I think I'm f**ked.
I mean, not me, but the planet.
Kaaaaaahhhhh!
Uh-uh-uh!
"Heh, heh."
I smiled bitterly as I looked at the wyvern howling in front of me.
Of course, wyverns, the so-called fake dragons, are not that rare. Rather, it is a common beast.
They're the beasts that herald the invasion of the Demon Dragon Legion, and I've slaughtered hundreds of thousands of them over the past decade.
But the question is.
"Why are wyverns flying over the Mapo Bridge?"
The river glowing in the sunset.
And the huge bridge that spans it.
"Ceeeeeeeeee-."
"Team Leader, help is on the way! Hang in there!"
"What the fuck do you mean, hang on in the stomachs of wyverns? Tell them to get some reinforcements, you bastard!"
People fighting fiercely against the wyverns, shouting profanities in the Korean that I missed.
And finally, a sign rolling across the lawn, clearly written in Korean: "Yeouido Hangang Park.
All the evidence pointed to the fact that I was standing in Yeouido Hangang Park.
As a bonus, the bizarre steel structure in the distance that had become a wyvern's nest must be the Mapo Bridge.
As I stared at the ridiculously unnatural scene, an honest comment escaped my throat.
"Heh, fuck."
Earth after a decade.
I'll give them credit, they said that even strong water flow changes mountains in 10 years, so I expected it to look different than I remembered.
But isn't this honestly crossing the line?
In 10 years, even Jangsando will become otherworldly, or something like that?
To be honest, it was so bizarre and unnatural that it could have been a dream.
Too much had changed for it to be the Earth I remembered.
But the cold breeze on my cheeks, the stench of blood on my nostrils, and the smell of blood on my breath proved that this was undeniably real.
The Queen of Demons should be able to create dreams like this, but there was no way these scenes before me could have been her creation.
Not only would the divine power within my body not allow me to be fooled by such a dream, but more importantly, the Queen of Demons would not be able to....
"You plucked her head with your own hands, didn't you, my proud Pope, and how sexy it was to watch you do it."
"...Limen?"
Just like they said, I'd taken off her head with my own hands.
I frowned and turned slowly toward the source of the voice.
There, a woman with silver hair stood looking at me and smiling.
Her name is Limen.
She shines brightly in the midst of this chaotic and bizarre landscape.
She is too beautiful to be human, and that's a fitting description.
"Shi Woo. You're back home, and you don't look too happy. I guess it wasn't worth it to send you back."
"Didn't our contract end when I returned to Earth?"
"I'm sorry, but as the goddess you once worshiped, you should show some respect and affection. I'm the one who allowed you to return to Earth so safely!"
She stalked slowly toward me, grumbling.
I gritted my teeth and replied.
"Wouldn't it have saved me the trouble if you hadn't dragged me to that damn world in the first place?"
"Maybe, but you would have died if you stayed on Earth."
"How can you be sure of that?"
"I'm a goddess, as I'm sure our Pope is well aware, so of course I know."
She waved her hand lightly as she said that.
Woof, woof, woof.
And then everything in front of me stopped.
Even the wyverns that were rampaging for flesh.
The people scrambling to stop them.
Even the river, which was flowing lazily in the sunset, came to a standstill.
[Warning! The Sovereign of another dimension is forcibly interfering with the causality of
[Powerful causality demands that it be obeyed].
[ "Hmph. I suppose five minutes is the limit? This is the dimension where the main event is taking place, so I guess the causal law is strong, and I'm interfering as a dimensional master in my own right... That's a shame."
Limen smiled faintly, but soon looked around and continued.
"I don't have time to go into details, so I'll cut to the chase. Would you consider making another contract with me?"
"A contract?"
"Yes. Unlike ten years ago, this time it's a contract if you want to, and if you don't, you don't have to, but I personally want you to agree to the contract... don't you like it?"
She looks at me as she says that.
She knows how much she has tormented me with the word 'contract' for the past ten years.
Not only had Limen kidnapped an ordinary young man from Earth, but she had exploited his labor for ten years.
A young man who couldn't even pull a weed grew to the point where he could pull out the Heart of a Demon Dragon and the Heart of the Seven Great Demons like a weed.
It was a hellish decade, even looking back on it.
My original plan was to return to a peaceful planet and happily resume my life, but....
I'm pretty sure that's been ruined already.
There's no way I could take a peaceful stroll on a planet with wyverns running wild, is there?
"Talk to me."
I sighed heavily and nodded.
Soon after, Limen spoke up, blushing widely.
"Really? I was honestly worried about Shi Yu not being able to accept this situation! I was worried that you'd be so shocked that your hometown has changed like this that you'd go on a rampage."
"I've experienced the otherworld, and there are monsters on Earth, so it's not that... unrealistic."
Unreal?
My very existence is a symbol of unreality.
At my calm answer, Li Men nodded her head in admiration, and then said to me with an innocent face.
"If you make a contract with me, I will allow you to copy the divine power that Shi Yu used in the other world. Of course, there will be some conditions attached, since there are no believers in me on this side, but...."
"Wait a minute."
"What?"
"Of course, you're going to be dimension-shifted, right?"
"Ah, dimensional travel is not that simple, you need to coordinate between dimensions, you also need to pay attention to the causality rate, and... I'll lose my power, right? Oops, three minutes left."
"What if I don't sign the contract?"
At my question, Limen replied with a grim expression.
"Don't worry, my divine power will dissipate and you'll never see me again. Shi Yu will be able to grow back quickly, even without my divine power. Ten years ago, I was in a hurry and had no choice, but this time, I'll let Shi Yu choose. I'm sorry."
I have to sign another contract to keep my power?
And this time, you're giving me a choice?
I'm not kidding, this is it, this is it, there was no second thought.
"This is crazy."
"I don't want to sign another contract with you, either...."
"No, I'm going to lose my mind."
"...?"
"What the hell are you doing not signing me right now!"
"Are you serious, really, you're signing me right now?"
I'm already upset about Earth being fucked, and now you want me to start all over again?
Nope.
I don't want to be the protagonist of that tired cliché.
Even if I'm really, really dead.
Chapter 2.
"Shi Yu?"
"Uh-huh."
"The contract is complete, Shi Yu can now use divine power on Earth."
At the same time, a golden-colored message window appeared in front of my eyes.
[Contract with constellation completed].
[The main constellation "Uh-huh."
"The contract is complete, Shi Yu can now use divine power on Earth."
At the same time, a golden-colored message window appeared in front of my eyes.
