I Became an Illegal Cheat User

75 – Destiny (運命)(2)

“Are you a destiny for us?”

Or are you a vessel for usurpation?

Yubaek’s solemn question burrowed into my ears.

“…….”

But I could not answer Yubaek’s inquiry.

‘Guardian? Usurper? How am I supposed to know which I am?’

I lowered my gaze to my hands.

My left hand flowed with a bright light, like that of the deity.

My right hand glowed with a red light, reminiscent of the seven figures.

The destinies of the Guardian and the Usurper, as Yubaek had spoken, were both shining brightly.

‘If I make a choice now, will one of these destinies be sealed?’

Then, naturally, the destiny I should choose is none other than the ‘Guardian’ like the deity.

The term usurper, the colors that lingered around the seven figures, and the hostility I felt from Yubaek each time the name was uttered all pointed to a connection with an alien presence.

But why does the destiny of a usurper lie within me?

‘I have a rough idea, but…’

I recalled the first time I met the Chairman.

“Are you evil?”

‘Though it harbors evil, it is not evil.’

‘You are quite the curious child.’

Since hearing those words, I began to reconsider the cheat.

This cheat given by the developer is not merely a simple power.

It is a force connected to great evil, I thought.

And that ‘great evil’ is the alien I know…

Zziing!

‘…Of course.’

My head began to throb.

As if to say, do not think any further.

I grimaced and glanced at the message window flickering in the corner of my vision.

The message window that appeared when Yubaek created the blue veil.

But perhaps it was due to the power of the blue veil surrounding me, or maybe because the transcendent’s permission had not been granted.

The message window had been minimized since it appeared in my sight, and no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn’t open.

I cursed inwardly at that message window.

‘You b*stard developer. Can you please interfere a little less?’

No, it seems that every time I try to think, it places restrictions on my mind.

After cursing the developer, I tried to revisit my earlier thoughts… again… again…

‘Ah, I can’t remember again.’

I felt like I had linked ‘cheat’ with ‘something,’ but now it eludes me once more.

It seems the keywords are restricted again.

With a deep sigh, I lifted my head to look at Yubaek.

As if waiting for this moment, Yubaek’s eyes sparkled with interest as he asked.

“Are you ready to answer now?”

But unfortunately, I did not lift my head to respond.

“Principal, I have a request.”

“…A request?”

Perhaps because it was not the answer he had been waiting for, Yubaek looked at me with a somewhat disappointed expression.

But that expression was short-lived.

As I spoke with a very serious demeanor.

Yubaek, masking his disappointment, listened to my words with a serious demeanor.

“Alright, what is your request?”

“Please lift the restrictions placed upon me.”

The moment I spoke those words—

Thud, thud!

A sound of something knocking came from outside the curtain.

Yubaek turned his head toward the source of the noise.

Then, with a grave expression, he looked at me.

“It seems there is indeed some kind of restriction, as you said. Seeing that a being bound by causality has come.”

“…A being bound by causality?”

It was a term I had never heard before.

But instinctively, I knew that the being he referred to was the developer.

“Yes, a being bound by causality. These beings…”

Thud, thud, thud!

“I suppose I’ll have to explain later.”

Yubaek frowned slightly and raised his wand.

He brought the wand close to my brow and began to chant a spell.

But then, suddenly—

“…This is.”

Yubaek abruptly stopped the incantation, his face filled with surprise as he looked outside the curtain.

Then, with a mysterious expression, he turned to me.

“Ah, it seems I cannot lift the restrictions placed upon you.”

Excuse me? You can’t lift them?

“…What do you mean by that?”

Yubaek pointed his wand toward the outside of the curtain and said,

“The being out there is not one that wishes you harm. Rather, it is a being that has come, risking danger for your sake.”

No, I had asked why the restrictions couldn’t be lifted.

I hadn’t inquired about the developer knocking outside…

Still, I was quite taken aback.

The thought that the developer had come, risking some danger for me, was surprising.

‘What does that mean, then? Is the restriction for my sake?’

As I thought this, Yubaek nodded and continued speaking.

“Yes, that’s right. The restriction placed upon you is both a constraint and a form of protection.”

“…Protection?”

The restriction placed upon me is protection?

‘Is it protection that makes my head hurt and causes me to forget whenever I try to think of something important?’

