Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: The One Who Was a Companion III
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Shin Noah
6
Fifteen years had already passed since the 173rd round began.
“Guildmasteeeeer...”
Our guild member, Sim A-ryeon—still utterly clueless about the concept of personal cultivation even after a decade and a half—made a miserable face.
“What's with the long face this time?”
“Please don't jinx it...”
“...? Jinx? You smoke?”
“...Ugh, screw this. That's why normies are like this. Anyway, SG Net is dead...”
Sim A-ryeon sniffled.
SG Net was a website built with cutting-edge technology, its servers housed in Seo-gyu's brain and heart.
As long as our macho bullshit artist didn't keel over from some random street brawl, there was no way SG Net would shut down.
Of course, the odds of that happening were statistically pretty high, but it had never actually occurred, so Sim A-ryeon's use of “dead” was just a figure of speech.
“Sniff. Take a look at this...”
Sim A-ryeon showed me SG Net on her smartphone.
—Goryeo Jang: Today's Cafe Mocha.jpeg
—Anonymous: Wrote a novel, critique pls
—Goryeo Jang: Today's Cafe Mocha.png
—Anonymous: Do y'all believe in God?
—Anonymous: Anyone up for a hot spring trip?
—Anonymous: Why are only retards left here? lol
—Goryeo Jang: Today's Cafe Mocha.jpg
I tilted my head. Even after checking three or four times, there was only one odd thing.
“A-ryeon, why do you drink so much coffee?”
“Aaaah! Th-the posts on SG Net today... there are only two! Just two! Only two posts went up, and that's it! The coffee I drank today is the same as yesterday's and the day before's!”
“Oh...”
“Do you know the daily average number of posts on SG Net these days? Four! Four! Oh my god! Guildmaster! I can't, I can't live like this! No one's biting the bait. And out of those four posts a day, one is mine, and another is the one I posted anonymously...!”
“Hmm.”
Indeed. SG Net was done for.
The only active part left was [Library Society's Compendium of Anomalies], run by Sim A-ryeon and me. The lingering spirits haunting the community had been exorcised.
Every outcome has its cause. There was a perfectly clear reason why the SG Net ecosystem had collapsed.
“Well, if we were still scattered across the country, maybe, but now we're all living here. The city's full of plazas and rest areas. No one needs an online community like they used to.”
“Nooo, even so, this is too, way too weird... I-I guarantee you, even the old Vatican had an internet community. It doesn't make sense for it to die just because we're all crammed into Busan. Gasp. G-Guildmaster! Isn't this occult? It's an anomaly, an anomaly! Whoaaa! Guildmaster, you love anomalies...! P-Please exorcise it quick!”
This girl... Sharp as ever.
“A-ryeon. Do you really want to hear the rest of the reason from me?”
“Y-Yes? What do you...?”
“Look. There are no unemployed people here, no homeless. Everyone has a job and lives a healthy daily life. After work, they throw small parties or head to hobby clubs for real-life community time. They vent all their stress there, so naturally, no one needs to log into an online community. Take Seo-gyu—he headed out tonight for his TRPG meetup, right? But you're the only one cooped up alone in the guild building every day...”
“Eek! I-I can't hear you! La la laaa!”
Sim A-ryeon plugged her ears and rolled around. Or rather than rolling... she rubbed her back against the floor. Aggressively, like backstroking, in a full-blown fit.
If Gregory the cockroach saw it, he'd have despised her for degrading the dignity of insects.
“R-Real life? All-day jobs? You mean we're so happy right now that we don't even need the internet? Are you stupid? Guildmaster, are you really stupid? This, inside this smartphone screen, that's reality! That's the truth! Humans cutting off the internet? Such an inhuman thing...! In this world, this Earth, this universe! It can't actually happen!”
“But it did happen.”
“Hieeeek...!”
The Goryeo Jang villain sank.
Even if the world ended tomorrow, Sim A-ryeon was the type to post nonsense online today. But regardless of her personality, her ability [Resentment Orb] was inevitably entering a decline.
She could no longer easily draw aggro from people.
Modern Busan was inching ever closer to an ideal paradise.
Everyone wanted to become a better version of themselves. And Busan had ways to grant those wishes.
—I'm always tired after work, but I stay up late doing pointless stuff out of habit. It ruins my daily life. Great Witch, won't you delete this habit for me?
—Of course. Anything for you. Insomnia is the worst, isn't it? Just give me a month's wages.
