Episode 3 – Contract (3)

Observant of the situation, I grasped the sequence of events.

“What is it? Is something amiss?”

[This is impossible. How can a firewall prevent system interference…?]

It seemed the Fourth Wall blocked not just the skills of an incarnation, but the dokkaebi’s interference as well. If this were true, it meant no one in Ways of Destruction could see my attributes window, not even myself.

How intriguing. It was the perfect condition to become a swindler.

“Forget about it.”

[P-Please wait! I can do it. U-Uh. What if I do this?]

“You can’t do it.”

[Kuaaack!]

Bihyung shrieked as if struck by electricity. The white, fluffy fur on his skin turned black.

[T-This! This!]

“It’s alright. If you can’t do it, then stop. I’ll ask for another favor.”

[This can’t be! I am Dokkaebi Bihyung. If I can’t resolve this, the honor of the dokkaebi―]

I glanced at the clock. An hour had passed since the ichthyosaur had eaten. There was no time for further delay.

“The dokkaebi bag.”

Bihyung ceased his futile attempts to manipulate the air.

[What?]

“Open the dokkaebi bag.”

[…How do you know about that?]

“Are you going to open it?”

[Only an incarnation with a sponsor can use the dokkaebi bag…]

“It is true that all incarnations using the dokkaebi bag have a sponsor. But there is no rule that an incarnation without a sponsor can’t use the dokkaebi bag.”

[…Wait a minute.]

Bihyung consulted a manual and confirmed it.

[At this point, I don’t know if I am a dokkaebi or you are. Are you actually a dokkaebi?]

The smiling Bihyung raised both hands.

[…Okay, there’s no problem if you use it. However, the dokkaebi bag can only be used when the channel is open for streaming purposes. Is that okay?]

“It’s fine.”

[#BI-7623 channel is open.]

[The constellations have entered.]

Then an electric current crackled in the air. A transparent screen materialized before me.

[Welcome to the coin shop, the ‘Dokkaebi Bag.’]

The Dokkaebi Bag.

It was the moment this world’s ‘cash store’ opened.

* * *

There were two ways to use coins in Ways of Survival.

One was to raise stats like stamina and strength. The other was to use them as currency in various stores, including the dokkaebi bag.

[Buy it now! A starter pack for your incarnation for 2,500 coins!]

[A today only special! A 300% growth package, grow faster than others!]

[Did you accidentally pick an incarnation with bad attributes? Don’t worry! The ‘Random Attribute Box’ that can randomly change attributes has been released!]

Numerous coin items, including various packages, were advertised. All the Dokkaebi Bag’s advertisements targeted constellations raising incarnations. It was natural. The Dokkaebi Bag’s original customers were constellations.

I dismissed the pop-up advertisements one by one.

It was nothing compared to the ‘disasters’ that emerged after the fifth main scenario, but a sea commander ichthyosaur was no different from a disaster for early-stage incarnations.

I needed items from the Dokkaebi Bag to defeat the ichthyosaur. Let’s see…

I consulted the catalog, then glanced at Bihyung.

“Hey, are these the only items I can buy right now? Is there a search function?”

[At that…shit. Wait. Constellations. Please. Please calm down.]

From the moment the channel opened, Bihyung repeated complaints, sweat dripping like comic relief.

[It was just a server error that shut the broadcast off for a while! I didn’t turn it off on purpose.]

Twenty stars hovered above Bihyung’s head. Since not many had left the channel, it seemed many constellations wanted to see what happened to me. Of course, not all constellations were friendly.

[A few constellations are questioning the fairness of the broadcast!]

[A few constellations are suspicious of the privileges you have received!]

It wasn’t unexpected. While the broadcast was down, a hidden scenario started, and the Dokkaebi Bag opened. It was no wonder the constellations were surprised.

[No, preferences? Look at this, Constellations. I am a dokkaebi. Don’t you know that I will be extinguished if I do that? Don’t you know that the storyteller vow is never light?]

“Will you help me?”

[…There is a product search button in the lower right corner.

“Thank you.”

Ignoring Bihyung, I pressed the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the package window.

[The product search function is activated.]

[The product search is limited to 5 times a day. Any additional searches will cost 100 coins per search.]

In any case, humans and dokkaebi were the same. The total number of free searches was five. Two searches were enough to buy the materials I needed, leaving three searches.

[The constellation Secretive Plotter is wondering about your plan.]

Yes, be curious. If you are curious, keep watching.

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is looking angrily at your actions.]

Don’t watch if you’re going to get all twisted up.

I opened my mouth to use the search function.

“Search for the ‘Ancient Dragon’ item.”

[There are three search results.]

A small pop-up window appeared.

* Ancient Dragon’s Heart – Stock

* Ancient Dragon’s Bone – Stock: 1

* Ancient Dragon’s Horn – Stock: 1

I chose the Ancient Dragon’s Heart.

[Item Information]

Name: Ancient Dragon’s Heart

Rating: SS

Description: A heart containing the magic power of the ancient dragon ‘Ignitus.’ It possesses near-infinite magic power and the attribute ‘Hellfire’ will be acquired if a heart transplant is successful.

Price: 1,500,000 C

Stock: Sold out.

As expected, it was out of stock. From beyond the catalog, Bihyung, dealing with the constellations, stared at me with his jaw agape.

[Crazy. How do you know the information about the ancient dragon?]

“I just called out a nice name.”

[…It seems like a lie.]

I shrugged.

In the original Ways of Survival, the owner of the Ancient Dragon’s Heart was already determined. If I remember correctly, the owner was currently in Italy.

A lucky person. They got such a diamond sponsor. I called out several more product names.

[The related product search is completed.]

