"Have you calmed down now?"
"Yeah. Sorry."
As the storm of emotion subsided, a wave of embarrassment came rushing in.
Why had I acted like that?
Being the one to feel the shame was a familiar burden, but this time we weren't alone. The Constellations had been watching the whole thing, which doubled the humiliation.
"Ahem. My apologies to the Constellations as well. I've shown you a rather unsightly side of myself."
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' shouts that she completely understands, and that villains should be treated exactly that way.]
[Constellations of the Absolute Good alignment agree with the words of 'Demon-like Judge of Fire'.]
[The Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' smacks his lips again, saying the sight of tears looked delicious.]
[Constellations who enjoy sadism agree with 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust'.]
[The Constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' agrees with 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust'.]
[Constellations of the Absolute Evil alignment praise your cruelty.]
[Constellations with families comfort you, saying they understand your pain better than anyone.]
[Constellations who have parents are shocked by the sight of a collapsed head of household.]
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' looks at you with pitying eyes.]
[5,000 Coins have been sponsored.]
'The reaction isn't half bad.'
I knew there were Constellations who would hate this kind of display, so I had been prepared to shrug it off even if they got annoyed. Thankfully, it didn't seem like I needed to worry about that.
The more I observed them, the more I realized that Constellations were oddly human.
"So, what should we do with that bastard now?"
The guys from the Cheoldupa had long since ceased to be a gang thanks to my rampage; they had been reduced to just 'Cheolsu'.
In other words, I had killed everyone except for that one man, Cheolsu.
"We'll use him as a guide. If you really don't want to die by my brother's hands, lead us to where your group is."
.
.
.
"The Cheoldupa! That's it?"
"Why is only Cheolsu back?"
The group members were suspicious of why Cheolsu had returned alone, unaware that I had slaughtered every other member of his organization.
"Hey, telling your group members won't change a thing, so watch your mouth, got it?"
Fortunately, we were quite experienced in silencing people, so there wasn't much to worry about.
"...Ms. Dokja? Mr. Dokyun?"
A familiar voice called out to us from somewhere.
Dokja and I lifted our heads to search for the owner of the voice...
"My god... Ms. Dokja! Mr. Dokyun!"
"Gilyoung!"
—Squeeze!
"You two are safe too! Thank goodness, really...!"
"Ms. Dokja...!"
The people we reunited with at Geumho Station were Hyunsung, Sangah, and Gilyoung—the same people we had met on the subway.
Now, let me teach everyone how to handle Gilyoung.
1. Pick Gilyoung up.
.
.
.
200. Put Gilyoung down.
"Oppa, I know you like doting on kids, but put him down already. He's about to suffocate."
"Ghk!"
"...Sorry. I forgot to account for my stats."
I must have expressed my affection too intensely, because Gilyoung was struggling to breathe.
So, if you're wondering what happens between steps 2 and 199!
The answer is simple!
2. Keep hugging Gilyoung.
3. Keep hugging him.
4. Keep hugging him.
.
.
.
199. Keep hugging him.
It literally just means keep hugging him.
What on earth were you perverts imagining?
"It's okay. It was softer than I expected, so I liked it."
"I was... soft?"
"Even to me, Mr. Dokyun looks like he'd be firm because of his muscles..."
Even Lee Hyunsung, a professional soldier, had said I looked muscular, hadn't he?
'This is somehow humiliating.'
"So, Gilyoung, do you have any interest in becoming our youngest brother?"
—Smack!
"Do you seriously want to say that to a child?!"
[The Constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' drools as she imagines Kim Dokja with two men in her care.]
[The Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' protests to Kim Dokja, claiming that he should be the one in that position.]
[Many Constellations are astonished by your endless obsession with Gilyoung.]
As always, the Constellations were attaching all sorts of meaning to my actions.
"If it means becoming the younger brother of hyung and noona, I don't think that's so bad."
"See? Gilyoung likes it too!"
"You think he actually means that?!"
—Smack!
—Smack!!
"Dokja! My attribute! My attribuuute!! That really hurts!!!"
"I'm hitting you because it's supposed to hurt!!"
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' smiles at the sight of your regained laughter.]
After finishing what felt like a scene from a sitcom.
"It's such a relief that what Yoo Joonghyuk said was correct."
"Yoo Joonghyuk?"
—Twitch.
"Did something happen?"
The moment Yoo Joonghyuk's name was mentioned, my face twisted reflexively. Seeing this, Lee Hyunsung approached me with a worried expression.
