Chapter 145
Chapter 145
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Side Story - Transcendence Mission
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Boring.'
Kim Mi-seon (35), an internet news reporter, tapped away at her laptop in a café.
Having taken the afternoon off, she leisurely checked if the article she'd written that morning had gone up properly.
[Unbelievable!? Entertainment King ○○○ Shocks Netizens with Bombshell Statement!]
○○○ drops a bombshell: sweet and sour pork is better with sauce on top!
====
[Exclusive! ◎◎◎'s Shocking Double Life—Caught Entering Hotel with Woman Who Isn't His Wife...]
Turns out it was his wife, △△△. Her new cosmetics worked so well she's a decade younger, and netizens are in a frenzy trying to figure out what brand she's using.
====
[□□□'s Betrayal? Always Stressing Patriotism and Military Service, □□□ Suddenly Goes Public Service...]
He stated that those serving in public service work just as hard for the country and deserve respect.
====
[Comments]
[This is straight-up trash journalism...]
[Is this an article or community bait?]
[Wow, you get paid for this? Salary thieves, living the easy life.]
She frowned at the comments.
'You think I like writing crap like this?'
There just weren't any juicy stories lately.
With a sigh, she steeled herself. This won't do.
'Should I risk a lawsuit and fabricate something?'
Edit celebrity banter to look like a fight?
Use company connections to force a celeb to drink, stuff them in a car, and claim drunk driving?
Or bribe an agency manager to steal their phone?
Soothing her mind at a quiet café on the outskirts, gazing at nature, she spotted a car parked on the shoulder.
'Smoke coming from the hood?'
Fire? Engine trouble?
Either way, it could be a goldmine to sink her teeth into a manufacturer. She left the café and approached.
"Yes, President Lee Seung-hoon's computer has been retrieved and placed in the trunk. But the engine suddenly malfunctioned, so returning right away will be difficult."
President Lee Seung-hoon?
No way, the one I know? "No, we checked it thoroughly before leaving. It was fine then... Yes, we'll be extra careful."
If true, this was bigger than big. A computer used by Lee Seung-hoon? Loaded with personal dirt. Not just one or two scoops—years' worth. Maybe even cut a sweet deal with Lee Seung-hoon himself. But stealing it wouldn't be easy. The owner was still on the phone by the car, and from afar, she saw another in the same uniform in the passenger seat. This makes it even juicier? Shady folks retrieving a computer that could just be tossed?I've gotta get it. Then, the guy on the phone said to the passenger: "Rookie, I'm heading to the café for a bit. What do you want?"
"I'll have an Americano, please!"
"Okay, don't go anywhere and guard it well."
One headed to the café. Just deal with the passenger. But she didn't need to scheme.
"Ugh! Why my stomach all of a sudden!"
The passenger clutched his gut 'suddenly' and squirmed out of the car.
"Check! Just check!"
He verified the doors were locked. Trunk secure. Windows up. Satisfied, he clenched his butt cheeks and bolted to the café. Jackpot! But how to open the trunk? Pry too soon, and the alarm might blare. ? Up close, the trunk was already open. What? Didn't check the lock? Rookie mistake? No way she'd pass it up. She grabbed the PC from the trunk and dashed to her car.
"Exclusive! This is an exclusive!"
What secrets did it hold? Company corruption reports? Upcoming business plans? Maybe Lee Seung-hoon's sordid private life! Sexual stuff would be perfect. Nothing more sensational or blackmail-friendly! Kim Mi-seon hauled the PC tower straight home.
"Woof!"
"Happy! I'll play later! Sis is busy now!"
She shoved her dog aside and hooked it to her monitor. Quick inspection, and her excitement deflated. Nothing here? Just a word processor and e-book storage program. Already wiped? No, those wouldn't survive a wipe. Spare machine? Wait, what's this? Thought it was a browser icon, but the name differed. [Multidimensional Community] Maybe a hidden data stash. She launched it on reflex. Suddenly, a black worm-like shape appeared before her eyes. But a blink, and it vanished.
"What? Where'd it go?"
The program disappeared too.
"Yawn."
After investigating all night, she yawned awake.
Nothing. No hidden folders. What the hell? Weekend laziness led her to check her smartphone. 'Huh? What's this?' An unfamiliar app installed. [Transcendence Mission] Did I install this game? She only had light puzzle apps. Delete it. Deleted, breakfast, then lounged on the sofa and checked her phone.
"What? I definitely deleted it?"
The Transcendence Mission app was still there.
"......"
