Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Being a Guild Master Isn't Enough with Just the Game
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Then she asked.
“……Where are you folks from?”
Kali and I exchanged a slightly bewildered glance at her attitude, which hadn't dropped its guard even after we'd just saved her life.
It suddenly hit me that conversing with civilians wouldn't be easy.
That's when Hyunwoo-nim reported in.
[“Kaisha-nim, Hyunwoo here. Combat situation resolved.”]
“Got it. Kaisha here. We've taken out the humanoid monsters and rescued one civilian. Heading out now.”
I replied to Hyunwoo-nim, then turned to Ephien.
“We're going to push straight inside from here. It's dangerous, so how about sticking with us for now?”
Ephien hesitated, his face full of confusion, then glanced down at his nearly empty water bottle.
He was checking my reaction.
Probably sorry for finishing it off.
Not sure if this line would land here outside of Midgard, but...
“We're gods from Highguard.”
“!”
“We heard this world was in pretty bad shape and came to check it out.”
Ephien's eyes went wide.
No idea which part surprised him, but it definitely left a strong impression on us.
I pulled another water bottle from my inventory and held it out.
After forcing the startled Ephien to take it as a gift, I looked toward our guildmates approaching noisily, chatting away after wrapping up the fight unscathed.
The battle hadn't been too tough, judging by their cheerful expressions.
Hellcannon, who had blended seamlessly with our guildmates turned game characters, sheathed his sword and came up beside me.
Kali said.
“We'll keep pushing inside.”
As we resumed heading into the forest, I opened the chat window.
[Dart: Summoned Hellcannon]
[Dart: Was a bit busy]
It was a message Dart had sent from Highguard after I expressed my disappointment.
Unbelievable.
The guy replies the second I message him, then comes up with that lame excuse...
But remembering how he'd been watching me nervously in front of that first territory's beam of light, the corner of my mouth tugged up involuntarily.
Dart, that guy.
He's gotten surprisingly easy to handle.
Not that it's a surprise—I've beaten him one-on-one, helped him in the gate, cleared up his misunderstanding about Hellcannon, and we even took down those traitorous heroes together recently...
Thinking about why Dart was wary of me, there were just too many reasons.
Since Viva service launched, the perennial ranking 1st, Dart, had never been easy to talk to—for me or anyone else.
Maybe we could actually get close. It felt good, in all sorts of ways, to have the power to help others.
* * *
A report went up in the chat room where the three guild masters were gathered.
[Gilgamesh: Yo, the resources buried underground here are top-tier for real]
[Gilgamesh: According to Gilwon’s analysis]
[Gilgamesh: (photo)]
[Gilgamesh: Seriously, risk it all to claim this territory. No way I’m letting foreigners take even a speck. Quality’s insane]
[Kaisha: Secured one civilian]
[Kaisha: White hair, blue eyes—but that might be standard for civilians here, so heads up]
[Kaisha: Spotted intelligent monsters. Suspected of eating humans]
[Kaisha: (photo)]
[Kaisha: Kali says these are like ogres? Orcs? Something similar]
[Kaisha: Anyway, pushing forward]
Dart finished reading through the chat posts and turned his head.
Hunter combat was in full swing here.
As expected, Spaceking had run into another country right after heading north.
Dart, not one to keep track of obscure nations, had no clue whose flag it was, but one guildmate said it was some South American country.
Soap, next to Dart, shook his head and muttered.
“The power gap is massive.”
Nix picked up.
“There are a few standout hunters, but overall average strength is so far behind it's not even a game.”
“And they were already fighting another country, too.”
“Let's mop 'em up quick and head up.”
Soap and Nix, Spaceking's vice guild masters, weren't even stepping up to the front line—they were hanging back—because the forces they faced were that pathetic.
It matched Dart's rough prediction.
Korea had started its siege from the absolute corner of the map right now.
Downside: starting so far out meant it would take relatively longer to reach the important central areas.
But the advantage was it was easy to defend claimed land and pull off fisherman's gains.
As Dart predicted, the other countries had scattered every which way right from the start, bumping into each other and kicking off wars.
Pushing up like this, they'd eventually hit a powerhouse.
[“Territory capture complete.”]
[“After fighting Fullminak, these guys feel like a joke.”]
[“Even Goldbunker showed up, we'd crush this level easy.”]
[“They're ridiculously weak, it's absurd.”]
[“Ugh. First opponents were such pushovers, tension's all gone. Why'd you even enter Babel Tower, weaklings?”]
Dart furrowed his brow slightly as he listened to his guildmates.
“I'll kill anyone slacking off into complacency.”
[“Yes, sir. Sorry.”]
One chilling line from the guild master restored tension, and Spaceking guild chat turned very polite.
Hunter levels varied wildly from country to country in Babel Tower.
Korea had built an image as a top-tier hunter nation through first Babel Tower login and the city war, putting it proudly in the top three when people thought “hunters.”
The other two in that top three? China and the US.
China, US, and Korea.
No wonder Korean hunters were chugging national pride, but it was way too early for real complacency.
