Disaster of Flood (6)

Held back by my companions, I put on a show of composure and looked down at the low-ranking Dokkaebi in front of me.

"Explain yourself. Why is the reward this pathetic?"

"Th-that's…"

The low-ranking Dokkaebi fidgeted, wringing its tiny fingers, then finally steeled itself and opened its mouth.

"S-some of the blame for this additional reward being only A-grade items does fall on you, Constellation-nim."

My brow furrowed the moment I heard that.

"What? What kind of bullshit is that? All I did this time was take down the Disaster of Water."

The Dokkaebi's words left me suddenly feeling wronged and indignant.

I swear on the heavens. In this raid, I had truly devoted myself to nothing but killing the Disaster of Water. I hadn't pulled a single stunt.

Then I felt eyes on me. Frowning, I looked around.

"What did you do this time?"

"What kind of mess have you caused now, Park Jinwoo."

"Jinwoo-ssi…"

"Did you cause another accident?"

"J-Jinwoo-ssi. I believe in you…"

"Jinwoo-ssi really is a walking disaster, isn't he?"

"Oppa…"

"Hoju…"

Whether they'd fallen for the low-ranking Dokkaebi's scheme or not, Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk, Yoo Sangah, Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Seolhwa, Lee Jihye, Shin Yooseung, and Lycaon were all giving me meaningful, suspicious looks in that order.

Under their stares, I shook my head violently and scrambled to speak.

"No, no! This time I really—I swear on the heavens!—I didn't do anything! For real?!"

Even so, my companions kept eyeing me with expressions that said they simply couldn't believe it. Their gazes made me want to lose my mind.

If I'd actually done something, I wouldn't feel this wronged… This time I really am innocent…!

I turned back to the low-ranking Dokkaebi, my face hardening as I glared it down.

"You little shit! Because of you, I'm the only one getting the cold shoulder from my party! Explain properly. Why is the additional reward A-grade items because of me?!"

"…If I have to explain the reason—it's because there are simply too many Incarnations receiving the additional reward for this Disaster of Water."

"What?"

"O-originally, the additional reward for the contributors of this sub-scenario was to choose one of three SS-grade items. However…"

The low-ranking Dokkaebi trailed off, glancing once at us and then at the Nouvelle Vague people standing behind us before continuing.

"If this many Incarnations all obtained SS-grade items at once, the balance of the current Seoul Dome would collapse. So we had no choice but to switch it to A-grade item selection…"

"…Ah."

That reason, at least, made sense. So I was the cause?

I looked away from the low-ranking Dokkaebi, who was still fidgeting and avoiding my eyes, and swept my gaze over myself, my companions, and the Nouvelle Vague crowd.

Even at a rough count, there were easily over a hundred of us.

If all these people got SS-grade items, the scenario balance would definitely shatter. The Nouvelle Vague faction's strength, in particular, would skyrocket.

But one question remained.

"By that logic, aren't A-grade items still a little dangerous?"

Our party was a tiny minority compared to other factions, so we were fine enough—but Nouvelle Vague was a massive force.

"There was some debate within the Management Bureau as well, but the conclusion was that A-grade items should still be acceptable. However, given how many Incarnations are on the Nouvelle Vague side, and with the scenario balance in mind—Constellation-nim's party members will each choose one of three A-grade items."

A sidelong glance.

"And the Incarnations of the faction calling itself Nouvelle Vague will choose from two A-grade items."

The moment the Dokkaebi finished, the Nouvelle Vague side began murmuring among themselves.

Some looked a little displeased, but none of them seemed truly outraged. Others nodded in understanding; still others simply accepted it as inevitable.

But I wasn't about to settle for that.

I crouched down in front of the low-ranking Dokkaebi.

"I've got one complaint, though."

"A c-complaint…?"

"Who among us had the highest contribution in this sub-scenario?"

"Uh, uh… that would be… C-Constellation-nim."

"Right?"

I looked down at the low-ranking Dokkaebi, who was staring up at me and starting to tremble, and gave it a thick, predatory smile.

"Then give me an SS-grade item. Just me."

"What?!"

The low-ranking Dokkaebi's eyes went round with shock as it stared up at me. I patted its head, then lifted a soju bottle in one hand, tilting my head.

