Surviving Among the Entities

The first action I took was gathering information.
Thanks to the “center of the world’s” consideration, I was aware of my own status, but lacked information about the world itself.

“At least it’ll be fun to learn about it.”

The company where I was the chairman was Sarang Corporation, just like in the original world.
The difference was that it was now the central racing-related business exerting tremendous influence worldwide.

[Sarang Racing Motors]
[Sarang Racing Wheels]
[Sarang Racing Navigation]
[Sarang Racing Instant Food]
[Sarang Racing Medical Equipment]
[Sarang Racing Computers]
[Sarang Racing Panties]

Of course, that was only initially, and it had long since become an unprecedented conglomerate venturing into almost every field.
Such influence was not limited to just the business world.

[“Mr. Seung-hoon Lee, the newly inaugurated US President Trump has come to pledge his allegiance.”]
“Tell him to wait for a moment.”
[“After that, there is the pledge of allegiance from the new UN Secretary-General.”]

Not just the presidents of each country, but even prime ministers and international organizations pledged allegiance to me.
It was a truly unbelievable world, but there was one concept that made all this possible – racing.

‘So racing created this world.’

According to my research, the world was born from particles and antiparticles racing against each other.
The particles emerged victorious, creating the material world, and the initial starting signal for that race was the Big Bang itself.
All existences composed of those particles innately craved racing, resulting in a structure where those skilled at racing became the rulers of the world.

“And I am the person best at racing in the world.”

It was revealed that I had started from a small company, then aggressively acquired other companies through mergers, ventured into new overseas markets, and reached my current position through outstanding racing skills. I had even influenced politics through racing victories against lobbyists, corruption, and politicians from other countries.

“Mergers were through racing, lobbying was through racing, political conflicts were through racing, the presidential oath was through racing, elections for members of parliament were through racing.”

The entire world revolved around racing.
It had merely replaced the position of duels from the previous “Card Battle” with racing.

‘Then let me take a look at my driving skills.’

First, I examined my existing racing records.
On the screen beyond, an entity that looked exactly like me was seated in an all-black, ferocious-looking race car.

‘The racing attire is also all-black.’

Just like the suit, everything else was black too.
The skills were also extraordinarily exceptional, to the point of being able to dominate the racing world, and I was captivated by the flashy yet refined techniques I had never seen before.

‘Remarkable.’

Skills that I, in my original self, could never have even imagined.
However, these were not my true skills.

‘These are merely skills imagined by the “center of the world” and created through reality manipulation. I won’t know my true skills unless I experiment directly.’

There were also interesting aspects in the racing footage.
First, for the racers other than myself, peculiar smoke would occasionally emanate from their vehicles, forming special shapes.

[“Wow! That’s Johnny White’s Machine Spirit!”]
[“Incredible, isn’t it? Such a dense and distinct Machine Spirit, the world-class racers really are on another level.”]

Through the comments, I learned that this was not an error or optical illusion, but a phenomenon called a “Machine Spirit.”

[Namuworld]
[Machine Spirit]
[Overview: A spiritual energy that manifests when a racer’s soul resonates with their vehicle during a race. Through this, racers can display performance that would be physically impossible for the vehicle alone.]
[Many racers say that racing skills are composed of 30% vehicle performance, 30% the racer’s driving technique, and 40% the Machine Spirit, showing how crucial it is.]

A very interesting setting.
Were the faintly overlaid tigers, snakes, eagles, and other animals on the vehicles all Machine Spirits?

[Machine Spirits also protect the driver. In case of serious vehicle malfunctions or accidents, the Machine Spirit sacrifices itself to instantly teleport the driver to a safe location.]
[However, this action temporarily weakens the Machine Spirit, and if repeated or a very severe accident occurs, the Machine Spirit’s energy is depleted. As a Machine Spirit is like a racer’s life, a racer who loses their Machine Spirit has no choice but to retire.]

This setting also explained why there were no fatalities during racing events.

[A Machine Spirit is both a racer’s talent and their passion for racing. Even with talent, if there is no passion, the Machine Spirit will not manifest, and likewise, no matter the passion, without talent, it will not manifest.]

Interestingly, no matter how closely I examined the footage of my races, there were no scenes of me using a Machine Spirit.

