Touring the Underworld (5)

After moving Kim Dokja into a room and clearing away the bottles, Yoo Sangah supported the unconscious Park Jinwoo and headed for her own quarters.

…Jinwoo really is tall.

As she half-carried him along, she glanced sideways at his face.

He reeks of alcohol. Well, of course he does — he drank a lot with the others, then kept going with Dokja and me.

Originally, Yoo Sangah had not planned to take him to her room.

Only—

…Even so, sleeping on the sofa feels a bit wrong.

She had meant to put him in his own bed, but another-regression Shin Yooseung was already sprawled across it, fast asleep. So she was bringing him to hers instead.

She had briefly considered leaving him on the living-room sofa, as he himself had suggested, but sleeping on a couch would hardly help him recover. She discarded that option at once.

Thud.

She reached her door, opened it with one hand, and guided him inside.

"Heave-ho."

Once she had settled him safely on her bed, she flipped the light switch.

Yoo Sangah gave the room he had decorated for her a quick look around, then glanced down at the man on her mattress.

At last she perched lightly on the edge of the bed and brushed his bangs aside.

"…………."

For a moment she simply stared at his face.

Drink had flushed his cheeks deeply, yet it did nothing to dull his looks.

Well — the ridiculous things he usually got up to did plenty of damage on that front, of course.

"…Jinwoo really is a strange person."

The day she first met him at Geumho Station was still vivid in her mind.

The man who had appeared alongside her workplace colleague, Kim Dokja.

The oddball who had brazenly claimed a Constellation modifier.

The violent man who, when people stirred up by Cheon Inho started arguing with her, had simply fired a gun into the air.

The man who had calmly grilled meat by himself right next to the rest of the party.

"Heh."

The Geumho Station memories drew a small laugh from her.

Then a faint shadow crossed her face.

Not every memory connected to Park Jinwoo was a happy one.

…Come to think of it, back during the Green Zone scenario at Chungmuro Station, Jinwoo pushed himself alone.

She remembered him holding back the monster waves pouring out of the Red Zone all night long, covered in blood, bleeding freely.

He had not needed to go that far, yet he had done it alone. The recollection made her pinch his cheek.

Remembering that night simply made him feel so exasperating that she could not help it.

"…Always the same, and always such a fool."

Whenever she had been struggling mentally, he had come to her side and offered quiet comfort. He was someone she was grateful for.

Even when Han Sooyoung had doubted her, he had said without hesitation that he would trust her. A truly kind man.

Which was probably why she had ended up losing her heart to him.

Yoo Sangah smiled softly, stopped pinching his cheek, and stroked it instead.

But almost at once a deeper shadow settled over her expression.

If he would just stop losing his mind over beautiful women and bunny girls, he would be perfect…

Not long ago he had openly stared at the women of that Nouvelvague faction.

Women soaked through by the rain the Disaster of Floods had scattered, their figures on full display.

Grit…

"Ah…"

Pain from her own bitten lip startled her; she shook her head.

Have I always been this jealous…?

This was the first time she had ever fallen for a man, so she was only now discovering how possessive she could be.

She turned her head and quietly looked down at him.

Yoo Sangah had always hated drinking parties.

University, the company — everywhere had been full of men who tried to get her drunk and then take advantage.

But tonight's gathering with her comrades had been enjoyable.

No one had forced drinks on her; they had simply been celebrating survival and hard-won rest.

She gazed at Park Jinwoo a little longer, then carefully peeled off his coat.

Then she gently cupped both of his cheeks and pressed her lips to his.

Peck.

"Please come back safely, Jinwoo."

Perhaps she had reached her own limit as well. Drowsy from drink and exhaustion, she blinked slowly, lay down beside him, and closed her eyes.

And Yoo Sangah prayed to the gods of Olympus.

Please, please let Park Jinwoo return unharmed.

…Hmm. Am I completely screwed?

I had been planning to enjoy watching Kim Dokja adventure through the Underworld on the broadcast and then drift off to sleep.

I never imagined Persephone would (forcibly) invite me down there herself.

In that hazy state, feeling as though I were plummeting somewhere, voices began to reach me from somewhere.

