I’m a Young God, Won’t You Raise Me? — Chapter 38

Chapter 38

‘What…?‍ The item didn’t‍‍ work?’

Perplexed,‍ I turned Proper‌⁠ Appearance over and over in my⁠ hands.

Having‌ fulfilled its purpose, the single-use item‌‌⁠ began to rust‌ with a greenish⁠ sheen right before‌ my eyes.

Rusted‍ Bronze Mirror: A hand mirror that‍‍‌ has rusted over.‍‍ It seems its‌ surface will need‍ to be polished.‌‍

The‌‍ description had changed,⁠‌ so it was‌ clear that the‍ item had indeed⁠ been consumed.

‘Could it be broken?’

Although‍ my plan had‌ gone off course,‌ it was still⁠ possible to achieve the True Ending‌‌‌ without Proper Appearance.⁠

‘It’ll⁠⁠ just take much⁠ longer than I expected…’

I had no choice⁠ but to act‌‌ as efficiently as‌ possible.

I put the mirror‌ away and looked‌⁠⁠ around.

The‍⁠ cleaners who had‌⁠ been dragged to‍‌‌ the mansion were‌ gradually beginning to⁠ accept reality.

Everyone⁠ had realized that⁠ if they rebelled,‌ they would end⁠ up with an‍ energy hole blasted‍ through their bodies,‍‍‌ so they remained‌ silent, doing nothing‌ but darting their‌ eyes from side⁠‌ to side.

The⁠⁠ Cat Butler waved‍ a hand.

Floating⁠ roulette wheels appeared‌⁠ in front of⁠ all the cleaners.‌

“Look‍⁠ at yourselves! You⁠ look like walking rags. At least‌‍‍ have the decency‌‌ to dress with‍ a little dignity!‍ I’ll only allow those who meet‌‌ the minimum standard‍ to enter the‍ mansion.”

Before⁠ entering the mansion,‍ everyone had to‌⁠⁠ spin three roulette‍ wheels.

First,‌⁠ the clothing wheel.⁠‍

Then⁠ the cleaning tool‍ wheel.

And‍ finally, the weapon‌‌⁠ wheel.

Each‍⁠ roulette wheel was⁠ divided into spaces‌‍ of different sizes,‌ and the worse⁠‍ an item was,‌ the larger the‌ space it occupied.‍⁠

On‍ the clothing wheel,⁠ the most common options were the‌‍‌ worn-out work jumpsuit,‍ which was CCC’s‍‍ default outfit, a pair of pajamas,⁠ and an oversized‌ black garbage bag.‍‌

On⁠‍ the cleaning tool‌‍ wheel, the most‍⁠ common options were‍‍‌ a drinking straw, a dustpan, and‌‌⁠ an old bird feather.

But‌‍ the worst by‌‍‍ far was the‌‌ weapon wheel.

A rubber bath duck, a dog-shaped balloon,‌‌ and a water‍ pistol occupied two-thirds‍ of the entire‍⁠ wheel.

The⁠ genuinely useful weapons‍⁠‌ barely occupied any‍ space at all,⁠ and the best‌ one, the Ray‍‍ Gun, was little more than a thin line.

While⁠ it was still⁠‌ possible to get‍⁠ decent clothing or a useful cleaning‍‍⁠ tool with a bit of luck,‌ obtaining a good weapon was extraordinarily‌‌ difficult.

After‍‍ making sure no⁠‌ one was paying‌ attention, I approached⁠ Mo Haein first.

“Captain‌ Mo.”

I called to her‌ quietly.

She,⁠ who had been‍ staring at the⁠ roulette wheel with‌‍ a deeply furrowed‍ brow, turned toward⁠ me and replied‍⁠ in the same⁠‍ hushed tone.

“Recruit.⁠⁠ Are you good‍ at spinning roulette⁠⁠ wheels?”

“I‍ can get whichever‌⁠ item I want.”⁠‍

“…Is⁠⁠ that possible?”

I gave a slight⁠‍‍ nod at her‌‌ skeptical expression and,⁠‍ before anything else,‍‌ spun my own⁠‍ roulette wheel.

With cheerful music playing,⁠ the wheel began spinning rapidly.

