Chapter 13: RTB

Curiosity.

A love of new and amazing things, or a desire to know things you don’t know.

The emotion that distinguishes between humans and beasts, making the myriad of phenomena subservient to humanity’s footsteps, that very emotion made the greatest declaration.

When lightning struck the parched tree fallen from the sky, humanity 1.42 million years ago harbored curiosity about it.

From then on, the era of fire began.

When a weak, injured lone wolf was abandoned by the pack and left to die alone in the forest where no one would come, there was someone who stumbled upon it by chance.

From then on, domestication began.

Almost all of the countless discoveries, too numerous to list one by one, originated from such curiosity.

Even in modern society, where we can confirm things that no one could even imagine decades ago if we put our mind to it, the emotion of curiosity still resided in every corner of everyone’s heart.

So,

“…Wow, wow….”

“…Are you satisfied?”

“Ah, ah! Sorry, I didn’t mean to!”

…Even this person, who got overly engrossed in removing the sensor attached to my tail, can be considered as a result of inevitable curiosity.

Anyway, such gazes were quite familiar. In a way, it was much better than having one’s chest stared at.

Living together in the same barracks with the people one worked with naturally led to adaptation.

With cheerful sounds, the process was completed, and the voice announcing its completion echoed.

“Wasn’t it uncomfortable?”

“It felt like having a sticker on each toenail.”

“Haha, you explain really well.”

Although they might not realize it, the metaphor of toenails was a very profound explanation.

They boasted a brilliant record of convincing anyone who asked about the sensation when touching the tail.

Anyway, it was quite a busy day.

When I arrived at the building, the sun that was floating directly above my head was already preparing to sink below the horizon.

Since it was the middle of summer, it would still be a while before the sun completely set and darkness fell, but it would be troublesome for my return in just an hour or so.

Thinking about it, it’s quite bothersome.

Especially during rush hour in Yeouido, where many office workers gather.

“What’s wrong?”

“I was thinking about how to get home later.”

“Hmm?”

“If it coincides with the rush hour, it can be a bit bothersome.”

Swish, swish.

As I swayed my tail, Han Seolah, who was recording the attachment position of the small sensor she had collected, raised a question mark above her head.

Anyway, to explain what this was all about,

“Just being on the crowded subway during rush hour is bothersome enough, and having people behind me could be even more bothersome.”

“Ah, I see now. I understand what you mean.”

With just the presence of my tail firmly attached to my pelvis, it was a conversation about what mishaps could occur when boarding a ten-thousand-won subway.

Fortunately, when I came here today, it was relatively less crowded during the noon hours, so there were no major issues,

“…Is your home far from here by any chance?”

“It’s not that far, but it’s not exactly close either.”

At least it’s not considered close if it’s about 15km away from Yeouido.

Thinking of reviving memories and rushing through the city with a feeling of rapid transmission, I added again.

“Is discussing about the connection device something that takes a long time?”

“…I cannot give a definite answer. It depends on the customer’s funds and time availability, so the variables may increase or decrease, thus requiring direct discussion.”

“I see.”

While acknowledging, on the other hand, I was thinking about how to rush afterwards.

The route itself won’t be a big deal as the device on my wrist will automatically pop it up for me.

Would it take about an hour to arrive home if I ran moderately?

While organizing my thoughts in my mind like this,

“…Or, we can separately inquire about the availability of vehicle dispatch.”

“If you could do that, it would be great, but is it okay?”

“Since our work includes not only measuring the customer’s data but also activity support, according to the regulations, there should be no problem.”

“I see.”

When it comes to organizational culture, I had only been part of teams of at most six people, roaming around, conducting training inside hood boxes or kill houses, and being evaluated by instructors. So, I didn’t really know how companies operated.

…Why was it named Icarus of all names?

I feel a subtle sense of unease.

At this moment, I knew nothing, but based on my past experiences, many of my questions would gradually be answered over time.

However, as for this particular curiosity… I wonder what it will be like.

It was forbidden to dwell on thoughts, but deliberately compartmentalizing stress and thoughts wasn’t yet my forte.

“…Ma’am?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, you were lost in thought for a moment. I’m trying to schedule a dispatch now, when would be a good time for you?”

As I focused slightly above my head, holograms appeared from the lens.

It displayed 5:16 PM, 5:17 PM, and even kindly indicated BMNT and EENT beside it.

After a brief moment of contemplation, I spoke up.

“I’m fine with any time. I don’t have anything else to do right now.”

“Then, would 6:30 PM work for you?”

“Yes.”

I nodded slightly in agreement.

The conversation continued on the other end of the phone, progressing rapidly, though I didn’t quite understand what was being discussed, there seemed to be no major issues.

And then.

“Yes, confirmed. We will be accompanying you to the designated location 5 minutes prior, and once you’re onboard, if you input the destination into the navigation, the vehicle will autonomously drive you to your doorstep.”

