Chapter 1
1.
Humanity's future in 2126 was not significantly different from what humanity in 2026, a hundred years prior, had imagined.
Humanity had ventured into Space to escape the limitations of Earth's space and resources, and there, it had been exploring infinite resources and mysteries.
And just as humanity a hundred years prior had predicted, it was waging war against alien lifeforms that roamed the cosmos, threatening humanity. That was the extent of it.
Humanity's lifespan exceeded 300 years, most existing diseases including cancer could be cured, and science and technology had advanced to the point where space tourism was common and private homes with swimming pools and gardens could be owned on Mars or the Moon. Yet, the way most of humanity actually lived was no different from a hundred years ago.
The reason was simple.
All of the aforementioned required money, and a lot of it. In fact, in some ways, life was even tougher than a hundred years ago. A hundred years ago, humanity at least didn't have to compete for jobs with robots that worked 24 hours a day without complaint or even a smoke break, or autonomous vehicles that drove at 300 kilometers per hour without a single accident, or AI that could generate a thousand images per second.
In such a world, there was practically only one way for common people to earn a lot of money.
“We are recruiting soldiers to fight in the War against Mog!”
Kim Seojun, hunting the Space Monster Species, Mog, that threatened humanity from beyond Space, was no different.
“Yeongcheol.”
“Yeah, what?”
“Why does Korea still have Forced Conscription?”
“It's a divided nation, isn't it? North Korea still exists, right?”
“In the Space Era, does being a divided nation truly hold meaning? In the vast world of Space, does that line of division truly matter?”
“You punk, your Enlistment Notice came out.”
His Enlistment Notice arrived when he turned 19.
“Yeah, it came. Damn it. I don't know why Enlistment Notices are still being issued in the 22nd century.”
“Why, of course, from the Nation's perspective, isn't it strange to throw away the chance to exploit cheap labor? And these days, it's not like they're doing anything dangerous, right? Just get some Basic Training, work in a Military Supply Factory, and it's over, right? Huh? No? Oh, wait. Seojun, you don't mean...? Hey, no way. You don't mean that, do you?”
And when that Enlistment Notice came, Kim Seojun said.
“I'm going to volunteer for the Space Marines.”
He would become a Space Marine, crossing Space to fight Space Monsters face-to-face.
“You crazy bastard!”
It was, of course, a Crazy Act.
“Why on earth are you trying to commit a suicidal act?”
“Why would anyone volunteer for the Space Marines now?”
“For money?”
“Exactly.”
But Kim Seojun had no choice.
“My brother collapsed.”
“Jinsu *hyung*?”
“My sister-in-law isn't saying anything, but his physical condition seems bad, especially his liver and pancreas. He needs a new organ transplant, but as you know, the price is... well, you know?”
His brother was sick.
“Hey, even so...”
“It's not 'even so.' Yeongcheol, you know, don't you? How much our brother suffered because of me and Hye-eun.”
“Of course...”
And to Kim Seojun, his brother Kim Jinsu was not just a simple brother.
“I still don't know what it's like to become the head of the household at fifteen, with a five-year-old and a three-year-old, siblings.”
In the tragedy that befell their parents, Kim Seojun's brother did not collapse but sacrificed everything for his younger siblings.
“What it's like to go into Space as a Mercenary at seventeen, without even an Enlistment Notice, and shoot at Mog.”
With the single conviction, "I will save my siblings," his brother showed courage and sacrifice that no one else in the world would dare to. Such a brother was now sick.
“My brother did it, so I have to do it too.”
And in a situation where he could help such a brother, Kim Seojun didn't hesitate. He volunteered for the Space Marines.
Life afterward was more miserable than anyone could have imagined. Wearing a Battle Suit and holding a gun, facing those monsters was truly a crazy act. Every time he was deployed on a mission, he wrote a will. He had seen countless times his comrades, who had been laughing and chatting just ten minutes ago, being chewed alive by Mog.
“Sergeant Kim, you're getting discharged in a week, right?”
“Yes.”
“Hey, instead of that, how about you stay in? I'm serious. I've seen many soldiers, but your talent is extraordinary. If you want, I'll even write you a Special Forces recommendation.”
“I haven't gone crazy yet, sir.”
“...That's a relief. If you had said yes, I was going to send you straight to a mental hospital.”
But Kim Seojun survived, and now it was time to bid farewell to the Battlefield of the War against Mog.
“Sergeant Kim Seojun, you've worked hard. It's not just empty words; thanks to the courage you showed on the battlefield, hundreds of lives were saved.”
“I was happy to serve with the company commander's unit.”
Having completed his final salute, Kim Seojun finally returned to Earth after three years, aboard a spaceship bound for Earth.
For the next six years, life was happiness itself.
The money he earned as a Space Marine was considerable, and with that money, his brother regained his health. To his healthy brother and sister-in-law, a precious niece was born. Kim Seojun, watching his brother and sister-in-law, dreamed of getting a good job, finding a partner who would trust him, having children, and living happily. He dreamed of a rosy future.
However, that future soon collapsed.
