"Sentinel, you. Come here and sit down."
Since he was my friend's son, I shouldn't step in and discipline him too freely, but still, shouldn't someone teach him some manners?
"No, sit properly! On your knees! Do you think I'm doing this for my own benefit?!"
[....]
Upon hearing my shout, the Sentinel corrected his posture and sat down meekly.
Only now did he look like he was actually ready to listen.
After all, everything starts with proper posture.
It's like how swordsmanship begins with the basic downward strike. That was the feeling.
"Now listen, Sentinel. When you meet your mother's friend, you should come over and greet them, even if they're far away."
[....]
"Um, Dokja...?"
"I don't know either, so don't ask me."
But that look in her eyes... wasn't that the same irritated look Dokja used to give me when I scolded her for throwing a tantrum in the supermarket because I wouldn't buy her the doll she wanted?
"And why are you looking at me like that?"
[....]
"Where are you looking when an adult is talking to you?!"
[...?]
This was the unbeatable move I learned from Mom!
Even after leaving my side more than twenty years ago, you're still teaching me, Mother.
"First impressions are everything. No matter how much the world has changed, a single word can be the difference between survival and becoming a sacrificial lamb—that's what I'm telling you."
*Nod*
The Sentinel listened intently and nodded.
"What are you nodding for, as if you've done something right? When an adult speaks, you answer! Don't just bob your head..."
[Kaa—!]
"How dare you talk back!!!"
I was reminded of the times my mother used to scold me long ago.
I didn't understand it as a child, but now that I've grown up and found myself in a position where I have to discipline someone else, I feel like I finally understand why she said those things.
.
.
.
"So, when are you going to get a real job? You call this employment? Kidnapping Incarnations in a dark cave?!"
[....]
"Repeat back to me what I just said."
[?!]
*Oh? You're not saying anything?!*
It seemed he had been half-listening, letting my words go in one ear and out the other.
"When an adult is talking, you weren't listening properly?! Fine, then we'll start all over from the beginning—"
"Stop it already!!!"
*Smack!*
"Aaagh!"
At the sharp sound and the burning sensation across my back, I spun around to find Dokja standing there, screaming at me to stop.
"W-Why? Why?!"
"No, seriously, who in the world nags nonstop for six hours straight?! Even relatives pestering an unemployed person during the holidays don't go that far!!!"
"No... even so!"
"Just look at the Constellations' reactions."
[A small number of Constellations fall asleep.]
[A large number of Constellations wipe their drool and wake up, asking if it's finally over.]
[A small number of absolute-good Constellations upload the scene of the 'Dark Sentinel' kneeling and being lectured to the Star Stream bulletin board.]
Nagging?
This was clearly for his own good.
To think that one person tells me to stop and others just sprawled out and slept, completely oblivious to my sincerity... it was truly upsetting.
[Kraaaaaah! Kalidu!!]
[The 'Dark Sentinel' suffers a mental collapse from the endless nagging.]
[The 'Dark Sentinel' has begun to run wild!]
[You have achieved an unbelievable accomplishment.]
[A new 'Fable' has been created.]
[The Fable, 'Soul-Shaving Echo,' has been born.]
[You have acquired the possibility of a Stigma.]
"Why on earth is a Fable being created over something like this?"
All I wanted was for the Dark Sentinel—who was practically the child of the Constellation watching over me, or rather, a Demon King—to walk the right path.
Wait, since his alignment was evil, should I have taught him bad things instead?
And I seriously had no idea why my nagging was enough to earn a Fable.
"What are you doing?! Move!!"
"Wha—?"
*Whoosh*
*Boom!!*
The moment the Dark Sentinel went berserk, the first target of his attack was me, standing right in front of him.
"Oppaaaa!!!"
*Thud*
*Thud!*
*Bam!*
Even after a tentacle smashed me into the wall, the Sentinel didn't stop, focusing all his attacks on me with relentless precision.
"Stop hitting me already!"
*Crush!*
*Crash!!*
Thanks to my stats being far above the scenario average, I managed to avoid any fatal wounds.
