Episode 18
#18
The place we arrived at was a stadium.
I, Sin Yua, and a small number of survivors were standing in the center of that stadium, and in the spectator seats surrounding the stadium, survivors who had been disqualified from the final trial had taken their places.
The place we had been moved to was not very different from the contents in the game.
The problem was that the survivors who should have been in the stadium were in the spectator seats.
“From now on, we shall begin the final trial of the Seonghwajeon.”
Then, a booming voice resounded throughout the surroundings.
The moment that voice was heard, the survivors’ gazes turned toward the empty air from which it came.
There, beings who appeared to be proxies—and at their center, a massive being—were slowly descending to the ground.
He possessed a massive height of about 5 meters, and on his face, concealed by a pure white mask, something resembling enormous goat horns protruded.
I know that being.
A High-Rank Proxy of high standing who oversees all Seonghwajeon in a region.
It was definitely him.
“I shall explain the rules of the final trial.”
Along with those words, the ground in the center of the stadium rose up and began to take the shape of a platform.
Haron took over the explanation of the rules.
“The final trial of the Seonghwajeon is a regional King Selection. It is a trial to select a survivor who will become the center capable of swaying this region. The survivors selected as candidates shall be determined as the King of the region through the votes of the survivors. Of course, there are benefits for the survivors who are voters as well. When the candidate you vote for becomes King, corresponding rewards and points shall be given. Furthermore, before voting begins, the candidates may declare pledges—precisely the reasons why they must be chosen.”
The situation was taking a strange turn.
While it was indeed a regional King Selection, it was not such a moderate method.
The rules had completely changed.
And in a manner somewhat disadvantageous to me.
‘So this was why he apologized?’
I looked at Haron, who was explaining the rules.
If things had flowed according to the original rules, it would have been no different from a table already prepared for me.
After all, I had confidence that if I resolved things through strength, I could take first place in the final trial without issue.
“Furthermore.”
Along with those words, an item was summoned into Haron’s grip.
It was a blue, diamond-shaped gem.
Soon after, as Haron’s explanation continued, the survivors’ murmurs began to grow louder.
“The King chosen by your votes shall be given absolute authority. As long as the King holds this item, the ‘Gem of the King’s Command’ that I hold, his commands shall be absolute and binding upon the survivors of this region. You may think of this as the first-place reward for this final trial.”
A gem that bestows binding force upon the King’s commands.
He would not be a King in name only, but would actually become the King of this region.
Naturally, the eyes of the survivors seated in the stands grew anxious, and the murmurs grew louder.
Of course, the eyes of the survivors chosen as King candidates changed as well.
“Of course, the one elected King must also bear duties befitting that power. The one who becomes the King of the region must absolutely keep the pledges they have put forth. If a pledge is broken, the King’s authority shall disappear, and he shall die on the spot.”
At those words, the candidates’ faces began to harden.
In other words, they had to put forth pledges that matched their capabilities.
“Now then, the order for declaring pledges shall be decided randomly. The number floating above the candidates’ heads is the declaration order.”
At those words, I checked above my head.
The number 15 was floating there plainly.
Seeing that there were sixteen candidates, I could tell I was second from the last.
“Now then, I shall give you time to think about your pledges. You have one hour. Please think carefully during that time.”
* * *
“Hmm….”
I was currently thinking about my pledge.
I was worrying about what pledge to put forth so that the voters would choose me.
Of course, I had a lot to offer.
The functions of the Sky Island were varied.
The problem was the election pledges of the other candidates.
If they put forth pledges that overturned my expectations, I would have to put forth something even stronger.
Then, a man approached me.
He was one of the male candidates.
“Hello.”
“Ah, yes. Hello.”
He suddenly extended his hand for a handshake, so I also extended my hand and shook his.
The man opened his mouth with a pleasant smile.
“Nice to meet you. I am Han Inhan.”
The moment I heard his name, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes in surprise.
“…Huh? Is there something on my face?”
“Ah, no. I am Kim Hancheol.”
For now, I hid my expression and looked at him.
I hadn’t expected that he would be Han Inhan.
