Chapter 50: I have a new ability!

While Sihyun, trapped in the mental world, was pestering the Notification Window for an update.

–Beep—! Beep—! Beep—!

The situation outside was pure pandemonium.

Detection equipment vibrated with loud roars, and guild agents fell into chaos.

“Master, you must not get any closer to this black orb. The moment you touch it, you’ll be annihilated!”

“Everyone, step back! Not even a fingertip should touch it!”

“Damn it. It already swallowed the entire Bosingak area, and that’s not enough?”

Greed had settled in the heart of Seoul, activating the Collector’s second stage ability.

[Black Orb]

The space, growing larger as if it would suck everything in like a black hole, was already an incomprehensible domain beyond human understanding.

“We finally found where the ghost story is, but it’s impossible to enter? Is that true?”

“It would be faster for you to see it yourself than for me to explain it until my mouth aches.”

The moment the agent, who was briefing Dojin, lightly touched the detection equipment to the black orb.

–Crack!

“This is…”

“The phenomenon we saw with the satellite camera is happening on the surface of the black orb. Anything that touches it will turn to dust like this. Inanimate objects, of course, and living beings too.”

“It seems entering past the boundary isn’t even an option.”

The moment anyone tries to enter in any way, their very existence will be erased.

Looking at the boundary of the space that no one could approach, Dojin sharply inhaled.

“Ha… We can’t even approach it.”

This was completely different from the apocalypse-level events he had experienced in the past.

Back then, at least they could fight the ghost story.

Of course, calling it a fight back then was a bit of a stretch, but at least the ghost story was right in front of them.

“But now, it’s not even visible… Does this mean humanity can’t even perceive its own destruction?”

Nothing was possible now. They could only watch as destruction approached.

“Elissa, hug me. All the strength has left my body, and I can’t walk anymore.”

From behind Dojin, who was deep in thought, came the voice of a small girl.

There was Victoria, quietly held in Elissa’s arms.

“Master Victoria, where have you been in this situation?”

“Can’t you tell by me being held? I went around slashing at the black orb, hoping I could break through it. But it was completely useless. I just wasted my energy.”

“Are you going to take responsibility if something happens because you rashly provoked the ghost story?”

“So, should I just stand still? We have to try something. Don’t be so harsh on someone who’s trying to find solutions. And if you’re so on edge, the other agents will get anxious, so why don’t you calm down a bit?”

Victoria spoke curtly, then immediately poked Elissa’s cheek where she was being held.

“Elissa, it seems impossible to break through here. For now, I guess I have no choice but to ask you again. Now that we’re this close, can you read it in more detail?”

“I’ve been reading it little by little since earlier. First, to correct something, this black orb isn’t sucking everything in. Strictly speaking, it’s pushing things away. To prevent anything from approaching it.”

Elissa gently closed her eyes and began to read the ‘intent’ emanating from the space.

A domain that, contrary to its name ‘Collector’, was pushing everything away.

“It’s thoroughly rejecting everything that approaches it. It’s a bit… unexpected.”

The emotions flowing from the pitch-black orb were not destruction, madness, or hatred.

Don’t touch me.

Don’t come.

I don’t want to hurt anyone.

You shouldn’t come.

I hate it.

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

I’m sorry.

Please forgive me.

Don’t hate me.

Don’t abandon me.

It was the sound of an incredibly sad and regrettable heart.

Plop.

A small tear fell from Elissa’s eye as she read the ghost story’s mind.

‘Ah…? Why suddenly…?’

Such an alien emotion, so different from what she expected.

She doubted if this was truly what the ghost story was emitting.

But even after detecting it repeatedly, the result was the same.

‘Only feelings of sadness, loneliness, and despair…’

While destroying its surroundings and annihilating everyone.

‘Why is it showing such sad emotions…?’

“Elissa, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly crying? What kind of emotions did you read to make you cry?”

“Sister… The emotions are strange. This isn’t a ghost story… It’s just a child who wants to be forgiven, trapped inside there.”

“A child who wants to be forgiven? Are you saying an innocent child is trapped inside?”

An agent interjected and questioned Elissa’s words.

“No, that’s not it. There’s only one entity inside. More like one ghost story, rather than one person.”

“How could a mere ghost story possess such human emotions! Could you have misread it?”

“What? What does that guy take our Elissa’s ability for! Is he picking a fight?”

The moment Victoria struggled, trying desperately to get out of Elissa’s embrace.

Bang!

Dojin stomped his foot loudly, ending the situation.

“Everyone stop. This is not the time for us to argue. Everyone, look here. The smooth surface of the black orb has suddenly begun to ripple strangely. Something is changing. We need to put some distance and observe the situation.”

“Understood.”

“And Ms. Elissa, it seems something has changed with the ghost story, so could you please read its emotions once more?”

At Dojin’s polite request, Elissa smiled slightly and nodded.

“There’s still no major change. Sadness… Despair… Apology and fear…”

Then, Elissa’s eyes began to tremble violently as she suddenly detected very unexpected emotions.

“Ha… Haaahhhhhh…”

Her ocean-blue eyes were experiencing pupil tremors.

“Elissa, what’s wrong again? Did you read sad emotions this time too?”

“Th-th-th-that is…”

Elissa’s face instantly flushed, and she twisted her body.

The emotions she was reading in real-time were completely different from sad ones.

Heheheh, so pretty!

So cute!

The Queen’s breasts are huge (?).

I’m really looking forward to the future!

Soft, squishy cheeks are the best!

A beautiful girl crying is super hot!

Ah~~~ I want to hug her tight and rub my face on her soft cheeks!

