Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Chapter 38: Scattered Puzzle (3)
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As K had said, this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.
The Biharin had already tried to cover up the vague confrontation between imperial and ecclesiastical authority once before.
“Things like this will keep happening from now on.”
Eventually, there would come a moment when they’d try to actively deceive rather than just hush it up.
“They’re in a position where they have to prevent Earth’s forces from withdrawing, no matter what it takes.”
K’s argument couldn’t be dismissed as mere speculation.
It followed consistent logic, and the pieces fit together neatly in every way.
In fact, some denominations that had treated Players like laborers had completely flipped their attitudes.
“There’s a reason they say blood is thicker than water… Even there are guys who see Players as nothing more than meat shields, so it’s right to stay cautious.”
It was only natural if you didn’t want to be unfairly used and killed in unfamiliar lands.
“The Association is fully aware of the issue, so there’s no need to worry too much. Lily Evans is really good at handling this kind of thing.”
K’s voice remained steadily calm throughout.
He didn’t attach any special significance to the line drawn between the Biharin and the Players.
He added that he wasn’t disappointed or shocked, since it was something he already knew.
And yet, he repeated what he had said just moments before.
“It’s just that it’s been clearly reaffirmed once more.”
That Biharin and Earth’s interests didn’t perfectly align.
So, they shouldn’t get too close to them.
“I plan to keep a proper distance, so don’t worry about it.”
K’s words sounded almost like a promise to himself.
Because of that, Yang Tae-ho decided not to ask further or respond, keeping his mouth shut.
If those were K’s intentions, he would simply follow them.
He had resolved to do so on the day K had used Karos’s power on his wife.
He owed K not just his own life, but his wife’s as well—what was this compared to that?
For a brief moment, he glanced alternately at Ahel, curled up asleep not far away, and Belta, breathing evenly in K’s arms.
Then Yang Tae-ho steadied his turbulent heart and averted his gaze from them.
* * *
Day 43 since the start of Chapter 6 Main Scenario.
The remaining contaminated zones between the three castles that had become the new forward bases had been completely cleared.
The Temoria Church had begun erecting new barriers, mobilizing massive resources.
It meant the end of this scenario was near.
On the surface, everything seemed to be going smoothly.
‘Damn it.’
But my mood was in the gutter.
No new 8-star general-class had shown so much as a glimpse during all that time.
In that situation, only one 6-star contaminated zone remained.
‘Maybe that 8-star I killed that day wasn’t the last chance after all?’
Even though I’d done my absolute best, the past incident kept lingering in my mind.
I tried to shake it off, but it wasn’t easy.
The anxiety and pressure that I had to feel precisely because the future was unknowable squeezed me every moment.
Thanks to that, right before clearing the final 6-star contaminated zone, I was in quite a sensitive state.
“You motherfucker, did I say something wrong?! Honestly, isn’t it better for me to die alone than for a hundred of you to die?!”
And then I had to hear bullshit like that.
“If you heard me, then shut your traps and focus on supporting me! That’s why you exist! What do you no-attribute losers know about giving advice?”
My mood plummeted even further.
I, who had been standing with arms crossed and eyes closed, checked the direction of the commotion.
A Player with sparse gray hairs in his beard was in the middle of flying into a rage, pointing aggressively at the other Players in front of him.
The words coming out of his mouth were a topic that had been grating on my nerves lately, to the point of really pissing me off.
Those with attribute mana had started discriminating against those with plain mana.
I kept my eyes fixed on the Player who was still yelling heatedly.
Then I weighed the reasons I shouldn’t intervene in this situation and the reasons I should, one by one.
In the end, I started walking toward him.
“Whew… I wondered why it hadn’t blown up yet.”
“Of all times, he had to pick the moment you’re on edge.”
Leaving my party members’ voices behind, I strode over, and he quickly noticed my presence.
“What? What’s the…!”
But he hadn’t expected me to kick him right off the bat.
One kick from me sent him sprawling.
Crash!
The heavy gear he wore caused more noise than I expected.
But it was all show—no deeper meaning.
Thinking he was gold badge material too, he scrambled up quickly and drew his weapon.
With the number of gold badges surging in this main scenario, they were everywhere here and there.
But not all gold badges were on equal footing.
Proof of that: the guy I’d kicked didn’t charge at me.
Thanks to the sparks I’d sent radiating in all directions.
“A punk with a lower attribute rank than me, where do you get off yapping and getting on my nerves.”
I’d merely materialized my mana, but his glaring eyes dropped slightly.
He’d tucked tail without even testing me, just from the thick scent of mana wafting off me.
It was absurd.
‘What the hell do you have to cram in your head to think that fragmentarily?’
Even among grade-1 mana holders, some were so strong you couldn’t even dream of beating them.
Gret was a prime example right off the bat.
Shamel, who always had nagging on her lips, was also a grade-1 mana holder.
But I’d never once thought I could take her down.
And I was a grade-5 mana holder, no less.
Even though she wasn’t some half-breed mixed with other alien blood—she was pure human.
Players had that potential for growth too.
If anything, their potential was even greater, judging purely by numbers.
With the system’s aid.
Anyone who could wield mana could acquire basics in swordsmanship or mana operation techniques.
Just for being Players, they could skip the effort and get straight results.
‘And their mana keeps growing too.’
Unlike Biharin, whose innate mana limits were fixed from birth, Players were different in every way.
Separate from my dislike of the system, the opportunities it provided through the game weren’t something to scoff at.
