Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: In the Name of Glory (3)
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***
Some say that the old world has turned to ashes, leaving only sand blowing in the wind, calling this the Age of Flames.
Others say that all the pretenses of the past have burned away, leaving raw instincts to drive life forward—a truly pure era.
And the vast majority of community dwellers say this: an era where people can't trust one another, where distrust prevents meetings, leaving folks alone, slumped sadly before tiny shelter access devices. On moonlit nights when urges overwhelm them, their only choices are right hand or left—an era teeming with the community's restless spirits. The Age of the Hundred Beasts.
To such people, Professor and Anaya's lovey-dovey display was an overwhelming shock, engulfing the 47th District chat room in an unprecedented blaze.
But just as a tsunami has varying waves, that massive inferno was spreading in all directions...
- Soy Sauce Gaybar: Deceiver! Deceiver! Deeeeeeeeeceiver!!!!!
- Paranoia: I-I'll kill you! How dare you, how DARE you walk the straight path of pure love right in front of our wide-open eyes! I'll kill you! I'll track you down no matter what and castrate youuuuu!!!!
- Geuisaeki: So lonely. Aah, I'm so lonely I could die... If I kill myself, I'll write "Died from Professor"...
- Number Three: Professor bro, you've crossed the line and are doing a damn tap dance on top of it.
- Nutria Pass: You're finally making me drag myself to the access device! I was watching the stream on my router at work and came rushing over to cuss you out, you bastard!
- DORitas: #@&@#&)(*)(((*#&^&*!!!
- xhxmsjavos: #(*(^&^야스%[email protected]%*&*!!!!
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A pack of loners who spontaneously burst into flames and turned to ash after witnessing Professor and Anaya's sweet affection.
- Kilfer: OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Anaya! Anaya! Anaya!!!!!
- Manbakmanil: Hoo, hoo! Two lovers meeting at the world's end! An era that tore them apart, promising reunion far in the future as they share a kiss! Ten points... a perfect ten!
- Holy: So beautiful... A love story like this. I-I can't stop crying even now...
- SuspiciouslyRich: Our 19+ play co-op group fully supports `professor`'s vanilla playstyle. We believe. One day, you'll reward our faith by quietly disabling the [Adult Play Filter]. We pray fervently.
- Deer Drug Please: Thanks, Professor. Uploaded the clip. This is it for today—no, for a while.
- uiyt5443: (*@#*&()!(^&^#^%&@!!!
- KeitLome: [email protected]@@^&&^^(_+_)@%!&@!!!
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A bunch grinning ear-to-ear, just thrilled.
- Speed Wagon: Desert, huh... Anyone know anything about that area?
- Mukaba: No way anyone's here who knows what we don't.
- Gunpowder and Blood: Geopolitically distant nation's VIP with ties. Gotta be diplomatically useful somehow.
- Jokass: No info on this hero unit called Anaya either. She's a first. World 3 has way more unexplored stuff than 1 or 2. Nobody's properly touched the desert side.
- Speed Wagon: Unlike Levit Princess in 1 and 2, Thousand Stream Emperor cleared World 3 with brainless control spam, just bulldozing everything. Didn't think about bonus inheritance or anything, just charged whatever he saw and hacked through. That's why almost nothing carried over to World 4, leaving top rankers shitting bricks at the current攻略 frontier.
- Jokass: People suddenly crowding Professor's stream might tie into that. Sounds crazy, but steadily collecting hero units like this and clearing broad areas could yield a seed way better than Thousand Stream Emperor's.
And finally, the veteran crowd, so jaded they've mastered everything but GG, debating the game's implications.
“Uh... uhu... uhu bu buh...”
- Soy Sauce Gaybar: Look at that, pretending to be clueless again. It won't work anymore!
- Deer Drug Please: All technique. Acting ignorant and innocent to trigger maternal instincts and draw women in. As expected from the BDSM boss! Skills on another level!
- Gunpowder and Blood: When the BDSM caravan rolls in... hide the women and kids... Memo...
Amid the countless viewers' groans and cheers, Professor simply replayed that hot breath and Anaya's final tender gaze before she vanished.
