Chapter 744

〈 Chapter 744 〉 Part 2, Chapter 6, Episode 08

Reverse Import.

This term, commonly used in subculture circles, refers to when a major setting from so-called “secondary creations” becomes incorporated back into the “original work.”

For instance, a charming original character-inspired figure being added as DLC.

Or another story desired by fans being released as an IF ending on a fan disk.

Or elements popular in secondary creations periodically being updated into the main characters’ personalities.

Such factors are disliked by some but appreciated by others.

If it doesn’t reach the level of brain damage and is done in a healthy manner, anyone can acknowledge it as an interesting element.

“Didn’t expect this though.”

Who would’ve thought that his actions while ‘surviving in the original’ would be incorporated into the DLC content?

“Did you know about this?”

“Yeah, I knew. When I checked the community, I got spoiled about the story changes according to special DLC conditions.”

“Oh, then…”

Spoiler.

“Just let it happen. Since we already know the content, there probably won’t be much difference anyway.”

Blue Wind Sect.

Black Corruption Sect.

The organization of abnormals based in Seoul remains the same; it’s just a matter of who their leader is.

“If the original Blue Wind Sect was a criminal organization pursuing the light, the Black Corruption Sect hides thoroughly in the shadows and plots national overthrow as a villainous group.”

“Are you saying the president’s daughter is the leader of a coup?”

“They say failure is a coup, success is a revolution. And most players tend to spark revolutions.”

According to his investigation, approximately 90% of players support the revolution route with Sun Gyeoul.

Already knowing this but still expecting it, yet having been spoiled…

Sun Gyeoul was the heroine.

In fact, the main heroine of the DLC.

“Betrayal. I thought she’d be just like any other regular character. Aside from having the same chest size as Cheon Gaeul, there wasn’t much difference, right?”

“That chest and her virginity bought the sympathy of the commanders.”

“Men these days… completely obsessed with breasts, ugh.”

Wasn’t Sun Gyeoul created because suddenly changing Cheon Gaeul’s non-virgin attribute might have caused a lot of backlash? There was definitely an eerie allure from her identity as the estranged daughter of Sun Icheol.

Sun Icheol was always an obstacle during gameplay, and most players used Baek Hee-a to get rid of him.

Now, there’s another path with Sun Gyeoul.

“Queen of the Abyss, Sun Gyeoul…”

“Is it true they’re digging tunnels from Seoul to New Seoul?”

“What? Is that North Korea?”

“Given how sinister and unpleasant things become part of the game’s setting, it fits.”

Whether it exists in reality or not, the original game is a collection of things that would be truly terrifying if they did exist.

With North Korea destroyed by monsters in the setting, the abnormals beneath Seoul were transformed into northern invaders—North Abnormals.

“Hey, is this that rumored red game?”

“There’s no way. If it was, it would’ve been called Red Wind Sect instead of Black Corruption Sect.”

“Isn’t it to escape censorship?”

“Considering all the stuff they’ve already done, it probably wouldn’t make much difference.”

Indeed. Just take the main villain of the Flame Dragon story—”Mo Taegyeong,” for example.

Mo Taegyeong also has a daughter named Xiao Lin, who’s a heroine, so why shouldn’t Sun Icheol have a heroine daughter too?

Still, one thing does bother me…

“Black Corruption Sect. Why is it called Black Corruption Sect?”

Because they live in the darkness beneath Seoul? I found this subtle name rather embarrassing to evaluate.

“The reason for becoming the Black Corruption Sect is simple. It’s because of that guy.”

He spoke about the predecessor of the Black Corruption Sect with apparent enjoyment.

“There’s one factor worthy of calling it corruption.”

It was those “companions” who helped him escape Infinite Torment; he seemed lost in reminiscence thinking about them.

“Black Flame Dragon.”

“Huh?”

“The mascot is the Black Flame Dragon.”

“……”

Unforgivable.

“Aren’t you talking about Black Phoenix?”

“Does Black Phoenix think it can beat Blaze Deep Dark Dragon?”

“……Why is the name like that?”

Reverse Import.

When importing from secondary creations back to the original, the direct naming isn’t usually brought over. Ideally, additional settings are added, or something recognizable enough that someone might go, “Ah, that thing?”

So, our familiar Black Flame Dragon Guo Yongwoo doesn’t exist in the DLC.

Then who is the mascot of the Black Corruption Sect?

“Black Flame Dragon Guo Younghee.”

“World.”

“Little sister of Black Flame Dragon.”

“…A brother-sister duo of abnormals? Actually, mentioning Guo Younghee makes me think…isn’t that the palette swap of Phoenix with an identical body?”

I remembered.

Black Flame Dragon Guo Younghee.

The villain Black Flame Dragon, who sought greater power than others, accepted the power of the abnormal, underwent monster transformation, and later returned to human form only to inexplicably turn into a woman.

That’s Guo Younghee.

Even though Guo Younghee didn’t exist within Infinite Torment, it seems in the DLC she appears as the younger sister carrying on the legacy and will of Black Flame Dragon.

“What about the others? Surely places like Sky Castle and Architect haven’t changed? The Lighthouse is the same, right?”

“They’ve been replaced by members’ families, friends, or acquaintances. All of them…”

He looked off into the distance with a nostalgic expression.

“…turned into women.”

“……”

All the men he once knew turned into women and became the commander’s harem. How must he feel?

