Chapter 55
Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Total Administrator's Announcement (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dokgo Hyun had a rough plan to catch up to Lee Hyun-jun.
It would change drastically depending on what the next mission was.
'And it was a future I couldn't avoid anyway.'
It had been well over three minutes now, so rewinding time was out of the question. Even if he could, picking Mission 5-B to compete with Lee Hyun-jun would be insane.
"Looks like everyone's here."
The TV Girl spoke from the stage in a cold tone.
"I'm sure some of you are curious, so let me explain how Lee Hyun-jun Player eliminated the remaining 60 people."
"I'll just tell them myself."
Lee Hyun-jun cut her off and explained.
"I combined the power of my skill [Airflow Control] with my artifact 'Solid Cutter' and wiped them all out. Half of them were thanks to that idiot TV Girl."
Lee Hyun-jun pointed at the TV Girl as he spoke, and she trembled in place, visibly furious.
Lee Hyun-jun revealed the mission he had cleared to everyone.
"Some bastard tried to throw it by intentionally getting it wrong so we'd all die. No choice but to kill him. Once I did, the others were thrilled, saying it felt good to see the troublemaker gone."
Lee Hyun-jun grinned.
"So I just killed them all."
Most of the Players here couldn't grasp what the "so" meant.
"Makes sense, right? Everyone who died by my hand was an idiot without a brain. This Supervisor TV Girl is the same. She should've banned violence during the mission outright, but she allowed it temporarily? No need to hold back then. So I killed them all. Explanation over."
The TV Girl let out a sigh-like motion.
"Obviously, violence is prohibited between missions. I'll make it clear from now on, but unless I explicitly allow it, any violent acts are completely blocked, no exceptions."
The TV Girl emphasized.
It was a warning, but Lee Hyun-jun just chuckled.
"Doesn't matter. I'll kill you all anyway, one way or another."
Having tasted so much blood, Lee Hyun-jun didn't hide his cruelty more than usual.
"Especially you."
Lee Hyun-jun pointed at Dokgo Hyun.
"And you."
He then pointed at Kim Min-kyung.
"I'll kill you two as soon as possible. I swear it. The rest of you, remember my words."
Lee Hyun-jun had issued death sentences for Dokgo Hyun and Kim Min-kyung.
In other words, he had officially named them the next most dangerous threats after himself.
"......"
"Oh my......"
Dokgo Hyun stayed silent, while Kim Min-kyung let out an admiring sound like she found it amusing.
'Suits me just fine.'
That's what Dokgo Hyun thought.
He had already witnessed Lee Hyun-jun's danger through regression.
If anything, Dokgo Hyun himself wanted to take out Lee Hyun-jun quickly.
Leaving such a dangerous element unchecked for long was bad news.
'Just no opportunity or justification yet.'
A head-on clash during a mission would be ideal. Otherwise, for a sneak attack or sabotage midway, he'd need some pretext.
Even in this brutal death game, naked ambushes or dirty tricks required at least that much justification or rule allowance.
'He publicly targeted me, so perfect for me. You're dead now.'
As he thought that, he felt Kim Min-kyung, the [Mother of Parasites], looking his way.
She smiled brightly and waved, so Dokgo Hyun waved back.
'Team up?'
She mouthed.
'Pass.'
Dokgo Hyun shook his head and mouthed back.
Kim Min-kyung dramatically pretended to sob, and Dokgo Hyun gave a wry smile as he thought.
'You're dangerous too.'
Lee Hyun-jun singling out Kim Min-kyung meant she was just as threatening.
The other Players realized it too and started murmuring.
"So those three are the top dogs here."
"Lee Hyun-jun, Dokgo Hyun, Kim Min-kyung......"
"Never cross those three."
The remaining Players were flustered, and the TV Girl, seeing the mind games settle, spoke up again.
"Attention, everyone. The Total Administrator is finally ready to make his announcement on TV stations worldwide. Stay quiet, and especially some of you—keep it peaceful."
Kiririk...
A large screen descended onto the stage.
Before it fully settled, someone inside the screen began speaking.
"Ahem. Can you all see me? Players worldwide and non-Players?"
The Total Administrator was seated in the Korean HBS news studio.
His other clones had seized heads of state and media worldwide.
And they broadcast the same message globally.
Baek Seonghui was in a tough spot.
Thanks to the shameless reporters.
Somehow they knew she was a Tutorial survivor and had swarmed her place.