[Contract with constellation completed].
[The main constellation [Since you have contracted with a constellation from another dimension, the causality of [5...4...3...2...1]
[Investigation results: no issues].
I stared at the message window and turned to Rimen.
"Did the system come over too?"
This message window was the mystery of the special feature that, along with Limen's patronage, had allowed me to grow so quickly in Eden.
Aka the system.
A feature that quantified and showed my growth and made it easier for me to adapt to Eden.
I've asked Limen many times where this feature came from, but she's never been able to tell me.
Still, it felt good to have the system with me. ....
"Ah! That's right, it didn't come with us, it actually went from Earth to Eden, because that feature was prepared for the main event on Earth. It looked good for growth, so I sneakily copied it when I took Shi Yu to Eden!"
"... it's originally from Earth?"
"If you ask me, I'm sorry, Shi Yu. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't in Eden due to restrictions."
So the system I thought was a special feature is actually originally from Earth...?
I have no idea what the hell that means.
But once again, Limen was unable to give me a detailed explanation.
[A minute later, time speeds up again].
"Unfortunately, I can't stay with you for long because I'm not yet grounded in this world. I'm sure there are a lot of things you want to ask me, but that can wait, there's something Shi Yu needs to do right now."
As she said that, Li Men squeezed my hand tightly.
Then, with tears welling in her eyes, she continued.
"The divine power was somehow resolved through the contract, but the underlying problem hasn't been resolved, and it might disappear someday."
"We're running out of time, so let's start with the solution."
"The divine power is predicated on someone's faith, and without faith, it will naturally dissipate. So in order for Shi Yu to maintain his power, I need to get people on Earth to believe in me. Should be easy, since you were the Pope!"
"You want me to be a cult leader?"
"I don't know what that is, but I want you to make a lot of my followers. That's it! Okay?"
Whoosh.
Little by little, Limen's image blurred.
And in that blur of light, she called out to me, eagerly.
"I'll see you again soon! Don't cry because I'm gone! Okay? Okay? My pope...."
And with that plaintive cry.
[Time speeds up].
The time that had been stopped began to flow again, and I grinned sheepishly at the additional message that appeared before me.
[Quest occurs!]
[Cult Founding]
Type: Main
Description: There are not enough worshippers of your god in this world. In order to maintain your power, you must create a sect and call upon them. The means and methods are unlimited, and the system works in conjunction with the Main Event of the Dimensional Plane to automatically count the number of followers.
Completion Requirement: 1/10,000,000 Believers
*Warning: This quest has a 90-day time limit. If you fail to fulfill the completion requirement within the time limit, everything you have will be reset!
I couldn't help but laugh as I stared at the message window.
"Haha."
I think ... Thi is also f**cked.
"Fuck."
This time it was me.
Page 2 of 5
1. I'm back, but....
Something is definitely wrong.
Very badly, too.
"Mr. Shi Yu Kim?"
"Yes."
"I hope you'll bear with me, even if it's inconvenient. The Bureau's regulations require a number of verification procedures for returnees."
"Oh, yeah, whatever you're comfortable with. By the way, returnees must be pretty common to have such regulations, right?"
"Hahaha... Not quite that common, but it's in place because we average over 140 incidents involving returnees every year."
I'm dizzy.
To be honest, I'm even more dizzy than I was the day I first fell into Eden.
At least Eden was a world I didn't know, but this is Earth.
This is Earth, my home, the place I was so eager to return to.
Since when did Earth change like this?
And what is this place, the Special Investigation Unit of the There is only one piece of information I know about this place right now.
It's the basement of a building located 'somewhere' in South Korea.
So here's how it happened: I was feeling dizzy in Yeouido Hangang Park when I was approached by men in suits.
They started asking me questions, and I'll summarize the conversation as follows.
-They're from the Ministry of Ability Management.
Me: Yes? From where?
-You're the guy who just returned to Earth, right?
Me: And?
-We've been informed, and we expect you to cooperate. Failure to do so will result in criminal charges.
Me: ...Yes?
-Will you stay with us for a moment?
Me: ???
And that's where we arrived.
Of course, this isn't a dark, dingy basement like a torture chamber or prison.
There are small, cute flowers and potted plants everywhere.
There's a cute teddy bear that I'm not sure whose taste it is, and an air purifier humming away in the corner.
It's more like a child's playroom than a torture chamber.
It was clear that whoever was in charge of the interior had tried to break the dark mood somehow.
"So, let's get back to the story, shall we?"
The man in front of me was named Kim Dong Shik.
He introduced himself as the head of the second team of the Special Investigation Ministry of the Ability Management Department.
I nodded at his words and slowly opened my mouth.
"Now, where was I?"
"Well, I was doing an internet broadcast in my spare time, and I got a mission, and the person who gave me the mission turned out to be a god named Limen, and as soon as I got the mission, I was kidnapped to a world called Eden, and after going through various things there, I returned to Earth after ten years... That's about it."
Hmm. I think we're done with that one.
But Mr. Dong Shik's eyes still shone with interest, and he kept asking questions.
"You said that you lived there for ten years, so what did you do in that world?"
"What do you mean by that...."
"Simply put, it's some kind of professional activity. We need to know what you were doing there so we can help you settle in."
The country helps returnees adjust.
It really does seem like the world has changed in a weird way.
He asks me what I do for a living, and I tell him because it's not that hard.
I nodded slightly, then said, sounding a little tired.
"The Pope."
At those words, Mr. Dong Shik's typing, which had been diligently tapping away on his laptop, stopped.
"...?"
"I said I was the Pope."
"Oh, I see."
Tadadak.
At my obvious answer, Mr. Dong Shik nodded and started tapping away at his typewriter. But after a moment, he stopped.
"You spent ten years as Pope in a world called Eden, and then you returned... phew."
He couldn't hold back the laughter that burst out.
"I'm so sorry. I certainly didn't mean it as a joke. Anyway... that's why you were wearing your priestly robes; I thought you looked so good in them."
"Well, I understand. If I were in your shoes, I don't think I'd be able to hold back the laughter."
"I'm usually in charge of investigating returnees, and this is something I never get used to, whoops."
"I guess I'm not the only one with an unusual job?"
"Sure. Just last week, we had a returnee with a pretty unusual background, though he wasn't the Pope like Mr. Shi Yu."
I asked, unable to contain my curiosity at that statement.
"May I ask what kind of returnee he was?"
"Normally, no, but I'll tell you specifically. He was the Continental Unification Emperor's...."
What. That's quite a powerful returnee....
