Translator: Wan ED/PR: Solarin *revised*
3. Unknown Supernova (1) [1]
The world underwent a drastic change because of the Clash of Different Worlds, which occurred 100 years ago.
In the world which fell into chaos, the beings who fought back against Enemies and returned stable everyday life to humanity were Players.
Those born with the Player’s superpowers were about 20% of the world’s whole population.
The rate of the ones who kept their superpowers after reaching the age of 17 was 15%.
The pre-Players corresponding to that 15% could be recognized as official Players by receiving the Player’s Association’s approval.
And the Players, who became 17 were permitted to use superpower, which manifested a miracle for a limited time, Gwangrim.
‘Baek Ho-gun is using Gwangrim right now, huh?’
In the case of Baek Ho-gun, Gwangrim manifested as a type of weapon summoning.
If his mental power was sufficient, he could even summon an EX rank weapon, though it was for an extremely short time.
‘Thinking about it even now, that was a balance-breaking cheat character.’
The reason being, compared to other characters, Baek Ho-gun was extremely powerful.
Although he was said to have received a debuff from Heavenly God, Baek Ho-gun was a being that appeared in the Gaecheon myth, the founding myth of this world’s Republic of Korea.
And among Jin people, he was a Myth category Ho[2], Baek-ho (White Tiger).
⟨Reading ‘Baek Ho-gun’ character data.⟩
[Name] Baek Ho-gun
[Titles] Myth category Ho tribe member, Baek-ho of Gaecheon Myth, Prisoner[3] of Divine Realm
[Blessing] None
[Gwangrim] White Fang summoning of Thunder Clouds Breaker
[Status] Heavenly God’s Wrath — part of skills and Gwangrims are sealed, all statistics and skill levels are drastically lowered
[Overall stats] Lv. 55
[Skills]
Sword Martial Arts Lv. 10
Byeoksa[4] Lv. 10
Leap Lv. 10
Brilliant Gaze[5] Lv. 10
Roar Lv. 10
[Description]
Baek-ho appearing in the Gaecheon Myth.
At the time of founding the nation, he received an authority[6] to ‘be able to go anywhere’, but at the end of playing[7], he lost his True Name and incurred the Heavenly God’s wrath.
Heavenly God sealed most of Baek-ho’s abilities to punish his arrogance and ordered him to ruminate on his sin in the Divine Realm.
After that…
While I opened the status window and read the description, I suddenly felt suffocated.
As I forced myself to take a breath and raised my head, I met eyes with Baek Ho-gun.
Baek Ho-gun was glaring at me.
‘No way, do you know I’m using Exclusive Menu skill?’
I turned my gaze away as calmly as I could.
However, the remaining gaze of Baek Ho-gun felt like thousands of needles piercing my body.
The ‘Brilliant Gaze’ skill wasn’t even activated.
⟨The Ung tribe’s interference ended. Communication has been resorted.⟩
After I heard the system voice, all the lights inside lit up with a ‘ping’.
As I pressed my eyes, which were dazzled because they adapted to darkness, with one hand and looked around, the disaster entered my vision straight.
‘It’s a mess…’
I saw traces of destruction all over the exam ground.
The Demonic Beast which collapsed and wasn’t moving.
The supervisor and Son Mingi in dying states.
The injured Yu Sang-hun
I and Jang Namuk who weren’t injured but were in tatters.
At some point, Baek Ho-gun withdrew his gaze from me and was slowly looking around.
— Piiiiiing!
A different alarm sound from the system sound I heard from my menu rang out.
It was a sound I also heard a few times in the game.
‘Player’s Association’s exclusive satellite… it’s the warning alarm about approaching Enemies of the satellite in charge of Korea, ‘PlayerSAT-K’, huh?’
Originally, if an Enemy came into a certain distance, the smart devices would ring an alarm thanks to the satellite and begin an evacuation procedure.
Because the communication was completely cut off, the alarms rang late.
