"Good. Now that everyone's here... when did Yoo Joonghyuk enter the 'dungeon'?"
"Around 9:00 this morning..."
That meant she had been inside the dungeon for about eleven hours.
There was no way Yoo Joonghyuk would stay in a dungeon for eleven hours.
Something had gone wrong.
That was the single thought that brushed through both my mind and Dokja's at the same time.
[Kim Dokja: Bihyung, open the Dokkaebi's Bag.]
[Bihyung: What? Hey, no! My subscriber count is skyrocketing right now!]
[#BI-7623 channel is preparing for expansion.]
[Bihyung: Hehe, hehehe. Look at this, now even my channel...!]
[Me: That proud little channel of yours was built by Dokja and me.]
[Kim Dokja: He's right. If you don't want your channel to crash, open it already. Just tell them you're running ads for a bit while preparing for the expansion.]
Now Dokja was outright threatening the Dokkaebi.
It was an open secret that this behavior was far more typical of her.
[Kim Dokja: I'll give you 5,000 Coins. Upgrade me to Gold Member.]
[Me: Me too.]
[... ...]
[5,000 Coins have been used.]
[Congratulations! You have become a Gold Member of the 'Dokkaebi's Bag'!]
There wasn't anything I needed to buy right now, but there was no harm in raising my rank in advance.
I might end up using it often in the future.
Should I stock up on stamina recovery potions just in case?
No. If I carry those around, they'll just shatter.
"What's that?"
While I was lost in thought, Dokja already had some kind of contract and several potions in her hands.
[Bihyung: What? Why are you buying a contract?! Did you already forget the terms? You said you weren't making a Sponsor contract!]
[Kim Dokja: What are you talking about? Why would I make a Sponsor contract now?]
"This is... a contract that turns the 'party in power' into the 'party at a disadvantage.'"
Gong Pildu still had to hold out for another six and a half hours.
It would be easier if I stepped in, but I had no intention of doing that.
According to Dokja, his Sponsor wasn't rich in Coins to begin with.
The channel Gong Pildu belonged to was mostly populated by Constellations seeking mere entertainment.
Now that the plot had become frustratingly slow, they were either going to leave the channel or cut off their sponsorship.
It hadn't been part of Dokja's original plan, but she noted that my flashy entrance would likely have an effect as well.
[Bihyung: What?! The Constellations from the other side are suddenly migrating over here!]
It made sense. Those who only sought amusement had been watching Gong Pildu struggle pathetically against the monsters.
And just as they were about to leave, they saw me—the one for whom the monsters trembled in fear and parted the way.
Unintentionally, I had created a situation where they couldn't help but take an interest in me.
-Ding
[The Sponsor of the Incarnation 'Gong Pildu' is requesting help from nearby Constellations.]
[The Demon King, 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust,' scoffs.]
So this was what Dokja had been aiming for.
"Hey, you over there. Do you want to die like this, or do you want to make a contract with me?"
"W-What...?"
"I'm not a Constellation, so I can't be a 'Sponsor,' but if you want, I can be a 'Backer.' How about it?"
"What kind of bullshit is that, you crazy bitch...!"
Gong Pildu still didn't understand his own predicament.
"Watch your mouth."
"Stay in your corner, Gong Pildu. I wasn't talking to you."
"This pair of siblings is fucking insane...!"
What was he going to do by glaring like that?
Right now, the one holding the upper hand wasn't him. It was us.
He'd lived his whole life as the one in power; it was time he learned how to live as the underdog.
"Answer me quickly. If you contract with me, I'll provide all of this support."
[Bihyung: Wait a second, you can't possibly be...]
[Me: You finally figured it out? You'd better get used to it.]
[The Sponsor of the Incarnation 'Gong Pildu' reveals its modifier.]
[The Constellation 'Defense Master' stares at you in disbelief.]
[Bihyung: Uh... are you people lunatics?]
[Bihyung: In all my life, you're the first people I've seen trying to sponsor a Constellation.]
[Me: Leave me out of it. Only Dokja is sponsoring.]
[Kim Dokja: You're already in the same boat. Don't try to jump ship now.]
My name wasn't on the contract, after all.
We were in the same boat, sure, but our roles were different.
Dokja was the captain.
I was the helmsman.
I simply moved according to Dokja's orders.
Regardless, that 'Defense Master' had no choice but to accept the contract.
A personality that cherished her Incarnation, excessive investment, and a lack of Coins.
When those three misfortunes overlapped, no other Constellation would offer help.
The Incarnations following Gong Pildu were useless, and we—the most capable people present—were hostile to him.
If Gong Pildu died here...
Defense Master would have no second chance.
"That man is going to die at this rate."
"Without our help, he really will die soon."
That was exactly why Dokja could act so boldly.
-Ding
[The Constellation 'Defense Master' is curious about the contents of the contract.]
[Bihyung: ...Seriously? No, for real?]
[The Constellation 'Defense Master' begins reading the contract.]
[Me: I told you to get used to it.]
[Bihyung: How the hell am I supposed to get used to this?!]
[The Constellation 'Defense Master' requests time to think.]
"What the hell is this message?!"
[The Constellation 'Defense Master' is curious whether there are any clauses related to Kim Dokyun.]
"Of course not. This is a contract with me."
[The Constellation 'Defense Master' frowns.]
"Think carefully. If you reject my offer, do you think my brother will accept yours?"
"And imagine what he'll do once he gains 'control over Gong Pildu.'"
Gong Pildu and I had already clashed several times.
In truth, we'd only properly collided once, but Gong Pildu had incessantly tried to mess with Dokja.
Furthermore, he had already seen me tear monsters apart.
She was planting a seed of anxiety about what I might do to Gong Pildu.
She could do this because she knew I wouldn't mind even if she cast me as the villain.
[The Constellation 'Defense Master' looks at you.]
-Crack
[The Constellation 'Defense Master' is horrified to see you cracking your knuckles!]
[The Constellation 'Defense Master' hastily adds a clause to the contract.]
She'd fallen for it completely.
The best way to deceive someone is to make them blind—blind enough to ignore all other advice.
[Nice assist!]
"I accept the contract."
From here on, it was Dokja's domain.
"If I get out of here... that'll be the day you bastards—"
"Shut up, Gong Pildu."
-Thump
"Mmph? Mmph mmph mmph!!!"
"I've wanted to rip that obnoxious mouth off for a long time."
"Now, fight hard. And don't touch my companions."
There were times when even I found Dokja frightening.
Moments exactly like this.
[Bihyung: Um... Dokja-nim?]
[Kim Dokja: What.]
[Bihyung: You two... don't tell me you were aiming for Gong Pildu from the start?]
[Bihyung: Insane... how can humans be like this...]
[Bihyung: What exactly did I make a contract with?]
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' finds your idea amusing.]
[The Constellation 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' smacks his lips.]
[The Constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' downs a glass of wine.]
What is the most common problem in a ruined world?
"And sorry, but it looks like we'll have to leave for a while."
The problem where solving one issue immediately triggers another.
"Pardon? Right now?"
This was because of Yoo Joonghyuk.
If I vanished like Yoo Joonghyuk, would Dokja come looking for me too?
"There's a rotten bitch who disappeared to hog items for herself, not caring whether people lived or died."
"At last, I've got a chance to make the score 2:3."
"From here on, we're going to smash that bitch in the back of the head."
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