Normally, she'd never run it. Unknown apps could leak data or ransomware the device.
"Ah."
But compelled by some force, an irresistible pull, she launched it. A new screen appeared.
[Welcome to the Transcendence Mission App!]
[Transcend humanity through weekly missions!]
[Become the transcendent and revel in ultimate happiness!]
[Walk 10,000 steps]
[Accept][Decline]
"What is this?"
Silly content, but that pull made her hit Accept.
[Walk 10,000 steps]
[Progress: 0/10,000]
"Woof!"
"Yeah, let's go for a walk."
Had to walk Happy anyway.
After, she checked the app.
[Walk 10,000 steps]
[Progress: 12,755/10,000]
[Achieved! Congratulations! One step closer to transcendence!]
[Reward: Happiness Level 1]
[Accept][Decline]
She accepted the reward.
Feels good for some reason. Like soaking in hot soup after an exhausting day? Well, not malicious, so I'll leave it.
[Stay awake for 24 hours]
[Progress: 0 hours/24 hours]
[Accept][Decline]
Days later, Kim Mi-seon opened the app.
Needed new scoops anyway, planning an all-nighter—not tough.
It's Lee Seung-hoon's computer, right? Plant porn—child, gay—claim he watched it? Deep in thought, she binged a new drama instead. "Ugh, finished it all." Phone notification.
[Stay awake for 24 hours]
[Progress: 24 hours/24 hours]
[Achieved! Congratulations! One step closer to transcendence!]
[Reward: Happiness Level 2]
[Accept][Decline]
Accepted.
A tingle surged from her toes, up her spine to her head.
"Ah......"
The pure orgasm from her first masturbation.
Now beyond reach due to higher thresholds—that bliss lingered, then faded.
Not coincidence? She stared at the app. If this is level 2, what's next?
[Dissect 7 live chickens]
[Progress: 0/7]
Since then, the app consumed her thoughts.
Clear missions for bliss? Laughable if told.
7 live chickens? To confirm, tackle mission 3. Tougher, so she used all paid leave, claiming illness.
"Cluck cluck!"
Drove to a rural farm, bought live chickens. [How to Dress a Chicken] [Stun the live chicken first by...] YouTube had everything.
"...Done."
Some mistakes, but progress ticked up. One per day. By week's end, pro-level skill. Talent I never knew? Then, third bliss hit.
"!?"
Lightning of joy struck her whole body.
"Ah! Aah! Aaaaaaah!"
"Woof! Woof woof! Grrrr! Woof!"
Beast-like moans, her dog barking nonstop.
"Woof!"
Not at her. At her smartphone.
OldBoss: Hey! You quitting or what!?
OldBoss: Saw the message! Reply! Or pick up the damn phone!
Kim Mi-seon quit the company.
Daily happiness? Trash compared to the app's.
"Woof! Woof woof!"
"Happy, quiet down? Security keeps coming because of you."
"Woof woof!"
"Sigh, really......"
Mission 4 was hard.
[Kill a dog]
[Progress: 0/1]
Man's best friend, dog.
Worlds apart from chicken ingredients—visceral revulsion.
"Ah......"
Held out at first.
But days later, craving the bliss, she gripped a kitchen knife.
"Woof woof!"
"Happy, quiet, I said?"
She glared, then set it down.
"Happy, come here."
Next day, adopted a barely awake puppy from the pet shop.
"Sorry."
Cold knife slit the whimpering pup's throat.
"Oh......!"
No accept needed—reward hit.
"Oooh!"
Her soul left her body, wandering the world.
No bounds of space or time—anywhere, anytime.
"Ooooooh!"
Felt the world.
One with all, sensing nature's sanctity, life's cycle, every being's purpose.
Sprouts whisper, beasts rot in her mind.
Child's cry, elder's laugh on her tongue.
Hydrogens fuse, neutrons split across her skin.
She became all.
Then, pathetic human again.
"Ah!"
First taste of soul's ecstasy.
"Again, let me taste it again!"
Beyond flesh.
Transcendence's bliss.
'1 hour 17 min 25 sec, 26 sec, 27 sec......'
No more food.
Stared at clock, waiting for the app.
"Whine, whine, whimper......"
Her dog no longer barked.
Sad whines, tugging her clothes, but she didn't stir.
"Ah."
Around 24 hours, phone vibrated.
["Happy" must die]
[Progress: 0/1]
"Happy."
"Whine, whimper."
She smiled, hugged her dog.
"Come here."
That soul bliss—indescribable.