“The seats might be a bit uncomfortable, but if you adjust them to a bed-like shape after boarding, you might find it more comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

As one matter concluded, they once again initiated conversation as if nothing had happened.

“Other than this, do you have any other issues?”

“I can’t think of anything right now, but if anything comes up during our discussion, I’ll let you know.”

“Alright. If there’s anything we can do, we’ll take care of it on the same day, so please let us know by 8 PM.”

“By 8 PM?”

“That’s when our office hours end.”

Oh dear.

How can a multinational company proudly proclaim to be international…

Just as I was pondering this, an explanation followed.

“Of course, it’s not an official closing time, but due to the nature of our department, the workload is very heavy, so we have no choice. We’re just like you, looking forward to payday.”

“Sending press releases, monitoring articles, attending meetings, creating content, managing official social media accounts, even monitoring at home… During the esports season, it gets even busier.”

“…You’re really working hard.”

“That’s true. If it weren’t for the esports qualifiers coming up soon, I’d be dying from exhaustion already.”

Now they even complain to me as if I have some understanding.

I nodded with a bitter smile.

“…I ended up saying more than I intended. Well, next… The meeting place is a café on the first floor. Is there anything you’d like to drink?”

“If there’s something you want to drink….”

“Don’t worry. Employees get discounts, and everything we buy with the daily activity support funds is covered as business expenses.”

Business expenses.

…Wait a minute.

So… If I eat anything, it’s all covered as a business expense?

With a feeling akin to a forcibly ignited sensation that I had been trying to ignore, a sense of emptiness mingled with my breath, flowing through my throat, nasal passages, and even my nostrils.

“It was very clear what this meant.

Han Seolah glanced at my face during the brief silence, but I had already decided what to say.

Taking a deep breath, I added nonchalantly,

“By any chance.”

“Yes?”

“Is it possible to have a meal with that?”

Well, why not.

I’m human too, let’s grab a bite to eat.

“I guess dieting is out of the question for me this time.”

Han Seolah added with a hint of complaint as she rolled up her pasta and put it into her mouth.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t sympathize with that statement. I was a body that couldn’t empathize because if I ate like others, my weight would plummet disastrously due to the high metabolism.

It was fortunate that calorie replenishment was ridiculously easy in modern society.

At this point, there was no need to mention my characteristics, so I quietly stuffed a pizza into my mouth.

“By any chance, is there an exercise that helps you lose weight easily? Your body line is really nice.”

“Along with dietary control, high-intensity interval training, burning body fat with rowing machines or burpee tests…”

‘…As expected, nothing in this world comes easy.’

But that didn’t mean the questions wouldn’t come knocking. Eventually, all I could offer were these fundamental answers.

As a body that burned more than double the calories of others just by breathing, there wasn’t much I could say about dieting secrets.

While she remained silent again, I was thinking about something else in my head.

‘…The Access Gear.’

The total price was quite substantial. It was roughly two to three times the price of a high-end computer, depending on the model.

Although there were differences depending on the model, it was still a price that even adults would find difficult to touch casually.

Of course, that’s why alternatives existed.

‘…Usually, people rent Access Gear for extended periods. They pay about 50,000 won per month, receive a registered device at a PC room (internet cafe), and play games inside the box.’

‘PC room?’

‘Officially known as Private Control Rooms, but everyone calls them that. The boxes are like one-person capsules for privacy.’

PC room.

Somehow, the word brought a feeling of discomfort, almost causing me to burst out laughing.

‘Except during E-sports events, they maintain a basic time acceleration ratio of 1:3. So even if you play games for a long time, it shouldn’t have much impact on your daily life.’

Nodding slightly, I thought about how much available funds I had at the moment.

It had been over a decade since I returned, and time was always a solution to many problems.

While it was still somewhat elusive to get back all the money that hadn’t been paid out,

Total: $6,913.68

… Although paying it all at once was a bit burdensome, there shouldn’t be much of a problem with installment payments.

Also, according to personal preferences, the machine had to be sturdy yet provide the most diverse and excellent performance possible, so even if it was the latest model, there was a certain probability that it wouldn’t necessarily be good.

While double-checking the list of devices they provided,

“There are several payment methods, so please check and then tell us. Streamers on our VR platform often pay that way too.”

“…I’ll think about it later.”

…It feels quite strange.

Even if I acknowledged that the world I returned to had turned into a game, uncomfortable facts kept popping up here and there.

Perhaps if I had wrapped up everything neatly, my mind would have been lighter.

To forget the sudden intrusive thoughts, I opened my mouth.

“I’ll go with this model. Twelve-month installment plan.”

“Oh, have you already decided?”

“I don’t like to excessively dwell on decisions.”

If it were a battlefield where lives were at stake with each choice, it would be different, but in a situation where any choice didn’t hold much significance, it was better to decide as I pleased.

I didn’t expect to make a decision this quickly, so their surprised expressions were even more evident than mine.

However, as always, things moved forward.

After verifying the touchpad with the entered personal information for cross-validation, I inputted my account information and synced it with the pad.

