Chapter 318

Chapter 318. Daily Life During War (4)

– It seems like he doesn’t know the camera is on.

– Yeah, yeah, his eyes are closed right now.

– Hyunwoo oppaaaa ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– But he looks really exhausted.

– Quiet down! What if he realizes and turns off the camera?

– Everyone, shush!

– …… What’s with these idiots?

– That’s some creative nonsense.

– If he had his chat notifications on, he would have woken up by now.

– Don’t ruin our secret peeping and just quietly watch!

– K, K, K!

Contrary to the noisy chat room, Hyunwoo lay quietly on the sofa. He didn’t move a muscle, almost as if he was asleep.

If it weren’t for the steady rise and fall of his chest, one might have imagined something dangerous.

– He must be really tired, what should we do ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– It’s been 43 days since conscription under the association’s decree started. He’s been on the battlefield the whole time, so it’s understandable he’d be exhausted.

– We should send him some supplements or something.

– Let’s organize a fan club notice to send tonic!

Just as everyone was voicing their concern, a loud noise suddenly interrupted as the camera’s position changed.

– Oh, oh, oh!

– Keep the camera steady!

– We need to capture K oppa sleeping!

To be precise, the table on which the camera rested had moved entirely.

This caused Hyunwoo’s appearance to become clearer, as the table moved further away from the sofa.

Suddenly, a white fluffy mass appeared on screen between the table and the sofa.

Rice Cake had wedged its large head between the sofa and the table. Perhaps startled by this unexpected event, the chat room fell silent for a moment.

Then, after a brief stillness, messages began pouring in at an incredible speed.

– ????????

– ??????????????

– What is that?

– ???? What’s that…….

Amidst the ongoing confusion and queries, Hyunwoo, who had been lying deathly still, extended his hand towards Rice Cake, eyes still closed.

“Why.”

In response, Rice Cake nuzzled its face into Hyunwoo’s hand.

– Wow, that thing, those are eyes.

– The head is… nearly as big as K’s torso?

– How big is its body?

– Unbelievable…

– Is it a dog? Or a wolf?

– No way that’s just a normal beast. The size is monstrous.

– K is keeping a monster at home?

As the chat room descended further into chaos, blue sparks flowed from Hyunwoo’s hand.

The scene of Rice Cake absorbing all of those was captured in the video.

“Is that enough?”

Pouring out a considerable amount of mana, Hyunwoo spoke in a weary voice, “I’m going to sleep, so don’t disturb me.”

Then he turned over, pulling a cover over his eyes.

Rice Cake lay down beside the sofa as if agreeing not to cause any disruption, resting its face on the floor.

The room went silent once more.

It was so quiet that even the sound of his even breathing barely registered on the microphone. Minutes later, an unexpected guest appeared on screen.

Flap flap.

Hovering over Hyunwoo’s head with small wings was something.

– ?????????????????

– ????????????

– What’s happening today?

– What’s that now?

– Tinkerbell……?

Leaving the chaos in the chat, Dennis landed on Hyunwoo’s head. Soon, sparkling powder fell from Dennis’s wings.

Then, Hyunwoo’s tensioned body visibly relaxed.

Five minutes, ten minutes passed.

“Was it you?”

Hyunwoo’s low voice was picked up by the microphone, reaching the audience. Dennis’s reply wasn’t audible, but…

“What do you think? It’s a dream that this damned war is over.”

Clearly, some form of conversation was taking place between them.

“Absolutely, by any means necessary.”

Viewers continued to pour curiosity and confusion into the chat. Meanwhile, Rice Cake, which had been lying quietly on the floor, once again nudged its face into Hyunwoo’s hand.

“Why are you so clingy today?”

Sighing in exasperation, Hyunwoo rose up and rubbed Rice Cake’s head only to freeze with a jolt.

– He saw us.

– He definitely did.

– This is a hundred percent it ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Looks super startled ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Damn, it was good while it lasted.

– Don’t turn it off, don’t turn it off! We’re waiting for our Yul!

– K must guarantee our stream!

– But we’ve already seen everything we needed, heehee.

– Journalists are pouring out articles? Just a heads-up not to be too shocked.

Viewers, having seen a thoroughly surprised Hyunwoo, once again began flooding the chat. And just at that moment, a familiar voice sounded.

“Urrgh?!”

Kim Yul, using his wind step, had appeared on the balcony just as quickly as he had left.

Seeing the scene in the living room, he stood frozen, unsure of where to even start fixing the situation.

It was only natural — a person who seemingly would never make such a mistake had caused one of such a scale.

Instead of Kim Yul, it was Hyunwoo who began to get the situation under control.

“… Just turn it off.”

With a deep sigh, Kim Yul quickly shut the laptop and turned off the camera at his words. The livestream, which had reached a million viewers, ended just like that.

***

“I thought there’d be no problem…. They don’t come out of their rooms when I’m around!”

“Who said anything?”

“…… Am I not in trouble?”

Why? Looking at me with eyes that seemed to plead innocence, I gave Kim Yul a gentle thump on the head.

Knowing that creatures who should remain hidden are openly in the house, yet leaving the camera on when you leave? This deserved a scolding a hundred times over.

“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”

“You’re lucky it’s just one hit… if you want more, say so. I’ll be happy to oblige.”

“N-No, there’s no need for such scary words.”

Kim Yul, with an awkward smile, slowly backed away on his knees. I let him retreat and slightly furrowed my brow.

At this point, the revelation of the fairies and Rice Cake was not part of my plan. Honestly, I’d wanted to keep Rice Cake hidden, if possible.

