Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Chapter 15: To the New World (2)
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「The vector (1) of 03-143 is destroyed.」
「The Hole is closed.」
「Achievement 5 has been accumulated.」
「Congratulations! You have successfully cleared MISSION - 03-143.」
「You are the first to clear a 03 mission! Fame increases by 30.」
「Choose your reward.」
Even though the clear message was plastered right there in front of me, for a brief moment, it didn't really sink in that I'd returned to Earth.
The ten days or so I'd spent there felt more intense than the twenty-odd years of my life up to that point.
‘Every moment had me on edge, so that's only natural…….’
If I dove right back into the game like this, something felt off, like it would throw me out of balance.
So I averted my gaze for a bit.
I fiddled with my phone, stared out the window at the modern world bustling with civilization—for a few minutes.
Fortunately, the alien sense of unease that had been gnawing at me began to fade.
Letting out a quiet sigh of relief that no one else could hear, I turned back to the game.
‘First things first, the reward.’
Between mana and attribute mana, I chose the latter.
Then a message appeared, different from any before.
「As a benefit of being #1 in cumulative Fame, all rewards are doubled.」
「Attribute mana 60 has been provided.」
「Fame increases by 12.」
The #1 Fame perk was turning out to be pretty substantial.
With that, my attribute mana in the status window hit 455.
I'd racked up a good amount through the hidden mission.
‘Nearly 200 from the New World and the main scenario combined.’
Hidden missions really paid off in proportion to the effort.
Back when I was grinding level 2 missions hard, attribute mana had barely topped 100, and now it was on the verge of 500.
It felt like my belly was full to bursting.
Right after checking the rewards and status changes.
The timer that had appeared with the global announcement hit zero, and the system sprang into action.
「Connection to the sub-server (Bihar) has begun.」
「Patch for full update is starting.」
「Progress: 0.01%」
「Some functions are restricted for smooth operation.」
「2nd Player Selection is underway. (100,000/100,000)」
I gave a wry smile as I saw the number of players increased by the 2nd selection.
‘They're going all in.’
Didn't it say they could mobilize the divinity invested in game development?
The system had pulled ten times as many people into this game as the 1st selection.
Compared to the hundredfold increase from beta to 1st selection, the ratio was smaller, but the overall scale was massive.
At this very moment, 100,000 people who knew nothing would be torn apart by beasts.
“Whew.”
Just a few hours ago, I had been one of those victims.
But now, I was going along with the system's plan.
I knew what would happen next and chose to stand by because it aligned with my own path.
‘An accomplice, huh…….’
With a bitter laugh, I closed the message window and opened the community.
Without even glancing at the posts buzzing about the 2nd selection and its scale, the first thing I did was open the chat window.
Recipient: Nam-gyu.
- K: You free now? I'd like to talk to Director Yang Jo-cheol.
I had his personal number, but wasting time turning transparent and hunting down a payphone was pointless.
There was a direct line to Director Yang Jo-cheol, so no reason not to use it.
Nam-gyu's reply came almost immediately.
- Im Nam-gyu: Wait a sec, on my wayㅛ
His message with its growing pile of things to say made my eyebrow twitch involuntarily.
‘The final consonants are wrong.’
Two of them, even. Even if the last character was a slip, two?
I stared at Nam-gyu's message for a moment before swallowing a sigh and ignoring the irritating typo.
‘Probably just a typo.’
While waiting for his reply, I opened the chat with Ethan.
There was an issue I wanted to discuss with him.
More precisely, something I wanted his permission for.
* * *
K had reached out, saying he had something to pass along, and wanted to meet.
In response, Director Yang Jo-cheol had pulled all agents who'd clashed with players—no matter how minor the spat—from the operation.
No exceptions.
And that wasn't the end of it; he'd even prepared gifts to win K's favor.
‘He might refuse them.’
Still, just in case, he'd gathered a bunch of things.
About an hour after receiving K's contact.
Director Yang Jo-cheol, Im Nam-gyu, and five special forces bodyguards arrived at the meeting spot.
The two vehicles came to a smooth stop in a wooded hill near Seoul.
As Director Yang stepped out, Im Nam-gyu stuck close behind to prevent any communication mishaps.
Glancing at Im Nam-gyu's flushed face—excited ever since hearing they'd meet K—Director Yang checked his watch.
‘10 minutes.’
Thanks to hurrying, they had a little time before the appointed hour.
“We just need to let him know we've arrived, right?”
“Ah, yes!”
Im Nam-gyu messaged K via the player chat.
“The old man's arriving soon too.”
“No other word?”
“Yes.”
“Got it.”
The impending meeting brought a natural wave of tension.
This was a face-to-face with one of those players who stuck out like a stiletto in his pocket—sharp and unpredictable.
Impossible not to be on edge.
“Whew.”
Director Yang steadied his breath and mentally reviewed what he knew about this unknown figure called K one more time.
From the intel gathered so far, K was a fascinating individual.
‘He goes to extreme lengths to hide his identity, yet doesn't hesitate to step forward when needed.’
