"Will that girl help us?"
"How should I know? I only followed Dokja's orders."
"If she told you to die, would you actually do it?"
"..."
"...You wouldn't, right?"
"..."
"You wouldn't, right?!"
"If there were a reason worthy of such an order..."
Knowing Dokja's personality, she wouldn't just send me to my death for nothing.
As an avid reader of Ways of Survival, if she made such a call, she would have already prepared a means to resurrect me.
By that stage, she wouldn't just use my death as a tool to achieve her plan; she would likely use her own death as a means as well.
"She's rude, but she didn't seem like some cold-blooded monster without a heart."
"Dokja is both rude and cold-blooded... does that make Jihye an upgraded vers—!"
Smack!
"You really! Need! A wake-up call!!"
"Aagh! You hit the bone!! Wait!!!"
"Every single time, it's 'you hit the bone'!!"
"Because you actually hit the bone this time!!!"
Would you believe me if I said this hurt more than being sliced by Yoo Joonghyuk's sword?
"What was that woman even thinking, putting you in charge of...?"
"How should I know?"
"I can't believe you actually joined in on a plan like that."
"I just trust my sister."
I didn't fully understand it either.
But there had to be a way for me to play a role in the plan without hindering their growth.
"Mister."
"What?"
"Since we're already here, let me ask you one thing."
"Go ahead~"
"Why do you always pat my head every time you see me?"
Should I be honest with her now?
Yes. If I'm asking for her help while hiding the truth, I might ruin everything.
So... even if it makes her dislike me a little, I should tell her straight.
"To remind you that you're still a child."
"...? What do you mean by that?"
"People say age doesn't matter in this world anymore, now that we have stats and all that nonsense."
"But that doesn't mean kids like you don't need protection."
Even adults who have been through hell are terrified; imagine how it feels for a child.
Dokja and I only seem composed because we know what's coming and can prepare for it.
"You're still a student, and you're at an age where you should be protected. So, lean on someone for a change."
[Constellations of the Absolute Good alignment sympathize with your words.]
[100 Coins have been sponsored.]
Ah, way to ruin the mood.
They're the ones who hate it when the atmosphere is broken, yet they're the biggest culprits.
Is this really a moment for sponsorships?
"What do you even know about me to treat me like a kid?"
"I don't know you. But I know what you're hiding."
"What I'm hiding?"
"That you killed your friend with your own hands."
—Freeze.
Lee Jihye showed a level of emotional turmoil I had never seen from her before.
Simultaneously, her hand gripped her scabbard as if she were ready to draw her sword at any second.
"The Dokkaebi showed it on the subway. The video of you surviving by killing your classmate."
"I wasn't the only one who saw it. Dokja, Yoo Sangah, Lee Hyunsung, and even Gilyoung saw it. Jung Heewon joined later, so she probably missed it."
"Shut up."
"You think you're good at hiding your emotions? Your pain?"
"What the hell do you know?"
She grit her teeth and glared directly at me.
"I know. Because I've hidden it countless times. Because I've seen others do the same."
"If you don't treat a wound, it doesn't just scar over. It festers, and it rots."
And eventually, it bursts open in the worst way possible.
Dokja was like that.
A tragedy born from enduring and suppressing everything because she was too worried about me.
I still have nightmares about it.
"I'm not telling you to lean on me. At the very least, you can lean on Joonghyuk."
"..."
"We're out of time today, so I'll leave it at that. It's just a hunch, but I think a situation will arise soon where you'll be forced to open up."
I couldn't tell if she was speechless or simply didn't want to engage with me.
Jihye remained silent, her head lowered.
I wondered what expression she was wearing.
I wondered what she was thinking.
One thing was certain: the current Lee Jihye needed time.
"What matters isn't remembering the pain of the past, but what you learned from that pain."
Just as I had.
"Even if you choose not to help us, I'll respect your decision. Just make a choice you won't regret."
"@#&!%₩!"
I couldn't make out what she said.
Perhaps it was anger at me for speaking so freely.
Or perhaps it was a plea for me to just leave.
Regardless... my words would have left an impact one way or another.
.
.
.
"Oppa. Go to the stairs now."
"Got it."
"You might be fine, but it'll be a problem for us if we're caught, so be as discreet as possible. Understand?"
"Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Now, the execution begins.
Tadadadad!
"These must be the stairs Dokja mentioned."
"...Mister."
"I take it you've decided to help?"
A familiar voice.
