Episode 19
#19
“What are you talking about?”
“That you’ll eliminate all the demonic beasts within ten days?”
Silence fell, and after a moment, the murmuring of the crowd began to grow louder again.
The atmosphere had shifted.
I continued speaking to the people.
“That is the first campaign pledge I am putting forward. Of course, I am not asking for your help. I am more than capable alone. I am saying there is no need for you to risk your lives fighting.”
At those words, the murmuring began to rise once more.
But for now, they were just words.
It was no different from the previous candidate’s pledge to not let a single person die.
There was no guarantee my pledge would be realized.
They probably knew that as well.
That was why I added one more thing.
“Of course, you must not believe it. Honestly, you don’t have to. The second pledge is, in a way, insurance for you. My second pledge is this: if I fail to fulfill the first pledge, I will hand over the ‘Gem of Royal Command’ to candidate Han Inhan.”
With those words, I looked at Han Inhan below the podium.
His face had frozen in bewilderment.
He had realized that the situation was flowing in a strange direction.
Moreover, the murmuring in the stands had vanished as well.
I could tell they were waiting for my next words.
“The third pledge. To help you all survive in this changed world, I will provide a restaurant and shower facilities. Of course, this too requires no help. I can do it alone, after all.”
Of course, I didn’t add that I would have to spend points to use them.
Because that was pointless to mention right now.
“The fourth pledge is.”
I paused for a moment and looked around.
As the voters’ gazes focused on me.
I finally declared the pledge that would move their hearts.
“The moment I clear the demonic beasts of Ulsan in ten days, I will not use the ‘Gem of Royal Command,’ even if I fail to destroy it or choose not to. Of course, I will not use it during the process of the first pledge either. I will never use the Gem of Royal Command from now on.”
At those words, the agents showed slight surprise, but the survivors in the stands were showing the exact opposite reaction from the agents.
They were still quiet, yet all their gazes were directed at me.
But the emotions in those gazes directed at me had changed.
At first it was astonishment, next interest, and finally, their eyes held expectation.
They were looking at me with eyes containing a very slight expectation… no, to be exact, eyes filled with hope.
“The world has changed like this!”
I shouted toward them.
To turn the winds they wished for—the winds they thought would never return—into reality.
“Before the Sacred Flame War began, there were probably people who discarded their humanity and committed ugly acts! Of course, I understand. They must have been actions taken helplessly in order to survive. But if you no longer wish to be such ugly humans, please vote for me! I will change reality!”
After those words began, there were people in several spots in the stands whose eyes brimmed with tears before they burst into sobs. This was not a pledge, but a promise.
A mere promise with no need to keep it, since my life wasn’t threatened.
But I could assert one thing.
“Just give me ten days! Within ten days, I will reclaim half of the daily life you desire.”
This promise would naturally be kept by the actions I would take from now on.
Because the power and resources I currently possessed were enough to fully keep the pledges and promises.
Leaving those words behind, I came down from the podium.
The sincerity I had conveyed had likely reached the survivors here.
Ten days.
Not a month, not a year, but ten days.
Only, I had left them with the hope that if they invested just ten days in me, they would be able to reclaim the ordinary life they wanted most.
“The next candidate, please come up to the podium.”
The next to ascend the podium was Shin Yua.
She opened her mouth with a bright smile.
“I will support survivor Kim Hancheol.”
* * *
All the candidates’ pledge declarations had ended.
Now all that was left was to wait.
For them to choose me.
“What do you intend to do?”
At that time, Han Inhan approached me.
His expression was hostile, unlike before.
I spoke to him.
“What is it?”
“If you fail to keep your pledge, you will die. Did you not hear?”
“That is none of your concern.”
“If you had supported me, you would have lived.”
At such pointless worry, I snorted and said.
“You should have kept your promises first.”
“I have never broken a promise.”
“Did you think I would support you with such vague words?”
“…….”
Han Inhan clamped his mouth shut at those words.
In the end, Han Inhan turned around and delivered his final words.
“You will regret this.”
“Mr. Han Inhan.”
When I called out to him, he turned only his head to look at me.
I glared at him and opened my mouth.
“Don’t even think about getting in the way for no reason. After all, isn’t our goal the same?”
I knew it.
That his true goal was not the same as mine.
I had merely said it to provoke him.
Soon, he clicked his tongue and asked me.
“Tsk—do you know the future as well?”
From those words, I could tell.
That he had made contact with a Player.
I widened my eyes at his words and pretended not to know.
“The future? How would I know that?”
“…….”
At those words, Han Inhan only glared at my face for a moment before turning away.
From this, two things were certain.
That he would definitely interfere with me, and that he had contacted a Player.
Well, even if he interfered, how much could he really hinder me?
It was then.
“The voters have completed their votes, so I shall announce the results.”
At Haron’s words, all the survivors began looking at Haron.
I too held my breath for a moment and watched Haron nervously.
“The candidate who received 431 votes out of a total of 653 voters.”
