Netherworld Sightseeing (1)

I lay flat on the ground, curling my body up like a shrimp and wrapping both hands around my head.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Because right now my companions were stomping the living daylights out of me.

Their kicks left my entire body coated in dust. But I couldn't fight back at all.

I snuck a glance.

Tears streaming, rage boiling over, their eyes blazing with fury—I couldn't say a single word.

The reason they were this angry was entirely my fault.

I had gone and become a Disaster on my own without so much as a word to them. In a way, this was the natural punishment.

So I put on a performance of agony, making sure they wouldn't feel awkward about it.

"It hurts…! It really fucking hurts…! Save me…?!"

"What am I supposed to do about that…!!"

Kim Dokja, breathing hard through her nose, stomped down even harder after hearing me.

"……………."

Yoo Joonghyuk was there too, face twisted, stomping me with pure enthusiasm and zero reaction.

"Jinwoo-ssi…! Do you only feel better after causing an accident…?!"

Yoo Sangah was there as well, face contorted in uncharacteristic anger.

"Please…! Just…! If you're going to cause some kind of disaster…! Give us a heads-up…! Okay…?!"

Jung Heewon was raging far beyond her usual self, right alongside Sangah.

"I-I'm sorry…! Jinwoo-ssi…! This is all for your own good too…!"

Lee Hyunsung was stomping me with the rest of them, face full of guilt.

"Jinwoo-ssi? You went a little too far this time."

Lee Seolhwa, who normally examined patients so gently, wore a chilling smile.

"Oppa…! Do you really want to see me lose my mind…?!"

Lee Jihye glared down at me, anger and sorrow mixed perfectly on her face.

"Jinwoo hyung… This time it's your fault…! You're really bad…!"

Lee Gilyoung huffed down at me with a worried expression.

"Oppa… I hate you…."

Little Shin Yooseung was there, huge eyes brimming with tears, stomping me while sniffling.

"…This time it's all your fault. You know that, right?"

Future Shin Yooseung was there too, smiling softly while stomping me hard—the complete opposite of that gentle expression.

I stayed silent under the punishment my companions were raining down for the crime of becoming a Disaster just to obtain a Story.

…Fuck.

After about ten people stomping me for several minutes straight, something felt weird.

With my Stamina at level 80, it didn't hurt all that much.

No—honestly, Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk, and future Shin Yooseung's kicks did hurt. So I only partially deployed the Ice Ghost Dragon's Scales on the spots those three were stomping, letting myself get trampled in comfort.

I think I heard somewhere that some massage places use feet…

Was this what that felt like? I'd never been, so it was hard to judge.

I let my mind wander, figuring a place that massaged you by stomping with feet probably felt something like this.

Of course—

"I-I'm sorry…?! I was really wrong…?! Please forgive me…!!"

—I didn't forget to act.

Otherwise my companions would only get angrier.

Ugh… Still, that was the only moment I was sure I could lock in the Story.

Them getting mad at me for what I did was only natural.

They were all such good people that if a comrade suddenly became a Disaster without any warning or discussion, even I would have been furious.

Yeah—just like when the male Kim Dokja from the original ORV webtoon sacrificed himself to become the Demon King of Salvation.

I carefully rolled my eyes and scanned each of the companions stomping me one by one.

Except for Yoo Joonghyuk, every single one of them had tears hanging from the corners of their eyes.

Looking at those tears, a small pang of guilt stabbed my heart, and my resolve started to soften.

And the most shocking part—

O-our little sister (daughter) saying "Oppa (Dad), I hate you…." Ahhh…

A sky-collapsing shock flipped my brain upside down.

The words that came out of little Shin Yooseung's mouth hit me like reality itself was warping.

My vision spun.

After taking their kicks for a good ten-plus minutes, my companions finally started stopping one by one, breathing hard.

"Hah… hah… I-if you ever pull this kind of bullshit again…. I won't let it slide…."

"…Thanks for forgiving me, everyone."

At Kim Dokja's words I realized she and the others had finally forgiven me, and I mumbled quietly with a dejected look.

I sprang up from where I'd been lying on the ground.

Unlike my companions, who'd been stomping me nonstop for over ten minutes, I was perfectly fine.

No—if anything, my muscles felt a little looser.

But I wasn't dense enough to say that out loud.

If I did, I'd just get cursed out even harder.

