The Name “Li”

From the screen came the quiet murmuring conversation between Imok’s father and his strategist.

Words one doesn’t want to hear tend to lodge themselves even deeper in the ears.

It was the same for me.

In their tone, their voices, even the words they chose, I could feel a deeply rooted inferiority complex and anxiety.

[R: “Without someone bearing a strong seal, yesterday’s city of endless lights can become today’s ruins.”

“Yes. Like that city… you know the one.”]

Sometimes there were things said that I didn’t quite understand.

There was a place like that.

When was it mentioned?

It sounded like some setting that had come up while explaining why migration between cities wasn’t free.

[R: “Imok.”]

My thoughts stopped.

Squinting my eyes, I slowly stepped backward.

That made the scene on the screen clearer.

The sight of Imok’s father holding a young Imok in his arms.

The reason I stepped back had nothing to do with empathizing with their city’s location or the emotions between father and son.

[R: Originally, “Imok” was not his name but the name of his Master Creature. Yet everyone called him Imok. His original name was…]

The screen was strange.

What is this?

Terrible noise filled the image.

[R: ―읒어랑라데ㅔ[ㄷ;⁅⁊⁙⁂ㅇㄹㅈ대ᅟᅢᆽㄴㄴㄴ•••〇〇•⁒]

Playback unavailable because the data cannot be accessed by the user ‘Imok’.]

Data Imok?

Because this was Imok’s memory, did that mean the data belonged to him?

But the wording made it look like Imok himself was data.

Anyway, there wasn’t a single thing about this system that wasn’t broken.

Clicking my tongue, I absentmindedly touched the screen buzzing with noise.

Access granted.

“Huh?”

The noise cleared.

[R: …was the name of his Master Creature, but everyone called him Imok. His original name, Li (螭), was no longer spoken by anyone.]

“His real name was that?”

I was stunned.

What the hell. I had never heard that before.

The OZ route, this guy’s route… have I seriously never seen any of it properly?

My confidence plummeted instantly.

Even though I knew this was like a dream, I stared down at my own hands.

For a moment I wondered if what was attached to my arms were actually feet, and I had just mistaken them for hands all this time.

[R: When Imok was born, a meeting was held in the Eastern City.

The lords of the great cities looked down at the newborn Imok and said arrogantly that they might as well name him on behalf of the Eastern young lord.

And the name they gave him was Li.]

But wait, if this is something I’ve never seen before, why is it marked R instead of N/S?

[R: Li (螭).

A young Imugi.

A creature that has not yet become a dragon.

A cowardly creature that hides between rocks or in shadows and crawls along the ground.]

Even while wondering if my hands were actually feet, the moment I read that script, a curse burst out of my mouth.

Are these people insane?

[R: It was mockery.

A declaration that even in the next generation, this Eastern City would never become as strong as theirs.

That not only he, but even his son, would remain beneath their feet.

They were dragons, while you were nothing but a lesser dragon that would never become the real thing.]

[R: The Eastern Lord accepted that name with a smile.

In return, he received water and food.

That year the Eastern City suffered from severe sandstorms and a plague of insects.

Without that aid, every child in the city might have died.]

[R: A few years later, Li accepted Imok as his Master Creature.

After that, no one called him Li again.]

[R: Imok’s father said,

“You will one day become the king of this world.”

Those words sank deeply into Imok’s heart.]

[R: “I will become king.

Of course I will.

I must.

I must become king.”]

And eventually that phrase came out.

The very thing Imok kept repeating even after turning into that strange Post-Apocalypse Creature.

[R: Time passed and circumstances changed.

But Imok still had to become king.

Even if stronger Divine Lords descended upon others.

Even if their Divine Lords were objectively superior.

Imok had to be the strongest.

If he couldn’t be the strongest, he had to be flawless.

If he couldn’t even be flawless, then he had to be arrogant.

Imok had to become king.]

[R: Imok repeated it again and again.]

[R: “I am not Li (螭).

I have forgotten that name.

I am Imok (璃目).”]

[R: “I will become king.”]

[R: “There is no other path.”]

…

My head throbbed.