Along with those words, atop Haron’s outstretched palm floated a rhombus-shaped sapphire-like gem.
The ‘Gem of Royal Command.’
The moment he brought it out, he looked around and revealed the voting results.
“Survivor Kim Hancheol. Congratulations on becoming the King of the region.”
I did it!
The moment the results were announced, I could feel the tension release from my body.
I had done everything I could try, but after all, it was decided by the voters.
I smiled faintly and waited for Haron’s next words.
“Now then, there will be a reward ceremony from this moment. Survivor Kim Hancheol, please come before me.”
At those words, I approached Haron.
The moment I stood before Haron, he bowed politely to me and, still in that posture, extended his hand holding the ‘Gem of Royal Command’ toward me.
Soon, his excited voice was heard.
“Hoho, so you have finally become the King of the region.”
At those words, I merely chuckled and replied.
“It’s just a king in name anyway.”
“That remains to be seen. Who knows what will happen in ten days.”
Haron slowly straightened his bowed waist and spoke.
He slightly lowered his head toward me in greeting, then headed back to the agents’ side.
Soon, Senior Agent Javadon, standing at the center of the agents, shouted loudly to the surrounding survivors.
“From this hour, the sacred ceremony! I declare the end of the Sacred Flame War!”
It was the voice announcing the end of the Sacred Flame War that had lasted four days.
* * *
“Now then, everyone has worked hard.”
Snap.
Haron flicked his fingers along with those words, and the survivors around vanished in an instant.
They had probably returned to the places they were before the Sacred Flame War began.
But I alone remained in the arena without being moved.
When I looked at Haron with a puzzled face, he opened his mouth.
“Survivor Kim Hancheol. There is someone who wishes to see you.”
“Who?”
Along with those words, the senior agent approached me.
He looked down at me for a moment and opened his mouth.
“It is an honor to meet you, Survivor Kim Hancheol. I am Senior Agent Javadon.”
“Ah, yes. I’m Kim Hancheol.”
At his sudden self-introduction, I extended my hand with a bewildered expression.
Soon, he opened his mouth with a hearty laugh.
“Hehehe, well now…… certainly, this is enough to warrant dissatisfaction from a 3-star Constellation.”
“Excuse me?”
“Before I inform you, I wish to apologize. I am sorry.”
With those words, Senior Agent Javadon lowered his head.
Following suit, all the agents here began lowering their heads to me.
For a moment, I could only make a blank expression as I didn’t understand the situation.
“……Did you do something wrong to me?”
“Yes, we changed the rules of the Sacred Flame War, which should be fair and just. If we had followed the original rules, Survivor Kim Hancheol would have easily taken first place.”
I knew that.
If it had been combat between survivors instead of this voting method, I would have easily taken first place. But wait, they changed the rules because of me?
“I will need to hear what the situation is.”
“Yes, I will explain.”
I was able to hear from Javadon the reason for changing the rules of the final trial.
After hearing it, it was absurd, yet their actions were somewhat understandable.
“If you hadn’t changed it, the Sacred Flame War would have been a mess?”
“Yes, the situation could have been settled with my own strength, but I and the agents wished to prevent the incident from occurring beforehand.”
“Why are you telling me this specifically?”
Honestly, it was a bit strange.
After all, they were Constellations and I was merely a human.
There was no need to tell me this; they could have quietly let it pass.
“Hoho.”
In the words that followed, some kind of goodwill flowed from Javadon’s tone for some reason.
“It is because I have something to be thankful to Survivor Kim Hancheol for.”
“Something to thank me for?”
“Yes, a 3-star Constellation held a grudge against you. Yet, is it not quiet even after you were chosen as king?”
Is that so?
It was a Constellation that held a grudge against me.
It wouldn’t have been strange for that Constellation to interfere with the Sacred Flame War and ruin it the moment I was chosen as king. But strangely, it passed quietly.
It was a situation where it was exceedingly strange that nothing had happened.
That question was answered by Javadon’s following words.
“The Constellation that held a grudge against you is the ‘Master of the Silent Lake,’ the Constellation who contracted with survivor Han Inhan.”
“Ah…….”
No wonder it passed quietly.
If I failed, the ‘Gem of Royal Command’ would naturally be handed over to Han Inhan.
That meant it was a foregone conclusion that Han Inhan would interfere with me.
“Well, that is one reason, but I personally am fond of you, Survivor.”
At those words, I raised my head and looked at him.
An excited tone flowed from his voice.
“I look forward to your future endeavors, Survivor Kim Hancheol.”
With those words, Javadon raised his hand.
“We will now return to being Constellations and watch over your steps.”
Snap.
Along with those words, Javadon flicked his fingers, and my body instantly returned to the original location before the Sacred Flame War began.
I looked around for a moment and immediately checked the points I had currently gathered.
[14,235,950 points]
14 million points.
Yeah, this should be enough.
I immediately spoke to Noah.
“Noah, open the robot list for me.”