A World Without a King (1)
Before heading to Gwanghwamun, I extracted skills from the six kings I'd killed and secured Mental Barrier.
For a bunch of so-called kings, they sure don't have any useful skills…
If they'd had other decent skills, I would have grabbed those too, but unfortunately Mental Barrier was the only thing worth taking. And even then, only three of them had it. The other two had blown themselves to pieces in spectacular fashion.
Thanks to that little detour, a lot of time got eaten up, and I ended up leaving late. My plan to live-stream the Absolute Throne contest was already falling apart right from the start.
"…At this rate I bought the megaphone for nothing. Should I just start singing for real?"
[The Constellation, 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' breaks out in a cold sweat at your words and strongly opposes!]
[The Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' warns that if you dare sing that horrific song again, he will immediately issue a bounty scenario.]
[The Constellation, 'Secretive Plotter' scrunches his face at your words and sternly tells you not to.]
[A large number of Constellations insist that you absolutely must not sing.]
[A small number of Constellations threaten that if you sing again, they will not let it slide.]
The moment I so much as mentioned singing, the rotten Constellations all turned serious and started threatening me not to. I pouted.
"………Is my singing really that bad?"
I asked in a rare, genuinely depressed voice.
[Every Constellation in the channel, excluding those who have fainted, nods.]
Even my depressed tone got nothing but cold, merciless nods. Bastards, every last one of them.
Rattle.
Just then a small window opened in midair, and Yoo Sangah poked her face out through it.
"…Jinwoo-ssi. I'm being completely serious. Singing is really not for you."
"…S-Sangah-ssi?!"
When Yoo Sangah said it so coldly and seriously, I looked at her with a genuinely wounded expression, eyes welling up. Even the gentle one was saying it—that hurt even more.
Seeing my face, Yoo Sangah flinched once, then avoided my gaze and whispered,
"E-Even if you look at me like that, it can't be helped. It's the truth…"
"Th-That's…"
At her final words I hung my head. Ah… ah… this cursed tone-deafness…
Still hanging my head, I left the National Palace Museum of Korea and broke into a run toward Gwanghwamun.
While I was running, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.
What's Han Sooyoung doing right now?
I asked Yoo Sangah, who was still looking around with the window open.
"Sangah-ssi."
"Yes?"
"Earlier I tossed a black short-haired woman into My Room. What's she doing now?"
"Ah… that person got her flag stolen by Dokja-ssi, threw a fit for a while, then went outside the My Room door."
"What?! When?"
I whipped my head around in surprise. Yoo Sangah rested her chin on her hand, thought carefully, then spoke as if she'd just remembered.
"It was while you were being attacked by Joonghyuk-ssi."
"Ah…"
Yeah—if it wasn't then, she wouldn't have had the window to slip out.
"But Jinwoo-ssi…"
"Yes?"
"Why did you suddenly put that black short-haired woman into My Room in the first place?"
"……………."
Huh?
I caught a note of displeasure at the end of her sentence. Thinking it might be my imagination, I turned my head slightly—and immediately regretted it.
A small shadow had fallen over Yoo Sangah's face. She really was in a bad mood. The air around me started feeling colder for no good reason.
"Th-That is…"
"That is?"
Then a perfect excuse flashed through my mind. This should get her to accept it, at least a little.
"She had a King's Flag on her. So I threw her into My Room so Dokja-ssi could snatch the flag easily."
"Ah…"
Yoo Sangah made a small sound of understanding. Then she spoke in a slightly apologetic tone.
"I'm sorry, Jinwoo-ssi…"
"Hm? For what?"
"I actually thought you only saved her because she was a pretty girl."
"Wha—?! Cough! Cough! Cough!!"
Her words hit the bullseye so hard I choked on my own spit and started coughing. I quickly stopped and answered her with a forced, cheerful laugh.
"Ahaha… Me? No way!"
"…Right?"
After that, a small, slightly awkward silence settled between us.
"Hm? What's that…?"
Up ahead, Jung Heewon was running with what looked like an elementary-school girl beside her.
"Heewon-ssi!"
"Huh? That voice… Jinwoo-ssi?!"
