Chapter 163

This was the decisive reason why I chose the mystery genre.

All other themes were based on reality. I would have had to conduct interviews with actual people within the Trial.

But mystery was different.

Monsters? I could just make them up.

Of course, this was a method that wouldn't work once I got past the early stages.

As a stringer builds a reputation, competitors keep a hawk-eye on them and perform rigorous fact-checks.

That was exactly why I had to use this method for my first assignment.

The listeners' response to this first report was positive.

The Trial has a system where you can check the real-time reactions of listeners and viewers.

Despite being a late-night radio segment, it garnered considerable attention.

Listeners were enthralled by the provocative subject matter: a victim torn limb from limb by an unknown monster.

- This is what late-night radio is all about lol. Get rid of all those tear-jerker story segments.

- Who's the new stringer? They really put their life on the line to shove that recorder in there.

- This is AI. I'm a current stringer so I know; it doesn't come out this clean.

- What are you talking about? I'm a pro and I analyzed the sound, no modulation. The monster sounds are real.

- Holy shit, goosebumps. Even if it's fake, the dopamine hit is real. Terrifying.

- Lucky break lol. Newbie, if you've made a quick buck, just quietly bow out.

Naturally, there were negative reactions.

But in Hyper Eden, such things were secondary.

The core was the fact that there was a 'reaction, above all else.

Since incentives were paid based on the level of attention, it seemed like it would be a decent way to make money.

What truly mattered, however, was the second assignment.

◆ Main Quest: Interview the monster at the fast-food restaurant.

[Find the fastfood restaurant in the slums using the map!]

[Caution! You must enter stealthily after closing hours!]

In the fast-food restaurant stage, there was a hidden monster that absolutely had to be filmed.

It was a monster that would land me on the front page of the newspaper and earn me a fortune.

I headed out into the city of night with the Special Task Team.

I wore a white half-mask instead of goggles; it was something I had hastily acquired while sending the recorder to Cecilia.

Though it only covered half my face, pulling down my hood helped me avoid some attention.

Since the citizens of Hyper Eden dressed in such eccentric and unique styles, a half-mask didn't even stand out.

I walked the night streets, bathed in the glow of neon signs and billboards.

Between the buildings, the central tower was visible.

The tower, visible from anywhere in the city, was where the master of this place, the 'Mad Messiah', resided.

Unlike other buildings cluttered with holographic billboards, the towering spire was clean and noble.

The exterior walls were so smooth that not a single rivet mark or joint in the metal plates could be found, regardless of what they were made of.

The tower, which looked as if it had been carved from a single massive piece of metal, had no entrance.

Furthermore, no one entered, and no one left.

Even the scoop-crazed stringers didn't dare approach the tower, and I had never been inside.

'Perhaps a god lives there!'

The citizens regarded and worshipped the Mad Messiah as a god.

When I played this as a game. I thought it was a metaphorical expression toward a mega-corporation, but I was now realizing it was a literal statement of fact.

"Roasted Chestnut."

Dominic called me as I stared at the tower.

"Do you wish to know what is inside there?"

I did.

I wanted to confirm the truth that I hadn't been able to uncover even in the game.

However, I didn't want to solve it simply through Dominic's power.

I had a promise with Cecilia regarding the tower…

"I can find out, so please tell me if you wish."

Dominic offered kindly, but I only gave a small nod.

I recalled the warning from the Galactic Trading Post manager and the price of information mentioned by Gong-yeon.

For the first stage, I entered and exited immediately, merely registering it on the map.

Following that, I arrived safely and without issue at the second stage: the fastfood restaurant in the slums.

Even from the outside, the closed restaurant exuded a sense of great history and tradition.

It seemed that Hyper Eden's cutting-edge technology had completely bypassed this specific spot.

It stood in stark contrast to the glittering skyscrapers visible just by turning one's head.

The billboard on the wall continued to flicker and display hamburger advertisements despite the business being closed.

"Sa-sa-safe! Re-re-reliable! Artificially cul-cul-tured meat patties!"

A virtual model created with crude Al smiled brightly while holding a hamburger.

It was an advertisement that felt strangely uncomfortable.

Since Mo Hae- in was looking at the ad with interest, I warned her in advance to prevent any potential mishaps.

"Captain Mo. That's synthetic meat made from insects."

"..Insects?"

Her expression soured.

I urged her never to buy and eat those hamburgers, as the ad was a scam.

Meanwhile, Kwak Han-mook whistled.

Pointing at the fastfood restaurant, which looked like it belonged in a horror movie, he asked me:

"Isn't this place going to collapse the moment we step inside?"

"There is an event where part of the building collapses."

"Oh."

