Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: One Empire, Three Legends (1)
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- DOOMgay: It's great that Elder Woojin is alive, but... he seems to be suffering a lot mentally. The day after I heard that story, I woke up to a piercing woman's scream in the morning. It was the granddaughters of the old man he used to work with. The older one... her belly is starting to show. Fuck.
- DOOMgay: Elder naturally thought they should be erased. He tried to do it. But the kid, who hadn't reacted to anything else, somehow sensed it and resisted like she was ready to die. Now, the older one screams like that whenever she sees Elder. The younger one gets unstable from the noise and cries. Can you imagine? That old man in the wheelchair, covered in spilled soup, smiling bitterly and saying, "It happens every morning." Fuck, it makes my blood boil so much I want to smash everything. The world's a shitty place, but this crosses the line.
- DOOMgay: Anyway, that's how the Special Variant Task Force BDSM ended up as a group that captures real special variants, chews them up, tastes them, and enjoys them. What a ridiculous world. Ever heard of flashbangs? They emit intensely hot light when they go off. If you take a direct hit, your retinas burn completely and you go blind. There's also a high-acidity coated round that turns uranium rounds into scrap. On impact, the thin coating breaks, exposing the acidic tip that melts the target slightly, allowing the real lead core to penetrate. Easy to make, great effect. It has insane penetration against light armor.
- DOOMgay: That's what they mean when they say the world feels like a game. Enemies with powerful, unique abilities, rare materials that are hard to get, gear made from them. I bet even if you came from there, it'd still feel like you're playing a game.
- DOOMgay: Oh, sent you a photo. After meeting Elder, I went to Sector 45 on a recovery mission, and that metal lump of a Type-3 variant fits your body well, apparently. It has both metal and variant bio traits, acting like a living hinge connecting your body and mechanical parts... or something like that. Of course, after hearing the news I relayed, Elder sent a huge pile of research data from Dome. Thanks to that, your body's repairs are almost done. At least you won't go into shock when you come out. Congrats, Professor. Survival is now 100% guaranteed.
- DOOMgay: Bex is watching with eyes wide open, so no worries about weird mods (like your head exploding if you disobey the boss). Sometimes—no, regularly— that Levit woman kidnaps Bex, but then I or the missus, or some of our quick kids keep watch, so it'll be fine. Especially this guy Tolman from Happy Blind; he worships you like a god. Says human Professor is the messiah who broke free from the old world's remnants and embraced the new world with his whole body. And there's a scary-growing crowd that reveres you like a god too. It'll be fun when you come out.
- DOOMgay: So hurry up and clean out those fake variant mutants or whatever. I want to see modded Professor smash some raptors too.
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"The world has truly gone completely mad."
Whiiiiiing—!
A refreshing morning. The Professor was flying over vast cloud seas in the airship, reading the messages he'd received. It had been about a week since he'd started soaring through the skies in this thing. Elder Woojin was alive, and his monster body in the real world had finally been treated.
All that was left was to clear this 3rd World properly and return to that body.
And what did that mean...?
[Shell. Can't we just jump down a little?]
'Don't talk nonsense.'
[Aw, why not! That white, fluffy stuff looks so comfy!]
It meant the life support alone could now sustain his body, so Hide had returned here.
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- Deer Drug Please: Professor! Professor!
- Take a Look: You're talking about the paradise of 4th World, right, everyoneee~!
- Gunpowder and Blood: Park Tae-sik is back?
- Jokass: Hey! Watch your mouth! He's no longer on the same level as us 2nd-class citizens. He's the exalted, super-evolved Metal Great Professor!
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"Jesus. You're all still full of shit as ever."
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- professor: If you're gonna talk nonsense, I'm out.
- Speed Wagon: Oh my. Trying to leave without even greeting me?
- professor: I was gonna DM Dana separately.
- Deer Drug Please: Arghhh! Professor set the chat ablaze! Poured oil the second he joined!
- Jokass: Accept it humbly. You didn't see that photo on the community? Bex and Levit walking arm-in-arm. They live in a different world from us now.
- Take a Look: I can't accept it. I can't accept iiiit!!!! The century's top two beauties already taken! Right in front of my eyes, rubbing it in!!!!
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And also!
It meant he could finally use the connector properly! Real-time chat! No more isolated loneliness like being stranded on a deserted island playing a game alone!
"Fuck. Why do my eyes feel wet?"
