The Strategist I
Now, in the 593rd cycle.
After bringing Oh Dok-seo from the Busan Station Tutorial Dungeon and forming an alliance with the Saintess, I immediately commenced the operation.
The enemy of today's story was none other than the Outer God.
There was no time to be leisurely.
"Sorry. Normally, I would take my time to form a strong rapport with you, but this time, we need to hurry."
"Ah, okay…"
Oh Dok-seo's reaction was hesitant.
It was understandable. Anyone in her situation would feel uneasy. After all, knowing that the regressor had already memorized every detail about you would be unsettling for anyone.
In a world ravaged by anomalies, realizing that you had read about this situation in a novel gave some confidence but that confidence shattered immediately as the tutorial began, and I destroyed any advantage Oh Dok-seo had gained from the previous cycles. She had no time to enjoy the benefits of the 'Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint' advantage. It was only natural for her to feel insecure.
Oh Dok-seo exhibited leadership when dealing with strangers but revealed too many of her vulnerabilities to those she considered close. She was a person who lived with an imbalance in her heart. And I existed as a very delicate weight on her twisted scale. I wasn't quite a stranger, but I hadn't yet formed a bond of intimacy either—a 'character in a work of fiction.'
Instead of leisurely clearing the tutorial and forming a bond, I had almost forcibly dragged her out of the Busan Station Dungeon, resulting in this uneasy relationship.
"So, um… Undertaker?"
"You can just call me Mister."
"No, it feels a bit weird to call you Mister on a first meeting… And you're not old enough to be called that. Anyway, why did you bring me here?"
Her heart pounded just a little.
It was something that happened often.
"Oh Dok-seo, have you ever heard of the genre called 'speedrunning'?"
"Huh? Speedrunning?"
Most people played games for enjoyment. However, some humans loved speed itself. The deeply ingrained "ppalli ppalli" (hurry hurry) spirit in Korean DNA, when applied to games, became a common phenomenon worldwide.
-To clear it faster.
-To be the fastest!
Speedrunning, also known as Real-Time Attack (RTA).
Playing a game with the goal of clearing it as quickly as possible. Sometimes, players even used glitches in the game to reduce their time. For example, using 'Hate Pill' and 'Savior' anomalies to crash into each other could be considered a type of glitch play. Many gamers repeatedly failed in their attempts, aiming to leave behind just one speedrun record, the achievement of being the fastest player in the world. I was no different.
"Oh…"
Oh Dok-seo looked up as if recalling something.
"Now that you mention it, I think I saw some gameplay videos like that on YouTube. I remember an American clearing the community center achievement in Stardew Valley in just two hours…"
"Exactly."
I pulled out a laptop.
"In this world, there is an anomaly-level outer god called the 'Logout Game.'"
And I explained.
As succinctly as possible, while ensuring Oh Dok-seo could fully understand what kind of outer god the 'Logout Game' was, I used words and phrases tailored specifically for her. This explanation style was refined through several trials. Though Oh Dok-seo often exclaimed, "What?" "No way—" and "How can such an anomaly exist," she grasped the situation relatively clearly in less than ten minutes.
She stared down at the laptop on the table.
"So, this laptop…"
"It's an item left to me by the outer god. It's a perk given to a player who kept struggling until the server was about to shut down. It's also the only clue to defeating the 'Logout Game.'"
Click.
I opened the laptop and launched the only installed program, a notepad.
From the 135th cycle, when the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame' first destroyed the world, to the current 593rd cycle, the sentence written in the notepad had never changed.
[ W h a t i s t h i s w o r l d ? ]
A simple sentence.
Yet, not an easy question.
Oh Dok-seo frowned.
"What is this world…? What does that mean?"
"It's a battle over who gets to define our world."
"Huh?"
"Listen closely. This outer god defined this world as a 'game.' High-level anomalies each try to define the world in their own way."
I spoke calmly.
"Defining the world requires significant power. The 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame' introduced many features such as status windows, level-ups, and logout systems to prove that this world is a game."
"Oh…"
"People then accepted and believed that the world was indeed a game. I call this 'being bewitched by the anomaly.'"
The Magical Girl Association referred to the same phenomenon as kamikakushi (神隠し).
"In other words, anomalies can never deny the systems they create. Giving them up would also mean losing their bewitching power."
"Oh… I think I understand…"
"The 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame' defined himself as a game administrator. Therefore, he can only perform actions allowed to an administrator."
For instance, why could Sim Ah-ryeon resist the 'Logout Game' even slightly?
Why, when even individuals with extraordinary mental fortitude like Noh Do-hwa and the Saintess were helplessly logged out, was Sim Ah-ryeon an exception?
The reason was simple.
- Huh, reality? Being in the moment? Saying that I don't need the internet because I'm happy right now? Are you stupid? Guild leader, are you really that stupid?
- Here, inside this smartphone screen, is reality! It's the truth!
Sim Ah-ryeon did not treat the 'Logout Game' as a mere game. Just as she projected herself into SG Net, Sim Ah-ryeon genuinely immersed herself in the 'Logout Game,' which had engulfed the world in emptiness. To her, disconnecting from SG Net was impossible. Even in the utopia Dang Seo-rin created in Busan, Sim Ah-ryeon never stopped her community activities until the very end. Likewise, if Sim Ah-ryeon started playing a game, quitting it was equally impossible. To her, such an act was akin to dying in reality.
――Therefore, the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame' could not delete Sim Ah-ryeon's account without cause or reason. There was always a loophole for anomalies, even for outer gods.
"I was the one who denied until the end that this world was a game."
"You, Undertaker?"
"Yes. To the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame,' I'm an extremely troublesome critic who constantly gives low ratings and calls the game trash."
To the outer god, I was an enemy that had to be eliminated. In response, the anomaly challenged me with the question, "Then why don't you create a game yourself?" The notepad file on the laptop embodied this challenge.
"'If this world is not a game, then what is it?' This is what the outer god is asking me."
"Oh…"
Oh Dok-seo's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
I wanted to use the [Mind Reading] skill to gauge her thoughts, but I refrained, remembering my promise not to do so again.
"The battle between the outer god and me is simple. If I type 'This world is a game,' I lose. It would be as if I raised the white flag and surrendered."
"What's the victory condition?"
"To come up with an answer that the outer god cannot help but accept."
So far, I had failed to type the correct answer into the laptop.
[This world has material substance.]
[This world is eternally recurring.]
[This world has no anomalies.]
I had tried various answers, but the outer god never accepted any of them. Nothing changed. Simply forcing my desires with power was meaningless. Just as I resisted the 'Logout Game,' the outer god resisted the regressor. Both of us were not strong enough to impose our will unilaterally on the other but strong enough to avoid being overpowered.
A stalemate. A tie. A deadlock.
"But, Oh Dok-seo, your arrival brings hope."
"What?"
She looked startled.
"Me?"
"Yes. I am a regressor, and you are a book possessor. Both of us are in an 'exceptional position' in creative works. Even if we are not protagonists, we hold significant importance as main characters."
"...…"
"That makes such a stunt possible."
Click, clack.
I typed on the laptop keyboard.
Black letters spread across the white notepad file from my fingertips.
[This world is a 'speedrun' game livestream.]
Oh Dok-seo muttered blankly.
"A speedrun game livestream…?"
"You said you watched similar videos on YouTube, so it should be easy to understand."
I pointed at her.
"Oh Dok-seo, you are the 'protagonist' character of this game."
Then I pointed at myself.
"I am the 'player' controlling you, the protagonist character, on the computer."
"...…"
"The character and the player are sometimes considered one, but they are always separate. However, both are treated as 'exceptional beings' within the game world."
"I'm the protagonist, and you… are the player controlling me."
"Yes."
I nodded.
"The outer god defined this world as 'a game with only characters.' That's why people logged out so easily. They were bewitched by the anomaly, thinking it was simply logging out of a character, not dying themselves."
"..."
"We need to deny the outer god's strategy head-on. Both you, the character, and I, the player, must coexist in this world. In other words, this world is not just a game with logged-in characters—it's a world where players who can log out also exist. Real humans and characters coexist."
I smiled.
"You're quick to understand. That's right."
I showed her a prepared diagram.
"Whether viewed on a computer monitor or a smartphone screen, a 'game livestream' typically looks like this."
