Things That Can Be Changed (2)
I steered the seawater conjured by the Black Tide Current, piloting a single one of Lee Jihye’s ghost ships as we pressed forward.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet bursts into tears over the nature of Peace Land being destroyed!
“…Nah. Barely anything got wrecked.”
I shot a sidelong glance at the forest, carved open in a straight line like some Amazon-sized river slicing through the trees.
“It’s only about as big as the Amazon River, that’s all.”
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet flops face-down on the ground and weeps!
My companions all shot me the same weird look after hearing that.
“Oppa, isn’t the Amazon River, like… insanely huge?”
“…The Amazon is known as the largest and longest—or second-longest—river on Earth.”
“Heh-heh… Young man. You mustn’t go around damaging nature.”
“Jinwoo hyung. You look like the incarnation of environmental destruction.”
Under the scolding from Lee Jihye, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Bok-sun, and Lee Gilyoung, I hung my head.
And the scolding didn’t stop with my party.
You have destroyed tens of thousands of trees in a short time.
Due to excessive environmental destruction, you have achieved the feat ‘Nature Destroyer’.
Achievement reward: 50,000 coins acquired.
Shit.
I was only riding one of Jihye’s ships to save mana for the centipede fight later. Never imagined I’d snag an achievement reward for it.
A large number of nature-loving Constellations look upon your rampage with displeasure.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet, eyes brimming with tears, clasps both hands and begs you to stop destroying nature!
“Aigoo. Fine, fine, I get it.”
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet asks if you’re finally listening!
I manipulated the channel screen and sent the Small Constellation 10,000 coins.
Constellation, ‘Apostle of Pleasure’, pays 10,000 coins to the Small Constellation.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet’s eyes go round at the first huge sum of money it has ever seen!
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet asks in a trembling voice what this fortune is for.
I smirked at the indirect message from Peace Land’s only Constellation and answered.
“Hush money.”
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet goes blank after hearing your words.
“What? Want more?”
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet snaps out of it and shakes its head!
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet says it doesn’t need this fortune and just wants the nature destruction to stop…
Constellation, ‘Apostle of Pleasure’, pays 10,000 coins to the Small Constellation.
When I paid another 10,000 coins, the Small Constellation’s indirect messages went quiet for a moment.
A short while later.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet begins the greatest dilemma of its life over the first fortune it has ever possessed.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet says in a trembling voice that even so, it still wants the nature destruction stopped more than these measly coins…!
“Oh? Holding out pretty well? Here, take some more coins.”
Constellation, ‘Apostle of Pleasure’, pays 10,000 coins to the Small Constellation.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet mutters under its breath, “Th-thirty thousand coins…?”
I grinned at the nearly-converted Small Constellation while my companions whispered among themselves at the sight of me.
A considerable number of Constellations roar with laughter at your money-flinging antics!
Many Constellations look at the Small Constellation with envy.
I glanced at the other Constellations’ indirect messages and recalled an old saying I’d once heard.
There used to be a line like this.
If money can’t solve it, maybe you just don’t have enough money.
I snickered, imagining the Small Constellation sitting there in silence, wrestling with the 30,000 coins it had just received from me.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet, eyes brimming, asks you to at least keep it moderate.
“Sure thing. In exchange, take a clear stand on the Small People’s side so I can go thrash those Disaster kids for you.”
Finally brought to its knees by my wealth, the Small Constellation’s message made me smile as I steered the ship onward.
Still got twenty thousand left.
And the thought of those remaining twenty thousand coins made me break into a happy grin.
Kim Dokja and Shin Yooseung watched the two Japanese men slaughtering the Small People, observing the situation carefully.
Then, from among the Small People’s army, a Small Person clad in golden heavy armor appeared.
At the sight of this Small Person who looked far stronger than the rest, Shin Yooseung’s eyes widened.
“That Small Person looks different somehow.”
“Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they’re all weak.”
Kim Dokja watched the one who seemed to be the Small People’s leader, sinking into thought.
Or rather, she would have—if not for the indirect message from a Constellation she knew.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet cheers for Incarnation ‘Gillemium’.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet has sponsored 20,000 coins to Incarnation ‘Gillemium’.
Gillemium, leader and captain of the Small People, flinched hard at the scale of the sponsorship from Peace Land’s only Constellation.
Kim Dokja was just as stunned.
What…? The Small Constellation, Peace Land’s only one, shouldn’t have that many coins.
Peace Land was a world without Sword Masters or Archmages. The fact that a Constellation even existed in this classic fantasy setting was surprising enough, but perhaps because this was a world of Small People, amassing coins on that scale was simply impossible here.
That was why Kim Dokja was staring at the sponsorship amount with such a shocked face.