And yet, they were dividing people based on whether the status window showed attribute mana and its grade.
It was pathetic nonsense I couldn’t comprehend.
But more and more were starting to think on that same level as him.
It was giving me a headache from high blood pressure.
‘If it were just the Players causing problems, the stress wouldn’t be this bad.’
Unfortunately, the Biharin side’s actions weren’t sitting well either.
A few days ago, the church troops had finally started forced conscription.
Conscription in name only—they were just throwing people who’d never held a spear or sword into contaminated zones.
I was certain Emperor Atar of the Atar Empire was behind it.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say he’d finally launched a population reduction effort.
‘Goddamn, goddamn.’
Lately, nothing was going right.
At this rate, I might die of frustration.
Better to use this chance to vent some stress.
“You looked ready to charge any second, so what’re you waiting for?”
I took one more step toward the guy who stood frozen with his weapon drawn.
He flinched back.
“F-Fuck! You crazy bastard picking fights! W-Wanna die?!”
He even started stammering as he swung his sword threateningly.
If he was going to back off at that, he wouldn’t have come over and started shit in the first place.
“If you can, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
Of course, I’d have to brace for a trip to the Association’s underground prison.
The Association didn’t condone murders committed in Biharin territory.
So they actively investigated reports or tips on killings, arresting perpetrators.
But they didn’t deny all conflicts or apply strict standards.
With chaos value in play, they seemed to acknowledge it was impossible.
‘Even without it, it probably wouldn’t be much different.’
Anyway, simple assaults weren’t something the Association stepped in to investigate or punish.
As long as you didn’t kill, they treated it as a personal matter between Players.
So who started it didn’t matter.
The winner decided how it ended.
That was the extent of the law-of-the-jungle rule the Association permitted among Players.
Following that rule, I beat him to within an inch of his life before heading back.
Then Kim Yul spoke up first.
“Didn’t go too hard on him? Guys like that always pull some crap from behind.”
My temper wasn’t sweet enough to hold back just because I feared retaliation down the line.
What was there to fear from punks who couldn’t say shit to your face and only raged behind your back?
“If they can’t take it and pull strings, that’s a favor in its own way.”
Better than now, stirring up weird vibes without causing real trouble.
‘Might as well make a big fuss.’
Then I could uproot them without guilt.
That was part of why I’d picked the fight first.
Of course, there were other intentions too.
“And those guys needed a good stomping anyway.”
“Huh? Why?”
I patted my shoulder.
“Didn’t you see?”
The cactus emblem on the shoulder of the guy I’d just beaten.
“Hamas Clan.”
A large clan with its base in the central region, where over half the members were Saudi Arabian nationals.
As of last month, 146 Players of the same nationality.
Plus around 70 from other countries absorbed via parties.
Total over 200 members, with more than 80% assigned as apostles to the Mephroseta and Pinelpenia Churches in the central area.
Strong cohesion by nationality and church affiliation.
‘Saudi Arabia’s political structure is an absolute monarchy, so Player forces fell under royal control quickly. And…’
The Saudi monarchy fundamentally pursued pro-US diplomacy.
With the clan leader connected to the royal family, that dynamic carried over perfectly into the Player world.
Meaning Hamas Clan was part of Lily’s support base.
Of course, a place treating mana grades like a caste system wasn’t exactly welcome.
‘But from Lily’s position, it’s hard to call out their behavior.’
The Player world couldn’t be completely free of Earth’s political landscape.
In reality, many clans were influenced by national political, military alliances, and enmities.
Lily was no exception.
‘But leaving them be is iffy.’
They’d definitely trip her up later.
‘That’s not the direction I want.’
Lily was currently steering the Association quite competently.
Naturally expanding its influence in Biharin.
She’d even selected representatives from each country, communicated with their governments through them, and secured international agreements for Players to establish positions on Earth.
It was close to the ideal situation I wanted.
And it wasn’t an exaggeration to say those achievements were possible thanks to the uniqueness of Lily Evans’s social standing.
‘For such a person to be watching my mood over the infection issue.’
As long as no new Alpha appeared, she was someone I could move somewhat to my will.
She aligned with me on many points regarding the coming war.
I had no intention of sitting by while punks blocked such a person’s path.
‘I can provide this much support fire.’
Unlike Lily, I was a free agent, unbound by any group or nation.
Officially, an outsider with no ties to the Association.
Me touching Hamas wouldn’t damage Lily’s political position.
‘So I won’t avoid clashes with Hamas going forward.’
Until they squirmed.
‘No.’
I planned to poke at them relentlessly until they crossed a line they shouldn’t.
All within the scope of Association-permitted personal Player conflicts.
When I explained that, Kim Yul stuck out his tongue.
“Whew, politics is inescapable no matter where you go.”
“When interests tangle, it’s all the same.”
Right after Yang Tae-ho picked up the conversation, a new post appeared on the community.
「Title: Northern 5th Contaminated Zone Assault [★★★★★★(08-1788541)] - Author: Persona」
The author was code name Persona.
Lily Evans’s mouthpiece, practically an extension of her, officially announcing the Association’s stance.
The content of his post was simple.
‘We will now begin the assault on the final 6-star contaminated zone of Chapter 6 Main Scenario.’
Ahead of the full hunt, we did a final check on gear, magic stones, and potions.
Even then, I had no idea.
“Y-You impudent human! Put me down this instant!”
How could I have known?
That I’d encounter an unfamiliar creature the size of my finger, flapping tiny wings in the heart of a 6-star contaminated zone.
Damn system