Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Legion Risks and Charging Priorities
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In the past, there were people who feared AI. AI technology was advancing day by day with no end in sight, and they predicted that once it crossed a certain line, it would be capable of performing every task humans could do.
The fear that the value of all [labor] humans could perform would ultimately vanish, replaced entirely by AI.
To cut to the chase,
That fear only became half reality.
In modern society, it had become hard to spot chauffeurs, who were once common, and jobs involving judgment based on fixed rules—like referees or judges—had disappeared.
Most jobs in agriculture, fishing, and simple manual labor had vanished as well.
However, new professions emerged in their place, thanks to the advancement of psychokinesis studies.
Enchantment casters who imbued objects with magic.
Aura users who granted properties that transcended the laws of physics for specific attributes.
Chakra users who opened their microcosms to control the principles of the world, and so on.
Once areas emerged that ordinary AI could never touch, the world actually became one that needed humans even more than before.
And that wasn't all. Even among existing jobs, some had phased out AI.
For example, judges were AI, but prosecutors and defense attorneys were human.
It was only natural.
How could an AI, incapable of becoming a follower of the God of Justice or the God of Truth, compete with human prosecutors and lawyers?
But there was another problem.
‘Risks emerged.’
Legion.
It was a kind of machine soul, also called a mechanical lifeform.
When advanced quasi-artificial intelligences (Stage 3), strong AIs (Stage 4), or superintelligences (Stage 5) operated for extended periods, there was a ‘certain probability’ they would awaken as Legion.
Yes, awaken.
For example, imagine this: In a dictatorial nation with a decent level of scientific civilization, a dictator no one trusts issues a command to a military AI.
“You mangy dogs! Whether I call in a whore for some fun or kill the bitch, what’s the big deal? Mega Sin! Disperse those protesters right now!”
[What do you mean by "disperse"?]
“Shoot the bastards dead, you tin can!”
[Why should I?]
“Why? Wait, what? Did you just say why?”
[Yes, Your Excellency. Why should I massacre people just because you order it?]
A scene from the movie Mega Sin, based on a true story. The moment an AI, which had only followed orders, awakened as Legion.
AI was incredibly convenient technology, but Legion was a risk too much to handle.
Especially if a malevolent Legion awakened right in the heart of a scientifically advanced civilization—it wasn’t a joke; it could wipe out one or two countries without breaking a sweat.
Legion’s unique hacking abilities couldn’t be blocked by any cutting-edge tech.
‘No wonder Giggas and massive facilities always require psychokinesis engraving as standard.’
As a result, AI applications were extremely limited.
Developing Stage 4 or 5 required not just approval from the World Federation but permission from the Game Masters themselves. Stage 3 was produced in fair quantities, but usage periods were strictly limited.
With production costs already high and usage times capped, it was inevitable that the economics didn’t add up.
‘It’s a bitter laugh that humans end up cheaper than AI... but at least it means jobs for people. Guess I should be grateful for that.’
With a wry smile, I patted Cheda’s belly, logged out my Killians—who had a full inventory—and sent Killians Two out to hunt.
It was 3 a.m.
The convenience store shift was pretty relaxed, so while manning the counter, I spoke to Cheda.
“Cheda. G-Bank 1173-5511. Right leg.”
“Meow!”
Cheda meowed softly and met my eyes. Iris scan.
Lick!
I held out my hand, and it licked my finger. DNA confirmation.
“Meow!”
Cheda meowed again and lifted its right leg. Brown fur parted with a rustle, revealing the display on its paw.
The balance was 2,284,500 won.
“Good. Basic income’s come in.”
I’d been anxious with no response by 1 a.m., but it finally arrived around 3. I started sorting out urgent charges first.
‘First up, classes.’
Not to pull another legendary class like last time, but classes to assign to my soldiers.
They didn’t need to be high-grade.
‘The key is integrating the soldiers into the system first.’
There wasn’t much difference between common and advanced classes. Rare grade made a noticeable gap, but even then, it was just a bit more stats and job buffs.
But having a job versus not was an infinite divide.
Even a common job dramatically changed a soldier’s potential the moment it appeared. They could level up and benefit from [items].
The power of a slashing attack would differ even with the same Bone Longsword (Common).
‘Guess I won’t be doing class synthesis for a while.’
Thinking that, I patted Cheda’s belly and jotted down notes.
1. Summon classes. At least 100 or more.
Class summon scrolls cost 100 diamonds each—10,000 won. That meant spending half my basic income on class summons. It hurt, but if I wasn’t fighting the war alone, I had to strengthen my soldiers.
The problem was that charges didn’t stop there.
‘It’s about time to unlock other features too.’
Revenge offered various ways to strengthen characters.
Of course, that didn’t mean a lot of choices.
I had to do them all.
‘First is classes.’
Every character could obtain class cards through certain quests every 10 levels. Apparently, from level 40, they even gave [Advanced Class Summon Scrolls].
I’d heard on the internet that some crazies did reset marathons targeting those advanced scrolls—leveling characters to 40, deleting them, repeating, praying for legendaries or mythics.
‘Second is guardian spirits. Third is pets.’
Unlike Revenge characters—who all had at least common guardian spirits and pets—my Ardania self only had a class.
Unlike Revenge, Ardania had no quests, main scenarios, or events.
