No one dared raise an objection to Yoo Joonghyuk’s declaration.It was only natural—open your mouth here and your head might roll.Incarnations who knew Yoo Joonghyuk, and those who didn’t, had no choice but to acknowledge him this time.With that, the owner of Chungmuro Station was decided.A few incarnations’ shoulders trembled, and I saw readers wearing complicated expressions.Some, already cowed, whispered under their breath.“Is this… okay?”“But if it’s Yoo Joonghyuk…”“That’s exactly why it’s a problem—because it is Yoo Joonghyuk.”I could guess what they were thinking.—So this is what you were after from the start.From ten-odd paces away, Ye Hyunwoo was glaring holes through me.Instead of bothering to trade barbs, I addressed the crowd.“A new ‘representative’ has been chosen. Let’s all offer our congratulations.”Clap, clap, clap.My shameless applause rang through the silent station, and everyone looked at me like I’d lost my mind.Gu Seon-a and Kim Kyungsik were glaring too.“Don’t tell me you—”Only now did they seem to get why I hadn’t seized the “white flag” and had waited.「At this point in time, the one most suited to be ‘Chungmuro Station’s’ representative is Yoo Joonghyuk.」Enduring the readers’ stares with a straight face, I pictured Chungmuro’s future in my head.「If Yoo Joonghyuk becomes representative, gathering Chungmuro’s readers under one banner won’t be impossible.」Yoo Joonghyuk was the protagonist of Demon-Slaying Law and the strongest incarnation at present.If Yoo Joonghyuk, of all people, were representative, even the readers wouldn’t dare cast a no vote.「This was precisely Lee Hakhyeon’s planned ‘Unify Chungmuro Operation.’」What was my role in that?“Please, take the flag.”What else?“Everyone is waiting.”I saw several readers knit their brows at my sycophantic tone.Couldn’t be helped. Right now this was the best move.Did I never say?My original survival plan was to cozy up to Yoo Joonghyuk after meeting him… then switch to Kim Dokja.Not that I’m saying I still think that way, but—“I’ve changed my mind.”That was when Yoo Joonghyuk said something strange.“Pardon?”Staring blankly at me, Yoo Joonghyuk kicked the white flag over instead of taking it.The flag toppled perfectly in my direction. After regarding it for a beat, Yoo Joonghyuk said to me:“You take it.”***“Mr. Inho. What just happened?”Things had gotten weird. To summarize the situation for the confused readers—in the Gyeong Sein style:The protagonist Yoo Joonghyuk shows up in style and claims the flag is his. (Reasonable.)The protagonist Yoo Joonghyuk makes a cool, brooding face and circles the station once. (Also reasonable.)The protagonist Yoo Joonghyuk hands the flag to the suspicious Cheon Inho. (???) << New!!Jung Heewon asked, puzzled.“Did you pay him?”“Money wouldn’t move a guy like that.”Trampling the flag he’d knocked over, Yoo Joonghyuk walked on with heavy steps and sat on a bench in the distance, glowering this way.The look said he’d be watching to see what choice I made.[The Constellation, ‘Monarch of the Small Fries,’ marvels at incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk’s spirit!][The Constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon,’ asks what the hell incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk thinks he’s doing.][The Constellation, ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband,’ juts out his lip as he watches incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk.][The Constellation, ‘Bald Militia Commander,’ asks what on earth is going on.]I’d like to ask that myself.Why did this happen?“Looks like merely kicking it doesn’t count for ownership. Want me to give it a little touch, too?”“Mr. Sein, please. What if you end up as representative?”“Hehe.”While Gyeong Sein and Uncle Dansoo bantered over the fallen flag, I stared down at it, lost in thought.「The Yoo Joonghyuk I know would never entrust a ‘flag’ to someone else.」The moment you possess the “flag,” everyone within that station becomes a member of the flag owner’s group.And yet, instead of claiming it himself, Yoo Joonghyuk handed the flag off to me.Why?Two hypotheses.Hypothesis one: Yoo Joonghyuk’s snapped.Afflicted with regression blues, he’s lost it—deciding to give me the flag and resolve to join my group.No matter how I turned it over, no way.One look at those vicious eyes told you he was perfectly sane.Hypothesis two: he noticed I’d used him in the Apostles’ squabble.But even if he realized that, there was no reason for him to hand the flag to me.With his personality, a squabble or two among Apostles wouldn’t even register.Under that fierce gaze, a memory from the “Theater Dungeon” surfaced.「‘You are Yoo Joonghyuk.’」Wait—could it be?Hypothesis three: an “indebted Yoo Joonghyuk” has appeared.I helped Yoo Joonghyuk in the Theater Dungeon.My [Agitate] woke him from his “regression depression,” and he didn’t miss the opening—he slew the dungeon boss. (One could say entirely thanks to me.)So is it the third hypothesis after all?But does a story called “indebted Yoo Joonghyuk” even exist in this world?If I could, I’d step into the snowfield and ask Kim Dokja.