Chapter 37
A Strange World (1)
Daily Quest.
Just as the name implied, it was a mission given every day.
In most games, daily quests existed to encourage players to log in regularly, so their difficulty was usually low.
At most, you'd kill a few weak monsters or pull weeds in a flower bed.
But this wasn't a game.
This was reality, where the "players" were connected at all times.
So what would a daily quest mean in the real world?
"It's one of the Basic Welfare benefits, so it should be something positive."
Contrary to Myeongwoo's expectations, however, everyone behind him was staring into space with frightened expressions.
Whether it was called welfare or not, they feared every change this world brought.
Nothing that had happened so far had benefited humanity.
Even systems that supposedly guaranteed survival—like Night Lodging—had turned out to be living hells once people actually experienced them.
So...
"Daily Quest...?"
"What is it this time?"
"I-I don't want this... Just leave us alone!"
No one present looked at the new system with optimism.
And, in reality, the quests were far from easy.
[Daily] "Scout"
Mission: Approach a monster until you are within 10 meters of it.
Reward: 3,000 Karma
[Daily] "Economic Activity"
Mission: Pay another person in exchange for receiving Karma.
Reward: 1,000 Karma
Special Rule: Family members cannot be designated as trading partners.
"A-Approach a monster?"
"What kind of daily quest is that? That's a suicide mission."
"They've got to be kidding."
As expected, everyone who saw the Scout quest reacted in disbelief.
After all, everyone here had remained ordinary civilians precisely because they lacked the courage to fight monsters.
"But... the second quest doesn't seem too bad."
"Yeah... the reward's a bit small, though."
As soon as someone mentioned Economic Activity, everyone's attention shifted to it.
"So all we have to do is receive Karma from someone?"
"Wouldn't exchanging coins with each other count?"
"Well... let's try it."
After discussing it among themselves, one group picked trading partners and began exchanging equal amounts of currency.
The currency they used was the commemorative coin bearing Myeongwoo's face.
Before he had scattered those coins, everyone had been completely broke.
Curious about the results himself, Myeongwoo stayed to watch.
"Let's exchange at the same time."
"Should we count down?"
The two volunteers stood before everyone.
Even though both had agreed to the exchange, one of them—a much smaller man—looked noticeably tense.
If the larger man simply took his coin without giving one back, there would be no way for him to forcefully reclaim it.
Of course, with so many witnesses present—and even the Best Swordsman standing nearby—it was unlikely anyone would actually cheat.
Still...
When you were the weaker party, even the smallest uncertainty felt threatening.
"Ready."
The smaller man raised his left hand.
"Three! Two! One!"
The countdown ended.
Two commemorative coins crossed paths simultaneously.
The exchange was completely fair.
But...
Nothing happened.
"..."
"..."
Seeing the expressions of the two participants, it was obvious the quest hadn't been completed.
Those who had been preparing to imitate them immediately backed away.
"So simply exchanging coins doesn't work."
"The quest specifically says you have to pay compensation."
"Hmm..."
The crowd once again erupted into discussion.
Then the larger of the two men proposed another experiment.
"I've got a 1,000-Karma coin."
"I'll give it to you if you'll massage my arm for a moment."
"And once the transaction is over, you'll return the coin."
The smaller man frowned.
He understood it was just an experiment, but he wasn't exactly thrilled about massaging someone else's arm.
Especially when he'd have to return the money afterward.
Still...
He had no choice.
The other man owned the coin.
"All right."
The larger man extended his thick forearm.
The smaller man gave him a rather half-hearted massage for about ten seconds.
"That should be enough."
The big man pulled his arm back and held out the crimson coin.
The moment the smaller man accepted it...
Everyone focused on him.
"Huh?!"
His expression was completely different from before.
Clink.
A crimson Karma coin fell from thin air.
The quest had actually been completed.
"Oh!"
"So you have to actually provide something."
"If that's the case, couldn't everyone just make arrangements beforehand...?"
The atmosphere instantly brightened.
But after watching the subtle tension between the two traders, Myeongwoo came to a different conclusion.
"This worked because everyone watched the experiment."
"But would it really be easy to coordinate something like this with complete strangers?"
People differed in physique.
Values.
Morals.
Even their perception of money.
To Myeongwoo, 1,000 Karma no longer felt like much.
But for someone who couldn't even pay tonight's taxes, 1,000 Karma was practically their life.
"This system is bound to create power imbalances."
