Chapter 55: The Final Winner

I shut down the screen, where all sorts of memories were flashing chaotically, without a hint of regret.

At once, the blue sky stretched out above me with no barriers.

A single fallen leaf, swept by the autumn wind, rolled to my feet.

And then.

Rustle—

It kept rolling on.

Passing right through my translucent ankles.

It had already been 45 minutes since I sold my memories for 20,000 Welfare Points and became a wandering ghost, drifting through the past.

「15:02」

Which meant there were 15 minutes left.

I needed to further secure my first-place spot in the remaining 15 minutes.

〔Live Sponsorship Rankings〕

1. Lee Eunho (20,000 points)

2. X (16,000 points)

3. Cha Jin-sol (8,100 points)

4. Kim Ji-eun (7,500 points)

5. Kim Gwi-nam (5,150 points)

The gap between me and second place, X, was a mere 4,000 points.

Given his momentum, he'd catch up in no time.

He was the kind of guy who threw away his pistol and grabbed a machine gun the moment he saw the special reward; I could only imagine what he'd do next.

Still...

‘Is it really still 20,000 points?’

I’d already started with 20,000 points as the initial experience fee...

So I hadn't received a single bit of sponsorship so far.

“This means I just have to defeat all things on this land! Understood!”

That crow bastard had been shouting so boisterously, I thought he might have killed everyone off.

But apparently, that wasn’t the case.

If he had, the ones beyond that ‘eye’ would’ve been cheering, like they had for X earlier.

So then.

‘Just what is he doing?’

I had to go see for myself.

I had no idea what kind of nonsense he was up to, but there had to be something to get the spectators riled up.

And if not, there was always ‘that method.’

‘I’d rather not use that card unless I have to...’

But losing the reward would be worse.

Turning over every strategy in my mind, I entered the stadium where he’d been.

Step.

With worry on my right foot.

Step.

With anxiety smeared on my left, I entered the red lane.

[?!]

It was a complete mess.

It was impossible to tell if this was supposed to be a competition arena or a refugee camp.

[What is this?!]

The tents surrounding the stadium were ripped and strewn everywhere.

All the hurdles for the obstacle course had been uprooted and broken.

The athletes, who should have been in the middle of a race...

“How long do we have to keep doing this?”

“Damn it, I don’t know either...”

Were sparring with each other.

Wielding broken poles and hurdles—makeshift weapons—in their hands like swords.

“Damn! Can’t we stop now?”

“What, you want to slack off and get caught by that bastard? Just keep going. Unless you want to get beaten!”

That bastard?

Even without hearing it, I had a pretty good idea who they meant, and I instinctively averted my gaze.

“Lee Eunho, that bastard...”

My name was spat out from between clenched teeth.

So.

That crow, wearing my face, handed a bunch of half-assed weapons to Korea’s promising young track athletes.

And put them through training... while wearing my skin?

On top of that.

“That psycho, seriously. Why did he make us wear numbers?”

“Right? And when someone couldn’t remember their number, he made them do push-ups for every digit. Did you see that?”

“Ugh, I’m number 81. If I’d messed up, I’d be dead.”

Wait, hold on.

He made the athletes line up and put numbers on them?

This looked awfully familiar...

“Damn it, and he beats you up if your loyalty’s low... Isn’t he a total psychopath?”

“I told you from the start. His eyes are completely crazy.”

Loyalty, too?

Ah, this was...

‘He copied the skeleton soldiers.’

Apparently, our client had found the mock battle mission amusing.

But to copy it this way...

Even as I snorted at the absurdity, my eyes searched busily.

I was looking for the commander who would be strutting proudly among his soldiers.

But.

‘He’s not here?’

No matter how I looked, that guy—no, my appearance—was nowhere to be seen.

Had he already conquered this place and left?

Thinking this was getting too troublesome, I switched the screen back on.

[Connecting to Channel E13-HRN-LEH#1.]

There, I saw Lee Eunho again, on the screen.

“You wretchhhhhhh!”

He’d thrown off his track jacket.

In his hand, he held a pole vault stick, brandished sideways like a spear.

Shouting at the top of his lungs, he was locked in a fierce struggle.

“If I catch you, it’s over!”

So...

Beeeeep—!

...with a car.

Right in the middle of a massive eight-lane intersection.

“Hey, you maniac! Are you not going to move?!”

