Zhou Mingrui walked back over to Amanises and Huang after seeing that there were no imminent problems. After getting close enough, Huang whispered to Zhou. "Why did you save that brat? He was very problematic, and chances are he will continue to be down the line."
"You're not wrong, but he's still just a kid. No kid deserves to die, even if he acted the way he did, as extreme as it was."
"I assume you gave him a piece of your mythical creature form?" Amanises added.
"Yes. I decided to test it with the grandma since she was unconscious. She would have died either way if I didn't do anything, so I figured I'd take the chance, considering she couldn't look at it directly. I did the same for the kid, but that one was riskier. If he had looked at his hand for even a second during that interaction, he would have died instantly. Luckily, he was too focused on the other guy to pay attention before I took it away."
"It's a good thing you didn't kill the kid, but it seems not everyone shares that sentiment," Huang said while gesturing over to Dokja, who was calming Lee Gilyoung. "It doesn't take a spectator to notice how angry he got when he survived."
Zhou looked over right as Dokja looked up, meeting each other's gazes briefly before someone spoke up to the dokkaebi who was still hovering in the middle and fiddling with something on the screen.
"W-Will you release us now? Didn't you get what you wanted?" Han Myungoh, whose shirt was torn, shouted from half a dozen steps away.
This guy really is a moron. How did he manage to survive? Zhou thought as the dokkaebi looked up from its screen and began to mock everyone in the carriage before changing the subject.
[Now now, shouldn't there be a reward for overcoming the hardships? As a reward for the first scenario, you are entitled to the sponsorship of the 'constellations'. Waahhh! How about it? Aren't you looking forward to it? Hmm, you are all unenthusiastic. This is a really big deal.]
Sponsorship from the constellations? Is this similar to being a blessed for a deity? I wonder how Amanises would feel if I picked up another supporter. Zhou let out a chuckle as he glanced at Amanises, who was looking at Zhou, wondering what was funny.
[Hmm, everybody has confused expressions. I can easily tell you. Right now, you are incredibly weak. If you are thrown into the scenarios that will take place, you will be killed when you meet a weak ground rat, let alone a 'kruk'. Benevolently, there are some great people in the universe who pity you and would like to sponsor you. Do you understand what I am saying?]
Well, now we know this creature doesn't know anything about us. It's considering everyone in this carriage at the level of a normal person. Little do they know there is a sequence 1, a true deity, and a pillar of the universe among them. Zhou let out another chuckle. But this time, Amanises and Huang understood the reason why, Amanises letting out a sigh while Huang struggled to keep quiet.
Just then, the screens in front of everyone updated with a list of names. Zhou looked down to read over the names to see if there was any he recognized.
[Sponsor Selection]
-Please select your sponsor
-Your chosen sponsor will be your strong supporter.
One Who Changes His Existence
Monarch of the Small Fries
Dragon Lying Down
3 choices. Not that it really matters, I don't recognize any of the names, and if this really is like being blessed by a deity, choosing at random could be extremely dangerous. Not that I need a sponsor in the first place, I mean, what power would even benefit a Lord of the Mysteries anyway? Zhou thought as he looked over to the other two, who were also reviewing their list.
"How many choices did you guys get? I only got one, and it sounds stupid as hell." Huang complained as he looked up from his screen.
"I also got one, but the name almost seems fitting, the 'Shadow Behind the Curtain'. I'm not sure how these selections are supposed to work, but given the fact that from their perspective, we kind of just appeared out of nowhere and somehow survived, we're probably lucky to get one in the first place. This is supposedly entertainment for them, and it's not like we did anything interesting. Except maybe Zhou, who stepped up towards the end."
"I have 3 options, so that makes sense. None of the names are ones I recognize, but these choices don't matter. I mean, it's not like we need a sponsor in the first place."
"You got 3? That's bullshit. How come you get 3 options and I'm stuck with a 'Monarch of the Small Fries'? I'm clearly better looking than you, so surely I would have more appeal."
"I don't think-" But before Zhou could finish, the screens disappeared and the dokkaebi spoke up once again.
[Wow, many of you made some very interesting choices… You guys do know that you won't be able to survive without a sponsor, right? Ah, never mind. You missed your chance, and it's too late to go back now. Just sit tight for 10 minutes and rest up while I prepare the next scenario.]
As it was speaking, the dokkaebi glanced over to the three beyonders standing together, then moved his gaze over to Dokja.
Did that suspicious guy also not choose a sponsor? Given how much he participated in this scenario, it would be impossible for that guy not to have choices. And he still has his calm demeanor, he couldn't care less about the dokkaebi's warning, but he doesn't seem to have the strength to back it like us. What is this guy up to? Zhou started walking towards the middle of the carriage, where the group of survivors was already gathered. Amanises and Huang followed behind.
…
"Let's all gather together." Dokja announced as the survivors began to move over. Kim Namwoon hesitated as he approached, and the three foreigners came close. Lee Hyunsung went over to the unconscious grandma and threw her onto his back before joining.
