Chapter 73 : You, Become My Companion (1)
Chapter 73: You, Become My Companion (1)
Beyond the lake, spread beneath the blazing sunset, stood countless buildings as sharp as shark teeth.
Today in particular, the harmony between the city and the sky was dazzling.
There were just as many people crowding the streets, and the City Government's security personnel were so busy they barely had time to breathe.
Thanks to that, Lee Taebaek and Elder Seopunggae were able to move through the blind spots in everyone's vision without incident.
They had left Red Hare with Zhang Quan.
Elder Seopunggae had advised him to leave it behind since it would only attract attention.
In this part of town, the more attention you drew, the more troublesome things became.
Your personal safety could even be endangered.
'Better than getting subjected to a surprise inspection like some kind of spy.'
During inspections, the guards checked behind your ears for a Net Socket.
If you didn't have one, they skipped the warrant altogether and simply dragged you away.
“Let go, let go! I'm not getting that damned procedure!”
As if on cue, a man was being detained amid the crowd.
Two guards with their caps pulled threateningly low each seized one of his arms as they dragged him away.
“...Is that sort of thing normal around here?”
“No.”
“Today's actually much quieter.”
“What kind of place is the Upper District?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized what an idiotic question it was.
You were the one who created a place like this, past-you, Lee Taebaek!
“Hahaha, my boy.”
“This still isn't the Upper District.”
To be precise, this was merely its entrance.
It was the boundary separating the Upper and Lower Districts.
Even so, it was dazzling.
Far too dazzling.
The crimson glow of the western sky warmed the sides of their faces.
A little later, they arrived at the subway station.
“So the road to meeting the Beggar King leads through the subway.”
Lee Taebaek muttered absentmindedly.
“What was that?”
“I was just saying that even the subway station's name is rather fitting.”
“Haha. That's an odd thing to say all of a sudden.”
The inside of the station was filled with a dim atmosphere.
Perhaps it was because it felt too devoid of everyday life.
Simply put...
It was disturbingly clean.
Even so—
The station itself was nothing compared to its passengers.
None of the citizens had what could truly be called expressions.
Although their appearances differed, they walked with such perfect uniformity that they resembled dolls manufactured in the same factory.
“...Are they really human?”
“What do you think?”
“I only asked because they don't look human.”
“You saw correctly.”
“They were once human.”
“But they no longer are.”
“Take a good look.”
“They're the future of this city.”
MegaCorp was secretly carrying out its personality eradication policy.
As the game's developer, I naturally knew what was happening behind the scenes.
The problem was the timing.
That was supposed to happen in the main story.
Five years from now.
Even then, it wasn't meant to have properly begun yet.
'The scenario's been accelerated.'
Far too much.
Judging by the state of the subway passengers, the personality eradication policy had already reached at least half of its intended goal.
Lee Taebaek finally grasped just how serious the situation had become.
Keeping his gaze lowered, he quietly contemplated.
Within this space, Lee Taebaek and Elder Seopunggae were unmistakably the odd ones out.
The passengers' eyes followed them.
Even after they had walked out of sight, the passengers stubbornly turned only their heads to keep watching.
It looked like a flock of human owls.
“You're getting nervous.”
Seeing Lee Taebaek's expression harden, Elder Seopunggae chuckled.
“Don't worry.”
“They won't suddenly come charging at you like zombies.”
“That reaction is merely the remnant of subconscious instinct.”
“Because we aren't behaving like they do, they instinctively look our way.”
“Thanks for the reassuring explanation...”
“Oh, and at least this station doesn't have any station attendants or CCTV cameras.”
“So you can relax.”
“That's one of the reasons I chose this place.”
I didn't bother asking why.
'There was no need.'
The passengers were no different from walking plants.
Installing surveillance systems here would have been a complete waste of money.
I guess I won't be seeing any subway lunatics like the ones on Seoul's Line 1 in this city.
Hmm.
That's a little disappointing.
'It's cyberpunk.'
'The subway really ought to have those kinds of lunatics to complete the atmosphere.'
'That's why I'd intentionally pushed the personality eradication policy all the way to the final stages of the main scenario.'
If the game's atmosphere became too stiff, it simply wasn't fun.
Even if they were somewhat vulgar, you needed NPCs who acted as that sort of lubricant.
Otherwise, players inevitably got bored.
If a game stayed endlessly serious, fatigue eventually set in.
'I really need to fix parts like this.'
Lee Taebaek smacked his lips inwardly.
