Chapter 3
Chapter 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: True Evil of Humanity (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The blue window that suddenly appeared without providing any information felt like a massive lump of foreboding to the young Sa-yoon. Outside, people were screaming due to monsters appearing without warning, and the aftermath reached Sa-yoon's home, which was close to the gate explosion zone.
The intruders that shattered the windows indiscriminately slaughtered and tore apart anyone in sight, devouring corpses with their grotesque teeth. The indiscriminate attacks spared no one, not even Sa-yoon's family.
As everyone screamed at the monsters' appearance, Sa-yoon's parents shoved him into the closet. They scolded him to stay still inside no matter what and not make a sound. Then, as the sound of breaking glass rang out, they turned their backs to Sa-yoon and tried to fight off the intruding monsters, only to lose their lives.
All Sa-yoon, with his eyes squeezed shut, could perceive was the monster eating something.
Terrified, his palms drenched in sweat, Sa-yoon didn't make a single sound as his parents had warned. He stifled his sobs, trembling uncontrollably, enduring the discomfort of the cramped closet.
How many hours passed like that? When no signs of life remained, Sa-yoon cautiously opened his eyes and emerged from the closet.
The floor was drenched in blood.
His parents were nowhere to be seen, only splatters of blood everywhere proving the fierce battle that had taken place.
Everything was too sudden for Sa-yoon.
The invading monsters, his parents' deaths.
The sheer abruptness made it feel unreal. Even staring at the crimson floor, he just felt dazed.
That's when the system window suddenly appeared.
'W-What's this...?'
At first, thinking it was a hallucination, he rubbed his eyes and waved his hand to dispel the blue thing from his vision. But the blue window clung to him like it was etched into his retinas. Whenever he tried to ignore it, it seemed to read his mind, blaring annoying ding ding notification sounds to assert its existence.
His bewilderment soon turned to fear.
How could something resembling a game window, lurking around proclaiming him the evil of humanity and talking of doom, not be terrifying?
It felt like something was wrong with his head.
Wondering if this was what they called mental illness, Sa-yoon squeezed his eyes shut and ignored the blue window.
In the house assaulted by the metallic stench of blood, he blocked his ears and buried his face in his knees, unable to do anything.
He didn't want to see it. He didn't want to hear it.
Someone knocked on the door the next day, after Sa-yoon had spent the night muttering to himself like a mantra that it was just a hallucination, brainwashing himself.
At first, thinking it was a monster, he didn't open it. But a familiar voice called out. It was the man from next door.
When he asked if anyone was home, Sa-yoon hesitantly got up and shuffled toward the closed door. His legs, cramped from huddling so long, shook as he tried to stand.
Stumbling several times but enduring, he opened the door to see the neighbor's face. The man looked unwell himself, as if he'd just come from a fight.
Though they hadn't been close, seeing the familiar face made tears well up unexpectedly.
Surprised by Sa-yoon's reddened eyes, the man awkwardly patted his shoulder and asked about his parents.
Sa-yoon couldn't answer the cautious question. As he just trembled and cried, the man's expression hardened. He asked permission and entered the house.
Then he was horrified.
Shattered windows, blood-soaked floor, scratches everywhere.
All of it hinted at the tragedy that had unfolded here. The man hugged Sa-yoon, who was trying to explain what happened.
Even though he'd already seen it all, he covered Sa-yoon's eyes and said not to look. After a moment's thought, he extended his hand and suggested they go to the nearby shelter that had been set up.
Young and alone, Sa-yoon had no reason or grounds to refuse. He nodded. Praising his bravery and stroking his head, the man took Sa-yoon straight to the shelter.
Even then, Sa-yoon glanced at the blue window hovering by his side, then shook his head, deciding to ignore it.
No matter how he looked at it, the bizarre phenomenon that started so suddenly seemed connected to the blue window before him, but he didn't want to confront that uncertain dread. He buried his questions and hypotheses deep inside.
The problem arose the moment they arrived safely at the shelter, with the help of soldiers they met on the road, without being detected by monsters.