…Just what is going on in this Peace Land?
The Small Constellation sponsoring an enormous sum that didn’t match either the Japanese men’s conversation or what she had read in Ways of Survival made Kim Dokja’s expression harden as she fell into thought.
But that thought was shattered almost immediately—by the sight of the Small Person Gillemium, whose overall stats now matched or even surpassed the two Japanese men, radiating formless energy from his entire body.
“For the smallest conviction in the world!!”
Gillemium raised his longsword with all his might for the Small People whose morale had plummeted before the Disasters’ strength, then charged bravely toward them.
Thanks to his tiny frame he was quick and agile; he closed in on the bald Japanese man named Amano Goro and put every ounce of power into the longsword, slashing straight into the man’s arm.
Slash!
“Aaaagh?!”
Amano’s arm was cut so deep the bone showed. He screamed, clutching the wound and staggering.
When the Small People saw the deep wound Gillemium’s strike had left on Amano’s arm, hope bloomed in their hearts.
“L-Look! The Disaster is bleeding!”
At the sight of a Disaster wounded, crying out in pain, and reeling, the Small People’s army roared to lift their broken spirits and gripped their weapons tighter.
“Waaaaaah! We can do this! Charge!”
“Just a little more and we can bring the Disasters down!”
The army that had been fleeing stopped and rapidly reorganized. Archers loosed arrows at the Disasters, infantry swung swords smaller than toothpicks, and cavalry spurred their mounts, holding formation as they drove lances into the Disasters’ feet.
“Even Disasters bleed! They’re the same as us in the end! Don’t give up!!”
“Waaaaaaaaah!!”
Someone’s encouraging shout made the Small People cheer and swing every weapon they had at the Disasters.
“Kh! Get lost, you little bugs!”
“What the hell is with these things all of a sudden?!”
The Japanese men who had been massacring the Small People moments earlier twisted and turned in panic, blocking attacks while swinging their own weapons.
BOOM!
“Uwaaaah!!”
Every blow from the Disasters made the ground shake and sent their comrades’ corpses flying into the sky—yet the Small People only shouted louder, swinging their weapons with renewed courage.
Slash! Slash!
Because their leader Gillemium kept wounding the Japanese men without pause.
“Damn it! Mere Small People dare—!”
Faced with Gillemium’s strength on a completely different level from the other Small People, the two Japanese men panicked and tried to pin him down with blue flames and axe swings.
But those attacks never even touched Gillemium, who had already surpassed their overall stats.
As the two Japanese men began to be pushed back by Gillemium and the Small People’s army, Shin Yooseung looked up at Kim Dokja.
“…Maybe the little friends can win.”
“…If they just fight calmly, they might.”
Kim Dokja nodded in agreement. Without the 20,000-coin sponsorship to Gillemium earlier, he wouldn’t have stood a chance against those two Japanese men. Now it was different. Even with the scenario buffs the two received as Disasters, if the Small People fought calmly they might actually win.
Assuming, of course, that they fought calmly.
The mid-rank Dokkaebi Ganul appeared in midair with a sly smile.
The two Japanese men looked up at Ganul’s voice from above. Ganul glanced with satisfaction at the Small People’s resistance that was glimpsing hope against the two Disasters, then continued while looking at the Japanese men.
Ganul flicked a finger lightly. Pitch-black aura poured from the bodies of the Japanese men who had been bleeding under the Small People’s and Gillemium’s attacks.
Sensing something wrong, the Small People halted their assault, reformed ranks, and glared at the two Disasters.
The two Japanese men, swept up in the exhilaration of the overflowing aura making them feel stronger than usual, wore mad grins as they turned their gazes on Gillemium, who had attacked them.
“Mind if I kill that quick little bug?”
“Then I’ll take care of those arrogant brats.”
The probability restrictions on the Disasters have been partially lifted.
For a set time, the Disasters’ synchronization limit with their Sponsors rises.
The insufficient probability will be paid by the <Star Stream> instead.
Amano Goro poured mana into his axe and brought it down on Gillemium, who was staring blankly this way.
KRAAAAAANG!
“Ghhhk…!”
Gillemium reflexively blocked the axe that came crashing down at high speed with his longsword.
But—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Most of the Small People around him were turned into bloody pulp by the shockwave, limbs flying, torsos and lower halves bursting apart as they died.
Only he alone had withstood Amano’s strike.
“…Ah, aah.”
“How are we supposed to beat something like that…?”
The courage that had been welling in the eyes of many Small People snapped like taffy before that overwhelming disaster.
A few brave ones tried to rally the broken-willed Small People to fight the Disasters together, but the others either hung their heads in total surrender or simply stared blankly at Gillemium—the only one among them still blocking the Disasters’ weapons and fighting.