"He was a eunuch. He was a very favored eunuch."
Not ....
Wait a minute.
"A eunuch can't be...."
"I'm afraid so."
"Oh, no."
"That's too bad. I heard he was a pre-marital purist."
"Oh, my God."
All this time, I'd been thinking how unfortunate I was that I'd gone to the other side, but I decided to stop thinking about it.
I'm sure there are plenty of people worse off than me.
Anyway.
We chatted lightly and broke the ice, and from there, we chatted a bit more.
Along the way, I've been pretty diligent in my quest.
From the time I hand-picked the heads of the demons to the time I ascended to the papacy, right before I returned to Earth.
I didn't want to hide the story.
It was fun to be able to tell my story to someone in Korean.
I also wanted to finish my interview quickly so I could go see my family.
After about an hour, Mr. Dong Shik finished writing the report and nodded his head in satisfaction.
"Thank you for your diligence in the investigation. I was able to finish it quickly thanks to your cooperation."
"Thank you for your efforts."
"Well, now that you've gotten the important formalities out of the way, let me tell you a few stories."
I nodded silently at Mr. Dong Shik's words.
Then, Mr. Dong Shik carefully continued.
"The first thing I have to tell you is about your family, which is something you've been wondering about, and that is that your younger brother and sister are both living in Seoul in very good health. Your paternal grandmother is... traveling in the United States."
Hearing that, my vague anxiety vanished.
Yes, I knew it was true.
I knew my siblings would be fine, no matter how the world changed.
The same goes for my grandmother. I was a little embarrassed that she was traveling to the U.S., but it wasn't strange because she had always loved traveling abroad.
She's always been a very eccentric person.
Still, it's a relief to finally hear the news.
Let's wait and see.
It's been ten years, so I'm guessing In Wook will be 27 by the time I see him....
"The second piece of news I have for you may come as a bit of a surprise, but it's not uncommon for returnees. Mr. Shi Yu, you spent ten years in the other world, didn't you?"
"And?"
"On Earth, five years have passed since Mr. Shi Yu's disappearance. The year is 2033, and Mr. Shi Yu's age is 27, not 32."
"...So, if what Mr. Dong Shik is saying is true, then I've only been missing for five years on Earth?"
"I'm afraid so."
Dong Shik nodded his head slightly as he drank his water, and I looked at him and smiled weakly.
It was bad enough that I had changed like this in ten years, but to actually change like this in five?
What the hell had happened to the earth in five years?
2.
According to Mr. Dong Shik, the returnees are divided into three classes.
First. Regular, which includes returnees who did not acquire abilities in the other world or lost them during their return.
Second. Unusual. For those returnees who have gained abilities in the Otherworld, but whose abilities are not threatening.
Finally, the Disaster tier is reserved for returnees who have gained abilities from the Otherworld and whose abilities could wreak havoc on society.
When I first heard the story from Dong Shik, I naturally assumed that I would be classified as a Disaster, the third rank.
After all, I still had an enormous amount of divine power.
But instead, I was categorized as a Regular, the first rank.
The reason was simple.
The measuring machine, which was never wrong, had failed to detect my divine power.
As a result, I was a returnee whose powers had been extinguished between dimensional travel.
Thanks to this, I was free.
-Regulations dictate that Regulars are to be sent home after a basic investigation. You can stay here if you want, Shi Yu, but I'm sure you'd like to see your family, so we'll take you home ourselves, and starting tomorrow, you'll complete the Returnee Adaptation Program conducted by the Department of Returnee Management, so we'll see you tomorrow.
With those words from Mr. Dong Shik, I was able to return home.
I went home to my family's house in the city of Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi province, which I had never been to before.
"Your siblings are living in Room 906 of Building 107. Please come out here by 10 a.m. tomorrow morning."
"Thank you."
"Bye then."
Boo-boo-boo-.
The employee from the Department of Efficiency Management who had brought me here left just like that, and I turned my back and looked up at the apartment.
An apartment located near the station.
It was the first time I had ever seen a place other than the villa where my three siblings lived.
It was only when I saw this apartment complex that I realized I was really back on Earth.
This is the view of Earth that I really wanted to see, rather than the wyvern-ridden Mapo Bridge.
"Ha."
I exhaled loudly and stepped into the building and onto the elevator.
They said they'd educate me on how Earth has changed in the Returnee Acclimation Program starting tomorrow, but for now, let's just focus on the reunion.
It's only been five years, so my brothers' faces should be the same.
In Wook is 24 years old, and our cute little one, Si Yeon, just turned 10. Well, maybe her face has changed a bit. You never know with little kids.
From what I hear, he still doesn't know that I'm back.
I've tried to call him dozens of times since my identity was confirmed, but I've never gotten through.
It's 4 pm, so I doubt he's sleeping.
-Ding! We're on the ninth floor.
This is the most nervous I've been since I've been back.
I take another deep breath and stand in front of the door with the plaque that reads 906.
I carefully pressed the doorbell next to the door.
Ding dong.
A moment later.
"What the hell?"
To my surprise, nothing happened.
Maybe he's not home?
Let's try pressing it again.
Ding-dong.
Still no response.
What should I do? I saw a cafe in front of the house, so I'll wait there....
-Who is it?
It was then.
From beyond the silence came the voice I had been waiting to hear.
Even though the sound quality of the intercom was not very good, I could recognize that it was In Wook's voice.
I wondered what I should say.
I hesitated for a moment, then spoke as calmly as I could.
"Hey, it's been a while. How are you?"
I thought that In Wook would recognize my voice.
But I was mistaken.
-...Ah, this is so annoying. I woke up in the middle of the night to find... Mr. Just go away. We don't believe in God. Ha. Call security or something. At this point in time, you're knocking on doors and evangelizing.
"No, I'm not here to evangelize; I'm here to...."
-Mr. Change out of those weird clothes and tell other people about it. If you don't go now, I'm calling the police. Do you understand?
With those words, I heard no more voices.
I lowered my head and looked at the clothes I was wearing.
A black priest's robe, unadorned.
I hadn't changed clothes since I came to Earth, so of course I was wearing this.
"Haha."
Yes, one can be misled by clothes.
It's a happy day for me to return to Earth, so I'm willing to give it a pass....
Bang, bang, bang!
"Hey! Open the door?"
How dare you not recognize me?
I recognized the voice at once, and even if you're really scared, you're too scared.
How many times did I knock on the door?
Bam!
Finally, the closed door opened, and I slowly looked forward, trying to keep a straight face.
And there it was.