Hearing me, Jung Heewon stopped running and looked my way. It had only been a day, but she was clearly glad to see me.
"It's only been a day. Glad you don't look too badly hurt."
"Of course! I'm pretty strong now too, you know. But that window next to you… Sangah-ssi?"
"Hello, Heewon-ssi."
While Yoo Sangah stepped out of My Room and the two of them chatted, I looked at the little girl standing next to Jung Heewon.
Sensing my gaze, the girl quietly looked up at me.
So this is Yoo Joonghyuk's little sister…
Twin tails, overalls—she was definitely related to Yoo Joonghyuk. An absolute beauty of a little girl.
She's going to make a lot of guys cry when she grows up…
While I was lost in that thought, Yoo Mia looked up and asked,
"Who are you, oppa?"
"Uh… a friend of your unnie?"
"Of my unnie, yeom?"
"Yeah, something like that."
In reality it was more like "person trying to kill me" and "person trying not to die," but a kid didn't need to know that, so I quietly buried it.
I bought a strawberry candy from the general store and held it out to Yoo Mia.
"Want this?"
"I wanna eat it, yeom."
Yoo Mia snatched the strawberry candy from my hand in a flash and popped it into her mouth. Her face didn't show much emotion, but she seemed to be in a better mood after the candy.
"I'm Yoo Mia, yeom. What's your name, oppa?"
"I'm Park Jinwoo."
We finished introducing ourselves. Then an idea hit me. If I used this kid, I might be able to take the edge off Yoo Joonghyuk's temper, even a little.
I decided to put the idea—no, the plan—into action right away and spoke to Yoo Mia.
"Mia. Could you tell your unnie that this oppa is a good person?"
"Give me three strawberry candies and I'll do it, yeom."
A clever little kid who already knew how to negotiate. But right now I was thoroughly in the weaker position. Without a single complaint I handed her ten strawberry candies.
"Here, ten strawberry candies. In exchange, put in a good word for me, okay?"
"Okay, yeom. You're a good oppa."
Yoo Mia gave a tiny smile and stuffed the candies into her pants pocket.
Having secured a new insurance policy, I looked at Yoo Sangah and Jung Heewon—who were still talking—and at Yoo Mia, and said,
"Everyone, let's head to the Absolute Throne quickly. Kim Dokja-ssi should be there."
"Got it."
"Understood."
"Yep."
We ran toward the Absolute Throne again and soon spotted Kim Dokja standing in front of a yellow barrier in the distance.
"Dokja-ssi!"
Hearing my voice, Kim Dokja turned and looked at me, then at Yoo Sangah, Jung Heewon, and Yoo Mia, her expression going blank.
"Jinwoo-ssi… and behind you, Sangah-ssi and Heewon-ssi?"
We stopped in front of Kim Dokja. Once we did, Yoo Mia looked around and asked Jung Heewon,
"Is my unnie really here, yeom?"
"I already told you several times."
"But I'm hungry. Candy oppa, do you have anything to eat, yeom?"
"What do you want to eat?"
A little growl came from Yoo Mia's stomach. I looked down at her and asked what she wanted.
Kids need to eat well, after all.
"I want meat, yeom."
"Meat…? Is it okay to feed this kid dragon meat?"
At her words I rummaged through My Room, pulled out the Magic Hearth and a piece of Ignir's meat, sliced it to a suitable size, and set it on the hearth.
Sizzle.
When I started grilling Ignir's meat on the Magic Hearth, Yoo Mia came right up beside me and stared at the meat.
"It looks delicious, yeom."
"This is precious meat, so you have to eat every last bit, okay?"
"Yep."
Behind us Jung Heewon and Kim Dokja were talking about something, but Yoo Mia and I ignored them and kept grilling.
"Dokja-ssi, where are you going?"
"To occupy Changshin Station."
"Huh? Why there?"
Jung Heewon, who had been talking with Kim Dokja, came over to Yoo Mia and said,
"Hey, take that out. The thing your unnie gave you earlier."
"Yep!"
