Chapter 38

Sizzle.

The appetite-stimulating sound of meat hitting the grill fills the air.

Though it wasn’t a famous restaurant nor particularly high-quality meat, the group silently and repeatedly picked up the grilled meat and put it in their mouths without saying a word. After focusing intently on the meal for a while, the group simultaneously put down their chopsticks as if they had planned it.

“Phew. Feels like it’s been a while since I ate until I was full.”

“Korean barbecue. It’s really the best.”

“…Can I order dessert?”

Yuseong gave a bitter smile at the sight of the group scanning the menu like lightning as soon as he nodded.

Reality had completely changed since the monsters appeared.

Spending most of their time in other worlds, or living in hospitals when on Earth, or managing a somewhat comfortable daily life thanks to kind neighbors’ help – watching them, Yuseong could indirectly guess how difficult life had become for ordinary people.

After the fierce meal that resembled a battle, Seo Chang-hoon finally spoke up.

“I feel bad getting paid and even getting treated to a meal when we barely helped.”

“If you all hadn’t held down those orcs, I wouldn’t have been able to catch them. The money is just keeping my promise, and the meal hardly costs anything so please don’t feel burdened.”

“That’s true. We can’t feel burdened over one meal considering how much money you made! Hahaha!”

57 billion.

Even after giving one-tenth each to the three people as promised, an enormous sum of 39.9 billion remained.

Of course, the actual amount left after calculating taxes and fees would be less than that, but it didn’t change the fact that he had earned an astronomical amount of money.

“……”

Yuseong narrowed his eyes as he unconsciously checked his account on his smartphone.

Though he pretended to be appropriately happy, conscious of the group who were jumping for joy at receiving 5.7 billion, honestly, truly honestly, he didn’t feel much emotion.

Of course, if asked to choose between ‘like’ and ‘dislike’, it would obviously be ‘like’.

However, if asked whether it was something to be overjoyed about like the others, it was definitely ambiguous to answer.

‘If the amount was lower, if it was a more realistic amount, would it have been different?’

No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem like it would.

The degree of ‘like’ might vary depending on the amount, but he instinctively realized that he wouldn’t feel any emotion beyond that.

“…Um, perhaps you’re not happy?”

“I am happy?”

“Is that so? You seemed rather calm, so I thought maybe you weren’t very happy.”

“I am happy. I’m just a bit overwhelmed because the amount is so large.”

“It is quite a sum. But you’ll feel it more real as you spend it. How about buying gifts for your parents?”

“Both my parents passed away.”

At that calm statement, Seo Chang-hoon froze with his smiling face, while Rogers and Lee Ha-young subtly shifted their seats to the side.

‘There’s no need to feel sorry though.’

Though the three might think otherwise, Yuseong himself didn’t think much of it.

His parents’ death was quite a while ago, and he wasn’t the type to get angry over an unintentional mistake.

Rather, if there was anything rough about him, more than his parents’ death…

“What are you all planning to do now? With the money, you could do anything.”

Thinking any further about this wouldn’t be good.

Though it was an obvious topic change that anyone could see, Seo Chang-hoon, perhaps thinking Yuseong was being considerate, let out a sigh of relief and spoke.

“I… no, we decided to create a guild.”

Guild.

Though it wasn’t officially defined or widely spread among the public, just hearing the name made its purpose and meaning roughly guessable.

“I’ve thought a lot today. Fortunately, thanks to your help, we learned how to deal with monsters and unexpectedly earned a fortune, but if we hadn’t met you, we might have become one of those people captured by those pig monsters and suffered horribly.”

Seo Chang-hoon continued speaking with a determined expression instead of his usual awkward one.

“We’re thinking of creating a guild that can help prevent others from experiencing such horrible things and protect people from powerful monsters.”

“I get that Uncle Chang-hoon thinks that way, but what about you two? Rogers, weren’t you planning to earn living expenses before returning to America?”

“Looking at NewTube, things seem pretty bad in our country, so I’m thinking of staying in Korea to observe for a while, and might as well help this old man during that time.”

“Ha-young? Didn’t you say you were scared of fighting monsters?”

“After 5.7 billion hit my account, it’s not so scary anymore. Gotta earn while I can.”

“Pff.”

Seeing Yuseong burst into light laughter, Seo Chang-hoon’s eyes lit up as he asked.

“If you’re willing, why don’t you join us? We’re a bit uneasy with just ourselves. If we had a strong person like you…”

“No. I don’t have any particular thoughts about it.”

“Hmph. I told you. Why would someone who earned hundreds of billions want to work hard?”

“No, it’s not about the money. I can’t tell you why, but there are other reasons why I can’t join you.”

It wasn’t that he particularly objected to belonging somewhere.

Rather, he declined because he judged that as a user who had to irregularly travel between Earth and other worlds, he wouldn’t be able to properly fulfill the role of one person.

“I think the most I can do is help when I have time. I’m sorry.”

“What do you have to be sorry about? We should be grateful even for occasional help. I’m the one who should apologize for saying unnecessary things.”

“If you’re sorry, does that mean you’re buying the second round, uncle?”

“Hahaha! Alright, I’ll buy. Eat whatever you want!”

* * *

In a classical hotel room incomparable to where he had stayed until now.

After showering with warm water, Yuseong sat in a soft chair and quietly stared at his smartphone.