"... Are you going to hit me in the head with that?"
My brother, In Wook, who was holding a metal baseball bat, was looking at me with a dumbfounded expression.
Page 3 of 5
3.
To conclude, there was not the touching reunion I was hoping for.
Instead.
"In Wook, boil three more ramen noodles. Make the water a little watery. You know my taste, right?"
The food was touching.
The combination of my brother's ramen and my grandmother's sour kimchi was very moving to me.
Even in Eden, when I was the pope, I ate everything I could find, but I had never tasted anything like this.
Ramen is like coming home after ten years of suffering in the other world.
I don't know anyone who hasn't had it.
"I can't believe it, can you?"
In Wook, who had been quietly boiling ramen for a while, looked at me and said.
"What, that I'm back?"
"That's one thing, but I just can't believe this situation."
"Why?"
"My brother, who I thought was dead, came back after five years, and instead of explaining things to me, he's gobbling down ten bowls of ramen. Don't you think something's out of order?"
Oh, I was speechless.
At In Wook's words, I handed him the chopsticks I was holding in my hand and said.
"You're pouting because I'm eating alone. You never seem to be able to stand the sight of me eating by myself, do you? Yes, you should eat some too."
In Wook has always been a bit of a glutton.
But apparently, this wasn't the reaction In Wook wanted.
In Wook glared at me as I held out the chopsticks but soon sighed and nodded.
"You're really my brother, seeing as how you're ... lacking in everything. Haha. So, continue the story you were telling earlier. You spent ten years on a world called Eden, and that's five years on Earth?"
I think I've explained everything that happened to me in Eden, but apparently, it wasn't enough for In Wook to take in.
I took a sip from the water beside me and then answered with a shrug.
"You wanted your brother to come back safe and sound like this. What do you want to know?"
"Everything. If you've been on the other side for ten years, what the hell you've been doing, how you got back. That's the most important thing, so why leave it out?"
"Because it's not a pleasant story."
How horrible the world was, with most of it overrun by demons.
And how much blood I had on my hands to survive in that world.
I didn't want to tell In Wook such a depressing and horrible story on such a happy day.
Because unlike Mr. Dong Shik from the Ministry of Ability Management who investigated me earlier, In Wook is my family.
They must have suffered a lot because of me.
I didn't want to see their worried and sad faces when I came back.
So I thought about it for a long time, and then I smiled wryly and said.
"It's not going to be much fun."
"Dude. You know which asshole is the worst asshole in the world?"
"What kind of asshole?"
"The asshole who keeps you wondering and doesn't tell you."
"So am I that kind of asshole?"
"I hope not."
In Wook is still the same cheeky bastard.
However, his face was dark, and I could tell he was feeling sorry for me even as he spoke.
"I'm only going to tell you once, so listen carefully."
I said that and then began to tell In Wook the same story I had told Dong Shik in the morning.
Of course, I censored some parts myself.
Some of the more gruesome stories, like how I cut the Queen of Demons into pieces and killed her, or how I extracted the Demon King's Dragon Heart, were softened to just 'I defeated the demons'.
The story could easily be summarized as "Shi Yu went to the other world, became the Pope, and saved the continent," and then I added the story of my return to Earth this morning.
Did I talk for about 30 minutes?
In Wook, who had appreciated the compressed summarization of the practice that even Daechi-dong's first-tier instructors could only admire, glared at me and said.
"Don't you think it's a little too lackluster for ten years, Hyung?"
"Of course."
"What makes you say that?"
"It's ten years, not seven years of fighting. Do you want me to tell you who I fought, when, where, and how? If you hear that, you'll be too scared to sleep tonight."
At my words, In Wook shook his head and sighed, then said as he poured me a glass of water.
"So what you're saying is that you spent ten years in a world called Eden fighting demons and then returned to become the Pope, right?"
"I know it's hard to believe, but...."
"I believe it."
"Huh?"
"I believe."
His confident answer almost embarrassed me.
Mr. Dong Shik, who had listened to my story earlier, and In Wook, too.
I wondered why they were so easily convinced by stories that would have had Earthlings five years ago locked up in a mental institution.
"You're not good at making stuff up."
"I'm not making this up."
"And it's not like there aren't any returnees... out there, so there's nothing I can't believe in your stories. Just."
"Just?"
"It's just, it just doesn't feel real that you're alive like this."
In Wook frowned slightly as he said that.
It wasn't an unpleasant frown.
The corners of his eyes were slightly damp, as if he was fighting back tears.
This cub, he was really family.
Just as I was about to follow suit and moisten the corners of my eyes, he broke the momentum and said.
"Haah... If I knew this would happen, I would have signed a five-year contract for the tree funeral plot. I should have signed a ten-year contract with...."
"Tree Funeral?"
"The tree we named after you is doing really well, would you like to come over tomorrow and take a look at it? Si Yeon made it look pretty, and she weeded it last week?"
Oh, the Tree Funeral Plot?
You've been burying me? Heh, heh.
"Oh, no, I don't know. You should go and get a refund for yourself, and make sure to call your grandmother and all the other adults in your family... Oh, does this mean I have to refund the insurance money? We're in trouble. I don't have the money to pay you back now... What should I do, big brother?"
"I'm sorry. This is the first time I've come back from the dead."
While In Wook and I were having a half-joking, half-serious conversation,
Beep, beep, beep.
Someone impatiently pressed the combination to the front door lock.
Bam!
A young girl opened the door with a flourish and entered the house.
Seeing her, In Wook quickly went into his room and said.
"... you take care of it."
"In Wook, wait."
Kaaaaaah!
Despite my pleading eyes, In Wook closed the door relentlessly, and I turned around with the brightest smile I could muster.
There stood a much larger-than-life Si Yeon, looking like she might burst into tears at any moment.
"Big... brother?"
"Haha, my little Si Yeon, you're so beautiful! You've missed your big brother a lot, haven't you? You're not going to cry... on such a nice day, are you?"
You can't let her cry.
"Si Yeon, wait...."
"I'm sorry... sobbing. I thought that big brother was dead... sobbing."
"Si, Si Yeon, smile! Huh? It's not your fault, it's a good day to see your brother again, so...."
When Si Yeon cries properly.
"Heeeeeeeeeeee!"
"Si Yeon is amazing, huh?"
"Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
"Oh no...."
...because calling the police was the default option.
Ha.
I'm in trouble.
2.
Luckily, Si Yeon's wailing ended not with a police call but with a house call from the neighbors downstairs.
If it had been later in the day, the real police might have come.
