Chapter 123: Rise (1)

Everyone knew that the upper and lower layers were worlds apart. But the line dividing their territories was far thicker and more impenetrable than Lee Taebaek had imagined.

Even after cozying up to the Beggar Clan, he still couldn’t gain a solid foothold in the upper layer. The city government’s surveillance net was too tight. He’d thought just clearing a path would do the trick, but that had been naive.

Access to the upper layer was only possible via Hong Geolgae’s subway. That restriction narrowed his movement range considerably. It was like a criminal flinching at the sight of a patrol car—Lee Taebaek avoided anyone in uniform like the plague.

Someone might say, “Just wipe them all out.” But that was nonsense. Just because the megacorps relied on force didn’t mean brute strength could bulldoze everything.

No one in the city’s intricate system and legal web operated with complete freedom.

Not even the megacorps themselves. As a whole, maybe, but isolate one and it faced checks and balances. Of course, the only forces capable of checking them were other megacorps of equal standing.

If everything could be settled by raw power, Lake City would have devolved into a Ten Wings Republic long ago.

Besides, Lee Taebaek wasn’t one of the Ten Wings.

People praised him here and there. But coldly assessing his level, he was barely at the knees of those monsters.

‘I only held my own against them thanks to temporary authorities like nerfs and buffs.’

Plus some ridiculously perfect timing. Sometimes he wondered if the universe didn’t revolve around him…

He shook his head to dispel the arrogant thoughts bubbling up. Then he swept aside the cloth covering the bulging mass.

Lee Taebaek’s furrowed brow reflected in the hood. The Red Hare’s shine had noticeably dulled. It hurt to look at.

‘I went through the Lilith Order to get it serviced, and now…’

Here in the upper layer, it couldn’t spread its wings, just gathering dust. Seeing it up close made it hit hard.

For various reasons, he’d been searching for a way to break through this suffocating reality.

And then, a few hours ago, an unexpected guest had shown up.

“Come join Daesung…”

If he could just cross out the part about becoming Ryu Subaek’s sugar daddy from the proposal, it was awfully tempting. The executive director of Daesung Group was offering himself as a shield. Aligning with a megacorp would loosen his footing in the upper districts.

‘My main goal is bug fixes.’

That single obsession dominated his mind.

His cognition and abilities had expanded to a point where comparing to before would be insulting. Yet fixing this world still felt daunting.

‘But it’s not someone else’s will.’

It was a guideline he’d set for himself. The only question was why he was so dead serious about it.

He’d mostly eradicated the bugs in the lower districts. He could take time to regroup before heading up. In other words, bide his time.

But his soul rebelled at the thought.

Users wouldn’t wait. He had to show immediate feedback, efforts to improve the game. Miss the timing, and it was a death sentence—obsolescence in a blink.

“Ha, haha.”

He still couldn’t shake the developer mindset.

Feeling oddly embarrassed, he patted the Red Hare. A ridiculously handsome man stared back at him.

“This is reality.”

He always tried to keep that in mind. But Lee Taebaek often forgot.

“To understand why I’m so fixated on bug fixes, I have no choice but to head up.”

Settling for the status quo meant stagnation.

‘Think of it as an opportunity.’

Not a rise in status, but a chance to unclog the blocked veins.

“Only good things, right…?”

The voice came from the garage door.

Jasbi peeked her head around from outside.

“That’s… indirectly getting involved in Daesung Group’s succession battle.”

“I know.”

Lee Taebaek covered the Red Hare with the cloth again.

His nonchalant reply seemed to frustrate Jasbi. She poured out her concerns in a rush.

“I know the Creator is in a tough spot. Every time you go up, you get dragged into incidents. Unnecessary losses pile up. That’s why you can’t move your base from lower to upper.”

She was spot on.

“…But… jumping into megacorp business carelessly could lead to real disaster. And who knows what Ryu Subaek’s true intentions are!”

“Your insight’s sharpened, Jasbi.”

Lee Taebaek patted her head.

Jasbi’s lips twitched upward for a second before she shook her head and yelled.

“D-Don’t think flattery will make me drop it!”

“It’s not flattery—it’s sincere. Your words helped me sort the situation objectively.”

Lee Taebaek swept his bangs back.

“You’re right. Ryu Subaek might flip the script later. As a megacorp guy, the odds are high.”

Even buffing ‘Mental’ wouldn’t reveal everything about the opponent. He’d need to nerf them too.

‘To do that, I need contact with the old man.’

He was the type you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole.

‘Moderately unhinged.’

