[Haha, everyone! How have you been?]
A dokkaebi's voice was broadcast throughout Seoul.
[The participants in this scenario are quite hasty. There is still a week before the start of the scenario and people are already waking up a disaster. Are you curious about the next scenario?]
Lenoch raised his head.
[The dokkaebis have left their positions so I will be here for this period… haha. Now have you all eaten your fill? You do know that this event can't be skipped, right? I want to do that but I won't be a dokkaebi if I don't give scenarios.]
The scenario's contents were shown.
[The sub scenario – Disaster Prevention has arrived.]
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[Sub Scenario – Disaster Prevention]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: S-
Clear Conditions: Unknown powers in Gangdong-gu are trying to hatch one of the disasters. Defeat them and stop the incoming 'disaster'.
Time Limit: 2 hours
Compensation: 22,000 coins
Failure: Early emergence of the Disaster of Questions.
+
Lenoch stood up.
'Stop the disaster…'
Changing his appearance, he went to the scene. There, he saw many incarnations gathered and blended in among them.
If they were trying to 'hatch' it, then it was in an 'egg'.
He should find that 'egg' first.
Lenoch discerned who seemed to be attacking the ones trying to prevent the disaster's hatch.
Right now, there should be two groups. One with the same mission as him, and another with the task of protecting the disaster.
"Kuaaak!"
Lenoch knocked out the people in his way.
Trying to reduce his sense of presence as much as possible, he soon reached the center of the enemy's group.
A huge 'egg' over 8 meters tall stood there, emitting an ominous aura.
Then, in the corner of his eye, something caught his attention.
'Isn't that Kim Dokja?'
He watched the reader fight against the group that protected the meteorite.
'Poison?'
Interestingly, the enemy—a woman with white hair—appeared to be a poison master.
'Then…'
Lenoch glanced toward Kim Dokja and Lee Seolhwa before hiding his presence with illusions. Then, he looked around for the woman's belongings and soon found something.
Various medicinal ingredients, as well as poisons and medicines concocted with those ingredients. For once, Lenoch thought it was a good thing that, despite having a system interface, the Star Stream did not have an inventory. Thankfully, the group hadn't bought any subspaces available on the Dokkaebi Bag either.
Or were these too expensive for ordinary incarnations?
Lenoch started robbing Lee Seolhwa's belongings.
[The constellation 'Guam Divine Doctor' is questioning your actions.]
In the distance, he felt the presence of Kim Dokja, Yoo Sangah, the talking head's main body (was she now part of Kim Dokja's group?), the white-haired woman they had been fighting, some big insect that had been parasitizing the white-haired woman, Yoo Joonghyuk was further away lying on a rooftop that let him oversee the battlefield, and now a kind of wolf hybrid was coming over.
"We are the 'guides'. We have to tell the people of the other worlds the right way to face the disasters that are coming."
"You have already been spellbound by the dokkaebis. Wake up, Lycaon."
"You are the one who needs to wake up, Antinus!" Lycaon's voice was furious. "Have you forgotten the sacrifice of the Chronos warriors? Have you already forgotten the moment when the five ruling species was destroyed? We are here to stop the disasters. Work with the species here to defend the terraformed planet and rebuild Chronos' civilization in this world! It is our sacred mission!"
They seemed to be doing well enough.
Lenoch put what he had stolen in the space pocket of the coat he had received as a reward for the last scenario.
[You have failed to clear the scenario.]
[The 'Disaster of Questions' has come to your world.]
It didn't really matter since the penalty wasn't death.
[An early hatching has weakened the Disaster of Questions.]
The eight meter tall disaster meteorite had split in two.
There was a boy around a dozen steps away. He looked like a high school student. He was completely naked without a stitch of clothing.
[Due to the early hatching penalty, you won't be able to attack the Disaster of Questions for three minutes.]
While everyone was immobilized, the boy walked around the area and arrived in front of a woman nearby. It was a woman who was part of the Poisoner's group.
The boy shouted in a clear voice towards the woman.
"Woman! Hey, are you okay?"
"U-Uh… Who…"
"Excuse me, can I ask you something?"
Coincidentally, the woman was quite close to Lenoch's current position. He listened intently.
"Where is this place? What year is it now?"
"W-Why all of a sudden…"
"Are you asking me a question back?"
"T-This is Seoul and… the current year…"
A system message was heard the moment the woman answered.
[The first question has been resolved.]
[The first seal of the returnee 'Myung Ilsang' has been released.]
The 'Disaster of Questions', Lenoch recalled.
Was a seal on his strength released every time a question was answered?
How many seals were currently applied?
A 'returnee'. That probably meant that this boy referred to as a 'disaster' originally came from Earth, then was sent somewhere and 'returned' here.
However, the word 'disaster' usually didn't refer to good things. Since this boy was part of a scenario sent by the Star Stream, he must be here to destroy Seoul.