The diagram looked like this, summarized:
――――――――――
[Game Screen]
[Game Screen] [Streamer's Face]
[Game Screen] [Streamer's Face]
――――――――――
A format commonly seen on YouTube.
"In the bottom right or left corner, the streamer's face and upper body are shown, while the rest of the screen displays the game in progress."
"Right."
"The streamer corresponds to the player. The figure in the game is merely a character. But the important fact here is that 'in a game livestream, both the character and the player coexist.'"
"..."
"If the world is defined as just a game, there's no way to withstand the logout. But if it's defined as a game livestream, we can neutralize the outer god."
I folded the diagram.
"You should be familiar with this format, especially since you primarily read novels. 'Constellation stories' often follow this format."
"Yes. Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint was also a constellation story."
"How about it, Oh Dok-seo? Will you join me in defeating the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame'?"
I extended my hand.
Before Oh Dok-seo could reflexively grasp it, I added a crucial warning.
"This won't be an easy fight."
"...…"
"You must follow my instructions precisely. The tasks I give you will be challenging. There will be frightening and disgusting tasks. Fighting the outer god will be extremely difficult."
Oh Dok-seo remained silent.
"Still, is this the best scenario you've thought of, Undertaker?"
"…So far."
"Then, I'll trust you."
Oh Dok-seo took my hand.
"Let's clear this trash game together."
"...…"
I slowly nodded.
At that moment.
[Starting the fastest speedrun in the world.]
Flinch.
Oh Dok-seo blinked and looked around, startled. But there was no one else around us.
An emotionless voice.
Of course, it was the Saintess's telepathy.
[The game this time is called the 'Logout Game,' made by a strange company called the Admin of the Infinite Metagame.]
I deliberately didn't arrange a meeting between the Saintess and Oh Dok-seo. In the 593rd cycle, the novel 'Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint' Oh Dok-seo read hadn't progressed to the point where she met the Saintess. Therefore, the voice she heard would genuinely sound like 'a constellation streaming a game' to her.
"Uh, um, Undertaker, what is this…?"
I smiled.
"I told you."
[It's a problematic game, but there's no reason I can't achieve the fastest clear.]
"We're livestreaming a game."
[Among the characters, Oh Dok-seo, who has the attribute of 'book possessor,' has immense potential despite lacking significant stats now. She's the perfect candidate for a speedrun.]
"Oh Dok-seo, I've prepared extensively for this cycle."
The Saintess's voice gently flowed.
[Logout Game speedrun.]
[Let's get started.]
-x-X-x-
The Strategist II
[Let's take the fastest route.]
The Saintess's 'broadcast voice' resonated. For reference, the Saintess was not in Seoul but hiding nearby. After forming an alliance with her, I had quickly brought her along on my back.
[The most efficient path is to travel from Busan to Jeju Island, then from Jeju Island to Japan.]
The Saintess hid from Oh Dok-seo's view, reading from the script I dictated. I kept moving my lips so subtly that Oh Dok-seo wouldn't notice. During this time, the Saintess used [Time Stop] to decode the minute movements of my lips.
Script: Undertaker. Voice: Saintess.
In some sense, it was a more classical form of broadcast than the internet—more like a program created by producers and writers.
Through the Saintess's voice and my script, we gave instructions to Oh Dok-seo.
[The first obstacle is securing a boat from Busan to Jeju Island. This is problematic.]
[At this point, the Examination Bureau's anomalies haven't spawned yet, and even if they had, Jeju Island is part of Korea, making their use invalid.]
[If your aura was sufficiently advanced, you could show your mastery of levitation, but it's still early in the game. Demanding such high-level skills from your character is unreasonable.]
[It would take over ten years just to train on the Korean Peninsula.]
[But don't worry.]
[In a speedrun, safe passage by boat is a luxury. Instead of boarding a boat, let's reverse our thinking and drift to Jeju Island.]
"What?"
Oh Dok-seo was startled. But as a character in the game, she had no free will.
[Now, if you follow this path, you'll find a half-destroyed library in Yeongdo. Despite its condition, the Yeongdo Library is relatively intact.]
[In the location I specify, you'll find a book titled
[Put that book in your backpack and dive into the sea.]
"What?"
Oh Dok-seo looked around, confused. She couldn't see me. I was watching her from a considerable distance, hidden in the shadows of the ruins. The Saintess (through me) murmured softly.
[Jump into the sea.]
"..."
[There's a life jacket and a wooden board there. Equip them and jump.]
"…Aaaah!"
Splash.
The sea off the coast of Busan swallowed the self-proclaimed 'book possessor.'
"It's so cold! It's fucking freezing!"
[The character is complaining noisily. Let's ignore it.]
[Some viewers might know, but Hamel was originally a Dutchman headed to Japan when his shipwrecked. He drifted to Jeju Island due to ocean currents. Since our final destination is Japan, Hamel's journey aligns with ours.]
"Hic! The waves! The waves! Help! I'm drowning!"
[There's a reason I chose 'book possessor' Oh Dok-seo for this playthrough. She has red hair.]
[In the past, Koreans called Westerners 'Red-Haired Demons' because their hair and beards were red.]
"Help! I'm dying! Mister! I'm going to die for real!"
[Don't worry.]
[Oh Dok-seo's personal color is perfectly suited for becoming a Red-Haired Demon.]
[Plus, with
[Based on numerous tests, the probability of early-stage Oh Dok-seo drifting safely to Jeju Island is a whopping 81%.]
"What? Wait! What about the other 19%—Ahh! The waves! The waves! Ahhhh!"
Oh Dok-seo screamed. I leisurely walked on the water, following her from a distance. I intended to rescue her if necessary, but she was excessively frightened. Tsk, tsk. Shortly after, Oh Dok-seo was washed ashore on Jeju Island.
"Ugh… Ugh…"
[As expected, she successfully reached Jeju Island in just 31 minutes and 14 seconds.]
[In this game, the sea is far more dangerous than the land. There are still deep-sea anomalies without proper guides.]
[But even a novice who has just cleared the tutorial can cross the sea easily by using character traits and items. Easy, right?]
"Easy? My ass! Ugh… Bleh!"
[No time to waste. Take minimal rest and move immediately.]
"Ugh, I hate this…"
While Oh Dok-seo suffered from motion sickness, I quickly ran to Seongsan Ilchulbong to retrieve the 'Monkey's Paw.' The anomaly had once endangered both Kuro and me, and specifically threatened my hair roots. Sim Ah-ryeon's healing ability couldn't cure my hair loss, which had been quite distressing.
It was a troublesome anomaly, but the 'Total Luck Law' was crucial for this mission. It had to be collected here.
[Did you know?]
[After drifting to Jeju Island and being captured by Koreans, Hamel managed to escape after 13 years.]
[He fled to none other than Japan, our destination.]
[Normally, the cooldown for
[As you know, the 'Logout Game' is a bug-ridden game. Naturally, there's an exploit here too.]
I threw a piece of charcoal to Oh Dok-seo without her noticing. Still dizzy from seasickness, she noticed it belatedly.
"Huh…? Pencil lead? What am I supposed to do with this?"
[Prisoners in the past scratched marks on walls to keep track of their imprisonment.]
[Oh Dok-seo, you're now occupying the position of 'a prisoner in Joseon.' Enter any enclosed room and start writing.]
Oh Dok-seo entered the ruins of a house I had scouted earlier. She went down to the basement without windows, locked the door, and started writing on the wall with the charcoal.
正正正正正正正正正正
正正正正正正正正正正
正正正正正正正正正正
正正正正正正正正正正
正正正正正正正正正正
TL/N: 正 is a way to count in East Asia. 正 = 5.
The Saintess's voice flowed.
[Hamel was imprisoned for about 13 years. No need to account for leap years.]
[365 days times 13. 4,745. Divide that by 5, you get 949.]
[Write the character for '正' 949 times in this enclosed 'prison' space.]
Not long after.
The charcoal broke. Oh Dok-seo's fingers were blackened with charcoal dust.
"Done… Finally…"
[Well done. Now
"Wow… How did you figure out such a strategy?"
[This exploit works only for traveling to Jeju Island and Japan. If your aura level is high enough, you won't need it.]
[But for now, this is the fastest way.]
We walked out of the house and saw a small boat on the beach that hadn't been there before.
"Ugh. I don't know how to row. Is it okay?"
[It's fine. This boat will safely reach Japan no matter what.]
