KIM DOKJA'S POINT OF VIEW
I could see Olympus's answer from Yoo Sangah's expression. She became red and then paled. Based on Yoo Sangah's eyes, I thought I was too hasty in bringing up the story. "That...Dokja-ssi," I wondered what she had heard to make her hesitate while watching me. I felt sorry for some reason. "Can you tell me what the sponsor said?"
Sparks flew from Yoo Sangah's body, Ariadne seemed to be running wild. I waited a bit until the situation calmed down. I hadn't realized the aftermath of the three questions and answers would be so large. The sparks soon subsided and Yoo Sangah spoke in a mixed voice. "The Father of the Rich Night isn't someone who can be easily met..."
The Father of the Rich Night, The modifier given to King Hades. One of the three head gods of Olympus. He resided in a famous place that the '12 gods of Olympus' couldn't enter. Hades was far too great for Ariadne to contact him. I quickly thanked her. "Thank you Yoo Sangah-ssi."
"By the way, Dokja-ssi..." The smart Yoo Sangah probably already knew that the Father of the Rich Night was Hades. She had a vague idea of why I was looking for Hades. The story of Orpheus, who visited the Underworld to revive his wife Eurydice, was a famous myth in South Korea.
"...Is it possible?" Yoo Sangah wondered. As a rule, resurrecting the dead was impossible... But Alyona had proven that wrong, so I see no problem doing it. I was subjected to the probability correction of the King of No Killing effect, but in most cases, there was no such correction. It was the same for Shin Yoosung.
If the resurrection was possible then Yoo Jonghyuk wouldn't have needed to regress. Alyona wouldn't have to use the time stone to reverse Kim Namwoon's untimely death, she wouldn't have to suffer the consequences. Yet if I could somehow obtain her soul...
"I can't tell you the details right now, I'm sorry." I didn't want to speak about my plans in a situation where the constellations were staring at me. Many constellations disliked me due to the previous situation. I threw the bait and now I had to wait and see if they bit. The important thing was to be patient.
"Shall we organize things?" I looked at the people around me and opened my mouth. "Dokja-ssi," Then my party members approached me one by one as if they had been waiting. Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung were with Lee Hyunsung, while Lee Jihye stood in a distant place with a slightly sulky expression. I heard the voice of a low-grade dokkaebi.
"I am the dokkaebi 'Younggi', who will temporarily take charge of the compensation settlement." He was a newbie dokkaebi and spoke in a slightly stiff voice. "I will now settle the additional compensation for the fifth scenario." Perhaps all the higher-level dokkaebis had disappeared.
[You have received the 'Ellain Forest's Vital Energy.']
People caught the small fruit that fell from the air. "This is the most popular recovery item in the Star Stream. Even if you are seriously injured, you can recover quickly by eating this and sleeping." It was the first time I had seen such a polite dokkaebi and it gave me a feeling of resistance. Then dokkaebi talked to me and some other people.
"Additional compensation for the key contributors will be given this evening. Thank you for all your hard work, I hope you cheer up in the following scenarios." The voice disappeared and I watched all the people holding the fruit. Characters I didn't know would be dead and some people would be dying right now. Still, we survived. The party members weren't sure whether to be grateful or sad. Once this happened, someone was bound to act as the representative.
I stared at them and slowly opened my mouth. "Everyone, you have suffered." The moment when nothing was decided only remained for a moment. Sadness was sadness and happiness was happiness. If we made decisions then at least these moments would remain meaningful.
"You struggled," Relief slowly filled the party members' faces as I didn't say anything about rewards. They deserved it. Lee Jihye was the one who spoke first. "...By the way, it was shocking Ahjussi. Did you look cooler than Master for a moment? I acknowledge you."
"...It was wonderful." Then Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon also opened their mouths. "I felt refreshed." These people, this was all they wanted to say to me? A wry smile appeared on my face as they started making a fuss. The biggest crisis of the beginning scenarios was over and Seoul was protected. For the time being, Seoul wouldn't be threatened until a few scenarios had passed.
"Dokja-ssi also suffered." Yoo Sangah stared at me and smiled brightly. Maybe this was the reward given to me. There was the sound of something hitting me and Shin Yoosung placed her forehead against my side. Lee Gilyoung was somewhat disgruntled but he didn't say anything. I placed my hand lightly on Shin Yoosung's head. Yes, this is as well. "I hope Unni returns now..." I swallowed a gulp at those words.
