The next morning, I gathered the people of Seoul Station into one place.Amidst the unsettled atmosphere, they looked up at me standing upon the sparring stage.The beggars who had followed Dragon-Headed Leader Cheonga, and the soldiers who had followed Master Sergeant Jeong Munho. I also saw the spotted boy and his father, Myeong Sewoon.Myeong Sewoon was now completely freed from the possession binding of the Dragon-Headed Leader.“Truly, thank you. Inseok, give him your thanks too. I don’t know how we can repay this debt…”“Thank you, hyung.”They had greeted me early at dawn.The Dragon-Headed Leader was still his sponsor constellation, but he would no longer abuse him as a possessed vessel.Because here, he had seen the story he wanted to see.[During the night, 67 incarnations have left your group.][With the authority of the “Purple Flag,” you can activate “Punishment” against them.]Glancing around, I saw the total number of people had decreased considerably compared to yesterday.I didn’t bother to invoke punishment on those who left. What meaning was there in forcibly binding those already intent on departing?I slowly opened my mouth, sweeping my gaze across the gathered people one by one.“To be frank with you all.”There were still over two hundred incarnations remaining here.I had put on a convincing front to the Dragon-Headed Leader, but honestly, I wasn’t confident I could lead all of them.“I cannot take responsibility for every one of you. I also cannot promise that staying ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) in my group means safety. I will not invoke [Punishment] against anyone, so if you wish, you may leave the station right now.”The crowd stirred greatly at my declaration. I heard the beggars whispering openly among themselves.“Let’s go. I don’t think this is the place.”“I heard there are good groups around Dongdaemun and Dobong Station. Most of the homeless in that area went over to Dobong-gu.”I wasn’t sure about Dongdaemun, but I had an idea about Dobong-gu.That was where the “Tyrant King” resided.“The new leader there is pretty strong.”“He just got lucky. My sponsor said that guy’s real ability isn’t much.”“But what about that woman with the sword? She looked pretty strong. She seemed like his subordinate.”Jeong Huiwon, still unconscious, lay in a makeshift tent Sergeant Kim had prepared.Fortunately, her internal injuries weren’t too severe. Having absorbed the elixir’s energy, she would be even stronger when she woke.Her younger brother Jeong Eunho had already awoken, and I could see him peeking his head out from the tent.“Stay here and you’ll just die a dog’s death. In times like these, leadership is everything.”“That’s right. You need to follow someone strong and commanding. That young man… honestly, he looks like a conman from the face alone.”Public opinion in Seoul Station was beginning to split. Roughly half of the beggars had resolved to leave.A middle-aged man stepped forward as their representative, bowing his head with a sheepish grin.“Then we’ll be off…”I nodded lightly and let them go.Most of them were middle-aged men. At this moment, they were the strongest combatants among the incarnations. It was regrettable to lose that fighting power.In contrast, those who remained were mostly the young, or elderly with nowhere else to turn.In a way, they were the true “Gaebang.”“What about the people who stay… what happens to us?”The one asking with a raised hand was the girl who had been with Jeong Eunho.Children who had preyed on adults for survival. Kids with nowhere else to go were now looking at me.“Those who stay will become my group members. The name of the Seoul Station group was originally ‘Gaebang,’ so you will continue as members of Gaebang.”The martial sect formed by the Dragon-Headed Leader would continue its legacy in this scenario.“Then we’ll just be—”I cut the child off with a raised hand.“However, there will be no more ‘pillaging’ in the new Gaebang.”The children’s eyes widened.“The new Gaebang will not follow the old ways. Gaebang is no longer a den of beggars. If anyone remains here expecting the Gaebang of old, I ask you to leave the station right now.”Another dozen or so people departed.I spoke again to those who remained.“As you all know, in this new world, survival cannot be sustained by pillaging alone. That was only possible in the earliest stage of the scenario. From here on, groups of incarnations will not tolerate it. If anything, you’ll be lucky not to be pillaged yourselves.”“Then—”“Begging is the same. The constellations don’t give out free alms. And frankly, you yourselves knew it wasn’t honorable.”I saw some of the children and elderly lower their heads.“T-then what should we do?”