'So I got an exclusive attribute and exclusive skills... but how am I supposed to use them?'
According to Dokja, the survivors of Ways of Survival could use exclusive skills.
'Is this a game or reality?'
Still, shouldn't they at least tell you how to use them?
If all they said was, 'You acquired an attribute,' and didn't explain how to activate it, then how was anyone supposed to use it?
At times like this, the surest method was to ask someone who knew this field well.
And the person who knew this field—or rather, this novel—better than anyone was obviously my little sister, Dokja.
"Dokja...!"
—Stagger
—Grab
"...Brother?"
"Are you okay?! You startled me, suddenly swaying like that!!"
"I'm sorry. I just got a sudden headache."
"...That's understandable. I get it."
She was a child who had made a habit of hiding her wounds, always pretending to be fine on the surface.
Before I grew jealous of Ways of Survival, I should have realized why she only talked about that novel... It's all my fault.
That was it. The reason I hated Ways of Survival was, pathetically, 'jealousy.'
Instead of thinking about my sister who was all alone, I sat around being jealous of a novel and its author... I was a failure of a brother.
"Anyway, I figured it out."
"What?"
"Thinking back, Yoo Joonghyuk was in carriage 3707. The carriage we're in now is 3807! That's why he wasn't here."
I had committed a great wrong for which I could never be forgiven, and I was always grateful to Dokja for forgiving me regardless.
But perhaps because of that mistake?
At some point, a subtle wall had formed between us.
To an outsider, the atmosphere was too delicate to even jokingly suggest we looked like a couple.
Whenever I tried to get closer, Dokja would pull away.
It wasn't intentional, but rather an unconscious reaction; however, I didn't have the courage to bring it up to her.
Because I was always feeling guilt—!
"Brother?"
"Uh... yeah?"
"You're thinking about the past again, aren't you? I told you, I'm really okay."
Did Dokja know?
That those words actually made my heart ache even more.
"...Thank you."
The only thing I could do was repeat my gratitude for her forgiveness.
"You just called me, right? Why?"
"...I was told I acquired an attribute and skills, but I'm not sure how to view them."
"Ah, that. If you just think 'Attribute Window' in your head, it'll pop up automatically."
"Thanks. I'll try it right now."
As expected, asking Dokja was the fastest way to get answers in this situation.
First, I had to shake off these negative thoughts.
If I didn't get a grip now, they would only hold me back.
'Attribute Window.'
Name: Kim Dokyun
Age: 32
Sponsor: None
Exclusive Attribute: Support Raised with an Abandoned Dream (???)
Exclusive Skills: [Unfair Equivalent Exchange Lv.1]
[Unbroken Red Thread Lv.1]
[Memorial Lv.1]
Overall Stats: [Stamina Lv.4], [Strength Lv.5]
[Agility Lv.2], [Magic Power Lv.1]
Overall Evaluation: Hypocritical Siscon.
Following Dokja's instructions revealed a wealth of information.
However, two items immediately caught my eye.
The exclusive attribute and the overall evaluation.
Support Raised with an Abandoned Dream... and Hypocritical Siscon.
I didn't think those were flattering descriptions, even as a joke.
Especially 'Support Raised with an Abandoned Dream'—while it sounded positive on the surface, I had an instinctive feeling that it wasn't meant in a good way.
"Dokja. How are the names of these attributes and things decided?"
"You mean the exclusive attributes? Usually, the effects and names are determined based on one's life."
The attribute window was denying my life.
It claimed that the life I lived solely for Dokja was actually a life lived for myself.
My entire existence was being negated.
Though we had strayed for a time, I had tried my best to make things right with Dokja.
What was this window trying to show me?
"...Is it possible for the attribute window to lie?"
"No. Everything the window shows is the truth. It's impossible to manipulate."
If I survive this place, perhaps I'll understand what the window is trying to tell me.
"Ah... damn it. I already feel like shit, and you think you can just run away alone?"
—Slap
—Slap
The sound of something being struck broke through my thoughts.
I turned my gaze to see a white-haired boy in a school uniform assaulting an elderly woman.
"That's Kim Namwoon. He's the one who adapted to the world of Ways of Survival the fastest."
"Aren't you going to stop him?"
"It's not time yet. And Brother, I have one request."
"Tell me."
"Don't move until I give you the signal."
"...Fine. But if I think your life is in danger, I'm stepping in immediately."
Dokja said Kim Namwoon was the fastest to adapt, but was that really true?
Knowing what was to come and using that knowledge to bide her time—wasn't she the one who had adapted the fastest?
"Ah... damn it... I don't know..."
While I was talking to Dokja, others who agreed with Kim Namwoon began to swarm the old woman.
Lee Hyunsung... is useless.
To think a soldier would just stand by and watch, making pathetic noises while the situation unfolded.
Perhaps he was paralyzed by fear after hearing that everyone in the carriage would die if a killing didn't occur within five minutes.
Or perhaps he felt the situation was simply beyond his control.
"She's going to die at this rate!"
"Of course. That's the point."
"Why are you talking like that?! Then do something!"
Yoo Sangah seemed deeply disappointed by my indifference.
I'm sorry, but that's just how humans are.
