Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Chapter 8 Monitor (3)
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‘The system watching me might not be related to the trait.’
No matter how much I mulled it over, there was no way an answer would come to me.
For now, I decided to tuck my suspicions about the question mark trait away in a corner of my mind.
‘Let’s tackle what I can do right now, step by step.’
I shelved my thoughts and started walking back home when a chat message arrived.
- Kj: I’ll make a prediction.
- Kj: From now on, there’ll be fresh posts every day cursing you and this game.
- Kj: Mana Operation doesn’t workaaaah!!
- Kj: Why is this so hard? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Thanks to you, Hyung, I can sense mana now, but it won’t move! It absolutely won’t move!
From the way he was going on about Mana Operation, it looked like he’d made his decision.
- K: Your answer?
- Kj: Hehe, if Hyung accepts my offer, I’ll teach you alone, okay……?
- K: And?
- Kj: Hmm…… Can’t you teach Bunny Noona too?
My brow furrowed.
‘Teach someone else too?’
Kj and I were tied together because we each needed something from the other.
I shared game info, and he fed me intel from the NIS.
Sure, I’d already leaked that info to other players, but in exchange, hadn’t I told him the full story of what went down at the NIS?
On top of that, teaching him Mana Operation and Materialization directly was in return for him becoming my eyes and ears inside the NIS.
And now he wanted me to teach someone else too.
Before I could even reply, more chat messages poured in.
- Kj: You don’t have to teach me, just Bunny Noona is fine!
Why was he asking me to teach someone else instead of himself?
The moment the question hit me, an unexpected story followed.
- Kj: Bunny Girl, you know, the one looking after us since Asocial Hyung died—she nailed Mana Operation today. It showed up properly in the Skills tab! The NIS already agreed for her and me to join together.
‘Someone else beat him to quicker results, so he’s pushing her instead.’
Since they were party members, I could learn from her later anyway.
Efficiency-wise, it was a smart call.
But it still felt off to accept just like that.
‘She succeeded at Mana Operation, so I just need to teach her Materialization and call it done?’
Originally, I’d agreed to teach Kj both Mana Operation and Materialization.
Back then, he didn’t know Mana Operation, so it made sense.
But skipping Mana Operation and only doing Materialization for him?
He was the one who brought up teaching someone else first, but the unease lingered.
‘Obviously, teaching just one is easier.’
Two would take more time.
Still, going for the easy option now might bite me later, and I wanted no part of that.
‘He seemed pretty sharp.’
Part of me doubted he’d nitpick over something so petty, but you never know.
You can’t fully read someone after just a few chats.
‘Better to wrap this up cleanly to avoid headaches.’
For now, I’d see how well this Bunny Girl player performed that day and decide.
If I had time left, I’d teach Kj Mana Operation too; otherwise, I’d save my time, unease be damned.
‘It’ll let me check that bit about directly or indirectly affecting player survival rates too.’
I recalled the line from the Public Deeds list and sent a reply.
- K: Fine. Date?
- Kj: We’ll match your schedule! When’s good?
- K: Day after tomorrow.
- Kj: Okey-dokey! Awesome! Wanna meet at my place? Everyone’s out living elsewhere, so no one comes and goes!
No reason to refuse.
I needed a spot for the training anyway.
‘They’ve only cleared a mission or two. I can take both easily.’
I’d wear a hat and mask for any cameras, so it’d be fine.
I accepted Kj’s offer.
But instead of wrapping up, he kept sending messages.
- Kj: Oh, one more thing I wanna ask…… Hehe
- K: What?
- Kj: Any news on this guy named Han Chang-sik? Hehehehe.
My hand twitched.
At the same time, memories I’d tried to shove away started churning in my head.
Even as that happened, the chat kept going.
- Kj: No big reason or anything. Truth is, all our party members who came out of missions unscathed owe it to Asocial Hyung—Yang Bae-joon Hyung. He saved me a bunch of times too.
- Kj: So if I escape this hellhole, maybe I can repay him in a mission zone someday……. Any info on that guy? Could you tell me?
Letting out a deep sigh, I forced out a reply.
- K: Already killed him.
- K: See you day after tomorrow.
- Kj: Yep.
I confirmed his quick response and closed the chat window as my house came into view.
Only then did it finally sink in. The bounty mission was truly over.
* * *
While checking and practicing the skills I’d learned—like the Barrier—the day of my meetup with Kj arrived.
I grabbed my mask and hat out of habit and headed out.
Instead of public transport right away, I went invisible and traveled a good distance first.
To prevent my movement patterns from giving away my home base.
Only after reaching a bus stop over 3km away did I board.
About 20 minutes later, a system alert rang out.
The fourth update, which had started while I slept, was complete.
「Progress 100%」
「Patch completed.」
「Assigning mission by system authority.」
Unlike previous updates, the explanation was curt.
Authority? Assigning? Where’s the full rundown?
Past ones detailed new features and changes, but not this time.
I opened the community to figure it out.
Thankfully, others had gotten more details, so I quickly pieced together what the system did.
「Title: Timer only for me? - Author: Villain」
Most new posts were similar. A major announcement with a timer.
