The Grotesque Knighthood
[Do you wish to appoint resident Kim Taeyang as a Knight?]
[Yes / No]
"So this guy's name was Kim Taeyang?"
Then I could just keep calling him Gold Sun from now on without a second thought. It rolled off the tongue nicely—fun to say, even.
That said, this System was giving off some serious bad vibes lately. For something that was supposed to be a neutral system, it felt like it was constantly gunning for the back of my head. Acting like it had a personality of its own, second-guessing my every decision. I'd have to grill it properly later.
"Why bother asking again? Just proceed."
I tapped the floating [Yes] button without hesitation.
Click.
A crisp sound rang out, and I secretly hoped for some holy cinematic flair. In your typical fantasy novel, a knighting ceremony meant radiant holy light beaming from the heavens or the knight kneeling in solemn reverence.
But this wasn't that genre.
Knighting Ceremony
Crunch, crack—!
Five black arthropod legs burst up through the floor. Each one man-sized, grotesque, insect-like. Their tips were sharp as blades, and tar-black ooze dripped thickly from every joint.
"...Hey, System. This working right?"
The process is currently proceeding normally.
Further questions will incur a 10 million won fee.
"..."
Eaten alive again. Fine, I'd watch quietly for now.
The System didn't seem to be outright lying on purpose. Though it'd probably keep backstabbing me with biased interpretations or hidden info a hundred more times.
The towering insect legs plummeted toward Gold Sun's prone body.
Squelch—!
The razor tips pierced his nape, arms, and legs without mercy.
"...!!"
Gold Sun's unconscious body arched like a bow, convulsing wildly. The legs plunged in like straws, pumping black ooze into him. You could see the contents shifting real-time as the once-opaque joints turned transparent.
Glurp, glugluglurp—.
A chilling, viscous sloshing echoed through the living room as thick liquid flooded his veins.
Moments later, the emptied legs turned fully transparent, withered like shed husks, and melted back into the floor.
"...Done?"
I cautiously peeled away the blood-soaked towel I'd been pressing on Gold Sun's wounds.
Sizzle—.
Where mangled flesh had been shredded, black ooze now bubbled up. The swirling liquid swept over the wound a few times, staunching the blood like magic. Torn muscles writhed like earthworms, knitting together, then pale new skin sprouted to seal it over.
Visually, it was straight out of an '80s gross-out horror flick, but the effect was instantaneous.
"All good now?"
I checked Gold Sun's color. He'd been pale as a ghost moments ago; now a healthy flush returned. His ragged breaths had steadied too. He'd pulled through the worst.
"Jangbi, why isn't this guy waking up yet?"
"My liege, those with such deep wounds need time to recover. The external injuries are fully mended; he'll regain consciousness soon."
"Yeah?"
Made sense. Jangbi wasn't the type to bluff about shit he didn't know. He'd always drawn a clear line between what he could and couldn't do, even if he talked big.
"Anyway, loading done?"
I hurried to the monitor.
Remaining Time: 45 seconds
The steadily dropping numbers felt refreshing.
[44, 43, 42...]
'Hurry up...'
I eyed the countdown anxiously when Jangbi sidled up, sneaking glances at me.
"What? Spit it out."
He glanced at Gold Sun, then spoke carefully. "Wouldn't it be wise to bathe the boy, change his clothes, and let him rest comfortably aside?"
I stared at him, dumbfounded. "He smell or something? Why change clothes?"
"Keeping the body clean aids recovery, and his clothes are torn and bloodied."
Ridiculous. The guy who'd chomped Black Orcs like gum was playing the gentle caregiver? With that mug of his?
"Nah. Got other priorities—don't distract me. He'll wake up, go home, and handle his own shower and change."
I turned back to the monitor.
[15, 14, 13...]
"Then shall I lay the boy on your bed, my liege? He is your lifesaver, after all."
"Wounds fixed perfectly, plus I figure he's getting some special powers as a bonus. Debt paid. And don't even dream of putting a bloody mess on my clean, fluffy bed. I treasure my sleep space."
"... "
Jangbi shut his mouth, looking glum. Just then, the countdown hit zero.
[3, 2, 1, 0]
New text flickered on the screen.
The Building Managers have awakened from slumber.
Community function activated.
Chat function added.
You can now issue direct commands to Managers via chat.
A real-time chat window popped up at the top of the monitor. The bottom management menus unlocked, glowing brilliantly.
◈ Construction / Terrain Edit (Lock)
◈ Race Management / Tax Settings
◈ Dimensional Shop / Gate Shop
◈ Community (Activated)
Community had switched from deactivated to activated. I placed my hand on the chat window without delay.
A vague order like "eliminate intruders" wouldn't cut it. The PC's management system seemed separate from the retinal one—user-friendly tool vs. fee-gouging adversary. Someone might call me paranoid, but the nagging dissonance wouldn't fade. Plenty of suspicious signs, but now wasn't the time.
I crafted the command as detailed and precise as possible.
> Eliminate all intruders in this building, excluding pre-existing residents. However, exempt my kin as the Gate owner.
I typed each character carefully, hit enter with a prayer.
Cheolyoung Lee bounded up the stairs with Kim Taeyang. On the fourth-floor landing, he spotted the pretty girl who'd warned about the monster earlier, clinging to the railing half-dead. He couldn't stop to help.
All he could manage was a quick shout. "Student, get inside quick! Monsters are coming up!"
His mind was on his wife and daughter. He could've carried the girl, but in this razor-edge crisis, there was no room for others.
'Sorry. Really sorry.'
Pushing guilt aside, he reached 702, madly punching the code. Inside, his wife and daughter huddled in terror at the commotion below.
"It's okay. Stay quiet, and nothing'll happen."
Reassuring them, he barricaded the door with fridge and furniture. He knew the monsters' strength could smash steel, but he had to do something or go mad.
Thud, thud.
Footsteps echoed down the seventh-floor hall. Cheolyoung hushed his family, grabbed a kitchen knife.
'Please just pass by. Please...'
No faith in gods, but now he prayed to them all.
Bang, bang—! Crack, boom—!
Chilling metal clashes as a massive axe blade punched through the door.
'Shit!'
He blocked his screaming wife and daughter. His knife-grip hand trembled.
Boom—!
The door exploded inward. Barricade flew like cannonballs into the living room.
"Watch out!"
Cheolyoung dove, shielding his trembling family.
"Ngh!"
Fridge and furniture slammed his back; he bit down a scream, enduring for them.
"You okay? Hurt anywhere?"
No answer. Their horrified stares fixed past him, at the doorway.
He twisted, face draining white.
Ripped-open entrance. A black behemoth wielding an enormous hammer stood there. Twice any Black Orc's size, radiating dominance after pulverizing the steel door.
But oddly, it didn't enter. It stepped back, turned away. Regular Black Orcs parted respectfully, saluting like soldiers to a superior.
The giant nodded back, vanishing down the hall. Two Black Orcs, emboldened, sauntered in.
"...Ah!"
Snapping to, Cheolyoung scanned for the knife. It lay at the orcs' feet.
Bare-handed, no chance—but he raised guard, stance firm.
Wait, something wrong. Left arm up for face... but only left rose.
Flop.
Right arm dangled limp. Fractured blocking the barricade.
Despair. Broken arm, unarmed, monsters ahead.
Yet his eyes burned fierce. Behind him: family worth more than life.