Who is that?

The one who recently rose from Incarnation to Constellation.

His modifier was Apostle of Pleasure, wasn't it?

Quite a few among the Twelve Gods have their eyes on him.

Those ones, you mean?

The murmuring around me made ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me frown.

Noisy.

Their voices, echoing through some unknown space like a chorus of ghosts, were starting to get on my nerves.

Fortunately, at some point they cut off, and I kept falling.

A short while later I felt my body arrive somewhere.

Clutching my throbbing head, I opened my eyes and sat up.

A system message floated right in front of me.

"…Damn it."

I hurriedly scanned my surroundings — and then I was stunned by what I saw.

Countless people swinging pickaxes, mining something; others hauling carts; still others feeding furnaces.

And the thing that stood out most of all—

A Gigantomachia… so this is the same place the male Kim Dokja from the Omniscient Reader webtoon ended up.

Gigantomachia Pluto, the one that had shone during the True Revolutionary arc — or rather, the still-under-construction Gigantomachia Pluto — was displaying its full majesty right there.

Seeing the Gigantomachia, I knew exactly where I had opened my eyes.

I was in the prison of Tartarus, the hell of the Underworld.

Persephone, what the hell are you playing at? I distinctly remember her saying she was inviting me…

Was this how invitations worked in the Underworld these days?

Or was it because of that half-heard "trial" business?

Murmur, murmur.

I'm already in a foul mood. What's the racket now?

While I was staring blankly at the Gigantomachia and the scenery of Tartarus with complicated eyes, the murmuring beside me made me turn my head with an irritated look.

There, three men were looking down at the unconscious Kim Dokja sprawled on the floor, wearing lecherous smiles.

"…Who the hell do those bastards think they're ogling?"

Face twisting, I strode toward the three men leering down at Kim Dokja.

"Hey. You horny sons of bitches."

"Huh? Which bastard dares—"

Bang!

"Puhk!!"

I watched the man go flying, spitting blood from a casual kick, then spoke to the two remaining men who were now staring at me in terror.

"Keep your eyes off my woman and get lost. Before you die."

"Y-you, who the hell are you to suddenly—!"

"Me? The boyfriend of the woman you were just staring at."

My blunt declaration left the two men speechless; they hesitated, staring at me.

I ignored them, approached Kim Dokja, slipped an arm behind her back, and sat her upright.

"Dokja. You okay?"

"…I could have handled it myself. More importantly, who said you're my boyfriend?"

"I know. I just wanted to look cool in front of you. And… after we even kissed, introducing myself as your boyfriend isn't that much of a stretch, is it?"

"……More than that, how are you even here?"

Kim Dokja asked, cheeks faintly pink as she glared at me.

"I got forcibly invited by a Constellation called the Queen of the Darkest Spring."

"…What? The Queen of the Darkest Spring?"

"Yeah. You know her?"

I already knew the true name of the Queen of the Darkest Spring was Persephone, but I deliberately played dumb and asked Kim Dokja.

Her expression hardened a little as she answered.

"She's the queen of this Underworld. With a hint like that, even you should know who she is."

"…Isn't that a bit too big a shot to be inviting me? Why would she invite me, anyway? Earlier she said something about testing me."

"A test? For you?"

Kim Dokja lowered her head, thought for a moment, then shook it.

"Sorry. This time I really don't know. Or maybe you did something that got on her nerves?"

"…I've never even seen this Constellation's modifier before."

"Well, since you're in the Underworld now, a Hidden Scenario should have appeared. Check that first."

"Got it."

I quietly opened the system window and checked the newly updated Hidden Scenario.

Ding!

Earn her recognition…? Recognition for what, exactly?

Persephone. You clearly said invitation. Why are you doing this to me…?

I stared blankly at the clear condition of the newly updated Hidden Scenario.

Then a voice came from beside me.

"What's going on over there? Something fun happening?"

I had already noticed them ages ago, but the men who had been getting ready to ambush me from behind froze at the new voice and all turned toward the sound.

A white-haired young man stood there.

That's Kim Namwoon.

Kim Namwoon — an even worse psychopath and chunibyo than Yoo Joonghyuk — was walking slowly toward us, twirling a hammer with flashy flair.

