Translator: Wan ED/PR: Solarin
4. Player’s Trajectory (1) [1]
The age the Players of the Republic of Korea were allowed to use ‘Gwangrim’ was 17.
But after the Clash of Different Worlds, even after dozens of years passed, there was no legal age limit related to Player’s superpowers.
Gwangrims which ignored the laws of physics and common ideas and concepts were difficult for the inexperienced mind and body to endure.
There were many big and small incidents involving the Gwangrims of minors.
The necessity of a law regulating Gwangrim was raised, but the lawmakers maintained a passive attitude towards enacting Player regulation laws.
Then, around 30 years ago.
The now closed Gangwon Province Seogu[2] Elementary School.
In the runaway[3] of Gwangrim of a certain elementary student of that place, three classes were swept away.
The public was boiling and rebuked the government and assembly that didn’t take countermeasures against Gwangrim poured out.
As a result of it, the teenage Gwangrim restriction law was established.
Otherwise known as ‘Seogu Elementary Law’.
This law completely banned the Gwangrims of Players below 17.
It enacted the law that the moment a Player below 17 manifests superpowers, a seal of ‘Gwangrim Sealing Technique’ developed by the Player Association would be implemented on their bodies.
And now.
January 1st.
The me of this world turned 17 and Gwangrim usage became possible.
‘The seal of the Sealing Technique disappeared.’
The red dot, in the size of the thumbnail, which was engraved on my left wrist, disappeared in an instant when January 1st came.
The moment the Gwangrim Sealing Technique’s seal disappeared, I could feel the advent[4] of something through my body right away.
[Miracle becomes light and descends on the body.]
‘It’s like the Gwangrim description Baek Ho-gun gave in the text of the game…!’
I instinctively had a sense of what Gwangrim it was.
I was able to realize the method of Gwangrim usage right away.
⟨Using Gwangrim ‘Player’s Trajectory’.⟩
After using Gwangrim, hundreds or thousands of cards containing various colors of light flew out of my body.
The moment I saw the cards, I doubted my eyes.
‘My Playable Characters…!’
What was engraved on the cards were Playable Characters I raised for 10 years in the game.
The scene while selecting the Playable Character, while progressing the story or quest.
Character cards that appeared in that scene were shining in front of my eyes right now.
The title hero and heroine who were the background of the game.
Supporting characters who were much more popular than those key people.
Characters, who were like extras, appearing only once or twice in the story and then killed.
And even Baek Ho-gun, who I controlled until the last moment.
I surveyed the cards, and then opened the menu to check the description of Gwangrim’s details.
⟨Reading Gwangrim ‘Player’s Trajectory’s’ details.⟩
[Player’s Trajectory]
Future and its process recorded in the form of the game in the other dimension, reenacts the dream’s record.
According to the Gwangrim’s details explanation, it wasn’t just simply the fully grown characters’ last versions.
For each character, the moments of that character’s growth and the process of it, was recorded with cards.
Just with Baek Ho-gun’s character cards, there were dozens types of them.
And…
‘Yu Sang-hui’s card…’
The one who made a contract with the goddess of revenge, threw away all her chances and became an anti Demon Beast slaughterer.
‘What remains here are records of my play, huh?’
Because the future where Yu Sang-hui became a vengeful spirit disappeared.
So the anti Demon Beast final weapon Yu Sang-hui’s card here was the only chance and record of the other dimension in this world.
One card after another.
Each time a character card entered my vision, several emotions came and then disappeared.
‘This card is from just after I graduated highschool, the card over there is from university, this one is from when I was preparing to get a job…’
Play time of over 10 years.
Playable Characters who were with me in all happy and difficult moments.
While I watched my characters grow, I too gained comfort that I should ‘hang in there’.
The records, the trajectories, of all I played.
Those things became cards and shined like stars in front of my eyes.
I halted in place for awhile and stared at the cards.
In the ending, all Playable Characters of this game died.
Naturally, the people in those character cards were all dead characters.
‘But I raised even the dead characters to the limits of their potential abilities until the end.’
Even for the characters that died in the middle, I had lingering attachments and raised them using free battles and free quests.
Because I expected the obvious development ‘The characters, who are known to be dead, are in fact alive’.
When the characters died in the story, they couldn’t be used in the story mode but character promotion itself was possible.
I, who was a PMH addict, didn’t abandon any character and raised them all.
‘Let’s see a happy ending this time.’
The character cards sparkled as if agreeing with my resolution.
‘Then let’s use it!’
The first card I naturally chose was my main character Baek Ho-gun.
