Chapter 46: Overtime

“Oppa! Isn’t it about time to start teaching Yul to read and write Korean?”

“We’ll do it when she shows interest. She’s still at an age where she should play.”

I should have listened to my wife back then.

“I heard other kids are learning English too…”

“She’ll be studying all her life. It’s fine to start slowly.”

As if all Yul had ahead was a ‘lifetime’ of studying.

Instead of just naively believing that was obvious.

If I had…

I could have read my father’s last will.

ㆍRecipient: Kim Yul

ㆍSender: Kim Hanul

ㆍYou’re hiding well, aren’t you? I love you, Yul. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you until the end. Please, be safe—

─ Thud!

“Trample the traitors of death!”

“Uuuuaaaaaah—!”

If I had…

Maybe even as I was crushed to death under a skeleton soldier’s foot, I would have felt a little—just a little less agony.

“Keurgh! My daughter…”

I believed.

─ Thud!

That Yul would enter elementary school. Make friends. Put on her uniform and smile shyly.

─ Thud!

That one day, friends would become more precious than her parents.

That she’d be buried in her desk, wrestling with study.

That she’d face fierce competition, small defeats, and grow into an adult.

─ Thud!

And someday—

She’d meet a man who wasn’t special, but was kind, smile beautifully.

Start a family.

Become a parent, giving birth to a child as lovely as herself…

I believed she’d live such an ordinary life.

Cough!

“In the… next life…”

If I’m reborn.

If I could be Yul’s father again, even then.

“For sure…”

Tremble.

My dry lips trembled, but no voice came out.

My vision blurred. Was it just old age?

Or maybe—

‘Is this the end?’

Sssh.

A father closed his eyes.

And then—

Clatter.

From the far-off shores of the Other Side (彼岸) receding into the distance…

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter…!

A familiar noise echoed.

The sound of those relentless bastards who had tormented him.

And yet, something was different about it.

Thud! Thud! Thud…!

A roar so loud it could wake the dying.

So I opened my eyes. I had no choice but to.

What filled my vision was—

Click! Click! Click! Click…!

Feet filling the entire avenue. Feet. Feet.

Countless skeletal feet lined up like a net.

“White…?”

Something was strange. The troops assigned to me should have been wiped out.

So where did these come from?

And the one at the head…

Clatter—!

A skeleton soldier wearing a helmet made from a beast’s skull.

No—

“The Demon King…?”

Violet smoke spreading from beneath its feet.

Eyes, glowing with eerie light, gazed sharply forward.

Behind him, the sunset fell.

A bloody red glow shining down on him like a halo.

“All troops! Halt!”

As he stopped, everyone stopped. Simultaneously, someone pointed in my direction.

Ssh!

I forced open my heavy eyes and lifted my powerless head.

Then, the shadow of that one stretched long, striding toward me.

Thud.

The closer it came, the more my body trembled under the oppressive aura stabbing my skin.

But—

Why is my daughter…?

“…?!”

Sitting on that thing’s shoulders?

No way…

“Hanul-ssi.”

“Dad!”

“…!”

Ssh!

Instead of a palm, the creature stretched out bony fingers.

And so—

“Get up.”

Tap!

I took that thin, outstretched hand.

A place too messy for a museum, and too grand for a laboratory.

When someone once called this place a natural history museum, its owner didn’t think they were wrong.

All kinds of body parts from various creatures pickled in colorful liquids.

Evidence of how, in this universe, countless species continue their own evolution.

Within, the history of nature itself was held.

In abundance.

[Forget the blood. Hmm, the skin—this should do…]

And while that noble nature was being dissected by a bushy-haired researcher—

─ Ding!

The system signaled the start of a new history.

【Simulation complete.】

Finally!

The researcher, nose buried in reagents, jerked his head up.

【Predicting the winner.】

Now.

It was time for the mission, culmination of his research, to shine.

Praise from across the universe would rain down upon him who had reached the level of a god!

The researcher, thrilled at the thought of praise, urged the system like an excited child.

[Yeah! Hurry and announce it!]

A triumphant air from ironclad confidence.

Of course BLACK—his creations—would win.

No one stood out no matter how much he searched.

Except, of course, for ‘that guy.’

[Even if I don’t know about that guy, the rest should be wiped out… Eh?!]

【BLACK – 1%】

【WHITE – 99%】

[One… one percent?!]

Impossible.

The soldiers were weak because resources were evenly distributed, but the knights were different.

He’d assembled their skeletons himself, bestowed them with intelligence!

[Show me White’s data!]

The researcher shouted.

The vial in his hand and the liquid inside shook, but he didn’t care about that.

【Displaying basis for estimation.】

Because the ‘data’ he trusted so deeply was lying.

