This Is Not a Game

poor neighbor

What are the most viable creatures on Earth?

mouse?

cockroach?

It’s all wrong.

Humans are the most enduring creatures.

No matter what kind of disaster strikes, even if the world perishes and everything is reduced to ashes, humans are highly resilient enough to survive until the very end, eating rats and cockroaches. And such human viability was being displayed without regret even in the unprecedented situation of the invasion of heteromorphic beings.

“··Wow.”

Yooseong inadvertently vomited admiration at the scenery of the city outside the window.

I knew that humanity was facing monsters through New Tube, but I thought it wouldn’t be such a relaxed situation because I had experienced it every time I returned to Earth after completing a quest.

In other words, I was thinking of images like a movie with an apocalypse or a dystopian background, such as a somber world, a gloomy atmosphere, low security, and fights for food.

However, reality was completely different from imagination.

Except for the occasional sighting of soldiers walking around the streets in groups of twos and threes, loud music and flashy neon signs, and food trucks installed here and there, the city was much more lively than before the incident. .

“Are you surprised?”

Yooseong, who belatedly remembered that he was with the doctor, cleared his throat and turned his gaze to the doctor in front of him.

“It’s very different from what I imagined. I thought it was a bit more difficult because they said they were struggling a lot on New Tube…”

“Well, it was like that in the beginning.”

Monsters suddenly appeared all over the world without any sign, and among them, there were those who were not hit by modern weapons or used special abilities that ignored common sense, so there were places where they could not stand the monsters and were pushed back.

That is, until the existences called Contractors appeared.

“I hear a voice from somewhere suddenly asking if they want to sign a contract, and if you agree to that, you will get a mysterious ability…. I can’t just deny it, and I don’t know how the hell the world is going to turn.”

The price of the contract was different for each person, and the size and type of power differed from person to person, but one thing was certain: the contractors were very efficient in dealing with monsters.

Unlike gunpowder weapons, which deal extensive damage as their power increases, they can strike moderately and accurately, and are competent in complex urban combat and can strike effectively even against beings without physical force.

In addition, among them, although extremely rare, there were those with transcendental abilities that overwhelmed modern weapons, so they were able to clear the confusion more quickly.

‘Among them, did you say that Korea had a very successful defense?’

The whole world, even the United States and China, suffered significant damage, but Korea achieved results that can be considered victorious beyond the minor damage. In-videos were being uploaded to New Tube en masse.

Looking at it objectively, it was just a result of a sudden synergy between the population and economy, which were excessively concentrated in the snowy land and the metropolitan area, and the world’s leading firepower and size military, resulting in synergy in a good direction. It was true, so the doctor’s face showed considerable pride.

“By the way, how are you feeling?”

“I still feel that my limbs are not getting enough strength, but I think I’m much better than I was at first.”

“The test results came out normal… but it seems that you still have some kind of schizophrenia that modern medicine can’t catch. Is there anything else besides not being able to work hard?”

“Did you sleep more?”

“Certainly, Yoosung’s sleeping time exceeded half of the day. Muscular strength decreased and sleep time increased…”

In response to the doctor’s question, Yooseong made up a roughly plausible statement.

After being eaten by a gigantic plant-type monster, codenamed Gigantic Ent, and barely rescued (?), Yuseong was moved to a large hospital along with other survivors whose lives were in critical condition and received intensive treatment and care.

Of course, Yooseong didn’t get a single scratch, but he quietly closed his eyes after overhearing the serious atmosphere and the fact that the current mobilization order for men was not over.

I endured for a week while dealing with scientists who came in and out to see if there were any strange effects from long-term contact with politicians or monsters who occasionally came to take pictures, and as soon as I heard the news that the mobilization was over, I pretended to have recovered and applied for discharge. has done

“This should be enough for you to leave the hospital.”

“Thank you. This is all thanks to the teacher.”

“Mr. Yooseong overcame everything, what could I have done?”

What the doctor said was neither modesty nor anything, but a simple fact.

Victims who had their life force absorbed by Gigantic Ents were suffering from severe depression that could not be recovered with modern medicine, in which their overall physical abilities and resistance were severely deteriorated.

All the doctors could do was prescribe painkillers and sleeping pills and help rehabilitate those who regained consciousness, so of course I couldn’t help but think that Yoosung had recovered by himself.

The truth, of course, was a million light years away.

“As usual, we have to watch the situation for a few more days, but… but the current situation is the situation, so there is nothing we can do about it.”

Although South Korea made a good save, it did not mean that there were no casualties.