The array of eleven digits that wouldn’t become familiar no matter how many times he looked at it.

“……”

Though monsters were threatening, humanity was enduring and civilization hadn’t collapsed.

With this much money, he could live without lack even in such a world.

Just like before, he could build his own fortress filled with all sorts of entertainment like games, movies, and novels, and that would be enough. Unless something extreme happened like humanity’s extinction due to failing to stop the monster invasion, he probably wouldn’t leave that place until he died from illness or old age.

If it was himself from a month ago, he definitely would have done that.

Because that kind of person was what he was, what Han Yuseong was.

‘Now…’

The events of the past month flashed through his mind.

The sense of achievement when he barely caught the monster after experiencing 999 deaths, the thrill when his gamble of using an entire faction as bait succeeded, the joy when he caught the traitor and achieved results beyond the given goal, the pleasure of controlling numerous people at will with just a smartphone.

These intense emotions he had never felt before were bewildering but simultaneously endlessly intriguing.

‘There’s no need to risk more danger.’

He had earned enough money to live comfortably for life and gained enough strength to ensure his personal safety.

He had no grand dreams like world conquest, nor any desire for power, wealth, or honor, so rationally speaking, he shouldn’t use the goggles anymore as they might bring unknown disadvantages.

‘A bright and safe path with no dangers. A dark and dangerous path with unknown risks. Thinking sensibly, there shouldn’t even be a need to consider which path to choose, but…’

Alice, Hae Cheongyeong, Philip, Leon.

The things accomplished through four bodies.

And the desperate fight with the orc warrior through his own body.

Just recalling them made something electrifying surge through a corner of his mind, and his heart was beating violently, asserting its existence.

“I…”

After hesitating for a long while, Yuseong picked up the goggles he had left on the table, stared at them for a moment, then put them on.

“I’m crazy, I must be crazy.”

Though he kept complaining endlessly with his mouth, Yuseong didn’t take off the goggles until his existence disappeared from this world, turning into particles of light.

Just before disappearing, Yuseong didn’t realize that he was wearing a faint smile.

* * *

-MartialGod: So you failed to find that ‘RoomDweller’.

-SuperAnt: It’s too early to conclude. Given that we couldn’t find any traces at all, they might not be on Earth at all due to quests, or there’s a higher chance they’re isolated in some remote area and haven’t rejoined society.

A user can never hide their existence.

Unlike those with proper systems and directions like martial artists, mages, or psychics, they tend to become omnipotent ability users who can do anything – in a good way – or messy ability users without foundation – in a bad way – because they pick only the skills they need from numerous worlds.

This was even more true for someone who had just become a user.

-SuperAnt: We need to secure and protect them safely as soon as possible. Losing a user would be an enormous loss.

Though Contractors also possessed superhuman strength and abilities, their limitations were clear.

They were no different from slaves who couldn’t gain power beyond their contracted entity no matter how much they trained and had to constantly pay a price to maintain the contract, but users were different.

They were beings with the potential to become transcendent by endlessly growing through stealing various abilities and possibilities from infinite worlds.

However, unlike the enthusiastic ‘SuperAnt’, ‘MartialGod’s response was lukewarm.

-MartialGod: Do whatever you want.

-SuperAnt: Are you really going to be this uncooperative? This is an issue that could determine humanity’s survival.

-MartialGod: I can’t believe you’re talking about humanity’s survival. This isn’t even funny.

-SuperAnt: …I didn’t know. I didn’t know it would turn out like this. If I had known, would I have done that?

-MartialGod: I’m sure you wouldn’t have.

‘MartialGod’ laughed.

Though things were completely different now, even so, thinking of the past ‘SuperAnt’, they couldn’t help but sneer.

-SuperAnt: Say what you want, but at least cooperate. They might not be living in Korea just because they’re Korean, so if you find someone with groundless abilities or strange items, make sure to check.

-MartialGod: I’m busy.

-SuperAnt: You really…

-MartialGod: No, it’s not an excuse, I’m really busy. You know what situation I’m in right now, don’t you?

Only then did ‘SuperAnt’ shut up, remembering ‘MartialGod’s circumstances.

Indeed, even putting aside personal feelings, ‘MartialGod’ wasn’t in a situation where they had the luxury to do other things.

-MartialGod: Of course, even if I had time, I wouldn’t particularly want to look.

-SuperAnt: Ah, why now?!

-MartialGod: If they have the will, they’ll get stronger on their own without our help, and if not, they won’t even pretend to listen no matter what we say. We can see that just by looking at ourselves, can’t we?

-SuperAnt: ……

-MartialGod: We had enough time before the world became like this. But what about us?

Some seriously honed their strength, some just tried to make money, and some sought fame.

The result was shown in the difference in strength among users.

-MartialGod: Top 3, Middle 3. Bottom 3. The results speak for themselves. ‘RoomDweller’ will surely do well on their own.

-SuperAnt: That’s why I’m doing this, because they might not be able to do that! If they sell the items they got as quest rewards and make one big score and disappear…

-MartialGod: I’m hanging up.

Taking off their goggles, ‘MartialGod’ looked down at the ground.

Life forms with horrible appearances reminiscent of demons.

Facing the life forms aiming familiar and unfamiliar weapons, ‘MartialGod’ drew their sword.

“I wonder if you can give me enlightenment?”