D.I.O

Chapter 241

“Oh, n-nothing. Still, it’s a bit surprising seeing a goblin-type monster. I’ve been around demons and devils before, but never something like a goblin.”

“You’ve seen many demons and devils?”

“Not in DIO, but in my past life. Usually, I met them as foes, so I killed them before we had the chance to converse.”

As if he were reminiscing on the old days, Youngmin’s expression filled with emotion. When he thought about it, he felt that his life had been too turbulent and eventful. Even now, he was residing in an unknown dimension and living with unrelated people he didn’t know.

“Anyway, everyone, log into DIO.”

“Eh? Wait a moment. I learned to speak your language in one day, but you’re not even taking the time to compliment me?”

“That isn’t too difficult.”

“…!”

There was a moment of commotion, but soon, everyone connected to DIO. However, Youngmin stayed back.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry, bro. This house is almost like a fortress; it’s not easy to break into. Besides, I’m not that weak either.”

It went without saying that no matter how powerful the user, accessing DIO put them in a defenseless state. Once a mind flew into the world of DIO, even the most formidable beings couldn’t react quickly enough if someone attacked their real bodies.

“It’s good to be careful and take precautions, though. Because of Arthur, many have grown desperate.”

“Then… if such a situation should arise, can I use my abilities to deal with them?”josei

In other words, Youngmin was asking for Merlin’s permission to use his skills from methods other than [manifestation].

Up to now, Youngmin had hidden his true abilities so that he wouldn’t be recognized as a dimensional traveler. Now, though, the situation was dramatically different.

“Sure. Flip the entire table if needed.”

“Alright!”

Then, Yongno, Eunhye, and Miho connected to DIO.

The real world was a crucible of confusion, but there was still no problem accessing DIO. Thus, the number of in-game users didn’t decrease much.

“No, rather, since the situation is so turbulent in the real world, it seems more people are trying to desperately connect to DIO and escape reality.”

After confirming that everyone in the house had accessed DIO, Youngmin lay on the sofa and thought about the service.

In many countries, where most citizens had never experienced war, nations formed battle lines, and countless soldiers risked their lives to fight and maintain these fronts.

Recently, the level of human scientific development advanced beyond anyone’s imagination. Yet, the enemy was always evolving and presenting a constant threat, so hard-fought battles continued daily.

In fact, since the current social atmosphere was like this, the gaming industry should have significantly diminished, but in the case of DIO, which was unlike any typical game before it, the situation was a bit different.

Rather than a reduction of users logging in, as people grew increasingly desperate, they connected to DIO at increasing rates.

Numerous buildings had already been built in Dynamic Island, and people were carrying out a significant part of Earth’s social and economic activities in these in-game virtual constructs.

Numerous students attended school by accessing DIO, and employees of many companies connected to do their jobs. The only exceptions were a few companies unable to effectively operate within DIO, whether this was because they needed a real-world factory and couldn’t take advantage of the virtual meeting space or some other reason.

In addition, time passed 12 times faster in DIO than in the real world. This merit could not be discounted or overlooked.

“Above all else, there are transportation and other safety issues to consider.”

The situation had improved with the installation of broad-spectrum blockers to prevent the Legion and Grotesque from penetrating space, but the enemy forces had destroyed countless roads and buildings, and many cities were damaged beyond repair.

After the broad-spectrum blockers were installed and power lines and grids stabilized, restoration began, but as wartime rules went into effect and traffic was restricted, it became more difficult for people to commute to distant areas as they did before.

Ding!

“Man, you guys are quite determined.”

Youngmin frowned after feeling and hearing the vibrating sound of the smartphone in his hand.

Though Youngmin had a gentle temperament and character, it wasn’t easy for him to maintain his usual attitude in front of the countless Korean government officials, who utilized all sorts of conciliation attempts and threats to make Yongno do things. This was despite Yongno clearly announcing his refusal, and Youngmin reiterated this fact to the politicians time and time again.

Whether it be members of the Korean National Assembly who demanded Yongno support their political party or soldiers making unreasonable threats, all sorts of absurd requests flowed in.

‘I asked the security team to filter out calls and visitors, but it seems this guest has been able to make it all the way to the front gate. It appears they’ve resorted to threatening the security team… well, perhaps this is for the best.’

Instead of answering the phone, Youngmin left the house.