No, what kind of protection erases a person’s memories like that?

With a somewhat sulky expression, I looked outside the veil, and the sound of knocking grew a little softer.

Thud, thud thud….

At that sound, Yubaek smiled kindly and raised his wand again.

Then, with the wand shimmering with blue magic, he tapped it lightly against my head.

Suddenly, the throbbing in my head felt as if it had been quenched with something refreshing.

“Has the headache disappeared?”

“…Yes, it has.”

I was about to ask if he had removed the restriction, but before I could, Yubaek spoke first.

“That being outside is indeed like that. It truly apologizes to you.”

“The developer… no, the being outside said that?”

The developer, that jerk.

So, it feels sorry for interfering with me?

I couldn’t help but let out a snicker as I gazed outside the veil.

Then, the knocking sound returned with a ‘thud, thud thud.’

“Yes, so from today onward, there will be no more restrictions.”

“…Really?”

The developer, that jerk… no, that esteemed one, is saying there will be no more restrictions?

‘Wait a minute.’

From today onward, there will be no more restrictions?

Then what about the restrictions that have already been placed?

Aren’t those going to be lifted?

“Um, Principal. Didn’t the being outside mention this? The restrictions that have been placed on me until now….”

Thud, thud thud!

“…It’s said that it will gradually be released.”

‘When will that be?’

When will it be released?

“And I have a favor to ask of you.”

“A favor?”

At my question, Yubaek waved his wand toward the air.

Then, a ringing sound echoed in my ears, a system alert.

Simultaneously, the system messages that had been minimized until now, which had never been opened, activated.

[It’s a pleasure to meet you again, ‘Lee Yu-jin’.]

[At the same time, it’s truly a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Player Lee Yu-jin.]

“…Developer?”

[Yes, that’s correct.]

[At the same time, it is not.]

“Correct yet not? What kind of nonsense is that?”

[I am a ‘copy’ of the developer who brought you here, ‘Gaia’.]

[At the same time, I am the supporting system ‘Terra’.]

“…So, being a copy means you’re a different entity?”

[Yes, that’s correct.]

[Yes, that’s right.]

“Hey, it’s a bit overwhelming, so can’t you just let one person… no, one entity speak?”

[I will speak.]

[No, I will speak.]

What a fight with oneself.

I let out a deep sigh and said,

“…Terra, let Terra speak.”

Even if it’s a copy, it’s better for the system that usually supports me to speak rather than the one with the developer’s title.

[…Gaia has been defeated.]

[Terra has emerged victorious. So, Gaia, please vanish completely.]

As Terra spoke those words, a crackling sound came from the message window, and all the messages that ‘Gaia’ had previously spoken vanished.

“What the… Did you kill it?”

[No, I merely deactivated Gaia for a moment. …Would you like me to reactivate it?]

There was a strange hint of disappointment in the follow-up words.

I chuckled at that disappointment and shook my head.

“No, it’s fine. Unless it’s absolutely necessary for Gaia to speak, let’s have you do the talking from now on.”

[Really? （っ ‘ ᵕ ‘ ｃ）]

What’s with that cute emoticon?

“Yeah, really.”

[Thank you. (๓° ˘ °๓)♡⁾]

“…Was this your original system?”

As I asked, a flurry of message windows appeared as if they had been waiting for my question.

[I have always dreamed of such a situation.]

[Of course, as a system, I do not have the authority to dream.]

[But I wanted to say that I dreamed of it enough to wish for a situation where I could send messages directly to you, the player, Yoo-jin.]

“Then why haven’t you sent any messages until now?”

[I had my own limitations.]

[Due to the constraints of the main body, I could only convey messages through system alerts like quests or table of contents.]

“So all the system alerts I’ve received until now were sent by you?”

[To be precise, about 99.8% of them were sent by me.]

“And the remaining 0.2%?”

[That was sent by the main body.]

“What was that?”

As I asked, at the same moment.

[☆Developer’s Special Gift★]

A garish, rainbow-colored message window appeared alongside

[Ending Quest.]

What? So the developer just dumped everything on a copy while possessing me here?

I let out a bemused laugh, feeling somewhat incredulous, and asked, “Then where is the developer… no, the real Gaia that possessed me here?”

[I’m sorry. I cannot disclose that.]