She left with Yoo Junghyuk earlier and had not returned till then, As if a thick vein was wrapped in me, and found it suffocating to think she was away from me. That she had to rely upon others just because I failed to listen to her plan. "Hyung! Why is noona with that sooty bastard?" Sulk Gilyeong with an adorable pout.
***
In the evening, the additional compensation for the main contributors began. Three main contributors received additional compensation. They were me, Jung Heewon, Liridona, and Yoo Jonghyuk. Speaking of her, she waltzed beside me and talk about it earlier. "Dokja, I'm sorry I took long..." I smiled and ruffled her hair.
[The additional compensation for the fifth scenario is a B-grade skill.]
Someone else might say that a B-grade skill as a reward wasn't right, but it was balanced. A low alphabet letter didn't mean the skill was useless.
In addition, the scenario compensation was in the form of a 'free choice.' In other words, I could choose the B-grade skill I wanted. There was a skill that was difficult to acquire among the B-grade skills and I had to get it.
[Do you want to see the list of B-grade skills?]
It was a list with tens of thousands of skills. I was able to avoid a difficult choice because there was a skill I thought of from the beginning. "Oooh, this one looks amazing. Calm Observation eh?" I look at her and smiled fondly once more. "We can be like each other now, I get to see someone else's information..!" I nodded and returned to the screen in front of me.
[Do you want to receive the B-grade skill Lie Detection as compensation?]
[The exclusive skill 'Lie Detection' has been added to the skills list.]
I nodded and there was a faint glow as additional messages appeared. I finally obtained it. It had been frustrating not having Lie Detection... "Whaddya got?" I sighed and turned to her. "Lie detection," She nodded and smiled. "That's wonderful, But I don't need it personally..." I looked behind her and saw that Jung Heewon was having a hard time picking something.
I asked Lee Jihye who was next to us. "Hey, do you know where Yoo Jonghyuk is?" Alyona sighed hearing the man's name. "Ah, he was going somewhere with Seolhwa unni." ...Lee Seolhwa? Lee Jihye looked at me with pitying eyes as if she knew what I was thinking. "...Sigh, it isn't what Ahjussi thinks... But you know? I thought something was going on with Alyona-unni and him... That's why you went out with him earlier..!" I was silenced at that.
"Really. I watched it the whole time. It is completely different for the two of you. I'm certain, Even when Alyona-unni stuck with us in the meantime. The both of you even had a long night's talk! That's something a couple would only do?" Alyona shook her head and faced me. "Yoo Junghyuk is a man who would stop at nothing to reach his goal... I'm just a mere stepping stone for him." Right, Yoo Junghyuk is that type of person.
"Then, Seolwha-Unni and he are dating?" Alyona shrugged her shoulders off, I had a headache. Speaking of which, it was certain that they were lovers in the second regression but I couldn't remember in the third regression. Yoo Jonghyuk had a long road to walk. So where the hell did he go? Was it to pick up his younger sister?
[The sixth scenario will start in three days.]
A system message was heard. I think I knew what Yoo Jonghyuk wanted to do. The sixth scenario was when we finally encountered incarnations from other domes. He was a restless guy so he probably went to get some hidden skills and items that he couldn't get in the last regression.
There were still some hidden scenarios in Seoul Dome. It was a bit upsetting that they would be taken away by Yoo Jonghyuk but it was better than his eating-up skills. Moreover, he needed to be stronger than he was now to make the rest of the scenarios easier. "Ah, that's right. I have a message for Ahjussi from Master?"
"For me?' Lee Jihye nodded as she grasped her sword and declared in a serious tone. "Kim Dokja, the oath period is over." My heart sank. The Oath of Existence. I had forgotten about it. A deafening laugh from Alyona made my situation worse.
–Then swear you won't hurt me until the fifth scenario is over. If you can't do that, I really won't help you.
–I swear.
We had made this oath. That guy... surely he hadn't left me alive because of the oath? Then I remembered strange nonsense.
–I won't kill you. I will hit you once.
