Scenario Destroyer (3)

I lifted the dragon-slaying sword that fit so perfectly in my hand—the Dabchi-geom—and chuckled.

"Nice color on this one."

The third blade of the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi series: the Dabchi-geom.

This was the fourth sacred relic I had obtained.

Unlike the Ice Dragon Turtle Blade, which took the form of a curved do, the Dabchi-geom was a straight geom—a true sword—and the sight of it put a bright, unguarded smile on my face.

In the original Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint webtoon, the combined myth of Yamata no Orochi and Susanoo had only ever produced two blades.

One was the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds that Yoo Joonghyuk carried.

The other was the Unbreakable Faith that Kim Dokja wielded.

I'd resigned myself to that disappointment and quietly given up on getting anything more. I never imagined a third sword would just pop out like this.

"Honestly, the adults are being so petty over a single sword…"

Lee Jihye, who had somehow already climbed up here, pouted her lips and kept going.

"We're done now, right? So can I drink this?"

Her face was flushed with excitement as she eyed the wine jars Kim Dokja and I had brewed, her gaze sparkling.

"Jihye. You're a minor. What do you mean, drinking…"

Kim Dokja frowned at the question, shooting Jihye a cold look.

Jihye flinched under that stare.

"Oppa! I can drink, right? Please?"

Clever as ever, Jihye switched targets the moment she felt the chill coming off Kim Dokja and locked onto me instead.

I snorted at the sight of her—wide, sparkling eyes, hands clasped together, looking up at me with pure, desperate hope.

"You want some?"

"Yeah!"

"Fine. Drink."

"Yay! Oppa's the best!"

"You lot in the back, too—hurry up and go drink. I permit it! Eat, drink, and get wasted!"

"Ooooh!!"

"We've been waiting for those words!"

Jihye and the people behind her rushed toward the jars of wine that shimmered with a golden ripple, crowding around them in a hurry.

Everyone must have been dying for a drink.

Not that I couldn't understand the reaction.

…That smell is insanely good.

It was strong enough that just breathing it in could get you drunk, and at the same time I couldn't even begin to imagine how good it would taste.

I'd never tried snake wine before. But in the webtoon, male Kim Dokja had rated it highly, and the Small People and incarnations who drank it had called it heavenly.

So my expectations for this snake wine were sky-high.

I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth with my sleeve and started toward the jars.

"Hell yeah! Snake wine, here I c—"

"Hey. Park Jinwoo."

Kim Dokja's icy voice from behind me made my whole body lock up.

I carefully turned my head. She stood with her arms crossed, glaring at me.

"…Uh, Dokja? What is it? What did I do this time…?"

"You seriously don't know?"

"…………."

I had a pretty good idea why she was calling me out.

Kim Dokja was against underage Jihye drinking, so of course she was pissed that I'd given permission so easily.

"Ahem…. Dokja? Just for today, okay? When are we ever going to get another chance to drink wine fermented with the residual power of a Constellation's remains? Next time—next time I swear I'll shut Jihye down hard, okay?"

I clasped my hands and rubbed them together in the most pitiful plea I could manage. The glare in Kim Dokja's eyes softened just a fraction.

Shut up, you bastards. I'm different from you lot… probably.

I scowled at the indirect messages blocking my vision. Kim Dokja let out a small sigh and finally spoke.

"…Haa. Just this once."

"Thanks. Oh—want me to grab you a glass too, Dokja?"

"…Mm. Just one, then."

"Got it. Be right back."

With her permission secured, I beamed, grabbed two wooden beer mugs, and took my place at the end of the line of people waiting their turn.

When my turn finally came, I ladled the wine until the mugs were full, then carried them over to Kim Dokja.

"Here."

"Thanks."

I handed her one mug and closed the My Room space that had been linked to the wine jars.

With that, I had secured the third item I'd been after: Story Wine.

Gonna list the rest on the exchange and auction house for an absolute fortune.

Whatever I didn't drink myself, I'd share with people I was close to—or sell through the Dokkaebi exchange and auction house for coins.

"Dokja."

"Hm?"

I called out to her as she stood there blankly staring at the mug I'd given her.

Then I gave my own mug a little shake in her direction.

