When Kim Dokja said no, Min Jiwon’s eyes wavered for a moment. Several Hwarang members gaped, and even Min Jiwon, an actress by trade, couldn't manage her facial expression.
The response she gave was rather dumbfounded.
"...Excuse me?"
Unable to accept reality, she began to doubt her own hearing.
"I think I heard wrong... could you say that again?"
"I said I won't be your subordinate."
Honestly, even if I were offered a scenario like that, I would have snorted and walked away. Kim Dokja probably felt the same.
"Let's go. We're in a hurry."
See, I told you.
We turned around without hesitation, and only then did Min Jiwon shout in an urgent voice.
"Wait! If it's about the Coins, I can give you more! If I talk to my Sponsor...!"
"Not interested."
"I said wait!"
Desperate, she actually ran over and blocked Kim Dokja's path. Her agility stat must be decent. She was faster than I expected.
"Surely you know the value of 2,000 Coins?"
"It's chump change."
[A significant number of Constellations burst into laughter at your remark.]
[You have been sponsored 5,000 Coins.]
Just look at the amount the Constellations are throwing at me. Yeah. It's chump change.
"You don't have the luxury to be so arrogant!"
Min Jiwon, flustered by my comment, shifted her gaze to me. By the way, it's not arrogance.
"Anyone can see I'm not being arrogant, I'm just stating facts."
"Exactly."
"You're so noisy!"
At Kim Dokja’s affirmation, Lee Seongkook nodded beside him. He used to be terrified, but now that he feels like he’s on the winning side, he’s acting like a follower.
By the way, look who's calling who noisy. You're the one doing all the talking.
"Ha! The war between the Later Three Kingdoms is about to begin. I don't know which Constellation is backing you, but all the small groups nearby are going to be wiped out! No, honestly, I should be the one receiving 2,000 Coins just to accept you, yet you still don't grasp the situation?! I am the King of Silla. The King who will soon unify the Three Kingdoms!"
Did she read my mind? A torrent of words poured from Min Jiwon's mouth. She really thinks she's a King.
"You seem to be mistaken about the era; this isn't the Later Three Kingdoms period."
"You're the one mistaken about the era. The Republic of Korea is finished. Don't tell me you're still waiting for rescue?"
What's this? She was spouting nonsense just a moment ago, but suddenly she's making sense?
"A new era has dawned. And the beginning of that era will start with me, Min Jiwon."
My mistake. I realized anew that even bullshit can sound plausible if there's a logical flow to it.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty?"
Just when I was starting to find this woman annoying, Yoo Sangah suddenly interjected. Nice timing.
"...What is it?"
"As far as I know, Silla was the weakest among the Later Three Kingdoms... historically speaking, wouldn't it be a bit difficult? How do you plan to unify the three kingdoms..."
Oh. An unexpected jab.
"Wh-what do you know to act so high and mighty!"
"Um, I have a Level 1 Korean History certification...?"
"H-History certification..."
Flustered, Min Jiwon stammered.
"What's so great about a history cert!"
"Wow. I listened quietly, but the Queen doesn't even know history. Let's go, Yoo Sangah-ssi. Kim Dokja."
Kim Dokja nodded at my words, and Min Jiwon's face turned red. Whew, at least she knows shame?
"Wait! My offer isn't over yet! How about 3,000 Coins!"
We turned around without pretending to listen.
"Three thousand five hundred! I'll give you up to three thousand five hundred!"
The increments suddenly dropped. Our Queen seems a bit short on cash. Even for a historical figure Constellation, financial power depends on fame, so this must be the limit for the last Queen of Silla. If it were Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the offer probably would have doubled every time we refused.
"Three thousand six hundred! No, seven hundred...!"
When Kim Dokja stopped walking, we all stopped. Looking back, Min Jiwon wore an expression that said, 'I knew it.'
"Wouldn't it be better just to leave?"
"Because I'm a really bad person."
Kim Dokja looked at Min Jiwon.
"Actually, I'd like to make a proposal."
"What do you mean?"
"How about 10,000."
"Excuse me?"
A number in the ten thousands suddenly dropped. Min Jiwon slowly processed the number, and her expression gradually stiffened.
"Ah, was that too low? Still, you're nominally a King. Let's make it 20,000."
"Are... are you joking with me right now? 20,000 Coins? Do you seriously think you're worth that much..."
