Chapter 161

Perhaps because I welcomed him with unusual enthusiasm, Dominic looked slightly puzzled.

Instead of landing on the dirty street, he landed softly on my shoulder and asked.

"What is the matter, Roasted Chestnut?"

’I guess it’s okay to ask for help with this.’

The sequel the creator mentioned probably didn’t mean adding adult themes, but I wanted to check the description. It was a new element I hadn’t seen in the game.

I explained the situation to Dominic.

Honestly, requiring adult verification at my age was absurd.

However, Dominic let out a hum, sounding displeased.

"There is no need for you to experience such provocative and low-quality matters."

"I just want to check the description."

That part was true.

Since I had already discussed which theme to choose with the Special Task Team, I couldn’t suddenly pick a new one.

Even after hearing my explanation, Dominic remained reluctant, but he eventually performed the verification on my behalf.

The process was simple.

As Dominic stared at the system window, a glitch flickered in the window requesting adult verification.

Immediately after, a completion window popped up.

[Ve-ve-verification has bee-been completed!]

’I hope it didn’t break.’

With a slight sense of anxiety, I clicked on ’Adult’.

Finally, the description window appeared.

["The public is hypocritical. They speak of justice with their mouths, but their fingers click on lewd and filthy headlines."]

[Adult is the fastest and most certain field of reporting to capture the public’s attention in Hyper Eden.]

[Primal and fatal articles guarantee overwhelming attention, regardless of depth.]

[If you land a scoop, even a bottom-tier journalist can ascend to the top media channels overnight.]

[- Primary Target: Starts with ordinary people. Evolves into scandals involving unknown celebrities, socialites, and VIPs from political and financial circles.]

[-Reporting Style: Focuses on stealth, wiretapping, super-telephoto paparazzi shots, and infiltrating VIP rooms rather than physical combat. You must hold your breath and wait for the opportunity to capture that one decisive photo.]

[- Risk Factors: While it is the fastest route to entering a media company by stimulating the public’s peripheral nerves, it is easy to become a target of the powerful whose secrets have been exposed, leaving you hunted across the entire city.]

[Perhaps the protagonist of the scandal will be you!]

In short, it meant capturing sexual scandals and selling them as news.

The pros and cons were clear, but by my standards, the downside was too fatal.

Opposing the powerful in Hyper Eden meant death.

I cleanly gave up any lingering interest in the Adult theme.

’But why did this suddenly appear?’

Even in the final clear report from the civilian candidate, there was no mention of a new theme.

It seemed certain that some change had occurred in the Shift.

I selected the theme I had originally promised to the Special Task Team.

I selected ’Mystery.’

This theme involved reporting on strange phenomena occurring within the city and bizarre incidents that were difficult to understand logically.

The reason I chose Mystery was that the reporting method was relatively intuitive and controllable.

Additionally, while public interest was slightly lower compared to Sports or Crime, there was almost no competition, making exclusive reporting possible.

’Because it’s dangerous.!’

Capturing paranormal phenomena for news often involves dealing with monsters.

It was a theme where one wrong move could lead to immediate death.

In Hyper Eden, reviving after death required paying a massive resurrection fee.

It was an amount that a shallow pocket could never afford.

Naturally, Hyper Eden’s stringers tended to flock to themes with less risk of death.

However, as long as one had a bit of skill, there was no reason to die while reporting on Mysteries.

Crucially, in Sports and Crime, there were events where you could get entangled with the powerful right from the start if you were unlucky.

Since that could ruin everything beyond repair, I chose Mystery.

Actually, there was another reason besides that...

I checked the main quest window floating in my vision.

[Han Go-yo (Lamb)’ has entered <City of Flame>!]

◆ <City of Flame> Main Quest: Become the most famous stringer in Hyper Eden and uncover the truth of the city.

[The beings of Akasha take note of the young god.]

[Amidst growing interest, you must prove yourself through a True Ending clear.]

[You must show that you are a being the master of Planet Earth can never treat lightly, and that you possess the power to reject their touch.]

[Success: Survival!]

[Failure: ...]

Instead of words, an ellipsis followed the word ’Failure.’

I waited for a moment, but no words appeared; the ellipsis only continued to lengthen.

[Fail..ure..]

Just as I was watching to see how long it would get, a new system window suddenly popped up with a thud.

I must not fail.

I thought it would be a drop in recognition or a trial explosion, but suddenly a different voice spoke.

As I looked on in bewilderment, the system window sent messages in succession.

