The rooftop of the apartnt building was cold and quiet. The sky above was a dull gray, the sun hidden behind clouds as if even the world mourned her loss.
Min-Joon stood in the center, his mother's lifeless body laid carefully on a pile of broken furniture and splintered wood he had gathered. It wasn't perfect or close to the farewell his mother deserved, but it was the most Min-Joon could do.
Soo-Ah and Gina stood silently to the side, their heads bowed in respect. YuWon arrived a few minutes later, holding a small glass jar filled with a fiery liquid, and handed it to Min-Joon without a word.
Since simply lighting a fire would prove troubleso and the sll of burning flesh would attract the monsters, YuWon bought sothing from the store.
They had tried dissuading Min-Joon from a cremation, but he didn't listen. How could he when his mother always wanted to be cremated when she died?
He couldn't protect her, so fulfilling her wish was the last thing he could do.
Besides, it wasn't the ti for logic or strategy. They had seen the grief in Min-Joon's eyes, and YuWon would not take this away from him.
"This is liquid fire," YuWon said. "It'll burn fast. We can be off before any monsters appear."
Min-Joon nodded, gripping the jar tightly.
YuWon turned his gaze to the makeshift pyre. Min-Joon unscrewed the jar's lid, the sharp scent of the liquid fire stinging his nose. He took a deep breath and poured the contents over his mother's body.
The liquid fire ignited upon contact, engulfing the pyre in bright blue flas. The heat was intense, forcing Min-Joon to step back, but his eyes never left the fire.
The flas roared, and with them ca the unmistakable stench of burning flesh. It was a sickening sll that made most n turn away or lose their stomachs. But Min-Joon didn't flinch. His fists remained clenched by his sides as he gritted his teeth.
Everyone expected him to cry, but Min-Joon had already cried his heart out. There were no more tears left.
YuWon stood a few feet away, watching in silence. He didn't console Min-Joon or tell him it was going to be okay. They both knew it wouldn't be. When the flas died down, only then did Min-Joon turn to YuWon.
"…it's done. Let's go—"
"Take so skeletons and go back to the base," YuWon said, cutting him off. "You've been through a lot, so take so ti off and heal."
However, Min-Joon shook his head.
It was because he rested and wasted ti that his mother died. He won't rest again, not until all the monsters in the world were dead.
There was a fire in his eyes more intense than the liquid fire. However, it wasn't anger but sothing darker, sothing YuWon had felt before.
"Fine. Do what you want," YuWon sighed. "I won't stop you. But don't get yourself killed out there."
"I won't," Min-Joon nodded. "But I need to find my father and sister."
Without another word, Min-Joon turned and headed for the stairwell, his axe slung over his shoulder. He wasn't heading to the next quest like them, but YuWon hoped he wouldn't make any stupid decisions along the way.
YuWon stayed behind for a mont longer, watching the last of the flas flicker out.
"What a fool…" YuWon mumbled.
However, there was no judgnt in his words. Only respect.
Just then, a notification flashed before their eyes.
Main Quest (2):
Title: Circus of Errors.
Introduction: Head to the Lotte World Amusent Park and take part in the quest.
Reward: Progress based.
Difficulty level: ??
Penalty for failure: Beco Loki's doll.
"…what a strange quest this is," Soo-Ah mumbled.
YuWon agreed. The quests before had been vague, but this quest gave them no information about the quest.
"I have never been on a ride, so it might be difficult for ."
"What are you talking about?" YuWon asked.
Soo-Ah raised an eyebrow before showing him her quest.
Main Quest (2):
Title: Fun Tis Never Last
Introduction: Head to the Lotte World Amusent Park and ride all the attractions there.
Reward: Progress based.
Ti Limit: None.
Penalty for failure: Overall stat decrease.
"That's… not the quest I got."
As soon as he said that, YuWon could feel the eyes on him laughing. Since Sophia was on his side, she wouldn't intentionally change his quest from the others.
However, soone could have done it.
That damned bastard Lucifer!
YuWon should have expected it. Wounded pride was sothing Lucifer wouldn't let go of without avenging. Unable to target Sophia directly, he must have used his authority to manipulate his quest instead.
With a heavy sigh, YuWon resigned himself to the situation. The quest was beyond his control. Besides, he wouldn't even know anything about the quest till he reached the amusent park.
Yet, the thought of what lay ahead gnawed at him. If Lucifer had altered the quest once, there was no guarantee he wouldn't do it again and in ti might even give him an impossible task to accomplish.
At that mont, YuWon wanted nothing more than to twist that bastard Lucifer's neck and carry it like an accessory.
Another thing troubling him was the punishnt for failure.
Beco Loki's doll… what does that even an?
***
A few hours later…
"This has to be a joke," YuWon muttered.
Soo-Ah and even Gina stood frozen, too stunned to respond. The amusent park before them was unrecognizable, its atmosphere completely transford. But it wasn't the decorations or the cheerful lights that left them speechless—it was the monsters.
What had once been fearso creatures were now playing the roles of vendors and staff throughout the park. They danced to lively tunes, sang upbeat songs, and interacted with other awakeners as if they'd never been enemies.
There was no trace of the hostility they once exuded. Instead, it felt bizarrely natural, as though monsters and humans had coexisted for generations, seamlessly blending into daily life routines.
However, there was sothing strange. Every monster and Awakener had vacant, lifeless, white eyes.
"Dolls…"
YuWon realized what the punishnt for failing the quest truly ant.
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