Declaring himself Yoo Joonghyuk as soon as he appeared.
Everyone was shocked by the outrageous declaration, like saying you'd win when asked if you'd lose, only to die.
Lee Hyunsung's jaw dropped, looking at him as if he didn't know whether to be dumbfounded or genuinely surprised, and Jung Heewon was staring at him openly as if he was absurd.
"No way...?"
At the Yoo Joonghyuk declaration, the opponent's eyes widened in surprise.
Well, that's expected.
They are self-proclaimed Prophets. Not Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint... but people who read 'Ways of Survival' and dropped out.
'Prophets' is a term they made up, and their attributes probably say 'Nth Dropout'.
In short, that's it.
They are people who dropped 'Ways of Survival'. Meaning they know about Yoo Joonghyuk's existence and this world.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing."
The guy's tone became noticeably polite.
As if anyone could see he knew about Yoo Joonghyuk.
I quietly whispered into the ear of Kim Dokja, who was striking a pose, so only we could hear.
"Wouldn't it be more credible if I said I was Yoo Joonghyuk? Since I'm better looking."
"...The different hair color would be more distinctive. This will be more effective."
True, it's probably better for you to act than for me.
I nodded and took a step back.
"Arrogant bastard. You better be careful where you roll your eyes."
"...Gasp."
At Kim Dokja's words, I glanced at the guy, and he was rolling his eyes towards Lee Hyunsung.
Ah, right. The guy had something called Attribute Detection.
He would have been quite surprised if he saw my attribute. Unfortunately, he got caught by Kim Dokja after looking at Lee Hyunsung first.
"Did you think I wouldn't know if you peeked with a mere B-grade skill?"
"But this bastard...!"
Perhaps not grasping the situation yet, one of the men in the group pointed his spear threateningly at us.
Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon tried to step forward, so I raised a hand to stop them.
"Why so tense~"
I quickly grabbed the hand of the man holding the spear and caught the blade flying towards his head.
It wouldn't really matter if he died, but I thought it would be better to show some force, even a little, to add weight to Kim Dokja's scam.
"Let's not spill blood unnecessarily."
"Wh-who are you?"
"The Strongest."
At my words, the men all turned their gaze to Kim Dokja, and Kim Dokja looked at me as if dumbfounded, then nodded.
"Gojo Satoru."
"Ah, are you Japanese?"
I nodded.
Although I felt several stinging gazes from the side, I didn't care and spoke confidently.
Hey, someone else is impersonating, there's no reason why I can't lie too.
"Your Korean is fluent."
"None of your business. I'm curious about who you are?"
"Ah, my introduction is late. Let me introduce myself formally. My name is Lee Seongkuk. I'm the Vice Representative of Dongmyo Station."
Dongmyo Station, huh.
"Dongmyo? Is that so. Then get lost now."
"...Yes?"
"From now on, this is my station, so hand it over and get lost."
Kim Dokja's Yoo Joonghyuk act to the Vice Representative of Dongmyo. Lee Seongkuk looked at us with eyes full of bewilderment.
By the way, it's really top-notch. The Yoo Joonghyuk act.
"What do you mean..."
"Does my word not sound like a word to you?"
Kim Dokja naturally looked at the 'flag holder' where Dongmyo's 'flag' was planted.
Then, realizing the intent behind the words belatedly, Lee Seongkuk started speaking again.
"T-that's impossible. A station already occupied cannot be transferred..."
"Do you take me for a fool? You bastard. You're the Vice Representative. If you have authority equal to or higher than Vice Representative, you can arbitrarily transfer the station. Did you not know even that?"
I see. Trying to eat it raw?
"If you don't hand it over by the count of three, I'll cut off your heads. One."
"W-wait..."
Lee Seongkuk's face slowly hardened.
The men surrounded us, emitting a menacing aura, and Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung seemed anxious, not knowing why Kim Dokja was suddenly acting like that.
"It seems you think I'm joking? Two."
Kim Dokja drew his sword and aimed it at them, and with a vwoom sound, a pure white flash blazed from the sword.
"Thr..."
"W-wait a moment! We, we'll give it to you!"
"I don't need it."
However, Kim Dokja, like a real madman, didn't withdraw the sword aimed at them but glared at him even more intensely.