"No?"

"Th-th-that…"

Watching the Dokkaebi hem and haw and dodge my gaze, my grip on the soju bottle tightened of its own accord.

Crrrk.

"I asked if it's no. You ignoring me?"

Tremble, tremble.

Anyone watching would have felt sorry for the low-ranking Dokkaebi.

The soft, pale-yellow-furred creature shook from head to toe, eyes darting between me and the soju bottle in my hand, tears welling at the corners of its eyes.

I ignored the Constellations' indirect messages and spoke to the Dokkaebi.

"You said it yourself. I'm the top contributor. Fine, I get it. If this many Incarnations all gear up with SS-grade items, yeah, that's a problem. I understand. But here's the thing."

That's your problem. Why should I care? So hand over my original reward!!

I put on a delinquent's face and started tapping the soju bottle lightly against my shoulder.

"Did I ask you to give SS-grade items to all of us? I'm saying give the original reward to just me, the top contributor. Huh?!"

"Th-that would… be discrimination against the other Incarnations…"

"What? Discrimination?! You already told us to pick one of three A-grades and told the Nouvelle Vague people to pick from two A-grades. Discrimination!? Ha!"

"Hey. Think carefully. My Story is begging me to crack your skull open."

"H-hiiik…!"

Whether it could feel the Story I'd obtained not long ago by smashing Dokgak's head, the low-ranking Dokkaebi turned deathly pale and shook even harder than before.

Watching from behind me, Lee Jihye covered her mouth with one hand and muttered under her breath.

"…So now he's shaking down Dokkaebis too?"

One after another, my companions started offering their thoughts as they watched me legally demand compensation—extortion—from the low-ranking Dokkaebi.

"…But hang on. You're asking for an SS-grade item for yourself alone? Are you even human, Jinwoo? What about us?"

Kim Dokja glared at me for saying that even if it was just for herself among the party, she wanted an SS-grade item—no, for saying I wanted one for myself alone.

"That SS-grade item is mine. Park Jinwoo."

Yoo Joonghyuk was openly trying to snatch my item.

"Jinwoo-ssi… the others are watching…"

Yoo Sangah flushed under the Nouvelle Vague crowd's pointed stares and covered her face with both hands.

"…Jinwoo-ssi. Go easy on the poor thing(?)."

Jung Heewon let out a small, resigned laugh and shook her head.

"Should we stop him…?"

Lee Hyunsung fretted, looking thoroughly conflicted.

"Hehe. Jinwoo-ssi really is an interesting person."

Lee Seolhwa smiled as if she found the whole thing entertaining.

"…Poor thing."

Shin Yooseung trembled as she pitied the terrified low-ranking Dokkaebi.

"………………."

Lycaon simply watched my behavior in silence.

I looked down at the low-ranking Dokkaebi, still sniffling and sobbing, and barked at it.

"So are you giving it or not, you little bastard?! I don't have time for this!"

"Hic… sob… I-I'll give it to you."

"Okay! Thanks!"

Having successfully finished my "negotiation" with the Dokkaebi, I grabbed its tiny hand, shook it up and down, then stashed the soju bottle back into My Little Hideout.

You never knew when you might need it again.

Then, suddenly, I started examining its appearance.

"Hey, what's your name?"

That strange sense of déjà vu I'd been feeling since earlier.

I felt like I'd seen this Dokkaebi in the Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint webtoon, so I asked for its name.

"I-I am… temporarily assigned to handle the additional reward settlement for this sub-scenario. My name is Youngki."

"Youngki?"

Hearing its name, I cupped my chin and rolled it over in my mind.

Young… ki. Youngki. Youngki…. Youngki…? Youngki?

Youngki? That clueless low-ranking Dokkaebi who showed up briefly in the Three Promises arc?

I finally placed it. The Dokkaebi who'd handled the reward settlement after the Disaster of Flood Shin Yooseung was defeated, and who'd managed the channel in Bihyung's place when Kim Dokja went to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Underworld.

Clumsy, but not a bad Dokkaebi overall.

That didn't mean I was about to turn around and say I'd take an A-grade item now, though.

"Alright, Youngki. Hurry up and hand over the reward. I'm dying to know what's in those SS-grade items."

