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I’d developed a habit of meditating whenever I had a spare moment.

It was probably a side effect of energy circulation. Unlike that technique, which required some kind of trigger to enter, meditation could be done anytime, anywhere, as long as there was a place to sit.

Lee Taebaek closed his eyes. He breathed slowly, savoring the texture of each inhale and exhale as he sorted out his next steps.

The groundwork for heading to the upper layer is done.

If the lower layer was normal mode…

The upper layer was hard mode. Maybe even beyond that.

Once he made direct contact with the Megacorps, it would go straight to hell difficulty.

That was why preparing excessively—what others might see as overkill—was the wise choice in the end.

Because for some players, the prep time might feel frustratingly long, but…

The dangers lurking in the upper layer were on a whole different level from the lower layer. It was a dazzling Demon’s Den. Radiant with light, walls papered in gold, but just a pretty peach with a rotten pit. Peel back one layer, and you’d find a hell like no other.

If it was just going to the upper layer, that’d be one thing.

Lee Taebaek was deeply entangled with the Megacorps. Just listing off what he’d done so far said it all. Without the Beggar Clan’s and Lilith Order’s help, he’d have been caught and back on the electric chair ages ago. No, with his escape record, they’d probably drag him off personally?

Just imagining it made his legs go weak. He shuddered, shaking off the chill that ran up his spine.

Calm down, Lee Taebaek. That’s why you’re meditating—to chase away these useless thoughts.

He focused.

His mind gathered to a single point.

What do I need to do in the upper layer?

He needed to establish a new goal.

He’d made contact with the Lilith Order, his previous target. He’d even spoken with their perverted shaman leader. All to uncover the identity of the “Chaos Goddess” whose name kept popping up in his Status Window.

There had been gains.

The shaman’s parting words, tossed out like a closing line.

– Stick to the path you wish to take. In time, Mother will surely reveal herself to you.

She’d added that she couldn’t say more.

It didn’t seem like she was holding back knowingly; she just seemed vague about it herself. Pushing her wouldn’t yield more. Desk-jockey theorizing had its limits for intel gathering.

Lee Taebaek decided to hit the ground running.

He’d long since abandoned any thought of rotting away in the lower layer. Right after escaping, he’d planned to bide his time, slip out of the Resistance, and enjoy a leisurely life as a wanderer…

But I can’t sleep soundly like this.

Bugs were everywhere.

A strange wind was blowing through Raken’s.

On top of that, the Operator Menu was urging him to fix the broken clockwork. He didn’t need gut feelings or omens for that.

It had even visualized it in Namu Wiki style, split into two categories: Recent Evaluation and Comprehensive Evaluation. Not some webnovel constellation-peeping nonsense.

It was a ploy to stir the competitive spirit of a former developer like him. Obvious marketing.

And I decided to play along.

He had to advance.

Climb upward.

Reach the place where the Megacorps reigned.

That was why he was scurrying around town like he had the flu. He wanted to collapse in bed, but his Life and Faith stats—now well over 30—had auto-recovered his stamina. Was this the Chaos Goddess’s will too?

“Fuck.”

Meditation had become a habit.

Lee Taebaek was addicted to swearing.

Dystopia optimization was spot on. Still, thanks to meditation, his thoughts were neatly organized.

Lee Taebaek cracked his eyes open faintly.

“Hmm…?”

Then he let out a dumb noise. The entire room was thinly coated in a hazy mist.

It was as if a sudden gale had swept through a room that had been fine moments ago.

Snow was falling. Looking closely from his seated spot, the source was none other than himself.

He hadn’t even drawn on his Magic Power, yet it leaked out like a faulty pipe. Weird.

Normally, Magic Power shouldn’t leak from the body unless it far exceeded the capacity limit.

“…I just did energy circulation, that’s all?”

What good was questioning it? He pulled up the Status Window.

Level unchanged, but Magic Power up. Stats only get corrected on level-up. Unfortunately, Raken’s restricts one-stat dumping concept play. Not intentional—planning to refine it gradually.

That concept play was causing bugs anyway.

But what was this?

“A bug?”

He’d meditated regularly before, but this was a first, leaving him quite flustered.

Still, as the beneficiary, it was a welcome bug. Like slipping cash into your pocket.

So meditation gives a probabilistic single-stat boost?

Stat gacha system. Ingenious.

