Seongkuk recited his attributes.
One was Hypnotist.
It was expected. That was likely how he had managed to become the true power behind the boy who was destined to become a King. The other was 9th Off-boarder.
"An attribute I’ve never heard of," Dokja remarked.
"A-ah, that’s likely true. This is the first time we, the Prophets, have appeared in this cycle."
"How strange. If you truly received 'revelations,' why are you called 'Off-boarders' rather than 'Revelators'? What does that name even mean?"
I stifled a laugh watching Seongkuk squirm. He had no idea Dokja was just playing with him.
"It... it likely refers to the order in which we... stopped reading the Revelations!"
"You stopped reading? Why?"
"The content of the Revelations was far too difficult, vast... and profound..."
"So you’re saying you were the ninth one to give up on reading it?"
"Yes..."
"If that's the extent of your knowledge, I don't see how you'll be of any use to me."
"No, that's not true! I can certainly be of help!"
Flustered, Seongkuk continued to ramble, nervously turning his smartphone on and off.
"Why do you keep fiddling with that device?"
"My apologies! I... I have a bit of a smartphone addiction..."
"I saw earlier that the internet was working."
"Y-yes. By utilizing the abilities of that hermit over there..."
At Seongkuk's words, Dokja glanced at the boy sitting in front of the computer. He was clearly deep in thought—likely thinking he needed to rescue the boy from these people before things got worse.
"Do the other Prophets have the 'Off-boarder' attribute as well?"
"...Yes."
"How many are there in total?"
"That would be..." Seongkuk hesitated for a moment before speaking. "As far as we know, there are 48 in total."
"Forty-eight? That seems lower than I expected."
"Haha, your friend is quite sharp. To my knowledge, there were originally more Prophets, but most of them likely died failing to pass the first operation."
"They died despite knowing the future?"
"Well... even though we received the revelations, most of us only realized they were 'real' very recently."
I see. Those idiots didn't catch on as quickly as Dokja. Well, that makes sense.
"I’m also a case of someone who survived by luck. If it wasn't for another Prophet who happened to be nearby, I would have died right then."
"Another Prophet?"
"Yes, he—"
The moment Seongkuk was about to continue, a small tremor shook the floor. It was a vibration strong enough to be felt even through the soundproof barrier. We immediately rushed out of the tent.
Thump!
As soon as we stepped outside, we saw two people. A man and a woman were growling at each other. One was Heewon, and the other was a man I didn't recognize.
"You're not even a supporting character... how dare you defy me?"
"What the hell are you barking about, you dog?"
"What? A dog...? You bitch!"
The man drew a heavy curved blade from his back. Even a quick glance at his stats told me... he was no match for Heewon. Was he jumping in without even gauging his opponent's strength?
"Honestly..."
I scratched my head and stepped between the man with the curved blade and Heewon, who had drawn Mikazuki Munechika. The man’s blade came to an abrupt halt in front of me, while Heewon sheathed her sword the moment she saw me.
"...?"
The man looked bewildered, as if his sword had stopped against his own will. Hah, did he think he stopped it because he saw a person?
"Minseob! What do you think you're doing!"
"Huh?"
A moment later, the other Prophet, the man called Minseob, was kneeling before us.
"My apologies. My friend here acted without knowing any better... Hey! Apologize, now!"
Only then did the man with the curved blade bow his head toward us.
"...I'm sorry."
Even as he bowed, the anger hadn't quite left his face. A guy with a lot of pride, it seemed.
"Heewon, I believe I told you not to act recklessly."
He hadn't actually said that. Heewon looked like she wanted to protest, but she caught Dokja's eye and lowered her head.
"……My apologies, Lord Joonghyuk."
As Heewon turned away, Hyunsung followed her with a worried expression. She understood the situation, but her temper was clearly still simmering. We knew Heewon wasn't the type to draw steel without a reason. But... we didn't have the luxury of coddling her right now.
