{Kim Dokja POV}

    The people approaching me started screaming. The cries of monsters were heard from outside the screen door. The feast of monsters moved like an angry wave.

    The platform of line 3 quickly became a mess. The faces of the people became speculative as they watched the monsters coming from all sides. The bounty scenario was completely forgotten about.

     Now was the only chance. I shouted to my party.

“Go to the transfer route!”

    I started jumping up the transit stairs with my friends. By the time we reached the upper level, people were blocking the path.

    I kicked some of the followers and pulled out a blade. The people were surprised by the White Pure Star Energy blade and backed away.

“You haven’t grasped the situation yet.”

“W-What?”

“Even if you come up, you won’t be able to survive.”

    There was a sense of despair in the expressions of the people. There were no more rooms. Now there were no more safe zones from the monsters in Chungmuro.

    I triggered the Blade of Faith and used it on the transfer stairs.

    The centre of the staircase fell with a large sound, along with the people. It was cruel but necessary.

    Lee Hyunsung was already running. I smashed the transit stairs we came up on and there was only one staircase remaining. Subsequently, the sound of arguing and something breaking was heard on the other side.

    I looked at the lower floor that was becoming pandemonium. If I left it like this, they would all be killed. Whether it was from the monsters or using each other’s bodies as a stepping stone to come upstairs.
This wasn’t what I wanted.

[The exclusive skill ‘Bookmark’ can now be activated.]

[‘Character Bookmarks’ is activated.]

[Available Bookmark Slots: 3]

[Bringing up the list of available bookmarks.]

[People Listed in the Bookmark Slots]

# The Delusion Demon Kim Namwoon (Understanding 35).

# Steel Sword Lee Hyunsung (Understanding 65).

# Demagogue Cheon Inho (Understanding 20).

I activated the third bookmark.

[The number three bookmark has been activated.]

[Incite Lv.2 has been activated.]

    Suddenly, it felt like my tongue was coming alive on its own. This was how Cheon Inho felt. I looked downstairs. In the middle of the mess, I could see a middle-aged man.

“Hey Gong Pildu. How long are you going to stand there?”

Gong Pildu glared at me.

“This dog…!”

“Don’t you have to act in order to live? If you move, everyone else can live.”

    The power of Incite permeated the ears of all the frightened people.

    Gong Pildu’s expression distorted. I felt good. This was what Cheon Inho would’ve felt at Gumho Station.

“The third scenario isn’t as hard as you think. Once everyone gives up on the rooms and participates in the defense, there are enough people to handle the monsters.”

    My words were half true. If Chungmuro had united before I arrived here, there would be far less victims. After all, the biggest pitfall of this scenario was the green zone.

“If Gong Pildu fights with the people, you can survive.”

    Those who fight together would survive, those who ran away would die.

[The sponsor behind Lee Jihye agrees with your wisdom.]

[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ nods his head.]

“Now there are no rooms for you to run away to. Forget about whether you are a landlord or tenant and fight. Or you will all die.”

    The more urgent the situation was, the more the effect of Incite would increase.

    The alliance members gathered around Gong Pildu. If he ran away here alone, Gong Pildu’s Landlord Alliance would collapse. In the end Gong Pildu made his decision.

    The key was Gong Pildu’s Armed Zone. However, the weak point was that Armed Zone took time to install every time it moved.

    As expected, the first ones who abandoned the formation were the tenants, not the alliance members.

“Yoo Sangah-ssi.”

“Yes. Please leave it to me.”

    I didn’t need to explain it. Yoo Sangah already understood what she needed to do.

    Her Binding Thread stretched out and started to rescue the people who couldn’t fight anymore. In any case, their mission was to buy time for Gong Pildu to deploy Armed Zone.

    The tenants hung from the threat and were pulled upstairs.

    The rescued tenants were shaking as they wrapped up their injured area. In the meantime, some of the people with weapons carefully looked at me. I smiled at them and said.

“Oh, do you want the bounty?”

[The time limit for the bounty scenario has expired.]

[The bounty hanging on Kim Dokja has been destroyed.]

“Sorry, it is too late.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

    The tenants seemed ashamed as they put away their weapons. I heard Gong Pildu’s voice roaring from the bottom.

“Out of the way!”

[The character ‘Gong Pildu’ has used Armed Zone Lv. 3!]

