Damned System

Chapter 16. Main Server (3)

“…… Probably.”

Ethan was convinced they were dead, despite the vague answer. He almost died himself, and K had seen corpses at the mission site.

If the six people who entered the mission four days ago couldn’t use Mana Manipulation, they had no choice but to die.

Without that Trait, or rather, skill, they would be physically outmatched.

If these inexperienced fighters were inferior physically, there was no way for them to win.

“I see, even if it happened somewhere I didn’t know about, it’s unfortunate that people have died.”

Ethan couldn’t suppress a dry laugh at David’s words.

‘Considering he was debating whether to kill me or not.’

David had seen Ethan as a threat since the Beta test. As players absorbed more mana, they became stronger.

That power, surpassing human limits, was seen as a threat to the nation before it could be controlled.

However, the Prime Minister hindered any execution by citing human rights.

In this situation, 10,000 additional players had been selected recently.

David must have anticipated this as it had been reported truthfully as the first selection.

The magnitude of this game was only going to grow. The expression of regret just now likely stemmed from these changes.

‘He’s probably trying to adopt a friendly stance now.’

He hoped Ethan wouldn’t oppose him among the players later on.

‘But it’s too late now.’

The relationship had soured since he pointed a gun at Ethan, mentioning his family.

Reining in his emotions, Ethan buried those feelings deep within.

“Ah, I called you today to ask for your opinion, but our personal talk has extended.”

David continued speaking during this break.

“The U. S. has proposed collaboration.”

Ethan flinched.

“They’re suggesting we conduct a mission together.”

There was no need to ask who they were expected to work with. Code name Lily, lily Evans of the CIA.

“They probably want to reduce their risk as well.”

The anticipation brewed since the number of players dwindled on the community list.

Orders to stay put without entering missions had also been given. Receiving a hint from an MI5 agent with whom he’d befriended over three months accounted for this.

Cooperating with Lily was good news for Ethan.

Despite his ability to control mana thanks to K’s help, his fears remained. Still, Ethan hesitated to respond immediately.

Originally, he had promised to conduct the mission with K.

But the incident from four days ago revealed the significance of the third number in mission designation.

If K and he entered a mission site together, the US could verify it through Lily. If this information reached David, he might ask.

‘He’d interrogate me about who I was with.’

The excuse of not meeting anyone at the mission site had its limits.

If it were David, he might resort to torture to uncover the truth.

Could he keep K’s secret despite such circumstances?

The answer was negative.

‘It’s better not to have contact at all.’

While his identity was already exposed, K’s wasn’t. There was considerable potential for K to infiltrate successfully.

If anything were to happen to K while helping him,

‘That’s unacceptable.’

Ethan couldn’t forgive himself for that. In a way, the U. S.’s cooperation proposal was a boon.

He could hide contact with K while halving the risk at the mission site.

‘Since Lily is also a Beta rank.’

There wouldn’t be any trouble due to corrupted mana.

Concluding his thoughts, Ethan finally decided after mulling over for the past few days. He decided to give up entering the mission with K.

Once Ethan reached a decision, he nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

“They wish for us to come. When can you depart?”

Ethan chuckled lightly in response.

“Neither they nor us seem to have adapted yet. We don’t need to move physically.”

“…….”

“We just need to select the same mission and proceed.”

Ethan stood up immediately and spoke.

“I’ll discuss with Ms. Evans which mission to undertake.”

Just before Ethan finished speaking and opened the door to leave the director’s office,

“Is K still not appearing in the community?”

David halted his steps.

Ethan turned around, frowned, and replied.

“If he did, I would have informed you.”

Immediately, he slammed the door shut with a loud clang. His stride across the hallway was rough.

It appeared as if he was angry, but in truth, his anxiety was greater.

‘Persistent bastard.’

Even after three months, David was still looking for K. Not merely for cooperation.

David considered K the most dangerous player, which is why he was searching for him. Ethan gritted his teeth and made a vow.

