"He should be coming out any minute now."
Four days had passed.
Before the second scenario started, I went around several convenience stores and farmed enough food.
And then, for four straight days, I watched the Ichthyosaur, the Sea Commander, which had swallowed Kim Dokja.
"When is he going to come out?"
It had definitely been quite a while since the Sea Commander died.
Yet, since he still hadn't emerged, I wondered if something went wrong, or if Kim Dokja was just being lazy. But on second thought, considering the hell he went through, he might just be taking a short break. So, I just plopped down on the spot.
I took my sunglasses out of my pocket and put them on. Immediately, a message window containing a protest appeared before my eyes.
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' tells you to take off those sunglasses.]
"But this is style, you know?"
Staring at the Sea Commander alone for four days would have been quite boring, but fortunately, our kind Constellations didn't leave me alone. One of them was the 'Demon-like Judge of Fire', Uriel, who just sent me a message.
At first, I was just puzzled why she kept hanging around, but at some point, I figured it out.
Uriel started fangirling after seeing Gojo Satoru's appearance.
"I pity you for not understanding this style."
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' snorts in disbelief.]
Well, I said I'm wearing them, so what can she do?
"Huh?"
While I was giggling at the message window, I noticed something bubbling beyond the translucent screen.
Thinking he was finally coming out, I immediately got up and approached the riverside. As if reacting to my steps, Kim Dokja burst out right then.
"Puh-ah!"
"Yo."
"...?"
Kim Dokja barely opened his eyes and looked at me.
"Been a while, huh? Dokja-ssi."
"Did you wait for me?"
"Because I bet on you."
I offered my hand to Kim Dokja, and he grabbed it to pull himself up onto the ground.
"Looks like you had a hard time. You look like..."
"Haha, well, clothes... I can just get new ones."
True, but... I looked Kim Dokja up and down.
His tattered suit made him look like someone who got fired and immediately started living on the streets.
"Then, let's move forward. We can't afford to fall behind in the second scenario."
"We should. There must be companions who are worried."
One step. The moment I took a single step with Kim Dokja, a message window appeared, and the toxicity of the polluted land assaulted us.
"Kugh...!"
[You have entered the area of the second main scenario.]
[The land of this scenario area is deeply polluted.]
[Hold your breath and move underground as quickly as possible.]
Glancing to the side, I saw Kim Dokja suffering.
If not for the Limitless technique, I would have been in the same state.
"Poisonous fog, huh."
Wanting to know the source of the fog, I followed it with my eyes and saw a massive rhinoceros releasing gas.
"It's farts."
"Gang-hoon-ssi."
Hearing Kim Dokja call me, I turned my head. With something in his mouth, he tried to touch my shoulder but was blocked by the Limitless technique.
"What?"
Kim Dokja pointed to the object in his mouth with his finger.
...Is he asking if I need it?
"I'm fine. This poisonous fart can't reach me."
Only then did Kim Dokja check my condition. Seeing me perfectly fine, he nodded.
He doesn't even seem surprised anymore.
[The Constellations are curious about the limits of your ability.]
Well. Considering I can even block deadly poisonous farts, maybe there are no limits.
"There's a clothing store over there. Let's grab some clothes and go."
...
We roughly picked out some clothes for Kim Dokja and went around nearby convenience stores to scavenge food.
These are different convenience stores from the ones I farmed last time.
As expected of the modern era. Convenience stores being spread everywhere makes scavenging very convenient during a disaster.
"Let's go now. The effect of that item will run out soon."
Kim Dokja nodded.
I don't recall the exact name of that item, but it was the lungs of some monkey.
As you can see, those lungs can be held in the mouth like Kim Dokja is doing, and they have a pretty good effect of purifying deadly poison.
Of course, the duration isn't long—only 20 minutes—but an item like that shouldn't last too long anyway.
"S-save me..."
Just as we had each packed about three or four bags of food, a sound other than rustling or my own voice reached my ears.
"A survivor?"
We immediately moved toward where the survivor's presence was detected. In a corner, I saw a young woman lying on her stomach, barely moving.
Her skin surface was becoming contaminated, but since she was wearing a spare mask, she wasn't in a critical state from the poison.
"Looks like she was attacked by someone. Pretty badly, too."
I looked at the bags in my hands and then at Kim Dokja.
"Could you hold these for a sec? Dokja-ssi. I'll carry this woman."
"Whatever is comfortable for you."
I immediately handed him the bags and lifted the woman with one arm.
"Do you know which exit at Geumho Station is open?"
"Exit 4, Exit 4..."
I nodded. Since I roughly knew the way...
"Wait a moment."
I looked around, picked up a permanent marker from the convenience store, drew a circle on the floor, pushed Kim Dokja inside, and stepped in as well.
"Good."
Holding the woman, I clasped my hands together to activate the technique.
