Chapter 90

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 place, it isn’t a violation of regulations .

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 violation of Star Stream’s regulations .

Bihyung belatedly 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 manipulation 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 constellations are becoming bored?”

[That is a problem . This is more important than the compensation 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 manipulating 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 constellations 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 in common?]

I realized it at this moment . This guy wasn’t talking to me right now .

[The constellations 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 in common . ]

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 planning .

[Constellations . Incarnation Kim Dokja colluded with the channel’s streamer, ‘Bihyung . ’ He deliberately concealed his strength and manipulated 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’ the last 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 constellations are silent . ]

The evidence that Dokgak exposed didn’t violate the terms of the ‘probability conformity judgment . ’ Dokkaebis controlling incarnations to make a scenario interesting wasn’t uncommon .

The problem was the constellations who hated it . The moment they thought I wasn’t serious about the scenario, the constellations would lose interest .

It was like alienating them from the play . The moment the fourth wall between the audience and the character collapsed, the audience would cool off straight away .

This was what Dokgak aimed for .

[The constellation Bald General of Justice’s mouth is gaping open . ]

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is chuckling . ]

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ shrugs like it is fine . ]

Some constellations were astonished, some constellations had no idea and some constellations were silent .

The problem was the other constellations .

[Some constellations have left the channel . ]

[The constellations questioning the fairness of the channel has left the channel . ]

[Some constellations are requesting coin refunds from the channel . ]

The constellations 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 becoming 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 constellations and spoke to Dokgak .

“I understand so give me the compensation when you are done talking . I will accept 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 the communication and spoke to Dokgak .

“Start moving . ”

[Good . Then let’s have a sweet rewards time . ]

Dokgak flicked his fingers and the surrounding landscape 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 placed 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 . The landscape 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 constellations repeated their orbits and rotations, each one part of the huge galaxy .

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 blankly at this landscape . 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 out laughing . “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 was completely 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 . ’

Dokgak laughed . “How about it? This is the industry average but I can make some adjustments . ”

It sounded like the industry average . Bihyung also tried a similar 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 constellations in my channel . ”

“Hoh? Who are they?”

“Prisoner of the Golden Headband, Abyssal Black Flame 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 constellations… 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 constellations behind in this channel . Therefore, I want you to build a bridge so that the constellations can move channels with me . ”