Chapter 31 – Episode 31. Number(1)
[Mr. Kang Min-goo!]
I opened my eyes.
On either side of me, Jiyoon and Sieun continued to chat.
Seeing me open my eyes, Shi-eun said in surprise.
“Oh, brother. Woke up? Were we too noisy?”
“Sorry. I meant to say small things…”
I got up and looked around.
Still dark night. Dong did not come to mind.
Only the light from the lantern left outside is illuminating the inside of the cradle of rest.
Two naked people, Ji-yoon and Si-eun, are looking at me anxiously.
I told them both.
“What did you not hear? I think someone called my name…?”
The two of them widened their eyes at my words and made frightened expressions.
“Well, we didn’t hear anything. It’s just the sound of me and Jiyoon talking..”
Ah, as they kept chatting, it seems that Si-eun became comfortable with her words to Ji-yoon.
Anyway, that’s not important.
“Surely someone called me? Did I hear you wrong?”
Jiyoon and Sieun’s faces harden at my muttering.
“Isn’t it something like a ghost?”
“Jiyoon-ah, don’t talk like that. I mean, I’m really afraid of ears and ghosts..”
No, first of all, you are not the ones who bought it.
‘Did you have a dream? I heard the sound too vividly for that…’
I sat down again.
Then, the sound in my ears again
[Mr. Kang Min-goo!]
“Whoa!”
I screamed and jumped out of my seat.
Ji-yoon and Si-eun scream at the same time.
“Kyaaak!”
“Brother! Why, why?”
I looked around to see where the sound came from.
But there was nothing around, just two terrified people looking at me.
What? Am I crazy
Then the sound echoed in my ears again.
[Calm down, Kang Min-goo. I just tried to call it quietly, but why is it so fussed?]
“Who, who are you?”
[I don’t know if you remember me. I am Sue, the manager of [Sura Corporation].]
“Ah..”
Can’t you remember how long has it been
It’s the rat head that helped me get a job as a necromancer.
“Gee, I remember.”
[Oh, you remember. I came here because I have something to tell you, but no matter how much you search, you should be able to find Min-gu. According to the coordinates, it is clearly inside this building. Could you reveal a little bit?]
Have something to say?
So suddenly?
I frowned and looked into the air.
“If you have something to say, can’t you just say it like you’re talking to me now? It doesn’t have to be face to face, right?”
[Communication using the status window is dangerous. I am still very nervous. If you are caught doing this, you will be sentenced to a pay cut for three months!]
‘I think a three-month pay cut is not that great…’
[It will never harm Min-gu, so please show up just once. In the first place, our management staff cannot harm the players.]
After pondering for a while, I said to Jiyoon and Sieun, who were looking at me with round eyes.
“I’ll be out for a while, so I’ll be waiting for you. It’s nothing special, so don’t worry.”
At my words, Jiyoon said in a voice full of worries.
“Brother, are you really okay? Who have you been talking to? What..”
“I will tell you later. I’m fine, so don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”
I wore a juseom juseom suit.
I don’t think that rat head will harm me.
I don’t know why, but that rat head seems to be kind to me, and thanks to that, I got a job as a necromancer.
But you can’t blindly believe that.
I said to Juniel, who was standing on the other side of the cradle of rest.
“Follow me.”
The strongest power I have, Juniel.
If something happened to Juniel, he would be able to buy me time to escape.
After coming out of the cradle of rest with Juniel, I closed the door to rest.
I thought as I watched the door of rest slowly disappear before my eyes.
‘Now that I have closed the door to rest, the cradle of rest must be staying in an isolated dimension.
Then, what can be seen through the glass wall from inside? I’ll have to ask Jiyoon and Sieun later.’
I slowly left the classroom with Juniel.
Juniel followed blankly.
I suddenly noticed that Juniel’s weapon, the hatchet, was missing.
‘Come to think of it, he didn’t bring a hatchet. It must be his exclusive weapon.’
“Juniel. Where is your hatchet? It’s your weapon.”
At my words, Juniel held out his hand to one side.
There was a sound of ‘Hong-Hong-Hong’ from outside, but something broke through the window in the hallway and bounced in.
“Wow!”
The hatchet that came from outside was caught in Juniel’s hand.
Hey crazy are you thor
I was scared
It must have been rolling outside.
Anyway, since Juniel is properly armed, let’s go out.
I moved to the front gate of Chungui-gwan with Juniel.
[Ah, there you are! I’ll go there!]
A rat head appears in front of me saying, “Sureuk.”
Just like when they met in a strange space before, they are floating in the air.
He wiped his forehead once as if wiping sweat, then spoke to me.
[Long time no see. Mingoo Kang Mr. I don’t know what skill he used, but I couldn’t find it. Is it a five-star, five-star job? Haha.]
Rat head laughing and talking.
He looked at Juniel standing next to me and opened his eyes wide.
[What? Those horns… Uh…?]
Do you know Juniel?
The rat head muttered as he looked at Juniel with his brow furrowed.
[This is a strange thing. That a high-ranking demon tribe has already appeared… Besides, it looks like it was hunted down and became a subordinate… Does this make sense? Even if it’s a 5-star job, it’s still in the very early stages…]
The rat head is tearing at Juniel here and there.
[Looks like you haven’t recovered your strength yet, so why did you crawl out and get hunted? What is this meager weapon… Umm…]
Does that rat-headed bastard not know that I haven’t said a word since I met him?