It wasn't a devil's deal, but a witch's bargain.
Dang Seo-rin's equivalent exchange magic. Cheon Yo-hwa's brainwashing magic. With these two powers combined, people could effortlessly excise the “parts they'd rather be without” from their personalities.
It wasn't just personalities.
—I was abused by my family as a kid. Even now, trauma from back then pops up out of nowhere and torments me. It's hurting the people around me too. Great Witch, can you erase my memories of being tormented by my family?
—Naturally. In exchange, pay with the negative emotions you hold toward your family.
Memories. Emotions. Personality.
The great witch accepted anything as negotiation material and took anything as payment.
Busan's crime rate plummeted. With criminals' personalities completely reformed, it was inevitable.
Dang Seo-rin's “Witch Trial” gradually opened to ordinary citizens too. Once a week, a golden scale appeared in the grand plaza, and dozens of people emerged as slightly better versions of themselves each time.
Tolstoy once said it: Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
There are many paths back to misfortune, but the road to happiness is always a single straight line.
The city was the same.
As people castrated their misfortunes one by one, amusingly, the citizens' auras began to resemble each other.
Healthy. Early to bed, early to rise. Steady exercise. Valuing those around them. Polite. Kind. Honest with themselves. Avoiding harm given or received as much as possible.
Utopia.
“What do we do, Guildmasteeer... Sniff, now even if your arm gets cut off and your legs shatter into pieces, I can't fix you anymore... I'm sorry. If another monster wave hits, I-I don't think I can heal you anymore...”
“Ah, don't worry about that. You were getting fired soon anyway.”
“...Huh?”
“It'll be over soon. The monster waves.”
7
I'll cover the detailed explanation of the anomaly called “monster wave” in another episode.
For now, just imagine it as the name suggests.
An anomaly tsunami. Monsters surging endlessly from the horizon.
Anomalies that would never overlap territories in normal times now formed a single massive legion.
No one knows why this happens. But it's clear *when*.
When the Void grows excessively large.
For example, if the entire North Korean region gets swallowed by the Void, a “monster wave” is guaranteed.
The tsunami lasts about 20 hours.
Thousands, tens of thousands of anomalies crash in waves, overwhelming the ground still held by humanity.
This very phenomenon forced me to create the National Highway Management Corps.
The reason we stubbornly defend highways connecting Korea's cities, refusing to abandon them, is to prevent the Void from expanding further—lest we be swept away by an near-infinite monster tsunami.
Dang Seo-rin chose the polar opposite.
—Undertaker! Undertaker! Undertaker!
—Waaaaah!
And today.
With Korea's wealth and manpower concentrated in Busan, the terror of monster waves that had always threatened the city's security finally came to an end.
—Everyone! Give a round of applause! Our hero! The guardian of Busan—no, the Korean Peninsula! Indeed, the world! The Undertaker Ascendant enters!
—Long live the Undertaker! Long live Busan!
A parade swept through the city.
It was a kind of festival. Like a Roman general passing through the triumphal arch after victory, boasting his feats to the citizens, I marched slowly, escorted by the surrounding Awakeners.
I rode in an open car, while Three Thousand Worlds guild members (now part of the National Highway Management Corps) on broomsticks formed a respectable formation overhead, chasing after.
Victory songs blared nonstop from speakers installed throughout the city. Melodies designed to excite and move listeners.
Luxury items like alcohol were distributed unlimited today. Five years' reserves would vanish in this one day.
—Our city has always trembled under the waves of those vile anomalies! But thanks to the Undertaker Ascendant and the valiant efforts of countless heroes! The monster wave has finally been subjugated! Rejoice freely, citizens! Our city is free!
—Waaaaaaaah!
The festival peaked when the parade reached the National Highway Management Corps headquarters after crossing the city.
The plaza where the “Witch Trial” was held weekly. Looming over it like the Tower of Babel stood the Corps headquarters.
At the center of the grand staircase one must climb to enter the building, the city's ruler, Korea's master, Dang Seo-rin in her black pointed hat awaited.
“Welcome, Undertaker.”
Dang Seo-rin smiled. That smile and voice were broadcast across the entire city via specially designed magic for this day.
“You did it in the end.”
“...”
“You warned me before. That countless anomalies would block our chosen path. But I said we'd overcome them with your power and my magic.”
Dang Seo-rin pouted playfully.
