Pick Me Up Infinite Gacha! Novel - Chapter 284
Pick me Up – Chapter 284 – Home (1)
I squinted my eyes.
The quality of the hologram image was poor. The screen kept freezing, and occasionally, a harsh noise crossed the video. But the face of the man lying in bed was clearly visible.
His bones were visibly marked.
It seemed that his skin barely clung to his body.
He was lying in bed in a straight position, connected to a respirator. The heart monitor beside the bed showed a graph of irregular lines. At a glance, he was in a coma, with no signs of opening his eyes.
That face was very different from the one I remembered.
Only after several moments of verification could I recognize the truth.
That young man in the bed was me.
<Currently, the Master’s body is isolated in a general hospital. His vital signs are stable. He has only been in a coma for almost a year. The Master’s body is not dead.>
Yurnet directed her gaze toward the hologram.
And with a melancholic expression, she looked at the man in the bed.
“Does this mean I can go back?”
<The coordinate is set. The problem is if you can withstand the pressure. The dimensional interference will be immense. Most biological data will disintegrate during the transfer process. By the way, Master…>
Yurnet frowned.
<You came to this world in perfect condition. It’s something… unusual.>
“Not necessarily. El Cid was similar too.”
<According to our research, El Cid is different. As the prototype of the 7 Stars Project, he lost most of his body, and only a small part of his identity passed to Mobius. There’s a big difference with you, who have perfectly retained your body and mind.>
Yurnet took a deep breath and continued her explanation.
<After the failure of the 7 Stars Project prototype, El Cid, the plan went in a different direction. They used heroes who had reached the limit of 6 Stars as a base, and only fused the Master’s interference. This is how the second, third, and fourth were created. But…>
“I was originally supposed to merge with Siris, right? But my body passed through smoothly.”
That, and to a place unrelated to Niflheim.
Yurnet stroked her lips and then spoke softly.
<Master…>
“I don’t think that’s relevant. We were talking about me going back to Earth, right?”
<You’re right. I deviated from the topic. I apologize.>
Yurnet briefly bowed her head.
<In any case, to pass from Mobius to Earth, one needs to withstand great pressure. Therefore, a body capable of enduring it is required. If this problem is resolved, with the interference we’ve gathered, we can open a door for you.>
“The 7 Stars.”
I murmured softly.
For a body that can withstand dimensional pressure, I can’t think of anything else.
They wouldn’t have mentioned this if there wasn’t a way.
<Yes. If the Master reaches 7 Stars, it will be possible.>
“…….”
<Of course, you must first absorb enough interference from Taonier.>
I took the glass of water that was on the table and drank.
Absorbing the interference from Taonier. That means completing the mission up to level 90.
Then, I would have to become a 7 Star to talk about returning.
Gulp.
I emptied the water from the glass in one go, but my thirst was barely quenched.
Instead, I felt nausea, as if I was burning inside.
<You must feel great dissatisfaction.>
Yurnet lowered her gaze.
<But the Master must return. You have a family waiting for you, right?>
“I have nothing of that sort.”
<I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…>
I looked at Yurnet, who seemed perplexed, and laughed.
“Why are you apologizing? I hadn’t told you.”
<…….>
“Anyway, you say there’s a way to go back.”
<Yes. If the company interferes, we will give our lives to protect you.>
I let out a deep sigh.
Since I got here, these guys have helped me a lot, but I never returned the favor.
Am I going to leave receiving their help until the end?
<Master, I have deposited money into an account in your name. Use it for your expenses when you return.>
Yurnet turned her left hand.
Another holographic window appeared. It was the screen of a mobile bank account.
The account holder’s name was Han Seojin. My real name on Earth.
‘Shinhan Bank, huh.’
Well, I changed banks, so I don’t use that one anymore.
I laughed and looked down.
[11X – 35X – 2268XX]
[Balance – 10,000,000,000 won]
Ten billion?
I thought I had read it wrong, but I hadn’t.
<Also, I have more for you. Three luxury apartments in Gangnam, a Ferrari V8 special edition, developing land in a new city, and 10,000 units of Bitcoins. All paperwork is completed and they are already in your name, so you can use them as soon as you return. You won’t have any problems living.>
“Did you get all this yourself?”
Yurnet smiled and nodded.
<My hobby is hacking, and also investing in stocks and speculating. There are many fools on Earth called ‘small investors.’ Thanks to them, I’ve had modest success.>
“…….”
<To me, these things have no value. I’m giving them to you, Master.>
I laughed.
This isn’t modest success.
Despite broadcasting on MyTube and saving some money, Yurnet’s gifts are in a different league. With this, I could live in luxury anywhere.
‘Forgetting everything that happened here.’
<It’s not the Master’s fault. It’s the world that is wrong. You shouldn’t feel guilty or carry that burden. You’ve fulfilled your duty.>
Yurnet smiled softly.
<Mobius headquarters has lost much power. They will soon lose their control on Earth too. Don’t worry.>
“…….”
<Forget everything that happened here and live a happy life. It’s our wish.>
I closed my eyes.
If the prince’s and Yurnet’s words are true, there’s no hope here.
No matter what I do, the destruction cannot be reversed.
And soon, the server will collapse, and the entire universe will fall into darkness.
‘If that happens…’
Not only Taonier.
