Lee Gilyoung and Yoo Sangah went to use the bathroom while everyone waited for them to come back.
Then, they felt the presence of a man coming down the escalator from B1, giving off a huge momentum.
"Master, it is that person. He pretended to be Master's companion."
Lee Jihye cried out shrilly as she pointed to Kim Dokja. Yoo Joonghyuk looked at him with impressively fierce eyes.
Van observed the exchange, also curious to know if that unsociable swordsman really had a companion.
[The character 'Yoo Joonghyuk' is greatly disturbed.]
[Exclusive skill, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint stage 2 has been activated!]
Kim Dokja waved to him and said casually.
"Hi Joonghyuk."
No answer.
"Have you been well? Your face looks good?"
Everyone was focused on the exchange, holding their breaths. There was a tight tension in the air.
Lee Jihye looked between the two like she couldn't believe it. She never thought he would be a companion of Yoo Joonghyuk.
Van found the situation interesting. Judging from Yoo Joonghyuk's expression, the two were clearly not on friendly terms.
"These people don't believe I am your companion. Can you tell them?"
Coming back from the bathroom, Lee Gilyoung was faced with this awkward situation and silently came to Kim Dokja's side.
[A few constellations are paying attention to character Yoo Joonghyuk's answer.]
[The constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is observing the loyalty of Yoo Joonghyuk.]
Van took out another cigarette from his pocket, having finished the previous one.
At that moment, Gehrman addressed Van.
"Excuse me."
Van turned toward the other man, signaling for him to speak.
"Don't smoke around children."
Van's hand paused.
Looking down at the child clinging to Gehrman's leg, his gaze met Shin Yoosoung's.
Inhaling smoke was indeed bad for children's health.
Quietly, Van put back the cigarette inside his coat.
***
"Yoo Joonghyuk, can I hit you?"
"If you have confidence."
After Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk's odd exchange was finished, the group heard about the green zones.
[There are 1 hour and 30 minutes before the third scenario is activated.]
Kim Dokja was thinking.
In order to break through the third scenario, Gong Pildu's help was absolutely necessary. But if he couldn't get his help…
The reader turned his head toward a man sitting on the side.
Probably due to Jung Heewon's presence, Van had stayed with Kim Dokja's group.
If it was this man, would Gong Pildu listen to him? It happened earlier.
But did Van even have a reason to help them?
"Would it be possible for you to convince Gong Pildu to use his skill to protect everyone?"
If it wasn't possible, maybe he could ask Gehrman to go threaten Gong Pildu.
Van considered the possibility for a moment.
"Gong Pildu isn't the type to risk his life for other people."
So even if he was scared of Van, it wasn't enough for Gong Pildu to do everything he was told to—Kim Dokja understood.
Then, the topic shifted to the fact that Gong Pildu's group was monopolizing the public facilities and making people pay to use them.
"That doesn't mean there is no way." Kim Dokja added.
"Huh?"
"It might be difficult but there is a way to defeat them."
The group started to discuss about getting Gong Pildu out of the Armed Zone.
"His Armed Zone will be released as soon as he leaves his designated area. His mini-turrets will also become useless. Usually, there are many restrictions on such a wide defense skill."
The group looked at him with admiration.
"Ah… I see."
"You figured this out after seeing it once? Is this Dokja-ssi's attribute?"
Van listened to their conversation in silence.
[There is 1 hour before the third scenario is activated.]
Then, a dokkaebi appeared in the air.
[Now now, shall we start the third day of the main scenario? New faces have arrived today so won't it be fun? Hahaha!]
+
[Main Scenario #3 – Green Zone (Day 3)
Category: Main
Difficulty: C
Clear Conditions: Occupy the 'green zone' in the station and survive the monsters that emerge every night at midnight. This scenario will last 7 days.
Duration: 8 hours.
Compensation: 1,000 coins
Failure: ―
+
Van glanced at the familiar scenario contents.
It was for this reason that Lee Jihye was staying upstairs, guarding her and Yoo Joonghyuk's green zone.
As for him, he was a different case.
Due to his target resistance, it seemed he wasn't counted as a person, so the number on his green zone remained 0/1. However, thanks to the green zones not registering his existence, that also meant he didn't have to care about the total number of people in green zones nor fight for one.
On the contrary, the problem now was finding a zone for the new people who had come to the station. There shouldn't be any zone left at the moment.
[It is simple. Occupy the green zone before other people. Of course, you can take away the green zone of others. By the way, you should hurry. If you don't have a green zone after the scenario starts, you will have a terrible experience. Haha, then everyone should try it!]
People's expressions hardened as they heard Bihyung's words. In the meantime, the screams of people continued.
Peok! Peok! Peok!
"Die! Die!"
