Damned System

Chapter 41. Traces (1)

Since the start of the game, I had only smiled contentedly twice.

“The first was when I got loot worth ten million won, and the next was loot worth a billion.”

And now, I faced an even better situation than in both of those experiences.

03-159 「Loot worth 200 million won」

03-188 「Loot worth 5 million won」

03-293 「Loot worth 18 million won」

03-255 「Loot worth 70 million won」

04-1965 「Loot worth 310 million won」

04-2487 「Loot worth 864 million won」

……

The recommended mission list was filled with blatant statements.

These were the potential tangible gains I could acquire through this game.

Nevertheless, I did not smile like before.

The system had brazenly declared its intention to use me.

「Offering what I want while telling me not to have second thoughts and just focus on the missions.」

To get the loot, I needed to clear those missions.

And that would directly benefit the system.

“It feels disgusting.”

Still, it was better than before.

“I, too, could now use the system.”

At least it was no longer a one-sided sacrifice I was forced to endure.

“I found a way to earn money and confirmed they can’t update at will.”

Previously, I was only being manipulated with nothing to show for it, but now it felt like significant progress.

I was glad I didn’t hold back and took my chances.

I took a deep breath and started scanning through the recommended mission list.

I began memorizing the numbers of the recommended missions.

This damned system could remove the list at any moment.

Even though I obtained what I wanted, that did not mean I trusted the system.

I needed to protect my livelihood with my own hands.

‘I should memorize up to level 4 for now.’

Just as I crammed the numbers into my mind, the system window disappeared as if waiting for it.

When I tried to open the mission window, the recommended list was not visible.

What I half-expected happened.

If I had simply trusted this thing and stayed still, I would’ve ended up with nothing again.

‘As always, there’s nothing about it that I like.’

I clicked my tongue and began inspecting the shield on the ground.

“Connection.”

The boss monster I just killed seemed like a small monster-like entity.

But it was much stronger and bigger than a small monster.

Could it have transformed by absorbing the mana accumulated in this connection?

“Even though I almost didn’t feel any change in mana while observing.”

I carefully observed the vortex of mana sensed through detection.

Perhaps because the monster that was absorbing the mana was gone, it was easier to see the flow.

The mana, moving from the edge towards the center, was gradually disappearing.

“Where is it going?”

As I mulled over the question, the word explaining this connection caught my attention.

“Hole.”

One of those things that the system, obsessed with literal translations, did not bother translating and simply marked.

“A hole generally occurs between originally disconnected spaces or areas, doesn’t it?”

So then, where exactly was this hole marking a break?

To find an answer to the mystery, I looked up at the sky, which had turned bluish and brightened.

Though I couldn’t see it now, there had definitely been two moons floating up there.

Could the hole in question be drilled in this world?

“If the mana is leaking through that hole…”

It seemed like a plausible guess at first glance.

If that were the case, what lies beyond this hole?

“Could it be… Earth?”

At the mention of the short word, my mouth started running dry.

If this hole was really connected to Earth, could only mana pass through?

“I’ve already crossed from Earth to here.”

If my being able to come here was thanks to that so-called ‘hole’…

Doesn’t this mean that whatever exists here could also travel back to Earth?

“No, it might be something the system has already tinkered with.”

I tried to deny it, but imaginings filled my mind and wouldn’t fade away easily.

“Hey, what exactly is this hole thing? Does it have anything to do with why I’m here?”

In my nervousness, I even tried asking the system.

But perhaps because I had no leverage over it? The system didn’t give me an answer.

I urged it several times but received no sound or message in return.

“Yeah, you’re still the same bastard.”

I laughed bitterly while closing my eyes. The essence of the system had not changed.

It would just use me without any explanation or justification.

The recommended list was shown to eventually make me take on missions.

I couldn’t forget that fact.

“I have no choice but to find out myself.”

I shook my head as if to rid myself of the hardened expression on my face.

“For now, let’s not limit our range of thoughts.”

The hole was an issue I couldn’t be certain of with the information I had.

The fact that the boss monster became stronger than an ordinary entity due to the mana gathered around this connection was only my guess.

Nothing was certain.

After organizing the newly acquired information and questions carefully, I stood up.

I threw away my worn-out military boots, whose soles had melted away, and put on sneakers from the inventory.

I also donned a jacket with a hole in it, as I retrieved it earlier.

I tried to stash the shield into the inventory before departing but it was to no avail.

“It doesn’t fit.”

I gathered the laces still attached to the boots and tied them to the shield handle, slinging it across my waist.

Only then could I start moving.

The destination was the area around the thorny lotus grove from where I had discovered human footprints.

“This mission can only end by destroying the connection.”

This meant there was time to look around the area safely after dealing with the creatures.

Moreover, there was no barrier limiting the mission area.

“Follow the footprints.”

I needed to see if I could find something out.

“Four liters of water, a day’s worth of food.”

If I rationed, it would last until the next afternoon. Even if I used it all, I could buy more from the shop.

“They sell things like bread and water.”

I had the means to endure even if it became a prolonged battle.

But when I finally returned to where I discovered the footprints, I couldn’t easily move on.

There was a problem holding back my pursuit of these traces.

“The old man would worry.”

If I returned late, I could easily imagine what thoughts would cross Jonghun’s mind.

“He knows that I could die.”

