After returning to Chungmuro, Kim Dokja gathered the group and explained the hidden scenario he had obtained.
The gist was that they would unlock the King's qualifications if they occupied at least 10 stations within 10 days.
The funny part was that if they failed to occupy at least one station per day, the group members, including himself, would die.
It wasn't even "Those who cannot become King, die!"
"I guess I'll have to work hard. For the King."
"It would be fine if Kang-hoon-ssi tried a little less hard. After all... we already occupied one thanks to you today."
"Really?"
"No. I hope you do your best."
Right.
I should be honest.
"Then... first, we need to find out about the bastards who attacked us. I plan to go straight to Dongmyo, so Jung Heewon-ssi, Lee Hyunsung-ssi, and Kang-hoon-ssi. Let's go together."
At Kim Dokja's words, Yoo Sangah raised her hand slightly.
"Then what about me...?"
"Yoo Sangah-ssi, please stay here."
"Ah, as expected... that would be, better..."
Hearing Yoo Sangah's dejected voice, I nudged Kim Dokja with my elbow.
Kim Dokja seemed to realize his mistake, glanced at me, and looked back at Yoo Sangah.
"Yoo Sangah-ssi."
"...Yes?"
"Not everyone can be good at the same things."
"Yes, I know."
At Dokja's words, Yoo Sangah gave a weak smile.
It seemed she felt left behind while everyone else was moving forward.
Since she was too kind-hearted to be jealous of others, she naturally turned to blaming herself, and Kim Dokja knew that side of Yoo Sangah well.
"Do you remember what I said on the subway? Dokja has Dokja's life, and Sangah has..."
"Sangah's life. I remember! I even wrote it down in my smartphone memo."
It must have left a deep impression.
Kim Dokja looked like he couldn't understand... well, whatever.
"We need someone here to look after Gilyoung, and someone to watch over Gong Pildu so he doesn't try anything funny. In some cases, we need someone who can restrain him. It seems we have just the person who can do all of that."
Kim Dokja extended his hand to Yoo Sangah.
"So, Yoo Sangah-ssi. I want to entrust the position of Vice Representative of Chungmuro Station to you. Any objections?"
"None here. His Majesty says he'll do it, so who are we to argue? Right, Heewon-ssi?"
"O King... if you wish, let it be done..."
Kim Dokja glared at us once.
[Chungmuro Station Representative 'Kim Dokja' has transferred some authority to group member 'Yoo Sangah'.]
[Group member 'Yoo Sangah' has become the 'Vice Representative' of Chungmuro Station.]
[From now on, group member 'Yoo Sangah' can administer 'punishment' to group members on behalf of the Representative.]
Yoo Sangah stammered, seemingly quite flustered.
Or maybe terrified.
"C-can I really accept s-such a position...?"
"I'm entrusting it to you because it's you, Yoo Sangah-ssi."
"That's right."
Following Kim Dokja, I, and then the rest of the group nodded, and only then did Yoo Sangah nod with a much more relaxed expression.
That's a relief. She seems a bit better now.
"I'll do my best!"
We headed straight for the tunnel towards Dongdaemun History & Culture Park.
Was it three stops to Dongmyo?
"Psychokinesis always looks useful."
"Huh? This isn't psychokinesis."
I pointed at Kang Ilhoon floating in the air.
"I'm using gravitational pull to constantly pull him towards a point in the air. I'm just moving that center of gravity."
"Isn't that psychokinesis?"
"If I had obtained psychokinesis with the same level of ability, I could have had much finer control."
"Ah, you mean more delicate control."
"Exactly."
Kim Dokja seemed to agree, then turned his head and muttered quietly, 'Doesn't seem like much difference...'
But I am a man with the strongest heart. I won't fall for such a petty mutter of provocation.
So I pretended not to hear and turned my head to look straight ahead.
"No, but seriously, it's really hard to compare, you know?"
Wait, actually, I can't let that slide? That wasn't just a petty provocation, was it??
"Do you know how hard this is! Psychokinesis just works like snap, you know?!"
"You've never used psychokinesis, have you? You have to use it to know."
"Ha? Look at this guy!"
He hasn't used either!
I stared at Kim Dokja for a while, then turned my head back to look ahead.
Yeah. What would a guy who has neither know.
I grumbled and moved ahead of the group.
"Come to think of it, giving Yoo Sangah-ssi a position was a good move. She looked really depressed."
