Episode 139. Transcendents (1)
“It was actually decided from the beginning. The Transcendent didn’t consider your randomness when setting up the system. Earth was going to be destroyed, and it was going to absorb its civilization and resources. Since the rules were established that way from the beginning, you couldn’t escape the outcome no matter how much you struggled. That’s why even though the divine of this place turned back time so much and ordinary people gained abilities; it was no use.”
“…Why? Why would an entity so high above do such a thing?”
“It’s a simple game.”
A frighteningly stern voice came out. It didn’t sound like a living creature’s voice, but like a voice that was artificially created. It felt like I was talking to an inanimate object.
The Traveler had no emotions. I could see that once I realized it. The human attitude he showed me all this time had just been like the mask I was wearing now.
“I heard that before Rifts occurred, there was something called online gaming in your world. A world made of data where you create your character and compete with others for fun. Although there is no benefit in playing those games, and it’s just for fun, countless humans became immersed and sometimes valued it more than their real lives. To the Transcendent, playing with your world is just like playing an online game. In fact, it’s like that to numerous Transcendents.”
“…….”
“Since they are omniscient and own enormous power, everything is meaningless and boring to them, which is why they become immersed in a different world. It’s entertaining.”
The Traveler saying those words seemed no different. Now I understood.
Why he helped me so much and gave me so much advice. Why he just watched from afar, observing me, even though he was so powerful. Why he acted like he was watching a movie no matter what situation I was caught up in. To him, I was just an interesting character.
The way you feel sad when the main character in an animation dies.
The way you get frustrated if your favorite TV show character keeps encountering difficulties.
Just that much.
“There’s a way to get out of this situation. If you can’t interfere because the system’s rules are set in stone, I can help you myself.”
“You can help me?”
“Yes. All you need to do is transcend, as well. You can become a Transcendent who isn’t bound by characteristics, skills, and stats. If you cease to be mortal… you can be judged by your full ability without having to follow the rules. Don’t you agree?”
His suggestion sounded very helpful on the surface.
‘…How disgusting.’
If only his eyes didn’t betray his interest and excitement.
His feelings seemed similar to those of a child. His voice was full of excitement that he was finally going to control a character that used to move on its own. I felt all kinds of emotions but suppressed them.
“Of course, I do.”
I needed to restrain myself. I couldn’t explode now. Considering the situation so far, even Transcendents couldn’t read humans. Or, to be exact, they couldn’t read my mind.
I didn’t know exactly why. Was it thanks to the -Akashic Records- that even Transcendents weren’t free from? Or was it because of the big picture that prevented Transcendents and mortals from interfering with each other too much? Whatever it was, it didn’t matter right now.
“Yes, then we’d better get started right away. Jeong Si-woo!”
What was important was that the Traveler, who looked incredibly powerful, didn’t know what I was harboring inside.
“Yes, good.”
Yeah. Think of this as a game. As a TV show. All of those damn Transcendents and the Traveler could think of me and everyone else as data. That way, they would put their guards down.
A game character inside the screen can’t throw a dagger and kill the player, and a TV show character cannot shoot a bullet at the person watching and kill them.
But the real world was different. They were playing with worlds. But those bastards probably never thought that the ant-like humans living there could be a threat to them.
-Don’t worry. God would never abandon us.
-We don’t know why these Disasters occurred. But no matter how desperate the situation is, there will be salvation. We should never give up in the face of hardships. When God closes a door, he opens a window.
I remembered what someone said to me in the past. He was a sad man who called out to God and looked to the skies even at his moment of death.
I clenched my fist. How amusing it must have been. They were the ones that caused all of it, but humans prayed to them, made their wishes to them, and didn’t lose hope. How fun it must have been.
[The ‘Akashic Records’ quivers.]
[The countless myths and legends contained in the Akashic Records shout out.]
[Countless stories sympathize with the user.]
[The stories that support you have become a single bundle.]
.
.
.
-Human Anthem-
Numerous stories written in letters and told from mouth to mouth stimulated me. It felt like the Traveler and those high and mighty beings above the sky were slowly coming down to the ground. Something inside me was growing bigger.
-Still, men were not created to be defeated.
-Human beings may be destroyed, but they will not be defeated.
Starting with the famous lines from The Old Man and the Sea, countless famous quotes burst out. The Akashic Records was helping me. It was filling me with people one by one so that I could stand on equal footing as them instead of looking up at them from way below.
“Let’s get started.”
Sooner or later, if not now, they would die at the hands of the insignificant creature they used for entertainment. And I was going to end this whole situation. Without a trace, so that no one else could ever do such a terrible thing again.
[The first page of the user’s second story has been written.]
[The Akashic Records is determining the title of the story.]
.
.
.
[The title has been determined.]
.
.
.
[‘Killing the Gods’]
* * *
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