Episode 22. Three Promises
Emergency Detention by the Executive Division.
According to the Apocalypse Law, such an emergency detention is only implemented when a goblin commits an act that severely violates the scenario's plausibility.
[Middle-Rank Goblin Paul. From now on, your unit will be taken into the 'Executive Division.' You may exercise the right to remain silent regarding the jurisdictional scenario, and all your authority over the main scenario will be revoked.]
As the line continued in its detached, mechanical tone, Middle-Rank Goblin Paul's expression shifted with every passing moment.
[You will lose all accrued merits from your scenarios and be demoted to 'Lower-Rank Goblin,' and as punishment for your transgression…]
"D-Demotion? Wait! Just wait a moment!"
Paul urgently interrupted the statement.
He swept his eyes over me and the surrounding goblins with a look of injustice, then shouted:
"How can you suddenly talk about a 'demotion'? Shouldn't I be told what I did wrong?"
"Are you really asking because you don't know?"
Another goblin from the Executive Division asked. Paul hesitated briefly at the authority in that tone but quickly regained his voice:
"I don't know! What exactly is the problem?"
It seemed he was shamelessly trying to push forward.
"Look at the Celestials. Aren't they enjoying themselves? I thought I completed the scenario perfectly."
At Paul's confident words, the goblin executioner frowned.
"There is no problem with plausibility. I carried out the forced execution of the scenario with the consent of the Celestials, and as I said, the Celestials themselves…"
"…This is exactly the problem with storytellers. Always whining about the Celestials."
Not all goblins respect the Celestials.
Among the goblins of the Executive Division are those who were once Celestials themselves.
They were Celestials who, due to unavoidable circumstances, lost their status and had no choice but to live as goblins. These are the goblins of the Executive Division.
Perhaps thinking their clients had been insulted, Paul held his head high.
"Your words are excessive."
"Don't get cocky, Paul."
"Even an executor cannot tolerate an insult toward my clients."
Encouraged, Paul continued speaking.
"I know why the executors came. It must be because I used the 'Scenario Forced Execution Authority.'"
"The 'Scenario Forced Execution Authority' can only be used when the Celestials share responsibility for the scenario's plausibility."
"I know that. Otherwise, there would be risks from the aftereffects of plausibility. But as long as the Celestials are satisfied, that issue…"
"Satisfaction? Paul, look at yourself right now."
Paul glanced down at his own reflection at that remark.
Pah-tsu-tsu-tsu.
Blue sparks flickered in the surrounding space.
A premonition of the plausibility aftershock.
"W-Why is there a plausibility aftershock…?"
A plausibility aftershock is punishment for defying the flow.
The current world's plausibility wanted Paul's existence erased.
The executive goblin bared sharp fangs and laughed.
"The Execution Authority is the power that requires the greatest plausibility among goblins. Did you really think you could use it on such a crude, forced development and come out unscathed?"
"This… this can't be, it can't be!"
"Paul. You had the chance to finish the scenario without using the Execution Authority. It would have been a fresh development unlike anything ever seen. Why did you stop it? Your reckless actions have triggered an emergency in the Seoul Dome Administration."
"Th-That's… No, wait. I clearly activated the authority according to the Celestials' wishes!"
Paul desperately looked around.
"C-Celestials! You agreed with my development earlier, didn't you?"
But the Celestials did not respond.
"…Celestials?"
All the indirect messages from the numerous Celestials were silent at that moment, as if a mouse had scuttled by.
"C-How… how can this be? Why?"
The Celestials who had supported Paul's development had all left the Korean Peninsula channel.
The Executive Division frowned.
"What a fool. You didn't even realize the Celestials were gone?"
Many Celestials who had been manipulating him and wanted me dead abandoned the Korean Peninsula channel the moment the scenario's ending shifted into melodrama.
It was only natural.
An unwanted development had appeared, and no one wanted to watch it continue.
In fact, even the Bi-hyung channel had lost nearly a third of its subscribers.
And the remaining ones…
[Celestial, the 'Demonic Punisher of Fire,' glares at the Mid-Rank Goblin, Baul.]
[Celestial, the 'Prisoner of Gingoa,' chuckles while watching the Mid-Rank Goblin, Baul.]
[Celestial, the 'Secretive Schemer,' mocks the Mid-Rank Goblin, Baul.]
…All of them were Celestials who had disagreed with the Mid-Rank Goblin's plan.
[Ah… no. You cannot vanish like this. Executors!]
[Don't worry. You will not disappear.]
"Th-then… what does that mean…?"
For a brief moment, a flicker of hope passed over Baul's face.
The Executor Goblin continued, as if to cruelly snuff out that hope:
[You will receive a punishment far worse than mere disappearance. Because of you, our Management Bureau has incurred a massive debt of probability.]
The Executor Goblin input a [Binding Code] into Baul's divine body.
Instantly, Baul, previously an ethereal goblin, was forcibly summoned into the world. The Mid-Rank Goblin Baul trembled violently and began to resist.
