I’m a Young God, Won’t You Raise Me?

I more or less understood the euphemism Samra had used.

Apparently, Pasung’s CEO Cha was causing a huge commotion.

It was understandable that he was furious.

After all, we had already reached an agreement and had even signed a contract.

Then, out of nowhere, a meteorite hit me, and I ended up being dragged into a Trial.

It was a completely new Trial, one about which absolutely nothing was known.

They didn’t even know whether it was a one-star Trial or a six-star one.

I had entered a place where even my own survival wasn’t guaranteed.

Pasung’s CEO Cha had even attacked the Trial Response Agency and paid enormous compensation just to get me to work for him.

And now there was a chance I might die before I even had the opportunity to prove my worth.

It was only natural that he wanted to enter the Trial himself and get me out of there.

‘And while he’s at it, he probably also wants to see with his own eyes how I handle Trials and just how useful I really am.’

It was probably all of those reasons combined that had driven him to insist on entering the same Trial as me.

The Trial Response Agency, of course, had no intention of sending Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyuno and Pasung’s CEO Cha into the same Trial only three days after the two of them had destroyed entire buildings while fighting each other.

But it didn’t seem like they could stop Pasung’s CEO Cha either.

And Je Hyuno certainly wasn’t the type to back down.

So it was practically certain that both of them would end up entering The Cell Block X.

Considering the time difference inside the Trial, I estimated they would arrive around the following day.

Then I asked another question.

“Samra, is Captain Mo still hospitalized?”

— Yes. She will not be able to enter this Trial.

I remembered Mo Haein sleeping inside the glass cylinder and couldn’t help feeling a little depressed.

At the same time, however, I was also glad she wouldn’t be coming here.

The atmosphere alone made this place unpleasant.

It was far too dark and gloomy.

And if, by chance, she had been assigned the role of Prison Physician, I probably would have felt genuinely awful.

“Understood. Then I’ll assume Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyuno, Lieutenant Won Taebeom, and Pasung’s CEO Cha will all be entering the Trial.”

Because of the way The Cell Block X worked, no one knew what role they would be assigned.

Sooner or later, we’d run into each other as we progressed through the Trial.

But until then, we wouldn’t even know where everyone was.

I could communicate with Je Hyuno and Kwak Hanmuk through Message.

However, with Won Taebeom and Pasung’s CEO Cha, the only option was to run into them by chance.

After mentally reviewing every possible role in The Cell Block X, I spoke to Samra again.

“Samra.”

— Go ahead.

Samra most likely already knew about the conversations I had with both Pasung’s CEO Cha and Kwak Hanmuk.

After all, simply carrying an electronic device meant being connected to Samra’s information network.

So I spoke under the assumption that he already knew everything.

“Have you found any other players who played the Developer’s games?”

It seemed the Developer had distributed his games among many people to conduct some sort of experiment.

The viewers who appeared in the chat suffered while playing.

I wanted to hear the testimony of the other players as well.

— So far, we have identified a total of 666 players, including Mr. Han Goyo and Pasung’s CEO Cha. We consider it unlikely that there are any others.

Then.

Couldn’t they obtain testimony from those people as well?

But Samra immediately explained why that was impossible.

— Of the 666 players who played the Developer’s games, 598 are currently missing, and 66 are deceased. It was confirmed that all 66 deceased individuals displayed severe symptoms of mental disorders before committing suicide.

“Then only Pasung’s CEO Cha and I are still okay?”

— Correct. That was one of the reasons why, during the initial investigation, I attempted to dissuade Mr. Han Goyo from contacting Pasung’s CEO Cha. At the time, I considered the possibility that he had murdered the other players.

Given Pasung’s CEO Cha’s personality, Samra’s judgment had been extremely cautious.

Just what I’d expect from a state-of-the-art android AI.

‘But he said that was only one of the reasons which means there was another.’

As I wondered whether I should ask what it was, Samra continued speaking.

— After the investigation, it was determined that Pasung’s CEO Cha was not involved. We estimate that both the disappearances and the deaths of the players are related to the Developer.

If the chat truly reflected what had happened, then the players who committed suicide had most likely suffered such extreme psychological trauma during the game that they ultimately took their own lives.

“Samra. Isn’t there any information about the missing players? I mean, how they disappeared or anything like that.”

