Chapter 93

50. Giant (2)

Human nature doesn't change.

This is true even for Park Kyu.

No matter how high a position he holds or how far away he goes, Park Kyu remains Park Kyu.

Jonneun is also like this.

He was a "good" kind of "attention seeker."

Although his methods were somewhat despicable and he lost his conscience, he used his influence to benefit the majority and, in return, gained fame and money.

According to the now almost extinct anti-Jonneun faction, Jonneun used our community to make money, but that's just because they don't know anything about him.

From what I've observed both online and in real life, Jonneun values praise more than money.

To be precise, he enjoyed and craved the state of being revered by the majority.

When Jonneun created the masterpiece PaleNet, he acted as if he had achieved everything.

His pose, standing in the light with arms spread wide, was undoubtedly the action of someone who had reached the end.

Yet, he lived for a few more months.

I once read in a newspaper that when someone with a death sentence outlives their deadline, the feeling of relief at being alive is overshadowed by the question, "Why am I not dead?"

Jonneun, who was supposed to be on his last legs, must have felt the same way.

"Why am I not dead?"

He must have thought it was ridiculous that he wasn't dying.

But perhaps the continued extension of his life gave him the leisure to think about something else.

Perhaps it was the true self he had once lost, the named Jonneun he longed for.

Message from 171cm54kg13cm: Will this cheer up Mr. Jonneun? I can't understand it at all.

SKELTON: (Jegalskelton) Just do as I say. He'll definitely like it.

I may be treated as strange and incompetent on the bulletin board, but when I was active, I was known as an upgraded version of Jang Gi-yeong.

Instead of coming up with absurd strategies like him, I devised several innovative and data-driven strategies that balanced conservatism and innovation, extending the life of our Old School Hunter.

This is Skelton's opinion.

It can't fail.

Sure enough, my idol Jonneun moved as I expected.

※Jonneun※(GOD): 😄

Reality is a cesspool, but on the internet, I was known for my excellence, as seen in the PaleNet bulletin board where a strange figure appeared.

This user was different from ordinary users in several ways.

First, the size.

While ordinary users used fonts around 10pt, this strange figure used a font about 10 times larger, around 100pt.

Moreover, his nickname shimmered in a rainbow of colors like a neon sign.

Imagine this.

In a bulletin board where everyone used the same color and size of font, a user suddenly appeared with a font 10 times larger and a dazzling, never-before-seen rainbow effect.

A user, perhaps trembling, asked him.

ㅇㅇ(A13): GOD...? Who, who are you?!

※Jonneun※(GOD): 😄

After his laugh, all the users of PaleNet reportedly received a message that covered the entire screen.

※Jonneun※(GOD): Hello? I'm Jonneun, the founder of PaleNet. ^^

A giant had appeared.

*

Jonneun's return not only plunged PaleNet into chaos but also the Korean bulletin board that spawned it, Viva! Apocalypse!

Anonymous848: Jonneun? Wasn't that guy dead?

Anonymous458: He must be dead, right? How did this happen?

Foxgames: Mr. Jonneun is the founder of PaleNet? Really?

berkut_break: That plagiarist?

unicorn18: Wow...

Dolsingman: It's not a fake, right?

RokaGG: Who would fake someone like that?

...

...

People who still had only bad memories of Jonneun seemed unable to accept his existence.

I understand.

Frankly, even I, his most loyal supporter, never imagined he would create PaleNet.

But the giant who appeared on PaleNet is indeed Jonneun.

John_nenon: (Jonneun) Long time no see. 😄 Hello, everyone on Viva.

He personally appeared on the Korean bulletin board to verify his identity.

Almost no one commented on his return.

They knew.

There were not many people among the many survivors left on this bulletin board who were qualified to comment on the posts of the man who had become a legend.

We drove him away.

We envied him and found fault with him, driving him out of the bulletin board.

Even after he disappeared, we did not remember his contributions and often belittled his value.

But there was an exception.

SKELTON: (Skelton) Finally, you're back, Mr. Jonneun!

Skelton, the last loyal supporter of Jonneun, was right here.

Jonneun's smile flashed before my eyes.

Sure enough, he replied to me.

John_nenon: (Jonneun) Mr. Skelton...

SKELTON: (Skelton) Mr. Jonneun...

It was a staged situation, and a lot had happened before others knew, but since the war began, could there be a more moving reunion than this?

I don't think so.

But there are too many people in this world who need to be killed.

mmmmmmmmm: What a mess...

dongtanmom: Munch... Why is he like that... Is he gay? Munch...

gijayangban: ?

m9 aside, dongtanmom has a distinctive feature that can be easily distinguished from others, even with a hidden nickname.

This disgusting person claimed he didn't use the internet on his phone, but during the PaleNet area code incident, he confirmed the so-called noble code next to his nickname and ostentatiously annoyed others.

Well, there's a possibility that the munching lunatic isn't Baek Seung-hyun.

But from what I see, the munching lunatic is 100% Baek Seung-hyun.

Or all the munching lunatics are lunatics.

The thought process of Jonneun, who taught me, being similar to mine is a natural conclusion.

※Jonneun※(GOD): You, the one munching over there!

ㅇㅇ(A02): Munch...?

※Jonneun※(GOD): You're permanently banned.

※Jonneun※(GOD) has permanently banned ㅇㅇ (mobile phone unique number 35471E223)!

It was the moment when the munching man disappeared from PaleNet forever.

This was the first action of the "god" who appeared on PaleNet.

