[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 519: To the Edge of the Galaxy (2)

“What… you’re saying they’ll hold another annihilation vote?”

That was insane.

The annihilation vote used during the first filtration was, to put it bluntly, a rule where anyone famous was practically guaranteed to be executed.

If the majority thought of a certain person, that individual would automatically be listed as a candidate for annihilation.

And from that list of candidates, the public would use their allotted points to cast votes.

Nobody knew exactly how many votes a candidate needed to be annihilated, but to Yeongwoo, that wasn’t the important part.

Because—

“If the vote takes place… I’ll be the first one on the list.”

Yeongwoo could say this with certainty.

He was, without a doubt, the most recognizable figure on Earth right now.

Hadn’t he already broadcast himself multiple times to the entire planet?

Thanks to that, all of humanity knew that the man named Jeong Yeongwoo07 was the planetary representative.

『That’s crazy… they’re really doing that again? That’s basically telling the planetary representative to go die.』

Even Earth could clearly see where this was headed, and shook its head in disbelief.

『This is… far too reckless. Even if only a small portion of humanity casts annihilation votes, that’s still hundreds of thousands. Enough for you to be erased.』

Earth pointed directly at Yeongwoo when it said “you.”

That irritated him, so he asked back.

“Still, isn’t there a chance I might not make the list…? Miraculously, I mean.”

Earth’s eyes went wide.

『Are you seriously saying that? With everything you’ve done?』

“……”

『You may be an outstanding representative, but you’re no sage king. Ninety-nine percent… no, one hundred percent, you’ll be annihilated.』

“You bastard, you can’t even take my side as a joke.”

『That’s because this isn’t something to joke about. If you die, it’ll be a disaster for me and for the planetary system as well.』

After all, who could possibly replace Jeong Yeongwoo07?

And if he were to die, it was obvious that the support from Dogo, the true backer of the Earthship, would shrink dramatically.

Everyone in the solar system knew that the Chairman favored Yeongwoo.

『And if you disappear, the collaboration with the Shelbir royal family will collapse too, won’t it? That means the money will dry up as well…』

Earth carefully laid out all the reasons why Yeongwoo could not be allowed to die.

“This is starting to feel weird. Are those supposed to be compliments or insults?”

『Neither. They’re facts.』

Earth was dead serious.

And it made sense—because standing before them now was an Executor.

This figure had come for one purpose: to enforce the re-vote.

Earth then asked the Executor, Dumer.

『If someone is annihilated again because of the re-vote, will there be another choice like before between mutation and dissolution?』

Dumer nodded.

—The very fact that another annihilation target has appeared is proof that the Reset has failed. Therefore, we begin again from the start.

In other words, even in the case of re-vote annihilation, three choices would once more be given: annihilation, mutation, or dissolution.

To vanish quietly, return as a mutant, or dissolve oneself and reshape the world’s form…

『Good lord.』

Earth trailed off and turned its eyes toward Yeongwoo.

No doubt imagining the scene of Jeong Yeongwoo07, targeted by the masses, returning as a mutant.

Of course, Yeongwoo was thinking the same thing.

“I… could become a mutant…?”

『Don’t you dare think about something that crazy. Better to abandon the Reset altogether.』

To Earth, an enraged mutant version of Jeong Yeongwoo was far more terrifying than the Reset itself.

If this lunatic representative transformed into a mutant and returned, then even if every strong being on Earth united, they would be helpless.

“But… if I don’t proceed with the next stage, then we’ll be stuck living with the Reset forever, right? And I’d be a fugitive on top of that.”

『Weren’t you a fugitive already? What the hell’s gotten into you all of a sudden?』

Earth looked bewildered, and Yeongwoo simply shrugged.

“I know it’s crazy when I think about it.”

Click.

Yeongwoo tapped his steel heart with his Besedel gauntlet.

“But my chest… feels uneasy.”

『Uneasy?』

“I’ve dragged the Reset this far, and now I’m supposed to just run away without seeing it through?”

That same stubborn reckless streak once acknowledged by the system itself, coupled with his insatiable curiosity, was now waking up.

“Of course, I’m not about to commit suicide. No one distrusts humanity more than I do. As things stand, I’ll definitely be a candidate.”

As Yeongwoo withdrew his hand from his chest, Executor Dumer finally spoke slowly.

—The re-vote carries the meaning of settlement for the Reset.

“…And what does that mean?”

—Since it asks those who have already endured a Reset whether they will endure another, there is a preparation and grace period.

“A grace period?”

—Yes. If you accept the progression to the final stage.

Dumer looked off into empty space.

—Seven Earth days from now, the re-vote will take place.

