[The Sponsorship System has opened.]

[Please select a sponsor as soon as possible to maximize your odds of survival.]

[Your chosen sponsor will be a strong supporter.]

[The Foxy Wife finds the situation amusing.]
[The Kingmaker is surprised at the depth of detail.]
[The Grand Architect protests the unfair alias assignment.]
[The Mob Queen chortles at the informal title.]
[The Good Win cannot stop laughing at his alias.]

[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' bares his fangs at the new guests.]
[The constellation 'Demon-Like Judge of Fire' questions the probability.]
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' welcomes the new friends.]

Jinhee was forced to read a flurry of messages that popped up in front of the window she was analyzing. "Ugh... What is this development?"

Was it because she was a cheat character? Or was the system trying to nerf her?

Instead of allowing her to access the surprisingly in-depth and potentially powerful new ability she unlocked, it was forcing her to pick a sponsor.

"Oh! That's a lot of constellations!" Yuri exclaimed and then looked over after reading an invisible window. "Should I choose a sponsor, Jinhee?"

Seunghae frowned, staring at her own invisible window. "A sponsor... this sounds shady."

Jinhee rolled her eyes and said, "You've been saying everything is shady since Oppa started talking to your Unni again."

Seunghae nodded. "And that's why I think it's shady. Unni isn't the type to fall for a player like that, so I'm worried... but whatever." She sighed and said, "This is just like a game, so I guess I might as well play it..."

Jinhee shook her head and then glanced over at Yuri. "You can choose one if you want. It isn't like this is going to be permanent."

[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is greatly displeased at your words.]
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is curious.]

[The Harem God states that they have too much time on their hands for supposedly divine beings.]
[The Foxy Wife laughs at The Harem God's alias.]
[The Sacred Empress giggles.]

[The Harem God realizes what his alias is and demands a rename ticket.]
[The Harem God has been renamed Doting Big Brother.]
[Doting Big Brother lets out a stream of curses.]

Jinhee stared at the messages and then had an epiphany. But she decided to just quietly pocket that thought for later and instead focused on the 'sponsors' listed before her.

[Sponsor Selection]
-Please select your sponsor

>Abyssal Black Flame Dragon
>Secretive Plotter
>Demon-like Judge of Fire
>Prisoner of the Golden Headband
>Doting Big Brother
>The Sacred Empress
>The Kingmaker
.
.
.

'Okay. I get that you're worried Oppa, but that's a bit too much nepotism, isn't it?'

She knew that the first four were part of the setting, but the long list of names afterwards were unfamiliar. Judging by the fact that they all had 'The' appended in front of their titles though made them stick out.

Which meant that they were probably Oppa's buddies who were supervising this Tutorial or something.

Now, Jinhee liked getting a free ride as much as the next person, but when it came to something that she knew like the back of her hand...

[Sponsor Selection has ended.]

[You have not chosen a sponsor.]

[Some constellations are greatly affected by your choice.]

[The Foxy Wife declares she knew this would happen.]
[The Grand Architect hopes for an overpowered cheat scenario.]
[The Kingmaker warns of unexpected variables.]

[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is flustered at how much probability is being expended.]
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is shocked at the blatant waste of resources.]

Again, a flurry of messages that didn't seem like they would end soon.

Jinhee just swiped them all to the side though and focused on the first window that popped up after unlocking her 'Innate Ability' or whatever.

---

[Help Screen]

[Sender: ADMIN GU**]

[Character Design is an ability that leverages your innate talent in assessing and creating characters. Through your intuition and understanding, you are able to adjust certain attributes of others and yourself.]

[Sender: ADMIN LUX****]

[We thought about calling it Hero Creator, but it seems that someone else is already using that ability so it would get confusing.]

[Character Design]

Known Characters

> Oppa Jihu - 101%

> Seol Jinhee - 100%

> Kim Deokja - 100%

> Yoo Junhyuk - 90%

> Superfan Yuri - 89%

> Sung Jinwu - 75%

> Lee Gun - 50%

> Flone Unni - 49%

> Annoying Seunghae - 25%

> Traitor Unni Seonhwa - 10%

> .

> .

> .

> Jihu - 1%

---

A brief explanation followed by the actual user interface for the ability.

Jinhee was amused at the random names given to everyone there... but she was confused on why Oppa was on there twice, once as over 100% and then as 1%.

But that was something she could think about later.

In a situation like this, a random plot element could drop in at any time.

...In fact, it was the perfect time for something like an explosion to erupt and separate them.

So, before anything like that could happen...

---

[Superfan Yuri]

Due to your understanding, you may copy and add traits as well as abilities.

Available points: 3

Temperament:

> Avoidant

> Cool-headed (Locked)

> Competitive

> Ambitious

> Dependent

Aptitudes:

> Observative

> Immersive

> Imaginative

> Creative

> Genius

> Empty

Abilities:

> Path of Mana (Locked)

> Mana Circuit Application (Locked)

> Final Solo (Locked)

> Empty

---

'What the hell?!'

