Global Awakening: Only I Can Respawn

[Conditions met. Quest information will be revealed now.]

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Main Quest (2):

Title: Circus of Errors.

Introduction: Head to the Lotte World Amusement Park and save as many dolls as possible.

Reward: Progress based.

Difficulty level: ??

Penalty for failure: Become Loki's doll.

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The notifications appeared as soon as YuWon stepped through the gates. However, YuWon had another problem to focus on.

Gina couldn't enter the amusement park. Much like the safe zone of the past life, an invisible barrier was stopping her. YuWon gritted his teeth.

He'd expected this. Lucifer was in charge of the quest, and the demon was going out of his way to make things as difficult as possible. The sudden barrier interruption of the barrier was just the beginning.

"Gina, you'll have to stay back."

But Gina wasn't having it. She clawed at the barrier, her frustration growing as her nails scraped against the invisible wall. At last, YuWon had to step in and he grabbed her hand.

"Gina," he said, gently stroking her face.

Gina glared at him as if he had put the barrier in place. Without a word, YuWon leaned closer, pressing a kiss to her lips through the barrier.

Gina's resistance faltered. Slowly, her hands fell to her sides.

YuWon had long since mastered this method of calming her down, and once again, it worked. The fire in her eyes dimmed, her anger cooling enough to stop her attack on the barrier.

YuWon didn't care about the barrier, but he was worried about Lucifer's reaction. That bastard would look for any reason to hurt those around YuWon, and he didn't want that to happen, at least not to Gina.

YuWon gently stroked Gina's cheek one last time before stepping back.

"Stay here, Gina," he said firmly. "I'll come back for you."

She hesitated but finally nodded. YuWon gave her a reassuring smile, waved her off, and turned around. Not far behind him, Soo-Ah followed silently after leaving some skeletons with Gina.

I didn't think a kiss would have such an effect on her.

Soo-Ah had always been easy to read, and her feelings for him were no secret. She tried to hide it, but the way she looked at him sometimes told YuWon everything he needed to know.

Her face was pink, her blush spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. She didn't meet his gaze when he glanced back, but she kept following him, her pace quickening whenever she got left behind.

Without Gina in the way, it'll be easy to win Soo-Ah's heart.

That's what Lilith told him, and it seemed she was right.

He slowed down a bit, letting Soo-Ah catch up. Just then, a doll approached them. Without saying a word, it offered YuWon a flyer and ran off.

It was a strange sight. He could swear the dolls were alive, but other than robotic actions, they didn't do much. Even when Mickey went around stabbing their butts.

"What does it say?" Soo-Ah asked, leaning in.

"Some ghost house discount coupon…" YuWon mumbled. "Wanna go—?"

A sudden shriek startled YuWon. They turned around and saw the doll that had handed him the flyer screaming at the top of his lungs.

For a moment, it seemed the man had regained control of himself—but just then; he twisted his own neck with a sickening crack and crumpled to the ground.

His body had barely hit the floor when the surrounding dolls rushed in. In less than ten seconds, every trace of the corpse was gone, as though nothing had happened. The dolls worked efficiently, ensuring the amusement park's cheerful atmosphere remained undisturbed.

"Ah, a discount coupon! How wonderful!"

A doll's cheerful voice interrupted them. YuWon looked her up and down and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Professor Ming?" he blurted out.

But Professor Ming didn't reply. She had an eerie smile plastered on her face and her blank eyes kept staring at the flyer in his hands.

Soo-Ah was just as stunned as YuWon. But their actions never got a reaction from the professor. She had turned into a doll.

It wasn't just her. Every single one of them... was an awakener who had failed the quest and got cursed to exist as lifeless dolls as a penalty, forced to forever serve as an employee of Lucifer's twisted Lotte World.

"Follow me! I'll guide you to the location," Professor's smile widened. "We even have special routes designed for couples, ensuring you plenty of intimate moments."

"C-Couples—?!"