I roughly dusted the dirt off my whole body and lowered my eyes.

Because my companions were still glaring at me like they hadn't fully vented their anger yet.

"Much obliged…."

I ground my teeth and forced a stiff smile as the Constellations that had betrayed me sent sponsorships my way.

"Oof, oof, oof…."

I deliberately clutched my lower back as I stood, then checked the system message history.

The dokkaebis still hadn't officially ended the fifth Main Scenario yet.

But I needed to confirm the three—no, precisely four—Stories I had just obtained.

…Worth using the Water-Calming Pearl to save the Incarnations of Seoul Dome and future Shin Yooseung.

I smiled faintly at the newly obtained Stories and sponsorship money.

Then I turned my gaze back to the system messages still rolling in.

I smiled at the system message in front of me, covering one eye with a hand as I muttered,

"Ahh~ Totally worth becoming a Disaster…."

"…Jinwoo-ssi?"

"It's nothing, Sangah-ssi…."

When Yoo Sangah's voice, cold as a winter chill, came from beside me, I clamped my mouth shut.

I then looked at the final Story I had obtained among this batch.

So you're my Modifier.

The Story and I stared at each other for a long time.

Even without words, I understood.

That the Story before my eyes was the result of everything I had done and raced toward until now.

That this tale was none other than me.

Having gone from a half-baked Constellation to a proper one, I stared blankly up at the sky.

Now I too had become the same kind of existence as the Constellations above.

"You traitorous bastards…."

And I glared at the constellations floating in the sky, filling my mouth with curses.

"…Seniors, ancestors, forefathers—your betrayal hurts my heart so much."

I clutched the area around my heart with both hands and whispered as if in sorrow, as if in pain.

"…This wound can only be healed with coins. Ahh~ And on the day I officially become a Constellation, no less. Ahem! Ahem-hem!! Won't some kind, gentle, cool, cute, pretty Constellations send me a few coins?"

I made a dizzy gesture while striking a delicate pose at the same time.

"Ah… My chronic dizziness from coin deficiency is…."

I snuck glances at the Constellations' indirect messages.

"Want me to show you what real robbery looks like? Send the coins right now, you bastards! If you don't, I'll ship you a bomb made of anchovy sauce? So hand over my coins this instant!!"

"Huh? Doesn't sound like a joke? Fine, fuck it. First I'll send anchovy bombs to the Constellations that betrayed me so they understand how serious this is."

I purchased a grenade and a bottle of anchovy fish sauce from the General Shop.

"I will synthesize the grenade and the anchovy fish sauce."

I lifted the bomb that had turned black with a picture of an anchovy drawn right in the middle.

"You asked me to show you what robbery looks like! Hand over the coins! If you don't, I'll send the bomb at random?!"

I shouted while fiddling with the safety pin of the Anchovy Bomb.

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

Grin!

"Thanks~ As expected, only our seniors can do it right?! Sponsoring coins on the day I receive my Modifier! This kindness… this kindness… Anyway, thank you so much!"

Shut up. I need to earn coins. You understand.

Just then, while I was rejoicing over the sweet sponsorships from my seniors—

Ding!

"Huh?"

A system message blocked my vision.

"…………?"

I stared blankly at the system message that had appeared before my eyes.

Then, belatedly coming to my senses, I was startled.

…Two Stigmas?

When I obtained my Story, Der Freischütz, a message about Stigmas had popped up, so I knew a Stigma related to Der Freischütz would blossom.

But this Hour of Pleasure is clearly a Stigma related to my Modifier.

Anyway, if Stigmas blossomed, I could later pass them to my Incarnation and raise them stronger, so having them was good.

Though I wasn't sure whether I'd even make an Incarnation.

Either way, I started reading the effects of my Stigmas.

My first Stigma, Demon's Weapon, when used, imbues a weapon or the user with the Evil attribute to increase power, and deals even greater damage to those of the Good alignment.

The second Stigma, Hour of Pleasure, was….

…All things for the sake of pleasure. Or something?

I had no idea what kind of bullshit this was supposed to mean.

Unlike other skills or Stigmas, this one had no description of its effects whatsoever.

Really none.

I stared blankly at the system window in front of me with a baffled expression.

"………………."

Just then, Bihyung's voice came down from the sky.

【Intermediate Dokkaebi, shall we end the scenario?】

At Bihyung's voice I looked up. Intermediate Dokkaebi Paul was staring at me with a vacant face.

