NOVEL NEXT chapter 682 - Name (4)
Once I ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) got the first words out, I suddenly grew nervous. Kim Dokja wasn’t even my superior—did I make my first greeting too stiff?
No. Still, he’s my backer.
A Constellation.
“Um, well. Nice to meet you.”
Polite speech slipped out of me again without my realizing it. Either way, we were seeing each other for the first time in reality, so using polite speech should be right.
But is it really the first time?
Come to think of it, I met Kim Dokja a few times in the “Snow Field.”
What was that Kim Dokja like again? Did that Kim Dokja also greet me with “hello”?
I tried recalling the face of Kim Dokja, who had called me in the Snow Field with a desolate look.
―Ah, right. Nice to see you.
The moment I heard his first words, the image of Kim Dokja in my head changed. The eyes that had held a faint sadness became oddly lazy, and the kind expression turned into that of an office worker worn down by his job.
―But it’s okay to contact you through this, right? “Indirect messages” cost too many coins.
What is this?
“Ah, yes, of course.”
While thinking that, I ended up answering like that in a daze.
―Thanks.
And then there was another short silence.
I waited.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes……
I started wondering what on earth this situation was.
“Excuse me……?”
―Uh, wait a sec. I’m in the middle of something right now.
He sounded cold in a way, and also like his mind was elsewhere.
One thing’s certain: he’s different from the Kim Dokja I know.
“Seems like you’re doing something important…….”
No. Come to think of it, if it’s “Kim Dokja,” he could be busy.
Kim Dokja is the observer of this world.
If he’s going to maintain this world, he must always be watching this world.
So—
―I’m reading Ways of Survival.
Right, Ways of Survival.
―It’s at a really fun part.
'Ways…… of Survival?'
―Right now Yu Joonghyuk is……
?
―He just went head-to-head with Poseidon……
For a moment I wondered if I’d misread.
I narrowed my eyes even further, focused my mind, and read the message Kim Dokja sent me until my eyes almost popped.
―I was seriously shocked, you know. That punk Joonghyuk’s already grown this much. So in this round……
I read it again and again.
In short, Kim Dokja’s message was roughly like this.
That punk Yu Joonghyuk—back in the early rounds, the guy who got all spooked by the Constellations and ran away—he’s already grown this much.
……(omission)……
Maybe he went crazy from getting his butt smacked too much by the Heaven-Splitting Sword Saint last round, or maybe his head got a bit messed up from getting backstabbed by Anna Croft again,
……(omission)……
so now that kid who only just managed to become a Transcendent finally says he’ll have a go against Poseidon, a myth-grade Constellation, and, well, what should I call it. Should I say my chest swells?
……(omission)……
I felt my mind go blank.
Who am I even talking to right now?
―Anyway, so Yu Joonghyuk falls into a crisis……
The one in crisis wasn’t Yu Joonghyuk; it was me.
I know Kim Dokja loves Ways of Survival. But even for Kim Dokja, isn’t this too much? There’s no way he could have lost his social skills to this extent—
No.
Because it’s that “Kim Dokja,” maybe this is exactly right?
I decided to calmly steady my thoughts and revise my conversation strategy.
The other party is Kim Dokja.
A lunatic for Ways of Survival.
If so—
“Ways of Survival is fun.”
―You know Ways of Survival?
“Of course.”
―Oh?
It worked.
―You’re someone who knows a thing or two, huh? Anyway, when I wrote all those recommendation posts, no one ever paid attention……
Every Constellation is mad for a “tale.”
Stars that loved stories so long that they finally became the stories themselves.
Maybe the story the Constellation-become-Kim Dokja is crazy about is Ways of Survival.
―What’s your favorite episode in Ways of Survival?
“The episodes where Yu Joonghyuk dies.”
―Yu Joonghyuk dies all the time.
“That’s what makes it interesting. He always dies, and yet every time he resolves to begin life again.”
In truth, I had never properly read Ways of Survival.
Naturally so; I knew Omniscient Reader, but I didn’t know the contents of Ways of Survival.
Because I never wrote it.
So the answer I just gave was the broadest, cheekiest reply one could give as someone who knew “Yu Joonghyuk,” not Ways of Survival.
―Mm, that’s a reasonable point.
“Right?”
―But that guy isn’t always that strong. You wouldn’t know since you haven’t read Ways of Survival.
I shut my mouth for a moment and then asked bluntly.
“……Do you find it fun to tease me?”
Somewhere, I felt like I heard a mischievous chuckle.
It was somehow a sigh-inducing situation, but it seemed he was finally ready to start a proper conversation, too.
“You are aware this is our first meeting as backer and incarnation, right?”
“And your opening is talking about Ways of Survival? Normally we’d introduce ourselves, exchange brief names. That’s the normal, social way to communicate.”
―Social, huh…… It’s been a while since someone said that to me.
In the bitterness of his tone, I sensed a strange wistfulness.
Was he thinking of someone?
