Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Skyscraper Twins (2)
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《Skyscraper Twins》 - (2)
01.
"Cemetery..."
Ever since my business went under, I hadn't played the game much, so I didn't know a ton about the latest info. Still, the name of the guild Cemetery stuck vaguely in the back corners of my memory.
No matter where you go, every group has its share of bad apples—one or two at least. Even in my own company, there were always those dead weights everyone called "trash."
And in the Korean server of Season Off Fantasy, the guild Cemetery embodied both the worst scum and the total rejects all in one.
Their atrocities went beyond mere nuisance—they were so grotesque they'd make your skin crawl, impossible to forget even if you tried.
The one that stuck with me most was when they slaughtered every NPC in a village, gathered up the bodies and blood, and cooked themselves a feast.
That act of cannibalism was unprecedented in the entire history of VR games. Players everywhere were horrified, and even Upside C&C—the devs who rarely meddled—disbanded the guild by force and banned the guild master and vice-master's accounts in an unprecedented crackdown.
But somehow, they resurrected and went right back to their parade of bizarre crimes. Cemetery had become public enemy number one across the entire Korean server.
...And now, with the line between virtual and reality shattered, Cemetery was at it again—this time targeting real, living civilians instead of NPCs with their grotesque deeds.
A powder keg far worse than simple looting or rape, potentially escalating to cannibalism.
Since it was players—not monsters—preying on civilians, the public would feel a whole new level of terror and alarm.
Watching soldiers and police stand helpless, unlike before, would only heighten their sense of crisis.
It might even be the first real wake-up call to the true danger players posed. Not a bad opportunity to show why someone needed to keep them in check.
"...You got the exact situation on the ground?"
...
> On board Kim Arin's pirate ship heading to Jamsil, I asked Lee Min-jun. The Scientist, who had been polishing his horn-rimmed glasses, paused as if pondering something, then scratched his head sheepishly.
"Uh... I'm not totally sure myself.... All I know is from the news..."
"......"
"I just know there are over a hundred hostages... and that Cemetery stuffed the tower full of their undead..."
Lee Min-jun bowed his head apologetically, as if sorry he couldn't be more helpful. I waved it off casually to say it was fine, then sank back into thought.
"No intel, huh..."
The public info was limited to the news reports: over a hundred hostages and Jamsil Tower fully dungeonized.
Whether SPR was deliberately withholding more details or they themselves had nothing else, the fact that they were paralyzed by the hostages suggested the latter.
In that scenario, we had two objectives.
First: Rescue the hostages safely.
Second: Annihilate the enemy.
"...Not bad."
Even with scant info, these seemed straightforward enough. I scratched my chin and muttered lightly.
The second was a breeze for Selverion—whether necromancers or their summoned skeletons, just freeze 'em solid.
And the first? Unlike SPR, it wouldn't be tough for us.
......We had October's stage boss, the Sad Clown Perolln, with his flawless invisibility.
"...Perolln."
Unlike stealth from assassins or thieves that items could pierce, Perolln's invisibility was impenetrable without a Beast or Scientist's detection passive or skill.
Cemetery was a guild of necromancers only. No Beasts or Scientists to spot Perolln—he'd slip in undetected, unbeatable.
Against Cemetery's pathetic necromancers, Perolln wouldn't break a sweat. No need to evacuate hostages outside; he'd guard them until I wiped the guild out.
Pinpointing their location would be easy with Lee Min-jun's Scientist "Scan" skill, which reveals people or items. No real obstacles in sight.
"......What dream are you guys chasing anyway."
...What goal, what delusion drove Cemetery to pull this nonsense in-game and now in reality?
Some psychopathic "grand purpose" of their own?
Or just thrills from others' blood and death?
"......"
I couldn't fathom it. But one thing I knew for sure.
Whatever dream they dreamed, it'd soon shatter into ice crystals.
02.
"Hmm, they're all gathered in the 5th-floor plaza of Building A's shopping mall."
"...Good."
A bit away from Jamsil Tower, I nodded at Lee Min-jun's precise hostage locations from his "Scan" skill.
"Not bad."
If they'd scattered and hidden the hostages, it'd be a hassle. But whether to avoid splitting their guild members for guard duty or just plain laziness, fortunately, they were all clumped together in one spot.
"The paths there, escalators—everything's packed solid with undead. Gonna be tough breaking through."
Lee Min-jun pointed out the undead swarming the building, blocking routes to the hostages.
"...Don't worry about that."
I shook my head briefly at his concern.
"He's got it covered."
With confident words, my gaze landed on October's stage boss, Perolln. Lurking in the corner of the pirate ship, he awkwardly avoided my eyes, looking burdened.
"True, with Perolln's invisibility, reaching the hostages shouldn't be hard, no matter how many undead."
Kim Arin nodded approvingly beside me. As she said, his stealth would let him breeze past hordes.
...Not that I thought Perolln would lose to mere skeletons anyway.
No matter his tragic history of getting mobbed by players, he was still a stage boss.
...Against foes without Beasts, Scientists, or thieves, invisible Perolln was practically invincible.
"Where's the guild master then."
Hostage spot secured for Perolln—next, the Cemetery guild master's location for me. Cutting off the snake's head was the easiest way to topple a group.
"Hmm, that's weird."
But Lee Min-jun, scanning the massive skyscraper, furrowed his brow. He bit his lip in frustration and reported what he saw.
"Can't pinpoint the executives. Looks like they used some item to hide from SPR location scans..."
"An item..."
They couldn't hide civilian hostages, but players like themselves could mask their positions with items.
SPR, locked in standoff, surely had Scientists with "Scan." Hiding to avoid pinpoint strikes like artillery from the national army.
"...Doesn't matter."
But it was irrelevant.
Just smoke 'em out.
"Trap 'em and freeze floor by floor."
Seal every side of Jamsil Tower with ice walls—no escape—then freeze level by level. They'd crawl out eventually.
Hostage safety? Perolln had that.
"Perolln."
"......"
"Move out."
"Sigh..."
At my command, he stood without complaint, scythe in hand. His body faded to transparency, blending into the scenery, then he headed to Jamsil Tower to protect the hostages.
...He'd promised cooperation himself, revenge complete—no defiance left in him.
"Good."
Confirming Perolln gone, I glared at Jamsil Tower's lofty peak and muttered.
"...Hide all you want."
Yeah, take the hostages,
hide with your junk items,
flee to the top of that towering skyscraper.
"Kim Arin."
"Yes! Lady Selverion!"
"Ram it with the pirate ship."
......The end was the same either way.