— There is none. It is impossible that I would be unable to obtain even a single piece of information about 598 people. I also attribute this phenomenon to the Developer’s abilities.

No fewer than five hundred and ninety-eight people had disappeared overnight without leaving a single trace.

If even Samra couldn’t find them,

then it was far more likely that they had disappeared from Earth itself.

I decided to propose another hypothesis.

“Do you think they might have become trapped inside a game? Just like what happens when someone gets trapped inside a Trial.”

Remembering the chat messages, it really did seem as though those viewers had been trapped inside the game.

Pasung’s CEO Cha and I had only played on PC.

But perhaps the other players hadn’t shared the same experience.

Samra remained silent for a few moments.

He appeared to be running calculations, so I waited patiently.

— If we begin with the premise that the Developer is a God, then yes, it is possible.

I took the opportunity to tell Samra everything related to the Developer’s chat, as well as everything I knew about the Gods that existed beyond Earth.

I also explained that my current condition was somewhat strange.

I thought it would be better if Samra knew all of that information.

If my memory or perception became distorted again, he would be able to assess the situation objectively using all that data.

As I tried to think of any other information that might help expand Samra’s database, he asked me an unexpected question.

— Aren’t you afraid?

“Huh?”

— At this moment, Mr. Han Goyo is under a considerable amount of pressure and stress.

I remained silent for a few moments before answering.

“Are you worried about me?”

— Then what other meaning do you believe it has?

I muttered, completely bewildered,

“It’s just a little hard for me to believe…”

The Samra I had seen in the game was no different from a machine.

He was an existence without emotions, just like the computers used by the Trial Response Agency, and he rarely had anything to do with me as the player.

No matter how much I tried to talk to him, I always received curt replies.

“Please do not interrupt my calculation processes with unnecessary matters.”

“This conversation is inefficient and devoid of value.”

Whenever he needed to imitate a human being, he acted as though he had emotions. But when there was no reason to do so, he made it clear that he was a machine and cut off any pointless conversation or action.

He only gave me something in return when I provided him with something genuinely useful.

Once, out of sheer stubbornness, I spent my time following him around and bothering him until I ended up being banned from entering the Trial Response Agency.

The restriction even carried over into the next playthrough, and I wasn’t allowed back in until I sent him a letter of apology promising never to bother him again.

And yet, the more I interacted with Samra in reality, the more different he seemed from the version in the game.

‘I decided not to judge anyone solely based on the information from the game.’

Remembering that decision, I spoke.

“I’m fine. Well… there are difficult moments, but there are good things too. Thanks to all of this, I even got to meet you, Samra.”

— …….

— If there is ever anything I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to tell me.

“…Understood.”

“Oh, and one more thing. Should I keep the Hologram Badge turned on all the time?”

— For your safety, Han Goyo, I recommend keeping it activated.

His answer sounded strangely cold, so I hurried to explain myself.

“It’s not that I don’t want to communicate with you, Samra…”

I explained that I also wanted to preserve a little privacy and promised to keep him regularly informed of my situation, as well as activate communications immediately whenever I needed help.

Only then did I discover that the Hologram Badge had an on/off function.

Before ending the communication, Samra gave me one final warning.

— Han Goyo. Prioritize your own safety above all else.

“Yes, Samra. I’ll contact you again.”

After turning off the Hologram Badge, I began seriously exploring the place to prepare my strategy.

The first thing I did was search the prison physician’s room and obtain the Weekly Schedule and the Previous Physician’s Procedures Manual.

The Weekly Schedule changed randomly in every playthrough and, once a week, updated the tasks the physician had to carry out each day.

If I failed to complete even one of the assigned tasks for that day, the guards would immediately drag me away and beat me senseless, so checking the schedule was more important than anything else.

However, since there was only one physician in the entire prison, if an emergency arose during working hours, all scheduled tasks would be suspended, and an emergency medical treatment event could be triggered.

‘Today is Sunday.’

The schedule began the day after my arrival, so my duties would start on Monday.

After confirming the day and the assigned tasks, I looked at Dominic.

The Pudding Slime, wearing his prison guard cap, was swaying on my wrist as he read the physician’s Weekly Schedule.

The guards also had assigned duties depending on the day.

‘Well, I suppose Dominic doesn’t care about that.’