Kwak Han-mook's expression also soured.

I glanced at Je Hyeon-oh, but he seemed completely uninterested in the restaurant.

Rather, I felt as though he had been observing the tower for a while.

'Come to think of it, if it were Je Hyeon-oh, couldn't he just fly to the top of the tower?'

Sensing my gaze, Je Hyeon-oh looked back at me.

00

I wasn't entirely sure what it meant, but I took it as a rough signal to hurry inside.

I guided the Special Task Team to the back of the restaurant.

The employee entrance was locked with a flimsy analog device, making it easy to open.

I had finally entered the second stage, but…

"..!"

What appeared before my eyes was not a dilapidated fastfood restaurant.

A completely unfamiliar space filled my vision.

Amidst a cacophony of loud 8-bit sound music, dozens of classic arcade game machines were lined up.

It was an arcade.

Setting aside the fact that it wasn't a fastfood restaurant, it was a sight that didn't fit the cyberpunk world at all.

As I looked at the pixel, graphic screens on the machines, I suddenly realized how quiet the surroundings were.

There was no one.

Not only the Special Task Team, but even Dominic had vanished.

I was alone in the arcade.

Just as I was panicking, a system window popped up.

It wasn't a window announcing entry into the second stage, but an event quest window.

◆ Event Quest: Exciting Arcade Exploration!

[You have visited an arcade!]

[The arcade is the perfect place to showcase your abilities!]

[Control your subordinates to clear the games!]

[Can the Young God rescue the subordinates trapped within the games?]

[You are given only 3 coins!]

What is this?

It was a stage and quest I had never seen before.

After freezing for a moment, I hurriedly began to examine the arcade machines one by one.

Then, I found a machine displaying a pudding slime made of dot graphics.

It was a classic RPG-style game, and the pudding slime was surrounded by monsters.

Amidst the monsters filling the screen, the tiny slime looked incredibly fragile.

The moment I clung to the game machine in horror…

Text appeared at the bottom of the screen.

?????

This is boring.

Immediately after, the pudding slime transformed into a horrific form.

Eyes of all shapes and colors filled the screen, and a gloomy funeral dirge played in 8-bit sound.

And a moment later.

The machine turned off on its own.

My blank face was reflected in the black screen.

Then, the air split open, and the pudding slime dropped down.

Landing on the control panel, the slime looked up at me from beside the joystick.

"Mr. Dominic!"

I hurriedly grabbed him with my hand.

I had touched him without asking for permission, but Dominic didn't scold me, answering with a squishy feel.

"Were you worried? I just stepped away for a moment to see if this was related to Roasted Chestnut's quest progress."

Even though he was a being who didn't need such concern, I was worried for a moment.

Dominic comforted me, saying I didn't need to worry as he was safe.

He then informed me about the Special Task Team.

"Chestnut's subordinates will not be able to get out on their own."

Je Hyeon-oh and the Captains were each trapped in different classic games.

It seemed to be a structure where they would only be released once I cleared the games.

Trying to stay calm, I perched the pudding slime on my shoulder and examined the other machines.

Fortunately, I quickly found the machine displaying Mo Hae-in.

It was a fighting game.

Mo Hae-in stood inside an arena that felt like a Colosseum filled with spectators.

Wearing a sleeveless top, jeans, and leather half-gloves that left her fingers exposed, she was looking around.

Mo Hae-in, rendered as a pixel-graphic character, was a sight far too familiar to me.

Because I had seen her countless times in the Archive game.

It was a moment where reality had turned back into a game.

I barely suppressed my pupils, which kept trying to change color.

I don't know why they're doing this…

But there will be a price to pay for treating my subordinates so carelessly.

The game screen changed.

[INSERT COIN 0/1]

I sat in the chair and reached into my pocket.

Three flat, fluorescent light-blue coins came out. They seemed to be coins that automatically generated upon entering the stage.

One coin would be consumed per attempt.

If I used more than one coin on one person, there would be no coins left for the next.

I had to finish it with a one-coin clear.

But one coin was more than enough.

How could I lose when I was controlling my own subordinates?

Winning was the only option.

I lightly cracked my knuckles and inserted a coin.

The screen showed Mo Hae-in again.

'Excuse me for a moment, Captain Mo.'

I moved the joystick and pressed the six buttons to check the controls.

As I checked the jump, movement, attack, and special move commands, an exclamation mark appeared over Mo Hae-in's character.

Following that, pixel text appeared.

[Mo Hae-in is feeling anxious.]

Then, options appeared.

[Message]

[Restriction]

[Protection]

[Restoration (Unavailable)]

[Awakening (Unavailable)]

[Execution]

The abilities I possessed were made available for use in the game.