“Um.”“What will you do?”Cautiously raising their hands, the incarnations asked me.I still hadn’t officially taken the flag.Ye Hyunwoo, Gu Seon-a, Kim Kyungsik—even Killer King and LiteraryGirl64.All the incarnations of Chungmuro Station were staring at me all of a sudden.「Yoo Joonghyuk entrusted me with the disposal of this ‘flag.’」I didn’t know why he’d given it to me.But from here on out, who owned this flag was mine to decide.***[The ‘representative’ of Chungmuro Station has been selected.]As if the fight over the seat had been a lie, the incarnations immediately began cooperating to put the shattered station back in order.“For the time being, we’ll use this place as a base. Seon-a noona, please secure food for everyone. Uncle Kyungsik, put together a detachment and scout the nearby stations. The representative elections at the other stations should be finished by now. We may even run into the Misread Alliance.”“Leave it to me.”People moved with brisk precision at Ye Hyunwoo’s word.“And…”From afar, our eyes met, and Ye Hyunwoo dipped his head, awkward.Understandable. It would feel awkward for a while.Someone at my side spoke up.“You’re a strange one.”I turned to find Gong Pildu, displeasure written all over his face.Stroking Mole Cricket Max, he was staring absently at Ye Hyunwoo carrying supplies.“You could have been the representative. Hyunwoo wouldn’t have complained.”“Wearing a fancy hat’s a hassle.”“Why?”What was there to say?Most of the incarnations here were members of the Landlord Alliance who’d been clearing scenarios with Ye Hyunwoo.If I had become representative, they would have followed—reluctantly—but they wouldn’t have sworn me true fealty.In the actual story too, when that “Kim Dokja” took Chungmuro Station, a few people peeled off from the group.Also—“More than anything, it suits you much better.”[The current ‘representative’ of Chungmuro Station is the incarnation ‘Gong Pildu.’]The Ten Evil, the Armed Warlord, Gong Pildu.Fixture of Chungmuro Station, and an incarnation who, though not a “reader,” had the force and connections to lead this station.[The Constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon,’ is disappointed by your patsy behavior.][The Constellation, ‘Prince Heungmu,’ asks if that means there won’t be a fight.]A few Constellations voiced displeasure with my decision. Understandable.Even so, from my perspective, it wasn’t a losing deal.[An unnamed Constellation finds your choice intriguing.][The Constellation, ‘Dragon Sprawled Out,’ praises your far-sighted judgment.][Constellations of the Absolute Good faction marvel at your prudence.][The Constellation, ‘Defense Master,’ supports your decision.][You have received 2,000 coins.]I went on, stroking Max as he rubbed against my shin.“Because Mr. Pildu accepted my terms.”[You will not be subject to Chungmuro Station’s rule.][You are currently not affiliated with ‘Chungmuro Station.’]The terms of my contract with Gong Pildu were simple.Those who refused the representative’s rule—including me and the Apostles—would be kept under Chungmuro’s umbrella but would not be compelled to act.We would form a temporary alliance, and they would not antagonize our party until the scenario ended.All of this would be sworn as an “Oath of Existence.”[An ‘Oath of Existence’ is in effect.]An Oath of Existence—a vow between incarnations that, if its stipulated terms were broken, would rouse blue mana to burn out the violator’s heart.From a distance, readers who’d been watching for the mood conferred.“Ms. Seon-a, you’re really going to stay here?”“Well… if the representative doesn’t have coercive power, there’s no reason we can’t stick together.”“T-Then I’ll stay in Chungmuro too.”What the Apostles feared was a single representative swinging unlimited power. Solve just that, and there was no reason they couldn’t cooperate.The reason the readers hadn’t thought of this simple answer was probably that they’d never had the free capacity to.Until a moment ago, they’d been reading this story alone.But the readers I know are not people who read stories alone.+strawberry1137 : I told you before, didn’t I? The Secretive Plotter is Yoo Joonghyuk! Yoo Joonghyuk from another worldline! I knew it!└barampoong : Weren’t you saying Kim Dokja before?└killer_king : I am Yoo Joonghyuk.└Princemaker77 : He posts the same comment every time.+Reading the readers’ comments, I lingered a moment in old memories.“Please. Protect them, the way you protected Hyunwoo.”“I didn’t protect Hyunwoo. Hyunwoo protected me. I’m only paying back a debt.”I already knew that Gong Pildu thought the world of Ye Hyunwoo.That’s why I saddled Gong Pildu with the burden of “representative” in the first place.