Episode 18 – A Reader’s Fight (4)
Han Sooyoung asked with a dumbfounded expression.
“What? What does this mean? Why did he suddenly mention the probability?”
“He is arguing needlessly.”
“Arguing? Why?”
Why? Was it because I rejected his offer? Dokgak floated in the sky and reported to the Bureau.
The probability judgement...
I didn’t think it would be used in this way. I expected the dokkaebis of other big channels to start a fight but I didn’t expect it to be like this.
Bihyung’s face turned red and he was tearful as he looked between me and Dokgak. It looked like tears would burst out as soon as he was touched.
–W-What?What do I do now?
–Tell me honestly.Did he find out about our contract?
Bihyung shook his head.
–Did he notice you opening the Dokkaebi Bag?
–T-That can’t be.
–Really?
–P-Probably...
–Well, don’t panic yet. Even if that is the case, it isn’t something that is worth asking for a ‘probability conformity request.’In the first ce, it isn’t a vition of regtions.
It was true. There was no precedent in which an incarnation made a ‘stream contract’ or could use the ‘dokkaebi bag’, so it wasn’t a direct vition of Star Stream’s regtions.
Bihyung btedly nodded with relief.
–Y-Yes.I understand.
Seeing this childlike Bihyung, I didn’t know if he was the dokkaebi or if I was. I looked at Dokgak and the low-grade dokkaebis again.
[The #BI-7623 channel maniption has been reported.]
[The Bureau is currently discussing this issue.]
If I was right, the probability request would eventually be cancelled. Although the story would be different if Dokgak had ‘evidence’ for this...
He was hiding information and I had no way to figure out what it was. Then there was only one way left.
“Hey, can you stop stalling and quickly give me my reward? Don’t you see that the constetions are bing bored?”
[That is a problem. This is more important than thepensation payout.]
–Have you changed your mind?If you agree with my proposal, I will get rid of all of this for you.
I looked up at Dokgak. Yes, let’s try a frontal confrontation.
“What are your concerns? Let me look. How is the channel I belong to illegally manipting the scenario? Is there any evidence?”
I would find out what his evidence was if he had it. If he was bluffing, the situation would end immediately.
Dokgak smiled like he had been waiting.
[Do you really want to hear it? You will regret it.]
“Tell me.”
[This issue involves you, Kim Dokja.]
“...Me?”
At this moment, I had a thought.
Was it because I used future information from the text? But due to the filtering, this information shouldn’t have spread to the constetions or the dokkaebis. Otherwise I would’ve already been caught in a probability storm...
[Do you see the screen?]
A huge screen appeared in the air. The screen showed videos of my recent battles. The first screen showed my conflict with Poisoner Lee Seolhwa.
[This is proof.
“...What is the proof?”
The screen just showed that I didn’t kill Lee Seolhwa. Dokgak changed the screen.
[This is also proof.]
The second screen showed me watching the battle between Lycaon and Antinus. What was this...
[This is the third proof.]
On the third screen, I was attacking the Disaster of Questions, Myung Ilsang. It was a scene where Myung Ilsang continuously released his seals. Suddenly, my stomach felt pained.
[What do these screens have inmon?]
I realized it at this moment. This guy wasn’t talking to me right now.
[The constetions looking at the screens, do you have any idea?]
Everyone in the area became quiet.
[The fight against the Poisoner, the fight against Antinus and the fight against the Disaster of Questions. There is one thing these three fights have inmon.]
Then the screen kept changing.
[He actually had a chance to kill the Poisoner and stop the disaster.]
His finger pointed to the Poisoner.
[He could stop the disaster by killing Antinus.]
Then he pointed to Antinus.
[He could’ve stopped the Disaster of Questions before the seals were released.]
He pointed to Myung Ilsang then he pointed towards me.
[But he ‘deliberately’ didn’t do it.]
“Wait! You are now...!”
Now I noticed what Dokgak was trying to do. Goosebumps covered my entire body.
I see. This was what the dokkaebi was nning.
[Constetions. Incarnation Kim Dokja colluded with the channel’s streamer, ‘Bihyung.’ He deliberately concealed his strength and manipted the development of the scenario. He made the scenarios harder for malicious purposes.]
Then the final screen appeared. It showed me using Way of the Wind to stop Myung Ilsang.
[He did this to ‘direct’ thest catharsis.]
This bastard, he didn’t intend to ask for the ‘probability conformity request’ from the beginning.
Dokgak...
This was his real purpose.
[It is just to rip off coins from you.]
It was the end of Bihyung’s channel.
[Some constetions are silent.]
The evidence that Dokgak exposed didn’t vite the terms of the ‘probability conformity judgment.’ Dokkaebis controlling incarnations to make a scenario interesting wasn’t umon.