"Y-yes!"

…Solar Heaven Melon, Giant's Greatsword, and a Fire Dragon Egg?

The Solar Heaven Melon was a Murim elixir.

A long, cucumber-shaped red spiritual fruit. Consuming it permanently raised overall stats by a modest amount and granted a Flame Resistance skill.

The Giant's Greatsword.

A massive, two-meter-long greatsword. It boasted sturdy durability, weighed more than other greatswords, and raised Strength by 2 when equipped.

And last, the Fire Dragon Egg.

An egg laid by a high-grade Fire Dragon species monster. The life within was said to possess formidable vitality and enormous potential.

"………………."

Ah, they all looked good. What was I supposed to do?

The Solar Heaven Melon was an elixir—if I ate it, my overall stats would climb even higher and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'd get Flame Resistance.

The Giant's Greatsword was every man's dream.

And the Fire Dragon Egg…

A sidelong glance.

My eyes drifted naturally to my adorable little sister, Shin Yooseung.

Whether she sensed my gaze or not, Shin Yooseung beamed at me with a bright smile, tilting her head as if wondering why I was suddenly staring at her.

Solar Heaven Melon, Fire Dragon Egg. Solar Heaven Melon or Fire Dragon Egg…

A power-up, or a gift for my precious, lovely, adorable Shin Yooseung? That was the question…

I closed my eyes and thought hard. And after some time had passed—

I finally made my choice.

"I'll take the Fire Dragon Egg."

"What…?!"

Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk both went wide-eyed the moment they heard which additional reward I'd chosen, staring straight at me.

Flash!

In that instant, a small light sparkled before my eyes. I stood still, squinting against it—

and from where the light had shone, a massive red egg roughly the size of my torso appeared.

I wrapped both hands around the Fire Dragon Egg and, still holding it, started walking toward Shin Yooseung.

"Here. Oppa's present."

"O-Oppa…?"

Shin Yooseung looked up at me with trembling eyes, and I forcibly pressed the egg into her arms.

"You're a Beast Tamer, Yooseung. You need a strong friend, right? It's an egg from a famous Fire Dragon species monster. Raise it well."

"B-but… this is the SS-grade item Oppa got from the Dokkaebi…"

"This Oppa is strong enough without SS-grade items or SS-grade pets. It's fine."

Pat, pat.

I grinned and ruffled Shin Yooseung's hair, then continued with a small smile.

"Yooseung. Oppa knows you have bad memories about pets. But you have to overcome them. If you keep being sad, your little friend is going to be very sad too."

I knew about Shin Yooseung's trauma.

In the first Main Scenario, Proof of Value, she had killed the puppy she'd been raising in order to survive.

I'd raised dogs myself once, and I'd had to say goodbye to them, so I understood her grief—just a little.

No—Shin Yooseung carried a deeper wound than mine. I had lost the dogs my family and I raised to illness.

Shin Yooseung had killed her own puppy with her own hands just to stay alive.

At only eleven years old, killing the dog she'd raised had left her with a massive trauma.

That was why, despite her talent as a Beast Tamer, she still couldn't tame monster species because of that trauma.

I was handing her this Fire Dragon Egg in the hope that this opportunity might help her overcome even a little of that trauma.

Honestly, it does sting a bit.

Giving up the dream of taming a dragon as a man was genuinely sad. But the Shin Yooseung standing in front of me right now was more precious than that dream, so I could brush off a little sadness without trouble.

"Yooseung. I once had to say goodbye to two dogs I raised. Because of that, I had pet loss syndrome for over half a year."

Even now, when I closed my eyes and drifted into old memories, the faces of the dogs I'd raised came back to me.

Running around with them, playing, cleaning up after them, feeding them treats—those happy memories rose in my mind.

They were Maltese. A mother and her son. Two dogs in total.

As the mother aged, she went blind, and a cancer-like illness appeared in her abdomen. We wanted surgery, but our dogs had weak hearts and didn't wake easily from anesthesia the way other Maltese did, so we couldn't operate.

In the end, we lost the mother dog in vain.

The son dog, like his mother, went blind with age. The lack of exercise made the muscles in his legs gradually waste away.