"Damn it, this feels unreliable…"
Oh Dok-seo rowed the boat and safely landed in Japan. Of course, 'safely' meant arriving with all her limbs intact.
"Ugh…"
[Arrived in Japan in 59 minutes.]
"I swear… I'm never getting on a boat again…"
[Now we will farm the 'Hate Pill.']
The Saintess casually dismissed Oh Dok-seo's lament. For the record, the Saintess comfortably crossed the strait on my back. The Saintess's [Clairvoyance] had a 1,000 km range limit. To provide stable navigation services to Oh Dok-seo, she had to move along.
[The 'Hate Pill' can be found in various places across Japan.]
[The nearest location is Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture.]
[There's a naval port on this city's coast. It's not a human naval port but an anomaly's, making this entire area a void.]
[But if you follow my guidance, you can safely reach the command center. Trust me.]
I quietly dealt with any anomalies that tried to attack Oh Dok-seo along the way. She reached the command center safely. As she opened the door, she gasped.
"Ah!"
She was horrified by the scene inside.
"What… What is this…?"
The Saintess and I spoke calmly.
[These are the ends of protagonist characters who committed suicide in despair stories.]
Inside the command center, dozens, if not hundreds, of dolls hung from the ceiling. Some wore white admiral uniforms, some medieval knight armor, others wore suits reminiscent of people in the entertainment industry. These were anomalies of characters called 'Commander,' 'Knight,' 'Producer,' 'Director,' 'Teacher,' 'Trainer,' etc., in various games. We had learned about this place back in the 590th cycle through the Magical Girl Association.
Dangle-dangle—
The mannequin-like anomalies swayed in front of Oh Dok-seo.
"Eek!"
[All these characters took the 'Hate Pill' and couldn't endure the hatred from those around them, leading to their deaths.]
"It's so scary… This place is terrifying…"
[Of course, they aren't real humans. These are merely anomalies derived from creative works and parodies.]
[Since they are considered dead, they can't affect living humans. Now, approach the nearest doll and open its mouth.]
"Open… Its mouth?"
[Do it.]
"Ugh…"
Oh Dok-seo tearfully opened a doll's mouth. I, hidden in the shadows, opened another doll's mouth. Inside the mannequin's mouth, on its tongue, lay a bright red pill—the 'Hate Pill.' I collected two pills. One for me, and one for the Saintess.
[Now, take the pill.]
Gulp.
Oh Dok-seo, the Saintess, and I simultaneously swallowed the 'Hate Pill.' Then I took out the 'Monkey's Paw' from my pocket. This was why I had collected it in Jeju Island.
Whispering softly, I addressed the furry hand.
"Monkey's Paw, Monkey's Paw. Grant my wish."
-...
The Monkey's Paw trembled. My wish was as follows:
1. Bring all sorts of 'misfortune' to Oh Dok-seo, the Saintess, and me ('us'). Specifically, make everyone who meets us hate us.
2. Limit the misfortune to us as much as possible. That is, do not involve others in our misfortune.
3. The reaction to our 'misfortune,' that is, 'luck,' should activate only when we desire.
The Monkey's Paw twitched violently.
-Ukikik, kik.
Its reaction was bizarre, as if it had never expected a human to make such a wish. The fur bristled sharply. This was the 'correct use of the Total Luck Law' that I had reached after countless experiments.
It might sound paradoxical, but wishing for lottery-winning luck was pointless with the Monkey's Paw. The opposite approach was necessary.
-Please ensure all lottery tickets I buy are losers.
Misfortune.
Accumulating manageable misfortunes, one by one, as if they were natural. What would happen then? The more misfortune I endured, the more the 'Total Luck Law' would strive to balance it with equivalent luck. When the moment of absolute necessity arrived, the accumulated misfortune would be converted into luck.
If the Monkey's Paw tried to exert its power to create negative consequences for the wisher—
I would harness those negative consequences from the start, ensuring that eventually, they brought me luck.
-Ukikikik.
The Monkey's Paw trembled, trying to resist my wish, but it was futile. An anomaly could not deny its essence. Thus, it had to submit to the human wishing for misfortune instead of luck. Denying its essence would lead to its own destruction.
-Ukikikikik.
Shuddering.
Ultimately, the Monkey's Paw vanished into thin air. My wish was granted. Simultaneously.
[…Ah.]
The Saintess gasped slightly, in a voice only I could hear.
[Indeed… Manipulating people's emotions this way…]
"How do you feel, Saintess? Do I seem hateful to you?"
[…Yes. If you hadn't explained beforehand, it might have been challenging to endure.]
The Saintess took a deep breath. Since this cycle had just begun, her favorability towards me wasn't high. Therefore, the reversal effect of the 'Hate Pill' wasn't significant. The Saintess, with her strong willpower, could withstand it.
But what about others?
Now, everyone we met would feel an inexplicable aversion towards us. This aversion would grow. They would hinder us, undermine us, and constantly try to devalue our achievements. It wouldn't be a happy journey.
As time passed, misfortune would pile up for Oh Dok-seo and me.
[…By taking the Hate Pill, the difficulty of this game has drastically increased.]
[However, in exchange for raising the difficulty ourselves, we will receive absolute luck at a crucial moment. And we can choose when to activate this luck.]
Indeed.
From now on, Oh Dok-seo, the Saintess, and I—the character, the player, and the streamer, three personas in one—would move in perfect harmony. Together, we would endure misfortune, accumulate the weight of misfortune, and when the decisive moment arrived, when the detestable [Admin of the Infinite Metagame] appeared—
[We will convert all our misfortune into luck.]
"..."
Oh Dok-seo swallowed hard. Hidden in the darkness, the Saintess and I exchanged a silent look.
[This is how we will defeat a god.]
-x-X-x-
The Strategist III
This world wasn't a game. There were no friendly mid-bosses, final bosses, or hidden bosses appearing conveniently in sequence. Anomalies took great inspiration from the military genius of the Joseon Dynasty.
While the daimyos born in Japan, the land of classic RPGs, praised themselves for their boss stages, Seonjo[1] harshly reminded them that the world was not a JRPG. Retreat, hide, and wait. Why foolishly reveal yourself to the enemy? By staying hidden, you eliminate the possibility of defeat.
Anomalies didn't show off their strength unnecessarily. Especially the Outer Gods, who rarely showed their divine forms to mere humans. Take Infinite Void as an example. Infinite Void was coiled in the fourth basement of Baekhwa High School, surrounded by an impenetrable barrier, and ruled the world by deploying only 'colonial soldiers,' known as the 'Fairies of the Tutorial.'
Infinite Void was the weakest of the Outer Gods. The [Admin of the Infinite Metagame] was even more extreme.
"This guy is a master of hiding, even among stealth types."
I explained to Oh Dok-seo.
"Only after spreading status windows, experience point systems, damage indicators, level-ups, and game communities all over the Earth did he barely reveal himself at the moment of 'server shutdown' after hundreds of years."
"It's really tough…"
In the middle of the night, we paused the speedrun broadcast for a brief rest.
[...]
By the way, while Oh Dok-seo and I were talking, the Saintess remained hidden nearby. An awkward atmosphere hung between us. Naturally, since we had both taken the 'Hate Pill,' I felt animosity towards Oh Dok-seo, and she towards me. She probably felt only faint animosity since we hadn't had many bonding events, but I was different.
'I felt murderous.'
I wanted to kill her. I wanted to tear her apart. My hands twitched. Looking at Oh Dok-seo stretching her neck while yawning made me want to draw my cane-sword and cut her down. Dozens of ways to cripple her flashed through my mind without prompting. All the goodwill I had felt for her had instantly turned into hostility.
'Is this how Dang Seo-rin and Cheon Yo-hwa felt about me in the 590th cycle?'
I felt guilty. But I could bear it. No matter how much the 'Hate Pill' manipulated my emotions, it couldn't alter my memories. I remembered clearly what kind of person Oh Dok-seo was. Hundreds of years of memories fortified my resolve. Thus, I buried my intense hostility under layers of memory.
"…Undertaker?"
"Hmm."
"Are you okay? You seem really strained."
Despite my efforts to manage my emotions, a fragment of my murderous intent must have slipped through. Oh Dok-seo, sensing it, shrank back, watching me nervously.
"Don't worry. If we don't take any action, the status window anomaly will appear between the fifth and sixth years."
"Wait, Mister. Isn't that too late for a speedrun?"
