Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Training and Vacation (1)
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“Kuhuhu! Using the [Mask Dominator] skill, I've compressed the main body's mask into two or more [Compressed Masks].”
The Total Administrator brushed the fragments off his outer mask as he spoke.
“By the way, trying to kill me the moment I revealed my weakness... This time, even I was pretty pissed off...”
Tatata-tang!!
Kang Serim opened fire on the Total Administrator with her [Infinite Magazine Submachine Gun].
But the Total Administrator created a massive dimensional gate with [Portal Hand], deflecting every single bullet.
“Ah, aaah...!”
Kang Serim trembled with rage.
“Annoying bastards. I should just kill both of you...!”
Puk!
Dokgo Hyun immediately stabbed his own heart.
If it failed, instant death was the better option.
'[4-Minute Regression].'
With this, he'd exhausted all four uses of the now-upgraded [4-Minute Regression].
One for Lee Hyun-jun.
One fighting the Outer God's Incarnation.
One due to Museng-hwa's [Mind Possession].
And now, one more.
Fwaah!
He regressed four minutes into the past.
He was back four minutes earlier.
The [Hyper Mode] message obscured Dokgo Hyun's vision, so he quickly dismissed it.
'What time is it now?'
This was the moment when Kang Serim was about to question the TV Girl.
Kang Serim looked at Dokgo Hyun.
“What should we ask?”
“Hm, give me a second.”
Dokgo Hyun fell into thought, just like before.
He pretended to be calm, but his heart was pounding like mad.
'Stay calm, stay calm.'
Thanks to risking his life, he'd gained a ton of crucial info.
Instead of pushing for more dangerous questions, it was smarter to go for safe ones.
“Please tell us about the overall information for Phase 2 of the preliminaries.”
“That's a broad range, but sure, I'll tell you. Phase 2 starts in one week.”
“Location?”
“Unlike this time, you won't be teleported somewhere and gathered. It'll start right where you live. Because...!”
The TV Girl shouted excitedly, unable to hide her thrill.
“The true Apocalypse Game begins!”
“Ah... I see.”
“No, this is huge!”
“More than that, you should give us some specific advice.”
“Tch! Not even surprised!”
The TV Girl seemed disappointed.
“Fine, then let me give you something helpful. Memorize the geography of your neighborhood well!”
“...?”
“That's it. Goodbye!”
Fwaah!
Dokgo Hyun and Kang Serim were sent back home.
By the time the red evening sunset had faded and the sky turned navy blue.
Dokgo Hyun was teleported home.
“Hm.”
Teleported right into the middle of the living room, Dokgo Hyun blankly looked around.
It had only been a few hours, but it felt like he'd returned from years on a battlefield.
“Again.”
It seemed Phase 1 preliminaries were still ongoing in other zones.
'First, let's boost my stats.'
He currently had 2,100 coins.
2,000 from clearing Mission 10, plus 100 from killing Kang Serim.
'Strictly speaking, Kang Serim revived right away. But it still awards 100 coins for the kill.'
Dokgo Hyun decided to be more careful going forward.
The system giving 100 coins didn't mean a 100% confirmed kill.
“I'll evenly distribute 7 points each to Strength, Speed, and Stamina.”
“Stats boosted. Time to wash up.”
After showering, Dokgo Hyun turned on the TV.
Just like right after the tutorial, phones and internet were restricted, so TV was the only info source.
“Mostly nothing.”
Most channels were dead.
Even national ones just showed 'Temporary Suspension'.
Flipping channels, only one was working normally.
'Emergency Broadcast Channel? Didn't know that existed.'
It was the existing HBS channel.
Checking it out, news was on.
“Next story.”
A gloomy news anchor spoke.
An 'NPC' marker floated above her head.
“Phase 1 preliminaries from H-1 zone to H-50 zone have fully ended. That's the 10th zone to finish in Korea. NPCs, please take special care not to interfere with players. Now, onto commercials.”
HBS cut to ads like a cable channel.
Public service announcement.
A famous female celebrity who juggled acting and singing appeared.
The most active beauty in showbiz right now, but an NPC marker floated over her too.
“Nothing is more serious than environmental pollution.”
A polluted Earth image appeared behind her.
“Look. The future. And it's not far off. We must change it starting now.”
She spoke confidently, then hesitated at the next line.
“F-Fortunately, with the population drastically reduced, the worst future is a bit less likely, but we must work harder to reduce the numbers even more... Uh... Sorry, I can't read this anymore.”
Off-screen staff yelled.
“Read it!”
“If you stop, we're all dead!”
Tearing up, she read the script.
“We, we need to reduce the population even more, right? Even if it won't change much in the end. Sob, sob, th-that's it. Long live the Apocalypse Game...”
The PSA ended, followed by regular ads.
“Ha.”
