Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Dictator Lee Seung-hoon
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The first thing I did was gather information.
Thanks to the consideration of the "Center of the World," I could check my own status, but I had no info on the world itself.
"Which means it'll be fun learning as I go."
The company I was chairman of was, just like in the original world, Sarang Trading.
The difference was that it centered on racing-related businesses and wielded tremendous influence across the globe.
[Sarang Racing Motors]
[Sarang Racing Wheels]
[Sarang Racing Navigation]
[Sarang Racing Instant Food]
[Sarang Racing Medical Equipment]
[Sarang Racing Computers]
[Sarang Racing Panties]
Of course, that was only at the start. Now it had long since become an unprecedented conglomerate that had entered nearly every field.
This influence wasn't limited to the business world.
『Chairman Lee Seung-hoon, the newly inaugurated U.S. President Trump has arrived to swear his oath of loyalty.』
"Hold on a sec."
『Following that, the new UN Secretary-General is scheduled to swear loyalty as well.』
Presidents and prime ministers from every country, even international organizations—they all swore loyalty to me.
It was a truly absurd world, but there was one concept that made all this possible: racing.
'The world was created by racing, huh.'
From my investigations, the world was born when particles and antiparticles raced against each other.
The particles won, creating the material world, and that first starting signal for the race was the Big Bang.
Every being made of those particles instinctively craved racing, leading to a structure where the best racer ruled the world.
"And I'm the best racer in the world."
My investigations revealed that I'd started from a small company with my exceptional racing skills, aggressively acquiring others, expanding into new overseas markets to reach my current position. I'd even influenced politics through lobbying, corruption in foreign countries, and racing duels with politicians.
"Acquisitions are racing, lobbying is racing, political conflicts are racing, presidential inaugurations are racing, elections for congress are racing."
The whole world was racing.
It was just like the previous "Card Battle" world, but with duels replaced by racing.
'Then shall we see how good my driving skills really are?'
First, I checked my past racing records.
On the screen, a being identical to me boarded an all-black, ferocious, rugged race car.
'Even the racing suit is all black.'
My suits were all black, and apparently everything else was too.
The skills were phenomenal enough to dominate the racing world, captivating me with flashy, violent yet precise techniques I'd never seen before.
'Amazing.'
A level I could never have imagined in my original self.
However, this wasn't my true skill.
'It's just the skill imagined by the "Center of the World" and created through reality manipulation. I won't know my real skill until I test it myself.'
The racing footage had some interesting parts too.
Excluding me, the other racers would occasionally see bizarre smoke erupt from their vehicles, forming special shapes.
[Whoa! Johnny White's Machine Spirit!]
[That's insane? A Machine Spirit that vivid and intense—world-class racers really are on another level.]
From the comments, I learned it wasn't an error or optical illusion, but a phenomenon called a "Machine Spirit."
Machine Spirit
Overview: Spiritual energy born from the resonance between a racer's soul and their vehicle during a race. Through this, racers can draw out performance beyond the physical limits of the vehicle.
Many racers claim that racing skill is 30% vehicle performance, 30% personal driving technique, and 40% Machine Spirit—making it an incredibly vital element.
Quite an interesting setup.
On the screen, faint overlays of animals like tigers, snakes, or eagles on the vehicles—those were all Machine Spirits?
[Machine Spirits also protect the driver. In cases of severe vehicle failure or accidents, the Machine Spirit sacrifices itself to teleport the driver to safety.]
[However, this weakens the Machine Spirit for a period. If repeated or in a massive accident, the spirit dissipates entirely. Since the Machine Spirit is like life itself to a racer, losing it forces retirement.]
Thanks to this setup, there were no deaths during races.
[A Machine Spirit is both the racer's talent and their passion for racing. No spirit manifests without talent, even with passion, or vice versa.]
Interestingly, no matter how much I scrutinized my race footage, there was never a scene where I used a Machine Spirit.
『You've been holding back because you haven't faced opponents worthy of it so far, right? That's what everyone thinks.』
"Is that so?"
I nodded at Sarang-i's response.
If my past self and current self had different Machine Spirits, people would get suspicious, so this was the "Center of the World"'s consideration—save it for a proper debut.
"When's the next race?"
『In three days, the Oil Extraction Rights Racing Tournament in Dubai. The winner claims all of Dubai's oil extraction rights.』
Perfect. I'd test my racing skills and Machine Spirit then.
With nothing else to do, I toured the company. Not much had changed; if anything, everyone was working harder than in the previous world.
"Where's Frankenstein-kun?"
『Who's that?』
Sarang-i didn't know.
That was unusual.
I remembered reassigning a new hire after the original handler won an internal lottery and quit.
'The most junior employee who didn't faint after hearing my entire speech.'
Her name was Lee So-young, I think?
If only Frankenstein-kun was gone, that'd be one thing, but even the handler Lee So-young had vanished from this world—no records at all.
