Chapter 25: Terms and Conditions of Survival

Seong Ju-an scraped up the remaining rice clean and narrowed his eyes at Mo Jun-young.

Mo Jun-young was the most trustworthy character among them, but even so, it was better to be absolutely sure.

“I’ve heard that Awakeners can form contracts with each other too. Of course, it’s different from contracts with Constellations, but I’m a buffer right now. If protection were to suddenly end, there’d be no guarantee of my safety. I want to make things clear.”

At those words, Mo Jun-young let out a laugh.

“You’re right. I’ll have a contract drawn up for you. But before that…”

Mo Jun-young slipped a hand inside his jacket. When he pulled it back out, what he was holding wasn’t a contract, but a phone.

“What’s this?”

“You didn’t even have a phone. I don’t know what personal circumstances you have, but it’s better for you to carry one from now on. Unlike Constellations, we can’t directly connect to each other.”

“Ah…”

Even if you were an Awakener, unlike a Constellation you couldn’t request a connection whenever you wanted or see the other person’s situation through a screen, so a phone was necessary.

Ju-an examined the phone Mo Jun-young handed him. It was black, sleek, and glossy, obviously expensive at a glance.

A public servant shouldn’t have that much money… does the Center Director get paid that well? And more importantly, how was he supposed to pay the phone bill?

Mo Jun-young spoke as if it were nothing.

“I didn’t buy it myself, so there’s no need to thank me. It’s a gift from the state for someone under special protection.”

“Oh, they even give things like this. How generous.”

Ju-an pressed a few buttons on the phone, then absentmindedly opened the contacts.

After the Center’s number, the numbers of the S-rank Awakeners were all neatly saved, starting with Mo Jun-young. It felt less like he’d received a phone and more like a child-safety tracking necklace.

“Make sure you carry it with you at all times.”

“…Yes, yes.”

As soon as Ju-an put the phone down, Mo Jun-young suddenly opened his inventory and took out a contract. It seemed he’d anticipated even this.

“I drafted this on my own, but there are three conditions.”

At that moment, Joo Ji-chan appeared out of nowhere and cut in.

“A contract? What contract?”

He began reading the floating contract.

“First, Seong Ju-an’s buffs may only be used in dangerous situations or in dungeons where everyone is participating as party members. Second, Seong Ju-an will reside in designated housing facilities, and the four S-rank Awakeners will take turns acting as his escort. Third, under no circumstances may Seong Ju-an be monopolized or taken away.”

Overall, it was a well-written contract. But Joo Ji-chan stared at it for a long time, clearly displeased, before speaking.

“Do you think Baek Eun-hoo will agree to this?”

Mo Jun-young replied calmly.

“We’ll find out when the time comes. For now, if the two of you sign first, I’ll summon the remaining Awakeners.”

At the moment, following Mo Jun-young’s lead seemed like the best option. Still, the biggest variable was the Constellations.

If even one of them ended up contracting with another Constellation, the plan would surely fall apart. It would be nice to add that to the contract too…

Seeing Ju-an’s expression, Mo Jun-young spoke up.

“If there’s anything you’d like to adjust, go ahead and say so.”

Even if they adjusted things among themselves, it would be pointless if the other Awakeners objected, so it seemed better to postpone signing for now. Still, Ju-an really liked how smoothly things were proceeding thanks to Mo Jun-young.

“Mo Jun-young, I don’t think it’ll be easy to gather everyone together for a meeting.”

“Why not?”

“Because we can’t predict how Baek Eun-hoo and Gong Se-yoon will react. Could you leave this to me? I’ll meet them one by one inside the Center.”

Joo Ji-chan bristled.

“No, that’s too dangerous.”

“That’s why I said inside the Center. With people around, nothing should happen, right?”

Mo Jun-young rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then gave his opinion.

“That does make sense. If all four gather at once, there’s no telling what could happen… Let’s do it that way.”

At Mo Jun-young’s agreement, Ju-an let out a breath of relief. Joo Ji-chan shot Mo Jun-young an unhappy glare, but didn’t seem inclined to argue further.

‘Tch. You trust him anyway, so why glare like that? I know everything, Joo Ji-chan.’

When he’d first created the characters, Ju-an had imagined Mo Jun-young gathering monsters and Joo Ji-chan blowing them all up in one go, but their chemistry was even better than expected.

With a satisfied feeling, Ju-an looked at the two men before him.

Mo Jun-young, with his neat features, smooth skin, and beast-like physique, and Joo Ji-chan, with his thick eyebrows, intense gaze, and natural charisma when he kept his mouth shut, the sight of them talking together felt like a scene straight out of a movie.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. If this were a movie he was dreaming, he wished it wouldn’t be noir or a revenge drama, but a lighthearted slice-of-life comedy. Even if it wasn’t reality but a dream, he hoped that at least here he could live lightly and cheerfully, without the crushing weight of real life, before returning.

