Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Under the Shadow (1)
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The reaction was almost immediate.
Messages in the group chat started updating rapidly.
At the same time, the individual chat windows with various other Players burst into activity.
Had I checked if usage rights could be transferred?
Were there restrictions on the grade of attribute stones?
How long did they have to prepare?
How many did they need to bring?
I took in the barrage of questions while checking the usage right in my inventory.
‘All the items in the shop have a normal acquisition difficulty.’
I couldn’t rely on the System to obtain relics or magic tools rated rare or special.
On top of that, thanks to my traits, I hardly bought skills or spells from the shop.
I hadn’t acquired Mana Domination yet, which was available at gold badge level.
Once I maxed out Mana Control proficiency, I planned to attempt it on my own.
‘If self-acquisition proves impossible due to my limits, I’ll run another main scenario and get a usage right then.’
No matter how many times I reconsidered, there were no items worth using the usage right on in my current situation.
In that case, wasn’t it right to give away something useless to me and obtain what I needed?
‘Hardware upgrades will be tough for a while, so I’ll have to tweak the software instead.’
Among software, I’d already expanded my spell variety plenty through other loopholes.
So I decided to fill up on attribute mana to use those spells, but there was a problem.
‘It’d require way too much legwork.’
After much deliberation, I decided to find Players to do the legwork for me.
In exchange, I offered the shop free usage right I had no immediate use for.
A fair number of Players reacted to my group chat message.
Which made sense, of course.
No matter how much mana it cost to buy attribute stones, it wouldn’t be pricier than a multimillion-mana skill for free.
That was precisely why I’d offered the free usage right as payment.
‘Other Players, excluding me, rely heavily on the shop.’
So they’d gladly invest time, effort, and a bit of mana for one usage right.
I gave more specific conditions to the Players who showed interest.
- K: Deadline is two weeks.
Attribute stones’ value varied by grade.
Low-grade for 1 point, mid-grade for 2, high-grade for 3. I’d trade with the top two who scored highest.
It wasn’t my business if Players colluded or cooperated to claim those spots.
Whether team play or solo, that was for the competitors to figure out.
Players gunning for the usage right would have to keep announcing their counts and woo those with fewer to stay competitive.
I’d intentionally left cooperation unrestricted to encourage that.
‘This way, whoever gathers the most early can sweep up everyone else’s.’
It’d make it easier for mid-tier gatherers to bow out.
Once they did, the remaining stones would go to the survivors, increasing my haul.
Players checked my conditions and sprang into action.
Not just in the community, but offline too, they’d urge other Players to sell attribute stones aggressively.
The smarter ones would drag mana-poor Players to high-grade contamination zones.
Pump them with mana there, buy the stones, and trade—that could work.
‘Whatever methods they use, as long as it saves me time, that’s enough.’
No more waiting for random auction posts or hunting down sellers myself.
After setting terms and deadline, I returned to the lodging and dove into mana training.
Time passed, the sun set, and as expected, the bounty mission list refreshed.
I clicked the new one first: the non-beta warrant.
HIDDEN MISSION
[Bounty Hunt (Non-Beta-12)]
Eliminate the Player who murdered their kin. (0/1)
- Confirm target location via map. (Location Check)
- Fail within time limit, and your location as bounty hunter will be revealed to the target.
[Success Rewards]
• Fame 10
• Random Box (×1)
[Time Limit]
•239:59:58
Hitting location check brought up a map visible only to bounty hunters.
A bold red dot marked it—exactly my position.
This goddamn System had slapped a bounty mission on me for killing its designated “innocent Player.”
“Whew.”
I wasn’t particularly shocked or outraged.
I’d half-expected it, so it felt more like, well, there it was.
Of course, I had no intention of just sitting back.
Face cold as ice, I opened the bounty hunters-only chat.
It was the night before Act 5 of Main Scenario 1 opened.
* * *
Six days since the new main scenario started in the north.
This one had a different vibe from the previous two.
The cult army showed clear intent to sideline Players from the battlefield.
Not rejecting all outright, though.
‘They’ve decided to funnel merits to Players consistently active as non-betas from the start.’
Ethan’s party waiting near Somol Castle siege point with the cult army said it all.
Other Players who hadn’t joined were pushed to the outskirts, stuck on purification or logistics.
I’d turned down Ethan’s offer to make room for me.
