Damned System

Chapter 14: Server Connection (4)

《System Message》

〈Yes, it is possible.〉

A response came back almost immediately, and my eyes narrowed.

“So, there are no limitations to the update as I thought.”

Was it merely my speculation?

《System Message》

〈When you connect to the server with Bihar, you can utilize the divinity invested in program development. Please let us know what you wish to adjust; we will try our best to modify it.〉

It seemed that while no updates were possible at the moment, it would be feasible once the servers were merged.

Though I wasn’t entirely sure what “invested strength” meant, that didn’t matter as much.

Hearing a positive response about the update was enough for me.

‘There’s no reason to delay if it’s possible.’

I started venting the frustrations I had accumulated while playing this game.

“First, change the way mana is absorbed.”

This was a matter that must be addressed.

《System Message》

〈This is not possible. The humans of Earth do not possess the power to transcend their inherent limits. Absorbing and purifying mana is essential for training troops.〉

However, the system rejected my suggestion as soon as it heard it.

It must be quite important if I’m bringing it up right from the beginning. Yet, it got rejected without even a moment’s consideration?

‘You show signs of someone who has never played a game.’

A surge of irritation rose within me, but I held it back once.

Up to now, it was merely a rogue tossing me into the fray without reason, but from this point onwards, we needed to cooperate until this war ended.

Even if I didn’t like a team member, I couldn’t just vent my anger and lash out.

“What I mean is, even if we absorb mana, why not express it differently?”

I tried my best to explain it rationally.

“The current method just drains the motivation to play.”

As soon as I earned mana, I would use it, leaving a sense of deprivation.

I worked hard to reach a strength of 6000, but after using the shop a little, I weakened back to 2000. How does that make sense?

Who would like a game where you grow only to be weakened again?

Even without physical changes, there is a psychological backlash from perceiving changes in numbers.

Many more players are needed for this war, as confirmed by the main scenario.

“To immerse those players in this game, we need to change the structure that is no different from a hindrance. Understand?”

The system remained silent as I pointed out the issues one by one.

“So instead of representing it as a mana amount, express it in another form. Like points or something like that.”

I thought this could be a reasonably feasible solution.

《System Message》

〈If you refer to a method that involves earning points to operate mana and shops, that too is impossible.〉

Unfortunately, the system had a different perspective.

《System Message》

〈Attempting to acquire knowledge that contradicts cause with unpurified mana greatly reduces efficiency. The values set in the shop would rise to at least ten times current rates.〉

Believing this was crucial information, I focused on the system’s explanation.

《System Message》

〈To maintain current prices, after absorbing and purifying mana, servers should handle that before making it available for players to use.〉

What was it trying to say?

《System Message》

〈If the level of interference increases to that extent, the causality is likely to intervene and disrupt.〉

Causality? What’s that now?

I ruffled my hair roughly and asked,

“The causality, the one I’m familiar with?”

That thing which states cause should precede result?

《System Message》

〈There is a natural flow existing between cause and result. The causality functions to maintain this flow, removing unnatural or non-causal flows.〉

《System Message》

〈The causality is a very old rule, and even I do not know its origin. However, it is not impossible to evade the oversight and regulation of the causality.〉

It was truly the first time hearing such a story.

《System Message》

〈Deviating from the flow of causality is possible by expending divinity. My game is a prime example of this.〉

The point the system was making was simple.

Originally, absorbing energy that belonged to another life form would not be allowed within the natural flow.

However, the system’s game, being unnatural, allowed players to indulge in what should be forbidden.

And it was created at the expense of the system’s divinity.

The game, that should by nature have vanished due to causality involvement, remained for this reason.

The causality turned a blind eye in exchange for the system’s divinity.

Upon grasping this much, a memory surfaced in my mind.

When Ahel explained about mana.

‘He said you pay a price for defying nature with mana.’

Was it a similar principle?

《System Message》

〈By principle, I shouldn’t be interfering in matters internal to this dimension. It’s because adopting the game’s form is a method familiar and highly autonomous to humanity.〉

《System Message》

〈Thus, by allowing most choices to be left to individual player decisions, I minimized my interference.〉

If individuals were responsible for purification and absorption, the server’s role would diminish, also reducing the divinity required in exchange.

Conversely, increasing the server’s role within the gaming structure would necessitate more divinity.

If an update attempts to expand the server’s role without sufficient divinity?

‘The causality might step in and erase the game itself.’

All the divinity invested would vanish into thin air.

I didn’t quite understand what exactly this “divinity” meant.

Just that it was perhaps a power possessed by those titled as gods.

I considered asking but quickly shook my head.

‘This level of understanding is sufficient for now.’

Given that there was no additional divinity the system could use beyond what was tied to the current game, I understood.

Since there was a limitation to this conversation’s time, there was no need to delve further and waste time.

《System Message》

〈Even by mobilizing all operable divinity, it is insufficient to alter the mana absorption structure.〉

Investing more divinity here would puncture the hole the system blocks.

That meant monsters would cross over to Earth.

The system was effectively walking a tightrope against this causality.

One slip, and everything invested in the game would be wasted.

‘Causality….’

In all my life, I had never been aware of such a governing rule of the world.

Internally absorbing the strange concept, I crossed my arms and organized my thoughts.

My demands presented a risk to the very game itself.

