Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: 3. I Was a 4th Grade Extra (2)
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“Uh…….”
It was unavoidable.
Youngwoo simply couldn’t tear his eyes away from Yechan’s fate record.
Birth… Year 06, conception through forced intercourse.
Dissolution… Year 39, killed a customer while working at a bar and then committed suicide.
In summary, Yechan was the product of rape. Because of that, he had been abandoned in the world as an orphan, grown up that way, and was fated to kill a customer at a bar in his mid-thirties before taking his own life.
Of course, Youngwoo’s own fate of being murdered by a drunkard three years from now was shocking too, but it was nothing compared to Yechan’s.
And then.
‘…So he really didn’t know.’
Youngwoo swallowed dryly as he noticed Yechan’s gaze locked firmly on the words “forced intercourse.”
What must be going through the guy’s head right now?
“This… this is insane.”
“I was supposed to die next month?”
“Who the hell decided this? Does it make any sense that our futures were set in stone?”
The area, silent for a while, began to grow noisy once more.
Everyone was reeling from the shock that their births and deaths had all been predetermined.
But this was no ordinary place.
It was the post-Reset world.
A world with dragons and quests, where swords rained from the sky.
Anything could happen here.
And one such thing had already occurred. Or rather, been confirmed.
Our fates, our classes—all predetermined from the start.
“…….”
It didn’t take long for the shouting crowd to fall silent again.
Park Do-hwan, who had been silently watching the people, finally spoke.
―We apologize to everyone. Those who glimpsed grim fates must be deeply disappointed.
―Conversely, those with prosperous lives ahead have lost them due to the Reset.
In other words, the old fates were no longer valid in this Reset world.
A few reacted immediately.
“So what happens now? No more fates, so we’re just on our own?”
“No. Even if fates are gone, the people are the same. The 1st Graders were born with 1st Grade specs—they’ll still have them.”
“Right. Classes didn’t Reset. So what’s the point of all this?”
There was solid logic to that argument.
Youngwoo himself was still at a disadvantage in running or close-quarters combat because his original physical specs carried over.
But the real problem was something else.
“Fate aside, how are we supposed to live from now on? Money, food—all turned to stone.”
“Yeah. Where do we even earn money now?”
The sight of people clutching weapons debating survival basics was grotesque, almost comical.
Park Do-hwan, as if waiting for this, clapped lightly.
Clap!
The fate records given to everyone vanished, replaced by a series of different numbers.
From as low as 0 to as high as 100,000.
Youngwoo’s was 153,000.
「153,000」
Youngwoo instantly grasped what the number meant.
‘…Karma possessed.’
And not just a simple total.
It even factored in his contract with Yechan.
Their verbal agreement alone had been automatically reflected in the fate record.
―What is now engraved on your fate records is the amount of karma you currently possess.
―From now on, you can use this karma to alter your appearance, enhance your physical abilities, or even restore objects from the previous world that turned to stone.
‘Alter appearance and enhance physical abilities?’
As Youngwoo stared in disbelief, people bombarded with questions.
“What about those who don’t have karma right now?”
“Where do we get more karma?”
The holographic president clapped lightly in response.
Clap!
[00:25:19]
A massive timer appeared in midair with the sound.
As all eyes turned to it, Park Do-hwan elaborated.
―The only way to acquire karma is by defeating the mutants and monsters that will appear in about 25 minutes.
“…Mutants?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
People tilted their heads, faces darkening with unease.
They had subconsciously grasped the implication.
Youngwoo had too.
‘…The ones who chose mutation are coming back.’
Dissolution, mutation, dismantling.
The people forcibly dragged before the public and presented with those three choices.
Among them, those who picked “mutation”—becoming monsters—had been furious at their circumstances.
So what would they do upon returning to this world?
‘…Seek revenge.’
Youngwoo scanned his surroundings.
He finally understood why weapons had been distributed through the Mountain of Swords.
―Most mutants will appear alongside packs of their own type of monsters, and these monsters will also leave karma upon dissolution.
“W-what are you saying… Fight monsters to make money?”
“What about those who don’t want to fight? Or those who can’t?”
The reactions were predictable.
No one wanted to battle monsters instead of going to a job for income.
But the disaster facing everyone wasn’t over yet.
Clap!
Park Do-hwan clapped again.
A new number appeared below the airborne timer.
「1,000」
―Starting tomorrow, taxes will be automatically collected every night at 10 PM.
―The base tax is 1,000 karma. Tax evaders will be instantly dissolved at collection time, so be sure to secure karma.
“……!”
It hit like a bolt from the blue.
The basic living funds amounted to just 3,000 karma at most, and even that hadn’t been fully claimed by many due to the chaos at the exchange.
In short, fail to fight monsters, and you’d die from tax evasion in days.
―Mutants and monsters will return in 22 minutes. We wish you all the best.
With that, Park Do-hwan’s form faded, and the “Rookie” quest completed.
Ping!
[Quest Complete - “Rookie”]
[Reward Issued]
|Survival Gear
Ssslrk.
As the quest text shifted, utility belts fastened around everyone’s waists.
