WPRAF 06

Chapter 6

[Hello. My name is Sun Woo-jin. I’m a streamer at Witches, and I set up this session to help players who are having trouble adapting to the Pidomena System or don’t understand it well.]

With pale skin, a neat, intellectual look, and round glasses, Sun Woo-jin looked into the camera and explained why he was appearing on the news.

‘So, in short, it’s training for people who can’t adapt to the system?’

Whoever came up with the idea was pretty wise and considerate.

The Pidomena System is almost identical to an RPG game interface.

So if middle-aged or elderly people who’d lived lives far removed from gaming had been chosen as players, they would probably be lost and floundering even four hours after being picked up.

This session prepared by the desk was for those people.

[First I’ll explain the elements common to all classes.]

Sun Woo-jin proceeded calmly with the broadcast. His soft voice had a focusing effect.

[First, open the “Character” window.]

No sooner had he said that than a prepared image popped up on the right side of the screen.

It was the character window that only the player could see.

Those two must have let the broadcast staff know in advance.

[To open it, say “Character” and then “Raise” (or “Open”). A window will pop up in front of you. Check the part at the bottom labeled “Status.” At the front you’ll see “Strength,” and a number next to it.]

He explained in a composed, academy-instructor tone.

[“Strength” literally means power. As the Strength value increases, the total amount of force we can exert grows. When Strength goes up by 1, the amount of force you gain is roughly enough to easily lift a 10 kg dumbbell. Next, “Stamina” is—]

According to Sun Woo-jin’s explanation, “Stamina” covered a much broader range than the dictionary definition of ‘physical strength.’

It affected recovery, recovery resilience, bodily durability, and so on, in addition to how much physical power the body could exert.

Next, “Agility” was a stat related to reflexes, dynamic visual acuity, and accuracy.

Lastly, “Magic Power” was still an unknown area. But from what they’d discovered, it increased skill destructive power and lethality.

[Next is Level. As your level rises, various features provided by the system unlock. Level 2 unlocks a “Shop,” Level 3 opens “Party,” and this shop will sell items from other worlds — how those are used still needs study.]

Jung So-mi, taking notes like a model student in the front row, nodded her head and said.

“Maybe because he’s played games for so long? He really knows this stuff inside out.”

“That Sun Woo-jin is called an emperor in the RPG world. There’s no game he hasn’t tried; whenever he plays, he reaches ranker status.”

“That’s impressive. But Hye-ju, how do you know so much?”

“I’ve been a fan for a long time.”

Hwang Hye-ju looked proudly at him as he briefed coolly, unfazed in front of the camera.

“What’s Choi Kyung’s specialty?”

Just as she was about to answer, the mic was passed to Choi Kyung.

[I’m Choi Kyung. I’ll explain how to activate skills and how to strike.]

She looked like she’d been working out in between broadcasts — square shoulders, a sun-darkened complexion, and distinct facial features.

Her low voice was attractive, but her blunt manner of speaking might come across as somewhat cold to others.

“Choi Kyung is number one in the VR fighting game ‘Kingdom of Night.’ She used to compete as a pro player too.”

“I see.”

I nodded, then tore my eyes away from the TV. I decided to skip the skill training.

Instead, I opened my phone and gathered information.

Locations of gates compiled from citizen reports.

Information about monsters posted across various communities.

Most of it I already knew, but I found one important detail.

‘No new species, it seems.’

The photos citizens secretly took were all goblins, ogres, and hellhounds.

‘Pidomena must’ve taken some care then.’

On day one of the apocalypse, maybe they didn’t send the hardest monsters to avoid wiping out the debtors right away.

That way the debtors would be able to produce videos as content.

My phone vibrated then.

Bzzzz—

[Chief Choi].

The caller was Colonel Choi Gyu-seong, my direct superior at my previous job.

He hadn’t answered earlier when the apocalypse started and I called immediately.

So he was alive after all.

“Excuse me, I need to take a call.”

