The regressions continue (3)

Sharron suddenly found herself standing among a crowd.

People casually revealed their arms, legs and neckline similar to the prostitutes and pirates at sea, but their neat, clean and undamaged clothes like those of people with a high standing made this hypothesis unlikely.

Some wore suits, the women were wearing pants and some of them even showed their bellies.

In short, the way they were dressed was weird. However, it could still belong to a culture she hadn't seen and that was less conservative than Loen's, so she didn't mind it.

The next strange point was the rectangular box most of the people here were holding in their hands, their gaze glued to the screen or speaking into it while it was next to their ear.

There were also strange devices all around the place; an unknown language written and spoken but that she could still understand; and finally, a huge vehicle that looked more advanced than Loen's locomotives, or even the whole world's.

That's what Sharron saw at that moment.

Until the lights turned off.

"What happened?"

"Is there a problem?"

Some people were panicking while others utilized the rectangular box in their hands to produce light. Maybe it was a Beyonder item? Given how attached everyone was to it, its negative effect should be that people became addicted as they used it.

Sharron turned her gaze away as the lights were back on. However, her spiritual intuition made her look up into the air. There, a fluffy creature had appeared.

Its ominous aura seemed especially dangerous.

Sharron sensed the malicious intent of the creature as it began to speak, but also felt that she could not beat it. She had no choice but to listen for now.

And then…

[#BI-7623 channel is open.]

[The constellations have entered.]

[The main scenario has arrived!]

+

[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value]

Category: Main

Difficulty: F

Clear Conditions: Kill one or more creatures.

Time Limit: 30 minutes

Compensation: 300 coins

Failure: Death

+

The dokkaebi smiled faintly as it became transparent and disappeared into the next space.

[Then, good luck everyone. Please show me an interesting story.]

People began to chat among each other, some attempting to leave but failing due to an invisible barrier.

"Excuse me, have you seen my child?"

Someone who had been separated from their kid in the chaos was searching for them.

"The police aren't answering!"

Another was trying to call for help.

"It's similar to games. Are we going to gain stats if we obey the rules?"

A child was speaking to their friend.

Everyone was reacting to the situation in their own way.

"The prime minister is making a speech! It is a level one disaster!"

People flocked to the person who said this or watched their own phone.

A voice came out of the rectangular box, letting Sharron hear the content of the speech.

–To all my fellow citizens, unidentified terrorists are currently active in an unspecified number of areas, including Seoul.

The contents of the speech were simple. The current government would mobilize all means and methods to fight the terrorists, and there would never be any negotiations. Thus, everyone should confidently continue with their lives.

"But where is the president? Why is the prime minister making the speech?"

"The president has already been hit."

"What? Really?"

"I'm not sure. A Naver comment―"

"Shit, then it's fake!"

"Uwaaaaack! What?"

People dropped their phones as gunshots were heard from all over. It originated from their smartphones.

Chiiiik, there was a loud sound, and blood filled the screen. After a moment, people held their breaths as they realized what had happened.

"P-Prime Minister…"

The prime minister had died. His head had exploded in real-time. There were several more sounds like gunfire before the screen became silent. The next thing that appeared on the screen was a dokkaebi.

[Everyone, I've told you already. This isn't a game like 'terrorism'.]

People were at a loss for words as their mouths gaped open like dumb goldfish.

[Do you still not understand? This won't do. Do you still feel like this is a game?]

It felt so ominous because his tone was so relaxed.

[Haha, according to the data, the people of this country are very good at games. So, why don't I try raising the difficulty?]

Beeep. A huge timer appeared in the air. At the same time, it started decreasing rapidly.

[The remaining time has been decreased by 10 minutes.]

[There are 10 minutes remaining.]

[If the first killing doesn't occur within the next five minutes, all lives in that carriage will be wiped out.]

"W-What is this? Is it a joke?"

Once again, the voice of the dokkaebi rang out, [Haha, there are some places that are quite fun while other places haven't started yet. Okay, this is a special service. I will show you what will happen if nothing occurs in the next five minutes.]

A giant screen appeared in the subway station. The place that appeared on the screen was a classroom. Girls in their navy blue school uniform were shaking.

Beep beep beep beep― An ominous beeping sound was heard.

Then the high school girls started to scream.

[The given time has run out.]

[Paid settlement will begin.]

Once the announcement ended, the heads of the high school girls sitting in the front row exploded.

One by one, one by one again… More and more heads exploded. The high school girls screamed and ran toward the classroom doors or windows.

"Ahh, uh, how―"

Cleaning tools broke and nails were torn out, but the doors didn't open. No one could get out.

Peong, peeong. The heads of the high school girls continued to burst. Then one of them strangled her friend, who died with a groan. After a while, the only thing that remained on the screen was the last girl looking around.

[#Bay23515 channel. Daepong Girls' High School, Year 2 Class B survivor: Lee Jihye.]

The figure of the girl on the screen disappeared. Then the dokkaebi asked, [How is it? Interesting?]

The dokkaebi spoke with a smile, but people weren't looking at the screen anymore. The people who made eye contact were gradually moving away from each other.

"Shit! What is this?"

Then, the watching Sharron finally acted.

It wasn't hard for a Sequence 3 to kill people, so she simply turned into a wraith and possessed someone.

Losing control of their body, the person in question snapped their own neck and died. Ignoring the incoming messages, Sharron got out of that person's body.

[Interesting, it seems that the first murder has already happened.]

However, it couldn't be that easy.

Shocked, everyone followed the dokkaebi's line of sight and noticed the ethereal woman wearing a gothic dress, similar to a beautiful doll.

The people backed away from her while some self-righteous ones found her weak due to her pale skin and frail-looking body and attacked her.

In self-defense, Sharron possessed them and knocked them out. It was equivalent to the death penalty since they wouldn't be able to kill anyone within the time limit and were at others' mercy.

However, to others, seeing people suddenly hitting themselves in the back of the neck and falling unconscious looked like scene coming straight out a horror movie.

"Aaaaah!!"

"Murder!"

Some also interpreted that they were dead.

People backed away from the wraith, watching her every movements in case she acted up, but Sharron ignored them.

She also didn't remind them that they should focus on themselves because they would die if they didn't kill someone within the next 10 minutes.

No, it was 9 minutes now.

Suddenly, a scream echoed in the crowd. Someone had seized the moment when everyone was distracted to stab someone else.

There was chaos once again.

Wary of each other, people searched for the source of the sound while others followed this example and strangled their peers to survive.

Was this human nature?

Was killing always this effortless for humans, only limited by a so-called 'morality' cultivated by the restriction of the law and an early education that it was a 'bad' thing to do since childhood, all because of the government's fear that their own lives could be taken if others got out of control?

Another minute went by. Then two minutes, and three.

Blood was spilled, bones were broken, some fought and screams erupted from everywhere.

Sharron just watched.

She remained a bystander as some people glanced at her but turned their gaze away, afraid to suffer the same fate as the ones who dared to attack her.

Then 9 minutes had passed.

[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value has ended.]

Amidst numerous bodies, Sharron saw one of the rectangular boxes on the floor next to her, its screen fissured in the middle.

—Hey, where are you?

Due to receiving this notification, the screen had lit up and showed the time.

19:10.

[300 coins have been acquired as a basic clearance reward.]

[100 coins have been reduced for the channel usage fee.]

[Additional compensation settlement will begin.]

Then, the time changed.

19:11.

And the screen turned off.

As she stared at her own reflection on the rectangular box's screen, Sharron did not know where she was, what she was doing here, why she had to go through those scenarios, nor what was waiting for her in the future.