Chapter Text
I was broken out of my thoughts thanks to the rattling of the train, and to the two on my right… it seems they’re talking about novels?
I shook my head, trying to shake off any drowsiness I still had.
I hate moving. 2 weeks of carrying boxes and setting up furniture is hell! You're just a week failure.
I was once again broken from my line of thoughts by the train. The lights turned off?
Suddenly the train stopped and I clung to the overhead bars.
“Is it a terrorist attack!?”, “W-What's happening!?” I heard some of the other passengers say through the screams of panic.
Gathering my bearings I slowly stood up and looked around.
“Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. Please evacuate… you all need to evacuate…!” I briefly heard someone say through the intercoms.
I closed my eyes as a bright flash of light came from one end of the car.
As I opened them I saw a two horned creature wearing a straw garment floating exactly where the light was.
“…A dokkaebi?” I heard a woman to my side say. I mentally note that it was the same woman who I overheard speaking to someone about novels.
The creature, a dokkaebi as the woman called it, what does that word even mean!?, cleared its throat?
“%&@!§%!”
“%&@!§%!”
What? What did that thing just say?
“Testing. Testing. Can everyone hear me? Gosh the language patch was malfunctioning for a bit.”
“Can everyone hear me now!?”
Language patch? Malfunctioning? What? What is happening? Are people filming a movie?
“It sure is noisy here... I told you to be quiet!”
A person who tried talking to the creature got their head blown up.
“We're not filming a movie.”
Another one dies the same way.
“This isn't a dream…”
And another.
“…Or a novel…”
Another.
“…And it's certainly not the reality that you are all familiar with! Do you understand!?”
The floor was painted in blood as that thing finished its speech.
“You've all lived a cushy life until now, haven't you? You were able to breathe, eat, excrete and reproduce without paying the costs! Ha! You've all been enjoying privileged lives! But it's all over now! Nothing is free in life, isn’t that right?” The thing said with a gleeful look.
“Is it money you want?” An idiot wearing a suit and tie had walked up to the creature and asked such a stupid question.
Does he seriously think that that thing wants money!?
I watched as with a flick of the creature's finger the money the idiot held up turned to flame.
“That paper has no value in the macroscopic dimension.”
Well drat, my savings are worthless now... Hahaha... You're the worst idiot here.
“This is a warning if you ever pull a stunt like this again, I'll blow your head up.”
What did that idiot seriously think would happen?
I looked up as the creature flew above us, then.
Ding.
When I looked down, a translucent blue menu like square flickered into view, looking around I saw the same blue squares appear in front of the other passengers faces.
Looking back at the menu thingy I grimaced.
[The main scenario has arrived.]
Main scenario #1
[Prove your value]
Kill one or more living organisms.
Category: Main
Difficulty: F
Time limit: 30 minutes
Reward: 300 coins
Penalty for failure: Death
“Well good luck everyone, I expect to see an interesting story.”
And with that the creature disappeared with a flash.
- Dokkaebi: Korean goblin/spirit.