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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 54: Someone Else's Memory (5)
A strong man.
Jaehyuk always wanted to be a strong man.
Someone so strong that no one could look down on him.
Becoming a soldier was, in some ways, part of that.
Building his body, undergoing training, and sometimes enforcing discipline.
It wasn’t difficult.
He could pretend to be that kind of man.
But.
“Everyone, stay cau—… eeeeek!”
The “coward” in him never went away.
Even though he trained his body until his muscles were as solid as stone.
[Based on formidable resilience, the memories of labor etched into muscles from the triceps to the calves, and an extreme aversion to injury, a unique skill has been generated!]
Even though his extreme aversion to injury manifested as a superpower.
They say that wounds on the body heal, but the scars on the heart don’t.
Memories don’t disappear; they might fade but never vanish.
For Jaehyuk, blades were such memories.
The zzzip! sound of a blade being drawn.
The terror when a knife approached.
The burning sensation of a blade grazing his skin.
The chafing pain he endured all day because he hid the wound under his clothes to avoid being discovered.
He was scared.
Of getting hurt.
Of sharp objects.
Of being stabbed, slashed, or scratched.
No matter how much he pretended to be strong, deep inside, he was still the same bullied fifteen-year-old.
So.
[All participants may freely choose which memories to disclose and can act within the chosen memory for the designated duration.]
When he heard about entering the “memory” of the past,
Only one thought came to mind.
‘With this…’
I can escape being a coward.
He could overcome it.
And if he could, then he could finally become someone worthwhile.
“Are you sure you can do this? If it’s too much, don’t push yourself.”
He couldn’t bear to keep feeling sorry for his brother, who was struggling alone.
So…
— Crash!
He threw a chair.
“Jung Chanhyung. You used to practice kicking every day, didn’t you?”
“W-what are you talking about… Arghhh!”
— Thud!
He kicked the guy in the stomach mid-sentence.
It was an overwhelming difference in mass.
Combined with the condensed experience of hundreds, if not thousands, of attempts to escape his nightmares.
Bang!
The guy crashed into the back door of the classroom.
And then.
“Ugh! Cough! Aghhh!”
With his right foot.
Again.
And again.
He drove it down with his full weight.
“...Stop! Stop it already! Aaargh!”
The guys who had fallen after being hit with the chair began getting up one by one and rushing at him.
“You son of a bitch!”
“Is this guy crazy?!”
The pig they used as a punching bag was now fighting back, ramming into them like an enraged beast.
They couldn’t help but swing their fists, frothing with anger.
“!!”
“How did you dodge— Ughhh!”
Of course, their punches felt like mere feathers.
“Kim Jinsol. The money you stole, it must add up to thousands, right?”
“W-what?”
“Ten thousand won per punch.”
— Thwack! Thwack! Wham!
His fist struck their faces.
His kick hit their sides.
And when they collapsed, he drove his elbow into their bowed heads.
“Arghhhh!”
“C-crazy…”
“That guy’s insane! Damn, his eyes are completely wild!”
They writhed in pain.
It must hurt.
It would hurt.
After all, they were nothing but insignificant fifteen-year-olds who only acted tough in their class.
They’d never been properly beaten like this before.
“S-sorry! Please stop!”
“Yeah! L-let’s talk this out, okay?”
How pathetic.
The fact that he had been tormented and suffered so much at the hands of kids like this.
— Step.
Only one target remained.
“D-don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll kill you!”
The one who had slashed him with a box cutter, insulted his parents, stolen his money, and beaten him again and again.
“Don’t come closer!”
The one who still haunted his dreams on difficult nights.
As he opened his mouth with that disgusting smirk—
“Lee Hyukjoo. You’re spe—”
— Stab!
The sharp blade pierced Jaehyuk’s side.
It tore through his school shirt and embedded itself in his flesh.
It was the blade that had been tossed to the ground earlier.
“I-I told you not to come closer, you bastard!”
Bright red blood seeped through the torn fabric.
In the past, he would have trembled, paralyzed with fear.
But now.
Pluck.
He simply pulled it out.
The blade, the wretched memories.
