joonghyuk didn't call me his friend. He simply pointed his sword at Gong Pildu as his response. Luckily, Gong Pildu didn't want to clash with us and let us go.
Cale : Smart
Kim Dokja : Not as smart as you who managed to get in without paying
Cale : Thank you for the compliment
Kim Dokja : ...forget it. ]
+
Kim Dokja fixed his expression and looked at Yoo Joonghyuk.
"Do you hope I will be killed?"
"I think it would be good."
+
[Kim Dokja : I want to run up and hit him in the jaw...
Cale : Do it, please.
Kim Dokja : ...but I can't.
Cale : Coward.
Kim Dokja: Take off your robe and stand next to me before you say it
Cale : No thanks
Kim Dokja : ...]
+
[Readers see the character information of 'Yoo Joonghyuk']
"Do you have something to say?"
Cale looked at Yoo Joonghyuk, the depressed man who was now dashing. He was still thinking about how to never meet, then saw Yoo Joonghyuk's face become annoyed and repeated his question to Kim Dokja.
"I asked if you had something to say."
"No, I'm just watching."
Kim Dokja said mischievously, then Cale saw Joonghyuk's face harden and then Kim Dokja hurriedly laughed as he said.
"I am kidding."
Yoo Joonghyuk turned his head away as if he was not interested.
[Constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is disappointed in you.]
+
[Kim Dokja : By the way, I don't want to alienate Yoo Joonghyuk now. To clear many scenarios, Yoo Joonghyuk was necessary person. Even if we are not real friends, it is worth using it thoroughly.
Cale : Don't make excuses, you're clearly a fan.
Kim Dokja: I just...
Cale : I told you, I will support you whatever your plans are. As long as it doesn't deviate from my beliefs.
Kim Dokja : ... right.. ]
+
Kim Dokja was about to say something to Yoo Joonghyuk, before..
"Oh Kim Dokja, is my nephew back?"
...Barrow comes with Sayeru and Dorph.
+
[Cale : ...
Kim Dokja : ... ]
+
Yoo Joonghyuk's face hardened and he seemed ready to draw his sword.
"You were that damn kid at that time"
Barrow also put on a cruel face while looking at Yoo Joonghyuk.
"What are you doing here?"
"I should be the one asking, what is a guy like you doing here?"
The two of them talk to each other with barbs that cause sparks to fly everywhere, and as things get heated...
"That's it, that's it. We're here with Kim Dokja, we don't want to fight with you. So please lower your hostility."
Sayeru said with a smile, but that actually made Yoo Joonghyuk look at Kim Dokja deadly. If eyes could kill, Kim Dokja would now be a hornet's nest.
+
[Kim Dokja: ...
Cale : ..should I prepare the coffin? I can also burn your corpse to ashes. But don't forget to write down what is needed for the next scenario first.
Kim Dokja : ... Cale... do something..?
Cale : Appeared and killed? No, thank you.
Kim Dokja : ...
Cale : I told you, trust Sayeru.
Kim Dokja : I.. I believe...
Cale : You have to have faith.
Kim Dokja : ...
Cale : That's right, strong faith!
Kim Dokja : I feel like you really enjoyed this...?
Cale : You must be wrong. ]
+
Kim Dokja nervously looked at Sayeru with eyes asking for help, and thankfully he responded.
"Don't glare at him like that, we're just working together. He knows the future and we're giving him strength. What's wrong with that?"
"You will kill innocent people."
"How do you know? We're not even like that? Don't slander us, kid."
Then Yoo Joonghyuk looked back at Kim Dokja.
"They never cause any trouble?"
"No, they are all good people."
Kim Dokja answered making a face as confident as possible.
"That's right, Barrow ahjussi and the others are not evil!! What's with killing innocent people!!"
Namwoon said loudly.
"That's right, we do kill, but not innocent people."
"Yes, they're bad people."
"Uncle Barrow, uncle Sayeru and uncle Dorph even gave food to other people."
Sangah, Hyunsung and Gilyoung followed, answering Yoo Joonghyuk's accusations.
"See? Don't flap your mouth carelessly."
Dorph said irritably.
Yoo Joonghyuk gritted his teeth and then let go of his sword. He looked at Barrow sharply.
"Where is he?"
"?"
Barrow frowned and looked at the other two. But others also shook their heads.
"Who?"
"Little Red"
+
[Kim Dokja : ...I'm sure now.. he's looking for you..
Kim Dokja : Cale?
Kim Dokja : Hello? ]
+
Kim Dokja put on a dumbfounded face after seeing Cale not answer him, while his three uncles stared intently at Yoo Joonghyuk.
"What are you looking for?"
"Just answer"
"But I do not want to?"
Barrow replied with a frown. Cale, who was standing 5 meters away from battlefield, couldn't help but get nervous. He was now feeling irritated, villain communication skills were only useful if they weren't within a certain distance, he couldn't say anything to the three now.