But the neighbors were really nice.
They told me that they didn't come over because of the noise but because they thought something had happened to Si Yeon.
They told me that Si Yeon is always polite and affectionate, so the people in the apartment really like her.
Anyway.
Her wailing performance to celebrate my return ended when she reached her physical limit.
In other words, she cried herself to exhaustion and took a nap.
I'm sure I'll wake up to a second assault, but what the heck?
I'll think about it later.
"Whoa."
I breathed a sigh of relief and quietly walked out into the living room, knowing that Si Yeon was asleep in bed.
"Kim In Wook... you bastard."
You knew better than anyone that Si Yeon can't be stopped when she cries, but acting like you don't know your brother who came home after ten years?
That's just plain mean.
I glanced around the living room, which was neatly organized, and then entered In Wook's room, which was partially open.
The first thing I saw was a desk with two monitors, followed by In Wook's voice, who was sitting in front of it.
"Where's Si Yeon?"
"Napping. I thought I was going to die. Why is it always so hard for me to soothe her?"
"It's been a long time since I've seen her cry like that."
"When was the last time?"
"Three years ago, at brother's funeral. She was so young and didn't know what to do, but she cried so hard, and my aunt and grandmother had a hard time comforting her."
"But I disappeared five years ago, according to the time here?"
"For the first two years, I believed you would come back."
In Wook tapped on the keyboard as he spoke in a nonchalant voice, and I could only remain silent.
Hearing that, the regret I'd been trying to bury behind my excitement began to surface.
As hard as I'd worked to get back here, my family must have worked to find me.
My three siblings and I were pretty close.
Especially after my senior year of high school, when both of my parents died in a car accident.
Tada, tada, tada.
The sound of In Wook's tapping on the keyboard slowly filled the room.
"Thanks."
In Wook said, his voice still nonchalant.
"For what?"
"For coming back safely."
When I don't respond, In Wook seems a little embarrassed by what he said.
He quickly changes the subject.
"Was there anything you wanted to do when you got back to Earth? What are you going to do with your life now?"
"I don't know. I'm thinking about it."
"Anything you wanted to do?"
"I wanted to do a lot of things."
I said, and glanced at the message window that had popped up in front of me.
[You have a main quest to complete].
[Time Limit Remaining: 89 days, 14 hours, 32 minutes]
A system message window that I had been ignoring in favor of reuniting with my family.
In fact, I hadn't even checked to see how I was doing back on Earth.
That main quest was my first priority now.
Rally the faithful.
So easy. In Eden, all I had to do was meet them, and they would call out Limen's name and accept the doctrine. I didn't even have to do anything, the priests under me would spread the faith on their own.
I've been thinking about it ever since, but I still can't make up my mind.
How do I gain new followers?
I pause, trying to think of a plan.
-Orcs are also the most common monsters that appear in dungeons, gates, and waves, so I thought I'd give you a heads up on where to find them.
On In Wook's monitor screen, a man in a suit and a sword stared at me.
A suit and a sword.
To me, it was as awkward as the wyvern hanging from the Mapo Bridge, but apparently not to In Wook.
In Wook checked the video as if it was natural, and then started doing something with the program he had never seen before.
I asked In Wook nonchalantly.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm editing MyTube videos. Ever since my brother went missing, I've been making money from it. I'm pretty good at it. I get quite a bit of work."
I thought you were interested in video editing, but now you've taken it as a career.
I'm glad it's a good fit.
It's MyTube. It was all the rage before I was kidnapped to Eden, so how could you not know?
But what the hell is this video about?
A game? It's too real to be a game.
"Maybe you don't know."
I raised an eyebrow and looked at the monitor, but In Wook soon began to explain.
"Didn't the Ministry tell you what happened to Earth, hyung?"
"Just that there are some returnees and monsters, that's all. They said they'll tell us more tomorrow."
"Hmm."
In Wook nodded for a moment, then continued.
"You used to read a lot of web novels back in the day."
"Yeah."
"You know, the ones with the raids? The ones with the gates to the earth, monsters, dungeons, and stuff like that. It's easier to just think of it as being similar to those novels, and the trend of Mtube has changed accordingly."
After saying that, In Wook froze the monitor screen for a moment.
He pointed his finger at the man on the screen and said.
"These guys are the content nowadays. They're called players."
"Sound familiar? They're just using system windows and skills, right?"
"You've been reading a lot of web novels, haven't you?"
"Ah."
Of course, they're quick to adapt.
I was using a system too.
I wondered if it had something to do with the 'brought from Earth' thing Rimen was talking about.
I gave a small nod, then stared at the image, still.
And after a moment.
"I remembered something."
"Of what?"
"A way to gain followers."
I had an idea, and it sounded great.
Page 4 of 5
Episode 4.
5.
The earth had definitely taken a strange turn, but it was still the return I'd been looking forward to, the reunion I'd wanted so badly.
With only a vague idea of what was to come, I spent time with my family without much thought.
I soothed Si Yeon, who was crying again after waking up from a nap, and I called my grandmother to tell her that her grandson was back.
Speaking of grandma, of all the things that happened yesterday, I was most embarrassed by her reaction.
-You rotten bastard. You should have called me as soon as you got back.
She acted as if I hadn't died, just gone away for a while.
That puzzled me so much that I asked In Wook about it, and he told me that his grandmother often dreamed of me.
In her dreams, she would see me walking silently on the horizon with no end in sight, and sometimes she would dream that I was fighting winged monsters.
She believed that I would definitely come back alive.
Anyone else would have dismissed it as just a dream, but my grandmother is quite sensitive to such things.
It's a miracle, if you will.
I'll have to ask her about it when I get in touch with her.
The dream stories she told me were all about things that happened to me in Eden.
Anyway.
My grandmother said that the one who would come back was just the one who came back, and that he would return home after he finished his journey.
After that, I had a late-night chicken dinner with Si Yeon and In Wook, and ended my first day back very happily.
And now, the next morning.
"Brother, let's order tteokbokki later today. Okay?"
"Promise."
"Okay! I know a place that makes really good tteokbokki, so we'll go out and eat later. I'll see you then!"
"Bye."
I smiled as I watched the back of Si Yeon's head as she walked to school.
She was crying all day, but she was definitely better than yesterday.
My sweet little girl.
Originally, I was going to walk her to school today, but she refused.
I promised her that I would take her to the cram school later and then buy her something delicious.
With In Wook's money, of course.
"Did you say school starts today?"
In Wook asked as he watched Si Yeon walk to school next to me.