In response I kindly flipped him off with my own hand.

Even so, Paul only muttered something quietly without any reaction.

Bihyung, who had been watching silently from the side, slowly opened his mouth.

【…If you won't, then I will end it.】

Bihyung made a gesture as if operating something in the air, and soon a message arrived.

"…Oh?"

I finished the Hidden Scenario with the loophole of Rule Breaker. Did that mean it was safely processed as complete?

Good news. But one question remained.

Which means I get one more new Story on top of that.

What kind of Story would be added?

I checked the system messages in front of me with an expectant face, then suddenly remembered something I had momentarily forgotten.

I used Midday Tryst, which was still connected to Kim Dokja.

Kim Dokja answered curtly, as if her anger still hadn't fully subsided.

But that wasn't the issue right now.

I spoke while looking at future Shin Yooseung, who was stuck close to little Shin Yooseung and taking care of her.

Kim Dokja, a little ways away from me, flinched in surprise and glared at me.

I let out a small sigh and continued.

After my words, Kim Dokja lowered her head for a moment with a thinking expression.

After ending the Midday Tryst with Kim Dokja, I was blankly watching little Shin Yooseung and adult Shin Yooseung play when—

Crackle-crackle-crackle!

A hole opened in the middle of the sky, and from that hole a portal soon revealed itself.

Two beings crossed through that portal.

Confirming the two dokkaebis clad in white armor, the Incarnations of Seoul Dome looked at them with tense expressions.

At a glance they looked and felt completely different from low-grade and intermediate dokkaebis, so everyone in Yongsan-gu focused their gazes on the two.

But the two dokkaebis in white armor seemed to have no interest in us at all. They briefly glanced at the floating dokkaebis before stopping their gaze on Intermediate Dokkaebi Paul.

The dokkaebis looked at the two before them and wore expressions of shock.

I could understand their shock.

Those white-armored dokkaebis were the ones every dokkaebi running scenarios hoped never to meet until the day they died.

In human terms, they were probably something like "auditors."

Well, more precisely, dokkaebis who only handled matters related to "Probability."

I snuck a sidelong glance at Intermediate Dokkaebi Paul.

Faint but clear—signs of Probability backlash were visible on the hems of Paul's pants and sleeves.

Grin.

At that sight I smiled wide.

The moment I had been waiting for ever since Anguk Station had finally arrived.

Crackle!

Just then, chains made of letters appeared near Paul's body—

Snap!

—and the letter-chains bound Paul completely.

【…Executive Bureau, what on earth is the meaning of this?】

The Executive Bureau dokkaebi ignored Paul's question and simply notified him while looking at him.

【Intermediate Dokkaebi 'Paul'. We are placing you under emergency arrest for violation of Star Stream regulations.】

At the Executive Bureau dokkaebi's words, Paul's expression visibly crumbled.

But the Executive Bureau dokkaebi paid no mind to that expression and continued speaking.

【From this moment your person will be transferred to the 'Executive Bureau'. You may exercise your right to remain silent regarding the scenarios under your jurisdiction, and all rights to progress Main Scenarios will be stripped from you.】

As the Executive Bureau dokkaebi's words continued, Paul's expression changed moment by moment.

【You will lose all the scenario contribution points you have accumulated so far, be demoted to 'low-grade dokkaebi', and as the price of your punishment….】

【D-demoted? Wait! Wait just a moment!】

The moment the word "demotion" left the Executive Bureau dokkaebi's mouth, Paul urgently stopped him.

Paul appealed to the Executive Bureau dokkaebi with an aggrieved expression.

【Suddenly a 'demotion measure'? Shouldn't you at least tell me what I did wrong?】

【Do you really not know?】

The other Executive Bureau dokkaebi asked Paul.

At that oppressive question Paul hesitated for a moment, but then continued speaking again.

【Yes, I truly do not know. Just what is the problem supposed to be?】

Paul spoke toward the Executive Bureau dokkaebi with a brazen attitude.

【I believe I finished the scenario splendidly. Look at the Constellations. Aren't they all enjoying themselves?】

"I wasn't enjoying it. You bastard."

Paul paused for a second at my interjection, glared at me once, then continued speaking again.