[The character ‘Gong Pildu’ has activated ‘Armed Zone Lv. 4!]

    There was a mechanical sound as five turrets rose from the ground. The red magic bullets condensed in a short time and started firing.

    The ground rats screamed as they were hit by the bombardment of magic bullets while the grolls came to a halt. The group of people cried out.

    It was truly Gong Pildu. In a defense type scenario, there was no incarnation that surpassed a player’s combat effectiveness.

    The 10 Evils weren’t called that for nothing.

    The agitated Gong Pildu randomly fired. Lee Hyunsung spoke with admiration.

“It is a really tremendous stigma. Is it okay when the magic power consumption is so big?”

“It is a good stigma so it will be okay for a while.”

“Should we help…?”

“Gong Pildu alone is sufficient. If we do down then he will be distracted and stop shooting.”

   The Defense Master sponsor behind Gong Pildu was completely suited for this type of scenario. As long as he supported Gong Pildu, Gong Pildu wouldn’t die here. As long as the sponsorship continued. I just replicated the 51st round scene when Cale Henituse group scammed Gong Pildu. At that time they made a wind barrier to punished him and let them fight with the monsters.

    I sat down and stretched out my legs.

    Lee Hyunsung sat down with me and the party members started to relax one by one. Jung Heewon asked.

    10 minutes later, Jung Heewon was lying on the ground and snoring. I said yes but I really didn’t know how she could sleep so easily.

“A-Aren’t we too easygoing?”

    Yoo Sangah sounded concerned. Indeed, it would be confusing. There wasn’t a ‘scenario’ like this so far. In fact, all we did was survive the brink of a crisis.

“Think of it as standing on the right line.”

“Then over there…”

“They got the wrong line.”

    The confusion on the lower level had almost died down because of Gong Pildu.

     One hour after the battle began, Gong Pildu fought and fought. The number of monsters had barely decreased but it was still great. Gong Pildu was considered to have the strongest defense among the 10 Evils for a reason.

“You scum!”

[The character Gong Pildu’s Armed Zone has levelled up.]

[The character Gong Pildu’s Private Land has levelled up!]

[The character Gong Pildu has acquired the Protective Wall skill.]

    The level up speed of Armed Zone was fast. The sponsor behind Gong Pildu was rushing to support his growth. If he could survive here, Gong Pildu’s growth would be enormous.

    According to the scenario, Gong Pildu had to hold on for seven more hours. It would’ve been nice if I had popcorn. Too bad.

    Lee Jihye was giggling next to me as she watched the bottom floor. She told me earlier that I should save them… it was truly a transformation in the disposition of Yoo Jonghyuk’s disciple.

"By the way, why isn’t Yoo Jonghyuk here?"

“How should I know? Master is always busy.”

     Busy… yes, he might be busy. The person trying to be all alone was the busiest.

     I looked down at the dying Gong Pildu as I asked, “What time did Yoo Jonghyuk enter the dungeon?”

“It is roughly 9 a.m. today…” Lee Jihye stopped speaking and stared at me. “…Wait a minute, how do you know that Master entered a dungeon?”

    I ignored Lee Jihye and calculated the time. Now it was 8 p.m. Using simple calculations, it had already been over 11 hours since Yoo Jonghyuk entered. Yet he still hadn’t come out. Yoo Jonghyuk was the main character and it would be difficult if something happened to him.

    I opened the dokkaebi communication.
‘Bihyung.’

     Bihyung floating in the air turned to look at me.

[What is it? Calling me so suddenly.]

‘Open the Dokkaebi Bag.’

[What? N-No! I am currently getting a lot of subscriptions!]

    I know. My stock price was rising due to my actions with Gong Pildu. My actions of laying a trap and then sitting back meant the constellations of the ‘fun seekers’ group wouldn’t still be on the channel which Gong Pildu belonged to.

    Where would the constellations go after leaving the channel?

[New constellations have entered the channel!]

It was naturally Bihyung’s channel.

[#BI-7623 channel is ready for an expansion.]

[Huhu, huhuhut, look at this, look at this! Now my channel is also…!]

‘If you don’t want your channel to be ruined, open it quickly. You can see that there will be an advertisement in preparation for the channel expansion.’

    Bihyung grumbled but opened the Dokkaebi Bag after showing an advertisement. It was finally time to use the coins I had saved.

