Chapter Text
[There are 2 hours before the third scenario activates.]
Cale stared lazily at floating system messages. He was still sitting propped up in Dorph's wide arms and surrounded by two uncles, Kim Namwoon and others who were busy talking.
White radish even brought out cookies that were tastier than those made by his beloved hyung-nim, he shared them and made them feel the atmosphere of a strange picnic in the middle of apocalypse.
"This is the lemon tea"
Sayeru also took out lemon tea from his spatial bag, which made Cale's face black.
"Didn't I ask you guys not to make lemon tea?"
“It feels good to freshen up, Cale. I feel like it would be a shame if it wasn't made."
"Damn rotten radish..."
Cale felt his hands itching, he wanted to hit this red head who was taller than him after seeing 2 flasks of lemon tea he took out.
"And I told you not to use the spatial bag carelessly in front of outsiders, right?"
"Don't worry, Cale. The view is already covered by Hyunsung's large body."
"Ah... yes"
Hyunsung scratched his cheek awkwardly after Sayeru mentioned about him immediately reflexively covering Sayeru who was using a spatial bag.
They were still eating, even Kim Dokja was deep in thought, while biting into cookies that Cale once again praised, was better than his hyung-nim's.
At the same time in puzzle city
-Tak
"What's wrong, cookies prince??"
Raon, who was eating cookies from a basket in one of the inn's rooms, looked at Alberu who suddenly lowered his tea glass in annoyance.
"...I don't know Raon-nim, I just suddenly felt annoyed when I saw my dongsaeng eating cookies."
"Maybe because we don't eat together!!!"
"Eat together nyaa!!"
Hong followed Raon's excited words and On nodded.
"...but somehow I get the feeling of being compared... am I just being too sensitive..?"
Alberu muttered and looked at the blue screen showing his dongsaeng in the form of a small vampire.
-"Owhh... my son Naru... look at him, he's very cute isn't..."
-"MY SON!!!"
"Aigooo..."
"Cookie prince!!! Human father and crazy vampire fight again!!!"
"Haaaaaaaa, call Ron and ask them to be separated again..."
"Yes!!!"
"I'll call Basen and Lily too!!"
"I'll ask Beacrox for cake again."
While Raon teleported, Hong jumped from the window, On went to the kitchen.
Then Alberu...
"Haaaaaaaaa"
Was sighing seeing, even with his dongsaeng in another world, he could still give him a headache.
Let's back
-Hachi!!
"Are you sick, Cale?"
Dorph put his hand on Cale's forehead after hearing him sneeze.
"No, maybe someone is talking about me."
"Don't push yourself if you sick."
"I have regeneration, it can't be sick."
Cale waved his hand, pushed away the hand on his forehead then looked at the system message again.
[There is 1 hour and 30 minutes before the third scenario activates.]
[Constellation 'Bald General of Justice' is angry that people's lives are at stake.]
[Constellation 'Bald General of Justice' desires rebellion.]
"Oh, that's a great idea. Let's blow something up too, I haven't done that in a while."
Cale answered happily to constellation's message.
[Constellation 'Bald General of Justice' says come on!]
"But this will collapse if I use a bomb, right? Aigoo... I remember how I blew up the island. So refreshing."
Cale chuckled as Namwoon blinked a few times in confusion.
"What island..?"
"Hm? I blew up island with a bomb"
"...I remember suffering a lot of losses because of that, Cale. Apparently it was you..."
"Who do you think it is, my eldest uncle?"
"..."
"Hahahahaha"
Barrow fell silent and rubbed his forehead, while Cale laughed in satisfaction. He had been tossed about after Yoo Joonghyuk left with Jihye, and had to explain.
That group has asked many questions like 'how did you meet', 'Why is he looking for you'. To which Cale answered briefly as 'an acquaintance who parted ways unpleasantly and perhaps he wanted to give me punishment for being naughty'.
yeah.. is it similar? ..probably not, the punishment might kill me... Hm.
Cale shook his head to get rid of the scary image. He will know when he finally meets him.
"That bastard Yoo Joonghyuk."
Cale peeked at Kim Dokja who was still thinking and muttering in annoyance while cursing the protagonist.
Jung Heewon, who was picking up cookies in a basket, looked up and smiled at Kim Dokja.
"Who's this?"
"...Hah?"
“You know, that guy. The one you talked to Yoo Joonghyuk about.”
Kim Dokja explained about Gong Pildu to Jung Heewon, Cale also just remembered that Heewon had fainted after escaping the illusion in previous scenario.
Looks like she's getting better?
While Cale was looking at Heewon, still from a super lazy position in Dorph's arms, Kim Dokja had finished explaining.
“…is this rubbish? Taking public facilities and making people pay to use them?”
"That bastard is upstairs."
"I'll go and chase them away."
Jung Heewon took the mole sword, and was about to uphold justice, but was detained by Kim Dokja.
"That doesn't make sense."
“We can win if we join forces. Don't you remember Gumho Station?”
Jung Heewon's expression was confident.
“Don't waste time! Let's go and kill them!”
And Cale saw that Heewon seemed to be using her power.