"Ugh?!"
"Arrived."
In the blink of an eye, we arrived in front of Exit 4 of Geumho Station.
If I didn't know the location of Geumho Station, we would have run. Though, it wouldn't have mattered either way.
Seeing the iron gate clattering shut, I immediately jammed my leg in and kicked it upward, forcing the gate wide open.
"Wh-what the!?"
"We have an injured person. Is it okay to enter?"
"We're already at full capaci—"
"Hah?"
Whether the ones blocking the front realized my attitude wouldn't work on me, or were scared by me kicking the iron gate open with a single blow, they immediately fled deep into the station.
"Let's go in."
"Y-yes..."
After entering the station and pulling the iron gate down to close it, I laid the woman on the floor.
[You have entered a safe zone.]
"The poisonous gas stopped as soon as it said safe zone."
"I don't know why, but it seems it can't affect the underground."
Kim Dokja took out another set of lungs from his pocket, removed the woman's mask, and placed the lungs in her mouth.
"It's that guy over there!"
While I was quietly watching Kim Dokja place the lungs in her mouth, flashlight beams approached us from the direction where those guys had fled earlier.
Since I was wearing sunglasses, it wasn't particularly blinding, but...
[The Constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' frowns at the appearance of uninvited guests.]
It is undoubtedly a rather unpleasant situation.
"What are you? You bastards."
"He's asking? Dokja-ssi."
"...Kim Dokja."
"I'm Choi Gang-hoon."
When we stated our names, the opponent got angry as if finding it absurd and pointed weapons at us.
"When did we ask for that! I asked what kind of bastards you are!"
"Huh?! That woman is!"
Behind the angry man, another man noticed the woman beside us and looked quite surprised.
"What the, it's the woman from the marginalized group. Didn't she return with you guys?"
"Well, that's, uh..."
The two looked at each other for a while, then the man who seemed to be the leader smirked and looked back at us as if he understood.
"So that's how it was? Anyway... cute bastards."
"Hehe, sorry. Cheol-soo hyung should have been first..."
I started to see the unpleasant reactions of the Constellations.
"That looks like food, doesn't it?"
"Ha, you're right? Okay. Leave all of that and get lost. Then I'll let you live."
Ding. Ding.
[The Constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is annoyed by the appearance of small fry.]
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is enraged by the injustice before her eyes.]
It's exactly the scene I saw in the webtoon.
If my memory is correct, next is...
[A bounty scenario has occurred at the request of the Constellations!]
Right.
< Bounty Scenario - Eliminate the Interrupters >
Category: Sub
Difficulty: F
Clear Condition: The Constellations are greatly outraged by the appearance of interrupters hindering the rapid development. Incapacitate them within the time limit.
Time Limit: 5 minutes
Reward: ???
Penalty for Failure: ???
"Dokja-ssi."
"Indeed. Gang-hoon-ssi. Would you do it like last time?"
"When we caught the Demonic People?"
"Yes."
Request accepted.
"What are you mumbling about? I said get out!"
"Ah, sorry, but..."
I took off my sunglasses and looked straight ahead.
"What the fuck. Is this a honey trap?"
"As if."
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' cheers.]
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' has sponsored 200 Coins.]
Is it a honey trap?
No, that's not what's important.
"If you don't plan on leaving, die!!"
A man wearing knuckles threw a punch at me as he rushed in.
Not knowing his place.
"?!"
I stood still and watched them rush at me.
But not a single attack reached me.
"W-what?! Why isn't it hitting?!"
"Dokja-ssi. It would be bad if I destroy this place, right?"
"Very bad, so please restrain yourself..."
After naturally tossing the man standing in front toward Kim Dokja, I captured exactly half of the remaining people in my sight.
"Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue."
One by one. People began to clump together in mid-air.
"W-what is this!"
"Put us down!!"
"If you ask to be put down. Can't be helped."
Thwack. They were slammed onto the floor just like that.
They couldn't make a sound and seemed to have all passed out.
I could have killed them if I wanted to, but I didn't. The clear condition was, after all, incapacitation, not killing.
[Constellations of the Absolute Good system nod at your judgment.]
[A few Constellations do not understand your humanity.]
[The Constellations have sponsored 100 Coins.]
Thud, thwack.
It seems things are finished over there as well.
The one who appeared to be the leader was being beaten by Kim Dokja, and time was ticking away.
[The clear conditions for the sub scenario have been met.]
[You have acquired 300 Coins.]
"You caused quite a scene."
"Not as much as you. Gang-hoon-ssi."
Anyone can see you made things bigger.
I stared at Kim Dokja for a while, and he, perhaps unable to withstand my gaze, turned his head, approached the thug, and grabbed him by the hair.
"Guide us to where the group is."
Starting with this sub-scenario.
Our story at Geumho Station truly began.