Trip to the U.S. (3)
Trip to the U.S. (3)
I can't understand what's going on.
At most, I expected a situation like, "How dare you eye my daughter? Take this and get lost!"
Instead, I ended up finding out about a global secret that civilians shouldn't know.
"...."
In fact, virtual reality games and other worlds are an inseparable cliché.
It's a story you can easily see in other anime, manga, and various works.
There are countless cases where it was thought to be a game but wasn't.
There's a reason the genre of 'game possession' exists.
But that cliché was actually true?
'My life wasn't a slice-of-life healing story?'
It feels like I've stepped into a swamp.
I asked, rubbing my forehead.
"...So, why are you telling me this?"
I'm just an ordinary person who happened to get a good trait.
"Because you are a holder of a Myth-grade trait. They are inextricably linked to this secret."
Harin-nuna's father explained while flipping through the documents in his hand.
"As it is written, many organizations, including the government, are staking their lives on Phantastia. Everything built up until now could collapse due to the suddenly appearing anomaly."
"...."
"Our Baekseong Group is no exception. We have been investigating thoroughly, and through that, we've uncovered a few facts."
Namely.
"That the divine beings within the game hold a large stake."
Like the God of Light, the Demon God, or the Thief King who gifted me my trait.
"The gods of that worldview can maintain their existence through faith. That's why they periodically choose their own Apostles and trigger wars. It's not just about recovering faith; the hierarchy disputes occurring among them also account for a large share of the wars."
He takes a sip of tea and continues.
"However, amidst the repeated wars, the population of that massive planet gradually decreased. There were even races that went extinct entirely. So, they decided to summon pawns from other worlds."
"That's us...."
Harin-nuna's father nodded.
The Otherworld Connector that seeped into Earth in the form of a virtual reality game.
I, who was chosen by one of the causes of that.
I felt like I knew why they came to find me.
"Those chosen for Myth-grade traits are called Apostles. You are one of them."
This is insane.
"A massive event will occur within the next one to two years. Most Apostles are already preparing. By forming their own factions."
Harin-nuna's father reached out his hand.
"So, I'll make you an offer. Won't you join hands with our Baekseong Group?"
I like my current daily life.
To think I have to put a crack in the happy daily life I finally found with my own hands.
"Baekseong has made full preparations for the upcoming faction war, but we are in a situation where we lack the most important thing: an Apostle. We desperately need your help."
I asked cautiously.
"...What happens if I refuse?"
"It doesn't matter. However, that's only if you can thoroughly hide the fact that you possess a Myth-grade trait. Once it becomes known, I don't know if your safety can be guaranteed."
"...."
"There's no law saying war must only happen in a game, is there?"
For a moment, I recalled the history of me spending a huge amount of money to purchase the nickname 'Ryu'.
I even tried to make a +25 weapon during the Blacksmith event.
That's not all.
I'm constantly printing out Korean Won at the Phantastia exchange with my infinite Ssal-money.
If I keep repeating this, someone might come looking for me with a knife.
"From the moment you suddenly exchanged hundreds of billions of credits into Korean Won, the government has likely been keeping an eye on you as well."
I imagine myself becoming a money-printing machine in the basement of the Blue House.
"Your acquaintances might not be safe either."
I imagine Yun-seo, Harin-nuna, and A-yeon being threatened.
"...But what do you get if you win that war?"
But in the end, isn't it just a large-scale game war?
If winning just makes those gods go, 'Oh, I feel good,' then...
Can't I just not participate?
If I've revealed the secret, I should just end it there.
I don't understand why people are preparing for an otherworld war disguised as a game, even risking their lives in reality.
"They are beings capable of intervening on Earth. Most are participating with the thought, 'If I do well, they might grant me a wish.'"
"Hmm."
"And the possibility of that expectation actually happening is very high. According to in-game history, it's recorded that all winners of each war either became gods or had their wishes granted."
Harin-nuna whispered in my ear.
"It's so serious that my family members have been staking their lives on the game at their age. Grandfather, Dad, they're all trying their hardest to get one Myth-grade trait."
"Don't say useless things."
"I thought my family had finally lost their minds, but seeing this today, I realized they hadn't."
A wish, huh.
Actually, I don't really have a wish.
That's because I've already achieved my life's goal.
To earn money and live happily.
But I've already achieved that.
A massive fortune that would last my children's children's children's children for a lifetime of leisure, thanks to my infinite Ssal-money.
There were no more goals in my life.
Just living a relaxed daily life until I grow old and die.
But as soon as I heard the word 'wish', this thought occurred to me.