[C onstellations of the Absolute system are both silent at Jung Heewon's request.]
Then after that nothing happened.
It seems like he must have permission to use her abilities?
Cale stared flatly while Jung Heewon's face was filled with confusion.
“No, this… what? Is it broken?”
Jung Heewon tried to activate it again. However, that skill did not trigger.
“No… why isn't it activated? Aren't they clearly evil?”
Kim Dokja laughed at Jung Heewon's question.
"That's what we humans think."
"...what are you talking about?"
“Constellations may be different. There is no guarantee that the good and evil they know is like what we know.”
"Ah..."
"Justice is always decided by the majority."
"That..."
Jung Heewon fell silent then Cale lazily added.
"Just like humans, 'what you think is right, is not right for me' and so on. That's a normal thing in society. You should understand better, right? Even regulations are also a means to chain one party. It doesn't necessarily symbolize justice."
Cale took the cookies and ate it without looking at the other's expressions.
Not long after, Kim Dokja sighed.
"That doesn't mean it's impossible."
"Hah?"
"It may be difficult, but there are ways to beat them."
Everyone looked at Kim Dokja, including Cale. Lee Hyunsung asked.
"...Do you really have a way?"
"What's that?"
Kim Dokja looked around and lowered his voice.
"Get Gong Pildu out of the Armed Zone."
"What is the Armed Zone?"
"His stigma. It's optimized for defending an area. His Armed Zone will be released once he leaves his designated area. His mini-turrets will also become useless. Normally, there are many restrictions on such a broad defense skill."
At the same time, Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon looked at Kim Dokja in admiration.
"Ah... I understand."
“You already know this after seeing it once? Is this Dokja-ssi's attribute?”
Cale saw that Kim Dokja's face was a little awkward, but he seemed to have become more experienced at covering it up now.
Yoo Sangah's voice asked.
"But how do you make it move?"
"We'll have to think about that for now."
"Ah, I hate thinking."
Jung Heewon complained.
Cale nodded. And Kim Dokja glanced at him.
+
[Kim Dokja : ...can't you think too...?
Cale : There is my hyung who can be relied on
Kim Dokja : ..
Kim Dokja : Tell me... you're just lazy, right?
Cale : Life as a slacker is my dream, is there a problem?
Kim Dokja : .... ]
+
Kim Dokja chose to ignore the light gray haired child. And looked at the others who were silent for a while. Lee Hyunsung was the one who came up with the idea first.
"Attack when he goes to the bathroom..."
"Didn't you see the things next to the bench?"
Cale remembered that there were many items that could be considered complete in Gong Pildu's green zone.
if we rob him... he will come out because he ran out of food.. hmm..
While Cale was planning something that would cause chaos, Jung Heewon made a disgusted face and asked.
"Crazy. He's really secretive. No, is he not moving because he's hiding something good in the ground? "
"This is the biggest 'room' in Chungmuro."
"...Room?"
"Ask Sangah noona, she can explain well."
Cale said, Sangah smiled and nodded, then explained what she knew about the room problem.
[There is 1 hour before the third scenario activates.]
After seeing that Sangah had explained briefly to Heewon, Kim Dokja stood up.
"We also need to find a room."
When the others stood up like Kim Dokja, the people around gasped.
"D-Don't come any closer!"
In particular, the man with the knife protecting the one-person room, on the platform of line No. 3, he indicates high alertness. However, someone else rushed towards him before they could get close.
"Get out, bastard!"
They attack indiscriminately. As soon as the man was pushed out, the green zone sign changed. Owners have changed.
[Green Zone 1 / 1]
[Green Zone 0 / 1]
People engage in a bloody fight over the room.
Cale frowned at the scene in front of him, there was someone stabbed in the thigh while someone had a broken nose.
Jung Heewon frowned too and then asked.
"Shouldn't we stop that?"
“Even if we intervene, the result will be the same. In the end, someone will die.”
"Why does someone have to die?"
"It's impossible to avoid in this scenario."
Kim Dokja had just finished speaking when Bihyung appeared in the air.
[Now, no, should we start the third day of the main scenario? New faces have arrived today, so isn't that exciting? Ha ha ha!]
Bihyung glanced at Kim Dokja.
Cale saw 2 other Dokkaebi besides BIhyung and narrowed his eyes.
if I make them lie down in a row, can I make them into mattresses?
While Cale was thinking about inappropriate things again, third scenario arrived.
+
[Main Scenario #3 – Green Zone (Day 3)
Category: Main
Difficulty: C
Clear Conditions: Occupy the 'Green Zone' in the station and survive the monsters that appear every night at midnight. This scenario will last 7 days.
Time Limit: 8 hours.
Compensation: 1,000 coins
Failure: –
+
Lee Hyunsung's eyes widened.
"T-This...!"
[Simple. Occupy the Green Zone in front of other people. Of course, you can take someone else's Green Zone . By the way, you should hurry. If you don't have a Green Zone after the scenario starts, you will have a terrible experience. Haha, then everyone should try it!]
People's expressions hardened when they heard Bihyung's words. Meanwhile, the people's screams continued.
-Peok! Peok! Peok!
"Dead! Dead!"
