Yoo Joonghyuk's quiet remark faded into the hum of broken lights. The dokkaebi, oblivious to his disdain, straightened itself mid-air as if nothing had happened. Its mischievous grin returned, wide and glimmering, as it turned once more to address the unseen audience of stars above.
[Ah, well! Enough of that, my dear Constellations~ Let's get back to the main event!]
With a snap of its fingers, the dim carriage flickered with a strange light. The dokkaebi twirled mid-air like a host stepping back onto a stage, its voice booming with exaggerated cheer.
[Now now, shouldn't there be a reward for overcoming all those hardships?] It gestured grandly toward Yoo Joonghyuk, as though presenting him before an invisible crowd. [As a reward for clearing the first scenario, you are now eligible for sponsorship from the mighty Constellations! Waaaahhh! How about that? Aren't you thrilled?]
It paused, expecting excitement—perhaps awe, or even gratitude. But Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes remained fixed, cold and unmoved.
The dokkaebi blinked, its grin faltering slightly as it looked around at the empty, blood-streaked carriage. [Hmm… no applause? Not even a smile? Aigo, this is really a big deal…]
Silence hung heavy in the air. The stars above shimmered faintly.
The dokkaebi's exaggerated smile lingered for a moment too long before it finally sighed, scratching the side of its head.
[Ah… really, incarnations these days. No sense of drama at all.]
Its voice trailed off into a mutter as it flicked its fingers again. Light began to gather in the center of the carriage, gathering into a translucent blue window. Lines of text appeared.
[Sponsor Selection]– Please select your sponsor.– Your chosen sponsor will be your strong supporter.
1. Prisoner of the Golden Headband
2. Abyssal Black Flame Dragon
3. Demon-like Judge of Fire
4. Queen of the Darkest Spring
5. The Lone Star of the Azaleas
The air shimmered faintly as messages began to appear, one after another. Yoo Joonghyuk stared at them without interest. He didn't need to read the details to understand what this was.
[A Constellation who hasn't revealed their modifier is revealing their modifier!]
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is greatly amused by your ruthlessness.]
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' wishes to sponsor you.]
Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze lingered on it for a moment before the next string of text appeared.
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is impressed by your discipline and resolve.]
[A Constellation who hasn't revealed their modifier is revealing their modifier!]
[The Constellation 'The Lone Star of the Azaleas' laughs at your defiance.]
. . .
The air grew heavier with each new message, filled with unseen gazes pressing in from the void. He stood motionless, the dull hum of broken lights filling the silence between the messages. But his expression didn't waver.
The dokkaebi hovered nearby, its earlier excitement fading into something halfway between annoyance and sarcasm. The mischievous sparkle in its eyes dimmed as it crossed its arms, floating lazily in front of Yoo Joonghyuk.
[Well, aren't you a bundle of joy,] it said dryly, lips twisting into a pout before forcing a grin. [Fine, fine. Just take a look at the selection for now! I have another carriage to take care of, too. You're not the only star of the show, you know~]
It gave a mocking little salute, the edges of its form flickering like static. [Good luck to you, hikiki~]
With a distorted laugh, the dokkaebi's body unraveled into fragments of light and vanished, leaving only the faint echo of its chuckle hanging in the cold air.
Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze lingered on the spot for a heartbeat longer before he turned back. Without the dokkaebi's voice filling the air, the silence of the carriage felt heavier than before. Only the hum of broken lights and the faint creak of twisted metal remained.
Yoo Joonghyuk stared at the glowing blue screen for a long time, its light washing over the blood-smeared walls. The list of constellations lingered before him, flickering faintly, waiting for his choice.
He didn't move.
Somewhere above, the air seemed to tremble. The Constellations stirred in irritation. He could almost feel their gazes. A faint pressure pushed against his chest, as if demanding attention.
He ignored it.
Turning away from the window, he began walking toward the front of the carriage. His boots clicked against the metal floor, the sound dull and echoing in the stillness. The air was heavy with the scent of iron and smoke. The corpses of the other passengers lay where they had fallen, their blood drying into dark stains across the floor.
Yoo Joonghyuk didn't spare them a glance.
When he reached the door leading to the next carriage, he paused. Through the small, cracked window, a faint light glimmered from the other side—the next car. He could see vague shapes moving, he could recognize those faces—he had been waiting for their appearance.
He reached for the door handle.
The moment his hand touched it, a shock of resistance pulsed against his palm. A faint shimmer rippled across the surface—a barrier. His brows drew together.
"…Tch."
