I Became an Illegal Cheat User

93 – Identification

An ordinary day, just like any other.

Of course, there were cracks appearing in nearby cities, and terror attacks happening in others, but such incidents were akin to natural disasters that had been ongoing for a long time.

For those who had not suffered direct harm, the blue sky represented a normal yet ‘peaceful’ daily life.

However, Kim Woo-jin, a ‘crime and accident specialist reporter’ working at a major newspaper, had been feeling dissatisfied with his routine for several months.

Bang!

“Ugh, seriously! Are they trying to force us to resign or what?!”

Today, once again rejected for his article, Kim Woo-jin cursed as he threw the document file he was holding onto his desk. He then slumped into his chair, letting out a deep sigh filled with anger and worry.

At that moment, a junior colleague who was surfing the internet in the next cubicle pulled his chair back and said to Kim Woo-jin,

“See, senior? You said you’d get rejected again today, right?”

“…Ha, what’s up with the manager these days? He’s been rejecting everything for months.”

“Exactly. It’s like he suddenly changed into a different person.”

“It’s not just the manager; everyone around us is acting strange.”

In agreement with Kim Woo-jin’s words about the manager and colleagues, the junior nodded and sighed.

Then, he stood up from his chair and cautiously looked around.

“Hey, what article are you writing today? I’m going to write one about this hero.”

“Oh, really? You’re going to write about that hero?”

“Why? Were you planning to write it? If so, go ahead. I can write about another hero.”

“Well, there are plenty of heroes to pick apart.”

Even though the department they were in was supposed to be focused on ‘crime and accident’ reporting, listening to their colleagues, all the discussions revolved around ‘heroes’—specifically, which hero destroyed something, or which hero injured someone, laden with criticism.

Yet, in truth, amidst the critical remarks, there should have been mentions of ‘saving someone’ or ‘protecting someone.’

But the colleagues deliberately omitted words like rescue, salvation, and sacrifice, instead inserting terms like destruction, intent, and murder, crafting an article that was both provocative and negative.

“…They weren’t like that from the beginning.”

The junior mumbled in a voice filled with incomprehension and regret as he sat back down in his chair. He resumed his interrupted internet surfing.

‘He’ll probably resign soon too.’

Seeing the junior, who was devoid of any motivation unlike before, Kim Woo-jin felt a desperate longing for the cigarette he had put down.

Yet, suppressing that longing, he reopened the laptop he had closed. Just as he was unlocking the screen.

“Se, Senior! Senior!”

The junior shouted urgently, tapping on the partition.

Curious about what was happening, Kim Woo-jin stood up from his chair and walked over to the junior’s cubicle.

“What’s going on?”

“Look at this, this!”

The junior shifted to the side, pointing at the laptop.

“No, what’s with all the fuss…?”

What is this?

In that moment, Kim Woo-jin doubted his own eyes.

[Breaking News][Mushin, Baek Yu-hwa’s Statement Announcement!]

“…Is this for real?”

Kim Woo-jin muttered in disbelief at the article’s content.

The junior next to him scrolled down the open site in agreement. Then, at a rapid pace, he opened the Arena Academy’s website.

As if confirming the truth of the article just moments ago.

[Live][Chairman’s Statement Announcement]

A large banner on the academy’s site displayed Mushin’s statement announcement.

Not just a simple document, but a live broadcast.

“…Hey, open it.”

At Kim Woo-jin’s words, the junior nodded and clicked on the banner. The site’s screen changed, revealing the broadcast.

A vast, grand, and opulent interior.

In the center of that space, Mushin, exuding noble dignity, sat cross-legged in a massive chair, his expression one of boredom.

Kim Woo-jin and the junior watched with bated breath.

The transcendent being, Mushin, renowned across the Korean Peninsula… no, the entire world, was making his first statement announcement.

As such, they had no idea what it was about, and the tension morphed into fear.

‘What could be the reason for the announcement?’

Could it be that she intends to leave the country?

Or perhaps she couldn’t stop the apostles?

A flurry of thoughts swirled in Kim Woo-jin and his junior’s minds.

As they were engulfed in such negative thoughts, the deity released the hand that had been propping up her chin.