***
Clunk-rattle!
Murmur murmur—
Whisper whisper—
Professor snapped out of his daze around the time the inn's first floor started filling up, the noise building.
‘Time to move.’
Amid the surrounding clamor, a few sharp gazes probing him prickled his senses. The inn Anaya had brought him to was a rundown spot in the city's outskirts back alleys. Perfect for dodging guards, so criminals flocked there—but bounty hunters frequented it too.
‘The bounty on fugitive Professor is about 15,000. Rumors spread after the guard jail incident that he's harmless per the mage's statement, so pocket-pinched hunters or alley thugs might eye him. Staying here'll stir trouble.’
Sure, he could crush those nobodies with one fist now, but with the city on edge post-mage tower fiasco, no need to kick up a fuss. Especially as a wanted man by the church—and the actual culprit they sought.
Professor rose swiftly and headed out. A few eyes followed him from their seats, but as he hit the main street, suspicion faded.
Walking the capital's boulevards, still slick with moisture, Professor pondered.
“By the way, Anaya was dead certain at the end that the Radiant Church wasn't after the red mutant. So she knew from the start? Why pretend otherwise?”
[Means she wanted to go to Taklan with you that badly.]
“Ughhh...”
Hyde's pleased voice echoing in his head left Professor speechless. Inexperienced with women, he had no clue how to respond to that kind of affection. Anyway, if the Radiant Church wasn't after him for the tower, better check what they wanted. Fugitive was minor; some chores or a donation, grab a penance writ, revert to normal merc status. Then he could game his way—catch black mages for fame and cash, solid allies, the basics essential for clear.
Creak-grind—clunk!
“Hey! Rope's on—pull!”
“Alright!”
Crash—
The path to the temple revealed a city scarred by floodwaters. Toppled stalls, massive heaps of mud, debris, and trash clogging alleys. Amid folks laboriously clearing wreckage, Professor felt a twinge of guilt. The city was like this because he'd rampaged in the mage tower for coin.
“One more! Pull!”
“Heave-hooo!!”
Thud.
The men yanked the rope, but the log wedged between buildings didn't budge.
“Damn it! Need more hands! Something huge tangled at the end—ain't moving an inch!”
“Ahem, mind if I lend a hand?”
Approaching to lighten his conscience and pitch in, Professor drew hesitant looks at the unfamiliar voice—until they clocked his massive build and beefy arms, faces lighting up.
“Oh! Look at you—built like a beast! We'd love the help! Gotta yank that pillar to clear the rest, but it's stuck fast no matter what!”
“Floods must be rough.”
“Happens all the time here.”
The man handing Professor the rope sidled close, whispering conspiratorially.
“Out-of-town merc might not know, but this city's mages are nasty-tempered. Every time those bastards hike the 'water usage tax,' they flood us to quash protests! Barely need an excuse to drown the city—pure intimidation!”
“Shhh! Gilliam, you idiot! Watch your mouth! If a mage's lackey overhears...”
The scrawny guy beside him startled plump-bellied Gilliam, who puffed up defiantly, raising his voice.
“Hmph! Let 'em hear! We've cowered like mice from mages till now, but that's over! You see that?”
Scrawny guy and Professor followed Gilliam's pointing finger to the half-ruined mage tower afar, a jagged magic crystal embedded beside it, pulsing violet. Oddly scenic, drawing eyes.
“Last night, huge boom and flashes from the tower. Woke up to the river cut off—bam!—and the tower like that. Don't know who, but...”
Professor flinched!
“...Mages are done for! Met their match!”
Scrawny guy shook his head at the fist-pumping, excited man.
“Sigh, ignore Gilliam. He's got a grudge. Inherited a big trading house, but pissed off the tower and tanked. Now he froths at mage talk, blurting without thinking. If his tongue matched half his gut, life'd be easier.”
“Pfft! Three generations' legacy—gone! Wife dead! Kids ditched for a merc band, saying can't live here! What's left to fear? And now I've got faith!”
“Faith? You?”
“Yeah! Those weird monks were right! The talking mutant'll save us! Everyone in Tobrun knows the red-skinned one toyed with the knight captain and shakes mages. I sought that monk-priest guy right away, got baptized. I'm Salvation Church now! Mages act up, the Chosen One appears, saves us, smashes them!”
