Snap-Salute!

"H-Hayeon? What are you doing right n—"

"My lord. What shall we do with those people?"

I ignored Dokja's flustered question and held the persona. In truth, it was less a deliberate act and closer to habit. By the nature of an Identity, its memories and experiences all poured in — so you inevitably picked up its speech patterns, the way it gripped a weapon, everything.

"Please give your orders, my lord."

"Whoa… Hayeon-ssi, what is that? Some kind of historical drama bit?"

"Haa… Hyunsung-ssi, take this."

"Th-this is?"

"I drew a new one. Throw away what you were using before."

Lee Hyunsung stepped forward with the expression of a puppy who'd just been handed a brand-new toy.

A barrier unfurled across a wide swath of ground.

"Whoa! What is this?!"

"Pildu-ssi!"

"Ugh…! Everyone, out of the way!"

Crimson turrets began to materialize inside Gong Pildu's domain.

"Gong Pildu. Did I say you could get up yet?"

"Ughk?!"

"P-Pildu-ssi?!"

Just like before, Gong Pildu was forcibly slammed face-first into the floor. Watching it felt like a rehearsed comedy skit — honestly entertaining.

"Keep your head planted on that floor until I tell you to get up. And those turrets are getting on my nerves, so turn them off."

"G-get me up! Hurry!"

One after another, the eight red turrets winked out of existence. That was why you had to read a contract carefully before signing. Of course, Gong Pildu hadn't been the one who'd signed it in the first place.

"Y-you son of a—!"

"Shut that filthy mouth. Thirty minutes of silence training for you."

As if by magic, Gong Pildu's mouth sealed shut.

"Alright. I figure everyone's got a handle on the situation by now, so let's talk." Dokja's voice carried over the crowd. "Right now, all of you have two options. One: leave Chungmuro and head for another station. Two: stay here with me."

"W-what do you mean, all of a sudden…"

A restless murmur ran through the people, still struggling to process what he'd said.

"Just answer. Whether you'll stay here, or go somewhere else. I won't stop anyone who insists on leaving. But if you remain, every one of you will follow my authority."

"Authority…?"

"So in the end you're just trying to play king—!"

Shring—

"Watch your tongue."

The Gakju Killing Sword settled against ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the throat of the citizen who'd been about to raise his voice — Myo's standard-issue blade, and one of my own swords as well.

"Park Hayeon. That's enough."

"Sir."

"Hhk…! Hah…!"

At Dokja's word my blade withdrew, and the citizen's legs gave out; he sank to the floor, gasping for air.

"I won't deny it," Dokja said. "But I won't collect taxes or survival fees the way a certain someone did."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"I-if we join your group, is our safety guaranteed?"

"I'll guarantee a reasonable degree of safety from external threats. I won't interfere with what happens internally, though. Personal disputes, you'll have to settle yourselves."

"Th-that's…"

"Pildu-ssi, we've heard enough — let's go!"

"Ah. Leave Gong Pildu behind. That one is my property."

"…My lord."

Dokja turned at my call, looking puzzled.

"Hmm? What is it, Hayeon?"

"And me? What about me?"

I pushed my face right up to his and asked. The moment I'd heard him claim ownership of Gong Pildu, something had flared up in my chest — a stifling, angry heat. I decided to follow that sensation, the way a beast feels when its territory has been invaded.

"Whose am I?"

Dokja's face flushed red in an instant. Under the brim of his bamboo hat our faces drew close enough to nearly touch.

"W-wait a second, Hayeon…! First, your face—!"

"I'll stay like this until you answer."

"Oh~? What's this? Dokja-ssi and Hayeon-ssi, you've been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like this since the theater — don't tell me~?"

At Jung Heewon's words, Dokja's face went red enough to burst. And then I laid one last line on top of it.

"Whose property am I?"

"…M-my property…"

At those words, a smile settled over a face that had been coldly expressionless only moments before.

"That answer alone is enough."

As I stepped back and the distance opened between us, Dokja finally let out the breath he'd been holding. Only then did I feel a little more at ease. Feeling jealous of that middle-aged guy did give me a bit of an existential crisis, though. But what could you do? That was just how a beast's instincts worked.

"I can't believe the Kims actually left…"

"With five of them, they'll manage somehow."

"Oh-ho. So a representative has been chosen."

To cut to the conclusion: five people walked out. Those five weren't particularly important, though. They were awkward to use as combat power, and they didn't really have a reason to stay.

"Well then, we'll be in your care."

"We've done some wrong things, but we humbly ask for your generous forgiveness."

"Forgiveness isn't something you need to beg from me, though."

"Then let's get into the real game!"

Bihyung flicked his hand as he spoke.