'A message would take too long, as I would have to input letters one by one using the joystick and buttons.'

I chose the most intuitive ability: 'Protection'.

A golden veil made of dot graphics settled over Mo Hae-in's head.

[Mo Hae-in perceives the touch of the God moving her.]

[She quickly regains her composure. She is now relieved.]

After watching Mo Hae-in calm down, I started the game.

The battle rules were simple.

3 rounds per match, and I had to win a total of 10 matches to clear it.

Mo Hae-in and the opponent's face filled the screen.

Then, the scene changed to the opponent entering.

It was a massive man, shirtless and wearing only bottoms.

One of his forearms was almost as large as Mo Hae-in's entire upper body.

Since Mo Hae-in was on the smaller side, the contrast was even more stark.

Moreover, more than half of the man's body was made of machinery.

The man, looking down at Mo Hae-in, burst into laughter.

A speech bubble saying 'HAHAHA' appeared over his head.

[■'s mocks Mo Hae-in. The spectators in the arena also burst into laughter.]

Everyone was certain of ■'s victory.

They all believed Mo Hae-in would lose in an instant.

I waited impatiently for the match to begin.

[FIGHT!]

Round 1 began, and health bars appeared above their heads.

The man immediately slammed down a giant fist.

I quickly moved Mo Hae-in backward to dodge.

A dull thud echoed, and pixel dust soared from the ground where the fist struck.

There was no way I would let Mo Hae-in get hit by such a clumsy fist.

I controlled Mo Hae-in to dodge all of the man's attacks while attempting simple attacks of her own.

This was to figure out how the hit detection worked.

After testing by chipping away at the opponent's health, I launched a full-scale attack.

As I moved the joystick and pressed the buttons, Mo Hae-in lunged forward and delivered a spinning kick.

With a satisfying hit, the man's upper body tilted for a split second.

Not missing that short window, I immediately mashed the buttons.

The moment I launched the opponent into the air with a knee strike, I triggered the special move.

Fists struck the opponent dozens of times, and the man's health bar plummeted by more than half in an instant.

Mechanical parts continuously flew off the man as he was pummeled.

He was given no chance for a counterattack.

Just before the man's body, launched by the final punch, fell back to earth... used the fully charged Super Special gauge to deliver a finishing combo.

Mo Hae-in filled the screen, and flames erupted around her.

Then, her small body soared upward.

Jumping even higher than the opponent floating in the air, she rotated cleanly and drove her heel downward.

A single strike.

[КАВООМ!]

The screen shook as the massive body was slammed headfirst into the ground, and broken fragments flewin all directions.

[K.O.!! PERFECT!!]

A notification announcing a perfect victory appeared.

Mo Hae-in brushed the dust off her hand and flicked an eyebrow expressionlessly.

The spectators cheered for her and threw the trash in their hands at ■.

The people who had been mocking her just moments ago were now chanting Mo Hae-in's name.

[Mo Hae-in feels the joy of victory. She is satisfied with the touch of the God moving her.]

I couldn't help but smile slightly.

I was glad she liked my control.

Since there were still Round 2 and Round 3 left, I resolved to do well in the remaining rounds.

However, for some reason, the next round notification did not appear.

The spectators in the arena began to boo.

At first, I thought it was because the next round hadn't started.

But that wasn't it.

The spectators were booing ■.

As their jeering continued…

A giant hand appeared.

It was a hand that seemed to cover the entire arena.

The hand, wearing a white glove, slammed down.

[THUMP!]

Mo Hae-in stood between the splayed fingers, her eyes wide.

As the hand lifted, a mass of flesh, crushed beyond recognition, was revealed on the floor.

The giant hand slowly ascended toward the sky, extending its index finger to point at the crushed remains.

Then, people who looked like staff swarmed into the arena and began cleaning.

The hand vanished back into the sky, and only Mo Hae-in remained in the now spotless arena.

I swallowed hard.

I had no intention of losing from the start, but the realization that Mo Hae-in might suffer a terrible fate if I lost made me tense.

I gripped the joystick tightly.

The second opponent appeared in the arena.

As I watched the pixel graphic character with nervous eyes, Mo Hae-in suddenly stepped backward on the screen.

With her hand on her stomach, she was trembling.

[Mo Hae-in feels dread and terror. She wishes to flee from the opponent before her.]

This was Mo Hae- in, who had faced a man several times her size without flinching.

I couldn't believe she was showing this much fear.

Looking closer at the opponent character, my eyes widened.

A speech bubble appeared over the female character's head.

[MY SIS♡]

At that moment, I instinctively knew who the opponent was.

It was Mo Hae-in's younger sister.