Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Chapter 22: Party Play (9)
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"It's Kim Yul. Nice to meet you, mister."
"Uh, mister?"
"Aren't you like twenty years older than me? I'm seventeen this year."
It felt like she was picking a fight for no reason.
*Why's she suddenly acting like this?*
I furrowed my brow slightly and warned Kim Yul.
"Cut it out."
"Yes, sir! I'll just call you bro instead!"
Her tone still had a sharp edge to it.
When I openly scowled, Kim Yul jumped to her feet.
"You haven't even washed up yet, right, bro? I'll clear out!"
I had no idea why this guy—who had friendliness levels no one else could match—was directing his barbs at Yang Tae-ho.
Once the room emptied out, the urge to rest hit me hard.
"You should rest too, boss. The room right next door is yours."
"Y-Yeah."
With Kim Yul followed by Yang Tae-ho leaving the room, I could finally relax.
* * *
My rest didn't last long.
By the time the sun had set, Velta sneaked back in.
*At least the kid isn't nocturnal. Small mercies.*
After dinner, I played with her for three or four hours until she started nodding off. I scooped her up in my arms.
Patting her back and humming a lullaby had become second nature.
Soon enough, Velta was breathing evenly, fast asleep with soft snores.
She'd slept in my room before, but tonight I wanted some undisturbed rest, so I decided to take her to her own room.
*Last time she kicked me in her sleep, my side still aches thinking about it.*
The room was on the third floor, not far from Rashar's bedroom, down a hallway shrouded in darkness.
As I laid Velta down and turned to leave, I heard a soft click behind me.
Rashar's office door was opening.
"Hoo."
Rashar emerged, letting out a long sigh as she rubbed her face.
Normally, she'd have noticed someone in the hall even in pitch darkness.
Was she not sensing me? Or ignoring me?
*She looks exhausted—probably the former.*
Not wanting to startle her, I cleared my throat to announce myself.
"You done now?"
Rashar flinched and whipped her head toward me.
Her surprise confirmed she really hadn't noticed me amid her fatigue.
Her golden eyes stared blankly at me for a moment before sliding away.
"...As you can see."
Her mumble nearly drew a laugh from me.
Laughing now wouldn't help, so I held it back.
Still, my lips twitched upward, forcing me to cover my mouth with my hand.
In a flat tone, I asked,
"Still sulking?"
"No."
Her lightning-fast denial meant nothing.
*I can read your mind—you're sulking.*
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Affirmation or denial, neither fit right now.
If anything I said would come off wrong, better to wait.
How many minutes passed like that?
After stealing glances at me, Rashar sighed deeply in surrender.
"I'm not sulking. Just... a bit hurt."
Only then did I smile faintly and step closer to her.
"You've got plenty of reasons to be hurt."
This awkwardness started about a week ago.
Right after I announced I was leaving the mansion to set up my own place.
The talk somehow escalated into an argument.
And this was our first one-on-one since then.
Reaching her side, I spoke as calmly as I could.
"The base will be in Habon anyway. I'll be in and out all the time, same as now."
"..."
"No need to feel hurt."
When I first mentioned leaving, Rashar asked if something about living here bothered me.
As if that could be it.
*I've had it so easy here.*
Moving out wasn't because the place was uncomfortable or her help a burden.
*It's because me getting special treatment here is prime fuel for internal conflicts.*
Joseph had told me rumors were already circulating among Palao's players.
The anti-me faction was stirring things up. It didn't bother me personally much.
*But I can't stick around knowing the church's apostle is leading the favoritism charge.*
Unless the Bennet family planned to house and feed every Palao player, it was right for me to go.
I'd wanted to leave sooner, but pressing issues took priority.
Silver badge promotion via core formation, spear training, grasping Bihar's history and power structure.
*Mountains of work.*
I was slicing my days into minute chunks just to hit targets.
In that chaos, I couldn't ditch my optimal setup over others' gripes.
So I shoved complicated feelings aside, steeled my face, and focused.
Rashar supported me without missing a beat.
*Despite hearing crap she shouldn't have to because of me.*
Not a single complaint. Now it was my turn to consider her.
After all, she was catching flak because of me.
Even if she kept objecting, I'd sign a building lease soon and move.
*I've got a few spots scouted.*
Perfect timing too, with Yang Tae-ho recruited.
"Nothing changes if I crash somewhere else."
I made my stance crystal clear.
"And just so we're clear, I know damn well you and the church have given us your all."
If that was why she opposed me leaving, it was pointless.
I lightly flicked her forehead and said,
"So this conversation ends here. Got it?"
Her reply came after a pause.
"...Understood. I respect your choice."
Her face looked more at ease than when she'd lied about not sulking, but her voice still drooped.
"But... I can't help feeling hurt."
"Come on, what about?"
"While you stayed, it felt like I gained a fun friend. I enjoyed every meal, listening to your stories about that world."
It was new to hear, but not shocking.