The year he turned fifteen, I came ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠home after staying out with friends until dawn.

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

Suddenly, quietly, the son dog had stopped breathing on a blanket in the living room.

His heart had been weaker than his mother's, so we'd given him medicine and carefully put eye drops in so he wouldn't go blind—but that child, too, had quietly left this world.

Even now, when I closed my eyes, the regret remained. I should have done better. I should have played with him more. If I'd gone to a better animal hospital against the vet's advice, gotten better medicine, gotten surgery—maybe I wouldn't have had to let them go. That regret still sat heavy in my chest.

For half a year, pet loss syndrome left me miserable, full of regret, and in tears.

The child in front of me, Shin Yooseung, wasn't the same as me—but like me, she loved animals, and she had truly loved and cherished the puppy she'd raised.

That was why I wanted her to overcome the trauma, the pain, the sorrow, and the regret.

"…What were the names of the dogs Oppa raised?"

Shin Yooseung must have been thinking of the puppy she'd raised and killed. Tears welled in her eyes as she asked.

Seeing that, I opened my mouth, then paused, lips moving, and slowly spoke the names of my precious family.

"The mother dog's name was 'Angdu.' The son dog's name was 'Mango.' Those were the names of my precious family."

Hearing my answer, Shin Yooseung lowered her head and murmured in a trembling voice.

"Can I… can I raise this child well…?"

"Of course you can. And even if you can't take perfect care of it, everyone here will help look after that child. What are you so worried about?"

Whether my words were the trigger or not, Shin Yooseung soon hung her head and began to sob quietly.

Her shoulders shook in tiny tremors as she cradled the Fire Dragon Egg in her arms as if it were something precious. I rested a hand on her head and slowly stroked her hair.

"Raise that child well, Yooseung. And grow up healthy together with it."

This Oppa will be satisfied with that.

Shin Yooseung nodded for a long time through her tears, then hugged the Fire Dragon Egg tightly to her chest.

Smiling at the sight, I straightened up from where I'd been bent over petting her head. And when I turned around, what I saw was—

"…I wish he'd be that serious all the time."

"…For once, you're saying something right."

"Oh my, oh my."

"Ohh…"

"I've never seen Jinwoo-ssi like that before."

"He's a walking disaster, but an adult is still an adult."

"Oppa… I kind of see you in a new light."

"As expected of Hoju."

My companions were standing there, looking at me as if they'd reassessed me.

In order—Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk, Yoo Sangah, Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Seolhwa, Lee Jihye, and finally Lycaon. I covered my eyes with one hand and muttered.

"Excuse me? This is kind of embarrassing. Please stop staring."

I'm going to lose it.

Between my companions' reactions and the Constellations' indirect messages, I hurriedly ran toward the corpse of the Disaster of Water—Orcanox.

Reaching Orcanox's body, I placed a hand on it and spoke the now-familiar skill name.

"…Extraction."

"Oh."

As expected of a Disaster. There were ten skills of A-grade or higher.

Mysterious Heavenly Rain was a skill that created cumulonimbus clouds in the sky.

Black Tide Assault Current was the skill Orcanox had used earlier to raise black ocean currents.

Sea Wheel Barrage was the water-attribute version of skills like Flames of Destruction and Noble Freezing Flame.

Orca Pressure was a skill that inflicted intense pressure on those weaker than the user.

Outstanding Swimming Ability was… just a skill that made your swimming absurdly good.

Robust Vitality was, as the name suggested, a passive skill that strengthened the user's life force.

Whale's Cry of the Sea was a skill that fired powerful ultrasonic waves at the surroundings to attack enemies.

Moisture Preservation… was listed as a skill that preserved the moisture of the skin.

There really are all kinds of weird skills…

Anyway, the next skill—Blessing of the Sea—strengthened overall stats as well as the power and abilities of water-attribute skills and items while the user was in the sea.

And last, Incarnation of Disaster.

What the hell is this skill…?

Like Orca Pressure, it was described as inflicting intense pressure on those weaker than the user—but after that, it said that special abilities would unlock upon fulfilling certain conditions.

It was the first time I'd encountered something like this since entering the world of Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. I could only stare blankly at the skill Incarnation of Disaster.