"I really can't help myself, can I."

She said it like a complaint, but she didn't seem all that unhappy. Kim Dokja let out a short snort of a smile and held her mug out.

Clack!

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

We smiled at each other, clinked our mugs, and knocked back the wine.

"Whoa! This is insanely good!"

"Right? It's really delicious."

My first taste of snake wine was nothing short of fantastic. I'd been a little worried about the blend of different liquors, but against all expectations it was genuinely incredible.

"It's ridiculously strong, but damn is it good."

It hit harder than the rum or vodka I'd once shared with a close friend, yet it went down clean, and I couldn't help but marvel at it.

The faint fruit-wine note didn't hurt either—it made the whole thing easy to drink.

After toasting and drinking with Kim Dokja, she eventually stopped, stood up, and walked off toward Yoo Joonghyuk. I tipped my head back and looked at the ceiling.

"Hey. God of Wine and Ecstasy."

"I'll pay you back for the wine and grapes you gave me last time."

I grinned at Dionysus's indirect message, stood, and walked back to the wine jars.

Once I reached them, I pulled out the snake-shaped bottle I'd once shown Yamata no Orochi—the one I'd been keeping in My Room—filled it to the brim, and sent it to Dionysus.

I looked at the Constellations' indirect messages, smirked, ladled more wine, and raised my mug toward the ceiling.

"Let's have a drink together with that."

I waited a moment for Dionysus to fill his glass, then looked up at the ceiling and shouted.

"All right! Let's drink and get wasted! Cheers!"

Gulp! Gulp!

Watching Dionysus's indirect message, I started pouring the wine in my hands down my throat.

"Ahhh! That's good!"

"To your taste?"

"Haha! Fair enough—you've lived a long time and tried plenty of wines. Gotta admit, I'm a little jealous!"

Halfway through my second mug of high-proof Story Wine, the buzz started creeping in.

Still, it felt a little lonely. Only Dionysus getting to taste this seemed like a waste.

"All right. Special service time."

After a brief moment of thought, I made up my mind.

I raised a finger and started buying snake-shaped bottles from the general store.

Dodging the people already swaying and getting drunk on Story Wine, I began filling the bottles one by one from the jars.

…

…

…

I handed out Story Wine to every Constellation who had shown up in our channel, sponsored us, or treated us kindly.

I snorted at their indirect messages and opened my mouth.

"Might as well all have a drink together, right? My partner stepped out for a bit, and drinking alone with the God of Wine and Ecstasy was getting lonely. Wine always tastes better when everyone's drinking."

"Because the hair you gave me last time saved my life. I never forget a debt. So take them."

I smiled as the Constellations' indirect messages poured in.

I couldn't see their faces, but it felt like our friendship had deepened a little more.

Just a gut feeling—but I was pretty sure I was right.

"Lily Blooming in Aquarius."

Imagining Gabriel still pouting over the teasing earlier made a laugh burst out between my lips.

"Ah, nothing."

I wiped the tears that had gathered at the corners of my eyes from the sudden laugh and opened the sponsorship window.

"Apology gift. Sorry for teasing you earlier. But your reactions were so good I couldn't stop. Anyway—sorry for messing with you."

There was a real chance I'd run into Gabriel at the Constellation Banquet after the eighth scenario, so I needed to smooth things over now.

Otherwise my life would be in danger—or at the very least, things would get extremely annoying.

Of course, if it gets really dangerous I can just hide behind Uriel or the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal.

Failing that, I could grab any Dokkaebi as a shield. Or snag a Constellation from the Vedas or Papyrus.

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

"Good. Thanks."

True to her title as an Archangel, she forgave me easily enough. I smiled at her indirect message.

Then I sponsored Story Wine to the last Constellation on my list.

"I heard some Archangel half-wrecked a wall earlier? This is compensation for the damages."

Finally finished distributing the Story Wine, I refilled my empty mug and spoke.

"All right! Everyone's got some! Raise your glasses—time for a toast."

"First, thanks to all the Constellations who usually look out for me and my party, and to everyone who sponsors me regularly. I just handed out hard-to-get Story Wine, so next time—and every other time—feel free to dump sponsorships on me like crazy."