“Accumulate your own fable.”The group members looked bewildered, as though they couldn’t understand what I meant.Of course, they still didn’t even know what a fable was. To them, my words were no different than telling children who know nothing: “Have big dreams.”What it means to accumulate a fable, what it means to have one’s own story—they would learn it slowly in time.For now, the only thing I could do was teach them how to hold the pen so they could write their first sentence.I clapped my hands lightly.“For now, let’s start with a meal.”At my signal, Sergeant Kim and the soldiers appeared at the station entrance.They carried the food they had prepared outside. Using the heat of a magic brazier, they had made “Mole-Cricket Barbecue” and “Groll Soup.”The aroma drew gasps of amazement as people rushed forward. Since the scenario had begun, none of them had eaten a proper meal.“Line up in front! Meals will be distributed!”At Sergeant Kim’s command, the cooks began distributing food.I also received a plate of barbecue and soup from him.“You’re quite skilled.”“Not at all. I did some cooking work before.”Sergeant Kim smiled awkwardly as he popped a piece of meat into his mouth.I had asked him this morning to handle the cooking.Upon waking, I had purchased monster parts cheaply from the “Marketplace” and asked him and the cooks to prepare breakfast for everyone.“But how did you know how to cook this way?”“A friend taught me.”The monster recipes followed the 81st regression Yoo Joonghyuk’s recipes from Annihilation Method.True to that Yoo Joonghyuk’s dedication to cooking, even just the basic ingredients of “Groll” and “Mole-Cricket” could become a fine dish.“By the way, did you add the elixirs I gave you into the dish?”“Yes, of course.”This meal was special because the sauce had been blended with martial elixirs.“And those elixirs… they were left behind by the Leader?”“Yes, that’s right.”At dawn, Myeong Sewoon had come to me and offered three roots of “Hundred-Year Fo-Ti.”I had recognized at once that these were the elixirs the Leader had originally intended to give me.But since Jeong Eunho’s internal injuries were already healed, I decided after some thought to mix all three roots into the food for the group.“Wow, this is delicious. Can I have another bowl?”“Boss Park, your arms look bigger all of a sudden.”“Haha, don’t joke. But it does feel like my insides are warming up.”The people chattered noisily, their faces noticeably brighter than before.The “Hundred-Year Fo-Ti” was the elixir the Leader had left for Gaebang.I still had two Summoning Elixirs remaining, so I wanted to use these roots to strengthen the group’s survival.[The constellations from Murim are impressed by your consideration.][Constellation, “God of the Sea,” nods at your thoughtfulness.][You have received 1,000 coins in sponsorship.]After their first full breakfast in a long time, the group members’ expressions were more at ease.When most had emptied their bowls, I spoke again.“For those who remain, I will teach you the skills and hunting methods needed to survive.”Of course, I didn’t mean my own skills. I didn’t have anything worth teaching anyway.Fortunately, the Dragon-Headed Leader had stockpiled many Gaebang skills in the Seoul Station lockers, including [Cudgel Technique].He must have planned to train the Gaebang members once they grew a little stronger.Though Gaebang’s martial arts were inferior to Kyrgios’ [Transcendence] or Destroyer Sword’s [Heaven-Breaking Sword], with relentless training, they could still reach the pinnacle of .“Sergeant Kim.”“Yes.”Using the skillbooks I’d given him, Sergeant Kim demonstrated with a cudgel, showing a light sample of the martial art.The children in the front rows let out sounds of wonder.Martial arts, once wielded only by the Leader and his high officers.The children’s eyes shone with excitement at finally having the chance to learn them.Sergeant Kim cleared his throat and spoke.“From now on, I will serve as your martial arts instructor and teach you these skills. Even those without talent can learn through the skillbooks, so don’t worry too much.”The elderly in the back looked at each other doubtfully, their faces showing lack of confidence.“Can we… really learn such things?”“There’s no problem. I learned in just one day.”In this world, even children or elders could become strong, if only they set their hearts to it.What the Gaebang followers, long dependent on others, needed most was the conviction that effort could change themselves.“Soon at Gwanghwamun, the ‘War of the Absolute Throne’ will break out.”When the time came, whether they liked it or not, they would stand on the front line of the scenario.I didn’t know how many of them would survive, but even so, I wanted to leave a spark here.Of course, the story wouldn’t change much just because one Gaebang was formed.A few training in martial arts, learning skills, and gaining sponsors wouldn’t suddenly make an impossible scenario possible.Everything was still only a storm in a teacup, and the end of the 41st regression might not change.