The heroes of Niflheim, other Lobbys, countless fairies, and monsters, everything will disappear.
Everything that lives and breathes in this game will vanish.
‘Ignoring all that and going back to Earth?’
What will happen if I don’t go back?
Someone whispered in my mind.
‘There’s nothing you can do.’
I was one of the top players in this game.
And also, just a player.
<Master, don’t be discouraged. We were happy to be with you.>
Yurnet’s figure faded into the mist.
I was left alone in the room.
“Were you happy to be with me?”
I only managed them as game characters.
I had no human attachment to them.
I smiled bitterly.
“…….”
Since I fell here.
Every day has been agony.
The intense training pushed me to my limits, and the smell of blood and the screams of battles dulled my senses. In the midst of it all, many comrades died, and I also killed others. I betrayed and was betrayed.
But one thing I always believed.
‘Someday… someday…’
I believed that someday I would end with a smile.
That I would not only be left with scars but gain something.
That when I looked back, I wouldn’t regret it.
But…
‘Yvolka.’
She died.
‘Edith.’
She died too.
‘El Cid.’
He also died.
If the truth is this, what’s the point of all this?
It’s just a meaningless death.
I looked ahead.
Something was spinning in front of my eyes.
A woman with orange hair.
She wore an elegant fur coat.
She was waving a fan and looking at me.
<Didn’t you say you would save me?>
“…….”
<Because of you, I died. Taking a fire mage to a battlefield in the sea? That’s absurd. You said you would take responsibility. That you would restore Taonier and revive me. But now, what?>
Yvolka’s voice was full of disdain.
<Do you plan to run away like this?>
“……Disappear.”
I said softly.
I wasn’t in my right mind; I was seeing things.
Yvolka let out a strange laugh.
Soon, her body began to twist.
Her once living skin turned white, and blue spots appeared.
The characteristics of a drowned corpse.
<You…>
Bang!
I hit Yvolka with the sheath of my sword.
The steel sheath embedded in the wall, and her figure vanished.
It was just a hallucination.
[※Warning!]
[The stress level of the hero Han (★★★★★★) is critical.]
[Tips/ Manage the hero’s stress properly to prevent unexplained deaths or panic.]
Wow.
I smiled.
It’s a direct warning.
[Gift Shop!]
The shop screen appeared.
Anything hadn’t logged out after completing the 80th floor. He must be doing post-management.
In the middle of that, the sudden message seems to have surprised him.
[Buy Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold!]
[Buy Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold!]
[Buy Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold!]
[Buy Warhorse Statue for…]
After buying dozens of statues, Anything went directly to the next menu.
[Deliver Warhorse Statue to Han (★★★★★★).]
[Deliver Warhorse Statue to Han (★★★★★★).]
[Deliver Warhorse Statue…]
Clack, clack, clack.
The statues spilled out beside my bed.
I looked at them without any emotion.
[Han (★★★★★★) shows no reaction.]
Anything quickly returned to the main screen.
It seems he’s looking for another solution. He reopened the shop and bought a high-quality glow stick.
Blink, blink. A neon stick flickered in front of my eyes.
[Han (★★★★★★) shows no reaction.]
Anything reopened the gift shop.
This time, he bought other items instead of statues.
Luxury dishes and ceramics, magical whetstones, board games, and a fur coat.
No matter what he gifted me, my state didn’t change.
“Is it just… a game?”
I murmured.
Right after arriving here, I promised myself not to trust anyone.
That seems to have been the correct answer.
‘I shouldn’t have gotten attached.’
If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be hurt.
Only regret remains.
“…….”
I put the sword sheath back on my waist.
The hallucinations no longer appear.
In the mirror, my eyes looked like a deep, dark well.
————-
[Therefore, Han has completed level 80!]
Somewhere in the dimensional abyss, Iselle’s room.
The fairy fluttered her two wings while talking on the phone.
[Didn’t you see? The prince fell with a single blow. Han is invincible. He never loses. What? Do you want to join? Not in your dreams! I’m Han’s number one assistant. I won’t let anyone else be.]
Iselle shouted into the phone.
[Don’t come near! The place beside him is mine! You can keep licking that stupid Master’s boots. Although he’ll probably retire soon. Hahaha!]
Her interlocutor was a fellow fairy schoolmate.
That fairy had succeeded in meeting a user with a lot of money, but got stuck after the 70th floor, and the Master barely logged in.
[What? A bug? It doesn’t matter. Our Master doesn’t care about those things. He always buys the packages and never complains. What? Anything is a pig? Do you want to die? From now on, treat him with respect, got it? I’m one of the only six fairies in the entire server who have completed the 80th floor!]
Click!
Iselle hung up the phone with a noise.
[Well, back to work.]
On the desk was a thick book.
The Inverted Sky Book left by El Cid. The translation was almost complete, and she had taken what she needed.
Iselle took a notebook and pen and approached the book.
[When I finish this, I can get rid of it. A useless book that doesn’t even help reach the 7 Stars.]
Iselle opened the first page of the book.
At that moment, a golden light shone from within the book.
[What the hell?!]
Bang!
Iselle flew out, spinning three and a half times before stopping in the air.
Then, she rushed back to the Inverted Sky Book.
Iselle flipped through the pages with trembling hands.
However, nothing had changed.
The book was still the same old worn-out book.
[What was… that?]
Iselle murmured, stunned.