* Great Demon’s Eyes – Stock: 0

* White Pure Star Energy – Stock: 1

The Great Demon’s Eyes was sold out… the constellations were really fast. Well, I couldn’t buy it since the selling price was 1 million coins.

At any rate, it was good to have a sponsor. Now the incarnation with the Great Demon’s Eyes would grow and destroy the beginner scenarios.

[What are you really? What type of cheat are you using? How do you know about items that can only be found in the search?]

“I just said plausible names.”

Of the three items, only the White Pure Star Energy was in stock. Furthermore, the price was 10,000 coins, so I couldn’t buy it now. I added it to my cart for later.

[What, are you buying it?]

“Not right now. I’m just browsing.”

[Sheesh, what a waste of time.]

“I’m going to buy something else, so bring up the items I call out from now on.”

I called out several item names. After a moment, a list appeared.

* Mucus of the Hammer Sea Horse – Stock: 124

* Stone Hog’s Pointed Thorn – Stock: 17

I compared it to my memory. The ichthyosaur’s food, the hammer sea horse and the stone hog, the nemesis of sea creatures… There was no doubt. This combination was the best for attacking an ichthyosaur.

“Four mucus, four thorns. Is it 800 coins?”

[Yes, but…where are you going to use these miscellaneous items?]

“You don’t need to know.”

[…I don’t want to be nosy, but why don’t you buy something else? For example, this Woryeong Sword Technique. It’s originally 8,000 coins, but I’ll sell it for 4,000. Wouldn’t buying this be more helpful for clearing the scenario?]

“Thank you, but I’ll just buy this.”

Bihyung wasn’t satisfied but processed the payment.

[800 coins have been consumed.]

In the darkness, sparkling powder gathered, and four elongated thorns and four pouches of black mucus appeared.

[I can’t give a refund if you regret it now. Do you understand?]

“I know.”

I briefly nodded and began preparing. I removed my top, tied it around my waist, and secured the thorns, while the mucus pouches hung from my waist.

The stone hog’s thorn was stubby but sharpened at the end. It was approximately one meter long. A reasonable size for piercing.

[Hrmm…then I’ll be going. I can’t stay with you. There’s something fun going on elsewhere.]

“Do it.”

[Huhu, then hang in there. I hope the story will bless you.]

Bihyung vanished in a flash of light, and the surroundings darkened again. I could use my phone’s light, but I wanted to conserve battery power.

In the darkness, the stone hog thorn emitted a bluish light. It was dim, but sufficient for the moment.

I pulled out a thorn and swung it. Perhaps because I lacked skills like Weapons Training or Incarnation of All Soldiers, I couldn’t get used to wielding the thorn.

[A few constellations are bored.]

The impatient constellations left the channel. I couldn’t see it, but Bihyung was probably fretting.

An hour passed.

Left, right, up, down.

I didn’t like it, but I was no longer struggling with the thorn. The rough surface wouldn’t slip easily.

Time to begin. I used the proper force and stabbed at the ichthyosaur’s wall above me.

Tiing!

It was like poking a rubber band wall; the thorn bounced off. My current strength wasn’t high enough to pierce the ichthyosaur’s stomach. It would likely be the same if I used a skill.

Ku ku ku ku!

At that moment, small holes opened simultaneously at the top of the stomach wall. A truly disgusting liquid poured out.

“Kuweek!”

One of the demonic figures floating within shrieked.

Chuchuchu. The demonic figure’s skin began to burn. The ichthyosaur’s digestive juices mixed with the river water, dissolving the concrete and other floating debris.

Chu chu chu chu!

There was no time. My plan was working.

I leaped from the floating object, gripping a bump on the stomach wall. I began climbing the wall like a rock climber.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle.

The outlet of the digestive juices was directly above. I placed the thorn in my mouth and grabbed a pouch of mucus.

The hammer sea horse’s mucus. I carefully applied the dark blue liquid to the tip of the thorn.

It was precise, like applying shaving cream to a surface. If the shaving cream protected the skin from the razor, the mucus protected the thorn from the digestive juices.

Go. I swung the thorn towards the source of the digestive juices. The angle was correct, and I used my maximum strength.

Kwaang!

The digestive juices flowed down the thorn, dissolving the skin on my forearm. I felt excruciating pain, but didn’t stop. A mistake here meant everything was lost.

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ has lessened the pain.]

Gurgle, gurgle. Chururuk…

Soon, the thorn jammed the emission point.

“Just one.”

Taking a deep breath, I pulled another thorn from my waist. I applied the mucus, found another opening, and blocked it.

[A few constellations admire your composure.]

[The constellations have sponsored you 200 coins.]

I repeated this method, blocking three more openings. There were others, but the smaller openings didn’t release large amounts of digestive fluids.

One thorn, two pouches of mucus remained.

I applied the remaining mucus to my skin and clothes, and swallowed the rest.

“Kup.”

The fishy taste was sickening, but better than death. The bitterness was nothing compared to the disaster that would follow.

About five minutes later, the entire stomach began to tremble.

…It had begun.

Kieeeeeeek-!

The ichthyosaur let out a pained shriek. The blood vessels on the stomach wall writhed. The thorns were visibly expanding into the blood vessels.

The thorns in the openings had begun their aggressive growth activity. The stone hog’s thorns grew in response to the seawater creatures’ body fluids.

Gududuk, gududuk.

The thorn, immune to the digestive juices due to the mucus, absorbed the surrounding fluids and began to take root in the ichthyosaur’s body.

The stone hog’s thorns wouldn’t stop expanding until the ichthyosaur was completely dead.

Keeeeeeh!

As I watched the swirling liquid beneath my feet, I gripped the thorn tightly. I did everything I could. From now on, it was a mental battle.

Either I died, or this guy died. Only one of us would survive.