Damned System

Chapter 29. Murderer (4)

Kim Yul stood in front of the mirror, gazing at the large scar remaining on his back.

The wound, inflicted by a monster’s claw and deep enough to expose bone, had almost completely healed.

Such recovery speed was impossible for an ordinary person. Perhaps it was due to experiencing so many unrealistic situations that he was no longer surprised.

After putting on his shirt again, Kim Yul picked up his phone.

“Thirteen missed calls…”

It seemed that staff from his agency and team members had called. It was only natural, considering he ran away right after being confirmed for debut.

With a complicated expression as he looked at the call list, he left the room without making any calls.

Beyond one door lay a space too vast for one person. Crossing the area, with not a hint of human presence, led him to the kitchen.

On the dining table, food prepared by a housekeeper was neatly arranged. Kim Yul began his breakfast and lunch with it. As he took a bite, he muttered softly, “Community”.

It wasn’t just his phone that accumulated messages while he slept. The Korean-only party members were exchanging light conversations.

– Kj : I’m awake!
– Yokai: Oh, jun, you woke up?
– Macaron: Good morning. Last to wake is Mint.
– Best in the World: Our new player. Kimchi.
– Kimchi Manse: Hello.
– Kj : Ooh! Hello, hello. You’re sure you didn’t get caught by 111, right?
– Bunny Girl: Yup, I checked everyone.

Three from the mission area, three from the intelligence agency. The party, which had dwindled to four after losing six members, had managed to gain two more players in recent days, bringing the total back to six.

“Sigh!”

He couldn’t help but let out a small laugh while conversing with them during his meal.

‘I seem so natural with this now, don’t I?’

Talking into the air and accepting it as normal—it was preposterous.

‘How did it come to this?’

Kim Yul recalled the past. Exactly three weeks ago, he experienced his first tutorial in the idol trainee dormitory.

Fortunately, it was the early hours with everyone exhausted and asleep, giving him ample time to erase any traces.

But seeing the “1/3” on the mission screen gave him a bad feeling, compelling him to hastily flee the dorm.

With debut just around the corner, he couldn’t utter nonsense about games or systems. Being seen drenched in blood would have been bothersome too.

‘Being dragged to the police station for staying at the dorm would have been worse, right?’

At the time, the best option was to avoid people’s eyes. If any strange rumors arose, he would undoubtedly be excluded from the debut team.

His family home was a place with minimal human traffic, perfect for hiding. His father had settled down with a young woman.

His stepmother was busy managing a company branch abroad. His half-siblings, as newcomers to society, had each moved to studio apartments near their workplaces.

Thanks to this, the spacious house in the heart of Seoul was entirely Kim Yul’s domain. However, he couldn’t continue like this.

‘Initially, they seemed to see it as a simple runaway and gave me time.’

Yet as the hiatus prolonged, the agency began to urge him. The missed calls were evidence of that.

If he kept his head down, the debut, which he finally secured, would be canceled.

‘In a situation where I might be dragged away at any moment, I can’t be leisurely practicing either.’

With the debut looming so closely, things were twisted in the most peculiar way. Kim Yul sighed heavily, ruffling his hair.

‘I wanted to succeed and crush the Kim family.’

It was a common story: a prosecutor-turned-politician father who exerted power, an illegitimate child born outside, a stepmother’s coldness, and the abuse from half-siblings.

The one reason Kim Yul endured a past full of misery was simple.

To rise to a place where the Kim family couldn’t even dare to look. To repay all the resentment he had endured by achieving success with absolute determination.

But suddenly, out of nowhere, a game intervened in his life, ruining everything.

The community window and chat box that appeared right in front of him were evidence that the past three weeks were not a delusion.

This insane game was an unwanted guest that invaded Kim Yul’s life. The problem was, however, that he couldn’t ignore this unwelcome guest because it was driving him crazy.

If he was dragged away like during the tutorial, he would die.

‘I didn’t endure in this wretched house to die like this.’

Gritting his teeth in anger, Kim Yul glared at the empty air. He did not want to die uselessly because of this irritating guest.

Before he gave the Kim family a piece of his mind, he couldn’t die. That’s why he hurriedly composed himself and started the mission.

All for the singular purpose of wanting to live. His guts churned at the thought of losing the debut opportunity, but for now, his life was more valuable, wasn’t it?

“Ugh, damn…”

Halfway through a curse, Kim Yul continued his breakfast laboriously.

Even after the first son and second son of the Kim family had kicked him, he would forcefully shove his face onto the dining table and eat.

Not dead nor sure of dying, he couldn’t afford to miss a meal just for that.

‘I need to eat.’

That’s how his head would function and his body wouldn’t tire. This was the way of survival for Kim Yul, who had lived 17 years without a single ally.

Finishing his meal, Kim Yul returned to his room, feeling the empty space of the house emphasizing its vastness.

Throwing himself onto the bed, Kim Yul took a deep breath and tried to feel mana, but even after focusing on sensing it all day, the results eluded him.

It was the same as when he briefly attempted it the night before.

“Argh!”

Eventually, Kim Yul kicked the bed in frustration.

‘That guy wasn’t lying, right?’

He bit his lip, pacing the room.

‘What if it’s just nonsense to eliminate competitors?’

It hadn’t even been a full day since he started this effort, but anxiety gnawed at him.

His party was postponing the additional mission because of the information received from K.