"You said you are Joonghyuk?"
"Yes. Are you a 'Prophet' as well?"
"...I am."
The man had a complicated expression. He looked at Dokja, then glanced at me, then looked back at the retreating Heewon and Hyunsung before speaking to Seongkuk.
"Lord Joonghyuk, excuse us for a moment. Seongkuk, let's talk outside."
As the man stepped out of the tent, Seongkuk bowed deeply to Dokja.
"I won't wait long."
"Understood!"
The real Joonghyuk wouldn't have said that. He wouldn't have even chosen the option to wait. He probably would have just killed them all.
As soon as Seongkuk left and his presence faded, Dokja stared into empty space. Was he buying a hearing enhancement?
"Hmm..."
"Forget it. Let's head out quietly and eavesdrop."
"Okay."
We cautiously stepped out of the tent and hid in a blind spot near Seongkuk.
"…I can hear them."
"What are they saying?"
I looked toward where they were. Unfortunately, even as Satoru, my hearing was still just human.
"They're doubting if I'm really Joonghyuk."
"See? I told you I should have done it."
"..."
Dokja glared at me before looking back toward the entrance.
"And they're talking about you."
"About me?"
"Yes. They said you have a very handsome face, so for a moment, they thought the real Joonghyuk had dyed his hair and put in colored lenses."
"I am better looking..."
"I believe that falls under the realm of personal taste."
"Realm?"
"Ah, never mind."
I tried to make a joke, but Dokja seemed genuinely spooked. Well, he did see what happened during the Domain Expansion back then. He must have heard me say it.
"Anyway, they seem suspicious of your strength."
"I haven't even shown them anything yet."
"You showed them plenty."
"Stopping a fight isn't that big a deal."
Dokja, who was relaying the conversation to me, let out a scoff of disbelief. I looked at him, wondering what he heard, and he caught my eye.
"…Hah, they're going to try and verify if I'm the real Joonghyuk or not."
"Really?"
"They’re coming back. Let’s pretend we heard nothing."
I nodded. We went back inside the tent, followed shortly by Seongkuk and his friend.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"I apologize for my previous rudeness. Let me re-introduce myself. I am Minseob."
The two bowed to Dokja as soon as they entered.
"So, which 'Off-boarder' are you?"
At Dokja's question, Minseob glared at Seongkuk. He looked like he was reprimanding him for revealing that much. But what could he do? Dokja had pressured him.
"I am the 1089th Off-boarder."
The 1089th. Judging by the number, he had given up quite late. But according to Dokja's internal monologue from when I read the novel, the first chapter had around 1200 views while the tenth had around 120, so there wasn't much difference in the end.
"As a Prophet who has read the Revelations, it is the honor of a lifetime to meet you, Lord Joonghyuk. However... my apologies, but may I ask a few questions?"
"Questions? What questions?"
"It’s... regarding you, Lord Joonghyuk..."
"Are you doubting my Joonghyuk?" I interrupted.
I glared at them. Beside me, Dokja joined in, and the man seemed unable to withstand the dual pressure as his face turned bright red. He looked like a literal tomato.
"N-no, it's not that..."
"Ask them."
"Pardon?"
"I said, ask them."
Flustered, Minseob nodded.
"Then... if you’ll excuse me."
"Go ahead."
"To my knowledge, the Joonghyuk of the third regression should have 'Delusion Demon' Kim Namwoon as a companion. But today, I see a strange woman in his place."
"..."
"Judging by the long sword, I thought it might be Jihye, but she clearly doesn't look like a teenager. And I heard you call her by a different name earlier."
"Our Heewon doesn't exactly have a 'teenager' face," I muttered.
Dokja glanced at me for a second before looking back at the man.
"Are you asking why I’m not traveling with the Delusion Demon?"
"Yes."
"I couldn't be."
At my words, Seongkuk and Minseob both stared at me.
"They died at the hands of a Prophet just like you."
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