"Contract (2)"
Star Stream System.
Also known as the Sungryu (Starflow) Broadcast, this system was, in simple terms, a universal streaming platform.
The subscribers? The Constellations perched at the top of distant galaxies.
The actors? Humans like me.
And the storyteller connecting the two was the goblin standing right in front of me.
[H-Hahahahah! You're insane! Completely mad! I should've known when you turned down the other Constellations' sponsorships!]
Bihyung laughed for a long time before speaking again.
[I don't know how you know about the Starflow Broadcast, but I can't accept that proposal. I'm a goblin, not a Constellation—I can't be your sponsor.]
"You misunderstood me. I never said I wanted your sponsorship."
[Huh?]
"I know perfectly well that you're a weak little goblin. I don't need your power. What I do need is your channel."
[My channel?]
"Judging by how slow you are, I'm guessing your Korean patch didn't finish installing?"
[Hey, you—]
"Let me make it simple: I want to sign an exclusive contract with your channel."
Bihyung froze for a moment, then finally snapped out of it.
[Wait. You're saying you want to make a Stream Contract with me?]
"That's right."
Stream Contracts were originally meant to be formed between goblins and Constellations.
Constellations would send their avatars to appear on specific channels, and goblins would take a commission from the coins those avatars earned.
Which meant that normally, an avatar like me wouldn't have any say in the contract. 'Sponsorship' was just a nice word—avatars under contract were basically slaves to their Constellation.
[Hah! That's rich.]
Bihyung laughed, covering his eyes with a tiny hand. The air around us started to change.
[I don't know where you heard this crap, but a human dares to talk about a Stream Contract? And one without a sponsor? You're just a worthless insect!]
His tone alone filled the air with killing intent. Even a low-level goblin was far beyond human strength. But if that was enough to make me back down, I wouldn't have brought this up in the first place.
"I don't have a sponsor. That's why I'm worth making a contract with."
[······What?]
"Why do you think Constellations join channels in the first place?"
Bihyung blinked like a slow student, his mouth flapping open. Time for a little crash course for this low-level goblin.
"Don't get nervous. It's stuff you already know. But let's review anyway—just to refresh your memory."
Before he realized it, Bihyung was nodding along.
"There are two main types of subscriber seats in the Star Stream. One: the Entertainment Seekers, who hop around channels looking for excitement. Two: the Avatar Seekers, who are looking for an avatar to make a contract with. Am I right?"
[Yeah. That's right.]
"To become a popular channel on Star Stream, you have to satisfy at least one of those two groups. In simple terms, you either provide top-tier entertainment, or you help Constellations discover promising avatars. Do one or the other well."
[You really know your stuff. But so what? What does that have to do with this contract?]
"I'm giving you a hint, and you still don't get it. No wonder your subscriber count hasn't broken three digits."
[······Shut up. Just say what you're getting at.]
He pressed his little horn toward me. For someone who just smashed a person's head open earlier, he could be kind of cute. Enough teasing—time to get to the point.
"What if there was a channel that could satisfy both the Entertainment Seekers and the Avatar Seekers?"
[That's nonsense. Even if it were possible, it wouldn't last long.]
Bihyung wasn't wrong.
The reason it was impossible to satisfy all Constellations was because of the unique behavior of the Avatar Seekers.
Those focused solely on finding an avatar would leave a channel the moment a Behind-the-Scenes Selection was made, even if the avatar was wildly entertaining.
In other words, Avatar Seekers were always going to be one-time, short-term viewers. But—
"That's only true when the Behind-the-Scenes Selection happens normally."
[What?]
"What if an avatar never makes a contract with any Constellation? And what if that avatar shows power that surpasses all the other avatars with sponsors?"
A powerful avatar draws attention just by existing.
But if that avatar keeps refusing contracts, naturally, the Avatar Seekers would stick around. They wouldn't unsubscribe.
[W-Wait! Don't tell me... you didn't make a contract on purpose because—]
"Exactly."
[Hah... Now this is getting interesting.]
