Chapter 207

Chapter 207. Scattered Puzzle(6)

It’s not an item. It’s not a skill or magic. It’s not a Trait either…

“Then what?”

I had skimmed through my status window, inventory, and even my clothes to find something different or newly added, but found nothing.

The feelings of bewilderment and confusion didn’t last long.

After a short time, those initial emotions subsided, and a creeping anger began to blossom within me.

It was a whopping 100 of them.

Nearly a year since the server connection began, I had collected 100 random boxes purely out of stubbornness without opening them once.

And all I got after using those 100 was just a single message whose meaning I couldn’t comprehend?

A sudden surge of heat rose within me.

“This…”

But getting angry wouldn’t do anything but waste my energy.

Eventually, I bit my lips and swallowed my anger as I rummaged through my inventory.

‘I had something to discuss with the system anyway.’

I could also ask about this mysterious reward.

What I pulled out from the inventory was a whistle.

It was an item I obtained while communicating with the system regarding the gate issue.

「Caller.」

It’s used when wanting to interact directly with the system.

However, it wasn’t something I could use whenever I fancied.

The jewel embedded in the side of the whistle had to turn green before it could be used.

It had been red since the last secret conversation but changed to green only recently.

I planned to talk with the system after completing this main scenario.

“I’m stepping out briefly.”

“Huh? At this time?”

“Where are you going?”

I hadn’t fully explained my relationship with the system to my party members.

So, as usual, I merely shrugged in response.

Yang Taeho and Kim Yul no longer questioned me, and I blew the whistle.

White mist gathered around, and my vision flickered.

Once my view cleared, I found myself in a white space reminiscent of the tutorial.

《System Message》

Player Kang Hyunwoo, long time no see.

I would like to extend my gratitude once again to Player Kang Hyunwoo.

The growth rate and survival rate of other players have exceeded my expectations, especially those affiliated with the Order of Palao…

I turned off the system message without reading it fully and thought to myself.

“This damn white, I really want to paint it all in another color.”

Recalling my experiences here still stoked enough resentment to make it unbearable.

Grinding my teeth inwardly, I spoke in a sharp voice.

“Between you and me, there’s no need for compliments or consideration. Let’s just get straight to the point.”

The first topic I brought up was what had just occurred.

I asked about the message received from using the 100 random boxes.

However, the system’s response was not very useful.

“So… you don’t know what it is either?”

《System Message》

No, it’s not a reward that exists in the game I designed.

After tracing the acquisition route, I found a trace.

Exactly 91 days ago, an external interference occurred.

“91 days ago….”

Recalling my schedule, it aligns with the time I was in Gemal. Specifically, during the banquet at the royal city.

With the specific date determined, I had a guess on where the external interference came from.

‘It must have been when I shook hands with Gilenios…’

As with the recent mention of Palao’s arrangement, the interface had been glitchy.

‘The only other time would be when I got infected, but…’

The dates don’t match.

It looks like finding out about Palao’s arrangement will require inquiry from a different source, rather than the system.

“The primary suspect is Gilenios.”

And the secondary suspect is Gretman.

Pondering the faces of both individuals, I clicked my tongue and asked.

“If you noticed external interference, couldn’t you have prevented it then?”

When I questioned why it had been left unchecked, the system provided an unexpected reply.

《System Message》

While I do keep an eye on Player Kang Hyunwoo’s gameplay, I cannot observe every moment.

The two recent abnormal accesses were precisely those moments when I wasn’t monitoring Player Kang Hyunwoo.

I intended to ask about those abnormal accesses too.

“That black hand, the one using Kerak, who is it? It suddenly killed an 8-star general, right?”

《System Message》

Yes, judging by the ability to manipulate dimensions, it is presumed to be ‘%@#*’.

Currently, it is an outlier capable of subjugating 5 legion commanders.

I couldn’t believe my eyes for a moment. Subjugating a legion commander?

That implies it’s superior to even the 10-star ranked legion commanders.

“Damn it…”

I have no assurance of being able to defeat monsters at the rank of a Brigadier General or higher yet.

‘And there’s something even beyond that.’

The ever-present pressure tracking me intensified once more.

I gritted my teeth, enduring the oppressive sentiment as best as I could.

Just as I was overcoming a hurdle.

《System Message》

Rest assured, ‘%@#*’ and other outliers cannot escape causality, much like myself.

It’s not easy for them to cross to Earth, so there’s still plenty of time to prepare.

Hearing they can’t come to Earth due to causality was a relief.

But.

‘It’s a fact there are multiple outliers.’

I had anticipated this since identifying one based on its spatial manipulation capability—the message implied it was one among several.

