HACKED 98

Quitting everything? It was a statement I hadn’t even anticipated.

The opposing Compiler, <DriedAnchovyLowerEnds>, had only lost a single unit. The 1st Unit, comprised of Incarnations with the ‘Hunter’ trait. The headcount was six people.

Of course, since this unit was likely the elite force of that faction, it must sting, but it wasn’t to the point where one could say the entire Pantheon had been bogged down. He could continue the battle as much as he wanted by deploying the 2nd and 3rd Units in succession.

In fact, <DriedAnchovyLowerEnds> had plenty of strength left. He had used those monkey Incarnations to unilaterally connect a video call to me. Our side couldn’t even detect the activation of the skill, let alone block it in advance, and we were caught completely helpless.

It was fortunate that the skill ‘The Three No-Wishes of the Three Monkeys’ was not an attack skill. If this skill had possessed lethality, I might have lost my life by now.

“What do you mean by quitting everything?”

― It is exactly as I said. Sending my Incarnations to that Pantheon, the battle, the merger… I will quit completely, starting from this moment.

Dimensional merger is essentially a war of annihilation. Regardless of the will of the combatants, the battle only ends when everyone except for one final winner is wiped out. He couldn’t be unaware of that, yet to speak like that.

― I will withdraw.

The two monkeys said simultaneously as if they had rehearsed it. For the second time, I was at a loss for words.

“You know that ‘withdrawing’ is impossible in a merger.”

― I know.

“Then how exactly do you intend to withdraw?”

Blink, blink. Two of the three monkeys blinked emotionlessly. Like toy robots repeating a pre-programmed action.

Before long, the monkeys answered.

― I intend to return all Incarnations belonging to my Pantheon back to fragments of the narrative. ‘Narrative Restoration.’ As you know, Mr. <UserMyeong808>.

Narrative Restoration. Of course I know what it is. It means decomposing the characters.

So now, the point of what that Compiler is saying is…

‘He’s going to grind down all his own forces to make me the winner?’

“No, why would you…”

For the third time, I was at a loss for words. I wasn’t the only one horrified by that bombshell statement. Chirpy, who was looking into the screen beside me, also let his jaw drop.

“M-Myeong? What did that Compiler just… I, I didn’t mishear that, right?”

“I was just harboring the exact same doubt. Seeing you react like that, I at least know I didn’t mishear it.”

The three monkeys on the screen were waiting for my answer without a single movement. My head throbbed. I spoke while ruffling my hair haphazardly and irritably.

“It feels strange to say this in the middle of a fight. But Mr. <DriedAnchovy>, you don’t necessarily have to do this right now, do you? Excluding the 1st Unit, most of your power should be intact, and you might even be stronger than us. I mean, why so extreme…”

After a brief silence, the monkeys opened their mouths.

― May I visit you in person to tell you that?

˙✧˖°🎮 ⋆｡˚

The conditions <DriedAnchovyLowerEnds> set were simple.

He would prove his lack of will to fight by returning all the Incarnations he possessed to the narrative. However, for his own escort and minimum safety guarantee, he asked to keep exactly one Incarnation alive to accompany him.

If he or the Incarnation he accompanied harbored other intentions and tried to attack, it wouldn’t matter if we launched a total assault and killed them on the spot. He would follow all instructions regarding the meeting place and time. If I was truly reluctant to let him inside the Pantheon, we could meet at the gate entrance.

I had no reason to refuse. I considered the possibility of a trick or a trap, but when the conditions were this heavily one-sided and unconventional, it was actually more likely to be real.

“Still, just in case, you must prepare the maximum defenses.”

The Agent added. Whoa, startled me. When did that bastard even get here?

My cooperation with him was a one-time thing. It was for when we used the ‘State Secret’ skill to lure the enemies to the 5th floor instead of the 10th.

Since the battle was over, I naturally thought we would return to being uncomfortable and distant. However, the guy stayed stuck by my side, acting as if nothing had happened. The gazes of the other Incarnations looking at him were beyond unpleasant; they were downright hostile, but he didn’t seem to care.

“Does a traitorous bastard have no pride?”

Hwarang muttered in an irritated tone. How about San Gun? He went even further.

“Fuck. Look at this grand loyalist. I want to crack his head open.”

It was a sudden outburst at a level that made me wonder if there was a defect in his transmission. Even though the Agent is still suspicious and off-putting to me, I don’t feel like I want to bash his head in. …Or do I?

