TRPM 282

chapter 282

Right now, countless skills are registered in the Awakened System’s database, but when the Awakened System first appeared, there were no skills registered at all.

That’s because no one trusted the Awakened System’s database.

It was confirmed that the Awakened System could grant people unknown powers, but many people didn’t register their skills because they thought doing so would expose their weaknesses to others.

‘Of course, there were exceptions.’

Some people trusted the Awakened System and registered their skills. That was the beginning.

Once a high-level skill was registered and someone started using it, more and more people began registering their skills in the Awakened System’s database. They judged that the system was more reliable than they initially thought.

‘You couldn’t exchange points for money, but the points themselves were valuable.’

It didn’t happen often, but when a person accumulated enough points, the Awakened System sometimes rewarded them with artifacts that money alone couldn’t buy.

That’s why people started registering their skills—to obtain artifacts. Pure skills alone often couldn’t earn money, but at the time, even low-level artifacts could sell for high prices.

‘Of course, only Awakened could use the system, so there was still some criticism.’

But there were loopholes. Non-Awakened people also found a way to register their skills: by selling them to an Awakened person.

‘The Awakened gets a skill that earns points, and the non-Awakened gets guaranteed money for it.’

Besides, hidden skills don’t improve on their own. People compared and analyzed skills, and from this, better skills were created. Thanks to the Awakened System, skills developed rapidly.

Realizing this, many people registered their skills, and over time, the current Awakened System now contains more skills than anyone could easily count.

And…

“Your skill was registered in the Awakened System’s database? Without you even realizing it?”
“That… can’t be true, right?”
“It must be.”

On the news, there was an interview with a researcher claiming that the Awakened System had stolen their skill. According to the researcher, years of research had seemingly been leaked, and someone had apparently registered it in the system without their knowledge.

Watching that news at home with Yeon Mirae and Sophia, I couldn’t hide my disbelief.

“Oh my…”

But only my mother, who didn’t know much about the Awakened System, clicked her tongue sympathetically. Seeing that, I spoke.

“Mom.”
“Hm…?”
“The Awakened System isn’t that sloppy.”

And it isn’t flexible if it’s not related to me.

“When a skill is registered in the Awakened System, it means the person registering it is indeed the owner of the skill.”

Whether they developed the skill themselves or purchased its ownership from someone else, the system doesn’t accept lies.

Sophia might ask why the organization’s skill was registered without permission this time, but that’s because I had coordinated it in advance with the system. The system is flexible when it comes to matters related to me.

‘And the system recognized the organization as something harmful to humanity’s happiness.’

Oracle also ultimately acts for humanity’s survival, so while Oracle was the organization’s leader, the system wouldn’t favor either me or the organization. But now, with Oracle out of the picture on Mars, the organization has simply become a criminal group with good technology. The system chose to support me rather than such a group. It allowed Sophia to register the organization’s skill freely.

Anyway.

“That person is probably lying or mistaken.”

The researcher and the journalist interviewing them likely didn’t understand the Awakened System well. Awakened people would know that the system wouldn’t allow someone else’s skill to be registered arbitrarily, but non-Awakened people might not realize that.

“…Couldn’t they genuinely feel wronged?”
“That’s possible. For instance, someone else conducting similar research might have registered it first.”

In that case… there’s nothing to be done. That researcher couldn’t claim copyright on the skill in the system. However, they could potentially receive some reward for providing additional data, since different perspectives can improve or refine a skill.

“Anyway, no matter how much that person protests, to Awakened people, it just sounds like nonsense.”
“I see…”

It’s more complicated than I expected.

“By the way…”

I turned back toward the TV broadcasting the news. Surely there won’t be idiots claiming they can’t trust the Awakened System after watching this news, right? For example…

‘Awakened supremacists…’

Those who see Awakened as monsters, not humans. If they exist, they could create public opinion claiming the Awakened System can’t be trusted to steal Awakened rights. With the recent Awakened Supremacist crackdown…

‘It’s the perfect time for them to act.’

Thinking this, I asked my mother,

“Mom, can I change the channel?”
“Sure.”

I changed the channel, thinking it would be better to watch a variety show than absurd news.

The next day, during social studies class.

“Everyone, you can put away your textbooks. Your class is too fast-paced, so I won’t be covering new material today.”

The teacher said this as soon as she entered. Indeed, our class generally progresses faster than others. Since every student is focused, teachers who appreciate that tend to try to teach even more, which explains our advanced pace.

“What are we doing today, then?”

Ryu Ah-Young asked. The teacher handed out pre-prepared worksheets.

‘…History of Copyright?’

Ah, this is probably because of yesterday’s news.

“Did everyone watch yesterday’s news? If not, speak up. I’m not scolding anyone.”
“I didn’t.”
“Me neither.”

Elena and Eliot raised their hands. Since they live in a dorm without a TV, it makes sense they hadn’t seen it. The apartment they visited with me last week isn’t ready yet… They plan to move in after finals and go back to England during vacation.

“I see. Then…”

The teacher turned on the classroom TV to show the news.

[Researcher A claims the skill they developed was registered in the Awakened System without their knowledge…]

The same news from yesterday played. Elena and Eliot looked confused, just like Yeon Mirae, Sophia, and I had. It conflicted with common sense.

“That’s all.”

After the segment ended, the teacher asked,

“You all use the Awakened System, so you know this makes no sense, right?”
“Exactly.”
“If it were possible to secretly register someone else’s skill, criminals would have raided labs and registered discovered skills in the system indiscriminately.”

The students nodded in agreement.

‘…Even if you couldn’t register a skill, lab attacks are frequent…’

Especially places developing military gear like exosuits are often targeted. Security is strong, so many attacks go unnoticed. But that’s not important right now.

“However, many non-Awakened people believe what they see on the news. Some Awakened people who don’t use the database seem to believe it too.”
“……”
“……”

Well… there are a lot of people who blindly trust the news. The broadcast station must be in trouble, with Awakened people demanding corrections.

“They told us at the education office that if there’s time today, we should hold a special lecture on copyright.”
“Oh… I see.”

This worksheet was probably prepared hastily.

“Since it was prepared quickly, it’s a bit incomplete. First, let’s talk about why the world needs copyright…”

The teacher began the lecture, and I skimmed the worksheet.

‘…Copyright for science and technology, inventions, combat skills like martial arts or magic… Individual vs. group copyright? This isn’t really high school material.’

The content was more appropriate for an academy. Copyright law is complex, with many types. There’s even a joke that people just register skills in the Awakened System because memorizing everything is too tedious. The teacher likely knew it was advanced for high school but included everything since it was a rushed lecture.

“Hmm…?”

While skimming, I stopped at a word at the end of the worksheet.

‘Artist?’

Me? I wasn’t sure why that nickname was used, but I kept reading. After finishing the worksheet, I finally understood why I was mentioned.

‘Well, I am basically a copyright mogul.’

During the conference when Chairman Richard visited Korea, I revealed that I had registered countless skills in the Awakened System. In essence, I had declared myself a copyright mogul, so it wasn’t strange that I was mentioned in discussions of copyright.