With direct confirmation, it was impossible to suppress a sigh.

I scratched my head roughly and asked.

“How many of those outliers are there?”

《System Message》

Assuming no new entities have emerged, there should be three in total.

While it’s not an unmanageable number, still…

“While they may not fully cross over to Earth, the abnormal access remains. Does it mean such incidents can recur?”

《System Message》

Unfortunately, yes.

I will monitor it closely, but the situation may become uncontrollable.

Even though it would be ideal to perfectly resolve every issue and prepare…

Reality, with its shackles, limits many options.

This situation was no different.

These outliers could approach me anytime, anywhere.

My nerves felt more taut than ever.

‘From now on, I need to keep my senses more open.’

Inside the barrier of Temoria, I usually close off most of my senses to ordinary human levels.

But continuing like that would leave me without a way to cope should an outlier attack.

‘I won’t just sit and take it, but I must remain cautious.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly and spoke.

“Then, next.”

Instead of clinging onto unsolvable problems, I needed to discuss other issues.

“I don’t know if you noticed me mumbling, but about dropping attribute mana in material form…”

Before I finished speaking, the system replied swiftly.

《System Message》

The suggested ‘Materialization of Attribute Mana’ by Player Kang Hyunwoo cannot be approved.

Its refusal was as firm as if considering the suggestion was absurd.

Crooking my brows, I retorted.

“Why?”

The reason for the system’s dismissal was refreshingly simple.

《System Message》

There’s a high possibility it would encourage player-on-player killings.

I couldn’t deny it.

The players observed by the system, and the humans observed by me, were precisely such types.

‘It’s a reasonable point.’

If done improperly, it could result in another surge of PK incidents that the association had been suppressing.

But I couldn’t let it go just like that.

‘There needs to be at least one way to prevent a deepening schism between attribute mana users and regular mana users.’

Without such preparation, if the current state persists, it will become an even bigger problem in the future.

‘Even if the Harmar Clan is crushed, it’ll only be temporary.’

Without a measure to counterbalance the trend, similar entities will continually emerge.

‘Continual neglect will make those on the receiving end feel attacked.’

They’d rebel to survive regardless of whether the reasons for the assault seem valid or not.

Mental attacks are life-threatening in their own right.

‘But if regular mana holders could have the chance to use attribute mana from capturing a general-level boss…’

That power needn’t be permanent.

The mere existence of an opportunity would destabilize the discriminatory rationale.

If it could assert a positive impact, it could motivate a more active hunt of general-rank entities.

‘I may not solve the issue perfectly, but I feel there’s room to maneuver…’

Somehow, before the issue escalates, I need to persuade the system for preparations.

“Not asking for every beast to drop attribute mana, just those wielded by generals or higher. Isn’t there a way to make them drop it?”

《System Message》

In such cases, there’s no way to purify the general-rank’s mana.

With the current structure, it’s impossible to purify unabsorbed corrupted mana externally.

“Then we have to find a way to purify it externally.”

The system wouldn’t be unaware of this.

Yet, the reason it’s speaking of impossibility…

《System Message》

Despite multiple calculations, there’s insufficient divinity.

Though I am saving the divinity from deconstructing existing gates as per Player Kang Hyunwoo’s suggestion, it’s still insufficient to reset the program.

‘As expected, the greatest problem is divinity.’

For me, the world’s rules surrounding causality, divinity, and gods are unfamiliar.

I might have encountered some information, yet interpreting it correctly remains challenging.

Thus, identifying the cause seems futile in this matter.

‘I need to solve this simply, without delving deep.’

Fortunately or unfortunately, there appears to be a card in my hand to address the issue.

“What if.”

I cautiously continued, measuring every assumption.

“What if I can obtain divinity?”

Lacking divinity myself due to my existence as a mere being in the material realm, without divinity or godhood.

But, I do know a way to obtain it.

‘The divinity of Palao held by Agnotia.’

It was mentioned during the game development that they received divinity from the 7 Great Gods.

‘There’s no law against reallocating investment money for a second time, is there?’

I intended to seize Palao’s divinity held by them anyway.

Hence, I had Rodiel plant surveillance around them.

So why not seize it and update the game with it?

《System Message》

That depends on the quantity.

Having confirmed the system’s response, I clenched my fists and closed my eyes.

‘Then it’s settled.’

At least there’s hope.

‘Since the system can’t interfere in the material realm directly, it’s up to me.’

If I manage to collect the divinity of Palao that fell into the material world and deliver it to the system, it might be possible to alleviate the issues between players.

Returning inside Temoria’s barrier, the task I ought to undertake was now clear.

‘I should hope that the shards of divinity held by them are substantial enough.’

Damned System