[You can use magic well now, right? You're a mage! If you believe that cloud will definitely cushion you softly and stably—]
"Don't ruin the mood, Hide. I'm really feeling good right now. Something you'll never understand. That bizarre isolation, that loneliness. My heart has achieved literal mirror-like peace."
[Uh... well. I don't get the heart thing, but your body's definitely not at peace.]
Hide said that as he rolled my left eye back. There, from early dawn, our companions were out scooping something furiously with pots and baskets, backs bent to breaking.
Naturally, I held a large wooden box too. Regardless of the peace in my heart, GG's world was dynamic today as well.
"Here it comes again!"
"Otman! Can't you do something with water magic!"
"This airship is pulled by spirits! They're already distant from us contract elves, and if they feel even stronger magic than now, they might just leave!"
"Uwaaaah! Hero! No time to space out!!! Scoop, scoop before we all sink!!!"
To the screams from behind, the Professor—now at peace—replied with a smiling face.
Splash!
"Let's scoop, everyone. Can't stop that."
"C-can't stop it?"
At Borka's fearful reply, the Professor removed his hat like bowing at a funeral.
"We share the ship's fate."
"Sh-ship's... fate...? N-no, we can't! I finally reached my children, just a bit more and I can find them! I can't die like this! Do something, anything, Captain! You always do!"
"Hahahahahahahahaha. Sorry. I don't know either."
At those words, despair settled in the werewolf's elongated eyes.
Far away, beyond the horizon, a white horde flew toward the airship our group rode. Familiar now after days, the Empire's enchanted letters.
[Wow... what a sight. Must be nice being popular everywhere? Huh?]
"Yeah, love it. Love it to death. Dying for it."
Those? All my letters. Every one. More like paper terrorism than letters.
What were they? Fan letters from the Radiant Church and Mercy Church across the Empire.
The chaos started three days ago.
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"Yaaawn~ Oh, Hero. Up early?"
"Hey, good morning. Made breakfast; want some? Cloud lobster soup."
"Waaah. Want it so bad, but gotta hold back. Can't suffocate in my corset..."
"Corset? Oh, the Empire? Right, the Emperor wants to see you?"
"Yeees. Huge opportunity, but he just said 'soon' without a date, so I have to stay ready. Empire folks have this bad habit of giving exact times via mage letters at the last second."
"Hm. No Emperor letter yet? How you planning to go when it comes? Jump?"
"Psh~ Joke. Falling from here would kill even a master knight? We're near the Empire's edge at Storm Hill, so it'll cut time to the capital. Then hire an 8-horse carriage with silver from elf trade. Not much money can't buy in this world?"
A bit chilly, but the airship glided steadily. Air clear, scenery over clouds shook away the wasteland bleakness.
Third day after leaving Storm Hill. Radiant Church sent holy comms. Mercy paladins arrived so fast—three days after Relic Guardians left Lordric—they met. Saintess soul safely enshrined; soon a small rite before the main altar, and she'll inhabit the new vessel.
Good news. Real good. The woman gets saintess powers soon after. Soul fuses, inherits memories and abilities. Details aside, immediate combat asset. Great.
Mid-breakfast, got armfuls of ecstatic paladin letters. Good too.
All about Goddess El Samia's grace, pledging names and honor to rush at Saint Professor's call, wishing light and mercy ahead... Like that. They'd fight in the final scenario battlefield, so 'max affinity~' letters proved my growing influence there. Saved nicely for later use.
Gathering scattered letters on the deck post-light breakfast, laughing peacefully with Lucilla hoho-ha ha.
Then, another morning letter arrived, thinking it done.
Flutter—
"Hm? Another one?"
"Hahaha. Well, Mercy paladins are all in Empire territory now. All sent, so plenty coming. Lucilla, list the sending paladins' names and houses? Useful later."
"Yes. One sec... Let's see...."
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To the great, merciful, radiant Blood Saint.
Greetings. I am a Mercy follower from a small village in the Empire's northeast.
Might be rude, but to convey this overwhelming gratitude...
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"...Not a paladin, a commoner?"
"Hm? Well, devout followers might send thanks. Saintess is a beacon of faith... Uh... Wait. Commoner? Fuck?"
Sudden ominous thought; Professor looked up, another white paper landing on his forehead.
Flutter—
"Oh. Another."