“Gotta meditate regularly.”

A smile tugged at his lips for a moment. Then Lee Taebaek got to his feet, gathering his things.

Tomorrow was the day he’d finally head to the upper layer. His base was still Eunko Bar, but his activity zone had shifted upward.

So he wouldn’t see them for a while. He figured he’d drop by and show his face before starting the mission.

He packed up and left Eunko Bar.

He arrived at Hundred-Fold Sect Branch 1. As always, thunderous cheers greeted Lee Taebaek.

“Hundred-Fold! Hundred-Fold! Hundred-Fold!”

“Aah, my eyes. Too bright… Dizzying…”

“Bro, I wanna grow up to be Founding Patriarch!”

“You fool who knows not his place. You can never stand on the same plane as him. Grieve not. Fools have their own path.”

“R-Really! Hundred-Fold-!!”

It no longer felt burdensome; it was familiar now. Or so he’d thought—until he saw the (祝)(慶) banner. His face flushed beet red.

“Founding Patriarch!”

Ban came running in his socks. His hands clutched something round and ominous.

“I heard you’re leaving for a while!”

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

“Goeun sis told us. Oh, and Tang Jihye came by yesterday and hinted too. She mentioned you two would alternate watching the branch!”

Ban explained, then tried to drape a floral wreath around his neck. Too many eyes watching to refuse. They’d made it together.

“…Thanks…”

“Kya, suits you perfectly.”

Ban started it, and gasps erupted everywhere. Girls swooned; boys prostrated themselves before Lee Taebaek.

– What’s that?

– Some cult here. They brainwash good kids into fanatics, then…

– Oh my, that handsome and such a scoundrel?! Poor kids. What’d they do wrong?

Passersby glanced and whispered. Since the Hundred-Fold Sect Branch opened, local security improved. Rumor had it the lowest layer was safer than some lower districts. Hot neighborhood now. Property values up.

More people around, all shooting him cult-leader glares. He wanted to explain.

Was the Hundred-Fold Sect’s future okay like this?

Am I polluting Raken’s future, like those murmurers say?

His brooding dragged on. Flowers piled up until he was a walking garden before entering the branch.

“Founding Patriarch, a word.”

Ban sidled up.

“What.”

“…I know it’s presumptuous, but… I heard you’re heading to the upper layer… Ah! I didn’t eavesdrop! It just slipped out!!”

“No rumors, no problem. The Ban I know keeps his mouth shut. Speak freely. No spy whispers.”

Tears welled in Ban’s eyes.

“Fo-Founding Patriarch-!”

“Get to the point.”

“Yes.”

Ban cleared his throat.

“Rumor has it the upper layer teens are real trash lately. Bad enough the word’s reached here. Apparently cyber X-drugs via net sockets are trending. They act without shame.”

“Cyber maX?”

Fuck, another bug? These bugs never end.

“Anyway, upper kids have prosthetics we poor can’t afford. Solid backers too…”

“Ban.”

“Y-Yes.”

“No matter how rough they are, can they beat Alley Boss Ban? You threatened me with a steel pipe when we met. Know how shocked I was learning you were a teen?”

“Th-That was!”

He patted Ban’s balding scalp. Ban flinched silent. Lee Taebaek smiled warmly.

“Thanks for worrying. But Ban, do I look like someone they’d take down?”

“No way.”

“Then what’s the worry?”

Ban hemmed and hawed, eyes rolling hot. No good words? He blurted.

“…Scared you’ll get wanted up there.”

“What?”

“If they mess with you, they’re dead.”

Lee Taebaek blinked. A petal fell from the wreath onto his nose.

When Faith skyrockets, one glimpses the future briefly. The Lilith Order’s shaman probably had it too. Serving Chaos Goddess Lilith’s flesh closely, adored by followers—she’d gained precognition naturally.

Cults infested the place. As many leaders. They divined futures with honed foresight, drawing believers.

What of the Hundred-Fold Sect? Lee Taebaek was their god. Not actively proselytizing as leader. Just did his job.

Someone else filled his role. Zealot follower. First apostle. Hero-like name.

Ban Lionheart, obviously.

The day his god, Lee Taebaek, took his historic first step into the upper layer.

“What is that, a chick?”

“Who cares. Tastes good, that’s fine.”

“C’mere. We got killer stuff…”

Ban manifested precognition as the god’s apostle.