"I am Han Sooyoung. I assist Cha Sang-kyung-nim in the group."
"Hoh."
Han Sooyoung.
Despite disguising as a man, she uses her real name. Kim Dokja later goes around impersonating only names.
"Hm?"
Kim Dokja, who was standing quietly beside me, made a sound while looking at Han Sooyoung.
"What's wrong? Dokja. Is there a problem?"
"No."
Seems he tried to use Character List on Han Sooyoung.
But unfortunately, she's not a character, so he won't be able to view it.
"Just a momentary glitch, I guess."
"Haha, you're witty."
Kim Dokja and Han Sooyoung looked at each other with strange glints in their eyes.
They must have started sizing each other up.
"The King is coming!"
With a creak, the doors of the waiting room began to open one by one.
Various Kings appearing with the opening doors.
Watching the Kings walk out the door, Kim Dokja asked Han Sooyoung.
"Are they also allies?"
"Yes. All Kings who promised cooperation. From the left, Timid King Yoon Ki-young-nim and Unarmed Combat King Kim Baek-ho-nim. And the last one is Earth Dragon King Goo Tae-sung-nim."
As soon as Han Sooyoung's explanation ended, Goo Tae-sung found Cha Sang-kyung and approached us with a sneer.
"One-eye, you were already out? Fast."
"Worm demon bastard acting up again."
"Worm? Did you just insult my Sponsor?"
Hearing that, Yoo Sangah whispered to us in surprise.
"That person, I think his Sponsor is Gyeon Hwon."
"Oh, how did you know?"
"I heard a story that the King of Later Baekje was born as the son of an earthworm (Toryong)."
"Toryong?"
"It means earthworm. Other Kings reportedly called Gyeon Hwon the son of an earthworm to mock him."
"Hoh, figured out the identity just by hearing 'worm'? As expected, impressive. Sangah-ssi."
Yoo Sangah smiled bashfully at my words.
"But if that guy is Gyeon Hwon's Incarnation, there are quite a few guys who took Kings as Sponsors."
"Other places will be similar. Historically outstanding Kings would possess power befitting them."
I nodded.
"Is everyone gathered?"
Around the time the chatter ended.
The Kings who organized their ranks gathered in the center and began a speech.
"Our enemy is the Tyrant King who entered through Door 3! The Tyrant King has already obtained two Star Jewels in this dungeon, and two innocent Kings lost their lives to his cowardly ambush. Among those here, there must be some who lost their Kings to him."
Indeed.
So the Tyrant King already killed two.
That explains the field of corpses.
"What are Star Jewels?"
"Ingredients to obtain the Four Yin Demonic Beheading Sword."
I see.
He already took two of such precious things.
"We must never hand over the new Seoul to a mob of rioters. If he obtains the Four Yin Demonic Beheading Sword, and furthermore occupies the Absolute Throne, only endless lamentation and tragedy will remain in this Seoul!"
"Therefore, warriors of the people! Rise up right now! All Kings here are wise and sage. Whichever of us becomes King, that is a matter for later. At least we must prevent the worst King from ascending!"
"This will be a struggle for a justified life! Listen carefully! You will become great warriors taking the first step into a new history!"
Ultimately, a flashy speech just to drive out one guy.
But people reacted passionately to that speech.
Cheering, agreeing, and some even tearing up with emotion.
It looked like a drama, seeing them mistaking themselves for revolutionaries rising for true justice.
Even though it's only been about a month, those who voted for the president with their own hands, who fulfilled their duties, enjoyed their rights, and agreed to possess private property through legitimate economic activities, are now throwing themselves into a monarchy system.
"Departure!!"
Hundreds of people entered through Door 3.
Since Cha Sang-kyung's group was at the rear, we started entering accordingly.
A moment later. Vision rippled, and a massive secret cave appeared.
A huge cavern whose width and end couldn't be easily gauged.
Han Sooyoung, walking right beside us, opened her mouth.
"This is exciting. Feels like I've entered a martial arts novel."
"Martial arts novel?"
Han Sooyoung nodded with a meaningful smile.
"You know, like in martial arts novels. A secret cave drawn in a treasure map. In the stone chamber of that secret cave, a legendary treasure sword sleeps. Oh...! Whoever in the Murim obtains that sword shall become the number one master under heavens!"
Han Sooyoung's voice, accompanied by gestures, was quite plausible, enough to believe even if she said she was an actor.
"A common cliché in martial arts novels. Treasure map and treasure sword."
"Oh, seems Dokja-ssi has read some martial arts novels too?"
"Read quite a lot. But I don't know if you're aware, there's another development that commonly appears with that cliché."