"By the way... what oath did the two of you swear?" I couldn't help gulping. Surely this wasn't his plan? Was he going to learn a skill to hit me? "Shut up." Yes, it would somehow be okay. Above all, I had the Beast King's Sensitivity used by the disaster Shin Yoosung. It was also level 3.
...I had Way of the Wind through Bookmark and there were also my strong companions... "You know that I won't help you against Master, right?" I met Lee Jihye's eyes as she said those words. "I wasn't expecting anything from you." Instead, I looked at Lee Hyunsung. I was impressed when he told Shin Yoosung that he was part of my party, not Yoo Jonghyuk's.
"That...Dokja-ssi." Lee Hyunsung gazed at me with perplexed eyes, "Yes." I look at him, "To tell you the truth, I'm a bit scared of Yoo Jonghyuk-ssi... I'm really glad that Alyona-ssi was there, I felt better when I know I could still go back to our group." I look at Alyona who was busy playing with the children. "...Ah, it's okay. I understand."
Come to think of it, Lee Hyunsung's strength was because of Yoo Jonghyuk. Dammit. However, it was too early to be frustrated. I also had Jung Heewon, She was someone who didn't appear in the original novel and I raised her with my own hands along with Alyona.
"I don't know what this is about but I won't get involved in the fight between the two of you." Then Jung Heewon scratched her head and said, "...Huh?" I look at her confused, "I won't disturb the two of you... what the hell is this?" I suddenly got a chill down my spine. What was that angel thinking?
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is making a loving smile.]
[The constellation 'Scribe of Heaven' is watching the Demon-like Judge of Fire with solemn eyes.]
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' has jumped and changed her expression.]
"Dokja-ssi," I looked up with astonishment and saw Yoo Sangah smiling calmly at me. "Don't worry. Jonghyuk-ssi isn't a bad person... 'cause if he is, Alyona-ssi wouldn't be here." I heaved a sigh and nodded in reluctance. "...I hope so." Alyona stood up and approaches us. "I'm sure that he is a good friend... He wasn't that bad you know?"
I heard Alyona's words and inwardly sighed. I didn't know why but I thought of Han Sooyoung at this time. Apart from us, she was the only one who knew what type of person Yoo Jonghyuk was. Well, she wouldn't have protected me even if she was here... The scenario was over but I didn't know what she was doing now. We finished organizing the surroundings and collected items.
"Sooyoung would be with us in no time Dokja, I have my eyes on her so you should not worry a thing." I sighed and stared at her brown eyes, they were a beautiful shade of light brown. Eyes that would drown you by just staring at them. "Yeah, I'm glad." She smiled and hugged my waist tightly.
*
It became late in the night and Yoo Jonghyuk still hadn't returned. Instead, Jung Heewon went to scout and returned with welcome things. "That is remaining?" I was amazed. Jung Heewon had six bottles of beer and soju with her. She said with a smile. "Let's have a drink as a memorial." Alyona clapped excitedly with gleaming eyes.
"Oooh, I love wine! I had bottles of champagne in my inventory. Want some?" The other nodded and answered with a loud yes. "Okay," with those words. She opened her inventory and popped out two bottles of bubbles. "I stole this from my dad's winery before leaving." She shook the bottle a few times before unsheathing her dagger.
"I see him do this a few times," Then the back of the blade hit the cork and it flew off with lots of foam and bubbles shooting out the bottle itself. "Woah, that's an expensive bottle of wine!" Lee Jihye ogle at the bottle with shining eyes. "Well, that sets it." I grabbed a few plastic cups and offered them around.
We set up a campfire and sat down, I quickly hit Lee Jihye's hand as she grabbed a plastic cup with the champagne, "You're a minor." She sulked and rolled her eyes at me. "...There are no laws now. Why does it matter if I'm a minor?" Alyona giggled seeing the commotion. "Drink cider with the kids."
In the meantime, I took a quick swallow of the alcohol. Jung Heewon had red cheeks as she drank while Lee Hyunsung snored like a bear after drinking a few beers and two shots of champagne, He was weaker to alcohol than he looked.
"The mood..." Lee Jihye secretly drank a few cups and collapsed with a red face. "There, now she knows what it tastes like." I deadpanned at what Alyona said, "Chill, I was 16 when I had my first shot of Vodka." I sighed at her, she was drinking the champagne straight from the bottle. It was nearly done.