At Jung Heewon's words, Yoo Mia stuck both hands into her mouth—and suddenly her mouth stretched unnaturally wide. A huge chunk of stone came tumbling out.
Startled by the rock Yoo Mia produced, Kim Dokja stepped closer and asked,
"What is this?"
"What do you think?"
Realizing the big rock was a Flagpole, Kim Dokja looked at Jung Heewon with a flustered expression.
Jung Heewon just smiled and said,
"To occupy a station, all you need is a Flagpole, right?"
[The Constellation, 'Adventurer Who Stands Eggs' admires Jung Heewon's idea.]
When Kim Dokja just stared blankly at her, Jung Heewon glared back.
"What? Is something wrong?"
"No…"
"Then why are you standing there spacing out? Go plant it already, Your Majesty."
At Jung Heewon's words, Kim Dokja quietly planted her flag into the Flagpole. Yellow light sparkled around her body, and then she vanished.
She had successfully entered the Absolute Throne contest.
"Can I eat the meat now, yeom?"
"Yeah, it looks done. Let's eat."
"Yep!"
I put chopsticks in Yoo Mia's hands, plated the finished meat, and handed it over.
And Yoo Mia ate the dragon meat with pure, happy appetite.
"Is it good?"
"It's not as good as unnie's cooking, but it's still tasty, yeom."
"Yeah? Then eat a lot."
"Okay, yeom!"
This was survival strategy for dealing with Yoo Joonghyuk. Of course, giving food to a hungry elementary-school kid was part of it too.
Yoo Mia was Yoo Joonghyuk's real sister. If I just buttered her up and got her to say nice things about me to Yoo Joonghyuk, I might actually live.
I know Yoo Joonghyuk dotes on Yoo Mia, so this method should work.
Surely even Yoo Joonghyuk wouldn't kill someone her own little sister liked… right? Probably…?
While I was grilling meat for Yoo Mia, Yoo Sangah and Jung Heewon were staring straight at me from the side.
Anyone could tell what those looks meant. I handed them chopsticks and said,
"There's nothing to do until the contest ends anyway. Sangah-ssi, Heewon-ssi, you two have some meat too."
"Then I'll dig in, Jinwoo-ssi!"
"Just the smell was making it hard to hold back. Thanks, Jinwoo-ssi!"
Apparently they had no intention of being polite—both of them sat right down in front of the meat. I busily kept grilling for them.
Jung Heewon plucked a finished piece, popped it straight into her mouth, and chewed. She ate just as happily as Yoo Mia; the sight reminded me of a hamster.
Jung Heewon asked,
"Mmm~ This meat is insanely good! What kind of meat is this?"
"That dragon meat we saw at Anguk Station."
"What…?"
Realizing what she was eating, Jung Heewon's eyes darted around, but then she nodded to herself and said,
"This is my first time eating dragon meat. Dragons are delicious creatures, huh?"
"Looks like we've got a new reason to hunt dragons from now on."
"Might as well catch every single one that shows up in front of us, right?"
[The Constellation, 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is greatly outraged, declaring that dragons are not for eating!]
In contrast to Yoo Mia and Jung Heewon, Yoo Sangah was quietly vacuuming up meat. She looked exactly like Kirby. Two-thirds of every piece I finished grilling went straight into her mouth; I had nothing left to say.
KWAANG——!!
Suddenly a roar like a bomb exploding erupted inside the barrier. Startled, we hurriedly scanned the inside—and then we all went blank.
Yoo Joonghyuk was bouncing around inside the barrier like a pinball.
"Whoa, that reminds me of pinball."
If a human body was flying around like that, every bone should be broken and they should be dead. As expected, that woman really was a monster.
I finally got to eat a piece of the meat I'd been too busy grilling for the three hungry beasts, and watched the show. Then, when Kim Dokja approached the Yoo Joonghyuk who had collapsed on the floor, I pulled a camera out of My Room—to record the atrocities Kim Dokja was about to commit against her.
Kim Dokja grabbed the clothes of the Yoo Joonghyuk sprawled on the ground, sat her upper body up, and started lightly slapping her face.
Now…!!
Click click click!
"Hehehe…"
I looked down at the perfectly captured photos and smiled wickedly. These would sell too.