Crack!
Boom!
“Whooa!”
“Ow!”
Blissfully pulling rope with the group, Professor unconsciously gripped harder at the last words.
Crackle-crack—
The log, tangled in debris and wedged tight, yanked free in an instant, flinging wreckage skyward.
At the surreal sight, the folks' warm gazes toward this kind stranger turned awed.
“Uh, are you... a knight... sir?”
“Or, n-noble?”
“No, I'm—”
Thud!
“Oooow! Knight sir! Forgive this country bumpkin! Wasn't malice toward the mages—it’s this fool's mouth! Hey! Hey!”
Professor sighed at the plump man flat on the ground, slapping his own mouth.
Understandable—many tower mages were nobles. Insulting nobles before one.
Helping the man up, Professor said,
“Misunderstanding. I'm no noble—just a merc. Strong one, name's Professor.”
“Uh, wha? Merc?”
The man eyed him top to bottom skeptically. Fancy leather pants Anaya bought, shirt straining at the seams. Clean clothes, but back slung with a curtain-like bundle, no sword or mace. Knights never parted with weapons.
Convinced by the ragged look, face flushing, he brushed wet knees and stood.
“Whew. Thought I'd trashed nobles to a noble's face!”
“Haha. My fault for barging in sans intro.”
“Nah, this yapper mouth of mine.”
Easing the man, Professor propped the log aside.
“By the way... you mentioned weird monks earlier. Care to elaborate?”
“Hm? Oh, that. No biggie. Just this morning in the market...”
The self-scolding motormouth lit up again, spilling beans—Professor's face darkening with each word.
***
Planning in this game sometimes felt like chess or go to Professor.
Mutants hit Turan—block there. Other kingdoms lax—stoke caution, pressure north from opposite flank.
Read situations, predict foes, pick advantageous fields, stack odds. Back in 14th Special Forces, combat-weak Professor's routine to help: scout fight sites, preload our facilities.
Revealing as red mutant in tower, acting provocatively? Part of it. Talking mutant routed Lordric's 1st Knight. Now slew 6th-circle mage, wrecked tower mid-city. Enough for neighbors to deem mutants huge threat sans direct attack—easing future alliances.
Towerjacking goals met: debts paid, grudges settled, neighbors spooked. Smooth—till Salvation Church crashed the afterparty.
Opponent playing his game, next move queued.
‘Turned fear-soaked rumors into church glory, expanding influence. Someone's there. Definitely reading situations, countering.’
Professor envisioned a foe across the board, sliding pieces.
‘Salvation Church, Radiant Church... Simultaneous moves mean something.’
His steps quickened on the damp streets.
Foe moved next. Lag, and he'd tangle in the church's sticky web.
Far off, the Radiant Church's signature white building gleamed.
***
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Far, far north. The eternal permafrost barring all life.
Deep in those mountains. A cave echoed with a chuckling voice.
“Ahh, yes. So that's it. Isaac the mage got taken. Pity. Useful card for more chaos.”
Drip. Drip.
Steady droplets from stalactites showed uncommon warmth—no ice here.
Bubble-gurgle—
There, a massive, round cocoon. Mimicking a queen's nest, thick veins on surface, filled with clear green fluid. Inside, the voice gleaned world news via linked kin.
Pausing, it replied briskly to the familiar chest-rumbling command.
“Ahh, Mother. No worries. ‘He’ moved—unavoidable. Plan intact. Yes, indeed. Unlike inept siblings, I've never disappointed you, have I?”
“--- ----”
Satisfied chest-thrum filled it with joy. Mother's awareness faded; it smiled at real-time Tobrun feeds.
“Flail harder, my nemesis. Become the grandest trophy across all fronts. When I offer you to Mother, she'll rejoice like never before. Proving I'm her favorite among fools.”
Gurgle-bubble—
Eyes closed, voice sank into kin's minds. The grand game begun, nemesis afoot.
The queen's third child, Palkatus, anticipated ‘his’ meeting, submerging once more.
***