‘I’ll give you 5,000 coins. Upgrade me to a gold member.’

    Bihyung stared at me quietly and sighed. It was followed by system messages.

[5,000 coins have been consumed.]

[Congratulations! You have become a gold member of the Dokkaebi Bag!]

    My member rating changed and the background of the Dokkaebi Bag also changed. Coins were really good. New item listings were added. I put the necessary items into the shopping cart.

    One contract and 10 intermediate potions… this should be enough. This contract was one of the top item that will be used often by Cale Henituse group when they scammed the dokkaebis and constellations. Hm...can I use it to Cale Henituse group if we ever met? The writer always writes that they are a good scammer. Let’s think about it later. For now the spending was a bit big but the channel was going to be expanded. It wouldn’t be long before I recovered it. Bihyung was nervous when he saw the items I bought.

[…Why is there a contract? Have you already forgotten the terms? You can’t have a sponsor!]

‘What do you mean? Why would I get a sponsor now?’’

    Even if I was doing that, why would I buy the contract with my own coins? At any rate, this Bihyung still needed a lot of work.

[15,000 coins have been consumed.]

[A ‘Behind the Scenes Contract’ has been acquired.]

[10 Intermediate Magic Power Recovery Potions have been acquired.]

    I filled out the contract carefully, wrote my name in the ‘gap’ section and waited quietly. It was time for the ‘eul’ to come.

[The sponsor for character ‘Gong Pildu’ is asking for help from nearby constellations.]

     Finally, the sponsor behind Gong Pildu reached his limits and started sending messages outside the channel. It was natural since the sponsor didn’t have many coins in the first place. Not everybody was rich just because they were a constellation. But I really wonder how rich Cale Henituse group (Clopeh Sekka) to be able to bribes some dokkaebis. That’s one of the mysterious parts of their group.

    Bihyung noticed something and muttered.

[Wait a minute, surely you aren’t…]

    I talked towards Gong Pildu, who was in a half dead state.

“Hey, you over there.”

    Gong Pildu fired crazily and looked up at me while breathing heavily.

“Will you die like this or will you sign a contract with me?”

“W-What…?”

“I’m not a constellation so I can’t be a sponsor. But if you want, I can be a person behind the scenes. How about it?”

“What is this bastard talking about…?”

“Gong Pildu, shut up. I’m not talking to you.”

    I waved the ‘contract’ in one hand and the ‘Intermediate Magic Power Recovery Potion’ in the other hand.

“Answer quickly. I will give these items to you if you sign with me.”

    A message window flashed in front of me.

[The sponsor behind character ‘Gong Pildu’ has revealed himself.]

[The constellation ‘Defense Master’ is looking at you like you are crazy.]

    Indeed. He wasn’t yet ready to be an ‘eul.’ Don’t worry. He would be in a hurry as time passed.

    Bihyung was watching me.
[You… are you crazy?]

‘This one as well.’

[You are the first to try and support a constellation.]

‘I can’t do it?’

[This is a constellation! Will it sign with an insignificant human?]

‘That is just your thoughts.’

     The intermediate constellation, Defense Master. He was a low level constellation compared to his ability.

     His world had long become a ‘scenario’ and was completely destroyed. Therefore, the Defense Master’s myth was no longer discussed. The myth had disappeared and the constellation couldn’t get coins. One day, even his existence would disappear.

    That’s why some constellations, including the Defense Master’ were obsessed with looking for an ‘incarnation’. The constellations were remembered in the world through their chosen incarnation.

‘That guy, he doesn’t have any coins left.’

[What?]

     Gong Pildu’s power had fallen sharply compared to before. Unlike the ‘Monarch of the Small Fries’, the Defense Master was someone who cared about his incarnation. The fact that Gong Pildu was going to die meant he had run out of coins.

     It was obvious but without coins, a new ‘sponsor contract’ was impossible. Then what happened to a constellation who couldn’t create a new incarnation? The only exception is that group of otherworlders because they never need any constellations sponsor, there’s also time when Yoo Jonghyuk saw Clopeh Sekka bribing the constellations and dokkaebis, he also incite some of them to become their followers. Those constellations were being remembered as the fan clubs members and they always discussed something with the fans.

‘Once Gong Pildu dies, that guy will be forgotten.’

    For a constellation, being forgotten meant death.

    Faint fear filled Bihyung’s eyes.