I asked Jung So-mi and Hwang Hye-ju for their understanding and stood up.

Stepping out of the instructor’s office, I looked over the ledge by the window.

The vehicles the soldiers had come in on were no longer there — either they’d returned or left.

No other monsters either.

But a foul odor hung in the air, even though every window was shut.

I clicked the call button, clicking my tongue at how troublesome they were, alive or dead.

“Phone answered.”

—Ah, Chief Han is alive.

Colonel Choi called me by my codename.

There was no hint of concern in his tone.

“You look well yourself, sir.”

—You’ve also been looking much better, haven’t you?

I hadn’t seen him in almost half a year. We’d spoken occasionally on the phone, but when I’d retired he’d been too busy to visit.

For him to know about my face’s condition meant…

“I didn’t expect there’d be another watcher attached.”

So not only Jung So-mi, there was another watcher.

No, that couldn’t be.

If Chief Choi had made a move, it wouldn’t have escaped my radar.

—Hahaha, you think we were watching you? Preposterous.

“I thought the National Intelligence Service ran a solo op.”

—They need insurance too.

“You knew then?”

—It’s a matter of course. We can’t just leave someone with information that could threaten national security.

I nodded because it was true, and he asked next.

—By the way, you still don’t know?

“What do you mean?”

—The live view count ranking. Your video’s number one. Eight hundred thousand views.

I hurriedly opened [My Videos]. It was true.

The first video had 800,000 views, and the other two had 300,000 and 30,000 respectively.

‘How did he know this? There shouldn’t be a way to view other players’ videos.’

Chief Choi gave a delighted laugh and explained.

—Ahahaha. You’re not under level 7 yet, are you? The live view ranking unlocks at level 7.

Oh. So that was why Sun Woo-jin hadn’t mentioned it — he probably hadn’t reached level 7 either.

—For the record, I’m level 7. I cleared all the monsters in Anyang City.

Chief Choi blurted that out without being asked, boasting as usual.

—Anyway, I watched your exploits. Still active then?

“I have no intention whatsoever of returning.”

My curt reply exposed my intention. On the other end of the line, he made a disappointed sound as if regretting it.

He told me if I ever changed my mind, to feel free to come back.

I refused without much consideration.

Chief Choi hoped I might stay with the unit to train successors as an instructor or continue counterintelligence domestically even if not returning to the company.

But I’d already made up my mind. Being watched in every move felt unreasonable, and I was tired of living like a shadow.

Still…

‘Cutting ties with Chief Choi completely would be regrettable.’

Maintaining the network with Colonel Choi Gyu-seong of the intelligence service would be beneficial in many ways.

He was useful in many respects.

‘I’m sure he thinks of me in a similar way.’

Our relationship began more from mutual usefulness than human bond.

So it was reasonable to propose a deal.

“I won’t return, but I’m willing to do business.”

—Business?

He fell silent, waiting for me to continue.

“I need weapons. Ballistic vests, smoke grenades, flashbangs, hand grenades, and assault rifles.”

—The firearms you favor, you mean?

“If possible.”

—What do we get in return?

“We hand over the monsters’ weaknesses.”

—So you’ve gained some traits related to that, huh?

He was completely off the mark.

Well, my traits weren’t the sort you could easily guess.

“They’re somewhat similar.”

—Hmm…

After a minute or so of thought, he spoke.

—It’s not a bad offer from our point of view. Fine. Decide the time and place to receive the weapons.

“Location…”

When I gave him Jung So-mi’s private address, he questioned why I’d be going to Goyang City.

—Are you feeling nostalgic in this situation?

Goyang was my hometown — a nightmare city full of memories I wanted to forget.

For him to question it like that made it seem he didn’t know there was an intelligence safe house there.

I skirted the subject.

“I’ll have to go there someday.”

—…You don’t want to say. Understood. Deal’s made. Keep your promise.

“Of course.”

—Oh, Chief Han. I’ll send a photo for you to check.

He sent a picture of a gate taken by a drone from the air.