In other words, Earthlings would have one week to sort out their thoughts before the vote.

And for Yeongwoo, who stood an extraordinarily high chance of being a candidate for annihilation—

“…So it’s basically a campaign period.”

It was time given to persuade people not to cast votes against him.

『T-that’s absurd. No matter what, it’s reckless.』

Earth was still in denial.

But Yeongwoo looked far more confident than before.

“A week should be enough, don’t you think? How much rain can we make fall from the Golden Nebula in that time?”

『…What?』

“In this insane universe, people need to realize that no one but me can be the representative.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

And once that realization set in, Yeongwoo believed, people would no longer vote for his annihilation.

“You said it yourself earlier, didn’t you? That me dying would be a fact that can’t happen.”

『Th-that’s…』

“So all I need is for everyone to recognize that fact. Maybe this is the true trial for a planetary representative.”

Hearing this, Dumer gave a slight shrug.

—Impressive. But the choice is still yours. The right to reject the orbit rests with you.

Having said everything he needed to say, Dumer stepped back from the round table.

In response, Yeongwoo asked him again.

“About the voting.”

―Yes.

“How many votes would it take for me to be erased?”

―As a planetary representative, you have an enormous amount of ‘karma’ accumulated within the system. Therefore, you can withstand up to a 30% disapproval rate.

In other words, the moment he recorded 31% against him, he would be erased.

“So… I just need 70% support, right?”

It was a radical way of seeing it.

And not entirely wrong, either.

If he secured a solid 70% support base on this planet, even if a re-vote occurred, he could survive.

“That’s doable.”

『You madman. Seven out of ten people have to stand behind you. Not just indifference, but active support.』

“And why not?”

『…What?』

“I had veto power, and yet I still allowed the re-vote so I could strip Reset from everyone’s lives. What’s that called? Legitimacy.”

Then Yeongwoo raised his index finger.

“And through cooperation with the Shelbir royal family, I’ll expand the scale of operations. That’s capability.”

He raised his middle finger next.

“By spreading the Golden Ratio across the Earthship through the Golden Nebula, I’ll supply Karma—the universal currency. That’s both vision and humanitarianism.”

And finally, he snapped his thumb upward.

“And if by chance I do get erased, you’ll witness a mutant the likes of which you’ll never see again in your lives.”

If that had a name, it would probably be fear.

“So tell me, is there really any reason to cast an erasure vote on me? At least 70% won’t.”

During the Greatest Sword of the Korean Peninsula vote, Yeongwoo’s approval rating had reached 76.8%.

So his claim—that he could pull 70% support from the entire population of Earth—wasn’t entirely baseless.

『But… nothing you’ve mentioned has actually materialized yet. Even your fake charity project hasn’t launched.』

“That’s why I said I’ll take a week.”

Seven days—the campaign period to secure 70% support.

At that moment, Yeongwoo’s eyes were gleaming so brightly that Earth couldn’t add a single word in protest.

『But… if you fail, it means death.』

“No. It means a new life as a mutant.”

『…….』

By this point, Earth wasn’t sure anymore.

Was Jeong Yeongwoo07 a genius, or utterly insane?

『Officially, I don’t agree with your decision. But as the planetary representative and shipowner, the decision is yours to make.』

“You’re officially refusing the end of Reset? Of all people, you shouldn’t be the one saying that.”

『Because it’s that dangerous.』

“I hope this line gets quoted in the election broadcast.”

After saying this much, Yeongwoo turned his head back to Dumer.

“If I really accept the re-vote, does that mean a timer goes up in the sky?”

He had asked half in jest, but to his surprise, Dumer nodded.

―Reset is a trial for all planetary residents, so the re-vote will also be made known to everyone. The entire process, in fact.

“…What?”

That meant every conversation Dumer, Yeongwoo, and Earth had exchanged so far would be made public.

Of course, this would work in Yeongwoo’s favor.

Even though Earth had opposed the re-vote, Yeongwoo had still accepted it for the sake of ending Reset—this fact would be preserved for all to see.

‘But a week is a long time. In that span, people will lose their resolve, and when the actual vote begins, they might change their minds.’

In other words, even if he secured 70% support, it could still falter at the last moment.

So in reality, he needed to push above 70%—or leave such a powerful impression that no one would waver.

‘I’ll just have to show them that without me, they’ll all be dead.’

The only question was how to make them realize that.

But Yeongwoo thought he already knew the way.

“I’ll need to open a broadcast channel.”

『What? What do you mean by that?』

“If people don’t know why I’m necessary, I’ll just have to make them know.”

『……?』

“As of today, I’m starting a planetary representative vlog.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]