After a few introductions, the one who saved Kim Namwoon walked ahead of the other two as he extended a hand out in Dokja's direction with a smile. "Hello, I'm Zhou Mingrui. This is Huang and Amanises. I'd like to apologize. I hope you didn't mind me interfering with your little scuffle earlier."
Dokja looked over as he reached out to shake Zhou's hand, hesitating for a moment before returning the smile. "Kim Dokja. And don't bother. If anything, I'm thankful you stepped in when you did. If it wasn't for you, the lady and Kim Namwoon would have died. How did you manage to do it though? There were only 3 grasshoppers left so I didn't think it was possible to save any more."
"We just got lucky. I also noticed that the clear condition never specified the creature, and my friends and I had been fishing before this with enough bait worms left to save us. There were a couple left."
Bait worms? And he noticed the wording on the clear condition as well. I don't see any fishing gear and they don't look like they are dressed to go fishing, but why would he lie? It's not like they killed a person since everyone is accounted for in the carriage, and they couldn't have come from outside. Dokja eyed the three beyonders as he attempted to open up their Character Summary.
I can't see their stats? Not considered a character… Putting aside those thoughts for now, Dokja simply replied, "I see, it seems we all got lucky. If it wasn't for Gilyoung and his bug net, things would have played out very differently."
"I wanted to thank you for that Dokja-ssi. We would all be dead if it were not for you." Dokja turned to see Lee Hyunsung looking over with a sheepish smile.
Before Dokja could give a response, a hand was placed on his shoulder. "Haha, our contractor did one big thing. Dokja-sii, do you know my name?"
Dokja took the hand off his shoulder and said, "I know, Han Myungoh-ssi."
"Huh, Han Myungoh-ssi? Shouldn't you call me Department Head?"
Is he serious? The world we know is over. Dokja thought as he went back and forth with him for a while before getting fed up. "Shut up."
"W-What?"
"You still don't understand the situation? Weren't you hit by that bastard earlier? Mino Soft? Do you think the company still exists when the end has come?" Dokja turned to the rest of the survivors as he continued, "Han Myungoh-ssi isn't the only problem. Everyone, you need to wake up. As the dokkaebi said, this isn't a joke. I think you should've all roughly noticed the situation. Exclusive skills in the attributes window. A game-like interface. Is there anyone who still hasn't caught onto facts?"
Kim Namwoon who had been silently listening from the side, finally spoke up. "That's exactly what I was trying to say earlier. The situation earlier was kill or be killed. The things we were concerned about before don't exist anymore."
He's right. The one who adapted to the new world the fastest would understand it the best out of all of them. Maybe I was too rash in my decision to kill him here just because I disliked his character. After all, he was part of the main group for a reason. He could still be of use to me. Dokja thought as he opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted as Kim Namwoon continued.
"You. You don't get to be telling everyone the reality of this situation. If you had just let me do what needed to be done, I would have been just fine without needing to be saved." Kim Namwoon scowled at Dokja before turning towards Zhou, "And you. I didn't need your pity or your help, so don't expect anything from me in return. I don't owe you anything you son of a bitch, got that?"
Zhou looked at Kim Namwoon with the same smile he always wore and said in a calm voice, "Don't worry, I simply did what was right. I wasn't going to let a kid die if I could do something about it."
Kim Namwoon looked like he was about to retort but Dokja spoke up first. "I think we are getting sidetracked. We can finish this discussion another time, however right now we need to go."
"G-Go? Are you insane?"
"Dokja-ssi, I don't think…"
Han Myungoh and Yoo Sangah spoke against it as there were some questioning looks going around the group of survivors. Kim Namwoon eyed Dokja but didn't say a word.
"Then how long will we stay here? Have you thought about your parents? Do you think your parents are safe in this mess?" Dokja pressed on. After a brief disagreement, everyone decided to take a vote. Han Myungoh and Lee Hyunsung were still hesitant in the end.
Dokja couldn't care less about Han Myungoh, but he needed to get Lee Hyunsung. Not only to get a head start towards the next scenario, but to avoid the person in the carriage over. He looked up towards the door between the carriages, but his attention was drawn to Zhou who was staring right at him, the other two foreigners looking towards the door.
Why is he looking at me? Do they know what's coming? How- But before Dokja could finish his thought, a loud bang came from the thick iron plate as the door to carriage 3707 was slightly distorted.
…
The three beyonders pulled away from the main group, talking amongst themselves in Leonese as the others were arguing about leaving the carriage.
"What are your thoughts on this Dokja fellow after interacting with him?" Huang questioned while walking towards the seat and leaning back.
Zhou looked up towards Dokja. "He is still suspicious. He feels out of place here compared to the others, but if I'm going to be honest, I don't think he has anything to do with the Celestial Worthy. At least, not directly. I have nothing to base this on, and it's no more than a hunch, but whatever is different about him seems related to something else. I just can't quite place my finger on it."
"It could be your spiritual intuition trying to tell you something. Even if you are getting your divination blocked, maybe you still have some way of detecting information. Still, we can't trust him until we figure out his abnormality. The silver lining is he seems to be a good person, so he will be much easier to deal with." Amanises sighed, following Zhou's gaze as she spoke.