"Let me in too, yeah? I've been stuck down here touching nothing but rocks all day. I'm bored out of my mind."

"U-uaaaah! It's the crazy bastard! Everyone run!"

"What a waste of bulk…"

I watched the men bolt the moment Kim Namwoon appeared, looking thoroughly pathetic.

"Hm?"

Then I saw Kim Namwoon staring blankly at Kim Dokja.

"Hmmm?"

He leaned in close and peered at her face.

Kim Namwoon opened his mouth.

"Why are you here?"

At his question, Kim Dokja tilted her head, apparently not yet recognizing the person in front of her as Kim Namwoon.

"What, you don't recognize me? Did you seriously forget?"

When she kept staring blankly with her head tilted, Kim Namwoon lifted his bangs a little and continued.

Only then did Kim Dokja realize the young man before her was Kim Namwoon; she flinched and looked at him with startled eyes.

"Aaah, don't be so wary. We're both already dead meat anyway, right? So, Aunt—"

"Call me auntie and I'll kill you."

"…Fine. So, noona, who killed you? Spill it, yeah?"

Kim Namwoon had been about to call her auntie, then hastily changed course the instant he felt the killing intent and murderous aura radiating from Kim Dokja.

Then he looked at me.

"Is the old guy next to her this noona's boyfriend?"

"Hm? Pretty much."

"…Who said you're my boyfriend."

"We even kissed, Dokja."

"…That doesn't count. We were both drunk and not in our right mi— mph!"

"There. Settled."

"…You pervert bastard! What are you doing in front of a kid?!"

I had kissed her on the spot. Kim Dokja flushed scarlet and fumed.

I looked at her with a sly smile.

Watching the two of us, Kim Namwoon muttered quietly.

"…Fuck. Don't do couple shit even after coming to the Underworld. Ugh… I need bleach."

"Want me to mix you a bleach on the rocks?"

"What? Old man, you know that meme?"

"It's the classic meme that pops up whenever people get hit with PDA. Of course I know it."

"No, more importantly — do you actually have bleach? How are you gonna make bleach on the rocks?"

Instead of bleach, I tossed him a can of cola.

Thok.

Kim Namwoon stared blankly at the can for a second, then looked at me with wide, astonished eyes.

"W-wait! You even have cola?! Old man, where the hell did you get this?!"

"Just think of it as one of my skills."

"Whoa. Old man, you're awesome."

After that, Kim Namwoon downed the cola I had given him in one go, declared himself in a good mood, and began introducing us to Tartarus.

He showed us the mining grounds where residents of the Underworld dug for Underworld ore, the forges where they refined Underworld metal, the furnaces where they heated ore and cast it into ingots, and so on.

After a while I excused myself from Kim Dokja and Kim Namwoon, stopped in the center of Tartarus, and started pulling out various items I had bought from the regular shop.

Why was I taking things out?

After looking around on Kim Namwoon's tour, one thought had flashed through my mind.

This place was perfect for business.

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

"Come one, come all! This isn't your everyday merchant. A merchant of the Underworld has arrived, selling just about everything. Here's your chance to trade for Underworld ore, ingots, and rare Underworld items!"

If I could sweet-talk the sinners laboring here into handing over rare Underworld ore and ingots, then haul that loot back to the surface, it would be an absolute jackpot.

I could feed Underworld metal into my Synthesis skill, or to Hephaestus, or list it on the Dokkaebi Exchange and have quality weapons made.

Or just sell it for coins.

"I've got cola, cider, sports drinks, soju, beer — everything you people miss! Anyone interested, come find me!"

Whether they heard my voice or not, a few residents of the Underworld stopped in their tracks and looked my way.

I pulled out the cola, cider, snacks, beef, pork, and so on I had mentioned, and beamed.

Then a few residents approached with hesitant expressions.

"D-do you really have soju?"

"Of course! See? Here's a bottle right here."

I held up a soju bottle for the old man who had asked, letting him confirm it.

His face lit up with a bright smile.

"Th-then how much for that bottle of soju?"