[You resolve that you will absolutely not fail this quest.]

[Because a terrible future awaits you upon failure.]

[You vow to succeed no matter what. Absolutely!!]

Since it mentioned the trial exploding, I had intended to close it anyway.

Since it was a trial Sa Gong-yeon wanted to enter, I had my own level of resolve.

But this was the first time the system window had warned me to this extent.

It seemed there really was something in Hyper Eden.

’But why have you been so quiet lately?’

I tried to ask about the meteorite, but as expected, there was no answer.

I wondered if it would answer if I picked a fight, but I decided against it.

Closing the quest window, I asked the Pudding Slime.

"Mr. Dominic, have you chosen your theme?"

"Hmm, I chose Adult."

He had used auto-select, and Adult was chosen.

6:59 With a very joyful heart, I asked him to let me know what quests popped up for him later.

Then, I put the voice recorder I had been holding into my inventory.

Initial reporting in the Shift utilizes voice recorders. The goal was to be selected for late-night radio.

As I obtained larger scoops, I would upgrade my equipment and advance to newspapers, and then to TV.

Soon, the first quest appeared.

◆ Main Quest: Find the base using the map.

[Use the map to find the old apartment that serves as the journalist’s base.]

The Shift had a function to check the map.

It was a basic quest to get used to using the map.

I checked the map for a moment.

Hyper Eden was divided into districts centered around a tower located in the middle of the city.

Poor journalists without money would have their base in the slums.

Checking it, the base wasn’t that far from my current location.

I had promised to meet the Special Task Team at the base.

Thinking it would take about 15 minutes, I started walking and saw my reflection in a broken window.

The oversized hooded jumper, the basic attire of the Shift, featured fluorescent lines resembling neon signs.

The color changed randomly each time I played, and this time it was fluorescent light blue.

It matched the Pudding Slime on my shoulder, so I liked it quite a bit.

’I wonder if I can put a hooded jumper on a slime?’

Since it had no arms, it seemed like it would be difficult.

Just as I was pondering a cyberpunk accessory that would suit the Pudding Slime...

Suddenly, I got an ominous feeling.

Passersby kept looking at me.

It wasn’t just glancing. There were more than a few who were staring blatantly with wide eyes.

’No way.’

A bad guess crossed my mind.

’For real?’

That can’t be.

I hoped it wasn’t true, but usually, in these situations, guesses are exactly right.

The Pudding Slime on my shoulder also noticed the strangeness and spoke.

"They are targeting you, Roasted Chestnut. It would be wise to be cautious."

I swallowed hard and gradually increased my walking speed.

As my pace quickened, the people around me gradually began to follow.

After swallowing a curse, I took a deep breath.

And then, I bolted with all my might.

"He’s running!!"

"Catch him!"

"Start filming first!"

Flashes exploded wildly from the crowd that swarmed like ants.

I ran frantically, but it seemed I would be surrounded shortly.

I urgently scanned the surroundings, but no place to hide was visible.

My panicked appearance, cornered and desperate, was captured repeatedly on camera.

Just as I was running for my life...

I spotted a woman.

A charming Latina beauty was standing by the road, yawning boredly.

She seemed to be waiting for someone, and she stood out due to her height of about 2 meters.

She was wearing a short crop top, a hooded jumper, and tight shorts all in white making her even more visible.

As she brushed back her long, wavy black hair over her healthy brown skin, she indifferently shifted her gaze toward the commotion.

Her black pupils captured me.

At that moment, the woman’s eyes widened.

I felt a shiver run through my entire body.

The woman reached out toward me, and I ran toward her with all my strength.

And the moment our hands locked.

A spark flew, and the woman and I vanished from the street.

The place we reappeared was an alley more than 1 km away from where we had been.

As soon as she let go of my hand, she immediately hugged me.

"Roasted Chestnut!"

I hugged her back and shouted.

"Noona!"

The woman was Cecilia, the main NPC of the Shift.

Cecilia took a small commission to sell the scoops journalists reported to various media outlets on their behalf.

She also sold rumors worth investigating to the journalists.

In other words, she was an information broker.

Throughout the game, she was a reliable supporter who backed the player.

She would even save players in crisis using her teleportation ability.

I, too, had received a lot of help from Cecilia in the game.

"Roasted Chestnut. Don’t stop. Keep climbing up. You will reach the top of Hyper Eden."

Cecilia was closely linked to the player. There were even sections that could only be cleared if she was present.

Once you play the Shift, you can’t help but love her.