The‍⁠‍ first one was‌‌ the clothing wheel.⁠

All‌‍⁠ kinds of outfits‌ flashed before my‌ eyes as rainbow-colored streaks blurred together.⁠

After‌⁠‍ a few moments,⁠ I pressed the‍ stop button.

The‌ wheel began to slow down.

The⁠ colors, which had‍ been nothing but‍ a blur until‍‍ then, gradually separated,‍ and the individual⁠‍ spaces slowly became⁠‍ visible.

Tick.‌‍

Tick.‍‌

Tick.⁠

The⁠ pointer advanced one‍ space at a time.

Until⁠ the wheel finally⁠‍ came to a complete stop.

The‍‍‍ pointer landed on⁠ a space so‌‍⁠ narrow that it wasn’t even one-tenth‍‌ the size of⁠⁠⁠ the others.

Suit‍

Mo‍ Haein stared at‍ me in complete‌‌ astonishment.

With⁠ an expression that‌⁠⁠ clearly said, That’s‌‍ impossible, she watched‍ as I spun‌ both the cleaning⁠⁠⁠ tool wheel and⁠ the weapon wheel‍ as well.

Area-Scan⁠ Vacuum Cleaner

Ray‌‍ Gun

All‍ three roulette wheels stopped on exactly⁠ the items I wanted.

In⁠ truth, it wasn’t⁠ that difficult.

All you needed was⁠⁠ decent dynamic vision‌‌⁠ and good reflexes.‌⁠

The⁠ roulette wheel didn’t spin that fast,⁠⁠ and each category⁠ was marked with‌ a different color.⁠‍

Besides,‍ the amount of⁠ time it took⁠ to stop after‍ pressing the button‌ was always exactly‌⁠ the same.

You only had to‌‌⁠ memorize which color‍‌ corresponded to each‌ item and learn how many seconds‍⁠ would pass before the wheel stopped⁠ completely.

I explained the method‍ to Mo Haein.‍⁠

She⁠‍ listened silently before⁠‍ murmuring,

“I’ll‍‍ end up wearing⁠⁠‍ the maid uniform…”‌

It‍‍ turned out that‌‍‌ she had already‍ tried something similar.‍‍

She⁠‌⁠ hadn’t known the⁠‍ exact stopping time,⁠‍‌ but she had‍ tried to time it by using the colors as a guide.

However,‌ the best spaces⁠‍ were even smaller‌ than the maid uniform’s, so she‍‌‍ had never managed‌ to land on‌⁠ them.

“Would⁠⁠ you like me‍ to try spinning‌ yours?”

Out⁠‌ of curiosity, I tried using Mo⁠‍ Haein’s roulette wheel.‌⁠

I naturally assumed it‌ wouldn’t work.

But to my surprise,‍‌ the wheel began‍‌ to spin.

I was even able‌ to press the⁠ stop button.

Both‌ of us stared⁠ at the roulette‌⁠ wheel with expressions‌‌ that practically said,⁠⁠ Why does this⁠‍ work?

One way or another,⁠‍ I ended up‍ spinning all three⁠ of her roulette⁠ wheels.

Thanks⁠ to that, Mo‍ Haein ended up‌⁠ equipped with an⁠ elegant suit, state-of-the-art⁠ cleaning equipment, and‍ a modern weapon.‍

Her⁠ expression visibly brightened.⁠

“Where’s Captain Kwak? Has‍‍‌ he spun his‌ roulette wheel already?”‍

While‌ the two of us looked around⁠⁠ for him, Kwak Hanmuk came strolling‍⁠‍ toward us.

But‍ he already had⁠‌ all his clothes‍‌ and weapon equipped.‍

A shirt-and-trousers outfit, a luxury broom… and⁠ a Light Sword?‍‍

They‌ weren’t as good‍ as the items‌ I’d gotten for‍ Mo Haein.

But‌ they were still⁠‍⁠ excellent.

More‌⁠ than enough to⁠⁠ clear the Trial⁠⁠ without any problems.⁠

Mo⁠⁠ Haein looked at him in surprise‌‌ as well.

“You‌ spun the roulette?”⁠

“No.”⁠

Kwak‌ Hanmuk raised an⁠⁠ eyebrow and answered‍‍‍ proudly.

“I took them from‌ someone else.”

“……”⁠

Apparently,⁠‌‍ when several people started fighting over‍‍ the items, he‍ had simply joined‌‍ the brawl and⁠‌‍ won.