“One! Two! One! Two!”Yet watching the children quickly mimic the stances, I thought long of Yoo Joonghyuk, who had endured over 1,863 lives swirling inside an empty teacup.The lives of story characters might ultimately never change.But the world of someone who read their story would change.At least, I believed so.***“For the time being, I’ll entrust Seoul Station to Sergeant Kim.”“Are you sure I’m suitable for this?”I nodded.“You trusted me with the flag, didn’t you?”Sergeant Kim handed me the “Red Flag” he had been holding.[Using the exclusive authority of a representative.][Seoul Station Representative “Cheon Inho” has transferred part of his authority to group member “Kim Heonyeol.”][Group member “Kim Heonyeol” has become the “Deputy Representative” of Seoul Station.][From now on, group member “Kim Heonyeol” can invoke “Punishment” on members in place of the Representative.]From the Purple Flag onward, one could appoint as many deputies as desired.If Master Sergeant Jeong Munho had lived, I would have entrusted him. For now, this man was the best choice.+Name: Kim HeonyeolAge: 33Sponsor: None (currently one constellation has shown interest).Exclusive Attribute: Righteous Soldier (Rare)Exclusive Skills: [Swordsmanship & Firearms Lv.3], [Camouflage Lv.1], [Sense of Justice Lv.2], [Comradeship Lv.1], [Leadership Lv.1]Stigma: NoneOverall Stats: [Stamina Lv.23], [Strength Lv.21], [Agility Lv.20], [Magic Power Lv.19]Comprehensive Evaluation: No comprehensive evaluation has yet been recorded.+A righteous soldier. That attribute, reminiscent of Lee Hyeonseong, was what made me choose him as deputy.Sergeant Kim would be able to manage the station well until Jeong Huiwon awoke.“Are you really leaving now? Wouldn’t it be better to go once Huiwon wakes up?”Originally, I had planned to wait a little longer.But we had already lingered too long near Seoul Station, and above all, the Hidden Scenario had arrived.[A Hidden Scenario has arrived!][“The King’s Road” begins!]+Type: HiddenDifficulty: AClear Condition: Attain the “Black Flag” within the time limit.Time Limit: 10 daysReward: Awakening of the Attribute “King”Failure: If conditions are not met within the period, you and your group members will all die.+The scenario content had changed somewhat from the original Three Ways to Survive.Strictly speaking, the difficulty had increased.From here on, not only my own life, but also my group’s lives rested on my shoulders.[A new candidate for “King” has begun to walk their road!]Fortunately, with the stations held by the Leader and by Sergeant Kim combined, the number of stations under our control was considerable.[Currently Occupied Stations: Seoul Station (Base), Chungjeongno, Aeogae, Namyeong, City Hall, Samgakji, Hyochang Park, Sookdaeipgu…][Total occupied stations: 12]We already held twelve stations.And yet my flag was still purple.How many more stations would I need to seize before it turned black?I didn’t know. Regardless, I would now have to fight against the other station representatives.And in the end, my final destination was already decided.“Gwanghwamun.”It was about time I went there.All the more because there was someone I had promised to meet there.“Hyung.”When a hand tugged at my sleeve, I turned to see Jeong Eunho looking up at me.I patted his shoulder lightly.“Take good care of your sister.”He stared at me with a helpless expression, then silently nodded and let go. Behind him, the spotted boy and other children had come out to see me off.I gave the kids a small wave.Jeong Eunho and the children would be the next protagonists of the scenarios to come.I could only hope this world’s destruction would be delayed just a little, so they might have more time to search for their own fables.As I finished my farewells and turned away from Seoul Station, suddenly the phone in my pocket buzzed.—Inho, are you there?When I opened it, I saw the name: Ye Hyunwoo. Before parting we had exchanged numbers, and it seemed the internet was miraculously still working.Just as I was about to reply with joy, a strange explosion thundered in the distance.A roar like an entire building collapsing.I quickly climbed a tall building nearby to check. Smoke was rising in the distance.Toward Gwanghwamun. To be exact, in the direction of the National Palace Museum.—Failed to secure the “Four Disaster Sword.” It seems no one will wield that sword this time.I stared blankly at Ye Hyunwoo’s message.“Failed to secure the Four Disaster Sword.”The Four Disaster Sword—the blade Kim Dokja had used to destroy the “Absolute Throne.”Kim Dokja had known that if the Absolute Throne was used, the correct ending could never be reached. So he had destroyed it, becoming the “King of a World Without Kings.”But in this regression, there was no weapon capable of breaking the Absolute Throne.When I looked up, the stars in the sky were whirling in a vortex.“The destruction of the 41st regression begins with the birth of the Absolute Throne’s master.”This story wanted the birth of a king.

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