Narrative Reestablishment Unlocked

You've acquired a new ability!

While Si-hyun, trapped in the imaginarium world, was nagging the Notification Window for an update. Beep—! Beep—! Beep—! The situation outside was pure pandemonium.

The detection equipment blared deafening alarms and vibrated wildly amid the chaos of panicked guild agents.

"Master, we can't get any closer to this black sphere. Anything that touches it just vanishes into thin air!"

"Everyone, fall back! Not even a fingertip can touch it!"

"Damn it. It's already swallowed up the entire Bosingak area, and that's still not enough?"

Greed had planted herself smack in the middle of Seoul and activated the Collector's second-stage ability.

The space expanding like a black hole, sucking in everything in sight, had transcended human comprehension—an utterly inscrutable domain.

"We finally pinpoint the ghost story's location, and now we can't even enter? Is that for real?"

"It'd be faster for you to see it yourself than for me to explain until my mouth goes dry."

The agent briefing Han Do-jin lightly brushed a detection device against the black sphere.

—Zzzt!

"This is..."

"It's the same phenomenon we saw on satellite footage—happening right on the black sphere's surface. Anything that touches it turns to dust instantly. Inanimate objects, living beings... no difference."

"So entering the boundary isn't even an option."

The moment anyone tried to get inside by any means, their very existence would be erased. Staring at the impenetrable spatial barrier no one could approach, Do-jin drew in a ragged breath.

"Ha... can't even get close."

This was on a whole different level from the mengmang-grade he'd faced in the past. Back then, at least he could fight the ghost story. Sure, calling it a 'fight' was a stretch, but the damn thing had been right there in front of him.

"But now it's not even visible... Does that mean humans can't even perceive extinction?"

Nothing was possible anymore. All they could do was watch as annihilation approached.

"Elissa, hug me. My legs are giving out; I can't walk anymore."

The small girl's voice came from behind Do-jin, deep in thought. There, cradled peacefully in Elissa Hayes's arms, was Victoria Crawford.

"Master Victoria, where have you been in this situation?"

"Can't you tell from me being carried? I was slashing around everywhere, wondering if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I could break through the black sphere. No dice. Just wasted my energy."

"If you recklessly provoke the ghost story and something happens, will you take responsibility?"

"So we just sit here? We have to try something. Don't be so harsh on someone who's been busting their ass looking for ways. And if you keep glaring like that, the other agents will get antsy—calm down a bit, okay?"

Victoria snapped curtly, then poked Elissa's cheek, who was holding her.

"Elissa, looks like breaking through here's impossible. Guess I have to rely on you again. We're this close now—can you read it in more detail?"

"I've been picking up bits since earlier. First off, correction: this black sphere isn't sucking everything in. Technically, it's repelling it. Keeping anything from approaching."

Elissa closed her eyes tightly, reading the 'intent' emanating from the space. An area that repelled everything, contrary to the Collector name.

"It's thoroughly rejecting anything that comes near. It's... a bit unexpected."

The emotions flowing from the pitch-black sphere weren't destruction, madness, or hatred.

Don't touch. Don't come. I don't want anyone to get hurt. You can't come. No. No, no, no. Sorry. Forgive me. Don't hate me. Don't abandon me.

It was the voice of profoundly sad, heartbreaking feelings.

Drip.

A tear fell from Elissa's eye as she read the ghost story's heart.

'Ah... Why all of a sudden...?'

Such heterologous emotions, utterly unlike her expectations. She doubted if this was really from a ghost story. But no matter how many times she probed, the result was the same.

'Just sadness, loneliness, despair...'

Even as it devastated the surroundings and erased everyone.

'Why is it radiating such sorrow...?'

"Elissa, what's wrong? Suddenly tearing up. What emotions did you read to make you cry?"

"Sis... the emotions are weird. This isn't a ghost story... It's just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a kid trapped inside, desperate for forgiveness."

"A kid seeking forgiveness? You mean an innocent child is locked in there?"

One agent interjected at Elissa's words.

"No, not like that. There's only one inside. Or rather, one ghost story."

"A ghost story having such human emotions? Impossible! Are you sure you didn't misread?"

"What? Who the hell does this punk think he is, questioning Elissa's ability? You wanna go?!"

As Victoria thrashed wildly in Elissa's arms to break free—

Bam!

Do-jin stomped hard, shutting it down.

"Everyone, stop. This isn't the time for infighting. Look over there. The black sphere's smooth surface is suddenly rippling weirdly. Something's changing. Pull back and observe for now."

"Understood."

"And Elissa, it seems the ghost story's shifting—could you read the emotions again?"

At Do-jin's polite request, Elissa nodded with a small smile.