“This isn’t enough to hurt me.”
And if he couldn’t pull it out.
“Not from a bug like you.”
“I-I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!!”
He would bury it instead.
With other memories.
“Arrrgh! Stop! Please!!”
Because he had changed.
He wasn’t the same “Pig Jaehyuk” who could only cower and endure.
【‘Investigation Bureau’s Star Performer’ cheers for the satisfying retribution!】
【1,000 Welfare Points donated!】
【‘Administration Bureau Cool Guy’ shouts for even more intense beatdowns!】
【‘Sales Bureau Top Performer’ praises the fists full of potential!】
【1,000 Welfare Points donated!】
The applause from the spectators, who had been egging on his tormentors, now rained down on Jaehyuk.
And then, a box appeared in front of his eyes.
— Pop!
[A gift has arrived from 'Lee Eunho'!]
[Would you like to check it?]
"!!"
A sudden gift.
It was too heavy to be just a simple message as usual.
Inside was a vial of liquid shimmering in blue.
▣ Fatigue Recovery Potion
-A potion brewed from medicinal herbs.
It seems capable of healing everyday fatigue and minor injuries.
A potion that restores fatigue and minor injuries.
But why?
‘Why would he send me three bottles?’
Inside the box were three bottles of the potion.
Coincidentally, there were three guys sprawled around, bruised and bloodied.
Ah.
Even someone as oblivious as Jaehyuk could instinctively figure it out.
So.
"Are you saying you're sorry?"
"!!"
"Y-yes! Yes!"
"Then drink this."
One more time.
It seemed they were suggesting he keep at it until all his anger subsided.
"Not done yet, you bastards."
A laugh slipped out.
He thought to himself how fortunate it was to have someone so tenacious and relentless on his side.
【You have chosen 'Fatigue Recovery Potion.'】
【Recipient: 'Choi Jaehyuk.' Sponsorship complete!】
Jaehyuk laughed, holding the three bottles of fatigue recovery potion.
Seeing his foolishly smiling face was somewhat reassuring.
He’d worried he might have lost himself after all the screaming and beating.
‘You’ve grown up, you rascal.’
He hoped Jaehyuk could pay back everything he wanted and let it all go.
Thinking that, he waved his hand, preparing to exit the channel.
[Congratulations!]
[You have acquired the title of 'First Sponsor'!]
A voice he hadn't expected rang out.
[Would you like to check the effects of the title 'First Sponsor'?]
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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"Check."
[When sponsoring the recipient, a permanent 10% discount will apply.]
[The effects of items sponsored through 'The Eye' will increase by 10%.]
Huh?
This feels like an unexpected bonus.
Anyway, then…
【Purchasing 'Fatigue Recovery Potion.'】
【Purchasing 'Fatigue Recovery Potion.'】
【Purchasing 'Fatigue Recovery Potion.'】
……
Might as well send plenty.
* * *
[Returning to HRN-GENERAL channel.]
He scanned through the memories of others, starting with Ji-eun and Jaehyuk.
And then he returned to the main screen.
The numerous screens filling his vision were brimming with all sorts of stimuli.
The difference from the beginning was clear.
"Ugh."
There were now some memories filled with flesh-colored scenes here and there.
They were definitely provocative, but this kind of stimulation didn’t seem to match the taste of those beyond 'The Eye.'
In fact…
【'Administration Bureau's Badger' clicks their tongue, saying this is the best you can do.】
【'Sales Bureau's Dorothy' expresses disappointment and exits observation.】
Rather than this…
[Connecting to HRN-X#1 channel.]
"Please, spare me! I beg you…!"
"Put the gun down and… let’s talk it out, shall we?"
"I have three kids. If I die here, my wife will…"
This kind of stimulation seemed more to their liking.
No matter how you looked at it, these harmless-looking people were locked in a basement.
A beautifully dressed female college student, an elderly person in their eighties or nineties, and a middle-aged man begging on his knees—all were mercilessly gunned down.
‘Anyone would call this a crime scene.’
Bang! Bang! Bang—!
Three gunshots and three heads burst.
"!!"