Come to think of it, Kim Dokja only became a “social” human right after the world began to end.
―All right, then let’s start with self-introductions.
As if stretching, Kim Dokja introduced himself.
―I’m the “Demon King of Salvation.”
Simple and definite as introductions go.
Demon King of Salvation.
That was the epithet of the “Kim Dokja” I had summoned.
“I am…….”
―Right now you’re Cheon Inho. Real name Lee Hakhyun. A possessor from another worldline.
“You know me well.”
I spoke in a bitter voice.
Well, since he’s been watching me up to now, it would be strange if he didn’t know.
“Then you must also know what the current situation is.”
―The current situation?
“You were watching. No, we even met and talked in a dream last time. Did you forget?”
―A dream? This is my first time talking with you.
I hesitated. As expected, the “Kim Dokja” speaking with me wasn’t the one I’d met in the “Snow Field.”
Then who was that “Kim Dokja”?
And the “Kim Dokja” I’m speaking to now is someone else again.
“Then the ‘Kim Dokja’ who talked with me in the ‘Snow Field’ was…….”
―……What did he look like?
“Just looked like Kim Dokja.”
―There should be some kind of vibe or something.
“Should I say… a bit wistful?”
―Wistful, huh…… Was it the second one, maybe? Or……
Second?
―Anyway, that one’s not me. This is the first time I’ve met you, and to be honest, I’m not that interested in you.
Wow. That’s cold.
―Frankly, your story isn’t even that interesting.
Not interesting.
I hadn’t expected to hear such words from Kim Dokja, so I was a little taken aback.
―You’re too heavy and dark—in your actions and your judgments. How should I put it, you feel like you’re missing something that makes a protagonist a protagonist.
“Well, I—”
I wanted to argue.
That I’m not the protagonist, so of course.
But do I really have the right to say that now?
Even without complete memories of my past life, I’m here now because of my past self. I came all the way here because I wanted a story that was mine alone, because I wanted to know who I am.
Do I have any right left to say such things?
―If you keep dragging around the tales attached to you like shackles, you’ll get crushed to death by them someday, kid.
I was blankly reading the message when I suddenly jerked my head up.
“What did you just say?”
―That you’ll get crushed by your tales.
“Not that—what you said at the end.”
Kid.
He definitely called me that.
―Ah.
In the same bored tone you’d use to recite volume numbers of Ways of Survival, the “Demon King of Salvation” said,
―That’s because you’re the “last Kim Dokja.”
*
There’s a thought I’ve had constantly ever since I learned I’m a part of Kim Dokja.
「Maybe there are multiple “Kim Dokjas” in this world.」
Come to think of it, it wasn’t impossible.
I myself am the reincarnation body of the 49% Kim Dokja.
If so, there’s every chance other Kim Dokjas exist in a similar form.
And probably one of those “Kim Dokjas” is shaking me down right now.
―Hey, spot me 500 coins.
“Why.”
―If I put in 500 more coins I can switch to voice chat too. Trading messages is inconvenient, so hurry.
[500 coins have been used.]
[The convenience function of “Midday Rendezvous” is added.]
Having meekly been robbed of coins, I started wondering if I’d been mistaken about Kim Dokja all this time.
Maybe Kim Dokja was a bad guy to begin with?
“So you’re the ‘first,’ you say?”
―Yeah.
The distinct voice of Kim Dokja resounded in my head. Right. It was definitely the voice of the “Kim Dokja” I’d imagined.
―You’re the one who called me.
“I called ‘Kim Dokja.’”
I missed the Kim Dokja from the Snow Field.
Where did that gentle, decent Kim Dokja go, and why did a punk wearing Kim Dokja’s skin show up?
―No. You called the “Demon King of Salvation.”
Well, that’s true, but what’s the difference.
―You don’t know what that means?
A memory suddenly surfaced.
When I was fighting the “Founder of the Absolute Throne,” an Otherworldly Divinity, I called Kim Dokja for the Backer Contract. To be precise, I called the “epithet of Kim Dokja.”
As far as I know, Kim Dokja has a total of four “names.”
And the only one who responded to me was the one before me now, the “Demon King of Salvation.”
“Wait, then the ‘first’ you’re talking about is……”
―Right. It’s the “order in which the epithets were born.”
Kim Dokja’s first epithet is the “Demon King of Salvation.”
He’s the one who has “King of a World Without a King” as his origin tale, and who, by obtaining the “Demon King of Salvation” tale on the last floor of the Dark Star, became a Constellation.
As the tales composing him began to become visible, I began to guess his identity bit by bit.
“Then ‘Kim Dokja’ is divided according to his epithets?”
―Well, aside from smaller fragments, you could say the big chunks split that way. I’m the first among them.
He kept emphasizing “first” in a way that showed he was quite proud of it.
At any rate, it was a disappointing situation for me.
“Then you aren’t ‘Kim Dokja.’”
If this Kim Dokja is the “Demon King of Salvation,” there’s a high chance he only has memories related to the “Demon King of Salvation” tale.