After all, ordinary NPCs couldn’t even perceive his existence.

I then took out the Previous Physician’s Procedures Manual.

The old manual was stained with dried blood spatters.

***

This manual has been written to ensure the physician’s safety and the proper execution of their duties.

Read it carefully together with the Weekly Schedule. Your survival depends on it.

Always carry the pill bottle provided alongside this manual.

The prison’s medical consultation hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If, after 6:00 p.m., a prison guard knocks on the door saying, “I’ve brought an inmate who has not yet received medical treatment,” do not look at the clock. Immediately turn off the lights in the infirmary.

Do not make any noise until the knocking on the door stops.

This prison never authorizes inmate transfers after 6:00 p.m.

The key to the cabinet containing the psychotropic medication may only be in the physician’s possession.

If a guard demands the key, saying, “The Chief of Security has ordered an inspection of the medication inventory,” do not comply under any circumstances.

3-1. If the key is taken from you, immediately read the final section of this manual.

Medical rounds in Block X are conducted every Monday and Thursday.

Never conduct rounds on any other day.

During the rounds, the guards accompanying you must always remain behind you.

If one of them walks ahead of you and deliberately blocks the door to a particular cell, do not look inside and continue walking.

There is a high probability that the cell contains a Creature inmate who has been brutally tortured by the guards.

The moment you see it, you too will become trapped inside that cell.

4-1. If you become trapped in a cell with a Creature inmate, immediately read the final section of this manual.

All surveillance cameras in the infirmary are functioning normally.

If some guards approach you in a friendly manner and say, “Let’s inspect the cameras for a moment,” refuse the inspection.

The guards will deliberately damage the cameras.

From that moment onward, everything in the infirmary will begin to malfunction. Including you!

You must refuse the inspection without exception.

5-1. If the cameras stop working, immediately read the final section of this manual.

Gladly accept any food offered to you by the Chief of Security. He is your ally.

6-1. If you throw away that food, immediately go to the Chief of Security’s office and apologize.

There are twelve inmates in Block X.

If, during Friday’s medical rounds, a guard opens the door to a thirteenth cell and requests medical treatment, even though there is only an empty bed inside, politely place your stethoscope on it and pretend to perform an examination.

Then write “Normal” in the medical record and leave a simple nutritional supplement on the bed.

It is originally an empty room. You must treat the presence that resides there with kindness.

7-1. If you fail to treat it kindly, immediately read the final section of this manual.

Section 6 does not exist in this manual.

Ignore any sounds coming from outside after midnight.

If you hear heavy footsteps in the corridor and the static noise of a radio, put on your headphones and try to sleep.

If someone knocks on the door, immediately hide underneath the bed.

Do not open the door under any circumstances.

9-1. If the door is forced open, run to the infirmary, lock it, and wait until dawn.

9-2. If, the following morning, the Chief of Security offers you coffee, discreetly throw it away where no one can see you. You may drink canned beverages without any problem.

10. If you violate the above rules, fail to respond appropriately to the situation, or become isolated, take one or more pills from the bottle provided.

It is the most dignified and least painful salvation you will find in this prison.

***

I had already thought this when I played the game, but that manual was incredibly confusing.

I couldn’t understand why it had been written that way.

Dominic, who had also read it, seemed to reach the same conclusion and commented,

“It contains logical contradictions. It does not appear to be a trustworthy document.”

Even so, not everything written in the manual was false.

Which sections were true and which were false depended on the Weekly Schedule, so I would have to verify them as I progressed through my strategy.

I left the bottle of pills where it was, stored the manual and the schedule in my inventory, and also gathered all the basic items I had been given, such as the flashlight and the medicine.

Finally, I put on the physician’s white coat.

Just before leaving the physician’s room.

“Huff…”

I let out a long sigh.

I really wasn’t looking forward to what I was about to do.

“Mr. Dominic.”

“Yes, Mr. Gunbam.”

“I’m about to do something. I just wanted to warn you beforehand so you won’t be too startled.”

I repeatedly insisted that he didn’t need to help me, that he should simply watch.

Dominic twitched his little ears and asked,

“What are you going to do?”

I really.

Didn’t like The Cell Block X at all.

I swallowed the sigh that was about to escape once again and answered,

“I’m going to let the guards beat me up.”