‘Just a step behind.’
I swept my finger through the warning notice, which appeared on the smartphone phone, which was something outdated by this world’s science and technology standards.
This world’s age was similar to the Korea I was before, but its setting was that the technology developed greatly under the influence of otherworlds and superpowers.
‘Everyone is using wearable devices, huh?’
As Baek Ho-gun, Jang Namuk and Yu Sang-hun were wearing wearable devices, each of them had a holographic screen opened in front of their eyes.
On the screen, the PlayerSAT-K’s subjugation completion notices were coming up in real time one after one.
— Wanted Enemy, Rinoseron no. 13 had been subjugated.
— PlayerSAT-K successfully accessed recording devices in the corresponding area.
— PlayerSAT-K analyzes the content of the subjugation process.
Swish.
The White Fang of Thunder Clouds Breaker disappeared from the hand of Baek Ho-gun, who read the holographic notices.
— Subjugation’s biggest contributor: Jo■■ (unregistered civilian: information disclosure is restricted.)
Because the PlayerSAT-K started the retrieval of the wanted Enemy’s body, Rinoseron turned into particles of light.
Jang Namuk and Yu Sang-hun, who made stunned faces at Baek Ho-gun’s appearance, saw the PlayerSAT-K’s notices and cheered.
“Jo Uisin, congratulations!”
“Congrats. When you get the reward, buy us food. Something expensive.”
It became noisy outside.
Following Baek Ho-gun, Players of Eungwang School arrived here.
When Eungwang School’s teachers spoke up to us, Baek Ho-gun’s form had already disappeared.
* * *
Even though I and Jang Namuk weren’t injured, we were transported to the hospital to be inspected.
After Yu Sang-hun, who was injured, received a separate treatment, he changed into a hospital gown and was wandering around dragging an IV stand.
“I want to just use a recovery item.”
“Because we are not official Players yet, the ‘Player insurance’ doesn’t apply to us. You’re going to get buried in hospital bills.”
“Ah…. Right. I should have got hurt next year.”
“If you use too much recovery medicine, there are going to be side effects. Endure.”
“Jang Namuk nags a lot!”
While I was examined, Yu Sang-hun and Jang Namuk were giggling and joking at the side.
The kids get close quickly, huh?
The hospital we came to right now was a medical institution established by Hwang Myeong[8] Foundation, which operated the Eungwang School.
‘It looks more like a temple rather than a hospital.’
Was it because Hwang Myeong Foundation was rich, or because the hospital was making a surplus?
The outstanding hospital facilities and scenery and the faces of medical staff showing a healthy luster, caught an eye.
It seemed that the employee welfare was also good.
‘I guess they’re paid well.’
In PMH, or in the in-game world, it was predicted that with the appearance of recovery items and skills, the medical community would be shaken.
But the recovery medicine and skills had insignificant effects on ordinary people, who weren’t Players.
The Players, who owned a recovery skill, were also extremely rare, and the recovery items were traded at high prices compared to their effects.
‘If we consider it just by the item prices, Jang Namuk luck was the best.’
Jang Namuk pulled out ‘Oat flower extract recovery medicine’.
It was the lowest grade item which effect was nothing but healing scratches, but to buy it without a Player’s insurance, it would cost 3 million won per bottle.
‘But as according to the setting, the Players had high income and could obtain items from otherworlds, it’s not that they can’t do that. Even so, Players can’t help but use hospitals.’
After a paper stating that frequent usage of recovery items lowers Player’s abilities in the long-term, Players also started to frequently visit hospitals.
If not in the middle of hunting or the life being at stake, it was a natural thing to consult with a Player’s specialized doctor before using recovery items.
As a result, the medical community, which was expected to decline with the appearance of items and skills, was thriving thanks to Players living with a risk of injuries.
“Next, student Jang Namuk.”
My examination ended and Jang Namuk’s turn to draw blood.
Unlike me, who roughly replied to doctor’s questions, Jang Namuk faithfully replied to all questions.