As per his self-introduction, he’s not Kim Dokja; he’s the “Demon King of Salvation.”
―Nope. I am Kim Dokja.
“You’re the ‘Demon King of Salvation.’”
―I’m Kim Dokja who is the “Demon King of Salvation.” If you don’t have every single tale related to Kim Dokja, does that mean you aren’t Kim Dokja?
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
―I am Kim Dokja. If I’m not Kim Dokja, then who the hell is?
I found myself envying that certitude.
Maybe what makes Kim Dokja Kim Dokja isn’t his memories, but that attitude.
―Anyway, I didn’t expect you to call me. Not sure whether to call that good luck or bad.
“What do you mean?”
―Because this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten tangled up with you regarding the “Backer Contract.”
Another set of memories surfaced.
Right when the 41st round started and the first scenario, “Proof of Worth,” ended.
I’d found a rather unusual epithet in the “Backer” list.
“Don’t tell me that was you?”
The only thing that had shown up on the backer list—three question marks.
So that was Kim Dokja.
―Strictly speaking, it was me and the other Kim Dokjas.
Other Kim Dokjas?
―Back then we weren’t in a separated state.
Kim Dokja grumbled briefly and continued.
―Anyway, for some reason, during the process of making contact with you, a separation phenomenon occurred. I split off then, too.
In other words, at the very beginning of this round, Kim Dokja wasn’t “many,” but “one.”
“Why on earth did that happen? Did someone—”
―No idea. I don’t have the detailed memories from then. In any case, we got torn apart, and I’m existing as the “Demon King of Salvation” now.
As if it were nothing, he yawned lightly and went on.
―Anyway, kid. You had a reason for calling me, didn’t you?
The reason I called Kim Dokja.
“Yes. I do.”
But when I actually tried to open my mouth, the words just wouldn’t come out.
What should I ask first?
Should I ask for advice on how, from here on out, I need to act—what I must do to reach the end of the scenario?
Should I ask why the 41st round started, whether he knows anything about Han Sooyoung’s whereabouts?
No. Maybe what I truly want to ask is—
―Somehow it feels like all the frustrating parts of “Kim Dokja” are bundled up inside you.
Hearing that from none other than “Kim Dokja” made me feel my confidence drain away.
Maybe he didn’t like how I looked; Kim Dokja let out a light sigh.
―Sheesh, fine. Let’s go over things from the top. What are your specs? Overall stats? Traits? There’s no one listening nearby, so speak freely.
“Well……”
Hit with the sudden barrage of questions, an answer popped out of me before I knew it.
What my overall stats were, what traits I had……
“I don’t know all my traits. I can’t see my Traits window either. Ah, I did recently obtain a trait called [Delayed Circulation]—”
―What skills can you use?
“Not that many. [White Azure Steel Qi], and [Agitation]……”
Kim Dokja listened to me silently. Maybe overwhelmed by his composure, before I realized it I was continuing the conversation in a calm voice.
“And……”
As I kept talking, my head started to clear bit by bit.
The time I’d lived in this world as “Cheon Inho” unfolded vividly before my eyes.
―Items?
“My main item is this bracelet. It’s an item called ‘Thoughts About Almost Everything,’ and by using the mimicry function it transforms into whatever weapon I want……”
―Tales?
“I have two.”
―Which?
I recited the two tales I had.
One was the “Chronicler of Vanishing Things,” which I obtained when I defeated an Otherworldly Divinity at Seoul Station.
And the second was “Tenacious Martial Arts Master,” given to me by the Dragon-Head Ark Master of the Open Faction, Cheon Gae.
“And soon I’ll have one more. I took care of a fairly high-tier Otherworldly Divinity. I’ll receive at least a ‘quasi-mythic-grade’ tale.”
It struck me anew that, at this level, my specs weren’t bad.
Already three tales in the seventh scenario.
Even if I’d been unconscious for forty-five days, this was a decent result.
Maybe I’d been seeing things too pessimistically.
In fact, Kim Dokja’s voice didn’t sound that negative either.
―Mm, so you’ve got that much in the seventh scenario.
I could almost see Kim Dokja’s trademark grin flicker at the edge of my vision.
It felt like I’d become an aspiring writer having his first manuscript evaluated.
How would my backer, who loves stories more than anyone, appraise the time I’ve lived?
―Do you happen to have the “King of Non-Killing”?
“I don’t.”
In this round, “King of Non-Killing” was Uncle Dansoo’s trait.
―What about “Eight Lives”?
“I couldn’t even get near Peace Land.”
“Eight Lives” was a trait you could obtain by hunting Yamata-no-Orochi in “Peace Land.”
―Did you make a resurrection contract with
“How could a contract that grand be possible this early?”
―Yeah, I didn’t really expect it.
“Then why did you ask?”
Honestly, there was no need to ask why.
―Because you look like you’re about to die soon.
That was the “Demon King of Salvation’s” first evaluation of me, Lee Hakhyun.