NOVEL NEXT [Translator – Asura]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Chapter 478
BattleNet withdrawal.
This topic, which emerged after Seong Jihan destroyed Hell,
continued to be discussed even after the broadcast ended.
[Losses suffered by humanity after entering BattleNet]
-Population decrease due to dungeon portals (estimated 10~20 percent)
-Destroyed nations (ex: North Korea)
-Logistics damage due to dungeon portal occupation.
-Increase in youth violence due to harmful battle games forcibly occupying broadcast channels.
-Emergence of class divisions and widening gaps between players and non-players.
The negative impacts of BattleNet on peaceful human society are countless.
Would you give up a peaceful daily life for the sake of species evolution?
-Yeah, I can live 100 more years~
-The author of this post is also broadcasting through BattleTube lol
-Honestly, if Seong Jihan-nim wasn’t the Administrator, I would also cast a vote for withdrawal, but now that we can reap the benefits, why should we leave?
-We should trust in our Administrator’s backing and keep evolving;
Many debates related to this took place in BattleNet-related communities, but the overall trend of public opinion was leaning towards staying in BattleNet.
The world of the tutorial period before Seong Jihan’s appearance definitely made people feel a sense of crisis, but
Since his active role, humanity was able to directly experience the positive aspects of BattleNet.
The benefits brought by Seong Jihan were across various aspects, but
The most tangible one for the general public was indeed health improvement.
To the extent that life expectancy was predicted to nearly double and the medical and pharmaceutical industries were faltering,
The impact of species evolution on society was considerable.
“Most people want to stay in BattleNet.”
“Yes. The majority, no, the public opinion of all countries is in favor of staying in BattleNet. The support for Seong Jihan is overwhelming.”
In the underground conference room of the Robert Gates Building in the United States,
The leaders of the companies leading the Gates Group had all gathered to hold an emergency meeting regarding this BattleNet withdrawal.
“I would also support him. After being in a wheelchair, I can walk now, and I feel like dancing.”
“Is there anyone here who hasn’t benefited from Seong’s grace? Everyone looks 10 or 20 years younger.”
“No matter how advanced medical technology is, it couldn’t turn back time. It only prevented aging.”
“Well, that’s why our bio company’s stock price plummeted… But personally, I’m satisfied. We’ll live and see.”
The leaders of the Gates family, who had thoroughly enjoyed the benefits of species evolution.
Even the business owner whose pharmaceutical company was shattered welcomed the life extension effect with both hands.
The effects of species evolution were given equally to everyone regardless of wealth,
but unlike the poor without wealth, the wealthy who only lacked health felt the benefits of this species evolution more thoroughly.
However, there was also a downside for these capitalists.
“The shaking of the existing system by BattleNet is a red flag.”
“The influence of players is expanding day by day.”
“That’s right. Compared to the tutorial period, the power they can use in the real world has become stronger.”
“In countries with poor public order, it’s not uncommon to find players reigning like kings.”
“Now we can hire them with money, but…”
“As time goes by, the power will shift from capital to players.”
Players, whose influence had grown since BattleNet entered the main game.
They had power, gained public influence through BattleTube, and held considerable wealth.
Even in the case of the United States, the operating funds for the No. 1 guild American First were provided by the Gates family,
but the actual power was gradually being taken by the affiliated players.
“If humanity continues to stay in BattleNet, the power structure will be shaken by the random ‘gifts’.”
“The wealth of the Gates family may also become subordinate to players.”
“In fact, isn’t Barren from American First showing such signs? That bastard keeps coveting real power.”
“Don’t even mention it. Why is that young punk so greedy…”
“Life extension is good, but it’s not desirable for this system to continue…”
For those in power, nothing was more threatening than their power being shaken.
The members of the Gates family enjoyed the effects of evolution but had negative thoughts about staying in BattleNet.
“We need to change the trend of public opinion.”
“We should widely publicize the negative aspects of staying in BattleNet.”
“Hmm. The effects of species evolution are so outstanding that it doesn’t seem easy to sway public opinion…”
“How about this?”
Robert Gates, who attended the meeting, spoke while looking around at the attendees.
“We turn public opinion towards BattleNet withdrawal and at the same time ask Seong Jihan to come up with a solution.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“We ask him to find a way to maintain the effects of evolution while withdrawing from BattleNet.”
“Well, that would be ideal, but…”
“Will things go as we wish?”
“He is an Administrator and someone who destroyed Hell. Wouldn’t there be a way?”
Will that be possible?
Looking at the family members who had doubts, Robert Gates grinned.
“As always. Let’s ‘ask him to do it’ this time too. Let’s not openly take the lead, but hide behind the back of public opinion…”
* * *
[Translator – Asura]
[Proofreader – Gun]
A few days later.
“There are a lot of articles like this these days…”
“What articles?”
Yoon Seah, who was sitting on the sofa, showed the screen in response to Seong Jihan’s question.
“Articles related to incidents caused by players.”
On the news screen Yoon Seah was watching, several articles were posted about players causing accidents and incidents, calling them the light and shadow of BattleNet.
