Chapter 55: Chapter 55

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 55: Someone Else's Memory (6)

The noisy screens displaying a variety of memories were shut down without hesitation.

And then, the blue sky unfolded, unobstructed.

A single autumn leaf rolled to my feet in the gentle breeze.

And then.

Crunch—

It rolled further away.

Passing through my semi-transparent ankle.

It had already been 45 minutes since I sold my memories for 20,000 welfare points and became a wandering ghost of the past.

「15:02」

Thus, only 15 minutes remained.

I had to solidify my position at the top during those remaining 15 minutes.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

〔Live Sponsorship Ranking〕

Lee Eunho (20,000 points)

X (16,000 points)

Cha Jinsol (8,100 points)

Kim Jieun (7,500 points)

Kim Guinam (5,150 points)

The gap between me and second place, X, was a mere 4,000 points.

At the rate they were going, they’d catch up in no time.

That one, who discarded a pistol for a machine gun as soon as the special rewards were announced, would escalate things even further.

But still.

‘How is it still just 20,000 points?’

The 20,000 points were already there from the start, collected as the participation fee.

So that meant I hadn’t received a single additional donation since then.

"I see! It is a matter of defeating the things on this land! Understood!"

That raven—after making such boastful declarations, I thought they’d wiped out everything.

But apparently not.

If they had, the people behind "the eyes" would have cheered.

As they did earlier with X.

So then.

‘What on earth are they doing?’

Let’s go see.

I don’t know what nonsensical stunt they’re pulling, but there must be something to draw the audience’s attention.

And if worst comes to worst, there’s always that method.

‘A card I’d rather not use…’

But it’s better than losing the rewards.

I entered the arena where they had been, thinking hard all the while.

Step.

With worry weighing down my right foot.

Step.

And anxiety sinking into my left foot.

The red lane I stepped into…

[?!]

…was a complete disaster.

I couldn’t tell if it was meant to be a tournament arena or a refugee camp.

[What the hell happened?!]

The tents that once surrounded the arena were ripped and scattered everywhere.

The hurdles for obstacle courses were uprooted and broken.

And the athletes, who should have been racing, were…

"When do we have to stop doing this?"

"Damn it, I have no idea..."

…sparring with each other.

Holding the broken hurdles or poles like swords.

"Damn it! Can’t we stop already?"

"If we slack off and that guy shows up, what do you think will happen? Just do it before we get beat up!"

That guy?

I didn’t even need to ask who they meant.

I could already feel the answer as I instinctively avoided looking their way.

"Lee Eunho, you bastard…"

My name spilled out through gritted teeth.

So.

That raven—disguised as me—gave Korea’s track-and-field prodigies makeshift weapons and started training them?

And not just that.

"What kind of madman makes us wear numbers?"

"No kidding! Did you see when someone forgot their number and had to do push-ups as punishment?"

"Ugh, I’m number 81. If it had been me, I’d be dead."

Wait a second.

He made them wear numbered uniforms?

This seems oddly familiar.

"And he beats us if our loyalty is too low… isn’t he a total psychopath?"

"I told you from the start. His eyes are completely unhinged."

Loyalty, too?

Sigh, this is completely…

‘He’s copied the skeleton soldiers.’

Apparently, our dear customer found the simulated combat mission way too entertaining.

To think he’d mimic it like this.

Even in this absurd situation, I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly while my eyes searched busily for him—no, for "me," strolling proudly among the soldiers.

But.

‘He’s not here?’

No matter how hard I looked, that guy—my doppelgänger—was nowhere to be found.

Had he already conquered this place and left?

Reluctantly, I turned the screen back on, which I had switched off earlier out of irritation.

[Connecting to Channel E13-HRN-LEH#1.]

The version of Lee Eunho on the screen was…

"You scoundreellll!"

…shirtless, with his athletic top discarded.

Holding a pole vault stick horizontally like a spear.

And charging fiercely while screaming.

"If I can just catch you, it’ll all be over!"

Charging at—

BEEEEEP!

…a car.

In the middle of an eight-lane intersection.