[“It’s not that you haven’t encountered an opponent worthy of using your Machine Spirit against, right? Everyone thinks that’s the reason you’ve been holding back.”]
“Is that so?”

I nodded at Sarang-a’s response.
If my past self and current self had different Machine Spirits, people would become suspicious, so this must be the “center of the world’s” consideration to have me directly reveal it.

“When is the next race?”
[“In three days, the Dubai Oil Extraction Rights Racing Tournament. The winner of that race will obtain all of Dubai’s oil extraction rights.”]

Alright, let’s check my racing skills and Machine Spirit then.
With no other tasks, I toured the company. Not much had changed, and everyone seemed to be working even harder than in the previous world.

“Where did Frankenstein go?”
[“Who is that?”]

Sarang-a didn’t know who I was referring to.
That was an unusual occurrence.

I remember the previous staff member in charge won the company’s internal lottery and resigned, so a new employee had been assigned.

‘The most junior employee who didn’t faint after listening to my speech till the end.’

Was her name Lee So-young?
While Frankenstein was gone, I could not find any information on the staff member Lee So-young in this world either.

‘An anomaly. Could this also be the doing of an entity?’

If they had simply disappeared, there should have been some records left.
The fact that they vanished as if wiped out meant one thing.

“They disappeared before being affected by the center of the world.”

So the center of the world did not recognize them, and they were not included in the manipulated reality.

‘Could be Dr. Janus’s doing.’

Next, I went to the office.
The office had become a luxurious mansion, treated as my personal villa.

‘The entities seem to be the same, though……’

I tried activating the “Reverse Quest Ticket Vending Machine” and the “Forgotten Alchemist’s Equivalent Exchange Scales,” but they did not function properly.

[Reward: Racing♬ Racing♬ Fantastic racing♬]
[Mission: Racing is the best in the world♬ Wow! The flag is up♬ Step on the accelerator♬]
[Deadline: Overcome adversity and reach the final track♬ The finish line is in sight♬]

[Reward: Racing!]
[Choose one of the following three options for the payment method you desire.]
[1. Racing!]
[2. Racingsing!]
[3. Racingsting!]

No matter what reward I wanted or what payment I entered, it was all just racing.

‘The degree of change varies for each entity.’

Next, I went home. The house had become a magnificent mansion, and I immediately searched for the wall-mounted TV.

‘At least the appearance is the same as before……’

I turned it on, but it functioned as a regular wall-mounted TV.
Perhaps its effects did not activate, but if they did, I didn’t know if it would react like the entities in the office or differently.

[“Kwak!”]

At the sound, I turned to see Rubber Rubber Duck sitting in a tiny race car.

“So you’re a racer too?”

While I was at it, I gave it a bath and returned to the company.
A few days later, I arrived in Dubai.

[“Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 27th Dubai Racing Tournament!”]

Hearing the announcer’s booming voice through the microphone, I boarded the vehicle.

[“Racer No. 1! The genius racer from America! The originator of the inimitable Reagan Turn that no one can replicate, and the ultimate winner of the America Race Final Heaven, the combined race of all 50 states! Johnny White!”]

The announcer’s voice calling out numerous popular racers left no room to be bored as I immersed myself in the vehicle.

[“Racer No. 4! The terror of Germany! The madman butcher who hauls around a race car modified from a tank! The moment he approaches, your racing fate ends there! The legendary racer thought to have retired makes his return! Leopardon!”]

It was certainly my first time boarding this vehicle.
The footage data was created through reality manipulation.
Unlike the others, the manipulated reality did not apply to me since I retained my memories and took on the role of the final boss of my own volition.

[“Racer No. 7! A rising star from Japan! Conquered all of Japan at the age of 14! The protagonist of a shonen manga!? The Wizard of Speed! Shinjo Hayato!”]

And yet, the moment I boarded the vehicle, I felt a sense of destiny.
This was my partner.
An irreplaceable, fated companion.

[“And finally, No. 13! The world’s greatest resolver! Simultaneously the world’s greatest racer! And the world’s greatest chairman! No one has ever defeated him! The undefeated legend! The invincible Seung-hoon Lee!”]

The start of the race was right before me.
Instead of suppressing my excitement at the sight of the checkered flag, I let it all out.

“The Machine Spirit, huh.”

They said only those with passion and talent for racing could manifest it?