Rashar liked me a fair bit, and the feeling was mutual.
We'd started as comrades in the same boat, but somewhere along the line, it felt like real friendship.
*Worlds apart, though.*
Despite our glaring differences in behavior and thinking, I'd rarely felt distant from her.
Unlike Ahel, who gave me the creeps for the same reason.
*Guess I'm picky about people too.*
Smiling at the self-reflection, I said,
"Anyone'd think I was moving countries."
I'd be in Habon anyway—come visit anytime.
Her expression softened further at my casual add-on.
We stood there, catching up on the past week's routines.
Before heading to our rooms to wrap up the day,
"Come to think of it... I don't think I've said it."
"Said what?"
"I'm truly grateful to you."
Everything had gone smoothly since I arrived.
Watching her smile through the awkward words made my fingertips tingle.
But my chest tightened, like emotional indigestion.
"Flatter me all you want—I'm still going."
So I teased lightly, playing it off.
Rashar nodded with a helpless laugh.
"Understood."
"See you tomorrow."
Walking the dark hall after leaving her, my head and heart churned.
Probably because her thanks sat wrong.
I wasn't sacrificing for her.
Any help she got was just a byproduct of pursuing my goals.
Nothing I'd done was purely for her or Bihar.
If anything, it bordered on using them for my ends.
If breaking this symbiosis served my gains,
*I wouldn't hesitate.*
Personal feelings wouldn't sway my goals or choices.
If it kept those monster bastards from reaching Earth,
I'd endure losing every bond and relationship I'd built.
*Heart would ache, sure.*
But I'd endure. My purpose and resolve were that ironclad.
That's why her gratitude felt off.
*Useless thoughts.*
I climbed the stairs, stomping down the nagging emotions in my chest.
* * *
Kim Yul's test wrapped quicker than expected.
Whatever grinding he'd done the past months, he had no real flaws.
His multi-target support skills let us ramp up pace on trash mobs.
Above all, I saw venom in his sweat-drenched pursuit.
Sheer determination to pass and claim a spot.
That will alone made me value him more.
So I slotted him as my second party member after Yang Tae-ho.
After, we headed to a contaminated zone far from the outpost for camping.
Focused on silver-badging them both.
*They've built solid foundations.*
Let me build their characters systematically.
*Boost attribute mana ratio on the way to silver.*
Attribute mana was pure, untainted power—never corrupted, never would be.
Unlike regular mana that shop use drained.
So we grinded 1-stars for max regular mana while shattering Meseo.
Attribute mana piled up faster than planned.
Sure, both puked and collapsed a few times.
But neither quit—they doggedly matched my pace.
Five days in, Kim Yul hit 100k mana first.
"I'm silver now!"
He yelled in excitement the second it ticked over, so I tried calming him.
"Hey, wait—"
"Aaah!"
Too late.
Before I could finish, he hit the system window.
*Listen to people, man.*
I watched him writhe on the ground with pity.
He'd seen the same window I had.
[Proceed with second awakening? (Y/N)]
Simple as it gets. Hit yes, and hell awaits.
Like your body shattering and reassembling?
I'd been through it—pure agony.
Bone-grinding pain I never wanted again.
Still, surviving it explained why the system gave a choice for second awakening.
First had forced itself on us.
*Back when the tutorial kicked off, probably.*
But second offered a choice. Simple reason, to me:
*More mana means more likely mid-battle.*
Auto-trigger that nightmare pain then?
*Might as well say 'die'.*
System prevents pointless deaths by letting players pick the timing.
Perfect logic, no arguments.
Which pissed me off more.
*If you're giving a choice, add a warning?*
Extreme pain ahead—proceed with caution.
I'd mentally prep before yes.
*What's so hard about one line? Why skip it?*
Zero consideration for players.
I pitied Kim Yul rolling on the floor but instinctively cursed the system.
Couldn't waste time, though.
I hoisted his fainted ass—pain blacked him out—and resumed hunting.
Needed Yang Tae-ho silver-badged quick.
Kim Yul woke, fainted, repeat as we grinded.
Next day at sunset, Yang Tae-ho neared awakening.
But seeing Kim Yul's example, he hesitated.
I had to prod him.
By then, my whole party was silver.
MISSION
[Main Scenario Act 1 Chapter 3: Overture of the Counterattack]
Biharis, bolstered by player support, have begun pushing back the front lines. They plan to ride the momentum into an advance on Kalom Castle from the central front. Players, support the recapture of Kalom Castle.
[Rewards]
Participation: Choose one
• Mana 500, Reputation 25
• Attribute Mana 250, Reputation 50
Rankings: Rewards scale by rank (1st~?)
•Victory Feast Participation
•Church Rewards (Medal, Gear, Bounty, etc.)
•Shop Free Use Voucher
•Achievement Points 200
•Divine Blessing
*Rankings based on mission contribution.
First main scenario mission since entry exam.
Our party's debut stage was set.
Damn System