Emergency Defense Battle (4)
It had been an hour since the battle started, and Gong Pildu kept fighting nonstop. The number of monsters wasn't decreasing much, but still—it was impressive. There was a reason Gong Pildu was known as the "Strongest Defense" among the Ten Evils.
"You damn bastards!"
[Character 'Gong Pildu' has leveled up his skill 'Demilitarized Zone'!]
[Character 'Gong Pildu' has leveled up his skill 'Private Property'!]
[Character 'Gong Pildu' has acquired the skill 'Barrier Wall'!]
Since he was running [Demilitarized Zone] at full throttle, his skill leveling speed was insane. His sponsor must have been getting desperate, pouring in support to match Gong Pildu's growth. If he survived this, he'd grow immensely.
That is, if he survived.
"Uuuaaaargh...!"
According to the scenario, Gong Pildu still had to endure another seven hours.
It would've been perfect with some popcorn, what a shame.
Right beside me, Lee Jihye was snickering while watching the chaos downstairs.
She was yelling at me earlier to save people, and now look at her—such a classic move from Yoo Joonghyuk's disciple.
"But why isn't Yoo Joonghyuk coming?"
"How would I know? Master's always busy."
Busy, huh… Sure, maybe he is.
Those who want everything for themselves are usually the busiest ones.
I looked down at the half-dead Gong Pildu and casually asked:
"What time did Yoo Joonghyuk enter the dungeon?"
"Um… around 9 AM today…"
Lee Jihye stopped mid-sentence and shot me a sharp glare.
"...Wait, how do you know when Master entered the dungeon?"
Ignoring her, I did the math in my head. It was now 8 PM. That meant Yoo Joonghyuk had been inside the dungeon for 11 hours. And he still hadn't come out…
Damn it. He's the protagonist—nothing can happen to him.
I had no choice but to act.
I activated Goblin Communication.
"Bihyeong."
The goblin, who had been grinning in the air, turned sharply toward me.
[What? Out of nowhere.]
"Open the Goblin Bag."
[What? No way! My subscriber count's skyrocketing right now!]
Understandable. Thanks to my recent antics, Gong Pildu's popularity was plummeting. On top of his miserable state, he had just blundered into one of my traps. No way would the impatient "Play-Seeking" constellations stick around his channel.
So, where would those constellations go?
[New constellations are entering the channel in large numbers!]
Of course—to Bihyeong's channel, where I am.
[#BI-7623 channel is preparing for expansion!]
[Heheheh! Look at that! My channel's finally—!]
No wonder Bihyeong was so hyped.
But I didn't have time to be all smiles with him.
"If you don't want your channel to flop, open the bag. Just say you're running a short ad during expansion."
[Ah, damn it…]
Grumbling, Bihyeong played an ad and opened the [Goblin Bag].
Time to spend the coins I'd been saving.
"I'll give you 5,000 coins. Upgrade me to Gold Member."
Bihyeong stared at me for a moment, then sighed.
[You have spent 5,000 coins.]
[Congratulations! You are now a Gold Member of the 'Goblin Bag'!]
With the membership upgraded, the Goblin Bag's background changed. Coins really did have their perks. New item lists appeared, and I picked out what I needed.
Backer Contract – 10,000 C
Mid-Tier Mana Recovery Potion x10 – 5,000 C
One contract and ten mana potions… That should be enough.
It was a bit pricey, but the channel was about to level up—I'd recoup this quickly.
Bihyeong frowned when he saw what I'd chosen.
[Why the hell are you buying a contract? Did you forget you weren't going to become a sponsor?]
"What are you talking about? Why would I suddenly do that?"
Even if I did, there's no way I'd buy a contract with my coins.
Bihyeong was such a worrywart.
[You have spent 15,000 coins.]
[You have acquired 'Backer Contract'.]
[You have acquired 'Mid-Tier Mana Recovery Potion x10'.]
As the items floated down from the air, Yoo Sangah looked curious.
"What's that?"
"A contract that turns the boss into the lackey."
I filled out the contract carefully, writing my name in the 'A' (contractor) slot. Now, time to wait for the 'B' party to bite.
[Character 'Gong Pildu's sponsor requests aid from nearby constellations.]
Finally, Gong Pildu's sponsor hit their limit and started calling for help outside the channel. Not surprising—they were never a high-coin constellation. Not every star-being is rich.
[Constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' scoffs.]
Other constellations in his channel likely pulled their support after watching him crash and burn. His only incarnation was drying up… All part of the plan.
Bihyeong muttered, catching on.
[Wait a sec… You're not seriously…]
I called out to the nearly-dead Gong Pildu.