"Yes. We need to force the 'Logout Game' to surface. That's why I brought you to Japan."
"...?"
The next day, after a good rest, we resumed the speedrun broadcast.
[All the Outer Gods have their own domains.]
[The 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame' influences not only games but all creative works.]
[This is evident from the anomalies under the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame'—Hero Syndrome, Savior's Narrative Syndrome, Isekai Truck, Chekhov's Gun—all linked to creative works.]
"Ah."
Oh Dok-seo muttered while tying her shoelaces.
"So, that's why we're using the speedrun broadcast format? Since broadcasting is a form of creation too."
[Correct.]
As usual, the Saintess relayed my words to Oh Dok-seo.
[The deeper we immerse ourselves in creative works and the stronger we become, the more likely the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame' will appear before us.]
"Ah, I get it."
[Good to hear. Now let's proceed with your transformation into a magical girl.]
"...?"
I guided Oh Dok-seo towards Noto Peninsula in Japan, where the headquarters of the Magical Girl Association was located. As she followed the navigation, Oh Dok-seo suddenly slammed on the brakes.
"Wait! A magical girl? Why do I have to become a magical girl? Aren't they all crazy?"
[Because magical girls, or Japanese awakeners, draw power from creative works in a typical manner.]
Indeed.
Although it might have been half coincidence, Japanese awakeners were essentially devotees of the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame.' Magical girls always fought for justice against evil. Except in a few malevolent works, magical girls always triumphed. Relying on such magical girl tropes, the Japanese awakeners opposed the world-consuming anomalies. I valued comrades like Manyo Neko and others.
But objectively, at this point in the 593rd cycle, they had become anomalies known as 'magical girls' to fight anomalies. It was a typical corruption phenomenon.
[But not all corruption is bad.]
In a speedrun, every resource must be utilized.
[The more powerful magical girls become, the closer their connection to the Outer Gods. In some cases, they can significantly advance the appearance of the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame.']
"Oh…"
[Oh Dok-seo, you've already used
"..."
[Your entire existence is becoming saturated with creative works. You are the most suitable priestess for the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame.' If you join the Association as an honorary member and become a magical girl, even more so.]
Of course, the Magical Girl Association was extremely exclusive to outsiders. With everyone around her feeling instinctive aversion due to the 'Hated Pill,' joining the Association would be even more challenging for Oh Dok-seo. But the strategy for registering with the Association was well known.
Three days later.
"…Thank you. Who would have thought an awakener from Korea would conquer Inunaki Tunnel. As the representative of the Association, I express our gratitude."
The Great Priestess of the Magical Girl Association bowed politely. Oh Dok-seo, despite being a hardcore otaku, wasn't fluent in Japanese, so the Saintess had to act as an interpreter.
"But…"
The Great Priestess lifted her head slightly.
"Why are you covered in bird droppings?"
That was because the 'Total Luck Law' had started bringing small misfortunes upon us. Both Oh Dok-seo and I, along with the Saintess, were showered in bird droppings.
Oh Dok-seo scowled.
"Ah, don't mind it… It's nothing…"
"Hmm, okay."
The Great Priestess opened her fan.
"But it's surprising you want to join our Association. We're a small organization that hasn't been around long. Why would a foreigner be interested in us?"
"Well… I felt a sense of possibility in you all. Friend! Tomodachi! Friendships deepen through tough times, right?"
"..."
"..."
The Great Priestess gave Oh Dok-seo a suspicious look over her fan. The unpleasant feeling from the first impression was clear. Even in these apocalyptic times, entering the guest room covered in bird droppings was odd. Instinctive rejection surged.
However, Oh Dok-seo had successfully conquered Inunaki Tunnel following my instructions. Accepting her into the Association could bolster the group's prestige.
"Hmm. We're not ready to accept foreigners yet. It's difficult to offer a proper position..."
"Oh! No problem! An honorary membership is fine. Just acknowledge my qualification as a magical girl!"
"Well, if that's the case."
The Great Priestess closed her fan.
"Find a god to contract with. Each magical girl partners with a deity."
Though called gods, magical girls could partner with anything. Humans, pets, even anomalies could be gods if desired.
"Return with your god, and I'll grant you the title of magical girl. If you can't find one, I can introduce some..."
"Oh, that's okay."
Oh Dok-seo smiled awkwardly.
"I already have one."
"Which god?"
"The Undertaker."
I froze in the distance, eavesdropping on the conversation. We had agreed to make the Saintess our god before arriving here. The Saintess commanded multiple constellations, tying her deeply to the 'Constellation Stories' trope. Furthermore, positioning the Saintess as the god would make her telepathic whispers into divine revelations. For many reasons, the Saintess was a more suitable partner.
But Oh Dok-seo mentioned my name instead.
The Great Priestess tilted her head.
"The Undertaker? I've never heard of such a god."
"He's my personal god."
"Making up gods doesn't work. They must truly exist."
"No problem. He exists. Always watching over me, even here. You just can't see him."
"…Really? He must be a high-ranking deity."
The Great Priestess laughed lightly.
"Then, I'll form the contract here. If it fails, the membership offer is void."
"By all means."
The Great Priestess opened her fan.
"In the name of Tamamo-no-Mae[2], I invoke you, the god called the Undertaker. Bless and protect this person."
A light, floating sensation accompanied the connection of a fine, transparent thread between Oh Dok-seo and me.
"…He truly exists? And he's strong."
The Great Priestess was surprised.
"Not just strong. This… the fact he responded… The Undertaker? Never heard of such a deity, but how…"
"Is something wrong?"
"…No. But you're serving a very dangerous deity. The stronger the god, the stronger you become, but borrowing a god's power isn't interest-free."
She closed her fan.
"The more you rely on the god, the more you become a mere tool. Eventually, you might become a puppet, a conduit for the god to descend. Be cautious."
"Thanks for the warning."
Oh Dok-seo responded in her clumsy Japanese.
"But it's okay. Probably."
After learning various guidelines from the Great Priestess (mostly about shouting 'Transformation!' when becoming a magical girl), Oh Dok-seo left the base.
That night.
After the stream ended and we took a break, I approached Oh Dok-seo.
"Why did you say you'd serve me instead of the Saintess?"
"Hmm…"
Oh Dok-seo scratched her cheek. After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"I thought it was more fitting. Mister, you said magical girls were essentially addicts to the tropes of creative works and servants of the [Admin of the Infinite Metagame], right?"
"Yes."
"Then, what am I, having read
"...…"
A nightingale's song faintly echoed.
"I've always seen this world as partly a story. Since I was summoned to Busan Station, having read about the protagonist not long ago."
"..."
"So, Mister, I have to ask. Am I a human already possessed by an Outer God from the start?"
Indeed.
Before Oh Dok-seo appeared, I never dared to confront the [Admin of the Infinite Metagame].
Just as Cheon Yo-hwa was Infinite Void's apostle and priestess.
The priestess for the [Admin of the Infinite Metagame]—the self-proclaimed book possessor, destined to see this world as a creative work—was Oh Dok-seo.
Footnotes:
[1] Seonjo, personal name Yi Yeon, was the 14th monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He was known for promoting Confucianism and attempting reforms at the beginning of his reign. However, he later gained infamy from the political discord and his incompetent leadership during the Japanese invasions of Korea.
[2] Tamamo-no-Mae is a legendary figure in Japanese mythology. One of the stories explaining the legend comes from Muromachi period genre fiction called otogizōshi. In the otogizōshi Tamamo-no-Mae was a courtesan under the Japanese Emperor Konoe.
-x-X-x-
The Strategist IV
Let's take a moment to discuss Oh Dok-seo.
Oh Dok-seo was a literary girl. Like all literary girls, she believed in the existence of something special beyond the mundane human world. Of course, this was a vain hope. Many literary girls received about three hard punches of betrayal, conspiracy, and group selfishness between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five before quietly letting go of their expectations of the world.
There were no magical schools, no debutante balls for noble ladies, and no secret organizations holding regular meetings in dimly lit alley bars (although there were organizations selling mysterious white powders and fantasy gum). Reality was harsh. A normal literary girl in Korea had to be ready to replace the magical school with a university, the debutante ball with an MT (membership training), and the secret organization with social media activities. This wasn't difficult. Children who read the Harry Potter series typically experienced a stage of denial around the fifth or sixth grade, wondering, "Why is my Hogwarts acceptance letter arriving late?" This was a common growing pain.