He turned his head toward the floating sponsor selection window that still hovered persistently beside him, trailing his every movement like an unwanted shadow. The faint blue light reflected off the blood on his knuckles, flickering in rhythm with the carriage's unstable power.
A muscle in his jaw twitched. The list of sponsors pulsed faintly as if demanding his attention, but Yoo Joonghyuk's patience had already worn thin.
With a low, annoyed breath, he lifted a finger toward the corner of the screen. The small 'X' icon glowed there—mocking him with its simplicity.
"Enough of this," he muttered.
His finger hovered over the button, the veins in his hand tightening as he resisted the urge to simply smash the entire screen out of existence.
He was ready to close it and move on—to tear down the door to the next carriage and leave this farce behind.
But before his finger could touch the button, a burst of light flickered beside him.
[Wait!! Wait, wait, wait! What do you think you're doing?!]
The dokkaebi suddenly appeared out of nowhere, flailing both arms wildly as if trying to stop him by sheer panic. Its face was flushed with frustration, the tips of its hair sparking faintly with light.
[Seeing you about to close the sponsor window even made me come back here! Do you know how annoying that is?!] it exclaimed, clutching its head dramatically. [You weren't even supposed to see me again until the next scenario announcement!]
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at him blankly. "…Then go back."
[Several Constellations burst into laughter!]
[Some Constellations are laughing at low-grade dokkaebi 'Bihyung's' comedy.]
[Wh—what? That's not the point!] The dokkaebi's jaw dropped. [Why aren't you choosing a sponsor?!]
"I'm not interested."
[Some Constellations are shocked!]
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is interested in Incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk.]
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black flame Dragon' is pissed by Incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk's' statement!]
[Not—interested?!] the dokkaebi shrieked, floating in frantic little circles. [Are you serious right now?! Do you even understand what this means? These are Constellations! Higher beings offering you their power, their blessings—and you're just going to ignore them?!]
"I don't need them." Yoo Joonghyuk's tone was flat, calm, as if he were merely stating a fact.
[Some Constellations are greatly affected by your statement!]
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' curses at you!]
The dokkaebi froze midair, mouth hanging open. Yoo Joonghyuk didn't care, He closed the sponsor selection window and started to walk towards the next car's door. He quickly looked at the door connected to the carriage in front.
[Haaah... unbelievable. You're seriously hopeless!] The Dokkaebi groaned, rubbing his temples as if dealing with a lost cause. [Fine, fine! Don't come crying to me later when you regret this, alright? I've got other carriages to monitor anyway!]
It grumbled under its breath as its form began to flicker. [Tch... no sponsor, no sense... you're really something else.]
And with a frustrated pop of light, the dokkaebi vanished.
Yoo Joonghyuk didn't care. He looked through the blurred window at the 3807 carriage. It was already too late. It was inevitable. Anyway, only two people survived in that carriage.
[There is one minute left to complete the Sponsor Selection.]
Just a minute left until the barrier blocking the door to the next carriage disappear.
Not long after, the faint hum of the barrier shifted. A flicker of light dances across the floor, rippling along the metal surface.
[Sponsor Selection has ended.]
[Some Constellations are greatly affected by your choice.]
The field wavered, trembling just enough to break its weakening hold.
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is greatly displeased at your choice.]
"Finally..." Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed . Without a moment of hesitation, he planted his boot against the steel door and swung his leg with precise force. The impact echoing through the whole carriage.
[Some Constellation expected a more violent kick.]
The door got a big dent on it, but it wasn't enough. Yoo Joonghyuk followed with another kick and a punch, each blow grew heavier as he pushed himself.
[1,500 coins have been invested into 'strength'.]
[Strength Lv.16 -> Strength Lv.21.]
Yoo Joonghyuk used some of his coins to quickly strengthen himself up so that he could break the door with much ease.
[The Constellation who hasn't revealed their modifier are shocked because Incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk' is so quick to adapt to the destruction that happen before him.]
A few constellations are curious with Yoo Joonghyuk, yet he never seems to care about those beings above him at all.
Yoo Joonghyuk shifted his weight, and drove his fist straight into the center of the bent metal.
The weakened door finally gave in, bending inward with a loud thud and tearing as the hinges strained under the pressure. He followed with a sharp kick that forced the remaining to split. With one last, deliberate blow, the door tore open completely—leaving a rough, man-sized hole in its place.
Just when he was about to went through the hole, a rough teenage voice snapped from the other side of the broken door, sharp and hostile. "Hey! Who the hell do you think you are?!"
[The Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is sensing great violence!]
Yoo Joonghyuk knew well who that person was.