Thoom!
KWA-BOOM!!
On the broken bridge, a continuous roar erupted, sounding like a series of bombs detonating between a man and a woman.
The man fought to keep his sister alive until the very end of this story.
The woman fought to reach the end of this sickening story herself.
This was not merely a battle for survival; it was a clash of convictions, a fight to realize their respective dreams.
Is my brother really evenly matched with Yoo Joonghyuk?
No matter how early it was in the scenario, Yoo Joonghyuk was still Yoo Joonghyuk.
Watching her brother fight on nearly equal footing with such a monster, Kim Dokja felt a profound shock and a tangle of complex emotions.
If her brother lost this fight, Yoo Joonghyuk would undoubtedly kill him.
Conversely, if her brother won, he would be the one to kill Joonghyuk.
After all, he had already killed Kim Namwoon for attempting to harm her.
Then what would happen to the Ways of Survival without Yoo Joonghyuk?
Dokja was lost in these worries.
Meanwhile, the two combatants were preoccupied with entirely different thoughts.
To be able to contend with me in such a short time... he might actually be useful.
One was already planning how to force the other into submission to serve her goals.
I want to tear this woman apart and kill her right now. But if I do... there's no telling where this story will veer off to.
The other feared a world without Joonghyuk, just as Dokja did.
Time remaining.
[3 minutes 20 seconds]
At this rate, we're all going to die.
The fight could not continue much longer.
The sub-scenario's time limit was closing in.
Kwang!
"Gah!"
Grab!
"! What the—?!"
"Got you, you bitch."
There was only one reason why I, whose stats were currently higher than Yoo Joonghyuk's, was struggling to end this fight quickly.
It was the difference in experience and technique.
As a Regressor, Yoo Joonghyuk possessed a wealth of combat experience and skills that I lacked. While I relied on raw power, she used that expertise to evade every single one of my attacks.
The only effective hit I had landed was the initial surprise attack.
But looking at it another way, it meant that if I could neutralize those techniques, I would win.
Taking advantage of a moment where I intentionally let her strike, I seized Joonghyuk's arm and dragged her toward the edge of the bridge, mirroring exactly what she had once done to Dokja.
"Is this how you treated Dokja...?"
"Let go..."
"If I let go now, you'll fall. Even you—do you really think you can beat that dragon-like monster in the water?"
"..."
"I thought so."
The only reason I was able to gain the upper hand was that Joonghyuk had let her guard down.
What if she had finished me off decisively?
What if the Constellations hadn't sponsored me?
If that had happened, I wouldn't have been able to protect Dokja. My actions wouldn't have been a sacrifice for her sake, but merely a reckless gamble born of overconfidence.
More importantly, I knew I could never beat Yoo Joonghyuk if we met again.
I only had a chance now because we were at the very beginning of the scenarios.
This defeat would only serve as a catalyst for Yoo Joonghyuk; by the next time we met, she would be incomparably stronger.
And since she would have experienced my fighting style, she would easily suppress me even if my stats were higher.
"Until a moment ago, we were tied one-on-one."
"Are you joking in a situation like this?"
"Not at all. I'm saying let's settle this next time. For now, it's a draw."
[A large number of Constellations are bursting into laughter at your remark.]
"Brother. Joonghyuk is..."
"Dokja. This is the kind of thing adults should handle."
"I'm... an adult too."
"In my eyes, you're still a child."
A child who misses her mother.
Those words almost escaped my lips.
Did Dokja know? Did she know that every time she had a nightmare, she called out for their mother?
Did she know how much it hurt me to watch, and how sorry I felt?
"Joonghyuk. There's less than a minute left."
"And?"
"I won't ask you to protect Dokja for the rest of your life. Just make sure she crosses this bridge safely. Do that, and I'll let you go."
"What do you mean?! Brother!!"
Dokja knew everything that was going to happen.
A Reader more accurate than any Prophet.
Joonghyuk would only grow stronger.
She was already strong enough.
But what about me? Compared to Dokja, my knowledge was clumsy and fragmented.
Have you ever heard those sayings?
'A person who has read one book is more dangerous than a person who has read none.'
Or,
'An ignorant person with conviction is terrifying.'
Those words described me perfectly.
I lacked the strength of Yoo Joonghyuk and the knowledge of Dokja.
Because Dokja knew so much, she could grow strong even without a Sponsor, but I was in a position where I had to rely on her for everything.
It wasn't a matter of me protecting Dokja; it was a situation where Dokja had to protect me.
I could not bear the thought of Dokja sacrificing anything for my sake.
"...As a sister who also has a sibling to protect, I promise."
"Right. Thank you."
"What does that mean?! Tell me what you mean!!!"
Flip!
In an instant, I swapped positions with Joonghyuk.
I was the one holding her collar, but I would be the one falling.
"Dokja. You'll do just fine without me."
Slip.
"BROTHERRRRRRR!!!!!"
I released my grip. I could see Dokja reaching out for me as I plummeted.
I'm sorry, Dokja. I'm sorry for being a brother who couldn't do anything for you. Please forgive me for ending things like this.
I saw Joonghyuk forcibly hoisting the wailing Dokja over her shoulder to carry her across the bridge.
Unlike her usual cold demeanor, her eyes were filled with pity.
Had she said she was also a sister?
Perhaps that was why she understood the weight of sacrificing oneself for family better than anyone.
[KWOOOOOOOO!!!]
Chomp!
The monster I had seen since the subway opened its maw and swallowed me whole.
"BROTHERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!"
That scream was the last thing I heard.
To think the last sound I'd hear would be my sister's despair.
I'm sorry.
Splash.
"Whew. That was close. Actually, I'm probably going to die anyway, right?"
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is watching you.]
"This is the right thing to do. Dokja needs Joonghyuk more than she needs me."
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' laments, wondering how Dokja feels after witnessing your sacrifice.]
I had fallen into the monster's stomach, and since this beast had likely bitten through the bridge, debris was floating all around me.
"I know it doesn't sound great, but I don't think I can protect Dokja in a world like this. I'm too weak. And I'm not exactly brilliant."
Squeezing out the last of my strength, I climbed onto the largest piece of debris.
[Many Constellations are listening intently to your words.]
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' questions what this action has to do with any of that.]
"If something happens to Dokja, I'll lose my mind. I'm afraid I'll end up being a burden to her because of that."
[The Constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' says that while such deep love can be a problem, she loves that kind of devotion nonetheless.]
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' denounces this as mere escapism.]
"Besides, someone had to stay behind for the others to cross the bridge. If that's the case, it's better that Dokja and Joonghyuk—who can actually be helpful to her—get across."
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' nods slowly.]
[The Constellation 'Goddess of Love and Beauty' asks if you aren't also helpful to your sister.]
"Honestly, you Constellations like Yoo Joonghyuk better anyway. She's stronger."
[All Constellations in the channel agree.]
These bastards?
Would it have killed them to just pretend I was better?
Rumble...
"What's this?"
The stomach of the monster began to churn.
It seemed it had swallowed something else.
Swoosh!
"Puh-haaa!"
"Dokja?!"
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