Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Chapter 14: Server Connection (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
《System Message》
Yes, that's possible.
The immediate response narrowed my eyes.
"So there are restrictions on updates, huh."
Or had I just been overthinking it?
《System Message》
Once Bihal connects to the server, we can use the divinity invested in program development. Tell me what you'd like changed, and I'll modify it as much as possible.
It couldn't do updates right now, but once the servers merged, it would be feasible.
I didn't know exactly what it meant to invest power, but it wasn't important.
Hearing a positive response about updates was enough.
'No reason to put it off if it's possible.'
I pulled out all the frustrations I'd built up while playing this game.
"Start by changing how mana absorption works."
This absolutely had to be overhauled.
《System Message》
That's impossible. Humanity on Earth doesn't possess the power to surpass their innate limits. Absorbing and purifying mana is essential for building up forces.
But the system rejected my suggestion outright.
If it was that important, why not say so from the start? And it shot it down without a second thought?
'It's showing it has no game experience.'
A surge of irritation welled up, but I held it back once.
Up until now, it had been nothing but a bastard shoving me into the fire without reason, but from here on, we'd have to cooperate until this war ended.
You couldn't just lash out at a teammate because you didn't like them.
"What I mean is, even if we absorb mana, express it differently."
So I started explaining as rationally as possible.
"The current system kills player motivation."
You earn mana and spend it right away, creating this relative sense of deprivation.
You bust your ass to reach 6,000 strength, only to weaken back to 2,000 after using the shop a bit. Does that make any sense?
Who'd enjoy a game where you grow then regress?
There were no physical changes, but the psychological backlash from those numbers was real.
Now that I'd seen the main scenario, this war needed more players.
"For players to immerse themselves in this game, we have to change this structure that's basically a hindrance. Got it?"
The system stayed silent as I methodically laid out the issues.
"So instead of showing mana as a number, express it some other way. Like points or something."
Change it to a structure where you buy mana with those points.
I thought this was a pretty reasonable solution.
《System Message》
If you're talking about accumulating points to operate mana and the shop, that's also impossible.
Unfortunately, the system disagreed.
《System Message》
Gaining knowledge that defies causality with unpurified mana would be way too inefficient. Shop prices would have to rise at least tenfold.
It seemed more important than I thought, so I focused on the system's explanation.
《System Message》
To keep current prices, the server has to handle mana absorption and purification, then make it available for players to use.
What was it getting at?
《System Message》
If intervention reaches that level, causality would abandon observation and interfere directly.
Causality? What the hell was that?
I ruffled my hair roughly and asked.
"Causality as in the causality I know?"
The one where cause precedes effect?
《System Message》
Fundamentally, there's a natural flow between cause and effect. The causality I mentioned protects that flow, removing unnatural, acausal streams.
《System Message》
Causality is an ancient rule whose origins even I don't know. Of course, there are ways to evade its surveillance and regulation.
This was the first I'd ever heard of it—my hair practically stood on end.
《System Message》
Using divinity lets you escape the flow of causality. The game I created is a prime example.
What the system was saying boiled down to this:
Absorbing another being's power was something not allowed within the natural flow.
But players could enjoy forbidden acts within the unnatural game the system created.
And that game existed at the cost of the system's divinity.
Causality turned a blind eye in exchange for that divinity.
Once I'd sorted it that far, a memory surfaced.
When Ahel explained mana.
'It said you pay a price for defying nature with mana.'
Was it something like that?
《System Message》
I'm not supposed to intervene in matters within a dimension. Taking the form of a game was because it's familiar to humanity and allows high autonomy.
《System Message》
That let me minimize my interference by leaving most choices to individual players.
If individuals handle purification and absorption, the server's role shrinks, and the divinity paid as cost decreases.
Conversely, the more the server contributes within the game structure, the more divinity it has to pay.
What if it expanded the server's role with updates without enough divinity?
'Causality would step in and wipe the game out.'
All that invested divinity down the drain.
I had no idea what divinity really meant.
Just that it was the power of so-called divine beings.
I considered asking, but shook my head.
'This is enough for my current level.'
I'd grasped that aside from the divinity tied to the current game, the system had no more to spare.
No need to waste time digging deeper when this conversation had a time limit.
《System Message》
Even mobilizing all available divinity wouldn't be enough to change the mana absorption structure.
Using more here would break through the holes the system was blocking.
Monsters would pour into Earth.
The system was tightrope-walking with this causality thing right now.
One slip, and everything invested in the game would go poof.
'Causality, huh...'