"Hey, you down there."
Boom boom boom! Gong Pildu looked up, barely conscious, amid the chaos.
"Wanna die like this? Or wanna make a deal with me?"
"Wh-what…?"
"I'm not a constellation, so I can't be your 'sponsor,' but I can be your 'backer.' What do you say?"
"What the hell are you babbling about, you son of a—!"
"Oh shut it, Gong Pildu. I wasn't talking to you."
"…What?"
I waved the contract in one hand and the mana potions in the other.
"Answer quick. If we make a deal, I'll give you all of this."
And then came the system message:
[Character 'Gong Pildu's sponsor reveals their modifier.]
[Constellation 'Defense Master' looks at you in disbelief.]
So. Still not ready to be a lackey, huh?
No rush. The longer this drags on, the more desperate they'll get.
Bihyeong turned to me.
[Are you insane?]
"What now?"
[You're seriously trying to sponsor a constellation? That's a first.]
"So what?"
[They're a constellation! No way they'd contract with some random human!]
"That's what you think."
The Defense Master. A constellation of moderate rank, but poor status.
His world had already been destroyed during an old scenario. His myth—forgotten. A forgotten myth means no coin income, and eventually, no existence.
That's why constellations like him obsess over acquiring incarnations.
Constellations preserve their existence in the world through their chosen incarnations.
That guy's out of coins now.
[What?]
Gong Pildu's power was rapidly dropping. Unlike "King of Scavengers," the Defense Master actually cared about his incarnation. If Pildu was dying, that meant his sponsor had run out of coins.
Without coins, they couldn't form a new contract.
What happens to a constellation who can't get a new incarnation?
If Gong Pildu dies, he'll be forgotten.
And for constellations, being forgotten is death.
A flicker of fear appeared in Bihyeong's eyes.
[Just who the hell are you…?]
If Gong Pildu could be recruited, he'd be a huge asset. Even Yoo Joonghyuk tried numerous times to win him over during his regressions—never once succeeding.
Yoo Sangah spoke up.
"Mister Reader, he's going to die at this rate."
Gong Pildu bit his lip hard enough to bleed. Only two mini-turrets remained in the [Demilitarized Zone].
His last stand was near.
[Constellation 'Defense Master' is curious about the contract terms.]
There it is. Bihyeong blinked in disbelief.
[…Seriously? You're serious?]
I held up the contract.
[Constellation 'Defense Master' begins reading the contract.]
From below, Gong Pildu, bloodied and battered, suddenly shouted.
It must've been a message from his sponsor—he heard it too.
"W-what the hell! What is this message?!"
"What do you think it is? It means you've been sold."
"W-What's going on, Pildu?"
[The constellation, 'Defense Master', is requesting a moment to consider.]
And shortly after, some welcome news came.
[The constellation, 'Defense Master', has added new clauses to the contract.]
[If you agree to these terms, the constellation 'Defense Master' will consent to the contract with you.]
I immediately read through the contract.
...
Incarnation Kim Dokja (Party A) acknowledges the property rights of the constellation Defense Master (Party B), and must guarantee the right to life of 'Gong Pildu', who is the private property of Party B.
15. Incarnation Kim Dokja (Party A) must assist 'Gong Pildu', the private property of Party B, so that he can grow well.
...
Guaranteeing the right to life and development. Honestly, this wasn't something that needed to be written down. If Gong Pildu joined my ranks, I'd naturally make sure he didn't die while using him harshly to raise his level. So the only really important clause for me was number 3:
Incarnation Kim Dokja (Party A) will, from this moment onward, possess the command authority over the private property 'Gong Pildu' of constellation Defense Master (Party B). (Max 10 times per day)
Having confirmed the contents of the contract, I nodded.
"I agree."
A faint thread formed between Gong Pildu and me, and system messages began to flow in.
[The contract has been signed.]
[You have become a joint sponsor of incarnation 'Gong Pildu' in accordance with the contract.]
[You have acquired command authority over incarnation 'Gong Pildu'.]
[The contract is valid for 5 years and will automatically renew unless otherwise terminated.]
To think I got the armed fortress Gong Pildu this easily—if Yoo Joonghyuk knew, he'd faint. If I hadn't read the original story up to the latter half, I wouldn't have known this kind of use for the "Sponsorship Contract" either.
I handed some healing potions to Yoo Sangah.
"Here. Give these to Gong Pildu. One every 40 minutes should do."
"…Is it really okay to give him this?"
I have to. If we don't, he won't be able to clear the main scenario. Gong Pildu, receiving the potions through Yoo Sangah, looked at me.
