How long had I been hanging on like that? I'd lost all sense of time ages ago.
[You bear the fatigue of the reader in their stead.]
Whether the reader's fatigue was treated as a status abnormality or not, my attribute—as it always did—took on the burden of her exhaustion.
I still needed to confirm whether it absorbed all forms of fatigue, or only the kind that results from constant stamina drain until one blacks out like this.
[...Truly, impressive.]
[A few Constellations admire your survivability.]
[A few Constellations admire your mental strength for enduring the fatigue of two people without collapsing.]
[The Constellations have sponsored 400 Coins.]
'Still, with this 400-coin sponsorship, I've hit exactly 2,000 coins. That feels good.'
Moreover, if I add the 9,000 coins I'll receive as a scenario clear reward, that makes 11,000 coins.
I'm rich now.
Dokja is rich too.
We're rich.
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' glares at you.]
[Constellations of the Absolute Good alignment are lingering around you.]
It seems like the Absolute Good types have been appearing more often lately.
The problem isn't that they're appearing often, but that they seem incredibly on edge.
'Is something wrong?'
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' tells the 'Lily Blooming in Aquarius' that she will take a break, and to let her know when that ■■■ arrives, before departing.]
[The Constellation 'Lily Blooming in Aquarius' is angry, wondering what kind of ■ that is.]
It seems they've become irritable from monitoring my channel without sleep.
But I have absolutely no idea what they're even monitoring.
[I never imagined the spikes of a Stone Hog could be used in such a way—]
—Thud!
[!!]
"!!"
[The Pillar is not invincible.]
[The Pillar does not collapse, but it still requires rest.]
[The accumulated fatigue rushes in all at once.]
Ah, damn it. No wonder the system used the word "endure" when it said I was bearing the fatigue in her stead.
[The Hidden Scenario has ended.]
[You have acquired 9,000 Coins as a reward.]
[You have successfully hunted a Grade 7 sea creature at minimum.]
[You have acquired 1,000 Coins as an achievement reward.]
"Well, I took on her fatigue as well... there's no way I'd be fine."
Kim Dokja quietly looked down at her fallen brother.
"Sleep well. I'll take it from here."
—Chu
[The Constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' cheers!]
[The Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' cheers!]
[The Constellation 'Lily Blooming in Aquarius' rushes to wake the 'Demon-like Judge of Fire'!]
.
.
.
"Ugh!"
"You're finally awake. I had a really hard time, you know? Swimming all the way to the surface with you on my back."
At Dokja's words, I looked around and realized I was indeed on land, no longer inside the belly of the ichthyosaur.
"You could have just waited for me to wake up."
"You've already suffered enough. It would be too hard for you to swim the moment you woke up."
"...Thanks."
Thinking of me... when did Dokja grow up to be so wonderful?
Back when I lived with her, I thought I'd be lucky if she didn't turn out rebellious. Contrary to those worries, I'm just so grateful she grew up to be such a kind person.
Come to think of it, she didn't even seem to have a proper rebellious phase.
It wouldn't have been strange if she had gotten angry at me for not being able to provide anything for her.
"Why are you tearing up again?"
"I just feel like our Dokja is all grown up now."
"We're only four years apart, what are you talking about?"
"That four-year difference is why I practically raised you on my back!"
[Constellations who are parents empathize with you.]
[Constellations who were young breadwinners empathize with you.]
[You have received a sponsorship of 500 Coins.]
Then, I felt as if I had forgotten something.
'...Ah!'
I had completely forgotten that I needed to sign a stream contract.
"Brother, I have a present for you."
"? Our Dokja has a present for me?! The Dokja who hasn't given me anything since that paper crane when she was five?!!"
"You remember that?"
"I still have it, you know."
When I pulled the paper crane from my clothes and showed her, Dokja looked genuinely surprised.
"Why are you still carrying that around?!"
"It's a charm."
Ever since I received that gift, I had always carried the crane with me like a talisman.
Well, it wasn't as if only good things happened, but I simply loved the crooked little paper crane Dokja had folded for me.
"Anyway, check your coins."
[Current Coins: 17,500]
"Over... over ten thousand coins?"
[Along with the scenario clear reward, I got 5,000 coins as a signing bonus. I handled the contract myself, so don't worry about it.]
As if sensing my concern, Dokja spoke to me using the Unbroken Red Thread.
Since it allows communication between those with the same skill, Dokja could use it too. I had forgotten about this.
'Then, I wonder if she noticed that I'm connected to Mom?'
I hadn't mentioned it because I didn't want her to suffer emotionally. I just hope it doesn't have a negative effect on her.
[Dokja, the reason I didn't bring up Mom—]
[Stop. Regardless, I know you did it for my sake. So let's leave it at that.]
Dokja, who was likely the most troubled of all, decided to bury the subject for my sake.
[Many Constellations grumble, asking what you are doing just standing there.]
The messages from the Constellations broke our reverie.
"Right. We should head in now, shouldn't we?"
"Before that, take this."
"What is this now?"
[ITEM]
Elaine Monkey's Lung
- Usage: Place in mouth.
- Effect: Can purify deadly toxins.
- Duration: 20 minutes
"You'll need this for the next scenario, so make sure to keep it."
"If I can keep a paper crane, surely I can keep this?"
"Pfft! True!! You've rested enough, right?"
"Of course."
I had rested plenty while unconscious, and I had put Dokja through a lot of trouble.
Therefore, my body felt completely refreshed.
Probably.
"I'm going in."
"Let's go."
—Tight grip
Holding each other's hands, we slowly stepped inside the transparent barrier.
[You have entered the second Main Scenario area.]
[The land of this scenario area is deeply contaminated.]
[Hold your breath and move underground as quickly as possible!]
The moment we entered the second Main Scenario area, the message windows began scrolling up rapidly.
[You have been exposed to poisonous fog.]
'Getting poisoned right from the start!'
"The real start is from now on, so follow me closely, Brother!!"
"...Right!"
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