"You lunatic! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

"Hey! You can’t just run into the street like that!"

"Is he insane? Does he have a death wish?!"

[…]

Let’s go.

Time to fetch our insane customer.

* * *

"Ha ha ha! Your cooking skills aren’t bad at all!"

[…As long as it tastes good.]

In front of a convenience store at the intersection.

The raven, sitting cross-legged, bit into a green rectangular ice cream bar and spoke.

Apparently mistaking the ice cream for some sort of dish prepared by the store clerk.

By the way.

[Why did you charge at the car?]

"What's a car, anyway?"

[Why, it's that honking thing from earlier.]

"Oh! That hunk of metal from before?"

Did it really think cars were the rulers of the Earth?

Just to be sure, I asked, and the raven replied as if I were speaking nonsense.

"Wasn't it a golem? Like that monster you fought last time."

[A golem... You thought an car was a golem?]

"Yeah. You defeated it, so why couldn't I?"

[Ha.]

I let out a laugh at the absurd response.

As I pondered how to draw a reaction out of this fool—

Ding!

The rankings had shifted.

〔Live Sponsorship Ranking〕

X (21,500 points)

Lee Eunho (20,000 points)

Cha Jinsol (8,600 points)

Kim Jieun (8,000 points)

Ahn Kyungnam (6,450 points)

'Damn it.'

X had surged ahead by 1,500 points.

Even now, their score was slowly climbing, while my channel...

[Where did all the viewers go?]

"They said they'd come back once you're done. Something about catching up on backlogged work, I think."

[...]

Even the few observers I had had all left.

While the raven gave the players numbers and wrestled with the "car,"

「07:50」

Less than eight minutes remained, and there were no observers left to donate.

The surest way to reclaim the top spot was—

【An anonymous viewer tests the waters with a donation.】

【Sponsor 10 welfare points!】

'For me to donate to myself.'

As an observer, I could donate to the participant "Lee Eunho."

This would guarantee a win, 100 percent.

I just needed to pour in points right before the time ran out.

Thanks to the skeleton soldiers, I'd amassed plenty of welfare points.

'It might feel like cheating... but, oh well.'

Even if the administrator realized it was a loophole later, what could they do?

They were the ones who gave me the ability in the first place.

Or maybe they knew all along and gave it anyway.

After all, they'd profit from the transaction fees.

〔Live Sponsorship Ranking〕

X (23,000 points)

Lee Eunho (20,010 points)

The amount I donate—those 10 points—would count toward the rankings.

However, once the mission ended, half would be deducted immediately.

'Because of the 50% transaction fee.'

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

That was both the administrator's gain and the reason I hesitated, despite it being a surefire win.

Was it worth enduring the loss to claim first place?

The value was there.

The all-seeing eye of an omnipotent observer.

No item in a mid-tier shop could compare.

If I thought of the transaction fee as a price for a reward item, it made sense.

But still...

'Ugh.'

Just as I finally made up my mind and opened my dry lips—

Ding!

[Participant "Kim Jieun's" broadcast has ended.]

[Hosting 9 observers!]

'Huh?'

[A new viewer has joined!]

[A new viewer has joined!]

[A new viewer has joined!]

…

Jieun sent a gift.

【"Investigation Bureau Kitty" waves a paw, claiming they’ve come to see the male lead's past.】

【"PR Bureau Frisia" claps, saying they want a closer look at the handsome face.】

【"Audit Bureau Lemon Candy" greets everyone warmly.】

…She’d sent over the romance enthusiasts from her channel.

'!!'

Hosting after ending a broadcast.

I didn’t even know such a thing existed.

'Jieun, you're incredible. Editing everything on your own and now this?'

But why had Jieun’s channel ended first?

We’d all been given an hour, hadn’t we...? Oh!

'She started before me.'

While I wasted time negotiating and auctioning, the others had already begun their missions.

That’s why I was finishing later.

The realization hit me.

【"Investigation Bureau Kitty" beams, saying the male lead was adorable as a child.】

【"PR Bureau Frisia" sighs, wishing they could also see the female lead’s childhood.】

A thought flashed through my mind.

