Chapter 50: Chapter 50

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Chapter 50: Someone Else’s Memory (1)

Srrrng!

In Jaehyuk’s hand, Jieun’s dagger gleamed.

The sharp blade, honed to a fine edge, reflected the cold, blue moonlight as it shattered across its surface.

The blade pressed closely against the nape of a neck.

Thump.

A faint movement was felt.

It seemed the life hadn’t yet entirely drained away.

Unfortunately.

“Can you do it? If it’s too hard, you don’t have to push yourself.”

“No! I’ve learned this much… I can’t back down now.”

Gulp.

Jaehyuk swallowed hard.

He often said that his parents ran a butcher shop when he was a kid, and he grew up watching them work.

It seemed he learned how to hold a knife but not how to build his nerve.

Huff!

With a resolute expression, as if facing a mortal enemy, he gripped the knife tightly…

“Eek! D-did it just look at me?!”

…but then froze, trembling all over.

Sigh.

Seeing him like this, with an anxious expression, I wondered how I should deal with this coward.

“Good grief, why are you hesitating over something like this? Hand it over!”

Unable to stand it any longer, the cleaning lady stepped forward.

Rip—Scrape!

With just two cuts, the hide and flesh were cleanly removed.

“Eek! I-it’s staring at me with its eyes!”

“Wow, Mrs. Song! You’re something else! Is your skill as sharp as your name? Ha ha!”

Today’s meal: a starving grizzly bear.

With most nearby buildings destroyed, finding food was getting harder and harder.

So, I suggested we try self-sufficiency for once.

I wasn’t sure if it would work, but thankfully, there was a hidden expert among us.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just glad I could help in some way.”

Scrape!

With a satisfied expression, the cleaning lady continued slicing off chunks of red flesh.

“Young man, here you go!”

Now, it was my turn.

I received the dripping chunks of meat.

Time to take these…

Clank!

…to the griddle I salvaged from the ruins of a nearby restaurant.

[Choose between Signal Fire and Signal Smoke.]

“Signal Fire.”

I cooked the meat over a fire ignited with a torch.

Sizzle!

“Sola, if something feels off about me, treat me right away, okay?”

“Uncle, if you say that one more time, it’ll be the tenth time, you know?”

Sola replied flatly, sounding annoyed, but kept her hands extended, ready to heal at a moment’s notice.

Feeling reassured by her soft palms, I brought a piece of cooked meat to my mouth.

[You have consumed Grilled Grizzly Bear Meat.]

“How is it?”

“What do you think, young man?”

[The status condition Hunger is slightly alleviated.]

[Your synchronization rate has slightly increased.]

Srrkk!

As I bit into the crispy outer layer, the tender inner meat revealed itself.

It wasn’t so soft as to melt in my mouth, but it also wasn’t tough—just the right amount of chewiness.

“…Oh.”

It was delicious.

Was it okay for something like this to taste this good?

But it was undeniably tasty.

One bite, and then another.

I quickly cooked more and distributed it to the people eagerly waiting like baby birds.

Of course, I didn’t forget to eat my own share.

After eating for quite some time—

“Mm… Delicious…”

“It’s good, but… it feels strangely humiliating.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Hmm… It’s like I’ve lost the dignity of a modern human being.”

“What are you talking about? Sola, you ate the most, you know?”

Sola’s complaint, born from a full belly, was met with an incredulous retort from Yeojin.

At the same time, a notification popped up:

[Collecting data for skill activation.]

It seemed another skill was accumulating data.

Hmm.

Since I’d seen something similar during training, I had been diligently cooking, just in case.

I was grateful it was paying off so quickly.

There’s nothing more important than being able to prepare your own food—

Especially in a world without delivery services, supermarkets, or restaurants.

While I was bustling about, deep in thought—

“This torch… I didn’t know it could be used like this.”

Jieun let out a half-laugh, half-sigh in admiration.

I thought she was marveling at the torch’s usefulness, but then she said:

“Eunho, you’re really… how should I put it… diligent.”

She shook her head slightly, suddenly complimenting me.

“Out of nowhere? Well, I am naturally pretty diligent.”

“No, it’s not just diligence… It’s like you wring every last bit out of everything. I feel like you’d survive even if you were stranded on a deserted island.”

I wasn’t entirely sure if that was a compliment.

“…I’ll take it as a compliment.”

“It is one.”

Listening in, Yeojin and the foul-mouthed one chimed in:

“Oh, totally! Uncle would probably build a house and start farming on a deserted island!”

“Farming? Hell, he’d make people if he had to. For sure.”

“Eh? How could anyone make people?”

“If he can transform into a skeleton, what can’t he do?”

It seemed everyone was full now.

The chatter was getting livelier.

“If you’re done eating, time to clean up.”

“What? By myself?”

“Sola and Yeojin, lend a hand, will you? And you too, Lee Yeji.”

