# 053. Day and Night (7)
“By the way, Jeongwoo, have you heard about Ju Serin-ssi and Yang Jeongil-ssi?”
“Huh? No. I only heard that the Management Bureau took them away, but nothing after that.”
“The Management Bureau seems to have taken all the Doomsday Cult members for interrogation. When I visited Section Chief Lim later, I heard that Ju Serin-ssi could become an Awakened One affiliated with the Management Bureau on the condition that she can’t act independently.”
“Hmm… Ju Serin at the Management Bureau…?”
“I understand the Management Bureau is always short-staffed and lacks Awakened Ones, but it seems too lenient for someone who committed crimes… Anyway, hearing that made me feel uneasy. And about Yang Jeongil-ssi.”
“Yeah. You mean the guy who followed Kang Mingyu, right?”
“Apparently, he keeps claiming he doesn’t remember anything. So they haven’t been able to properly interrogate him. They tried using a lie detector, but it didn’t work, so someone from the Management Bureau with a lie detection skill is coming to question him directly. I thought Yang Jeongil-ssi was just a straightforward person, but to think he’d lie until the end… How can he claim not to remember anything when he even made eye contact with me at Daejeon Station? Really… If he was going to follow Ju Serin into the Doomsday Cult, he should have just stayed under Kang Mingyu instead…”
Jaehee felt rage boiling inside when he thought about the shameless Ju Serin and Yang Jeongil.
It was ridiculous that they wouldn’t properly pay for their crimes and instead work for the Management Bureau. The reason there were no casualties this time was because of Jeongwoo; if Jeongwoo hadn’t been there, the Daejeon Station dungeon would have been recorded as the worst human casualty dungeon in history.
Yet, simply because there were no casualties and because they lacked working Awakened Ones, those people would now work at the Management Bureau—it was truly absurd.
It was fortunate there were no victims this time, but if there had been, how much more unjust would it be?
Guild Master Lee Shinhoo had spoken about Awakened Ones being exploited, but Jaehee’s thoughts differed. It was true that Awakened Ones had a lot to do during this global disaster. But could that really be called exploitation?
Just looking at the Daejeon Station incident, far from being exploited, it seemed Awakened Ones were above the law.
But there was something strange.
When exactly had Yang Jeongil become so close with Ju Serin? The last time he’d seen him, Yang Jeongil had been following Kang Mingyu around.
With his mind in turmoil, Jaehee was playfully kicking Jeongwoo’s feet when suddenly text appeared before his eyes.
[♢ Global Mission: Become a King, or Become a Subject. ♢
Countdown D-6 (Progress: 62.4559%)
Basic Premise: Kings protect their subjects, and subjects must have a king.
All Earth’s inhabitants must belong to a king. Where might the kings be? Or perhaps this is my chance to become a king? Become a king or become a subject!]
[Warning
Not much time remains until the Global Mission completion date! All Earth’s inhabitants, please complete your king selection before the Global Mission completion date.]
[♢ Special Event! Constellation Forum Opening! ♢
A simple message window has been opened so Earth’s inhabitants can better understand the Constellations before mission completion.
We encourage many Constellations who wish to save disciples on Earth to use this. ❣╰(⸝⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝⸝)╯❣
Free pass for unlimited forum use at a special price of 10,000,000 points! Single-use passes at 800,000 points each! Save the Constellations’ valuable points with this opportunity.
Current channel subscription users get a 10% discount.
Automatic payment registration will earn you 0.03% of the payment amount.
(*) Point donations incur a 45% fee.]
[Ancient Memory] This system is like a piece of junk, why is it so slow, if it keeps doing this ♪♪♬ yet only takes points in re…♬
[Ancient Memory] This isn’t right, this ♪♪ and ♬♬♬…, wow, is this really, ♬♪♩♪♬♪♪ trying to ♩♪♩♬♪, is all this being filtered? This really isn’t right.
[Scale of the Judge] Stop dirtying the window. No use trying more since it’ll all get filtered out. What’s the point of getting angry at the system anyway. Pathetic.
[Ancient Memory] Scale, you b.stard. ♩♬♪. If you’re taking points, not giving it for free, shouldn’t you do it properly? It’s because of ♩♬♪♩ like you that this ♩♬♪♩ system is so bad. You’re all ♬♪♬♪ like ♬♪♬♪♬♪♪…]
— Constellation Ancient Memory warning 1 time.
