Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Chaebols Turn into Dragons (2)
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“…Huff.”
Having witnessed Bonghee’s moment of vanishing, Youngwoo froze stiff in place.
‘What, what was that just now?’
His fingertips trembled faintly, but it had nothing to do with Bonghee’s death.
What gripped Youngwoo now was the sheer fact that some supernatural force had just exerted physical power.
He had just confirmed that this massive purge called the Reset was being carried out by a real, existing power.
The shock and disgust from learning that the person he’d shared a room with for nearly a year was actually a rapist came much later.
“Ha.”
Reality finally sank in.
Youngwoo swallowed dryly, staring intently at the spot where Bonghee had been.
As if urging him on, a new message appeared.
「1 minute remaining until individual filtering ends.」
|Your remaining Karma Points: 3.
Three Karma Points.
Three chances to kill whoever he wanted.
But Youngwoo couldn’t bring himself to use even one.
For one thing, he didn’t have anyone he wanted to kill badly enough to borrow some unknowable power for it. And the second reason was…
‘This feels ominous. That vanishing vote earlier, and everything else—it seems like you’re always held accountable for your own actions.’
Just look at Bonghee, now a dead man.
If he hadn’t recklessly targeted celebrities during the first filtering stage, he wouldn’t have ended up taking a hit himself in the second stage.
The guy had started with 20 points when this all began.
In other words…
‘Don’t do anything stupid. Even if it means losing all the points, there’s no reason to use them on purpose.’
Having made up his mind, Youngwoo stayed silent even as the countdown began right in front of him.
「Individual filtering deadline approaching.」
…3 seconds.
…2 seconds.
…1 second.
…Filtering ended.
Beep!
A sharp signal tone rang out from somewhere beyond the ceiling, announcing the end of the filtering process.
And then.
“…….”
Nothing happened.
Youngwoo stood blankly in the middle of the room, gazing up at the ceiling.
The results of the first filtering stage hadn’t been announced yet, so the Reset itself probably wasn’t fully over.
‘Are they giving us a short break until the vote count finishes?’
Youngwoo thought for a moment, then cautiously opened the door.
Creak.
When he poked his head into the dormitory hallway, others who sensed his presence began opening their doors one by one.
“E-Everyone okay?”
“What the hell is going on…?”
Just from the looks in their eyes, Youngwoo could guess how each of them had fared in the Reset.
For starters, those with murder in their gazes had probably taken a hit themselves.
These types didn’t bother asking about others—they slammed their doors shut or headed straight out of the building.
On the other hand, some wore grins like they were enjoying this mess, and Youngwoo pegged them as the first-stage snipers.
Bonghee had worn the exact same expression while he was alive.
And the few still looking dazed were probably…
‘Those who didn’t take a hit and didn’t see anyone else take one.’
In other words, people still confused about whether this was a dream or reality, Youngwoo figured.
‘So what about me?’
Youngwoo glanced at his palm again.
Even after the second filtering ended, the number 3 was still etched there.
‘No way they’re using Karma Points in the next stage too.’
Who knew.
And just as Youngwoo’s thoughts reached that point, the message appeared again.
「Vote counting completed.」
「Dissolution process will now proceed publicly. Targets may choose one: Dissolution, Mutation, or Dismantling.」
‘It’s back. Dissolution, Mutation, Dismantling… What the hell do those even mean?’
Youngwoo’s question didn’t last long.
―[Chaebol Chairman-Kang Hongtae] stands before the choices.
―Filled with extreme rage.
―Chooses <Mutation>.
―Applying held Karma Points.
―New monster type added to this world: 『Dragon』.
―[Chaebol Chairman-Kang Hongtae] has become a Fire Dragon and now threatens you all.
“What…?”
Even Youngwoo, who had accepted the Reset as reality, couldn’t help but be stunned by what he just saw.
“A dragon? What kind of nonsense is this?”
By then, Kang Hongtae’s turn had passed, and the next person faced the choices.
This one’s selection differed somewhat from Kang Hongtae’s.
―[President-Park Dohwan] stands before the choices.
―Overwhelmed with bewilderment.
―Chooses <Dismantling>.
―Applying held Karma Points.
―New element added to this world: 『Quest』.
Unlike Kang Hongtae turning into a Fire Dragon, no further messages followed.
‘D-Dismantling, right… So he dissolved in exchange for adding quests?’
Youngwoo struggled to make sense of what was happening.
Because this was now the world he’d have to live in.
A world with dragons and quests.
Common stuff in games or novels, sure, but he’d never once imagined what it’d be like if it became real.
But the real problem was just beginning.
‘Hold on, only two people have chosen so far? The first filtering must’ve purged thousands at least…’
His mind reeled.
Right on cue, the next person faced the choices.
―[Actress-Park Soyoung] stands before the choices.
―Overwhelmed with deep sorrow.