"Hello? Mom?"
- Huh? What's up! You called first!
"No, just missed you suddenly. Dad home?"
Long overdue outing.
Could drive, but took public transport to see more people.
-Yeah, Dad's retired routine: fishing, friends, now learning cocktails from Shorts or whatever!
"Really? Dad hated booze."
-Saw cocktails online, bought supplies, mixing nonstop. House reeks!
"So Dad. Obsesses over one thing forever."
All humans pathetic.
Worse than bugs.
Do they know transcendence, soul-world unity?
"Right, Mom! Can I visit today?"
-Huh? Yeah, come quick! Your fave pork kimchi stew and rolled omelet. Oh, gotta shop.
"Thanks, Mom."
-Be careful. Always say: watch the road! Health first!
"Yeah."
How base the flesh.
Soul's evolution to higher planes—so profound.
Life's meaninglessness—none know.
["Mom" and "Dad" must die]
[Progress: 0/2]
Even parents.
Two days holed up.
[Hello, this is Detective Joo Moo-jae, Bucheon PD Violent Crimes Unit. Sudden call, but bad news re: your parents...]
Ignored police texts.
Blocked calls early, acquaintances too.
"Next, next, next!"
Only the app.
"I am no longer of this defiling world. I refuse to linger in its filth. Please, grant me transcendence."
Next day, detectives knocked.
"Kim Mi-seon! Come out! We know you're in!"
Amid the racket, her awaited mission arrived.
["Kim Mi-seon" must die]
[Progress: 0/1]
She grabbed the kitchen knife.
"Aah, finally!"
Stabbed her own heart.
Beyond death, Kim Mi-seon felt the world.
In transcendence's sense, something new appeared.
[Offer your soul to them]
[Progress: 0/1]
Accepted.
The world descended.
Aah. That being. The great entity. True transcendent turning our world to sand grains. I offer myself to you. Her soul became part of it. A mere cell. Trivial offering, yet it blessed her generously. May I forever be your part. Eternal happiness as its fragment.
[Entity Name: Transcendence Mission App]
[Grade: Dangerous]
[Entity Anomalies as Follows:]
[1. Provides simple missions upon human launch after download.]
[2. Grants pleasure upon mission completion.]
[3. Pleasure scales exponentially with higher missions.]
[3-1. Experiments show pleasure values as follows:]
[3-1-1]
[Level 1 Mission: Pleasure like waking refreshed.]
[Level 2 Mission: Pleasure of first sex and orgasm.]
[Level 3 Mission: Pleasure of IV meth injection.]
[Level 4 Mission: No physical comparable. Measured ~270,000x meth. Cardiac arrest expected from excess, but no bodily damage.]
[Level 5 Mission: Immeasurable]
[Level 6 Mission: -CENSORED-]
[Level 7 Mission: -CENSORED- / Viewable with 3 overseer approvals.]
[4. Mission difficulty rises exponentially.]
[4-1. Experiments show:]
[Level 1 Mission: Easily doable by average person.]
[Level 2 Mission: Achievable with minor effort.]
[Level 3 Mission: Slightly hard. Needs specialized knowledge/skills, but subjects acquire rapidly despite inexperience.]
[Level 4 Mission: Killing living things baseline; targets hard to kill.]
[Level 5 Mission: Points to physically/emotionally close ones. Pets, roommates, coworkers—not family yet.]
[Level 6 Mission: Always family. Self-harm if none.]
[Level 7 Mission: -CENSORED-]
[5. Cannot quarantine, but app store delisting blocks spread. Thus Dangerous grade.]
[5-1. Blocked entities absent 30 days.]
[6. Establish 24hr blocking watch until full quarantine.]
[7. Traced to External Special Advisor Lee Seung-hoon's computer. Multiple overseers proposed -CENSORED- re: him, but Sefirot predicts 99%+ Earth crisis/Foundation doom. Proposal scrapped.]
[P.S. Earth crisis? Foundation doom? Lee Seung-hoon that entity? -Overseer msg-]
[8. C-Grade Agents retrieving (Tom Hyer, Park Kwang-deok) disciplined: 90% pay cut 10yrs + priority to Apocalypse-grade incidents same period.]
[P.P.S. Listen! How's that bastard human!? Normal humans don't doom Earth/Foundation on quarantine! Proves he's no human! -Overseer msg-]
[P.P.P.S. -CENSORED- / Overseer shows severe PTSD; suspended, testing for memetic pollution, cognition alteration, reality bending.]
[Sefirot Archive]