How many times can one see the past and present versions of the same person at the same time? Photos or videos can’t replicate the discomfort Jiho feels looking at the two standing side-by-side like this.
He knows that the past Joo Yiwon and the current Joo Yiwon are different. But seeing them together like this made Jiho realize how different they are, like they had grown up in completely separate environments. Enough to call them strangers.
The funny thing is, Jiho is more familiar with the fake Joo Yiwon.
“Ah-”
Jiho, who was observing them in a daze, let out a small groan. That’s because of the strength that went into Yiwon’s hand just now.
Jiho turned around, as he couldn’t believe that Yiwon, who usually treats Jiho carefully, did that. But when he did, Yiwon looked extremely unstable.
“…Sorry.”
Yiwon apologized with a dark expression. It doesn’t look like he’s displeased simply because someone who looks like him appeared. Yiwon’s pale complexion, his deeply hurt look… he looked like someone had just stabbed him where it hurts.
In contrast, Tae Woong was extremely curious by what appeared.
“Doppelgänger? Can we kill this?”
“I am not an inferior monster.”
The thing that looks like Joo Yiwon sounded offended. Although their speech patterns are completely different, their voices when they sulk sound the same.
“I have no intention of fighting. I am simply the one who manages this space…. Sadly, I do not have a name, so please call me Anonymous.”
“Hey, I don’t like that it’s acting like that with that face.”
Jiho ignored Tae Woong’s whispers and checked the system window of the one calling itself a manager.
Status
| Name | N/A |
| Occupation | XX’s Manager |
| Rank | S? |
| Title | The One Waiting for Its Owner |
| HP | 9999 |
| MP | 9999 |
| STR | 9999 |
| AGI | 9999 |
| Skill | Currently, functions have not been unlocked. Please unlock the system and give it a name. |
It’s definitely no ordinary monster. After all, this place might resemble an ordinary dungeon, but it’s a completely different space.
“What… is this place?”
“This is the Blue Ark, one of the emergency systems put in place in case the Earth falls.”
The fall and an ark. The name is reminiscent of Noah’s Ark.
Noah’s Ark. Before God wiped the world out with a deluge of floods, he commanded Noah to build an ark and escape. Noah, who boarded the ark with his family and other animals, survived the fall, and humanity and beasts flourished once again.
It might sound like a story of hope, but for there to be Noah’s Ark, there must be the fall. Therefore, the ark is much better off not used.
Anonymous stared at Jiho’s distressed look.
“However, you are currently not qualified. How have you entered?”
“Me?”
“Who else, Administrator-nim?”
Anonymous called him nonchalantly. Jiho’s pupils shook as he didn’t know how to respond. Tae Woong was the first to react.
“What is an adminstrator?”
“…I am not quite sure either.”
“He is the administrator this world put forth in preparation for invasions from other worlds.”
There was no point in Jiho avoiding the subject; Anonymous answered Tae Woong right away. Seon Tae Woong’s eyes widened.
“Shin Jiho?”
“Yes. The administrator is the one who encourages awakened ones, manages Earth’s system, and stands in the front lines to attack and defend in response to invasions.”
“Hm….”
Even though it sounds absurd, Tae Woong simply nodded. Anxious, Jiho poked Tae Woong.
“What?”
“You really understood that?”
“Yeah. You became overpowered overnight. This makes much more sense than that you mega-evolved for no reason.”
Tae Woong nodded in satisfaction, as if he had just been enlightened. Jiho doesn’t know what mega-evolved means, but as long as Tae Woong accepts it. While he’ll have to silence him later, Jiho also doubts that anyone will believe Tae Woong if he says anything weird.
But why is Yiwon so silent? Jiho turned around. When their eyes met, Yiwon smiled. It looks like he’s been listening.
For some reason, Yiwon’s been strange since he saw Anonymous. Does he not like that it looks like him? Jiho glared at Anonymous in dissatisfaction.
“But why do you look like Joo Yiwon?”
“I borrowed the appearance of the one Administrator-nim feels the deepest affection towards.”
Anonymous blinked innocently with Joo Yiwon’s face. A heavy silence dropped. Jiho reacted a beat late.
“N-No? That’s impossible….”
“Hey, are you two really gay?”
“We’re not!”
Despite Jiho’s defense, Tae Woon slowly scooted away. Jiho feels wronged! Even if Shin Jiho really liked the same sex, Seon Tae Woong is far, far from his tastes.
Speaking of which, it’s odd that Yiwon, who would usually be making irritating jokes like, “But he’s right, Honey,” or, “Jiho’s dating me,” right now, is silent.
Jiho turned back to Yiwon. Yiwon, who had been completely expressionless as if his emotions were chopped off, met Jiho’s eyes and smiled teasingly.
