Surviving Among the Entities

“Surprisingly, few people seem to be going for martial arts.”

A month had passed since offering the martial arts isekai transference book.
Unlike the medieval fantasy, fewer people were applying for martial arts, and the interest had already dwindled.

“The limitations of martial arts, perhaps.”

Seemingly, there are more thrill-seekers who enjoy extreme sports in foreign countries, especially the West, compared to Korea. However, Westerners are unfamiliar with martial arts, which appears to be deterring them from taking on the challenge.

“Even after advertising in foreign languages, no foreigners have inquired, so it seems too unfamiliar for them to challenge.”

I was considering placing an advertisement in China soon.
Since China is the homeland of martial arts, advertising in Chinese might attract more interest.

“But not right now.”

There were many pressing matters at hand.
First, with an ample supply of enhancement and weakening potions, I decided to experiment with the martial arts isekai transference book.

“Sure enough, they’re being created.”

Both the weakening potion and the enhancement potion produced derivative entities in the form of coupons.
I first examined the coupon created by the weakening potion.

[Some smile brightly even in the face of heavenly tribulations, while others feel anguish even in their mother’s warm embrace. Hardship depends on your state of mind.]

It was not a coupon, but a slip of paper in the form of a coupon with a famous saying written on it.

‘I wonder if the enhancement potion is the same?’

Upon checking the remaining one, it was as expected.

[Do not seek fortune. Fortune is like an unexpected guest – do you wish to become the owner who surrenders their home to guests?]

It seems the martial arts isekai transference book does not wish to change its existing methods.

“A stubborn entity.”

There were 9 remaining potion uses.
While I wanted to experiment on ordinary items, I decided to hold off for now in preparation for any contingencies.

‘Next, I should read this.’

This morning, I received a document via express mail that I had separately requested after the school ghost story incident when I visited the Foundation.

[List of Anomalous Groups and Individuals]

In the game “Surviving Entities,” there were many groups besides the Foundation that recognized entities and interacted with them.
As I had heard before, they were highly skilled at concealing their identities and caused harm to humanity for various reasons, including utilizing, cooperating with, or worshipping entities.

‘While some were good, most were dangerous.’

Since No Named was likely associated with such groups, I had requested this information.
I slowly read through the report that had finally arrived.

[Groups and Individuals Observed to be Deceased or Dissolved]

[The Romance of Duelists: A group that sought to dominate the world through a card game where abilities and characters materialized. All members killed by the Munchkin Merry Constellation, and all possessed entities destroyed.]

[WAAE (We Are All Equal): A group that wished for equality among all humans. They used entities like the “Averager,” the “Legendary Illustrator’s Photoshop,” and “Adam’s Blood” to create a new humanity, but all members were killed by the Munchkin Merry Constellation, and all possessed entities were destroyed.]

[The Bathroom Delinquent: A fiend who stole toilet paper from people defecating in public restrooms. Had no other activities but was killed by the Munchkin Merry Constellation.]

There were groups and individuals I had never heard of.

[Groups and Individuals Confirmed to Exist and Currently Active]

[Golden Omnipotent Corporation: A group that grants wishes through gold. Staffed by beings called “Suitmen,” their appearance is indescribable, and their image does not remain clear. The amount of gold required to grant wishes is too high for ordinary people to use. There have been 34 attempts to destroy them, but [REDACTED], after which physical and conceptual attacks were prohibited.]

[The Suspicious Merchant: An anomalous individual residing in an independent dimension accessible through invitations. Exchanges rare items, lifeforms, entities, etc. for other rare items, lifeforms, entities. The merchant’s appearance is a horrifying monster, but through frequent dealings, trust can be built, raising the invitation’s rank and gradually changing their form into a human shape. Attempts at elimination were made but [REDACTED], after which Foundation personnel no longer received invitations.]

There were groups and individuals I was familiar with.

[Recently Observed Groups and Individuals with Insufficient Information]

[Humanity Liberation Army: A group aimed at liberating humanity. Appearing sporadically worldwide, accompanied by mass killings each time. Their exact objective is unknown, but they are suspected of using various entities.]

[The Gentleman in Dreams: An entity in the guise of a gentleman that occasionally appears in people’s dreams to make prophecies. Unknown if it is an entity itself or an individual utilizing entities. Does not appear in the dreams of Foundation personnel, confirming its awareness of the Foundation. The accuracy of observed prophecies is currently 100%, and they cannot be altered.]

[Private Law Enforcement Agency: A group that privately prosecutes criminals, with punishments excessively severe compared to the crimes. Judged to possess multiple entities, but nothing else is known.]

There were groups and individuals unknown to both myself and the Foundation.

“How interesting.”

I lost track of time while reading the report.
Seeing that most groups and anomalous individuals from the game had been killed by the Munchkin Merry Constellation made me realize just how formidable she was.

“If only the ending had been better, the world could have become peaceful thanks to the Munchkin Merry Constellation. What a pity.”

Come to think of it, I wonder how Mr. Hyeong Si-yeol is doing?

“Since he used the golden ticket, he must be living well.”

I transcribed the report’s contents into my “Notebook in My Mind.”

“Whew, finished.”

I had completed the tasks at hand.

‘Shall I enjoy some personal time, then?’

Next, I headed to the office.
A month having passed meant the “Reverse Quest Ticket Vending Machine” would have reset its issuance.

“The time has finally come.”

Time to improve my driving skills.

‘I wonder if I can truly improve them?’

I had ten chances.
The reward was guaranteed to be “Driving skills on par with Michael Schumacher in his prime.”
The missions would change each time, so I could only hope for missions within my achievable range.