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet is in extreme pain at the sight of the dead Small People!
The Small Constellation of the Small Planet weeps and comforts the Small People who have lost their will.
“Uwaaaaah…!!”
“Why is this one so strong when he’s just a lowly Small Person?!”
Gillemium unleashed furious battle cries and nonstop slashes at the two Japanese men; Amano blocked them with a flustered expression.
Watching from the side, Maruyama stopped attacking the broken-willed Small People, clicked his tongue, and stepped up beside Amano.
“Amano-kun, I’ll help.”
“Ugh… Be careful. That one’s different from the other Small People.”
“Indeed. Something’s a bit off from the advance team’s intel. Better stay cautious.”
Together the two Japanese men began to press the arrogant little bug that dared oppose them.
“Kh…!”
Blue flames burned Gillemium’s body; cracks spiderwebbed across his heavy armor under the Disaster’s axe blows.
Watching Gillemium slowly bleed from every part of his body while fighting desperately, Shin Yooseung ground her teeth and shouted at Kim Dokja.
“I can’t take it anymore.”
“Yooseung.”
Kim Dokja caught the hem of Shin Yooseung’s clothes and continued.
“If we fight them, the scenario will get extremely difficult.”
“But we can still clear it even if it’s difficult, right?”
Seeing the firm resolve on Shin Yooseung’s face, Kim Dokja nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll do it.”
Shin Yooseung and Kim Dokja turned their heads and glared at the two Japanese men still pressing Gillemium.
The probability restrictions on the Disasters return to normal.
Just then the black aura cloaking the Japanese men’s bodies began to thin. The temporary [Probability Buff] granted to them was slowly fading.
“Tsk! Looks like the buff’s over. Amano-kun! Be careful!”
“Why is this bastard so tenacious?!”
“Hah…! Hah…!”
Even if Gillemium’s overall stats were better than the two Japanese men’s right now, he couldn’t ignore the sheer size difference. Blocking an axe that was enormous and overwhelmingly heavy compared to Peace Land weapons, and dodging blue flames large enough to engulf his entire body, Gillemium was tiring at a rapid pace.
Just as the thought that everything was truly over began to form in Gillemium’s mind—
Something unexpected happened.
KRAAAANG!
A massive explosion erupted from the forest behind the Japanese men.
“Waaah! What the hell?!”
“Who is it?!”
The Japanese men spun around in haste toward the explosion; in that opening Kim Dokja snatched Gillemium from the ground and vanished into the forest.
The moment Kim Dokja hid Gillemium in the trees, Shin Yooseung finally moved.
Thud-thud-thud!
Shin Yooseung burst from the forest holding the short sword she had received from Park Jinwoo last time and swung it at the Japanese men.
The legs and hands Japanese people use a lot. The vital points Oppa taught me—places that make the body sluggish when hurt.
Slash! Slash!
Recalling the vital points and good places to attack that Park Jinwoo had taught her, Shin Yooseung cut the Japanese men’s wrists and thighs exactly as she had been taught and slipped past them.
And then—
Thud!
“Ghk…?!”
She threw the old dagger she had been carrying from the start straight into Amano’s groin and hit her mark.
Amano, groin pierced by the dagger Shin Yooseung had thrown, rolled his eyes back and slowly collapsed to the ground.
“Huh…?”
Maruyama, watching from the side, wore a look of utter shock.
“Y-Yooseung?”
Kim Dokja, watching from the forest, wore a blank expression.
A considerable number of Constellations scream at Incarnation ‘Shin Yooseung’s’ heinous attack!
The Constellations watching Shin Yooseung through the channel shrieked.
And finally—
Constellation, ‘Apostle of Pleasure’, smiles at Incarnation ‘Shin Yooseung’, who has properly learned his teachings.
Park Jinwoo, watching the scene on the channel screen, smiled.
“Ehehe…”
Whether Shin Yooseung had no idea how horrific the attack she had just landed on Amano was, or simply didn’t care, right now all she could see was Park Jinwoo’s praise; she smiled shyly while staring at the indirect message in front of her eyes.
Watching from the side, Kim Dokja ground her teeth and bellowed her lover’s name at the top of her lungs.
“Park Jinwoo……!!!”
—Park Jinwoo……!!!
“Oof…”
I had been smiling with pure pride at the sight of my cute daughter Shin Yooseung attacking the weak points of the human body I had taught her last time—specifically a man’s greatest weak point—until I confirmed the look of pure murder on Kim Dokja’s face as she shouted my name.