"I didn't choose it specifically considering Yoo Sangah-ssi's feelings. I just thought the Yoo Sangah-ssi I know would do a really good job."
"Is that so? Certainly... Ah, then give me a position too. Something that suits me."
At Jung Heewon's words, I turned my head to look back.
"Executioner!"
"What? You wanna fight?"
"Certainly..."
"Excuse me?"
Jung Heewon glared at me and Kim Dokja alternately.
"Haa... seriously. Are these colleagues or younger brothers?"
"It's good~ A properly refreshed atmosphere is better than just being serious all the time."
"Turning a woman into an executioner to refresh the atmosphere isn't right."
"Haha..."
Hyunsung let out an awkward laugh beside us.
"Ah, this is a bit out of the blue, but that thug on the roof. What happened to him? Is it okay to just leave him there?"
"You mean Yoo Joonghyuk?"
"I think it was a name like that."
"He'll probably be fine."
"You talk like you know him really well? What's your relationship?"
Kim Dokja thought for a moment at Jung Heewon's words, then asked her.
"Do you have any siblings?"
"......? Yes, why?"
"Brother or sister?"
"Younger brother."
"How old?"
"First year of middle school this year."
"How is it having a younger brother?"
"Annoying. Troublesome, talks back at every opportunity... I even had to go to his school instead of Mom because he caused trouble..."
Jung Heewon, who had been badmouthing her brother for a while, trailed off.
Watching Jung Heewon staring into empty space, Kim Dokja asked.
"Still, you worry about him, right?"
"Well, we're family anyway."
"It's similar for me."
"Did you have a younger brother too, Dokja-ssi?"
"No, I'm talking about Yoo Joonghyuk."
So that's it.
Even I was almost fooled while listening.
I thought for a moment Kim Dokja actually had a younger brother?
"So you like him? Or hate him."
"Hate him. I fought with several people because of that jerk."
Kim Dokja's words probably referred to various stories he experienced while reading the novel.
Imagining Kim Dokja fighting alone against multiple readers was quite funny.
Though it would have just been typing on a keyboard.
"You three have become very close."
"Why, jealous? Wanna join too, Hyunsung-ssi?"
When I asked with a smile, Hyunsung shook his head.
"It's not exactly that..."
Hyunsung looked ahead and pointed, speaking to us.
"I'm mentioning it because I think we've arrived at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station."
At Hyunsung's words, we all looked ahead.
Ah. I see the platform entrance.
We carefully stuck to the tunnel wall and scouted inside little by little.
Because there was a possibility of troops waiting in ambush.
"Doesn't seem like anyone's there?"
"Indeed. Not a single sentry."
Contrary to our worries, there was no one at the station.
With the Flag Struggle in progress, the absence of sentries meant the station had likely already been taken by another group.
Confirming there was no one around, we headed straight for the flag holder.
"It seems it's already been occupied."
"Well, it's not like we didn't expect it..."
"N-no...!"
Just as we were looking at the flag holder. Kang Ilhoon, floating in the air, shouted in a seizure.
What the. Startled me.
"D-Dongdaemun Station has...!"
He stammered, drool trickling from his mouth.
Kim Dokja, suspecting something, immediately placed a hand on his shoulder, and after checking something, his expression changed.
"It seems... Dongdaemun Station has been occupied."
"Was it a double trap?"
"It seems the goal of the bastards leaking information was this from the start."
I nodded at Dokja's words.
"Actually, isn't it a triple trap?"
"What do you mean... Ah."
Kim Dokja looked towards my fingertip and nodded as if understanding.
At the end of my finger was the tunnel leading to Dongdaemun, and a group of people were approaching from within.
"Oh, Kang Ilhoon-ssi? Dear me, you've brought some useless baggage."
Kim Dokja stared at the men, then made a surprised expression.
It seems he can't view their character information.
"Then... will you introduce yourselves directly? Or..."
At the man's words, the group simultaneously drew their weapons.
However, Kim Dokja stepped out in front of us, facing the group, and spoke to the opponent in a tone different from his usual one.
"We came from Chungmuro."
"Chungmuro?"
At that moment, crackle— sparks flew in the air, and the man staggered for a moment as if he had received a mental shock.
The man hesitated for a moment, then asked Kim Dokja with bewildered eyes.
"Excuse me, but... what is your name?"
Kim Dokja looked back and forth between Jung Heewon and Hyunsung, met my eyes, grinned, and opened his mouth towards the man.
"I am Yoo Joonghyuk."
Now he's even impersonating him.
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