This... might actually work.

No—this would work!

If I followed Jieun’s example, I could pull it off.

Of course, if I were in my right mind—or if I had to do it myself—it’d be impossible.

[Looks like some female fans have joined us.]

"Fans? What are those?"

[Women who admire you are watching.]

"What? What do they wish of me?!"

Hah.

Based on his tone and behavior, he wasn’t going to give the audience the kind of content they wanted.

Which meant...

[Just follow my lead.]

I recalled a familiar trope from the Korean dramas I’d seen in passing.

[Delicious.]

"Huh?"

The green ice cream he was eating didn’t help the mood, but for now—

First.

[Repeat after me. "It’s delicious."]

“It’s delicious.”

The raven tilted its head quizzically and mimicked the words.

[It’d be nice to eat this with Jieun.]

“Who’s tha…”

[Hurry.]

Although its tilted head conveyed confusion.

“It’d be nice to eat this with Jieun.”

【'Investigation Bureau Kitty' gazes fondly at the male lead doting on the female lead!】

【"Audit Bureau Lemon Candy” blushes, unable to contain themselves, asking if he misses her that much!】

【'PR Bureau Frisia' pulls their hair, exclaiming that the female lead needs to see this!】

To an outsider, it might look like the face of someone yearning for someone.

My face was already getting hot.

Well then, no need for long speeches; let’s get to it.

[...I miss her.]

The key line.

"...?!"

The raven flinched, looked at me in surprise, then opened its parched beak.

“…I miss her.”

In a low voice, as if unwilling.

And the onlookers, misunderstanding this as “the shy male lead,” reacted enthusiastically.

【'Investigation Bureau Kitty' screams that the shy male lead is their type!】

【2,000 welfare points donated!】

【'PR Bureau Frisia' goes wild, saying they thought he was a cold type but he’s got a charming reversal!】

【1,000 welfare points donated!】

【"Audit Bureau Lemon Candy' raises their thumb, declaring this a certified romance haven!】

【5,000 welfare points donated!】

【Many observers open their wallets for the cold male lead’s unexpected charm!】

…

A flood of donations followed.

[Time’s up!]

The one hour I was given had ended.

['Observation' mission has concluded.]

[Target: Lee Eunho. Returning to base.]

The last part was a bit awkward, but this mission…

'Wasn’t this too easy?'

As I mulled over whether to be happy about this or not—

─ Blink!

The world flickered.

* * *

When I returned after finally completing the damned voyeuristic mission—

"Hey there, young man! You're back now, eh?"

“Damn it! Why were you so late? We were worried!”

Back at Namsan Tower, my companions had already gathered, fully recovered.

It seemed we had returned to the location where the mission began.

“I’m fine. I just started late…”

And before I could even explain—

[All participants have returned.]

[Final ranking announcement is commencing!]

A translucent window appeared before my eyes.

〔Final Donation Rankings〕

Lee Eunho (32,010 points)

X (23,000 points)

Cha Jinsol (8,700 points)

Kim Jieun (8,000 points)

Ahn Kyungnam (6,450 points)

My name alone was shimmering in gold at the top.

‘Yes!’

I won! And by an overwhelming margin at that.

Minimal effort for maximum gain.

Now, it was time to claim the reward.

[A special reward will be granted.]

It was the “Omniscient Observer’s Eye,” said to display remaining stamina.

It’d definitely come in handy for dealing with people or fighting monsters.

As soon as I receive it, I’ll stash it in my inventory.

There’s no point bragging about it to others.

…That’s what I was thinking when—

[Award ceremony is commencing.]

[Survivors, please check the screen!]

─ Flash!

A massive screen appeared in the sky, and—

"!!"

It was filled with my face.

To be precise, my face, body, and the Namsan Tower in the background.

On top of that—

Boom! Boom-!

Loud fireworks exploded.

Confetti scattered everywhere, visible from every corner of the neighborhood.

And then—

─ Hug!

A familiar notification appeared as a dazzling golden chest materialized.

This thing…

[Congratulations!]

[Please claim your special reward!]

…Couldn’t they have just given it quietly?

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]