Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Resolve
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Na Youngho and Dokgo Hyun asked the Total Administrator what the "Run" written in the mission window meant.
"I can't answer that."
The Total Administrator said with a smile.
"What the hell? You said we could ask about mission-related stuff."
Na Youngho grumbled and persistently asked several times.
The Total Administrator suddenly showed signs of annoyance.
"You're really persistent. The '???' marks in the mission window are there for a reason. You'll find out later."
"Tch."
In the end, they'd have to play one round of poker to learn what the Run phase was.
"Get some rest, then. Those who want dinner should eat ahead of time."
"Hm? It's not starting right away?"
"No. The preparations aren't quite ready yet..."
The Total Administrator trailed off.
Dokgo Hyun couldn't understand it.
The poker table and cards were all set up.
'It has to be preparations for the Run phase.'
It was getting more suspicious by the minute.
"Ahem! We'll start when the sun sets."
The Total Administrator said, glancing out the window.
"Sunset's around 7:20 today, so let's make it a clean 7:30 start. Gather back here by then. And no fighting among players before the mission begins."
The Total Administrator double-checked if he'd missed anything and added one last thing.
"It's the final round, so I'll deal myself. Rest freely until then!"
The Total Administrator hurried off.
"Good grief."
There were over two hours until 7:30.
'I could lie down for a quick nap.'
Creeeak...
Na Youngho seemed to have the same idea, silently opening the classroom door and leaving without a word.
"Um, sunbae? What are you planning to do now?"
Oh Sua approached with her usual piercing stare.
"Ah, sorry."
Dokgo Hyun raised a hand to cut off the conversation.
"Better not talk to the competition. Sorry, but let's spend the time apart."
With that, he coolly left the 1st Year Class 1 classroom.
Then he went to do the exact opposite of what he'd told Oh Sua.
'Time to talk with Na Youngho.'
Na Youngho opened a Universal Ration, ate it, and lay down on the infirmary bed to rest.
"Whew."
Na Youngho checked the mission window's time limit.
"It ends at 10:10 PM today."
He wondered why it specifically ended at 10:10 PM.
'Maybe because our school's self-study ends at 10:10?'
The principal insisted on making students study 10 minutes more than nearby schools.
So unlike others, self-study here ended at 10:10.
'Ridiculous. Come to school and spend the day in a murder game... then pull an all-nighter playing poker during self-study.'
It was beyond "educationally lacking"—a total disaster.
'And that's really coming to an end now.'
Na Youngho tried to visualize himself winning.
Just like endlessly imagining arrows hitting their mark...
Bang!
The infirmary door flew open without a knock.
It was Dokgo Hyun.
"Na Youngho!"
"Fuck, what?"
Na Youngho's rest and meditation were ruined.
"Sorry, but can I interrupt for a sec?"
"..."
Na Youngho swallowed his anger and sat up on the bed.
"If it's not important, mission rules or not, you're dead."
"Funny ending. I die, you die for breaking rules, and Oh Sua wins."
"What's the deal, you fucker?"
"Let's team up and kill the Total Administrator."
"What?"
"I've roughed out a plan. Wanna hear it?"
"..."
Na Youngho glanced around, then closed the infirmary door and windows, drawing the curtains.
"Spill it."
"First off, the Total Administrator's strong. Way stronger than us."
They'd clearly seen him crush the Bunny Girl's head with one hand and turn her into a new monster.
He likely had all sorts of powers besides that.
"I know that."
"But from what I've observed, he's still a living being—a person."
Dokgo Hyun had studied the Total Administrator.
Despite the mask, his hands and the skin under it looked like a typical middle-aged East Asian man.
"So, I think he can die if we kill him."
"So what's the method?"
"It's simple: hit him with a lethal blow when he can't dodge or block."
"Who doesn't know that? When's that moment?"
"When he's dealing the cards."
"...!!"
"Since he's handling the final mission himself, he'll stand at the dealer's spot and distribute the cards personally, right?"
There were three stools along one side of the poker table.
The opposite side was for the dealer.
"While he's dealing cards to us, both hands will be occupied with them."
No machines or assistants were visible on the table.
So the Total Administrator would likely deal with his own two hands.
"His hands will be busy holding cards, his eyes on the cards and table. We strike in that gap."
Dokgo Hyun explained the rest with gestures and glances.
Swoosh, swoosh.
'I'll use my knife with [Instant Acceleration] on his neck. You aim [Air Bow] at his heart.'
The simple motions made it easy for Na Youngho to get it.
"Brutally straightforward plan... but not bad."
Na Youngho started to criticize but found it surprisingly solid.
Dokgo Hyun pressed to convince him further.