'Something's off. Another entity's doing?'
If she'd just left, there'd be records.
Vanishing as if erased entirely meant one thing.
"She disappeared before the "Center of the World" influenced things."
So it didn't recognize her, and the manipulated reality excluded her.
'Maybe Dr. Janus's handiwork.'
Next, I headed to the office.
It had become a luxurious mansion, treated as my private villa.
'The entities are still there, but...'
I tried activating the "Reverse Quest Ticket Dispenser" and "Forgotten Alchemist's Equivalent Exchange Scale," but they didn't work right.
[Reward: Racing~♪ Racing~♪ Fantastical Racing~♪]
[Mission: Racing's the best in the world~♪ Whoa! Flag's up~♪ Floor the accelerator~♪]
[Deadline: Overcome the trials, final track~♪ Finish line in sight~♪]
[Reward: Racing!]
[Choose your preferred payment method from the following three:]
[1. Reyshing!]
[2. Racing-sing!]
[3. Racing-thing!]
No matter what reward I wanted or what cost I input, it all came back to racing.
'The entities have varying degrees of change.'
Next, I went home. It had become a splendid mansion, so I immediately looked for the wall-mounted TV.
'Looks the same externally as before, but...'
I turned it on, but it just functioned as a normal TV.
Probably because the effect didn't trigger. If it did, would it react like the office entities, or something else?
『Squawk!』
A sudden noise made me turn—Rubber Rubber Duck was riding a tiny race car.
"You're a racer too, huh?"
I gave it a bath while I was there, then headed back to the company.
A few days later, I arrived in Dubai.
『Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 27th Dubai Racing!』
I boarded my vehicle as the announcer's booming voice echoed through the mic.
『Number 1 contender! America's genius racer! Creator of the inimitable Reagan Turn, final winner of the America Race Final Heaven spanning all 50 states—Johnny White!』
I tuned out the announcer hyping countless popular racers and focused on my car.
『Number 4 contender! Germany's savage! The mad slaughterer who drives a race car modded from a tank! The moment he approaches, your racing fate ends! The legendary racer thought retired—Leopaldon has returned!』
It was definitely a car I'd never driven before.
The footage was fabricated by reality manipulation.
Unlike others, I retained my memories and took the final boss role of my own will, so the manipulated reality didn't apply to me.
『Number 7 contender! The rookie from Japan! Conquered all of Japan at age 14! Is he a shonen manga protagonist!? The Speed Magician—Shinjo Hayato!』
Even so, the moment I sat in the car, I felt it.
This was my fated partner.
Irreplaceable, my destined match.
『Finally, Number 13! The world's top fixer! The world's top racer! And the world's top chairman! Undefeated by all! The invincible legend—Invincible Undefeated Lee Seung-hoon!』
The race was about to begin.
Staring at the checkered flag, I let my excitement run wild without restraint.
"Machine Spirit, huh."
Only those with passion and talent for racing could manifest it, right?
"Racing itself? Nah, but my passion for vehicles is unmatched, if I do say so myself."
I placed my foot on the accelerator.
"So show yourself, Machine Spirit."
"Huh!?"
The audience gasped in surprise, pointing somewhere.
Their gazes locked onto the symbol of the world's top racer, Lee Seung-hoon—his lifelong companion, the "All-Black Machine" race car.
"Machine Spirit!"
"Lee Seung-hoon's Machine Spirit!"
"The invincible's Machine Spirit is finally debuting!"
Another deep black silhouette rose over the pitch-black vehicle painted in Vantablack.
The audience cheered at the Machine Spirit, distinctly superior to all others.
"First to witness Lee Seung-hoon's Machine Spirit! What an honor!"
And...
"..."
One second.
Just one second.
That's how long their cheers lasted.
It was a Machine Spirit.
At the same time, something no living human should ever behold, instinctively stirring primal fear in all.
"...Ah."
Like an abyss.
Something utterly terrifying and intense, ringing alarm bells in every creature's survival instincts.
"Aaahhh!"
"Run!"
"I gotta get outta here!"
Countless spectators fled in panic.
The staff panicked too, but the race started first.
"Good."
Lee Seung-hoon floored the accelerator.
"Shall we race?"
[27th Dubai Racing Ends in Catastrophe.]
I sipped morning tea while reading the news.
[Only Invincible Undefeated Lee Seung-hoon Crosses Finish Line.]
[Audience Evacuated Early, No Fatalities.]
[All 12 Other Racers Suffer Critical Injuries, Lose Machine Spirits—Permanent Retirement.]
[Gate Heaven, Artificial Island and Middle East's Largest Racing Venue, Sinks into History.]
[How Did Gate Heaven, 1,848 km² Artificial Island Costing 2,700 Trillion in Construction, Sink?]
Lots of articles on the last race.
[Whoa! Footage survived—everyone see it? Lee Seung-hoon racer's Machine Spirit debut!]