“San Gun. I’m not one to talk, but let’s watch our language. The kids are listening.”

By ‘kids,’ I was referring to the twins.

“Whatever. F-u-c-k.”

An even more foul-mouthed curse came back. Right, I never expected that elder to listen to me in the first place.

“And don’t even talk about cracking heads. Right now, every single person on our side is precious.”

Currently, San Gun’s health had dropped to just before Deadly, so his entire body was wrapped tightly in bandages. Even if he wanted to thrash the Agent, he wouldn’t be able to do it immediately in that state.

“I just hate that more bastards are drifting in and out of the space where you and I are.”

San Gun whined while rotating his bandaged arm here and there. The description ‘whined’ really doesn’t suit his appearance and size, but that was the only expression that came to mind.

‘…Is he a territorial animal?’

Come to think of it, tigers were indeed territorial animals. That was just it.

“It’s not just San Gun and me here, so how am I supposed to stop people from coming and going? Don’t throw a tantrum over that.”

He asked, sweeping one eyebrow up as was his habit.

“Did you intend to become my Master with such a half-hearted mind?”

“Pardon?”

“Providing sufficient personal time and space to ensure no stress. Don’t you know? It’s common sense when raising a cat.”

“You’re not a cat… ah, yes. Sure.”

I ignored his words as usual.

Still, San Gun is better than those murky bastards who say one thing and mean another. He looks like he has a foul personality at a glance, and he actually does. A person should be consistent.

“Let’s go. I will escort you to the gate entrance.”

The Agent walked ahead. Look at that guy, providing protocol so naturally. Judging by his actions alone, he might as well be my exclusive adjutant.

‘He’s not going to come back later with his hair dyed red and say, “Sir Yeo Myeonghardt, please take the universe in your hands,” or some crap like that, is he?’

If so, I’d have no choice but to deal with him three times faster. Because since long ago, red has been the color that makes things three times faster….

‘Let’s stop the useless delusions and get it together.’

After scanning the Incarnations once, I hurried out of the command room. While pretending not to see the empty spot next to Ja-myeong-go…. the spot where the Model Student used to stand.

˙✧˖°🎮 ⋆｡˚

The <DriedAnchovyLowerEnds> I actually met was a woman with a thin and frail build. She had a complexion that looked even more gaunt because she was so scrawny, and her frizzy, curly hair was disheveled, almost like a lion’s mane.

And behind her, an Incarnation stood floating about two or three spans in the air with both arms stretched forward as if protecting her. It was a woman in armor with wings on her back, wearing a helmet that completely covered her face, making it impossible to see her features at all.

“He, hello…”

<DriedAnchovyLowerEnds> stammered a greeting while keeping her eyes fixed on the ground. It was a lifeless tone that drained the energy out of anyone listening.

‘The impression is a bit different from when we communicated through the monkeys.’

I’m confident I don’t lose to anyone when it comes to lacking social skills, but seeing this person made me feel solemn. Truly, above the person who runs is the person doing a whirlwind, and above the whirlwind is the person doing a windmill.

“Hello. Mr. <DriedAnchovyLowerEnds>?”

“You can just call me ‘Mal-chi.’ My acquaintances call me that. Some people call me ‘Da-neul,’ but it seems the pronunciation is difficult, so most people just say ‘Mal-chi’ a lot.”

A feast of ambiguous TMI that left me unsure of how to respond. Even this seems like the archetype of a human lacking social skills. It’s surprising she has acquaintances.

“I sent back all the Incarnations except this one. If you can’t believe it, do you want to see? Here, my terminal.”

Her terminal had a very peculiar shape. First, the overall look was as if the top part of a mahjong table had been detached and shrunk down… but all sorts of wires and parts were crudely attached in a bizarre form, truly a visualization of the word ‘magaizo’.

I glanced at the sky stretching out inside the gate where she had appeared. In the distance, a mass of concrete and rebar similar to the Kowloon Walled City was floating.

‘This place is also quite faithful to its concept.’

She manipulated the mahjong tiles with clicking sounds, using them like the beads of an abacus. Then, an Incarnation list appeared in the center of the top panel. I couldn’t read the characters, but I could tell that there was only one Incarnation—the woman wearing the helmet.

“Yes. I’ve confirmed it. But Mal-chi, why are you trying to withdraw while going this far?”

She raised her head. Our eyes met for the first time.

“Because I want to give up on everything now.”