I’m a Young God, Won’t You Raise Me?

Hanging under Pasung’s CEO Cha’s arm, I found myself enjoying the absurdity of the situation.

I could only sum up my thoughts in one sentence.

‘This is insane.’

After hearing Je Hyuno’s words, Pasung’s CEO Cha let out a brief, mocking laugh.

“Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyuno, you’re quite confident in yourself, aren’t you?”

After that, the two of them simply stared at each other in silence.

I knew it wasn’t the time for it, but I still couldn’t stop shifting my gaze back and forth between Je Hyuno and Pasung’s CEO Cha.

It was hard to believe that two beings who were so alike and yet so different were standing face to face.

In the World Archive, they had almost never shared the same stage.

Putting two people with such overwhelming individual abilities into the same Trial would have been a waste.

Even though the Trial Response Agency, as a government organization, and Pasung, as a private company, cooperated with one another, Je Hyuno and Pasung’s CEO Cha never handled a Trial together.

That was why they almost never crossed paths.

Even so, both were fully aware of the other’s existence.

And they also knew that, to stop the Trials that continued multiplying, they would eventually need each other.

‘Although Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyuno doesn’t seem to realize that.’

At that moment, it looked like the only thing on his mind was smashing Pasung’s CEO Cha to pieces with his metallic hand.

No matter how insane Pasung’s CEO Cha’s actions had been, under no circumstances could he be seriously injured or killed.

And it wasn’t just because he was my favorite character.

If someone like him disappeared, humanity’s defense against the Trials would suffer a devastating blow.

There wasn’t a single Suitable in the entire world who could compare to Pasung’s CEO Cha.

Even if he had torn away an entire side of the Trial Response Agency building, I was certain that not even Director Jang Seokyun would ever impose a punishment that prevented him from participating in Trials.

Maybe it was because I kept glancing at them.

Without realizing it, both Je Hyuno and Pasung’s CEO Cha had turned their eyes toward me.

Startled, I lowered my gaze.

But, with the worst possible timing, I was suddenly hit by a violent coughing fit.

“Cough…! Cough, cough!”

There was still an enormous amount of dust hanging in the air.

I couldn’t help feeling a little wronged.

Je Hyuno was wearing a gas mask.

Pasung’s CEO Cha had his mask.

Even Seo Mooncha didn’t seem affected.

In the end, it felt like I was the only one who had inhaled all the dust.

When I finally stopped coughing loudly, an awkward silence fell over the area.

With a hoarse voice, I apologized awkwardly.

“Sorry for interrupting your conversation. I just breathed in too much dust…”

Then a loud laugh echoed through the air.

Even mixed with that mechanical tone, it was unmistakably laughter.

I looked up at Pasung’s CEO Cha in complete bewilderment.

After laughing for a few moments, he looked down at me and said,

“I’d better take you to Pasung as soon as possible.”

For that brief instant, I almost wanted to sign the contract.

Simply because I was overwhelmingly curious about what expression he was hiding behind that mask while he laughed.

Clink. Clink.

The faint sound of metal striking metal rang out.

It was Je Hyuno moving his metallic hand.

Pasung’s CEO Cha immediately stopped laughing and openly sighed.

“How impatient.”

He then drew his sword.

Great Sun Tathāgata revealed its blade as it radiated white light.

It seemed that, in the end, the two of them were going to fight after all.

To prevent Samra from detecting his movements, Pasung’s CEO Cha had used an extraordinarily valuable consumable.

If my guess was correct, it was an item that couldn’t be obtained even for a fortune.

It was precisely because Pasung’s CEO Cha himself preferred to avoid confronting Je Hyuno and the Trial Response Agency’s Suitables whenever possible that he had resorted to using such a valuable item.

But even so.

If a confrontation had become inevitable.

‘Then he never intended to retreat in the first place…’

I felt like my head was going to explode.

Wasn’t there any way to prevent all of this?

But it seemed impossible.

There was no need to mention Je Hyuno.

And Pasung’s CEO Cha wasn’t going to retreat either after coming this far without gaining anything in return.

At this rate, it really seemed as though one of them would have to die before this was over.

“Pasung’s CEO Cha. That’s enough.”

Then I heard a familiar voice.

It was Director Jang Seokyun.

He had arrived together with Samra and a group of Trial Response Agency soldiers.

One step behind them stood Won Taebeom as well.

