Declaration of War (1)
While I was telling my story, I opened my eyes.
"Master."
= Jae Ye....... I pull my head out of the magma and look down at her.
Ever since I gained my familiars, Jae Ye had essentially set aside her role as my personal attendant. There were only a few reasons she would show up in my chambers like this.
So, the reason she appeared here was...
= What is it?
"Intruders."
Intruders... I tilted my head at Jae Ye's words.
Since arriving in this dimension and entering the gate, no being had ever set foot inside my gate. My gate exudes my aura, so most creatures steer clear. Even if something did wander in, it would just become a meal for the monsters I've strengthened.
And humans? Even less likely.
So, no one had entered since I claimed this gate, and I figured no one ever would...
= Who?
"Humans, my lord."
= Humans?
I activate my Heaven Dragon Eye and scan the interior of the gate. Sure enough, just as Jae Ye said, more than a dozen humans clad in gear are cautiously stepping inside.
= Hm...
I widen my Heaven Dragon Eye further. The dragon's gaze, which pierces the boundaries of time and space to peer beyond, begins tracing back their timelines. It reveals their pasts.
= North Korea? What? Why are they coming here? Well... it's not impossible from there, so nothing strange about it.
My gate is at the summit of Baekdu Mountain, bordering four human nations: South Korea, North Korea, China, and Russia. It's not like they couldn't enter.
But the fact that the least likely ones showed up is a bit surprising.
= North Korea... They shouldn't have the luxury for this.
From what I've investigated since arriving in this world, after the gate incident, North Korea lost control of its territory except for Pyongyang and its surroundings. Untimely gate breaches turned their lands into monster territory, and they barely held onto Pyongyang with what national power remained.
South Korea has been slowly reclaiming and paving roads through the abandoned areas. China and Russia could have reached for it too, but they were reeling from their own gate crises at the time. By the time they recovered, my gate appeared on Baekdu Mountain... They weighed the gains of claiming North Korean land against the losses if my gate erupted and backed off.
South Korea slipped in during the gap. Now it's a standoff: North Korea like ancient Rome in Italy, South Korea barely carving paths through monsters, China watching warily because of my Baekdu Mountain gate, and Russia too busy with its monster-infested Siberian paradise.
In short, North Korea is struggling just to defend what's left...
"Likely due to your actions, my lord."
= Yeah. Probably.
The first EX-rank gate boss to communicate with humans in this dimension. A monster of immeasurable rank friendly to humanity. The incarnation of wealth producing infinite gold. That's the positive image of me spreading among humans right now.
There are negatives too, but irrelevant for now.
They probably saw my friendly demeanor and came seeking my power somehow.
= Hm. What to do...
I've already investigated North Korea. It looked like a tyrant's nation exploiting its people. Weakening the group by preying on kin, leading to collapse—the foolish human way. That's my view of them.
Democracy, communism—human ideologies mean little to me. But undermining the group's strength, one of humanity's greatest assets, for personal greed? Unimpressive.
Normally, I wouldn't bother listening to North Korea. But...
= Yes. Bring them here.
"...Are you sure, my lord?"
= They've boldly entered my gate, where no one else has dared. Might as well hear them out. Even if I'm friendly to humans, that applies only to me. My subordinates mostly aren't. And they're intruders in my gate.
If they'd come unarmed with gifts, I might treat them as guests. But they lacked that courage. They would've been dealt with by my subordinates.
= Yeah. Since it's come to this, why not use them as broadcast content?
It suddenly hits me—this could make good content. About 2,400 winners so far, 2,600 left. Feels right.
= If they agree, we'll make it content.
From my internet broadcast studies, the key is unique charm and fun. Give viewers a reason to seek your stream—the fun only you provide.
In that sense, what stream shows North Korean hunters? More unique than common just chatting or mukbangs, right? That's what I thought.
"So, let's pause the old tales and switch the screen."
The chat reaction wasn't as good as I'd hoped. Most viewers were cursing the North Korean hunters and wanted my story to continue instead of gawking at them.
"??"
...Why? I asked the viewers with a puzzled look.
"Children. You don't like it?"
"Why? Don't you see just chatting and mukbangs on other streams all the time?"
"Hmm..."
Humans are so tricky. I learned unique charm and content were key, so I tried that... but they prefer common just chats and mukbangs over my "unique" idea?
"Hm?"
Then familiar names popped up in chat. What was it... Ah, right! The Korea Hunter Association. They were enthusiastically supporting my unique content idea.
I'd seen them as cheaters at first, but they have their good sides too. That's why humans are fun.
At least a few like it. A warm feeling swelled. Is this what it feels like when your efforts to please viewers pay off?
The viewers' opinions started shifting toward wanting to see it. Not out of fun, but wariness toward a rival group—closer to that.
Oh. Right, they're from different groups.
Then I realized my mistake. I only thought of content uniqueness, but North Koreans and my viewers are from rival packs... er, nations. Same species or not, different groups compete—nature's way.
A powerful predator like me—or a natural disaster—being approached by rivals? Humans would worry more than enjoy.
My bad.
Living as a dragon without pack or nation concepts, I overlooked it.
Cancel now? But I'd already said it. Can't take words back.
"I messed up. It must be a sensitive topic from your perspective..."
The viewers chat happily, teasing me now that they have the chance. I was about to say something back when—
"...Hm?"
The chat scrolls fast, checking on me. But I couldn't focus on it.
Why? Because—
= ...What did you say?
Before me, radiating heavy pressure, the armed man shouted.
"Surrender to the great Leader Comrade!"