"Ha, haha… Hahaha!"
"W-What is that…?"
The boy laughed wildly at the confused woman and asked, "Do you know how much I suffered? Do you know?"
"H-Huh?"
"Have you lived for 100 years? In a place where I was the only human… Do you know that there are other dimensions?"
"Other… dimension?"
Next to them, Lenoch intervened.
"Do you come from Chronos?"
The boy turned toward him.
"Hmm, you know about Chronos?" Myung Ilsang continued, "You seem like you are about to die?"
Lenoch didn't answer.
"Answer me. Are you curious about my identity?"
Finally, he nodded.
"Yes, could you tell me more?"
[The second question has been resolved.]
[The second seal of the returnee 'Myung Ilsang' has been released.]
Having expected it, Lenoch didn't react.
He could sense Kim Dokja cursing in the background.
"Disgusting insects, werewolves and bird people… I have a problem. Can you guess what it is? Insects, wolves, birds. Which of these three races are the best?"
Lenoch kept his mouth shut.
"Who among the three has the most delicious meat?"
He examined the boy.
If 'Myung Ilsang' was a 'disaster', maybe…
"Did you destroy Chronos?"
"What?" The boy smiled ominously, "You knew?"
Lenoch wasn't fazed, seemingly doing small talk.
"How old are you?"
"What? You want to know about me? Should I tell you?"
As expected from his title, the disaster repeatedly fired questions.
"Yes."
[The third question has been resolved.]
"Did you stay there for a long time?"
"Ha! Why don't you guess? Did you know that I was stuck there for 100 years?"
Lenoch asked another question, "What are your plans for the future?"
Myung Ilsang looked around at the ones ready to attack him.
"I was trying to live well. Kill some S-grade incarnations, defeat the bad groups and love the pretty noonas. But what is this? I have completely become a villain. What should I do?"
"…"
"Are you from the Hunters Association?"
"No."
[The fourth question has been resolved.]
Kim Dokja mentally cursed. However, although the time they were unable to attack the disaster was over, a strange force prevented him from moving. He didn't know that it was caused by the one currently talking to the disaster.
A dokkaebi started to talk.
[Hrmm. Everyone, aren't you great? Despite the penalty, this is still a disaster. Only three people putting pressure on him…]
Myung Ilsang pointed at the people behind him.
"Then, are you the weak-looking mentor figure? Are these guys from the Hunters Association?"
"No."
[The fifth question has been resolved.]
[The third seal of the returnee 'Myung Ilsang' has been released.]
"Well then, I need to leave."
As the boy was about to teleport away, Lenoch stopped him.
"Wait. I am curious about a few things. I can answer your questions."
Myung Ilsang ominously turned toward him.
"I have a few questions I need answered. Could you keep answering my questions?"
Gauging the current strength of Myung Ilsang, Lenoch wasn't concerned about lifting a few more seals.
"Yes."
The dokkaebi's voice resounded in the background.
[Your life hasn't been ruined yet. Rather, I can say that you have good luck. The sub scenario that I offer now will be a great stepping stone to reverse your life. Now, the chance will only be for one day! Move immediately! Only those who move the quickest can become the owner of a SSS-grade item!]
"What is your name?"
[The sub scenario has been updated.]
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[The sub-scenario – SSS-grade Hunt]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: B ~ ???
Clear Conditions: Get rid of the SSS-grade Myung Ilsang.
Time Limit: None
Compensation: 50,000 coins, ???
Failure: The fall of Seoul Dome.
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Seeing the notification he had been waiting for, Lenoch fired flames at the boy.
The disaster that had destroyed Chronos was instantly enveloped in flames.
Moreover, these flames had enough power to reduce the boy to ash in an instant.
[You have won against a 'returnee' for the first time in the scenario!]
Unexpectedly, the 'contributor' window was filled with question marks.
[You have earned 50,000 coins as an achievement reward.]
Even Yoo Joonghyuk watching from the rooftop—unable to participate due to injuries—was stunned.
Kim Dokja felt tired.
All his plans were reduced to nothing.
Or was this better? After all, he hadn't found a way to kill Myung Ilsang yet due to failing to learn Way of the Wind.
"…Wasn't there supposed to be a big fight where we struggled to take down the disaster? Where did this guy come from?" Han Sooyoung blurted out.
Kim Dokja thought the same. He hadn't expected someone to come from nowhere and suddenly kill the disaster.
[A constellation who likes dialogues is disappointed.]
[A constellation who enjoys overpowered characters sponsors you 500 coins.]
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' complains that this story is boring.]
Even the dokkaebi was embarrassed.
Finally, Kim Dokja regained his senses and approached the stranger.
"…What's your name?"
Expressionless, Lenoch turned toward him.
"Evan Martinez."