Chapter 24

The limited random items box… According to the setting of Ways of Survival, this was a coin item which had been sold as a limited edition in a past ‘scenario . ‘

[Ah, no, why is this thing here?] The alarmed Biryu shouted belatedly . [I-I-It was banned immediately after release!]

According to the original Ways of Survival, the setting of this item was quite complicated . This coin item had been released long before the 8612 Planetary scenarios began . It was a product which had been forcefully banned by the Star Stream Administration Bureau .

If sub-items were put in, it would ‘unconditionally’ spit out a top item . This would have a tremendous impact on the balance of the scenarios . Additionally, the price of one item box was a huge one million coins . The constellations had been angered by this ridiculous billing policy, so the stupid dokkaebi who invented this item got fired from the Administration Bureau .

[C-Constellations . It is like this… I don’t know why it is here… H-Hihihit! Broadcast end!]

[#BI-7623 channel has closed temporarily . ]

The delirious sounding Biryu closed the channel, and the voices of the constellations disappeared . I regretted not being able to see the reactions of the constellations, but it couldn’t be helped . I looked down at the vibrating box . The random draw was about to start in earnest .

[A sword type item will be awarded for putting in the same type of items!]

[The random draw has started!]

The limited edition random item box randomly spat out items of a higher rank related to the item you put in . There was a chance for anything from a C-grade to an SSS-grade item to emerge . In the end, it was all up to chance .

[The offered items are related to a certain constellation!]

[The probability that an item associated with this constellation will appear is greatly increased . ]

‘…Eh?’

It was an unexpected message, but it didn’t seem to be a disadvantage for me . Both my hands were sweating . I hadn’t been so nervous when I bought a random chance item in an online game .

‘Please let it be an A-rating . ‘

[A top-rated item has appeared!]

[The number of available random item boxes is 0 . ]

The box soon stopped trembling, and the faint light subsided . Then I looked around at Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung, whose eyes were shining .

“Shall we open it?”

“Yes!”

We opened the box .

“W-Wow!” Lee Gilyoung was so surprised that he screamed .

By the way, it really was amazing . With a luxurious silver guard and a white blade… Its shape was somewhat similar to Broken Faith? I immediately checked the item information .

+

[Item Information]

Name: Unbroken Faith

Rating: Star Relic

Description: In the past, it was the sword of the hero ‘Kaizenix’, who led the Grusiad during the Great Demon Age . The great ether dominance of Kaizenix allowed him to create a ‘Blade of Faith’ that contained fire, darkness and divine power respectively .

As an additional option, it increases strength and physique level by 2 .

+

I was speechless . No… was this real? It wasn’t a simple alphabet rating but a star relic item?

“D-Dokja-ssi! Doesn’t it look like a huge item?”

It really was a huge item .

In the world of Ways of Survival, the ‘star relics’ were the only items excluded from the ratings table . It wasn’t just because they had a strong performance but because these items were special .

Every star relic contained the power of a living constellation . The difference in performance varied depending on whether the constellation was the hero of a certain world and how much awareness they had . Regardless, they contained the power of a constellation, so the relics had tremendous value .

Furthermore, it raised the level of my strength and physique by 2 . When taking into account that A-grade items increased the total stats value by 1, this must be at least an S-grade item . Yoo Jonghyuk had yet to obtain an item like this .

I looked around at Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung . “…Can I really have it?”

“Of course . It naturally belongs to Dokja-ssi,” Yoo Sangah responded in advance to his repeated question . Lee Gilyoung also nodded eagerly . I looked at Han Myungoh, but he was just eating the leg of a ground rat with a stupid expression while muttering unknown things to himself . I thought he would insist on having the item… It was strange .

[You have acquired a star relic . ]

[The owner of the star relic is curious about you . ]

The message showed that the constellation existed somewhere . Later, I would open up Ways of Survival and look for it .

“Then we should go back . There are plenty of ground rats out there, so we can go back with just the Magic Power Stove . ”

“By the way, how do we get back?”

“It won’t be a problem to leave with Gilyoung’s power . Use Diverse Communication and…”

However, Lee Gilyoung’s expression wasn’t bright . “Hyung, I…”

“Huh?”

“There aren’t any insects nearby . ”

Come to think of it, the insects around here had burst from the pressure when I was fighting the dark keeper . It was a problem I hadn’t thought about . “There really isn’t one? Some of them should still be alive . If we move for a bit and use the ability…”

There were so many insects in the world that I didn’t have any sympathy for the few who died, but Lee Gilyoung still had a dark expression .