Reason: the bounty hunt mission, naturally.
No bounty hunters swarming me yet, though.
- K: I keep telling you. If you think you can take me, come. I won’t stop you.
- Sniper: Damn, that’s some savage banter. I value my life too, you know?
- Aisa: I wanna live a long time too.
- Ethan Lembron: I trust K’s judgment over the System. I wouldn’t have spared trash like that either.
Half-joking, half-serious warning left in the bounty chat.
But it wasn’t enough to fully relax, so I kept distance from hunters myself.
Luckily, party members handled perimeter watch.
‘Alone, I’d be exhausted juggling hunts, alerts, everything.’
I could trust them not to stab me in the back.
Kim Yul and Yang Tae-ho couldn’t claim bounty rewards anyway, and my death might disband the party.
Killing me hurt them more than helping.
Ahel was leashed by the restraint orb imprinted on me—total control anytime.
It let me counter the bounty somewhat.
I scanned the bounty list, organizing my thoughts again.
‘I acknowledge the need for bounty missions.’
Didn’t love being treated like a hitman.
But for my desired future, it was necessary to some degree.
In my talk with Jang Ryun, I’d fully accepted that—no more flimsy guilt.
Still, no plans to become a System puppet assassin.
‘I’m no marionette.’
If I had to, it’d be by my free will, my needs, my judgment.
Even if the System forbade it—I wouldn’t care.
And I’d bear any fallout.
Allowing System use only because it aligned with my goals.
“If you think I’ll always dance to your tune, you’re mistaken.”
I warned the System watching me now, then closed the mission window.
For now, stay vigilant until hunters’ locations got revealed to me too.
Might cost me this main scenario.
‘No choice.’
Step into the chaotic battlefield, get ambushed—can’t guarantee safety.
Better swallow minor losses than risk it.
‘Might even be a good opportunity.’
Would the bounty hunters I picked really come for my back?
Just observing that held its own value.
I watched the bounty chat drone on with banal talk for a bit.
Soon, I shoved it aside.
Time to check the cult homepage.
Clicked the post for talking with Jordan—no new replies.
‘Said the meeting started this morning. Results should be coming soon.’
Half anticipation, half anxiety, I stared at the page for a couple hours.
- Jordan Rodiel: Meeting’s over. Straight to the point: they’ve decided to summon the outsiders. Expect contact from the council in a few days.
The reply I’d awaited since killing Jang Ryun finally arrived.
* * *
Currently, two nations in Bihar maintained state form.
Excluding Perel and Kairot kingdoms, which lost their royal centers.
‘Both nations’ nobles abandoned governance for military rule.’
Even that reform from months ago got absorbed by the cult army.
So only two held territory, people, and sovereignty intact.
Frankly, so few you could call Bihar doomed without exaggeration.
But dig deeper, and the picture shifts.
One was Atar Empire, hegemon clutching most of the continent’s east.
“Wow… This place is totally different from Habon or Robole.”
Kim Yul, glued to the carriage window gawking outside, muttered softly.
I’d been chatting with Club 249 Players, but turned to look too.
Tall straight buildings, wide flat boulevards, diverse beastkin in flashy clothes bustling the streets.
Gemal, Atar Empire’s capital—safest spot in Bihar—felt worlds apart from frontline outposts we’d seen.
Places like Habon teemed with soldiers.
Some civilian commerce, but not dominant.
‘Eight in ten streetgoers were armed troops—that said it all.’
Hence the stiff atmosphere, monotonous scenery, constant tension.
Gemal lacked that blood-scent edge.
Not one armored or geared person among the crowds.
‘Really hits home how far from the frontlines we are.’
Gazing at the serene cityscape briefly.
I swallowed a sigh under the persistent, cheek-pricking stare and looked across.
Locked eyes with her—the one who’d stared nonstop.
Mid-30s woman with deep navy hair faintly shimmering blue, grayish eyes.
‘Lario Deril.’
Senior priestess assisting the High Chancellor since Jordan’s Habon post.
She announced cult army decisions to Players via homepage.
First time meeting Lario in person.
We’d exchanged words a couple times online.
Impression then: diligent bureaucrat.
‘Handled her duties earnestly, that’s all.’
But in person, her interest in me bordered on excessive.
Proof: since boarding the carriage, she’d stared relentlessly.
Finally, I broke.
“Something you want to say?”