└[Saw it. Insane. Survival instincts exploding full-body, bladder too!]
└[So that's the top racer's Machine Spirit.]
└[Epic. So cool yet so scary.]
└[That's why he never showed it before. Now I get it.]
[Why no Machine Spirit till now? Other racers too weak. No track could handle his full power!]
└[You need a Racesteel track for that.]
└[Know how pricey Racesteel is? Barely used for vehicle interiors.]
[So cool. That's the true top racer. Others look lame now.]
[But why's his Machine Spirit so terrifying? Straight-up monster?]
"In the original world, I'd be the culprit behind the disaster."
Here too it was a disaster, but since it happened during the race, it blew over.
More praise for me in the comments even—something inside me stirred contentedly.
"So this is what recognition feels like."
I'd never been acknowledged for my driving before.
Feels great.
'By the world's laws, protagonist correction should kick in now, right?'
Maybe some insanely skilled rival shows up.
'Safest way: don't face them.'
Just endure one year.
Then this playtime becomes fixed reality, and I can afford losses after.
'So skip races for a year, but...'
I finished the tea and poured fresh.
"This world is shaped by my whims. Even if benevolent, I should give others a chance too."
Thus, I won't refuse races.
'But if there's protagonist correction, shouldn't there be final boss correction too?'
Final bosses are the protagonist's destined foe, always evil—unless stopped, world ends or horrors ensue.
'The "Center of the World" as final boss wasn't like that. As entity and game master with few samples, it wasn't.'
But I'm human, an outsider.
So shouldn't final boss correction apply to me?
'No desire to torment anyone, destroy the world, or even dictate despite my power and wealth.'
No final boss correction, apparently.
Sighing at today's schedule.
[U.S. Secretary of Defense Loyalty Oath]
[Japanese Prime Minister Loyalty Oath]
[Chinese President Loyalty Oath]
So many loyalty oaths.
In a world where racing is ultimate truth, power and wealth concentrate—plenty to do.
'At least Sarang-i makes it easy, but doing this for unused power and wealth...'
...Wait, unused power and wealth?
A thought struck me.
"Rule by Non-Action."
Governing without interference, letting people naturally harmonize—a Daoist philosophy.
'In history, after Emperor Gaozu unified and Xiao He set laws, Prime Minister Cao Shen implemented it.'
With the world pacified by Gaozu and laws clarified by Xiao He, just follow them—no losses.
'But that only works in a completed system.'
This world was better than before.
Yet problems persisted.
"In this state, not using power is like ignoring issues till they explode."
I can't be Cao Shen.
That path leads to Ming's last emperor, not Cao Shen.
'To improve the world, I must use some power and wealth.'
What would make the world better?
I browsed internet communities for complaints.
[Sleek custom race car—whaddya think?]
[Sorry for being a libtard today too.]
[(Hate) Lee Seung-hoon Racer Machine Spirit Photo.jpg]
Clicked the libtard post.
Roughly: Philosophy grad, can't get a job, stuck doing gigs.
[Who majors in philosophy?]
[Chose the starve-yourself path lol]
[Liberal arts suck for jobs now. Even STEM struggles—who hires humanities?]
Most comments bashed the poster.
"Pity."
Philosophy nourishes the soul.
A discipline that enriches the heart.
"Even here, capitalism's ills linger."
Though I never graduated, I've always double-majored in philosophy in my heart—I can't stand by.
"Project Better World Step 1: Revive Philosophy."
I asked Sarang-i.
"Sarang, tell all world leaders: Mandate Kant's as required reading for citizens. Have them write book reports."
『Understood. What about those who refuse?』
"What kinda talk is that?"
Sarang-i too.
"I'm no dictator. I just purely want to nourish people's souls? It's just a recommendation."
"Lee Seung-hoon racer made his first 'request' ever."
"Lee Seung-hoon racer 'ordered' it."
"Lee Seung-hoon racer gave us a 'must-do' task."
His recommendations reached world leaders.
"Everyone must read Kant's !"
"Those without book reports get their credit scores downgraded!"
Previously, they'd protest.
But after witnessing his otherworldly racing sink an island, the world was primed to obey.
The top racer rules the world.
It was etched in humanity's DNA, like a law.
"What's this mean?"
"Dunno. Seems interested in philosophy?"
"No philosophy dept here? Explain what it means! Book's too hard, no clue!"
Once might be a whim, but his recommendations didn't stop.
"Now it's Hermann Hesse's The Glass Bead Game?"
"Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being? Never heard of it."
"J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye—this one's readable."
His suggestions continued, rapidly changing daily life.
[New Hire Recruitment. Philosophy Majors Preferred]
[New Hire Recruitment, Liberal Arts Preferred]
[New Hires Wanted, Korean Lit Bonus Points]
For some reason, Lee Seung-hoon favors humanities.
That alone shook up the job market.
"Hmm."
And his recommendations didn't end.
"Next, for a better world: Mandate daily debate time."