【…There is no problem with Probability. I obtained the Constellations' consent and proceeded with forced scenario enforcement, and as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I said, the Constellations also….】

The Executive Bureau dokkaebi who had patiently listened to Paul for a long time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finally furrowed his brow.

【This is the problem with storyteller types. Always Constellations this, Constellations that.】

【………!】

Not every dokkaebi respects Constellations.

The 'Executive Bureau'. Beings who were originally Constellations but, for unavoidable reasons, lost their status and live on as dokkaebis—just like them.

【The 'Scenario Forced Enforcement Right' can only be used when Constellations share the burden of the scenario's Probability with you.】

【I am aware. Because of the risk of Probability backlash. But if the Constellations' satisfaction is high enough, that part….】

【Satisfaction? Paul, look at your own state and speak.】

At the Executive Bureau dokkaebi's words, Paul lowered his head and looked down at his own body.

Crackle-crackle-crackle!

【T-this is…? Why is there Probability backlash…?】

Paul's face turned pale at the blue sparks flickering around his body.

Those blue sparks were the harbinger of Probability backlash.

Probability backlash—the punishment for going against the flow.

Right now the Probability of this world wanted to erase Paul's existence.

Worse than the Probability backlash I went through.

The signs of Probability backlash I experienced were milder because I was still a half-baked Constellation without even a Modifier, so the rebound was smaller.

And thanks to the Constellations who were satisfied watching my scenario, I had weathered the Probability backlash safely.

But unlike me, there were no Constellations satisfied with the scenario Paul had run.

Because the ending of the Disaster Shin Yooseung had turned into the melodrama that the Constellations in Paul's channel hated.

I had aimed for that, waiting for the Constellations to leave Paul's channel.

And the moment most of the Constellations finally left Paul's channel, I timed it perfectly and saved Shin Yooseung.

Of course, if I'd been even a little later I wouldn't have been able to save future Shin Yooseung.

Confirming Paul's expression, the Executive Bureau dokkaebi opened his mouth with an indifferent gaze.

【Paul, you had a chance to end the scenario without using the 'Enforcement Right'. And it was a novel development never seen before.】

The other dokkaebi beside the Executive Bureau one took over.

【Why did you stop it? Because of your atrocities, an emergency has been declared in the Seoul Dome Management Bureau.】

【Th-that is… No, wait a moment.】

Paul hurriedly raised his channel as he spoke.

With the pathetic thought that the Constellations in his channel would help him this time as well.

【I clearly activated the Enforcement Right according to the Constellations' opinions! C-Constellations! You agreed with my development earlier, did you not?】

Paul stared blankly at his channel chat room, which was dead silent unlike before.

Currently there was only a single Constellation left in his channel.

No—now there was not a single Constellation left in his channel.

All the Constellations who had supported his scenario and development had left the Korean Peninsula channel.

The Executive Bureau dokkaebi sneered while looking at Paul.

【What a fool. You didn't even notice the Constellations had disappeared?】

Many Constellations who had been incited by Paul and wanted to kill Kim Dokja for deceiving them had mass-exited the Korean Peninsula channel the moment the scenario ending turned into "melodrama."

In a way it was only natural.

An unwanted development appearing was already shitty enough—few people would keep watching while putting up with it.

But the Constellations who left Bihyung's channel were relatively few compared to Paul's.

The reason for that was me.

"Hehehe. Serves the bastard right."

I had secretly entered Paul's channel behind his back and, before most of them left, introduced them to Bihyung's channel.

Along with my bold claim that I would change the scenario development this idiot Paul had turned into melodrama.

At first they were suspicious of me, but looking at their reactions now, everyone could tell what result it led to.

Of course the regular viewers in Bihyung's channel whined at me a bit, but since it was a good result for Bihyung, they didn't give me too much grief either.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"Alright, our regular viewers? Now show them what we prepared."

Ding!

The regular viewers of our channel who had not agreed with Paul's scenario development sent hostile indirect messages at him.

This is true mockery, isn't it?

Stealing the channel's viewers, ridiculing, provoking, and insulting.

A natural smile formed on my lips at the dokkaebi mockery I was showcasing after so long.

Paul looked at the Constellations' indirect messages and his completely empty channel and screamed.

【T-this is a conspiracy. $#%&*―!!】

Was this the process of finally losing his broadcasting voice because of the empty channel? His voice started cutting out, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now I could no longer make out what he was saying.

"This can't be happening!"