— Kind words, polite speech, let’s be Constellations who maintain manners.
— Excessive cursing, insulting others, and inappropriate language may be subject to system sanctions.
— Accumulated warnings may restrict your channel usage.
[Winter Night Traveler] Earth inhabitants. Pleased to meet you. Speaking of myself, I am a Constellation who bestows the utmost care on my followers. If you become my apostle, you can solve your difficulties with my special care.
[Red Demon King of Dark Night] Don’t be scared because I’m a Demon King! I’m a friendly Demon King! Now, for those of you who haven’t chosen a king yet, remember the Red Demon King!
[Seventh Carriage] 100 points each to those who follow me! No need for Constellations who only claim to care for their apostles with words! Let’s speak with points.
“Wow… This is overwhelming. It’s like text is endlessly scrolling up. What is all this?”
Even as Jaehee spoke, the screen continued to move dazzlingly. He wondered if this screen was visible only to Awakened Ones, as everyone in the subway seemed to be in an uproar. Fortunately, he could turn off the screen just by thinking about it. After shutting off the endless stream of text, he finally regained his senses.
“Jeongwoo, did you see that just now? Hah, as the Global Mission end date approaches, all sorts of things are happening. That’s right, it said we could also join as a Constellation’s subject, right? I wonder if many people have already gone under Constellations by now?”
“I don’t know. It probably won’t be that easy either. Not all Constellations would accept everyone. Rather, like at Daejeon Station, there will be more cases where they try to use people as sacrifices or components. As I’ve said repeatedly, Constellations…”
“I know, I know. They can’t be trusted. And we shouldn’t trust them.”
Jaehee chuckled as he responded to nagging Jeongwoo. When Jeongwoo nagged like this, it made Jaehee wonder if he appeared to Jeongwoo as someone around Yeong-i’s age.
In truth, what the Doomsday Cult did at Daejeon Station had been a huge shock to Jaehee too. The fact that his stepmother had turned into a deer—he could laugh about it now, but at the time, there had been no hope in sight.
It was Jeongwoo who had given him hope during that bleak time. Jaehee looked at Jeongwoo with fresh eyes. Jeongwoo had always been there whenever Jaehee needed him.
Come to think of it, had he ever thanked Jeongwoo?
He couldn’t remember properly thanking someone who had rushed to the Daejeon Station dungeon thinking his friend was in danger. Suddenly, Jaehee’s face flushed red.
My goodness. I’ve been such a shameless and thick-skinned person.
He couldn’t believe how thoughtless he’d been.
Instead of just thanking Lee Shinhoo for bringing Yeong-i, he should have thanked Jeongwoo first. Because Jeongwoo was always helping and staying close, it seems he had forgotten to thank him.
“Jeongwoo! I just realized I don’t think I’ve thanked you. Without you, I would’ve been completely lost at Daejeon Station… Huh?”
“Wait.”
“Yeah?”
“There’s something over there…”
“What, what’s wrong?”
“No, these strange bugs keep rushing at you. Are these mosquitoes?”
“Huh? Mosquitoes? I can’t see them… Are mosquitoes already out? Where are they?”
Jeongwoo furrowed his brow and moved toward Jaehee. Jaehee looked where Jeongwoo was looking, but couldn’t see anything. Suddenly, Jeongwoo started waving his hands.
Jeongwoo waved his hands as if catching bugs. At first, Jaehee thought he just couldn’t see them, so he looked around too. But no matter how much he looked, he couldn’t find anything. With a strange feeling, he frowned and looked at Jeongwoo.
Jeongwoo was staring into empty space. A moment of unpleasant chills ran through him.
“Jeongwoo? Jeongwoo! Hey! Woo Jeongwoo! What’s wrong? You’re scaring me. Snap out of it.”
Jaehee shook Jeongwoo several times, but he gave no response.
Jeongwoo’s body trembled. With a strange feeling, Jaehee approached and touched Jeongwoo. At that moment, Jeongwoo’s body slumped backward.
“Woo Jeongwoo!”
Jaehee caught Jeongwoo’s body and screamed. Everyone in the subway car was startled and looked in their direction.