The three beyonders then felt their spiritual intuition go off as they directed their attention to the door leading to the carriage over. Taking a coin out, Zhou attempted to divine whatever was behind the door.
"Whatever is behind that door is both problematic and extremely useful but I can't get a clear reading. There is a similar interference I felt with Dokja, only this one is much weaker." Zhou said as he turned his attention to Dokja who also looked towards the door before noticing Zhou staring at him. "But my intuition is telling me to follow him."
Kuuong!
A loud bang resounded throughout the carriage before Amanises or Huang could question any further. The attention of every survivor was directed towards the iron door of carriage 3707 which was slightly distorted.
"Dokja-ssi, is there any guarantee that the person beyond the iron door is an enemy?" Yoo Sangah asked, not hiding the concern in her voice as the rest of the survivors looked towards Dokja.
"Since they are coming from another carriage, it is likely to be a survivor. If we meet…" Dokja interjected as the others questioned why he was in such a rush to leave.
Everyone in the carriage suddenly had the same thought. Whoever was behind that door wouldn't have had the good luck of finding insects. They killed someone to survive.
The survivors rushed around in a panic trying to find a way off the train. Unfortunately, most of the doors were broken and the manual switchgear that Dokja found was jammed.
Zhou was about to use the Door authority to force it open when Dokja suddenly spoke up. "Lee Hyunsung-ssi. Use a skill. You should've checked it when you opened the attributes window. Lee Hyunsung is a soldier so there must be a skill you can use in this situation."
Attributes window? Huh, it really is just like a game. This is just like those popular webnovel tropes you see from Korea. Zhou thought as he tried to open up his attributes window like Dokja said.
[Character Summary]
Name: Zhou Mingrui
Age: 26
Sponsor: None (You are already a constellation)
Constellation Modifier: The Fool
Exclusive Attributes: Half Lord of the Mysteries [Myth], The Fool [Myth], Angel of Redemption [Legend], The World [Legend], Miracle Magician [Legend], Sea God [Hero], Hero Bandit Black Emperor [Hero], Transmigrator [Hero], Strongest Adventurer of the Five Seas [Rare], Blasphemer [Rare], Mysteries [Rare]
Exclusive Skills: Divination Lv. ??, Illusion Lv. ??, Shapeshifting Lv. ??, Puppetry Lv. ??, Concealment Lv. ??, History Manipulation Lv. ??, Miracles Lv. ??, Grafting Lv. ??, Fooling Lv. ??, Theft Lv. ??, Deceit Lv. ??, Decryption Lv. ??, Parasitism Lv. ??, Avatar Creation Lv. ??, Destiny Tampering Lv. ??, Loophole Exploitation Lv. ??, Time Manipulation Lv. ??, Errors Creation Lv. ??, Door Opening Lv. ??, Tricks Lv. ??, Astrology Lv. ??, Replication Lv. ??, Teleportation Lv. ??, Space Manipulation Lv. ??, Concealment Lv. ??, Sealing Lv. ??, Locating Lv. ??, Alternate Space Creation Lv. ?? …
Stigma: Fool Lv. ??, Error Lv. ??, Door Lv. ??, Sefirah Castle Lv. ??, Above the Sequence Lv. ??, Embodiment of Sefirah Castle Lv. ??, Dominator of the Spirit World Lv. ??, Blessed of the Evernight Lv. ?? …
Overall Stats: Physique Lv. ??, Strength Lv. ??, Agility Lv. ??, Magic Power Lv. ??
I'm considered a constellation? So it's true, these constellations are considered gods in this world. This system also detected that I am a transmigrator, and it has a list of every one of my abilities and authorities. I should really be careful, if this really is a video game, who knows if there are skills that can see other people's stats. Zhou looked over to Amanises who seemed to understand what he was getting at. Zhou then felt the power of Concealment around him once again as Amanises hid any information on the three beyonders.
Screeeeeech.
The sound of metal scraping against metal was heard as Lee Hyunsung managed to pry open the door leading off the train. Everyone filtered out of the door with Lee Hyunsung picking up the unconscious grandma once more before stepping out.
[...Ah, this is really. I knew this would happen. Didn't I say it earlier? I told you not to go anywhere, Damn! The scenario isn't ready yet-]
"Wahh! I knew this would happen! I told you not to come out!" Han Myungoh wrapped a hand around his head, like he thought it would explode. But there was no need to worry.
You clearly didn't. You were just too scared to get off the train. Dokja on the other hand… Zhou looked to Dokja the second the dokkaebi appeared and noticed that not only did he not seem surprised at its appearance, but he seemed to be anticipating it.
[Sigh… it can't be helped. You are really lucky humans.]
[The second scenario has arrived!]
[Second Scenario - Escape]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: E
Clear Conditions: Cross the broken bridge and enter Oksu Station.
Time Limit: 20 minutes.
Compensation: 200 coins.
Failure: ???