While the foul-mouthed one grumbled, they started cleaning up meticulously.

Yura came running over, hugging me tightly.

Her round cheeks, full from a hearty meal, radiated satisfaction.

“Uncle! Is the curse lifted?”

"Yeah, it's lifted now."

"Thank goodness!"

Earlier, I had said that turning into a skeleton was due to the 'curse of the system.'

It was an excuse I made up on the spot when I first met Yura, since it was too complicated to explain the training center and the seed that could change my appearance.

"Sheesh, it's a relief it resolved so quickly. I was worried you'd have to live as a skeleton forever."

"You're telling me."

...I didn't expect even the grown-ups to believe it.

Well, since it worked out, I just shrugged my shoulders.

"So, what’s that thing you got earlier?"

The foul mouthed one asked curiously.

It was the 'special reward' I alone received after the 'mock battle' mission.

[Check your mission rewards!]

Once the announcement ended, a gift box appeared.

Inside were:

▣ Elixir of Fortification

-Creates a mental shield for the drinker, temporarily immunizing them against all status effects caused by fear or disease. Duration: 3 hours.

-An elixir that prevented status effects from fear and disease.

▣ Bone Bomb

-A bomb made by stuffing explosives into bones. Upon use, it deals 15 attack damage to enemies within a 1-meter radius.

-A bomb shaped like a shinbone.

▣ Skull Bowl

-A bowl crafted from baked bone powder. Can hold polluted water without causing harm when consumed.

-A pure white bowl.

"You got all kinds of stuff, boss!"

"Seems like it. Didn't you get anything?"

"Nope. Looks like you're the only one who received something, boss!"

So...

"Wait. Isn't there something else back there?"

"Oh, that's the bear head I killed earlier. Want to see?"

"Eek! N-no thanks!"

There were also plenty of other impressive items, but...

Ah.

How should I describe it?

A lifesaving rain during a drought?

No...

It was like the kind of rain that falls when the land is so parched the entire countryside is shriveled and dying, with people and animals starving to death from the lack of food.

And as the rain falls, your tongue suddenly realizes it's sugar water.

In other words—

"Jackpot!"

Trying to keep my expression in check, Jaehyuk hesitantly asked.

"Boss! Is there anything else you need me to do today?"

"Huh?"

"Like chopping wood... or other preparations!"

His face was full of guilt.

Add to that a flicker of shame, and it was clear that the earlier battle weighed heavily on him.

Charging forward confidently but unable to even land a blow on the meat must have stung.

"I couldn’t do anything earlier…"

Though his attitude was admirable.

"Not necessary."

Unless he wanted to show off some talent show tricks to impress me.

Because—

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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"The next mission is all about charm."

"Huh? Charm? Toward who?"

Who else could it be?

The ones beyond the 'Eye.'

Clack. Clack. Clack.

A twin-pigtailed girl moved quickly across the corridor on her short legs.

[Hurry up. We're busy.]

[Yes, Ms. Harona.]

Trailing close behind her was Seung, carrying a towering stack of documents in his arms.

Although his view was obstructed, he couldn’t afford to slow down.

There was a mountain of paperwork to process by the end of the day.

[Why do the higher-ups love reports so much?]

[Seriously. We barely have time to work, and yet they summon us at every turn. It’s frustrating.]

Both sighed simultaneously, but that was all they could do.

Say what you will about her knack for stirring trouble, Harona was diligent when it came to her job.

[The priority is the audit report. Send them all the data they’ve requested first, then wrap up the performance metrics when we get back.]

Harona issued her orders as she opened her system window.

And then, the sudden burst of notifications.

— Ding!

— Ding!

— Ding!

...

[What’s with all this noise all of a sudden?]

[You have 17 new notifications.]

[Would you like to check them?]

Normally, she’d only get three or four notifications a day, if any.

Seventeen was unprecedented.

She had turned off the sound just a few hours earlier to avoid disruptions during reporting.

[Check them!]

Her sharp command came from a sense of unease, fearing some kind of crisis.

But contrary to her expectations, the messages revealed—

【A new sponsorship has been received for 'Lee Eunho'!】

【A new sponsorship has been received for 'Lee Eunho'!】

【A new sponsorship has been received for 'Lee Eunho'!】

...

Sixteen sponsorships.

And one exciting announcement:

【‘Lee Eunho’s Eye’ has been selected as a trending live channel!】

[!!]

Um, in other words...

[What the heck? What’s going on all of a sudden?!]

Exciting news... right?

[Don’t tell me that crazy researcher pulled some bizarre experiment again?]

Harona’s unease deepened as she muttered sharply to herself.

Seung, however, answered right away.

[That doesn’t seem to be the case!]

[How do you know? Weren’t you with them?]

Thud!

With a serious expression, Seung set down the stack of documents he was holding.

Then, after properly reviewing the messages:

[The researcher... has apparently returned their temporary administrator privileges!]

