A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

Chapter 18

Countless worlds, countless people intertwined on the Game Board.

The moment the Game Board officially began, movements started in this world as well.

However, the vast majority of the creatures in this world had nothing to do with the game.

Unless the existence of the game was revealed, people were merely victims of the impending chaos and confusion.

“What, what are you saying, Jiyeon! You’re suddenly quitting the company?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I can no longer act solely according to the company’s requests.”

“But why on earth…”

Kang Seung-Yong, the president of Hunter Corporation Gaebyeok, was left speechless by the shocking news.

The reason was that Cha Jiyeon, a C-Rank—no, now an A-Rank—Hunter who had been with the company for a long time, had submitted her resignation with the intention of transferring to another organization.

“What’s your real reason? I’ve known you since high school. You’re not being serious right now, are you?”

“…Don’t ask.”

Cha Jiyeon flinched at his words, bit her lip, and lowered her head.

What he said was true.

In truth, she didn’t want to change jobs.

But she had no choice.

Equivalence, give-and-take. It was the law of the world and an undeniable reality.

In this world, one had to work as much as they received.

“Where are you planning to transfer? Don’t tell me… it’s to the new American company, Evolution?”

“That’s right.”

“What kind of connection do they have with you—or rather, with ‘your group’?”

Kang Seung-Yong easily guessed her destination.

In fact, it would have been odd if he didn’t know.

Recently, the Step-Up Hunters, who had drawn attention for their rapid growth, had been gathering under a single company at a certain point.

Her movements were also, frankly, predictable.

“It’s my duty.”

“So, what exactly is that duty—”

“President!”

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by an employee dashing into the room in a hurry.

Regardless of the president’s glare, the employee, panting heavily, turned on the TV in the office.

“What’s going on?”

“Ne-News… something big…”

The news the employee turned on was a live breaking report.

Cha Jiyeon frowned as if she had expected this moment to come.

“Orcs?”

“The reason I’m going to Evolution is because of that.”

“It doesn’t look like just a pack of ordinary orcs.”

In this era, where demonic creatures were more common than wild animals, something shown as breaking news couldn’t be ordinary.

The scene being broadcasted on the news was a city in the United States, where creatures known as orcs were pouring out.

Orcs were classified as C-Rank enemies—not too weak but not excessively strong either.

“Are those really orcs?”

But Kang Seung-Yong’s eyes widened in astonishment.

The hundreds of orcs appearing on the screen were far from ordinary.

The typically shabby creatures, dressed in scraps of cloth and wielding clubs, were now equipped with high-quality steel armor and weapons.

Their strength and organization had clearly improved.

The shock reached its peak when an orc shaman appeared, blocking the Hellfire Missiles fired by U.S. military helicopters with a bluish barrier.

“Those aren’t ordinary orcs.”

“What in the world…”

It defied common sense.

While Kang Seung-Yong was struck speechless, Cha Jiyeon bit her lip.

‘Can we even win against them?’

Those orcs were both competitors and enemies of the group she belonged to.

But they were clearly formidable.

“Look. They’re taking people captive. Until now, they used to just kill and eat them.”

“…Yes. They’re likely intending to use them for something.”

Hunters in the U.S. arrived and joined forces with the military to fight the creatures.

Meanwhile, the camera captured the orcs indiscriminately dragging men, women, and children and throwing them into the Gate they had emerged from.

“You, do you know something about them?”

“I do, but I can’t say. However, you’ll find out soon enough. Those creatures aren’t the only ones. So, prepare yourself. This could be a long and… horrific war.”

She sighed with sorrowful eyes.

An era of endless competition and mutual slaughter was dawning.

And as always, the powerless and ignorant would be the ones to die in droves.

Leaving the stunned Kang Seung-Yong behind, she exited the office.

[As per the command, seek an alliance first.]

“The ‘Players’ on Earth.”

[Among the humans, you cannot be certain who belongs to another Player’s unit. The most reliable option is to ally with Players from other worlds. However, you must first determine which world their units reside in.]

She had already been given her mission.

Some of her comrades were tasked with forming alliances with Earth’s Hunters to strengthen their faction, while others, including herself, had been assigned different orders.

[To those assigned the Exploration Mission, may Grace be with you.]

A flash of light appeared before her eyes, and a small stone fragment fell.

A mysterious stone inscribed with a spell—a Mana Stone.