“Well, there is one I can actually call…” Lee Gilyoung closed his eyes and started concentrating .

“Dokja-ssi, isn’t this a bit strange?”

Lee Gilyoung’s eyes were gradually losing focus . Then blood flowed down from his nose .

“Gilyoung?”

All of a sudden, there was a loud vibration from above them . Dust started falling down . The vibration was coming from aboveground…

At this moment, goosebumps appeared on my skin .

“Gilyoung! Lee Gilyoung! Wake up!”

“Yeah… Hyung?” Lee Gilyoung’s eyes returned to normal .

“Gilyoung, stop the skill! Quickly!”

The surprised Lee Gilyoung stopped the skill, and the vibration subsided . I sighed with relief .

There were incredibly dangerous monsters running around aboveground . There were numerous high-rated monsters, including the 7th grade rhinoceros . Among these monsters was the insect king . It was obviously a type of insect just based on the name .

“You really…” I placed my hand on Lee Gilyoung’s head and didn’t say anything . Gilyoung was about to call an insect king from aboveground… Was he Fabre? We almost got buried here .

“For the time being, seal this skill . Don’t use it unless I tell you to . Understood?”

“Yes…” Lee Gilyoung replied in a sad manner . Now there was no choice but to wait .

“We will get lost in the darkness . Let’s wait a bit longer and move when small insects appear in the vicinity . ”

It was easy to enter but the Edge of Darkness was a very dangerous place . This was a place where someone could disappear for a day or two if a little mistake was made . Then Yoo Sangah raised her hand . “If it is just going back, I think I can fill in for Gilyoung . ”

“…How?” I was going to ask if she would converse with the Edge of Darkness but stopped because it seemed sarcastic . Yoo Sangah replied in a slightly uncertain tone, “I have a similar skill . ”

When I thought about it, I still didn’t know Yoo Sangah’s attribute and sponsor .

“What is the skill?”

“That, it is a complicated skill to untangle…”

Untangle?

“…Excuse me, can I ask what Yoo Sangah-ssi’s attribute is?”

Yoo Sangah wasn’t a character in the novel, so I didn’t know her attribute . It was like with Lee Gilyoung and Han Myungoh .

“Uh, that…”

Yoo Sangah made a difficult expression . It wouldn’t have been so frustrating if I could use Character List on Yoo Sangah . I tried to use Character List once again as a test .

[The exclusive skill, Character List is activated . ]

[This person isn’t registered in ‘Character List . ‘]

Indeed… but there was one more message .

[Currently collecting information about the corresponding figure . ]

‘…Eh?’

It was a message that never existed before . Come to think of it, I heard a system message when Yoo Sangah used the ‘Interpreter’ skill . It wasn’t something that was originally heard . Was it possible for the Character List to be updated after some time? Perhaps…

I organized my thoughts and decided to let Yoo Sangah go . “Forget that I asked . By the way, nice work . In the future, don’t let other people know about your personal attribute . ”

“That’s not it! I trust Dojka-ssi…!” Well, Yoo Sangah’s appearance said otherwise .

At the moment, I got an idea . “Can Yoo Sangah tell me about the nature of your sponsor?”

Yoo Sangah bowed her head . “I’m sorry . ”

The words barely escaped from her trembling lips . Based on this level, it was possible that she made some type of promise in the contract with her sponsor . Perhaps there was a life constraint in respect with the spilling of information . I didn’t know what sponsor they were, but it seemed they had decided to raise Yoo Sangah in earnest .

“It is okay . I understand . ”

“Thank you, really…”

There was no need to thank me . The fact that she couldn’t tell me about her sponsor… made my heart tense . It was the desire of a reader who wanted to fill the space between empty lines .

“Then try using your skill . ”

Soon, a faintly shining thread emerged from Yoo Sangah’s fingertips and started to stretch out . “In fact, I tied up a ‘thread’ when I got kidnapped . ”

One branch of the thread was connected to me and the other one was connected outside . Maybe it was bound to Lee Hyunsung or Jung Heewon .

“Let’s go . ”

There was no reason for Yoo Sangah to have such a skill from the beginning . This was definitely the stigma provided by her sponsor . By the way, it was a ‘thread’ to escape the labyrinth . This… Somehow, I thought it was a constellation I knew .

[#BI-7623 channel is open . ]

I started hearing messages from the constellations again .