"What's this?"
"Drink it and fight."
He looked suspicious for a moment but soon opened the cap. A blue vapor rose from his body, and the crumbling turrets began to recover their original form.
[Character 'Gong Pildu's' mana has fully recovered.]
Gong Pildu wiped his potion-stained lips and looked up at me.
"You idiot. Do you think I'll forgive you just because of this? The day I get out of here will be your funeral—"
"Shut your mouth, Gong Pildu."
[Command authority has been activated in accordance with the contract!]
"Mmff, mmf?! Mmmfff—?!"
Poor guy. Doesn't even realize his situation.
"Well then, fight hard. Just don't touch my party."
"Mmmfff! Mmmmmmfff!"
Dududududu!
Yoo Sangah's eyes widened seeing Gong Pildu obediently follow my orders.
"D-Dokja? What's wrong with that man all of a sudden…?"
"I just turned the 'A' into the 'B'."
"…Did you trick him somehow?"
"You don't have to worry about Gong Pildu anymore."
That's when the constellations' messages began to pour in like bombs.
[Constellation, 'Secretive Plotter' finds your idea amusing.]
[Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' praises your strategy.]
[Constellation, 'Black Flame Dragon of the Abyss' finds you arrogant.]
...
Even though I carried out the contract in secret, some of them already noticed. The Defense Master is only a mid-grade constellation in terms of rank, but still, a constellation. And now a mere human like me had become a co-sponsor with a constellation. Of course, that would shake the constellation world. Some, like the 'Black Flame Dragon of the Abyss', will resist—but...
[A significant number of constellations are focusing on you.]
[A significant number of constellations want to become your sponsor.]
Most of them had realized my value. If they could become my sponsor, they'd also gain access to Defense Master's capabilities—it was only natural.
At that moment, the dokkaebi Biyu, owner of Gong Pildu's channel, appeared in the air.
[Constellations! Wh-Why are you all leaving?! D-Don't go! Just a little longer, please—!]
Biyu, who had placed the "survival cost" and "food penalty" at Geumho Station, was now wailing toward the sky.
[H-Hiiiek! N-Nooo—!]
Biyu's figure gradually became transparent.
[Channel #BIR-3642 has been forcibly terminated due to loss of subscribers.]
As I watched a channel crumble into nothing, Bihyung spoke with a trembling voice.
[Hey… Dokja?]
"What."
[Don't tell me… you were targeting Gong Pildu from the beginning?]
I just shrugged.
[You're insane… What kind of human are you…? What did I just make a contract with?]
Bihyung couldn't close his gaping mouth.
Whatever.
That part was done. Time to move on to the next destination.
I turned to my companions, who were still confused by the situation.
"Everyone. Sorry, but I have to leave for a bit."
"Huh? Right now?"
"There's somewhere I urgently need to go. Please, Hyunseong and Yoo Sangah, stay here. You won't need to do anything in particular—just toss a potion to Pildu every now and then and rest until the scenario ends."
Jung Heewon asked,
"What about me and Gil-Young?"
"Come with me."
"To where?"
"Hm… It's hard to explain, but there's a bad guy."
"A bad guy?"
"Yes. Someone who disappeared just to hoard items while others were dying. We're going to bash that bastard in the back."
Really hard. Jung Heewon hesitated, then asked:
"…Worse than Gong Pildu?"
I paused briefly and answered.
"Much worse."
"Then let's go."
"I'll explain more on the way."
I began to move with the now-eager Heewon and Gil-Young. But someone grabbed my shoulder—Lee Jihye.
"Wait, where the hell are you going?"
Sharp instincts, as always.
"Perfect. You're coming too."
"Where?"
"Yoo Joonghyuk is in danger."
She laughed, thinking I was joking.
"What kind of bullshit is that? My master, in danger?"
But when she saw my still-serious expression, the smile disappeared from her face.
"…You're serious? But how do you even know that?"
How? I'm probably the world's number one—no, second—authority on your master.
I checked the time and said,
"He went into the hidden dungeon at Exit 1, right?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"And it's been 11 hours since he entered?"
"Uh…"
Lee Jihye looked stunned.
To my memory, Yoo Joonghyuk challenged the 'Hidden Dungeon' in Chungmuro a total of eight times. Two of those ended in failure, and six in success. The problem is, the two failures happened in the early regressions—rounds 8 and 11.
And in the 8th regression… Yoo Joonghyuk died in the Chungmuro hidden dungeon.
"If we leave him alone, Yoo Joonghyuk dies today."
If my guess is right, our damn regressor is right now walking straight down the "Glass Cannon Route."