She had used one several times before.

—

“This is a disaster.”

Watching the news, I looked more serious than ever.

It wasn’t just as the news claimed, that the orcs had grown stronger.

Those orcs were undoubtedly units interacting with a Player.

What that enigmatic narration had warned about was becoming a reality.

“Revealing this might be over the top, but seriously…”

I scratched my head, frustrated with thoughts of Kang Do-Yeon.

With the situation escalating to this extent, shouldn’t I tell my family?

The reason I hesitated wasn’t particularly significant.

It was more about resolving the situation.

After all, the person who had been acting so serious was now living a perfectly normal life as if nothing had happened since that day.

But the fact that they brought home a hefty 500,000 won every week was too concerning to ignore.

“What if they really are connected to a Player or a unit?”

[Think carefully. Being a unit is already a problem, but if they’re a Player, you must exercise extreme caution. A Player will inevitably target the life of another Player.]

A Player’s enemy was another Player, and a unit’s enemy was another unit.

The realization struck me hard.

Ultimately, after much hesitation, I made up my mind.

I decided to speak honestly.

Especially since there were now plenty of global incidents to support my claims.

“Hey. Let’s talk.”

“…Come in.”

The response came immediately after I knocked.

I opened the door.

They were lying face down on the bed.

“You might not believe what I’m about to say, but you know the uproar on the news about the orcs in the U.S., right?”

“…”

“Those creatures aren’t normal. In fact, they’re—ugh!”

As I spoke seriously, a pillow flew straight at my face.

I was so taken aback that I could only roll my eyes in confusion.

Kang Do-Yeon had already stood up and was covering my mouth.

Her eyes were trembling violently.

Then, she grabbed my hand and stared intently at the back of it.

I couldn’t shake off her slender arm. This was not the strength of an ordinary human.

“Don’t speak.”

“Mmmph?”

“Whatever you do, don’t say words like Player, Game, or Unit.”

Her voice trembled as she shook her head.

I slowly nodded.

After all, even though I was using all my strength, I couldn’t push her away.

“I—I know too. That Strange App, Player. I—I became one. I got caught up in it… So, you can’t hear about it. I was ordered. If I hear anything like that…”

Her stuttering worsened, and her eyes trembled even more.

I had only seen her fall into such panic once before.

Ten years ago, in that moment. The day our father died right before our eyes.

“Take your time and explain. I promise I won’t say a word, so don’t worry.”

I finally managed to speak, calmly reassuring her.

Fortunately, her panic subsided quickly.

“What on earth happened?”

Instead, I found myself growing calmer.

“Yoon Ah turned me into her Puppet.”

“…That landlord’s daughter?”

Kang Do-Yeon showed me her wrist.

Seeing the scar vividly etched on her pale skin made me grit my teeth.

I remembered. She was a neat, kind, and cheerful friend. To think she would do something like this.

“She—she said she got that power from her Units. She claimed her Units were people called the Cheongsan Tribe, nomads skilled in Earth and Wind Shamanism.”

“…And? What did she make you do?”

“Nothing. Even after that, she just acted like a normal friend. Instead, Yoon Ah gave me money every week, calling it a salary. Five hundred thousand won each time.”

“Why? Why did she give that to you?”

“Th-that’s because… if I die…”

She began stammering again.

I felt my anger boil to the top of my head, but my heart remained cold.

Think rationally, efficiently. Like The Swarm.

“Is the other command you received the Information Gathering Command?”

“Yes. If I ever hear anyone talk about Player, App, or anything like that, I’m supposed to report it immediately.”

“At least it’s not completely hopeless.”

After listening to her and compiling the information, I couldn’t help but smirk.

From what I’d heard, it seemed like a path was becoming clear.

“Maybe I should just kill her.”

I looked at the back of my hand, where the Assassination Authority was engraved.

The justification, the necessity, the means and methods—all were perfect.

There was absolutely no reason why I shouldn’t kill the girl who had turned my younger sister into a victim.

“No.”

At that moment, Kang Do-Yeon denied my words.

I was slightly surprised.

However, the look in my younger sister’s pale face and trembling eyes was different from before.

“This could be useful.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“From what I’ve heard, it seems like the situation is quite complex.”

Regaining her composure little by little, she began pouring out her thoughts in a flurry.

As if possessed, I found myself fully focused on her story.