No, if you’re going to talk like that alone, why did you ask to see me?
“I..”
[Oh my gosh, after you called me, I was in a world of my own. Sorry. Kang Min-goo.]
“Ah, yes what… But why did you call me? What kind of managers did you not say? Is it okay for an administrator to meet with a person like a user like this?”
As if agreeing to my question, the rat head nodded.
[That’s right. As I said before, I shouldn’t meet Kang Min-goo separately like this. The company also expressed concerns. If I get caught in contact with Kang Min-goo, the company will say that it was my own decision and will cut my salary for three months.]
“No, because I know. Why did you call me Despite the huge three-month pay cut.”
[Ah, Kang Min-goo. You seem to be in a hurry. If so, I’ll tell you quickly. The reason I met Kang Min-gu separately is to give you information.]
“..Information?”
[Yes. Information. Since it is in the very early stages of the game, I don’t think Kang Min-goo will be at a loss as to what to do. That’s why I came here to give advice on the way Kang Min-goo should go and to provide information accordingly.]
“… Why?”
At my words, the rat head widens its eyes and looks at me.
[.. Yes?]
“Why? Why did you give me the information. I said we shouldn’t meet each other. That it is dangerous Even so, what is the reason for secretly coming and giving information like this?”
[Aha. You were wondering about that. Can’t you just think of it as my favor?]
I raised one corner of my mouth at the rat head’s words and said.
“Where in the world is there anything for free? There can be no favor without reason. Obviously, there is something you want from me, so you must be showing favor like this. Isn’t it?”
The mouse head looks at me quietly.
Then he smiled and spoke again.
[It’s good. What Kang Min-goo said is correct. There can be no favor without reason. Even more so in this crazy world. Kang Min-goo’s attitude is very desirable. I have a mindset optimized for living in a world like this. Be suspicious of anything like that. That’s the shortcut to surviving to the end.]
No, that kind of advice is fine.
Do you want me to answer what I ask?
Why are you trying to help me
The rat head nodded his head as if he had read my eyes and continued his words.
[The reason I want to help Kang Min-goo is simple. Um… Before that, let me ask you one more time. Do you have the idea of defeating the demon king and returning the world to normal?]
What is this It’s the same question as when applying for a job.
I replied in an annoyed voice.
“Isn’t this the question you asked then? I should have told you. Because I don’t think so? You are completely satisfied now, so why do you want to kill the demon king and go back to the previous world?”
At my words, the rat head said with a satisfied face.
[As expected, you haven’t changed your mind. That’s why I’m here to help Min-goo Kang.]
“Yes? What is that-“
[For reference, this is not my own meaning, but also the meaning of the ‘Sura Corporation’ to which I belong. It is a story that I came here on behalf of the company’s will.]
What is this sound?
You’re trying to help me because I don’t intend to end this mad world?
And that’s not the idea of this rat head alone, but the whole management company?
As I was shaking my head and thinking about what that rat-headed guy was talking about, the rat-head kindly said.
[We are also of the same opinion as Mr. Kang Min-goo. Our ‘Sura Corporation’ does not want this game to end quickly. I hope it will last for a long time, no, forever.]
“… Why?”
[Hmm…]
A rat head thinking for a while.
He then raised his head and spoke to me again.
[Well, Min-goo Kang is a person with the same meaning as us, so I think it would be good for him to be honest and seek cooperation. We’ll let you know. If Mr. Kang Min-gu explains it in an easy-to-understand way… Yes, it’s money.]
“..Money?”
[Yes. Money. Of course, I’m not talking about the real money that Mr. Kang Min-goo thinks. However, I will refer to it as ‘money’ to make it easier for Kang Min-goo to understand. First of all, let me ask you a question. If all goes well, how many years do you think this game will end? Whether it’s the victory of the humans or the victory of the demon army, it doesn’t matter what the result is.]
“Uh… Well?”
[It takes five years on average. Most games are over in 5 years or so. Well, there are places that end at the very beginning, and there are places that end after a longer time.]
It’s average
You can see that this ‘game’ isn’t just happening on Earth right now.
The rat head continued.
[For custodians like us, the longer this game lasts, the more ‘money’ we can make. If it ends in 5 years, you can earn only 5 years of ‘money’, and if it continues for 10 years, you can earn twice that amount. If you think that way, won’t the answer come out?]
“It sounds like it’s a great benefit to you that this game is getting longer.”
The rat head clapped and said.
[Yes! That’s it. Do you understand now? Our ‘Sura Corporation’ wants the game to be long. Kang Min-goo, who has no desire to end this game at all. It is only natural that people of the same will cooperate with each other!]
Hmm, well I understand that. However..
“Why me?”
[.. Yes?]
“Honestly, I’m not a normal person, but I’m not that unusual either. How many people are there on this planet, and can’t there be more like me? I’m sure there are many people who want to continue this game without ending it. But why am I among them?”
At my words, the rat head grinned.
[You’re right. There are so many people on this planet who have the same thoughts as Min-goo. A lot of people who have lived unsatisfactory lives have that kind of heart. But]
The rat head showed his palm outstretched.
Oh, five fingers.
I hate him even more because he’s similar to humans.
Did you call this the uncanny valley?
[.. Among them, Kang Min-goo is the only one with a 5-star job.]
Well, five-star jobs weren’t common.
[That’s why we chose Kang Min-goo.]