"This innocent little exchange—where people return each other's money and simply collect the quest reward—will probably be the last of its kind."
Watching everyone rush to find trading partners, Myeongwoo resumed his journey north.
The impact of the Daily Quest on people's lives was even greater than he had expected.
When he reached the northern outskirts of Sangju, he saw people everywhere negotiating trades instead of job hunting.
Of course...
Not everyone had managed to find a partner.
"Can someone help me clear my Daily Quest?"
"I'll pay 500 Karma! Looking for a Daily Quest partner!"
The Daily Quest could only be completed once each day.
Anyone who had already finished theirs had no reason to risk trading with another stranger.
As a result...
Some people were inevitably left behind.
"Some are even offering extra money just to get help."
It made sense.
The quest rewarded 1,000 Karma.
Even after paying someone 500 Karma, they'd still come out ahead.
Flash!
Myeongwoo sped through the bustling streets.
Everywhere he looked, people were searching for trading partners.
In some places, arguments over trades had already escalated into fistfights.
"At least people can now pay their daily taxes."
"Their chances of survival have definitely improved."
But it still wasn't enough to cover the minimum cost of living.
Taxes weren't the only thing waiting every night.
There was also Night Lodging, required to survive the abnormal climate.
From Myeongwoo's own experience, renting even a tiny motel room cost 3,000 Karma.
Sure, several people could stay together.
But who would willingly let strangers sleep in a room they'd paid for with their own hard-earned money?
Unless someone succeeded in hunting monsters...
Life remained brutally difficult.
"For most people, there's only one option left."
"Challenge the Scout quest."
[Daily] "Scout"
Mission: Approach a monster until you are within 10 meters.
Reward: 3,000 Karma
Running along the highway leading out of Sangju, Myeongwoo glanced at the quest notification.
The more he looked at it...
The more convinced he became that every part of this system had been carefully calculated.
Why?
Why torment humanity like this?
Tap! Tap!
Eventually, a large expressway appeared on his right.
A roadside sign wished travelers farewell from Sangju.
"So this is the end of Sangju."
Beyond this lay Mungyeong.
The sun was still high overhead.
Both Myeongwoo and the roadside trees cast only short shadows.
Unlike the crowded city, he was the only person running along the empty highway.
For a brief moment...
He actually felt peaceful.
But only for a moment.
[The True Best Swordsman of North Gyeongsang has appeared!]
[All True Best Swordsmen of North Gyeongsang receive your real-time location.]
"...What?"
Skreeee!
Myeongwoo instinctively slammed on the brakes.
After hurriedly scanning his surroundings, he started running again.
"A True Best Swordsman..."
"That means someone collected three Best Swordsman titles."
He almost muttered, "How already?"
Then stopped himself.
After all...
He himself had become the Best Swordsman of North Gyeongsang just as quickly.
"So someone else has also been traveling from city to city, hunting Best Swordsmen like I have."
And now...
That person knew his location at all times.
Meanwhile, Myeongwoo knew absolutely nothing.
Not the man's appearance.
Not his name.
Not even where he was.
For all he knew...
An assassin could already be waiting in Mungyeong.
"It never ends..."
He'd be lying if he said the unknown challenger didn't worry him.
Still...
This was exactly the kind of situation he'd expected.
"From now on, anyone I meet could be an enemy."
"I'll have to stay alert."
The instant that thought crossed his mind...
A sound echoed from ahead on the road.
"...?"
Vroooom.
An engine.
A sound almost unheard of on the second day after the Reset.
"Someone's driving?"
Until now, the only moving vehicle he'd seen belonged to Sangju's former Best Swordsman's wife.
Now...
He was seeing a second one.
"There it is."
Soon, a gray SUV came into view.
Since Myeongwoo was sprinting on foot...
He was actually gaining on it.
As surprising as it was for Myeongwoo to see someone driving in this insane world...
The people inside the SUV were undoubtedly even more shocked to see a man running after them at terrifying speed.
Screech!
The SUV swerved wildly from side to side.
Then its engine roared louder.
VROOOOM!
The driver had stepped on the accelerator.
They were trying to escape the lunatic sprinting after them in broad daylight.
"They're speeding up quite a bit..."
"I wonder if they've got enough fuel."
Watching the SUV begin pulling away again, Myeongwoo poured even more strength into his calves and thighs.
CRACK!
The asphalt beneath his feet shattered violently.
The gap, which had begun widening...
Started shrinking once again.