“You want to go home quickly? Me too.”
Yu Sang-hu saw me reply without sincerity and spoke.
“Yeah. I want for it to end quickly and go home.”
I spoke like this, but it wasn’t exactly that I wanted to go home.
I couldn’t know for certain the background of this world’s middle school student Jo Uisin right now.
If I had spoken longer, I might have been asked about content which I couldn’t confirm even with my personal information in the menu window.
“Jo Uisin? Come out for a moment.”
The name of the person who spoke was Jegal Jaegeol.
He was Eungwang School’s teacher, who before was contacting all kinds of places through a wearable device.
Jegal Jaegeol, who was shocked by the exam ground’s situation before, soon solved the situation like a veteran teacher and led us to the hospital.
‘There is no one here.’
There was no one in the hospital corridor in front of the examination room.
Only in a very far distance, there was a quiet sound of footsteps, and occasionally the sound of chirping birds was heard outside the window.
“The homeroom teacher registered as a guardian I contacted said that He is on a business trip and can’t come, and it seems there was no vice homeroom teacher. Is there perhaps another person to call?”
The current me was a 3rd year middle schooler.
It was the fall of my 3rd year of middle school when my parents-nim and dongsaengs got into a traffic incident.
Right now it was the 3rd year of middle school, December, when I took highschool entrance exams.
It was the time when the past me barely finished the disentailment procedure and frequently moved between compact rooms[9] on the inheritance, which there was not a lot left.
The same content was written in the menu on my character in this world.
“No, there isn’t any.”
There were distant relatives on my mother’s side.
However, I couldn’t know if they perhaps didn’t exist in this world, and I didn’t want to call them.
“… Okay. Call me if something happens.”
Are you sorry for just asking about it?
He seemed to be a better person even from the one seen in game.
Jegal Jaegeol handed me a business card with an apologetic expression.
‘Aquamarine Poet Jegal Jaegeol’.
On the business card Jegal Jaegeol handed to me, his Player alias and contact information were printed.
Jegal Jaegeol was also one of the Playable Characters, who appeared in the game.
As the teaching staff serving at Eungwang School were all Players with teaching qualifications, most of the teachers connected to the story were Playable Characters.
But Jegal Jaegeol left the stage early and almost didn’t appear in the story.
“Yes. Thank You.”
I accepted the business card with both hands and grasped it tightly.
The business card made out of paper was heavy like lead.
“Teacher Jegal Jaegeol-nim!”
The corridor became noisy.
A man dressed up in a cashmere coat was energetically weaving his hand while walking in this direction.
“No, how did he come in?”
Jegal Jaegeol openly frowned.
Wow, there was a character who could make Jegal Jaegeol make such a face?
“Hello, I’m Player’s Association’s Korea Branch’s media and PR team 1’s team leader, Hong Gyubin. Teacher Jegal-nim.”
What, team leader?
Why the hell did a person of the team leader rank in the Player’s Association came here?
It was a face I seemed to have seen in the game, but I didn’t remember it well.
He might have been an extra with nothing but one or two lines.
“I know. The outsider entrance here is prohibited right now.”
“Where do I look like an outsider? I came to see teacher Jegal-nim after a long time.”
“Yes, then see You next time. Go in peace.”
“Hahaha, this matter is drawing media attention. Shouldn’t I and teacher Jegal-nim cooperate well?”
“I’ll give You Hwang Myeong Foundation’s PR team contact information.”
“It’s okay, I know it.”
Hong Gyubin smiled widely and Jegal Jaegeol built an iron wall.
I was left alone, and the two continued their bickering battle.
‘… Can I go back to the examination room?’
When I had such a thought.
Hong Gyubin discovered me late and swiftly turned around while speaking to Jegal Jaegeol.
“Teacher Jegal-nim, the student beside You is Jo Uisin, correct? Excellent. I saw the entire recording left in the PlayerSAT-K. You were really outstanding!”
