Chapter 15

I didn’t know how much time passed by . My breathing was often interrupted, and all my muscles were so stiff that I could barely move them .

[A few constellations admire your will to survive!]

[The constellations have sponsored you 100 coins . ]

However, I persisted . I persisted because I believed I could hold on . The light emitted from the thorn in the darkness confirmed that I was alive . After confirming the falling temperature of the stomach wall, I was convinced that the ichthyosaur was dying .

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ admires your spirit . ]

[The constellation has sponsored you 100 coins . ]

When I was hungry, I placed my tongue to the end of the thorn . The condensed fluid that flowed out contained the life force absorbed from the ichthyosaur . The reason I drank the mucus in advance had been to absorb this concentrate .

[Your physique has slightly increased due to absorbing the power of the ichthyosaur . ]

There wasn’t an immediate effect of my stats levels increasing, but by the time I escaped from the ichthyosaur, I would gain at least two levels in physique . It wouldn’t work at a higher level, but this was one of the few tricks I could use to raise my physique without using coins .

Indeed, this wasn’t a dream . This was all I could do . I was just an ordinary reader, not a protagonist . It felt like I would wake up screaming in bed at any moment, but no such miracle happened no matter how much I blinked .

…Mother would be fine . She was okay . This wasn’t anybody else, it was ‘Mother . ‘

I fell asleep whenever the liquid on the floor drained away and woke up every time the cold river water entered my mouth . Then finally, the ichthyosaur’s digestion stopped . The warmth of the viscera suddenly cooled down and the elastic stomach lining gradually solidified . Thus, I could be certain of it .

The ichthyosaur had died .

[…You are really great . ] There was a bright light in the darkness, and Bihyung’s dim figure was floating in the air . [Using the stone hog’s thorn like this . I never even thought about it . Constellations, isn’t it the same for you?]

Bihyung looked at the stone hog’s thorn emitting a faint light .

[The stone hog is a guy who mainly lives on the coast and feeds on small sea species . They insert the thorn into the skin of the prey, but I didn’t think it would be used to plug up the openings for the digestive juices…]

Bihyung’s shining eyes weren’t looking at me . The words weren’t an explanation for me either .

[A few constellations are smiling as if they already know . ]

[The constellations have sponsored you 100 coins . ]

[A few constellations belatedly understand your judgment . ]

[The constellations complain that you should tell them by talking to yourself from now on . ]

I ignored the messages from the constellations and drank the last of the condensed fluid .

[Your physique has slightly increased due to absorbing the power of the ichthyosaur . ]

[Your physique level has risen!]

[Physique Lv . 11 -> Physique Lv . 12]

I accomplished my intended purpose . Bihyung came down to me and touched my burned arm . [Furthermore, the mucus… I didn’t know the mucus of the hammer seahorse was so potent . ]

Originally, my skin should’ve melted from the ichthyosaur’s digestive juices . I opened my mouth to stop Bihyung’s nonsense . “The mucus of the hammer seahorse is immune to digestive fluids . They evolved in this way after often being eaten by the ichthyosaurs . ”

[A few constellations admire your knowledge . ]

Then Bihyung looked at me with a betrayed expression . [Excuse me, I should be the one explaining…]

“I did it because you don’t know . Now is the explanation over?”

[…Yes . ]

“Then give me the reward . ”

[Cheeky bastard,] Bihyung grumbled while a reward message appeared in front of my eyes .

[The hidden scenario has ended . ]

[You have obtained 9,000 coins in compensation . ]

[You are the first to have successfully hunted a 7th grade species . ]

[You have earned 1,000 coins as an achievement reward . ]

9,000 coins plus an additional 1,000 coins . It was a very huge income .

[Coins Possessed: 14,800 C]

If I added the 500 donated coins from filming my survival, the total income was 10,500 coins . It was over my target .

[Haha, Constellations . Did you enjoy this? Let’s quickly watch an advertisement before going straight to the next scenario!]

I could hear the faint sounds of an ad somewhere . New scenario opening featured package, 8,800 coins…

Once the eyes of the constellations disappeared, Bihyung started speaking to me in a friendly manner, [Sigh… It was a great survival . The response from the constellations was amazing . ]

“How much time passed?”

[Four days . I was in suspense the whole time I was watching . Were you unaware of the time?]

“My smartphone died . ”

It had taken more time than I’d thought it would . The original goal had been two days… Well, Yoo Jonghyuk took four days in the fourth round to catch an ichthyosaur, so the speed wasn’t slow .

‘Anyway, I did it . ‘

A pleasant feeling of fulfillment covered my whole body and made me confident . I was an ordinary person with ordinary skills, but even so, this didn’t mean I could only do ordinary things .

“…How funny . ”

It was strange . A novel that hadn’t been helpful for 28 years was now making me extraordinary .

[Oh, are you talking to yourself already?]

“…”

[Isn’t it good? For an incarnation, talking to yourself is essential . Of course, there are constellations who dislike it, but usually…]

“Shut up and open the Dokkaebi Bag . ”

[Why? Are you going to buy something?]

“I’m not buying but selling . ”

[Damn, I’ll have to cut the ad short . Constellations, hold on a second . I’ll adjust the volume . ]

As Bihyung opened the Dokkaebi Bag, I looked at the thorns embedded in the wall . The upper barrier was hardened, and deep cracks formed around the thorns . So, I could now smash through the upper barrier with my strength . I broke the wall little by little with the one remaining thorn . Shortly afterward, I encountered the core of the ichthyosaur that was glowing blue .