"As I said earlier, I'm accepting ore that's easy to dig up in the Underworld mines, Underworld metal, ingots, or rare items and gems."

"Hmm… I-I've got a bit of Underworld metal I stashed away. Will this do?"

The old man produced a metal fragment about three finger-joints long from his robes and held it out.

I smiled brightly, took the fragment from his hand, and passed him the soju.

"Pleasure doing business, sir."

"Th-thank you, young man! Thank you so much!"

The old man who received the soju immediately cracked the bottle open, poured it straight down his throat, and vanished.

The murmuring of the Underworld residents who had been watching our trade grew louder.

Then several of them came forward and started calling out the goods they wanted.

"D-do you have toilet paper rolls?!"

"One pack of Ansungtangmyun, please!"

"Give me some clean drinking water!"

Watching the suckers line up in front of me, clutching Underworld ore, metal, and ingots and shouting, I rubbed my hands together.

"Of course, of course! Right away, customers!"

The people who had been laboring to build Gigantomachia Pluto swarmed around me in an instant, and the more Underworld residents gathered, the more easily I obtained the Underworld items I wanted.

Heh heh heh… Never thought I'd get Underworld metal this easily. Lucky me.

The problem was—

…Hades and Persephone had better look on me fondly.

I had already gone and done it, but if the king and queen of the Underworld flew into a rage over this, I was a dead man on the spot.

This was not the surface, where I could run wild as I pleased. This was a world ruled and dominated by the king and queen of the Underworld.

So I prayed inwardly.

Please let Hades and Persephone look kindly on me.

About thirty minutes into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠selling items to the residents of the Underworld—

From beyond the distant entrance came the bustle of people, and I saw several of them stiffen and return to their labor.

Tsk… I still haven't collected that much metal. They're already here?

I firmly told the Underworld residents that business was over for now, then walked over to Kim Dokja and Kim Namwoon, who were hammering not far away.

Just as I reached them, administrators in black capes arrived at the spot I had just left.

"What were you doing this time?"

"Business. Underworld metal looks way better than metal from anywhere else."

"…If the king and queen of the Underworld say anything to you, I'm pretending I don't know you."

"……If they complain about this, I'll just get on my knees and beg for forgiveness. What else can I do?"

After that we kept an eye on the administrators while hammering away with the mallets beside us.

…Been a while since I held a hammer.

Recalling the feel of two years working in a factory, I pounded away, murmuring "Those were the days~" and reminiscing.

Then an administrator climbed onto a platform near the entrance and spoke in a voice like scraping iron.

—Attention, slaves of the first floor. An unscheduled inspection will now take place.

Hearing that, Kim Namwoon scowled and grumbled.

"Those bastards do this crap every day. Nothing better to do, so it's always inspections this, inspections that…"

But the next words from the administrators shut him up at once.

—An illegal intruder has appeared in the Underworld. It is said that living souls have crossed the River Acheron.

At the administrator's sudden announcement, the wraiths who had been swinging pickaxes and hammers and hauling carts murmured in confusion.

—Should the Great Death learn of this, terrible things will befall you as well. Therefore this inspection is to root out those impure intrud—

"Hey, hold on."

As the administrator continued, I shot to my feet with an expression that said I could not take it anymore.

"Hey! Hey! Park Jinwoo!!"

"W-what? Old man, are you crazy?"

Kim Dokja and Kim Namwoon beside me grabbed my clothes and tried to stop me, but this was something I could not swallow.

"Listen. I was personally invited by the queen of this Underworld. And you're calling me an intruder? Isn't there some kind of misunderstanding?"

—State your name.

"I am a man called Park Jinwoo. Constellation name: Apostle of Pleasure."

—Apostle of Pleasure? I see. So you are the one the queen spoke of.

From that moment I felt something was wrong.

Grrrrr…!

The Grade-4 beast-type Cerberus guarding the gate rose with a savage snarl.

Shing!

The two administrators in front of me drew a whip and a blunt weapon and fixed their eyes on me.

Faced with their combat stance, I spoke in a flustered rush.

"Hey, wait. I told you, I was invited by your queen!"

—Our queen said this: should one calling himself the Apostle of Pleasure appear, subdue him at once.

