Chapter 171

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 171

Chapter Title: Kingdom ? Lv. 116 Warrior's Nation (1)

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"Bored as hell."

"Who the hell would show up here at this point? Why do we have to keep guarding this thing?"

"Those damn higher-ups are blinded by greed."

"Bad enough getting shoved into this dead-end post, and now there's jack shit to do."

The place commonly known as the [Kingdom's Gate] existed in four locations throughout the kingdom.

It was originally a vital facility.

New exiles poured through it, sustaining the kingdom's strength.

Descendants of exiles weren't exiles themselves.

But sadly, its importance had faded into utter irrelevance over the past eight years.

Simply put—no one was coming through.

The handful of survivors were all top-tier veterans, bearing witness to the tutorial's brutality.

Server 46 was an unprecedented disaster.

"It's about once every ten years, right? Server 47 should've opened by now."

"Even the gods are waiting. We need it to pop open somewhere."

"I'm beat. So, that legendary party—does it really exist?"

"Probably some myth cooked up by the locals. How could a party like that even survive? Everyone who comes through is already ranker-level."

"I wanna be a ranker too."

The guild's headhunters had been out of work for ages.

The Kingdom's Gates, which should have been steadily spitting out fresh blood, had stayed dead silent for years.

The last newcomer was about five years back.

In this situation, managing a Kingdom's Gate—what would've been a prime post back in the day—was now seen as a total waste of space.

For two men from the [Hardrock] guild in the Warrior's Nation, the most belligerent of the [Four Kingdoms], it grated hard.

"Honestly, even if someone shows up now, it'd just be kingdom veterans."

"No fun in that. Feels like dealing with seniors."

Those who'd died and restarted with ranker-level power from other runs still packed serious punch even fresh out of the tutorial.

A little guild support, and they'd rocket back to ranker status.

The two gatekeepers were thirty-year vets themselves, but these newcomers were on another level—untouchable.

"How the hell do you even live like that? Dying over and over? Just grinding for more power?"

"Beats me. Even our boss spends all day researching. Staring at his Mind Map."

"I ain't cut out for ranker life. Gonna coast along and bow out."

With no real duties, the chit-chat dragged on endlessly.

It was the dead of night, munching on packed snacks.

No way night shifts drained their stamina. Both were over level 200.

Boredom was the real killer.

"Hey, someone's coming."

"What the—?"

The checkpoint in front of the Kingdom's Gate doubled as temporary lodging, so it was fairly sizable.

A blonde woman strolled in lightly, visible even from a trained warrior's eyes.

Hard to make out details, but she was a stunner at a glance.

If a humanoid was that gorgeous, it usually meant hiding their true race.

They gripped their weapons, bracing for trouble—but her pace was weirdly fast, almost casual.

"Halt! State your business!"

The blonde woman just smiled silently.

The gatekeepers scowled.

You learn to spot a powerhouse's vibe with experience.

When they act like you're not even worth noticing, it's trouble.

Forget stopping them—who the hell even were they? You had to know to respond right.

Piss off a hidden vet by mistake, and life gets hellish—or you end up spectating your next run.

Then, it happened.

Light leaked from the gate.

Forgetting the intruder, the two gawked, mouths agape.

"It's opening! Quick, contact the branch!"

"Gah!"

Passing through a Kingdom's Gate was quite the spectacle.

It flashed like fireworks every time it opened, and it opened sloooow.

Couldn't pass till it was fully open.

Two flustered guys came into view.

Gatekeepers sent by the guild, no doubt.

A plain-looking lodge building behind them.

Established kingdoms had setups like this.

And there was the angel.

She'd been passing as human, hiding her wings and halo perfectly.

As the angel waved, the two guys frantically radioing in finally clocked it.

They chatted more, then eyed us.

They'd alerted their guild, apparently.

No swarms of eager scouts, though.

Per the angel, no newbies for so long—expectations for the gates were zilch.

Scouts were off doing real work.

Music to my ears.

Sure, we needed attention eventually—but not yet.

Without full strength, we'd be backed into corners.

The tutorial wasn't called that for nothing.

Odd floors forced exile teamwork or fights.

Odd floors were the kingdom in miniature.

A world where might made right.

In some ways, harsher than the kingdom proper.

Especially for mid-tier rankers. But if word spread about high rankers arriving? The kingdom would erupt.

Incumbents would decide: welcome or crush the new high rankers?

Not just by tenure.

New systems unlocked upon kingdom arrival.

The gate fully opened.

Uncle eyed the hazy barrier warily.

"We just walk through?"