There wasn’t sufficient reason to risk an update carrying such peril.

‘None.’

Unless there was certainty that firearms would be effective.

If the monsters’ inherent mana climbed up to 80, a mere sword wouldn’t even pierce its hide.

‘Perhaps destructive bombs might work…’

If a war employing chemical weapons erupted in modern society, predicting the aftermath would be impossible.

What if nuclear weapons were used? We’d suffer from radiation exposure.

‘They say if nations fired all their nukes, over half of humanity would evaporate.’

I wasn’t sure whether it was an article or a web community post.

But I remember reading it somewhere.

Firing nuclear missiles merely because the targets were monsters would render Earth uninhabitable.

By contrast, players who use mana aren’t burdened by such issues.

While physical damage is unavoidable, at least there’d be lesser worries about radiation exposure.

‘To train players, carrying this inconvenient structure is apparently inevitable.’

For now, I’d have to concede.

I decided not to linger on updating the mana structure.

I just placed it next to the pile of unresolved questions.

It could be difficult currently, but someday, when I could find substitutes for what divinity needed to be paid.

‘Until then, I’ll endure the inconvenience.’

Nonetheless, there were plenty of other issues needing amendments.

“Then how about the inventory?”

The inventory I used at present had five slots, each with a 10kg weight limit.

The issue was that I could only put ‘one’ item in each slot.

If I placed a dagger, despite having leftover weight capacity, nothing else could fit.

To put a long sword and dagger together, it required grouping them as ‘one’ through a bag or pouch.

How inconvenient had this been.

“Even if you reduce the total slots, make it possible to group them, allowing storage by weight!”

Of course, that wasn’t all.

“Whenever I’m purchasing skills, do you expect me to gamble? Specify matching attributes! Also, alongside the rank of mana, display it, so players can understand without needing additional explanations!”

Remembering these, more issues kept surfacing.

“Why are item descriptions so poor? Trying to leave an impression? This isn’t a literary work, so no need for open-ended conclusions. If you’re giving information, do so properly!”

Excluding the three months the Earth’s main server was inactive, my gameplay period with the game wasn’t long.

Yet, there were so many discomforts that words kept spilling out.

“And the main scenario video.”

By the time I mentioned this, I couldn’t contain my frustration.

“Did you seriously think anyone would come to this world with that kind of setup?”

Hero complex? Sure, everyone dreams of a moment to be a hero.

That’s why superhero movies sell so well.

However, this game wasn’t a movie.

‘When you watch a movie, you don’t stake your life.’

How many people would really risk their life to save a stranger’s peace?

Don’t think that there are many who adhere to righteousness or gallantry as depicted in novels or movies.

While mouths and minds declare the need to help the weak, the scenario changes when life hinges on a thin line.

‘When there’s room to breathe, everyone can say one should aid others.’

Then, when things get tight, must they wager their life, and that of their dear ones, to help others?

Bravely safeguarding others while endangering oneself is no easy feat.

Were it easy, human history wouldn’t be so drenched in blood.

Human nature isn’t inherently noble or beautiful.

Naturally, as individuals are born isolated, detached from others.

When imminent danger entraps one, they become self-aware but not of others.

Thus, the palpable sense of oneself overrides the vague concept of others.

From the beginning, the reason sacrifice is revered is that it’s hard to go against human nature.

“If you expect humans to risk their lives for strangers at your beck and call, even those willing to come will flee!”

Perhaps, this might have worked for modern individuals submerged in peace.

‘For they can only vaguely guess what death entails.’

In ignorance, one can afford to be brave.

On the other hand, those who experienced the tutorial, met monsters, and watched the community’s decreasing numbers?

They faced death nearer than ordinary modern individuals.

They personally encountered life-threatening situations.

‘Although this takes on the form of a game, one mustn’t forget it’s reality.’

The threat to life is indeed substantive.

Yet, to fight monsters for unknown individuals’ sake?

Hardly a handful would respond grandly to the system’s call.

However, if you stake the rewards from this world instead of intangible goodwill?

If players’ participation compelled them through their own ‘desires’?

‘They’d arrive.’

Not everyone, but surely more than if appealing to virtue itself.

Desire can at times be strong enough to forget instincts.

‘For modern individuals familiarized with capitalism, this provides a more enticing condition.’

Those with little might respond more explicitly.

It could offer them a chance to overturn their reality.

“This carries no risk whatsoever. It must be changed.”

I asserted in a low, calm voice.

《System Message》

〈I have understood the concerns you pointed out. We will strongly reflect player Kang Hyunwoo’s opinions, considering humanity’s traits regarding this issue.〉

“Phew.”

Sighing as if emptying my insides, I brushed my hair back.

Thankfully, it seemed all this could be modified unlike the mana absorption structure.

“And also.”

Of course, I wasn’t done yet. One remained.

“Please, the notification sounds.”

I clenched my hands tightly to avoid raising my voice.

“Make it possible to set them to mute.”

This one was something I genuinely needed. Though mixed with personal frustrations, I earnestly wanted this notification sound feature updated.

I planned to create a new guide once back on Earth, and I couldn’t keep suffering from incessant alerts.

Thus, I brought it up with heartfelt sincerity.

《System Message》

〈I thought it was merely a habitual complaint, but was it truly uncomfortable?〉

This damned system grated on my nerves.

Damned System.