CHAPTER 6 - Unpredictable

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    Cale feel the heat that comes from his spacial pocket.

   He put his hand in the spacial pocket and taking a black book from his spacial pocket. The book starts to open and shows the word writen in it. When Cale try to read it, the Dokkaebi started to speak.

[I never thought that you'll all survive the first scenario. I don’t know how you find those insects and animals so quickly.]

   The Dokkaebi said with an eerie grin.
[For now, shouldn’t there be a reward for overcoming the hardships? As a reward for the first scenario, you are entitled to the sponsorship of the ‘constellations.’ Waahhh! How about it? Aren’t you looking forward to it? Hmm, you are all unenthusiastic. This is really a big deal. The difficulty of the next scenario will be raised because of the number of the survivors. ]

   Everyone look confused and the Dokkaebi give some simple explanation about the ‘sponsorship ‘ and ‘constellations’.

“To simply describe it, it’s like being chosen as a Saint or Holy maiden. They really want me to hit them behind their head. Let’s just ignored it. ” Cale said with an expression that usually describes as disrespectful by Alberu.
____________________________________________

{Kim Dokja POV}

[Survivors from the 3434 Train to Bulgwang, Carriage 3807: Kim Dokja, Lee Hyunsung, Yoo Sangah, Han Myungoh and Lee Gilyoung. A total of five survivors.]

   Five people. More people than I thought survived. I looked at the faces of the survivors one by one.

   Lee Hyunsung had a good physique and excellent motor skills, so it was expected that he would survive. I even expected Yoo Sangah to a certain extent.

   In addition, Lee Gilyoung. If my guess was right, ‘Lee Gilyoung’ was the name of the boy standing next to me. The fluids from the crushed grasshopper was still on the boy’s hands. It was the grasshopper I had squeezed.

    The boy was looking at his mother, who lost her head. The boy’s mother had abandoned him to join in on killing the grandmother. The boy had just watched the whole thing from beginning to end.

   I hesitated for a moment before touching the boy’s shoulder. It wasn’t foolish sympathy. To put it simple, this was…
   That’s right. Hypocrisy.

“Kid.”

    The boy slowly turned his head and in his eyes, I could see the fear of death that he encountered for the first time in his life.

   Unavoidable instincts. This boy wasn’t grieving his mother’s death. He was just afraid of his own death. It was natural. He was human.

“Do you want to live?”

   The boy’s eyes shook anxiously. His body trembled with a force that couldn’t be resisted. Then little by little, the boy’s head moved.

   The boy’s eyes shook anxiously. His body trembled with a force that couldn’t be resisted. Then little by little, the boy’s head moved.
“Then let’s go together.”

   Lee Gilyoung moved slowly and came close to my legs. Yoo Sangah was watching me with an impressed expression. I unintentionally caused another misunderstanding. In fact, it was meant to be seen. But the target wasn’t Yoo Sangah.

[A few constellations are impressed with your good deed.]

[The constellations have sponsored you 200 coins.]

   I couldn’t help thinking that it was a low move. But I also wanted to live.

   Given the upcoming major events, it was essential to draw the attention of the constellations right now.

“W-Will you release us now? Didn’t you get what you wanted?”

   Han Myungoh in a torn shirt shouted from half a dozen steps away. Department Head Han Myungoh. He was a lucky human.

   But I couldn’t help wondering. Why was Han Myungoh riding the subway when he had so much money? This was the man who had shown off a new S class Mercedes-Benz not long ago.

[Hrmm, released? Haven’t you seen outside? Do you really want to go out there?]

   The dokkaebi chuckled.

[It is somehow admirable. In fact, I didn’t expect much from this carriage but you managed to pass the first scenario. This proves that bugs deserve to survive.]

   His words made us realize our position. Maybe we were like grasshoppers in his eyes.

[Now now, shouldn’t there be a reward for overcoming the hardships? As a reward for the first scenario, you are entitled to the sponsorship of the ‘constellations.’ Waahhh! How about it? Aren’t you looking forward to it? Hmm, you are all unenthusiastic. This is really a big deal.]

   The reaction was natural. I was the only one here who knew what ‘constellation’ or ‘sponsorship’ was.

    The sponsorship of the constellations. The meaning was obvious. One of the key events of Ways of Survival, ‘Sponsor Selection’ was about to begin.