Oh Dok-seo was not common.
"No. The world is wrong."
From a young age, Oh Dok-seo thought this way. At the school's sandy playground, which mimicked a desert, she preferred walking in the shade rather than under the sun.
"Wizards exist. Secret organizations exist. Forces of evil that threaten the world and champions of justice fighting against them also exist. And naturally, a god who watches over it all must exist too."
Oh Dok-seo willingly abandoned reality for fantasy. It was an easy choice for her. Why should she give up her fantasies just because they were deemed unrealistic? What did the so-called realistic human world offer that was so great? At best, it offered jealousy, selfish desires, contempt for others due to inferior talent, hatred for family, hunger, wordplay, and false friendships.
"No."
What disgusted Oh Dok-seo most was how easily people forgot their actions.
"You promised never to lie again. Why are you lying?"
"Promise? When?"
"Last time. We talked about it by the water cooler next to the restroom a few months ago."
Oh Dok-seo had an extraordinary memory from a young age. She rarely forgot the dialogues of characters in books she had read. She meticulously remembered every word and action of people in reality. Just as some brains are specialized in numbers and calculations, Oh Dok-seo's brain had an exceptional ability to remember human behavior.
"I never said that."
Others did not. Promises, vows, breaking promises, and forgetting them—this was the reality Oh Dok-seo saw, filled with people who forgot their actions in real-time. If she had the expressive power she had now, she might have said this as a child:
"Forgetting is no different from death. Forgotten things are as good as nonexistent."
"Then what are these people who forget everything?"
"They are like a carnival parade, killing parts of themselves bit by bit, yet unaware, and still claiming 'we are alive.'"
When Oh Dok-seo reached this realization, she felt a chill. It was terrifying. The entire world was engaged in a ritual sacrifice of itself. All humans were cannibals, consuming themselves.
"No."
Oh Dok-seo wanted to escape.
"I don't want to die."
So she fled. Compared to reality, fantasy was always brilliant. In creative works, people could always become greater. Characters in novels never forgot what they said or did. They remembered what they did in chapter 30 even in chapter 300. To Oh Dok-seo, these fictional characters felt more human. They were beings that remembered, could communicate, take responsibility, and offer forgiveness. Oh Dok-seo simply had higher standards for what it meant to be human.
"These people are alive."
The literary girl's heart split in two. On one side, there was endless hatred for humanity based on reality. On the other side, there was boundless affection for humanity based on creative works.
"The world is filthy."
"Characters are more human."
"As long as I don't give up my faith in these characters, they can exist, even if only in my heart."
With her heart torn in two, Oh Dok-seo indulged more and more in her belief in something 'other than reality.' Normally, human beliefs were not rewarded.
"Huh? What? Did I add this novel to my favorites list?"
About two weeks before being forcibly summoned to Busan Station.
"Let's see... the title is..."
A miracle happened to her.
『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』?
Returning to the present, on a night with a chirping nightingale, I looked at Oh Dok-seo and replied.
"That's right, Dok-seo. From the beginning, you were chosen as a apostle by the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse."
"Oh."
"In many novels, the protagonist is often possessed by a book or game character for no reason or explanation. But in this world, there's always an anomaly behind every 'reasonless' and 'explanationless' event."
In other words.
"The novel 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』 that you thought you read by chance is not just a novel. It's not mere coincidence. It's a gift from the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse, proving that you are his representative—a chosen human."
The anomaly's favorite apostle.
"And that novel itself is evidence that you were chosen as the anomaly's agent."
"..."
"The Admin of the Infinite Metaverse must have judged you to be the most suitable apostle on this earth. Strictly speaking, anomalies don't have the same judgment abilities as humans."
The nightingale fell silent.
Oh Dok-seo's expression was truly complex. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad. After a few moments of pondering, she spoke.
"Does that mean the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse is eavesdropping on all our conversations?"
"Yes. But there's no need to worry."
"Why?"
"As I said before, anomalies don't have human-like judgment. Their senses and value standards are different. Even the term 'eavesdropping' doesn't really apply."
I pointed to Oh Dok-seo's backpack, which contained the laptop given by the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse.
"When we started this cycle, we defined this world as a 'game broadcast.' The time we spend chatting now corresponds to off-air rest periods. As long as we maintain this format, the anomaly won't categorize our private conversations as meaningful."
"Oh, I see..."
Oh Dok-seo muttered to herself, but it was clear that this wasn't the topic she really wanted to discuss. Her lips had been twitching as if debating whether to say something.
"But Mister..."
"Hmm?"
"In 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』, it describes you as a regressor and details everything you've been through in each cycle. If the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse wrote that and showed it to me, then that means the anomaly knows you're a regressor, right?"
"Yes, it probably does."
"...!"
Oh Dok-seo's breath hitched.
"Then isn't that a big problem? The biggest advantage of a regressor is that the enemies don't know they are a regressor. But if the anomaly knows..."
"The Admin of the Infinite Metaverse has some resistance to my regressions. That's why it left the laptop with me."
Since the 135th cycle, when the world was destroyed by the Logout Game, a laptop had been left by my side every time I regressed. This meant the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse was continually approaching me through the cycles.
"But the anomaly's power isn't complete. I am also resisting it."
"Resisting...? What do you mean?"
"In the novel you read, the updates are very slow. There's a gap of about 500 to 600 cycles between my 'reality' and that 'novel.'"
We were in the 593rd cycle. However, the stories Oh Dok-seo read in 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』 only covered up to the 33rd cycle.
"So, imagine the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse as a hacker trying to break into me. Its progress is only about 5%. No matter how hard it tries to decode me, it can only gather data up to the 33rd cycle. It can't understand the me of the 593rd cycle."
"Oh, thank goodness. That means we still have plenty of time..."
Oh Dok-seo sighed in relief.
"But we mustn't be complacent. The Admin of the Infinite Metaverse is slowly but surely extending its reach towards me."
"Yes, I understand that..."
"The fact that you began to awaken as a book possessor from the 555th cycle onward shows how close the anomaly has gotten to me."
"Really? I see..."
I nodded.
Why did Oh Dok-seo, a 'book possessor,' start to awaken in the 555th cycle instead of the first? Why were both the regressor and the book possessor summoned to the Busan Station Tutorial Dungeon?
A coincidence defying extreme odds? No, it was intentional. Everything was planned.
"Just as I am trying to defeat the anomaly, the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse is using every means to subdue me. One reason it chose you as its representative is because you and I started from the same point."
"...!"
"The anomaly wants to interfere with me as quickly and effectively as possible."
Oh Dok-seo was taken aback.
"Does that mean... that the anomaly intended for me, a book possessor, to hinder and oppose you, a regressor?"
"Exactly."
"So, we were meant to be adversaries, not allies?"
Recall the 555th cycle. When Oh Dok-seo first encountered me as a book possessor, she didn't have a good impression of me.
[Oh Dok-seo: There he is, the protagonist of this world. Codename: Undertaker.]
[Oh Dok-seo: The Undertaker is a protagonist who has experienced regression multiple times. He's ruthless.]
She was wary of me.
[Oh Dok-seo: He lives only with hatred for monsters, a typical regressor living out of pure spite.]
[Oh Dok-seo: He's just a madman. He might kill me if he suspects anything. Better be cautious.]
Oh Dok-seo genuinely believed I might kill her. She was prepared to betray me and strike from behind if necessary. Why? The reason was simple.
"Dok-seo, the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse made 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』 to make you wary of me."
"Oh..."
"To be precise, the anomaly could only hack up to the 4th cycle version of me. It judged my character based on that and influenced you accordingly."
Even the anomaly couldn't predict that the murderous maniac from the 4th cycle would evolve into someone different by the 500th cycle.
The Admin of the Infinite Metaverse analyzed me from the past and acted based on that. It expected conflict and distrust between the book possessor and the regressor, leading to destruction. But from the start, I disrupted the anomaly's grand plan.
"So, you and I becoming allies was entirely unexpected for the anomaly?"
"Yes. It never imagined I would so easily lower my guard around you."
"Wow."
"It must be quite bewildered."
I chuckled. The Admin of the Infinite Metaverse was smart. If you were in the anomaly's shoes, how would you deal with a regressor resetting the world each time he was about to lose?
Q) How can you eliminate the troublesome regressor?