Of course, that didn't mean I wasn't taking damage.
He wasn't just some ordinary grade-7 monster, but a demon-type with the protection of a Demon King. For me, whose only experience against a true powerhouse was Yoo Joonghyuk, he was a quite troublesome opponent.
What was the weakness of someone like me, who could only rampage by relying on absurdly high stats?
A scheme to lure me into a trap?
Various kinds of magic or poison?
No. It would be someone with even more absurdly inflated stats than mine, or someone with similar stats who fought slyly from a distance.
[Oppa, just buy me some time.]
[OK!]
If I couldn't rely on the benefits of having a little sister at a time like this, then when would I?
"Dokkaebi! You're watching, right?"
[U-uuht. A-ah, you knew?]
"There should be some mail for me by now, so hand it over quickly."
[Hihit, th-that's not m-my jurisdiction. Th-that's Bihyung's job.]
Since he was only attacking me anyway, I continued my leisurely conversation with the Dokkaebi.
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is worried, asking why you're just standing there getting hit.]
"It's about time Dokja got her moment to shine."
Even if my weakness was obvious, that didn't mean I was guaranteed to lose.
If I really put my back into it, I could take some damage but still avoid fatal wounds and secure victory.
However, since Dokja was the one who summoned this thing, if this too was part of her plan to showcase her growth and value... then me fighting would actually be a disadvantage to her.
I didn't know who was watching Dokja's channel, or how many, but the trope of the older brother who always seemed invincible...
...being saved by his younger sister in his moment of crisis.
Wasn't that the kind of material anyone would get excited over?
[Kaliduuuuuu!!!!]
*Tzzzt*
*Slash!!*
"You sure took your time. Being your punching bag is hard work, you know?"
"Want me to cut you instead of the tentacles? Then shut up."
Dokja sliced through the tentacles with her sword and landed in front of me.
There was something strange about Dokja's sword.
It was a broken blade, but blue sword energy was replacing the missing edge.
*Next time, I need to make her explain the plan in more detail. Why didn't she mention she had something like that?*
*Bang!*
*Slash!!*
*Bam!!!*
"What now?!"
"Open a path! I can finish it!!"
"Got it! Here comes the bodyyyyy!!!!"
*Boom!*
When I threw myself forward with all my strength, the Sentinel instinctively turned every tentacle it had grown toward me.
"You should've read the book properly."
He had completely forgotten that Dokja was the more dangerous one.
*Slash!!*
With a vicious sound cutting through the air, the Sentinel collapsed.
[M-my god... Constellations, did you all just see that? Did I see wrong...?]
While Dokja and the Dokkaebi chattered among themselves, I decided to take care of something I'd put off for a bit.
I had business with a certain Demon King who had been hiding while quietly showering me with huge amounts of Coins.
"Is the Demon King here right now?"
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' convulses, saying you must never go looking for that ■■■.]
[The Constellation 'Lily Blooming in Aquarius' grabs the Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' and tells her to calm down.]
[The Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is curious about your thoughts.]
[A large number of Constellations are intoxicated by the never-ending dopamine.]
[The Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' approaches with a chilly smile.]
There he was. Since he'd shown up even during the first Sponsor selection, you could practically call him a devoted viewer who's been watching since my very first broadcast.
"The reason I called for the Demon King is because there's something I absolutely have to say."
[The Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' listens closely.]
[The Constellation 'Lily Blooming in Aquarius' shouts at you to stop talking and help already.]
[The vast majority of Constellations watch while eating popcorn.]
"Demon King...."
[All the Constellations in the channel focus on what you're about to say.]
How dare he leave a child in a cave like this in front of me, someone who knows all about childcare...
I couldn't forgive that, Demon King.
"Demon King! You come here and sit down too."
[All the Constellations in the channel send up ???.]
"You leave your kid abandoned in a dark, gloomy cave like this? Back in my day—!"
[The Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' mocks the Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust'.]
[The Demon King 'Demon King of Wrath and Lust' is horrified!]
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