Chapter 273

Chapter 273. Privileges Built on Reputation (5)

In the VIP store, there were only a few items with more than one unit in stock.

The most notable among them were the Divine Elixir and the Submission Contract.

‘There were only about ten of these too.’

The price was ten thousand achievements.

In terms of cost-effectiveness, it was better than the Divine Elixir.

The Divine Elixir was a single-use item, whereas this Submission Contract was at least a sustained item.

‘The duration lasts until all the directive boxes on the back are used.’

The effect, well, as the name suggests, was unilateral submission between the contracting parties.

If the directive is violated, all mana is transferred to the other party.

“In other words, it means death.”

Sniper signed the contract I handed out without a moment’s hesitation.

What on earth was this, and where did I get it?

What did the contents written here mean?

What would happen to him once he signed it?

In an ordinary case, these questions should have been asked, but none were.

His desperation seemed to grip a part of my heart tightly.

I wasn’t particularly proud of using his desperation for my selfish gain.

However.

‘It was necessary.’

I had already decided, and there would be no turning back from that decision.

It was Sniper himself who initially asked for the opportunity to make a deal when I found the Divine Elixir.

And I was the one granting him this opportunity as per his request.

With that in mind, I buried my varied emotions as Sniper handed over the signed paper and anxiously looked at me.

I glanced at the real name signed by Sniper.

“Mikhail Pettyson.”

Then, I flipped the paper over and wrote a very simple sentence.

“Grab your right ear with your left hand and hold for ten minutes.”

I had some lingering doubt about whether this contract would actually be effective until that final moment.

But looking at Sniper standing before me now, those doubts seemed unnecessary.

I hadn’t spoken any words aloud, nor had I shown Mikhail the sentence written in the directive box.

“This is…….”

Nevertheless, Mikhail grabbed his right ear with his left hand as I had instructed.

The directive seemed to be executed more easily than I anticipated.

I would need to gradually explore the range of executable directives further.

“It feels like an alarm is ringing from within. A compulsion to accomplish this… an obsession? It instills a powerful thought in my mind that I must stay like this,”

Mikhail explained his condition.

I presumed he roughly understood what he had signed.

However, he neither questioned how this was possible nor got angry at what this was about.

He seemed to have resolved himself, merely explaining his condition calmly and cooperating with me.

Although he did not completely hide the nervousness shining in his eyes.

“If I drag this out any longer, I’ll become a rather villainous person.”

Swallowing a sigh, I took out the Divine Elixir again and placed the bottle into Mikhail’s hands, who eagerly reached forward, unable to curb his impatience.

“Ah.”

I was uncertain whether the short sound was an exclamation of admiration or a suppressed groan of pain.

At least, it was clear Mikhail released a sigh of relief after shedding his nervousness.

After stowing the bottle carefully within his possession, Mikhail asked.

“What exactly do you want me to do?”

It seemed he’d finally relaxed enough to ask questions.

I started to answer but paused, looking again at Mikhail, who still held his right ear with his left hand, and picked up the contract once more.

‘I made it 10 minutes for no reason.’

To cancel the existing directive, I struck a line through it repeatedly, causing Mikhail’s hand to drop from his ear.

“Oh, now I no longer feel compelled to act obsessively,”

Rubbing his right ear once, Mikhail looked at me intently and asked again.

“So?”

Instead of dragging my words, I answered succinctly.

“Murder.”

“Well, I’m already doing that now…”

“In the future, there will be people among civilians who’d be better off dead.”

More precisely, it referred to influential figures in politics and business who could exert their influence across society.

If they engage in absurd behaviors to protect their interests, even if it means defying the principles I’ve set, they must be stopped.

“If necessary, to win the war.”

I must act even if it means enduring the criticism aimed at players.

“…… Is the law set by the Association changing?”

I shook my head in response to Mikhail’s continued question.

Currently, as well as in the future, the principles of the Association would never change.

Players must not kill civilians.

“Unless it’s concealed, that is.”

If a player is discovered, they would be hunted by the Association and become a pursued criminal.

In the process, they might be killed.

Additionally, everyone in the world would deem them dangerous and insane, ridiculing and pointing fingers at them.

I couldn’t prevent that. Externally, I had to align myself with the Association’s principles.

Behind the scenes, the idea of carrying out dirty deeds made me feel downright wretched.

“Still, I couldn’t act directly.”

It wasn’t out of a shallow desire not to dirty my hands.

It was because of the responsibilities and obligations I would have to bear in the future.

All I had accumulated thus far, and what I would continue to build in the future, should not be jeopardized.

Stepping forward solely to appease my guilt and ease my mind would be irresponsible.

Therefore, I had to find someone who could act on my behalf, and Mikhail was the perfect candidate.

“His attribute mana is shadow.”

It was an attribute valued higher than the spatial or wind types for assassination or infiltration.

Mikhail seemed like an option I had prepared in the past for present needs.

Suppressing a sarcastic smile inwardly, I placed the contract into a pocket within my dimension bag and said,

“If there’s no one to kill, there won’t be any directives.”

“You don’t really think that’s possible, do you?”

In response to his continued words, I couldn’t help but reveal a bitter smile.

Mikhail’s remark was spot-on.

Regardless of the hope in my heart, I didn’t believe it was feasible.

