Chapter 196
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: The Hero, Accumulated Power - 1
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Lee Hyun-wook was seated in Laputa's Order Tower.
On the large table before him, a holographic map of the Indian Ocean was displayed. Red dots marked the positions of ships... but not a single one was floating out on the open sea.
Dozens of ships, laden with all sorts of material items from around the world and bound for the Korean Peninsula, were now all stuck in port.
Just a few hours ago, three ships and their three escort vessels had been sunk in succession by an unidentified attacker, leaving no survivors.
With such a terrifying incident having occurred, what captain would dare cross the vast ocean? Even if there was some stubborn old salt who insisted, his crew would likely throw him overboard and turn the ship around.
In short, the supply lines had been paralyzed just before the war.
The incident became a major issue in less than a day. Prominent media outlets worldwide reported on it, spreading the narrative that preparations for the war against the Demon King had hit a snag.
- War Supplies Bound for Korea Halted... A Setback Before the War Even Begins?
- A Series of Ominous Signs... Can Humanity Survive?
Anxiety was already mounting with news of the Demon King appearing across the globe, subjugating monsters.
Although it had been widely publicized that preparations to counter the Demon King were underway, led by Lee Hyun-wook, the surface-level developments were grim, inevitably breeding doubt and worry.
It was a feeling akin to the instinct of those in need of protection.
‘But I'll turn this mood around soon enough.’
Lee Hyun-wook saw right through the enemy's hand.
To him, this looked not like a crisis, but an opportunity.
He examined the holographic map again and spoke.
"Team Leader Lee, if you mobilize several high-ranking mages to measure the mana concentration on the sea's surface, you'll find certain areas are completely different. And those areas will connect like a path."
- Are you saying that's how we track the unidentified assailant... the crocodile monster called Leviathan?
Team Leader Lee Kyo-jun's voice came through the mana messenger.
"Yes, it will reveal the creature's travel route. And if we sprinkle 'Troll's Blood' in the vicinity, we can lure the Leviathan... but we'll need at least 100,000 liters."
- Troll's Blood, you say... I don't know where you obtained this information, but is it really credible?
His voice was laced with doubt.
After all, this attack on the ships had happened suddenly, without anyone anticipating it.
Yet here was Lee Hyun-wook, offering a solution as if he had seen through it all from the beginning?
Even if this was another of Lee Hyun-wook's sagely insights—the man who had consistently seen through situations like Solomon and produced all sorts of timely items like Inspector Gadget—it was only natural to want to know the source of information for such a critical event.
And for times like these, Lee Hyun-wook had a cheat-code-like excuse.
"Yes. Information about that monster, the Leviathan, is recorded in Laputa."
- Ah... so that's it. Ahem, just how far does Laputa's... Yes, I'm getting sidetracked.
This was, of course, not true.
But it was a believable story for everyone else.
The real reason Lee Hyun-wook knew all this was because, in his past life, the New Zealand guild that discovered and hunted the Leviathan had produced a four-part documentary about their achievement.
And for any strategy team leader worth their salt, it was one of the essential training materials to watch.
- Then I'll do my best to acquire as much Troll's Blood as possible.
"Yes, please do. That will be the bait to lure it in."
The 'bait' would soon be ready.
Next, they needed a 'net.'
- We are also maintaining contact with Lee Seong-yoon and the Spirit King. It will be about... seven hours until both parties arrive.
That's right. The Water Spirit King and the gravity mage, Lee Seong-yoon. These two would serve as the 'net.'
"Yes, I'll use 'World Bridge' to head over around that time, so please inform them both."
- Yes, we'll begin preparations.
Operation Moby Dick, as it was called, had begun.
‘The last thing I need is a way to deliver the finishing blow.’
In other words, a 'harpoon' was needed.
But that was something he had yet to properly secure.
‘Still, it's practically in my hands already.’
Lee Hyun-wook ended the communication with Team Leader Lee and checked the time.
‘Eleven minutes left...'
Finally, in eleven minutes, the Hero would be chosen.
And with that, the harpoon would be secured.
Lee Hyun-wook turned his head to look at the TV.
- And now, in just over ten minutes, we will find out who the Hero is!
An anchor on one broadcast was raising his voice. Much like during a presidential election, every station was airing special programming related to the 'Hero Selection.'
- Now, the strongest candidate for Hero is, without a doubt, Steel Rain, Lee Hyun-wook! However, while many Players have debated his qualifications, there have been some unexpected responses, haven't there?
- Yes, that's right! With just ten minutes left until the Hero is chosen, we've compiled interviews with Players who made some surprising choices. Let's take a look!
