Chapter 159

[Due to some circumstances, we had to replace the translator from Chapter 161 forward. With the difference in their work hours and capacity, we also replaced the editing team handling this series. We've fully translated the story and are finishing up the editing process. We apologize for the inconvenience.]

[7/14 We lost Page data when we migrated our website. The notes above were made months ago. We already finished the series, we will be uploading them once we catch up with Community Unlock.]

Episode 159. Break down (5)

The week passed by swiftly. My training went well, and I managed to become powerful enough to meet the standard I had set. Not strong enough to overpower, but enough to not be overwhelmed.

As soon as my training was over, I headed to Utopia. Since I often left the Traveler's space to get some air, he didn't ask why. I moved casually as if I was following my daily routine.

"This should be it."

I looked down at the ticket in the middle of a crowded street. The location written on it was definitely there, and the fancy building was there as usual.

"... Where's the entrance?"

However, there was no entrance. There was no door in the tall, grand building. It was covered in various ornaments and shining lights, but I couldn't figure out how to get in.

I stood in front of the building for a while, still holding the ticket in my hand. Was there some sort of special entrance only known to VIPs?

"Excuse me, are you a client?"

As I stood there awkwardly, a well-dressed man in a suit approached me. After hesitating for a moment, I replied.

"Yes. It's been a while... But my company is late. Could you tell me when the Game is about to start?"

At the word client, I guessed that he was related to the boss's Game. If he wasn't, too bad, and if he was, then good. That was what I thought.

"Oh, of course. It will start in at least 5 minutes. Why don't you get seated first? I'll show your company to your table when they arrive. And their name would be...?"

"Don't bother. I don't want to worry about someone who can't be on time. If it's starting in 5 minutes, I'll head in by myself."

"Oh, yes. Of course. Then..."

I was right. I responded as calmly as possible to the man asking about my non-existent company's name. I had heard that only high-ranking VIPs could participate in the boss's Games, and that was what the man would think of me.

So if I acted like I was in a bad mood and like I didn't want to speak anymore, he wouldn't talk to me. Unlike those in somewhat significant positions, he wouldn't prefer speaking to VIP members, especially since he was merely in charge of small errands.

"Yes, ticket confirmed. Please enjoy!"

And with his greeting, the building wall melted away, revealing the dazzling sight inside.

I could see a lot more diverse Transcendents than those I usually saw on the streets of Utopia. Some looked like humans, and some looked like elements such as fire or electric sparks. There were ones that looked like animals or a certain individual. There were all sorts of Transcendents in the building, but they had one thing in common. They felt like a solid wall on the inside.

That meant that their class differed greatly from mine and solidified their image so that they wouldn't waver. I wouldn't be able to easily get rid of the Transcendents there, unlike the way I did with the Clown.

In other words, it was a group of stubborn guys that never listened to anyone else but themselves. Their beliefs were so strong that other factors would rarely sway them.

"Hm..."

Of all the empty tables, I sat at the one in the farthest corner and swept my hair back. I was going to look around to read the room, but then...

"Ah, it's been a while since there's been a new face. You look like you just recently transcended... How did you find this place? Hm?"

Someone approached me, and he sounded like he was looking for a fight. He was wearing a helmet and was entirely covered in armor. Yet strangely, I could see from the slit in his helmet that the inside of his armor was empty. Well, that place was certainly full of distinctive Transcendents.

"Why aren't you talking? I'm just curious. Or... did you grab hold of some impressive Transcendent to sponsor you?"

"..."

"Hey, speak up. I'm not going to hurt you. Hahaha!"

He laughed out loud, and then other Transcendents that looked like his company also showed up. They seemed like golems made of clay. Two golems criticized me as soon as they showed up, just like the armor Transcendent.

"What is this dude? He can't even properly change his appearance. How did such a loser become a VIP?"

"It looks like the quality of these Games has gone way down. Shit!"

"Ugh... Do we really have to watch alongside losers like this guy?"

"..."

Seeing them, I could tell how things were like. The boss's Games were meant to be entertaining world games, but they were also unique, and they were exclusive entertainment for high-ranking VIPs. If a nobody like me joined in, it would make them less special. So they were trying to chase me away to stop that from happening.

"Hey, who's the Transcendent sponsoring you? Who was so clueless to send a puny shrimp like this?"

"Must be someone with loads of money but no power. You know, the ones that haven't forgotten physical pleasures even after becoming Transcendents... So they sometimes make bodies in their worlds to mingle with inferior Transcendents, and then they hand them money."

