Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Guild (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
《Guild》 - (4)
01.
"S-So, to sum it up..."
Right after reclaiming Seogwipo, Han Yeonhwa received an unexpected call from Lee Minjun, Ace's vice guild master.
...After hearing several shocking stories from him, she composed herself and summarized what she understood to confirm.
"An Ace player committed looting in Selverion's territory of all places, and the follow-up investigation team provoked her wrath and got completely wiped out... is that what you're saying?"
— That's correct.
"And Selverion left a hint implying she'd give one last chance, but hasn't taken any further action since?"
— Yes.
"And in the midst of all this, Sol-sol issued an order to go ahead and subjugate Selverion anyway?"
— You understand perfectly.
"Haa..."
Yeonhwa let out a deep sigh at Minjun's voice coming through the speaker. She had no idea where or how to even begin explaining this.
"...I clearly warned everyone at the last meeting that if Selverion appeared, we absolutely shouldn't act rashly."
— ...I pointed that out too, but she insisted that leaving her alone would lead to even bigger problems and decided to proceed with the raid.
"......"
Six days ago, during the Top 4 guilds' meeting, Yeonhwa had warned that no single guild could handle Selverion alone. If the Frost of Ruin appeared, they must not rush in recklessly.
Yet Ace ignored her warning completely, which made Yeonhwa furrow her brow.
Suddenly, she recalled Sol-sol's shout at the end of that meeting.
— Stage boss or Selverion, Ace will sweep them all away.
"..."
Yoon Sol's frustrated outburst back then had made her uneasy, but Dark Ghost dismissed it, saying Selverion wouldn't show up in Korea of all places, so she'd let it slide.
But that "what if" had actually happened.
"...This is a mess."
The strongest stage boss, Selverion, appearing in Korea—no, in Seoul, the most populated city—and the capital region's guild charging headlong to subjugate her.
...It was the worst possible scenario.
"Ha..."
Of course, Sol wasn't entirely wrong. Leaving Selverion unchecked could cause massive casualties. Based on her personality in the game, she'd slaughter every human in sight.
If this were still the game world, or if they had extra lives, Yeonhwa might have seriously considered raiding her too.
But this was reality now—one death meant game over. And game advantages like pain reduction and auto-aim were gone.
Ace trying to take her down alone was nothing short of suicide.
No matter how much data they had on Selverion or Ace's PVE experience, they couldn't beat the Frost of Ruin, the God of Ruin.
...That's why their plan for her emergence prioritized civilian evacuation over subjugation—"hold out." But Ace ignored it immediately, giving Yeonhwa a throbbing headache.
"Why provoke her when she's just sitting there..."
The situation was even more delicate.
Selverion had appeared and killed, but only in minimal self-defense of herself and her territory.
She'd hinted at a last chance via video and hadn't threatened humans since.
She seemed truly intelligent now, unlike the game version that froze everything indiscriminately.
Yeonhwa couldn't fathom why Ace would attack first when Selverion was giving them that chance and staying put.
What was the difference from poking a hornet's nest with no gear or reason?
"......"
If Ace had beaten her even once, or if raids ended with just Ace wiping, Yeonhwa and SPR would overlook it.
But Ace was 0-8 against her, and in reality, wipes wouldn't be clean anymore.
The moment Ace antagonized her, Selverion would see it as a declaration of war against Korea, even the world, unleashing her pent-up rage in a massacre.
If you're going to die, die alone—why risk the whole country with reckless actions?
Selverion raid was a last resort, only after clear hostility and an ice age loomed.
No matter what she did next—talkable or not—Yeonhwa had to stop Ace's declaration of war.
...She couldn't let Sol-sol and Ace's folly freeze the entire peninsula.
"Minjun."
— Yes? Go ahead.
"...Any idea when the raid might start?"
— She didn't like my objections, so she withheld details, but it seems they've gathered the minimum numbers already.
"Minimum numbers...?"
— ...Yes, but maybe fewer volunteers than expected. They're planning to recruit for another two days before starting.
"Two days..."
Two days. 48 hours.
...A race against time. Would Sol-sol lead Ace first, or could Yeonhwa stop their blind charge?
Jeju cleanup wasn't done; she couldn't lead Legend members to the capital.
So she needed a force inside the capital to stop Ace. Only one guild in Seoul could rival them in guild war.
...Dessert Club.
If they stopped the half-mad Yoon Sol and Ace, with Minjun helping from inside, Ace would crumble.
The capital guild would change naturally, and under Dessert Club's lead, reclamation would be more systematic and safe—for everyone's benefit.
"...Got it. I'll call back."