【BLACK】

【Skeleton Knight (Lv.1) – Destroyed】

【Skeleton Soldier (Lv.1) – 70】

【Remaining Troops – 70】

【WHITE】

【Skeleton Knight (Lv.1) – 17】

【Skeleton Soldier (Lv.1) – 1,803】

【Remaining Troops – 1,820】

The researcher’s mouth dropped open.

[Bu-bug?!]

A bug.

It had to be a bug.

Otherwise, how could such an overwhelming result come about?

…Or so he thought, as he continued analyzing White’s data.

【BLACK】

【Remaining Troops – 20】

Black team’s troops decreased by 50.

【WHITE】

【Remaining Troops – 1,870】

White team’s troops increased by 50.

[!!]

Crash—!

The flask he was holding crashed to the floor.

[…Lee Eunho.]

It was him.

It could only be him.

No one else could pull off something so absurd.

But the problem was—

Not ‘who,’ but ‘how.’

[Is it possible… to change affiliation? There’s a faction info field in the attributes… but how the hell did that bastard figure it out?!]

The researcher muttered like a madman.

[No, even if he figured it out, that’s still an issue. How did he actually switch them? It’s not like he accessed the source code…]

【Updating prediction values.】

Even as the system reran the simulation on its own—

The result, updated with the changed data, was—

【BLACK – 0%】

【WHITE – 100%】

At that screen, the researcher erased ‘how’ from his mind.

[Is it really… to this degree?]

Curious.

Just how did that guy’s brain come up with something even the creator hadn’t imagined?

I want it.

I want to fondle that guy’s squishy brain.

I want to bury my nose in it and smell that sweet, metallic scent.

Hiss!

[Send… anyone down.]

The researcher gave the order, smacking his lips slowly.

[Go and bring him here! Alive or dead, I don’t care!]

Go fetch a ‘specimen.’

But—

【Unable to comply!】

【Insufficient resources.】

When the stupid system didn’t get it—

[Use the prototype!]

【Unable to comply!】

【Insufficient research data. Stability not guaranteed…】

[Useless thing!]

Beeeep—!

He shut off the power.

Eyes gleaming with desire.

Clatter! Clack! Clatter—!

On Hangang Boulevard, from Yongsan Station toward Samgakji.

Skeletons—just one enough to startle—filled all six lanes of the avenue.

On a road spread with a purple fog.

[You are walking the ‘Path Against Death’!]

A murky presence, unsure if it was mist or smoke.

Even if you called it the ‘Path Toward Death’ rather than the ‘Path Against Death,’ it would fit perfectly.

If not for the buff hovering at the edge of my vision, I wouldn’t have even set foot on it.

[You are immune to all status ailments caused by fear and disease.]

[You will not die unless your head is destroyed.]

[Mental domination abilities are ineffective.]

[Wound recovery rate is dramatically increased. (+100%)]

[Defense is increased. (+50%)]

These lines—so satisfying, just to look at.

Compared to the value of some silly chatrooms where jokers hide behind dumb nicknames, this was heaven and earth.

【‘Night Shift Fairy from the Department of Gratitude’ asks if that torch-bearing skeleton is really the target ‘Lee Eunho.’】

【Says they came by recommendation, but are a little flustered.】

【‘Bureau Crow’ jokes that actually the torch is the real body, not the skeleton.】

【‘Investigation Bureau Prince’ says that, after seeing so many skeletons, it’s fine, and suggests maybe just turning into one for good.】

“Damn bastards.”

I thought to myself that I ought to kick them if I ever met them.

Apparently, Jaehyuk thought I was talking to him and jumped in surprise.

“S-sorry, hyung!”

“Huh?”

“I must be crazy… Not recognizing my own lifesaver…”

Jaehyuk scratched his head with one hand.

His face scrunched up, eyebrows nearly meeting.

He looked genuinely miserable.

Well, no wonder.

“Th-that sword! That armor! Even the torch?! Could it be…?!”

As soon as he saw me, he ran over and—

“That’s right, Jaehy—”

“How dare a skeleton like you touch my hyung…!! Die!!”

Trying to avenge me, he bashed my head with all his might.

Howling like a beast.

“You’re strong, Choi Jaehyuk.”

“I’m really sorry! I just thought those damn skeletons had gotten you, hyung…!”

“It’s fine, I’m not hurt.”

“But…”

Thanks to my defense and helmet, I took no damage.

And honestly, seeing him cry out for revenge was kind of touching.

Also—

“You’re the most normal one.”

“Huh?”

On the way from Ichon-dong past Sinyongsan Station to Samgakji—

One by one, I absorbed black and white skeleton soldiers.

“Samchoooooon—!”

“W-watch out!”

Yul, jumping from the sky out of nowhere—where had she even been hiding?