I sat down on the ground.

In the dark space, I sat cross-legged, supporting myself with my hands on the floor while staring blankly upward.

The data left by Imok was still spinning around me.

I could see Imok slowly losing his mind in real time.

“So that’s why.”

That damn bastard.

Even seeing it again, I still thought the same.

I didn’t regret getting rid of him.

If he had really become a dragon, my own path would’ve been blocked.

Destroying him was the right choice.

“This is exactly why I hate stuff like this…”

I really hated this kind of thing.

Watching something that makes you think ‘That bastard was pitiful too’, even though you know you’d make the same decision again if you went back.

“f*ck.”

When is this going to end?

Seriously.

[R: Li (螭).]

That voice came from another screen.

What now, a replay?

I didn’t even look.

What’s the point?

It’ll only ruin my mood further.

[R: “Are those people insane?”]

Startled, I snapped my head around.

That was exactly what I had just said earlier when I learned Imok’s real name.

[R: There was only one person who said that after hearing how Imok’s real name was given.

Imok frowned, thinking the reaction was rather uncouth.

But honestly, he didn’t feel bad about it.]

[R: That person was Imok’s teacher.

His name was 〩…….]

Click.

Click.

Click.

The screens spinning chaotically around me began turning off one by one.

I watched them quietly in the darkness and then shook my head.

Things like this always left a bad aftertaste.

Please prepare the tax to be paid before the next turn.

Time remaining until the next turn…

And it’s not like I didn’t have more urgent problems to deal with.

Current points held: 39,810 points.

Not that I could pay taxes with points anyway, so what difference does it make…

The current candidate is close to the Rift.

“Huh?”

I didn’t even do that thing like last time, so why?

Partial access available.

Could it be because I’m currently forced into an all-night viewing of Imok’s miserable life story?

That was the only guess I had.

Do you want to connect?

I hesitated.

Considering the situation the first time I entered and Kaliban’s reaction back then, it felt extremely suspicious.

But then something suddenly came to mind.

〈Specific conditions satisfied

Entering the Deepest Rift through the Legacy.〉

The text that had appeared when I cultivated the Shangsi Snake into a dragon.

The word Rift had definitely appeared there too.

Do you want to connect?

I slowly backed away.

It might be dangerous, so maybe I should be cautious first—

Currently, only some functions available within the Rift can be used.

Activated function:

▷ Point Cloud (Items currently stored in the cloud: 392)

What caution.

If I hesitated, someone would probably shove roasted chestnuts down my throat and tell me to stop being timid.

Connection selected.

The text window refreshed.

My heart started pounding as I read the updated text.

And then—

The connection is unstable.

The timeline is confused.

Duplicate files detected.

Duplicate files detected.

Duplicate files detected.

Duplicate files detected.

Connection failed. Attempting to reconnect.

Connecting…

Estimated waiting time: 398 hours 78 seconds.

“…Are you kidding me?”

※You can purchase a High-Speed Access Device with points.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

※Price of High-Speed Access Device: 28,810 points
(Current available points: 39,810)

“…You’ve seriously got to be kidding me.”

What kind of highway robbery is this?

“I’m not doing it, damn it.”

Click.

At last, everything around me went completely dark.

Only then did I realize the chapter of Imok I had been watching had finally come to an end.

I closed my eyes.

Tap tap tap.

Quick footsteps echoed.

Various sounds followed behind them.

The sound of blades slicing through the air…

…

Why is this appearing again?

This was the ending I saw last time.

The OZ route.

Although at this point, I wasn’t even sure whether I had actually taken that route or not.

Could it be that this game only has dead endings or bad endings?

If that’s the case, then wow… what an absolute disaster of a game.

Anyway, why is it appearing now?

Well, bugs had happened more than once already.

Who knows.

Since I knew it wasn’t reality anyway, I just stared blankly.

Every time I lose consciousness, I end up like this.

No wonder I never feel rested.

[This way.]

While I was watching quietly, I heard that voice.

This isn’t that same ending from before.

The beginning looked similar, so I thought it was the same one.

But that isn’t Imok’s voice.