“…Don’t do anything with them.”

“That’s obvious. Even if they’re female characters, I don’t want anything to do with the TS settings implemented in this DLC.”

“Why would I do such a thing when I leave you here? As a man, I wouldn’t even touch them.”

“Not just that, but they’re already incredibly pitiful.”

“What? Are they getting crushed down there by the originals?”

“Not exactly. They’ve been overshadowed by new additions and have become minor characters akin to the Black Corruption Sect’s sidekicks.”

He displayed a document with a rather pale face.

“With the DLC difficulty increasing, new abnormals have been added. Look at this. One of the Black Corruption Sect’s one-two punch combos.”

“…These two are…”

“One is an SS-Rank abnormal version of the S-Rank monster, the snake from City Hall. The other is…”

“Tentacle Toad.”

The tentacle monster residing in the National Assembly, infamous for creating countless bad endings with its tentacles.

The jolly-looking fellow now stands as an SS-Rank abnormal, wearing a suit and smiling. Tentacles dangle loosely from his back.

“Tentacle Toad is genuinely dangerous. He…”

I nearly lost my mind listening to that story.

* * *

<Seoul, Underground Subway Line ??>

Subways no longer move in Seoul.

Correction.

Subways no longer operate conventionally in Seoul.

“Get on.”

Grrr.

Abnormals pointed to carriages pulled by tamed monsters. The quadrupedal monsters wore leashes and muzzles, pulling carts disguised as carriages.

“Wow, this is fun.”

Azidahaka quietly climbed aboard. Subway seats appeared to have been salvaged and placed inside the carriage.

“Do you travel underground like this?”

“We only use tracks for VIPs coming from outside. If the southern region above ground is the buffer zone between the surface and the underworld, then the underground passages are the buffer between the surface and the depths.”

The toad-like middle-aged man, Mr. Tentacle, gestured toward the monsters pulling the cart.

“All of these are creatures that descended after searching for food above ground. Taming them was quite the challenge.”

“Taming monsters with clubs? That must’ve been tough.”

“After a hundred attempts, you succeed once, right? Someone said it feels like pulling a five-star gacha, and nothing seems impossible anymore. Haha.”

“Hmm, the rest probably became cores.”

Creak.

The monsters began pulling the cart. Though slower than a subway, it was significantly faster than walking.

Above all, the atmosphere was eerily enchanting. The halogen lamps decorating the corners of the carriage made it seem like secret conversations were taking place.

“I’ve heard stories about you, Azidahaka. You’re a ranking officer of Dark Legion, correct?”

“You know about me and still invite me to your base? Bold move.”

“It’s because we share the same goal.”

Mr. Tentacle pointed upward.

“You wish to defeat the commander, and we wish for the commander to become one of ours.”

“Then our interests conflict, right?”

“Simple. If you transform the commander into an abnormal, that’ll suffice. In other words…a sex slave.”

“Ho ho.”

Azidahaka’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“Turn the commander into my personal dildo?”

“I’ve heard the commander’s endowment is considerable. You’ll be satisfied, Azidahaka. We merely wish to exact revenge on Sun Icheol using his abilities.”

“Planning a state overthrow through mass production of abnormals?”

“Close. The princess seeks recognition of abnormal rights through demonstrations of force, and since we’re citizens of this country, we don’t necessarily seek its collapse…”

Bang.

Mr. Tentacle flashed his tentacles with a ferocious grin.

“I want to shatter Sun Icheol’s Hellfire Peninsula. Everyone in Seoul wants revenge on Sun Icheol.”

“Hmm, hence the Black Corruption Sect?”

“Yes. Those who’ve thrown everything into deep and dark vengeance…those who hone the flames of revenge.”

“Ho ho, intriguing. So what do you plan to do with Sun Icheol once you catch him? Like medieval dismemberment with tentacles?”

“Hehehe…”

Tentacle Toad merely chuckled while stroking his tentacles, making Azidahaka shiver despite himself.

“Don’t use tentacles for molestation? Disqualified as a tentacle user.”

“…Are you gay?”

“My goodness. Calling me homosexual! I once had a wife and children, both ruined by Sun Icheol, that bastard. Though…now…”

Mr. Tentacle uncomfortably tugged at his shirt. His tie was old and black.

“…Though I say this reluctantly, I hope you truly seek revenge on Sun Icheol. Still, molesting with tentacles despite not being gay? That’s creepy.”

“That’ll be resolved once we capture the commander. By cooperating with Azidahaka, we’ll first turn the commander into an abnormal, then transfer the curse onto Sun Icheol.”

“Huh?”

“In short, turning Sun Icheol into a female.”

Mr. Tentacle’s eyes gleamed viciously.

“We’ll overlay the commander’s gender-switch syndrome onto Sun Icheol, turning him female, then molest him with tentacles. And…we’ll make him a breeding machine. That’s my life goal.”

“…”

Azidahaka nodded slowly.

“Pass. To collaborate with the evil organization, you need this level of malice.”

Azidahaka formed an alliance with the Black Corruption Sect.

To turn Sun Icheol into a female.

“But what about the princess? Isn’t she Sun Icheol’s daughter? Aren’t you going to get revenge on her?”

“Sun Icheol killed my family, not Sun Icheol’s daughter.”

“…You’re unexpectedly gentlemanly.”

“Thus.”

He grinned widely.

“Mr. Tentacle.”