The problem was the constetions who hated it. The moment they thought I wasn’t serious about the scenario, the constetions would lose interest.
It was like alienating them from the y. The moment the fourth wall between the audience and the character copsed, the audience would cool off straight away.
This was what Dokgak aimed for.
[The constetion Bald General of Justice’s mouth is gaping open.]
[The constetion ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is chuckling.]
[The constetion ‘Secretive Plotter’ shrugs like it is fine.]
Some constetions were astonished, some constetions had no idea and some constetions were silent.
The problem was the other constetions.
[Some constetions have left the channel.]
[The constetions questioning the fairness of the channel has left the channel.]
[Some constetions are requesting coin refunds from the channel.]
The constetions left and Bihyung’s channel started to shrink.
[The size of the channel is reduced.]
The messages continuously popped up. Bihyung’s pale body was bing smaller. His horns were shrinking.
I eventually sighed. “The channel is dead.”
There was only one way left. I looked at the dwindling number of constetions and spoke to Dokgak.
“I understand so give me thepensation when you are done talking. I will ept your offer.”
Dokgak’s lips curved upwards.
–You are smart.
Bihyung’s eyes grew wider with disbelief.
[Y-You...!]
“Don’t look at me like that. It can’t be helped.” I shrugged while speaking in a loud voice.
BIhyung’s lips trembled from the betrayal. This child was scared.
–Bihyung, do you trust me?
–What...
–Trust me this once.Aren’t you already ruined?
I finished themunication and spoke to Dokgak.
“Start moving.”
[Good. Then let’s have a sweet rewards time.]
Dokgak flicked his fingers and the surroundingndscape disappeared. We reappeared in a room reminiscent of a luxury hotel suite.
...This was his ‘official post’? I looked around a bit nervously. Low tables and chairs suitable for a dokkaebi were ced over luxurious rugs. There was a wide variety of alcohol on one side. Later I realized that it was a suitable setting for a dokkaebi who liked to drink.
I finished looking around and approached the window. Thendscape outside was...
Oh my god. A darkness with no end filled my vision.
Glittering stars flowed in the darkness of the grand universe. It was a superb vision of the grand universe like endless jewels. The constetions repeated their orbits and rotations, each one part of the huge gxy.
It was funny that at his moment, I was purely impressed. This was the Star Stream. It was the flow of the great stars that governed all scenarios. Every story began here.
“It is great.” I looked back and saw Dokgak standing there. “Sometimes I just stare nkly at thisndscape. I never get tired of this sight.”
“You are now...”
“Ah, are you surprised? This is my ‘real’ voice.”
It was the first time I heard the dokkaebi’s voice. Previously it was always heard through a broadcast. In other words, the sight before me was Dokgak’s real ‘body.’ Dokgak’s eyes shone.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked.
“What do you think? Ah, do you think I’ll kill you?” He burst outughing. “You know that is impossible.”
“I’m not crazy enough to fight against a dokkaebi either.”
“I like it. Then let’s start the contract.”
Dokgak flicked his fingers and a dokkaebi with a contract appeared before him. It was Bihyung. He was tied up by the system and stared at me with reproachful eyes.
“I brought Bihyung as a notary. In any case, you have to break the contract with him to form a contract with me. The cost of the destruction will be covered by Bihyung.”
I was a bit surprised. This guy, he knew about my contract with Bihyung. It meant he knew from the beginning that I was a good person to attract the ‘find an incarnation’ group.
I pretended to be calm. “Do as you like. I don’t care.”
“It is good that the story is fast. Would you like to check the contract? It is also my first time making such a contract.”
I read the contract. Needless to say, the contract waspletely full of adverse conditions for me. Donations would be distributed 5:5. There were also some conditions that bound my freedom. Even now, I was the ‘gap’ instead of the ‘eul.’
Dokgakughed. “How about it? This is the industry average but I can make some adjustments.”
It sounded like the industry average. Bihyung also tried a simr contract in the beginning.
I nodded and said, “Well, it isn’t bad. But before I sign the contract, I have a suggestion.”
“Suggestion? What is it?”
“Isn’t it a shame if I’m the only one moving channels? Surely you won’t be satisfied with just one thing? There are some strong constetions in my channel.”
“Hoh? Who are they?”
“Prisoner of the Golden Headband, Abyssal ck me Dragon, Demon-like Judge of Fire...”
Dokgak looked surprise at each modifier.
“Prisoner of the Golden Headband? I didn’t think you would have such constetions... Bihyung, you are quite good.”
Bihyung hissed through his gag.
I continued speaking. This was the most important part.
“Honestly, I don’t want to leave these constetions behind in this channel. Therefore, I want you to build a bridge so that the constetions can move channels with me.”