Bihyung let out a half-disbelieving laugh.
[An unsponsored, supreme-level avatar... If that were possible, I suppose it could become the most popular channel on Star Stream. But no such avatar could exist.]
"You really believe that?"
[······I'll admit, you're not ordinary. You got the Constellations' attention early, and thanks to that, I've had some fun, too. But even a wild fantasy has its limits. You seriously haven't come to your senses after what just happened? A normal human can never defeat an avatar with a sponsor. That's the rule of this world.]
"That's just what you think."
[You've already missed your chance. Look at you now. You failed a sub-scenario, not even the main one, and your life is hanging by a thread. What Constellation would pay attention to someone like you—]
"Are you sure there's none?"
[······?]
"Don't you think the Constellations are freaking out right now? Begging for the channel to open already?"
Bihyung went silent.
"They're probably losing their minds with curiosity. Who is this lunatic that stood against the 'Regressor'? Is he really a 'Prophet'? Can he truly see the future? And if he can, why the hell did he let himself get eaten by that sea dragon?"
[S-Stop! You—who the hell are you…]
"From now on, I'm going to show you exactly that. So shut up and just do as I say. I'm telling you—I'll make you the Goblin King."
The look in Bihyung's eyes as he stared at me had changed. I could even hear the gulp as he swallowed.
He was hesitating.
But trusting me wouldn't cost him anything. So, then?
Bihyung's eyes darted rapidly.
[W-Well, let's settle the scenario failure first. If you give me 5,100 coins, then maybe—]
"What are you talking about? I didn't fail."
[...Huh?]
"By now, the condition should've been met…"
I stretched and stood up. With a cracking sound, my stiff body screamed in protest.
Bihyung still looked dumbfounded.
"Just open the channel. It's about to start."
[Start? Start what—]
Then, a message rang out in the air.
[A hidden scenario has arrived!]
Category: Hidden
Difficulty: A+
Clear Condition: Kill the sea dragon 'Sea Commander' and escape from its stomach.
Time Limit: 10 days
Reward: 9,000 coins
Failure Penalty: Death
"See? I told you to get ready."
There are three types of scenarios in The Destruction Method.
Main scenarios, which drive the main story.
Sub-scenarios, which handle minor events.
And hidden scenarios, which only unlock under special conditions.
[How did you...?!]
Bihyung's lips trembled in shock.
Unlike the main and sub-scenarios overseen by goblins, hidden scenarios activate automatically when specific conditions are met.
"You probably wouldn't know. You're just a low-tier goblin."
[What... what are you?]
"Anyway, if I clear this, that should be enough proof that I'm worth contracting with, don't you think?"
Bihyung stared at the scenario screen with a strangely gloomy expression. Then, casting me a wary glance, he asked:
[This scenario's difficulty is A+. Do you really believe you can clear it?]
"I do."
The waves of the Han River slapped against the sea dragon's stomach wall. When the ripples calmed, Bihyung finally spoke again.
[...Alright. If you clear this scenario, I'll accept the contract.]
"We'll negotiate the terms after I clear it."
[Arrogant bastard… Fine, I'll reopen the channel, so let's see what you've got.]
"Ah, wait."
He couldn't leave just yet. There was one thing I had to check.
"There's still something I need you to do."
[...What now?]
Bihyung's tone sounded annoyed.
"Fix the system error I'm experiencing."
[System error?]
"My trait window won't open."
[That's impossible. The system can't have errors. The scenario system is flawless.]
"At least check before you say that."
Bihyung gave me a doubtful look, then muttered something into the air.
[The goblin 'Bihyung' is attempting 'System Interference' on your behalf.]
System Interference.
An absolute interference skill usable only by goblins who have scenario control authority.
To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure whether my inability to access the 'Trait Window' was a true error or not.
But at the very least, a goblin might be able to find out something. And even if he couldn't, that alone would still be useful information.
[Exclusive Skill, 'The Fourth Wall,' has been activated!]
And in the next moment, sparks flew in the air—and Bihyung gasped in shock.