Chapter 42: Normalization (2)

A daily newspaper office in the USA.

“Daniel.”

“Yes, Manager. I really knocked that article out of the park, didn’t I?”

“Throw it away and rewrite it.”

At Manager Harry’s firm words, Daniel reflexively asked back, “Excuse me?”

“What’s lacking? Isn’t this enough to grab everyone’s attention?”

[Savior Person123 Reveals His True Colors? Threatening Nations Worldwide Using the Nightmare Difficulty Climb as an Excuse…]

Manager Harry rubbed his forehead and sighed. “Even if you want to grab attention, you can’t do it like this right now. Don’t you even think about publishing a single speck of a negative article regarding Person123.”

“Huh? Why…”

“If you don’t want your head and mine rolling on the floor together, just rewrite it.”

Daniel’s eyes went wide. Harry glared at him as if he were suddenly losing his temper.

“No, really—even if you’re clueless about how things are going, do you actually want to write this kind of crap? Huh? About a man who has saved the world multiple times?”

“Since when did you care so much about having a conscience…”

“One more word of backtalk and something’s flying at you. Get out!”

After kicking Daniel out of the office, Manager Harry sighed again.

Currently, following Person123’s shocking declaration that he would not challenge the 4th Floor, not a single line of negative press regarding Person123 was appearing in the American media, whether major or minor. Even if something did pop up, it was quickly buried.

Harry didn’t know the exact details. He had only heard a hint from the editor-in-chief that those at the very… very top of the political world, regardless of party affiliation, were working with one heart and mind to control public opinion with everything they had. It was a bizarre occurrence, the likes of which he had never seen.

Still, having spent nearly 20 years in the media industry, he had a sense of things. It made sense if you thought about it. Person123 said he wouldn’t challenge the 4th Floor unless the Government and the Association reached an agreement.

The very fact that Person123, who had silently done nothing but Climb the Nightmare Difficulty, had spoken up about this matter was an unprecedented situation. Viewed differently, it meant he viewed the current Incident with a significant amount of displeasure.

If someone tried to stir up negative public opinion against Person123 in this situation? And if, because of that, he really did quit the Nightmare Climb? It was something no one could handle, and no one could undo.

Engaging in a media war with the person holding the lifeline of 8 billion Humans was nonsense. An agreement? They had to reach one; what else could they do? The fact that they were being so careful to ensure no nonsense leaked through the News meant they had already reached that conclusion. They had to wrap up the current Incident cautiously without provoking Person123, so they couldn’t let the atmosphere turn sour.

The Climber Association was likely in a similar position. Since they had been at odds until now, they were probably trying to decorate the ending nicely to save face for both sides.

In fact, the Government probably thought it was a relief. At the very least, Person123 hadn’t taken the Association’s side just because he was a Climber.

“…Truly terrifying,” Harry muttered, leaning deep into his chair.

The highest powers in the land were trembling and holding their breath at a single cough from Person123. He realized anew exactly who the one person propping up the current world all by himself was.

***

After Person123 posted on the Communication Channel, the channel also exploded.

Excluding the information guides he had posted over the years, the number of times he had actually written a post could be counted on one hand. This was even the first time he had intervened in such political matters.

While some Climbers on the Communication Channel voiced their complaints toward Person123…

Those voices quickly vanished, swept away by an overwhelming tide of support. Who would have the right to insult a man who had already saved Humanity three times? Since the Association had been inciting public opinion on the Communication Channel, they were particularly quick to form a favorable consensus. This was because the Association couldn’t handle the aftermath if the atmosphere turned against Person123.

“I heard Person123 gave them a stern warning? Told the Government and the Association to hurry up and agree.”

“Since they were busy hitting each other, Person123 had to step in.”

“…But surely he won’t actually skip the 4th Floor if they don’t agree, right?”

People who took the Government’s side and those who had no interest in the Incident also focused their attention on how things were unfolding. Here too, very few voices criticized or blamed Person123.

He was a man currently saving Humanity in real-time by performing the Nightmare Climb without any compensation. No matter the political issue, he was not someone anyone dared to ask, “Who do you think you are to interfere?” His actions and achievements thus far commanded that respect.

Furthermore, he didn’t blindly take the side of the Climbers just because he was one. He had stepped forward for the public good to stop the fighting between the Government and the Association—even if the accompanying threat was somewhat terrifying.