Anyway, once Kim Dokja defeated Yoo Joonghyuk, the barrier of the Absolute Throne contest began to dissolve. Constellation messages flooded my vision.
[The Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' bristles his fur at the excessive carbonation.]
[The Constellation, 'Secretive Plotter' applauds Kim Dokja's patient holdout.]
[The Constellation, 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' quietly admires Kim Dokja's patience.]
[The Constellation, 'Martial Absolute Sovereign' is filled with resentment.]
[The Constellation, 'One-Eyed Maitreya' throws away his eyepatch.]
[The Constellation, 'Founding Marquis of Hannam' resents you.]
"Yeah, sorry~"
Gyeon Hwon sent a resentful message because I had killed Gu Daeseong. I offered a short apology.
Then a mid-grade Dokkaebi who had been carefully watching the Absolute Throne contest spoke from midair in a dissatisfied voice.
The mid-grade Dokkaebi spread both arms wide and continued.
At the mid-grade Dokkaebi's declaration, the Incarnations who had gathered near the Absolute Throne began to murmur.
"Ohh, so that's…"
"That person is…!"
"But which king is that person?"
Kim Dokja casually ignored the people murmuring about her and spoke to the mid-grade Dokkaebi.
"Wait a second."
"You're rushing too much. I haven't even sat on the throne yet and you're already declaring it?"
Kim Dokja approached the Absolute Throne, studied it carefully, and asked,
"Hmm… what can I do with this?"
[The Constellation, 'Martial Absolute Sovereign' smacks his lips.]
"I'm jealous…"
"Ha… I wish I could sit there instead."
At the mid-grade Dokkaebi's explanation, several Incarnations looked at Kim Dokja with envy.
I could only smile at those gazes. I already knew what was about to happen.
Thinking about it, Kim Dokja really is an incredible person. Even knowing what that item truly is and what the price is, she still gives up absolute power.
That was why I liked the work called Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, and why I liked the character—no, the person—Kim Dokja. I liked that she chose the hard path instead of the easy one.
"Is that all?"
"It's way too good to be true. Absolute power over the 'land' I rule, just like that."
"So this throne can do all that without even the 'constraints of probability'?"
At Kim Dokja's words, even the mid-grade Dokkaebi shut his mouth. Looking up at him, Kim Dokja sneered and continued.
"You're really good at lying. Is it because you're a Dokkaebi? You can scam people like that and the Bureau doesn't say a word?"
The mid-grade Dokkaebi glared at the sneering Kim Dokja. Then he twisted his face and spoke in an irritated voice.
"Ah, about that… do whatever you want."
Whether the mid-grade Dokkaebi glared at her from midair or not, Kim Dokja quietly turned around, looked at the countless Incarnations watching her, and opened her mouth.
"I will not ascend this Absolute Throne."
At Kim Dokja's final words, a heavy silence fell over the entire Gwanghwamun area. I quietly walked over to her side without the others noticing.
"Hell yeah~ I knew I could count on you, Dokja-ssi, damn it!"
"Jinwoo-ssi."
I gave a little grin to the Kim Dokja who was quietly looking at me, and pressed the Sainchamsageom into her hand.
"But thanks to that, this place is about to turn into a complete mess. Got a plan to stop it?"
"I'll leave that to you, Jinwoo-ssi."
"Oh, really? Can I do whatever I want?"
"…No. Please keep it moderate."
"OK, OK~"
I stepped in front of Kim Dokja, took the megaphone (for dome channels) in hand, pressed the button to activate it, and spoke to the Incarnations before me.
「Hey everyone, how you doing. I'm the King of Pleasure who sang in a pig-slaughtering voice all over Gwanghwamun. I'll get straight to the point.」
I pointed at the Constellation messages floating in the air and continued.
「From now on, I'm going to make one proposal with the eardrums of every Incarnation here on the line.」
"What the hell is that bastard saying?"
"With our eardrums on the line?"
"Wait, more importantly—was that insane noise earlier because of him?"
The gazes of the countless Incarnations gathered around Gwanghwamun all turned toward me, and I could feel the Constellations' gazes locking onto me as well.