[You are…?]

    Gong Pildu was a great card if I could afford it. Even Yoo Jonghyuk had attempted to subjugate Gong Pildu several times in countless regressions. Of course, he had never been successful.

Yoo Sangah spoke.
“Dokja-ssi, that person will die.”

    Gong Pildu was biting his lips so hard that blood was flowing. Now there were only two mini-turrets left in Armed Zone. It was time to end this.

[The constellation ‘Defense Master’ is wondering about the contents of the contract.]

[The constellation ‘Defense Master’ is wondering about the contents of the contract.]

    He was coming. Bihyung’s eyes widened at the sight in front of him.
[…Really? No, is this real?]

I showed the contract immediately.
[The constellation ‘Defense Master’ has started reading the contract.]

     Gong Pildu, who was shedding blood on the lower floor, suddenly shouted. He had probably heard a message from his sponsor.
[The constellation ‘Defense Master’ is asking for some time to think.]

     After a while, I heard some good news.
[The constellation ‘Defense Master’ as added a condition to the contract.]

[If you agree with this condition, the constellation ‘Defense Master’ will agree to contract with you.]

    I immediately read the contract.

    I checked the contract and nodded.
“I will sign the contract.”

    Before long, a faint thread connected me and Gong Pildu. Then system messages were heard.

[The contract has been completed.]

[You have become the co-sponsor of ‘Gong Pildu’ due to the contract.]

[Due to the contract, you have been given the right to command incarnation ‘Gong Pildu.’]

[The duration of the contract is five years and it won’t be automatically renewed.]

    Yoo Jonghyuk would be stunned if he knew that Gong Pildu could be obtained so easily. If I hadn’t read to the latter half of Ways of Survival, I wouldn’t have known to use the Behind the Scenes Contract this way.

    I handed the recovery potions to Yoo Sangah.

“Give this to Gong Pildu. You should give him one every 40 minutes.”

“…It is okay to give to him?”

    She had to give it. If not, this main scenario wouldn’t be cleared. Gong Pildu was confused after Yoo Sangah handed him a potion.

“What is this?”

“Drink it and fight.”

    Gong Pildu was suspicious for a moment but soon opened the potion’s lid. Blue smoke emerged around his body and the destroyed turrets returned to their original appearance.

[The character ‘Gong Pildu’ has completely recovered his magic power.]

    Gong Pildu wiped the potion stained lips and looked up at me.

“Stupid guy. Do you think I will forgive you because of this? Once I get out of here, it will be your end…”

“Shut up, Gong Pildu.”

[Under the terms of the contract, ‘Command Rights’ is activated!]

     Poor guy, he didn’t even know what situation he was in.

“Fight hard. Don’t touch my party members.”

    Yoo Sangah’s eyes widened when she saw Gong Pildu listened to my orders.

“D-Dokja-ssi? W-Why is that person…?”

“I made a ‘gap’ into an ‘eul.”

“…Did you write something?”

“Now you can rest assured about Gong Pildu.”

     Then the bombardment of messages from the constellations poured out.

     I had secretly signed the contract but these guys already noticed. The Defense Master was only intermediate level but he was still a constellation.

     A mere human became a co-sponsor with a constellation, the impact on the constellations would be enormous. I thought about Clopeh Sekka who had bribes and sponsor some constellations.

It seems like he hadn’t done it for now. It’ll become pandemonium when Clopeh Sekka learn about the item and meet someone with rare skills.

[Many constellations are paying attention to you.]

[A number of constellations want to become your sponsor.]

     The constellations who realized my value were overwhelmingly larger. If they became my sponsor, they would be able to use the power of Defense Master.

     Then the owner of Gong Pildu’s channel, Dokkaebi Biryu appeared in the air.

[Constellations! W-Why… are you suddenly leaving? D-Don’t go! Just wait a little longer…!]

     Biryu, whose channel was being ruined, made a desperate appeal. It was the dokkaebi who created the food penalty and ‘survival cost’ in Gumho Station.

     Dokkaebi Biryu gradually blurred and disappeared.

     Bihyung muttered in a trembling voice after seeing one channel falling to ruin.
[Excuse me… Dokja-nim?]

‘What is it?’

[You… were you aiming for Gong Pildu from the beginning?]

    I shrugged.

[Crazy… human… what human did I sign with?]

    Bihyung