―Chooses <Dissolution>.
―[Actress-Park Soyoung] vanishes from the world without impact.
‘Uh…?’
Youngwoo’s pupils dilated wide.
Whether Park Soyoung got a full explanation before choosing Dissolution, he couldn’t say.
But one thing was clear.
‘Choosing Dissolution means leaving without harming this world.’
More precisely, it meant accepting death while leaving her attackers unscathed.
Anyway, the first three choices had made it clear to everyone.
What each option really meant.
<Mutation> if you wanted revenge on this world even as a monster. <Dismantling> if you wanted to change the world’s very structure. <Dissolution> if you wanted no further part in it.
‘But who’d choose to just die peacefully? Especially after being forced into it unjustly.’
Youngwoo figured most would agonize between Mutation and Dismantling.
Even without a thirst for revenge, vanishing without a trace from this world felt too hollow and unfair.
And sure enough, from the fourth onward, no one picked <Dissolution>.
―New monster type added to this world: 『Ogre』.
―New monster type added to this world: 『Goblin』.
―New element added to this world: 『Divine Weapons』.
―New monster type added to this world: 『Owl Bear』.
―New element added to this world: 『Currency』.
―New element added to this world: 『Food』.
Either monsters or new elements replacing the old world kept popping up nonstop.
“…….”
At this, Youngwoo hurriedly stuffed his backpack.
He had a feeling he wouldn’t be staying here much longer.
And then.
―New element added to this world: 『Food』.
When 『Food』 was added by someone, Youngwoo jolted in shock and dropped his backpack.
Sss…
Smoke rose from a chocolate bar he’d just packed.
‘What the…?’
Peering cautiously inside, he saw the chocolate bar had turned to stone, still wrapped.
‘No way…’
Youngwoo picked it up, face full of disbelief.
The weight was the same as before, but it was no longer food.
Which meant…
‘Not just food—any object from the old world could turn to stone.’
For example, since 『Currency』 had been added earlier, all his bills, coins, and cards had probably turned to stone by now.
But the real issue wasn’t that.
‘So what’s the new currency? How and where do we get it? If we can’t eat the old food, what do we eat now?’
As if answering his questions, a new message appeared at the top of his vision.
「Quest system activated.」
Then, on the left side, a yellow message: the ‘Main Quest’.
[Main] “A New Life”
<Task> Follow the arrow to the nearest exchange.
<Reward> Basic living funds
<Special> First-come, first-served bonus
“……!”
Everything was bizarre, but ‘exchange’ especially caught Youngwoo’s eye.
He suspected it tied to the ‘3’ still etched on his palm.
With the old world fading bit by bit, Karma Points seemed like the only thing worth trading for new currency.
Whoosh.
Youngwoo snatched up his backpack from the floor and bolted out the door, crossing the dormitory hall.
The others, who’d been staring blankly at their messages, started running after him one by one.
They could see the huge arrow that had appeared at their feet, along with the Main Quest.
“Huh?”
“H-Hey! Let’s go together!”
Even amid the chaos, the purge targets’ choices kept scrolling in the corner of his vision.
―New monster type added to this world: 『Golem』.
―New monster type added to this world: 『Man-Eater』.
―New element added to this world: 『World Map』.
By now, Youngwoo had dashed out of the dorm and was sprinting near the parking lot when 『World Map』 was added—and every vehicle in sight turned to stone.
Shaaa…!
For some reason, personal vehicles were now off-limits.
But Youngwoo didn’t flinch anymore.
‘World Map? It even affects travel methods? Who got dismantled to add this?’
He could scroll up to check the list if he wanted, but he had more pressing matters.
Tatatak!
Even though he’d bolted out first from the dorm, the latecomers were catching up fast.
At 34 years old, Youngwoo wasn’t exactly fleet-footed.
His untrained body moved with frustrating slowness.
‘Damn it…!’
Two, three… five… seven people overtook him in seconds.
Then, finally.
Swoosh.
The arrow, which had pointed northeast the whole time, began to tilt.
Meaning the destination was close.
And suddenly, an enormous whooshing sound tore down from the sky.
Screeeeech!
A sound like jet engines roared across the entire sky, echoing loudly. Youngwoo looked up and gaped.
Screeeeech!
Screeeeech!
Hundreds of massive black pillar-like objects were shooting down.
“……?”
Each about ten meters tall, rectangular black shapes.
At first, he thought they were falling randomly, but they seemed aimed at specific landing spots.
Fwooooosh!
Boom boom boom!
Eight of them crashed into Youngwoo’s line of sight alone, all maintaining set intervals.
And the nearest one vibrated faintly, emitting a dim light.
…Woooong.
…Woooong.
‘Ah.’
Seeing it, Youngwoo finally realized.
That was the exchange.
More precisely, the one vibrating and calling to him was the one assigned to him.