You have to measure to know who's longer or shorter.
True, Korea had an unusual number of rankers with massive brainpower, but this was the first global Viva siege war.
No certainty yet on who was strongest.
“…….”
Dart glanced at the coin market.
It had been closed until entering Babel Tower, but now channel 1004's items were unlocked.
[502910C]
And Dart had nearly 500k coins ready to use right away.
Any reason not to?
Of course, he'd seen the warning to use coins sparingly.
Babel Tower would keep opening channels, each unlocking diverse items for coins, so moderation made sense.
Problem was, no one knew how these coins were earned—when, how, why, or by what criteria...
Not just Dart; no hunters did.
Anyway, Dart wanted fast advance.
[▶Guided Missile Launcher (Price: 500C)
[First Channel Open Commemorative Discount!]
(500C -> 250C)
-Basic Attack: 1000
-Brainpower amplification partially possible.
-Equipped with guided missiles.
-100 mana per shot, 30 attacks possible.
-Very fast attack speed.]
Seemed decent for quick AoE.
Concentrating mana into bullets and amplifying with brainpower felt like his 'Gunshot' skill, roughly. Dart selected and purchased it.
“Gasp.”
“Oho.”
As Dart pulled out the launcher, Soap and Nix looked at him in surprise.
Dart set a target, concentrated mana, and fired guided missiles—explosions bloomed everywhere.
Boom! Kwaboom!
Kwa-kwa-kwang—!!
Soap and Nix let out admiring exclamations.
“That's majestic.”
And he picked targets so perfectly, it was hitting multiple birds with one stone every time.
Dart glanced at the launcher.
Using it hands-on, it was basic attack plus brainpower in weapon form—like gaining a convenient special magic skill.
Mana-efficient and handy, but bullet yield control via brainpower was weaker than pure skills.
Shields could block it fine, but enemies weren't even managing that, flailing in panic.
Gotta use this to clear small fry and break through.
Dart commanded.
“Go finish off those stragglers and push north.”
* * *
[Dart: Used coin market weapon]
[Dart: On discount now]
[Dart: Bought 500C one for 250C, tested guided missile launcher]
[Dart: (photo)]
[Dart: Performance decent]
[Dart: Mana-driven, so shields should block]
[Dart: Brainpower amp weaker due to weapon nature, but first channel special discount—recommend trying whatever once]
[Dart: Good for moderate use to speed up advance]
[Dart: Similar to Viva feel]
[Dart: No gear dependency, brainpower shines]
[Dart: These look most useful, use as needed]
[Dart: (photo)]
Dart recommended the bunker.
Photos showed military-grade bunkers and basic supplies at bargain prices.
Didn't need much besides the bunker myself—I'd stocked up on everything already.
Handy for when with civilians, though.
No clue when or if I'd meet other civilians besides the Ephien I saved first.
The forest was deepening.
Ephien stayed silent. Still wary of us.
[Gilgamesh: Jackpot]
[Gilgamesh: Found ruined city]
[Gilgamesh: Guessed it, but civilization level was seriously advanced here]
[Gilgamesh: Even a convenience store lol]
[Gilgamesh: Damn, fully unmanned? Bunch of complex machines? But looted long ago]
Gilgamesh's report came in.
I glanced at Ephien.
If civilization was that advanced, the god bit might've been overkill.
Yugeon, strapped to my back, whispered.
“That white-haired guy's always trying to stay near you, if you look close.”
“!”
Ephien had kept a consistent safe distance—I hadn't noticed at all.
Yugeon continued.
“He trusts you somewhat. Keeping guard even after rescue means relationships in this forest are seriously tangled.”
“Smart cookie?”
Praising him, I glanced back—Yugeon shrugged nonchalantly and went on.
“Not fully relying on you means he has backup. High chance he's high-status or from such bloodline.”
“Hmm. Yeah.”
Ephien had a refined air.
The white-haired youth who hadn't screamed even facing death—he had that vibe of a delicately raised noble young master.
Voice chat light was on—3rd legion chatting—so I tuned in.
[“—something like that?”]
[“Yep. Spotted occupiable territory system ahead. We'll scout around and claim it.”]
[“Got it. Go ahead.”]
Maya, commanding 3rd legion, replied, and two guildmates dashed off.
Looking up carefully into the forest depths, I spotted a light pillar rising not far off.
Division of labor really is—
Swaeek, thunk!
Kwaang—!!
“?!!”
Arrows flew at our guildmates, followed by mana explosions.
Then a barrage of arrows.
Ranged DPS bombardment.
Maya, 3rd legion's leader watching the territory-bound guildmates, shouted and rushed forward.
“Ambush!!”
Whooo—
Maya threw up shields in front of the attacked guildmates and poured heals.
Guildmates drew weapons, entering combat stance and charging, but flustered by invisible foes, they left openings.
Amid the DPS barrage, stealthy killers hidden their presence rushed our guildmates like arrows.
My body moved on instinct.
“Yugeon, hold tight!”