Timeline of Civilization.

World History Through Energy.

How Tools Changed the Earth.

The History of Connectivity.

The Birth of Measurement.

...

Having grasped the true nature of the world Tuner had created, Se-Hoon was in a nearby public library with Terra.

From ancient eras to the modern age, the development of civilizations to the countless physical laws proven through science—Se-Hoon combed through all of those records to form a rough understanding of the world they were in.

A world where the emergence of the Tower of Heroes never occurred, huh.

Simply put, Tuner’s world was one where history had continued in peace. There was no such thing as mana, demonic aura, or system messages. Absolutely nothing born from the Towers or the Abyss. Again, no heroes, no demons, and no monsters.

The world that Se-Hoon had never known made him make a strange expression.

“So this is the ordinary world the first-generation heroes talked about...”

Heroes who split the sky, shattered mountains, and parted seas existed only in imagination here. In comparison, the world he knew until now felt like fiction; it had flipped with the actual ordinary world that he had heard only in stories. The irony of it all drew a dry laugh from him.

I was expecting something bizarre... but not this...

What wish could Tuner even have that would have created such an ordinary world?

Unable to figure it out, Se-Hoon stared at the books he had been reading—

“Administrator! Come over here!”

Terra’s urgent voice rang inside his head, making him turn to see Terra seated at a public computer while waving him over and pointing at the monitor. Sensing something unusual, he walked over and read the headline displayed on the screen.

“‘This Year’s Urban Legends Compilation’...?”

It was an article listing rumors of undead, monsters, and strange phenomena—things that did not exist in Tuner’s world. That was why, at first glance, it looked like a meaningless collection of internet creepypasta.

That is, until two certain entries caught Se-Hoon’s eye.

3. The Goblin Who Devoured a Landslide

A hiker, Mr. A, was caught in a sudden landslide during an early morning climb in Gangwon Province. With no warning, soil and debris came crashing down. But at the very moment he sensed death, a red-haired goblin reportedly appeared and exhaled crimson flames.

The flames burned away only the earth and rubble, leaving the surrounding forest untouched.

When Mr. A tried to thank the goblin who had saved him, he found it had already vanished, leaving behind only a distant crimson goblin fire drifting away.

5. The Shooting Star That Split a Typhoon

A fisherman, Mr. B, was nearly capsized by a sudden storm at sea. Then, above the rain clouds, something flashed gold.

Mr. B looked up to see a small shooting star descend toward him.

In that instant, accompanied by a blinding light, the night sky split in two—and the typhoon engulfing his vessel vanished. Mr. B claims the sword-like gash left across the bow of his ship was the mark left behind when the shooting star cleaved the storm.

To the natives of the world, the stories about the red-haired goblin who saved a hiker and the golden shooting star that split a typhoon over open waters read like ‌ poorly written fantasy.

But to Se-Hoon and Terra, that couldn’t be further from the case..

“Isn’t this Dean Ryu and Lady Aria?” Terra asked.

“Hm... judging by the descriptions, it does sound like them.”

The first story told of selective flames that burned only soil and debris; the second of a golden radiance that split the night sky. Knowing those two, such descriptions were almost certainly an eyewitness account—or a rumor spread by someone who knew.

I thought he would have imprisoned them somewhere in this world, but it looks like his control isn’t as absolute as I assumed.

Perhaps something had gone wrong when Hiranyagarbha activated the technique in an incomplete state? Regardless, it confirmed that Tuner’s interference had limits, allowing Se-Hoon to plan out their next move rather easily.

“Let’s find them first.”

“Should I search for them? Hiranyagarbha is still connected to the Towers. If I leverage system authority properly—”

Se-Hoon shook his head, nipping the idea in the bud.

“No. Avoid that as much as possible. There’s a chance he’ll interfere in reverse.”

Considering Tuner had bothered dragging Terra into that desperate situation—where Hiranyagarbha might even have been destroyed—it meant he had an ulterior motive.

Until Se-Hoon understood just what that motive was, he would conserve Terra’s power. If Tuner was preparing something through Terra, then they could do the same in return.

“Understood. But without the system, how do we find them? They’ll likely ignore any obvious method, assuming it’s a trap.”

Under the watchful eye of Tuner, how could they locate two people hidden somewhere in the vast world where mana could not be restored?

Yet, contrary to expectations of a daunting task, Se-Hoon wasn’t worried. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

“It’s not too hard. As long as we’re willing to ignore one thing,” he replied lazily.

“One thing...?”

Se-Hoon pointed to another headline on the news site.

“Tomorrow at 11 a.m., the leaders of thirty-two nations attending the World Security Summit will sign a comprehensive peace treaty for the advancement of humanity...”

“The aftermath.”

***

The heart of the city hosting the World Security Summit, a gathering of the leaders of thirty-two nations that would decide the fate of global peace, was where the venue was located.

And it was that very location which descended into chaos in less than ten minutes.

“I am Mark James, the on-site commander of the Joint Operations Task Force. Before the formal negotiations begin, we would like to confirm the conditions of those inside the hall. If there are any who are injured, please administer first aid...”

With special forces vehicles surrounding every inch of the perimeter around the building and the world’s press—already present to cover the summit—the unprecedented hostage situation was known to absolutely everyone.

「According to the Joint Task Force, the kidnapper has released a statement declaring, “I am an ordinary blacksmith seeking a gluttonous guest and a guest who eavesdrops on conversations.” 」

Watching the live broadcast, Se-Hoon nodded in satisfaction. In contrast, Terra was wiping cold sweat from her brow beside him.