"No big changes yet. Sadness... despair... regret and fear..."

Then, her sea-blue eyes trembled violently as she suddenly detected utterly random emotions.

"Ha... haaaaa..."

Her pupils quaking.

"Elissa, what now? More sad emotions?"

"Th-that, th-that, it's..."

Elissa's face flushed crimson in an instant, twisting her body bashfully. The emotions she was reading live were on a whole other plane from sadness.

Hehe, so pretty! Cute! Queenly boobs are huge(?). The future looks promising! Squishy cheeks are the best! A beauty crying is peak! Ah~~~ Wanna squeeze tight and rub my face on those soft cheeks!

The heart's voice echoing from the black sphere was some guy's lewd thoughts and desires.

Huh, huaaa?? Emotions this intense are a first for meee...

Elissa was losing it to the unprecedented perversion.

There should only be the Collector alone inside that black sphere. Who the hell was feeling this?

Is some guy trapped in there too...?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

But even if so, emotions leaking out like this was bizarre. In a barely-surviving hellhole, no fear or despair—just spewing horniness?

I heard guys always think dirty things, but... d-didn't know it was this real...

What kind of man could pierce straight through the crimson-black ghost story aura and slam Elissa with raw lewdness?

Huuu... So different from Si-hyun's gentle warmth...

Elissa suddenly missed Si-hyun, who always exuded cozy feelings.

* * *

"Kyaaa~~ Isn't this too cute~~ Notification Window! Look at this. Luna's adorable now, but she was super cute back then too, right?"

"Can't you tell? That Greed or Baldy or whatever showed me Luna's past like a movie just to mess with me. I'm watching it while waiting for the update."

Si-hyun had sprawled out in the void space, lounging as he binge-watched Luna's past.

"If I titled it, something like 'There's No Way Our Luna Was This Cute!' would fit perfect."

"How could I not react! Luna smiling so innocently or sniffling from loneliness—it's too much! I only knew her as the emotionless ghost story, so it's extra cute! And look at that!!"

Si-hyun excitedly pointed to a scene of young Luna sleeping peacefully with her head pillowed on the queen's lap.

"Silver hair like Luna's, a seductive and beautiful face! And those massive mammathons! Doesn't Luna's future look promising?"

The Notification Window blinked its message box shyly at Si-hyun's words, fidgeting restlessly.

'Ah, did I get too hyped? She's gonna call me a perv again.'

But contrary to Si-hyun's expectations, the Notification Window didn't scorn him—instead, it asked something unexpected.

"Heh heh heh... Listen up, soldier. I'll explain just once."

Si-hyun shot up, arms thrust high like he was giving a speech.

"Soldiers! I love big tits. C-cups, D-cups, E-cups, F-cups! Anything bigger is pure fantasy! In bedrooms, classrooms, pools, offices, gyms, buses, trains, cars, planes—in every corner of this world, I cherish all varieties of glorious racks! When they sag just a bit from gravity, I can't help but gasp! A tsundere heroine reluctantly offering her chest to the protag—her face is perfection!! The saintly character, who seems worlds away from lewdness, shyly covering her massive holy orbs—that expression is the absolute pinnacle! Whew... I could go on, but I'll cut it here."

"Why're you embarrassed by that? Oh ho... Don't tell me, you're actually a girl with massive holy orbs under that window? Haha, kidding, but it'd be awesome if true. If you were, I'd love you forever by your side."

Si-hyun tossed it out lightly, like casual Korean banter—"let's grab rice sometime" or "I'll hit you up later"—meaningless filler.

So he had no clue. That someone took it 200% seriously.

The gravely shaking text betrayed the Notification Window's turmoil. Of course, Si-hyun barely registered it as a big deal.

'She gets so serious about this stuff sometimes. Kinda cute, like a little sis.'

—Stroke.

Si-hyun raised a hand and gently petted the Notification Window.

"Yeah, yeah. If you were a real girl like that, I'd keep you by my side for this life and the next. Once I claim a girl, no way I'm letting another guy have her! Abandoning heroines? Never! Haha!"

"Got it. Yoon Si-hyun doesn't go back on his word. Anyway, we got sidetracked—how's the update?"

Ding!

"Great, new feature unlocked—but what's 'Narrative Reestablishment'?"

The Notification Window buzzed around Si-hyun's hand, begging for more pets.

'Whenever she sounds this confident, shit always hits the fan... Can I trust this?'

A twinge of doubt, but Si-hyun petted it anyway, figuring this time it'd be fine.

He didn't know what Narrative Reestablishment did yet, but Si-hyun decided to stay positive.

'As long as no weird penalties or crap.'

What could go wrong?