BCGWR Chapter 34 Part 1

My head was dazed, and I remember going to the hospital barely able to control my body, but my memory cuts off after that. Considering this, my speculation wasn’t entirely unfounded.

“…Status window.”

It had been a long time since he’d explicitly called out his status window. For some reason, he didn’t think it would appear here, so he spoke aloud, and contrary to his concerns, a translucent, bluish window popped up before his eyes.

Han Ji-su / Human / B-rank Guide

HP: C

Strength: D (-)

Willpower: B (+)

MP: 180/180

[View Possessed Skills]

※Caution※

You are currently under a stacked mental brainwashing skill. Watch your words and actions!

Patron: None

Active Quests: None

Current Location: 1■■-■■, ■■’s ■■■ created by An■■ ■

“…What’s with this location? Is it a dungeon?”

Although the current location display was broken with ‘■’ symbols, the pattern of numbers and ‘-‘ at the beginning suggested it was a dungeon notation.

Usually, the current location displayed in the status window outside a dungeon would only show Earth, country, and region, but inside a dungeon, a specific number would always be assigned and displayed as nnn-nn, terrain.

‘Is this terrain created by some “An” person? For that, there’s nothing here. Can this even be called terrain?’

Even if he accepted the coordinates, the rest of the space made it difficult to be sure it was a dungeon.

There was no window showing the number of entrants always floating in the center of the dungeon sky, nor was he given the basic instant dungeon strategy quest typically provided upon entry.

The moment Ji-su, who had been looking around, furrowed his brow, a new envelope-shaped window popped up with a ‘ding’ sound.

[A direct message has arrived]

“…!?”

A direct message.

Ji-su had certainly heard of their existence, but this was his first time seeing one directly. Originally, direct messages were a means used by ‘Patrons,’ beings who suddenly appeared with The Cataclysm, to send obtainable or material gifts to their ‘Protégés.’ Since Ji-su had no Patron, he had no reason to see one. Yet, now a direct message was conspicuously floating before his eyes.

“…What is it…”

He was suspicious and didn’t touch it, looking around instead. The envelope subtly glided closer to him. Then, as if urging him to open it quickly, a distinct golden light began to shimmer around the envelope.

“…Gold rank?”

It was publicly known that direct messages also had ranks.

Rewards were categorized by color: lime green, blue, pink, silver, and gold. This golden direct message was of such a high rank that only a few Awakened individuals had ever received one. Ji-su’s eyes widened as he confirmed the light circling the envelope was undeniably golden.

“…Is it really gold rank?”

As if affirming Ji-su’s muttered question, the envelope shape drew even closer. Now, it was so close to his face that it was hard to properly see its form.

“…”

Ji-su leaned back to examine the envelope, and after a brief deliberation, concluded that it didn’t matter what it was and reached out his hand.

At the very least, it was a gold rank. And regardless of the rank, even if this choice led to undesirable outcomes in the future, for him, there was no future worse than the present anyway.

When he gently tapped the envelope shape with his fingertip, an animation of the envelope opening appeared, and then a square status window, pretending to be a letter, popped out with a flash!

Ji-su, who had held some expectations for the content of his first direct message, couldn’t hide his disappointment. The message written in the status window was completely mosaiced with ‘■■■’ symbols, making it impossible to read a single word.

“…Are you telling me to look or not?”

At Ji-su’s grumble, asking what he was supposed to look at if it was all covered up like this, another pop-up appeared in front of the status window with a readable message.

[This direct message was sent to ‘Han Ji-su’ from ■ of An■. Would you like to open it?]

[YES / 응 / 네 / 예 / I will open it]

“…There’s no refusal option?”

As he squinted his eyes and muttered, the envelope seemed to flinch for a moment. Ji-su knew that couldn’t be, but it felt as if the envelope was watching his reaction, so this time he deliberately spoke at length, as if to be heard.

“Why is there no refusal option? Am I just supposed to shut up and take what’s given? It’s really suspicious, I’m hesitant to click…”

At that, even the envelope and status window began to look dejected.

Ji-su, feeling puzzled that something he knew wasn’t sentient was emitting such an aura, lowered his hand, and the envelope timidly retreated, displaying a new pop-up window.

[This direct message was sent by ■ of ■sik, attaching an item ‘specially made’ for ‘Han Ji-su.’ Would you like to open it?]

[Yes / You can refuse, but it is much better to receive it, so I will receive it]

“…”

Although ‘receive’ was still the only option, the changed wording seemed much more persuasive. Ji-su also noticed that the part previously obscured by the ‘An■’ symbol had changed to ‘■sik.’

‘…Hmm, I didn’t think so… It seems it really is the God of Rest.’

The God of Rest.

Among the many Patrons known in the world, the God of Rest was remarkably famous among the Awakened, despite having surprisingly few Protégés.

One major reason was that all of the Protégés chosen by the God of Rest were S-rank or higher Awakened. However, an even greater reason was that the skills and items given to them were significantly more valuable than those from other Patrons.

Unlike some Patrons who tormented their Protégés or made unreasonable demands in exchange for their help, the God of Rest was a clean Patron with absolutely no such rumors. Furthermore…

‘…He was the god with the most recorded instances of helping Awakened individuals who were not his own Protégés…’