As the conversation concludes, Kim Dojka brought up his phone right in his face and started doom scrolling again..
"Again?!", I snapped. I am utterly baffled by this mans phone addiction.
He froze mid scroll and looked up at me from his phone, face scrunched up in confusion.
I immediately add, "I don't care what you do, but I have to ask..."
"How are you even watching something in that flickering screen? Just earlier it gave me intense headache." I winced just thinking about looking at such a flickering screen
Kim Dojka's eyebrows shot up.
"what? why are you actin-" my forehead creased is confusion
'why are you acti-'
[Constellation explode on you saying a flickering screen and not black]
[Constellation Prisoner of the golden headband is intrigued at the incarnation Kim Seojin]
[Constellation Secretive Plotter raises his eyes brow at the knowledge that you can see the Phone screen]
[Many Constellation expresses curiosity]
[Many Constellation offers to pay to know what's in the screen]
[...]
My browns knit together.
"....a filtering?"
Kim Dojka nods, confirming my guess.
One of my eyebrows lifted from sheer disbelief, "...a filter for a phone?"
"..." he stood silent, lips pressed thin.
"The hell do you even read?!" I cried out.
He stood in silence, just Blinking.
Cog wheels start turning in my head
'...a filter to a phone?'
"Had you guys perhaps seen anyone else use a phone and face the same issue"
[Few Constellations states that they didn't face filtering like this]
eyes narrowed thoughtfully
"...wait"
no but can it be...there can't be any other reason
"is it relate....?" I trailed off
'yeah' he didn't need to spell it out, his eyes gave me the answer.
"What the hell?" I mutter
My mind went blank at the revelation.
'....foresight on mobile?'
"how addicted were you to your phone?" I blurted out without thinking.
He scratched the back of his head letting out an awkward laugh.
[The sponsor for 'Gong Pildu' is asking for help from nearby constellations.]
Fortunately for him, the exchange was cut short by the massage
As I stand over the ledge, the sight of heavily injured Gong Pildu came to view. His 4 turrets has reduced to just 2 which are flickering in and out of existence.
[The sponsor for 'Gong Pildu' looks toward incarnation Kim Seojin]
I feel a intense gaze all of the sudden
"what?" I stare back from where I feel it.
[The sponsor for 'Gong Pildu' asks if you will help]
"Will ya pay me?" I grin
Yet inside I felt a pull, to go down and slash away at everything
[The sponsor for 'Gong Pildu' says that you have a non-aggression pact shouldn't you help?]
I look at the massage in bewilder
"what are you on about? the contract never said anything like that. It only existed that he doesn't harm us, and that because of his own fault"
[The sponsor for 'Gong Pildu' says if he can pay you later?]
I say nothing
Meanwhile Kim Dojka and others reached the ledge as well.
The sight of Pildo's condition deteriorating, I felt a tug in my heart. I was about to to give a value and then jump in when a hand grabbed my shoulder.
"Please wait Seojin" Kim Dojka whispered urging
My brows furrowed.
"please let me do something" He whispered to me again.
Kim Dojka has already walked up to the half dead Gong Pildu.
"Will you die here or sign a contract with me"
Gong PIldu head snaps toward Kim Dojka.
'what?' I tilt my head to the side
Kim Dojka continued, "I'm not a constellation so I can't be a sponsor. But if you want, I can be a person behind the scenes. How about it?"
"What is this bastard talking about…?" Gong Pildu asked in his muddied consciousness.
"Gong Pildu, shut up. I'm not talking to you."
"What…?"
My heart start drumming against my chest in excitement.
Kim Dojka brought out Paper and waved the 'contract' in one hand and the 'Intermediate Magic Power Recovery Potion' in the other hand.
"Answer quickly. I will give these items to you if you sign with me."
My face hurts from how big my grin is.
'his crazy hehehe'
Just then Gong Pildu's fire power has dropped significantly.
[The constellation 'Defense Master' is wondering about the contents of the contract.]
Kim Dojka showed the contract immediately.
[The constellation 'Defense Master' has started reading the contract.]