‘I must prevent his personal information from being exposed.’

He would never allow his savior to become a lab rat like himself.

* * *

Ethan relayed the news that he would proceed with the mission with Lily. The unwelcome update also came that David was still seeking me.

However, realistically, there was no way for him to find me. The priority was getting ready for the mission.

Ignoring external issues, I dedicated all my time to preparing for the mission.

Then, on the morning of the tenth day since the system was activated, I left home.

The destination was Korea University Hospital, where I was briefly hospitalized three months ago.

It was a quiet time, so I arrived shortly. But I halted before going inside.

My steps wouldn’t move.

‘It feels like I’m searching for a place to die.’

The uneasiness was overwhelming. I was certain I’ve done everything I could.

Confident I hadn’t been lazy for even a moment. Even if I was to turn back time, I couldn’t possibly do better.

Moreover, I concluded this method was the best. Yet, I doubted persistently to the very end.

‘Is this really the best?’

It’s natural to feel anxious when the future is unknown. Despite this, it was too burdensome.

The anxiety rose like a shimmer, climbing my feet, calves, knees, thighs, and waist, constricting my chest and neck.

This wasn’t the time to stay still, but I couldn’t shake it off. I tightly clenched my hands and consciously exhaled long breaths.

Then, I revisited the reasons for entering today’s mission.

‘I need to gather mana.’

If the cycle matched the Beta test, today marked the day of the second tutorial. My plan was to secure as much mana as possible before the tutorial ended.

The number of missions was limited. Out of the 8,000 plus listed, over 70% were high-level missions.

Missions above level 3, with only two numbers displayed. Level 1 and 2 missions made up less than 30%.

Although low-level missions were the most numerous, they were not infinite.

If 10,000 new players were admitted, what phenomenon would occur?

The mission sites where mana could be obtained might become exhausted. I had the chance to escape the low-level zone before that.

This was the greatest advantage and opportunity a Beta tester held.

‘This isn’t the time to hesitate.’

With resolved feelings, one, two, three deep breaths finally ended. At last, my immobile legs began to move. I pressed my baseball cap further down and walked.

Once inside the hospital, I used the path Jonghun indicated. It was to avoid CCTV as much as possible.

‘Just in case.’

While advancing, the twins’ faces flickered in my mind.

‘It’s still quiet now.’

After overhearing their conversation ten days ago, I immediately contacted Jonghun and Jaehyuk.

I insisted they say nothing about what happened to me. They should play ignorant.

Then I had dinner as if nothing had occurred. Since our parents passed, this dinner with my siblings was the first time it had felt uncomfortable.

Both of them acted as if nothing was wrong, but I could clearly see.

The peculiar atmosphere persisted for several days, yet I gave no explanations.

It would be the same going forward. These matters aren’t for them to know.

“Sigh.”

When I sighed with a heavy heart, I arrived at my destination. Beside the unfamiliar door was a familiar nameplate.

「Seo Jonghun」

I had reached Jonghun’s personal research lab. Before opening the door, I knocked, and a familiar voice welcomed me.

“Come in.”

I opened the door immediately and entered.

“Uncle, did you sleep well?”

“I didn’t sleep a wink.”

With a weary sigh, Jonghun pressed his temples with both hands. However, he soon stood from his seat.

“Come in, let’s talk inside.”

“Yes.”

I moved in and sat on the sofa. After a brief wait, Jonghun brought in coffee and sat across from me.

“Did you have breakfast?”

“I did. And you, uncle?”

“I didn’t eat. Can’t keep anything down.”

As I accepted the mug handed by Jonghun, my hand twitched slightly. I spoke awkwardly.

“Sorry for the difficult request. It must be troubling…….”

“It’s not troubling, just unsettling.”

Jonghun placed the cup down and furrowed his brows.

“When you came back covered in blood, carried by Hyuk…….”

