Protagonist (2)
[The choice of the sponsor has been completed.]
I took a deep breath as I watched the messages floating in the air.
[Several constellations are greatly shocked by your choice.]
Yeah, this is where it really begins.
[The constellation 'Black Flame Dragon of the Abyss' is furious with your decision.]
[Constellations affiliated with 'Black Cloud' are shaken by the wrath of the 'Black Flame Dragon of the Abyss.' You will not receive support from 'Black Cloud' affiliated constellations for the time being.]
I wasn't too surprised since I had expected these messages.
To think it would cut off all support just because I rejected it… I'm pretty sure this guy was the sponsor behind Kim Namwoon in the original story. Like sponsor, like incarnation, I suppose.
[The constellation 'Demonic Judge of Fire' is disappointed in you.]
[She will now obsessively monitor your sense of justice.]
Uriel, the archangel, only expressed disappointment. Constellations aligned with absolute good rarely hate someone unless they commit serious evil.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' finds your choice intriguing.]
[Sponsored 200 coins.]
This one was completely unexpected. Judging by the descriptor, the constellation must value caution—perhaps that's why my carefulness was well-received.
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' finds your choice amusing.]
And then there's the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal…
My heart feels heavy.
Was that really the right choice?
I don't know.
Maybe I just let a huge opportunity slip away right in front of me.
[You did not choose a sponsor.]
But choosing a sponsor also means restricting your potential.
Because a contract with a sponsor is never a fair trade.
I will survive.
But I won't survive by becoming your plaything.
And if my guess is right, there is a way to become stronger even without choosing a sponsor now.
A way that might even surpass incarnations backed by the strongest sponsors.
[Haha, well now... Someone's made a very interesting choice, haven't they? Well, that's fine. There will be more opportunities.]
The dokkaebi's crescent moon-shaped eyes lingered on me briefly.
[Well then, since everyone's made their choice, let's take a short break here. I have to go prepare the next scenario. See you in 10 minutes!]
After the ended, the dokkaebi left with those parting words.
He said to rest, but these next 10 minutes were extremely important.
In those 10 minutes, I needed to process everything and prepare for the next scenario.
I started recalling the abilities I had.
[Character List], and [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].
I didn't know their exact uses yet, but I had a rough idea. With these, I'd manage somehow.
"Everyone, please gather around."
The survivors, who had been hesitating and eyeing each other, slowly approached. The first to extend a hand was Lee Hyunsung.
"Hello, I'm Lee Hyunsung."
"I'm Kim Dokja."
"Not sure if 'nice to meet you' is fitting for this situation, but it's a pleasure. As I mentioned before, I'm a soldier... though I guess I should say I was a soldier now."
"Seems like you've lost contact with your unit?"
"...Yes."
The grip I felt in our handshake was strong—fitting for the early-game tank of Ways of Survival.
I had to bring Lee Hyunsung with me.
He may not seem like much now, but he becomes a crucial figure in the latter half of Ways of Survival.
"Oh, and Mr. Dokja."
"Yes?"
"Thank you for earlier. If it weren't for you, we'd all be dead."
"No, that's..."
"Even if we had survived, we wouldn't have been able to live as humans. Thank you, truly. And… I'm ashamed."
Lee Hyunsung bowed at the waist in a deep, respectful bow.
My heart felt a little heavy.
In truth, Lee Hyunsung would've survived regardless of what I did.
Someone grabbed my shoulder.
"Haha, our contract worker really pulled off something big. Mr. Dokja, you know my name, right?"
I didn't have to look to know who it was. I brushed his hand off my shoulder and replied.
"I know, Mr. Han Myung-oh."
"Hey now, 'Mr. Han Myung-oh'? Shouldn't you be calling me 'department head'?"
Even in this situation, he was still clinging to his job title—so typically Han Myung-oh.
The biggest boomer in Minosoft, the very embodiment of authoritarianism.
"This isn't the office anymore."
"Hah, look at this guy. Planning to skip work now? Where'd you learn that kind of attitude?"
Watching Han Myung-oh grumble like this, I was struck once again by the reality that the world I knew was truly gone.
This man had been a 'predator' in the world before the scenario began.