[A number of constellations have put a claim on the channel’s transmission system!]

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is curious about what came out of the random item box . ]

Ah, they haven’t seen it? What a pity .

[Damn! That bastard messed with my channel… Hahahat! Did you stay well while I was away?]

The nice… No, a familiar voice was heard .

Bihyung .

* * *

[…You did such great things while I was gone?]

‘Was it because of me that you couldn’t come back?’

[It… Yes, it isn’t unrelated . I got a warning from the Administration Bureau because the advertisement went on for too long . ]

Currently, Bihyung’s voice was only audible to me . It was the ‘dokkaebi communication’ that only the dokkaebi could use . Of course, it was an obvious violation of the rules to allow me to use it .

[I have decided not to care about small things now . And I can go back and forth to the Administration Bureau . Rather… how do you know about the ‘Random Box’?]

‘Just, I found it by chance . ‘

[Dammit . There are still remnants of the black history left . Why is that box there…]

‘Black history?’

[······ . ]

‘…Wait . Surely that absurd coin item wasn’t planned by you?’

As a reader of Ways of Survival, I didn’t know this .

[Damn! If I wasn’t greedy at that time…]

Bihyung’s grumbling was cut off by Jung Heewon’s cry of admiration, “Wow, it really is delicious! What a surprise . ”

10 minutes ago, we safely returned to the rest of the party thanks to Yoo Sangah’s guidance . Fortunately, Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung had maintained the boundary until we came back .

“You will recover a bit after eating . ”

“Well, I really think that my body is getting better . ” Jung Heewon seemed much better as she swung her shoulders in a test . The meat of the underground species actually contained detoxification components .

“Did you get a lot of things in there? In addition to the Magic Power Stove…”

I looked at Lee Hyunsung and said, “I got a few things . ”

Lee Hyunsung put on and removed the Old Steel Shield, which he received from me, repeatedly several times . Now, he was polishing the surface again and again . It was like someone with a new car .

[The character ‘Lee Hyunsung’ feels a faint loyalty to you . ]

Jung Heewon seemed envious of the scene and asked, “Is there anything I can use?”

“No . ”

“What is that blade?”

“It is mine . ”

“…Will you distribute the meat to the people?”

“If they have coins . ”

“But… you are really stingy . Kim Dokja . ”

“Let’s just say that I have a strong sense of survival . ”

As we were passing around a piece of cooked ground rat, the tunnel ended . The surroundings suddenly brightened, and people started to be seen . However, the atmosphere was weird . What was this urgent and bustling mood?

[There are 20 minutes left until the paid settlement . ]

[Prepare the survival fee . ]

I belatedly noticed the time . That’s right . It was already that time . It was amazing that the word ‘paid’ could sound so scary .

“Coins, coins, please!”

“I don’t have enough coins! Please, a few coins…”

100 coins wouldn’t be a problem if they faithfully participated in the scenario, but such humans were rare .

“I’ll give you one million won—no, ten million won! Who will sell 100 coins?”

The price of the coins was soaring . It was funny . There was a ridiculous premium on money that had no value until the beginning of the destruction . There were people who smiled as they watched from afar . These guys already had enough coins . It was Cheon Inho and the Cheoldoo Group . A few women flocked toward the gang members and cried out, “Y-You said you would give me 100 coins before!”

“Hrmm, is that so? I don’t remember . ”

“What…?”

“I will think again if you will let me put it in one more time . How about it?”

Jung Heewon pulled out her blade and stared at them . “Those sons of bitches…”

[The attribute of character ‘Jung Heewon’ is about to blossom . ]

The time had come for Jung Heewon . It wasn’t bad if her attribute blossomed now… Yet she needed some patience in order to get the ‘attribute’ I was thinking about . Then a system message emerged .

[After a while, the survival settlement will begin . ]

“S-Save me! Save me!”

The expressions of the party changed . Lee Hyunsung bowed his head sadly, and Jung Heewon bit her lip while holding her blade . Everyone knew what the price of the ‘paid settlement’ was . There was no one here who hadn’t experienced it . Then Yoo Sangah looked at me . “…Dokja-ssi . ”

“Yes . ”

In this world, coins were power . A person with coins could obtain good items or good stats . Coins were everything .

[Several constellations with scenario recommendations have been added to the channel . ]

[The constellation Secretive Plotter is watching your choice . ]

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is watching your choice . ]

[The constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is watching your choice . ]

…And I was currently the person with the highest number of coins in the station .