Chapter 57
Crossing the Broken Bridge (3)
'I can't cross the bridge right now because of the mission…
and that means there are only three of us, while the bridge only accepts an even number.
One person must stay here.'
Arthur slowly raised his gaze.
The young man was watching him silently, then said in a direct tone:
"Do you want to cross the bridge?"
Arthur smiled calmly.
"Right now, I have things I need to finish. I don't want to cross the bridge yet, but I do want to save this boy."
A brief silence followed.
The young man smiled faintly as well, as if he had made his decision.
'Should I go?
No… I can't.
There's one thing I'm certain of… even if I stay here, I'll survive because of him.'
He raised his gaze toward Arthur steadily.
Arthur noticed that look and understood its meaning immediately.
He moved, lifted Yi Shun with one arm, then headed toward the other small boy.
The child stepped back in fear, refusing to approach.
The young man smiled and stepped forward to speak with the child, trying to calm him—
But before he could say a word, Arthur suddenly rushed forward, grabbed the boy quickly, and threw both children together toward the group that had already crossed the bridge.
The young man's eyes widened, but it was already too late.
The muscular man was standing there and extended his arms, catching the two children before they hit the ground.
Shouts rose in the air:
"Big brother Arthur!"
"Brother Dokja!"
They tried to return, but the barrier covering Oksu Station completely prevented them.
Arthur smiled calmly as he looked at the young man.
"I am Arthur Narin."
The young man paused for a moment, then replied:
"I'm Kim Dokja."
Arthur tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm… Kim Dokja."
"A strange name… but truly distinctive."
Dokja smiled with faint sarcasm.
"I think many people would argue with you and say it's just strange."
Arthur shook his head with a wider smile.
"No, it's distinctive.
It has more than one meaning, and every meaning has a movement, and every movement has a story… and that's what makes it different."
Arthur laughed as he spoke, not realizing that he felt a strange sense of closeness to this person.
As if their meeting had not been a coincidence.
Dokja smiled with clear ease.
"Why didn't you go with your little brother?
Why did you decide to stay here?"
Arthur sighed lightly.
"As I said before… I have a mission I must complete first.
Otherwise… I'll die."
Dokja's eyes narrowed.
"What mission?"
Arthur smiled mysteriously.
"Nothing important…
I just have to kill someone."
The atmosphere around them changed.
Arthur gripped his cursed sword tightly.
At the same moment, Dokja's hand moved, his dagger appearing while a transparent blue aura formed around his body.
Arthur slowly raised his sword, pointing it toward the monster in the water.
"My mission… is to kill that little monster."
Dokja froze in place.
"What are you saying?
How can you do that?"
Arthur smiled bitterly.
"Honestly… even I don't know how.
But I have to do it. And if I don't… I'll die.
And I have to face it alone."
He sighed as he cursed his luck inwardly.
Meanwhile, the constellations were eavesdropping on their conversation.
Some mocked Arthur's declaration,
some encouraged him,
and others simply watched in silence.
Arthur felt somewhat relieved.
The monster had not appeared yet.
He looked at Dokja and asked:
"And you? I stayed because of my mission, so what's your reason for staying?"
Dokja smiled calmly.
"I couldn't leave your little brother to die. If I crossed with Lee Gilyoung, your brother wouldn't be able to cross, because you can't."
Arthur's smile widened.
"So you stayed just to save Yi Shun… without even knowing him?"
He burst out laughing.
"You're such an idiot."
Then he added while laughing:
"But I like this kind of foolishness."
Dokja paused for a moment, then said:
"That's not the only reason. There's still someone I want to meet."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Who? Everyone on the train died… except that arrogant bastard. And I don't think he'll die easily."
Dokja's expression changed.
"Did you meet him, Arthur?"
Arthur nodded.
"Yes.
He entered the train, broke the doors, asked me my name… then left. He didn't help me, and he didn't help the little boy. An arrogant bastard… like I said."
Dokja smiled quietly.
'So… you've finally appeared, Yoo Joonghyuk.'
After a moment of silence, Arthur said:
"Kim Dokja… I have a request."
"What is it?"
"I'll need about ten minutes of rest. Can you protect me during that time?"
Dokja studied his face.
"And what will I get in return?"
"One act."
(The act means that Arthur will carry out a request: fighting, hunting, a mission… anything Dokja asks for later.)
Dokja thought for a few seconds.
'Arthur is strong… and intelligent.
I might need him in the future.
And I still don't know who he truly is.'
"Alright. Fifteen minutes starting now."
Arthur smiled and opened the system window.
He did not argue with Dokja's manner.
In this collapsing world, grand words like sacrifice and eternal protection were nothing but hypocrisy.
This agreement… was far more honest.
He opened his personal window.
{Name: Arthur
Age: 19
Sponsor Constellation: ...
Special Attribute: Mad Demon
Exclusive Skills:
Quick Kill (Level 2)
Patience (Level 10)
Dark Aura (Level 5)
Swordsmanship (Level 8)
General Stats:
Endurance: 6
Strength: 7
Agility: 8
Magic Power: 9
Dark Energy: 9
Coins: 3400}
'Hmm… I have to distribute the coins wisely.
My current body cannot defeat that monster.
But I can raise my chances.'
He began spending the coins:
1000 on Strength
1000 on Endurance
500 on Agility
500 on Magic Power
He felt the change immediately.
Burning pain seeped through his body, as if bullets of energy were piercing him.
He sat cross-legged and began distributing the energy slowly and carefully so that no collision or internal damage would occur.
This was the best moment.
Having Kim Dokja behind him… gave Arthur a rare margin of safety.
After some time passed, Arthur opened his eyes.
Dokja was looking at him with silent astonishment.
Arthur stood up and examined his body.
It was harder…
stronger…
his height had increased slightly, and his muscles had become clearly defined.
It was no longer that semi-masculine body.
He had become… a complete man.
He smiled with genuine happiness.
'Finally…
I no longer look like a girl.
I almost killed myself just to avoid staying another second in that body.'
He opened his personal window again.
{Name: Arthur
Age: 19
General Stats:
Endurance: 15
Strength: 16
Agility: 19
Magic Power: 22
Dark Energy: 22
Coins: 400}
Arthur looked at the numbers with satisfied eyes.
'I'm stronger now.
Killing it won't be easy…
but my chances of winning… are much higher.'
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