In⁠ the end, what mattered was getting‌‍ good items.

As long as the‍ result was the⁠⁠‌ same, the method⁠‍ didn’t matter.

However,‌⁠ something caught my⁠‌‌ attention.

‘The‍‍ beads…?’

The‍‍ pagoda wood rosary⁠ hung from Kwak Hanmuk’s wrist.

It‌‍ struck me as‍ odd.

There‍⁠ was still no reason for him‌‍ to have taken‌‌ it out.

Come‌‍⁠ to think of⁠‌‍ it, he had‍‍ also been wearing⁠‌ it from the⁠‌ very moment we⁠‌ entered Dead Zone⁠‍ Delivery.

It‌ felt a little‌ strange, though I assumed the Captain‍ had his reasons.

Just as I was about to look for Lieutenant Colonel‍‌⁠ Je—

“You!”

the⁠ Cat Butler shouted.‌

I immediately turned my‌ head.

He⁠ was pointing at‌‍ Lieutenant Colonel Je.‍⁠

Apparently,⁠‌ he still hadn’t⁠ spun any of⁠ the roulettes, because⁠ he was wearing‍ the same clothes‍ he’d arrived in.⁠

“Do‍‍ you have cleaning equipment?”

Since‌⁠‌ he hadn’t even⁠‍‍ spun the clothing‍ roulette, there was‍‌ no way he⁠⁠ could have a cleaning tool.

But⁠ Lieutenant Colonel Je‍⁠ shamelessly raised his metallic hand.

It⁠ was an object⁠ that had absolutely‌‍⁠ nothing to do with cleaning.

‘Aren’t‌⁠‍ they going to‍⁠ blast a hole⁠‍ through his forehead?’⁠

I watched the scene⁠ with some concern.⁠‌

“Very‌⁠ good. It’s perfect.”

’…Wait a second.’

The‍ Cat Butler clapped‍⁠ his hands.

“You‌‍ may enter the mansion. Go receive‍ your assignment.”

An⁠⁠‍ overwhelming sense of‍‍‌ injustice washed over‍ me when I heard those words.⁠⁠⁠

‘It doesn’t fit the mansion at all!’‍⁠

A cleaner dressed in⁠ tactical gear, cleaning⁠‌ with a metallic⁠‍ hand inside an⁠‍ elegant classical mansion.⁠‍⁠ It made absolutely‌⁠⁠ no sense.

‘And‌ to begin with,⁠⁠ how the hell⁠ do you clean‍‌‍ with a metallic‍ hand?!’

Since⁠ the butlers had‍⁠⁠ no eyes, it⁠‍‌ seemed they genuinely‍ couldn’t see very‌ well.

But‍‍ ridiculous as it⁠⁠ seemed to me,‍⁠ Lieutenant Colonel Je‍⁠ received the Cat‍‍‌ Butler’s approval and‍ entered the mansion‌‍ alone.

I never would have imagined that the⁠‌ exception caused by⁠‍ the BT-Z virus‍‌ infection would apply‍ to something like‌⁠ this too.

As‌ I mentally cursed⁠⁠ those eyeless butlers⁠ while watching Lieutenant‌ Colonel Je walk‍ away, I suddenly⁠⁠ frowned.

‘But⁠⁠ doesn’t Lieutenant Colonel‌ Je look a little like the‍⁠ butlers?’

The⁠ metal that formed⁠ the Rabbit Butler’s‍⁠ and the Cat‌‍ Butler’s heads looked⁠ remarkably similar to⁠ the metal that made up Lieutenant‌⁠ Colonel Je’s body.

I’d‍‌‌ have to examine⁠ it up close‍‍‌ to be certain,⁠⁠ but it even‍‍‌ looked like it⁠‌ was made from‍‌⁠ the exact same‍ material.

I took a few‍‌ steps forward to‌⁠ get a better‍ look at the‌ butlers.

At⁠⁠ that moment—

I locked eyes with the Rabbit Butler.‌

That⁠‍ was just a figure of speech,‍⁠ since he had‍⁠ no eyes, but‌⁠ that was exactly⁠⁠ what it felt⁠ like.

I immediately smiled.

In‌‍ CCC, the most‍⁠ important thing wasn’t‌‌ the roulette, cleaning,‍ or defeating the‌ Creatures.

