Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Intrigue (3)
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《Intrigue》 - (3)
01.
The VRMMORPG game Season Off Fantasy had been running for eight years now, and December's stage boss, Selverion, had become something of an icon for the game.
Her exquisite design, the mystical concept of wielding ice magic and iron chains as weapons. And then there was her unprecedented record over those eight years—she had never once been defeated.
Countless players had been enamored with Selverion, only to despair against her. They had smiled at her, and shed tears for her.
The developers at Upside C&C were well aware of her influence, always featuring her prominently in promotions, tempting consumers with the allure of being the first to clear her.
In that sense, Selverion was an enormously popular character both in-game and out. She had even won the character popularity poll during the seventh anniversary event by a landslide margin over second place.
So, it was no surprise if any player—or even one of her rabid fans—adored Selverion.
...Even if that player happened to be the world rank one in the rare and notoriously brutal "Pirate" class.
"......"
"E-heh-heh..."
I stared blankly back and forth between the letter from Pirate rank one Kim Arin—which read like a fan letter to an idol—and her face. Under my gaze, laced with a hint of contempt, she blushed and scratched her chin awkwardly.
"I-it's embarrassing if you read it right here in front of me..."
She probably hadn't imagined I'd tear open the letter right in front of her. Kim Arin ducked her head, her face burning bright red.
I ignored her and reread the contents written on the heart-shaped stationery once more.
"..."
The letter boiled down to two main points. First, Ace was preparing a raid on me, so be careful. Second, she was a huge fan of Selverion and wanted to stay by my side, protecting and serving me from here on out.
Especially in that second part, every single sentence brimmed with her earnest sincerity.
to. Selverion
.
.
.
......I gladly wish to stand by your side, shielding you from those who target you. As a comrade, an ally, or sometimes as someone you can quietly trust to watch your back.
No, let me be more honest. I want to serve you.
I want to become part of your saga now. Not just on the battlefields of other realms, but here in this reality, breathing and living alongside you.
I will remember every moment of yours, and from now on, I will watch over you by your side.
With all my heart.
from. Arin
"Hm..."
The content read like a love letter from some old melodrama heroine, but what really tipped me off to her fanaticism was the summaries below it—in Chinese, Japanese, and English, just in case I couldn't read Korean.
"Heh-heh..."
"......"
She had long since stopped emitting any cold or chill. This Pirate named Kim Arin seemed less like an Ace spy and more like exactly what her letter claimed: one of Selverion's die-hard fans, here purely to see her idol.
Still, one thing nagged at me.
"...How did you know I was here?"
How on earth had she found out I was here? Ace was probably the only ones who knew my location.
"Y-your voice is so cute..."
"...What?"
"Ah... N-nothing..."
Kim Arin muttered something entranced at my question. When I furrowed my brow, she finally shook her head vigorously and answered.
"Well, I heard about your location from Han Yeonhwa."
"Han Yeonhwa...?"
The familiar name made me tilt my head. Han Yeonhwa—guild master of Korea's top guild, Legend. The flame mage who had rocketed the underdog guild to number one with her outlandish tactics and strategies.
She also served as co-chair of the SPR, the joint government-player cooperation body.
For her to know my location meant word about me had made the rounds among the top guilds—at least the Top 4.
"...And the info about Ace prepping their raid came from her too."
"Raid..."
I frowned at Kim Arin's words about Ace preparing to raid me. The thing I'd dismissed as unlikely was apparently on the verge of happening, and it soured my mood.
"...Are they insane?"
Launching a raid on a stage boss amid all this chaos—and on Selverion, whom no one had ever cleared even in-game? I couldn't fathom the psychology of Ace's guild master.
With death now permanent, guild members would hesitate to join recklessly. Was this a solo guild raid, or were they pulling support from all Top 4 guilds?
If Korea's Top 4 guilds plus the Defense Ministry's asymmetric forces joined in, they might attempt it. But against Selverion? The odds were grim.
"...Um, well, Legend and the other guilds are criticizing Ace's decision."
"Huh...?"
"Ace is the only one gearing up for a raid, it seems. Legend and the SPR are earnestly hoping for friendly—or at least non-hostile—relations with Selverion."
"......"