Naturally, there was no choice other than purchasing for me.

“…Alright, it’s confirmed. The device will be delivered to your home, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“Also, it may take a bit of time for the in-game application of the physics engine, so the delivery will likely start in about three days.”

“Are there any other options besides delivery?”

“If you don’t want to wait, you can come and pick it up yourself. If that’s more convenient for you, just let us know.”

“That sounds better.”

“Then I’ll note that down.”

That was it.

After that, we continued with questions about the game.

Information about the game’s systems would be something I’d discover while playing, so there was a specific part that caught my attention.

“…Given the number of times Esports was mentioned, there seem to be a lot of tournaments and such.”

“Ah, so you’re interested in that aspect.”

It wasn’t just a simple curiosity; it was heavily mixed with emotions related to personal matters… Well, whatever. In the end, the fact remained that I was interested.

Let’s give it a try.

The tournament being held is abundant, but the most famous one is undoubtedly the Dark Zone World Championship League. As the name suggests, the competition among teams selected through local championships is the main attraction.

“Competition is the main focus.”

“That’s right.”

Even though the meal was nearing its end, the conversation on this topic was just beginning.

“Countries familiar with firearms would have a significant advantage.”

“That’s correct. Especially since the launch of the game service, the United States has never dropped from the top spot. Below that, Europe, South Korea, Japan, and Russia have been fluctuating.”

That’s true. The United States really… is a haven for firearms. Moreover, they can’t be matched in terms of infrastructure.

As if driving a wedge into my perception, the explanation continued with a distant look.

“Even in individual and squad categories, it’s evaluated as difficult to catch up to the United States.”

“That’s why there’s speculation that it’s being done by current military personnel.”

“…Do current Special Forces operatives or soldiers participate?”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, excuse me, I misspoke.”

Damn euphemisms. Talking so much with senior officers and commanders, such words slip out naturally.

I quickly corrected myself.

“Considering active duty SFO or military personnel, wouldn’t that be unfair if they were allowed to participate?”

“I’m not sure what SOF is, but yes, there are limitations in that regard. Separate servers are allocated, so if they’re not discharged, they can’t be matched with each other.”

“There are measures in place for that aspect.”

“It wouldn’t be balanced for real-world physical abilities to infiltrate into gameplay.”

It was a reasonable solution.

But that didn’t mean my curiosity was satisfied; rather, another question arose.

“On the contrary, are there cases where accumulated gaming experience influences reality?”

“It’s not impossible, but there are measures in place for that too.”

“It could distort perceptions.”

“Exactly.”

As they sipped coffee that came as a dessert, they added:

“To prevent accidents and terrorism, unless it’s hardcore play, all variables are replicated in-game to be identical to reality.”

“Therefore, all interactions within the game are adjusted considerably differently from reality. That’s why even someone shooting guns in the game can’t become a sharpshooter in real life.”

“There’s a lot to it.”

“Due to the global impact of the Dark Zone, it operates in this somewhat complex manner.”

…It’s getting longer than I thought.

I was starting to get confused whether I came to play the game or attend a lecture, but fortunately, it was starting to wrap up.

“Besides that, all firearm manipulations, including reloading, and all movements and interactions are like that. The freedom of customization in the Dark Zone is for the purpose of misleading sensory perceptions.”

“It’s information that’s also in the platform’s terms of service, but almost everyone overlooks it.”

“Well, that’s what terms of service are for.”

Of course, if you overlook all terms of service, you’ll be in trouble later.

Anyway, I mentally organized the information.

In summary, current special forces members cannot match with civilians, and only those who have been discharged can participate. That’s the first point.

The second point is the adjustment of sensory variables through accumulated muscle memory to prevent potential confusion in reality.

Are these the two safety features existing in this game?

This is my first encounter with this kind of thing, so I’m not sure if it’s systematic, but seeing it roll smoothly without any hitches made me feel like it’s not something I need to worry about.

And so, before I knew it, the meal was over.

I felt like I hadn’t quite fulfilled my daily calorie intake, but at least I managed to meet the minimum requirement.

Deciding to make up for it when I got home, we continued various conversations until we reached the parking lot.

One empty vehicle. The back seat had been converted into a comfortable bed-like shape, and a navigation screen was mounted in the center.

As I waved goodbye to a blurry pair of men and women from the Promotion department, I wondered if I would see them again.

It was a farewell.

“You’ve worked hard today.”

“Oh, not at all. Take care.”

“Thank you!”

We smoothly exited the parking lot without any vibrations or noise. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, becoming a burning bead, leaving the world to darkness.

As we crossed the Mapo Bridge onto the Riverside North Road, the vehicles entered gracefully. Though it wouldn’t take much time to reach home, the road was filled with the lights of cars heading home, trying to fill the emptiness left by the absent sun.

Using them as mood lighting, I stretched out on the bed-like rear seat.

It was soft and comfortable.

It had been a truly long day.