Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Chapter 14: Server Connection (2)
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“Just let them do their thing over there, and we’ll do ours.”
The System had clearly said there were ways and time for us to prepare against each other.
It wouldn’t have thrown out empty promises in a situation where we needed to threaten them.
‘That wouldn’t work on the gods anyway.’
So there had to be another method, and that was undoubtedly true.
The gods would know that too.
And yet the System had stopped at verbal threats.
‘Meaning that method isn’t the best option.’
The best would be to join hands with these guys, so it was holding back for that reason.
‘From the way it talked, it seems like it’s been considering that angle and letting things slide nicely.’
And the result is this. We didn’t even get an apology for their screw-up, and now we’re in a position where we have to demand one.
Even after directly asking for an apology, we’re stuck in the weak position of having to accept excuses instead of a proper one.
Recalling what happened in just a few minutes made my head throb.
No matter the reason, blindly putting up with it and accepting it doesn’t make the other side grateful.
‘That’s just being a pushover.’
Look at how brazen these god bastards are being after we volunteered to be pushovers.
I’m not saying mutual aid is bad.
But getting ripped off for help? That’s not okay.
“If you’re gonna keep going along with those guys, do it alone. I can’t work with conscienceless bastards like that.”
Gritting my teeth, I spat out each word like hammering nails with a hammer, and the System responded.
《System Message》
Understood. As of today, the contract with the Bihar side is terminated.
The words poured out without giving me a moment to breathe, leaving no room to lose focus.
‘It didn’t deny it.’
I had clearly mentioned an alliance just moments ago.
Yet the System didn’t correct or deny it—instead, it agreed.
It was as good as confirming some kind of relationship with this world.
And the reason for that relationship was obvious.
‘Enemy and ally.’
Just look at how it distinguished between monsters and Rashar’s group.
Having gotten one step closer to the truth, I had to muster every ounce of strength to hide my agitation.
With my mind racing and the voices piling on, a headache set in.
The voices overlapped too much, making it a bit hard to follow.
Summing up the gods’ words, they were blabbering about how this choice would decide the war’s outcome and that it was the worst move.
I let out a hollow laugh at the sheer absurdity when it happened.
Not in my individual System window, but in the message log for game notifications, new messages started updating.
「The System explains the risks of operating a solo server.」
「Terminating the contract means paying a toll to cross dimensions each time, increasing initial risks and losses.」
「To maximize Player survival rates, both servers must be linked.」
I read the messages and let out a quiet sigh of relief inside.
‘At least it’s got some tact.’
The System had no real intention of cutting ties with the Seven Gods.
It had just taken the bait I threw out.
And using the game notification messages instead of my individual window meant the gods couldn’t see this far.
For a first try, our coordination wasn’t bad.
‘And it’s bothering to explain, which means as expected, the best option is linking up with them.’
Fortunately, I understood the System’s point pretty well through the messages.
‘Higher initial risks probably ties to mana.’
The mana absorption structure that lets Players grow.
Items and traits that purify corrupted mana.
Considering those two factors, this world is basically a hunting ground.
‘But if crossing to that hunting ground gets harder?’
Players can’t easily hunt and absorb mana to grow, so it’ll take forever to get past the beginner stage.
I hadn’t planned to push things that far for real.
Pressuring the gods hard right now was just to rebuild our relationship on better terms.
“You thought it through well. They’re buying us time anyway—what’s the problem? Let’s pull out quick.”
There’s a ton to do back in our world too, I added, and the voices grew even louder.
I ignored it all and lowered my stance.
“Destroying this will send us back, right?”
《System Message》
Yes. Destroying the medium closes the Hole, fulfilling the mission conditions.
Confirming the System’s answer, I immediately set down the shield I’d been carrying for days.
Drawing one of the two daggers from my belt was as natural as breathing.
I already knew how to destroy the medium.
To sever the vortex of gathered mana flows, I coated my dagger with my mana.
The blade, shrouded in red haze, lunged toward the mana vortex.
There was no hesitation in my movements.
I couldn’t destroy this medium anyway.
The nonstop voices in my head gave me that certainty.
That’s why I could swing the dagger down with full force, making it look genuine.
Clang-!
‘See? Look at this.’
Just before the dagger hit the shield, a golden glow appeared.
My dagger couldn’t pierce it and bounced off.
It was a miracle I didn’t drop it, considering how hard I’d swung.
What had just blocked me was obvious.
[We can’t let you break the promise so one-sidedly.]
[We had clearly agreed to work together.]
[Your apostle seems worked up. You’d better rein him in.]
[You think we’ll tolerate a unilateral termination?!]
The gods still hadn’t grasped the situation.
They were stepping in personally to keep me from leaving and ensure the meeting didn’t end.
