Chapter 5

Chapter 1. The Beginning of Restructuring (5)

"Mr. Jae-hyuk, have you received the reward for this mission?"

"Not yet..."

I looked down at Mr. Jae-hyuk, who was slumped over, and said,

"Oh! Then it'll be fine! Don't worry, Mr. Jae-hyuk!"

"Y-Yes?"

"It'll be fine once you get treated!"

Ms. Ji-eun shouted with a brighter face.

Since she saw me get my leg fixed as a reward, she must have thought Mr. Jae-hyuk's injuries could be healed just as well.

But.

"No, it won't work."

"Huh? But Mr. Eun-ho..."

"Injuries like this can be treated with first aid. It would be a waste to use the reward."

Ms. Ji-eun, who had been tilting her head, examined Mr. Jae-hyuk's injuries and finally nodded.

Glaring at the big whiner,

"If that's the case, try asking for increased recovery as a mission reward."

"Such a thing..."

"It will work. We don't have time, so hurry."

It's more efficient to improve fundamental recovery ability rather than just treating visible injuries.

Moreover, based on my experience so far, I was confident that injuries like his would naturally heal with improved recovery.

"Mission... reward? Can you increase my recovery?"

Though the tone was strange, the system understood, and soon the stab wound disappeared as if erased.

It was hard to even find where he had been injured, except for the torn shirt and bloodstains.

"You're amazing, sir! How did you think of that?"

The only problem was that I was now being called 'sir' for the absurd reason of saving his life.

'Looking twenty-five with that face...'

At 180 cm, his height was understandable, but his sun-tanned skin and rugged, strong appearance made him look at least in his mid-30s.

"Are you my younger brother...?"

Ms. Ji-eun narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

My expression probably wasn't much different.

"You said you're one year older, ma'am?"

When Mr. Jae-hyuk called her 'ma'am,' Ms. Ji-eun grimaced.

"If it weren't for the two of you, we wouldn't have passed the mission. You're our saviors!"

"No, without Mr. Jae-hyuk..."

Mr. Jae-hyuk grabbed my shoulder and shook his head.

"Call me Jae-hyuk, sir."

"Huh?"

Mr. Jae-hyuk, or rather Jae-hyuk, looked at me with bright, puppy-like eyes.

Feeling uncomfortable, I averted my gaze and changed the subject.

"Let's wait here until the mission restarts."

"Sure! On the 15th floor, it won't be bad no matter which direction we're assigned to."

"It will likely be on the lower side, and only one building."

"Only one?"

There were three safe zones in the second mission, and two just now.

So all the survivors in the building will be gathered in one place.

'Another guy like Mr. Kwak might show up.'

We need to be prepared.

"Take a rest, both of you."

As I stood up, Ms. Ji-eun asked with a puzzled look,

"What about you, Mr. Eun-ho?"

"I plan to do some training."

I wanted to test my fully healed leg and experiment with the conditions of the notification that only I could hear.

The notification that said, 'Measuring data required for skill opening.'

It had appeared twice already.

When I happily ran after my leg was 50% healed.

And when I took a step back to avoid the pot Mr. Kwak threw.

If this data is only collected in specific situations,

'I need to try to replicate them.'

— Thud!

I ran across the conference room.

Ten steps.

I took a step back and returned.

Another ten steps.

'This isn't it.'

I ran faster. And took a step back.

'This isn't it either.'

I made two round trips, a bit faster.

Still not it. Maybe the speed wasn't enough? Then faster than before.

— Thud!

This isn't it? Then a bit more...

"Mr. Eun-ho! Are you... okay?"

"Sir...? What are you doing now..."

Ms. Ji-eun's voice was filled with worry, and Jae-hyuk's eyes with pity, but I had no time to care.

'There must be a rule.'

After perhaps a few hundred round trips in the small conference room, a new notification rang in my head.

"Haa..."

"Mr. Eun-ho, are you okay? What's with the sweat..."

99%.

I was certain that when it reached 100%, a skill would be unlocked, though it seemed absurd in this situation.

What kind of skill would be unlocked by measuring data?

'If this were a game, I would have wanted an attack skill. But now that it's reality, something more practical...'

"Mr. Eun-ho! Hold on!"

"Ms. Ji-eun?"

"Turn on the broadcast."

"Final...?"

"Wow, sir! Ma'am! It's over, it seems!"

"It's over...?"

I frowned, thinking it couldn't be over just like that.

The system clearly mentioned 'the next stage.'

"Wow, it's the final one!"

"Finally over... It's a relief!"

The three of us, filled with joy, relief, and doubt, prepared to step out.

Ms. Ji-eun stretched, her eyes sparkling,

Jae-hyuk sighed in relief, touching his torn shirt,

I, preparing for any possible danger, put a pair of scissors from the office into my jacket pocket.

"Let's go!"

* * *

We arrived at the 6th floor, a game company's exhibition hall.

It was filled with life-sized hero figurines, as if from a game.

— The world's first MMO RPG!

— Pre-registration ongoing. Experience it now!

People were packed in the center of the exhibition hall.

They were crowded in front of a large screen, where promotional videos and ads for a new game were playing on repeat.

