01. An Unfamiliar World
01. An Unfamiliar World
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"Congratulations. It's an unexpected huge success. On the first try, no less."
"...."
I ended up doing it.
Explaining the process would make for a very long and tedious story, so I'll skip it.
In an unbelievable situation, Bari and I have come to a new world through the Black Hole. In three words, it's 'Otherworld'.
"Detailed analysis of this place isn't possible yet, but there are plenty of life signs around. This should satisfy Sihwan-nim's desires, right? It's a real world made of flesh and blood, not some game world."
Bari, with her straight hair down to her waist, approached. She'd changed her hairstyle in the meantime. Mood booster, huh.
"That so? Definitely might be better than a game."
Though right now, we're in a weird room.
What the hell is this place? Some kinda spirit room?
"But one problem has cropped up."
"Huh? Problem?"
She made a slightly troubled face and placed her right hand near her collarbone.
"Basically, this 'Terminal' is connected to my main body on Planet Ryu Si-hwan via Quantum Entanglement for multidimensional linking. In theory, that allows real-time communication from one end of the universe to the other, or even across dimensions, but,"
"But?"
"Doesn't work. Connection's severed."
"...Why?"
"No idea."
"...."
"...."
I got this massive chill. Like, huge.
"For now, emergency protocol: using this Terminal's functions. But performance will be somewhat inferior, so please bear with it."
"W-Wait a sec...."
"Yes."
"I'm kinda not getting it and also freaking out... but in one word, no connection to my home right now?"
"Correct."
"So you're running on this puny body's CPU since no link to your real main body."
"Temporarily."
"Then the Server?"
"...."
"Isn't my consciousness there?"
"No. It uploads right before your body dies."
"...Hold up... But with the main body connection cut, won't they think we're dead? You lost contact too. Then...."
Worst case, another me and another Bari might've spawned and are out there operating.
That's... pretty damn horrific.
"Before cutoff, I detected anomalies and took precautions. Assigned a sub-ID to Planet Ryu Si-hwan's AI, so super-intelligent interface home AI 'Bari' transferred main body to this Terminal. No need to worry."
"R-Really...?"
"But with Server link severed, if Sihwan-nim's body perishes now, it's permanent death."
"...."
"Be careful."
"...."
Ah...
Can't even speak.
This is dangerous as fuck, right?
Total different world,
No clue what world,
Connection gone?
Dangerous as fuck, right???
"For real...."
Bari approached me, half in despair, and stroked my cheek.
Calm as ever, even here.
'Cause she's a machine?
"Don't worry too much. Specs are laughably weak compared to full power, but with me here, Sihwan-nim won't face danger."
"...."
Warm touch.
Tension melted away, weirdly.
...Yeah.
Think positive.
Bari's right here, yeah?
The insane entity that mechanizes whole planets is right beside me.
Actually a win.
Real Otherworld, not a game.
Enjoy it! The now.
"Yeah. Thanks."
Mind settled, I scanned around.
Like I said, weird room.
Wanted wide-open nature for Otherworld vibes, but this white asylum-bait box—who designed this psycho shit?
Not even that big.
"Room size: 321cm by 321cm, height 522cm. Scan: no toxins. Large plaza confirmed beyond front door."
Bari rattled off basics and moved quick. Door-opening time, probs.
But nope.
Big hologram popped up before her.
Looked like a bulletin board.
"This...?"
Curious, she reached for it.
Empty space filled with scrolling text.
[Error. Unidentified lifeform detected.]
[Updating information....]
[Race...Human]
[Gender...Male]
[Age...23]
What the—?
My info?
[Ryu Si-hwan, you are an uninvited guest.]
Boom! My name!
Stunned glance at Bari—she's rarely shocked too.
"Sihwan-nim's info... No hack traces... Impressive. Search functions rival mine."
"Holy shit."
Rivals Bari's atomic-level target dissection? This? Total fart.
[Additionally, severely low racial limits detected. Recommend returning whence you came. But if aware of your shortcomings, knowing it's reckless folly yet still step forth, open door and exit.]
"What the hell...."