“Get up.”

“…!”

“I said, get up?”

Hanul-ssi, staggering and mumbling prayers, bowing for ages and refusing to stand.

“It really is you, Eunho-ssi!”

“Hmm? Aren’t you going to ask for more proof?”

“The shape of your shoulders is totally you, Eunho-ssi. The proportions, too.”

“…Excuse me?”

After staring for a while, Jieun-ssi joined us, saying strange things.

Ah, and—

“You XX XX!! Do you know what kind of sword that is, you damn XX…!”

“I’m Lee Eunho.”

“Shit?!”

As soon as he saw the bladed hook sword in my hand, the foul-mouthed one unleashed a torrent of curses.

So, not normal either.

Anyway—

[You have acquired an additional Skeleton Soldier (Lv.1)!]

[Remaining Troops: 370]

[You have acquired an additional Skeleton Soldier (Lv.1)!]

[Remaining Troops: 512]

[You have acquired an additional Skeleton Soldier (Lv.1)!]

[Remaining Troops: 683]

……

Absorbing our group’s remaining troops, and the enemy’s, we pressed forward.

「01:00」

Before I knew it, the mission was racing to its end.

─ Crackle!

“One minute left, hyung!”

“Yeah. Everyone has their flags, right?”

─ Crackle, crackle!

“I got it thanks to the young man!”

“Yes! Thank you, sir…!”

So, I thought… it was over.

[… Emergency!]

Suddenly, the PA crackled like a walkie-talkie in a movie.

「00:55」

The timer, which had been normal—

「00:&%」

Started to writhe.

「%~$*&」

And turned into bizarre symbols.

[Emergency broadcast… incoming!]

Until the sudden broadcast echoed out.

[Emergency!]

[By the authority of the interim administrator, the ‘Mock Battle’ mission is entering ‘Overtime’!]

‘!!’

Overtime?

That wasn’t in the proposal!

The unexpected twist made the hairs on my neck stand up.

Eyes snapping open from the chill running down my spine.

“Overtime?!”

“Shit, we got the flags! What’s with this damn overtime?!”

Yeji and the foul-mouthed one both panicked.

Of course, the system didn’t care.

And a moment later—

Beeeep—!

“Eek!”

“What’s that noise?!”

It started with a machine sound, like tinnitus.

A grating alarm stabbing not my ears, but my brain.

Sssssssssss—!

Then, a black hole opened up in the sky.

A tiny dot, easily mistaken for a bird, grew to the size of the sun, then spread like a cloud.

Literally, a pitch-black hole—like a black hole.

Big enough to swallow an entire building.

‘This is…!’

I’d seen it before.

“Isn’t that the lake that appeared on the KTX ceiling?!”

“Looks similar, but… it’s way bigger this time!”

I knew.

Any moment now, monsters would drop out of there.

They’d charge straight at us, just like dozens of ghosts had before.

Only this time, even bigger and stronger monsters.

“Damn! At this size, even a tank wouldn’t stand a chance!”

The foul-mouthed one shouted, face gone pale as a skeleton.

At the same time—

─ Sssssssssss—!

The black lake rippled.

Overflowing with menace, unrest, and unease.

“Let’s get ready.”

“Yes!”

“Yes, hyung!”

While Jieun-ssi and Jaehyuk squared up at my sides—

“You’re not thinking of fighting, right?! C-can’t we just hide?”

Unlike Yeji, who pleaded, trembling—

“I know you’re strong, but this is too dangerous! Maybe we should just run as far away as possible…”

“No.”

“…?!”

This hole was on a scale I’d never seen.

A giant monster would come out for sure, and if we tried to hide and got trampled, that’d be a pathetic death.

Running wouldn’t work, either.

Skeleton soldiers’ agility stat averaged from 1 to 4.

If we tried to run and didn’t get whacked from behind, it’d be a miracle.

It was impossible—unless I abandoned everyone.

Instead—

“All troops!”

I’d do the best I could now.

“Surround the perimeter of the rift!”

A resounding shout, filled with conviction.

The skeletons responded at once.

“Yes…!”

“Surround…!”

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter! Clatter…!

Fifteen hundred white bones moved—as if a wave of shattering white.

We didn’t march in step, but we were united.

Even as shoulders bumped and heel bones were trampled, everyone moved into position.

Clack—clack—clack—

Skeleton soldiers lined up behind me.

Jaehyuk stood firm at the front, Jieun at my side, the foul-mouthed one creeping forward.

The formation was set.

[‘Mock Battle’ mission has entered ‘Overtime’!]

[Defeat the enemy and survive!]

The enemy we—no, I—had to defeat was—

“!!”

“What… on earth is that…?!”

Come.

Ghost or monster, I’m not afraid of a single one.