Chapter 1: The Status Window Awakens
In 2126, humanity's future wasn't all that different from what people back in 2026 had imagined.
Humanity had ventured into space to escape the confines of Earth's space and resources, and out there, they were exploring infinite resources and mysteries.
"Humanity will triumph over the Mogs!"
And just as predicted a century ago, they were waging war against cosmic alien threats that prowled the stars.
That was it.
Human lifespans now exceeded three hundred years, most diseases including cancer were curable, and science had advanced to the point where space tourism was commonplace and people could own private homes on Mars or the Moon complete with pools and vegetable gardens. Yet for the vast majority of humanity, daily life hadn't changed much from a hundred years prior.
"Humanity's technological progress is dazzling! We enjoy countless luxuries unimaginable a century ago!"
The reason was simple.
"If you've got the money!"
Everything came with a price tag—and a hefty one at that.
In some ways, life was even tougher than a century ago.
Back then, people didn't have to compete for jobs with robots that worked 24/7 without complaints or smoke breaks, self-driving cars that hit 300 km/h without a single accident, or AIs that churned out a thousand drawings per second.
In such a world, there was really only one way for the average person to make big money.
"Recruiting soldiers to fight the Mogs!"
Hunting the cosmic monster race known as the Mogs that threatened humanity from beyond the stars.
Kim Seo-jun had done just that.
"Young-chul."
"Yeah, what's up."
"Why does Korea still have mandatory conscription?"
"We're a divided nation, right? North Korea's still there."
"In the space age, does a divided nation even mean anything? Does that border line matter in the vast universe?"
"You got your draft notice, didn't you, you bastard."
He had received his draft notice at nineteen.
"Yeah, it came. Damn it. I can't believe draft notices are still a thing in the 22nd century."
"Why not? From the country's perspective, it's free cheap labor. Weird if they didn't take it. And it's not dangerous these days anyway. Basic training, then you work in a munitions factory and you're done. Right? Wait. Seo-jun, no way. Tell me you're not. Hey, you're not, right?"
And when the notice arrived, Kim Seo-jun said,
"I'm enlisting as a Space Marine."
He wanted to become a Space Marine, crossing the stars to fight those monsters nose-to-nose.
"You crazy bastard!"
It was, of course, insane.
"Why the hell would you commit suicide like that?"
"Why do you think anyone enlists as a Space Marine these days?"
"For the money?"
"Yeah."
But Kim Seo-jun had no choice.
"Hyung collapsed."
"Jin-su hyung?"
"Sister-in-law won't say much, but his condition's bad. Especially his liver and pancreas. Needs a new organ transplant, but as you know, that's pricey."
His brother was sick.
"Dude, even so..."
"No 'even so' about it. You know how much hyung suffered for me and Hye-eun."
"Yeah..."
To Kim Seo-jun, his brother Kim Jin-su was more than just family.
"I still can't fathom it. Becoming the head of the household at fifteen, raising a five-year-old and a three-year-old."
The tragedy that struck their parents—his brother hadn't broken. He'd given everything for his siblings.
"Heading out as a mercenary at seventeen, no draft notice, gunning down Mogs in space. What that must've been like."
With one goal—to keep his siblings alive—his brother had shown courage and sacrifice no one else dared.
And now that brother was sick.
"If hyung did it, so can I."
In that situation, with a chance to help, Kim Seo-jun didn't hesitate.
He enlisted as a Space Marine.
Life afterward was more brutal than anyone could've predicted.
Fighting those monsters in a Battle Suit with a gun in hand was pure madness.
He wrote a will before every mission.
He'd seen countless comrades, laughing and joking just ten minutes prior, chewed alive by Mogs.
"Sergeant Kim, you're discharging in a week, right?"
"Yes."
"Why not reenlist? I'm serious. I've seen a lot of soldiers, and you've got real talent. I can even write you a recommendation for special forces."
"I'm not crazy yet, sir."
"...Good. I was gonna ship you to a psych ward if you said yes."
But Kim Seo-jun survived, and now he was finally bidding farewell to the Mog battlefields.
"Sergeant Kim Seo-jun, good work. No bullshit—you saved hundreds of lives with your courage out there."
"It was an honor serving in your company, sir."
