From the boy who was a Yoo Joonghyuk follower, we were able to hear many stories.
Skipping useless stories like Yoo Joonghyuk's heroic tales, we learned that food here relies on Jihye or Yoo Joonghyuk. Drinking water is being exchanged little by little with the Landlord Alliance using food or Coins. And crucially, what the Landlord Alliance manages are the 'rooms'.
In other words, the core of the scenario, the Green Zone, belongs to them.
"Excuse me, Hyung."
"Hm?"
"I need to go to the bathroom."
At Gilyoung's words, Kim Dokja turned his head.
"Is it urgent?"
"Yes."
"Um, me too..."
Beside Gilyoung, Yoo Sangah raised her hand with a flushed face.
It seems our quick-witted Gilyoung helped her out.
"Ah, for the bathroom, you have to go up to Basement Level 2, but it might be a bit tough to get in."
"Is something wrong?"
At Lee Hyunsung's question, the boy sighed, brushing the back of his neck.
"You'll know when you see it. Since I have to go up anyway, want to go together?"
"Let's go. For now."
Saying that, Kim Dokja followed the boy, leading us to B2.
"Um, earlier you mentioned Green Zones and rooms. I didn't understand, what are they?"
"You'll know later."
Looking around, I answered Yoo Sangah's question.
She'll probably be forced to know even if she doesn't want to.
Because this scenario is that kind of scenario.
"Does everything from B3 to B1 belong to the Landlord Alliance?"
"Yes. There are minor factions too, but... the Alliance has taken almost everything."
"Did Yoo Joonghyuk take no action? I heard he saved you."
"Well..."
Well, is there even a need to ask?
If it's him...
"Stand up on your own..."
Probably.
Even when he first saved them, he probably never once told them to follow him.
Being captivated by someone who didn't even intend to take them along and crying 'Save me!'... the result is obvious.
After our conversation, we climbed the stairs to B2.
"You have to be careful from here on."
B2 had many more rooms than the floor below.
But unlike the floor below, there were few people soliciting, only those guarding their rooms with quite threatening glares.
"Uh, why is it so crowded here?"
"The bathroom is just ahead..."
I turned my gaze toward the bathroom.
Someone wailing, begging to be let off just this once for doing something wrong.
Someone asking to stay just one more day.
And opposite them, I could confirm the existence of people blocking their entry.
"Ah."
While watching from afar, our Gilyoung, perhaps very urgent, ran forward, tripped, and ended up stepping into their territory.
Strictly speaking, he didn't even fall on his own.
[The Incarnation, 'Lee Gilyoung', has invaded private property!]
"What are you, kid?"
"Crazy! Get back!"
Threats from scary-looking middle-aged men. People backing away.
An atmosphere where anyone could clearly see something was about to happen.
"Hmm, looks like you're lost. Do you know where this is?"
"Isn't it... the way to the bathroom?"
"Bathroom? Ah, haha! Right. It used to be."
I slowly took off my sunglasses and walked forward through the crowd.
"You brat. Where are your parents?"
"...Excuse me?"
"Didn't you learn not to step on others' land carelessly?"
Lee Gilyoung looked at them as if he didn't understand.
Looking at Gilyoung with unreadable eyes, the men opened their mouths.
"Guess you don't know well. Alright. Then we'll teach you."
Whirrr. The sound of machinery moving was heard, and mini-turrets equipped with Gatling guns rose up from various places all at once.
"Hand over the money. Kid."
The muzzles of the Gatling guns all aimed at Gilyoung.
I approached Gilyoung's side and patted his head.
"Threatening is a bit much. I owe this kid a debt, you see."
"What? Ah, a guardian? Fine. Then the guardian should pay 500 Coins instead."
"Is that so?"
There seemed to be several Gatling guns.
I looked at one of them.
"I don't like it."
"What? Have you not grasped the situation..."
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Red."
Thwack.
The mass of Cursed Technique fired from my fingertips pushed the Gatling gun back and destroyed it.
Immediately, the other Gatling guns all turned toward me, and seeing that, I pushed Gilyoung toward Dokja, who was behind.
"You, you bastard. Who the hell are you."
"Small fry talk too much."
I instantly fired Red at the visible Gatling guns.
Private property destroyed in an instant.
Standing in the center, I won't just stand by and let them do as they please.
"Take me to your boss."
"..."
I pushed the hesitant extra aside and walked inside.
[You have invaded private property!]
I probably invaded a long time ago.
"If you don't want to, I'll go myself."
I walked up to a middle-aged man.
A bald man trying to draw attention by pretending to read a magazine.
Strictly speaking, not completely bald, but bald anyway.
"Are you intending to antagonize our Alliance?"
"You guys are acting like dicks."
"Refreshing. A face I haven't seen before. Great spirit."
Whirrr.
Gatling guns rose up again and started aiming at me.
Well, wanna try more?
"Want to receive a fine? Ajussi."
"Seeing that you purposely caused trouble, that doesn't seem to be your goal?"
"Well, wanna sell a room? Then?"