The others across the bridge wouldn't have seen our situation, so they wouldn't know.
That woman had the nerve to mention my sister and then try to feed her to an ichthyosaur?!
'...I lied to oppa a bit because I felt jealous, but what if Yoo Joonghyuk tells him the truth?'
The only reason Kim Dokyun was furious with Joonghyuk was the belief that she had nearly killed Kim Dokja, so it was a lie that would be easily exposed if they met Yoo Joonghyuk.
However, Dokyun was a severe siscon.
He firmly believed that Joonghyuk had tried to kill his sister, and knowing Joonghyuk's actual personality, the chance of Dokyun believing her word was zero.
'Well, it doesn't matter since oppa would never believe Joonghyuk anyway! Rival eliminated!... But why am I jealous of Yoo Joonghyuk and viewing her as a rival?'
Dokja knew Dokyun perfectly, yet she understood nothing about herself.
"Where is that Yoo Joonghyuk right now?"
Dokyun glared at Hyunsung as if he wanted to kill Joonghyuk on the spot.
"Th-that is! She isn't here right now. Ms. Yoo Joonghyuk left the station yesterday."
Overwhelmed by the pressure, Hyunsung stammered as he answered.
"Don't push Mr. Hyunsung so hard. It's not his fault."
"...Right. I was too sensitive. My apologies. I didn't exactly have a pleasant experience on the bridge."
"No, I understand."
Being a soldier, Hyunsung seemed accustomed to such reactions and simply smiled it off.
"Still, she was the type to at least tidy things up before leaving."
"Pardon?"
"It's an old habit of Dokja's. You don't need to worry about it."
"Come to think of it, there's one more person missing."
"Ah, the manager..."
Manager Han Myeongoh, was it?
It was almost impressive that Sangah still used his title and honorifics even in a situation like this.
That man was the epitome of a stubborn, old-fashioned corporate drone who acted entitled because he was a parachute hire, yet she still treated him with respect.
I truly believed Yoo Sangah was a person of incredible character.
"Everyone, move!!"
—Thud thud thud thud!
No sooner had the words been spoken than the group members rushed over and surrounded us.
"Y-you...!"
"Why is that guy so flustered just looking at you?"
"When the bridge collapsed, he left me behind and ran off with Ms. Sangah slung over his shoulder."
"..."
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' watches your mood carefully.]
[The Constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' cheers, saying you look handsome even when you're angry.]
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' grumbles that he doesn't like how you solve everything with force.]
[Many Constellations in the channel are flustered, asking why that guy's eyes are turning red again.]
The Constellations, having witnessed me crush the Cheoldupa, seemed worried that I would go on a rampage here as well.
To begin with, the only reason I had lost my reason and rampaged was because that Cheolsu bastard had declared, right in front of me, that he would lay hands on Dokja.
I am not some thug who goes berserk for no reason.
Of course, that's assuming Dokja is not involved.
"Nice to meet you. You two must be the newcomers who arrived today. May I ask your names? I am Cheon Inho."
"I'm Kim Dokja."
"And I'm Kim Dokyun."
That gaze was unpleasant—a look I had encountered somewhere before.
I searched my memories carefully to recall where.
'Ah, I remember. It's the same look my convenience store boss used to give me when he tried every cheap trick in the book to cut my wages, claiming it was enough for a student.'
It was the look of someone who looked down on you, thought only of how to use you, and saw you as a tool rather than a human being.
"I heard the story from Mr. Cheolsu, who arrived with you. He mentioned that you fought monsters and saved our group members."
Was he referring to the woman we rescued and Cheolsu?
Given that he was leading this place, he likely had a rough idea of what was happening outside... which only made me dislike him more.
"Everyone, please gather around! These brave new members have personally brought back food for us!"
'This bastard dares try to swoop in and claim credit? Did he think I'd just play along and read the room?'
.
.
.
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is excited.]
"There are currently 86 people in Geumho Station. Ah, including you two, that makes 88."
"That's fewer than I expected."
Well, there had probably been many cases like that woman—people abandoned or left behind.
And this Cheon Inho bastard had likely known and overlooked it.
Did he think we wouldn't notice?
'That bastard is dead.'
[Oppa, step in when I tell you to. I'll set the stage, and you'll be the actor. Got it?]
As if she had read my mind from the start, Dokja smiled and spoke to me using the [Unbroken Red Thread] skill.
Now, all I had to do was wait for the stage Dokja was preparing.
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