Episode 6
"That guy. Is he still around?"
"Who do you mean?"
"You know, the crazy guy in Moretti Village who was yelling at me about not being able to log out."
GM Dane.
Ko Jun-chul, the team leader of the second management team, put down his coffee cup and scanned the dozens of monitors.
"Ah...... I was just about to tell you, that's the guy. I checked the log history, and he logged out a while ago."
"What? Really?"
"Yep. He logged out not too long after meeting with the team leader."
Ko Jun-chul looked at the monitor in disbelief at his subordinate's answer.
"That bastard...... gave up because he had nothing to gain, right?"
"I guess so. Now that I've confirmed that you're logged out, I'm out. Honestly, you should probably sue me for damages, but......."
The subordinate said in a slightly excited voice.
"We've lost some user data on our end, and I think it's best if we just keep quiet about it."
"I guess."
In response to his subordinate's answer, he let out a low sigh.
"Why is that?"
"You reported this guy to Director Han the other day."
"Yeah. I thought I should have alerted the development team, too, since there's a data issue."
"Yesterday, I got a call from the development team, and they said that Director Han is going to assign a person to monitor this guy on his own."
"What? Solo? Are they going to monitor him 24/7? I mean, he's been logged logging out, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"Well, I don't know. I don't know."
"Is this a management pick? Ugh....... Whoever it is, they're definitely working overtime."
"I don't know. One of the directors said there's going to be a new hire, and I don't know if it's going to be from us or from outside. Just keep it to yourself, and don't start any rumours."
"Understood."
Ko Jun-chul patted his subordinate on the shoulder and strode off to his room.
'Director Han gave direct instructions.......'
Huh-.
He took a sip of the coffee he was holding and thought to himself.
Autonomous Artificial Intelligence [Ethan].
The title of self-evolving A.I. sounded like it had endless possibilities, but it was also a double-edged sword.
'I think the rumours said it was originally developed for space exploration or something.......'
Project A-a.
The unknown territory of space.
The possibility that there could be many dimensions out there, and the research to prove it.
It was quite an issue, but it was also a story that disappeared without a sound due to the abrupt cancellation of the project.
I don't know if anyone still remembers that project...... but the fact that [Ethan] was developed for it was something that very few people knew about.
'Well, it's none of my business whether it's true or not.'
What's more important to him is not how [Ethan] was created, but that [Evil Tail] runs smoothly.
'As long as that madman is quiet, we're good.'
He'll give you an address that no one lives at and call it his, or a social security number that doesn't exist and claim it as his.
'He's even gone so far as to ask me to meet his non-existent family.'
He felt his head tingle as he remembered Woojin.
"Well, at least we've got proof that he's logged out, so there shouldn't be any other problems."
He shook himself in frustration and opened the door to his office.
* * *
"I wonder how this happened......."
Woojin stared blankly at Raoul's sword on the floor.
'It makes even less sense if this is real and not a dream.'
What if the other world he went to was real?
It would be like bringing a real object into a game.
'Should I call the GM?'
He started to press the call admin button, but quickly shook his head.
'No. It wouldn't do any good for them to find out, and they'd probably just take the item away for whatever reason.'
He already had a grudge against them.
And now he wasn't going to rely on them anymore.
'I wonder how I got logged out.'
How did I get back in?
Everything was still a mystery.
"I have to figure this out myself."
Until now, he thought he was simply trapped in a game.
What he believed to be a programming glitch had finally reached a singularity.
'Another world, just like the game.'
It was a secret that even his managers didn't know.
I was intrigued.
Was it because he'd had a near-death experience?
He didn't vaguely break down and cry like he had last time.
Instead, he felt cold inside.
'I've shed enough tears, and I've prayed enough,' he thought.
If the otherworld he was experiencing was real, it wasn't just a game anymore.
'It's not something the police or administrators can fix.'
Only himself.
Zap!
He slapped himself across the cheeks with both hands, hard enough to make his head spin.
"No matter what happens, I'm going back to......."
Thwack-.
He grabbed Raoul's sword from the floor.
What to do now?
The answer may be surprisingly simple.
This is a game, and everyone in the game has a single goal.
And it would be the same in the other world.
"To be strong."
We don't know how to get back to the real world yet.
But if the future I've seen in the Otherworld really does unfold in the game, there's nothing a level 10 warrior who can't even log out of...... can do about it.
[Learn Raoul's Essence].
And now the way was right in front of me.
'I'm still getting notifications.'
It meant that the things I had learnt in the other world were being applied in the game.
'At least they won't say it's illegal or hacking or whatever.'
Woojin cautiously pressed the confirmation button.
[Learned Raoul's essence].
Shaaaahhh......!!!
At that moment, a strong gust of wind hit Woojin in the face.
▶A great enlightenment.
▶It is a higher essence.
▶You cannot fully absorb it with your current rank.
▶Please raise your rank through quests. -Minimum requirement: Complete quests with a rank of B or higher (0/3)
▶Several traits are restricted.
Memories rushing into his head.
▶Awakened the trait 'Adventurer'.
▶Unlocked the Talent 'Loneliness'.
▶Unlocked the Talent 'Dragonflesh'.