I crossed my arms and looked at him crookedly.
"I'm saying this out of concern but... it would be better not to escalate this further."
"I don't think so."
If I were Kim Dokja in a party without me, he would think subduing them here is a rash judgment.
But... a Kim Dokja with me would wonder if it's really rash.
Since I can subdue everyone here and then some.
However... I don't plan to go wild right now.
Everything I'm doing now is just a plausible threat.
"The performance I showed isn't even a fraction of my power. And..."
I smirked and looked down at him.
"Even without me, if just one of my companions acts, you all die."
"Your companion? Are you talking about that slick-looking guy?"
"No."
A presence approaching from afar.
I turned towards it.
"Yoo Joonghyuk."
"What? What is your relationship with that guy!"
"That bastard who caused a ruckus...?"
Seeing the chaotic surroundings, I smirked.
It's quite fun watching the gazes shift around. Is this the taste of Kim Dokja impersonating Yoo Joonghyuk?
"What relationship?"
"A companion of a companion who shared life and death. But we're quite close."
"Saying that makes it hard to believe."
At my words, Gong Pildu looked at me suspiciously and then turned his gaze to the side.
And the voice of a woman was heard.
The sound of Lee Jihye talking about impersonating a companion reached my ears.
"Want to test it?"
I turned my head toward Yoo Joonghyuk, and seeing us, Yoo Joonghyuk looked quite surprised, stared at me intently, then nodded.
"Long time no see. Yoo Joonghyuk."
"Choi Gang-hoon. You've become stronger."
"Of course. Even if called the strongest, one cannot remain stagnant in that position."
"The strongest... If anyone else said that, I would have definitely mocked them."
Right. I'm probably the strongest among the current Incarnations.
"These guys don't seem to believe we're friends, shall I show them how close we are?"
[A few Constellations pay attention to Incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk's' answer.]
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' observes Incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk's' loyalty.]
"You seem to be mistaken, we are not friends, but companions."
Companions.
At that word, Gong Pildu's expression beside us became quite a sight.
If... Kim Dokja were alone, this result wouldn't have come out.
"See?"
"..."
"I'll use the bathroom well from now on? Gong Pildu-ssi."
I patted his bald head—slap slap—with my palm, then took the group and left.
"Nice to see you? Bastard."
"You're alive. I thought this man would abandon you eventually."
"Sounds like you hoped I'd die?"
"I thought it wouldn't matter either way."
Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk looked at each other, then Yoo Joonghyuk looked at me first, and Kim Dokja followed his gaze to me and grimaced slightly.
Probably, the context is something like this.
Yoo Joonghyuk probably thought, 'I just need to take this man.' And Kim Dokja read that and grimaced.
"Anything left to say?"
Kim Dokja stared at him at those words, and Yoo Joonghyuk looked back at Kim Dokja and asked again if he had anything left to say.
"No, just looked because you're annoying."
"..."
"Joking."
Yoo Joonghyuk quietly shifted his gaze from Kim Dokja to the group.
Not me, but the group organized by Kim Dokja.
"Is this the party you formed?"
"I'm terrible at this, so Dokja-ssi organized everything."
He quietly activated Sage's Eye towards the group and began examining them one by one.
Starting with Lee Hyunsung.
Seeing Lee Hyunsung's growth potential, he looked at Kim Dokja as if blatantly disappointed.
However, it didn't take long for his gaze to change from disappointment to something else.
Probably... Gilyoung.
"What are you staring at?"
"..."
"Yoo Joonghyuk."
When Yoo Joonghyuk was thinking something inwardly. Kim Dokja suddenly called out to him from the side, turning Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze.
"There's one thing I'm curious about, why do you leave Gong Pildu alone?"
"If you're a prophet, you should know."
"Even a prophet doesn't know everything."
"...I suppose so. Even a prophet would have a low level of 'Future Sight' yet."
That's not the problem.
I swallowed the words that almost popped out.
If I had said that, things would have gone very wrong.
Right. Let's swallow it.
"Because he is necessary."
"Because of the upcoming scenarios?"
He didn't reply and quietly looked at Kim Dokja.
Well, is he planning another experiment?
"What's necessary is Gong Pildu, not that group, right?"
"Isn't it your style to eliminate what's unnecessary? Why just watch?"
"I have a lot to do."
Yoo Joonghyuk stared at Kim Dokja for a long time.
"You will never understand."
"What? Wait! That's not something you can just say and pass by. If you don't act now, most of the people in Chungmuro will...!"
"It doesn't matter."
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes shone coldly for a moment.
"Yoo Joonghyuk. Let me hit you just once."
"If you can."
Kim Dokja raised his fist to hit him for real, but as soon as Yoo Joonghyuk's skill activated, he lowered his fist.
"Is your business done?"
"..."
"And you."
I shrugged and looked at him.
Then he turned his head, looked at Lee Jihye, quietly said "Let's go," urging her, and Lee Jihye followed Yoo Joonghyuk, looking at Kim Dokja with surprised eyes.
Though it's a complete misunderstanding.
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