As a fellow nutcase, Lee Taebaek felt tribal disdain.

He touched Ryu Subaek’s face in his mind, then spoke.

“But the more agonizing the dilemma, the more you embrace the risk.”

“…Even with massive risks?”

Her eyes trembled with worry.

She’d been scheming to fool humans just recently.

Jasbi had grown even closer to humanity. Pleased by her progress, his lips curved up.

“The greater the risk,”

His tone turned unusually gentle.

“the greater the return.”

“I don’t get it… Why do humans abandon certainty for uncertainty, betting everything?”

A philosophical question. Fitting for an AI with academic leanings.

After brief but deep thought, Lee Taebaek gave his answer.

“Betting on or expecting something from the unknown is the spark of evolution. That’s my take.”

“……”

“I know what you’re worried about, but I’ve got my own plans.”

“…Plans…?”

“Impossible alone, but not with you and the bridges I’ve built everywhere.”

Lee Taebaek lowered the garage door as he spoke, locking it before stepping out.

“Even if I walk into the enemy’s maw, plenty of people will share the pain.”

Lee Taebaek headed somewhere else.

Jasbi, who’d been reeling, scurried after him.

He’d conveyed his acceptance to Ryu Subaek.

Of course, he hadn’t uttered even the first letter of “sugar daddy.” What he’d secured was free access to the upper districts—including riding the Red Hare back and forth.

-Sounds good.

Ryu Subaek was agreeable.

-But the color… I’d prefer a change. That red bike’s your signature now. Too flashy, and even I can’t protect you openly.

“Red Hare’s symbol is red.”

-No choice then. Take the subway.

“……”

Lee Taebaek swallowed tears and led the Red Hare to the Lilith Order. To entrust repainting to their skilled female mechanic.

“True, red was too eye-catching. So, what color?”

“Navy? No, purple? Nah. Gray… feels off…”

“Just paint it flesh tone?”

“White’s better.”

Most upper buildings were off-white, so white blended in. Camouflage, basically.

“Starting now.”

“…Yeah.”

Watching the Red Hare’s blush get devoured white by white bleached his mind too. By the end, Lee Taebaek looked pale as a ghost.

The finished mechanic wiped her gloved face roughly. She shot a sharp glance at the moping Lee Taebaek, then sighed.

“You asked for it, but now you make me the executioner…”

“……”

“…As a non-apology apology, I’ll swap a few parts. You said it’s for upper-layer ops, right? Gotta upgrade internals too. Good parts just came into the order anyway.”

“From where.”

The mechanic shrugged.

“Same route as the wing suits.”

“Stolen, huh.”

“Depends on how you phrase it.”

This order was basically bandits in religious robes.

“Oh, Jin Sobang’s branch leader was in on this haul.”

“…?”

He’s Beggar Clan?

When did he switch to banditry?

“Heard he got inspired hardcore at an upper salon…”

“Doubt it.”

“Don’t know details. Anyway, bike’ll be done by afternoon. Pick it up evening.”

After parting with her, time freed up. So he visited Jin Sobang. Seo Punggae, a beggar elder, was there too. The braggart welcomed Lee Taebaek warmly.

They were deep in stories—Jin Sobang spilling salon tales. Seo Punggae knew the gist.

But not the full details, apparently.

“Took curses head-on for others?! Ah, Heavenly Lord! The jianghu way lives on—!”

“……”

The message had twisted a bit in transmission.

“Just heard today, but your rep’s booming in the jianghu. Not just the salon—everywhere! They call you the youth righting the jianghu banner!”

In a positive spin.

Seo Punggae had ironclad mental fortitude but a soft spot for chivalry.

He seemed to mistake Lee Taebaek’s moves for winds of reform sweeping the city.

“Can’t do much myself, but Sobang here’s different. Whatever you need, tell him.”

“…M-Me?”

Jin Sobang suddenly bore the full load.

Too late to regret hyping his tales.

With Beggar Clan backup secured, Lee Taebaek stepped into the street. He planned to walk and pick up the Red Hare for once.

The bustling, winding alley came into view. Rats scurried amid trash, brawling men dented bag piles, gangs giggled over beer.

The usual chaotic mess of lower-layer life. Yet for some reason, it stirred nostalgia.

The stinking lower alleys felt more comfortable than shiny upper boulevards. Half a year down here—he’d come to smell the stench as the scent of life.

“This is the bug-free lower layer.”

Muttering, Lee Taebaek vanished into the crowd.

He’d pick up the ‘White’ Hare and check his inner growth.