Every encounter so far had been initiated by K.
One might guess he was action-oriented from that.
‘But it's more accurate to say he has decisive judgment and drive.’
Overall, K seemed cautious.
On top of that, he was meticulous, doing his homework in advance.
‘The payphone he called from first, the café we were set to meet at.’
It couldn't be coincidence that there were only one or two CCTVs directly capturing spots K would have to pass.
‘Not action-oriented per se—he's just relaxed because he's prepared for the worst.’
A cautious person stepping out front signals confidence that they can escape if things go south.
Living with the worst-case always in mind naturally breeds that bold composure.
‘He probably has dozens of scenarios mapped out in his head.’
People like that are strong against variables.
Even if things go awry, they don't panic and pivot to Plan B right away.
That alone was enough to make Director Yang take a liking to K as a talent, but there was more.
Analyzing posts on the player community, K adapted to the unfamiliar at a terrifying speed.
And with no aversion to challenges, his applicability was top-notch too.
Above all, his visible actions were consistently bold and audacious.
‘Fearless? Or brimming with confidence?’
He'd initiated contact first, led the planning, even issued orders.
K didn't yield in dealings with a state power-backed group.
Not dominating unilaterally, but not being dragged along either.
Through the Han Chang-sik incident, he'd signaled he was dangerous while proving he could coexist as a friendly force.
Never excessively humble, nor aggressively dominant.
So the government side tensed at the name K but had no urge to suppress him.
No need to poke the bear and sour relations.
‘He's built the safest kind of influence an individual can wield against an organization.’
If K had applied for the NIS open recruitment, they would've snapped him up.
‘Come to think of it, evaluations pegged him as highly perceptive and adept at inference.’
K had thrown out various possibilities regarding the monster.
That suggested skill in piecing together fragments into a concrete picture.
The guidebook's descriptions were detailed too.
If accurate, his memory was sharp.
‘Truly, a one-of-a-kind guy.’
No wonder he stood out in this game.
Synthesizing it all, the overwhelming conclusion was that K was negotiation-savvy, plan-formulating, pressure-hardened elite.
Director Yang didn't stop there; he probed the emotional side too.
‘Nam-gyu…….’
K had zero obligation to look after him.
Yet he'd volunteered to cover for Im Nam-gyu's screw-up and propped him up as a liaison.
Like a warning not to treat him roughly.
‘Maybe he even has a kid.’
He might be projecting his own child onto Im Nam-gyu, stirring protective instincts.
Director Yang mulled over K just as he had the past few weeks—ruminating, ruminating, and ruminating some more.
To learn even a bit more, understand a fraction deeper.
Then, from what should have been empty space, footsteps crunched: lowbek, lowbek.
Director Yang's hand twitched.
In the old days, he'd have drawn his sidearm.
Today, to avoid the fiasco of a player seizing his gun, he hadn't brought it.
Watching space warp while unarmed was more tense than expected.
Gulp.
He swallowed hard, and a tall man sliced through the air, appearing.
“Long time no see.”
Even shouldering a bag bigger than himself, he showed no strain—had to be K.
Black baseball cap pulled low, mask on; impossible to make out his full features.
But those sharp eyes and the golden irises beyond, fixed on him, were vividly clear.
In that instant, instinct told him this scene would stick forever.
Director Yang tamped down the agitation and opened his mouth.
“K, good to see you. Allow me to properly introduce…….”
“Apologies for cutting in when it's practically our first real meeting, but greetings later. It's been nearly an hour already—could wake up any second now.”
Before he could finish, K cut him off.
“Let's move spots ASAP. You pick somewhere suitable, Director.”
“What do you……?”
Uncomprehending, he watched K set down the black plastic bag on his shoulder.
A heavy thud echoed from his feet, then K unzipped the bag.
Peering inside, Director Yang recoiled reflexively.
Crumpled tight.
Joints meticulously folded—that thing was a lifeform unlike any he'd seen in his life.
“This is…….”
“Caught it to test if guns work on them. Sorry for not warning you ahead.”
But mentioning guns would've complicated things, right?
K added that, stood, and nudged the bag with his foot.
“Grrk…….”
“Figured showing and explaining beats words.”
No illusion. It had just moved.
‘It's alive…….’
The monster inside the bag, folded all crumpled, twitched.
“Better alive than dead, yeah?”
Director Yang, face stiff as he stared at the grotesque creature, raised his head with a creaky, unnatural motion.
“Straight proof for anyone calling it a hoax or whatever.”
It snapped him awake.
“Once you're done verifying, take it—dissect, display, whatever you need.”
“…….”
“Useful for convincing the skeptics about the game.”
Convincing—for what?
Director Yang stared at K in silence for a moment.
Frowning at the quiet—perhaps—K clicked his tongue.
“You've been clamping your mouth since earlier. If bringing guns where I am bothers you, say so quick. Don't drag it out.”
“……Give me a moment to secure a spot.”
Prodded by K, Director Yang moved without further delay, face set hard.
Goddamned System