A) Turn his life into a novel and create a book possessor. The regressor loses his advantage as the 'protagonist,' and the book possessor, now the new protagonist, eventually wins.
This was the genius strategy devised by the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse. It was clever. Using clichés to strip the regressor of his advantages. If it weren't for me, the anomaly would have succeeded. The book possessor, Oh Dok-seo, looked at me with anxious eyes.
"Did you always know I was chosen by the anomaly?"
"To some extent."
I shrugged.
"I became certain when I noticed that the updates to 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』 increased with each cycle. Such phenomena are extremely rare."
"And you still didn't kill me?"
"Hmm?"
"Why not just kill me every time you regressed? That would remove any potential threat I posed."
"..."
"Why didn't you choose the simplest solution? Even now, we've taken the Hate Pill, making us naturally dislike each other. Aren't you worried I might betray you at a crucial moment?"
Hmm. I stroked my chin, pondering how to respond before deciding on honesty.
"Betrayal isn't a big deal for a regressor."
"What?"
"It's fine. I'm mentally strong. I haven't told you, but every one of my allies has betrayed me at least once. Do you want to hear about the time the Saintess tried to kill me? It was pretty epic."
"...? ...?"
In the distance, I faintly heard the Saintess coughing. I smiled and patted Oh Dok-seo's shoulder.
"Dok-seo, do as you wish."
"..."
"I have near-infinite opportunities. Even if you betray me ten or twenty times, I still remember the cycles where you trusted me a hundred or two hundred times. How could I forget that?"
"..."
"If we fail this time, we'll do better next time. I know you too well to be disappointed."
For a while, Oh Dok-seo remained silent.
"Okay."
As the nightingale started singing again in the forest, Oh Dok-seo raised her hand to grasp mine on her shoulder.
"I wish I could read these words in 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』 too."
"You will someday."
"Yeah... Maybe."
Oh Dok-seo smiled brightly.
"It doesn't matter if the anomaly has its eyes on me. Remember this, Mister. This is a promise."
Her grip on my hand tightened.
"I will be the one to save you. I will definitely rescue you from this damned world."
I chuckled. Kiddo, you're the 26th person to say that to me. And I gave her the same answer for the 26th time.
"Alright. I trust you."
"Yes!"
The next day, we began our full-scale operation to bring the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse down to the surface.
-x-X-x-
The Strategist V
Speedrun stream, ON.
[We've gathered almost everything we need in Japan. It's time to return to the Korean Peninsula.]
"No way! Absolutely not! I will never, under any circumstances, drift across the sea again! Never!"
Oh Dok-seo desperately resisted, adding 'sea' to the phobia section of her character sheet. However, she had nothing to worry about. There was no need to rely on Hamel's Journal again. I modified Inunaki Tunnel into the 'Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel,' giving Oh Dok-seo a comfortable walking path.
[Oh. Be careful. If you step just one step to the left, you'll die with your limbs separated.]
"What the heck?"
Experiencing the rare event of walking through the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel, Oh Dok-seo was quite delighted.
"Comfortable, my ass! One wrong step and you die instantly! ...Wait, you used this place as a base in another cycle? Are you insane?"
[Progress is slow. Please hurry up. Yu Ji-won rode a bike through this void.]
"Who the hell is that?"
[Considering the early stage of the cycle, Oh Dok-seo's miko aptitude has already reached an incredible level.]
We lightly dismissed the complaints of the young and MZ-generation Oh Dok-seo. Both the Saintess and I were too old to tolerate the whims of the younger generation.
[Currently, Oh Dok-seo has explored all sorts of anomalies related to creative works. The 'Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel' you're walking through is also a creation of imagination.]
[Hamel's Journal, Monkey's Paw, Hate Pill, Magical Girl, Undersea Tunnel. There are no other cases of someone approaching the so-called gods of creation so quickly.]
[At this rate, you'll be able to summon the status window without any issues.]
"Oh, really?"
[Yes.]
The Saintess confirmed on my behalf. She was still on my back, maintaining a distance of several hundred meters from Oh Dok-seo.
[Especially inside this tunnel, the conditions are more favorable.]
[Since the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel itself is a work of fiction, it functions as a weak shrine for the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse.]
[Try calling it out as a test.]
"..."
Oh Dok-seo couldn't see us from her position. In the dark, eerie tunnel that seemed haunted, she muttered.
"...Status window?"
Immediately, Oh Dok-seo was startled.
"I-It worked! The status window appeared!"
[Can you see the semi-transparent hologram?]
"Yes! I can see it clearly!"
I clenched my fist. It worked. Normally, the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse would descend to the surface at least five years later. But its presence was already showing. Historically, demons or gods couldn't refuse a summon. The more they resisted, the weaker they became.
With Oh Dok-seo as the 'Miko' and 'Shrine,' the Saintess's assistance, my strategy and commands, and the 'sacrifices' of anomalies related to creative works, we were getting closer to the darkest god.
[Great. We've managed to summon a portion of the 'Logout Game' within a week of starting the speedrun.]
[This anomaly is an extreme hikikomori among the gods. Simply forcing it out of hiding is a significant achievement.]
[Now, let's check Oh Dok-seo's status.]
"Ah, okay. I'll read it out loud!"
Oh Dok-seo described her status window.
――――――――――
[Status]
Name: Oh Dok-seo
Title: 'Miko of the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse'
Class: Prophet, RPG Character, Magical Girl, Miko, LiteraryGirl, Protagonist
[Health: E] [Strength: D] [Intuition: B+] [Agility: C] [Intelligence: B] [Charm: B-]
Personality Traits: [Misanthropy] [Anthropophilia] [Timid] [Passionate] [Unluck (Status Ailment)]
Exclusive Skills: [Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint (EX)], [AT Field (S)]
*Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint (EX): A prophetic ability to foresee events in the world.
By reading a novel where the 'Undertaker' is the protagonist, you can perceive the upcoming scenarios.
Knowledge is power. No matter how much the world is corrupted by emptiness, for you, who knows the events in advance, it's merely an event.
Claim the protagonist's position.
*AT Field (S): A power to reject external interference.
Provides an absolute barrier against all physical forces trying to impact or influence you. However, it can only be used once a day, and the barrier lasts for one minute.
You have observed this world from an 'omniscient' viewpoint. You are clearly a higher existence than the characters in the novel.
Turn a bad ending into a happy ending, or an even more tragic bad ending. You are destined to be the protagonist of this world.
May fortune be with you.
――――――――――
"That's what it says!"
Hmm. I listened to Oh Dok-seo's description and smiled sinisterly. Then I whispered softly so only the Saintess could hear.
"How disgraceful. The god must be in a hurry."
-Is that so?
"Yes. It blatantly marked her as the 'Miko of the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse.' It's like putting a claim on her, a very childish instinct."
-That sounds like good news for us.
"Indeed."
From the god's perspective, it must have been a shock. After all the effort to analyze and hack me, it had trained Oh Dok-seo as a champion to oppose me. Yet, here she was, working with me. It must be furious.
[The status window is practically begging you to become the protagonist.]
[No problem. We are already streaming the game. Oh Dok-seo's success is our success. The god is cornered.]
[So, let's fully embrace the role of the protagonist.]
Major events on the Korean Peninsula awaited us in sequence. First, the Great Void of Baekhwa High School. The Saintess, Oh Dok-seo, and I entered Baekhwa High School. Of course, the Saintess and I stayed back while Oh Dok-seo led the way. After many trials, the Infinite Void was finally subdued. There was almost no difference this time except—
—This time, Cheon Yo-hwa's psychological state, which was closely connected to mine, was redirected.
"Dok-seo! Let's hang out this weekend!"
Cheon Yo-hwa linked arms with Oh Dok-seo.
"Oh. Um, okay."
"Hehe. A new amusement park void appeared where Lotte World used to be. Let's go there!"
"…But it's a void. Isn't it dangerous?"
Normally, Cheon Yo-hwa's mental state at Baekhwa High School was extremely unstable. Her disciples and school friends kept dying, naturally making her anxious. I positioned Oh Dok-seo in that psychological gap. Initially, Cheon Yo-hwa felt a strong aversion to Oh Dok-seo due to the Hate Pill. However, after experiencing the hunt for the god together, the initial negative impression was easily overcome.
[Baekhwa High School cleared in ten days.]