Gong Pildu, who was shedding blood on the lower floor, suddenly shouted. My head snap to him
"W-What? What is this message?"
[The constellation 'Defense Master' is asking for some time to think.]
I walked up to Kim Dojka
"Show me the contract!"
Kim Dokja looked at me, eyes observing me. Slowly he extended the contract toward me.
I carefully read the contract
I was pissed off because of how he was keeping his word, but this is too much.
I felt betrayed.
All of the sudden, I didn't feel as much excitement anymore, more so my mind felt muddy
The scene in front of my eyes became blurry
With each breathe, for some reason I felt weird. Like when you tie a tie too hard.
"Hey adjussi!"
Kim Dokja sensed the shift in my tone. He quickly brought his hand over his chest in a cross as my punch landed on them. He is launched like a bullet to the wall across us.
"Dokja-ssi"
Golden threads spread around me, trying to entangle me. I easily escape its entrapment.
Lee Hyunsung tried to rush to Kim Dokja but I was faster, much faster.
In a blink of an eye I was on top of Kim Dokja.
I stand on him, pulling him up by his collar. I bring my fist up to plant it in his face
"WAIT-"
I am in no mood to listen to his lies, "YOU LIED TO ME! YOU TOLD ME YOU WILL SAVE THEM. BUT THIS IS YOUR END GOAL HAH?!"
He stopped flaring his hands forward, as if giving up on trying to defend himself.
"YO-YOu used me li-like some...haa..haa... liar...haa...haa"
my mind was getting muddy from anger
at the thought of being a idiot
[Attribute Madness is active]
[Attribute Reason tries to counter act]
'I hate it...I hate it, why why ... why am I, like some helpl-'
Kim Dojka stared in to my eyes, one of which had unbeknownst to me turned violet.
"I am sorry. I hurt you by lying to you, I am really sorry"
I froze
'he didn't even defend or lie?'
My blood felt like it is boiling
Kim Dokja suddenly put a hand on my cheek, "your worked up because you're worried about Gong Pildu" he said with a smile.
'huh'
"n-no -" I freeze again. My eyes widen at realizing that maybe he is right.
"but then-"
"I have saved people no?" Kim Dojka pointed at people.
"but you-"
He suddenly started ruffling my hair
"I will keep my world, please wait."
I squint my eyes, his logic felt flawed yet...my mind couldn't pinpoint where. My mind felt weirdly high.
'mm' the ruffling felt too comfortable
...
'huh?!'
'why is his chest so close?'
I look left and right
'wait he picked me up?'
[Demon like judge of fire is squealing and screaming 'I ship I ship']
[Some constellation looks at the constellation with disdain]
[Many constellation chose silence]
[The constellation Insane one is bored. He expresses his hate that there was no blood.]
Kim Dojka has scoped Kim Seojin up and started walking toward the ledge again. He exchanged some words with the constellation. The constellation gave the updated contract.
I could feel him signaling me to stand on my own now. ...but being carried felt comfortable.
"..."
"..."
"...noh!"
His face twisted into pleading.
"...fine" I got off, my lower lips stuck out.
...
"you said you will save people....you never mentioned you will enslave someone"
"well.... I wouldn't say slavery, it's...more like employment contract-
I exhale slowly
"I don't care what what you do. But you lied to me. You never mentioned this."
Kim Dokja just stared at me
"tell me?"
"was this whole talk about saving not really about saving at all?"
"I understand why you feel th-"
"If you understood...." I harden my cracking voice "why...?"
he pauses
"...future"
I narrow my eyes
"and does it say enslaving someone will lead to salvation?"
he nods hesitantly.
"... who's idea of salvation? what you assume salvation is?"
His breathe hitched for a second
he took a long a breathe
"Seojin, tell me... have I saved many people by doing this, many who would have otherwise died?"
I pause,
"....yeah"
Kim Dokja lets a chest full of air. "I know it seems untrustworthy but please trust me. I will tell you later so please"
sigh.
...
However, the rest of the people on the floor felt utterly lost
"So... are they fighting or friends again?" Jung Heewon wondered
Lee Jihye thought out loud "....did he just sponsor a sponsor?"