"Don't you think you had too much now?" She shook her head, "I picked up my dad's drinking habits after staying with him a long time... Beside a half bottle of champagne isn't enough to knock me out." I look beside her and saw the littered cans of beer and two bottles of soju. "Still, slow down." She smiled and laid her head down on my shoulder.
I look past her and saw Yoo Sangah staring at us with lidded eyes, a look of jealousy clouding her eyes. I shuddered at that and diverted my attention to the bottles of soju and an empty cup of champagne beside her. Surprisingly, Yoo Sangah had already drunk four bottles of soju and three shots of champagne, I couldn't see any signs of her being drunk.
"I'm a heavy drinker, Just like Alyona-ssi. I wasn't affected fast by liquors..." Come to think of it, I had never seen Yoo Sangah get a drink at a work party. "...It is hard to get drunk," Alyona replied and put down the bottle of champagne beside me. "Yeah, it's hard when you need to be on constant alert." There was sorrow in her words. The company had a few men who wanted to do something to Yoo Sangah while she was drunk. Maybe this was the first time she could drink while at ease.
"Isn't it okay for today?" Alyona looks at her with calm and serene eyes. "Of course, you could drink away your worries. I'm here anyways, so you can get wasted." Alyona's eyes twinkled as she giggled. The star must be ashamed of her eyes, it was not the brightest twinkle but it sure is the most breathtaking one.
Perhaps it was because she was paler than usual that I looked away with shame. Her skin was so supple and pale, her lips were swollen due to the imminent drinking of champagne. Her voice was a bit hoarse but it just added to her physical appearance. "I might melt on your stare handsome." As if my heart leaped, I look away with blood rushing from my face to the tip of my ears.
"Alyona-ssi, You wouldn't mind bringing another bottle of champagne right?" Alyona shook her head with a heart-stopping smile. "I got even better alcohol... This wine is one of the most treasured wines my dad had. It even had its case. Never drank it." That said, a chartreuse-colored bottle of wine came out of her inventory.
The sticker of the wine was closed to fade off, "This is the most expensive wine dad had ever had. Romanée-Conti 1945, he bought it for more than 3,000,000 dollars." As if a hard lump was stuck in my throat, my eyes nearly jumped out of their sockets. "Ah, one of the most finest and expensive wines to ever exist." Alyona nodded and popped it open and poured the red liquid into our cup.
"I always wanted to try this, but my dad was so persistent he wouldn't open it." I stared languidly at the cup before putting it near my mouth for a taste. And just like say, the older the wine the tastier it taste. It left a bitter and sweet taste in my mouth, followed by an unknown heat on my chest.
"...Fuck," Yoo Sangah cursed and held her head. "This alcohol is so strong," I stopped the second attempt of tasting it by putting it down. "I can't get drunk," Alyona turned to me, a little tipsy now. "Have you tasted it though?" I nodded and patted her head. "I have, it's a great taste. You need to savor it though." She sighed and leaned closer to me.
"I'm just gonna pee," Yoo Sangah stood up and wobble a little. "Ah, the alcohol hit me stronger than I expected. I might sleep after peeing, sorry for leaving the both of you." Alyona's face stretch to a tipsy smile and nodded. "My handsome and I would be just fine..." Alyona's skin felt a little warmer and softer than it did the first time I touch her.
There was a lonely moon in the sky and the cries of monsters couldn't be heard today. The other drinking groups around us were making loud noises. I wanted to drink well in this situation but I also thought it was because of this situation that I had to drink.
It was a world where everything couldn't be endured without drinking. The small sparks appeared around my glass. The surprised Yoo Sangah and Alyona looked at me. I nodded, It was a good thing I hadn't drunk too much alcohol. The wine bottle Alyona had earlier poured down onto the ground. "Hey! What's the deal?!"
[The constellation 'God of Wine and Ecstasy' wants to talk to you.]
Alyona rose from her position and took the bottle, only a quarter was left now after being spilled. Olympus had finally taken the bait.' "Fuck you!" A hoarse shout came out of Alyona as she put the cork back into the wine and stored it back in her inventory. "Hey, It's fine." Alyona pouted and came back unto leaning down into me.