Was Yuri just playing as an airhead!? She was like the epitome of a shoujo manga MC or something!

Wait, then that made Oppa...

No way! She was NOT going to let Oppa become a target just like that!

Argh... Whatever.

After a few quick taps, it seemed like she could use her points to unlock, lock, or add stuff.

There wasn't enough time to scroll through the giant list of things she had to add, so Jinhee just unlocked Path of Mana and Mana Circuit Application since they seemed like useful abilities. After that, she unlocked Cool-headed with a silent prayer that it would make Yuri at least a 'little' more normal.

Next, Seunghae...

---

[Annoying Seunghae]

Due to your understanding, you may only unlock abilities

Available points: 1

Temperament:

> ???

> Stubborn

> Paranoid

> Empty

> Empty

Aptitudes:

> Analytic

> Cautious

> Capable

> Empty

Abilities:

> Mistaken Identity (Locked)

> Healing Magic (Locked)

> Empty

---

Oookay. So it seemed like Jinhee didn't know Seunghae as much as she thought she did.

What the heck was 'Mistaken Identity?' And her? A Priest? Pft...

'Beggars can't be choosers...'

Jinhee resisted the urge to sigh and just unlocked Healing Magic.

She was curious about what that other ability was, but she put it off for later.

And now for herself...

---

[Seol Jinhee]

You understand yourself perfectly. All is permitted, nothing is forbidden.

Available points: 10

Temperament:

> Spiteful

> Mindful

> Doting

> Empty

Aptitude:

> Self-Control

> Wordsmith

> Empty

> Empty

Abilities:

> Character Design (Lv. 1) [Point to level == Current level]

> Intuition (Locked)

> ??? (Locked) [10 Points to unlock]

> Empty

> Empty

---

...Huh. Those mindfulness exercises and constant journaling paid off.

But that wasn't what she needed right now.

Something flashy to use as an attack, something to keep herself safe...

An explosion erupted, sending giant waves splashing from the river below. A faint wet breeze drifted past.

Yuri frowned, lost in thought.

Seunghae looked a bit confused, reading something on an invisible message.

...Which meant Jinhee was going to have to handle whatever was going to unfold in the next like minute or so.

Jinhee quickly tapped on her empty ability slot and started scrolling.

More explosions erupted. Monstrous roars echoed as the towering monsters behind the Disaster of Floods charged at Oppa. The ground trembled as the bridge they were on started to fall apart.

'Come on, come on! Something useful to help me bootstrap us out of this situation...! Ah!'

[Would you like to add <Energy Manipulation> from Oppa Jihu?]

"YES!"

The message vanished.

Jinhee felt her world expand, suddenly seeing and feeling a spectrum of energy she couldn't before.

And at the same time-

[How boring.]

Jinhee froze.

It was a voice she didn't recognize. But when she took everything that just happened into context, along with the fact that the Disaster of Floods had appeared...

The timeline was off. But the 'characters' that had been present were still there.

And so this guy-

[The intermeidate dokkaebi has intervened in the scenario.]

[It's no good if all of you are safe like this in a sudden scenario change.]

[Warning! Random teleportation is occurring!]

[Doting Big Brother warns of crossing the line.]

[The Grand Architect asks what shit development is this?]

'That's what I want to say-'

Before Jinhee could finish her thought, white light enveloped her. And when she opened her eyes...

[The evil thoughts of the dead have returned.]

[The surrounding earth is filled with black ether.]

[The demonic people have woken up!]

The street just outside of the entrance to the underground subway system. Not only that, but a street filled with walking corpses that were wreathed in ominous black smoke.

Jinhee looked around with a blank expression. After that, she immediately looked up at the sky and stuck up her middle fingers. "You shitty fucking developers! Go back and learn how to write a story before making a game, dammit! What the FUCK is with this shit-ass development and nonsensical-"

xxx

The starry expanse just outside of Paradise. The place where the Seven Gods of Paradise lived.

Gula stared at Jinhee cursing out the sky and then let out an awkward cough.

Luxuria laughed and said, "I told you that it was a bit much."

Gula's face turned red and she said, "I only peeked in that world for a short while because I was curious, so it's not my fault the details are a bit rushed."

"Right, right..." Luxuria giggled and said, "Just like how it wasn't your fault that the Jihu you brought back wasn't the same as the one you planned to bring back in the first place?"

"Now that was definitely not my fault!" Gula puffed her cheeks and said, "How could I know that foolish Emperor had opened an extradimensional gateway to summon an outer god?"

"Considering it was there even in the future..."

"...Tch."

Gula crossed her arms and shifted her attention back to Tutorial.

...And saw Jihu pluck a furball creature out of the air and pummel it with his barehands while a beautiful white-haired woman wearing a fur outfit watched with a stupefied expression.

"..."

Gula sighed.

This would be a long two days...