The only difference from before was the resolve in her tone.
"Yeah. Like you said, I'm not going to do anything I'll regret."
"Don't feel too pressured. In a world like this, the responsibility should fall on adults like me."
"Stop trying to act cool."
Pfft.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Yes, that's the Lee Jihye I know.
"Did the knot in your heart loosen a bit?"
"Maybe a little?"
"That's good. I'll have to help you untangle the rest soon."
"Anyone would think we're actually family."
"When you've crossed the threshold of life and death together, you're comrades—and that makes you family."
Family doesn't always have to be about blood.
I sincerely think of Gilyoung as my own younger brother.
Even if Jihye is older, there's no reason I can't feel the same way about her.
"Family is a bit much. Friends? Maybe that's possible."
"The age gap between us is almost double, though."
"Is being old something to brag about?"
KABOOM!!!
The sound of an explosion echoed from afar.
It seems things have officially started.
[Bihyung: Hey, you lunatic!! What the hell are you doing right now?! Aaaagh!!]
[Bihyung: The Dokkaebis in Chungmuro are in an absolute frenzy because of you!]
[Dokja: Be quiet. My head already hurts from all these Constellation messages.]
[Bihyung: Dokyun, why didn't you stop Dokja?!]
[Me: Since when do I ever stop her?]
Watching a Dokkaebi have a meltdown... is just too entertaining.
Ah, this is true pleasure. This is entertainment!
"Get going. Don't let me hold you up."
"I already smashed everything on my way here!!"
In that short time?
Jihye had grown even more than I anticipated.
Looking at the newfound vitality in her eyes, she had evolved both mentally and physically.
"Anything you want to say?"
"...Th—"
"What?"
"Ah, I said thank you!!"
With that, she dashed off, her ears turning bright red.
Is this what they call a 'tsundere'?
Now, all that's left is to demolish the stairs once Dokja gives the signal.
I'm sure she'll let me know when the time is right.
[Bihyung: Did you forget? Mine isn't the only 'channel' in Chungmuro! Do you really not know what will happen if you pull a stunt like this?!]
Our Bihyung still has a long way to go.
Situations like this will happen countless times in the future.
[Me: Since when do we ever think about the consequences before starting trouble?]
[Dokja: Exactly. Whose channel is Gong Pildu on?]
[Bihyung: ...It's that bastard Biryu's channel. BIR-3642.]
[Dokja: The Dokkaebi who filled in for you before?]
[Me: Seeing him made me realize that Bihyung is practically a saint.]
If that guy is the average, then Bihyung really is a saint.
He was a bit arrogant at first, but he's softened up considerably now.
Though, the fact that we've attracted so many Constellations probably played a part in that.
[Dokja: What's the subscriber composition?]
[Bihyung: It's a channel primarily driven by the 'entertainment-seeking' crowd.]
[Me: Then things are about to get noisy, aren't they?]
[Bihyung: Hah... You're really screwed now, you brats.]
Ding!
[A Bounty Scenario has occurred!]
<Bounty Scenario - Assassination Request>
Category: Sub
Difficulty: C
Clear Condition: Constellations belonging to channel #BIR-3642 have requested the assassination of a specific individual. Eliminate the Incarnation 'Kim Dokja' of Chungmuro Station.
Time Limit: 10 minutes
Reward: 2,000 Coins
Failure: None
Dokja, seeing a bounty on your head, it looks like you've been quite successful.
[All Constellations within the channel are observing your reaction.]
Observing my reaction?
For what... reason?
Ah, it's because I usually go berserk whenever something happens to Dokja, right?
My stomach is churning a bit even now, but since this was already part of Dokja's plan, it's not a problem.
"..."
[...]
"Wait a second."
[Many Constellations flinch at your words.]
"Constellations, assemble again!"
Now that I think about it, this is absurd.
[A small number of Constellations gather, trembling.]
"The reason I've called you all together is..."
[Many Constellations await your words.]
"Why does Dokja have a bounty, but I don't?"
Even if the world has ended, this is unacceptable.
[A Constellation drinking water spits it out.]
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' and the Constellation 'Lily Blooming in Aquarius' are dumbfounded.]
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is curious about the intent behind your statement.]
[The Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' cackles, calling you a complete lunatic.]
Those bastards don't seem to realize how grave this is.
Do they have any idea how serious this problem is?!
"Why does Dokja get a bounty, but I don't? This is gender discrimination!!!"
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