'Getting a "get out of jail free" card wouldn't be bad.'
No matter how much money you have, you can't bring back the dead.
Even looking at Yun-seo's case right now.
Yun-seo is currently suffering from a terminal illness.
They say it's a disease that can be treated with money, but there's no guarantee it will only happen this time.
If I had obtained Probability Manipulation just one month later...
Yun-seo would have been beyond saving.
That's not all.
What if A-yeon, Harin-nuna, or I were to get such a disease?
Or if I were to die in vain after being hit by a drunk driver while walking down the street?
Or if I were to be stabbed by a crazy criminal?
Could I really endure that?
Could I still live happily?
Sudden death cannot be stopped even with money.
My father's death, Yun-seo's illness.
I know that fact better than anyone else.
"I'm absolutely not threatening you. From the start, you are the 'Gap' in this contract. After all, it's the Apostle, not the Baekseong Group, who gets the wish ticket."
"...."
"If, well, not that it would happen, but the Baekseong Group wouldn't harm you either. If we did, you might end up using the wish ticket against us. A company must minimize risks. Even the Chairman cannot touch you recklessly."
Yoo Seol-ssi spoke up.
"The Baekseong Group will support everything for Do-hyun-nim. Your safety, the safety of those around you, taxes, legal issues, and any other difficulties that may arise. Especially."
She cast her gaze toward the package placed on the table.
"The U.S. Visa."
No matter how I think about it, it's a deal where I have nothing to lose.
"It's not just the U.S. visa. We can also have Yun-seo-ssi receive outpatient treatment in Korea. Because we have an overflow of money and power."
If I hold hands with a major corporation in the game and win the war with infinite Ssal-money.
I can make the probability of getting screwed over in life 0%.
If I lose the war?
I already have the money I've earned, so I'll still live happily.
Then, are the conditions difficult?
No, it's easy.
I just have to play the game all the time.
Before joining hands.
I threw the final question.
"...Why did the Baekseong Group prepare for the war in the first place? In the end, the one who gets the wish is me, not them."
"A sharp question."
He said, taking a deep breath.
"Honestly, we thought at least one person would emerge from our Baekseong Group."
"...."
"So we prepared everything, but everyone just crashed and burned."
Um.
"Of course, that would be different if you joined the Baekseong Group."
Can't be helped.
In the end, there's no other way but to join hands.
"I'm grateful. Then, I'll look into the ceremony as soon as possible. Is your schedule free?"
"Yes, I'm a 'Time Bill Gates' so... as long as it doesn't overlap with the time I'm going to the U.S."
A question Harin-nuna's father threw out as if in passing.
I didn't think much of it, but as I chewed on the meaning, I was startled and asked.
"Ceremony?"
"To ensure there's no backtalk, nothing beats blood ties. Even within the Baekseong Group, disputes over succession are endless."
"...With whom?"
Harin-nuna's father and Yoo Seol-ssi both looked at one woman.
I also followed their gaze and looked beside me.
"Huh?"
I made eye contact with Harin-nuna.
*
The house where silence fell after the two left.
An awkwardness lingered between Harin-nuna and me.
Today was the most eventful day of my life.
I stalked a hidden camera criminal, reunited with my younger sister, got kissed, and was investigated by the police.
Returning home, I realized the truth of the world, became a key player in a global game war, and ended up getting married to Harin-nuna.
Just last month, I was an ordinary Ssal-muk-chung, but everything changed overnight.
The only fortunate thing is that I can go on the U.S. trip.
But that's also a problem.
What should I say when I see Yun-seo's face to make her understand my situation?
Gods, wishes, war.
Honestly, I don't really feel it.
If I think about it carefully, nothing is complicated, and nothing changes.
It's a problem that can be solved by safely sucking the marrow of a major corporation and playing the game for a few hours a day.
What's so special about my daily life?
Eat, poop, sleep, game.
It's just that the proportion of gaming is increasing a bit.
But Yun-seo is different.
I ran a simulation in my head.
'Yun-seo, I have something to tell you.'
'D-don't tell me, a confession?'
'I got involved in a national secret and ended up getting married to a chaebol senior from my school days. But the younger sister who started living with me likes me romantically.'
'?'
'Will you go out with someone like me?'
Fuck.
More than the large-scale fantasy event, I was most worried about what to say when I went to the U.S.
The moment I was clutching my head in worry.
-Uung uung......
[ Lee Yun-seo ]
A call came from Yun-seo.
It's morning in the U.S. right now.
The time has come for Yun-seo, who has woken up, to call and check on me.