What⁠ truly mattered was⁠‌ earning the butlers’‍‌ favor.

If‍⁠ you managed to‌‌ offend them, an⁠ energy hole through‌‍ your forehead was practically guaranteed.

I gave the Rabbit‍ Butler an elegant‌‍⁠ smile, conveying that⁠ I had already⁠⁠ adapted perfectly to‍ the mansion.

I thought that would⁠ be enough.

But—‌‌⁠

“…!”‍⁠⁠

Just⁠⁠‍ as I realized‍‌ he’d been staring‌‍ at me for far too long,‌⁠ the Rabbit Butler‍‍⁠ suddenly charged straight‌ toward me.

The‌ eight-foot-tall creature shoved⁠ aside the cleaners‍⁠ standing in his‍‌ way as he⁠ ran directly at‍ me.

A chill shot through my entire body.‌

Countless‍ thoughts raced through‌‍‍ my mind.

‘Should‌‌ I run?’

But if I did,‍⁠ I could forget⁠‍ about the True⁠‌‌ Ending.

‘I⁠⁠ haven’t done anything‍ that would upset‍‌ the butlers.’

I’d⁠‌ played CCC far‍⁠ too many times‍⁠⁠ to make that kind of mistake.⁠

I was wearing the‌⁠ best suit possible,‍ I hadn’t caused‍ any trouble…

‘I’m‌ sure they won’t⁠‌ kill me.’

If‌‍‌ I was wrong,‍‌‌ I’d end up with a hole⁠ through my head.

Even‍ so, I trusted‌ my judgment.

Suppressing‌ my fear, I chose to stand⁠⁠ my ground.

Then—

The‌ Rabbit Butler broke‍ into a huge‍‍ smile.

“Gunbam!”⁠‌

he‍‍‍ shouted joyfully.

He⁠ grabbed me and lifted me off‍‌ the ground in⁠‍ a single motion.‌

My‍ field of vision shot upward.

Holding me in his‍‌ arms, the Rabbit‌‌‌ Butler turned toward‌‍ the Cat Butler⁠‍ and exclaimed,

“Look!‌ It’s Gunbam!”

“No‌‌ way!”

The‌ Cat Butler hurried‌‌ over to us⁠‌ as well.

The‍ moment he saw‍‌ me up close,⁠ he let out an exclamation.

“Why,‌ it’s Gunbam!”

The‌⁠ butler who had‌⁠⁠ radiated such overwhelming‌⁠ authority just moments⁠⁠ ago suddenly began⁠‍ speaking in an‍‍ astonishingly cheerful and talkative manner.

“How⁠‍ have you been⁠‍ all this time?‍ I was worried‌ because we hadn’t‌‌‌ heard from you.‍ We missed you‍ too. You could’ve‍‍⁠ at least sent‌‍ us a message.⁠‍⁠ Although, come to⁠ think of it,⁠⁠ precisely because your‍‍ visit was so‍ unexpected, this reunion⁠‌‌ is even more⁠ delightful. Haha. If‍ you planned it⁠ this way, Gunbam,⁠⁠⁠ I must say‍ you’ve been remarkably⁠⁠⁠ clever.”

Then,⁠⁠ without asking permission, he took my⁠‍ hand and shook⁠‌ it with impeccable‌ courtesy.

“So,‍‌ have you come‌ to become the‍ mansion’s butler this⁠⁠ time?”

“……”

I couldn’t answer.

It‍ felt as though‍‌⁠ my mind had‌⁠ frozen.

The‍‍ Rabbit Butler and‌ the Cat Butler‍‌ stared at me⁠ when they saw I remained silent.‍

The‌ Rabbit Butler looked‍‍ at the Cat⁠ Butler.

“Talking‌ about work the‍ moment we reunite.‍⁠ The worst.”

“Ah…⁠ You’re right. Forgive‌ me, Gunbam. I got carried away‌‌ by my excitement.”

After‍‌ apologizing gracefully, the⁠ Cat Butler began⁠‍⁠ leading me toward⁠‍ the mansion.

“Allow‌ us to make⁠‌‍ it up to‍ you. Let’s go⁠‌‍ inside first and‌ talk at our‌ leisure. For one‍ day, we’ll leave‍ the cleaner selection⁠‍‍ to one of‍‌ our subordinates.”