I hastily stuffed the headband labeled “♡Milk-Colored Yooseung♡” that had been on my head into My Room, then followed it with the cheer sticks that said “My Little Sister Is the Best!” and “Our Daughter Is the Best!”
A considerable number of Constellations are startled, asking if you unexpectedly have a doting-father attribute.
“What are you talking about? I cheer for all my companions.”
For the record, I’ve got ones for Gilyoung and Jihye too. Want me to show you?
Many Constellations say that’s enough.
Constellation, ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’, says you just seem like a little-sister fool.
Constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’, nods at the words of ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’.
Constellation, ‘Secretive Plotter’, lets out a sigh.
I was waving the Constellations’ indirect messages away when—
Tap!
Someone put a hand on my shoulder. I turned my head to look at the person who had placed it there.
Lee Jihye stood there, face flushed, glaring at me.
“Oppa…”
“Huh? What?”
“What the hell did you just say? That you’ve got one for me too?”
“…Ah.”
I made an “oh crap” face at Jihye’s words and avoided her eyes.
“Huh? What do you mean? No—wait. Hand it over right now. I’ll throw it away myself!”
“N-No way! That’s my cheer set!”
“I don’t need that kind of cheering, okay?! Hand it over this instant!”
“Jihye! Are you embarrassed by this oppa’s support?!”
“If you show that cringy side of yourself on the channel while watching Yooseung—‘Our Yooseung is the best!’ ‘Our Yooseung is the strongest!’ ‘This oppa really loves our Yooseung!’—even I would die of secondhand embarrassment! Just thinking of that being aimed at me gives me goosebumps!”
“Th-That’s…?!”
I staggered as if I’d taken a massive hit from Jihye’s words and made a face like I’d been deeply wounded, sniffling.
Then I quietly steered the ship with a depressed expression.
While still watching our Yooseung fight, of course.
Shin Yooseung called her tamed Steel Wolves, finished off the already-incapacitated bald Japanese man, then took out the red-haired one as well. Blue sparks crackled over her body.
Her body began to shrink, and finally, as the penalty for abandoning the rights of a Disaster, Shin Yooseung shrank to the same size as the Small People of Peace Land and was completely buried inside her own clothes.
“Oh no.”
The moment I confirmed that, I activated a skill.
Tsssss!
Exclusive Skill, ‘Miniaturization Lv.10’ activated.
As Miniaturization activated, my height steadily dropped. Once I was as small as the Small People, I bought clothes from the general shop that Yooseung could wear.
Constellation, ‘Apostle of Pleasure’, sponsors items to Incarnation ‘Shin Yooseung’.
When I used Miniaturization, all the clothes I bought shrank to Small Person size as well. I sponsored every last one of them to Shin Yooseung.
—Ah, thank you, Jinwoo oppa.
Yooseung’s small voice came from inside the clothes, followed by rustling sounds.
Then she emerged, having finished changing into the clothes I had sent—wearing a white hoodie and jeans.
“Our daughter looks truly adorable no matter what she wears…”
Demon King, ‘Demon of Wrath and Lust’, records your preferences.
While I was beaming with joy at how cute our Yooseung looked in anything, I deactivated Miniaturization and activated Clairvoyance.
Looks like we’ve finally arrived.
Far ahead I could see a wide clearing. There stood a Japanese man who looked just like Yakuza, holding a birdcage, surrounded by many other Japanese who had transformed into non-human species.
I brought the Black Tide Current I was piloting to a stop and turned to face my companions.
“Jinwoo-ssi? Is something wrong?”
Lee Hyunsung asked, puzzled by the sudden stop.
“No. We’re almost there.”
“There?”
“Yes. The executive of the Japanese who attacked you earlier—or whatever you call him—is over there.”
Lee Jihye’s eyes lit up as she stepped up beside me.
“So now we just go grab that bastard and beat the crap out of him?”
“That’s the plan, but let’s wait here a little longer.”
“What? Why bother?”
“So we can wait for Dokja and Yooseung.”
“…Can’t we just go first, stomp everything, and let them stroll over comfortably?”
“Just hold on a bit, Jihye. You’ll get to go wild soon enough.”
I ruffled Jihye’s hair with a little smirk.
“…Fine, whatever.”
Jihye accepted the head-pats and nodded gruffly.
She looked ready to put a knife to Lee Hyunsung’s and Lee Bok-sun’s throats right that second to force them into the first strike and get revenge on the Japanese who had made them Small People, but thankfully she nodded with patience and listened to me.
I gave her a look of fond pride, then turned my head toward where the centipede was.
Been a while—time to film a little production.
Thinking of the coins I would wring from the Constellations and of the soon-to-be reunion with Kim Dokja and Shin Yooseung, I wore a deep smile.