Kim Arin spoke shyly upon hearing my mutter. Her words twisted my expression even further. Attempting a Selverion raid as a single guild? What was the difference from suicide?
Ace's obsession with clearing Selverion was infamous, but that was game talk. Applying it to reality was a stretch.
Or maybe they were underestimating me, thinking the last chance I gave them was their opening. That a surprise attack would change anything?
"...This pisses me off."
No one would feel good knowing someone was plotting their subjugation. And Ace's choice to ignore my warning entirely filled me with contempt.
What had the other guilds been doing, not stopping them? They knew this could devastate Seoul.
"......"
I glanced at Kim Arin. Doubting her now seemed a bit off, but was she feeding me false info? Or posing as a fan to lower my guard for an Ace ambush?
...I spoke softly to her.
"But how can I trust you...?"
No matter the heartfelt letter or the info she'd shared, Kim Arin and I had just met today. Plus, she normally worked as a mercenary for hire, so taking her word at face value felt premature.
"How do I know this isn't a lie to make me drop my guard and do your bidding?"
"Whaaat?!"
At my sharp suspicion, Kim Arin jolted up from her seat, her blue eyes widening like a startled cat.
"Y-you're not suspecting me, are you?! That I'm an Ace spy...? Or lying...?"
She yelled, stammering through her words, each one dripping with deep grievance.
"No way! How long have I dreamed of meeting Selverion—no, Selverion herself?!"
"......"
"L-look at this!"
She fumbled in her pocket, pulled out her smartphone, and proudly shoved the screen at me. The wallpaper on the latest model was an illustration of Selverion hugging a pillow.
"I've always been such a huge fan of Selverion! Betray you? Lie? Use you? Ridiculous! If anything, I'd love to be used by her?!"
"..."
"A-and besides, I quit Legend to come here!! Han Yeonhwa asked me to keep an eye on Selverion, but I ignored her completely, even blocked her calls!!"
"Uh..."
Her reaction was even more intense than I'd expected, leaving me momentarily flustered.
How aggrieved did she have to be to vent like this before the absolute worst stage boss? Was having her sincerity toward her favorite character denied worse than the fear of death?
"As I wrote in the letter, I'm here to stand by Selverion forever, to serve her! Please, please believe me... Accept me..."
Kim Arin clasped her hands pleadingly, eyes glistening with tears. She was begging me to trust her, to take her in—as a subordinate, comrade, underling, whatever.
"......"
"Ah..."
But as I hesitated to reply, her face darkened rapidly. She lowered her head, grinding her teeth, and spoke to me.
"...Is all this suspicion because of Ace right now?"
She suddenly turned her fury toward Ace.
"...This is all that bitch Yun Sol's fault. If she hadn't made her retarded choice, my sincerity wouldn't be in doubt."
"..."
She spat venom at Yun Sol, Ace's guild master. If I hadn't heard about their imminent raid, I might have doubted her less—so it wasn't entirely wrong.
"Hoo..."
Kim Arin let out a deep sigh and bowed her head. Then she fixed me with a sharp gaze.
"Just wait a moment."
"Wait...?"
"I'll go fetch that bitch Yun Sol's head right now."
"What...?"
She spoke in a voice brimming with madness. Her eyes gleamed with the resolve to do anything for my trust.
"...I'll kill Yun Sol for daring to raid Selverion, disband Ace, and come back. So, please,"
"......"
"trust me..."
"Haa..."
The most sincere, desperate plea I'd ever heard in my life. Even my friend who'd come begging for a loan back when business was booming hadn't been this earnest.
...I still couldn't fully trust her, but giving her one chance to prove herself seemed fair.
"...Fine. Do whatever you want."
"R-really?!"
Her face lit up instantly at my words. With a childlike, innocent smile, she clapped her hands.
"Then I'll go right now. Yun Sol, Ace—that bunch of nobodies—I can handle them alone. I'll make them pay for their arrogance. I'll be as quick as I can. Pirate ship'll get me there fast."
Confidence from her world rank one Pirate title, no doubt. Kim Arin boasted she could solo Ace's large guild roster and behead their master.
"...No."
But I shook my head at her plan to charge into enemy territory alone. In a firm voice, I said,
"I'm coming too."
"Huh...?"