‘Although it’s not an insurmountable problem as it is now.’

The magic tool requested from the dwarves would complete soon, and Rice Cake would no longer appear so massive.

Given that it was out now, I decided not to dwell too much.

The accidental exposure of the fairy race, though…

‘This might not be so bad.’

Until now, the fairies hadn’t really had a role. With their background as traitors, revealing their existence was somewhat troublesome.

That’s why I had practically confined them at home, cutting off contact with the outside world.

But seeing what Dennis did for me today, it seemed they might have found their role.

‘Suicide rate, dreams, players, counseling…’

As Dennis calmly perched on my knee, I mulled over my thoughts silently for a while.

“… Why are you looking at me like that, human?”

Dennis swallowed nervously, eyes darting around as if uneasy. At that moment, my scattered thoughts solidified.

“That damned ‘human’ remark.”

Seizing Dennis in my grasp, I rose from my seat. Rice Cake also got up and trailed right behind me.

Perhaps from not seeing me in a while, he seemed clingier than usual. With my free hand, I stroked Rice Cake’s head and headed toward the room where the fairies stayed.

Inside, a couple of hundred fairies lived closely packed together. Thanks to giving them the largest master bedroom, they managed to live together comfortably enough.

“If you want to truly adapt and live here, you should at least form the habit of calling people by name.”

Don’t forget that the people in this world have never abducted and enslaved you before.

“If you approach with hostility first, it’s only natural others will reciprocate with discomfort.”

Such habits, if perpetuated, will only increase those who are delighted by your misfortune.

“If something happens to you, you must create allies to support and defend you, not make enemies.”

Upon witnessing the sights in the master bedroom, I hurriedly pointed out Dennis’s attitude, and Kim Yul slyly interjected into the conversation.

“He only calls you ‘human’, but he’s always polite and uses my name correctly.”

“What?”

“He always shows respect to me and uses my proper name.”

As I looked down at Dennis, narrowing my eyes, he pretended not to notice and evaded my gaze. He then slipped smoothly from my grasp.

“Then that’s enough.”

Seeing as he usually conducted himself well, I had no intention of further reprimanding him.

I looked at the beautifully light-filled master bedroom, occupied by hundreds of fairies, and their leader, Dennis, intently staring at me.

“Select a few, including those especially fair in looks.”

“… Fair looks? For what?”

At my seemingly random statement, Dennis looked at me suspiciously. His gaze was displeasing, as if I was some sort of rogue.

To root out those unfounded thoughts, I stated plainly, “To shoot a commercial.”

“A commercial?”

Dennis tilted his head in confusion. Given their background as traitors, their standing wasn’t necessarily favorable compared to the other demi-humans.

But they were already brought here, and now today, I discovered a practical use for them.

‘The ability to manipulate dreams.’

It could offer a mental respite for the players whose minds were becoming increasingly worn out.

In that case, shouldn’t I create an environment that eliminates barriers to their acceptance?

‘If the fairies show themselves, there will surely be those among the Biharin who start rumors.’

To properly wield their dream manipulation abilities, we would need to minimize any image damage from such statements and emphasize the necessity.

Even if the Biharin scorned and denounced the fairies’ past, if there were enough who sought them and if their usefulness was apparent, they could secure their footing.

‘And this would become their distinct influence.’

Thus, someday, they would have the power to stand on their own.

After a week of short deliberations and a firm conclusion, Dennis and the fairies’ smiling faces filled the media.

***

「(Palao Guild) New Consortium with Demi-Humans!」

「Welfare Benefits for Player Stability, is there a Separate Qualification?」

「Verification of ‘Battlefield Experience Certificate’ to be Issued Under Association’s Jurisdiction.」

「(Exclusive) All About the Race that Manipulates Dreams, the Fairies.」

After officially concluding the press conference and returning to the guild, a flood of reports came in.

“Is that really me…?”

Dennis, who had attended the press conference with me, stared intently at my smartphone. The newly released commercial from this morning was playing.

I spoke to him in a business-like voice. “You know trial operations start at the Palao headquarters tomorrow, right? Do well.”

Taking care of players’ mental health in the realm of dreams. That was the role allotted to the fairies in this war.

Though not directly participating in frontline battles…

‘It’s no small task.’

After all, they would be supporting the continued progress of the war.

With this, I felt I could say I fulfilled my responsibility for bringing them along. When the fairy-made commercial ended, an automatic replayed video began playing.

What showed first was a no-entry tape set up around a Hole. Beside it stood a female reporter.

「I am at the site of the Hole appearance in Sangamdong. First, I bring you the update that the Hole has been safely sealed.」

She articulated in a calm tone, explaining the situation.

「For more details, let’s hear from Ms. Rashar, who was in charge of this operation. Ms. Rashar?」

Next to her stood a familiar figure.

「Hello. I’m Rashar Bennett from the Palao Guild.」

「Thank you so much for your time despite your fatigue. Has the operation concluded safely? For the audience who might be worried…」

Watching Rashar conduct the interview in awkward Korean, I turned off the screen before it ended.

‘It’s unsettling just looking at that face.’

While I was in the foreign battlefield, lashara and most of the Biharin were working domestically, gradually building their heroic tales.

Thanks to that, their support and recognition had significantly increased.

That went as me and the association intended. It wouldn’t be good if the public sentiment towards them turned hostile.

‘Well, I guess they’ve settled in without major ripple effects.’

After that, I returned to the guild with Dennis without any further incidents.

And as soon as we arrived on the floor with my office, a familiar voice called out.

“K!”

It was Berta, suddenly appearing out of the studio office.

Damned System