Yeonhwa ended the urgent call and scrolled her contacts. A name popped up.
[Noisy Yi Areum (Dessert Club)]
"......"
Dessert Club's guild master, top chef ranker Yi Areum, aka "Noisy." Months since private contact, but no time to hesitate.
"...Pick up, please."
The only guild to halt Ace's advance. Yeonhwa sighed deeply and tapped "call."
02.
"Don't fall back!!"
"Hold the line!!"
Seodaemun-gu, Hongje-dong, Seoul. Six or seven players clashed fiercely with a pack of giant golems.
Giant golems were B+ grade, just below mid-bosses—powerful monsters. Over ten in Seodaemun-gu prompted nearby Dessert Club players to rush over.
Most elites were supporting Gangnam's hotspot, so these were barely over level 1000, matching the golems.
...Similar levels to the monsters, half the numbers. Even as Dessert Club members, victory wasn't guaranteed.
"Maintain circular formation!"
"Take out the left one first—divide and conquer!"
Yet they held firm. Apartments full of civilians behind them, but more so faith in the one standing at their rear.
"Slowly now, let's be careful!"
A cheerful voice unfit for the tension. The owner, laughing lightly, was Dessert Club's guild master, "Noisy" Yi Areum.
Top global supporter, she tapped her ladle and spatula—hallmarks of her unpopular "Chef" class.
"...Direct fire cooking, aged wine."
Red and purple auras enveloped her guildmates sequentially—buffs boosting attack power and skill crit rate.
Golems favored defense over offense, so she maximized team DPS.
"Power...?"
"Attack's up...!"
Chef passives amplified ally buffs by 15%. Top-tier buffs plus 15% pushed level 1000+ members beyond golem strength.
"Alright, charge!"
"Go!"
Confirming buffs, Dessert Club's second string charged. Rearguard Areum activated one more.
"...Frozen cuisine."
Her supporter creed: prevent enemies from touching allies. Healing and shields were fine, but immobilizing foes was best.
— Wooong, woong...!
Status ailment skill froze all golems solid, sealing movement.
"Nice! Areum-noona froze 'em!"
"Kill 'em!"
Panicked golems, team landing critical hits in the gap.
No matter their defense, they couldn't withstand tripled attacks from Dessert Club skills.
— Wooooong......
Golems powered down, crumbling to pieces. Guildmates cheered victory.
"W-We won!!"
"...We beat these."
"All thanks to Areum-noona's buffs."
"Best chef ever..."
Thumbs up for Areum. Overwhelmed, she waved embarrassedly.
"N-No... I didn't do much..."
Dreading more praise, she backed away, shy by nature.
— Ring ring. Ring ring.
"Hm?"
Distanced from guildmates, her phone buzzed. She pulled it from her chef pants, checked caller.
[Legend YH Unnie]
"Yeonhwa unnie...?"
Han Yeonhwa, Korea's top guild Legend master—close friend. Areum answered happily.
"Unnie! How've you been?"
— ...Fine, Areum. And you?
Her usual emotionless tone.
"You okay? Jeju bad?"
— ...Sorry, Areum, chit-chat later. Big problem in Seoul right now.
Areum wanted to discuss the crisis and regions, but Yeonhwa cut it short.
"Bigger problem? In Seoul? What?"
— ...Selverion appeared.
"What...?"
Yeonhwa dropped the nuke casually; Areum's face stiffened. Voice trembling, she asked back.
"S-Selverion? What do you mean...? In Seoul too...?"
The worst nightmare, Frost of Ruin, God of Ruin—in her Seoul? Unbelievable. And so quiet if true?
Online rumor? She'd laugh. But serious Yeonhwa wouldn't prank amid crisis. Cold sweat beaded on Areum's forehead.
— Haa, well...
"......"
Deep sigh, then rapid explanation—no time to waste.
...Ace's minor clash with Selverion in outer Seoul slum. She gave last chance, staying calm; Ace and Sol-sol hellbent on subjugating.
— Ace wiping isn't huge, but it could spark her massacre.
"......"
— ...Please stop Ace. You're the only ones in Seoul who can check them. You know that.
"I get the gist..."
Summary: Stop Ace from provoking still-passive Selverion before disaster.
...Even via guild war.
'Guild war...'
Guild war—PVE-scale losses, rivaling stage boss raids.
Rare even in-game; now real, against mega-guild Ace? Normally refuse outright.
"Ha..."
But Ace held media, public support, gov backing as SPR core/capital guild.
Suppress media, civilians oblivious to raid.
Only Dessert Club could block, as Yeonhwa said.