At that moment, Elder Seopunggae stopped before the ticket gate.
He tapped his terminal against the reader, unlocking the barrier.
“Go on in.”
He gestured toward the other side.
“So from here on, I have to go alone?”
“Beggar King said he wanted to speak with you privately.”
“For someone who wants a private conversation, this seems like a rather strange choice of venue.”
There were just as many people beyond the ticket gate.
Even if they technically weren't people...
It still bothered me.
The strategy was probably that old saying—
It's darkest beneath the lamp.
The larger the crowd, the easier it was to hide.
Except this wasn't beneath a lamp.
It was beneath a bonfire.
One wrong move, and everyone would be wiped out.
“Just because I'm meeting Beggar King doesn't mean I have to bow my head.”
“I used the Agreement you gave me to make this request.”
Lee Taebaek said firmly, brows furrowed.
“And even if it sounds arrogant coming from me...”
“I've been helping the Beggars' Sect.”
“I'd rather avoid putting my own safety at unnecessary risk.”
Lee Taebaek remained completely confident.
These were exactly the kinds of things you had to make a point of mentioning.
Otherwise, people would start treating you like an easy mark.
“Hahaha. You're nervous after all.”
“Relax a little.”
“Didn't I already tell you this isn't the Upper District yet?”
“And do you really think I'd send you to your death?”
“Lee Taebaek, I understand how you feel.”
“But please, set aside your doubts.”
“To question us like that insults the Beggars' Sect's honor.”
“If necessary, I'll even guarantee your—”
“You promised.”
“W-What...?”
Like a gust of wind, Lee Taebaek slipped past Elder Seopunggae.
Passing through the ticket gate, he stepped onto the escalator without hesitation.
His eyes remained wide open.
“Your.”
“Guarantee.”
He enunciated each word so clearly they seemed to drill into Elder Seopunggae's ears.
As the escalator carried Lee Taebaek downward, he gradually disappeared from sight.
Left standing there alone, Elder Seopunggae finally found his voice a beat too late.
“...What an outrageous bandit...”
After letting out a hollow laugh, Elder Seopunggae soon spread out a straw mat beside the ticket gate.
It was time to get back to his day job.
[＃1 Small-Scale] Version 1.9.3.2 Patch Notes
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• 「Lake City Subway Line 1」 will now periodically generate 「Sudden Quest: Only the Strong Survive」.
• Each 「Line 1 Villain」 possesses a unique 「Concept」 based on the Concepts currently owned by 「Operator: Lee Taebaek」.
• Although every 「Line 1 Villain」 has a different personality, they all share one common objective: opposing 「MegaCorp: Personality Eradication Policy」.
• Acquire more 「Concepts」 to create additional 「Villains」 and enlighten the citizens of Lake City against the 「Personality Eradication Policy」.
• The more the 「Personality Eradication Policy」 is weakened, the more positive both your 「Overall Evaluation」 and 「Recent Evaluation」 become, while also increasing the amount of Operator Points you receive.
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》》 Auto Saving……
》》 Applying Patch.
[STAGE 0: Escape the Brain Prison - CLEAR]
[STAGE 1: Eradicate Drugs - CLEAR]
[STAGE 2: War on Crime - CLEAR]
.
.
.
[STAGE 3: City of Corpses - START]
Quest Description: MegaCorp is attempting to implement the Personality Eradication Policy on a massive scale. However, this event was originally supposed to occur only near the end of the main story. For some unknown reason, MegaCorp has already extended its influence throughout the Upper District of present-day Lake City. At this rate, the game will end before it's even released, creating a game-breaking bug far beyond Early Access. Immediate action from the Operator appears necessary.
Quest Reward: 10 Operator Points, all attributes increased by 11% proportionally, Secret Ice Magic 'Ice Age'.
Try forming a party to make progression easier. A party may contain up to four members, and characters whose level exceeds that of 「Operator: Lee Taebaek」 cannot normally be recruited. However, if their Faith toward the Operator reaches 30 or higher, they may still be selected as party members.
Within a Unique Barrier, the Operator may unconsciously apply Buffs and Nerfs to party members. Make use of each party member's individual strengths by adjusting their attributes through Buffs and Nerfs.