“Not racing, but I’m confident I have more passion for vehicles than anyone.”

I put my foot on the accelerator.

“So show me your form, Machine Spirit.”

“Huh!?”

The spectators gasped in surprise, pointing somewhere.
Their gazes were directed at Seung-hoon Lee’s symbol, the “All Black Machine” race car he had been with his entire life as the world’s greatest racer.

“A Machine Spirit!”
“Seung-hoon Lee’s Machine Spirit!”
“The invincible Machine Spirit is finally being revealed!”

Rising above the deep black vehicle painted in matte black was another dense, black form.
A Machine Spirit clearly distinct from those of other racers, prompting cheers from the spectators.

“To be able to witness Seung-hoon Lee’s Machine Spirit for the first time! What an honor!”

And…….

“……”

One second.
It only lasted a single second.
Their cheers vanished in that instant.

It was a Machine Spirit.
Simultaneously, it was something that stirred the innate instincts of all living humans, something they should never have laid eyes upon.

“……Ah.”

Like a chasm.
Something utterly terrifying and intense that rang the alarm bells of every living being’s survival instinct.

“Aaaahhhh!”
“Run away!”
“I need to get out of here!”

Countless spectators panicked and fled.
The event staff were also dumbfounded, but before they could react, the race had begun.

“Good.”

Seung-hoon Lee stepped on the accelerator.

“Shall we race?”

[The 27th Dubai Racing Tournament ends in catastrophe.]

I read the news over my morning tea.

[The only racer to reach the finish line was the invincible Seung-hoon Lee.]
[Fortunately, the spectators evacuated early, resulting in no deaths.]
[All 12 racers who participated sustained critical injuries, losing their Machine Spirits and becoming unable to make a comeback.]
[Gate Heaven, the artificial island and Middle East’s largest racing stadium used for the Dubai Racing Tournament, has vanished into history.]
[How did the artificial island Gate Heaven, spanning 1,848 square kilometers and costing 270 trillion won to construct, sink?]

There were many articles about the previous race.

[Wow! Video footage remains, did you all see? Racer Seung-hoon Lee’s Machine Spirit publicly revealed for the first time!]
└[I saw it, it was insane. My survival instincts were going haywire, and I even peed my pants!]
└[So this is the Machine Spirit of the world’s greatest racer.]
└[Truly incredible. Freakishly cool but freakishly terrifying.]
└[Now I understand why he never revealed his Machine Spirit until now.]

[Why didn’t he use his Machine Spirit until now? Because the other racers’ levels were far below his. Because there were no racing stadiums that could withstand his full power!]
[Seems like a Raceteel stadium would be needed to withstand that.]
└[Do you even know how expensive Raceteel is? It’s so costly that it’s barely used for internal vehicle equipment manufacturing.]

[So cool. That’s a true top racer. The skills of other racers don’t even register anymore.]
[But why does the Machine Spirit look so terrifying? It’s just a monster.]

“In the original world, I would have been labeled the culprit behind this catastrophe.”

Here, it was also a catastrophe, but since it occurred during a race, it was simply overlooked.
Instead, there were more comments praising me, stirring something within me.

“So this is what it feels like to be acknowledged.”

I had never been acknowledged for my driving skills before.
It felt really good.

‘By the way, according to the rules of this world, the Protagonist Correction should have also started, right?’

Perhaps an individual with extraordinary skills would appear.

‘The most reliable way is to not face them.’

I just need to endure for one year.
Then, the current game will be solidified into reality, so losing from that point onward won’t matter.

‘Therefore, I just need to avoid participating in races for a year, but……’

I emptied the remaining tea and poured a fresh cup.

“This world was created by my own will. Even if it was well-intentioned, I should still give others a chance.”

Therefore, I will not refuse to race.

‘But if there’s a Protagonist Correction, shouldn’t there also be a Final Boss Correction?’

The final boss is the protagonist’s adversary that must be defeated.
As such, final bosses are often villainous individuals whose unchecked existence would lead to the world’s destruction or other horrific events.

‘When the center of the world took on the role of the final boss, that wasn’t the case. She was both an entity and the manager of the game, and there were fewer examples.’

However, I am human and an outsider.
In that case, shouldn’t a Final Boss Correction occur for me as well?

‘It’s not like I have any desire to torment anyone or destroy the world, and despite having immense power and wealth, I have no desire to become a dictator either.’

