Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Chapter 38: Scattered Puzzle (6)
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It's not an item. Not a skill or magic either. Not a trait...
‘Then what?’
I stripped down to check my status window, inventory, and even my clothes, but I couldn't find any changes or additions.
The bewilderment and daze didn't last long.
After a bit of time passed, the initial emotions subsided, and then anger slowly began to rise.
A whopping 100 of them.
Random boxes I'd stubbornly saved up without opening a single one for nearly a year since the servers connected.
And all I got for investing those 100 was a single message I couldn't even comprehend?
Heat surged up in an instant.
"You little..."
But venting my anger would just waste my own energy.
In the end, I gritted my teeth, swallowed my rage, and rummaged through my inventory.
‘Anyway, I had business to discuss with the System.’
I could ask about this unidentified reward while I was at it.
Soon, I pulled out a whistle from my inventory.
It was the item I'd obtained when talking to the System about the Gate issue.
‘Summoner.’
I could use it when I wanted direct interaction with the System.
Of course, it wasn't something I could blow whenever I felt like it.
The gem on the side of the whistle had to be green to use it.
It had been red ever since the last secret talk, but it turned green just the day before yesterday.
So, I'd planned to talk to the System right after finishing this main scenario.
"I'll step out for a bit."
"Huh? At this hour?"
"Where are you going?"
I hadn't fully explained my relationship with the System to the party members yet.
So, as usual, I just shrugged in response.
Yang Tae-ho and Kim Yul didn't press further, and I blew the whistle.
White mist swirled around me, and soon my vision wavered.
When my sight cleared again, I was in a white space reminiscent of the Tutorial.
《System Message》
Player Kang Hyun-woo, it's been a while. Greetings.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Player Kang Hyun-woo once more.
The growth rate and survival rate of other players have exceeded my expectations, especially those affiliated with the Palao Church...
I dismissed the System's message without reading it all and thought to myself.
‘This damn white... I really want to paint the whole thing a different color.’
Just thinking about what happened here still boils my blood.
I ground my teeth inwardly and spoke in a sharp tone.
"No need for praise or consideration between you and me. Let's just get to the point."
My first question was about what had just happened.
I asked what that message from the 100 random boxes meant.
But the System's response to my question wasn't very helpful.
"So... you don't know what it is either?"
《System Message》
Correct. At least, it's not a reward that existed in the game I designed.
I traced the acquisition path, and there are signs of interference.
Exactly 91 days ago, external interference occurred.
‘91 days ago...’
Recalling my schedule, it was when I was in Gemal. On the day of the banquet in Hwangsung.
With the exact date pinpointed, I had a good idea where the external interference came from.
‘It must have been when I joined hands with Gilenios...’
Just like when Palao's arrangement was mentioned earlier, the interface had glitched.
‘The only other time was during the infection.’
But the dates don't match.
It seems I'll have to investigate Palao's arrangement through other channels, not the System.
‘Prime suspect is Gilenios.’
And second is Gretman.
Picturing their faces, I clicked my tongue and said.
"If you detected traces of external interference, couldn't you have blocked it back then?"
When I asked why it just stood by, the System gave an unexpected answer.
《System Message》
It is true that I am paying close attention to Player Kang Hyun-woo's play, but I cannot monitor every moment.
The two recent abnormal connections also targeted moments when I couldn't watch Player Kang Hyun-woo.
I'd been about to ask about those abnormal connections anyway.
"That black hand, the one using Kerak—what the hell is that guy? He suddenly killed an 8-star general-level, right?"
《System Message》
Yes. Judging by its dimension-shredding ability, it is presumed to be ‘%@#*’.
It is an off-spec entity that has subjugated five Legion Commanders at present.
I doubted my eyes for a moment. Subjugated Legion Commanders?
That meant it was an existence above even the 10-star equivalent Legion Commanders.
"Fuck..."
I didn't even have confidence in catching vendetta-level or Legion Commander-level monsters right now.
‘And there's something even higher.’
The pressure chasing at my heels intensified once more.
I clenched my teeth and endured that overwhelming feeling.
Just as I overcame that hurdle.
《System Message》
Rest assured. Off-spec entities like ‘%@#*’ cannot be free from causality any more than I can.
It won't be easy for them to cross over to Earth, so you still have plenty of time to prepare.
The fact that causality would prevent them from coming to Earth for now was good news.
However.
‘There are multiple off-spec entities—that's confirmed.’
I'd anticipated it since it specified one based on space-shredding abilities.