[Normally, Infinite Void's domain extends time like taffy, making it extremely dangerous.]
[But from another perspective, it's like the 'Room of Spirit and Time.' We can significantly develop Oh Dok-seo here.]
While ten days passed outside, several years passed inside Infinite Void's domain. I focused on training Oh Dok-seo without attracting Cheon Yo-hwa's attention. I didn't even take the lead in subduing Infinite Void; I merely swung my cane-sword to deliver the final blow. All the spotlight was on Oh Dok-seo. As a result, my relationship with Cheon Yo-hwa remained distant.
"Oh, hello, security guard!"
"Yes. Hello, student council president."
"Thank you! You too!"
Cheon Yo-hwa probably still harbored some subtle dislike for me. She didn't show it outwardly, but it didn't matter. The speedrun broadcast continued.
[Good.]
[Oh Dok-seo has made a character who should have been fond of another character her close friend. It's a very 'protagonist-like' action.]
[Everything is proceeding smoothly.]
"..."
Oh Dok-seo chewed her lips. I could sense she felt uneasy, but we couldn't afford to cater to every emotion in the grand task of hunting gods.
Next.
[Ten Legs is advancing south. At this rate, the refugees north of the Han River will be annihilated.]
[The remaining military forces and some awakeners have prepared for a desperate battle, but it's not enough.]
[We prepared Baekhwa High School in advance for this moment. Oh Dok-seo, Cheon Yo-hwa, and the awakened of Baekhwa High School will save Seoul.]
After enjoying a level-up event in Infinite Void's domain, Oh Dok-seo's party easily defeated the Ten Legs. I recorded the entire battle on video. Then I uploaded it to SG Net through Seo Gyu (whom I had left in Busan after saving him from the tutorial dungeon).
-Anonymous: Who are these people? They're insanely strong;
-Anonymous: Didn't the military get wiped out by the Ten Legs? How did they kill them so easily?
-Officer: Although much younger than me, I sincerely respect them. Seeing proof that hope still exists in the world warms my heart.
-Anonymous: What are their names?
-[Samcheon] Witch Judge: Oh Dok-seo and Cheon Yo-hwa.
└Anonymous: Hey, call her Oh Dok-seo 'nim.'
-OldManGoryeo: Honestly, wasn't the magical girl transformation scene pretty cringey? lmao
└Anonymous: You could tell Oh Dok-seo was super embarrassed after transforming lololol
└Anonymous: It's surreal that the hope of the Korean Peninsula is a magical girl and the student council president...
└Anonymous: I'm grateful they defeated the Ten Legs, but it's still kind of awkward.
In the apocalyptic era, the title of 'awakened who fought to protect refugees and won a miraculous victory' was worth its weight in gold. Reputation was a valuable resource. Leveraging her newfound fame, Oh Dok-seo posted on SG Net.
-LiteraryGirl: [Tip] How to quickly grow your awakening abilities using the 'status window.'txt
-LiteraryGirl: Normally, I wouldn't share such tips, but I can't keep it to myself in this difficult apocalypse. So I'm revealing it now.
-LiteraryGirl: I know everyone makes fun of me for transforming into a magical girl on SG Net.
-LiteraryGirl: But actually, the magical girl transformation isn't my unique ability; it's something anyone can achieve through specific steps.
-LiteraryGirl: There's an organization in Japan called the Magical Girl Association, and the Great Priestess is an awakener...
Awakeners were intensely interested. The person with the highest reputation on the Korean Peninsula was sharing valuable tips, but it wasn't just because of her fame. Oh Dok-seo was flaunting overwhelming achievements, yet the underlying aversion caused by the Hate Pill lingered. People subtly thought, "Is she really that amazing?" and attributed her success to some hidden cheat. When Oh Dok-seo revealed her 'secret know-how,' the awakeners were quick to take the bait, mistaking it for her secret to success.
I immediately invited the Great Priestess from the Magical Girl Association via Inunaki Tunnel.
"Could it be? Are there really this many Koreans interested in joining our cooperative?"
The Great Priestess's eyes widened at the sight of the crowded group of awakeners in Haeundae.
"Truly, beauty knows no borders. To think our comrades were so numerous abroad! Indeed, magical girls are beautiful, and beauty is justice! I was not wrong!"
"Hey, what is that person with the fox tail shouting about?"
"I don't know. It's Japanese, but her accent is so thick I can't understand..."
"That's not just an accent; it sounds like ancient language."
Moved, the Great Priestess established the 'Korean Branch of the Magical Girl Association' and appointed Oh Dok-seo as the branch head. She also contracted hundreds of Koreans as magical girls on the spot. However, the truth was that Korean awakeners weren't drawn by the beauty of magical girls. In Korea, known for its performance-oriented culture, the rumor that the magical girl class was overpowered led people to eagerly press the transfer button.
-LiteraryGirl: And one more thing to keep in mind when making a magical girl contract.
Oh Dok-seo delivered a final blow to the performance-oriented players.
-LiteraryGirl: You need to decide which guardian deity you will serve.
-LiteraryGirl: Technically, a pet or even a plant can be a guardian deity, but the stronger the deity, the more powerful the magical girl becomes.
-LiteraryGirl: I recommend a god called the Admin of the Infinite Metaverse.
-LiteraryGirl: I guarantee 100% that contracting with this god will let you see the status window immediately, understand your abilities, and efficiently grow your awakening powers.
That day, four hundred awakeners formed contracts with the god, who had never shown itself, as their guardian deity. In the end—
[The Admin of the Infinite Metaverse responds to the users' call.]
The god's notification echoed in everyone's minds.
[The Admin of the Infinite Metaverse officially opens the game.]
On the 30th day of the speedrun, we succeeded in dragging the reclusive god out of hiding into the open world.
-x-X-x-
The Strategist VI
The Admin of the Infinite Metagame had sent a notification, but it had not fully revealed itself yet. If compared to a hikikomori, the current state was just a 'slightly open door.' We needed a final push to drag this extreme recluse into the dazzling light of the outside world.
First, I accessed SG Net to check the current situation.
-Anonymous: Did the status window pop up??
As planned, a festival was in full swing in the community.
-Anonymous: I thought my ability was fire-starting, but after seeing the status window, it turns out it's a conflagration. I've been a lousy awakener who didn't even know my own ability…
└OldManGoryeo: What's the difference between fire-starting and conflagration? Aren't both just fire?
└Anonymous: Fire-starting only ignites physical objects, but conflagration can set the entire community ablaze…
└OldManGoryeo: ?
└Anonymous: The bigger the conflagration, the stronger my ability becomes. I'll show you directly soon…
-Anonymous: Now that I can see the status window, life feels worth living.
-Anonymous: Wow, Oh Dok-seo was hogging this good thing all to herself hahaha
-CookingQueen: Interesting.
-Officer: Just out of curiosity, all the people who posted proofs of becoming magical girls were female, right?
└Anonymous: lmao
└Officer: ?
└Anonymous: You'll find out if you go lmao
I nodded. Among awakeners, the 'status window' was spreading like a trend. Initially, normal people had an instinctive aversion to the mysterious Magical Girl Association, but once five-star reviews started pouring in like 'this place is a must-visit,' opinions changed. If the strategy continued smoothly, we would soon drag the hikikomori god out of hiding.
"By the way," I asked the Saintess just in case, "are there any awakeners with useful abilities among those with the status window?"
[I'm continually monitoring, but nothing notable so far.]
The Saintess, responsible for monitoring, answered calmly.
[We haven't found anyone with teleportation abilities as you inquired last time.]
[There were a few with 'lightness' or 'movement' abilities, but none as advanced as teleportation.]
"Hmm."
As expected.
Even after numerous searches until the 593rd cycle, I had never found a teleporter who could save Old Man Scho's wife. If such a person still hadn't appeared, it was likely they didn't exist. They might be somewhere on the other side of the Earth, but the distance made it meaningless. I tucked away the old disappointment in my heart and turned to Oh Dok-seo.
"How is it, Dok-seo?"
"...…"
"Do you feel connected to the hikikomori god?"
Oh Dok-seo sat in a meditative posture. For the modern otaku Oh Dok-seo, this was a challenging position.
"Ugh… It feels like I do, but also like I don't…"
Oh Dok-seo grimaced and trembled. While the Saintess and I worked behind the scenes, Oh Dok-seo's role was to approach the Admin of the Infinite Metagame.
