CHAPTER 33 - Internet

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{Kim Dokja POV}

    Since the scenario started, the Internet had been shut down all over Seoul due to the activation of the dokkaebi channels.

     No, wait a minute. This was Dongmyo Station. Ah… right. Then the Internet was possible? If internet was possible, can I use it for making a deal with Clopeh Sekka? I remembered that Yoo Jonghyuk used his skill to make deals with him. He even gets those fanatic followers to listen to him.

    Lee Sungkook looked at me with an uneasy expression and opened his mouth.

“Excuse me, Yoo Jonghyuk-nim?”

“What?”

“We’ve arrived. The representative is waiting inside.”

     I saw a medium-sized tent roughly set up in the middle of the platform. The representative had an assortment of goods.

“Let’s go.”

    Lee Sungkook bowed his head and guided me. The inside of the tent was quite luxurious. It was unbelievably luxurious for such a shabby tent.

    There was a red carpet and a bed that seemed to have been stolen from a luxury hotel. There was a round table for a meeting and a small desk with a computer.

    The most interesting thing was the boy concentrated on surfing the Internet. The face seemed only a few years older than Gilyoung. The boy had dark circles and sat on the chair in his pajamas.

    And there was a navy blue flag held tightly in his arms. Amazing. This boy had already passed the halfway mark of the King’s Road.

    I clearly remembered. Dongmyo’s king. Maybe this boy would soon become the Hermit King of Shadows. The poor boy king was busy replying to Internet comments.

     The long-familiar Internet screen looked weird. I once again felt it was real. Indeed. This was the situation we were in now. On the outside of the dome, many people still didn’t know the truth.

    The boy king’s fingers started to move.

-You guys, have you ever heard of the Prophets? I don’t know what they are but they claim to know the secrets of this situation ㅎ ㅎ

[Character ‘Han Donghoon’ has activated Comments Manipulation Lv. 3.]

    As soon as the activation message popped up, dozens of comments appeared under the boy’s one.

    The comment started to spread all over the Internet with tremendous power. It was surprising. They were already using the ability this way.

“Representative Han Donghoon?”

Lee Sungkook called out and the boy raised his head.

“A guest has come. Greet him.”

    The boy, Han Donghoon’s sunken eyes turned to me.

“H, He, H, Hell…o.”

Han Donghoon wasn’t in a normal state.

     This boy, who was called the ‘Seventh King of Seoul’ in Ways of Survival now looked so haggard. Originally, he avoided humans due to his nature but it wasn’t this much. When he met with Clopeh Sekka in 60th round of Yoo Jonghyuk regressions. They made a scary scene for making some brain washing programs that make most people turned into Cale Henituse devout followers that don’t have any fear in anything. It’s described that the world changed because most constellations losing their existence because everyone is Cale Henituse devout believer. I think I need to stop their meeting. I need to stop all the bad ending scenario with meeting Cale Henituse group and stop everything that would destroy the world. Haa..., why do the writer make such over power character that will disturbed the balance of the world and the system? I don’t even know what they’re doing in the time that they don’t meet with Yoo Jonghyuk. There’s some disturbing part where I believe that it must have some kind of connection with them.

      Han Donghoon staggered up and sat on a chair at the round table, biting at his nails.

      Lee Sungkook smiled as if he was satisfied.

“Now Yoo Jonghyuk-nim. Let’s start the talk with the representative in earnest.”

    I gazed at Han Donghoon and laughed.

“Talk? What talk?”

“Huh?”

“Are you joking with me right now?”

Han Donghoon’s eyes were blank.

“…This is the representative?”

     Obviously, the boy was the representative of this station. In name. But…

“How long are you going to make fun of me? You want to make me talk with a doll?”

     I looked back and saw Lee Sungkook’s hands shaking. He probably didn’t think that Sage’s Eyes would find out. He opened the smartphone to check something and sighed.

“…Yoo Jonghyuk-nim, I’m not usually like this. Please forgive me.”

“You are the real power of this station. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

“How many other people know?”

“Only a few top executives.”

     Setting up a person with a strong ability as a scarecrow and taking control of the station. It was a strategy often used in Ways of Survival but it was strange to see it in reality.

“If you are the real power, why did you bring me here?”