"You have to explain it clearly to the slow kids, Dokja-ya."
"I see. What I meant was, I will buy you for 20,000 Coins."
"What?"
"To be precise, including all the forces under your command."
Her mouth gaped open blankly before she quickly snapped out of it.
"T-there's no way you have that many Coins..."
"I'm curious where you got the idea that just because you don't have it, others won't either."
Kim Dokja snapped his fingers loudly. At the tip of his index finger, along with a brilliant glow, a portion of the Coins he possessed materialized.
[20,000 Coins]
Min Jiwon, who had been barely maintaining her poker face, finally crumbled.
"N-no way!"
"Do you believe me now?"
"I'll add another 5,000 Coins on top of that, wanna join me?"
I jokingly snapped my fingers and materialized a portion of my Coins in the air.
[25,000 Coins]
Seeing two people flashing money like crazy, Min Jiwon couldn't hide her astonishment right in front of us. But that astonishment soon turned into greed. Understandable. It was a number of Coins she had never obtained. A massive amount. Even if it couldn't completely change the tide of the Later Three Kingdoms forces, it was definitely enough to make an impact.
"Are you saying you'll buy me with money right now?"
Unfortunately, greed failed to crush her pride. Too bad. If she had joined me, I would have actually given it to her.
"Why, is that not allowed? You were the one who made the offer first."
"Exactly. Does she think she's the only one who's special?"
"How dare you!"
Appalled by our words, a man stepped forward. Probably the captain of the Hwarang.
"Want to try me? Incarnation of Gwanchang?"
At my words, the man looked surprised for a moment, but he didn't flinch and kept his spear aimed at us.
"Gwanchang is a good Constellation. But reckless. What if my Constellation is Gyebaek? Surely you don't want to reenact the Battle of Hwangsanbeol."
The flustered man's eyes went wide.
"You bastard... are you a spy for Baekje?"
Kim Dokja sneered at him.
"Not Baekje, just an ordinary Korean."
"You...!"
"I respect your patriotism, but you should be a little more careful. I don't just have 20,000 Coins."
Kim Dokja snapped his fingers once more. The number of materialized Coins began to skyrocket like crazy, and only then did the man's face turn pale.
I withdrew my Coins, and Kim Dokja did the same.
"Who... who are you people?"
"Well."
"You don't expect an answer, do you?"
Kim Dokja looked at Min Jiwon.
"Min Jiwon-ssi. You can't solve everything in the world with money. As an actress, I thought you would know that well, but I'm disappointed."
With those words, Kim Dokja truly turned his back on them. I immediately walked alongside him, and the group followed.
However, Min Jiwon, seemingly unwilling to give up, shouted pitifully toward us.
"W-wait!"
But this time, she couldn't catch up. The distance between us grew, and once we were far enough from the Silla forces, Yoo Sangah spoke in a slightly sullen voice.
"Um, Dokja-ssi, Gang-hoon-ssi. Can I ask you something?"
"Hm?"
"Go ahead."
"That person just now... is she famous?"
After that whole situation, the question is 'Is she famous?'? I chuckled and looked back at Yoo Sangah.
"Probably?"
"Uh... probably, yes."
"I knew it... It was fascinating because Dokja-ssi, Gang-hoon-ssi, and even Seongkook-ssi seemed to recognize her. I watched historical dramas quite diligently, so why didn't I remember her at all?"
Well, it's not unreasonable that she doesn't know.
"I don't know either, Noona."
"Ah, haha. Really? That's a relief..."
Because Min Jiwon is a character who originally exists only in Ways of Survival.
"Lee Seongkook-ssi."
"Ah, yes."
Lee Seongkook, who was still glancing backward, jumped at Kim Dokja's voice and turned his attention to him. Is Min Jiwon's beauty that impressive? If he were a woman, would he have lost his heart to my face?
"You said you were a fan of Min Jiwon-ssi earlier?"
"Yes? Haha, that's right. Didn't you know? She's a famous actress... huh?"
Suddenly, Lee Seongkook's expression turned strange.
"Huh? Min Jiwon-ssi...? Wait? Why do I know Min Jiwon-ssi? No, did I know her from before...?"
"Lee Seongkook-ssi...?"
"Uh... Yes?"
"No, never mind."
I glanced at their conversation and then moved my eyes forward again. Unfortunately, it seems Lee Seongkook's transformation into a character is complete.
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