...
"Everyone. I'm sorry but I have to leave for a while." Kim Dokja informed his party members
"Huh? Now?"
"There is a place I urgently need to go to. Hyunsung-ssi and Yoo Sangah-ssi, please stay here. You don't have to do anything. Just throw Pildu a potion until the end of the scenario and relax."
Jung Heewon asked, "What about Gilyoung and I?"
"You will come with me."
"To where?"
"Um… it is hard to explain but there is a bad guy."
"A bad guy?"
"Yes. A bad person who disappeared to eat items alone, regardless if people die or not. From now on, I am going to hit him in the back of the head."
Jung Heewon thought for a moment before asking. "…Is he worse than Gong Pildu?"
Kim Dojka contemplated for a moment before replying.
"He is much worse."
"Then let's go."
"I'll explain the details later."
He then turned to me,
"Seojin...."
"?"
He walked close to me,
"I know I lied... but, I need your help"
"with wat?!" I hissed
"I...want to save someone, he's...in danger"
I say nothing
He adds "He went a hidden dungeon where he faced danger. Please help me."
"U-Uh?"
My mind struck to the word hidden dungeon. But doubt crept in again.
"How can I trust you?"
Kim Dokja paused.
He let out a deep sigh before he continued, "I know you can't but pleases"
"sure but...I want to bring my companions"
he thought for a moment
"yeah sure"
...
before departure, Lee Hyunsung was vocal about weather it's safe for him to accompany me. Kim Dokja reassured him that It will be fine.
Yoo Sangah on the other hand went a different approach, she walked up to me and said, "I know Kim Dojka can seem suspicious at time but he mean no harm. please get along."
I didn't know how to reply to her request so I just nod but Kim Dojka's shocked face was very fun to watch.
...
while walking toward Exit one
Lee Gilyoung has been staring daggers at me as he clutched the hem of Kim Dokja's cloth.
"?"
Actually why am I looking at others. I glance back slightly.
Shin Yoosung
She too is clutching on to the hem of my jacket, sending her own daggers to Kim Dojka.
Gilyoung notices Yoosung glaring.
He glares harder.
Shin Yoosung grips my jacket tighter.
This been going on this whole walk
Not only me but Kim Dojka also noticed their behavior.
We both looked eyes to eyes before smiling at their antics.
Kim Dokja walk the whole path while staring at his phone
'I can't tell if he is using his ability or just addicted'
I exhale slowly
I Clenched my fist,
'weak'
I mostly felt okay but still felt slightly light.
"Dokja, what are you looking at?" Jung Heewon spoke up.
"…Ah, the calendar… This situation has made me lose my sense of the date."
I couldn't help give a deadpan stare. 'really?'
Jung Heewon looked at Kim Dokja suspiciously before turning her head towards Lee Jihye.
"Then… did you say your name was Jihye? Do you also use a sword?"
"Yes. I like the sword."
"Right? The sword is the best. It has a good taste."
"…Unni also knows the taste?"
'the hell are they on about now?' I turn my head slight.
Jung Heewon smiled as she eyed Lee Jihye's sword.
"Your sword looks good."
"ah-ha" Lee Jihye just nods, scratching her cheek.
Jung Heewon turns to me
"Your... swords looks good too."
for some reason my heart felt bubbly at the praise.
"yup, look"
I unsheathed my crystal sword and golden dawn so she could have a better look
Jung Heewon looked down at the groll horn blade and then sneaked a peek at the sword on our waists.
"My one… I-I like mine as well."
Honestly I feel bad seeing her so sad. She looked like a sad puppy how looking at other dog's toys as she got none.
"here"
her eyes widened. "yo-you"
"I am lending, I will take it back when we separate or you get a blade"
I decided to lend her the golden dawn. I have a sword, Crystal sword. And if I need to dual wield then I got the blades from before. one of them is still functionable.
Jung Heewon took the sword with shaky hands "th-thank you"
The sight of her admiring the sword was endearing.
Being on the topic of blades, from the corner of my eyes, the blade on Kim Dokja's hips caught my attention.