"I-I'm not doing this because I have a grudge! I must survive…"
Was it a mistake if Van thought that the guy who knew about the Armed Zone without it being explained to him would also have a solution in this situation?
Yoo Sangah asked in a trembling voice, "Surely we don't have to fight like these people?"
"We don't need to fight. Just find a room that can accommodate a large number of people."
There should be no such room left currently.
"The size of the green zones vary by type. It ranged from fitting only one person to fitting 70 people like Gong Pildu's area. Of course, if there are any rooms left."
Jung Heewon opened her mouth.
"Dokja-ssi is really talented at making people uneasy… then let's move right away. Maybe there are some rooms left."
"It might be faster to split up. Divide the team. Hyunsung-ssi will move with Sangah-ssi, Gehrman-ssi with Yoosoung, while Heewon-ssi should take Gilyoung."
"Dokja-ssi?"
"I'm fine on my own."
Lee Gilyoung spoke up first.
"Hyung, that… what if we can't find one?"
"If we can't find a room 20 minutes before the scenario starts, we will gather here again."
"I understand. Then I'm going."
The team then scattered in an orderly fashion.
Now that the children were away, Van finally took out another cigarette and lit it.
Kim Dokja looked at him.
"You're not searching for a zone?"
Translation: Why are you not leaving? Go away.
Exhaling a puff of smoke, Van curiously asked, "You seem to know a lot. Do you know about any space or time skills?"
Since space magic consumed too much mana, he was unable to teleport. However, in this Star Stream, he figured finding a related skill would be more efficient.
A few ideas came to Kim Dokja's mind, but he shook his head. He shouldn't show all his cards.
"Such skills are rare."
"Then tell me if you find anything."
Nodding, Kim Dokja proceeded to ignore Van and looked at his phone.
Van didn't ask any more questions either.
Kim Dokja focused on Ways of Survival, rereading ever single word. If he followed this strategy, he knew there wouldn't be enough places for everyone.
[There are 30 minutes before the third scenario is activated.]
[What are you doing now? What are you doing right now with a blank notepad? All the constellations are going crazy with frustration because of you!]
The reader pointed at his phone.
"Is this what you are referring to?"
[Yes! What are you going to do with that notepad? You will die if you stay still! Ha, I believed in a guy like this and signed a contract…]
Kim Dokja tuned out Bihyung, looking around instead.
[Green Zone 1/1]
"…Don't come any closer."
Having finally won the fight for the zone on platform line 3, a boy pointed a knife at Kim Dokja.
"Don't worry, I won't take your room," Kim Dokja affirmed.
Behind him, Lee Jihye's voice resounded.
"Really? You are quite relaxed Ahjussi. Do you want to die?"
Then, she pointed at Van.
"Although that guy over there can casually kill someone and get their zone in no time, maybe Ahjussi should worry more about it."
It sounded like it had actually happened.
"It looks like you are quite free."
"Nobody touches my room. I will send everyone who touches it to hell."
Twirling a deep blue blade round and round, Lee Jihye watched Kim Dokja carefully and opened her mouth.
"I don't want Ahjussi to die. You were quite impressive against Master earlier."
"Don't worry, I won't die. I won't die even if I don't find a room."
***
In the meantime, Gehrman and Shin Yoosoung walked side by side, searching for green zones.
"Ahjussi, can I ask you a question?"
The child curiously spoke up.
Keeping up his facade, Gehrman merely glanced down at her. However, the child was used to it by now and didn't flinch as she received the man's gaze.
"Why does it look like you aren't searching?"
Shin Yoosoung was right. They were aimlessly walking since earlier. Although it could be interpreted as exploring the surroundings while seeking free rooms, Gehrman hadn't been looking around at all.
Klein looked forward again.
Was it that obvious?
Although he hadn't intended to hide that he wasn't searching, he hadn't expected the child to notice it either.
"There aren't any free rooms left."
He had made a divination earlier.
Since they wouldn't be able to find anything no matter how hard they looked, searching was pointless.
"How does ahjussi know?"
"It's a skill."
A skill? Shin Yoosoung tilted her head but didn't delve further into the matter. Gehrman didn't seem to want to reveal more.
Holding Gehrman's hand, Shin Yoosoung soon spoke again.
Since they didn't have to search, couldn't they use this time to talk?
"Sometimes, ahjussi has that look in his eyes."
In front of the ruined scenery.
When people fought each other, killing others.
When others sat on the side, injured and in despair.
Despite hiding his emotions behind a mask and pretending to be cold, although no one else saw it, Shin Yoosoung noticed the feelings flashing in his gaze.
"You look sad."
And also something else, as if he were remembering distant memories.
Reminiscence? Nostalgia? Loneliness? Loss? What was it?
The sharp child innocently continued speaking.
"Did you experience something similar before, ahjussi?"
Gehrman didn't answer.