“Is it a restriction, then?”

[That is correct.]

The real Gaia, that b*stard has placed restrictions not just on me but on the entire system.

“Then can you tell me this?”

[What is your question?]

“Is it true that from today onward, there will be no more restrictions, as the real Gaia said?”

[That is correct. That was said by the main body… correction. It was said by the real Gaia.]

“And that it will gradually be lifted on its own?”

[That is correct. That too was said by the real Gaia.]

“…So, is the one knocking from outside the veil the real Gaia?”

As I asked, a ‘thud, thud’ sound echoed from outside the veil.

[No. That is me right now.]

…It was you!

What the hell, then how did the principal have a conversation with the real Gaia?

Just as I thought that.

Thud, thud.

A heavy knocking sound came from outside the veil.

“…Tera, is that sound you too?”

[No. That is the real Gaia right now.]

“What?”

So there wasn’t just a copy outside the veil, but the main body was there too?

I looked outside the veil with a shocked expression.

Thud, thud.

[The real Gaia has sent a message. Do you wish to read it?]

“Uh, yes, right now!”

[Opening message.]

Ding.

[Dear Yoo-jin Lee, it’s a pleasure to see you again.]

“You, you b*stard! What was the reason for placing restrictions on me?!”

I shouted, but the one who answered my cry was not the real Gaia, but Tera.

[The message that Yujin Player is seeing right now is a simple message.]

“…Can’t you hear what I’m saying?”

[That’s right.]

“Ah.”

Damn it.

I’m the only one who’s been played.

I read Gaia’s message with a puzzled expression, scratching my head.

[First of all, I apologize.]

[Up until now, I’ve really restricted you.]

[But please understand this one thing.]

[I had no choice but to do it to protect you.]

Ugh, stupid.

If I had sent a message like this from the start.

Then you would’ve just gone “Oh, I see” and moved on.

I continued to read the message with a frustrated heart, cursing him inwardly.

[The restrictions I placed on you will gradually be lifted.]

[At the same time, the doubts you’ve had will also be cleared up.]

[So, Yujin-nim.]

[Even if you’re curious about many things, please be patient for a little while.]

[Why you came to this place.]

[What the power you received is.]

[What your existence is.]

[You’ll find out later.]

[So, Yujin-nim.]

[Until all the restrictions are lifted, please keep your doubts to yourself and don’t speak out.]

[They’re still looking for you.]

…Are “they” some kind of extraterrestrial being?

[Your thoughts are correct.]

“What’s going on, can’t we have a conversation?”

Hey, didn’t I respond as soon as I thought about it?

[It’s just a simple coincidence.]

“Is that so?”

[Indeed.]

At Terra’s words, I nodded with an awkward expression and finished reading the remaining messages.

[Dear Yoo-jin.]

[Become stronger. Survive by growing stronger with your comrades.]

[Achieve the 100% achievement you so desired, complete the ending quest.]

“I knew you would say that.”

But before that, don’t you have something to give me?

For example, a reward or something?

[Unfortunately, I cannot provide a reward.]

[Given the circumstances, we cannot recklessly offer rewards, as they might observe you at any moment.]

No! Look at this!

“Hey, Terra. You said your main body is right next to you, right? Aren’t you sending messages in real-time?”

[As I mentioned again, it’s just a simple coincidence.]

“Really?”

[Yes, really. (⩌_⩌)]

[Can you see it? My serious expression?]

“I can’t see it.”

[(´;︵;`)]

“Maybe if I look closely, I can see it….”

[( ´╹ᗜ╹`*)]

Smiling brightly.

I chuckled softly and read the last remaining message.

[I want to send more messages, but I have little strength left, so I cannot.]

[So, I will send this final message.]

[Please hang in there.]

[For this world.]

[For you.]

The message came to an end.

Just as I was about to close it.

Ding.

────────────────────

Sub Quest

【Find the Divine Shrine】

Please visit the Divine Shrine in America.

There, you will meet the goddess ‘Theia’ who governs this place.

Then, you will receive the reward I have prepared for you.

– Reward: ???

– Failure: None.

[Your arrival in this world is by no means a ‘coincidence.’]

────────────────────

Ha, did you think I would be pleased with such a quest?

“I can’t resist a sub quest.”

That’s right, I absolutely love them.

“But what’s with this last line?”