They care far more about a close friend being hurt than they do about strangers dying in some distant wasteland.
"Ms. Yoo Sangah, please stay here with my brother."
"What? But..."
"Just do as I say this once. I won't interfere after this."
Dokja finally steadied her resolve and began timing her move.
"Haaaa, whew—"
"Are you ready?"
"Whether I'm ready or not, I have to do it."
—BOOM
—Dash
Carriage 3807. A massive explosion echoed from the carriage where Dokja said Yoo Joonghyuk was located.
At that exact moment, Dokja lunged toward the group attacking the elderly woman.
—Thump
The charging Dokja collided squarely with Kim Namwoon.
With her chest.
That lucky bastard, Kim Namwoon.
"Fuck, what the?! What are you doing?! Keep going! Kill her!!"
The sent-flying Kim Namwoon continued to scream for the woman's death, while Kim Dokja looked around as if searching for something.
"Everyone, stop! Even if you kill that woman, you won't survive!"
At those words, attention shifted toward her once again.
I could see the bloodlust in the eyes of those consumed by madness, but they wouldn't dare attack Dokja recklessly.
The reason they targeted the elderly woman was simply because her age made it easy to overpower her.
Our Dokja might be a woman, but she was a healthy adult.
Since she would obviously fight back, they couldn't simply dispose of her.
Regardless, I was worried about Dokja jumping into such a dangerous situation.
Once this is over, I'm going to give her a piece of my mind. How dare she put herself in danger right in front of her brother?!
I could already tell she'd be the type to risk her own life to save someone later on, causing everyone around her endless anxiety...
"Let's say you killed the grandmother. What then?"
I understood exactly what Dokja was getting at.
Whether it was because I knew her so well or because I knew the plot of Ways of Survival she had told me about, I couldn't say.
"Of course, if she dies, the 'first act of killing' the Dokkaebi mentioned will be recognized, so you'll buy some time."
Dokja's point was simple.
In a situation where they would eventually have to kill each other one by one, what would happen after they killed the old woman?
"So, who do you kill after her? Do you kill the person standing right next to you?"
"Ha...! What's the problem with that? Next, I'll just kill a coward like you!"
"Um... Mr. Dokyun..."
"Ah, Dokja will be fine. Because I'll make it so."
—Chill
Yoo Sangah felt a sudden shiver run down her spine.
It wasn't because of the immediate threat of death.
Nor was it the anxiety that her colleague might die.
The reason was Kim Dokyun, the family member of her colleague.
It wasn't just that he cherished his family.
At least, that's how Yoo Sangah felt.
It was more than just being a 'siscon'; there was something far more intense and binding there.
Yes, obsession. That was the word that seemed to define the relationship between Dokja and Dokyun.
'Does Mr. Dokyun... love his sister romantically?'
That thought refused to leave Yoo Sangah's mind.
"Ah— damn."
"..."
"Ms. Sangah!"
"Yes?"
"First I was spacing out, and now you are. Here, take this."
Sangah was looking at me with a somewhat uncomfortable expression.
"What is... eek! It's a bug!"
"Yes. Look over there."
The carriage was in chaos as people tried to catch flying insects.
In that moment, Yoo Sangah quickly grasped the situation.
"Just take it. You didn't hear what Dokja said, did you?"
"...No."
"The scenario said 'a living creature.' This bug is the only way to clear the scenario without killing a person."
Sangah quietly took the bug, looking up at me with a mixture of worry and fear.
"Then what about you, Mr. Dokyun?"
"I can handle it on my own. More accurately, I'll help Dokja handle it."
"...Thank you."
With that, Sangah crushed the bug and cleared the scenario.
Sangah had cleared it, and Dokja had cleared it long ago. Now, only I remained.
Normally, I should have been anxious about dying from failing the scenario, but for some reason, I wasn't worried this time.
I could feel it.
The moment for me to clear the scenario was approaching.
"Be honest. You just wanted to watch the show, didn't you?"
Kim Namwoon was gravely mistaken.
Dokja, who used every trick to survive, and Namwoon, who used the scenario as an excuse to enjoy murder, were on entirely different levels.
—Step
The fact that I was now stopping Kim Namwoon from finishing off the dying old woman proved it.
"Honestly, all you old fossils are the same. Turns out you're exactly the kind of person I hate most."
[Threat to 'Dokja' detected.]
[Attribute: 'Support Raised with an Abandoned Dream' is activating.]
"You're exactly the kind of person I hate most, too. Who do you think will stay by your side?"
"I told you to shut up and move!"
[All stats increase by 10.]
[Where someone's growth has stopped, the sturdiest tree to support 'Dokja' grows.]
"Fine, I'll move. Because I... have a siscon brother!!!"
"What the hell are you talking about!"
Along with the message that the attribute had activated, my body felt light.
—Crash
—Thwack!!
Just as Kim Dokja had done, I lunged forward and kicked Kim Namwoon.
"Gah!!"
Kim Namwoon flew back and slammed into the wall.
Perhaps because he was hit in the same spot twice, he seemed to be in particular agony.
"You gave the signal too late."
"Brother."
"Yeah?"
"Don't go easy on him."
[A 'future' abandoned by someone begins to support 'Dokja's' present.]
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register