"Ha, hahahaha! Now that you mentioned it, he does kind of look like the type. The way he looks suits it, too."

They were pretty foul-mouthed.

'Hm. What to do with these guys?' I thought for a moment. They were acting immaturely, but their class was no joke. It could be difficult to deal with three at once, and getting in there wasn't easy. Getting kicked out for causing trouble would render everything useless.

'But I can't appear weak.'

That would damage how others envisioned me. If a high-class Transcendents looked at me differently, the probability of me gaining a new modifier would increase. The moment a seemingly insignificant being disrupted the order and crushed others, he would become a rookie, and his class would skyrocket. That was how it worked among Transcendents. A single moment could change their perception, and a turbulent image could change everything about someone.

I didn't plan on watching the boss's Game and quietly leaving today. I was even thinking of killing him right away if I got the chance. The faster I got rid of him, the sooner the terrible world games would stop and bring peace. So I had to do everything I was capable of. If I could become a bit stronger, I had to do it. And if something was the tiniest bit advantageous, I needed to do it.

'Overwhelm. I should create an instantly overwhelming image.'

A seemingly lesser individual was hiding something, and all the ones that harassed him were defeated instead. It was a story that appealed to everyone.

I started to make an image in my mind. The situation was set. So what could I use to reverse my image? There was no need to think anymore. My sponsor. I could simply use the sponsor that they kept bringing up.

"So, you really want to know?"

"Hey, he spoke at last. Yeah. Who's your sponsor? And what's with your face? Haha, do you find this humiliating? So what. The Transcendent taking care of you can't even touch us. It was wrong for you to get in here from the start!"

"Okay. I'll tell you then."

I bit my lip as if I was suffering a great insult. That would cause the situation to become more dramatic. I might not look like it, but I enjoyed reading novels and watching tv shows when I was a kid. I could vividly remember scenes like that.

"I'm favored by the Faceless King."

"...?"

And with that, not just the three but all of the Transcendents talking inside the building turned pale. Everyone stared at me. Their eyes looked like those of rabbits that suddenly encountered a giant tiger. It was as if they had seen an apex predator—an incomparably strong opponent who could crush them with a single kick.

"I'll pass on every single word you said. I didn't know that there was a Transcendent that the Faceless King couldn't dare touch and one that could insult him like that."

"W-wait..."

"What are your names? I'll remember every single one and let him know."

"..."

"What are your names?"

They paled at my firm voice.

The Faceless King. What sort of name was it? He didn't even show up himself, but the mere mention of his name had petrified everyone. They were holding their breath as if they didn't want anything to do with me. As if they didn't want to be connected to that situation in the least.

"... Please spare us. Spare us. We're sorry. We failed to recognize you and behaved rudely. Please... We'll give you anything you want and do anything you say. Please."

"P-please. Please don't tell the Faceless King what I said..."

The tables were turned. I stared down at them indifferently as I felt the numerous gazes upon me. Hm, it was about time I heard something.

[The 'Akashic Records' senses a change in the user.]

Ah, yes.

[The user Jeong Si-woo's 'class' advances.]

[The user's second 'modifier' has been born.]

.

.

"Please..."

I focused on the voice as I looked at the Transcendents kneeling with their heads digging into the floor. Honestly, I wasn't that interested in what would happen to those guys.

"Beat it for now. I'll decide what to do with you after I see how you behave during the Game."

"T-thank you. Thank you!"

They bowed deeply and backed off so quickly it looked like they were running. I smiled faintly. Even after they left, I could still feel Transcendents' glances at me. It was probably because I could change my image thanks to those punks.

-The Man of Reversal-

-"The moment the seemingly insignificant man mentioned his sponsor, he became the biggest giant there. Those crushed by him confessed their wrongs and begged for his mercy."

-Even in the worst situations, there is always a way out.

-A miracle happens when fighting with an opponent vastly superior in class and when the result is obvious. The miracle can be highly trivial or surprisingly magnificent.

'This... will help me greatly.'

Two modifiers and the powers I had prepared. With that, I was currently probably more than small fry.

The area that surrounded my table was very quiet. The Transcendents were still wary of me, so the mood had changed entirely. The bar was uncharacteristically silent.

However, it didn't take long for the ice to thaw.

"Thank you for your patience."

A man walked out from the back.

"Let the Game begin!"

The moment he shouted, a roar filled the room, ripping through the silence, while a strange being slowly walked out from behind the man.

There was no need to use the Akashic Records to observe him. It was the boss.

'... Damn, he looks powerful.'