[Character List]
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• Lv.42 Kang Hyunseong (R): Super Regeneration (Available)
• Lv.25 Yoo Dahee (R): Marksmanship (Available)
• Lv.16 Rock (SSR): Cursed Words (Available)
(……)
• Lv.30 Jin Sobang (N): Cornucopia (Uncertain)
• Lv.31 Kim Changsik (N): Valkyrie (Available)
• Lv.67 Muyachi (SSR): Dojon (Unavailable)
(……)
• Lv.74 ????? (EX): Heavenly Demon (Available)
※ Availability Requirements: Must have met Operator Lee Taebaek at least once. In addition, the target must not harbor negative feelings toward him. Continue your activities and recruit more party members.
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Tip: The essence of Buffs and Nerfs is balance. Greater effects can be achieved by introducing restrictions. Aim for the perfect balance and adjust the balance of Raken's :)
[The train bound for ＠＃＄％ will be arriving shortly. Passengers are requested to stand one step behind the platform screen doors(……)]
Lee Taebaek looked around.
Other than the dead waiting for the train, there was nothing particularly unusual to be seen.
Just as expected.
Lee Taebaek wasn't the only one on guard.
This was also the other party's first time seeing him.
They were undoubtedly concealing their presence somewhere while observing him.
There was no helping the fact that Beggar King held the strategic advantage.
That was the privilege of the strong.
If he wished, he could burst my head open with a single flick of his finger.
'Hmm...'
Well.
Maybe I could survive three flicks.
Anyway.
I'd designed Beggar King around the archetype of the hidden master.
A modern interpretation of the leader of the Beggars' Sect.
Appropriately mysterious.
Appropriately approachable.
An elderly man in his twilight years.
I'd done my best to embody exactly that image.
A transcendent powerhouse who nevertheless maintained absolute neutrality.
'He never leaned toward either side.'
He sided with no one and made enemies of no one.
His philosophy in life was to live long and live well(?).
An old man who lived like a turtle.
Considering his inspiration had been Master Roshi from Dragon Ball, the comparison was surprisingly apt.
“...Phew.”
“I'm nervous.”
Lee Taebaek intended to make that man one of his own.
There was no intention of carelessly Nerfing his mind or anything foolish like that.
That old man's Mental Strength was at least eighty.
As the living history of the Central Plains, his state of mind had already transcended the age itself.
It was no different from nature.
'Even a slight Nerf wouldn't leave so much as a scratch.'
If he sensed anything unusual, it would all be over.
The relationship painstakingly built with the Beggars' Sect could collapse.
So I intended to resolve everything through conversation alone.
It was time to show the true worth of someone who had transmigrated into this world.
Lee Taebaek sat down on a bench.
The rows of waiting passengers reflected in the platform screen doors.
Standing perfectly still without the slightest movement, they looked deeply unsettling.
[Beep—Beep—Beep—Beep—Beep—]
Still...
The atmosphere here differed from those upstairs.
They looked even more like dolls...
'No.'
The gaps visible in their joints proved they were never human.
Even with clouded eyes, living beings still possessed some trace of focus.
Those things merely had eyeballs for appearance's sake.
“Damn it.”
So that was why Elder Seopunggae had said not to worry about people watching.
I'd been completely fooled.
Beep—Beep—Beep—Beep—Beep—Beep—Beep—
Just as Lee Taebaek pressed the door button, the subway train arrived.
[The platform screen doors are opening.]
The mechanical announcement echoed hollowly.
[Watch your step. Watch your step.]
Not a single one of them crossed the doors.
[The platform screen doors are closing.]
Only one person stepped off the train.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Beneath the bucket hat...
Purple gums.
“Don't look at me like that.”
The old man's wrinkled right hand swept through the air.
Silver threads spread from his fingertips like tiny blood vessels.
The next instant, everyone standing in a line before the platform screen doors collapsed to the floor.
They became puppets whose strings had been cut.
To emphasize it once more—
They did not collapse like puppets with their strings cut.
They had been puppets from the very beginning.
It was an entrance scene far beyond anything I had imagined.
Even compared to Dojon's appearance, this sent an entirely different kind of shiver through me.
I never expected someone who stood among the ten greatest monsters in the world to be ordinary.
Even so...
For a brief moment, I wondered if coming here had been a mistake.
Fear weighed heavily upon my back.
Yet, from somewhere deep inside me, exhilaration surged upward.
If I wanted to survive in the Upper District...
If I wanted to overcome the countless variables and bugs waiting ahead...
“My people owe you a great deal.”
The world's one and only—
The strongest puppeteer.
“So then.”
“What is it you desire?”
This man...
Had to become my ally.
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• Lv.69 Hong Geolgae (SSR): Beggar King (-)
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