Damned System

Chapter 64. To the New World (3)

Bang-! Bang bang!

Dudududu!

“Kiyaaaak!”

After relocating with Yang Jochul and his group, a couple of hours had passed.

The muzzles aimed at the monsters relentlessly spewed fire.

Chains of blue, created by a 700-mana restraint skill stone, held two monsters firmly.

‘The effect was good.’

Thanks to that, the firearm experiments proceeded smoothly.

‘I thought he might refuse because of the mess Han Changshik caused.’

Fortunately, squad leader Yang Jochul allowed me to stay near the firearms.

Whether it was a test or a sign of trust was unknown.

It was certainly better than just hearing the news later on.

Yet, my expression wasn’t particularly cheerful.

“Tsk.”

The bullets wouldn’t penetrate the big one.

‘The small one wasn’t a problem.’

Its hide was pierced even with just the K-2 rifle.

The problem lay with the big one. The firearms didn’t work on that creature, which gave away over 90 mana.

『…… It appears ineffective.』

Over the walkie-talkie, a slightly stiff voice, as if slightly flustered, came through.

Yang Jochul, however, calmly issued an order.

“Next.”

They continued the experiments by changing the firearms and the ammunition several times.

It wasn’t until they moved on to the sniper rifle that they first heard,

『It’s lodged.』

The update over the walkie-talkie differed.

“Did it penetrate?”

『It seems it only pierced the hide. The bullet is visible to the naked eye, indicating it’s not deeply lodged.』

“Keep going until full penetration. Mark any firearms capable of achieving an effective hit.”

I exhaled a sigh of relief at Yang Jochul’s mechanical-sounding yet earnest command.

“Whew.”

Though not a full penetration, it had pierced somehow.

There was a clear difference between being unable to kill for lack of means and being unable to hit despite having the means.

It was certainly relieving to know modern firearms could affect creatures with such a high amount of mana.

This eased some of my worries.

Yet, my tense expression didn’t easily relax.

‘I’m not sure, but…….’

A sniper rifle was considered among the more powerful firearms, wasn’t it?

If it just barely pierced that creature’s hide, what about evolved types?

Grenades? Would using bombs pulverize them?

How much would be needed for an effect? Should we test it on that one right now?

‘Ah, it’s driving me crazy.’

How a war genre crept into my life, becoming a headache, was beyond me.

Sighing deeply, I pressed my fingers against my temples.

At that moment, Yang Jochul asked with a slightly hoarse voice.

“…… Are monsters like those common in mission zones?”

He seemed to hold similar thoughts as I did.

Imagining times when such creatures were rampant was only natural to be daunting.

Since I couldn’t deny his imagination with what answers I had, I ended up feeling dejected.

“Well, let’s say they’re common mobs…… or regular field mobs.”

There would be level variations depending on the field.

“…… Is it the same meaning as it’s commonly used in games?”

“Yes, well, the levels vary by mana, but…… those are definitely general mobs. There are separate elite mobs and boss mobs that are harder to hunt.”

Upon explaining about the evolved types, Yang Jochul’s expression darkened.

“We’d have to leave the elite mobs and above to the players. Otherwise, we’ll have to accept turning areas into firestorms.”

Today’s experimental results didn’t suggest otherwise.

Subduing the evolved types with modern firearms wasn’t likely easy.

‘There’s no way it’s the same between a 40 or 50-mana one evolving and a 90-mana one evolving.’

Moreover, variations would exist depending on the amount of absorbed mana.

While trying to fight a war while preserving civilization, one couldn’t recklessly use missiles or nukes.

It meant the necessity of players would never be invalidated with the presence of evolved types.

‘Is that a relief, perhaps?’

Just when I could barely swallow a sigh of relief, Yang Jochul asked again.

“When you say leave it to them…….”

I muttered while intently observing the squirming monster beyond the window.

“If those things cross over, we have to stop them.”

“Excuse me?”

A situation like Bihar, where most of the continent becomes corrupted, making it impossible for humans to set foot, must be prevented.

Yang Jochul muttered in a heavy tone after hearing my answer.

“So, those monsters can travel to places other than the mission zones, to where we live.”

It was a question that didn’t even require an answer.

It wasn’t a question that Yang Jochul asked for an answer, rather he was confirming it.

‘Already witnessing evidence with one’s eyes, what more.’

Therefore, rather than belabor what to tell him, I only needed to express what I had prepared to say.

After all, the reason I brought the monster here was also to make this explanation a bit easier.

But starting was not easy.

Thus, a complex silence descended between Yang Jochul and me.

“Kkieek, kkieeek……”

The only sound for a while was the whimpering of the monster beyond the bulletproof glass.

But after confirming the timer on the restraint skill stone positioned at the top of my sight, I forced myself to speak.

“Over there…….”

As I started, Yang Jochul, who had been paying close attention to me, slightly tensed.

Instead of looking at him, I continued speaking intently as I stared at the monster beyond the bulletproof glass.

“There’s a war over there.”

Despite the initial difficulty, the words flowed smoothly.

Excluding talks of the system or the Seven Great Gods, I focused on conveying information that could directly impact Earth.

‘Hole, war, monstrous things.’