"Yeah, they said so, and they're picking me up at 10:00."
"If it's for the plan you said yesterday, I think you'll have to get reclassified again... But is there an actual system?"
"There is."
I'm so frustrated.
I said, and quickly pulled up the interface of the system I'd been working with for 10 years.
『Kim Shi Yu』
Religion: Limenism
Titles: Black Pope and 32 others
-Detailed Abilities.
*Currently synchronizing.
*Data from *Synchronization time may be reduced by unforeseen variables.
Originally, it was supposed to list my skills and other attributes, but for some reason it still doesn't display properly.
But the fact that I have a message window popping up in front of me means that my system is working.
I can't even show this to In Wook.
Did I look pretty frustrated?
In Wook, who was looking at me, scratched his head as if to say something cool and continued.
"It's not that I don't believe you, but the magic detector didn't detect any magic power from you, right?"
"Is magic that important?"
"Of course it matters. There are only two things that make a player a player. Magic and systems. I've heard it's the same for most returnees."
"Who told you that?"
"From players I'm close with. I'm pretty well connected in that area, even if it looks like this. I'm pretty close with the guy in that video you watched yesterday. I don't know about you, but he's in the top 100 players in Korea. He's an A-list hunter who's more than an S-class player."
In Wook is referring to the main character in the video he was editing yesterday.
He was explaining how to kill monsters like orcs on screen.
I listened to In Wook's words.
"It was horrendous...."
"What?"
"Oh, my mistake."
I unintentionally spoke my mind.
I mean, it was nothing, really, from what I could see, and his swordsmanship was worse than that of a terminal paladin of my order.
But judging by the way In Wook's expression quickly hardened at my words, I guess they're closer than I thought.
At times like this, it's best to change the subject quickly.
"I saw yesterday that he has a lot of subscribers. Can you introduce me to him later if you have time?"
"Did you really mean what you said yesterday and not just joke?"
"There are exactly 89 days left."
"To what?"
"Life on Earth, starting from zero."
What I had talked to In Wook about last night was about evangelization.
The way to gain followers on Earth is obviously different from Eden.
And I don't know how far the system's definition of "believer" goes.
But I can be sure of one thing.
The first thing you need to grow your church is fame.
Either the religion itself becomes famous, or someone in the religion becomes famous.
The Cult of Limen in Eden actually became famous in the latter way.
In the name of Limen, they've been killing demons and demons and demons, and their numbers have grown.
And I don't think it will be much different on Earth.
Moreover, unlike Eden, where the only media favorable to the expansion of the church was the evangelists, there is a wide variety of media on Earth.
Broadcasting, newspapers, etc.
Out of everything, mass media is what I was interested in.
"Trust your brother to introduce me to him. He's not losing anything, is he?"
"... Really, you're going to do a MyTube?"
"Uh-huh. I'm not saying I'm going to do a MyTube, I'm saying I'm going to do an online worship service on MyTube."
It was MyTube.
By the way, In Wook is also working as an editor for MyTube. He is also recognized for his skills.
Why take the long way around when you can take the easy way?
I chuckled and looked at In Wook, who looked at me and sighed.
He soon gave a small nod of his head and said.
"...First, let's get you player-certified. I'm not sure about my returnee rank, but I'm pretty sure I won't be able to certify you with your rank...."
"Can't you get me reclassified?"
"What?"
"Why not?"
All you have to do is get reclassified.
Isn't that right?
6.
"This is an operational area, so we ask that the trainees remain where they are."
"We've still got some time before the site leader arrives, so you're welcome to greet each other. I think you'll find it easier to think of them as your coworkers for the week."
I nodded grimly as I looked at the staff from the Ministry of Ability Management who were eagerly relaying information in front of me.
I arrived here at 10:00 a.m. in the car of a staff member from the Office of Student Affairs who picked me up.
I honestly thought I was going to be bored in a school-like setting because it was a returnee adjustment program.
But I arrived at Yeouido Hangang Park, where wyverns were flying around.
The first place I encountered yesterday, having just crossed over from Eden.
Of course, things didn't seem as chaotic as yesterday.
Soldiers in military uniforms were walking around, and there were also people carrying swords, spears, and other weapons.
It was still an awkward scene for me, but at least it felt like the situation was under control, unlike yesterday.
The way people were moving around without panicking, it was clear that they were used to this kind of situation.
It's a world where wyverns appear in the middle of Seoul....
What a world.
"Hmph. Nice to meet you."
As I was people-watching without saying a word, a man walked up to me with a stiff smile.
I snapped my head around at the words and looked at the greeter.
And there he stood, a swordsman straight out of a martial arts drama.
A real swordsman, reminiscent of an extra in a martial arts drama.
"Have you returned from another world as well? I'm so glad to meet you. Let's make a name for ourselves. My name is Oh Hyun-taek, a young apprentice of the Southern Palace, and I look forward to serving you for the next week."
I forced a smile as I ran my fingers through my hair, which was starting to get a little sticky.
...Yes, it doesn't have to be fantasy world returnees.
There are worlds that borrow from fantasy worlds, so why not a martial arts world?
Earth is already sufficiently diverse.
Adding another flavor to the mix won't bring it back to normal. Let's just humbly accept the situation.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Shi Yu Kim."
"May I call you Warrior Kim?"
"As you wish."
"Thank you. Warrior Kim!"
As he said that, he bowed his head once again with his arms crossed.
I'm going to go crazy.
How the hell am I supposed to react to this?
"After spending twenty years in that world, it's hard to adjust to Earth. The world I came from is called...."
"Murim?"
"Oh, you guessed right. Do you know about Murim? Haha! It was a world called Zhongyuan...."
He rambles on for a while after that.
He goes on to ramble on about how he was a recognized master in the Murim.
By the way, he was also classified as a regular rank. He was classified as a regular because his inner strength was destroyed during the dimensional shift.
After finishing his story, Mr. Oh patted his chest and said to me.
"Haha! But the internal force isn't everything to a martial artist. Warrior Kim, don't worry. Although my inner qigong has been destroyed, my outer qigong has been cultivated very firmly, so I should be able to easily slice through any monster that appears on Earth."
"I see."
"By the way, what did Kim Dae Hyeop do before you returned....?"
"Oh, me, I was the Pope."
I replied dryly, glancing around once more at his words.
There were five people who seemed to be returnees, including me and Mr. Lee Oh Hyun-taek.
It was as if they had deliberately gathered only the weaker returnees, and none of them looked threatening.
It's clear that the Ministry is confident in their magic detectors.