"Listen, Na Youngho. Killing the Total Administrator is for all humanity too."
"Suddenly what—"
"He said he manages multiple zones. Meaning tutorials are running elsewhere too."
Dokgo Hyun emphasized.
"We're lucky—he's personally handling our final mission. When's the next chance to get this close? Too good to pass up."
"Honestly, yeah, but..."
"We have to do it. For players in other zones, and for us to escape."
Dokgo Hyun appealed with noble reasoning, but Na Youngho wasn't that easy.
"...The cause I buy. But there are issues. Two big ones."
"First: Is this the real Total Administrator or a double? Second: Does killing him really end everything?"
"Heh, you've thought it through. Let's hear your take."
"First: Probably the real one. About... 80% sure?"
"Rough 80%? Why?"
"From his personality so far, he acts casual but really values his authority."
"Yeah, like when he killed the Bunny Girl."
"So he'd hate anyone impersonating him."
"Still just a guess."
"One more. I noticed blood on his shirt cuff."
"Blood?"
"From when he killed the Bunny Girl."
"Ah...!"
Na Youngho recalled it.
Blood had spurted from the dead Bunny Girl's neck, splattering the Total Administrator's shirt cuff.
"Bloodstain on the cuff? That's proof it's the real deal."
Na Youngho nodded at Dokgo Hyun's words.
"Fine, that checks out. But second issue."
"Right. Second: Proof that killing him frees everyone?"
"Yeah. Got any?"
"None."
Dokgo Hyun had pondered it, but there was no guarantee killing the Total Administrator would liberate them.
Worst case, something like "Total Administrator dead, so all remaining players die too~"
Na Youngho's face showed dismay, but Dokgo Hyun didn't give up.
"Flip it: Without him, why would this apocalypse game's tutorial continue?"
"Huh?"
"If tutorials are truly worldwide and he holds massive power, his sudden death would cause chaos."
"Hm."
"We might not escape, but everything pauses at least. Other zones' players aren't idiots—they'll realize something's up."
"The game's overseers aren't omnipotent, they fumble crises too... and that spreads?"
"Exactly. Not sure if it helps us, but worth trying. Right?"
Dokgo Hyun grinned fiercely without realizing it.
Just imagining landing a blow on them brought a smile.
Na Youngho eyed Dokgo Hyun's expression oddly.
'Dangerous kid.'
Dokgo Hyun had played this school's tutorial the hardest.
Yet he was gleefully plotting to kill the game's overseer.
He followed rules better than anyone—until it was time to break them.
'He's dead serious about this plan.'
Na Youngho knew Dokgo Hyun wasn't bluffing; he'd do it.
He'd acted without hesitation against the Bunny Girl too.
"That's all."
Dokgo Hyun stood.
"Help me or not, even rat me out—I follow through. Join or don't, your call."
Dokgo Hyun left the infirmary.
Alone, Na Youngho muttered.
"Fucker. Making me think."
Dokgo Hyun sat at his desk in 3rd Year Class 4.
He stared quietly out the window at the setting sun.
Then looked around.
Bodies were gone, but desks and chairs remained scattered.
"..."
Dokgo Hyun opened his Status Window.
He'd held onto coins in case of other uses, not investing in stats.
Now, facing the final tutorial mission, he dumped them all in.
Including coins from killing those who'd targeted Baek Seonghui, he had about 1,500 spare.
"Raise Strength, Speed, and Mana by 5 each."
"Good. Prep's done."
He'd maxed Stamina extremely during the goblin and dodgeball rounds, so he tweaked the others.
"This classroom's last day too, huh."
Dokgo Hyun quietly ate while imagining the final battle in various ways.
Hanshin High School had a separate two-story library building.
Its basement level 1 housed club rooms for book-related activities.
Oh Sua was alone in the Mystery Club room on basement level 1.
A worn three-person club sofa, sagging in the middle.
Oh Sua huddled in the sunken center.
"I can do it..."
She feared the final battle ahead, but her mind stayed cool.
"I'll clear it and survive. And then, and then...!"
Grind.
She gnashed her teeth.
"I'll lie to the whole world."
Her claim of entering the finale for family was a lie.
Oh Sua's reason was personal ambition.
'Fool the world that looked down on me with lies and dominate it.'
"Ah."
She caught her reflection in the Mystery Club mirror and quickly schooled her expression.
She had to erase the combative look.
'Act weaker. Even more.'
In truth, Oh Sua's physical abilities and stats were lower than Dokgo Hyun's and Na Youngho's.
'I'm the weakest of the three. That's my breakthrough. And...'
Oh Sua had lied to Dokgo Hyun and Na Youngho about one thing.
It hadn't been exposed yet.