“It was to avoid the attention of other people. I don’t know if you have realized, but there is a Sound Wave Blocking skill around the tent.”

     I had expected it. In fact, this was one of Han Donghoon’s abilities.

“It must be really important.”

“That’s correct. Yoo Jonghyuk-nim, it is important for you and for all of us.”

“All of you?”

    Lee Sungkook took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“I’m a Prophet. To be precise, I am one of them.”

    The information I wanted was finally coming out. I waited silently for his next words.

“Yoo Jonghyuk-nim, you will never know the enormous joy we are feeling right now. My colleagues and I have been waiting for this day of great victory for Yoo Jonghyuk-nim.”

     Did I hear wrong? This guy started speaking strange words.

“We know about Yoo Jonghyuk-nim’s special ability. A miracle that allows you to go back to the past after dying. In this world, only Yoo Jonghyuk-nim received such special power!”

     I was a bit nervous about the constellations’ filtering but I decided to keep listening.

“Maybe Yoo Jonghyuk-nim has already repeated a few lives. You have fought against terrible enemies and struggled against the beings of this world to save people. Enduring alone, lonely memories… We respect your sublime spirit.”

     This jerk, such skillful flattery. Yoo Jonghyuk would be moved to tears if he heard. Later when he was depressed, I would have to tell him these words. But if I can meet with Cale Henituse and Alberu Crossman, I need to learn their talking skills, they are often helping that Sunfish with their word. They give Yoo Jonghyuk hope in his 43rd round regression.

“But Yoo Jonghyuk-nim should’ve realized it from your past regressions. Even if you have an outstanding miracle, you alone can’t fight against the disasters that will come.”

Plus, he was right.

“Yoo Jonghyuk-nim, this time will be different. It is because we are here. We Prophets have received a special blessing and have been sent to help you.”

Wow, look at this?

Lee Sungkook smiled faintly.

“You must be wondering. Why did these guys who didn’t appear last time suddenly show up now? It is very confusion but I hope you can trust us. It is because we have already received a revelation for this day 10 years ago.”

“…Revelation?”

“Yes. In our world, there is a ‘revelation’ that is secretly shared among the Prophets. Yoo Jonghyuk exists in it and is a living myth. It is a single revelation that records all of the past and future.

     Wait. Don’t tell me ‘that’ was the revelation?

“You don’t believe me yet. We already knew that Yoo Jonghyuk-nim would gather Lee Hyunsung. They didn’t come with you but you probably already have Delusion Demon Kim Namwoon and Maritime Admiral Lee Jihye. But that isn’t enough. At the very least, according to the revelation…”

I hid my nervousness and asked.
“Where is the revelation?”

“Unfortunately, it has been damaged and we can’t find the original.  Don’t worry. We each remember a fragment of the revelation. Through these fragments, we are prepared to walk the right path with you.”

“If you live again the way you have always done, Yoo Jonghyuk-nim… will die again. But it will be different with us.”

     Lee Sungkook was going in circles. I slowly closed my eyes and said, “I see.”

    Lee Sungkook hurriedly stopped talking. Maybe he was nervous. Yoo Jonghyuk had Lie Detection.

     Of course, I didn’t have this skill. But even if I did, his story wouldn’t get caught by Lie Detection. It was because Lie Detection couldn’t distinguish such falsehoods.

     That’s why I felt it even more.

“…It is surprising.”

     It was true. I was shocked beyond surprise. This was a great ‘setting.’ A setting that was squeezed out in a short amount of time. Human creativity was really great.

“You are called Sungkook?”

“Yes, Yoo Jonghyuk-nim.”

     I could write the book Ways of Survival. In order to help the hero who kept dying, readers received a revelation and came from outside the novel? This was more exciting than the real Ways of Survival. But that was it. What they were doing will give me much harder time to search for them, Yoo Jonghyuk never meet them before the 43rd round and can only meet them 6 times in all of his regressions. I should get more information.

“Don’t go around in circles.”

This was it.

“Get straight to the point.”

     I heard the set up so it was time to speak.

“You have received the revelation of the future. Then what exactly are you going to do?”

Lee Sungkook quickly replied.