After relaying the information linked with a few keywords, Yang Jochul’s complexion looked slightly pale.

“If the world over there collapses, it’ll be our turn.”

Already holes were perforating, and should the system not stop them, monsters could cross over anytime.

While we unknowingly lived our peaceful lives, those monsters dug tunnels to breach through.

In the deep, void abysses unseen and unheard, shadows of monsters hungrily gaped towards me and my family.

‘There’s no way this peace is going to last forever.’

Bihar was already at a numerical disadvantage.

Even with the players intervention, upturning the situation immediately would be difficult.

Having envisioned another worst-case scenario, I ground my teeth together as I spoke.

“We’ll stop them as much as possible.”

I didn’t want to see monsters rampaging near my family.

Therefore, I’d mobilize all the resources at my disposal to stop them.

Yet, how could an individual alone steer the course of a war?

A war of the scale that involves a whole world, a dimension as its stage?

“But I can’t guarantee anything. If…… if the players fail over there, we’ll have to stop them here.”

“…… The report is going to be lengthy.”

The sigh that Yang Jochul exhaled closely resembled mine.

I looked at him with a somewhat bewildered feeling.

It’s because I wanted them to believe me but I knew it wouldn’t be easy to be believed.

Not just Yang Jochul, but the politicians who would listen to his words, and the military command also wouldn’t have seen what I’ve seen.

In front of them were just two unfamiliar monsters.

Discussing things like holes and wars were essentially impossible to trust all at once.

Had I not witnessed the secret council between the system and the gods, even I wouldn’t believe it.

‘Hence, I had no confidence in making them believe what I saw.’

Bringing the alive monster here was also to make such an explanation proceed a bit more smoothly.

Glancing earnestly at his stern eyes, I inquired,

“Do you believe me?”

Yang Jochul smiled bitterly.

“It doesn’t seem like you’d lie about something like this. Your determination to try your best to stop them sounded genuine.”

So, he came to the conclusion, that even though he doesn’t want to believe, he needs to.

Blinking wordlessly, I thought it almost unbelievably too easy for him to say he believed.

‘It’s fortunate… I guess.’

For the time being, I clamped my eyes shut, opened them again to mask my perturbation.

Everything so far had flowed according to the best-case scenario.

I mustn’t hesitate and should move forward.

With my hands clenched, I inquired in as calm a tone as possible.

“What about those higher up than you? Would they believe this outrageous story?”

“…… I don’t know.”

It was an ambiguous answer. Clicking my tongue inwardly, I slipped a hand into my pocket.

‘Right, I thought it was going too easy.’

Even if Yang Jochul believed, it was useless if his superiors didn’t.

If persuading the government failed, things would get complicated.

Even if I struggled hard in Bihar, if Earth wasn’t ready, all efforts could vanish like bubbles in an instant.

‘If missteps happen, struggles will remain struggles, and war will be lost nevertheless.’

To avoid that, however means necessary, people capable of preparing genuine, state-level defense must be involved.

But that’s not something that can go as I wish.

‘Even if more players repeat the same words, as long as they don’t see the same, it’ll remain an unrealistic talk to them.’

They may harbor “just in case” apprehensions but won’t fully trust it.

‘Should I bring a few more?’

Alternatively, persuading the system to open a high-level hole and cross my fingers was another option.

There’s no guarantee against a recurrence just because it hasn’t happened again.

Be it anything, the first occurrence is always hard, but once it passes, it collapses like a dam riddled with holes.

Once damages or assaults by monsters happen, politicians would have no choice but to believe the surreal war stories.

‘Then it could have been easier without all this hard work.’

If a hole opens in the city, people would die, but war readiness would be gained as a result.

Revealing the existence of the game to the whole world via SNS would also be possible.

Yet, I couldn’t readily bring that up.

Just because a method could save 100 by costing 10, does it make it the right method?

If among the dead were my siblings, or even the Seo family father and son, could I still choose that?

‘No.’

If so, it isn’t the right thing.

‘Just an efficient solution.’

Therefore, perhaps that’s why I couldn’t even bring up such a method to squad leader Yang Jochul.

Couldn’t even bring myself to suggest it to the system.

Despite a sure method existing, I opted for a long, winding way around.

‘Like an idiot…….’

Ultimately choosing the inefficient path, is it my hypocrisy to lessen guilt?

Or could it be a flounder not wanting to abandon humanity in the credible impending disaster?

Or a cowardly avoidance endeavoring to uphold my conscience?

Amid intense contemplation, Yang Jochul’s voice came through.

“Thanks to K, there seems to be hope.”

My head whipped around so quickly it almost made a sound as I stared intently at Yang Jochul.

“If, as you said, those were dead, there would’ve been accusations of manipulation.”

A strangely firm voice.

For some reason, it relieved me, and strength ebbed from my tightly clamped hands.

“I’ll make it work somehow.”

In response, I deeply inhaled before nodding.

“Then I’ll leave it entirely to you? I can’t afford to be tied down by this with such a tight schedule.”

It’s not like I could storm into the National Assembly or the Blue House to give a speech about preparing for war.

Only option is to leave practical preparation to squad leader Yang Jochul.

Damned System