"Okay, when I say 'Park Jinwoo-nim,' you all answer with 'Thank you for the gift!' Got it?"

"Tch, you bastards. Fine, just toast then! Everyone—cheers!"

"Ah, shit. Tomorrow's gonna suck…"

Nearly two bottles of high-proof Story Wine later, the rising buzz made me start worrying about the hangover that would hit tomorrow.

"Looks like it's already a complete mess over there."

I cackled at the indirect messages about drunk maniacs raising hell after drinking Story Wine and casually dismissed them.

Then I bought two bottles of hangover cure from the general store and dumped them straight down my throat.

That was when something like the sound of an instrument reached my ears from somewhere.

A calm yet deep, almost consoling music—mournful and beautiful.

Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk, our party, the Japanese incarnations, and the Small People of Peace Land all heard it too.

We naturally turned our heads toward the source of the sound.

Following it, we looked up—and saw a human figure at the top of the fortress.

Our master, Kyrgios Rodgraim, was there.

Eyes closed, she was playing a viola.

Just when the notes seemed to flow soft and gentle, a plaintive sound would surge in, and with it a distant, aching longing would wash over everything.

One by one, the people gathered in the banquet hall—everyone who had been enjoying the feast—fell silent and focused on the music.

Someone who heard it felt their eyes grow hot.

Then the person next to them burst into tears.

Soon the Small People of Peace Land began crying one after another, until everyone was weeping.

People who had lost someone precious, who had lost family, cried.

Small People who had watched comrades fall right in front of them while fighting side by side broke down in tears.

People who had been too busy surviving the Disaster's grasp to cry when they needed to were finally letting the tears fall.

Hearing it in person really is something else…

The music Kyrgios played was a comfort for her own unfortunate homeland, and a consolation for the Small People who had overcome the scenario at such great cost.

I focused my hearing and simply listened.

The soft viola notes spreading through the banquet hall echoed between the ruins of the shattered fortress.

Then a rustling sound came from behind me. I cracked one eye open and turned toward it.

Kim Dokja and Asuka Ren had walked over to the railing beside the banquet hall and were talking.

Before long, the viola music Kyrgios had been playing began to fade.

The Small People of Peace Land who had been crying gradually quieted, and when someone raised a playful voice through reddened eyes, the people who heard it began stoking the banquet's cooling energy back to life, one by one.

Asuka Ren, speaking with Kim Dokja, would soon experience it.

The experience of her own "work" leaving her hands.

The "ending" of the story called Peace Land.

Ding!

A message chime in my ear pulled my gaze that way.

The only Constellation of Peace Land—the small Constellation.

I looked at the message, smiled faintly, and apologized.

"Sorry for trashing your planet so hard. Doesn't really count as making up for it, but we did save your planet for sure, right?"

"Yeah. You've been through a lot too."

I rolled my eyes and took in everyone at the banquet.

Lee Jihye, still stuffing food into her mouth like she wasn't full yet.

Lee Hyunsung, face a little red from the alcohol, mumbling something under his breath.

Gong Pildu, late to the party and finally grabbing food.

Grandmother Lee Bok-sun, keeping Jihye supplied with food and listening to Hyunsung talk.

Our two adorable little ones, Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yooseung, pinching each other's arms and bickering.

Min Jiwon, smiling kindly as she tried to break up the two kids.

Yoo Joonghyuk, still grilling skewers in a corner of the banquet hall.

Lee Seolhwa, helping Yoo Joonghyuk with the cooking.

Izumi Hiroki, who had been a patient until moments ago, laughing heartily and knocking back drinks.

Michio Shoji and the other Japanese incarnations, looking awkward as they tried to stop him.

And finally the Small People, red-eyed and devouring the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠banquet food like they were in combat, with Gillemium chatting among some of the others.

This should be a story worth being satisfied with, right?

In the peaceful, noisy atmosphere where not a trace of the nightmare from moments ago could be found, I smiled.

Then I opened a My Room window beside me and glanced at a certain item sitting in storage.

An item I had absolutely wanted if I could get it was sitting right there.

Two of them, no less.

This is why Extraction is the best.

I smirked at the extra items that had come out when I extracted Yamata no Orochi's head and tail.