The screen changed, and Alain Giam appeared.
- I support Steel Rain. And as everyone knows by now, I am helping him more than anyone. You could say I'm the fuel for the train that is Steel Rain.
He spoke in succession, endorsing Lee Hyun-wook as if he had completely become his man.
'Good. I wonder what he'll bring me this time.'
To Lee Hyun-wook, Alain Giam was what you might call a goose that lays golden eggs, or perhaps a goblin.
Before slitting the belly of such a creature, he contacted Alain Giam several times a day, pretending to build trust.
And just yesterday, he had properly laid the groundwork by inviting him to Laputa for a meal. Given that Laputa had been shrouded in mystery until now, the man couldn't hide his pleasure.
'If I reel him in slowly like this, he'll bring me more and more golden eggs.'
The next person on screen was none other than DS, Edward Woods.
- I also believe Steel Rain is the most fitting owner of the Hero's boon. He... will surely do well.
The other man standing next to him was Japan's 'Hurricane,' Kodo Koshiro.
The two of them seemed to be making their own preparations in Tokyo, and Kodo Koshiro also nodded.
- Well, I don't particularly trust this Lee Hyun-wook fellow, but I do think he's the only option at the moment. ...Whatever the case, clearing the World Quest is the top priority.
Unlike Edward Woods, who maintained a poker face, he couldn't hide his reluctant expression, but it seemed he had still made a rational decision.
'Still, it's certain they aren't Villains, so they'll be a great help if they join forces with us.'
The problem, in his opinion, was that both of them were too prideful.
But now it seemed the pecking order had been perfectly established, and they wouldn't be clinging to his coattails and whining like before.
Thus, even prominent Players who had once stood in opposition to the name Steel Rain and clashed with him directly were now insisting he should be the 'Hero.'
It just went to show that, when thinking rationally, he was the one and only candidate.
A few more interviews followed before the screen cut back to the studio.
- And now, sixty seconds remaining!
It was a tense moment, like just before the exit polls of a presidential election are announced.
- Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Now—!
At that moment, a single line of a system message appeared before the eyes of every Player in the world.
- [!] The Hero to stand against the Demon King has been chosen!
***
Lee Hyun-wook checked the system message that had appeared before him.
- Congratulations! You have been chosen as the one and only 'Hero' to stand against the Demon King.
At that moment, he felt a strange energy envelop his entire body.
"Hoo..."
This was power. An indescribably potent power... It felt strange and intense, as if a hot snake were coiling up his body before seeping into him.
- The event buff 'Hero's Boon' is now in effect.
1) All stats are greatly increased. (+200%)
2) All status effect resistances are increased. (+100%)
3) You can ignore the Demon King's special barrier.
The options of this 'event buff,' the Hero's Boon, were truly immense. As far as Lee Hyun-wook knew, no single buff or achievement was more powerful.
'...A 200% increase means a threefold increase.'
On top of that, the <War Hero> achievement effect was also active, as the Demon King's invasion was classified as a war event.
That added another 50% increase.
'...That's a total stat increase of 250%, for a 3.5 times multiplier. And it all stacks.'
And so...
- Currently controllable metal weight: 308,441 kg
A total of 308 tons.
Lee Hyun-wook took out the AD-2 from his wrist sigil and summoned four Moglays from within it, one after another.
Whoom— Whoom— Whoom— Whoom—
He simultaneously imbued all four Moglays with his Metal Control.
‘Before, I didn't have enough Metal Control, so I had to keep the Mass Release of the other three Moglays at stage 3, except for Moglay #1.’
Moglay #1, the most powerful of them, weighed 100 tons. Moglay #2—the original—was 50 tons, and the remaining #3 and #4, the replicas, were 25 tons each.
In other words, controlling all four at stage 4 simultaneously required 200 tons of Metal Control, which was why he had been forced to operate with only one Moglay for a while.
‘Now I can wield them all freely.’
The four Moglays lined up before Lee Hyun-wook.
Just moving them a short distance stirred up a gust of wind, likely due to their immense mass.
'...That makes four harpoons.'
No matter what other weapon he might use, there could be no harpoon more fitting for catching a giant sea monster.
‘But this might not be enough, so I have something special prepared. I was saving it to shoot down the Flower of Death... I suppose I should test it out on this occasion.’
Lee Hyun-wook looked up and snapped his fingers toward Talos's 'speaker' hanging from the ceiling.
「Master, do you have any instructions?」
“Contact the research lab now and tell them we're mobilizing Project <Gauss>."