“We would like to form an alliance with Yoo Jonghyuk-nim. I-It is an alliance in name but it actually means going under you…”

     He was a funny guy. In the end, this was his purpose? Riding the bus that was the main character?

“I see. An alliance. You want this.”

“Yes.”

“It is an interesting suggestion.”

“This means…”

I tapped my fingers against the table.

“But the order is wrong.”

“Huh?”

“How can I form an alliance with people whose identities I don’t know? If you want to ally with me, isn’t this the first thing you should start with?”

“M-My identity… I already…”

    I got up from the chair and sat on the plush bed in the room. Then I crossed my legs and declared.

“Kneel down.”

     Lee Sungkook was embarrassed for a moment before getting down from his chair while hiding his expression. As his knees slowly reached the floor, I opened my mouth.

“Tell me your attribute.”

     Once I saw the strong hypnosis on the king candidate, I guessed this guy’s attribute. However, I needed to make sure.

    Lee Sungkook looked up at me with complicated eyes. His mind was probably working hard. He would think this.

「 Yoo Jonghyuk can see my information with Sage’s Eyes. 」

「He already knows it so what is the reason for asking about my information? 」

     Lee Sungkook struggled for a moment before speaking.

“My attribute is… Hypnotist.”

As expected, it was Hypnotist.

“I see.”

     Lee Sungkook looked a bit brighter at my nod. He thought he had passed a test.

“Is that all?”

“…Huh?”

Lee Sungkook’s eyes shook.

“…O-One more.”

I nodded.

“Tell me.”

"T-The 9th…"

“The 9th?”

    Lee Sungkook slowly lowered his head like he was ashamed.

“The 9th person… to get off.”

I see. This brat, the 9th…

…No, wait. Then how many people were there?

     The confused Lee Sungkook continued to speak gibberish while uneasily turning his smartphone off and on.

“Why do you keep touching that smartphone?”

“I-I-I’m sorry. I am a smartphone addict…”

    He was trying to get advice from the other ones who got off. But that didn’t last long.

“Are you going on the Internet?”

“Y-Yes, that’s right. It is the ability of the hermit…”

    At Lee Sungkook’s words, I looked towards Han Donghoon. The hypnotized boy was busy tearing at his fingernails with empty eyes.

    The Hermit King of Shadows who had the powerful information manipulation ability. This boy couldn’t be kept under the prophets.

     If the Prophets became involved in the story in this way, the original novel was ruined and the plans I set up would be wasted. I had to stop these guys before everything went wrong.

“Do the other prophets also have the attribute of ‘getting off’?”

“…Yes.”

“How many are there in total?”

“That…” Lee Sungkook hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth. “As far as I know, there are 48 people.”

    48 people? It was smaller than I thought.

    Considering that chapter 1,200 had one hit and chapter 120 had 10 hits, I thought there would be at least 100 people.

    Lee Sungkook’s words resolved my curiosity.

“I know there were more prophets originally but I expect most of them didn’t pass the first scenario.”

“They are dead despite knowing the future?”

“That… we have received the revelation but we only recently realized that it was a ‘true’ revelation.”

    Now it made a little sense.

    Perhaps at the start of the scenario, few readers thought that a novel that started serialization 10 years ago would become a reality. They might not remember it straight away.

     I thought it was strange that Lee Sungkook survived. Furthermore, this guy was the ninth person to stop reading so he was literally one of the earliest readers. Then how did he survive?

“I fortunately survived the carriage. If it hadn’t been for another prophet nearby, I would’ve died.”

     Another prophet in the same place as him?

     The moment that Lee Sungkook was about to speak, the ground slightly shook. The vibration was transmitted despite Sound Wave Blocking.

    Lee Sungkook and I ran out of the tent at the same time.

    I thought it was a sudden sub scenario but that wasn’t it. Two people stood in the centre of the epicenter. The man and woman facing each other. I didn’t know the man but the other person was.
________________________________________

      At Gyeongbokgung Station.

“I really miss the internet.”

“I need to upload this videos to let everyone in the fancafes get their salvation and blessing from all of this beautiful view.”

“We need internet for giving hope to everyone. They need this data to give them a reason to keep them alive.”