Simple sheaths with iron rings for holstering weapons.
“Huh.”
“W-what is this?”
“This is the survival gear?”
Just as grumbles rose over the underwhelming reward—
Boom!
A massive roar echoed from the sky.
Dozens of enormous pillars of light began slamming down across Gumi City at that moment.
What now?
People didn’t ponder long.
Anyone could see those were monster spawn points.
One pillar shone less than 10 meters from here.
“Kyaaak!”
“R-run… run away!”
The vast majority fled on instinct.
But Youngwoo was the exception.
‘…Run? Monster fights are the only way to earn money. Taxes every night starting tomorrow—where does running get us?’
Truth be told, this mindset was possible only because it was Youngwoo.
He was someone who had steadily built “success experience” in the Reset world.
Early bird karma at the exchange, shield from the Mountain of Swords, and ultimately a 1-vs-3 victory crowning him Gumi’s Greatest Swordsman…
Naturally, he saw the world’s threats not as things to fear and avoid, but as challenges to overcome.
His 4th Grade instincts, however, didn’t want to push further.
“…….”
Even now, his hand gripping Early Bird trembled.
‘Monsters’ combat power can’t be ridiculously high. At least average human level, right? Manageable if so. Monster hunting’s the only karma source, after all.’
Recalling Park Do-hwan’s words, Youngwoo surveyed the pillar-filled surroundings.
He belatedly noticed Yechan standing blankly beside him.
The guy stared vacantly at where his fate record had been, like a man lost in a daze.
Still shocked by his “birth secret”?
“…You okay?”
When Youngwoo cautiously touched Yechan’s shoulder, the guy’s dead-fish eyes regained a flicker of life.
“Ah… Yeah.”
Then Yechan asked in return.
“And you, sir? You okay?”
“Huh? Me? Well…….”
A 1st Grade supporting actress mother and 6th Grade extra father. Youngwoo was curious about his own origins too, but it was a lower priority now.
[00:19:26]
Mutants and monster hordes in 19 minutes.
“First, let’s settle up as promised. You worked hard. Thanks.”
Youngwoo opened his backpack and held out the coins due to Yechan, who looked flustered.
“…Didn’t you say we’d settle somewhere safe?”
“Is there anywhere safer than here right now?”
“Well…….”
Yechan glanced around to retort, but fell silent.
The crowd that had blackened the area moments ago had all fled.
“Take this first, quick. Your hands are tied up.”
“Huh?”
Turning, he saw Youngwoo clutching coins in both fists.
Meaning: don’t leave me unarmed.
“Ah……!”
As Yechan fumbled to take them, Youngwoo’s freed hands drew Early Bird from its sheath.
“I’ll rest here a bit and fight the monsters. You’ve got enough to handle yourself now, so go wherever. Escort contract ends here.”
Youngwoo plopped down right there.
Facing Yechan squarely to guard against ambushes, of course. Early Bird in right hand, shield in left, gripped tight.
Yechan stared blankly for a moment, then sat on the ground beside him.
“Even for you, sir, isn’t staying here alone dangerous? Better to head somewhere with more people…….”
More people meant at least the monsters’ attention would split.
But Youngwoo thought differently.
“More people means higher chance of backstabs too. And more monsters to face, maybe.”
So better to wait here and handle just one pillar’s worth.
‘Even so…….’
Yechan deemed it too reckless at first, then reconsidered.
Come to think of it, this man was Gumi’s Greatest Swordsman. A title inheritable only through murder.
Showing his back to people while fighting monsters? Asking for a headshot.
“…Then.”
Yechan started cautiously, and Youngwoo gave a look urging him on.
“What about someone fighting at your side, not behind?”
“Side? You saying you’ll stay and fight?”
Youngwoo scratched his chin, staring at Yechan.
Then spoke again.
“One extra should be fine. But if I misjudge, you could die a dog’s death here. Think it over.”
Yechan gave a wry smile, mumbling.
“Even without you, sir, I was gonna die anyway.”
“…….”
Referring to the fate record, or the Mountain of Swords incident?
As Youngwoo’s expression stiffened oddly, Yechan caught it and forced a brighter tone.
“Hey, kidding. Anyway, from what he said earlier, karma can enhance physical abilities too? For real?”
Awkward topic shift.
But Youngwoo was curious himself, so he pulled a coin from his pack and examined it.
“He wouldn’t lie… but didn’t explain how.”
A crimson coin the size of a 500-won piece.
Blank back, single horizontal line etched in the front center.
‘Mark for 1,000 karma?’
He pressed it with his finger. Nothing.
Yechan across from him tried rubbing it on his arm, tossing it on the ground—various tests, no luck.
If mere contact activated it, they’d have known grabbing it.
‘How the hell do you use this? It’s just dead weight otherwise. Folks without bags are screwed. Can’t even eat it…….’
At that thought, Youngwoo flinched unconsciously.
Could you eat it?
It was for changing looks and boosting body—didn’t sound impossible.
‘…….’
In this crapsack world, who cared about sense?
Youngwoo popped the coin into his mouth without hesitation.
Then.
Ping!
Before he could even chew, something happened.