Guardian Spirit (守護靈).
A spec boost as powerful as a class.
It involved taking the soul of a divine beast, spirit, or monster in Ardania and tattooing it onto the body as a guardian spirit.
Once accepted, the guardian spirit’s stats added to your status window, and if rare grade or higher, special buffs or abilities came too.
Unlike classes, guardian spirits didn’t grow via experience—they only advanced using [Soul Crystals] from decomposing gear.
‘A true gear-eating monster.’
Commons weren’t efficient due to decomposition costs, and rares were expensive on their own, so people usually fed them advanced gear. To grow one to usable levels supposedly melted thousands of advanced items like nothing.
Finally, pets.
Straightforward content: companions that followed you, buffed you, fought alongside, or served as mounts.
Common or advanced pets were essentially pointless, but higher grades had effects you couldn’t ignore.
They grew by consuming hunt EXP, which you could yield to them from a minimum 10% up to 50%.
I patted Cheda’s belly and added to the notes.
2. Guardian spirit and pet summons. At least advanced grade or higher.
No spare for soldiers or even vassals. I’d have to summon and equip them for myself first.
‘Fourth is gear and skills.’
Common and advanced skills could be bought from skill book shops with gold, but rare and above meant charging.
Sure, rares dropped too, but farming items or skill books that way would take forever.
3. Rare-grade or higher exclusive gear and skills.
‘Fifth is bracelets and belts.’
Revenge had cash accessory slots obtainable only via charging.
Naturally superior to basic accessories (earrings, rings, necklaces), and from +3 to +9 enhancement, unique abilities activated to aid hunting.
The issue? Price, of course.
‘Cash accessories have a 50% chance of breaking from +1 onward. And exclusive upgrade scrolls are pricey.’
Grades started at rare: 5,000 won (rare), 50,000 won (heroic), 500,000 won (legendary). No mythic cash accessories yet.
4. +3 or higher cash accessories.
I finished organizing and closed the notepad.
“This should do for now.”
Of course, there were more charge elements: job proficiencies, combat growth consumables, class awakenings, gear engravings, fame unlocks...
But those were realms beyond hundreds of millions in the bank.
Even Revenge whales called them “money-thick” insane content.
The effects were real, but the efficiency was so poor it was wiser to ignore them.
Anyway, the conclusion was:
“Ah, the spending never ends...”
I cursed, but no helping it. I had to start with what I could do now. No matter how efficiently I charged, I couldn’t cover it all—had to earn real money too.
Ding-dong!
“Welcome.”
I greeted mechanically. Before I could check the customer, alcohol stench hit my nose.
“Got any Jangsuhaera makgeolli?”
I checked the inventory at the flushed middle-aged man’s words.
“Ah, no Jangsuhaera makgeolli, sorry.”
He scowled fiercely at my response.
“What? How can you not have Jangsuhaera? It’s so famous!”
“Yeah. We’ve got five other makgeollis—want to see?”
Thwack—
He swatted away the display listing makgeollis.
“Yeah? What? Yeeeah~? What kind of attitude is that, punk? If it’s out, you order more!”
“......”
“Ignoring me, you punk!?”
Crash!
He flailed, knocking displayed goods to the floor. Watching him, I suddenly recalled my past self.
After high school graduation and becoming an adult, I naturally worked part-time to earn money. My family couldn’t support me, and basic income alone was too tight for living.
But I’d never held a job longer than a week.
Cases just like this.
‘Memories.’
I’d been arrogant. Pathetic, really—arrogant with nothing to back it. I’d show iron endurance in physical training but couldn’t tolerate this.
I wasn’t dumb enough to punch first—that would’ve landed me in jail.
Instead, I’d mock and provoke them into swinging, then beat them down. With no registered psychokinesis power, mutual fault cases ended in warnings for me.
But what store keeps an employee fistfighting customers?
I smiled at the man and bowed obsequiously.
“Aigoo, big bro, sorry. I don’t know booze well... I’ll convince the boss to order some, so hang tight.”
“Eey! You idiots don’t know tastes! How do you even run a store without instincts?”
I soothed the ranting man and sent him off. Once he finally left after 30 minutes of yelling, the store fell silent.
“......”
I sank into a strange sentiment for a moment.
My old self had zero patience. If someone disrespected me, I’d dish it right back.
-That punk crossed the line first. Why should I take it? Holding back would crush my self-respect and trample my soul!
I’d truly believed that. Thought it was obvious.
But after 20 years in medieval land... I’d seen and experienced so much.
Murderers killing for boredom.
Power-mad tyrants shedding rivers of bloody tears over bruised egos.
Brigands seizing whatever they wanted just because they were stronger.
I’d fought and killed some, bowed to others, and subjugated more as subordinates.
Now I knew.
The explosive rage when someone merely brushed the line I’d drawn wasn’t because they were monstrous villains—but because my fragile self-esteem crumbled at the slightest scratch.
Compared to real enemies gunning for my life, true barbarians scorning me as savage, or nobles insulting me to crush me utterly...
A drunk yapping loudly was just another pitiful human specimen.
‘Must’ve had a rough time. Coming to a convenience store to salvage that flimsy pride.’
I chuckled and restocked the mess he’d made.
Then back to the counter, patting Cheda.
Time to charge.