The train started moving again, allowing us to see what was outside.
There were giant monsters that seemed to have some kind of reptilian form, like an aquatic serpent.
On the dokkaebi's head there were about 30 stars in total; maybe it'll be important in the future, so I'll keep it in mind until then.
"Wow, everyone managed to prove their worth; there are so many survivors," said the dokkaebi. "Oh, thank you for your support, dear constellations! I can't believe there are 30 constellations watching my channel!"
Channel? Is it some kind of divine platform where they do live streams or something, and what are constellations? I doubt they have the same meaning as ours; stars are constellations.
I saw the dark-haired man approach the bug boy.
"Do you want to live?" the man said. "Then let's be a team."
"Will you let us go?" the businessman asked. "We've already done everything you asked of us."
"Are you sure you want to leave?"
"Well, it doesn't matter; I'm used to it by now, although I didn't have any hope for this wagon, and of course every effort deserves its reward." The dokkaebi said, "Your reward will be that you can now be sponsored by the constellations. Exciting, isn't it?"
"What are constellations?" I asked.
"You could say they're superior beings who take pity on you and want to sponsor you."
"What does that mean?" the lieutenant said. "Who sponsors whom?"
"It's not worth explaining it to you; it'll be better if you experience it for yourselves," said the dokkaebi, snapping his fingers and causing a screen to appear.
- Select a constellation
- The selected constellation will be your trusted sponsor.
1.- Spokesman for Justice and Wisdom
2.- Abyssal Black Flame Dragon
3.- The demon-like fire judge
3 options
After a little while.
[The sponsor selection has been completed]
"Attention, have you already chosen?" said the dokkaebi. "Eh, hahaha, it seems some of you made a very interesting choice. There will be more opportunities later anyway."
"Since everyone has chosen, let's take a short break while I set up the next scenario. See you in 10 minutes."
"Please, everyone come here," said the dark-haired man, and everyone approached him.
I stayed close enough to hear, but far enough away not to be part of the conversation.
"Hello, I'm Hyunsung Lee," he said.
"Dokja Kim," he said, shaking Hyunsung's hand.
"It's not the best time to say it, but it's a pleasure to meet you," Hyunsung said. "As I said, I'm in the army. Well, or rather, I was"
I suppose your unit isn't responding.
"Thanks for what you did earlier, Dokja." "If it weren't for you, we might be dead," Hyeonseong said. "And if I had survived by the other method, I still wouldn't deserve to live."
Kim Dokja was about to continue talking to him, but he was interrupted by the businessman.
"HAHAHA, well done, rookie," he said. "Dokja, you know who I am, right?"
"Yes. myeongoh han."
"How should you address me, Mr. Han?" he said.
"We're not in the office," Dokja replied.
"You little brat, so you're planning not to come back to work? Where did you learn such bad manners?" Myeongoh said, somewhat annoyed. "To be honest, I was also offended by the little scene you made. If there were insects, you should have told me; how dare you throw them?"
"Shut up, Myeongoh Han," said Kim Doka.
"w-what"
"Don't you see what's happening? Did I have to let that idiot hit you for you to understand?" Kim Dokja continued. "Do you think the company still exists after all this?"
Myeongoh Han went blank, and the others seemed to be coming to their senses little by little.
"Everyone here needs to pay attention; as the dokkaebi said, this is no joke."
"It's like the novels I used to read on the nite shift," said Hyeonsong Lee.
"Now this is our reality."
"Do you have any ideas, Dokja?" Hyunsung Lee asked.
"We need to get out of here."
Upon hearing what Kim Dokja said, everyone thought he was crazy for wanting to go outside, but they quickly began to consider leaving as well, given the other person behind the door who seemed somewhat unhinged.
They started looking for a door to get out, and after a few minutes they found the right one, but now the problem is opening it since they didn't have enough strength. I wonder if I could open it if I used all my strength.
"Use your skill, Hyunsung," Kim Dokja said.
"What? What are you talking about?" he replied.
"You must have seen your skills when you opened your attribute window; you must have some skill to open this door," Kim Dokja explained.
"Well, I have one, but I don't know how to use it."
"Just imagine using it," Kim Dokja said.
After hearing Dokja, Hyeonseong began using his ability, which allowed him to open the door.
"It worked!" he said, impressed.
"Run!" Kim Dokja said quickly after the door opened.
I fell behind for a few seconds to check my stats.
"Attribute window," I said to myself.
[Attributes window]
Name: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka
Age: 16
constellation: none
Personal attributes: puppeteer (mythic), absolute master of adaptation (hero), masterpiece (Legend), ■■■
Personal skills: [manipulation lv 4] [lie detection lv 8] [poker face] [ability concealment lv 10] [Absolue adaptation lv 10] [Master of all combat arts lv 5] [master of all weapons lv 5] [master of everything lv 4] [Advanced mental barrier lv 4] [Reasoning lv 8]
Stigma: N/A
General statistics: [Stamina level 5], [Strength level 10], [Agility level 10], [Magic power level 5]
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1350 coins have been spent on Stamina.
[Stamina lv 5 → 10]
After deciding to raise my Constitution to level 10, I decided to go join the others, but just as I arrived, the dokkaebi snapped his fingers, which meant there would be another event.
[Notification of the second event]
Side event
Category: E
Conditions: cross the broken bridge and enter Oksu Station.