And I had been nothing more than prey before that predator. That was certainly true.
"And earlier—don't you think you went too far? Huh? If there was something like a bug around, you should've at least given me a heads-up. How could you just throw me like that?"
"..."
"Mr. Kim Dokja, you'd better treat me well. Not much time left on your contract, right?"
It suddenly struck me as funny.
The world I had lived in was this fragile, huh?
"Mr. Han Myung-oh."
"Huh?"
"Shut up already."
"W-What?"
"Do you still not get the situation? Would it take getting smacked by that brat earlier to make you come to your senses? Mino Soft? With all this going on, you think a company like that still exists?"
Han Myung-oh's face went pale as he opened and closed his mouth like a fish.
I turned my gaze toward the others. Since I'd already spoken up, I figured it was best to make things clear.
"Mr. Han Myung-oh isn't the only problem here. Everyone, get it together. Like the dokkaebi said, this isn't a joke."
"…"
"I'm sure even if no one's said it out loud, most of you have some idea of what's going on. The trait window, the exclusive skills, the game-like interface… Anyone here still not getting it?"
As expected, no one raised their hand. That's Korea for you—high smartphone penetration means almost no one hasn't played an RPG at least once.
And even if they haven't, they've probably read at least a fantasy novel.
Lee Hyunsung sighed.
"This kind of thing only ever happened in the novels I used to read on duty. Still feels unreal. This isn't a dream, right?"
"Of course it's reality."
My composed answer seemed to shift something in Lee Hyunsung's eyes.
[Character 'Lee Hyunsung' feels a faint trust in you.]
[Your understanding of the character 'Lee Hyunsung' has increased.]
Lee Hyunsung nodded.
"Good. Certainty is reassuring. So, what now? Mr. Dokja, do you have any ideas?"
"We have to get out of here."
I spoke without a shred of hesitation.
"G-Get out? Are you insane?"
"Mr. Dokja, even I think that's a bit…"
Even Yoo Sangah chimed in.
They still hadn't snapped out of it.
"Then how long do you plan on staying here?"
Rationally speaking, my suggestion wasn't sound. Outside was a paradise for monsters.
But I knew. We had to go out now.
"Aren't any of you thinking about your parents? All this chaos—do you really think they're safe?"
"I've been trying to call them, but the phone's been dead the whole time. Can't even get a message through…"
Yoo Sangah looked like she was about to cry.
So Korean, in a way. Even people like Lee Hyunsung and Han Myung-oh had their faces darken at the mention of "parents."
I firmly grasped the shoulder of Yi Gil-yeong, who was sitting with his head down. The first to stand up was Yoo Sangah.
"Let's go. We have to go."
"No! Didn't you hear what that bastard said earlier? He told us to stay put! If we move carelessly, we'll get our heads smashed in!"
"Let's decide by majority vote."
Yoo Sangah raised her hand first, followed by me and Yi Gil-yeong. But that was it.
"…I should check on my unit, but I still think it's dangerous to move right now. We were warned, after all."
"Screw this! You guys go if you want! I'm not going! I said I'm not!"
Han Myung-oh was useless anyway, so it didn't matter. The real problem was Lee Hyunsung—I needed to bring him, no matter what.
Boom!
A loud crash echoed as the heavy steel door crumpled. The metal door leading to cabin 3707 was starting to buckle.
"W-What was that?!"
Unfazed by Han Myung-oh's scream, the door rang again with another deafening bang.
Boom!
Someone on the other side was trying to break it down. It was unexpected, and even I started to feel unsure.
Could it be the next scenario?
No, the dokkaebi hasn't come back yet.
Then…
My brain kicked into overdrive.
A shiver ran down my spine as my hairs stood on end.
It was him.
"What are you doing?! Stop him!"
Han Myung-oh shouted as he backed away from the door. I was the one who stopped Lee Hyunsung from rushing toward it.
"You won't be able to stop it anyway."
"What?"
"We have to leave now."
I stared at the door with heavy eyes as I spoke.
"What? But…"
"If we don't go now—"
The only survivor of cabin 3707. It was obvious who was on the other side of that door.
"Before the next scenario even begins… we'll all be dead."
Yes, finally, he's coming.
The real protagonist of this story.