Jegal Jaegeol didn’t reply and made an absurd face.
As if Hong Gyubin didn’t expect a reply, he didn’t care and kept talking to me.
“Can you tell me an account to deposit the bounty? It’ll get taxed, but it probably will be over 200 million. If you don’t have a bank account, make it before next week and contact me through this.”
Before I could reply anything, I was forced to take a business card.
Because it overlapped with Jegal Jaegeol’s business card, the scrap of paper on top was infinitely lighter.
“Your adaptability and courage were all outstanding, but what I liked the most was your response during an unexpected situation. Even if your choice later becomes controversial, I’ll take your side. Ah, and thinking about it, your reaction to the Enemy was quite fast, do you have some kind of skill? If you agree to disclose Player information details, you can apply for mentorship matching your future career path, and we can make a program for you to improve your skill level.”
Disclose information details?
A word containing poison was mixed among the sweet, as if dipped in sugar, words.
If I agree to disclose information to the Association, it would be no different from informing the Association about my weaknesses and secrets.
I would receive worthy of its support, but I wanted to refuse to be caught on a leash.
As if Jegal Jaegeol noticed it, his face twisted at the side.
‘Then, can I refuse without losing connection with Player’s Association and Hong Gyubin?’
Even if I just stayed quiet, it seemed that Jegal Jaegeol would stop it, so should I let him take care of it?
My worries didn’t continue for long.
“Get out of the way!”
I heard a sharp voice in the distance and the wind moved with a ‘Swoosh’.
Reacting to the presence and the voice, Jegal Jaegeol grabbed me and stepped back.
It was a motion indeed worthy of the Eungwang School’s head of school affairs.
Worthy of the Player of the team leader rank in the Association, Hong Gyubin also lightly moved his body and avoided clashing with something.
Bang!
Someone crossed the corridor in an instant and opened the door as if to break them.
In the gap of the open door, I saw Jang Namuk, who just finished an examination, put a hemostatic dressing on the arm from which blood was drawn.
Yu Sang-hun dragged the IV stand in front of him and approached the laboratory table, then looked at the opened door and suddenly froze.
“Wait, student. The entrance for unrelated parties is prohibited during the examination right now.”
Ignoring the nurse at the side of the door who tried to stop her, a female student wearing Eungwang School’s uniform slowly walked up to Yu Sang-hun.
Yu Sang-hun gripped the IV stand and looked at the female student with a somewhat embarrassed face.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds without a word.
The first to open his mouth was Yu Sang-hun.
“Why did you come here?”
The female student clenched her hands into fists and ran at Yu Sang-hun.
“What are You trying to do?!”
Startled Jang Namuk tried to stop the female student.
However, before that, the female student collapsed in front of Yu Sang-hun and started to weep.
“Yu Sang-hun, you terrible lunatic!”
Overpowered by her spirit, Jang Namuk stopped.
Yu Sang-hun tried to tap the female student on the shoulder as if trying to soothe her but the female student pushed that hand away and kept crying.
“I know, I know. Don’t cry.”
“Who is crying?! Heuk…. Getting hurt like an idiot and… Heuk…”
“Okay, okay, cry.”
“Shut up!”
“Ah, then what do you want?!”
Yu Sang-hun, who gave up at calming her down, shut his mouth.
He made a loud sound, but rather than angry, his attitude was flustered because he didn’t know what to do.
Jang Namuk asked with a confused face.
“Who is it?”
“My mom’s daughter, Yu Sanghui-ssi.”
“What?”
“Uh… my noona.”
The identity of the female highschool student was Yu Sang-hun’s noona, Yu Sang-hui.
As if he hated to explain it any longer, Yu Sang-hun avoided Jang Namuk’s gaze.
Jang Namuk made a dumbstruck face, containing a thought ‘that was a conversation between siblings?’.
Yu Sang-hui, who wailed loudly, was left alone and an awkward silence continued.