He had also been researching a way to better utilize the Moglays through 'magitech.'
The goal was nothing less than shooting down the Flower of Death...
A prototype for that terrifying project was already complete.
「Yes, understood! Also, Director Woo Seong-mun is waiting on a mana communication line. Shall I connect you?」
"Hmm? Director Woo? ...Yes, put him through."
Lee Hyun-wook nodded, and Woo Seong-mun's voice came from the speaker.
- This is Woo Seong-mun.
"Yes, Director. What is it?"
- First, about the Hero's Boon... I'm not sure if I should congratulate you. It's packaged nicely, but isn't it essentially a VIP seat to the slaughterhouse?
"Haha— Still, you could say I've acquired a fine weapon."
- I will do my best to gather the ammunition for that weapon. But... I've just received some intel. It seems a certain item has been delivered to top-tier Players in every country.
"Yes?"
- And... the item's name is apparently 'The Demon King's Invitation.'
About thirty minutes later, Lee Hyun-wook was able to examine one of the Demon King's Invitations secured by Director Woo Seong-mun.
[Item Information]
- Name: The Demon King's Invitation (Special)
- Effect: Infusing this with mana will transport you to a secret location. (However, you may be rejected.)
‘What in the world is the intention behind this...'
Lee Hyun-wook examined the item for a while, but could find no additional information.
Just then, he got more information from the TV.
- Ah, we have breaking news! An unspecified number of media outlets around the world are reporting that they have received a message from the Demon King. We here at MBS are among them.
Lee Hyun-wook frowned and moved closer to the TV.
- To summarize the contents, he claims to be a Player from another dimension with no intention of destroying this world, but rather has come to improve it in the right direction!
"...What kind of scheme is he trying to pull?"
- And he is recruiting Players to follow him... emphasizing that he can bestow a special privilege called a 'title of nobility.' We don't know what this is, but—
Lee Hyun-wook realized what the Demon King's scheme was.
‘...He's trying to cause division.’
With the entire world entering combat mode centered around Lee Hyun-wook, this was a psychological ploy to shake things up even a little.
And it seemed to be working, to some extent.
- A Benevolent Demon King? Can We Trust the Game's System Messages? Fundamental Skepticism on the Rise...
- If the Demon King is a Player, Controlling Monsters is a Revolutionary Feat. "We Should Negotiate Instead of Blindly Opposing."
- Some Raid Experts Claim the Scales Have Already Tipped. "With Maritime Shipping Blocked, War Preparations Are Severely Hampered."
- A String of Pessimistic Forecasts Suggest Humanity Cannot Withstand the Might of the Demon King's Monster Army...
Just like that, negative articles began to pour out once again.
Lee Hyun-wook's war preparations were proceeding quite smoothly, but there was no way the whole world would know that.
It wasn't as if he were some kind of businessman; he couldn't just hold a promotional event to show off their hidden trump cards and prove they were still going strong just because public expectations were falling.
In contrast, the Demon King's actions were clear, and given the nature of news to highlight negative information... it was perhaps natural that the world's scales were slowly tipping away from fighting spirit and hope, toward chaos and despair.
But a negative turn in public opinion didn't mean defeat in battle. That's why he tried not to pay it any mind, but...
‘...That part about bestowing titles of nobility is bothering me.’
Since the Demon King was also a Player, it was highly likely he had received a 'Demon King's Boon' in this World Quest.
If so, it was reasonable to assume that these 'titles of nobility' were part of a quest objective.
‘He might gain some kind of buff every time he deceives more Players, so I can't just stand by and watch.’
Of course, the vast majority of Players wouldn't make such a foolish choice. But wouldn't there be the occasional social misfit or black-hearted bastard?
It was just like back in the day, when the terrorist organization IS was rampant, and crazies from all over the world appeared, wanting to join them.
And as it happened, a spectacular promotional event was already in the works.
About thirty minutes later, a mana communication came in from Team Leader Lee Kyo-jun.
- *Ksshh*— We've found the Leviathan's location. The Water Spirit King and the gravity mage are on-site, preparing to cast the net.
"Yes, I'm on my way."
Then, another mana communication came in from Kang Hee-seol.
- I've just installed my other masterpiece—the Project <Gauss> prototype—on the Prydwen! It draws mana from the Prydwen's engine, so the ship will stop for a moment when you fire it. And you have to load the projectile beforehand, so let me know when you're ready to load the Moglay!
“Alright, I'm heading out now.”
He planned to broadcast a little public service announcement to the entire world—a warning about what would happen if anyone fell for the Demon King's whispers.