It seems to have filtered out everyone but me.
"Okay, focus, please."
While I was talking to Oh Hyun-taek and exploring for a while, Mr. Dong Shik, the man who had investigated me yesterday, appeared in front of us.
He quickly gathered us into a circle and soon began talking to us with a gentle smile.
"My name is Kim Dong Shik, and I'm in charge of your adaptation program for the week. Normally, the training would be held in the department's building, but a rare opportunity arose."
Mr. Dong Shik said so and pointed his finger toward the Han River.
Behind a translucent barrier, a purple ash cloud was rising, and in the sky was the same black hole I had seen yesterday.
Of course, the hole seemed smaller than yesterday.
"The phenomenon you are seeing is an anomaly called The returnees were still listening to Mr. Dong Shik's kind explanation.
Wooooooooo!
"Wasn't it ...?"
Along with Dong Shik's puzzled expression, a new message window suddenly appeared in front of their eyes.
[The Causality of [A sudden quest is coming!]
[Measurement]
Type: Surge
Description: The system has determined that there are insufficient clues to quantify your power, so it will rely on the Causality to gather data. Stop the Chaos Gate's runaway.
Conditions: Seal the Chaosgate in front of you
Reward: ???
And a moment later.
Kwowwwwwwwww!
Keeeeeeeeeeeeee-!
The wyverns' screams began to echo through the silent sky.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
With a loud siren, soldiers and other combat troops began to quickly form up in formation.
"Forming an anti-air defense network!"
"Players with ranged attacks, please prioritize intercepting any wyverns that try to escape the circle!"
An extremely chaotic situation.
Keeeeeeeeeeeeee-!
Even though the defense troops quickly formed an anti-air defense net, a single wyvern broke through it, and soon the wyvern started flying towards us without any hesitation.
Seeing that, Dong Shik turned around and shouted at us.
"Run...."
Without any hesitation, I blocked Dong Shik's way as he tried to run away.
"Mr. Dong Shik. Can I ask you something?"
"In this, this situation?"
"I think I've been misclassified, how can I get a reclassification review?"
"Why the hell would you ask that now...."
While Dong Shik was making a dumbfounded face, a wyvern flew at me with its gaping maw open, and I lightly punched it in the head with my right fist.
Then.
Keeeeeee-!
Kwaaaaaaah!
With a wyvern's terminal scream, its skull pierced the asphalt floor, and its massive body went limp at the same time.
"Hmph."
I turned to Dong Shik as I stepped around the neck of the wyvern, which didn't even move and said.
"So, I'd like to get a reclassification review, because I think I've been misclassified?"
"...Regular reclassification reviews are only done when a very special case is... or...."
"Okay."
"...Yes?"
A special case.
Well, it's not that hard.
I said quietly, rising from my seat.
"I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and you can decide if it's a special case or not."
Page 5 of 5
2. Irregular
1.
"... Dear Team Leader. I'm still confused. Returnee Kim Shi Yu was clearly judged as a Regular, so why is...."
"Hey, I'm the manager for his case."
"Yeah."
"You think if I knew that, he would be on this field, right now?"
Dong Shik replied roughly to his subordinate's words, silently watching the horrific scene unfolding in front of him.
There was a wyvern with its wings torn off in a gruesome fashion, its skull caved in and leaking cerebral fluid, and a wyvern with its entire neck severed.
There were wyverns lying on the ground in such a state of disrepair that even tanks had been lightly chewed up and eaten.
The scene looked like a giant predator had slaughtered the wyverns, but amazingly, it was all done by a single man.
And with his bare hands.
"...Kim Shi Yu.
Dong Shik already knew the name of the man who was rampaging like a wild beast in front of him.
He couldn't help but recognize it.
He had already investigated the man himself yesterday, a regular-ranked returnee.
Furthermore, he had already heard about the man's story before his return. He'd heard about the man's pre-return story, about fighting demons in a world called Eden, something like that old web novel.
But until yesterday, he didn't believe it.
Or, more precisely, he couldn't believe it.
"No magic power detected.
Shi Yu had tested him three times with his highly reliable magic detector, and not once did it detect any magic.
Even Lee Dong-ha, the first Disaster-class returnee to return to Korea seven months ago, had been successfully evaluated by the magic detector.
How could anyone believe the words of a returnee who could not sense any magic?
Therefore, Dong Shik dismissed what Kim Shi Yu had said yesterday as just the usual bluffing of a returnee.
In fact, there are quite a few returnees who have made such ridiculous claims.
Moreover, one of the trainees, Oh Hyun-taek, had also told a ridiculous story that he was the right-hand man of the Murim Lord, even though he was only a third-rate returnee.
Eek, eek, eek!
"Hey, Team Leader. Did you just see, the wyverns... are getting scared. Didn't that one over there, it was flying and then... went rigid and fell?"
"Woohoo."
Dong Shik bit his lips as he sighed heavily at his subordinate's huffing and puffing.
Yes, we have to rethink this from the beginning.
The returnee acclimatization program that was supposed to be going on now?
He'd already put that out of his head.
What was happening in front of him now was definitely unprecedented in Korea.
That Returner over there, ripping wyverns apart like bugs, is only a regular?
That's a Disaster level performance.
The good news is that the Ministry has a manual for these situations.
It hadn't been used since the Ministry's inception, but they were clearly trained and familiar with it.
An out-of-spec returnee whose power is undetectable, but who possesses more than the power of a Disaster-level person.
Also known as Irregulars.
It was an extremely rare occurrence, only encountered four times even in the United States, the country with the most returnees, and the Ministry had only added it to the manual as a formality.
But Dong Shik could instantly recognize that this was one of those rare cases.
He quickly assessed the situation and whipped out his cell phone to call his boss.
Whoosh.
After a brief connection, his boss's voice came over the speaker.
-The story of the overflowing gate is....
"I'm requesting an emergency muster of the entire Special Investigations Division, per Section 7-9 of the Emergency Response Manual."
-Is the gate situation really that serious?
"This is not just a gate overflow."
Dong Shik clutched his cell phone and stared ahead.
Just a few minutes ago, the wyverns' howls had been tearing his eardrums apart, but now it was eerily quiet.
That silence was understandable, in a way.
Any wyverns capable of crying were long since dead.
And in the silence, a man approached him, dusting off his hands, and Dong Shik stared at him blankly.
-Team Leader Kim, you need to speak more clearly or I won't understand you! Huh? What the hell is going on?