The first thing I did was quickly check Samra’s and Won Taebeom’s condition.

Fortunately, neither of them appeared to have suffered any serious injuries.

Samra’s arms had returned completely to normal.

The Trial Response Agency soldiers were fully armed, but not one of them pointed their weapon at Pasung’s CEO Cha.

Wearing an utterly exhausted expression, Director Jang Seokyun spoke.

“Continuing this would only be a pointless act and a meaningless waste.”

But Pasung’s CEO Cha showed no intention whatsoever of sheathing Great Sun Tathāgata.

And, of course, neither did Je Hyuno.

Jang Seokyun discreetly gestured toward me with his eyes before speaking again.

“It appears Recruit Han’s condition isn’t exactly good.”

Samra fixed his gaze on Pasung’s CEO Cha.

“Han Goyo regained consciousness only moments ago after fourteen days. He is currently suffering from paralysis in the lower half of his body and an overall decline in his physical functions.”

For some reason, I felt as though his gaze was almost accusatory.

“Pasung’s CEO Cha. Was this the outcome you intended to achieve?”

“Of course not. The one who created this situation was the Trial Response Agency. Not me.”

Pasung’s CEO Cha raised Great Sun Tathāgata and pointed it at Samra.

“Samra. You know perfectly well why I had to go this far, don’t you? And you as well, Director Jang?”

I wished someone would explain to me whatever it was that Samra and Director Jang Seokyun seemed to know.

But Pasung’s CEO Cha’s words ended there.

The situation, which had seemed to calm down slightly with Director Jang Seokyun’s arrival, was gradually beginning to deteriorate once again.

While I was still hanging under Pasung’s CEO Cha’s arm, something suddenly occurred to me.

‘Isn’t this a good opportunity?’

At that moment, I basically had three options.

Become a freelancer.

Join Pasung.

Join the Trial Response Agency.

Objectively, the first was the most difficult.

Neither Pasung nor the Trial Response Agency would let me act on my own.

And besides, I also needed the protection of an organization.

According to what Samra had told me earlier, my personal information was already being circulated overseas.

Maybe it was just an unfounded concern, but I couldn’t rule out the possibility that someone might try to kidnap me.

So that left only two options Pasung or the Trial Response Agency.

And just now, Pasung had detonated a real bomb.

They had torn off an entire side of the Trial Response Agency building to demonstrate how important “Han Goyo” was to them.

On top of that, I had fulfilled my promise to the Trial Response Agency by clearing three Trials in one month.

In principle, that meant my contract as a recruit had already ended.

‘That means I can legally move between Pasung and the Trial Response Agency.’

Neither Pasung nor the Trial Response Agency had wanted me to have a choice.

But as things became more complicated, the situation had ended up becoming exactly that.

And thanks to Je Hyuno arriving at the perfect moment, Pasung’s CEO Cha could no longer force me to sign that contract.

In other words.

I now had a unique opportunity to extract the greatest possible benefit from both organizations.

The problem was how to take advantage of it.

If I made some mediocre remark, they would simply ignore me.

After thinking for a few seconds, I timidly raised one hand.

“Excuse me…”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward me at the same time.

Now the center of attention, I put on the most miserable expression I could manage and spoke.

“First of all, I think I need to stay alive if I’m going to sign a contract with either Pasung or the Trial Response Agency, don’t you agree? I assume everyone agrees with that.”

No one answered.

But I decided to assume they did and pretended to feel a little worse.

“I think I’m dying…”

Just as I was about to add that, if Je Hyuno and Pasung’s CEO Cha started fighting, I’d probably die in the middle of the battle.

Incredibly, the very moment I said those words, I felt my condition genuinely worsen.

“Mr. Gunbam.”

I heard Dominic’s voice.

He sounded slightly bewildered.

Now that I thought about it, I had only just woken up after fourteen days. Maybe I really had pushed myself too hard.

“…?”

Drip.

Suddenly, something surged violently up from inside me and spilled out of my mouth before I could stop it.

I quickly raised a hand to my lips.

I felt a warm wetness.

Slowly, I lowered my hand.

My entire palm was stained red.

That was the last thing I saw.

Before I lost consciousness.

***

“Mr. Gunbam, did you have fun this time too?”

[Gunbam: It was amazing! I loved the characters.]

[Gunbam: And the extra scene you added after the ending was really interesting.]