People were amazed by the sudden appearance of the creator but soon sent thunderous applause.

ㅇㅇ(D13): Oh! Jonneun!

ㅇㅇ(E01): Jonneun! Jonneun!

ㅇㅇ(A15): Thank you, Mr. Jonneun~ for creating PaleNet~

ㅇㅇ(B22): Without Mr. Jonneun, I might have really committed suicide. What joy could I have found in this dog's world?

ㅇㅇ(C13): Jon. Ne. Un! Jon. Ne. Un!

...

...

People praised Jonneun, far surpassing our bulletin board.

The wave of praise was so strong that it could have caused a server crash, even on PaleNet's high-performance servers, which had reduced their load due to the population decrease from accidents.

Even the critical users of our bulletin board, who perhaps thought with their heads rather than habitually, slowly began to change their minds.

Anonymous458: Maybe Jonneun wasn't a great person after all?

Dies_irae69: I'm still against him.

Anonymous913: I've never met him before, but to think he created PaleNet, he's really impressive. This bulletin board too.

RKKArA: I'm sorry for the insults I made before...

Defender: Jonneun is quite something.

dongtanmom: Mr. Jonneun, please unban me... munch...

mmmmmmmmm: I can't go to Jeju Island...

Foxgames: From what I see, he's 100% a great person.

...

...

Jonneun must have seen this.

He might even have shed tears.

The giant our bulletin board created finally returned to our embrace.

This is the true intention I had as "Jegalskelton."

The rightful return of a user who deserves respect.

He can now rest in peace.

*

I know from experience that things don't always go as planned.

Controlling this instability is strategy and planning.

In that sense, my strategy had a few mistakes.

The first mistake was Jonneun's vitality.

※Jonneun※(GOD): (Jonneun) It's evening today 😄

※Jonneun※(GOD): (Jonneun) Today's radioactive tuna omakase

※Jonneun※(GOD): (Jonneun) The third part of the PaleNet creation story

...

...

He doesn't die.

Jonneun.

"No."

It's not that I'm questioning the fact that he doesn't die.

The god-like Jonneun was plastering his bulletin board with his name.

Moreover, all his posts were sent to every user in real-time.

Creating and destroying the world, something that should only happen in human imagination, was actually happening with Jonneun.

But this was just a minor incident.

The real problem was different.

ㅇㅇ(E32): Mr. Jonneun, I have a request.

A user pleaded with Jonneun.

From the E code next to his nickname, it was clear he lived in a camp on PaleNet that was not well-regarded.

His request was obvious.

ㅇㅇ(E32): I'm very sorry, but can you remove this code? Ever since this code appeared, PaleNet has become strange.

Removing the code.

He was asking to remove the code that the government had requested to be added.

A difficult request.

If the government's order was ignored, what would happen to PaleNet was clear.

With no defense and its location exposed, the only fate left was to be absorbed and dissolved.

But Jonneun was different.

He sent a message to all PaleNet users.

※Jonneun※(GOD): (Jonneun) Sure, I'll remove the code.

The reaction on PaleNet was mixed.

People with A codes strongly opposed the creator's decision, but those without such codes cheered again.

But I knew the background of the code.

Jonneun's decision, while praiseworthy, was risky.

I knew it could destroy his already fragile life.

So, I sent a message to Jonneun's subordinate.

SKELTON: Will it be okay? The government won't let it go.

Message from 171cm54kg13cm: It's a mess. The Information and Communication Bureau keeps contacting us. They say they'll seize all the equipment if we don't comply.

That's right.

Jonneun's decision was so risky that it could destroy the world he created.

This was contrary to my wish for him to die in peace.

A day passed.

PaleNet users discovered that the stigma that had long plagued them was gone.

ㅇㅇ: What? The code is gone?

ㅇㅇ: Really? Where did it go?

ㅇㅇ: Jonneun said he would remove it, and he really did?

ㅇㅇ: But why isn't Jonneun broadcasting today?

...

...

The code was gone.

This meant the end of the hierarchical culture that had plagued PaleNet and a direct challenge to the government by its creator, Jonneun.

I sent a message to Jonneun's subordinate, but there was no reply.

"..."

Various thoughts came to mind.

Could the soldiers have already taken over the place?

Or did they seize the equipment and take control of PaleNet by force?

What about the bedridden Jonneun?

Could the soldiers in protective suits have dragged him out and thrown him on the ground?

Or perhaps, PaleNet itself could disappear.

The small ripple I created could lead to a ridiculous and catastrophic ending.

That day, I waited for a reply without eating or drinking.

"..."

I briefly considered it.

Should I send a message directly to Jonneun?

When did I start communicating with his subordinate instead of him?

It seems it started because Jonneun, who was on his last legs, could not think clearly and communicated through his subordinate.

This indirect communication became fixed, creating an invisible wall between us.

Perhaps this was my intention.

History has shown that getting too close to a revered figure can lead to desecration.

But I couldn't maintain my stubbornness at what might be his last moment.

So, I broke the taboo and placed my fingers on the keyboard.

Tap tap

I sent a direct message to Jonneun.

SKELTON: Mr. Hunter, are you safe?

As a hunter, not as the bulletin board user Skelton.

Surprisingly, a reply came immediately.

Message from John_nenon: Indeed.

Message from John_nenon: I was thinking about you, Mr. Hunter. 😄

Message from John_nenon: It seems it's time to go.

SKELTON: Mr. Hunter...

Message from John_nenon: Take care of the world that remains, Mr. Skelton. No.