He couldn’t finish his sentence and buried his face in his hands. His deep sigh weighed heavily on my heart.

I recalled three months ago when, just days after being discharged, I confided in him about the game.

– I know it sounds unrealistic, but it’s a reality for me.
– Please help me.
– You know I can’t just die like this.

I remember how bewildered he was by my unbelievable story. How surprised he was upon seeing a window and sword appear out of thin air.

How horrified he was watching my abnormal strength. I remember all of it.

‘His face looks terrible.’

Even until just before telling Jonghun three months ago, I hesitated. Worried about dragging him into unwarranted trouble or unexpected incidents.

But in the end, I had no other choice but to tell him because another way wouldn’t come to mind.

Considering I would continue missions, injuries were inevitable.

‘I wasn’t some special forces member.’

Even if my body had changed, I lacked practical combat experience. To make things worse, the monsters had intelligence.

It was much more dangerous than merely tussling with beasts. I got injured in nearly every mission.

The day I returned to my room covered in blood was unforgettable.

There could be even worse injuries than that day.

‘Consider what would happen if the kids came home, like yesterday.’

I would have surely been caught. I needed a place where I could avoid the twins.

A place away from them, where I could promptly be treated if necessary. What could be more perfect than a hospital?

‘Medical records were an issue too.’

Jonghun was the best choice available to me at that time.

‘This is right.’

Even if I went back to that time, I would make the same decision.

However, feeling sorry for causing him to worry was unavoidable.

While I swallowed a heavy sigh, Jonghun groaned and spoke.

“Given that you might end up like that again, there’s no way I could sleep or eat peacefully.”

“…… I’ll be careful.”

I replied as calmly as I could. To that, Jonghun brushed his face with a pale expression.

With sighs heavy enough to seem like they could collapse the ground, he finally spoke after a few minutes.

“When do you plan to begin?”

“When you’re ready, Uncle.”

“…… Alright.”

Jonghun approached the desk and retrieved a tripod and camera. I had asked for it, to record the summoning process of the system.

In case, if all of this were just my delusion, it would be captured there. Then I had planned for immediate hospitalization in a psychiatric facility.

Although I knew it wasn’t the case, I still clung to that tiny hope. I was unconsciously hoping that I wouldn’t vanish from the video footage.

While Jonghun was setting up the camera, I displayed the inventory and mission windows. For the first time, the inventory was full.

Now that the main server was active, an update regarding items that could be brought into the mission site was available.

According to the revised manual, complex firearms or electronic equipment couldn’t be brought into the mission site.

I also prepared both analog and digital wristwatches, though devoid of high expectations.

Instead, hope remained for several items that weren’t electronic devices. Clothes, food, and emergency medication for contingencies.

Of course, the inventory wasn’t omnipotent.

‘Each slot can hold up to 10 Kg’.

Up to 50 kg of items could be held in the inventory. Upon confirming the details, I proceeded to pack everything I could within my reach.

Food, medications, clothes, and the like. And today, I added the bag handed by Jonghun. It was an emergency kit used by doctors in disaster situations.

I had consistently been learning from Jonghun about how to use its contents, in case of emergency.

This preparation might end up futile again, but for now, I decided to bring it along.

After a final review of the inventory, I checked the clock on the wall.

Although it was a digital clock in Jonghun’s lab, somewhere a ticking sound, like the hands of an analog clock, could be heard.

Swallowing hard, I tightly grasped the window.

When I pressed the level 1 mission window with a firm grip,

「Do you wish to enter the mission site? (Y/N)」

The system window appeared. Instead of immediately pressing the button, I glanced back at Jonghun.

“I’m off.”

Jonghun, who had been staring with a hardened expression, nodded his head.

Immediately, I pressed the Yes button without hesitation. However, my body didn’t move to the mission site. Instead, a short warning message appeared.

「Entry is restricted due to exceeding the mana benchmark.」

What nonsense is this?

Damned System