“So, can we say it's proven whose words were right?”
“You take the righteousness. I'll take the blood and effort I invested to make your words right.”
“What's that? Show-off.”
Laughter rippled from the crowds surrounding the plaza.
For a city ruler, her tone and conversation were too casual, but it didn't matter. In this city, no grand political rhetoric or exaggeration was needed to maintain power and authority anymore.
Because every single citizen was now complete.
“Anyway, the hero who vanquished our worst enemy deserves fitting reward. I swear on my golden scale: whatever you desire, I'll make it happen. Come now, our hero. Tell me your wish.”
“Thanks. Then... looks like you handed the event mic to Operations Director Yoo Ji-won. Switch her out. Her personality's fixed, but she's still over-the-top. I nearly died of embarrassment getting here.”
—Guardian Undertaker?
Laughter erupted across the plaza again.
Dang Seo-rin chuckled too, then stepped closer. Clack. For some reason, that footstep didn't broadcast through the city speakers—only reached my ears.
I realized she'd briefly cut the “broadcast magic.”
“That all? Really? I meant any wish, sincerely.”
“Staying by your side to the end is my wish, and it's already granted.”
“...”
“So fire Yoo Ji-won. Now.”
Dang Seo-rin smirked.
“Really...”
I don't know what words followed.
Dang Seo-rin extended her right hand, and per her taste, I kissed the ring. The cheers of the entire city drowned out all sound.
Night fell.
Fireworks exploded.
Witches of all sorts flew through the city's night sky. National Highway Management Corps members, given three days' vacation starting today, soared on broomsticks, firing off fireworks magic at will.
Dang Seo-rin and I sat on the high terrace of the Corps headquarters, gazing up at the night sky festival together.
On the table: a few loaves from the famous Haeundae bakery. And two empty wine bottles.
“So now.”
Swish—Dang Seo-rin's long finger traced the rim of her wine glass.
“All the anomalies threatening us are gone?”
“Well, we can say the greatest threat is gone. There might be more outer-god level anomalies I haven't grasped yet. But at least, monster waves will never target this place again.”
“Good. No more dealing with those damn anomaly swarms. Really, perfect.”
Fireworks burst again.
The whoosh of fireworks rocketing up was even replicated by magic, the pleasant explosive echoes resounding in the sky.
Red and yellow backlighting shone on Dang Seo-rin's profile as she watched the night sky.
“Ah—feels great. Yeah. Undertaker, brew me a coffee. Craving one.”
“Caffeine at night means no sleep.”
“Who cares.”
Dang Seo-rin propped her chin on her left hand, grinning. Her right stroked Kuro, coiled on her lap.
“We're not sleeping tonight anyway? Skipping work tomorrow too. You're free starting today, right?”
“...True. Just one cup, then.”
The rooftop terrace, her personal bar, had all the barista tools ready. The beans smelled freshly ground today.
Even ice cream in the cooler. I gave a wry smile, made an affogato, and handed it to her.
“Here. Coffee for the hangover.”
“Ah, thanks! Mmm. Still, your coffee's the best.”
Fireworks burst.
Meow—Kuro mewed from Dang Seo-rin's lap.
“But... how'd you subjugate the monster wave? You said it yourself—it's practically impossible to subjugate, more phenomenon than anomaly.”
“I didn't subjugate it.”
“Huh?”
“Didn't subjugate it. Near Seoul, the monster wave of hundreds of thousands still appears, vanishes after 20 hours, then repeats endlessly.”
“...”
I'd confirmed it with my own eyes.
Dang Seo-rin's spoon, savoring the affogato, froze.
“...Wait. For real? Not joking? That's bad!”
“No, I've never lied to you, Dang Seo-rin. The monster wave will absolutely, never come at this place again. Your city is safe.”
“Uh... Undertaker?”
Dang Seo-rin looked confused.
“Sorry. Can't follow the conversation. Monster waves push from the Void into non-Void areas, into human territory, right? You told me that before.”
“Right.”
“And it's still appearing nonstop, not subjugated?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why, on what basis are you so sure Busan won't get hit by another monster wave?”
“Because this place is the Void now.”
Fireworks burst.
“—This is no longer human territory. It's anomaly territory. Not Busan, but Utopia. A Void literally named ‘the place that is nowhere.’”
“...”
“So no reason for a monster wave to target it. As long as you, Dang Seo-rin—the anomaly—rule this area.”
Fireworks burst.