She tried asking the police for help, but their forces were depleted.
Many precincts had been wiped out in the Tutorial, and riots were rampant otherwise.
Rumor had it even the president was under some 'mask's control, acting strangely. That said it all.
'Sigh, plenty in worse spots than me, probably can't request protection.'
Baek Seonghui thought while hiding in her room.
Her parents had once yelled at the reporters to leave, but it backfired.
'Our daughter is still in high school! Reporters! Leave now!!'
Confirming she was a high school girl Tutorial survivor only made them more aggressive.
Even now.
"So you are in high school?"
"No regrets toward other survivors? Father! Just one word!"
"Tell your daughter to cooperate with the interview! It's an unprecedented crisis—you have a duty to society!"
"We'll wait outside! Come out for the interview!"
Spouting rights to know and social duty while oppressing her personal freedom and threatening her.
Eventually, her parents locked the door.
And there was nothing left but to endure the racket outside.
Whether fortunate or not, the reporters wouldn't step inside—doing so would kill them.
'I wonder if Hyun is okay.'
Amid the stress, Baek Seonghui suddenly pictured Dokgo Hyun's face.
She wondered what he'd do in her shoes.
'Beat them all up?'
Dokgo Hyun would tease the reporters through the door, riling them up more.
Then, as they pulled and banged on it, he'd fling it open.
He'd maneuver a few inside the threshold to drop dead.
Then declare the shocked rest illegal trespassers and pummel them.
To the battered, ragged reporters, he'd proclaim:
'I clearly refused interviews, yet you trespassed my home. With police unavailable, I used force as self-defense. I held back, but if you think it's excessive, sue me.'
Of course, police and courts were paralyzed now.
Pfft.
Baek Seonghui chuckled unwittingly.
Thinking of Dokgo Hyun's bold antics brought an absurd laugh and lifted her spirits a bit.
That's when it happened.
Pop!
Papapap!
TV, computer, smartphone.
Even the radio tucked in a drawer with its cord unplugged.
All electronic devices capable of news activated, regardless of power source.
"Huh?!"
"Wh-what the."
"Seonghui! Seonghui!"
Not just the reporters outside, but her parents inside cried out in surprise.
"Calm down, Mom, Dad."
Like a Tutorial veteran, Baek Seonghui spoke gravely.
"Gather in front of the TV. Hurry."
She turned on her phone's recorder, grabbed a notepad and pen, and sat poised before the TV.
Whatever announcement was coming, it'd be crucial.
True to form, the model student was ready to take notes.
"Ahem. Can you all see me? Players worldwide and non-Players?"
It was the Total Administrator.
For some reason, the background was Korea's HBS news studio.
"I planned to announce around your commute time, but it took longer—sorry. Drafting the Earth destruction declaration and taking over the UN took more time than expected......"
The Total Administrator cleared his throat a few times, then declared.
"You're all screwed now."
Everyone watching was dumbfounded.
"To be precise, the old world you knew is already gone. From now on, you're either Players or NPCs in my Apocalypse Game. Actually, the sorting is done."
The Total Administrator slightly raised his right hand.
"Those in the qualifying rounds now are Players."
He raised his left hand this time.
"Everyone else is an NPC."
In other words, Baek Seonghui, her parents, the reporters outside—all NPCs.
"That's a broad split, of course. Finer details vary. Players have secure status, so no worries there. The problem is the rest."
Snap!
The Total Administrator pointed at the screen.
It was the studio camera in reality, but viewers felt the finger aimed right at them.
"Being an NPC means becoming a game object. Worse than slaves in human history—slaves could escape luckily or suicide. NPCs can't even do that."
The Total Administrator spoke clearly.
"As needed, NPCs can't die, and if the Administration deems it necessary, they revive. Free will remains since only the body is controlled, but with the body fully manipulated, leftover will might be even more pathetic. Heh. Getting the picture?"
The Total Administrator chuckled, shoulders shaking.
"This human extinction you're facing isn't just death. It's eternal undeath... humanity's end called 'new reality.'"
Thud!
Baek Seonghui dropped her notepad and pen.
Perhaps symbolizing humanity's fall.
"Whoa, 104 viewers just suicided already. A lot or a little? Haha, so hasty."
While explaining they couldn't even die, 104 boldly did on Earth.
As the Total Administrator said, who knew if it was many or few.
Because this death game had only just begun.