Among Baek Ho-gun’s cards, I summoned the last chapter version, which had ‘Heavenly God’s Wrath’ on Baek Ho-gun lifted.
But before I used the card.
The phrase at the bottom of the card caught my eye.
[Available usage time: 3 seconds]
“What you meant to do in 3 seconds!?”
The usage time of the extremely powerful card was short.
* * *
January 1st, 19 minutes after midnight.
I left the house.
Sharp wind blew, slashing at my body.
‘I’ll freeze to death.’
Considering the action plan, I clothed a bit light, so it felt like walking while breaking through ice.
I wanted to go back home even right now, but there was something I had to do today.
I promised myself a few times that I will carry it out right away the instant I obtain Gwangrim, which is worth using.
‘In case something happened, I planned to borrow Hwang-ho or Hong Gyubin’s power. It would be annoying, so I’m glad.’
‘Player’s Trajectory’ was a card, or a piece beyond the expectations.
If so, it was a time to move the piece now and play the next move that I have to.
‘Looks like I’m personally jumping into hell because I volunteered.’
I still had creeps when I recalled the moment I faced the Enemy.
It was completely different from touching the smartphone with it beyond the screen.
‘Can I, a game addict, who was only behind the screen before, do well?’
Haa—.
When I breathe out towards the sky, foggy vapor scattered in the night sky and dimmed my vision.
Ding.
I heard the notification sound from the wearable device.
It was a message notification from the group chat with the three, Jang Namuk, Yu Sang-hun and me.
The messages I couldn’t check during the advent[4] pilled up.
[Jang Namuk] Uisin-ah, Sanghun-ah. I wish you a lot of luck in the new year. I’m going to a different highschool, but let’s contact each other often and meet to play. Best of wishes for this year.
[Yu Sang-hun] HNY k
[Jang Namuk] Sanghun-ah, if typing is annoying, you can use voice input. Or just use stamps instead.
[Yu Sang-hun] k
[Jang Namuk] … I’m done. Got it. Today is cold, so be careful not to catch a cold.
[Yu Sang-hun] k
I halted in my tracks and blankly stared at the message window.
Then I moved my finger and typed in a message.
[Me] HNY k
I sent a message and suddenly giggled for no reason.
The scene of Jang Namuk, who saw my message, starting to nag again and Yu Sang-hun reacting by typing in one ‘ㅋ’ [5], was vivid in my eyes.
I just looked at the conversation log about nothing particularly, but the air suddenly felt warmer.
I changed all device’s alarms and GPS to OFF and started running.
⟨Using the Gwangrim ‘Player’s Trajectory’.⟩
The character card I selected was a Playable Character, who was currently the 3rd year of Eungwang School and belonged to the Guideline Club[6], ‘Flash in the Darkness Oh Hyeji’.
⟨Using target character’s Gwangrim ‘Wei Tuo Tian[7] Under the Moon’. ⟩
Because Wei Tuo Tian Under the Moon was limited to at night and when the moon was visible, it was a Gwangrim that exponentially raised the leap distance and movement speed.
In the game, it was roasted as a balance breaking Gwangrim, compared to the trash Gwangrims and trash characters.
In exchange for that, considering just movement possibilities when conditions were met, Wei Tuo Tian Under the Moon was extremely efficient.
‘I have to use efficient character cards, to conserve power and time.’
Opportunely, a supermoon was hanging in the sky.
My body instantly melted with the night sky.
* * *
Convention center on the Yeoui Island[8] where a party to welcome new year was held.
In addition to the grand view of the night sky and Han River in the background, a strong sense of shape[9] was gushing from the building.
The inside hall of one floor alone was around 500 pyeong[10].
The number of people participating in the party was around 1000, and the security members were over 100.
I circled around the convention center.
The security guards allocated here and there, moved in groups of three, and reported in intervals of 10 minutes through the earrings.
‘Security set up is tight. It would be difficult to infiltrate.’
I had a character, who was useful for infiltration, but the energy-efficiency cost was too bad.
If I used that character card, I doubted if I would have energy left when escaping.
‘So I prepared other moves.’
I walked straight towards the main door.
“Hello. Pardon me, I’ll check Your invitation.”
I halted in my tracks.
I was wearing tuxedo, but even at glance, I was a highschool kid.
Even then, the security guards stopped me politely and with courtesy.
‘I guess the sons-nim and daughters-nim of high-ranking People often came here, eh?’
I raised my chin with an expression of ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’, and shamelessly said:
“Invitation?”