But was that really possible?

The future was impossible to predict, even an inch ahead.

****

On the way to the Center in Joo Ji-chan’s car, Ju-an decided to call Gong Se-yoon first, wanting to get things done quickly. Compared to Baek Eun-hoo, Se-yoon felt easier to deal with.

‘Please don’t be in a depressed state…’

But no matter how long it rang, the call wasn’t answered. Watching from the passenger seat, Mo Jun-young offered a suggestion.

“If he doesn’t answer, try sending a text first. If he knows it’s you, he’ll pick up.”

Ju-an did as suggested and sent a message.

<Seong Ju-an — Gong Se-yoon, it’s Seong Ju-an.>

Just a few seconds later, his phone rang.

“What is this?”

The sharp question without even a greeting made Ju-an flinch, but judging by his voice, Se-yoon didn’t seem depressed. That was a relief.

“It’s a phone I received from the state. Your number was on it, so I contacted you. Are you feeling okay?”

“…”

“Gong Se-yoon?”

“Why are you calling?”

He’s sulking. Definitely sulking.

‘How do I placate him this time?’

Ju-an sighed and replied.

“I felt bad about leaving things like that before. I wanted to see you for a bit, could you come to the Center now…?”

“R-really? You want me to come to the Center because you want to see me? But why the Center? You know where I live. We said we’d eat together back then, so why the Center…?”

His voice jumped up and down as multiple emotions spilled out with every sentence. Ju-an spoke slowly and carefully.

“I want Gong Se-yoon to protect me.”

“…”

“Do you not want to?”

“I was going to protect you anyway, so why the Center…”

Ah, seriously, once this guy latches onto something, he won’t let go. But this too was his own fault; he couldn’t blame Se-yoon. Carving the character for “patience” into his heart, Ju-an answered.

“I want to eat with you too. But there aren’t any utensils at your place, right? So how about this, we go to the Center first, then head to my place to eat?”

“Your place? Um… ah… s-sure! That sounds good!”

“Then what time can you make it?”

“I’m already at the Center!”

“…What?”

“The Center.”

“Why?”

“I figured there’d be a lot to take care of at the Center since I awakened not long ago.”

“…Were you waiting for me?”

“…No? I’m only waiting for the Creator of Sacrifice.”

His true feelings were transparent as water. If you were going to act, at least act convincingly.

Ju-an held back his laughter and was about to say they’d talk later and hang up, when Se-yoon’s urgent voice suddenly came through.

“What number am I saved as in your phone?”

“…”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Ju-an still gave the answer Se-yoon wanted.

“Of course, you’re first.”

“…Okay. Then hurry and come. I’ll be waiting quietly in the conference room.”

After hanging up, Ju-an said,

“Joo Ji-chan, we need to hurry. Gong Se-yoon’s already at the Center.”

“Really? Don’t worry.”

At Joo Ji-chan’s words, Ju-an noticed Mo Jun-young gripping the car’s handhold tightly. It wasn’t an amusement park ride, why was he holding on so hard…?

Tilting his head at the mismatch between Mo Jun-young’s size and his behavior, Ju-an soon understood after being violently tossed around in Joo Ji-chan’s car as it roared forward with a vroom.

This… is not a level of motion sickness a human can endure. Ugh!

Just as nausea and dizziness threatened to overwhelm him, they thankfully arrived at the Center.

With Mo Jun-young supporting him, Ju-an got out of the car, only to see Joo Ji-chan speed out of the parking lot. He thought they’d go together, did he have some urgent business?

As Ju-an watched the car disappear in confusion, Mo Jun-young explained.

“Today is his volunteer day.”

“He even does things like that?”

“Yes. Joo Ji-chan goes anywhere people need him. Among Awakeners, he’s probably the most decent one.”

Suddenly, Ju-an remembered the first day he’d met Joo Ji-chan. Back then too, he’d been running while carrying a dying child, determined to save them… He really was kind of impressive.

Half of Baek Eun-hoo’s flashy surface charm mixed with Joo Ji-chan’s genuine goodness would make the perfect Awakener. I should revise that once I’m back in my world.

Resolving that, Ju-an entered the Center with Mo Jun-young. They took the elevator toward the conference rooms, but Mo Jun-young got off at a middle floor, saying he had something to report.

“There are security personnel around the conference rooms, and Gong Se-yoon should be aware he’s inside the Center. It should be fine.”

“Yes. Don’t worry, go take care of your work.”

It wasn’t like he was a child… Really, Baek Eun-hoo was the biggest problem; Gong Se-yoon was well within his ability to handle.

…At least, that’s what Seong Ju-an thought at the time.

But Gong Se-yoon in a lively mood turned out to be far from an easy opponent.