The‍ Cat Butler raised his voice toward‌ the mansion.

“Alpha!”‌

Immediately,‌ sparks crackled through the air.

A man with a human-shaped metal head⁠ appeared before us.

Like‍⁠ the butlers, he‍⁠ had no eyes.‍⁠

Only‍ a mouth full⁠ of razor-sharp teeth.⁠⁠⁠

He⁠ was one of⁠ the mansion’s Footmen.‌

“Did‌⁠‍ you call for‌‌ me, Butler?”

“Take‌‌⁠ care of this.‍⁠ I must attend‍ to an old‍ friend who has‌ visited us after‍ such a long⁠⁠ time.”

After‍ leaving all the‍ work to the⁠⁠ Footman, the Cat⁠⁠ Butler walked toward⁠⁠ the mansion alongside‌‌ the Rabbit Butler,‍⁠⁠ who was still‍‌⁠ carrying me in‌‌ his arms.

I slowly turned my‌⁠ head.

Kwak‍⁠ Hanmuk and Mo Haein were staring‍‌ at me in‍ complete horror.

As I looked at⁠ their pale faces,‌⁠ I suddenly realized‍‌⁠ something.

From‌ the moment I entered the Trial—‍⁠

Not‍⁠‌ a single system‍⁠ window had appeared.‌⁠‌

Not‍⁠ the CCC start‌ notification.

Not‌‍ the Main Quest‍⁠ notification.

Nothing‍ had appeared at‍ all, aside from‍‍ the window I’d‍‍ opened myself to⁠⁠ read the item’s‌ description.

It⁠ was.

As‍⁠ though I’d entered‌⁠ a playthrough where‌ every ending had⁠ already been completed.‌

‘But this isn’t a game.’

I tried to steady⁠ my increasingly rapid‍ breathing.

‘This‌ is reality.’

Not‌ the world of⁠⁠ pixel graphics inside‍ a computer.

It‌ was the real‍ world I lived‌⁠ in.

‘Why…?’⁠‍

The more I thought‍‍⁠ about the incomprehensible situation, the harder⁠‍‍ my heart pounded.‌‍

“Gunbam?”‍‍

The⁠⁠⁠ Rabbit Butler noticed⁠‌ something was wrong⁠ and called my‌ name.

There‌ was nothing more⁠ foolish than showing⁠ them my fear⁠‌ or anxiety.

So‌ I forced a smile.

And squeezed the words out.

“It’s⁠‍ been a long time, Butlers.”

Those‍⁠ creatures, incapable of⁠‌ properly understanding human‌‍‌ emotions, were delighted‌ even by my‌ trembling voice.

“Indeed.‌ It’s been a long time. Tonight‌ we’ll prepare a banquet in Gunbam’s‌‍‌ honor.”

“A‍ banquet… Excellent idea.”⁠‌

“Gunbam,‌⁠ what would you‌ like to eat?‍‍ I recommend the‌ rack of lamb⁠ steak.”

“You‌‍ absolutely loved the⁠‌ rack of lamb‍ steak last time!‍⁠ Ah, that’s right.‌‌ While you were⁠‍‌ away, the mansion‌ has improved considerably.⁠‌ We’ve hired an⁠⁠ excellent chef, as⁠‍⁠ well as several‍ Footmen.”

The Rabbit Butler and⁠‍⁠ the Cat Butler⁠‌ continued chatting with‍⁠ me enthusiastically.

I maintained an utterly⁠ rigid smile as‌‌ I gazed at⁠‍‍ the enormous mansion.⁠

It‌‍ was a residence‌‍‍ of colossal size,‌ perfectly suited for‍ beings nearly ten‍ feet tall.

Although‌ I’d entered and‌⁠‌ left that place⁠‌ countless times in‌ the game,

seeing‌ it with my⁠ own eyes now⁠ made it feel‌‌⁠ completely unfamiliar.

The‍‍‍ Rabbit Butler and the Cat Butler‍‌ smiled simultaneously, opening‌⁠‍ their mouths wide.⁠‍

“We‍‌⁠ have so many‍⁠‍ things to talk⁠‍ about.”

“So do I! Tonight‌⁠‌ we’ll talk until‌ dawn to celebrate‍⁠ our reunion.”

And so—

The‍ Butlers led me into the great‍ mansion.