"Common development? What is it?"
"I think I know what that is."
As I intervened between Kim Dokja and Han Sooyoung, their gazes focused on me.
"Turns out the treasure map was fake. Something like that?"
"Correct."
"Hoh."
At our words, a glint flashed in Han Sooyoung's eyes for a moment.
"That's interesting. What happens next?"
"Obvious. Masters gathered in the secret cave by the fake are trapped and die, and the mastermind who leaked the fake treasure map laughs quietly from behind."
"Then this situation could also be such a cliché? Someone could be the mastermind."
Kim Dokja nodded.
"But I don't really like such obvious clichés."
"What does that mean?"
"Honestly, clichés like treasure maps and swords have been used too many times."
"In short, it's that, right? Too common stories are not good."
"Yes. It can be seen as a story lacking contemplation as a writer."
At those words, Han Sooyoung's expression began to stiffen.
"Doesn't the fact that a cliché is used often mean it's verified that much? Writers might have put it in after agonizing for fun."
"Using it just because it's verified seems like a disqualification for a creator. Well, the current situation isn't a novel, so there wouldn't be a writer who created this situation."
"Then let's say there is a writer, and let's say that writer is Dokja-ssi. Up to this situation... I mean, if you had to write content like a treasure map and sword, how would you write it?"
"Well, I'm a reader (Dokja) as my name suggests, so I haven't thought that far."
"I think Dokja-ssi would eventually write the same story. Ending up writing obvious clichés and getting used to giving readers obvious satisfaction."
Seeing Han Sooyoung talk a lot as if slightly provoked, Kim Dokja chuckled.
"Who said anything? You speak just like a writer. I'm not saying clichés are bad. Just that it would be good to write so as not to hear accusations of plagiarism. That's all."
"Pla... giarism?"
"Yes. Plagiarism."
Han Sooyoung's face turning red and blue.
Seeing that, Kim Dokja laughed blatantly.
"Ha, haha. W-well. Since all stories are similar and only details differ slightly, I wonder if that can be called plagiarism... If Dokja-ssi eventually becomes a writer, it'll be the sa..."
"No. I would write differently."
Twitch.
Han Sooyoung's eyebrow twitched at Kim Dokja's assertion.
"Write differently? How."
"For example..."
"Like this?"
I immediately blocked Kim Dokja's arm trying to draw his sword and pulled the head off Han Sooyoung's body.
"Personal settlement for the other day. Getting hit twice feels quite new, doesn't it?"
"Stop pulling heads off, you crazy bastard!"
Roll.
Even after falling from my hand, the guy's neck still had no bloodstains.
Kim Dokja and I, who knew it was an Avatar, weren't even surprised.
"Why hide clumsily when the mastermind will be revealed anyway?"
"Anyway, crazy bastards. Both of you."
Kim Dokja picked up the severed head of Han Sooyoung and asked.
"Avatar, as expected. Is Han Sooyoung your real name?"
"Yeah."
Kim Dokja looked at the guy calmly as if he expected it.
But the surrounding people were not calm.
A scene like murder happening in an instant.
Even a head talking and laughing despite being severed.
Honestly, a situation where someone with a weak heart would faint.
"My thought was right. You were the one who distributed the text file of the Revelation. Right?"
"To be precise, the text file of your plagiarized novel."
"The Revelation isn't plagiarism."
"It is plagiarism. Taking the original settings as they are?"
"Shut up. Don't compare my work to such trash."
"Seeing you understand me, you don't deny reading the original?"
Han Sooyoung ground her teeth and glared at Kim Dokja.
"Everyone kill this guy! What are you doing!"
"Th-the head is talking!"
"Heads originally talk. It's strange for just a remaining head to talk. Isn't that right? Head."
At my mockery, Han Sooyoung distorted her expression.
To be precise, it's probably because of this situation. Despite the commotion, people were just flustered and showing no clear action.
And soon, they won't even have time to pay attention to us.
"Soon, the cliché you mentioned will begin."
As if waiting for it, light bursting from the front of the secret cave.
Something like a ring of light brushed past, and long bloody lines appeared on the bodies of several people in the group.
Spurt!
Chunks of flesh splitting apart while spewing blood. People at the back of the formation were hit directly by the blood shower and screamed.
"Damn it, it's him!"
Wicked magic power shimmering inside the black secret cave. A presence pressuring the entire cave was approaching from the front.
"Lift the palanquin."
Along with a gender-neutral voice, the top of a large palanquin was visible.
Someone's shadow shimmering inside the palanquin.
I immediately stood in front of the group and looked at the guy.
"It's the Tyrant King."
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register