The last goodbye I shared with Cecilia was still vivid in my mind.

I was unbearably happy that she remembered me.

Because I had been in a maddening situation, I was even more glad to see her.

Cecilia cupped my cheeks with her hands and asked.

"My Castañita! What on earth happened? You said you would never come back here again."

It had been so long since I’d heard the nickname meaning ’little chestnut’ that I felt momentarily shy.

But she was the most reliable ally I could have in my current situation.

"There were circumstances... But Noona. Is it Day News?"

I asked abruptly, but Cecilia immediately understood what I meant.

She nodded heavily.

My vision went dark.

Since Sa Gong-yeon had pushed me in and the background of the trial was Media City, I had a suspicion, but Day News had indeed spread into the Shift.

When playing the game, there was no media company by that name, so I had let my guard down.

Moreover, the NPC Cecilia even remembered me.

A conclusion was reached immediately.

’The Shift is a trial where a god exists.’

However, unlike the cases with Orca or the Security Chief, Cecilia recognized me instantly.

This meant either she was extremely powerful, like the butlers of the Third Clear, or the influence of the god here was substantial.

Since the former wasn’t the case, it was likely the latter.

’Does that mean a god is nearby?"

In The Cell X, ■■■ didn’t exist from the beginning.

They gradually drew closer as the walkthrough progressed and finally revealed themselves at the end.

’In Edel’s case, Dominic viewed himself as an NPC!’

Since he only became aware of his existence at the very end, there would be a difference.

I glanced at the tower.

The tower, soaring high as if to touch the sky, could be seen from anywhere in Hyper Eden

"Roasted Chestnut."

Lost in thought, I met Cecilia’s eyes.

Her pupils were trembling slightly.

"Are the things written in that newspaper true?"

The ’Young God’ in Day News must have been a completely different being from the ’Roasted Chestnut’ she knew.

I gave Cecilia a troubled smile.

’It just happened that way."

"I’m sorry, Noona. I changed suddenly too..." I hesitated and added.

"I didn’t lie."

"I know. There’s no way you would lie to me."

I smiled slightly at the steadfast trust Cecilia showed.

She narrowed her eyes and asked.

"But Roasted Chestnut... if you’re a god, shouldn’t you be... a bit more different?"

As an information broker, Cecilia likely knew more than the general public.

She seemed confused because my appearance was significantly different from the knowledge she possessed.

I answered awkwardly.

"Well. I still don’t know how to do much."

"Surely you didn’t return to Hyper Eden because you’re broke?"

"Something like that."

As I answered in a shrinking voice, Cecilia sighed. She looked at me with pitying eyes.

"To the point where you have to work as a journalist again? But you know. This city is.."

"Noona."

I looked up at Cecilia and pleaded.

"Help me."

"Roasted Chestnut, you really are!"

Cecilia started to shout but suddenly pulled a portable pulse gun from her bosom.

Without even looking to the side, she pulled the trigger.

Zzzzt!

A beam fired, followed by a thudding sound.

Following the trajectory of the beam, I saw a man holding a camera lying face down with a hole in his forehead.

Exhaling lightly, Cecilia put the pulse gun back and said.

"I’m not angry at you. I’m just worried because it’s dangerous."

Then, like a professional information broker of Hyper Eden, she asked the most important part first.

"So, what did you choose this time?"

Depending on the theme chosen, activities differ greatly, so she wanted to check first.

’Mystery."

"That’s dangerous!"

"There are people who will help me."

Just as I was about to tell her briefly about the Special Task Team.

Cecilia’s face suddenly hardened, and she hugged me.

A short distance teleportation followed.

Immediately after moving only about 1 meter, black metal feathers rained down where she had been standing.

Cecilia expressionlessly drew her pulse gun.

Black wings filling the narrow sky of the alleyway were visible.

[Lieutenant Je, wait a second, really just a second]

After sending a lightning fast message, I called out to Cecilia.

"Noona! Wait!"

Cecilia, with her finger on the trigger, looked at me sharply.

Before she could pull the trigger, I spoke hurriedly.

"My col-!"

"Col?"

I stopped mid-sentence.

Cold sweat poured down at her chillingly questioning tone.

In the joy of reunion, I had momentarily forgotten a certain fact.

Cecilia was very... jealous....

She hated it when I hung out with other journalists.

If I mentioned ’colleagues’, the atmosphere would likely become even worse.

Thinking of the future where I needed her help in many ways, I closed my eyes tight and shouted.

"My precious... younger sibling..."