—By the queen's command, we shall deal with you.

Grrrrr…!

At their combat readiness, my expression hardened.

That "trial" I half-heard before dropping into the Underworld was an actual trial?

I wanted to draw my usual armaments — Barisada, Gleipnir, Samryunhwan, Der Freischütz, the Frozen Heaven Demon Dragon Blade — but for some reason I could not pull my original weapons from My Room, so I activated Glacier Sculpting instead.

Shing.

I formed a massive greatsword with Glacier Sculpting and raised it toward the administrators and Cerberus in front of me.

"Tsk. Then I'll just have to beat you down, request an audience with the queen of the Underworld, and clear up this misunderstanding myself."

Kwaaaaaah!!!

Cerberus charged, jaws wide open.

"…Ah, damn. I don't really want to hit Cerberus."

I leapt toward the oncoming Cerberus and drove a fist into its solar plexus.

Bang!

Yip! Yipe!!

Maybe because ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was still a pup, one punch to the chest was enough to send it sprawling and whining theatrically.

The administrators, too, stared at me in shock that a single fist had subdued Cerberus.

Seizing the opening, I hoisted Kim Dokja onto my shoulder and called to Kim Namwoon, who was watching us with a dazed look.

"Ah, for fuck's sake! Hey, Kim Namwoon, we're just leaving! Take care!"

"Hey, hey…! Park Jinwoo, you crazy bastard…!!"

"Uh, uh? Uh…. Bye…"

As I slung Kim Dokja over my shoulder and bolted for the gate Cerberus had been guarding, she grabbed my hair and cursed, while Kim Namwoon stared blankly after us and, without thinking, waved.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

—Stop right there! Apostle of Pleasure!!

"Would you stop if you were me?! Why the hell are you persecuting a guest, you bastards?!"

With Kim Dokja on my shoulder I pounded up the stairs, and the administrators of the Underworld chased hard after us.

While racing up the steps, I passed several Symbolic Bodies of rather high standing who watched Kim Dokja and me with interested eyes.

Probably Constellations residing in Hades's palace.

And I could not stand those looks from the Symbolic Bodies of Constellations.

"What are you staring at, you bastards! First time seeing a Constellation break into the Underworld and run for it?!"

"Why are you provoking Constellations who were just standing there, you idiot!!"

"Those bastards are looking at us like we're entertainment!"

Suddenly a cascade of indirect messages from Constellations bloomed beside me.

"Ah, for fuck's sake! This palace is ridiculously huge!"

Bang!

I skimmed the Constellations' indirect messages, then kicked open every grand-looking door I passed while fleeing the administrators, and kept charging forward.

"Dokja! Left or right — pick one!!"

"You're driving me insane, seriously!! Go left!"

"Is this right?!"

"How would I know? I just picked at random!!"

Whenever a fork appeared, I made Kim Dokja choose. And if we took the wrong path—

"This isn't it!!"

"I told you I just picked!!"

—We've finally caught up!! Surrender already, Apostle of Pleasure!!

"Ah, get lost, you sticky bastards?!"

—Kehuk…!

I lightly subdued an administrator, then doubled back and took the opposite path.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"You sons of bitches! Don't touch Dokja!"

—Then put the woman down and fight us!!

"Then how am I supposed to run?!"

—Don't run — fight us, you greenhorn!!

We played tag-and-pathfinding with the administrators for quite a long time.

Bang!

At last we arrived at a hall fitted out as a vast banquet chamber. This was the place where Persephone had waited for Kim Dokja in the Omniscient Reader webtoon.

"Hah…! Hah…! Hah…! These persistent bastards!!"

I kicked the door shut again, then barricaded it with wooden planks, nails, and a hammer I had obtained from the wraiths who had become residents of the Underworld.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Hah…! That should do it! Dokja! We finally got away!"

"……Because of you, I feel like I'm going to throw up and die."

When I set Kim Dokja down after carrying her on my shoulder for so long, her face had gone pale blue and she was covering her mouth.

"Uh, sorry about that."

I gently patted her back.

Then I noticed belatedly.

At some point our clothes, which had matched the wraiths', had returned to normal.

