The morning sun rose over the Heavenly Spring Bone-Soaking Sect, but the mood was… off.
Arin stood in front of the mission board, a fresh scroll in his hand. It smelled faintly of burnt paperwork and divine sarcasm.
Yura yawned behind him, her fox tails swaying lazily. "So? What's the damage?"
Arin unrolled the scroll, read the first line, and let out a groan worthy of a man asked to clean dishes after defeating a final boss.
> Mission: Investigate the Sect of the Eternal Smile
Classification: Divine-Flagged Corruption Threat
Notes: Do NOT engage in forced musical numbers. Do NOT drink the tea.
Estimated Survival Rate: …Eh.
Yue Lan took the scroll from his hands and read it with a frown. "This place was disbanded centuries ago. Rumors say the disciples never stopped smiling. Even when they died."
Jun Bai, now standing quietly nearby with a sword strapped across his back and a thin bruise still forming from training, muttered, "Cult."
"Definitely cult," Yura added. "Any sect that forces happiness is either hiding body parts or pyramid schemes."
Lia, floating beside Arin like a fashionable and possibly glitchy digital ghost, projected a map midair.
"This sect's data signature is corrupted. It contains system code that predates your Trash System. And fragments of reward-exchange trades. It may be where your stolen gifts were sold."
Arin's pupils dilated.
"You mean my lost Spirit Blade of Divine Sarcasm could be there?!"
"No," Lia replied flatly. "But probably your [Anti-Cringe Aura Talisman]."
Yura's eyes widened. "Wait, that was real?!"
Arin pouted. "It was taken from me before I ever equipped it."
Yue Lan folded her arms. "Then let's take it back. All of it."
Jun Bai rolled his eyes. "Why are we pretending like we're some elite team? This is barely above a comedy troupe."
Yura grinned. "Yeah. But we're the kind that accidentally wins."
---
Three Days Later – Entrance to the Sect of the Eternal Smile
They stood before the gates of the sect. Towering stone archways with pastel banners and… far too many smiling statues.
Each statue had exaggerated features—giant grins, round cheeks, and bulging eyes. They looked less like guardians and more like nightmare dolls from a horror manhua no one finished.
Arin frowned. "Okay, why does this look like the rejected set of a children's show?"
Lia scanned the surroundings. "Be wary. The ambient energy is laced with emotional suggestion glyphs."
Yura sniffed. "Smells like fake happiness and spiritual perfume."
As the gates creaked open, a chorus of perfectly synchronized voices rang out:
> "Welcome, guests! Happiness is mandatory! Smiles are the key to eternity!"
Arin stopped dead in his tracks. "Nope. Nope. I've played this level before. I'm not dying in a musical horror dungeon."
Yue Lan stepped forward, serious. "Be strong. Remember the mission."
"Easy for you to say," Arin whispered. "You don't have 'Natural Main Character' status that triggers every plot flag."
They walked in.
Instantly, three disciples floated down on lotus petals—perfect makeup, plastered grins, and sparkly robes. They looked like K-pop stars possessed by spiritual parasites.
"Greetings!" said the lead disciple, who wore a sash labeled 'Joy Enforcer – Level 3'. "We hope you're ready for your mandatory enlightenment dance sequence!"
Arin deadpanned. "I'm calling the police."
Jun Bai reached for his sword.
Yura whispered, "Wait. Let's see what they do."
The Joy Enforcer clapped.
Music began.
Magical musical notes filled the air.
A force pulled at their limbs.
Their bodies moved without consent.
Arin's hips started swaying.
His face went pale. "No. Not again. Not the rhythm curse!"
Yue Lan was already mid-twirl, trying to suppress her blush.
Jun Bai resisted, trembling. "I'm going to die dancing, aren't I?"
Yura? She leaned into it and performed a perfect split midair while laughing her tails off.
Lia, floating behind them, whispered, "I warned you."
Arin turned to her mid-dance. "Use debug command. Please. Now."
Lia's eyes flashed.
[Debug Override Activated: Forced Choreography Disabled]
The music stopped with a divine record scratch.
All the Joy Enforcers collapsed to their knees, twitching.
Yue Lan gasped for breath.
Jun Bai sheathed his sword. "Next time, we burn the gates."
The group pressed on into the sect, where smiles widened, and shadows thickened.
They didn't know it yet, but somewhere in the center of the Sect of the Eternal Smile, a system user watched them through mirrored petals.
His eyes glowed with violet code.
He turned to his master—an ancient figure with too many teeth and no visible soul.
"They're here," he whispered.
The elder smiled—a real, broken smile.
"Good. Let's see if their happiness can survive… the Infinite Trial of Forced Positivity."