Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Transformation (2)
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REDMASK: Alright, Eomchang. Let me ask you a few things. You tested that Rift yourself, right?
Eomchang 11:
REDMASK: ?
Eomchang 11: Why?
REDMASK: Eomchang, aren't your mom or dad around?
Eomchang 11: They went out to work.
REDMASK: Even if it's anonymous, people have to keep basic manners. We're human, right? Not beasts;;
Eomchang 11: Yes, ma'am.
REDMASK: Haa...
Eomchang 11: ??
REDMASK: Anyway, where are you right now?
Eomchang 11: Incheon.
REDMASK: I see... When you tested the Rift, did you happen to see any hallucinations? Like illusions or something?
Eomchang 11: Illusions?
REDMASK: Yeah, like a strong image popping into your head, or something surprising around you, like a burst of intense light spreading from you or some kind of change like that.
Come to think of it, there's a common phenomenon that Awakeners experience when they first unlock their abilities.
Known by various names like Awakening Pain, Awakening Moment, and so on, it's called the Awakening Phenomenon. But since each Awakener manifests it differently when they first awaken, it's hard to lump it under one term.
Woo Min-hee listed some typical examples of these Awakening Phenomena.
Pathological hallucinations, intense afterimages that linger even with eyes closed, or certain symbols.
These apply to lower-grade Awakeners.
Truly powerful Awakeners not only experience this Awakening Pain but also unleash intense visual or mental impacts noticeable to those around them.
I've seen it myself.
How Kang Han-min and Na Hye-in awakened in that desperate battlefield and gained their true power.
When they gained their strength, it felt like the world itself was changing.
It was only natural.
The two greatest Awakeners of our time, called Saviors, had awakened simultaneously.
Suddenly, I thought of my mentor.
Did she not show any Awakening Phenomenon?
Given that her Rift was white, it must have been obvious to anyone—an Awakening Phenomenon on full display.
REDMASK: Eomchang? Why are you quiet?
While I was lost in thought, Woo Min-hee showed her usual impatience.
She's holding back because it's online and she thinks I'm a kid.
If she were right next to me, she might've flicked my forehead or slapped me.
Eomchang 11: I saw a huge axe.
REDMASK: An axe?
Eomchang 11: Yeah, the blade was burning on its own, and the, uh, handle? It was like water.
I roughly adapted an image from the Awakener Awakening Testimonies I'd seen.
I know this because I once participated in an Awakener Awakening Test myself.
To be honest, I nearly died.
Some people actually did die.
The more intense the test, the more it literally crushes the soul.
REDMASK: I see. Do you know how amazing what you did is, Eomchang?
Eomchang 11: No. My hyung who lent me the phone told me to post it here, so I did.
REDMASK: R-Really.
REDMASK: Are you eating well right now, Eomchang? Your phone signal's barely working from near the military base, right?
Eomchang 11: Not really. I barely eat what Dad brings. Like those weird nutrition bars?
REDMASK: We can send your family to Jeju Island.
There it was. Jeju Island.
Eomchang 11: Jeju Island?! I'm taking the boat. The schedule's already set.
REDMASK: When? Which fleet?
Eomchang 11: Not sure, but it's departing soon.
REDMASK: First Fleet? Hmm, better not board that.
Eomchang 11: Why?
REDMASK: Rumors say Chinese submarines are prowling around. If you're unlucky, you and your family might go glub-glub under the water.
Eomchang 11: Then how do we get to Jeju Island?
REDMASK: By plane, of course.
Eomchang 11: Are planes even flying now?
REDMASK: Yeah. If we want them to. Don't worry. If you come here, take a simple test, and we confirm you're qualified for the academy, not only you but your whole family can go to Jeju Island. There are houses with electricity there, and you can play games. Do you like League, Eomchang? I do too. They even have ranked matches there?
Woo Min-hee sent a photo.
The picture showed picturesque townhouses lined up against Jeju Island's stunning sunset, with families chatting inside, enjoying pre-war life.
I had a rough idea of how this worked.
The Jeju-bound fleets were just another lie to deceive people.
Real Awakener prospects get flown in separately.
In a way, it's a rational outcome.
Come to think of it, back when I visited Seoul a few times, the country was falling apart, yet only elementary and middle schools were open.
Was this the groundwork for that?
Pulling all the young kids—who have higher Awakening probabilities and can be brainwashed—to Jeju Island.
While tossing war-hardened ones like Kim Daram aside to fend for themselves.
I'd heard everything I wanted.
I screenshotted the whole conversation.
I could end the chat here, but since I'm in a one-on-one with my dear junior, let's chat a bit more.
Eomchang 11: Can zombies become Awakeners too?
REDMASK: Zombies?