My unexpected words left her visibly stunned. I repeated clearly,
"I'm coming with you. To Ace's home base."
"S-Selverion too...?"
"Yeah."
I nodded at her echo.
There were two reasons I wanted to accompany her on this mission to deal with Ace's guild master. First, surveillance. Slim chance, but without me watching, she could conspire with Yun Sol and fake a corpse with an item.
...Second, to confront Ace and their master directly—that arrogant bunch making reckless choices from their high perch.
Subjugating me? Launching a raid?
Even after I gave them a final warning? They must have some confidence.
I wanted to see if they'd say the same to my face.
And make them pay for their foolish choice. Humans don't repeat mistakes without a harsh lesson.
"Y-you're really coming with me?"
Her eyes sparkled in disbelief as she asked again. I nodded curtly at her.
"Yeah."
"Fighting side-by-side with Selverion... This is basically a date...!!"
"...What was that?"
"N-nothing!"
I frowned at her mutter, and she waved her hands frantically. Decision made—no time to hesitate.
I could verify her fandom and sincerity later. Ace, plotting their ambush, would get a counter-ambush of shock and awe.
Then I told the rank one Pirate,
"...Prepare the ship."
02.
"...We've met the minimum numbers for a stage boss raid, but guild cooperation is lukewarm at best."
"Hm..."
Ace guild master Yun Sol frowned at the executive's report that tomorrow's Selverion raid wasn't going smoothly.
She'd assumed her immense popularity and influence within the guild, plus the doctored incitement video, would rally full support. The miscalculation soured her mood; she bit her lip in displeasure.
"...On top of that, the Defense Ministry sent word they're reconsidering their cooperation—negative stance."
"The Defense Ministry too...?"
"Yes. Seems SPR chair and Legend master YH pulled some strings..."
"What?"
Yun Sol's face twisted further at news even the Defense Ministry's asymmetric strike support for a Selverion ambush wasn't panning out.
"Han Yeonhwa...?"
How that fox of a woman YH—Han Yeonhwa—had learned of Selverion's emergence and Ace's raid plans to pressure the Ministry, Sol didn't know. But interference from her of all people set Sol's chest ablaze.
"Traitor..."
...There had to be a spy from Han Yeonhwa and Legend inside, reporting everything. No other way Selverion's heavily embargoed appearance or their surprise raid op could leak.
"Fuck..."
Plans already off-track, now internal saboteurs too? Irritation boiled up from deep within Yun Sol.
"G-guild master..."
"What."
"Maybe we should postpone the Selverion raid after all..."
"Shut up!"
The executive suggested delaying the God of Ruin subjugation now that plans were disrupted. But Sol roared at the mere notion.
"Forget it. The elites are all here anyway. Raid goes as planned tomorrow."
"B-but..."
"Shut up. We have plenty of data and strats. Tomorrow, we kill that Selverion bitch, crush the doubters, and climb higher."
Ace's elite core—those who truly mattered in combat—were assembled. Useless scrubs weren't needed.
Losing Defense Ministry bombardment was a minor hitch; flame mages' AOE skills could cover it.
It was feasible now. Sol's eyes burned with ambition, with madness, envisioning only crushing Selverion.
"...Understood."
The executive sighed deeply and nodded at the guild master's resolve. He felt the same reluctance, but what could he do? Defy her, and the volatile girl would sulk.
He never wanted to see Sol upset—not even with their lives on the line, game or this new reality.
"...Let's refine the details. Need efficient personnel allocation."
"Got it!"
Live or die, succeed or fail.
Tomorrow would be Ace's final Selverion raid, one way or another. At Sol's call for flawless prep, the mohawk executive nodded vigorously.
......And then.
"S-Sol!"
"...What."
Vice guild master Lee Minjun burst into the office without knocking—unlike him—panting heavily. Sol sensed something amiss and frowned.
"What's going on, Lee Minjun?"
"W-well..."
At Sol's question, he gulped air and pointed frantically out the window, yelling,
"D-Dessert Club..."
"What?"
"Dessert Club—they've brought their guild right outside our office."
"Dessert Club...?"
"Yes, they're facing off against our guys now. You need to come quick, Sol."
"Damn it..."