Surprising news indeed.

[What? After all the fuss to get them, why?]

[Apparently, they extended the mission time and manually added monsters... Even controlled them directly!]

[What?!]

Good grief.

After all that boasting, now what?

Extra time and manually controlled monsters?

[What the—does that mean Lee Eunho put that guy in his place?]

Harona let out a dry laugh, frowning as she did.

【Administrator 'Harona.' A new schedule has been registered.】

【Temporary administrator privileges will be partially revoked.】

She checked the recovered privileges, thanks to a subject with an overall evaluation of "middle-middle" grade.

And then, as if she wasn’t done talking, Seung opened his mouth again.

[Oh, and the reason so many observers gathered is…]

[Is?]

[A recommended post went up on the company’s anonymous bulletin board.]

[What?! Show me!]

▧ [Recommended] Found an All-Time Great Subject! ▧

This is Deep Sea Exploration Team.

Most subjects in District 13 are pretty much the same, but we’ve found an all-time great this time.

Fighting? Strategy? They do it all on their own.

They must’ve lived one incredible life...

Looking forward to when the official content comes out.

⇒ Just passing by, but I saw them transform into a skeleton and lead monsters around. Can’t even compare them to the guys who just shoot guns.

⇒ When’s the content opening?

⇒ Curious about this too. Just watching is so unsatisfying.

[Hmm.]

Sip!

Harona smiled broadly and clicked her tongue.

Her squinting eyes made her look like a mischievous prankster plotting something fun.

[Since when did he become so popular?]

[This mission seems to have received a lot of positive feedback. Many are saying just observing isn’t enough.]

[Lee Eunho, Lee Eunho, Lee Eunho. Hmm.]

Of course, the toy in her hands was none other than the subject, Lee Eunho.

[This is exciting.]

[What is?]

[Later... when it’s officially open, I mean.]

Tap, tap.

Harona continued speaking.

[Don’t you think it’ll sell well? The life of Subject 'Lee Eunho.']

Imagining the money trail her toy would pave for her.

[Next mission, start it.]

[Ah, let me just set this down first…]

[Forget it. Move it, quick. The customers are curious!]

* * *

AM 08:50.

With the eyes that declared their existence like the sun, today began anew.

[By the administrator’s authority, 'Eyes' are now activated.]

Morning had dawned.

[Announcement to the survivors in the 'Yongsan-gu' area.]

[At exactly 9 AM, the final mission for Project 'Aptitude Test' will commence.]

It was the morning of the last day of the aptitude test.

"Wow! Jaehyuk, if we pass this, it’s over!"

"Noona! Hyung! Hang in there till the end!"

[The final mission is…]

After two missions that tested strength and intelligence sequentially, it was time for the grand finale.

[A 'Observer' mission where subjects’ content is evaluated.]

They’d rummage through our minds, pull out 'content' however they pleased, and evaluate if it catered to their tastes.

"Observer? Does that mean they’ll just watch us?"

"Content? Are they telling us to make a video or something?"

A video, huh.

That’d be easier, but the 'content' they were referring to was:

[The content to be evaluated will be the subjects’ memories.]

[All subjects are free to select the memories to be made public, and during the time limit, they can act within the chosen memory.]

A theatrical performance constructed from our 'memories.'

[The entire process will be streamed through the 'Eyes' for observers, and the subject who receives the most sponsorship will earn a special reward.]

[Time limit: 1 hour.]

[Share unique memories and show off your charm to your heart’s content!]

A 'live broadcast' where they could sponsor the protagonist in real-time and react on the spot.

[Please agree to the mandatory terms and conditions!]

▣ [Mandatory] Third-Party Provision of Private Content Agreement

-In accordance with the Private Content Protection Act and the Act on the Use and Protection of Private Content, the content distributor (hereinafter referred to as 'the company') intends to provide the content (hereinafter referred to as 'content') of the content provider (hereinafter referred to as 'subject') to third parties with the subject's consent.

-Subjects can directly select the content to be made public. If no selection is made, it will be automatically determined by an algorithm…

"What the hell is all this? It's too long to even read!"

"It means to enter your memories and make them public to those guys watching from beyond those 'Eyes.'"

Like a play based on real events.

And those bastards would evaluate if it suited their taste.

"What?! Then the sponsorships…"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"If your memories are entertaining, sponsorship money will pour in. If not, you won’t get a cent."

"This is insane!"

[Do you agree?]

Below the notification window, only one option appeared: [Yes].

Being a mandatory clause, it seemed they didn’t even bother to make a [No] button.

But I.

"No."

Decided to refuse.

Because.

[If you do not agree, you cannot participate in the mission.]

[Do you agree?]

"I said no, I don’t agree."

I figured it was about time I started negotiating.

[TL/N: Man doesn’t have any knowledge from future or any novel but still a chad.]

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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