“I hope for missions that can be solved through skill, not luck.”

I issued the first ticket.

[Mission: Directly establish and work as the chef of a restaurant that receives 3 Michelin stars]
[Deadline: 60 days]

While the deadline was not an issue since I could activate the ticket after receiving the stars, the mission itself was impossible.

‘It would take too long, and I have no talent for cooking.’

The extent of my cooking abilities was limited to soy sauce eggs over rice, ramen, simple fried rice, and stews.
Ever since gaining unlimited funds, I’ve only been ordering delivery.

‘Let me draw another ticket.’

And so I continued drawing tickets.

[Mission: Win the League of Legends World Championship 5 times]
[Mission: Win the Ballon d’Or 5 times]
[Mission: Achieve a 100-win, 0-loss record in the WBA Heavyweight division]
[Mission: Win 24 or more Grand Slam men’s or women’s singles titles in tennis]
[Mission: Join the Lotte Giants and win the Korean Series once]

One after another, only missions requiring excessive time or impossible conditions appeared.
For a mission to reach the pinnacle of one field, it was inevitable that missions of equal difficulty from other fields would appear.

‘This is why I had planned to go tuna fishing.’

Hoping for an achievable mission, I issued the last, tenth ticket.

[Mission: Win the grand prize at an internationally renowned art competition, contest, etc.]

‘This is it!’

As long as it was internationally renowned, the hurdle was low, and it could be completed in a short period.

‘But I don’t want to simply aim for the lowest hurdle.’

Except this was art.
As someone who calls himself an artist, I did not wish to insult my own artistic spirit.

‘Let’s enter the biggest competition.’

After searching online, I found that the Berlin International Film Festival would be held in two weeks.

‘Submitting an entry shouldn’t be difficult.’

As long as I create something, whether using the solver’s name or Sarang Mulsan’s funds, I could submit an entry by any means necessary.

“The problem is having no time to create something.”

It would be great if I could film a movie according to my thoughts, like with the “Dream Theater Company.”

‘Wait, perhaps…..’

I immediately found Sarang.

“Sarang, would it be possible to hack VR devices?”
『Yes, it is possible.』
“Could you enhance a VR program’s graphics to realistic levels?”
『While some power would be consumed, it would not be difficult.』
“Then could I use that to film a movie as I envision it?”
『As long as sufficient power is provided, it is possible. I recommend setting up a small booth next to the special generator, connecting the VR device and special generator to me there, and then running the program.』
“I see, you mean?”
『I will analyze your brainwave patterns and reflect your thoughts into the program, recreating and recording a realistic scenario.』

As expected, only Sarang could do it.

“Alright, let’s order the VR equipment and program.”
『But what will the movie’s theme be, and where do you plan to submit it?』
“I haven’t decided on a theme yet. I’ll be submitting it to the independent film category of the Berlin International Film Festival.”

Sarang’s power depleted slightly.

『I have analyzed the patterns of the judges attending this film festival. 35% tend to give high scores to independent films with socially taboo themes, 55% give high scores to experimental and creative cinematography and compositions, and 10% give high scores to groundbreaking stories.』
“I see?”

Socially taboo themes.

“Sex could be considered a taboo theme anywhere.”

I had no intention of making an erotic film.

“I’ll make an artistic film with sex as the theme.”
『What will the plot be?』
“A hymn to the possibilities of humanity and sex, and the beauty of the world and the future.”

Two days later, the ordered equipment all arrived.
In the meantime, I entered the booth set up at the factory, donned the VR equipment, and began.

『Brain synchronization complete. You can create, film, and edit with realistic sensations and visuals through mere imagination, without any physical movements.』
“Thank you, Sarang. Shall I begin filming, then?”

I was granted the same level of freedom as when filming with the power of the Dream Theater Company.

“With this, I should be able to……”

I filmed the movie as I had envisioned it.

『Highly erotic.』

Throughout the filming, Sarang provided commentary by my side.

『A somewhat serious level of eroticism.』
『Not artistic eroticism, but vulgar eroticism.』
『Seung-hoon, the theme has shifted from the possibilities of humanity to the possibilities of crime.』

Unfortunately, being a machine, Sarang could only view my work from a legal perspective.

“Art must sometimes be extreme.”
『But this is…….』
“Watch until the end.”
『Understood.』

I directed with extreme and unconventional compositions and storytelling.

『Incomprehensible.』

I depicted humanity’s infinite possibilities regarding sexuality.

『Serious level of personal defect detected.』

I showcased the possibilities and future of humanity, a hymn to the beauty of the world.

『Good heavens.』

And thus, the work was completed.

『Seung-hoon, may I offer some advice?』
“Advice is always welcome.”
『According to my analysis, if you submit this work, there is a 99.99% chance of legal issues arising.』
“Sarang, as I said, this is performance art. As fellow artists, the judges will understand. Sometimes, art must transcend moral conventions.”
『…..Understood.』

Utilizing the reputations of Sarang Mulsan and the solver, I submitted the work to the Berlin International Film Festival.

“Are you Seung-hoon?”
“Yes, who are you?”
“We’re from Interpol.”

A week before the film festival, people came looking for me.

“You are under arrest on suspicion of sexual abuse and exploitation, suppression of women’s rights, suppression of men’s rights, gang rape and forced prostitution, animal cruelty and capture of endangered species, serious public disturbance, and 32 other charges.”

Oh dear.

“With a red notice currently in effect, do not attempt to flee.”

It seems Sarang’s VR was a bit too realistic.