「If anyone comes within 100 meters of our Queen, I will not hold back—I will sing.」
The moment I finished speaking, a silence even heavier than the one after Kim Dokja's refusal of the throne settled over Gwanghwamun.
「Yeah, yeah! Silence is good~ Of course I was planning not to sing if I could help it, since I get cursed out and the Constellations threaten bounty scenarios if I sing even once more. But wouldn't you know it—I just happened to obtain a Story related to being tone-deaf?」
Absolute Tone-Deafness
The Story, 'Tone-Deaf Singer Who Silenced the Stars', stretches and wakes up!
The Story, 'Singer Even Storytellers Detest', begins warming up its throat!
I sneered at the blank stares of the mid-grade Dokkaebi and the Incarnations and kept going.
「My Attribute and Stories are whining that they want to sing a song. But if I actually sing, the Constellations' threats are scary…」
I beamed with a completely selfless expression and said,
「So let's make a simple deal, Constellations.」
[A large number of Constellations question your words.]
「My terms are simple. Just sponsor me a combined total of 10,000 coins. Then I absolutely will not sing until the sixth Main Scenario ends. If you want, I'll even make an Existence Oath.」
[The Story, 'Tone-Deaf Singer Who Silenced the Stars', complains to its master!]
[The Story, 'Singer Even Storytellers Detest', grumbles.]
[A large number of Constellations begin seriously deliberating.]
[A small number of Constellations urge the Fable-grade Constellations.]
"What the hell is that guy saying right now? 10,000 coins…?"
"Does he think 10,000 coins is the name of some doghouse? Is that bastard insane?"
"No way the Constellations will just sponsor him, right?"
The dirt-poor beggars who didn't even have 10,000 coins on them grumbled as if 10,000 coins were some unimaginable fortune. It looked truly ridiculous.
[The Demon King, 'Demon of Wrath and Desire' asks if you are serious.]
「Of course I'm serious. How about it, Demon King?」
[The Demon King, 'Demon of Wrath and Desire' says he will cover half.]
「Hell yeah~ As expected of a Demon King, big spender. Anyone else? Still 5,000 coins left.」
[The Constellation, 'Secretive Plotter' asks what you will do if the sponsorship exceeds 10,000 coins.]
「If it exceeds? I just won't sing for that much longer.」
[The Constellation, 'Secretive Plotter' sponsors you 5,000 coins.]
[The Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' says "screw it" and sponsors you 3,000 coins.]
[The Constellation, 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' quietly sponsors you 3,000 coins.]
[The Constellation, 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' sponsors 4,000 coins, telling you to keep the promise no matter what.]
[The Constellation, 'Maritime War God' sponsors 500 coins with a serious face.]
[The Constellation, 'Bald Righteous Army Commander' sponsors 500 coins against your horrific singing.]
[The Constellation, 'God of Wine and Ecstasy' sponsors 4,000 coins.]
[The Constellation, 'Lily Blooming in Aquarius' frantically sponsors 3,000 coins.]
[The Constellation, 'Lord of the Riffraff' sponsors you 5,000 coins.]
…
…
…
[A large number of Constellations sponsor you coins with stern expressions, telling you to keep the promise no matter what.]
「Thanks for using the service~ Total of 63,120 coins! Then… I won't sing until the sixteenth Main Scenario ends. Everyone OK with that?」
[Every Constellation in the channel nods.]
「Then I'll make an Existence Oath too. That way you'll trust me.」
I took my mouth away from the megaphone and spoke.
"I swear here and now that I will never sing until the sixteenth Main Scenario ends. The term lasts until I die."
Whoosh—!
The moment I finished speaking, blue flames flickered around my body, then began to be absorbed into the spot where my heart was.
The countless Incarnations who saw it up close stared at me with expressions of pure shock.
「Alright, I'm a golden goblin worth 63,120 coins! Kill me and you get 63,120 coins, first come first served. Wouldn't it be best to kill me right away?」
At my words, deep greed filled the eyes of every Incarnation in front of me. As one, they drew their weapons and locked their gazes on me.