"We've identified a returnee with no power detection, but with overwhelming abilities. He must be a non-standard returnee, an Irregular, sir. We don't have much time, so I'll go talk to him, but please follow up."
-Dude, Dong Shik, what are you doing....
Tuuuuu.
Dong Shik swallowed hard as he put his cell phone in his pocket after delivering the information one-sidedly.
In this situation, there was only one thing he could do right now.
"Ah, thank you for your trouble, Kim Shi Yu, are you hurt anywhere, hey! What are you doing standing still? Our honored guest must be tired from all your hard work, so get him some water or something right away, eh?"
It was just years of socializing.
2.
The message window that popped up in front of me after I captured the wyvern boss was as follows.
[The [You have successfully completed the sudden quest [To thank you for your cooperation with the assessment, the system will grant you the item Item Type: System – Special Events
Description: This license allows players to add mods to the system on a one-time basis. When adding new mods, players will be able to improve through them.
Current DLC you can add:
1. The Returned
2. The Pope (★Recommended)
*Warning: This license expires upon use
It's much more authentic than the system I used in Eden for ten years.
As I glanced back at the message window I'd seen earlier, something spontaneously came out of my mouth.
"Just do the damn thing, do the damn thing."
I should be able to understand it.
One thing seems certain: once I make a choice, there's no turning back. I've made some pretty bad choices in the past, so let's think about this for a moment.
It took me a while to understand the system we used in Eden, and I'm guessing it'll take a little longer on Earth.
That's when I let out an involuntary curse word.
The reaction came from a completely unexpected place.
"By any chance, did I offend you? I'm really sorry...."
"Oh, I wasn't talking to you, don't mind me."
I waved at Team Leader Kim and smiled as I sipped the drip coffee he handed me.
I'm now in the Ability Management Department, where I was yesterday morning.
Just like yesterday, I came here straight from Yeouido Hangang Park.
Of course, the situation is 180 degrees different from yesterday.
First of all, the vehicle that brought me here earlier.
Yesterday, it was a black van, but today, it's a luxury sedan that looks like it belongs to the chairman of a major corporation.
That's not all.
The location has also changed.
Instead of the basement interrogation room where I was interrogated yesterday, I was taken to a reception room on the highest floor of the building with a magnificent view of Mount Bukhansan.
I'm sipping hand-drip coffee from Team Leader Kim while gazing at the view of Mount Bukhansan, which I haven't seen in a long time.
"Mmm. Is it bitter?"
A little bit.
Yesterday's mixed coffee was sweet, but maybe it was because it was my first espresso in 10 years?
I used to love it.
"I'm so sorry. Can I get you another...?"
Team Leader Kim replied in a stiff voice, and I smirked at him, raising the corner of my mouth.
"I think it's because I haven't had a drink in 10 years, so it's awkward. Well, I think I've had enough rest, and I'm going to eat tteokbokki with my brother today."
"First of all, a National Security Council meeting is currently being convened in secret to discuss your rating, Shi Yu, and if you cooperate with a few more investigations, we'll get you home as soon as possible."
Things seem to have gone well.
If you cooperate, we'll do a great job of reclassifying you.
It's not that hard.
I nodded slowly and said.
"Please do."
Team Leader Kim bowed again, this time respectfully, then tapped his laptop and asked, "So, what's the status?
"During the initial investigation yesterday, you didn't tell us that you possessed the ability, so can you tell us why?"
"I was overwhelmed, and I couldn't wait to see my family, that's all."
Tada, tada, tada.
The tapping of the keyboard echoed for a moment, then Kim nodded and continued.
"Okay, so let's move on to the next question, why did you use your power at the Yeouido Han River Park gate today, when you could have hidden it if you wanted to, Mr. Shi Yu?"
"Because I have a goal I want to accomplish here, and my brother told me that it would require state recognition."
The moment I say the word goal, Kim's face tightens once again.
The tension is palpable.
"Do you mind if I ask what that goal is?"
"Uh, nothing too grand."
I take a sip of my coffee and slide it down my throat, then answer with a wry smile.
"Did I tell you that I was the Pope on the other side of the world?"
"Yeah."
"So I thought I'd do some evangelizing."
"Yeah... yeah?"
The change in Kim's expression was quite remarkable.
Just a moment ago, his face was as stony as a statue, and now his eyes twitched.
Perhaps my goal was outside of his expectations.
"Evangelism?"
"Because the god I worshiped in Eden, Limen, is actually a pretty good god, and I feel really bad and upset that I'm the only one on Earth who believes in such a god."
"Ah... I see."
"So, Mr. Kim, if you don't have a religion, why don't you try believing in Limen? She's a really good god."
Team Leader Kim's expression, which he had somehow managed to keep expressionless, finally broke.
He was now wearing a weak smile.
Yes, it's a cult, no doubt.
But in this situation, do I really need to tell this guy outright, 'If I can't gather 10,000 believers, I'll lose all my power?
I can't do that even if I die.
I'd rather be treated like a cult leader.
Tada, tada, tada.
Once again, the sound of keyboards echoed through the room, followed by a voice that was now completely drained of energy.
"What Mr. Shi Yu is saying... is that you need state recognition to do evangelism? If it's about establishing a religious corporation, I can put you in touch with another department, but what does that have to do with reclassification?"
"We're going to try to do evangelism in a different way, to be a little more approachable to the masses."
It's something that modern people, young and old, live with every day.
The very thing that would be the beginning of the blueprint I laid out yesterday.
"MyTube. I'm going to start evangelizing through MyTube. My brother and I were talking yesterday, and he said that Awakeners need to be nationally recognized in order to be effective on MyTube."
This was the moment I spoke up and told him my plan.
Team Leader Kim's hands, which were somehow tapping away at the keyboard up until this point, stopped.
He swept his hands across his face and smiled an indecipherable smile.
They say that people laugh when faced with situations they don't understand, and it seems to be true.
Still, he kept his professionalism until the last minute.
Despite looking dizzy, Team Leader Kim persevered and spoke to me.
"So..., to summarize what Mr. Shi Yu said, you wanted to reclassify so that you could evangelize through the MeTube. Is this correct?"
"Yes, it is. You can think of it as an online worship service, and that's how we'll start."
"Ah."
Was his "ah" at the end an exclamation or a sigh?
Either way.
It was then that I finally told Mr. Dong Shik about my plan.
Before my eyes, something completely unexpected happened.
[You have completed your DLC selection!]
[Name of DLC you selected: Pope]
[We will update the system to match the characteristics of the DLC. Estimated time: 4 hours].
"...When will I be back?"