Chapter 95

Chapter 95
What kind of individual was your mother to get caught up with a handsome middle-aged man in a romance simulation game…

I had zero clue how that person had managed to touch that game and end up possessed either, meaning I had nothing to say on the matter.

It remains rather odd, though.

Based on my recollection, that person had never demonstrated any interest in anything remotely similar.

Yet, Shut-in Yeobo no longer seemed to harbor suspicions toward me. Regardless of how frequently I spun falsehoods whenever I spoke, she appeared convinced I would never drag my own mother into such a situation.

“Huh? Wait a minute. You are currently clearing the illegitimate child route, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“Then… that grave… is…”

Shut-in Yeobo’s countenance plunged into a state of shock and horror as she comprehended whose grave I had excavated to arrive here. Then, as if a realization clicked into place, she gazed directly at me.

“So that explains why you inquired last time about whether I recognized Luna Moon’s face! Because the portrait genuinely depicted your mother’s face. No wonder she resembled you… wait?”

Shut-in Yeobo abruptly tilted her head.

“That does not make sense, however. We were possessed inside our game avatars rather than our physical bodies. Therefore, how could you and Luna Moon possibly look identical?”

“There is nothing strange about it whatsoever. I simply utilized the avatar that scanned my personal face for the illegitimate child route.”

Safe Zone avatars operate on a system where users initially scan their own faces before layering any desired customizations on top of them. Numerous gamers find customization tedious, resulting in a surprising quantity of players who simply employ their actual faces without alterations.

Naturally, I had not done so out of laziness. I required an East Asian avatar for the illegitimate child route, prompting me to leave it untouched. When I cleared alternative zones aside from the illegitimate child route, I relied on a white-haired avatar featuring dark circles—precisely resembling the Unicorn Area player I currently embody—and because that served as my most characteristic appearance, fellow players identified me through that visage.

Reflecting upon it, Korean players in particular had heavily engaged in modifications.

Shut-in Yeobo, who had undoubtedly overhauled her own face beyond all recognition, stared at me with wide eyes.

“What? In that case… that face right now is your actual face?”

“Affirmative.”

“Unbelievable. With your disposition, possessing a face like that… what a total waste of a face.”

Does this individual ever look into a mirror? Even assuming my face constitutes a waste, your avatar represents a million times greater waste.

While such thoughts occupied my mind, Shut-in Yeobo offered an observation of unexpected utility.

“Then the impostor residing in the Unicorn Area must have been possessed into a replica of your avatar and chose to impersonate you while they were at it.”

“Mm.”

That individual was not merely an impostor—he genuinely constituted “me.” Nevertheless, the reality that he also represented “me” while inhabiting a distinct avatar warranted consideration.

Why did both of us, functioning as “me,” possess different avatars?

When I questioned whether he constituted a parallel-world variant of myself, he evaded a direct response.

Under those circumstances, the closest interpretation pointed toward “a parallel-world version of me who selected the unicorn at the convenience store.”

Yet, evaluating the bizarrely massive volume of information alongside the sheer multitude of titles he held… and considering his assertion that I had unlocked additional system access at a faster pace than him…

That person was categorically not someone who had undergone possession simultaneously with us.

Neither did it appear that he had been possessed during the past in the manner experienced by otome-game players.

The deduction I arrived at pointed to a single conclusion.

This possession does not represent a preliminary playthrough.

At a minimum, the Dopamine Addict of the Unicorn Area had navigated this possession “on multiple occasions.”

All those titles, all that accumulated data—if they originated from a prior cycle, everything aligned logically.

Why he alone possessed an adult form, and why two Dopamine Addicts—himself and myself—coexisted concurrently, remained unknown to me.

Well, pondering the matter immediately would yield no answers.

In a sense, this development proved even more advantageous.

If the opposing party happened to be “me,” he would entertain me far more thoroughly than any alternative player.

My desire was to relish this universe across an extended duration. Solely for that purpose, comprehending precisely why we underwent possession was optimal.

If a specific objective underpinned our possession, once that goal reached fulfillment, the possibility existed that we might be transported back to the actual world.

What I craved was an infinite dopamine supply event, rather than a return to reality. Consequently, I needed to grasp this “possession” and bring it under my personal control.

The mechanism existing for that exact objective appeared to be the “Logout” system.

“In any case, partially to check on my mother and your sister… I intend to attempt logging out.”

Shut-in Yeobo’s eyes widened in profound shock.

“What do you mean you intend to attempt logging out? Are you implying that you plan to die?”

Come to think of it, I had elucidated the system unlock rights and points as a method of boasting about my accomplishments on their behalf, yet I had omitted mentioning that my system had received supplementary unlocks alongside acquiring “Logout.”

“The system possesses a ‘Logout’ feature.”

“What?! My system contains no such capability!”

“Mine does. I executed a procedure designated as an additional unlock.”

“So that explains how you managed to unlock systems for other individuals as well. Damn it… all of us suffered possession identically, so why are solely you exceptional? I suppose an all-zone clearer’s physical statistics do not simply vanish.”

Reflecting further, the Dopamine Addict asserted that my progression speed outpaced his as well…

Regardless of perspective, that circumstance stemmed from my initialization within the Cola Area. Had I commenced my journey within the Unicorn Area or any alternative location, I never would have uncovered Luna Moon’s true identity nor realized that Daphne operated as a player. Lacking Luna’s Ring, I would never have inherited the Eye Giant’s capacity, and absent that advantage, persuading Shin Eun-jo would have remained impossible.

Was commencing within the Cola Area genuinely a coincidence?