“I was the one who asked for a chance to trade, and you merely granted me the opportunity. There’s no room for half-hearted guilt from my side. So use it without hesitation when necessary.”

Mikhail asserted firmly, slightly bowing his waist.

“In the Asian culture, don’t you greet like this? Truly, thank you.”

He implied that he wouldn’t forget the grace.

Having said all he had to, Mikhail left promptly.

Since I had finished what needed to be done, I should head back too.

Step by step, I descended the mountain, deep in thought, contemplating a while since my mind was troubled.

「Trait Capitalism is activating.」

「The system is switching to support mode for Player Kang Hyunwoo.」

Suddenly, a new system window appeared.

Still unable to move freely, it occasionally flickered with glitches, but the contents displayed were concise.

〈〉

“A message has arrived from the Apostle of Karlos.”

“It has begun.”

It seemed time to embark on the third trial.

* * *

It was a few days later that I finally crossed the gate back to Bihar.

There were many tasks to handle on Earth, so it couldn’t be helped.

“Once you go inside, you won’t be able to leave for at least 1 or 2 weeks.”

Hence, it was necessary to finish as much as possible before leaving.

I also made arrangements so that issues could be resolved by others in my absence if anything arose.

I hadn’t anticipated hearing grumbles blended with irritation as soon as I crossed the gate due to these arrangements.

“Can’t you move a bit faster?”

As soon as I crossed the gate, holding a heavy paper bag in my hands, I saw Gilenios.

Perhaps it was due to his golden eyes, but players surrounding the gate focused their attention on him.

When I appeared, they began to murmur among themselves.

They were probably wondering what sort of connection existed between Gilenios, who seemed like a member of the Order, and me.

“What took you so long after I sent word?”

Even in the brief moment I glanced around, Gilenios impatiently tapped his foot on the ground continuously, stretching out a hand.

Having done this once before, there was no need for explanation.

Yet again, I had no intention of gently taking his hand.

There was something I needed to confirm before losing consciousness.

Thus, instead of extending my hand, I removed myself from the system and the gods’ prying eyes.

“I’d like to have a word before we go.”

“Again? What do you want to know?”

“The Biharin have no suitable means to cross over to Earth. The system, that so-called God of Earth, will never accept you.”

Therefore, a method had to be found for the Biharin to cross over, even excluding the system.

“Let’s brainstorm together. Is it feasible to connect the dimensions on your own? If not, we must devise a way, even through Karlos.”

“What?”

“After all, your and Karlos’s purpose is to save the Biharin, right?”

Thus, they were transferring Palao’s divinity to me.

If there was any one of the 7 Great Gods whose assistance could be sought, it was Karlos.

“Offer some cooperation.”

Gilenios scrutinized me from head to toe, pondering for a moment.

“It seems you’re misconstruing something…”

Muttering abruptly out of context, he shrugged his shoulders.

“To respond to the first question, it’s impossible. You’ll see it for yourself soon as it should be safe inside now, so hang in there.”

Leaving behind his unilateral notice, he took a step forward, and the sky and earth shattered into pieces.

The sensation of my spatial awareness disappearing completely was quite, unnerving.

Inadvertently, I found myself gripping Gilenios’s hand more tightly.

“Hey, hey! That hurts! Do you need to break it?! I am not as tough as you!”

Only when Gilenios let out a shout did I finally release my grip.

I gazed around at my surroundings, which seemed like a chaotic jumble of painting fragments.

To my right was a field, to my left was a sandy beach, overhead was a valley, and behind me was a volcano.

‘… Unbelievable.’

It seemed to resemble ‘The Gap’ that Gretman spoke of.

A space that could be traversed by Gilenios’s unique authority.

‘A place completely detached from the interference of time.’

In this fragmented realm, the concepts of time and space did not exist.

The lava behind me flowed with an exasperating slowness.

The weeds lodged within the crevices of the valley sprouted in real time into blossoming flowers.

The sensation of my body floating freely here evoked instinctive aversion.

‘It feels as though I am forcibly wedged between gaps.’

An unsettling feeling of being an impurity.

If possible, I wished to twist my body and escape from this gap promptly.

Gilenios’s advice to hang on initially made more sense.

I grimaced, gripped by an all-encompassing aversion.

Meanwhile, Gilenios, who had let go of my hand, crossed his arms and spoke,

“I’m merely navigating through existing gaps. I can’t create gaps myself. That would be the Vanguard from the other side.”

The lines etched on my forehead deepened further.

Even at this moment, cracks termed Holes, breached by irregular entities known as Karklein.

“I haven’t ruled out utilizing it.”

But the probability of success is low. The System is blocking all Holes.

That’s why I sought another method.

Just because Gilenios’s power is insufficient doesn’t mean it’s time to give up.

“How about Karlos? Being called a God, could his authority not establish another gate?”

Didn’t the System create two gates between dimensions?

Recalling that point and asking once more, a bizarre smile appeared on Gilenios’s lips.

“You’re significantly mistaken.”

“What?”

“Karlos can’t resolve this situation. For him, this isn’t misfortune. He probably has no intention of solving it; otherwise, he wouldn’t have merely watched the passage of those beings.”

In an instant, I froze, even forgetting to breathe.

What exactly did I just hear?

Damned System