Sponsor Selection (1)
Was it even possible to smash through a thick subway steel door with nothing but bare kicks and no equipment at all?
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The answer to that question was unfolding right before my eyes.
Yeah, she's a monster of raw strength, all right. Whoever ends up dating or marrying her in the future has my deepest condolences.
How was anyone supposed to talk back after seeing power like that? One punch from her and you'd be dead on the spot.
Even a gorilla couldn't pull that off. What a terrifying woman. Honestly, I felt worse for the subway door.
Constellation, 'Lord of the Rabble', asks if it's really okay not to help Incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk'.
A number of Constellations look pitifully at Incarnation 'Park Jinwoo', who has dumped every task on Incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk' and is lounging in the back.
"Me? Help her?"
Why on earth would I, someone far weaker, need to help a person who was already smashing the thing just fine on her own? And they had the nerve to look at me like I was pathetic for it.
"Every single kick is warping that thick steel plate until it's screaming for mercy. You seriously want me to jump in?"
Just for argument's sake, picture yourselves stuck here under the exact same conditions as me. You Constellations wouldn't fare any better.
If you genuinely believe someone with my frail little stats could assist that gorilla of a woman, I'd recommend a trip to the ophthalmologist.
Constellations or not, there are things you say and things you don't. If I wandered over trying to "help," I'd probably get crumpled up right alongside that steel door.
There's a reason the old saying goes, "If you just sit still, you'll at least come out average." Take the hint, Constellations.
Then, while I was busy chatting with them, I noticed the flames creeping closer in our direction. Could she hurry it up? She'd be fine, but I would most definitely die.
"Hey. Almost done? The fire's heading this way."
"……Just shut up already."
Loud and clear.
"Yessir."
I'd really appreciate it if she stopped glaring at me like she wanted me dead just for speaking once. That stare alone felt like it could give me a heart attack.
Under Yoo Joonghyuk's relentless kicking, the steel door finally warped open a crack. Maybe ten more kicks and it'd be done.
Then a crackling spark burst in midair, and Bihyung—who hadn't been seen for quite a while—reappeared.
The moment he showed up, he snapped his fingers and snuffed out every last flame in Car 3707.
Gotta hand it to the Dokkaebi. At least now I wouldn't burn to death.
Haa…. The main scenario barely starts and you detonate a bomb so only two people survive, and now you're smashing doors to break into other cars. You two really are problem children.
"Welcome back, Dokkaebi."
"Do you ever keep that mouth of yours shut for even a second?"
Cracking jokes in a situation like this? You're not exactly normal either, buddy.
Bihyung clutching his head with one hand and glaring down at Yoo Joonghyuk and me from midair. Me, firing off quips at the Dokkaebi. And Yoo Joonghyuk, picking a fight with me for joking at the Dokkaebi.
What a circus.
"So, Mr. Dokkaebi. What brings you here?"
…First of all, congratulations on clearing the first scenario. With this, you have proven yourselves worthy of survival.
As a reward for passing the first scenario, you have earned the right to receive sponsorship from the Constellations. How about it? Exciting, right?
"………."
Not exciting in the slightest. What now?
Looking at the Constellations currently messaging me, there was absolutely nothing to look forward to.
The Lord of the Rabble, who got off on watching his own incarnation get beaten up. Order-Good aligned Constellations who'd skimmed my attribute window and were already branding me a pervert. And the absolute cherry on top—masochistic Constellations.
Anyone who'd get excited looking at a lineup like that was clearly out of their mind.
Right now, all of you are weak. Pathetically, hopelessly weak.
"Who's wea—mmph!"
"Would you shut that mouth already."
Before I snap your neck.
Nod nod nod!
If he'd only called me weak, I wouldn't have cared—but Bihyung had lumped Yoo Joonghyuk in with me, so I'd instinctively started to object. Before I knew it, she'd slipped up behind me, clamped one hand over my mouth, and seized my throat with the other.
I couldn't see her face or expression from where she stood at my back, but the cold, razor-sharp killing intent stabbing into the back of my skull made it crystal clear she was glaring daggers at me. I nodded frantically.
But uh… what was I supposed to do about this? Because she'd stepped in close to cover my mouth, something soft was pressing against me. She didn't seem to have noticed yet and was just standing there—but if she caught on, I was pretty sure I was going to die.
…Ahem. Moving on, then. If we simply tossed you weaklings into the scenarios ahead as you are, you wouldn't last against a 'Kruke'—you'd die the moment you ran into a pathetic little 'Ground Rat.' Fortunately, this universe has great beings who take pity on the likes of you and wish to offer their sponsorship. Do you understand what I'm saying?
"Mmph——!"
"………."
Yet another sudden brush with death. I frantically waved both hands, begging her to let go, mouth still sealed shut—but Yoo Joonghyuk refused to release me.
Muffled and desperate, I shot Bihyung a pleading look for help. He ignored me completely and kept his eyes fixed on Yoo Joonghyuk alone, as if to say, You get what I'm saying, right?
Yoo Joonghyuk met his gaze, said nothing, and simply tipped her chin in a gesture that meant she understood—keep going.
Looks like everyone understands. Hahaha! Then it is time for Sponsor Selection. May there be Constellations who take pity on you!
We get it already. Just let me go——!