The next moment I tilted my head.

Considering the OZ case, this was probably an ending related to Imok.

But the voice I had just heard wasn’t his.

Though it sounds vaguely familiar.

There was too much noise to be certain.

[Is it really here?]

The voice asking that question was Imok’s.

So it really was an ending related to him.

But… he’s using polite speech?

Had Imok ever spoken politely to someone before?

From what I remember, maybe his father.

Ah— maybe to Seonjeong-gong too.

But it’s not Kaliban.

And the tone sounded strangely close.

[Yes.]

That same voice again.

After a brief silence, it spoke once more.

[Are you afraid? It won’t hurt.]

[Do you think I would be?]

It was arrogant as always, but somehow it sounded like sulking.

I got goosebumps.

That rude bastard actually talked like that to someone.

…Wait.

Wasn’t this supposed to be an ending scene?

Where did the player character go?

Why is someone else here?

[That’s good then.]

A blurry shadow appeared.

[Here.]

The shadow extended a hand.

[…Thank you.]

But Imok did not take the hand offered to him.

He only muttered those words.

The shadow tilted its head and laughed softly.

[You’re being strangely polite.

It must really be something serious if even you are saying things like that.]

[You were also the one who guided Imok to me.]

[It was nothing.

If the two of you hadn’t been compatible from the beginning, it wouldn’t have happened anyway.]

[Do you know something?

There is no one left who calls me by my real name anymore.

Some may remember it, but soon even they will disappear.]

[That’s…]

The shadow tried to respond but eventually gave up.

Apparently no answer came to mind.

[I don’t know.

Does a name really matter that much?]

[But being Imok is no longer enough for me.]

[Hmm. Then what should I call you?

Maybe you should give yourself a name this time.]

The shadow turned around.

It showed its back to Imok.

Its steps were light, as if in a good mood.

[I will become a real dragon.]

[Right. Then to commemorate that—]

[I will become king.

There is no other path for me.]

“Ah.”

That was when I realized it.

This wasn’t one of the endings.

It was the branching point where Imok finds the relic and becomes a dragon.

Beyond the entrance the shadow was heading toward was the relic.

I remembered what happened next.

The player character walks toward the entrance first.

Because the player was the one who discovered the relic.

“Please come quickly. I’ve already found it.”

[Come this way. I’ve already found it.]

“This is what you were looking for. I’m not knowledgeable enough to know exactly what it is, but I’m sure it will help you.”

[It’s the Dragon Brain you were looking for.

With this, you’ll be able to achieve what you want.]

Just as I thought.

I frowned.

Some details were different, but overall it matched the scenario I remembered.

Imok stepped closer.

The shadow— probably playing the role of the player character— turned around and reached out its hand.

*His face was revealed. For the first time, he looked his age.

The black eyes that had always seemed sunken shone like glass.

Color returned to his pale cheeks.

I remember thinking he looked… beautiful.*

Something like that was how it was described.

[Imok?]

His face appeared.

For the first time, he looked his age.

In the black eyes that had always seemed dark and heavy, emotions were clearly visible.

Fear.

Hesitation.

Affection.

Respect.

Then fear again.

And finally—

Resolve.

[I will become king.]

The screen suddenly turned black.

[There is no other path for me.]

Now only voices remained.

[…〤…….]

Soon even the voice became hard to understand.

I guess I’m about to wake up.

Just like with OZ.

Seriously.

[…thank you.]

My unconscious mind is still as lazy as ever.

[…I’m sorry…]

Thud.

This time I heard it clearly.

Last time I thought maybe I heard it.

But this time it was certain.

Thud.

The sound of something like a door closing.

The sound of something completely shutting.

The sound of separation.

The sound of an ending.

Thud.

“….”

I opened my eyes.

Looking down with half-lidded eyes, I spoke.

My head was still foggy because of that ridiculous dream, but this had to be said.

“What are you doing?”

Then I smacked the back of the head of the person clinging to me.

The front of my clothes had been completely opened.

“You’re awake already, darling?”

“You’ve got some nerve, you perverted demon.”

Seriously, this bastard straight out of hell.