Thankfully, regular ads were the same as pre-Apocalypse Game.
Dokgo Hyun felt relieved.
'Though funeral and condolence service ads seem way more common.'
Dokgo Hyun turned off the TV.
Regular folks would go nuts watching this.
'Better to sleep.'
Dokgo Hyun pushed worries to tomorrow and slept.
The next day.
Dokgo Hyun woke to a system message.
“...”
Dokgo Hyun rubbed his eyes, realizing the system had an alarm function.
'Fatigue building up? More tired than after the tutorial.'
His Stamina stat was much higher now, but he'd been through way more danger, leaving his head foggy.
'Right, used the ultimate four times.'
Each ultimate use meant flirting with death.
Even with his iron will, exhaustion was inevitable.
'Must've recharged after midnight.'
Dokgo Hyun let it go at that.
'First, visit brother's hospital again. Got [Psychometry] now, maybe clues left.'
Normally police would block it, but doubtful now.
If they did, he'd sneak in with [Instant Acceleration] or [Afterimage Creation].
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Someone knocked.
'Who? No one should know to come here.'
Lee Hyun-jun flashed in mind, but dismissed.
No way he'd find the place that fast, and player combat banned during vacation.
'Still, can't let guard down.'
Dokgo Hyun gripped Venom Knife in right hand, approached door.
“Who is it?”
“Sob... Sob sob...”
A woman's sorrowful sobs.
Dokgo Hyun had a good idea who.
Slam.
“Sob sob! Hyun-ah...! What do I do, sob sob sob...!”
It was Baek Seonghui.
'-NPC: ???' floated above her head.
'Looks like she's been through a lot.'
Dokgo Hyun sighed softly.
“Come in first.”
By 7 AM, Baek Seonghui stopped crying.
Brewing her third hot drip coffee, Dokgo Hyun asked.
“Feeling calmer now?”
“Yeah...”
He set down the mug and asked.
“Now, tell me what happened.”
He considered [Psychometry], but didn't want to without consent.
'Won't work well on someone so emotionally wrecked anyway.'
“What happened while...”
Baek Seonghui explained methodically, like the top student she was.
Dokgo Hyun got it.
“Your parents were taken somewhere, and you're an NPC half-player loser revival candidate?”
“That's the summary...”
“Jeez. Loser revival.”
Dokgo Hyun hadn't anticipated that.
But first thing to say...
“Don't worry too much.”
He reassured her.
“Your parents will come back eventually.”
“Eventually? When exactly? No guarantee!”
She snapped, but he stayed calm.
“Almost certain. Think about it. For some reason, the Management Bureau isn't wiping us out immediately.”
Right.
The Total Administrator could end humanity on a whim.
Dominate presidents of nuclear powers with masks, press launch.
Or use their unique powers to kill.
Mission failures already cause explosions, instant deaths.
But taking her parents without killing meant a reason.
“No reason to kill once taken. They won't be too late.”
“...You think?”
“Focus on you now, Baek Seonghui. You surviving gives their return meaning, right?”
“Th-that's true, but.”
She hesitated but agreed.
Her turmoil eased.
“Good. Now, let's think about your loser revival. Can you use skills?”
“Haven't tested yet.”
“Try.”
“[Winged Cat Summon]!”
Fwaah!
The winged cat appeared.
“Ooh, Chubby. Long time no see.”
Dokgo Hyun greeted happily; the cat looked puzzled.
“Nyaang... Feels kinda weak...”
Flop.
It lay on the floor.
Snore... Snore...
Fell right asleep.
“M-me too, suddenly so tired...”
Baek Seonghui yawned.
“As expected. You're stuck between NPC and player. Status and inventory windows open?”
“Status Window! Inventory Window!”
Nothing.
“Good. Dismiss skill.”
Dokgo Hyun spoke like a doctor post-exam.
“Baek Seonghui.”
“Yeah?”
“Got a proposal.”
He said seriously.
“Live with me here for a while.”
The next day.
“Gasp.”
Baek Seonghui opened her eyes in an unfamiliar bed.
“Where...?”
It was huge.
Memories returned.
“Hyun's parents' master bedroom.”
Throb!
Sudden headache.
“Ah...! My head hurts.”
Stomach churned too.
Then, front door opened.
“Hey, Baek Seonghui. You up?”
“Huh?”
Slam.
Dokgo Hyun entered.
Wearing a cap, must've been out.
“Got kongnamul gukbap to go. Let's eat.”
“Hey, Hyun-ah?”
“Yeah?”
“Did something happen yesterday?”
“Ah, you don't remember?”
Dokgo Hyun summarized.
“I proposed living together a while, but you suddenly went off the rails rambling nonsense, so I wrote it down step by step on paper.”
“Ah!”
She remembered.
There was paper in her pocket.