In the end, Paul's raw voice burst out after he lost his broadcasting voice.

Grin.

Finally you're losing everything.

I had waited for it since Anguk Station.

Your ruin.

I had waited for it since the Absolute Throne.

The moment you lose everything.

I had waited for it from the moment you activated the Scenario Forced Enforcement Right on Shin Yooseung.

I had desperately waited for the moment I could beat you with these hands.

I listened to the raw voice of the guy screaming like a madman with a joyful heart and started preparing.

"Hmm-hmm~♪"

Grab a baseball bat, grab a golf club, grab nunchucks and gloves, grab a sandbag too.

I started gathering the tools I had purchased from the General Shop with an excited heart.

Just then, Paul's voice shouting toward Bihyung stabbed my ears.

"Executors! Arrest that one too! I have evidence that that one's channel violated Star Stream rules!"

【Of course he will come with us as well. The one who summoned us is none other than Dokkaebi Bihyung.】

"What…?"

Paul stared blankly at Bihyung with a startled face.

"What do you mean… Don't tell me…?"

When Paul looked at him, Bihyung sneered and waved his hand.

The Executive Bureau dokkaebi who had been watching from the side spoke.

【The dokkaebi who reported you is none other than Bihyung.】

"Bi-Bihyung…!! Y-you dare…?!"

At the Executive Bureau dokkaebi's words, Paul's face turned red and blue by turns.

The Executive Bureau dokkaebi looked at Bihyung with a subtle smile and continued.

【Dokkaebi Bihyung. A truly excellent dokkaebi. Look at that humility of wearing only a single rag. That integrity of setting everything aside and immersing himself in the scenario—that is the very model of a storyteller. Completely different from the likes of you, a mere dokkaebi wearing luxury suits.】

At the Executive Bureau dokkaebi's praise, Bihyung made an embarrassed expression.

Seeing Bihyung's face, I finally couldn't hold it in.

"…Wait, wasn't he just wearing rags because he's a beggar?"

【…Hey.】

"…Ahem! Ahem-hem!!"

Whether he heard me or not, Bihyung narrowed his eyes sharply and glared at me, so I averted my gaze and avoided his stare.

The Executive Bureau dokkaebi continued while glaring at Paul.

【You have already received two disciplinary actions. This is the third. You know well what the third punishment is, don't you?】

"This is ridiculous! Do you think my superior will allow this? You are making a mistake right now. If you touch me now…."

Just then, a woman's voice came from beside me.

"Wait. Hold on."

The Executive Bureau dokkaebi, who had been opening a portal to take Paul away, stopped midway at Kim Dokja's voice and turned his head to look at her.

My companions also looked at Kim Dokja, who had called the Executive Bureau dokkaebis, with surprised expressions.

【…Did you call us just now?】

The Executive Bureau dokkaebi tilted his head and looked down at Kim Dokja.

Confirming that, I activated Shop User.

I will pay 100,000 coins to the Dokkaebi Bag and become a Platinum member.

The Executive Bureau dokkaebi looked at Kim Dokja and opened his mouth.

【Incarnation Kim Dokja. Why did you call us?】

"I request a 'Dokkaebi Private Audience'."

"Me too, me too!"

【What?】

At Kim Dokja's and my request, the Executive Bureau dokkaebis looked at each other in fluster.

They tore their eyes away from each other and looked at the two of us as they spoke.

【A 'Private Audience' is something only Platinum or higher members can request….】

【…Don't tell me?】

They operated the system with hopeful expressions, checked a few things, and then looked down at the two of us with admiring faces.

【Park Jinwoo, who just officially became a Constellation this time, is understandable.】

【But how on earth did an Incarnation become a Platinum member…?】

"Now the qualifications are sufficient, right?"

At Kim Dokja's words, the Executive Bureau dokkaebi nodded and spoke.

【Indeed. Which dokkaebi do you wish a 'Private Audience' with? With Platinum qualifications, audiences up to semi-senior dokkaebis are possible, and the appointment schedule is….】

"No need to schedule. The one Park Jinwoo and I want is the one you have with you right now."

Kim Dokja glanced sideways at me.

Understanding the meaning of her gaze, I smiled faintly and nodded.

And the two of us pointed at the same time to the one dokkaebi standing between the Executive Bureau dokkaebis.

"“We request a Private Audience with Intermediate Dokkaebi ‘Paul’.”"