Then, she opened her tightly shut mouth and began to speak.

– It is said that one must cultivate oneself, manage the family, govern the nation, and bring peace to the world.

– Yet, recently, creatures like cockroaches have been defiling not just homes but the nation itself.

– Therefore, I have deemed it no longer bearable to stand by.

The deity’s black eyes turned a fiery red.

Crackling…!

At that moment, the space around her began to fracture.

– I shall bestow upon you my divine decree.

The deity reached out her hand toward the void. And as she clenched her fist,

a black sword appeared, seemingly from nowhere.

Whooom!

Then, as she slammed the black sword down onto the ground,

Crash──!!

The space that had been cracking shattered like glass.

And as a deep, dark abyss revealed itself,

“Insane….”

Kim Woo-jin found himself cursing without realizing it.

His junior beside him felt the same.

Tremble, tremble.

Their bodies shook.

Even though they were merely watching a scene unfold, a terror so profound washed over them that it felt as if their minds were crumbling.

At the same time, an overwhelming urge to kneel and worship surged within them.

Thud, thud.

From somewhere, the sound of the ground resonated.

The two understood that the sound was the echo of knees hitting the floor.

That’s only natural.

Thud, thud!

Because they had been doing the same.

– Root out the evil that is tainting the Korean Peninsula.

A divine mandate descended upon the minds, hearts, and souls of the two.

It was not just for the two, but also for those who were kneeling.

– I will grant you exactly one month.

– However, if you fail to fulfill the divine mandate within that time.

Srrng.

The sound of a sword being drawn echoed.

– Then, I shall personally make an appearance.

With those words, the sound of the sword slicing through the air followed.

And at the same time.

Kugugugugugugugung──!!

A tremendous roar erupted, as if the heavens were collapsing.

From all directions, terrified screams burst forth in response to the deafening sound. And amidst those screams.

– So do not disappoint me.

The voice of the deity rang out clearly.

And with the end of that statement.

“…My body is moving.”

“…Me too.”

Kim Woo-jin and his junior found themselves able to move.

As they stood up, avoiding their kneeling positions.

[The broadcast has ended.]

They realized that the deity’s broadcast had concluded.

“…Hoo.”

The two let out a sigh of relief, leaning against the partition. And just as they pulled a handkerchief from their back pocket to wipe the sweat from their faces.

“…Uwaaah!”

“What, what is that…!”

A startled cry echoed from somewhere.

Kim Woo-jin and his junior’s gazes turned toward the source of the sound.

Then, they saw their colleagues huddled by the window, trembling in fear.

The two exchanged puzzled looks before approaching the window. And when they looked outside…

“…Insane.”

The sky was split open. And through the gap, a universe filled with stars was visible.

The two gazed at the sky with eyes filled with terror and awe, recalling the deity.

At the same time, a voice echoed in their ears, promising, “I will give you a month.”

In response, the two lowered their heads to look at their colleagues instead of the sky.

And among the colleagues…

Tremble, tremble, tremble.

They saw the embodiment of fear.

&

[Title][Summary of the Deity’s Words]

I, foolish ones.

These days, the world is a mess.

So clean up and live your lives.

Before I sweep everything away, understand?

– Summary note.

– I am not a deity…, just an ordinary person, but that statement is true.

– War…, no, extermination! Extermination! Absolutely extermination!

[Title][The Sky…, It’s Split]

Photo of the split sky.JPG

– What the hell is this?

ㄴ? Didn’t you see the sky today?

ㄴㅇㅇ I was sleeping, so I missed it. Did the deity really split the sky?

ㄴㅇㅇㄹㅇ Yes, it really happened. That’s why the universe was visible during the day, and it caused a commotion.

ㄴAh, damn it, I should have stayed awake instead of napping.

[Title][But even if it’s a deity, can they commit such an atrocity?]

We’re not slaves or anything.

– Are you a fallen worshiper?

– Hahaha, look who’s figuring it out on their own.

– You just wait right there. The heroes will be coming soon.

– But you, even if you’re not a follower of the Fallen God, you still deserve a beating.

N: Are you calling the divine will of the God of War a reckless act? You really need to be taught a lesson.