"You answered too late. Hand over Dongdaemun too."
Wow. He's really going all out.
Of course, Yoo Joonghyuk would probably really go this far.
Well, since there's a basis for doing this, it shouldn't be a problem.
Since I'm the basis.
"If you don't hand it over, the deal is off."
"B-but...!"
"Counting three again. One."
Lee Seongkuk's expression changed in real-time.
Since he had started believing Kim Dokja was Yoo Joonghyuk for a while now, he must be imagining in his head what would happen if they became enemies.
"U-up to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, I can give it with my authority! B-but..."
"But?"
"Dongdaemun is outside my authority so I c-can't decide! I have to meet our Representative to decide...! I stake the honor of the King I serve, I will not cause even a bit of harm to Yoo Joonghyuk-nim!"
"Good, lead the way."
Having taken Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station for free, we immediately entered Dongmyo Station.
The group members of Dongmyo, not knowing the identity Kim Dokja was impersonating, were whispering amongst themselves, but due to Lee Seongkuk's attitude, they couldn't hastily object.
Probably, as long as no one tactlessly talks to Kim Dokja in this state, it'll be fine.
"Excuse me, D..."
I quickly stepped on Lee Hyunsung's foot to cut him off, then mouthed to them.
'Kim Dokja is Yoo Joonghyuk from now on.'
'Yes?'
'Just know that. Just.'
By the way, Dongmyo Station. Looks quite unpleasant.
Seeing wanderers from other stations treated as slaves. It reminds me anew that the world has ended.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
While I was looking around, Kim Dokja quickly moved behind Lee Seongkuk and looked at his phone.
Did he raise his agility level?
"Huh?! Ah, it's nothing!"
I also glanced at it just now.
Because while he was hiding the phone, startled by Kim Dokja, I caught a glimpse.
Was that just now... a group chat room?
"H-haha. This way! The Representative is waiting inside, so you can go in!"
This guy. Look at him changing the subject quickly.
But well... it wasn't a story I was particularly curious about, so Dokja and I let it slide and followed Lee Seongkuk's guidance towards the tent.
"Let's go."
I tried to follow Kim Dokja in, but Lee Seongkuk tried to block me with his arm. Thud.
But startled by his arm not touching my body, he immediately pulled his arm back into his chest, and I glared at him.
"You think you can stop me?"
"...?"
As I glared at Lee Seongkuk, Kim Dokja, who was about to enter first, turned around and looked at us.
"Satoru is my close friend."
"B-but..."
"Do my words sound funny to you? We're going in together, so don't stop him."
At Kim Dokja's firm stance, Lee Seongkuk had no choice but to take a step back from me.
Right. I'm going in, who are you to stop me?
I immediately followed Kim Dokja into the tent.
The interior was more luxurious than I expected.
A floor covered with red carpet and a lavish bed that looked stolen from a high-class hotel. A round conference table and even a small desk with a computer installed.
And in his arms... surprisingly, a navy blue flag.
It seemed he had planted flags in quite a few flag holders.
I stared intently at the boy's monitor.
An internet screen, huh. Seeing an internet screen after a long time reminded me of the first day.
That day when I was excited to become Gojo Satoru, took a selfie, posted it on the internet, and was called crazy... I didn't know the world would change back then.
"Representative Han Donghoon?"
"Ah..."
At Lee Seongkuk's call, the boy finally raised his head.
"Precious guests have arrived. Please greet them."
"Ah, aah... H-hel... lo."
The boy seemed to have severe social phobia.
Sunken eyes, haggard appearance.
Everything about the boy felt strangely incongruous.
"Now, Yoo Joonghyuk-nim, Satoru-nim. Shall we have a serious talk with the Representative?"
"Talk? What talk?"
"Yes?"
"Are you joking with me right now?"
Crucially, the boy's empty eyes.
Kim Dokja also seemed to notice the boy's abnormality.
"This guy is the Representative?"
According to what Kim Dokja read, this boy should be the Representative.
However, he might be the Representative, but not the power holder.
"Are you saying we should talk with a puppet sitting here?"
"...!"
Startled by the fact that Kim Dokja noticed, Lee Seongkuk immediately opened his smartphone to check something, then sighed.