Without his broadcast voice, his real voice burst out.
"Th-this is a conspiracy! This can't be happening!"
Byul, standing nearby, smirked.
[See? Didn't I say we should finish the scenario quickly?]
"Byul!"
Eventually, Baul exploded in rage. Struggling with the Binding Code still attached, he pointed at Byul.
"Executor! Arrest him too! I have evidence that his channel violated the rules of Star Stream!"
[Of course, he will come along as well.]
Baul's expression brightened at those words. But in Korea, one must hear the full story—be it human or goblin—to truly understand.
[The one who summoned us was none other than the goblin Byul.]
"W-what… no way?"
The Executor Goblin spoke:
[The goblin who reported you was Byul.]
Byul briefly waved at the furious, red-faced Baul, and the Executor Goblin continued with a peculiar smile:
[Goblin Byul. Truly an exceptional goblin. Look at his humility, wearing nothing but a rag. That kind of integrity, completely devoted to the scenario and ignoring everything else, is the essence of a storyteller. Unlike you, a goblin wearing a designer suit.]
Byul's expression turned embarrassed.
He probably hadn't realized that his poverty would end up being so useful.
"A-ah, no! Byul isn't like that…!"
[Shut up.]
Bound by the Binding Code, Baul screamed in agony.
The Executor Goblin spoke again, this time sternly:
[You've already received two punishments. This is your third. You know well what the third punishment entails, don't you?]
"This… this is absurd! My superior would never allow this! You're making a mistake. If you touch me now…"
[Save your nonsense for the Management Bureau.]
A portal glowing in midair opened.
At last, the time had come to part ways with the Mid-Rank Goblin.
Probably, from now on, I wouldn't see him in any future scenario.
His blazing eyes shot toward me.
The moment I met that gaze, a flame ignited within me.
[Due to heightened emotions, the 'Fourth Wall' is shaking.]
The future Shin Yoo-seung, scattered into ashes.
If only the Mid-Rank Goblin hadn't existed, she might have been saved.
Though she could never return to her own cycle, she might have lived in this world as a new cycle, changing and growing alongside it.
But that Mid-Rank Goblin trampled even that final possibility.
This is why I speak now.
"Wait. Just a moment."
He would receive a punishment equivalent to death, but I could not be satisfied with that alone.
My companions, startled by my words, looked at me.
[…Did he just call us?]
It would be shocking, indeed.
A mere avatar probably wouldn't have expected to be able to stop the Executive Division's dokkaebi.
The dokkaebi executor, who had been quietly observing me, finally spoke.
[So. You're the avatar known as 'Kim Dokja,' correct?]
Another dokkaebi asked,
[You know him?]
[He's a famous avatar in this area. One of the top-tier powerhouses in the peninsula, though apparently he hasn't contracted any backers yet.]
[Oh…?]
Watching these reckless chatterboxes, I immediately spoke to Bi-hyung through [Dokkaebi Communication].
'Bi-hyung. I'll give you 100,000 coins.'
―What…?
Bi-hyung, who had been following the executors, widened his eyes.
'Upgrade me to a Platinum member of [Dokkaebi Bundle].'
―Why all of a sudden?
'No questions.'
―Damn it…
Watching the approaching executors, I urged Bi-hyung. He let out a sigh and began manipulating something in the air.
[100,000 coins have been spent.]
[Congratulations! You are now a Platinum member of 'Dokkaebi Bundle'!]
Originally, there would have been a flashy effect with fireworks for the upgrade, but I had asked Bi-hyung to skip it.
Unlike the [Gold Member] rank, which could be upgraded for a mere 5,000 coins, the treatment for [Platinum Members] was completely different.
[So, you're the avatar Kim Dokja. Why did you summon us?]
The executors, who didn't yet know about my upgrade, asked me. Unlike other dokkaebi, these were hulking, unruly types, and even facing them caused tension.
Though they had fallen into decay now, some among them had originally been Seongjwa-class figures, so it wasn't surprising.
I exhaled lightly and spoke.
"I request a 'Dokkaebi Private Audience.'"
[What?]
The executor dokkaebi, taken aback, looked at each other. Then, a soft snicker escaped, followed by words.
[A 'Private Audience' can only be requested by Platinum-level members… Could it be…?]
"That 'could it be' is correct. Check it if you want."
At my words, the two dokkaebi exchanged glances once more. They manipulated the system to verify a few things, then immediately expressed their astonishment.
[It's true.][How on earth did an avatar become a Platinum member…?]
"Now, my qualifications should be sufficient, right?"
The executor dokkaebi, after a brief hesitation, nodded.
[Very well. Which dokkaebi do you wish to meet in private? As a Platinum member, you may request a private audience with up to a junior-high dokkaebi, and the schedule…]
"No need to make arrangements. You're already holding the one I want."
I pointed with my finger at the dokkaebi I desired.
"I request a private audience with the mid-tier dokkaebi 'Baal.'"
< Episode 22. Three Promises (1) > End