“If I have an internet connection I will make an interactive fanfic like ‘Cale-nim in Wonderland’. It would become a great fanfic with the majority votes from the readers. Although the interactive part was a multiple choice options in the end of the story. The story will follow the Alice in Wonderland plot and concepts, but the readers could choose for examples: if Cale-nim is in the Wonderland, what kind of outfit will he using?

A. A traditional Alice in Wonderland costume.
B. An man version Alice costume. (you can also add Naru-nim version if you like)
C. Cale-nim turned into woman with Alice in Wonderland costume.
I think one week for waiting for the voting and I need some time for making the next chapter so it will be uploaded once a month. Not only outfits but also the characters that Alice in Wonderland met will be changed by other characters or persons with the options that could be decided by the readers for the next chapter. I am having this kind of concepts, what do you think Chun-Hee-ah?”

“Ji-Hu Unnie, it’s a good idea if we have the fame as a writer because you will have the fans who will read your new story but I can’t use it because I just started writing. How about adding some characters from novels, manga, manhua or manhwa? It was a good idea that would make us have an easier time because the plot is already fixed from the start, but the problem is to decide the options and making the interactions after the voting end. Mmm...Jang-Mi Unnie how about...!? What happened Jang-Mi Unnie,...nosebleed!!!”

“Fufufu~ as expected Ji-Hu-ssi, what a wonderful options that you give as an example. Fufufu....”

[Some constellations listening intensely to your words.]

[Some constellations imagine the story that you give as an example.]

[Some constellations have a nosebleed that could make a rainbow.]

[Some constellations have a heart attack from imagining your example.]

[Some constellations couldn’t wait for the interactive fanfic and ask you to include them in the voting.]

[Some constellations interest in the full story of the concept that you are saying.]

[Some constellations...]
....

     Their discussions about the fanfic get a lot of coins from the constellations and the situation got more heated after some constellations give their opinions and join the discussion.

“We need to have a meeting with our executive members to help us with the information and we also need a system to help us with our fancafes constellations branch community. The internet will only help half of us. Let’s try to make a new information sharing system.”

“That’s really problematic. Do the constellations have something like fancafes website? We need to discuss it and search for a solution.”

[Your sponsor proudly said that she could always watch ‘Cale Henituse and his family’ with the Star Streams system.]

“What!!! It was really unfair!”

“Sponsor-nim could you send us some record or pictures? I’ll exchange it with the limited edition pictures that I got from Clopeh-nim. Please let us see it, or could you help us to find some way to let us watch it together?”

“I will even willing to pay with all my coins if I able to watch the streaming.”

“That’s our only reason for living.”

“Clopeh-nim, what will you do if we are getting the internet access?”

“We need to upload the videos and photos to the fancafes site so everyone could watch it and have their faith in Cale-nim. Their heroic exploits should be known by everyone. That also includes the constellations and dokkaebis. People could only live strongly if they have faith. That’s why we need to have faith in Cale-nim, my Hero, The Future Legend, someone who is even greater than the Gods.” Clopeh started his preaching.

“As expected Clopeh-nim, your words is always enlightening us and give us the power to live. We will definitely help you with your work in recording everything and we’ll help you to spread the recording to everyone so they will know how great Cale-nim and everyone exploits. I hope there will be more people understand the greatness of Cale-nim.” The leader of CSRF agreeing with Clopeh words enthusiastically.

      The fans who are in Gyeongbokgung or Seongsu Station are having almost the same thing as they keep trying to getting more information, pictures or videos about Cale and his group. For the Seongsu Station fans, they united together and help each other to survive. They always have a burning spirit to survive because they want to see more of Cale and his group exploits.

Meanwhile...

“Why do I feel chills? Will those Dokkaebis give some penalty or scenario again? I feel like there’s something that will hinder me to have my dream come true.”

“Is it something like an intuition skill, Dongsaeng?”

“Do you need some blankets Cale-nim?”

“You should eat and rest well to keep your body healthy Young master-nim.”

“Where is Clopeh?” Cale asked.

“He said that he will discuss the strategy with the survivors, I never imagined that he could arrange for everyone and improve their group battle skills quickly. He’s smart when he is not crazy, but he always relapse when he is around you, Dongsaeng. It’s easier when we leave the survivors to him.”

     

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