"Yoo Joonghyuk-nim... as expected, you are extraordinary. Please forgive my negligence."
"It seems you are the power holder of this station. Right?"
"That is correct."
"Do the others know?"
"Only a few executives know."
Right.
This guy who knows the story became the power holder.
"If you're the power holder anyway, why did you bother bringing us all the way here?"
"To avoid people's eyes. I don't know if you know, but a [Sound Wave Blocking] skill is cast around this tent."
Sound Wave Blocking skill.
He has a pretty useful skill.
"Is the story that important?"
"Yes. It is important to Yoo Joonghyuk-nim, and to all of us."
"All of you?"
Lee Seongkuk, taking a deep breath, opened his mouth.
"I am a <Prophet>. More precisely, one of them."
"Prophets?"
"Yes. We know of Yoo Joonghyuk-nim's special ability. The miracle of returning to the past no matter how many times you die! A special power possessed only by Yoo Joonghyuk-nim in this world!"
This crazy guy is just spilling everything.
Kim Dokja glanced at me with a surprised look for a moment, but soon went 'Ah' and looked straight ahead.
He probably doesn't think I wouldn't know by now.
And it's true. There's what Kim Dokja said above the theater dungeon, and what he said on the bridge right after clearing the first scenario.
I'd be an idiot not to know.
"Yoo Joonghyuk-nim has probably already repeated several lives. You fought against terrible enemies and struggled against beings from other worlds to save people. Only alone, embracing lonely memories.... We truly respect that noble spirit!"
This guy... hearing it in person, he's really good at flattery.
At this rate, even that Yoo Joonghyuk would be moved to tears.
"But Yoo Joonghyuk-nim must have realized through past regressions. Even if Yoo Joonghyuk-nim performs outstanding miracles, you can never fight against the coming disasters alone. However! This regression will be different! Because we <Prophets> have received special protection and were dispatched to this regression solely to help Yoo Joonghyuk-nim!"
Wow, he talks a hell of a lot.
No, but seriously. If Yoo Joonghyuk was really here, he's saying things that would inadvertently persuade him?
"It may be hard to believe, but we have already received revelations preparing for this day from 10 years ago."
"Revelations?"
"Yes. In this regression, there is a 'Book of Revelations' secretly passed down among us <Prophets>."
Book of Revelations, huh.
If it's a Book of Revelations received 10 years ago... that's when 'Ways of Survival' came out.
"The myth that Yoo Joonghyuk-nim has lived and will live. That single Book of Revelations recording all that past and future. Through that Book of Revelations, we knew that Yoo Joonghyuk-nim would take 'Steel Sword Emperor Lee Hyunsung' under your command, and although they didn't come with you, we know you have already taken 'Delusion Demon Kim Namwoon' and 'Maritime Admiral Lee Jihye' as well."
"Where is that Book of Revelations?"
"Unfortunately, the original cannot be found now as it is damaged. But do not worry. We each remember fragments of it. And through those fragments, we are preparing so that Yoo Joonghyuk-nim can walk the right path. With us... you will be able to live a regression different from before!"
"...Surprising."
Yeah. Surprising.
Seeing how they came up with such a setting when the world hasn't been changed for long.
"Did you say Lee Seongkuk?"
"Yes, Yoo Joonghyuk-nim."
"Let's say you guys received future revelations. So... what exactly do you want to do?"
"We want to form an alliance with Yoo Joonghyuk-nim. Th-that is, nominally an alliance but... in reality, it's like entering under your command... Yes, something like that."
I smirked.
As I let out a small laugh without saying anything from my seat, the gazes of the two present focused on me.
"The order is wrong, isn't it? Right? Yoo Joonghyuk,"
Although he looked surprised at my words for a moment, Kim Dokja read my cue and nodded.
"What do you mean by that...?"
"How can I form an alliance with guys whose identity I don't even know? If you want to form an alliance with me, shouldn't revealing your identity come first?"
"I-identity... haven't I already sufficiently...?"
"Kneel."
At Kim Dokja's words, Lee Seongkuk looked at us dumbfounded.
"Kneel and recite your attribute."
I said with a grin, Kim Dokja nodded beside me, and he looked at us in confusion before kneeling and looking up at us.
"I am..."
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