Opting for cola constituted my personal volition, true. Still, an inexplicable unease persisted.

For the present moment, I needed to conclude the discussion concerning Logout.

“Regardless… the reality that ‘Logout’ functions as a system feature implies that ‘Login’ ought to be achievable as well. It fundamentally differs from perishing and reverting to reality. It must differ.”

“It must?”

“Once I resolve the questions surrounding my mother, I intend to return.”

I anticipated she would regard me peculiarly for declaring an intention to re-enter this realm, but Shut-in Yeobo’s expression remained unexpectedly composed.

“That… applies to me as well.”

“You too?”

“As I stated previously, I wish to survive for a prolonged duration.”

Ah… recalling the details, this young woman had mentioned that remaining within her original physical form would have left her with a severely limited lifespan.

“I merely desire to verify my sister’s safety, then re-enter this universe. If returning proves feasible, I support testing Logout. How does Logout actually operate? Can I execute it as well?”

“Mm.”

The system merely indicated that every player was required to access their status windows prior to activating the Logout function. Whether exclusively players who completed additional unlocks could utilize Logout, or whether it unlocked for all participants once every player accessed their system, remained beyond my knowledge.

The most rapid approach involved satisfying the prerequisite condition for Logout—”every player unlocking their system”—and subsequently verifying how Logout functioned in practice.

“A specific condition governs unlocking the Logout system.”

“A condition?”

“Every individual player must unlock their system.”

“What? We lack even an accurate count of possessed individuals… is compelling every single one of them to unlock it even feasible? You mentioned previously that unlocking a system demands an immense quantity of points or similar resources.”

“Which constitutes the exact reason.”

I raised two fingers before Shut-in Yeobo.

“There exist two distinct pathways to unlock Logout.”

“Two?”

“One of them…”

I curled one finger downward as I spoke.

“involves utilizing system-unlocked players originating from alternative zones. Operating independently, my point reserves will prove insufficient.”

Shut-in Yeobo folded her arms, adopting a contemplative expression.

Shin Eun-jo might prove cooperative, but players from external zones were an uncertainty. Would they genuinely consent to expend such a massive quantity of points solely to achieve logout? We retained motives driving our return to reality, yet… I fail to imagine the hardcore Safe Zone game addicts desiring a return. Taejeong appears to enjoy existence in this setting significantly more as well.

Taejeong had explicitly declared during our initial encounter that he rejoiced in clearing this universe alongside me. As I previously deduced, if the possession targeted exclusively individuals sharing that mindset, finding players willing to cooperate with my Logout initiative would prove difficult.

Tibalrom situated within the Knife Zone, or that dentist who remained oblivious to the game’s nature, would likely cooperate if it guaranteed passage back to reality.

“I am acquainted with a modest number of players who might cooperate, even if the total is small.”

“And the points required to purchase system unlock rights materialize solely after achieving additional unlocks, correct?”

That assessment was accurate. A greater challenge than the points themselves centered on this “additional unlock.” I possessed zero insight regarding how to compel another player to execute one. Neither could I confirm whether assisting another player with an additional unlock lay within my capabilities.

Fortunately, I had already formulated a contingency strategy.

“Should the points prove inadequate, we simply resort to the alternative methodology.”

“An alternative methodology exists? What is it?”

I curled my remaining finger inward as I articulated the thought.

“Eliminate every individual except the system-unlocked players.”

“……Pardon?”

“Should solely system-unlocked players remain, Logout ought to become accessible. Because every surviving player possesses an operational system.”

“Why do your concepts consistently lean toward such extreme ruthlessness?”

“I am merely prioritizing efficiency.”

“Right, well… that approach might genuinely prove more expeditious than unlocking everyone. Provided that I remain secure, correct?”

This individual was beginning to adopt a sociopathic mindset as well.

“Accordingly, how do you propose contacting the players situated in alternative zones?”

“The day all of you graduate from the military academy, we depart for the external zones.”

Shut-in Yeobo’s eyes widened into perfect circles.

“You intend… to travel to alternative zones?”

“No alternative course of action exists.”

“B-but graduation remains six years distant?!”

“We shall depart once our physical development progresses further. Venturing into external zones will represent an entirely different scale compared to our residence in the Cola Area thus far. Furthermore, should we depopulate this zone immediately, predicting how Shin Eun-jo might turn against us becomes impossible.”

“Ah…”

Even without considering Shin Eun-jo, unforeseen catastrophes could transpire during our absence. Daphne had perished merely today, Radu had attempted administering poison to me recently, Meursault exhibited instability, and Anton had likely already pursued self-harm. Given non-player characters capable of generating such vast complications, remaining within the zone for a duration was essential.

Additionally, our zone’s difficulty rating stood merely at Low. The non-player characters inhabiting external zones might exceed our capacity to manage independently. Consequently, initiating movement was warranted only after our physical forms matured to a moderate degree.

Seventeen years of age.

That milestone would mark our departure from the zone.

And…

The moment to access it has arrived.

Upon opening the system interface, the notification signal continued to pulse.

SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
A message originating from the Game Developer exists (1).
Would you desire to review it?

I stood prepared to inspect that message presently. Understanding that either my mother or my father was connected to the game’s development, I possessed the confidence that no message contents could induce shock.

Following the dismissal of Shut-in Yeobo back to her quarters, I accessed the notification—yet despite my determination, a sense of disturbance proved unavoidable.

The instant I opened it, a single video materialized before my vision. At the summit of that recording, the accompanying title appeared:

…Negative.

Dopamine Addict 1st Round Play Highlight Video

What on earth is this interpretation.