From a distance, it would look like fans visiting to see a new game.

"What is this...?"

There, dozens of people were clumped together, swaying back and forth.

They were trying to push their way into the safe zone, not missing even the slightest gap.

Those outside the clump were striking the ones in front with weapons.

"Gruesome."

As Ms. Ji-eun said.

People who were holding keyboards this morning were now wielding weapons.

Hands that used to greet colleagues with a nod were now stabbing and slashing without hesitation.

Is this what hell looks like?

"What do we do, sir?"

"It looks hard to break through."

"Indeed, a frontal assault would be difficult."

After a moment's thought, I spoke, and the two turned their heads.

"We need your help, both of you."

"Understood, sir!"

"Is there a plan?"

"Not sure, but... probably."

We'll see when we get there.

I hope my guess is right.

"Do you see that white partition?"

"Yes, I see it."

"Move separately and meet behind it. Be careful not to draw attention."

"Understood."

Jae-hyuk answered without hesitation, and Ms. Ji-eun nodded calmly.

"Aren't you going to ask what the plan is?"

"Should I have asked?"

"Mr. Eun-ho, I trust you."

The two answered as if it didn't matter.

"...I'll go first."

— Thud!

When the three of us met again, about 3 minutes remained.

"Mr. Eun-ho, what are you looking for?"

"Probably around here... Ah!"

I found it.

"A ladder?"

Two silver ladders were hidden in the corner behind the partition.

"Back at my old company, they used to hide ladders like this in exhibition halls."

The walls were filled with game titles and figurines, and there was a large screen for showing videos.

So ladders were necessary for maintenance.

"So, why the ladders...?"

"We need to climb them."

"Where to?"

"Over there."

Ms. Ji-eun followed my finger to the white back of the screen, supported by a long frame.

"How do we get on the screen?"

"More precisely, we'll climb the ladders. We'll knock the screen over."

"Huh?"

"Knocking the screen over will get us into the safe zone."

It will fit perfectly, even if just at the edge.

"The people inside will be flattened, but they won't be seriously hurt. We'll all pass the mission together."

In other words, it's a fight we can avoid.

Though it's not what this damn system wants.

"Then, we don't need to fight now!"

Jae-hyuk, looking like he had a great realization, picked up the two ladders.

"Understood! Let's go, sir!"

— Thud!

「01:17」

About 1 minute remained.

The timing is crucial.

"We'll go when there's 30 seconds left."

I said solemnly and climbed the ladder.

Jae-hyuk at the top, I right below.

"Understood."

Jae-hyuk will push the screen over.

As soon as it falls, Ms. Ji-eun and I will jump down.

Soon, 30 seconds.

I took a deep breath.

"Let's go!"

— Flutter!

The screen fell.

"What, what is this?"

"Why is it so dark?"

The screen cast a shadow as it fell on the people.

It knocked them down like dominoes as they pushed each other with all their might.

— Thud!

Jae-hyuk jumped down almost simultaneously with the screen.

Ms. Ji-eun followed, and I was last.

When I regained my balance and composure from the impact,

"Secretary Kim!"

Ms. Ji-eun was being dragged out of the safe zone by someone.

"Ms. Ji-eun!"

It was Mr. Park, the executive she served.

He was pulling her arm as if to tear it off.

Just as I thought she might be dragged away,

"...I'm sorry, Mr. Park!"

Flutter.

Ms. Ji-eun threw off her jacket.

Mr. Park, caught off guard by the momentum, fell backward.

He didn't fall completely due to the crowd.

"You, you bitch...!"

"Ah!"

This time, he grabbed her hair.

He grabbed a fistful of her long hair, which reached her waist.

"Mr. Park, please...!"

「00:05」

"Haa."

I hadn't planned to use it, but I sighed and took out the scissors from my jacket pocket.

And...

— Snip.

I cut it.

A woman's hair.

"You bastard!"

"Mr. Eun-ho..."

At the sound of Mr. Park's final scream and Ms. Ji-eun's bewildered voice,

The mission ended.

"What, what's with the hair..."

Jae-hyuk, with his mouth agape, pointed at Ms. Ji-eun's hair, which was cut in half like a staircase.

"..."

"Th-That hair will grow back..."

I wondered if she was angry as we descended outside the safe zone, so I subtly checked her reaction.

Ms. Ji-eun, with an unreadable expression, quietly called my name.

"...Mr. Eun-ho."

"Yes, what is it?"

Ms. Ji-eun walked over with her head down.

She came close enough for our noses to touch, then suddenly turned around.

"Please."

"What, what for?"

Not understanding the step-like hairstyle in front of me, I asked, and Ms. Ji-eun slightly turned her head to answer.

"Cut it shorter. So this doesn't happen again."

"Huh?"

Did she overuse mental strength?

She even smiled.

"It's fine. I, short hair suits me."

"Ma'am, sir! Thank you for your hard work! We survived!"

Jae-hyuk, who had been watching, stepped between Ms. Ji-eun and me, and said with a grateful expression.

No, you also worked hard, I was about to say when...

"What?"

"An orientation?"

"It was clearly the final mission..."

Of course. It couldn't end here.

The restructuring has just begun.