The anxiety and fear that he might truly skip the 4th Floor challenge also began to consume people. Thus, the target for their blame was clear.

“Hurry up and agree! How long are you going to keep this up!”

“Everyone is going to die because of you!”

As public opinion condemning the Government and the Association grew rapidly, articles began to pour out as if they had been waiting.

– US Government pushes for negotiations with the Association…

At a private meeting in Washington, the head of the Climber Association and the US President’s Chief of Staff sat across from each other, concluding a long Conversation. It was a pre-negotiation to align their stories before the official agreement.

“…So, it’s settled that we only accept the mandatory registration.”

“Just make sure there isn’t any noise. You’ve already incited the Climbers so much.”

“Ha, isn’t it the same for both of us?”

Regardless of the content of the negotiations, both sides achieved certain results from this Incident.

The Government side was able to confirm Person123’s stance. It was a relief for the Government that he, a Climber, did not take their side but professed neutrality. If he had openly taken the side of the Climbers… the mere thought was horrifying.

The Association side was also quite satisfied with this conclusion. Although Person123 claimed neutrality, he was ultimately a Climber. His threat not to Climb the Tower effectively reminded people who actually held the handle of the sword between the Climbers and the Government. The Government would never think of harassing Climbers carelessly now.

They exchanged polite handshakes while harboring different thoughts and then dispersed.

***

After I posted, the Communication Channel and the media naturally went into an uproar. To be honest, I didn’t feel entirely comfortable. Doing this was essentially no different from making a threat using people’s lives as collateral.

Of course, I had no intention of actually not Climbing the Tower, but the fear people felt because of my statement was real. So, I just wanted them to stop fighting and solve the problem already. My concern was what I would do if this had no effect at all.

Fortunately, it seemed the medicine worked quite well.

Billon sent word that an agreement would be reached before long. I heard that it would conclude with the Association accepting only the mandatory registration.

“That’s a relief.”

Surprisingly, I saw almost no negative News or articles about me. I thought I might get cursed at a bit, so it was strange. But something even stranger happened. I should call it absurd rather than strange.

Yesterday, while walking down the street, I saw a few people protesting with pickets.

“Climber Association and Governments, wake up and agree immediately according to His will!”

“It is the revelation of Savior Person123! Agree!”

…It was a protest held by members of none other than the Church of Person123.

I knew about it vaguely from the News. A cult worshipping me… should I call it a cult, or what? Anyway, various religions like that were popping up. The Church of Person123 was the most prominent among them and was reportedly growing at the fastest rate worldwide.

“Noona?”

The absurd part was that a familiar face was among the protesters.

“Huh? Seohyun?”

“…What are you doing here?”

It was Jiwoo-noona, a senior I was quite close with during college. I was stunned to see her again in such an unexpected way. I thought she was someone far removed from this kind of thing; what on earth had happened?

“Ah, this isn’t anything weird! You know about the Church of Person123 too, right?”

We shared a brief Conversation, and she gave me an enthusiastic Explanation of the religion.

“So, Person123 is the savior of Humanity, and we simply believe in and follow Him with all our hearts.”

“Well… isn’t it ultimately just one of those things? A cult…”

“Hey! Watch your mouth! He is actually saving the world!”

“Ah, yes, right.”

“You, me, and all of us are living safely today thanks to His devotion. Right? How can it be a cult when we believe in someone who actually exists?”

She then invited me to join the religion.

“It’s really not weird, and only good people join, okay? Don’t think of it too religiously; just think of it as a group that believes in and cheers for Him.”

“Ah, no, I’m okay.”

“Aww, well, if you change your mind later, feel free to contact me!”

It was strange enough that there was a religion believing in me, but seeing even my acquaintance claiming to be a believer—I don’t know how to explain that feeling. Anyway, that happened.

– The US Government and the Climber Association have reached a dramatic agreement. They stated that they were able to narrow the gap in their positions through sincere dialogue…

Just as Billon said, the fight between the Government and the Association finally seemed to be ending. Starting with the US Government, other governments that had conflicts with the Association also ended their confrontations one by one.

It seemed to end well, fortunately. Of course, the fundamental problem itself could not be solved. At least tens of thousands of people every year. As I cleared the Nightmare Floor by Floor, Climbers who did not Climb the Tower had to continue dying. Or become Monsters.

That was the unchanging reality.