I checked the posts to see what the notice said.
‘Forcing missions…….’
No wonder the community was buzzing.
The attached timer showed about 17 hours left.
My past choice to voluntarily tackle missions despite the fear had been right.
If I’d just idled, I’d have been dragged in against my will.
Meeting monsters unprepared? Probably dead.
I sighed in relief alone and pondered the update.
‘Around 5 a.m. tomorrow.’
That’s when players who hadn’t done missions would be forced in.
Why that time? I wondered briefly before it clicked.
‘Ten days since the first tutorial ended.’
The system was capping mission downtime.
Miss the window, and it forces you. Clear intent.
‘Does the system prioritize mission clears?’
If so, prodding idle players made sense.
From its view, these players it made weren’t working.
Of course, player will meant nothing there.
‘Grace period’s probably ten days.’
Unclear if it’s just for first missions or all.
Luckily, I could test it by holding out ten days.
‘Train hard till the timer pops.’
The update barely affected me.
Unlike players panicking over imminent missions.
Their terrified chatter left me unmoved.
Instead, another update detail caught my eye.
‘The question mark trait’s role…….’
This solved issue fell within my awareness too.
‘I’ve seen more players skipping missions.’
Obvious from Public Deeds—closed missions listed contributor codenames.
List had grown, but codenames repeated a lot.
‘At most a few hundred.’
Out of nearly 10,000 players, active ones numbered in the hundreds.
I’d clocked this beforehand.
Did it tie to the question mark trait not activating?
“Tsk.”
Figuring out the trait’s role was still elusive.
Nothing to do but watch more.
‘Notification settings unchanged again, huh.’
I’d cursed it out so much, even a filthy update would’ve been fine.
But alert sounds stayed the same.
Situation made the “system watching me” feel like paranoia.
‘Or did it skip it just to screw me?’
Doubt crept in, then dismissal.
Even a game manager distinguishes basic maintenance, right?
‘No.’
Guessing emotions from an unknown entity is dumb.
‘Maybe it can’t update freely.’
Could need specific conditions or limits.
Tracing system moves always sparked thoughts.
And curses.
‘Goddamn thing.’
As I habitually trashed the system, Kj messaged.
- Kj: This game updates so often lol ㅋㅋㅋ We’re here!
Already? Still 20 minutes to the meet time.
- K: Early.
- Kj: Cleaning up a bit! Ping when you arrive—the door’s locked.
- K: ㅇㅇ
Right after my short reply.
My butterfly’s detection range, tucked in my pocket, caught more mana than a normal person—off to the right, swiftly passing me.
I glanced out the bus window while it sped along.
A middle-aged man walked by with a grim face.
‘Player.’
I’d been using Mana Detection habitually to raise proficiency.
Didn’t expect to spot one like this.
‘A player with Mana Detection could spot me too.’
Better mutual than one-sided.
I resolved to always use it on outings and hit the stop bell.
Not chasing the new player.
Just prepping to get off on time.
‘Not who I was looking for anyway.’
No need to make contact first.
Memorizing his face a couple times was enough.
Off the bus, I headed to the meet spot.
We’d settled on Kj’s place originally.
But his family returned home this morning.
So we scouted elsewhere.
Kj knew a good spot, so we set it quick.
Had the address ahead, easy to find.
The place was a neat three-story building.
‘This a good spot?’
At the destination, I chatted.
Soon, a mana clump rose from below and headed opposite me.
‘Where’s it going?’
Tracking it led to a door opening sound.
Not the front gate I faced, but from the building’s left side.
“Hyung, over here!”
Voice and mana aligned.
I walked there to find an open emergency steel door by the side.
Close up, Kj scanned me quick.
I scanned him too—left eye sported a fresh black bruise, unlike days ago.
No mistaking it: a hit mark.
‘……Mana over a hundred, and he got hit?’
Sparred with a party member?
Staring at the bruise, Kj grinned.
“Made myself take it. Speeds things up.”
Cryptic, but no urge to pry.
“First time seeing you in person. I’m Kim Yul. You?”
Kj—no, Kim Yul, extending a hand.
I gripped it but dodged the name.
“Don’t wanna say.”
“Jeez, too strict with the mysterious vibe? Whatever, won’t pry if you don’t wanna. Come in. CCTV’s all off inside. Place shut down.”
“Good news.”
Said it, but kept mask and hat on.
He locked the door after me and led.
“Extreme germaphobe or OCD or anything?”
“Not really.”
“Good, just cleared enough to sit.”
Down the short stairs, he yapped nonstop.
“Friend used to rent it for practice. Closed last month. Building unsold, so I borrowed it.”
“Practice room?”
“Yeah, I was an idol trainee. Came here till signing with the agency.”
“Ah.”
Explained his flashy look instantly.
“That’s why the spot changed sudden. Think my agency snitched to Congressman Kim that I ghosted.”
Congressman Kim stuck in my ears.
‘A politician?’
Fleeting thought. Better not know, like with Nam-gyu.
“Barged in, threw a fit.”
But he’d ramble his woes endlessly otherwise.
I cut Kim Yul off.
Goddamn System