Bari eyed the door.
"~900 lifeforms in plaza beyond. Emotion scan: mostly excited/tensed. Traces of killing intent; predicts 'combat acts' imminent."
"Eh?"
Combat... right off the bat?
"What's the play?"
"How should I know—we're clueless on the sitch. Other guides?"
Guide updated.
[This is exam hall selecting 'Tower Warriors'. 3 stages total; passers granted Tower Academy trainee quals.]
Gets my words? Chatty?
[Yes.]
"O... Then, what's a 'Tower Warrior' exactly?"
[Tower Warriors pioneer Tower at continent's center. Extreme hardships/crises, so only above thresholds recruited; ranks restrict activities.]
"Oho. Tutorial zone?"
"Sihwan-nim. Word."
Bari pulled me to room corner.
"This world's laws seem wildly different from ours."
"Seem? Wild. Bari saying that."
"Nothing confirmed."
"Hm... What's the diff?"
"Simple example."
Nodded go-time.
"Sihwan-nim's grip: ~55kg. To hit 60kg?"
"Nano-robot inject. Bio-edit."
"...Naturally."
"Exercise."
"Yes. Exercise it is."
"Not here?"
"Exercise needed. But mechanism differs. Our universe: exercise instantly reshapes body. Muscles tear/recover/build."
"Yeah."
"Here? Exercise data sent elsewhere first."
"Huh?"
"Calculations there → results to body → changes."
"???"
WTF? Simple explanation my ass?
"Game analogy. VR: arm pumps don't build muscle."
"Do. Stats."
"'Cause you tweaked muscle stat, not pumps. Set exercises no-effect? 200 mil reps, zero gains. Simulated world."
"Ah! Kinda get it."
"This place: same laws."
"Damn... Game-like Otherworld?"
"Yes. Game system. But us? Both old world + local laws apply."
Gotcha... Slick-ass world....
"But advantageous for us?"
"Theoretically: info hub... I'll dub 'Server'. Hack Server, tweak data."
"...Hack world, pump my muscles?"
"Theoretically."
"Fuuuck...."
God-tier. Huh? You a god?
"Current specs? Nah. Main body from Planet Ryu Si-hwan? Still tough."
"Theory-possible? Good enough."
Item-spawning, power-granting potential? Cheat city.
[You possess an Artifact beyond comprehension.]
Guide chimed in super nice. Text borders danced.
"But who're you?"
[Artifact assigned exam guide role.]
"Tutorial NPC?"
"Precisely."
[Yes?]
"Cool. Stats viewable?"
[...Yes?]
Dumbstruck twice, this dude.
"Game system? Stats mandatory. Nat'l rule?"
[Hm.. Hm... Quantified data? Yes. Will to view → anytime.]
Will to view...
Like...?
[Info]
Name: Ryu Si-hwan
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 23(Adult)
Level: 16(.8)
Disposition: Free-Arrogant
[Strength: 11]
[Agility: 8]
[Mana: 1]
[Vitality: 27]
[Endurance: 37]
[Nano-robot.lv12] [Hormone Regulation.lv5] [Mechanization.lv2]
Hm... Lame.
Stats exist... Max unknown, so meh....
Arrogant?
Never saw myself that way. Free-Arrogant = free + arrogant?
"Spot on."
"...How?"
"Very accurate."
Bari nodding full agreement.
Jokey sometimes, so real or nah... Hm... Arrogant.
"You too?"
"I..."
Bari spaced out.
Info window up like me... Face sour. Bad roll?
"Artifact readout. No lifeform window like Sihwan-nim's."
"Ah. Machine perks."
"...."
Not lifeform, inevitable... Artifact = item slot? Kinda sad.
"Go out?"
[Want Tower Warrior? Open door, exit.]
"Nah?"
[Return origin.]
"No way?"
[No choice. Open door, exit.]
"...Tyrannical."
Absurd. Scared? GTFO—but no GTFO path... Scam?
[Choose.]
"Outta here, Bari."
"Yes."
Bari's got us. Let's bounce.
This bastard Otherworld? I'll sample it.