He was planning on greeting the visitor in person, but he abruptly stopped after he passed through the front door and entered the garden.

“…!”

Then, Youngmin gazed back at the mountainside behind the house.

“Hey, would you take a look at that?” Youngmin muttered.

Although the sniper was stationed far away and should’ve been impossible to see with the naked eye, Youngmin instantly recognized and identified the man as he aimed his rifle at the user.

Judging by the sniper merely watching rather than shooting, Youngmin felt he was placed as insurance in case a crisis arose. Yet, just the sniper’s deployment alone gave Youngmin an unpleasant feeling.

“Ah, Mr. Youngmin, you’re here.”

“So, who are you this time?”

“I am Shin Hyeon-ho, commander of the Capital Defense Command.”

The uniformed commander opened the front gate and stepped into the garden.

He had a solid physique as if he worked out diligently. His figure could be said to be the symbol of a modern-day soldier.

“Please call Mr. Yongno.”

“My bro told me he isn’t accepting government orders or requests at this time.”

“So obtuse! That’s why I’m asking you to call him! As we speak, many young people are dying on the battlefield while fighting the aliens! Having the power to stop it but choosing not to is essentially murder!”

The commander angrily repeated the same line that Youngmin heard every day over the phone, so Youngmin countered with the response that he had stated countless times.

“Of course, that’s unfortunate, but it’s unfair to blame Yongno. More than anything… Yongno’s choice not to mobilize isn’t because of some malicious intent. He is doing his best to resolve the current situation in his own way.”

Youngmin knew just how important Yongno’s actions were right now. Yongno wasn’t only planning on defending against the enemies’ neverending attacks but was trying to halt all [alien] beings from interfering with Earth.

Undoubtedly, Yongno was doing this because it benefited him, but in any case, if he succeeded, he would save humankind.

“Spewing such rubbish… get out of my way! I will meet and talk to him in person. I can’t communicate with you whatsoever!”

The commander shouted and tried to push Youngmin aside.

Based on what the commander had learned, Yongno’s security company employees were only situated on the outside of the property. As such, the commander thought that if he got past Yongno’s attendant, Youngmin, and entered the house, he’d be able to meet with Yongno directly.

Clearly, a Master was a threatening and intense being with power comparable to one military division, but in the end, they were just another human.

However, for whatever reason, Yongno possessed exceptional powers even when compared to other Masters. Despite this, the commander believed that, since Yongno was essentially just a kid, he would be able to talk and negotiate with Yongno using his bountiful experience as a veteran. The commander fully believed that his seniority and authority would get him a meeting with Yongno.

Plop!

However, Shin Hyeon-ho fell to the ground. Although the commander hadn’t meticulously planned every scenario, he had at least prepared for most situations. Yet, he had never considered the position he currently found himself in.

Though Youngmin was pushed aside, he didn’t move. Instead, the commander had been shoved and pushed to the ground. Behind the commander, his attendant hesitated.

“This… what…?”

The commander had already passed his middle age and grown old, but he had never taken a day off from training. When he previously oversaw the commando brigade, he often gave special martial arts lectures to the enlisted soldiers. The commander had tried to push a slim man shorter than himself, but he was the one moved aside.

“Hahaha, oh, gosh. Do I just blend in with the background? Man, even Yongno wouldn’t think of fighting me unless he manifested….”

Youngmin laughed.

Youngmin had been swept away long ago by an unexpected situation and thrown into the illusory space, a dimension beyond chaos. He was an Irregular. No one knew this fact, not even the Nether World administrators, the Noblesse, or the gods.

This Irregular could be said to be the only being on this Earth with an intact spiritual pathway, and he was essentially a biological weapon designed by divine beings. In other words, on this planet, Youngmin was an existence that, other than a [manifested Master], no one else could handle.

Ting!

A pitch-black aura spread around Youngmin.

An unbelievably creepy smile formed on his lips; if anyone who knew Youngmin, a usually gentle soul, saw him right now, they wouldn’t recognize him. The suffocating aura he projected was so intense that even the average person incapable of sensing energy would feel their skin prickling.

It was the power of Youngmin’s Heavenly Slaughter Magic Qi. Youngmin was born with the Karma of a killer. He had an innate ability to kill everything up to the heavens.

“You. All.”

Youngmin laughed as he enveloped his body in killing intent, which was visible and almost seemed tangible.