If the story about Mana Manipulation was all a lie, then he would be wasting time. If he were dragged to an unfamiliar space while asleep, like during the tutorial…

For a while, Kim Yul continued to pace and fret until a new message arrived, causing him to flinch.

– K: What are you doing?

The new message signaled the continuation of the chat that had begun the previous night. Narrowing his eyes, Kim Yul checked the chat window and quickly replied.

– Kj: Practicing Mana Manipulation at home… can’t find any signal. Boohoo, I’m shedding tears.

– K: Where’s your home? Can we meet briefly?

“What?”

The unexpected request caused a crease between Kim Yul’s otherwise tidy eyebrows.

Meeting someone he didn’t know, and who was likely stronger—it was unthinkable to go out without any preparation. Kim Yul carefully crafted a response to K.

– Kj: Is this a sudden date proposal? I haven’t even washed today. Hehe.

Even though he decided to decline for now and planned to meet with his party members later, the message that followed shook his resolve.

– K: You won’t regret coming out. You might find out why your party members died.

‘Is there a reason why Asa hyung died?’

Codename Asa, real name Yang Baejun.

He was the one who gathered only Koreans to form the party and the player who shouldered the dangers during the first mission.

Those who survived could largely credit their lives to his sacrifice.

Kim Yul racked his brain.

‘Was there something with the National Intelligence Service?’

Overnight?

‘Is this just bait to lure me out?’

If so, according to his initial decision, he shouldn’t meet K, but recalling the chat with him, his dilemma lengthened.

‘From the vibe, he didn’t seem particularly malicious…’

What Kim Yul felt while conversing with K was his calculating nature. He was someone who would only receive as much as he gave and repay exactly that much.

Given such a person had suggested meeting first, the reasoning was puzzling. While Kim Yul was tangled in thought over whether to meet K, another message arrived.

– K: If you’re uneasy, just tell me a nearby subway station. I’ll put it in the inventory.

Upon seeing that message, his decision was made.

‘What could he possibly do if I ask to meet in a crowded place?’

With a firm mind, Kim Yul swiftly responded.

– Kj: No, no! I’ll just flick out my eye booger and head out! I’m curious about you too, hehe.

– K: Location?

Relieving Kim Yul somewhat, K naturally gave him the decision-making power.

– Kj: Line 2, near Ttukseom Station is okay?

– K: Okay, it’ll take about 30 minutes. Take your time coming out.

– Kj: Yep! See you at Exit 7! I’ll wear red Adidas sneakers.

After quickly washing up, changing his clothes, and heading to the rendezvous, he luckily managed to arrive on time.

Standing in front of Exit 7, he glanced at the floating chat window momentarily.

“K Junior?!”

A strange voice called from behind.

Upon swiftly turning with a swish, a chill ran down Kim Yul’s spine.

“Huff!”

There was no one behind him.

* * *

I was taken aback thrice upon actually seeing Kj.

Once for his dazzling platinum blonde hair, another for his charming puppy-like features, and a third for the earrings adorning his ears.

‘What kind of guy is he?’

He said he was seventeen, yet his impression was quite striking. Of course, the surprise only lasted a moment.

Regardless of Kj’s appearance, my task was to convey the message and leave. I came specifically now, as I foresaw being too busy once the business was completed.

To the darting-eyed Kj, unable to focus his gaze, I spoke.

“Hand.”

“Huh?”

Kj awkwardly raised his hand, and I dropped a USB onto it. Kj’s already large eyes widened further.

“Uh…”

“It’s footage from when those people died. I got it from the National Intelligence Service.”

“Whoa?”

“Try to avoid storing it at home; check it out in a PC room or someplace similar to be safe.”

“Uh, uh, go—got it. But… are you really Kay? Are you?”

Placing a hand on his shoulder, I answered.

“Not nonexistent.”

“Wha—awesome! What’s this? A skill? Is it like Invisibility? OMG, Invisibility! Doesn’t that cost over a thousand? Did you buy it?! This is insane!”

A laugh escaped me.

‘This guy’s faking so hard.’

Even while being so tense, worried about an unseen attack, his muscles were taut.

Not stopping there, his hands were curled as if ready to draw out a dagger from inventory. Yet he acted nonchalantly, making a fuss.

‘This guy is sharper than I thought.’

In some ways, it’s quite impressive.

‘Perhaps someone like him is preferable.’

Right now, what I need more than a fool is someone savvy with gain and loss and proficient in calculation.

He’d probably make an excellent trading partner when both parties’ desires are met. Not showing myself wasn’t on a whim.

Knowing the value of this skill meant understanding the chasm between us.

To look like I had more to offer, flaunting my abilities was better.

‘It’s kind of a bluff, you know?’

Thanks to Kj identifying the skill, the first impression went smoothly. “If you don’t want people thinking you’re crazy, keep your voice down.”

“Ah, right. I must look like I’m talking to myself. Wait, I brought my earbuds. I’ll act like I’m on a call.”

“Let’s change places first. Over by that convenience store.”

“OK.”

With Kj putting on his earbuds, we moved from the subway exit.

After settling in a corner away from passersby, I finally mentioned the reason for coming here.

“I wanted to meet you because I have a proposal.”

It’s a proposal that warranted the effort of coming directly.

“What kind of proposal?”

In response to Kj’s question, I shared the thought I had after leaving the PC room earlier.

The Damned System