Dessert Club, Korea's rank 5 guild. They'd clashed fiercely with Sol's Ace in the last guild war.
Ace had barely won through sheer numbers and item superiority—a highly skilled guild.
For them to abandon their Gangbuk turf and swarm Ace's office? Nothing good about it.
What business brought them here?
"...Let's go."
Grumbling about the endless annoyances, Yun Sol headed out with her executives to greet their rival-of-rivals, "Dessert Club."
"......"
Outside the office building, hundreds of Dessert Club members truly stood off against Ace's forces.
Already on bad terms, the air between the confronting guilds crackled with menace.
"Oh, Sol-sol, you showed?"
...A black-haired chef woman waved cheerfully at the finally appearing Yun Sol. Dessert Club's master, chef Lee Areum—nickname "Noisy."
"Why are you here? Sell off Gangbuk or what?"
Sol scowled at the unwelcome guest. Areum shrugged nonchalantly.
"...Dunno? I was busy, but then Yeonhwa unnie dropped some juicy news, and I had to come."
"......!!"
Yeonhwa.
At the Legend master's name from Areum's lips, Sol instinctively realized Dessert Club knew about Selverion and Ace's raid.
That mangy bitch Han Yeonhwa...>
Spreading rumors everywhere about their plans and Selverion—Sol seethed with rage.
...Dessert Club was probably Han Yeonhwa's doing. Begging them to persuade or stop Ace. Only guild in the capital that could match Ace evenly.
"...Yun Sol, stop this nonsense right now."
...As expected, Areum urged her seriously to abandon the Selverion raid.
"If Selverion's staying put, causing no harm, no need to raid first. Just surveil her movements for now."
"..."
"You know we can't match her yet. This is suicide. And your choice could freeze Seoul—no, the whole country. Can you handle that?"
"Ha."
Sol scoffed at Areum's sharp words. That "can't match her" line nearly snapped her last thread of reason.
"Quit your bullshit, you cook."
Sol glared at Areum with fury-blazing eyes. Her voice dripped venom.
"What do you know? We can win, we can wiiiin!!"
"Yun Sol..."
"Freeze the country? If we don't subjugate her now, it'll freeze anyway. Think she'll stay quiet tomorrow just 'cause she is today?!!"
"...Maybe. But that's tomorrow's problem. Poking her today is kicking a hornet's nest. Let's calm down and find a better way..."
"Shut uuuup!! Who are you to boss me around!!"
Fuming at Areum—lower-ranked yet nagging—Yun Sol bellowed. Her crazed, unhinged appearance made Areum narrow her eyes in return.
"...You've lost it completely, Sol. Even as capital player overseer, there are lines you can't cross."
"..."
"Keep this up, and we'll have to get tough too."
"Tough? Pfft!"
...Areum's words implied she'd spark a guild war to stop Sol and Ace. Sol snorted derisively, drawing her assassin twin blades from her waist.
"...Try it if you can."
Not even rank 1 Legend, and they'd already lost to Ace once. Dessert Club's warnings held no fear. These gathered were Ace's raid elites for tomorrow—Sol's most loyal.
"You cooks sure talk big..."
......An archer executive beside Sol swiftly nocked an arrow at Areum. In response, a sunglassed gunner man next to Areum raised his sniper rifle at Yun Sol.
"...Lowlifes yapping. When does your bluffing end?"
A red dot laser from the gunner's scope danced on Yun Sol's chest.
"Hidden Kill..."
Sol grimaced, glaring at the gunner aiming at her—Dessert Club vice master, nickname "HidenKiLL," Do Hyunwoo.
"...Better a guild war than letting you touch Selverion unscathed."
Areum frowned and gestured. Dessert Club members behind her drew weapons in unison.
But Sol didn't back down, smirking and signaling her own guild with a head tilt. Ace elites gripped weapons, readying for battle.
"Suicide's what you're doing. Think you can beat us?"
"...We'll see."
"Perfect timing anyway. Needed a warm-up before Selverion."
"Don't regret this, Sol."
"Bullshit."
"......"
"..."
...Season Off Fantasy Korea rank 2 and 5 guild masters signaled each other. Soon, the two guilds' members charged with battle cries.
One side for their master's and guild's pride.
The other, for the mission to halt a foolish choice.