「The Gong Pildu of this round is not the Gong Pildu I knew.」I didn’t know what about Ye Hyunwoo had changed him so.Whether the “goose father” setting value had evolved, or he had always been this kind of person and was only unlucky in the main run—Either way, it was remarkable.In a sense, Ye Hyunwoo had achieved something no one in Ways of Survival had.“Will you leave? You’d be safer here, too.”True enough—if I stayed, I’d be safe for a while.But—“Yes.”Since meeting Han Sooyoung in the Theater Dungeon, there’s one thing I’ve realized.In this world of the “41st round,” if you want to reach the end of the scenarios, ordinary resolve won’t cut it.If I only retrace Kim Dokja’s path step for step, then when I face her again, I won’t survive.「I have to grow stronger. Perhaps even stronger than Kim Dokja of the third round.」“If you need help, say so.”“Let’s hope it won’t come to that.”I saw Yoo Joonghyuk rising from the bench.About time to go.***With Jung Heewon, Uncle Dansoo, and Gyeong Sein, I finished packing and made ready to leave Chungmuro.A few people came to see us off. Among them was LiteraryGirl64.“Where’s Killer King?”“He seemed shocked. He’s sprawled out and won’t get up.”“Shocked? Why?”“He’s staring at the ceiling muttering, ‘I was a fake.’”I could guess the state he was in.“Please comfort him.”LiteraryGirl64 nodded.“We’ll meet again, won’t we?”“Of course.”“Let’s talk a lot about novels again.”Lastly, I said goodbye to Ye Hyunwoo as well. Seeing how he still fidgeted, I guess I still made him uncomfortable.There are people like that in this world—the ones who, unable to bear their guilty conscience, end up doing even more to feel guilty about.“If you’re going to apologize, now’s your last chance.”Luckily, Ye Hyunwoo was still a boy; he wasn’t at an age where he’d be raked over the coals for being unfamiliar with the many kinds of social grace.“When a shell hits you, usually you die.”Face reddening, eyes glistening, Ye Hyunwoo bowed his head.“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Mr. Inho… I didn’t mean to kill you. I just—couldn’t think of a better way…”I looked at him for a moment, then took an item from my coat and set it on the ground.[‘Miniaturization / Transformation’ is released.]In an instant, the enlarged artillery piece revealed its true form, and Ye Hyunwoo’s face changed.“T-This is…”“The Singijeon you asked for.”Ye Hyunwoo examined the device up and down, jaw hanging.“It really… really exists.”Seeing his eyes sparkle—yes, a reader is a reader.“But why give this to me…”I answered the bowing Ye Hyunwoo in a calm voice.“Because you were trying to save people.”“N-No. I… I just—”“Do you want to become Kim Dokja?”Ye Hyunwoo’s head snapped up, eyes going round.How did I know?—his face said.How could I not?[Activating ‘Reader Comment Ledger.’]+I don’t know if the author will ever see this. Still, I’ll write it down once. I have a spell I recite sometimes when things get rough. I am Kim Dokja. But my friend says I look more like an octopus than a squid. I just wanted to say thank you. I’ll be back in a few days to marathon from the start again.— Recommendations 351 / Not recommended 0(Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, Episode 551)+From the very first moment I saw him, I couldn’t help but know.So I wanted to tell him.“Mr. Hyunwoo, you are not Kim Dokja. You don’t have to be Kim Dokja to be strong and admirable enough.”Not everyone needs to be unhappy.This world is a story wrought from the unhappiness of one person; it was not written so everyone would be unhappy.“Don’t become Kim Dokja. Don’t sacrifice yourself for someone else. Survive—no matter what. Please.”Sacrifice isn’t the only thing that can save someone.Sometimes a single word can pull a person back from the brink of death.Readers taught me that.So perhaps this, now, is Lee Hakhyeon the author’s old reply to those days.“But I recite that spell sometimes too.”“Sorry?”I am Kim Dokja. I don’t truly want to be Kim Dokja, but when I say it, the things around me feel just like events in a story.”I patted the dazed Ye Hyunwoo lightly on the shoulder and turned to go.[The Constellation, ‘Secretive Plotter,’ nods.]In the distance, I saw my companions waiting for me.A beat later, I heard Ye Hyunwoo call after me.“Wait! Mr. Inho! Are you—”I am not Kim Dokja.I know it, the readers know it, and even Yoo Joonghyuk walking ahead knows it.Gazing at the handsome back of the protagonist’s head, I thought of my old readers.[The fourth main scenario is in progress.][You are currently not affiliated with any station.]The solid fortress Ye Hyunwoo and the readers built—“Chungmuro.”I thought of the high ramparts they had raised, and the empty throne for the vanished king.Chungmuro would have no king now.And yet, strangely, I still felt as if someone in a white coat were seated there.[You have become a ‘Wanderer.’][A ‘Hidden Scenario’ has begun.]

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