"Focus more. The hikikomori god has already extended its influence to you. You just haven't noticed it."
"But, Mister. Can I change my posture? My legs are killing me. I'd rather kneel. I swear, my legs feel like they're about to break. Seriously…"
"No. The lotus position is known for achieving enlightenment. It's the best posture for connecting with the Admin of the Infinite Metagame."
"Ugh, it hurts… It really fucking hurts…"
Despite her discomfort, she couldn't change her posture. Three hours later, forced to meditate in the lotus position, Oh Dok-seo went berserk.
"Damn it, how am I supposed to focus in this painful position? Crazy old man! I can't feel anything except my legs and hips breaking!"
"You can't sense the god's presence with all its malevolence inside you?"
"It's just more pain! Pain! I can't concentrate with my legs feeling like they're going to snap no matter how many times I say it!"
"Sigh. I see."
These young people these days. She couldn't do it, so we had to change the surroundings instead.
[Now constructing a shrine to summon the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame.']
I kidnapped three hundred writers to open the 'Canned Hotel.' With the help of tutorial fairies, it only took two days. The writers cheered with joy when suddenly invited to a luxury hotel.
"Save us!"
"All you need to do is write. Oh, and when you start a new story, make sure a god appears in the beginning. Name it the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame.'"
"Get us out of here!"
"Well then, good luck, writers."
A worker devoted to their job is a happy worker. Under my guidance, the writers were reborn as happy workers. A week later, after pressuring the writers to produce serialized stories, anomalies began to appear around the hotel.
- Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
They were Isekai Trucks. Each one was an anomaly associated with creative works, directly affiliated with the Admin of the Infinite Metagame. The area, now packed with hundreds of writers and Isekai Trucks, was transforming into a suitable shrine for the hikikomori god. But that wasn't all.
"You all, dance around Dok-seo."
"Yes, Secretary-General! We obey!"
The tutorial fairies, highly creative beings, formed a large circle around Oh Dok-seo, holding hands and singing.
"The history of all hitherto existing society-♪"
"Is the history of class struggles-♪"
"Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf-♪"
"Workers of the world, unite-♪"
With her eyes closed, trying to concentrate on meditating, Oh Dok-seo grimaced.
That wasn't all.
I altered the terrain behind the Canned Hotel to create a waterfall. It took some effort to channel the water, but for a regressor in the 593rd cycle, it was just a half-day's labor.
- Gush! Gush! Gush! Gush!
Cold water poured over Oh Dok-seo's head. Had she not trained with me in the 'Room of Spirit and Time,' her spine would have been seriously damaged. But that wasn't all.
[The Admin of the Infinite Metagame announces a surprise event.]
[In the newly opened hotel garden, offer prayers praising the 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame!']
[The top 200 most devoted believers will receive a triple rare item drop rate for a year!]
The messages weren't sent by the hikikomori god. The Saintess impersonated the god and sent the messages via telepathy. Naturally, the awakeners couldn't distinguish between the real and fake messages.
"Ah, don't push! Don't push!"
Soon, the Canned Hotel was buzzing with magical girls gathering to grab the event rewards.
"Why is there a waterfall in the garden?"
"Look, it's Oh Dok-seo! She's meditating under the waterfall!"
"Wow. She's really hardcore. As soon as the event notice came out, she grabbed the best spot."
"I guess you have to be that tough to become the top awakener in Korea…"
"Sure, it's impressive she defeated the Ten Legs, but it's a bit much. She lacks human touch, doesn't she?"
"The fairies are dancing weirdly…"
"I've got a good feeling about this. This is definitely a huge event."
"Admin of the Infinite Metagame! My faith in you is the deepest!"
About five hundred magical girls crammed into the garden. They thought Oh Dok-seo's meditation posture held some secret, so they all mimicked her. Some magical girls even joined her under the waterfall, chanting the god's name. Oh Dok-seo's face grew increasingly sullen.
I nodded.
"Perfect."
It was a scene designed to draw out the hikikomori god.
[The shrine is now complete.]
Here's a simple layout:
In the center was Oh Dok-seo, meditating in the lotus position. Above her, the 'Waterfall of Enlightenment' poured down. Around her, five hundred magical girls chanted prayers. Encircling them, hundreds of fairies danced revolutionary folk dances. Further out, three hundred writers engaged in intense creative activities. Beyond the horizon, hundreds and thousands of Isekai Trucks kept respawning.
To describe the 4D sound effects bombarding Oh Dok-seo's ears in literary realism:
- Gush! Gush! Gush! Gush!
"Admin of the Infinite Metagame! Please look at me!"
"The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains-♪"
- Beep! Beep! Beep!
"They have a world to win-♪"
"Admin of the Infinite Metagame!"
- Gush! Beep! Beep!
Had any artist ever depicted such an inspiring scene? This was no ordinary shrine. It was perfect for summoning the mocking hikikomori god. But that wasn't all.
While the festival of pagans continued at the Canned Hotel, I quietly visited Namsan to use 'Chekhov's Gun.' I packed the Walther PPK pistol in my coat and pulled my hat down low.
[Mr. Undertaker, your head…]
"There is no problem with my head."
[…Okay.]
What is life? Life is pain. The falling waterfall, the fairies chanting revolution, the Isekai Trucks forced to work overtime, the magical girls praying to the hikikomori god, and, of course, me, the Undertaker, who willingly shaved his head to kill anomalies, were all engulfed in pain.
Only the hikikomori god remained free from this reality's torment. I couldn't contain my anger. To make this god taste life's bitterness, I made a broadcast announcement.
[Now, I've gathered almost all the creative work elements available.]
[Even if Oh Dok-seo meditates clumsily, she will inevitably feel connected to the hikikomori god.]
[If this isn't enough, I'll gather creative elements from the Korean Peninsula and even the Japanese archipelago. It's tough, but not that difficult. We could just catch Godzilla from the Pacific and bring it here.]
[Let's see if Oh Dok-seo succeeds or fails in this meditation.]
Oh Dok-seo desperately meditated. Whether it was the waterfall or cold sweat, liquid continuously flowed down her face. With my S-class hearing, I clearly heard Oh Dok-seo's constant muttering.
"Damn, please, please, show up. Please, let me feel it. Hikikomori god or whatever, just appear. Please…"
And then.
Her earnest prayer reached the universe.
[The Admin of the Infinite Metagame descends.]
Light spread above Oh Dok-seo's head. From that light, a small 'blue butterfly' fluttered down. It was the same butterfly that briefly appeared when the world was destroyed by the server shutdown. This was the true form of the hikikomori god.
'It's here.'
My mind instantly cooled. The blue butterfly fluttered leisurely, indifferent to my presence. With every flap of its wings, the surrounding area was contaminated with noisy colors. 8-bit, 16-bit, 2-bit. Countless resolutions alternated, each flickering with static. The hikikomori god itself tainted the surroundings with emptiness.
[The Admin of the Infinite Metagame has been closely observing some cases where players used near-exploitative methods in recent games.]
[The event known as the 'Drop Item Rate Boost Event' has never been planned and will not be offered in the future.]
[We apologize for not providing correct information sooner.]
The magical girls murmured at the god's words.
"What? What does that mean?"
"It was wrong information?"
Indeed.
Using the Saintess's telepathy to impersonate the hikikomori god was a double-edged sword, a strategy usable only once. If the players realized the announcement was fake, they wouldn't trust any future telepathic messages. Hence, this was the best opportunity.
'Admin of the Infinite Metagame.'
I glared at the butterfly in the sky. This anomaly had only shown itself after creating such chaos. Its appearance rate was akin to a legendary Pokémon. I had to catch it here and now. Of course, I wasn't a Pokémon trainer. I didn't have a Master Ball to catch it in one shot. Instead.
"—Yo-hwa!"
Oh Dok-seo shouted Cheon Yo-hwa's name. Soaked from the waterfall, Oh Dok-seo tried to stand up but collapsed due to leg cramps. Even as she fell, she screamed.
"Unnie! Now! Now!"
"Okay."
Ignoring the soaked and screaming Oh Dok-seo, Cheon Yo-hwa swiftly approached like the wind. Without any dramatic lines or poses, she simply took out an hourglass and smashed it on the ground.
Crash!
The hourglass shattered, releasing uncontrollable darkness, spreading like ink. The entity contained within the hourglass was Infinite Void.
-x-X-x-