▶Unlocked the Talent 'Indomitable'.
And then the notifications started pouring in, as many as the memories.
"Dragon Stream......."
Even though it was a game, Raoul's memories seemed to melt into him, as if they were seeping into him.
Traits: Adventurer
▶Gain 15% extra experience for a day when hunting in new areas.
▶Gain 5% more experience after one day.
▶Deals 10% more damage in combat against the first monster you encounter.
▶Deals 5% more damage in combat against creatures you've hunted before.
Talent: Loneliness
▶Increases all stats by 5% when playing solo.
▶Gain 10% more experience when playing solo.
Talent: Dragon Slay
▶Gain 5% additional experience when hunting dragon-like creatures.
▶Increases damage by 10% when hunting dragon-like creatures.
Talent: Fortitude
▶All stats increase by leaps and bounds when below 5% health.
"......Crazy."
In [Evil Tale], talents were harder to obtain than skills.
'They say you can get them by fulfilling certain conditions or through quests, but most of the ones we know about so far are related to cooking and crafting.'
And what did he get?
They were all related to hunting and survival.
And they were all jaw-droppingly awesome.
"Hah...... haha."
Woojin couldn't help but chuckle.
'.....?'
A thought popped into his head.
'The equipment from the other world has been incorporated into the game. If that's the case, then.......'
"Status window."
A translucent holographic window appeared in front of him.
Name: Khan
Class: Warrior
Level: 10
Total Points: 230
Points remaining: 0
Traits: Adventurer, Loner, Fierce, Indomitable
Woojin's fists clenched involuntarily as he checked the status window.
'All starting characters in [Evil Tale] have a fixed stat of 10.'
'Starting with the 5 points granted at character creation, 5 points are added for each 1-up.'
A player at level 10 has a total of 110.
But you?
A whopping 230.
Twice as much as a player of the same level.
In terms of points, he was on par with a level 30 player.
The reason was simple.
The reason for the increase in total points was the numbers in parentheses next to each stat.
'Runes consumed in the Otherworld.'
That's how it worked in the game.
It was only natural that it would be harder to increase stats as you leveled up.
'As time goes on, this gap will become more and more powerful.'
"It wasn't for nothing."
Woojin looked at his stats and smiled bitterly.
All those sleepless nights hunting grey wolves had paid off.
'Raoul.......'
Woojin remembered his last face.
'I wonder if this is really the end.'
Thrrrr-.
He silently drew his sword from its scabbard.
'I don't know if I should accept your swordsmanship like this, but.......'
I wonder what he was thinking as he gave me his love sword at the threshold of death.
There was no way he would want to pass on the ultimate in mortality to a mere level 10 warrior.
"All I can do for you is......."
Woojin spoke in a low voice, as if he were speaking to Raoul.
"Become a man worthy of the sword."
Passed Down Skill: Dragon Heaven.
▶An unfinished mastery that Raoul the Dragon Hunter realised while slaying three dragons.
Shaaaah!!!
A stream of air flowing from the sword enveloped his entire body.
"......bfft?"
At that moment, a fierce pain rushed through him, as if his muscles were about to be torn apart.
"Kaaaak......!!!"
Even if I valued realism, [Evil Tale] was a game.
No one wants to play a game in pain.
That's why I was able to reduce pain by up to 98% in the settings.
In a world where chopped off arms and broken legs were commonplace, numbing was a must.
The same goes for Woojin.
But what is this pain......?
'I can't believe it's this bad even with numbing.......'
I can't imagine what it would be like if it were real.
▶ Transmission Skill: Awakened Dragon Heaven.
The pain instantly disappeared with a notification.
[Dragon Heaven - 1 gate has been opened].
[Skill comprehension is low].
[Your level is low].
[Increase your level and understanding to open the next step].
"Hmph...... hmph......."
The pain disappeared, and to my surprise, I felt refreshed, blood rushing through every nook and cranny of my body as if it had always been there.
[1The opening of the gate has been completed].
▶ 1Moon - You have learnt the skill 'Cut'.
Chizik...... Chizik......!
At that moment, a faint spark emanated from the blade of the sword Woojin was holding.
"......!!"
Startled, he quickly sheathed the sword.
"Blah...... mate."
He looked around.
Fortunately, no one was paying attention to him anymore.
"Hah...... hahah......."
A tingling sensation in his hand as he gripped the sword.
Woojin clenched and unclenched his hand, as if trying to forget the sensation from earlier.
The 100th floor of the Labyrinth Tower that remained in this world.
'They say that if we attack it, we can achieve a miracle.'
If this world is real.......
Raoul's words would be true.
'We must go there again.'
If I can get to the 100th floor, I might be able to return to reality.
I could certainly use the skills I learnt in the game.
'That must mean I can use the abilities I learnt in the game.'
Just like the runes I picked up in the game.
'Even if I could get there right now, I'm not strong enough to take on the 100th floor.'
I need to get stronger in the game before I can go there again.
"I've got a lot of work to do."
Cackle.
His fists clenched, his eyes shone.
TRANSLATER NOTE
This is my server in discord if you like to join.
or the link:
https://discord.com/invite/RsWBTuPxgK