“Um... Administrator...”

“Yeah?”

“Is this really okay?”

Se-Hoon gave her a puzzled look, prompting Terra to glance at the unconscious leaders lying across the conference hall.

“It... uhm... feels like we’re doing something wrong.”

“This isn’t even the world we lived in. It’s a world Tuner created.”

“That’s true, but...” Terra trailed off, looking uneasy.

Noticing, Se-Hoon gave his next words some thought.

“Well, I don’t see this world as an illusion or a fake. If anything, it feels like a parallel world.”

“...”

“That’s why I won’t kill someone for fun or cause terror lightly. But if it’s for the sake of protecting our world, then I won’t hesitate.”

Perhaps someone from the first generation ‌before the Towers emerged might have felt nostalgia. Se-Hoon, however, was born after that time period. To him, it was simply a curious world without mana. Nothing more.

And it must not become more.

“So even if it’s a little extreme, it’s better to find those two quickly and settle things with Tuner. That’s better for the people here too. You understand, right?”

“...Yes. I’m sorry.”

Realizing she had said something unnecessary, Terra lowered her head.

In response, Se-Hoon gave a faint smile and changed the subject.

“By the way—have you decided yet?”

“Decide?”

“Your name.”

Back when the Planetary Reinforcement Plan succeeded, Se-Hoon had ‌suggested to Terra that she should choose a new name. After all, “Terra” ‌had originally referred to the planetary control system itself; that was why when their bond formed, the notification message had left her name blank.

And that was the case even now.

“I... I thought I had it, but then I started overthinking...”

“What part? Your nationality? Surname?”

“I’ve mostly settled that. It’s mainly my given name. Whether it matches the surname, how it sounds when called alone...”

Se-Hoon nodded.

“Fair enough. That’s a lot to consider.”

Most people receive their names from their parents. Terra, though, had to choose hers for herself; and since a name also carried symbolic meaning, it was only natural that she would have a lot to think about.

“...Administrator. Actually... there’s something I’ve wanted to ask.”

“What is it?”

Terra took a deep breath, steeling herself.

“Would you choose it for me?!”

“...Me?”

“I was only able to stand as an independent being because I met you. So if I could let someone choose it... I want it to be you!”

Her fervent plea drew a surprised look from Se-Hoon—then a smile.

“If you’re okay with it, I don’t mind. Do you have any candidates on your list? What surname?”

“...Don’t laugh.”

Terra then shyly revealed the surname and candidates she had chosen, making Se-Hoon’s eyes widen before he soon burst into laughter.

“Ah... Administrator—!”

Bang!

The conference hall doors flew open before Terra could protest.

“Lee Se-Hoon!”

“So it was you?”

Eun-Ha rushed in, startled. Aria followed, watching with mild surprise.

Naturally, Se-Hoon immediately scanned them and recognized them as real.

“You’re both safe. Thankfully.”

“The world itself is harmless,” Aria said with a shrug. “Though not being able to recover mana was inconvenient.”

“You aren’t injured, are you?” Eun-Ha asked, fussing over him anxiously.

“Of course not. I gave that Tuner bastard a proper hit before coming in.”

“...That’s a relief.”

Once Eun-Ha calmed, Aria stepped closer with a faint smile.

“Did Jake tell you?”

“Huh?”

“That I eavesdrop.”

“...”

Seeing Se-Hoon silent, Aria’s smile cooled.

“I see. Thank you for answering.”

“Hey, I didn’t answer—”

“Enough with the greetings then. Let’s move on to assess the situation. It’s not wise to linger too comfortably in enemy territory.”

“...”

Only able to agree, Se-Hoon moved on and summarized what had happened since they were trapped in Hiranyagarbha as well as Tuner’s goal.

“To become a being not bound to the Golden Ring... and create his own world. If that’s true, he’s halfway there.”

Aria traced a finger along the conference table. The world they were trapped in was so perfectly constructed that even her senses could not distinguish it.

She looked up.

“You said only half a day passed for you since we were trapped, right? For us, it’s been forty-one days.”

“...Forty-one?”

Eun-Ha nodded.

“It’s possible our memories were altered in the process. But that is how we perceive it.”

If Tuner manipulated the Golden Ring like Puppeteer once had, memory tampering was possible. However, if he could do that, then he would have subdued them already.

In other words, time inside Hiranyagarbha flowing faster than outside was more plausible.

“Did you find out anything else?”

“No. We investigated myths, urban legends, secret government facilities, and corporate research labs. Nothing.”

“We thought this world might exist solely to seal us.”

Se-Hoon frowned.

Is that really its purpose?

What if Tuner wasn’t in the world at all? What if remaining in the world was the trap? With a frown, Se-Hoon drew on his mana—

—Phew... you’re all too much.

A sigh echoed from the hall’s speakers: Tuner’s voice.

—You enter a world like this, and instead of wandering around going, ‘So this is how peaceful the world was before~,’ you jump straight to thinking about how to escape this place? Man...

Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes. The presence wasn’t inside the building, as there were no signs of mana.

Had Tuner hacked the system then? Or was he manipulating the world itself?

—I was planning to set the mood before conversing with you guys... but I guess there’s no point waiting. I’ll go straight to business.

“...”

—Lee Se-Hoon. I’ll make this offer just one last time.

Everyone went tense.

—Would you like to become the god of this world?

Tuner’s soft and gentle voice filled the hall.