“They committed all sorts of crimes, from serial killers to kidnapping and drug trafficking.”
“It’s not easy for the authorities to crack down on players anyway.”
“Right. Our country has good public order, so it’s fine, but countries with poor order are in chaos…”
While scrolling down like that, Yoon Seah said,
“But these articles seem to have surged after you mentioned BattleNet withdrawal.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. If even I, who only occasionally watch the news, can feel it, wouldn’t people feel it more?”
Then, when she opened the comment section of the news,
The comment with the most likes caught her eye.
-Players are quite problematic… Can’t we maintain the effects of evolution while withdrawing from BattleNet?
└ Seong Jihan-nim will do it for us.
└ But Seong Jihan is also a player?
└ He’s an Administrator, so there must be a way!
└ This time too, ‘Do it for us.’
“…Why do they keep asking him to do it for them? They’re so greedy.”
Seeing the reactions asking Seong Jihan to solve it, Yoon Seah frowned.
“They want to keep the evolution bonus while withdrawing from BattleNet.”
“Calling players problematic. That’s too much. Well… It wouldn’t be a complete lie to say there are none. But these days, only articles like this are coming out.”
Looking at the articles about players causing problems, Seong Jihan thought,
‘It was even more lawless in the past.’
In his previous life, due to the dungeon portals, players were practically nobles.
Later on, they could easily avoid legal punishment even after committing murder.
Recalling the world back then, it’s heaven now, but
the gap between players and non-players would be the same as then.
“There are many players who do good deeds… Really.”
Seeing her pouting her lips, Seong Jihan said,
“What do you want to do?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Now that I’ve become an Administrator, you’re the undisputed No. 1 player. You could be called the top vested interest from the players’ side.”
“No, what vested interest… No. Well, am I?”
Yoon Seah said while scratching her cheek,
“I’m a bit disappointed, but I think it’s better to leave than to be involved with BattleNet.”
“Really? Because players are problematic?”
“No. Rather than because of these problems… If we accidentally slip up, a lot of people might die fighting the opponents you face.”
“We’ve been lucky so far.”
“Right. Like when the Tower of Babel appeared in the middle of Seolleung. And last time with Hell too. The scale is different when accidents happen in BattleNet.”
Seong Jihan nodded.
Although they had been fortunate enough to prevent accidents from happening so far,
This luck couldn’t continue forever.
Before something happens later on, it would be better for humanity to cut ties with BattleNet.
‘I can’t keep cleaning up after them forever either.’
Seong Jihan firmly believed that humanity should withdraw from BattleNet.
“Still. They shouldn’t ask you to do it like this. They want to sneak out with the evolution bonus… Isn’t this impossible?”
“Hmm, wait a moment.”
At Yoon Seah’s words, Seong Jihan opened the humanity management item and asked the system,
“Can humanity’s current abilities be maintained even after withdrawing from BattleNet?”
[It can be maintained if ‘Permanent Ability Preservation’ is activated.]
“How much authority does it require?”
[When permanently preserving all abilities, 100 million will be consumed.]
“…100 million? Why so much?”
[The growth range of the species ‘Humanity’ is large, and it is receiving attention from all Administrators, so more Administrator authority is needed.]
Even after destroying Hell and chasing away the Red Administrator, they’re still paying attention.
‘This time, the Blue stat grade was upgraded, so the authority is barely converted to +100 per day…’
When Blue was FFF-grade, the authority was drained by -50 per day due to distortions in other stats.
As Blue rose to A-grade, the amount of authority acquired also increased together.
Now, the Administrator authority accumulated by +100 each day.
However, to obtain 100 million authority, it would take a million days at this rate.
‘Of course, if I give up on all other stats, the amount of authority gained will increase… But there’s no need to overdo it like that.’
If there was an abundance of authority, it would be a different story.
He had no intention of sacrificing that much for humanity when it was already burdensome to raise Blue.
“At the current rate, it takes 1 million days to catch both rabbits.”
“1 million days… Oh. I punched it into the calculator, and it’s 2739 years?”
“Yeah. It’s basically telling us not to even dream about it.”
“Right…”
While Yoon Seah was agreeing that it seemed impossible at Seong Jihan’s words,
[Jihan, Sophia is here to see you.]
Seong Jiah approached while floating and spoke to Seong Jihan.
“Sophia? It’s been a while.”
“Ah, Sophia said she was going to the US to see her parents… She must have returned today.”
As Yoon Seah got up from the sofa with a delighted expression,
Seong Jiah spoke in a subdued voice,
[But… It seems Sophia. She’s not her original self.]
“What do you mean by that?”
[I sense the divine eye in her.]
Flash.
As Seong Jiah raised her eyes of light like that,
“That’s right.”
Step. Step.
Sophia entered the house with a serious face unlike her usual self.
On her forehead, the divine eye similar to what Seong Jiah had raised were flickering.
“I borrowed her body for a moment.”
Among humans, there were only two beings with divine eye.
Seong Jihan looked at those eyes of light with a subdued eye.
“…You. Are you Pythia?”
“Yes. I have something to tell you.”
[Translator – Asura]
[Proofreader – Gun]