It felt like it was referring to one among many.
But hearing direct confirmation, I couldn't hold back a sigh.
I ruffled my hair roughly and asked.
"How many of these off-spec bastards are there in total?"
《System Message》
Assuming no new ones have appeared, three in total.
It wasn't an unanswerable number, so that was a relief...
"But even if fully crossing to Earth is hard, what about those abnormal connections? Doesn't that mean it could happen again?"
《System Message》
Unfortunately, yes.
I will monitor as closely as possible, but the situation may not always allow it.
Player Kang Hyun-woo, please stay vigilant as well.
It would be great if I could perfectly resolve and prepare for every issue.
But as always, the shackles of reality limited my options.
This time was no different.
These off-spec things could approach me anytime, anywhere.
My nerves were on edge.
‘I need to keep my senses more open than usual.’
For smooth daily life, I usually sealed most of my senses inside Temoria's barrier.
Down to ordinary civilian levels.
But if I kept that up, I wouldn't be able to respond even if an off-spec attacked.
‘I won't just sit and take it, but I need to be careful for now.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly and opened my mouth.
"Next."
No point dwelling on unsolvable issues—better to discuss others.
"Not sure if you saw me mumbling, but about dropping attribute mana in some form..."
But this time, before I could finish, the System responded quickly.
《System Message》
Player Kang Hyun-woo's proposed ‘materialization of attribute mana’ cannot be approved.
Its attitude was resolute, as if it wasn't even worth considering.
I scowled and snapped back.
"Why the hell not?"
The System's reason for rejection was incredibly simple.
《System Message》
Because that function has a high potential to encourage player-killing.
I couldn't even refute it.
The players the System saw, and the humans I saw, were scum who would absolutely do it.
‘A valid point.’
If mishandled, it could lead to a surge in PK incidents that the Association had barely suppressed.
But that didn't mean I could just give up.
‘There has to be a way to prevent deepening discrimination between attribute mana users and regular mana users.’
Without preparation, the current situation would balloon into a bigger problem later.
‘Stepping on the Hamar Clan would only be temporary.’
Without means to counter the already spreading atmosphere, the same types would keep emerging.
‘If one-sided disdain continues, the victims will feel attacked.’
Then they'd rebel, for survival.
Whether the attacks were justified or not wouldn't matter.
Mental assaults were threats to life too.
‘But if regular mana holders could use the attribute mana dropped from generals.’
It didn't even have to be permanent.
Just the existence of opportunity would shake the basis of discrimination.
If it could influence positively, it might even motivate more active general hunting.
‘It won't solve the problem perfectly, but maybe I can make it work that far...’
I had to persuade the System before things escalated, no matter what.
"I'm not saying drop attribute mana unconditionally. Can't you at least drop the attribute mana from monsters—generals and above?"
《System Message》
In that case, there's no way to purify generals' mana.
Under the current structure, purifying contaminated mana not absorbed into a player's body is impossible.
"Then find a way to purify it externally."
The System surely knew that.
Yet it claimed impossibility because...
《System Message》
I've run calculations multiple times, but divinity is insufficient.
Following Player Kang Hyun-woo's proposal, I'm storing divinity recovered from dismantling existing Gates, but it's not enough to reset the program.
‘As expected, divinity is the biggest issue.’
Causality, divinity, and the world's rules surrounding gods were alien to me.
I'd glimpsed some info, but not enough to fully grasp.
Digging into causes here would be pointless.
‘I need a simple solution, not deep dives.’
Fortunately or unfortunately, it seemed I held the key in my hand.
"If."
I mulled over assumptions and continued cautiously.
"What if I can procure divinity?"
I, a mere material-world lifeform without even divinity, had none.
But I knew one source.
‘The Agnothia bastards' Palao divinity.’
They said they'd received divinity from the Seven Gods when developing the game.
‘Nothing says they can't make a second investment after the initial funding, right?’
I planned to seize their Palao divinity anyway.
I'd already had Radriol place surveillance around them.
So, couldn't I take it and update the game?
《System Message》
The answer depends on the quantity.
Confirming the System's response, I clenched my fist and closed my eyes.
‘Good enough.’
At least there was hope.
‘The System can't directly interfere in the material world, so it's up to me.’
Gather Palao's divinity fallen to the material world and hand it over—might mitigate player issues.
That decided what I'd do after returning inside Temoria's barrier.
‘I hope the chunk of divinity they have is substantial.’
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