REDMASK: That's a random question. Zombies are dead people.
Eomchang 11: What if dead people come back to life?
REDMASK: Who knows. Probably a pointless experiment?
A pointless experiment.
Does this woman not know my mentor's condition?
One more question.
Eomchang 11: How strong is white? Can I beat my noona?
REDMASK: Probably not.
REDMASK: Your noona's super strong?
Eomchang 11: That’s insane…
REDMASK: Well, if you go to Jeju, learn to control your psychic powers and hone your skills, you might outshine your noona someday?
Eomchang 11: Got it.
REDMASK: Anyway, Eomchang, where are you exactly? Incheon, right? Can you come to Pier 8?
Eomchang 11: Yes.
REDMASK: Eomchang ^^
REDMASK: You don't seem to be in the capital area.
Eomchang 11: Huh?
REDMASK: Ah~ Your unique ID from our chat isn't hitting the government network bandwidth. Where are you, Eomchang? The countryside? Come on? Your noona gets mad when you lie~ Tell me honestly~
No way. Was she IP tracing or something?
Makes sense. Most Failnet users leech off government or military networks, so if they want, especially on their own site, they could pinpoint you.
That means our farewell is near.
But I'm not satisfied yet.
Eomchang 11: Noona, what's your age and name?
REDMASK: Min-hee
Eomchang 11: Mini? Mini boobs? Mini height? Mini heart?
REDMASK: Don't mess around ^^
Eomchang 11: Noona's age?
REDMASK: Thirty.
Eomchang 11: What? You're an auntie.
REDMASK: Eomchang? ^^ IQ tracing? ^^
I immediately bailed from the chat room.
I'd learned everything I wanted.
Woo Min-hee.
Once my cute junior, now tasked with taking kids from their parents.
Red Mask.
Nice nickname.
Maybe she chose it knowing her role in advance.
At least when she was with me, she never wore a mask once.
She said her face was too pretty for masks.
I saved the entire conversation as screenshots.
The Jeju Island parts especially should be fun.
Sure, in this era, I'm just a powerless individual who can't do much, but I'm human too.
Doesn't a human have the right to screw over other humans?
Woo Min-hee was bluffing about tracing, but I contacted John_nenon's subordinate to confirm safety.
Conclusion: All clear.
IQ tracing, huh.
Woo Min-hee must've been pissed.
Now that it's safe, time for my next move.
"What? That post was really by you, Skeleton? Why lie? Between us?"
"Skeleton! That's not how people act."
I contacted the Defender siblings via communicator.
I asked the Defender siblings to edit the screenshots I took.
I have image tools, but I'm no good at editing to make the point hit home.
Defender, especially the sister, is skilled at this.
"Like this—compressed for Failnet trash to see clearly, text sharpened. But when you post, include originals too. Builds credibility."
"Thanks."
"Thanks between us? Invite me over later. Wanna see Skeleton's house?"
Da-jeong chats fine over the communicator.
In person, her voice is soft, only speaks with bro around, but she'll change.
We'll be allies for a while.
Anyway, with help, my plan is to expose Woo Min-hee and the scum behind her.
I'm no John_nenon; can't create a new world.
But I can ring the alarm for those marching to their deaths.
I uploaded the post to the Guard Exam Takers Board.
It contained our edited chat with Woo Min-hee, accessible even to Failnet users.
The key part: Jeju Island.
The fleet's destination isn't Jeju—it's death.
A more efficient cull than Pioneers, for unwanted masses.
A single container ship holds tens of thousands.
My eye-catching title drew massive views and comments.
My post turned into a battlefield.
Believers, government attackers using it, deniers, haters, liars.
Already blazing on the exam board, it exploded on Failnet's grill.
Comments hit ten thousand.
The entire Failnet userbase swarmed.
Da-jeong messaged me.
"No love on our board, but over there you're a god. God? Ten thousand comments! Wow!"
A strange throb echoed in my heart as I watched the chaos.
Defender messaged.
Sure enough, fake "proof" posts mimicking mine sprouted on the exam board.
Not Woo Min-hee's idea, but some community ops department.
My fire was sadly extinguished there.
Inevitable.
I just lit it; it was small, and they were pros at putting out fires.
Half-regretful, I watched other topics heat up Failnet.
But my little adventure wasn't meaningless.
That night, I got a message.
This was it.
This.
Or maybe the best reward possible.
The reporter seemed edgier lately.
Why so heated?
Unlike him.
No, probably not.
The reporter is Woo Min-hee?
She was in the school newspaper club...
No way.
He's our board's shining savior, light and salt.
Can't be human scum like Woo Min-hee behind the mask.
I want to believe that.
Though I wore the Eomchang11 mask too.