"We are not with him now"
Dorph answered, breaking off the battle of hostile glances between Barrow and Joonghyuk.
"Where?"
"We are looking for him"
"He is still alive..?"
"According to you?"
Yoo Joonghyuk fell silent.
+
[Kim Dokja : Cale? Hey!! Cale!!!!
Cale : I heard!! Just shut up!!
Kim Dokja : What are you doing? How could Yoo Joonghyuk think of you and say he misses you???
Cale: Huh?
Kim Dokja : He said in his mind that he wants to meet you and misses you!!
Cale : ?
Kim Dokja : Tell me what you are doing!!
Cale : I didn't do anything!! I swear!! ]
+
While Kim Dokja who read Yoo Joonghyuk's thoughts was stunned, the same person had closed his eyes for a few seconds and put on an indifferent face again.
He looked at Kim Dokja.
"You"
"?"
"Looks like you've made a friend"
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at people behind Kim Dokja with emotionless eyes.
[The character 'Yoo Joonghyuk' is a little disappointed in you.]
Cale who was watching from afar released his pent up breath, he thought maybe he should come out and show himself if necessary.
Thankfully there's no need, even if there's something strange in the middle, at least it's safe...
But Cale, who was about to squat down, saw one of the protagonist's eyes glow.
He looked at each member of their group. At that moment, Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes stopped as he looked around. For the first time, confusion could be seen in his eyes.
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at everyone except Lee Hyunsung, Barrow, Sayeru and Dorph. The remaining four people standing together, Cale and Kim Dokja didn't know exactly what Yoo Joonghyuk was looking at.
+
[Kim Dokja : Who did he see?
Cale : How should I know? I'm 5 meters from you.
Kim Dokja : ... that far?
Cale : Why?
Kim Dokja : ... no ]
+
Kim Dokja sighed and looked at Jung Heewon, Kim Dokja thought, maybe she was the one Yoo Joonghyuk saw?
"What do you see?"
ooohh!!!
Cale almost applauded seeing Jung Heewon who had gotten up, holding her sword and looking at Yoo Joonghyuk bravely.
But then, Joonghyuk released a murderous aura...
...Ouch..
"Yoo Joonghyuk."
Kim Dokja said quickly opening his mouth.
it seemed like he also felt the murderous aura..
"I was wondering about one thing."
Joonghyuk turned to look at Kim Dokja. His eyes asked.
"Why did you leave Gong Pildu alone?"
"If you were a prophet, you should know."
"I don't know everything."
"...Indeed, I see... A prophet whose 'foresight' level is low."
Yoo Joonghyuk continued to speak.
"I need Gong Pildu alive."
"Is it because of a future scenario?"
Yoo Joonghyuk did not answer. It seemed like he was trying to gauge information that Kim Dokja knew.
"I know you need Gong Pildu for the future scenario. But you only need Gong Pildu. You don't need the whole group following it. Isn't it your style to remove what you don't need? Why are you leaving them behind?"
"I have a lot to do."
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at Kim Dokja calmly and said.
"You will never understand."
"Wait! That's not the case. If you don't move now, most of the humans in Chungmuro will…!"
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes were cold.
"Does not matter."
+
[Kim Dokja : Hah, look at this bastard...
Cale : Hit.
Kim Dokja : Right ]
+
“Yoo Joonghyuk. Can I hit you?”
"If you have confidence."
Cale watched excitedly as Kim Dokja clenched his fists in anger. But then he dropped his fist.
+
[Cale : What? Not hit him?
Kim Dokja : This cowardly bastard uses his self-defense skills...
Cale : Oh, good luck to hit him next time ]
+
"Have you done?"
"..."
"Let's go."
[Constellation ' Bald General of Justice ' is impressed by your chivalrous spirit.]
[100 coins have been sponsored.]
Lee Jihye flinched when she heard Yoo Jonghyuk's call.
"Eh? But where is Naru??"
"Naru?"
Yoo Joonghyuk, who was about to walk, stopped and frowned at unfamiliar name.
"He's a sweet boy with light gray hair. His eyes are also purple. Looks like it's because of his skills? Or is he of foreign descent?"
Jihye tilted her head while looking at Namwoon.
"Hey you, where is he?"
+
[Cale : Fuck...
Kim Dokja : ...
Cale : Do something hyung]
+
Without waiting for Namwoon to answer, Kim Dokja took one step forward.
"He's in the toilet, he had diarrhea earlier."
+
[Cale : ...
Kim Dokja : What's important is the reason...
Cale : Damn you
Kim Dokja : Ahem, come on my dongsaeng... ]
+
Kim Dokja, who was holding back the twitch of his mouth, saw Jihye lower her head.
"Poor thing... Should I-"
"Let's go"
"Eh.. uh.. but master.."
Joonghyuk left without calling Jihye again, so without a choice, Jihye left with a regretful face.