"Once you cross, no going back to pre-kingdom. This leads to the post-kingdom system world."

The fairy mage had opted not to pass.

Instead, reversing the gate to stay on the server.

Maybe that was possible.

Knowing that option marked her as ranker-level or close.

The tutorial wasn't survivable on plain luck.

Not as rough as us, but the universe culled countless.

"Soon as we cross, we haul ass. No reason to tangle with megaguilds right off."

No one else in the party had kingdom experience besides me.

They all nodded.

Mages cast [Haste].

Simple speed boost, but perfect for this.

"Let's go!"

We crossed.

Instantly, fireworks exploded.

Well, sort of.

Titles unlocked upon kingdom arrival. Rare ones were like ID cards here.

They also indirectly gauged power beyond ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠levels.

Everyone else's fireworks went off too—even non-exiles. They'd cleared the tutorial, after all.

The kid's eyes spun at the unfamiliar spam, so I hoisted her up.

"Long time no see, senior!"

The angel led the way with a greeting.

She looked positively glowing—life of luxury, clearly.

I prayed to the goddess to check her level.

"Th-this can't be right?!"

"Huh? Oh, the level. Yeah."

"You've just been screwing around? How are you lower than me?"

"No way. Wait—holy shit, it's true. How?!"

"Right on target, punk. Time to grind you proper."

The angel jittered nervously. Her concealment spell flickered, revealing wings and halo.

"Angel? No—two of 'em! There are two angels!"

"Dozens of titles! What? Catch 'em? We can't! Two angels, I said!"

The gatekeepers panicked audibly.

Chaos stirred everywhere.

Guild outposts dotted the gate areas.

We had to bolt.

Get nabbed, and it'd be exhausting... or end this run right here.

How would veterans see this insane title list?

Prime bud to stomp early, obviously.

We shook pursuit only after lungs burned.

Barely any, really. Gates dormant so long—no standby forces.

"Huff... huff..."

The squishiest kid mage wobbled and collapsed, eyes spinning.

Uncle caught her neatly.

We'd dashed through endless alleys to this place—a straight-up mansion.

Secluded spot, but flashy. Fountain in the garden? Living large.

The angel beamed proudly.

"Prepared this house for you, senior!"

"Good work. Did exactly as told."

"Hehe."

The Warrior's Nation Hardrock went into full alert.

"Goddamn it, that's why I said we need more mages!"

"No newbies—whaddya want me to do? Turn good warriors into spell-slingers?"

"A man's nation won't import cowardly mages till dirt's in my eyes!"

The Warrior's Nation started as a warrior guild alliance, formed to counter mages.

Labyrinth matchups made pure warriors mage-weak.

They hated magic, naturally.

"No mages means they just outrun us!"

"Watch it—'capture'? They cleared Server 46; they're instant assets."

"Just sayin'. Gotta talk first. Why'd they rabbit like that?"

"Magic sucks!"

Proper watch instead of skeleton crew would've nipped it.

Plenty of troublemakers bolted post-gate back then.

But five years idle? Who saw this coming?

"Kinda get it, though. Eight years in there."

"Gatekeepers saw titles—a whole list."

"Even a fraction true, I'd run. Guys like Ilgrim won't let new high rankers breathe."

"Magic sucks... Yeah, Ilgrim wouldn't spare rivals."

"Dropping the mage hate?"

"Separate from kicking the newbie ladder. Hate showboating rankers. Mages still suck, though."

Still, the three here nursed throbbing headaches.

What to do?

Each had ranker cred this run, seen kingdom's end as exiles.

Didn't want their built kingdom crumbling.

But this Server 46 crew shattered ranker common sense.

Post-tutorial titles were public.

Vital kingdom IDs, naturally.

Usually five-ish popped. One solid positive? Promising stock.

But the gatekeepers saw...

"Pure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠feats."

"Dragons in tutorial? Even meetable?"

"Hah, gotta request ranker coop."

First, find them. Assure no harm, protect.

At least suss intent.

Maybe all six were high rankers from other runs.

Explains the slow eight years.

High rankers bail near 100-year mark, one life precious.

"And one greeter?"

"Angel, they said."

"How many angels in this kingdom..."

Tutorial-kingdom comms needed direct god mediation.

Rare for gods to care that much.

Small cults only.

"Check every minor cult."

"Offer tribute, ask gods nicely."

Grim outlook.

The Triad running the Warrior's Nation looked dour.

Freaky newbies beyond labyrinth logic.

Unknown chaos ahead.

Massive manhunt kicked off.

Right at dawn.