On a structure resembling Greek temple columns, a time display was shown.

I zoomed the photo to see it better.

[2 days 19 hours 11 minutes]

“What is this?”

—As you see, it’s time. It was confirmed thirty minutes ago.

“So that’s the time when the gate will spawn monsters?”

—No, the spawning’s already done.

“Then… it’s a schedule.”

—Once that time ends, the second spawning will begin.

Colonel Choi’s voice was unusually low.

Where had the tiger-like spirit he showed when interrogating a sent spy gone…

It showed how pessimistic he was about the second spawning.

‘Still, isn’t it manageable for now?’

The U.S. and China, who swept monsters away with overwhelming firepower, were already in a festival mood.

“How’s the current situation? Do you have some breathing room if you’re calling me?”

—This will wrap up in two days. Even though civilians suffered many casualties, it favors us. Hounds and goblins respond to our attacks.

“What about ogres?”

—We handled them with anti-materiel rifles and grenades. The problem starts from the second wave.

Chief Choi shared the same concern I had.

He anticipated the tragedy of rising casualties if new monster types appeared.

I ended the call and stared out the window, thinking.

When that time ends, what kind of morning will we face?

When I returned to the instructor’s office, Sun Woo-jin and Choi Kyung were gone from the TV. A deputy controller from the Disaster Response Headquarters had taken their place, answering questions from the anchor.

Asked about future response plans, he said they’d set a five-kilometer restricted area around each gate, deploy troops, and do everything possible to stop the second spawning with the players.

“Senior, you’re back? They say there are fifteen thousand player applicants!”

“That’s more than expected. I thought at most it’d be around a thousand. Looks like there are quite a few selected players.”

“They estimate around a hundred thousand, but the martial law headquarters will tally exactly.”

Then the anchor asked how they planned to rescue severely affected small provincial towns.

The deputy controller’s expression darkened at the question.

He only said they were discussing it and would prepare measures quickly.

To me it sounded like,

‘There aren’t enough troops to disperse to rural towns and villages.’

The anchor sighed, and Jung So-mi and Hwang Hye-ju looked distressed.

I, on the other hand, kept a cool head. I couldn’t afford to expend emotion yet.

The tragedy hadn’t even begun.

I loosened my clenched fist and told the two that the second spawning would start soon.

“The second spawning?”

Without further ado, I showed them the photo Chief Choi sent.

“It’s information I got from an acquaintance. It’ll probably be released to the public soon. It means there are two days and nineteen hours left until that time bomb goes off.”

After putting the photo away and turning off the TV, I spoke to Hwang Hye-ju.

“We should move quickly before then. You’ll go to your residence, right? I can drop you off since it’s on the way.”

She said nothing. Her face was thoughtful. Then, in a decisive tone, she spoke.

“Please let me come with you.”

Suddenly—what was that?

Her unexpected answer caught me off guard.

I didn’t want an extra burden attached here.

So I asked back.

“Aren’t you going to see your father?”

“My father is stronger than anyone. If I say I’m going to follow Se-hyeon, he’ll welcome me with open arms.”

“Still, being by his side…”

She cut me off and stared at me.

With unwavering eyes.

“You said earlier— the only way to end this hell is for our Creator to repay what he owes. Until then nothing will change. People will tremble in fear, run, and die over and over.”

She must have been moved by what I’d told the lieutenant.

Suddenly I remembered Yeonsan-gun’s saying.

‘Words are a door that summon disaster.’

Would she be a blessing or a curse?

As I mulled it over, she added,

“…I won’t be a burden.”

At the resolute air she gave off, I made a decision.

It might not be bad to try once.

“You should do that.”

“Yes.”

“Hye-ju, contact your father first. Junior, yours…?”

“He’s not around.”

“Ah…”

“You don’t have to feel sorry. It’s not your fault my parents are gone.”

Hearing her say that, I released the apologetic look and asked Hwang Hye-ju for permission.

“Then may we gather some useful items from here?”

“As much as you like.”