“Honey, so you like minors.”
“Oh my god.”
Seon Tae Woong was actually horrified this time, and he increased the distance between himself and Jiho. Jiho felt so wronged that he wanted to jump.
“No, no I don’t!?”
“Should I develop an elixir that makes me younger….”
“No, it’s not like that!”
Neither of them listened to Jiho’s defense, like their ears had been blocked. It doesn’t look like they really mean it, they’re just having fun teasing Jiho….
In the end, Jiho raised the white flag and complained to Anonymous.
“Please change your appearance. To someone who is not Joo Yiwon.”
“I understand.”
Anonymous obediently nodded. Soon, smoke surrounded Anonymous. When the smoke dissipated… Anonymous had taken the appearance of Jiho’s mother.
Seeing this new appearance of Anonymous, Tae Woong tsked.
“Who’s that grandma? Do you like people either young or ol….”
“She’s my mother.”
“…Ah, how elegant. She has so much charm even though she’s a mother, wait no, I don’t mean charming in a weird way…. She just, excudes such, dignity and elegance that younger people would respect….”
“That’s enough.”
Seon Tae Woong was sweating profusely trying to change his words. Jiho chuckled and turned towards Anonymous, who now looks like his mother.
“Mm, Anonymous-nim. Would you mind explaining the Blue Ark in a bit more detail?”
“Please speak to me casually, Administrator-nim.”
“I am okay….”
Perhaps because it looks like his mother, Jiho can’t bring himself to speak casually. Anonymous nodded, as if it understood Jiho’s awkward response.
“Okay. Then I will explain, Administrator-nim. Firstly, the Blue Ark will automatically activate once 80% of the Earth has been invaded by other worlds. At that point, the Administrator-nim is needed in order to activate the ark, and the Blue Ark will be able to leave this world once the Administrator-nim loads all living things on it.
“…Where will we go after we leave?”
“You will have to find a new land to settle on.”
“You mean plunder?”
Jiho said sarcastically. Anonymous lowered its gaze.
“It is necessary.”
Jiho let out a long sigh and scratched his head. He felt complicated after hearing such unexpectedly heavy words. Tae Woong, who had been waiting, poked Jiho.
“…What? What does that mean?”
“I think this ark that we escape on… becomes a dungeon. Invading other worlds–in other words, just like the dungeons that emerge on Earth….”
“That is correct.”
Unlike Jiho’s uneasiness, Anonymous nodded its head calmly. Jiho held his forehead. Heavy silence followed. Seon Tae Woong anxiously licked his dry lips. And then, with eyes hoping he was wrong, he asked Anonymous.
“Then what do the passengers do?”
“They are the army for war.”
“…”
“Administrator-nim and other awakened ones will dominate as exceptionally strong beings while ordinary beings will also transform into beings with special powers, as is granted by the ark. And until the ark runs out of power, they will continue to revive and seek opportunities.”
This is really, truly… insane.
Citizens of fallen worlds get on the ark and become monsters to invade other worlds. In other words, they haven’t been killing simply monsters but citizens of other worlds. And if 80% of Earth is invaded, they will meet the same fate.
“We have to kill many innocent people to succeed; if we fail, we die, but, even if we succeed, different dungeons keep appearing…. Why do we have to do this?”
“War is naturally accompanied by worthy sacrifices.”
“I do not want to invade other worlds and kill people just to survive because Earth collapsed either.”
“Do you believe all passengers of the ark will think the same?”
“Even if it’s not all… most will agree.”
Historical movements have always proved that people make selfless decisions in the worst situations. Though some say that humans are inherently raw and selfish, Jiho fully believes in human good and that possibility.
But Anonymous firmly shook its head as if it regarded Jiho’s thoughts as simply a sweet dream.
“Passengers of the ark are not just humans. They are all living things that experience life and death on this star. Animals and bugs, even plants are included.”
Jiho couldn’t respond.
Can he make living things with no moral standard of what’s good sacrifice themselves for others?
That’s why… so many dungeons were formed.
At that moment, Yiwon squeezed Jiho’s hand. His hot temperature pulled Jiho out of the heavy nightmare.
“Don’t worry, Jiho.”
“…”
“With me here, there’s no way this world will collapse.”
This is too large and heavy for one person to guarantee. Had anyone else said this, it would’ve sounded like baseless hope or pride. But with Joo Yiwon, these words become certain truth.
“Everything will go the way you want it to go.”
Jiho’s reflection in Yiwon’s pupils looked as though he had been bewitched.
Yiwon smiled like an angel in a sacred painting. His eyes were strict, as if he only serves one god and is ready to judge all others.
“That is why I’m here.”
LaZ Bird Corner
So all dungeons were once worlds….
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