Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Chapter 15: To the New World (5)
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As the number of players continued to grow, the existence of this game was bound to surface eventually.
K argued that they needed to organize anti-player sentiments and forces in preparation for that day.
‘Especially regimes that could affect large numbers of people must be dealt with.’
Ethan fully agreed with his view.
The more people like David there were, the harder it would be when players were eventually revealed to the world.
Persecution and prejudice, discrimination and oppression.
They’d face all sorts of negative situations they didn’t need to endure.
Having experienced it firsthand, his conviction was unshakable.
That’s why he’d come to find the person who’d clashed with David at every turn.
“I appreciate you thinking well of me.”
Selena crossed her legs and sat with a calm, relaxed smile.
“But being in charge doesn’t change just because of that.”
“I know. It’s impossible right now.”
Ethan turned his gaze away openly and gave a faint smile.
“But just because it’s no today doesn’t mean it won’t be tomorrow, right?”
“Hm?”
K had sprung into action right around when Ethan was meeting Selena.
“That’s why I meant we should prepare step by step together for when that time comes.”
“I don’t like vague, pie-in-the-sky talk.”
“K posted another article, and it looks pretty useful.”
Selena’s eyes widened.
After his first guide, K hadn’t appeared on the community boards.
But around the time Ethan contacted her saying he wanted to meet.
「Title: Damn System 2 (389) - Author: K」
K had posted an article with a familiar title.
“Guide? Damn System? K posted again?”
Ethan nodded at Selena’s question.
“There’s one more besides that.”
“Two posts?”
“Yeah.”
A provocative guide title, followed by another post.
Ethan clicked on it and skimmed the contents.
「Title: World Government Reactions (62) - Author: K
Content: If you secretly comment with reactions from each country’s government toward players, I’ll compile and post them.
The goal is to keep an eye on or avoid places that treat us like monsters or test subjects.
It’s better than staying ignorant.
At least you’ll know whether to hide from the government or step forward for protection.
In the worst case, you could even consider emigrating.
Post in secret comments so only I can see them. I promise no code names will be exposed.
If you can’t trust that, there’s nothing I can do, but for the sake of building data, I hope players connected to governments will report actively.
From below are the compiled reports as of today, July 3rd.
[Below]
…….」
K had multiple reasons for posting this.
First, as stated, to gather reports from the masses and compile information on each country.
Second, to normalize sharing information among players about those who rejected or oppressed them.
And the final, third reason.
- K: I need politicians from each country. They don’t have to be friendly to us. It’s more important if they’re on bad terms with the ones we need to break.
- K: That way, even if they’re on bad terms with us, they’re still usable. Better than when there are no external enemies.
- K: So I’m asking your permission.
- Ethan Lembron: You’re saying spread word about me to players to create anti-player forces—external enemies, right?
- K: Yeah, it might be a tough request, but think it over seriously.
- Ethan Lembron: I’m in. Since we’re doing it, let’s blatantly mention what David did. Make it clear I reported it.
- Ethan Lembron: Doesn’t matter if it’s through other players. I’ve been at odds with that guy for ages, and after the recent blowup with the PM, he can’t touch me anyway.
To expose all the anti-player forces’ misdeeds at once when players surfaced.
To wield human rights as a weapon and crush them easily by creating that momentum.
Of course, momentum alone wouldn’t do it.
They’d need an executioner for that day.
In Ethan’s eyes, Selena was perfect for the role.
It wasn’t a complicated plan, but he couldn’t have pulled it off alone.
‘There wouldn’t have been enough reports.’
He left his name on the mission completion list often, but not like K.
K had swept first and top spots among players for a while now.
That carried weight.
In reality, reactions to Ethan’s posts and K’s posts were worlds apart.
Just look at the speed and scale of fame accumulation.
‘There’s a reason they say “name value.”’
K’s plan didn’t end there.
He wanted to build a player-only force by selecting participants for this.
‘Alliance.’
The ultimate goal was an organization solely representing and protecting players, not serving national interests.
The intent was to form connections ahead of time, and Ethan was the first to join K’s grand scheme.
‘You never know, I might end up heading the UK branch later.’
Ethan tossed a slightly whimsical thought aside and glanced out the window.