[Gunbam: It was also really fun exploring the Trial Response Agency and Seoul inside the game.]

[Gunbam: Will the next game have an extra scene too?]

[Gunbam: Please include one. T_T]

“Of course. I’ll make sure the next one has one too.”

[Gunbam: Thank you so much!]

“It’s nothing. As long as Mr. Gunbam enjoys himself, that’s enough for me.”

[Gunbam: I really do have a lot of fun.]

“How fortunate I was to find Mr. Gunbam. If I hadn’t found you… I… would still be looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you, looking for you…”

[Gunbam: Are you okay?]

“Ah… sorry, Mr. Gunbam. I frightened you, didn’t I? It was nothing. Forget about it.”

[Gunbam: But…]

“Forget it.”

[Gunbam: Okay.]

“Haah… I don’t want to act like this in front of Mr. Gunbam. What if I keep touching him and he ends up getting hurt? Ah… no. That can’t happen. Never Mr. Gunbam. At least not him. Ah… ah… Mr. Gunbam. Why aren’t you saying anything? Say something. Quickly. Please!”

[Gunbam: Ah, I think I fell asleep for a moment. T_T I wasn’t even that tired today…]

“Really? Then you’ve already forgotten what I said just now, right?”

[Gunbam: That the next game will have an extra scene too? I didn’t forget.]

“Very good, Mr. Gunbam. Well done. Then I’ll give you the next game today.”

[Gunbam: Wow! What’s it going to be about this time?]

“This time, the game will be…”

***

I slowly opened my eyes.

It wasn’t the familiar hospital room at the Trial Response Agency.

It was an entirely different room.

‘Right. A whole side of the Trial Response Agency building was torn off.’

With such a massive hole in the building, it was obvious they wouldn’t be able to use it for a while.

“……”

As I absentmindedly thought about that, a chill slowly crept over me.

It was because of the dream I had just had.

In that dream, I had recovered memories I had forgotten.

My past self had been unable to realize that the Developer had been acting like a complete madman right in front of his eyes.

And I had a feeling that it hadn’t happened only once.

Although I still couldn’t remember clearly, there had surely been many other occasions when anyone would have felt that something wasn’t right.

Yet the me back then had accepted every strange phenomenon I experienced while watching the Developer’s streams and playing his games as though they were perfectly normal.

Without suspecting a thing.

‘What if it wasn’t that I was incapable of suspecting anything, but that I was being manipulated?’

If the Developer truly was a divine being, that was entirely possible.

Manipulating a human mind wouldn’t be difficult for him.

After all.

Until recently, I myself had completely forgotten all of that.

I didn’t know why those memories had returned specifically in the form of a dream.

But as I tried to piece them back together, a chill ran down my spine.

The Trials had begun four years ago, when a meteorite fell to Earth.

And yet.

The me from back then hadn’t even been aware that the meteorite had fallen.

It’s true that I had been completely isolated from the outside world at the time.

But even so, it was strange.

Even if the Developer had been manipulating me, I hadn’t started playing Archive until two years later.

And even when I met Samra after clearing Haspack.

The moment I realized, thanks to him, that everything I had experienced in the game was actually happening in the real world.

I hadn’t felt the slightest doubt.

And only now did I realize how strange my way of thinking had been.

Once I understood that both my memories and my perception had been distorted, a much deeper question began tormenting me.

‘Am I really in my right mind?’

I didn’t even know when everything had started going wrong.

“……”

I slowly exhaled.

I ran a hand over my face, soaked in cold sweat.

Perhaps, once I completely digested ■■■■, I would recover even more memories.

“Mr. Gunbam, how are you feeling?”

Dominic’s voice finally managed to calm me down.

“I never imagined Mr. Gunbam would be so fragile.”

As I listened to the Pudding Slime’s lament, I remembered the disaster that had taken place just before I lost consciousness.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder if they managed to resolve all that?’

I had passed out before I could even try to persuade anyone, so I had no idea how everything had ended.

I wouldn’t have been surprised to discover that the room I was in now belonged to Pasung.

‘Although why is there no one here again?’

With some effort, I managed to sit up, and while checking whether I could finally move my legs.

The room’s door opened.

I thought it would be Samra, so I turned my head.

But.

“Recruit Han. You’re finally awake.”

The one who entered the room was Director Jang Seokyun.