[First Test - First Step for the True Evil of Humanity]
'Execute the man who showed you kindness to prove your villainy.'
🎁 Reward: 100 Karma
'Uh...?'
The thing that had only ever proclaimed him the True Evil of Humanity now displayed a new window for the first time. Just like the very first system window. No, this one contained content even harder to believe than the initial one.
Stunned by the sudden demand to kill the man who had taken care of him, Sa-yoon was hurried along by the man's urging—what are you waiting for?—and moved into the shelter. The blue window, goading him toward a cruel choice, never left his sight throughout. Far from vanishing, it followed him around like a tagalong.
'...Ugh.'
In the bustling shelter filled with people who'd fled monsters and gates, Sa-yoon stared at the blue window alone.
Just in case, he grabbed nearby people and asked, but no one could see the window or hear the incessant ding ding alarms.
It really must be mental illness.
That was the conclusion Sa-yoon was reaching after much deliberation.
Then, information about Awakeners and system windows spread through the chaotic world.
Even in the confusion, interviews and recordings from Awakeners who'd taken time to share info were broadcast worldwide via recovered communication devices. Sa-yoon and the shelter's occupants could view them too.
Sa-yoon glanced at the window before him and played a video titled something like, 'Did a blue window suddenly appear before your eyes one day?'
Behind the flustered Awakener responding to the interview, a battle between monsters and humans raged on.
The bandaged Awakener—perhaps from a head injury—delivered brief info.
The video urged that anyone receiving a system window reading, 'You have been designated humanity's hope. Stand against doom and save humanity,' could awaken, and not to panic if a blue window appeared but to follow the system's directives and fight monsters.
The phrasing they described felt oddly familiar to Sa-yoon.
<You have been selected as humanity's evil! Oppose the saviors and lead planet 9180 'Earth' to ruin. (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b>
Just swapping a few parts from his very first blue window made it identical to what the Awakeners received. Realizing this, Sa-yoon gasped.
Only then could he face it squarely.
This wasn't some mental illness.
It was shocking, but realizing the truth changed nothing. The Awakeners urged following the system's directives to grow and fight monsters, but he couldn't kill the kind man who'd shown him recognition and goodwill just because of that.
A good person with no ties beyond being neighbors, who'd brought him here and looked after him. Sa-yoon didn't want to harm him. Helpless, he blended into the shelter crowd, biting his nails. The Awakeners hadn't explained what happened if you ignored the system's orders. They assumed everyone with a system window would obey, never considering refusal as an option.
Knowing he walked a path far from the norm filled him with constant anxiety and dread.
The shelter was already turning into hell, and now the system window added to the chaos—it was maddening.
At first, united in evacuation, people shared camaraderie. But as time passed, they grew violent. Food was running out, after all.
To procure more, they'd have to venture outside, but monsters lurked there. While people evacuated, monsters had pushed inward, making it no easy task to scavenge without detection.
Of course, if someone went, they might manage somehow. Even in this rural area, there'd be an Awakener or two. But no one in the shelter had that courage.
As rations dwindled, tempers frayed, leading to violence and verbal abuse. Worried Sa-yoon might pick up on their behavior, the man kept him deeper inside the shelter, even if it meant going hungry, separating him from the others.
He comforted the frightened Sa-yoon and occasionally helped soldiers forage outside. Lamenting the others' conduct, he taught that no matter the situation, one mustn't lose their humanity. Thanks to that gentle guidance, Sa-yoon found some stability amid the system's torment.
The kind man, soldiers, even aunties who cared for every detail.
Not everyone in the shelter was friendly to Sa-yoon, but thanks to the few good souls, he lived relatively safely.
It had been a week since Sa-yoon began ignoring the system, cocooned in adults' protection. Unrelated to Sa-yoon now calling the neighbor "Uncle," the shelter and outside situations showed no signs of improvement.
[First Test - First Step for the True Evil of Humanity]
'Execute the man who showed you kindness to prove your villainy.'
🎁 Reward: 100 Karma
❌ Failure: Forced Execution
-Time until execution: 24:00:00
A slightly altered quest window appeared before Sa-yoon's eyes.