[Hmm, everybody has confused expressions. I can easily tell you. Right now, you are incredibly weak. If you are thrown into the scenarios that will take place, you will be killed when you meet a weak ground rat, let alone a ‘kruk.’ But kindly, there are some great people in the universe who pity you and would like to sponsor you. Do you understand what I am saying?]

    Lee Hyunsung finally couldn’t stand it anymore and opened his mouth.

“What are you saying? Who is sponsoring whom…”

[Hmm, my words are just entering dirty ears. Isn’t there an old saying in South Korea? It is better to see it once than listen a hundred times. So experience it directly. Well, the less fortunate ones might not get the chance. Hahahat!]

    I was tense. From now on. A good choice here would make my survival in the future easier.

“Dokja-ssi? Two strange choices suddenly appeared in front of me…”

“I don’t know even if you ask me.”

    This was naturally a lie to avoid suspicions. By the way, there were two choices. Yoo Sangah was quite lucky.

“Do it comfortably. Think of it as an aptitude test.”

“Aptitude test…”

“Nobody knows what the situation is anyway. Why not do it comfortably?”

“Ah… I understand.”

    Yoo Sangah closed her mouth and started staring into space. It was a profound expression, as if she had encountered something curious.

    The others suddenly became silent.
Everyone was reading the options in front of them. I also had my own choices to look at.

[Sponsor Selection]

-Please select your sponsor

-Your chosen sponsor will be your strong supporter.

# Abyssal Black Flame Dragon
# Demon-like Judge of Fire
# Secretive Plotter
# Prisoner of the Golden Headband.

    I didn’t know why such a powerful constellation was showing me interest but if I became the incarnation of the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven, I would be able to survive in this new world more easily than anyone else.

   But…

   I quickly looked at the door connected to the carriage in front. Beyond that door, ‘he’ was looking at the selection screen like me.

    If I chose The Great Sage the Equal of Heaven… Could I win against him?

[There is one minute left to complete the Sponsor Selection.]

   Time was running out. I breathed lightly and looked through my options. My worries didn’t last long.

[Sponsor Selection has ended.]

   I took a deep breath as I watched the messages floating in the air.

[Some constellations are greatly affected by your choice.]

    Yes, it was starting now.

[You haven’t selected a sponsor.]

    However, choosing a certain constellation meant being limited by that possibility. The sponsor contract was never a fair deal. I would survive, but I would’ve survived by being their toy. If my expectations were right, there was a way to become strong without a constellation. Maybe it was a way to become stronger than the incarnation of the strongest sponsor.

[Haha, is this true…isn’t there one interesting choice? Well, yes. There will be another chance.] The dokkaebi’s crescent moon eyes stayed on me for a moment.

[Now now, everyone has finished the selection. Rest here for a while. I have to go prepare the next scenario. I’ll see you in 10 minutes!]

   After the Sponsor Selection finished, the dokkaebi disappeared. He told us to rest, but these 10 minutes were really crucial. In 10 minutes, I needed to sort out this situation and prepare for the following scenarios. I tried to recall my abilities in my head.

[Character List] and [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint]. I didn’t know the precise use yet but I had a general sense of these skills. This would work somehow.

“Let’s all gather together.” The survivors gathered at my words. The first one to reach out a hand was Lee Hyunsung.

“Hello, I am Lee Hyunsung.”

“Kim Dokja.”

“Nice to meet you…although I don’t know if these words suit the situation. As I said earlier, I am a soldier…well, I should say that I was a soldier.”

“You can’t contact your unit?”

“…Yes.”

    The grip around my hand was considerable. As expected from the tanker that appeared in the early stages of Ways of Survival. I must take Lee Hyunsung with me. He might not look like much now but Lee Hyunsung was an increasingly important figure in the latter parts of Ways of Survival.

“Ah, Dokja-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“I wanted to thank you. If it wasn’t for Dokja-ssi, we would all be dead.”

“No, that isn’t the case.”

“Even if I had lived, I wouldn’t have been able to live as a person. Thank you very much. And…I am ashamed.” Lee Hyunsung bowed deeply.

    My mind was a bit complicated. In fact, Lee Hyunsung would’ve survived even if I didn’t do anything. Then somebody grabbed my shoulder.

“Haha, our contractor did one big thing. Dokja-ssi, do you know my name?”

   I could tell who it was without looking back. I took the hand off my shoulder and said, “I know, Han Myungoh-ssi.”

“Huh, Han Myungoh-ssi? Shouldn’t you call me Department Head?”