Time limit: 20 minutes
Reward: 200 coins
Punishment if you fail: ???
"Dokja, something's wrong," said the woman with brown hair. "It says 'broken bridge,' and there's no bridge."
"The bridge is going to collapse, so we need to hurry if we want to make it," I said, starting to run alongside Kim Dokja, who was about to say something but changed his mind at the last moment.
When there were about 200 meters left, a sea monster resembling a giant snake suddenly appeared, but it was still some distance away, so if we ran at full speed we could save ourselves.
"Did you really think you could get away that easily?" a voice in the air said. "What fun would it be if you escaped so easily?"
When I turned to look at him, I saw it was the dokkaebi who snapped his fingers, causing a screen to appear.
[The event difficulty has been adjusted]
Difficulty E → D
[A cursed energy emanating from the dead is felt.]
[A black ether emanates from the surrounding terrain]
I turned around by instinct and saw that the dead had risen.
"Zo-zombies?" the woman said with some nervousness.
[Demonic beings have come back to life]
Before I knew it, the zombies had already surrounded me, Dokja, and the woman; the boy, Hyunsung and myungoh had already reached the station.
The snake was about to destroy the bridge, and I still had time to get across, but I decided to stay behind so I could meet the guy in the other car. Maybe he knew something, though it's just a hunch.
The snake destroyed the bridge, and it looked like we'd have to fight the zombies, but…
[Someone has received the blessing of a constellation]
[The constellation's blessing has activated Deus Ex Machina in the event]
A bridge of light appeared, and we could only cross it if we were an even number.
"Dokja in my head... suddenly there's something," the woman said. "Dokja, behin-!"
Before he could finish saying his words, I punched the student who was about to hit Dokja, sending him flying.
"Be careful, you could get hurt," I said to Dokja, who seemed a bit surprised.
"H-how did you do that?"
Dokja said as he looked at the student lying on the floor.
"How did you get here so fast?"
"What are you talking about? I was always by your side," I replied. "You just didn't see me."
[Some constellations look at you curiously.]
[Secretive plotter watches you.]
[The demon-like fire judge is surprised by your courage]
[You have been given 100 coins]
"Hey kid, take this sangah and run to the station as fast as you can."
He ordered me to do it, and I just nodded in response.
I quickly grabbed the woman and ran off.
As soon as we arrived at the station, the others seemed somewhat relieved, although someone was still missing.
"We have to go anyway; he won't be able to cross the bridge," Myungoh said, referring to Kim Dokja.
At which the others gave him a somewhat dirty look, causing him to shrug his shoulders.
"There was someone else in the other car; maybe I can cross over with him," I said, reminding them.
"If it's true, we mustn't lose faith," Sangah said.
"Hey kid, what's your name? Mine is Lee Hyunsung," he said as he looked at me.
"I am Ayanokouji Kiyotaka," I replied.
After a while, we saw a figure peeking out, and when it came out, it wasn't Kim Dokja—it was the other guy.
It wasn't long before he looked at each of us with golden eyes, but as soon as he saw me he seemed somewhat confused.
"Where's the guy who crossed that bridge with you?" I asked.
to which he ignored my question
"Who are you?" he said to everyone except Lee Hyunsung.
"I'm Ayanokouji Kiyotaka," I replied. "Who are you?"
He ignored me again and moved toward us, or rather toward me.
"Are these all the survivors?"
"Yes" I said
He quickly approached Hyunsung.
"From now on, you'll follow me, understand?" he said, to which no one said anything.
"First, tell us what happened to Dokja," I said as I activated [Lie Detection].
"He is taking a test." he replied, to which [lie detection] registered it as true.
"And what is that test for, if I may ask?" I said.
"It's to earn my trust" [true]
I saw him place his hand on the pommel of what appeared to be a sword.
[Some constellations eagerly await the start of the battle]
[You have been given 50 coins.]
"I give up," I said as I raised my hands. "We'll follow you, but first could you tell us your name?"
[The Abyssal Black Flame Dragon constellation laughs at your cowardice]
[The constellation spokesman for justice and wisdom approves your wise decision.]
"Yoo Joonghyuk"
After hearing his name and everyone being convinced to go with him, we walked for a while until we reached Geumho Station. And there we decided to stay and wait for Kim Dokja, whom we waited for for a few days.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was thinking of putting the attributes window here, but if it's annoying I can remove it.
COINS: 5950
[Attributes window]
Name: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka
Age: 16
constellation: none
Personal attributes: puppeteer (mythic), absolute master of adaptation (hero), masterpiece (Legend), ■■■
Personal skills: [manipulation lv 4] [lie detection lv 8] [poker face] [ability concealment lv 10] [Absolue adaptation lv 10] [Master of all combat arts lv 5] [master of all weapons lv 5] [master of everything lv 4] [Advanced mental barrier lv 4] [Reasoning lv 8]
Stigma: N/A
General statistics: [Stamina level 10], [Strength level 10], [Agility level 10], [Magic power level 5]
If you like, I can tell you how their abilities work (I might change my mind, so don't trust me lol), and by the way, when Ayanokouji use the [Manipulation] ability, I won't mention it—you'll have to figure out when he's using it or not.
If you can, could you tell me about more constellations that might be interested in Ayanokouji?
Small survey, please leave a comment :p
Only Ayanokouji in the story.
Other cote characters in the story.