Even Hong Gyubin, who was pouring smooth words coated in honey, shut his mouth because of embarrassment.
Thanks to that the need to think of an excuse disappeared.
Soon, besides Yu Sang-hui, Jang Namuk and Yu Sang-hun’s parents-nim arrived at the hospital.
With the arrival of the guardians, the atmosphere wasn’t right to continue conversation with Hong Gyubin, so my talk with him naturally ended.
* * *
Next day.
The Hwang Myeong Foundation, which operated the Eungwang School, posted a letter of apology on the school’s main website.
In the last sentence of the apology, they stated that they take a moral responsibility for the matter and the school’s side will bear all medical expenses of the injured examines and won’t spare any support.
‘Because in the exam oath we accepted stated that they held no responsibility for the school related injuries, they don’t have legal responsibility.’
In the first place, if a Jin made up their mind to raid, it was almost impossible to block it.
However, from around 300 exam grounds of Eungwang School, only one exam ground allowed the interference.
And it was only for 15 minutes.
Rather, it became an opportunity to show how outstanding Eungwang School’s security was.
But even so, condemnation of Eungwang School wasn’t small.
Fortunately, half of the press attention was on the survived middle school students.
The fact that the middle schoolers, who weren’t able to use Gwangrim, displayed their wits with just exam items and caught an R+ rank wanted Enemy, became a hot topic not only in Korea, but also overseas.
And the person, who became the biggest hot topic was Son Mingi.
[Little Hero Son Mingi, ‘I’m sorry that when in crisis I couldn’t fight together with my friends to the end…’.]
The article with the dog-like headline was plastered all over portal sites.
Son Mingi became a star overnight.
‘You’re playing the worst move, huh?’
I thought as I scraped the article.
Like this, Son Mingi took a step towards his destruction.
*~*~*
[1] Unknown Supernova — ‘Unknown 무명 (mu-myeong)’ as ‘something without a name’ or ‘the name being not widely known’, or ‘a person’s name not being engraved on blades, painting or left in writing (because it was forbidden for example or a person decided to stay anonymous)’. The homonyms of unknown are Avidyā/ignorance in Buddhism, cotton cloth, famous and outstanding martial arts or fame of a martial artist. Supernova in Korea is ‘초신성 (chosinseong)’, you can understand it as ‘first star’ or ‘beginning of a star’, but ‘신성 (sinseong)’ means divine/sacred, and ‘초 (cho)’ means first, so ‘first sacred’, perhaps? 신성 (sinseong) also means ‘a new person in the field with a lot of attention and popularity’, ‘coming to parents’ bedroom early in the morning to check on them and greet them (relates to preforming filial piety)’, ‘a new art song (lied)’, ‘a fixed star used to measure time’, ‘a common name for Venus’.
[2] Ho — tiger. The Ung later stands for a bear.
[3] Prisoner — 수인 (suin), this translator is so glad there is a hanja here because this word can also mean: ‘a signature’, ‘a few (two,three, four) people’, ‘people who don’t get along because of grudges’, ‘a worried person’, ‘a guardian’, ‘a Buddhist practice that leads one to attain enlightenment’, ‘person protecting fortress’, ‘a hunter’, ‘a person who lives like a beast in the wilds’….
[4] Byeoksa — a ritual of destroying and cleansing evil and evil spirits.
[5] Brilliant Gaze — literally ‘Light Eye’.
[6] authority — 권능 (gwonneung), perhaps a ‘capability’ would be a better translation here. This word means both authority and ability.
[7] playing — 유희 (yuhwi), refers to playful activities, something which brings fun, usually referring to children playing. But it could also be understood as a ‘game’.
[8] Hwang Myeong — 황명 can mean orders of emperor.
[9] compact rooms — 쪽방 (jjokbang) refers to very small cubic partition rooms, which are rented for short period of time (like a month) and upright. It’s something you will find mostly in slums.
Translator’s note: *laughs without any explanation*
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