Well, it was natural that I hadn’t recognized him, since the illustration-like face I had seen in the game had been realized in reality.
‘Right, it makes sense that this bastard would be among the candidates.’
I know him.
If the story in the game flowed as intended, he was the one who would become the King of Ulsan.
He was one of the villains appearing in the Myeolsokhoe, the man called the Snake King, Han Inhan.
For now, I hid my inner thoughts and asked him with a puzzled face.
“But what brings you here……?”
“Ah, it’s just that there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
A request? What request?
I simply stared at his face with a puzzled expression.
Soon, he opened his mouth with a polite look.
“When you declare your pledge, I ask that you support me.”
At those words, I looked at him with an absurd expression.
As I stared at Han Inhan without a word, he waved his hand and opened his mouth.
“Ah! Of course, I’m not asking you to support me for no reason. Please hear my pledge first. You will likely favor it greatly. Furthermore, even if I become King, I will have no reason to issue compulsory commands to the other candidates.”
Verbal promises made here could not be trusted.
Because when spoken as a pledge, that promise would possess binding force.
“Well, I’ll listen and think about it.”
“You will be quite satisfied.”
He nodded with a friendly smile and then headed toward the next survivor.
The next person to approach me was a short-haired woman named Sin Yua, who had fought through the Seonghwajeon in the same district.
“Did that person say the same thing to you?”
“The thing about asking you to support him?”
“Yes. What are you thinking of doing?”
Why is she asking me that?
My opinion shouldn’t be that important.
I spoke honestly.
“I’m planning to answer that I’ll support him if I hear his pledge and he keeps his promise. If not, I’ll have to try my best too.”
“Ha… well, I think similarly. Honestly, I have no intention of becoming King.”
At those words, I looked at her face.
It was an unexpected statement.
I had occasionally seen her during the Seonghwajeon, and she had sufficient qualifications as a leader, showing much more activity compared to other survivors.
Perhaps my expression showed, as she opened her mouth with a bitter smile.
“I somehow ended up becoming the leader. I somehow took first place, so people gathered around me. I tried all sorts of things I wouldn’t normally do just to survive.”
“Ah….”
From her bitter smile and expression, I could roughly understand her feelings.
So she hadn’t wanted to, but had been forced to do it.
In order to survive.
Even so, I considered her leadership real.
You could say she had discovered an unexpected talent.
“By the way, what kind of pledge are you planning to put forth?”
She suddenly opened her mouth in an expectant tone.
Her turn was the very last.
Which meant she was right after me.
I smirked at that sight and opened my mouth.
“Why? Are you going to support me?”
“I’ll listen first. You know what they say—the last person’s words are the most memorable, right?”
“Then listen to that guy’s pledge and choose. Uh… your name is Sin Yua, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
“You too, Sin Yua, listen to that guy’s pledge and then choose. I’m planning to do the same.”
At those words, Sin Yua laughed and nodded.
Before she left, she opened her mouth to me one last time.
“If his pledge is truly nothing special, I’ll just declare my own pledge. I told you earlier, didn’t I? The last person’s words are the most memorable.”
Yeah, in a way, that was true.
Honestly, would there be anyone who properly remembered the pledges of sixteen people?
Still, those who went later would be the most memorable.
“The time has come.”
Then Haron opened his mouth.
The candidates’ gazes turned to Haron, and his words continued.
“Then we shall begin the pledge declarations. The first candidate, please come up to this platform.”
* * *
From the first through the fifth, many candidates put forth unremarkable pledges.
Well, this might differ depending on who heard it, but in my opinion, many of them were nothing special.
Things like “I will never treat people carelessly” or “I will stand at the forefront and lead in battle.”
There were even people who put forth pledges that didn’t match their capabilities.
“If I am chosen as the King of this region, I will make sure no one dies!”
Could he actually keep that? How…….
It sounded like he was just blabbering whatever came to mind.
Thus, up to the sixth, they passed by with unremarkable pledge declarations.
The beginning was from the seventh.
Han Inhan—the man who had asked me to support him—went up to the platform with a smile full of confidence.
“Hello, I am Han Inhan.”