“Hey! You can’t just run onto the road like that!”

“He’s insane, seriously! Does he want to die?!”

[......]

Let’s go.

Time to retrieve our crazy client.

---

“Khahaha! Lass, you’re quite skilled!”

[...As long as it’s tasty.]

In front of the intersection convenience store.

The crow, sitting cross-legged, took a bite of a green square ice cream and spoke.

He must have mistaken the ice cream for some dish the part-timer cooked up.

Anyway.

[Why’d you run at that car?]

“What’s a car?”

“You know, that honking thing from earlier.”

“Oh! You mean that hunk of iron from before!”

Did he think cars ruled the world?

Just in case, I asked, and the crow replied as if it was obvious.

“Wasn’t it a golem? Like the monster you fought before.”

[You thought... the car was a golem?]

“Yes. You beat it before, so why couldn’t I?”

[Hah.]

A helpless laugh escaped me at that ridiculous answer.

While I wracked my brain over how to get the crowd going with this idiot in tow...

Ding―

The rankings shifted.

〔Live Sponsorship Rankings〕

1. X (21,500 points)

2. Lee Eunho (20,000 points)

3. Cha Jin-sol (8,600 points)

4. Kim Ji-eun (8,000 points)

5. Ahn Kyung-nam (6,450 points)

‘Damn.’

X had pulled ahead by 1,500 points already.

He was still steadily climbing.

Meanwhile, on my channel...

[Where did all the spectators go?]

“They said they’d come back when you returned. Said they were behind on work and it was a good excuse.”

[......]

Even the spectators who had been here were all gone now.

While the crow was slapping numbers on the athletes and wrestling with cars.

「07:50」

Not even eight minutes left. And no spectators willing to sponsor.

The surest way to retake first place...

【An anonymous spectator tries tossing in a test donation.】

【10 Welfare Points sponsored!】

‘Sponsoring myself.’

As a spectator, I could sponsor the participant ‘Lee Eunho.’

If I did this, I could win with 100% certainty.

All I had to do was pour my points in right before time was up.

Thanks to the skeleton soldiers, I’d accumulated plenty of Welfare Points.

‘It feels like cheating... but whatever.’

Even if the administrator realized it was a loophole, what could they do?

They were the ones who granted the privilege in the first place.

Actually, maybe they gave it knowing all along.

With their cut of the fees, it profited them, too.

〔Live Sponsorship Rankings〕

1. X (23,000 points)

2. Lee Eunho (20,010 points)

The amount I sponsored, those 10 points, were counted toward the total.

But as soon as the mission ended, half would be deducted from the payout.

‘Because of the 50% commission.’

That was both the admin’s benefit and my reason for hesitating even though it was a surefire win.

Was it worth sacrificing half the value to secure first place?

It was.

The All-seeing Spectator’s Eye. That kind of reward...

Not even the intermediate shop had anything like that.

I could just think of it as buying a reward item with the sponsorship fee as the price.

But...

‘Hmmm.’

As I finally parted my dry lips after much deliberation—

─ Ding!

[Participant ‘Kim Ji-eun’s broadcast has ended.]

[Hosting 9 spectators!]

‘Huh?’

【A new spectator has joined!】

【A new spectator has joined!】

【A new spectator has joined!】

……

Ji-eun sent a gift.

【‘Investigation Bureau Kitty’ waves, saying she’s here to see the male lead’s past.】

【‘Promotion Bureau Freesia’ claps, wanting a closer look at the handsome face.】

【‘Audit Bureau LemonCandy’ greets you warmly.】

...The romance maniacs who had been on my channel.

‘!!’

So, channel hosting at the end of a broadcast.

I didn’t even know that was a thing.

‘Ji-eun, you even edited your broadcast yourself... impressive.’

But why was Ji-eun’s channel the first to end?

We all got one hour... Ah!

‘She started before me.’

While I wasted time negotiating and running the auction, the others began their missions earlier.

That’s why mine was ending later.

She even thought ahead to that.

【‘Investigation Bureau Kitty’ smiles, saying the male lead was pretty cute as a kid.】

【‘Promotion Bureau Freesia’ sighs, wishing she could see the female lead’s childhood too.】

Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind.

This might just...

‘Not just possible—totally possible!’

I could do it.

I just had to do what Ji-eun did!

Of course, if I’d been in my right mind—or if I had to act myself—there’d be no way.