“Yes, currently the venue is restricted…”
“Wait!”
The other security guard, who stood at the side, cut in as if he recognized this face.
“This student, this Person is that famous…!”
He had an energy like he wanted to ask for an autograph right away.
“That is the famous son-nim of ‘Red Flame’s Ruler, Yeom Bangyeol’, ‘Little Hongryong[11] Yeom Junyeol-nim’!”
I smirked towards the bodyguard who recognized me.
My face right now was that of one of Playable Characters, Little Hongryong Yeom Junyeol.
One of the top five of the otherworld conquest teams was Red Lion.
Yeom Junyeol was the only son of the team master of that Red Lion, Red Flame Ruler Yeom Bangyeol.
Yeom Junyeol, who entered the 2nd year of Eungwang School this year, was an owner of an outstanding Gwangrim and young noble-like appearance.
In addition, as he even got his father’s halo, the moment Yeom Junyeol started to conquer otherworlds, he instantly rose to the status of star Player.
The ‘Player’s Trajectory’ perfectly replicated even Yeom Junyeol’s appearance.
‘Yeom Junyeol very much hated the ‘Little’ in the Little Hongryong alias given by PlayerSAT-K.’
The word ‘Little’ was Yeom Junyeol’s rage button.
Saying Little Hongryong in front of him was no different from picking up the fight with Yeom Junyeol.
I should show annoyance here.
I mimicked Yeom Junyeol’s harsh expression I saw in the game.
“Little Hongryong?”
“… Ah! My ap-apologies. Hongryong-nim! You look much more mature than You looked in TV!”
It would be like that.
Yeom Junyeol’s current age is 18.
But the appearance I selected with the Gwangrim right now was 19.
To speak precisely, it was the result of continuously raising the character even after Yeom Junyeol died at the age of 19 in the story.
I made up my mind to continue to act shamelessly.
“Even after seeing my face, you want to check my invitation?”
The security guards were flustered by the faint killing intent.
“Pa-pardon me. Hongryong-nim! Can I check Your Player ID? Student ID is also… That’s because there are many Players who disguise themselves as famous people.”
Using target character’s Gwangrim ‘Hongryong Summoning’.
Without saying anything else, I stretched out my hand into the air and showed them the fire dragon summoning that was a manifestation of Yeom Junyeol’s power.
Paaa!
A dragon head was visible in the subspace crack opened at my fingertips.
Similar Gwangrims can exist, but no completely the same Gwangrim can exist, and Gwangrim’s copying was impossible.
The Hongryong’s existence would now become the proof that I’m Yeom Junyeol.
“You mean that some other bastard can imitate this…?”
“My apologies!”
The security guard pressed his hand to the earring and reported it to the higher-ups.
“…. Yes, I asked. Because Hongryeong Yeom Junyeol-nim is visiting… Ah, He came alone… Yes, yes…”
They would be suspicious of Little Hongryong Yeom Junyeol’s abrupt visit.
But Yeom Junyeol was a foundation for connections they so much desired.
It would be difficult to turn it down.
‘They would want to capture those connections at this opportunity no matter how.’
If Yeom Junyeol was alone, it was possible to overpower him if something happened.
Rather they would calculate how they could use him as a hostage.
And they would think that if Yeom Junyeol came to this place and participated in ‘this event’, that fact would become Yeom Junyeol’s weakness that they could use.
I was certain that the host would let Yeom Junyeol through.
“Pardon me, please come in!”
As I expected, they cleared the way for me.
* * *
Perhaps thanks to borrowing Little Hongryong Yeom Junyeol’s name, the banquet manager personally guided me into the venue.
Passing through the carpet covered corridor, we arrived at the multi-floor structure that was the banquet hall.
At all floors, I saw party guests wearing tuxedos and dresses.
My eyes hurt because of the brightly shining chandelier and golden velvet curtains hanging at the windows.
‘Is the dress code Vegas gold…?’
All around, I saw dresses, hair decorations, cuff buttons, handkerchief etc. in the color of Vegas gold.
‘They’re diligently throwing out money.’
Because they rented the air hotels which were a few times more expensive than the convention hall on the ground, crème de la crème [12] of celebrities were welcoming the new year in the air.
However, the people who counted down to the new year here could also be seen as belonging to the group of winners in this society.
And the host was also the owner of this convention hall.
“At this party the usage of any recording and communication devices, besides the security intranet devices used by the security guards, is restricted. We ask for Your understanding.”
Besides that, the banquet manager mentioned a few precautions and handed me a pure silver coin in a golden gilt box.