N: Hahaha, what a complete idiot.

[Title][Shit… Turns out, my friend was a follower of the Fallen God.]

No wonder he kept insisting we go to that nice place, damn it.

– You’re the one, damn it. I’m about to marry a girlfriend who’s a follower of the Fallen God.

N: Oh no, that’s so sad.

N: But you’re still alive, right?

N: Come on, pay attention, you fool.ㅠㅠ

Community.

[Breaking News][The mid-tier guild Ares is currently hunting down followers of the Fallen God.]

[Breaking News][The majority of the world is followers of the Fallen God!]

[Breaking News][The military is also conducting mass hunts!]

[Breaking News][The government has requested assistance from the priests of the Divine Temple, and the request has been accepted.]

[Breaking News][The Korean Superhuman Association is starting the hunt for followers of the Fallen God, as decreed by the God of War….]

[Breaking News][A certain politician claims the God of War is merely a superhuman who does not follow the law. So, stop the hunt….]

Article.

[Dear citizens! The God of War is just a superhuman committing reckless acts! So everyone, wake up and stop the hunt…, aaah!]

[You, crazy b*stard!]

[You’re a follower of the Fallen God! Gotcha, you piece of shit!]

[Grab him! Get that b*stard!]

[The God of War has drawn his sword! Everyone, follow the divine will of the God of War!]

[For the God of War!]

[Over there! There’s a follower of the Fallen God!]

[…That’s not me! I’m not a follower of the Fallen God!]

[Then catch this Fallen Detector.]

[……Damn it!]

[…He’s running away! Catch him! No, just kill him!]

News.

Right now, the Korean Peninsula is filled with ordinary people, superhumans, and villains alike.

In accordance with the divine mandate, we were fervently hunting down the corrupted believers.

Of course, the extermination unit I belong to, no, all extermination units and guilds as well.

“…P-please spare me. I was just threatened by those corrupted b*stards….”

“Seems like you’re living quite well for someone under threat. Selling out your subordinates and family, no less.”

“Th-that’s….”

Swish!

“Save your excuses for the afterlife.”

With the divine being backing us, we were ransacking the major institutions.

‘As expected of the divine being.’

Crushing dissent with overwhelming power and reputation.

I recalled the greatness of the divine being, who had completely turned the tables, as I worked alongside my comrades to root out the corrupted believers.

The method of extraction was quite simple.

First, we stormed into the major institutions.

We entered without bloodshed, proclaiming the divine mandate.

Then, using portable corruption detectors provided by the temple, we sought out the unique dark energy of the corrupted.

In the process, we arrested any corrupted believers who willingly surrendered.

“Shit! We’re just going to get caught….”

Boom─!

We decisively shot down any resisting corrupted believers.

After about three weeks of busy cleaning up.

“It feels like the country is finally getting a bit cleaner.”

We managed to clear away most of the filth that had spread across the Korean Peninsula.

However, perhaps we had scrubbed too hard.

Excluding the personnel assigned to guard the forward base, all members of the extermination units and guilds were reviewing important documents from the major institutions.

Of course, the documents we were examining were not administrative in nature, but rather those touched by the corrupted believers.

But due to the sheer volume of them.

“Ugh…, I feel like I’m going to die.”

“…Honestly, I think it’d be better to fight those corrupted b*stards.”

“Someone, someone please pull me out of this paperwork hell….”

Everyone was using every moment, except for meals and sleep, to review documents.

As I looked at the team members with faces drained of color, I turned to Kali, who was levitating dozens of pens amidst the towers of paperwork.

“Um, Captain?”

“What is it?”

“I’m just an intern, but… is it okay for me to handle such important documents?”

“You are not an ordinary intern, are you?”

Well, if you put it that way, what can I say?

“And what we are doing right now is not merely reviewing documents; we are uncovering the filth spread by the fallen cultists. So, even if it’s tough, bear with it.”

“…Yes.”

…Right, let’s endure.

After all, it won’t be long before new people fill the key positions.

I stifled a sigh that was rising from within and picked up the pen I had momentarily set down.

“Terra…, please help me.”

[Yes, leave it to me.]

And leaning on Terra, I moved the pen diligently.