A rule of the world I'd never even perceived in my life.
I tucked that unfamiliar concept into a corner of my mind, crossed my arms, and organized my thoughts.
What I'd demanded could threaten the game itself.
Was there reason to risk that for updates?
'None.'
If guns were guaranteed to work, maybe.
But if monsters' innate mana hit 80, even piercing their hide with a blade would be impossible.
'Something like high-explosive bombs might work...'
In modern society, chemical weapons in a war? No telling what came after.
Fire a nuke, and you'd get radiation poisoning.
'If every country launched their nukes, over half of humanity would vaporize, right?'
Some article or forum post—I couldn't remember.
But I'd definitely read something like that.
Using nukes on monsters would turn Earth into a hell unfit for human survival.
Players wielding mana, though, would be insulated from such issues.
Physical damage unavoidable, but at least no radiation worries.
'To build players, we have no choice but to live with this inconvenient structure.'
For now, I'd let it go.
I decided not to cling to mana structure updates.
Just shelved it with my other piled-up questions.
Even if impossible now, later—if we found a substitute for the divinity cost—then.
'Until then, I'll endure the inconvenience.'
There were plenty of other things to fix anyway.
"What about storage?"
My current storage had five slots, each limited to 10kg.
The problem: only one item per slot.
Put in a dagger, and even with weight room left, nothing else fits.
To store a longsword and dagger together, bundle them in a sheath or bag as 'one' item.
How inconvenient had that been.
"Reduce total capacity if needed, but let us bundle into one slot and prioritize weight!"
And that wasn't all.
"When buying skills, it's like gambling every time? Specify matching attributes! Show mana grades so players can grasp it without extra explanations!"
The more I thought, the more came up.
"Why are item descriptions like that? Leaving room for interpretation? This isn't literature! No need for open endings—give proper info if you're giving it!"
Excluding the three months until Earth's main server activated, I hadn't played this game that long.
Yet frustrations poured out nonstop.
"And the main scenario video."
By the time I brought this up, I couldn't hold back my frustration.
"Who'd come to this world with crap like that?"
Hero complex? Fine, everyone dreams of being a hero once.
Hero movies sell for a reason.
But this game wasn't a movie.
'You don't risk your life watching one, do you?'
How many would leap in, staking their lives for strangers' peace?
Don't assume many could uphold the righteousness from novels or films.
They shout about helping the weak with their mouths and heads, but when death looms? Different story.
'When they've got leeway, sure, everyone says help others.'
No leeway? Risk your life, your loved ones' lives, for others?
Putting yourself in danger for someone else isn't easy.
If it were, human history wouldn't be so bloodstained.
Human nature isn't noble or beautiful.
We come into the world detached from others—natural, right?
When danger hits, you feel 'me' vividly, but not 'you.'
So the vividly felt self matters more than numb strangers.
Sacrifice is praised precisely because it defies that human nature—it's hard.
"I don't know how high your expectations of humans are, but yelling 'risk your life for strangers!' will just make them run!"
Maybe it'd work on peace-soaked modern folk.
'They only vaguely imagine death.'
Ignorance breeds bravery.
But those who've been through tutorial, faced monsters, seen community numbers drop?
They've stared death closer than average moderns.
Maybe even brushed it themselves.
'The game form belies the reality—can't forget that.'
Life-threatening danger is real.
Yet fight monsters for people you've never even seen?
Only a handful would respond nobly to the system's call.
But dangle tangible rewards from this world instead of abstract goodwill?
Tie player participation to their personal 'desires'?
'They'll come.'
Not all, but more than with pure altruism.
Desire can be intense enough to drown instinct.
'For moderns used to capitalism, this is more appealing.'
The less they have, the rawer their response.
It could upend their reality.
"This has no risk or downside. Fix it—no excuses."
I growled in a low, sinking voice.
《System Message》
I understand your concerns. Taking humanity's traits into account, we'll fully incorporate Player Kang Hyun-woo's opinion on this issue.
"Hoo."
I let out a long breath, like emptying my guts, and swept back my hair.
Fortunately, unlike the mana absorption, these could all be fixed.
"And."
But it wasn't over. One more left.
"Please, the notification sounds. Just."
I clenched my fists to keep my voice down.
"Make it possible to mute them."
This was desperate. Emotional, but I needed notification sound updates.
Planning to use a new guide back on Earth—no way I'd endure hourly pings.
So I brought it up with real sincerity.
《System Message》
I thought it was just habitual griping, but it's really that bothersome?
This damn system was getting under my skin.
Damn System