   Han Myungoh was still trying to use his position in this situation. He really was the king of authoritarianism in Mino Soft.

“This isn’t the company.”

“Hah, look at this. Are you planning to not go work now? Where did you learn your basic etiquette?”

“No matter how I think about it, your actions were too much. Yes? If you had the insects then you should’ve tipped me off. Why would you throw them like that?”

“…”

“Dokja-ssi, you have to be good to me. How much time do you have left on your contract?”

   All of a sudden, it became ridiculous. In the world I previously lived in, I was too fragile. “Han Myungoh-ssi.”

“Eh?”

“Shut up.”

“W-What?”

“You still don’t understand the situation? Weren’t you hit by that bastard earlier? Mino Soft? Do you think the company still exists when the end has come?”

   Han Myungoh’s face was white and stricken. I turned my eyes towards the other people. Since I was already saying it, I should make it stick. “Han Myungoh-ssi isn’t the only problem. Everyone, you need to wake up. As the dokkaebi said, this isn’t a joke.”

“…”

“I think you should’ve all roughly noticed the situation. Exclusive skills in the attributes window. A game-like interface. Is there anyone who still hasn’t caught onto facts?”

   Indeed, no one raised their hand. It was easy to understand for a South Korean. Due to the high penetration rate of smartphones, there wasn’t one person who hadn’t played a RPG game. Even if they hadn’t played a game, they would’ve read a fantasy novel at least once.

   Lee Hyunsung sighed, “This is like a novel I was reading while standing on duty, but I still can’t feel it. This really isn’t a dream?”

“This is reality.”

   My stern answer caused Lee Hyunsung’s eyes to slightly change.

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ feels a faint trust in you.]

[Your understanding of the character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has increased.]

Lee Hyunsung nodded. “It is good that you are certain. Then what do we do now? Dokja-ssi, do you have an opinion?”

“We have to go.” I answered without hesitation.

“G-Go? Are you insane?”

“Dokja-ssi, I don’t think…” This time, Yoo Sangah joined in. It seemed everyone still hadn’t woken up.

“Then how long we will stay here?” In fact, my argument didn’t make much sense. Outside was a haven of monsters. However, I knew. Right now, we have to get out of here. “Have you thought about your parents? Do you think your parents are safe in this mess?”

“T-The line has been dead for some time. No Kakaotalk…” Yoo Sangah cried out desperately. Indeed, Confucianism was still strong in South Korea. Even Lee Hyunsung and Han Myungoh’s expressions darkened at the word ‘parents.’

   I grasped Lee Gilyoung’s shoulder, whose head was bowed. The first person to get up was Yoo Sangah.

“Go. I will go out.”

“N-No! Didn’t you hear what that thing said? Take a break here! If we move then our heads might explode!” Han Myungoh cried out desperately.

“Let’s take a majority vote.”

   Yoo Sangah raised her hand first, followed by me and Lee Gilyoung. However, it was up to there.

   Lee Hyunsung said, “…I have to go to my base but it seems dangerous to move in this situation. There was also the warning.”

“Shit, you all go by yourselves! I’m not going! I’m not going outside!”

    I didn’t care about Han Myungoh but the problem was Lee Hyunsung. I had to take Lee Hyunsung with me no matter what.

Kuuong!

    The thick iron plate made a loud sound. The iron door to carriage 3707 was slightly distorted.

“W-What?” Han Myungoh’s cry was ignored as the iron door made a deafening sound again.

Kuuong!

    Someone was trying to break the door from beyond it. This was an unexpected situation so I had to think. Was it the next scenario? No. The dokkaebi hadn’t come back yet. Then...

    My brain moved quickly. Small hairs stood up and a short shiver struck my body. It was that guy.

“W-What? Everybody stop it!” Han Myungoh shouted and moved towards the door. Lee Hyunsung moved towards it as well but I stopped him.

“You can’t stop it.”

“Huh?”

“We have to go.”

   I looked at the iron door with heavy eyes.
“Huh? But…”

“If we don’t go now―”

    The only survivor of carriage 3707. I was well aware of who was beyond the iron door.

“We will all die before the next scenario arrives.”

   Yes, that guy was finally coming. The ‘real’ protagonist of this story.

    I stared straight into Lee Hyunsung and Han Myungoh’s eyes and said.

“Do you want to die from that guy beyond the iron door or do you want to try your luck outside the train? Which one will you choose?”