Then a voice rose from within the pitch-dark hall.

How amusing.

We both flinched.

Kim Dokja and I shuddered at the voice from inside the hall and stared toward its source.

It has been so long since a living soul entered this castle, and you even brought unpleasant spectators with you…

Fwoosh.

Blue candle flames lit upon the table in the center of the hall.

And my invited guest has finally arrived. To have reached this place safely — becoming a Constellation was clearly no accident.

The candle flames grew a little stronger.

As they burned more fiercely, an antique oval table revealed itself.

A table of the enormous size one might see in a comic, anime, or film. On the black velvet covering it, a dazzling array of mouthwatering dishes was laid out in abundance.

Across from us, a single figure could be made out.

Kim Dokja tensed at the voice from across the table and carefully opened her mouth.

"It is an honor. O Queen of the Darkest Spring."

You know my modifier. What a well-mannered Incarnation.

"You flatter me."

More interesting still is that even upon hearing my True Name, your soul does not waver.

Thok.

Kim Dokja elbowed me in the side as I stood there blankly, giving me a look.

I bowed my head respectfully and greeted Persephone.

"It is an honor to meet you, Queen of the Darkest Spring. I apologize for the disturbance I caused in the castle."

Heh heh heh. It was the result of my "little prank," so it is quite all right, Apostle of Pleasure.

Then her hand moved, gesturing toward the chairs before us.

Sit, Incarnation Kim Dokja. Apostle of Pleasure.

Kim Dokja and I exchanged a glance, nodded, and quietly took our seats.

Once seated, Kim Dokja looked across at Persephone and asked,

"If it is not too forward, may I ask one question?"

Speak.

Kim Dokja's brow furrowed, just slightly.

"Is the form you wear now Your Majesty's True Body?"

Of course it is a Symbolic Body. The Apostle of Pleasure beside you might endure it, but my True Body is a shock no mere human such as yourself could withstand.

Hearing that, Kim Dokja quietly studied Persephone's Symbolic Body.

At Kim Dokja's gaze I turned my head, recalling the time she had been on the subway.

Persephone's current Symbolic Body took the form of a shabby old woman.

Right. Come to think of it, Dokja failed to save an old woman at the place where the first scenario began.

Sensing Kim Dokja's discomfort, Persephone spoke slowly.

Older women are not to your taste, I take it?

"That is not the issue."

Despite Kim Dokja's firm reply, Persephone showed no sign of offense; she only smiled kindly and continued.

If this form is unpleasant, I can change to another.

Crackle-crackle!

Small sparks leapt from her feet, and her appearance gradually shifted from an old woman into someone else.

"Ha……?"

Persephone's slowly distorting form became Kim Dokja's.

A black China dress that clearly outlined the shape of her chest, garter belts, and seductive eye makeup — Kim Dokja's appearance.

Faced with Persephone wearing Kim Dokja's form, radiating an alluring atmosphere, I stared blankly.

"Y-Your Majesty?! Th-that form is—!?"

Kim Dokja flushed, leapt from her chair in flustered panic, and demanded of Persephone.

Heh heh heh. How is it, Apostle of Pleasure? Does it suit me?

"…It suits you very well, but why a China dress?"

You did not know? The tastes of the Incarnation Kim Dokja beside you.

"Pardon? What on earth do you—"

I happened to see it. On the device called a phone belonging to Incarnation Kim Dokja, there were photographs of herself in a China dress and garter belts. I assumed that was her preference, so I thought I would show you onc—

"Wahk! Wahk!! Wahk! Y-Your Majesty!"

"Aha…. So that's our Dokja's clothing taste, is it? Still, she's uncomfortable, so if you wouldn't mind, could you change your appearance to Sangah's instead?"

Heh heh. Very well.

Snap!

When Persephone flicked her fingers, small sparks danced around her body once more, and her figure and face transformed into Yoo Sangah's.

Persephone, now wearing Yoo Sangah's form, glanced at me with a look that asked if I was satisfied. I gave her a thumbs-up.

Caught between the two Constellations, only Kim Dokja suffered, face scarlet, both hands covering her face.

It was excellent eye candy.