The first tutorial alongside the second selection had just ended.
Somewhere out there, undiscovered players were probably swarming.
He didn’t want to see them treated like he had been.
And if he could drag David down in the process, that would be icing on the cake.
‘A little more waiting is nothing.’
If it meant making David pay, he could wait forever.
Calming himself, Ethan explained K’s post to Selena without a hint of impatience.
He even casually dropped how they’d use it later to take down David.
After framing K’s plan as his own idea.
“What do you say?”
Flashing a gentle, gentlemanly smile, Ethan awaited Selena’s answer.
* * *
Director Yang’s loaned vehicle was roughly parked in Jungnang-gu.
I checked multiple times for fingerprints or hairs.
A few hours after I left.
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
“Ugh.”
I plugged my ears with both hands inside Jae-hyuk’s borrowed car.
I needed to post quickly to gather meaningful data before server connection.
So I uploaded as soon as prep was done.
The problem? The update hadn’t gone through yet.
Thanks to that, I was suffering through the second wave of notification terror.
I’d braced myself for it before posting, but it didn’t make it any less agonizing.
“Ughhh…….”
I wanted to scream to vent my boiling frustration.
‘The kids’ school is right here.’
I had to endure.
I’d borrowed Jae-hyuk’s car to pick up the twins.
Leaning against the car seat, I covered my eyes with my hand and took deep breaths several times.
Even amid the notification barrage, I couldn’t stop thinking.
‘Smooth sailing so far.’
Director Yang had been far more cooperative than expected.
I’d informed them not only that the other world was at war but that the tide was against them.
I’d warned about the dimensional holes and monsters that could cross anytime.
Plus, I’d demonstrated firearms’ limits right in front of Director Yang.
That hinted strongly at players’ future necessity.
I’d created an opportunity for players to establish themselves later.
‘Not that they’ll take it well.’
Still better than when holes opened without a clue.
Thanks to Director Yang taking the game seriously, we’d achieved a lot with just a couple monsters.
But it was too early to be satisfied.
Including second-selection players who’d just done the tutorial, we were over 100,000 strong.
Microscopic compared to world population, but too many to dismiss as a minority in absolute terms.
It was impossible for none to cause trouble.
Even under 10,000, guys like Han Chang-sik popped up—imagine at 100,000.
I wasn’t a god; I couldn’t prevent incidents from unknowns.
‘Trouble will splash everywhere anyway.’
But players’ position had to hold despite those incidents.
Especially so my loved ones wouldn’t be threatened just because I was a player.
For that, like-minded players needed to band together.
I didn’t know faces or personalities of potentials.
“Trolls will have to be filtered gradually…….”
For now, I’d reach out to frontrunners starting to stand out.
I’d sent friend requests first to some picked from the mission list.
Some, like me, had requests off, so I sent potions as gifts.
Then temporarily changed settings and waited—requests came right away.
‘Chat is a friends-only feature.’
After friending a few, I had eight chat windows open.
‘Including no-replies, 18 people.’
I’d selected only active frontrunners who’d been on the completion list for ages.
‘Core members of consistent parties.’
Party lineups shifted slightly, but they steadily cleared missions.
It meant they had the skills to survive long-term and minimal leadership to hold a party.
I was also considering contacts for government intel reports.
Interacting with a country’s government meant access to politicians.
They might already be operating independently.
Of course, even among these 18, I’d need to weed out oddballs or dangerous ideologues.
But no way to tell yet.
‘This is it for now.’
With everything doable done, I sighed deeply.
“Phew.”
Next up: sorting the siblings issue.
‘Even getting caught rifling Dad’s wallet back then wasn’t this bad.’
The game’s absurd events were easier to handle, ironically.
I’d decided to pick up the kids first for a talk, but beyond that? Stumped.
I still had no intention of telling the twins about the game.
Seeing Jong-hoon’s phone call logs had solidified that.
‘Better not to say.’
The issue now: how to convince them I’d be gone for months, leaving them alone.
My life had revolved around the twins for years.
Me leaving just them behind made no sense.
Without this game, it never would’ve happened.
‘Explaining or convincing is hopeless.’
No explanations or persuasion—how could they understand?
All I could do was lean on older-brother authority to suppress rebellion.
Damn System