#17 The Ideal Family: A Bloodied Brother Storming the Tower for His Little Sister, and Her Worry

The brother, drenched in blood, charging into the tower to save his constellation sister. The sister watching her brother with worry. The perfect form of family.

I hadn't uttered the word "family" once since holing up in the bunker. There'd been no trigger to even think of it.

……Missing people you can't see is a grueling thing.

I lay back on the mattress and closed my eyes. Jin So-yul and Kim Woo-jin were resting now, and so was I. As sleep evaded me, thoughts chased each other's tails in an endless loop.

Why had I built the bunker? Why stuff this underground concrete tomb with years' worth of canned goods, a water purifier, daily necessities, and a tablet?

Because I had money to burn.

In my late teens, drifting through the internet, I'd stumbled on crypto. What started as a hobby exploded into a jackpot. Insanely good luck.

People called me a full-time investor, but really, I was just a loner with zero interest in the world. I spent more time reading web novels than trading coins, and my big splurges were chicken and beer. Money piled up with nowhere to go.

So I built the bunker. Not because I predicted nuclear war or anything…… I just wanted a secret hideout. Didn't they pop up in web novels all the time? The protagonist's hidden safehouse. It looked cool, that's all.

Construction costs hit nine figures, but who cared? Money was endless. Once it was done, I'd drop in now and then to read web novels.

Then one day, breaking news hit. A local skirmish had escalated into full-scale war across Europe and Asia. The words "World War III" flashed on screen, and I was in the bunker.

I called immediately.

"Hello? Dad!"

"Min-woo? What's up, calling this late."

"You know the bunker? I told you I built it! You have to come now!"

"Bunker? What are you……"

"Did you see the news? War's broken out! For real!"

"……Even so, it won't reach here."

"Dad——!!!"

"Okay, okay. I'll tell your mom."

"……Hurry. I'll text the location."

"Yeah, yeah."

That was the last call. I sent the text, but no reply. When I tried calling again, the lines were dead.

Every vibration from above had me dialing frantically, but only dead tones answered. Three days, four, five. Then, suddenly, silence from the outside world.

What came after is blurry. More like, I made it blurry on purpose. Open a can, read a web novel, sleep. Repeat. Nothing else to do.

I had cash to build a bunker but barely visited my parents. Too lazy, too tired, tomorrow's fine. Those excuses stacked up, and years vanished.

One regret: I should've gone to them sooner.

With a sigh, I rubbed my eyes. No sleep tonight, it seemed.

A stray thought hit me. When the tower suddenly appeared in Jin So-yul and Kim Woo-jin's world—Earth-Branch 7—people's reactions. News called it an "unidentified structure." Religious folks cried divine judgment.

But in my world, towers weren't alien. They were web novel staples.

Listening to Jin So-yul's stories, it felt like Earth-Branch 7's people had zero prior knowledge of constellations or tower mechanics. Coincidence? Or some fundamental difference between my world and theirs?

Observer of the 0th Dimension. Still no clue what "0th Dimension" means. Table it for now.

Priority: the task at hand.

"Time for food."

On the tablet screen, Jin So-yul swung her one-handed sword through floor 5. Her mana had jumped significantly—must've done something.

One new thing: messages scrolling in the top-left of the observation window.

After clearing floor 5, constellation influence kicked in properly. Other constellations were now seriously observing Earth-Branch 7.

But this was the first approaching Jin So-yul. Then came the emphasis message.

A low-grade or higher constellation? Since I unlocked emphasis messages.

But abilities vary, so no guarantees. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Anyway, she's already contracted to me. Seems other constellations can't check apostle contracts—unlike me.

『Ah……! Lord Constellation, you're here.』

『Ignore the other messages. They've been popping up since yesterday. Seems more constellations are watching me since the influence projection.』

Does that mean my existence leaks too? No constellation community as far as I know—good. But just in case.

『……Why are you smiling?』

『Ah, got it. Don't worry. I'm your apostle, after all.』

"……Kinda pitiful."

Jin So-yul didn't rage or show disgust. If I had to label it, maybe a benevolent alignment?

Wandering Sand of Despair…… Filed that away as I watched her fight.

Hobgoblins charged. Jin So-yul casually severed the leader's neck, spun on the momentum to stab the second. The third swung from the side, but her kick landed first—knee to gut, launching it, then a slash across the airborne body.

Fourth, fifth, sixth. All down in under 10 seconds.

The goblin chieftain rose roaring, yanking its greatsword from the ground, aiming at her. She didn't flinch.

The fight ended easily. Weakened foe, sure, but she'd grown stronger too. Red haze billowed fiercely from her—intimidating.

But…… Kim Woo-jin's #MagicalGirl came to mind. Transformed, he pierced a goblin warrior—armor and all—with one mana shot. That'd hold on upper floors too.

#Regression consumed. New #Tag costs 10,000 CP. Current: 2,720. From floor 6, 9 years' experience alone won't cut it without a tag. Skill won't bridge the class gap.

"Max out CP supply…… Grant a tag before the boss floor at least."

Details later.

『Lord Constellation?』

『……Worrying twice makes me worry.』

『It's fine, Lord Constellation. No problem here.』

『Haha, Lord Constellation.』

『If something's bothering you, tell me. You're emotional too, right? I can read the nuance in your messages.』

A faint ache bloomed in my chest. Yeah, the Jin So-yul on the tablet was a living person. Connected to me through conversation.

Apostle. And I'm the constellation.

"Let's give it our all."

Up to floor 100. Beyond that? No idea. But as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a constellation, full throttle.

Jin So-yul gripped her one-handed sword tighter, re-entering floor 5.

Does this constellation like Jin that much?

『Ah…… Sorry, Wandering Sand of Despair. I'm already contracted to another constellation.』

『Wandering Sand of Despair……?』

Wide eyes? Unsettling message.

What to "take"?

『Ack……! Th-thank you.』

『Oh, uh…… Wandering Sand of Despair sent points……』

"……?"

Why? She reeks of easy mark.

『Lord Constellation……?』

On a hunch, I sent an emotion message. Didn't expect much.

CP exploded in an instant…… What a pushover this constellation is.