“I-I'm not doing this because I have a grudge! I have to survive…”
Maybe this is what everyone is aware of. The struggle before us is no longer a story. Yoo Sangah asked with a trembling voice.
"Surely we don't have to fight like these people?"
"We don't need to fight. Just find a room that can accommodate a lot of people. The size of Green Zone varies by type. From just one person to 70 people like Gong Pildu area. Of course, if there are any rooms left."
Jung Heewon opened her mouth at Kim Dokja's words.
“Dokja-ssi really has a talent for making people uncomfortable… then let's get moving. There might still be some rooms left.”
"Maybe it's quicker to split up. Divide the teams. Hyunsung-ssi will move with Sangah-ssi, while Heewon-ssi will take Gilyoung."
"Uncle Barrow will be with Namwoon Hyung, uncle Sayeru with uncle Dorph."
Cale continued, who was greeted by the four of them nodding.
"Dokja-ssi and Cale?"
"I'm fine."
Kim Dokja said and Cale just nodded.
Lee Gilyoung spoke first.
"Hyung, that... what if we can't find it?"
"If we can't find a room 20 minutes before the scenario starts, we will gather here again."
“I understand. Then I'm leaving.”
Teams are spread out regularly. Cale stared at their backs until they disappeared as Kim Dokja looked at his cell phone.
+
[Cale : Now, tell me your plan.
Kim Dokja : There will be no room.
Cale : Sure, I'm not asking that, I'm asking what your plans are.
Kim Dokja : This plan might be very, very dangerous.
Cale : Don't beat around the bush, just say it
Kim Dokja : In the novel it is written 'In the third main scenario, there are several hidden green zones. It is activated on certain walls and the green zone on the wall will not appear until after the scenario starts… if you think about it, humans are the ones who think of it as the concept of 'space'.
Cale : And you intend to use that?
Kim Dokja : On the line 3 platform, there are two green zones.
Cale : How many people?
Kim Dokja : 3 and... 2
Cale : Not enough.
Kim Dokja : That's why I tried looking again, I hope there is something other than these two.
Cale : If there isn't?
Kim Dokja : ...
Cale : At least Gilyoung and Namwoon should be able to occupy a room.
Kim Dokja : You too
Cale : I'm strong, so it doesn't matter.
Kim Dokja : no.
Cale: Tsk.
Kim Dokja : I plan to have Yoo Sangah, Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon occupy one room and the other room will contain you and Gilyoung.
Cale : The rest?
Kim Dokja : We will fight with that monster. The number of monsters should be the same as written in the novel, gradually increasing in number over time. So I guess that's enough. And Kim Namwoon might be able to help by using his skills that can increase statistics?
Cale : There will be more than an hour at least, and strong monsters too. If you guys are cornered?
Kim Dokja : Monsters will appear until dawn, well if you can finish them all off before dawn that would be good. And... do you remember stone theat ghost dropped?
Cale : Why?
Kim Dokja : You will become a ghost temporarily, when you eat it. But the side effect will be nightmares.
Cale : Have you forgotten what happened to Barrow?
Kim Dokja : Therefore, I hope that situation will not happen.
Cale : What a reckless plan
Kim Dokja : What can you do?
Cale : You're not that strong
Kim Dokja : The others are definitely strong
Cale : You'll die of exhaustion
Kim Dokja : It can't be helped Cale...
Cale : I'm stronger than you which might be a barrier.
Kim Dokja : No way!
Cale: Tsk]
+
Cale had a sullen face, while Kim Dokja was still looking for other green zones he had missed in his novel.
"Dead! Dead!"
An atmosphere like the first scenario repeated itself. And this made Cale annoyed.
[There are 30 minutes before the third scenario activates.]
Kim Dokja was still frantically scrolling through his cellphone until suddenly Bihyung's voice was heard.
[What are you doing now?]
Along with Bihyung's words, a constellation notification appeared in front of Kim Dokja.
Kim Dokja reflexively turned off his cell phone nervously.
+
[Kim Dokja : Damn, I forgot about dokkaebi and constellations, did they see it?
Cale : ...I don't know ]
+
Cale also narrowed his eyes, looking at Bihyung. But what he said surprised Cale and Kim Dokja.
[What do you do now with an empty notepad? All the constellations are going crazy with frustration because of you!]
What?
Cale tilted his head, while Kim Dokja turned on his cellphone and pointed it at Bihyung.
"Is this what you mean?"
[Yes! What are you going to do with the notepad? You will die if you stay quiet! Ha, I believe in men like this and contracts...]
Kim Dokja got goosebumps, then he glanced at Cale from the edge of his vision.
+
[Cale : I can read it too.
Kim Dokja : ..really?
Cale : Yes, I just don't want to read a novel that long, when I've had enough with you.
Kim Dokja : Should I be grateful that others can't see it...?
Cale : Yes, the future won't be the future if many people know it. Because not all constellations and humans who use it are good people.
Kim Dokja : But... the author who gave me the text... what kind of existence is he?
Cale : ..I also want to know... ]
+
...who is he, who brought me into this world. Why and what is the purpose?
Cale continued in his mind.
He really wants to know...