One sheet. Then another atop. Countless sheets piling wildly, rocking the airship.
Flutter. Flutter. Flutterflutterflutterflutterflutterflutter—
"Uh, uhhh...."
"H-Hero?"
Professor grabbed a flying letter, flipping wildly. Nobles, commoners mixed, but contents similar: Thanks for saving saintess, blessings for your future, morning greetings to Blood Saint, etc.
Suddenly recalled Empire nobles have letter-sorting servants; cold sweat beaded on Professor's brow.
Letters anyone could send, unstoppable.
Minimum for letter magic: sender, recipient, intent, and "residence"—staying same spot 3+ days.
Today: third day on airship.
Lightning insight amid thoughts; Professor imagined absurd fantasy logic that shouldn't exist.
'Thought moving airship exempts. But if grand mage magic sees the 'airship' as residence?'
"Lucilla...? How many Mercy followers in Empire?"
"Hm... Empire's national church is Valor, so maybe 600,000?"
"Add Radiant..."
"1.2 to 1.4 million? Not sure exact... Ah...! Aaaah! Uwaaaah!"
Lucilla paled realizing; by then.
Shwaaaaaaaa—
Like a white dragon slicing blue sky, massive letter flock pierced clouds skyward. Sound grand as waves parting seas.
Unknown commoner's letter bore a drop of the famed saint's holy cold sweat.
"Lucilla... Wake everyone sleeping."
"Eh...? Y-yes?"
"Wake all! Tell 'em grab anything and scoop those damn white stowaways! If all that comes, we sink!"
Urgent voice; Lucilla, pale as me, screamed waking group. Sleepy grumblers saw slow-approaching white mass, freaked—
Flutterflutterflutter—
Empire faithfuls' love engulfed us.
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Three days endured; fourth dawn. Daily bloodless desperate defense: block, scoop, dump, repeat. Cloud moisture plenty, but wind spirits (airship pilots) flee magic aura—magic sealed.
Notum's shamanism, Yggdrasil's spirit arts held so far, but church evangelism spread "Blood Saint Professor's miracle tales" fast—increasing daily thanks/blessings.
Exactly one week from Storm Hill: Professor, scooping madly from slowly sinking airship, saw new flock piercing clouds afar—gave up.
Morning peace: serenity of surrender.
"Uwaaaaa!!! Nooo!!! Rumors everywhere, die so stupidly! Crushed by letters!!! Historic dumbest woman death!"
"Lucilla. Don't know human history well, but that's legendary enough. Fits 'Woman from Tel Drat'... maybe needs more study."
"Y-you too, Yggdrasil!"
Lucilla lost reason at Yggdrasil's calm death-sentence tone, lunged at Professor.
"D-do something! Those are your letters! Hero! Just you jump, you die—we might live! Jump now! Die for comrades who shared life/death!"
"Haha. Sorry. Sent letters go to target's residence, not person. Airship's doomed."
"Uwaaaaaah!!!"
Against vast blue dawn sky. Airship gliding quietly; white dragon poured down, green winds swirled, craft wobbled downward.
Sipping Lucilla's shrill screams as sake, two old mages toasted with gray sedatives in crashing ship, staring blankly at Professor's back.
"Hey, Aldrich."
"Yeah."
"Just started believing in fate."
"You too? Same."
"That Professor kid born under ill-starred sky, no doubt."
"I think Lo Haram's thinking, 'No matter what, that guy's my only hero/saint.' Trying to replace him."
"Heh heh heh. Makes sense. Heh heh...."
Otman's limp gaze on plummeting ship; clear water orb formed in grip.
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- Speed Wagon: .....The hell.
- Jokass: Ma'am, better stop watching. Understand wanting to etch hubby's end in memory, but it'll scar horribly.
- Number Three: Think positive, bros. At least we hear Professor bro's last words live. Any last words?
- Deer Drug Please: Lkekekekekek right on entry, stabbed kekekekek you're real kekekeke
- Take a Look: That's a skill if anything, human. This right? System-locked progress.
- Jokass: Yep. Nothing else this bullshit. Fits Emperor event flow.
- Speed Wagon: Probably... Rare good event in GG play. Means system-approved world progress way ahead—overspeeding. Best news for clear-runners, but....
- professor: Mood's, mood's ruined. Fucking shitty game.
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Moments later.
Splash!
Airship landed like meteor into mage's giant water bubble.
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