As casualties that occurred in the early days and patients who had not been able to grasp the proper situation began to flock to safe metropolitan areas or cities from all over the country, manpower and medical supplies were in short supply.

There was talk of putting contractors with recovery-related abilities into the hospital, but even dealing with monsters was a close situation, so doctors had no choice but to suffer for the time being.

Yuseong, who went through a simple discharge procedure and returned his belongings until he was rescued, left the hospital after a week of hospitalization.

“Kheuheum.”

Yuseong, who was staggering and moving, thinking that someone might be watching, moved to a place where the hospital was out of sight, changed his pace and walked, then sat down on a nearby bench.

Over the past week, Yoosung has investigated many things through his smartphone.

From the number and strength of contractors, the reaction of citizens to contractors and the current situation, the types and strengths of monsters, government policies, and the situation and diplomatic relations of each country.

It was to determine the approximate direction of how to live in the future in a completely changed reality.

‘Monsters’ corpses and appendages have overwhelming usability and characteristics that go beyond existing materials, so they are traded at high prices, and contractors unite to form companies that hunt monsters and call themselves hunters or rank them according to strength. Handara…, there’s no such thing as a hunter.’

“Hunter.”

Yuseong shook his head, thinking about what it would be like to work as a hunter.

All he has now is physical abilities slightly superior to those of an ordinary human, developed senses, and the ability to create vines.

However, the strength of the monsters varied greatly, and the strength of the contractors against them also varied greatly.

When I saw the battle between Hyeonmu, a super-large monster that devastated Okinawa, Japan, and a man with abilities who earned the title of God of War by single-handedly expelling Hyeonmu, I immediately checked to see if the trailer for an unreleased hero movie had been played incorrectly. was

‘I can deal with small monsters such as Orcs and Goblins, but since I don’t know what kind of monsters will appear, I focus on increasing my strength through quests while avoiding danger as much as possible.’

But there was a very serious problem with this.

“How do you eat and live?”

The house turned into a heap of garbage, and the bank account was empty before receiving the part-time job payment.

When I applied for discharge, I received a card with some money in it, saying it was a disaster relief fund, but considering the current price, it was difficult to survive a day.

‘Family is…’

“hey.”

“·······.”

“You lanky bastard sitting on the bench over there. Can’t you hear me?”

“Huh? Did you call me just now?”

“Ha, you bastard. Then who else is on the bench besides you? Hey, do you have any money?”

“···money?”

“Your face is greasy and you look well-groomed, and you seem to have plenty of room to eat well even under these circumstances. Can you make a donation to a less fortunate neighbor here?”

Kwajik!

The moment the man smiled and gave strength, the stone in his hand crumbled.

“You know I’m a contractor, right? I’m a contractor, and it’s very difficult to control my strength, so I must have looked unintentionally threatening. So can you help me?”

“…Good. But since there are people staring at me, can’t we go to that alley?”

“Pride in form. Okay, let’s go.”

Yooseong also smiled brightly at the figure of a bully walking with his shoulder strapped on his shoulder naturally, and started walking to the alleyway in the corner with his shoulder strap on.

“Well then…”

puck!

“To help the less fortunate. That was a very touching statement.”

“이 개새끼가 미쳤나!”

Yangachi, who had been hit on the back of the head out of the blue, rushed at it with an expression like a savagery.

As if it wasn’t a lie that he was a contractor, a hole was punched through the concrete wall, but Yooseong avoided all attacks by lightly raising his head and kicked it back.

“Ouch!”

“The power is strong, but there is no real speed.”

In terms of simple physical ability, Yangachi’s strength and agility were not much different from Yuseong’s.

However, unlike Yangachi, who recklessly only throws fists and kicks, believing only in powerful power, Yoosung is controlling his body sharply and accurately through his Sura sense and Amwol 16 meals.

Yangachi’s attack, which is no different from a telephonic punch, doesn’t hit even a single one, but Meteor’s attack, like a master swordsman’s sword, hits the vital point without leaving a single one.

Yangachi, who noticed that he realized that he was an opponent he could not handle, suddenly turned around and started to run away without looking back, but unfortunately, even that was not allowed.

“Where are you going?”

The bully immediately lowered his tail at the appearance of a meteor that spread a flashlight and blocked the front in an instant.

“Heh, hehe? I’m sorry! There was no way I could make a living, so I ended up having a bad heart! I made a mistake. Please forgive me just once!”

“Huh? Why are you apologizing when you haven’t done anything wrong?”

“Yes?”

“Of course we should help the less fortunate. So, by the way…”

Yoosung whispered in a small voice while gently rubbing Yangachi’s shoulder.

“Help the needy.”

this is not a game