Would it be okay to make him wait in uncertainty for several hours, perhaps even days?

It would also be difficult to explain my absence to my younger siblings.

“It has already been over five or six hours.”

I stood before the footprints, lost in thought.

There was a way to contact Jonghun.

However, it involved exposing Jonghun’s personal information, and there was a chance it could unveil my identity in the process.

I opened the chat window while absent-mindedly staying put.

– K: What are you doing?

The reply came back shortly.

– Kj: Currently in special forces real combat martial arts training. I’m totally flying around! Haven’t you started level 3 yet, hyung? It isn’t over yet?
– K: It will take a while.
– Kj: Oh… is it super tough?
– K: No, but I have something to check. Because of that, I have a request.
– Kj: ㅇㅇ What is it?
– K: Is your phone being monitored?
– Kj: They don’t take it in to check, but they do look at the communication records. An agent nuna I’ve gotten close to gave me a hint!
– K: Then, is there anyone trustworthy or discreet among the party members outside?
– Kj: Outside the National Intelligence Service? Besides Bunny nuna and Namkyu?
– K: ㅇㅇ
– Kj: Then Yokai hyung! Not exactly discreet, but kind of weak-hearted. I’ve been with him since I formed a party with Assa hyung, and he’s not sly enough to stab me in the back.

Jonghun was someone who had filled the void left by my father after my parents passed away.

I couldn’t let him lose sleep worrying that I might have died.

‘I must get word across so that he can provide an explanation to the twins.’

Moreover, I had already met Kim Yul, and he was someone I would continue to be involved with.

If I kept getting ahead of him and gave him benefits, he wouldn’t double-cross easily.

– K: Without getting caught by the National Intelligence Service, can you contact the player called Yokai and let him know that I’m alive?

This time, the reply came back a beat late.

– Kj: I’m honestly a bit surprised. Thought you’d never reveal your personal information.
– K: I’d prefer not to, obviously. How about 10 potions as hush money?
– Kj: I will make sure to keep the secret, sir. Who should I pass the message to?
– K: 010-6695-XXXX. Just call and let them know the person who entered the game is alive.
– Kj: Only I and Yokai hyung know this number in the world. And I won’t even mention you to Yokai hyung! I swear! Loyalty!
– K: Thanks.
– Kj: ㅇㅇ If you need help, just let me know!

As it wasn’t something that needed to be postponed, I sent the potions to Kim Yul right away.

With someone to get my news to Jonghun secured, I could move my previously heavy steps.

I didn’t know where this journey would end, but I had to try as much as I could when given the chance.

“There’s no guarantee such traces might appear in the next mission area again.”

Most of the Level 2 mission areas didn’t show traces of people or civilization.

Even if it meant causing concerns for Jonghun, I had to go.

“Just one week.”

If I didn’t make any progress by then, I’d clear the mission.

Despite encouraging myself with those words, the pursuit wasn’t easy.

As someone who hadn’t learned professional tracking skills, it was all very makeshift.

Whenever footprints led to the water’s edge, I had to search the entire area.

Finding human footprints again was only possible when fortune smiled upon me.

More often than not, the footprints were covered by monster tracks, leading me to return to the starting point after some distance.

Throughout the process, I could guess the number of people who left these traces.

“At least four.”

Even as I stumbled repeatedly, I patiently scoured the ground.

Thanks to that, by the time the sun had ascended high in the sky, I managed to reach the outskirts of the swamp.

“Still, the sun is just one.”

With two moons, I wondered if there would be two suns too!

“The climate feels like spring or autumn.”

When the sun wasn’t up, the breeze was cool, but it’s getting a bit warm now.

“If this world has four seasons…”

Given there were no dry grass or fallen leaves around, it was likely spring.

While continually keeping an eye on the surrounding environment, I moved forward.

That allowed me to notice the changes more swiftly.

“The terrain is starting to change.”

At some point, the puddles disappeared, followed by the soil beginning to dry up.

Though, it wasn’t necessarily welcome news.

It was harder to track for a different reason.

The hardened ground made footprints less visible.

“They’ve disappeared.”

Eventually, weeds became more abundant to the point where I could no longer see any footprints.

All that lay ahead was an endless expanse of grassland.

Having lost the trace, I sank to the ground with a sigh.

It felt like a truly daunting situation.

“Should I give up…?”

Was this a futile endeavor or was tracking them even the right thing to do?

Doubts and distrust constantly nagged at me.

Yet the thought of going back to destroy the connection didn’t occur.

“Whew.”

I gulped down water as I mulled over the issue.

“How can I track them?”

Tapping my forehead with my index finger, pondering a way forward, a memory soon surfaced.

When I reached the outskirts of the swamp, I noticed brown stains on some bushes.

Only having cast a fleeting glance back then, I didn’t take much interest given the clear clue of the footprints.

“It was close to brown.”

If it was red blood that had discolored to that hue, then…

“They were wounded.”

The ones I needed to track might be injured.

In that case, the possibility of finding more bloodstains couldn’t be dismissed.

I drove my spear into the ground where the last footprint remained and began crawling around the area.

Peering intently, I painstakingly sifted through the surrounding grass.

And finally, after three hours of diligent searching.

“There it is.”

I managed to find dried brown stains on the grass.

Looking at the location of the spear and where the bloodstains were, I could determine which direction I needed to head in.