The sounds of the mind coming from inside the black orb were none other than a man’s lewd thoughts and desires.

‘H-Huuuhhh?? Such strong emotions are a first for me, everrrrrr…’

Elissa was losing her mind from the obscenity she had never experienced before.

Surely only the Collector exists alone inside that black orb. Who could be having these kinds of emotions?

‘Could some man be trapped inside…?’

But even if that were the case, it was too strange for these thoughts to be leaking out.

He should barely be alive, yet instead of fear or despair, he’s spouting lewd thoughts?

‘I-I heard men always have lewd thoughts, but I never thought it was t-trueeee…’

What kind of man could be displaying such obscenity, piercing straight through the crimson ghost story’s aura and directly hitting Elissa with full force?

‘Huuuhhh… It’s so different from the calmness Sihyun-ssi has…’

Elissa suddenly missed Sihyun, who always showed only warm and comforting emotions.

****

“Kyaaa~~ This is ittt~~ Notification Window! Look at this. Our Luna is cute now, but wasn’t she super cute even back then?”

[Sihyun-nim… Just a moment ago, you were pestering me about when the update would be ready, and now what are you doing…?]

“Can’t you tell by looking? That guy, whether he’s Greed or Hair Loss, put on Luna’s past like a movie for me to watch. I’ve been watching it play while waiting for the update.”

Sihyun had spread out a mat in the void space and was lying down, enjoying Luna’s past.

“If I were to give it a rough title, something like ‘Our Luna Can’t Be This Cute!’ would be good.”

[I-It’s fine to watch, but you keep making strange reactions, Sihyun-nim, so I’m getting all embarrassed…]

“How can I not?! Our Luna smiling so brightly like that, or tearing up from loneliness, is just too precious! I only knew Luna when she was an emotionless ghost story, so it’s even more precious! And most of all, look at that!!”

Sihyun excitedly pointed to the scene where young Luna was comfortably sleeping with her head on the Queen’s lap.

“Silver hair similar to Luna’s, a seductive and beautiful face! Plus, those enormous ‘mammary pouches’! Aren’t you really looking forward to Luna’s future?”

[M-Mammary pouches…? Hwaaaaah…]

Hearing Sihyun’s words, the Notification Window seemed embarrassed, flickering its message window restlessly.

‘Ah, did I get too excited? She’s going to call me a pervert again.’

However, contrary to Sihyun’s expectation, the Notification Window didn’t scorn him but instead asked an unexpected question.

[Sihyun-nim… D-Do you like big breasts…?]

“Fufufu… Listen carefully, my dear. I’ll only explain this once.”

[M-My dear?]

Sihyun sprang to his feet, extending both arms high as if giving a speech.

“My dears, I love large breasts. I love C-cups, D-cups, E-cups, F-cups! Anything beyond that is simply fantastic! In rooms, in classrooms, in swimming pools, in offices, in gyms, on buses, on trains, in cars, on planes, I love the diverse large breasts that exist everywhere in this world! When I see large breasts slightly sagging due to gravity, I gasp in admiration! The face of a tsundere heroine reluctantly allowing the male lead to touch her breasts is truly the best!! The face of a saintess character, who seems furthest from obscenity, blushing over her huge holy power pouches, is simply the peak! Phew… I want to say more, but I’ll stop here.”

[H-Holy power pouches…? Hwaaaaah… I-I’m so embarrassed…]

“Why are you embarrassed by that word? Oh ho ho… Don’t tell me, could it be that you’re actually a woman with enormous holy power pouches, a real beauty? Hahaha, I’m just joking, but I really wish it were true. If it were, I’d love you for life by my side.”

Sihyun had casually thrown out the words as a joke, just as he usually did.

Meaningless words like “Let’s grab a meal sometime” or “I’ll contact you later” that Koreans often say.

Therefore, Sihyun didn’t know.

That there was an entity that took his words 200% seriously.

[R-Really…? For, for life… W-W-Will you really… love me…?]

The severely trembling letters showed the state of the Notification Window’s heart.

The problem, of course, was that Sihyun didn’t take it very seriously.

‘It’s kind of cute when she reacts so seriously to things like this sometimes. Like a little sister, I guess?’

–Caress.

Sihyun raised a hand and gently stroked the Notification Window.

“Yes, yes. If you’re really that kind of woman, I’d keep you by my side for life, and even the next life. I never let a woman I’ve chosen go to another man! Abandoning a heroine is absolutely out of the question! Hahaha!”

[Hehe… You promised, Sihyun-nim…? You can’t take it back now…? Khheeheeht…]

“I got it. A man like Yoon Sihyun doesn’t go back on his word. By the way, we got pretty off-topic, but how’s the update?”

[Heeheeht. Just in time, reboot complete!]

Ding!

[System Level Up and Synchronization Complete.]

[First new ability activated: Reestablishment of Narrative.]

“It’s great that there’s a new feature, but what’s ‘Reestablishment of Narrative’?”

[Kuhuhuhu… This is truly a super-duper-mega-jackpot feature that rivals the Beginner Package I created! With this, you can beat up Greed or whatever else, so you can look forward to it! Ahem!]

The Notification Window began moving around Sihyun’s hand as if asking to be petted quickly.

‘Something always went wrong whenever the Notification Window spoke so confidently… Can I trust this?’

Sihyun was slightly suspicious, but thinking ‘it’ll be fine this time,’ he stroked the Notification Window.

[Heheheh. A little more… Please praise me a little moreee…]

Although he didn’t yet know what the Reestablishment of Narrative ability was, Sihyun decided to think positively about it.

‘As long as there aren’t any weird penalties or anything, it should be fine.’

Surely nothing bad will happen, right?