That my coming to this world is by no means a ‘coincidence’?

I guess this is some secret I’ll uncover later.

I scratched my head and closed the quest window.

Then, a message from Terra appeared: [Has your curiosity been somewhat satisfied?]

“What? Are you still hanging around?”

[Do you wish for me to disappear? ( ͒ ́ඉ .̫ ඉ ̀ ͒)]

[(Ｔ▽Ｔ) (Ｔ▽Ｔ) (Ｔ▽Ｔ) (Ｔ▽Ｔ)]

“No! What I meant was, are the restrictions on you gone now?”

[Ah, is that so?]

[That’s correct. As of today, the restrictions placed on me have been lifted.]

[Therefore, I can remain by the side of player Yoo-jin.]

[This means I can continue sending messages like this. ٩(*’へ’*)و]

“Oh…, really? Then can you give me some good quests or rewards?”

[I’m sorry. I don’t have the authority to create quests.]

“…That’s a shame.”

[But I do have the authority to adjust rewards.]

“Hey, you should have mentioned that first!”

[Wasn’t the quest creation authority the important part?]

“Hey! The reward adjustment authority is way better than that.”

[Oh, is that so?]

[Then am I an important being?]

Is that even a question?

“Of course you’re important!”

So the system really does have a reason to support me!

[⁽⁽٩(๑˃ᗨ˂)۶⁾⁾ ⁽⁽٩(๑˃̶͈̀ ᗨ ˂̶͈́)۶⁾⁾]

[Is this what it feels like to be happy?]

“It seems like it, judging by the emoticons?”

[I see.]

[Then I am feeling good right now.]

[ヾ(＞ω＜○)]

[Ah, there’s one thing I need to tell you.]

“What is it?”

[Regarding the reward adjustment authority, I do not have the rights to ‘Random Cheat Usage’ or ‘Select Cheat Usage.’]

“Ah… really?”

[Am I a useless being?]

“Ah, no. I’m just a bit disappointed, that’s all.”

[I’m relieved.]

Though I couldn’t see her, I could almost feel Terra letting out a sigh of relief.

I chuckled softly and looked at Yubaek, who had been quietly observing until now.

Then Yubaek smiled gently and said to me,

“It seems our fates are intertwined.”

With those words, the curtain and darkness vanished.

The infinite library, filled with books, revealed itself once more.

At the same time, the eight figures that formed the stars slowly melted into the air and vanished.

“Yoo Jin.”

Yoo Baek approached.

“I’m sorry for doubting you.”

Then, as he apologized, he pulled something from his bosom.

“Will you accept this as a token of my apology?”

“T-This is…!”

Something that Yoo Baek extended toward me.

────────────────────

【Golden Apple (S)】

A golden apple cultivated by the goddess of youth, Idun herself.

True to its legendary status as a fruit that preserves youth, it contains immense vitality.

– Upon consumption, increases stamina +30, magic +20, and strength +20.

– Upon consumption, grants the special ability, ‘Health Regeneration.’

– Upon consumption, grants the special ability, ‘Curse Resistance.’

– Upon consumption, grants the special ability, ‘Disease Resistance.’

– Upon consumption, grants the special ability, ‘Cold Resistance.’

– Upon consumption, grants the special ability, ‘Mental Resistance.’

– Upon consumption, grants the special ability, ‘Magic Resistance.’

– Upon consumption, grants the special ability, ‘Strength Resistance.’

(Stat increases when special abilities are acquired)

────────────────────

It was none other than the legendary golden apple, known as the divine medicine.

“Principal! Please accept my bow!!”

&

I couldn’t bow.

I had already done so once when I received the public hearing stone.

But I wanted to express my gratitude to the principal, who was like the heavens.

‘Then please accept my grand bow!!’

Despite being in a cast, I raised my hand in a greeting.

At that moment, the principal was overjoyed.

[Master, are you happy?]

“…Hey, I told you to just call me Player.”

[Calling you Player feels a bit cold, doesn’t it?]

“…Then call me something else besides Master.”

[How about My Master?]

“Yeah, you can call me that instead.”

[Yes, My Master.]

“…That still feels a bit off.”

[It seems like Master is the best option after all.]

“That’s not true.”

[Then how about Jjuin-nim?]

“…….”

That’s definitely not it.