[Looks like some female fans have shown up?]

“Fans? What are those?”

[Women watching you, smitten.]

“Wha, what?!”

But now, I had an avatar to move in my place.

[You just need to move for me.]

【‘Investigation Bureau Kitty’ perks up, asking where our cute female lead is!】

【‘Audit Bureau LemonCandy’ recharges 3,000 Welfare Points, heart fluttering in excitement!】

Besides, the reward for a moment’s embarrassment was way too good to refuse.

Alright, let’s do this.

[They’re totally into you. But there’s just one thing missing...]

“Alright, tell me! What do I need to do?!”

Hmm.

Given his speech and behavior, the spectators probably wouldn’t get what they wanted just from him.

So—

[Just copy what I say.]

I remembered the typical lines from the Korean dramas I’d seen in passing.

[It’s delicious.]

“That’s it?”

He was eating a green ice cream, so the mood was off, but still.

[Just copy me. It’s delicious.]

“It’s delicious.”

The crow tilted his head and repeated.

[It’d be nice if Ji-eun were here to eat with me.]

“Who is—”

[Quickly.]

He cocked his head in confusion.

“It’d be nice if Ji-eun were here to eat with me.”

【‘Investigation Bureau Kitty’ watches the lovesick male lead, beaming.】

【‘Audit Bureau LemonCandy’ blushes, asking if he’s missing her already!】

【‘Promotion Bureau Freesia’ clutches her head, wailing that the female lead needs to see this!】

To an outsider, he must have looked like someone longing for a loved one.

My face was already burning.

But with no more words, time to finish this.

[...I miss you.]

The killer line.

“...?!”

The crow jumped and stared at me, then parted his dry lips.

“...I miss you.”

He said it, voice low and clearly reluctant.

And the spectators, interpreting it as a ‘shy male lead,’ went wild.

【‘Investigation Bureau Kitty’ screams that a shy male lead is exactly her type!】

【2,000 Welfare Points sponsored!】

【‘Promotion Bureau Freesia’ exclaims at the surprising charm under the cold exterior!】

【1,000 Welfare Points sponsored!】

【‘Audit Bureau LemonCandy’ gives a thumbs up, calling this a true romance channel!】

【5,000 Welfare Points sponsored!】

【Countless spectators open their wallets for the cold male lead’s hidden charm!】

……

A flood of sponsorships.

[Time’s up!]

My one hour was over.

[The ‘Spectator’ mission has ended.]

[Participant ‘Lee Eunho’ is returning.]

It had been a little embarrassing at the end, but even so, this mission...

‘Was a total freebie.’

I wasn’t sure if I should be happy or not.

Just then—

─ Blink!

The world flickered.

---

When I finally returned after finishing that damn voyeuristic mission late—

“Oh my! Young man! You’re finally back?”

“Damn it! Why’d you take so long? We were worried!”

The group, having regained their senses, was already gathered at Namsan Tower.

Apparently, we were sent back to where the mission started.

“I’m fine. I just started la—”

Before I could even explain—

[All participants have returned.]

[Final rankings will now be announced!]

A translucent window popped up before my eyes.

〔Final Sponsorship Rankings〕

1. Lee Eunho (32,010 points)

2. X (23,000 points)

3. Cha Jin-sol (8,700 points)

4. Kim Ji-eun (8,000 points)

5. Ahn Kyung-nam (6,450 points)

First place—my name gleamed in gold, standing alone.

‘Yes!’

I won! And by a landslide.

Maximum gain for minimum investment.

Now, it was time to receive the reward.

[Special reward will be given.]

The All-seeing Spectator’s Eye that reveals remaining stamina.

That’d be useful both in fights and dealing with people.

I’d better stash it in my inventory as soon as I get it.

No need to brag about it to everyone else.

...Or so I thought.

[The award ceremony will begin.]

[All survivors, please check your screens!]

─ Fwoosh!

A giant screen appeared in the sky.

“!!”

My face filled the entire display.

To be precise, my face, my body, and the Namsan Tower behind me.

Even—

Bang! Bang—!

Loud fireworks exploded.

The flower petals inside scattered everywhere.

And then—

─ Hug!

A golden chest appeared with a familiar chime.

This...

[Congratulations!]

[Please claim your special reward!]

...Couldn’t they have just handed it over quietly?