And yet they went on about the war and the greater good.
Why should I put up with their stiff-necked demands for help?
Ungrateful bastards need a proper scolding.
“These fuckers still haven’t come to their senses.”
Crack, pop.
“If winning the war is so important, send meat shields from your side. That’ll buy time.”
I rolled my neck side to side and spun the dagger playfully as I spoke.
“Then by the time we’re ready, our win rate goes up, right?”
The icy silence held both the gods’ rage and mine.
Grinning mockingly, I barked.
“Don’t like that?”
I raised the dagger high again as I continued.
“We don’t like it either. That’s why we’re done wiping your asses and taking losses.”
Shouting about it being their last chance wouldn’t do shit.
‘If you’re gonna threaten, do it right.’
If they’d listened to words, none of this would’ve happened in the first place.
‘With guys like this, you gotta show them clearly.’
That plans and promises can be scrapped anytime if needed.
Only if they always feel that crisis will they stay in the weak position without climbing over us.
‘The System started calling out their bullshit the moment it showed up here.’
Meaning a lot had built up, and it wasn’t just one or two passes.
‘Fucking idiots.’
With a cold expression, I pointed at the golden glow over the shield.
“System, get rid of this.”
After a brief pause, the glow began to fade.
It didn’t vanish naturally—it felt forcibly dispersed.
Once the golden glow fully disappeared, I channeled mana into the dagger again.
I completely ignored the now even more frantic voices.
As I positioned myself to stab again.
[I apologize on behalf of my rude brothers.]
The calm, somber voice brought silence around us.
The chaotic barrage of other voices vanished in an instant.
It felt less like they’d shut up willingly and more like they’d been forced to.
I had a feeling right then. This was about the right point to wrap it up.
[I’m sorry.]
Sure enough, an apology came for the first time.
But the voice was strangely different from everything that had come through me so far.
With multiple invisible, indistinguishable gods speaking, it was hard to tell who was who.
‘Not all seven seem to be here, at least.’
I’d sensed four or five types of divinity so far.
But this one speaking now felt unfamiliar.
Had it stayed silent until now, only speaking up at this point?
[It may sound like an excuse, but my brothers are desperate and don’t care about propriety. They’re all terribly devoted to their own followers.]
As I stopped moving, words somewhere between explanation and excuse followed.
[That doesn’t make forgetting shame something to boast about, though.]
“You there...”
[We have many shortcomings, but under the name Senoa, we embrace our followers.]
Senoa—Humility. According to Rashar’s explanation, the only god whose authority was unknown.
‘Is the others going quiet related to its authority?’
While I was lost in thought, Senoa kept speaking.
[On behalf of my brothers, I apologize. Please show mercy. We’ll accept additional treaties if needed.]
His voice drooped wearily, like someone utterly exhausted.
[I don’t want to waste more time on pointless persuasion. We should’ve decided before Palao fell that far. I’m sorry it’s so late.]
My eyes narrowed.
Why bring up Palao all of a sudden?
‘Before it becomes that way? Did something happen?’
Another hard-to-answer question piled up, but I’d learned something else.
‘Seems like the brains of the group.’
Among the gods, Humility apparently had the most influence.
At least one with a shred of sanity—lucky us?
‘No.’
After seeing how the others acted, I couldn’t just trust it outright.
It might be a play to deceive us.
Keeping my suspicions and guard up, I prodded the god of humility, Senoa, with silence.
[O divine being from another realm, and welcome stranger. Standing by was wrong too—forgive my late atonement. Punish our sins. We’ll take responsibility.]
No sooner had Senoa’s calm voice ended than a System window appeared.
《System Message》
The act of intentionally threatening the visiting stranger here to prove the alliance.
The scheme to exploit the alliance’s loopholes to use the stranger.
Suspected intentional release of #[email protected]!!^$%f.
The content made my face harden, especially with the unfamiliar term.
Ever since entering this prayer room, my mind had been a mess.
《System Message》
Deeming all charges admitted, notice to Bihar’s divinities.
《System Message》
If you intervene in any Players’ deaths henceforth, we will calculate sin based on contribution and strip equivalent divinity.
[As Bihar’s responsible party, we agree to the new treaty.]
Divinity this, treaty that—I had no clue what exactly had gone down.
But it had clearly ended in our favor.
Instead of smiling, though, I coldly scanned the prayer room.
‘Just one out of seven.’
Only one of the Seven Gods had managed to save face with a proper apology.
We were stuck working with these total disasters.
[Welcome stranger, I apologize to you once more. I hurried, but ended up late.]
This was surely about that initial threat I’d sensed.
“An apology doesn’t change the fact I nearly died.”
I replied with a dull, icy tone.
Damn System