Right choice amid Seoul chaos? Maybe not, but better than Selverion rampage.
They'd raided her too—knew no guild could win.
Don't poke the sleeping lion.
"...Okay. I'll talk to Ace within two days. If not, we'll clash."
— ...Thanks, Areum. Even without annihilation, draining them via war stops the raid. Don't stress.
Yeonhwa added, "Talk's best, of course." Areum asked cautiously, worried.
"Unnie, but..."
— Yes?
"What about Selverion...?"
Intelligent behavior or not, still unmoving—Selverion was Selverion.
Could move tomorrow per Ace; stage boss God of Ruin.
Prepare alternatives to raid. At least evacuate nearby slum civilians ASAP.
— Yes, evacuating civilians first. Small guilds and military handle. Dessert Club, focus Ace. Selverion herself...
"Selverion...?"
— ......For now, one monitor nearby.
"Monitor...?"
— Yes. Real-time watch buys response time. Know the perfect person.
Best mobility, social skills, eloquence in Korea.
Selverion's fanatic fan—fears her not, dying by her hand an honor. Perverted.
— She'll mark Selverion better than anyone.
03.
— Wooong. Wooong.
"Phone?"
Incheon Eulwangni. After S-rank Leviathan, top pirate Kim Arin lounged on her ship at sea.
Phone blared.
"Hm, Han Yeonhwa?"
Her "employer," flame mage guild master. Always annoying requests—wanted to ignore, but couldn't ghost boss.
"Sigh..."
Kim Arin, "Keirin," shook head, reluctantly answered. Brusque voice.
— Hello? Arin?
"Yes, employer."
She called Yeonhwa "employer," not guild master.
Arin wasn't official Legend—short-term mercenary for guild wars.
World #1 rare class "Pirate," explosive early fighter—every guild's dream.
She knew her worth: freelance merc life, contracts for cash/items.
Opportunist, mercenary—critics abounded, but demand endless. End of contract? Requests flooded.
...She was that strong, top Season Off Fantasy player.
Currently employed by Yeonhwa in Legend. Today: contract's last day.
— Arin, one favor?
"Hm, favor? 24 hours left on contract, right?"
Yeonhwa begged; Arin scratched chin ambiguously—extra pay for extra, reality or not.
— Haa...
Yeonhwa sighed at her pragmatism. Stressed exhale.
— Arin, sorry, no time for that.
"No time? For contract?"
— ...Selverion appeared in Seoul.
"......!!! "
Selverion.
Those syllables widened Arin's eyes. Unlike others grimacing, her lips twitched uncontrollably.
She was Selverion's fanatic—no, cult-level devotee.
'Ahh, that stunning beauty.'
Snow-white skin.
Exquisite girl form.
Stoic face, flowing white hair.
Frail look belying overwhelming power—charm overload.
Guarding "world's end" from challengers—noble mission!
'Insane, insane, insane.'
Looks, allure, story.
December stage boss Selverion hit every kink—perfect.
...Obsessed insanely: craved physical contact, joined raids to die by her hand.
Virtual-only meetings tragic, like Romeo and Juliet.
Now real, intelligent, in Seoul! Favorite nearby—Arin thrilled.
"Wh-where? Where in Seoul?!"
...Bolting from hammock, decorum gone, demanding location. Yeonhwa explained calmly amid shock.
— Outer Seoul slum spawn. Minor clash with Ace. Seems intelligent, inactive now—but monitor nearby, report to us...
"Slum...? Intelligent...? Okay! On it!"
— A-Arin? Calm down, hear me out...
"Sorry! Contract ends here! Refund 24 hours!"
— Arin? Wait, what—?! Arin! Arin! Wait...!
"Sorry!"
Click.
Yeonhwa flailing, but Arin hung up decisively.
No reason staying under Legend/Yeonhwa/other guilds.
Her sole liege henceforth: December stage boss, Frost of Ruin, God of Ruin Selverion.
"Yes yes yes!!"
...Arin prepped to head to Seoul.
First: talk, pledge lifelong service.
Maybe suggest guild creation.
...Worst: instant death. But by her? Not bad.
Death by fave, unrequited love—poignant, moving!
"Let's go let's go!!"
— Wooong. Wooong.
Yeonhwa calling nonstop—ignored. Selverion filled her mind.
Fighting beside ice girl...
Pirating seas with Frost of Ruin...
Fun daily life with God of Ruin...
...Exclusive bond none dared, faithfully serving.
Opportunity favors the bold. While others flee in fear, Arin would risk death for her side.
...Vowing to kill any monsters or players blocking her path.