Soo-Ah's face turned crimson as she instinctively opened her mouth to correct her. But before she could say a word, YuWon casually slid an arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"We would love to explore the special route." he said.

"Excellent!" The professor clapped his hands together, beaming. "Unfortunately, I've just been assigned elsewhere. But fear not! I've got you covered."

The professor clapped, and instantly two ogres with saddles strapped to their backs rushed in.

"These fine gentlemen will escort you to the stage. Once you emerge on the other side, you'll be able to claim your reward for enduring the challenge."

With that, the professor waved them off before disappearing. But as she did, YuWon saw a teardrop rolling down her face. The dolls were alive, capable of emotions, but tragically unable to act on them. If they tried, they'd meet the same end as that man before.

Filthy bastard… I will kill you one of these days. I swear on my life.

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YuWon clenched his fists. The rage within him kept bubbling. But neither he could do any harm to Lucifer, nor vice versa, at least not directly. That's why that bastard was pulling such tricks to toy with YuWon's emotions.

***

As YuWon and Soo-Ah approached the gate, an employee dressed in a neat uniform stepped forward, smiling politely. Without a word, he took the flyer out of YuWon's hand and gestured toward the gates. A bunch of goblins appeared and opened the door for them.

"Welcome," the employee said, bowing slightly. "I hope you have a great time there."

YuWon nodded and stepped inside, and Soo-Ah quickly followed him. However, the employee raised a hand toward Soo-Ah's skeletons, stopping them.

"I'm sorry," the man said, "but they can't come in."

"What? Why not? They're part of my team."

"Your coupon only allows a couple, not the family."

Soo-Ah was ready to argue more when YuWon gently grabbed her hand. Without saying a word, he gestured towards the man.

Like before, the doll was smiling, but tears continuously ran down his face. He said nothing, but it was clear he was silently begging her not to push further.

After seeing the man Soo-Ah hesitated, confused.

"What's wrong with him?" she whispered.

YuWon's sharp eyes caught on the trembling in the employee's hands. That's when it clicked. The doll wasn't acting on his own will—his life depended on keeping the skeletons out.

Yet, he couldn't directly force them to leave. It was against the rules for dolls to physically stop guests from doing anything.

"We'll leave the skeletons outside," he said, pulling Soo-Ah gently toward the gate.

YuWon wasn't feeling kind, but since it was his quest to save as many dolls as he could, he had no other choice but to stand back.

"But—!"

"It's fine. I'm here, aren't I?"

Reluctantly, Soo-Ah dismissed her skeletons with a wave of her hand. The doll gave them one last sorrowful look before bidding them farewell as the doors closed behind them.

Then, without warning, the lights flickered once before going out completely.

"Ack!" Soo-Ah yelped, grabbing YuWon's arm in a panic. "What happened to the lights?!"

Instead of replying, YuWon chuckled. Who would have thought a necromancer would fear the dark?

"Relax," he said, patting her head.

[Checkpoint marked.]

[The user will respawn here upon death.]

However, Soo-Ah shook her head, refusing to let go of him. However, before he could say anything else, he felt a strange presence. YuWon couldn't even react as his vision blurred, but strangely, he could see his body as he fell.

[You've died.]

***

"DUCK!"

YuWon yelled, pulling Soo-Ah down with him. She fell on top of him, not knowing an invisible blade had passed over their heads. If YuWon had been a second later, both of their heads would've gone flying off.

After inheriting the disaster mole's stats, YuWon could see in the dark. But for some reason, he couldn't see a thing inside the haunted house. YuWon could only curse Lucifer under his breath before getting up.

Just then, there was a burst of light, and two orcs appeared before them. YuWon pulled Soo-Ah behind him before kicking one orc and punching the other with the [Formless Blade] gauntlet.

"What the hell…?"

YuWon couldn't believe it. He had put all his strength into that attack, yet the orcs remained unaffected by the attack. But before he could do something about it, the orcs ran away.

"What's going on?" Soo-Ah asked.

"I have no idea," YuWon replied.

"That's why I wanted my skeletons here…"

"…let's move on."