“U-Uh…”

“Dokja-ssi, is there any guarantee that the person beyond the iron door is an enemy?”

    The Steel Sword appeared at the crucial moment. There was a reason why Lee Hyunsung couldn’t be leader of a party.

“Since they are coming from another carriage, it is likely to be a survivor. If we meet…”

    I looked at the bloody room instead of continuing. Lee Hyunsung followed my gaze and quietly spoke.

“…I was too careless. Let’s find a way out.”

“G-Go! Go quickly!”

“This is broken!”

“Damn, we can’t go this way!”

   While listening to Lee Hyunsung and Han Myungoh’s cries, I also checked the doors. There were no more barriers so the doors could now be touched.

   Apart from the doors connecting the passageways, there were a total of eight access doors on the subway. There were three exits that hadn’t been confirmed yet.

   The iron door seemed like it could barely hold on for one minute.

   Despite being the main character, I didn’t think he would have such high strength in the beginning. I was honestly surprised that he could break such a thick iron door.

“Dokja-ssi! Here―”

   I found a working manual switchgear.
“No!”

   The opening and closing device worked smoothly but the door didn’t open at once. They door opened around one fifth before stopping like it was jammed.

“…It seems to be broken here as well.”

“How about other places?”

“This seems to be the only place where we can escape.”

   It was unknown for a child. But the gap was too narrow for men and women to escape. Han Myungoh and Lee Hyunsung tried to pull the doors open but they didn’t move a bit.

[Coins Possessed: 4700 C]

   One of the uses of the coins was to raise overall stats. I had already used 2,700 coins to make my stamina level 10.

   This problem could be resolved if I used the remaining coins to enhance my strength. But it wasn’t wise to use the coins when the situation was unknown.

   In the end, there was only one way.
“Lee Hyunsung-ssi. Use a skill.”

“Huh? “Skill…”

I quietly activated Character List.

[The exclusive skill, Character List is activated.]

[Character Information]

Name: Lee Hyunsung

Age: 28 years old.

Constellation Sponsor: Master of Steel.

Private Attribute: Soldier who Turned a Blind Eye to Injustice (General)

Exclusive Skills: Bayonet Skills Lv. 2, Camouflage Lv. 2, Patience Lv. 2.
Stigma: Great Mountain Push Lv. 1
Overall Stats: Stamina Lv. 8, Strength Lv. 8, Agility Lv. 7, Magic Power Lv. 5.

   Lee Hyunsung’s information came to my mind without any restrictions. Fortunately, the sponsor was the same as what I read in Ways of Survival.

“You should’ve checked it when you opened the attributes window. Lee Hyunsung is a soldier so there must be a skill you can use in this situation.”

“Well…I have one but how do I use it―”

“Just think about using the skill.”

“…Will that work?”

“It will. I did it earlier.”

   Lee Hyunsung didn’t say anything else as he took a deep breath of determination.
“Haaap!”

   Lee Hyunsung’s biceps swelled as he grabbed the door. It was the appearance of Great Mountain Push.

   In fact, Great Mountain Push wasn’t a skill but a ‘stigma.’ And a stigma was a power from the constellation. I used the word ‘skill’ in order to avoid suspicions.

Dudududu.
   There was a sound like a huge spring turning and the door started to move.

“What? This guy has real strength!”

“That’s it! It is really great!”

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has started to trust you.]

[Your understanding of the character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ has increased.]

   Rather than doubts, my reliability had risen. Lee Hyunsung was a simpler person than I thought.

“Come on, get off!”

   But I felt relieved. I handed Lee Gilyoung to Lee Hyunsung.

“Lee Hyunsung-ssi. Carry the child on your back.”

“I understand.”

   Now the iron door was almost broken. But if my prediction was right, the problem right now wasn’t that iron door.

[…Ah, this is really. I knew this would happen. Didn’t I saw it earlier? I told you not to go anywhere, Damn! The scenario isn’t ready yet-]

   The dokkaebi seemed to be angry as it floated over Dongho Bridge.

“Wahh! I knew this would happen! I told you not to come out!”

   Han Myungoh wrapped a hand around his head, like he thought it would explode. But there was no need to worry.

[Sigh…it can’t be helped. You are really lucky humans.]

   It was because the second scenario started the moment the train door was opened.

[The second scenario has arrived!]
+
[Second Scenario – Escape]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: E
Clear Conditions: Cross the broken bridge and enter Oksu Station.
Time Limit: 20

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