Starting with a light greeting, he began to put on a serious face different from when he had come up.
“First, there is a fact I must inform you of before telling you my pledge.”
He continued with a serious face, and his words were enough to focus people’s attention.
“I know the truth of this world, and the disasters that shall occur in the future.”
Instantly, starting with those words, the crowd’s murmurs began to grow.
Disasters that would occur in the future—in other words, he knew the future.
I too was surprised hearing his words.
How did he know what would happen in the future?
But soon, I could understand the situation.
‘A Player…….’
I hadn’t been the only one to read the novel called Myeolsokhoe and play the game.
The novel hadn’t been that popular, but the game had once gained some popularity.
There must have been someone who played the game who made contact with Han Inhan and exchanged some words.
If they had played even a little, they would have known he would become the King of Ulsan.
Soon, Han Inhan’s words continued.
“Literally, I know the future. I also know information about demonic beasts that you all do not. The first pledge I put forth is to share information about those demonic beasts so that you may hunt them more safely. Their weaknesses and raid methods.”
Now, the surrounding murmurs could no longer be heard.
Everyone began to concentrate on Han Inhan’s words.
“My second pledge is that I will clear all Gates in Ulsan within one year. As I said earlier, I know all information about the demonic beasts. The clearing methods for the Gates as well.”
Those words were probably not taught by a Player, but rather Han Inhan’s skill.
A skill that grasps the information and weaknesses of objects and living creatures.
Predator’s Eye.
It was also the reason he could become the King of Ulsan in the original story.
“Of course, this is not something I can accomplish alone. It requires your help, and I cannot guarantee your lives either. Even so, I promise. To those who stand with me, I shall not recklessly use the ‘Gem of the King’s Command’ received as a reward. And I shall reclaim our original daily lives. To the way the world was before it changed like this! This is the pledge I shall keep and can put forth.”
Those words marked the beginning.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Some people in the stands began to applaud him.
I could tell that the pledge he put forth showed great impact.
At this rate, being chosen as King would be a natural course of events.
Even so, I didn’t feel like supporting him.
“I need your strength as well. Please support me to return the world to its original state.”
He came down from the platform and spoke politely to the candidates.
Hearing his words, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh inside.
‘As expected of the one who became the King of Ulsan.’
As if he was the one who became the King of Ulsan in the game, his head worked well.
His promise was vague.
The pledge that he would not recklessly use the ‘Gem of the King’s Command’ only to those who stood with him.
He said he wouldn’t use it recklessly, not that he wouldn’t use it at all.
Naturally, it meant he would use it if only a justification arose.
Moreover, he subtly left words telling them to stand on his side.
According to his words, he would only not recklessly use the ‘Gem of the King’s Command’ toward those who joined him in raiding Gates.
Well, I had planned to do so from the start, but the reason to support him had vanished.
“Next candidate, please come up to the platform.”
At those words, the eighth candidate went up to the platform.
He wore a look of resolved determination.
The declaration he would utter was as obvious as fire.
“I support Candidate Han Inhan.”
That was the end.
He left only those words and came down from the platform.
Next, the ninth, tenth, and eleventh candidates also left the same words and came down from the platform.
There were candidates who uttered their own pledges in between, but the voters didn’t seem to be listening closely.
The atmosphere of the voters was completely leaning toward Han Inhan.
“Next candidate, please come up to the platform.”
That quickly, the candidates’ pledge declarations passed by, and finally my turn came.
Now then, what pledge must I put forth to overturn this atmosphere in an instant?
Of course, I had already thought of something.
I went up to the platform with a solemn face.
“Nice to meet you. I am Kim Hancheol.”
I went up to the platform and introduced myself.
The voters didn’t yet appear interested.
Chatter could be heard here and there, and they seemed to be waiting for this pledge declaration to pass by quickly.
Then to reverse this atmosphere, I had no choice but to hit hard right from the start.
I declared my first pledge toward them.
“As my first pledge, I shall clear all of the demonic beasts on the streets of Ulsan within ten days.”
That statement was the beginning.
In an instant, a hush fell over the spectator stands.