The bullets pierced dead center of the forehead and embedded themselves into the floor.
【'Administration Bureau's Gunslinger’ feels ecstatic from the consecutive massacres!】
【1,000 welfare points sponsored!】
【'Administration Bureau's Firefist' hopes your ruthless streak continues!】
【500 welfare points sponsored!】
【'Audit Bureau's Ace Detective' pleads to see your face just once!】
【1,000 welfare points sponsored!】
Each motion of drawing, aiming, and shooting the gun had zero delay.
A seamless flow of successive killings.
A dangerous individual.
‘Not someone I’d want to get involved with.’
In any other situation, they’d never cross paths.
But the fact that he was witnessing these memories meant this person was also within Yongsan District.
There were only about 200 survivors left.
‘I’ll definitely have to meet them.’
The killer was dressed in a suit and mask.
Would he be able to recognize them when they met?
No, he had to.
【An anonymous observer is carefully watching Subject 'X'!】
A subject with no known name, age, or face—only referred to as 'X.'
〔Live Sponsorship Ranking〕
Lee Eunho (20,000 points)
X (14,000 points)
Cha Jinsol (8,100 points)
Kim Jieun (7,500 points)
Kim Guinam (5,150 points)
By the way, “X”?
That couldn’t be their real name.
There was too little information.
Even so, I meticulously memorized the proportions, skull shape, and body type of this mysterious survivor.
Then, an announcement came.
[Attention to all participants in the 'Observation' mission.]
An announcement addressed everyone participating in the mission.
"……?!"
It seemed to be a broadcast directed at everyone participating in the mission.
Even the murderer, who was cleaning his gun amidst the corpses, flinched.
The content was as follows:
[The 'Observation' mission will soon conclude.]
[In relation to this, we are pre-announcing a special reward to encourage active participation from the participants!]
[The special reward is…….]
It was the kind of announcement that could turn heads.
Even the slaughterer and I.
[‘The Omniscient Observer's Eye’!]
‘……?!’
A screen, like an ad balloon, appeared in the sky.
It displayed something that filled the screen — two small white caps attached side by side.
A small object, no larger than a palm.
‘That looks just like…….’
A lens case, I thought instinctively.
And then—
▣ The Omniscient Observer's Eye
-A special pair of contact lenses designed at the main research lab.
When activated, they allow you to see the remaining health of individuals within your field of view.
(Note: Displayed only in percentage units.)
-When equipped, they make the wearer’s eyes clear and vivid.
‘They’re really lenses?’
Ha.
They looked ordinary at first glance, but the more you thought about it, the better the reward seemed.
If you could see the remaining health of your enemies—
And if only I could see it unilaterally—
I could easily devise strategies.
‘I could fight from a position of strategic advantage!’
Deciding quickly to secure my channel first, I turned to head back.
Tap!
X climbed the stairs, holding something long.
It seemed we were in the basement of a building all along.
‘I can’t see their face.’
It was a night where even the moonlight was faint.
The figure appeared, wearing a mask that covered their head entirely, save for two eye holes.
Then, escaping the quiet alleyway in the dead of night, the figure ran for a short distance—
— Clang!
“Welco—ahhhhhhh!”
“Ahhhhhhh! G-gun?!”
The figure barged into a nearby pub.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!
The machine gun roared.
Heads, heads, and more heads exploded like fireworks.
In an instant, the pub’s ceiling, walls, and floor turned crimson.
【The Administration Bureau’s Gunslinger cheers for the bloody spectacle!】
【1,000 Welfare Points donated!】
【Administration Bureau’a Firefist applauds the electrifying noir action!】
【1,000 Welfare Points donated!】
The more the observers cheered—
“Ahhhhh! S-someone save—!”
The figure grew more frenzied.
‘He’s getting desperate.’
To claim the special reward.
The tactic was as extreme as it was effective.
‘16,000 points. Almost caught up.’
I couldn’t let this happen.
Especially not to someone like that.
Feeling a rare tension crawling up my spine—
Swoosh!
I waved my hand to close all the screens and stood up.
[Disconnecting.]
Now then, I wonder if our esteemed client had fun.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!w
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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