“Please enjoy Your time.”
The banquet manager bowed and disappeared after giving goodbyes.
I looked down at the silver coin.
⟨Reading item data.⟩
[Item name] Replica of pure silver coin of oath of silence
[Type] Consumable
[Rarity] SR+++
[Effect] Used in oath of silence.
[Description]
Replica of pure silver coin used by the Demon King of Silence and Bystanders Sillentium.
At the front is Sillentium’s seal, at the back is a crow.
If one makes the oath of silence using this item, the corresponding information is impossible to convey in any form, starting with language.
This oath of silence can’t be released without the usage of at least a SSR rank curse purging item, or permanently removing the tongue.
Produced thanks to Ungnyeo of Grief, one of the legendary Eight True Ung Immortals of the Ung tribe[13].
As expected, the Ung I was looking for at this party, Ungnyeo of Grief of Eight True Bear Immortals, invented it.
‘If I couldn’t find her here, it would be a bit troublesome.’
But right now I had more urgent matters.
Let’s think about the things related to Ungnyeo of Grief.
I quietly slipped out of the banquet venue and headed to my destination.
*~*~*
[1] Player’s Trajectory — ‘Player’ is a word borrowed from English, the same as used for superpower users (now, did I make a note that I’m capitalizing the word Player when it’s this particular word borrowed from English? In any case, now you know). Trajectory — 궤적 — means 1: a trace left by a wheel or similarly rolling object 2: process of achieving something or the mark of it 3: in mathematics, ‘a figure gathering the points…’ in other words, trajectory. It’s the word used for the trajectories/orbits of stars, atoms, etc.
[2] Seogu — 서구 can generally refer to the ‘west’ (Europe and North America), or the solar system superior planet being 90 degrees in the west to the Sun. But if there is some meaning to it, it’s probably hidden in hanja.
[3] runaway — losing control over something like a vehicle. It may sound strange when referring to a person, but it’s short for ‘their superpower wave running wild/ runaway superpower wave or Gwangrim’. It’s like a qi deviation. It also means a heavy sudden downpour.
[4] advent — Gwangrim
[5] ㅋ — ‘keke’ laughter
[6] Guideline Club — their role is to maintain the discipline at school. They were real part of Korean schools, but are mostly the thing of the past these days from what I gathered.
[7] Wei Tuo Tian Under the Moon — I translated is as In the Moonlight of Skanda, but now I first fixed the name (it shouldn’t be Skanda), and just got more confused. Because while Under the Moon is a closer translation, I don’t know about the usage of a god’s name in the Gwangrim, even when it’s a slang for a super fast person.
[8] Yeoui Island — South Korea’s center of politics and finances. This is where the National Assembly building is, among many other things.
[9] strong sense of shape — ‘feeling 3-dimensional’ in raws, 3-dimension is also a homonym of ‘taking someone else job/replacing’.
[10] pyeong — one pyeong is approximately 3.3㎡
[11] Red Flame and Hongryong – Hongryong means Red dragon, hong for red and ryong for dragon. I’m leaving it as Hongryong because it will make my translation easier in the distant future. Red in the Red Flame is also hong. Hong is not the word used in ‘Red Lion’ though.
[12] crème de la crème — Of S and A class in raws.
[13] Immortals and Ung tribe — Ung for bear. Immortals refers to people immortal through cultivation and following Dao, your murim immortals.
Translator’s note:
Jo Uisin: ‘Little’ is Yeom Junyeol’s wrath button.
Also Jo Uisin: Little Hongryeong (affectionately).
Patron thank you note:
Thank you patron, Nobody, please accept this Heliosperma pusillum’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Al, please accept this Petrocoptis pseudoviscosa’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Dust, please accept this Petrorhagia dubia’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Maru, please accept this Petrorhagia nanteuilii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, kamisonk, please accept this Petrorhagia saxifraga’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Kasimir Ilmonen, please accept this Rabelera holostea’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Tara Hess, please accept this Pseudostellaria jamesiana’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Ice, please accept this Pseudostellaria heterophylla’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, anonymous Kofi-supporter, please accept this Sabulina douglasii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Hematite, please accept this Sabulina nuttallii’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Thank you patron, Deflubs, please accept this Sabulina patula’s flower as a token of my sincere gratitude.
Links to support this translation and access to 8 advanced chapter (Patreon & Kofi)
> Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LibraryKeyTranslations
> Kofi-Euro: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslator
> Kofi-USD: https://ko-fi.com/wanthetranslatorusd
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
Leave a Reply