With that final salute, Kim Seo-jun boarded a ship bound for Earth—his first return in three years.
The next six years were pure happiness.
His Space Marine pay wasn't small, and it restored his brother's health. Then, between his recovered brother and sister-in-law, a nephew was born—one they wouldn't trade for the world.
Watching them, Kim Seo-jun dreamed of landing a good job, finding a partner who believed in him, having kids, and living happily.
He dreamed of a rosy future.
But it crumbled soon enough.
On his nephew's fifth birthday, the accident happened.
Terrorism.
His brother got caught in it.
Full-body burns. Body shattered.
In the 21st century, it would've been instant death. But 22nd-century medicine kept him alive.
Of course, with a condition.
Money. A lot of it.
"Uncle, when's Daddy waking up?"
Facing his nephew's question as his brother lay comatose, Kim Seo-jun answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Soon."
In that instant, he applied for non-commissioned officer status.
And enlisted again.
"Sergeant Kim Seo-jun, any preferred posting?"
"Wherever pays the most."
"...You serious?"
"Yes, sir. Why else would I join the military twice?"
"Dead serious, huh."
He went to the shittiest place—the newest resource development planet, unknown what lurked there.
No fear.
"Sergeant Kim, first mission since commissioning?"
"So what?"
"Nothing, just curious. Got your diaper ready? Not kidding—ten out of ten rookies, enlisted or NCO, shit themselves first Mog sighting. Even I still do sometimes."
"Corporal Lee Ji-hoon."
"Yes, sir."
"This is my reenlistment."
"Pardon?"
"I'm a reenlistee."
He'd been through it before.
And that's why.
He'd been deployed to a fresh development planet when...
Mogdogs incoming!
...a hundred two-meter-long insectoids charged—exoskeletal, dog-like on four legs, with scythe arms like a mantis atop them.
"M-My God! T-Too many!"
"Then jab it."
"Huh?"
"You confident facing that sober? Everyone, Steam Pack up!"
Kim Seo-jun stayed calm, injecting the Space Marine awakening agent, the Steam Pack.
Pshhh!
In the altered world, the heightened senses, Sergeant Kim Seo-jun fought for his life alongside his men.
It was brutal.
Full wipe wouldn't have been surprising.
"Survivors?"
"Eight, sir."
Luck saved them. Kim Seo-jun and his squad won the battle.
A miracle.
"Two dead."
There was grief.
But even then, Kim Seo-jun didn't get excited, shocked, or crushed.
He'd been through it all.
And he'd go through it countless more times.
Of course, there was that too.
"Woooo! Fireworks! Fireworks!"
"Heh heh heh, hee hee hee."
The Steam Pack's side effects were wrecking their senses, making rational emotion or judgment impossible.
Kim Seo-jun too.
The moment he injected, the side effects hit: world looked different, phantom sounds in his ears.
That was why.
Status Window activated.
Huh?
When that voice rang in his ear, Kim Seo-jun chalked it up to Steam Pack side effects.
Common ones too.
He'd heard comrades babbling under the influence: Leveled up! A constellation sponsors me! Got instant-kill skill!
So he brushed it off.
"Status Window, huh."
When the holographic window popped up, same thing.
...This hallucination's intense.
Just a strong side effect, he figured.
"Gold Ticket."
Shhh!
"Huh?"
But when a golden ticket materialized over his Battle Suit glove as he spoke—different story.
...This a hallucination?
He stared at the Gold Ticket in his hand, and it appeared.
◈ Tear to acquire a stat, skill, or talent.
Even seeing that, Kim Seo-jun was half-doubting.
Still thought hallucination.
Riiip!
Gold Ticket torn.
Congratulations! Platinum-grade reward obtained!
Blessing of Apollo (55 days) acquired!
Now able to see trajectories of all projectiles.
That moment.
333 Mogdogs confirmed!
Sudden combat alert blared. Snapping to, Kim Seo-jun barked at his drugged subordinates.
"Battle stations! Weapons up!"
"Huh? N-Now, sir? S-Something weird's happening!"
"Same here."
And Kim Seo-jun could see it.
Click!
Aim locked on the charging Mogdogs—red laser line beaming from his gun barrel.
"...Yeah, I'm seeing something weird too."
Kim Seo-jun. First day as NCO. Status Window born.