To Become Stronger
One thing in this world that could actually be helpful was the system.
Without the system, I probably would've died ages ago.
The author, at least, had a shred of conscience when tossing me into this place—he gave me the system. Did the system really exist in the original story? Yeah, it did. It was the protagonist's ability. In other words, the system was an exclusive perk granted only to the protagonist, a protagonist privilege. I didn't have it. As a plain old human, I couldn't even see the system.
But.
"Transform."
The moment I donned the mask and turned into Dokkaebi, the world I saw beyond it completely changed.
System activated.
It was set up so I could only use the system in very limited situations.
A window that only shows during transformation. This is insane.
Right now, transformed into Dokkaebi, I was observing my reflection in the mirror.
This is insane.
These were horrific stats. And in some areas, they were so abysmal it felt like the author's malice was staring me right in the face. Other A-rank ability users all had balanced stats like BBABC or similar, but mine were downright pathetic by comparison.
At first, I straight-up cried wondering if this was really a villain's setup.
Even these were the result of half a year of relentless training to grind them up. Strength went from F to D through weight training. Agility started at B and I'd pushed it to A through nonstop practice. The high agility was probably to make it believable when I yell, "Kuh, that's it for today!" and book it. Thanks to that, I've gotten really good at running away—no one's caught me yet.
Mana naturally climbed just from hanging out in Korea. If I'd gone somewhere else, like far-off Europe, it'd probably still be at E.
Durability? I have zero desire to raise that.
Durability goes up by getting hit. It's what they call toughness, but unfortunately, I hate pain. I look like a close-range brawler swinging a bat, but in reality, I'm more of an assassin dealer.
Face... Dokkaebi...
People say Dokkaebi are all about brute strength? Not me, at least. The real powerhouse is the protagonist. If I recall his stats roughly...
Strength: S (892 / 1000)
Durability: EX (7496 / 9999)
Agility: A (18 / 500)
Mana: EX (9999 / 9999)
Luck: S (777 / 1000)
Something like that. I don't remember the exact numbers, but they were symmetrically overpowered in a way that screamed malice. Those were probably his stats at the end of volume 1. By the time he drops the meteor, they're all pushing EX, 9999 levels.
Mary Sue munchkinism has its limits—this is just too much.
And yet the guy goes around whining, "I'm so weeeeak." How could anyone find that charming as a protagonist?
—"You look plenty strong, so why don't you step up and fight?"
—"No, I'm weak. My ability is just average?"
—"Kuh, don't lie! Just from dodging my attacks, I can tell you're strong!"
He claims his goal is to quietly graduate from the academy, but every time villains show up, he shines and skyrockets to academy hero status. Maybe it's because Dokkaebi keeps poking him that he has to reveal his power. So if I don't poke him?
If Dokkaebi doesn't draw aggro, will he stay "weak" forever?
—"You guys made me like this! If you hadn't messed with me, I wouldn't have gone this far!"
The meteor drop wasn't some abrupt series-ending cliffhanger by the author—it was him snapping because he just wanted a normal, quiet life, but everyone kept bothering him.
What a total goldfish bastard.
Without awakening as the Demon King, could he just graduate normally and wander off to find his own path in life?
Someone else would poke him.
Imae Mangnyang isn't the only group targeting Sejong Academy. It's just the easiest for them since they dominate Korea. There are all sorts of villains out there. Illuminati or whatever. KKK. Triads. The author turned every shady real-world group into villains. Honestly, they'd probably fit right in here anyway, but then he sprinkles in some national pride flavor.
—Imae Mangnyang is the strongest villain organization, stronger than any other evil group, and all the rest watch them warily.
In other words, since Imae Mangnyang rules the underworld, no one dares encroach on Korea easily. At most, they send tiny scout teams.
"...Hah."
Killing the protagonist would solve everything neatly, but he's too damn strong. Still, I can't back down.
If the protagonist is too strong to kill, then just get strong enough to kill him.
Luckily, I have power. A very special ability. Even with these trash stats, it made me an S-rank villain—not because of mana levels, but from piling up evil deeds. Dokkaebi Bat.
This baseball bat I'm gripping. It has its original form, but I use a modern Dokkaebi style: studded with nails.
Thanks to this bat, I've survived this long.
Should I call it divine powers or something?
—"Gold, come out, tik-tak."
—"Silver, come out, tik-tak."
Material creation? Shape-shifting? If I had to name it, I'd call it divine powers. The driving force behind creating special objects with these powers is mana. If mana were infinite, I could make anything I imagine.
As a reader, I almost reviewed it as "chew-sticky-imagination" or some crap. But thankfully, it settled on "Dokkaebi Bat."
...Mana into reality.
I pointed the bat forward.
Dokkaebi's imagination becomes reality.
Pang!
With a light incantation, I materialized the object in my head.
Phew.
After confirming it was perfect, I released the transformation. I was naked, but no one would know. Curtains were drawn tight in my place, and no one could track my mana to raid me just from transforming in my studio.
To begin with.
"Hah, my life is so damn rough."
With an ability to turn thoughts into reality, and here I am making chicken and canned beer. Who'd suspect me as Dokkaebi?
"...This is fucking crazy."
Making chicken and beer with mana? Total waste. But.
"In a world where a whole chicken costs 38,000 won, I'm never ordering delivery even if I die."
Cursing the author for jacking up chicken prices to nearly 40,000 won, I eked out another day munching mana-made food.
"...And it tastes like shit."
It's not about money.
"Ah, I just wanna get into the academy already."
It's a matter of pride.
"Some guy awakened as an ability user, finished his comic without back pain, and wrapped it up."
At that moment.
In a Busan hotel suite, a white-haired woman lay on the bed watching TV.
The moment the commotion started, the woman turned off the TV.
She fiddled with a small ice sculpture beside her.
"...Are you targeting the academy too?"
The ice sculpture depicted a baseball player wielding a bat. But his face was hidden by the helmet.
Only.
His build was uncannily similar to someone.
"What in the world for?"