On the day his niece turned five, an accident occurred. It was a terrorist attack. And in that terrorist attack, his brother was caught up. He suffered burns all over his body and his entire body was shattered. It was an injury that would have been an Instant Kill in the 21st century, but the Medical Technology of the 22nd century could save him. Of course, there was a condition. That money, a lot of money, was needed.
“Uncle, when will Dad wake up?”
Watching his brother who wouldn't wake up, Kim Seojun answered his niece's question without a moment's hesitation.
“Soon.”
The moment he said those words, Kim Seojun applied to become a Non-commissioned Officer and, at the same time, volunteered.
“Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun, is there anywhere you'd like to be stationed?”
“I want to go to the place that pays the most.”
“......Are you serious?”
“Yes. Otherwise, there's no way I'd join the Military twice, sir.”
“He's serious.”
He went to the shittiest place, that is, a place where Resource Development was just beginning, where no one even knew what was there. There was no fear.
“Staff Sergeant Kim, is this your first mission after commissioning?”
“But why?”
“No, sir. I was just curious. Did you perhaps prepare diapers? I'm not trying to tease you, but when they first see Mog, ten out of ten, whether soldier or non-commissioned officer, wet themselves, sir. Even I still sometimes do, sir.”
“Corporal Lee Jihun.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I re-enlisted.”
“Sir?”
“I said, I re-enlisted.”
That was why he had already experienced it.
[Now entering Planet Amotia.]
They entered the Development Planet where Resource Development had just begun.
[Mog Appearance ahead!]
[Mogdogs are swarming!]
A hundred Mogdogs, with exoskeletons like two-meter-long insects, running on four legs like dogs, and with scythe-like forelegs like a praying mantis, swarmed.
“M-my god! Th-there are too many!”
“Then inject it.”
“Sir?”
“Do you have the confidence to look at that sober? Everyone, inject your stimpacks!”
At that moment, Kim Seojun didn't panic and calmly injected the stimpack, a stimulant provided to Space Marines.
*Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!*
And in that changed world, in that changed perception, Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun, along with his Subordinate Soldiers, fought a battle for their lives. It was an extremely fierce battle, to the extent that total annihilation wouldn't have been surprising.
“Survivors?”
“Eight people, sir.”
Fortunately, thanks to luck, Kim Seojun and his Subordinate Soldiers were able to win the battle. They experienced a miracle.
“Two died.”
There was also sadness. But even then, Kim Seojun didn't get excited, surprised, or overwhelmed by sadness. Because he had experienced it all before. And because he would experience it countless times in the future. Of course, there was also that.
“Whoa! It's fireworks! Fireworks!”
“Hehehehe, hihihihi.”
The Stimpack Side Effects of the stimulant were destroying the user's five senses, and in such a situation, it was impossible to express proper emotions or make rational judgments. Kim Seojun was no different. The moment he injected the stimpack, the side effects naturally came to him too. The world looked different from usual, and he would hear auditory hallucinations, sounds that shouldn't be heard. That was why he experienced them.
[Status Window activated.]
*'Huh?'*
When he suddenly heard that sound in his ear, Kim Seojun thought it was a Stimpack Side Effect. And it was a common side effect. Among his comrades, intoxicated by auditory and visual hallucinations from Stimpack Side Effects, he had seen them saying things like, "I leveled up! The Constellation sponsored me! I got an Instant Kill Skill!" So Kim Seojun also didn't attach much meaning to it.
“A Status Window, you say.”
[Kim Seojun]
- Strength: 11
- Stamina: 14
- Mana: 1
- Owned Skills: None
- Owned Talents: Dynamic Visual Acuity (E)
- Owned Points: 0pt
- Owned Tickets: Gold Ticket 1
It was the same when he saw the Holographic Window appear the moment he said "Status Window."
*'......This hallucination is pretty strong.'*
He just thought the side effects had hit him hard.
“A Gold Ticket, you say.”
*Shimmer!*
“Huh?”
But the moment he uttered those words, the situation changed as he saw a single golden ticket appear on his Battle Suit glove.
*'......Is this a hallucination?'*
As he looked at the Gold Ticket that had appeared in his hand, it was there.
[Gold Ticket]
- Tear the ticket to obtain stats, skills, or talents.
Of course, even as he saw it, Kim Seojun was still half in doubt. He thought it was a hallucination.
*Rip!*
But the moment he tore the Gold Ticket.
[Gold Ticket torn.]
[Congratulations! A Platinum Rank reward has appeared!]
[Apollo's Blessing (55 days) has appeared!]
[You can now see the trajectory of all projectiles.]
It was at that moment.
[Mog Appearance ahead!]
[333 Mogdogs currently confirmed!]
A sudden Combat Alert rang out, and Kim Seojun, regaining his senses, told his drug-addled Subordinate Soldiers.
“Everyone, Prepare for Battle! Aim your guns!”
“Sir? N-now, sir? I-I'm seeing strange things right now, sir!”
“Me too.”
And Kim Seojun could see.
*Click!*
His gun barrel, aimed at the swarming Mogdogs, was emitting a red light line from its tip like a laser.
“......I'm seeing strange things right now too.”
On Kim Seojun's first day as a Non-commissioned Officer, he got a Status Window.