[Ichthyosaur’s Core]

It was an ether core found in monster species 7th grade or higher . I could raise my magic power level without coins if I ingested them . It was good quality because it was a sea commander-grade ichthyosaur . I carefully cut at the flesh around the core while Bihyung looked at me with a dumbfounded expression .

“I’ll sell this . ”

[You really…]

“Of course, I don’t mean to sell it to you . I’ll put it on the dokkaebi auction . ”

Bihyung accepted it like he was tired of asking me anything . [Sigh… Do what you want . How much are you going to charge?]

“I won’t sell it for coins . I’ll sell it by barter . ”

[Damn, you know all sorts of things,] Bihyung grumbled while uploading the item to the dokkaebi auction . His desires were simple . This guy might listen better than I thought .

“Someone will show up to buy it . The item exchanged must be ‘Broken Faith . ‘”

[Broken Faith? There is a person with it… In any case, it is registered . ]

“Yes . And I will buy…”

I saw White Pure Star Energy in the shopping cart . Indeed, nobody had bought it yet . Most constellations weren’t well aware of the value of coin items . The expensive items in the Dokkaebi Bag weren’t unconditionally good .

[Wait a minute, can I talk to you for a moment?]

At Bihyung’s words, the advertising volume increased again .

[The constellations are complaining about the long advertisement . ]

Once I saw that one more advertisement had appeared, I had a hunch about what Bihyung wanted to say .

“Is it the contract?”

Advertising was the only way to hide the eyes and ears of the constellations without turning off the broadcast . From now on, it wasn’t a story for the constellations .

[Yes . I wasn’t certain but I became convinced after this scenario . Well… let’s try it once . I can help you a little bit . ]

“Won’t this violate the streamer’s pledge?”

[Ah, of course, I can’t really help you . I’m just saying that . Will you sign the contract?]

“What are the conditions?”

[Take a look . ]

The dokkaebi pulled out an extravagant contract that had been prepared . I read the contract that emerged as a transparent window in the air .

—–

[Stream Contract Agreement]

1 . Incarnation Kim Dojka (Gap) will sign an exclusive contract with Bihyung (Eul) until all scenarios are completed or until his death . [1]

—–

“… I am the gap?”

[Haha, don’t humans like this? It doesn’t mean anything . Keep reading . ]

—–

2 . Incarnation Kim Dokja (Gap) will never choose a sponsor until all scenarios have ended or until his death .

—–

This was also as expected .

—–

3 . Incarnation Kim Dokja (Gap) should only be active on the channel of Dokkaebi Bihyung (Eul) .

4 . Incarnation Kim Dokja (Gap) and Dokkaebi Bihyung (Eul) will distribute the revenue from stream contracts, and this ratio will be determined through mutual consultation .

······ .

10 . Incarnation Kim Dokja (Gap) and Dokkaebi Bihyung (Eul) will be subject to destruction in accordance with the laws of Star Stream if they break this contract .

—–

I read the contract carefully down to the last item . Although I thought he might play some trick on me, I didn’t see that part . Except for one thing…

“There is the most important part . ”

[What do you mean? You can just say that you agree . The stream contract is a soul pledge―]

“I’m talking about the pay ratio . ”

[A-Ahh . Haha . Right . ]

As if this bastard didn’t know this was the most important part .

[How about 5:5? Instead, I’ll get rid of my channel fee . Ah, do you know how to calculate it? I will accurately divide your future donations in this ratio . For example, if you get 100 coins, you will receive 50 coins and I will receive 50 coins . ]

All stream contracts were like this . The constellations had incarnations appear on the dokkaebi’s channel, and the contributions received from other constellations would be divided by a percentage . This was normal .

“Are you taking me for a pushover? I won’t accept . ”

[What? B-But this is the industry’s default settlement ratio…]

“I’m an incarnation without a sponsor . When donating to an incarnation without a sponsor, the constellations must pay a huge fee to the dokkaebi . Haven’t you already enjoyed a lot thanks to me?”

Bihyung’s jaw slowly dropped open, but there was no point making that expression .

“10:0 . You will only get the commission . I won’t pay you a single penny . ”

[What?! That is ridiculous… H-How about 7:3?]

The ratio changed greatly, but I wasn’t going to concede .

“10:0 . ”

[What is this fucking bullshit? It is a ridiculous rate―]

“Then don’t accept . I will just go to another channel . ‘Gildal’ is doing well these days . I should ask him . ”

[…8:2 . I can’t concede any more . ]

“10:0 . ”

[······ . ] Bihyung’s expression changed to a threatening one . He looked at my head like it would explode at any minute . However, I knew that he would never give up the contract . My existence was his last chance .

“The advertisement is coming to an end . Don’t you see the constellations complaining?”

In the end, Bihyung gave up . [Shit, I understand . Then will you sign the contract?]

He surrendered easier than I’d thought he would . In fact, I was going to give up at 9:1 .

…Maybe he earned more money than I’d expected . It was a bit disgusting .

“Yes . And one more thing . ”

[What? What now?]

“You have to give a separate down payment . Give me 5,000 coins . ”

Bihyung’s expression tightened . [Y-You really…]

I laughed . Why a ‘gap’ was a ‘gap’ and why did humans dwell on it… I would let that damn dokkaebi know .

[The stream contract has concluded . ]

[You have received 5,000 coins as a down payment . ]

The advertisement finished, and the constellations came back . Then I patted the dokkaebi on the shoulder and said, “Let’s get out of here . ”

Now was the real start .

[1] Gap and Eul are based on the 10 celestial/heavenly stems . In Korea, they are consistently used to denote the larger and smaller contractor (respectively) in a legal contract