It seems there is no Final Boss Correction.
And as I reviewed my schedule for the day, I let out a sigh.

[Morning Schedule]
[Pledge of Allegiance from the US Secretary of Defense]
[Pledge of Allegiance from the Japanese Prime Minister]
[Pledge of Allegiance from the Chinese President]

Why are there so many pledges of allegiance?
With racing being the world’s truth, all power and wealth were concentrated, so there was a lot to do.

‘At least Sarang-a is here to help, but doing all this for power and wealth I won’t even use……’

……Wait, power and wealth I won’t use?
Suddenly, I had a thought.

“Governance through non-action (Wuwei).”

To rule by not acting.
One of the philosophies of Taoism, it refers to a political approach of not interfering more than necessary and allowing the people to naturally and voluntarily achieve harmony.

‘In actual history, it was practiced by Zhao Zheng after succeeding Xiao He as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Han.’

“Since the Emperor has pacified the world, and Xiao He has clearly established the laws, merely following the old system will suffice without any loss.”

‘But that only worked for an already established system.’

The current world has improved compared to before.
And yet, there are still many lingering issues.

“In such a situation, not using my power and doing nothing is tantamount to neglecting those problems and allowing them to worsen.”

I must not become like Zhao Zheng.
That would not be the path of Zhao Zheng, but the path of Emperor Wanli.

‘To make the world better, I will need to use some power and wealth.’

What should I do to make the world better?
I observed the world’s grievances through online communities.

[How’s my sleekly modified race car?]
[Sending moon pics again today.]
[(Disgusting) Racer Seung-hoon Lee’s Machine Spirit photo.jpg]

I clicked on the “Sending moon pics again today” post.
The content was a complaint from someone who majored in philosophy but could only find part-time jobs and couldn’t get hired.

[Who majors in philosophy these days?]
[They made their own bed by choosing to starve themselves lol]
[These days, even science and engineering majors struggle to find jobs, who would hire a liberal arts major?]

Most of the comments were criticizing the poster.

“What a pity.”

Philosophy is the nourishment of the soul.
A discipline that enriches the mind.

“Even in this world, the ills of capitalism persist.”

Although I couldn’t attend university myself, as someone who always mentally double-majored in philosophy, I could not just leave it be.

“The first step of the ‘Making a Better World Project’ is the revival of philosophy.”

I asked Sarang-a.

“Sarang-a, tell all the world leaders to have their citizens read Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason as required reading. And have them write book reports on it too.”
[“Understood. What about those who refuse?”]
“What kind of question is that?”

Even Sarang-a.

“I’m not a dictator. I simply want to nourish people’s souls with pure intentions, that’s all? It’s just a recommendation.”

“This is the first time Racer Seung-hoon Lee has made a ‘request.'”
“Racer Seung-hoon Lee has given an ‘order.'”
“Racer Seung-hoon Lee has informed us of something we ‘must do.'”

Seung-hoon Lee’s recommendation was conveyed to all the world leaders.

“You must read the book Critique of Pure Reason by Kant!”
“Those who fail to read it and write a book report will have their credit ratings lowered!”

In the past, there might have been protests, but…
From the moment they witnessed his unfathomable racing ability that sank an entire island, the world had already prepared to faithfully carry out his orders.

The greatest racer rules the world.
This was akin to a law etched into the DNA of all humanity.

“What could this mean?”
“I’m not sure. It seems he has taken an interest in philosophy, at least.”
“Is there no philosophy department here? Can someone explain what this means? The book is too difficult for me to understand!”

If it were just a one-time occurrence, it might have been seen as a whim, but Seung-hoon Lee’s recommendations did not end there.

“This time he’s telling us to read The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse?”
“The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera? There are novels like that too?”
“The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, this one is a bit more readable.”

His recommendations continued, and humanity’s daily life began to rapidly change.

[Now hiring new employees. Philosophy majors preferred.]
[Now hiring new employees, liberal arts majors preferred.]
[Now hiring, bonus points for Korean Language and Literature majors.]

For some reason, it seemed Seung-hoon Lee was taking an interest in liberal arts.
Just that alone brought changes to the job market.

“Hmm.”

And his recommendations did not stop there.

“Next, we should set aside time every day for discussions on how to build a better world.”