Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Hardworking Pay-to-Win Knight
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I began my speech just like that.
The story was quite long. It was for those who had been trapped in the underground city and remained ignorant of the continental situation up until now.
All the hotspots on the continent, that is, the gates that had opened along the ley lines.
The otherworldly beings and monsters that had poured out from within them.
"Monsters grow stronger the further inland you go, and especially in the center of the continent, which the Ming Empire once occupied, there exist beasts with god-like power."
The problem with Cheonwon wasn't just the special boss, the Wraith Dragon Replie.
[Wraith Dragon's Nest (Mythic)]
You could tell just from the dungeon rating. It wasn't between legend and myth—it was purely rated as mythic.
'That means every monster that comes out from inside is mythic-grade.'
The brutality of mythic-grade was painful just to explain.
Beings that had attained enlightenment or reached transcendence through equivalent resources or stories were cosmic existences in their own right, no exaggeration.
The special boss with the lore of a ancient dragon that should have perished reviving through its overwhelming soul power—Replie, the Wraith Dragon, of course.
The Four Heavenly Kings guarding him: bosses like the Grand Death Knight, Arch Lich, Elder Vampire, and Undead Pharaoh.
And dozens of elite monsters packed with all sorts of backstories.
'But in truth, the real problem is the regular monsters.'
Elites, bosses, and special bosses at least gave good rewards.
Regular-grade mythic monsters were a pain to hunt, with terrible drop tables, making them shunned by players.
Even in Revenge, packed with mythic-grade players, Cheonwon stubbornly held out for no random reason.
'What if the Wraith Dragon Replie went rampaging like other special bosses, trying to claim the surrounding lands?'
No joke. If that happened, no monster could possibly stop it. Ardenia would probably have become a continent of darkness and death long ago.
'Of course, that didn't happen.'
You didn't need to look far—just seeing who made up most of Iron Castle's population now would tell you that. If the Wraith Dragon and its subordinate monsters were active, how could the Ming Empire's emperor, his subjects, and the imperial citizens have survived to reach Iron Castle?
But that wasn't the only issue.
'No matter how enigmatic a world Ardenia is... it can't possibly implement real transcendents, right? Yeah, that doesn't make sense. The reason it can't escape Cheonwon is probably because it can't render properly, yeah?'
That's the conviction that let me live without worry. No matter how close to reality the virtual world was, there was a line—implementing transcendents, i.e., divine existences? Ridiculous.
That said, lately, I had been feeling a bit uneasy.
Seeing the Landworm, a building-sized behemoth wielding immeasurable elemental power, made me think, "Nah, no way," while wondering, "But what if...?"
"Ah, over there!"
At that moment, one of the beastkin down below raised a hand to ask a question. The distance forced them to shout.
"Yes, speak."
"Um, but on the scale of the entire continent, isn't this place pretty much the outskirts?"
"That's why the monsters here are weak enough for you to kill a few."
"......!"
"No way......!"
Ignoring the silent screams, I continued the explanation. It was about the nine special monsters residing along the ley lines infused with special power and their ratings.
Fortunately, Revenge's ratings—Common, Rare, Uncommon, Heroic, Legendary, Mythic—were intuitive and easy to understand.
"Ratings are shared across monsters, equipment, and probably classes and pets too, though we don't know for sure yet. For example, Cheonwon is swarming with mythic-grade monsters."
My words plunged the plaza into instant silence.
"Mythic."
"Mythic......"
"Wait, mythic means......"
Everyone looked up at me with stunned expressions. More precisely, they were staring above me.
Complete form (Mythic).
Landworm.
"Ah, come to think of it, there's an example right here."
My remark plunged the plaza into silence.
"Anyway, let's continue the explanation."
I pressed on before they could get more scared.
The sudden appearance of monsters. How all continental factions failed to overcome them and perished.
The first city. How I'd built my faction from the starting point.
The special power I possessed.
And finally, how I'd created the Human Empire.
"Indeed. With that much power......"
"But the Human Empire?"
"The entire continent really fell? Even absorbing the Ming Empire and taking the emperor prisoner."
"Think about the Crystal Alliance's situation......"
It grew noisier by the minute. Naturally, after being locked away and hearing all this, they'd have plenty to say.
But I smacked the top of the Landworm's head.
Considering its size, it was barely a tap, yet the Landworm somehow sensed it and reacted.
Whoosh!
The Landworm's body, frozen like a statue, moved. Not a big motion—just turning its head slightly.
The reaction was dramatic.
"Gasp!"
"Uwaaak!"
"Eek! It moved!"
I could see the demi-humans freaking out. Especially the beastkin, who couldn't compose themselves—some trembled all over and even fainted.
Being close to beasts themselves, they must have felt the Landworm's power viscerally.
"It's a living being, idiots! Of course it moves!"
"Quiet, everyone! Settle down!"
"Focus on His Majesty's words!"
The leadership interspersed among the demi-humans stepped in, calming the chaotic atmosphere.
I continued.
"Truth is, I planned to just pass through here."
That was the situation. I couldn't hold more land even if I took it now.
Still, I'd decided to sweep the hotspots to curb the momentum of the elemental monsters that had devoured the board's edges and were now eyeing the Human Empire.
'If the main base gets raided, the expanded territories reset anyway.'
Indeed, when I killed the fanatic Edward and took his hotspot, all the dungeons he'd conquered reset.
The hotspots were still full of monsters, but at least I'd prevented them from uniting forces seamlessly.
In fact, flying around, I'd seen plenty of monsters fighting among themselves.
"I'm digging underground tunnels through every ley line in my territory. The very tunnel you used to reach here... Meeting this place was pure coincidence. I was just going to pass by."
Yet here I was, sitting in this spot. Sure, it messed up my schedule, but I couldn't abandon over 100,000 demi-humans.
It wasn't just about valuing life.
'Demi-humans are an excellent talent pool.'
Beastkin had innate powerful physiques, dwarves were renowned smiths. Elves had high spirit affinity and plant communion abilities.
'And if they even get classes?'
With the empire overflowing in resources but short on talent, abandoning this pool would be emperor-level incompetence.
"Tomorrow—no, the morning after, I'll leave this place. I'll go subjugate the World Tree as planned, and I'll seal the underground tunnel I've made."
"Why, Your Majesty? Wouldn't such a passage be great for travel?"
I answered the shout.
"Even if I've swept the monsters, it's temporary. Soon more will pour in from other ley lines—I can't leave a tunnel connected straight to the Human Empire open."
For the same reason, I'd sealed the hole I'd made in the False Light Sanctuary. The underground tunnel remained, but without breaking through the specially reinforced rock wall 100 meters down, entry was impossible.
"So decide by then. Leave, or stay."
The distance to Iron Castle from here was immense. Walking 1,000 kilometers wouldn't be easy.
But they'd rested plenty and had overflowing supplies.
Better to travel underground than risk surface monsters.
"If you choose to leave, gather everything you can from the city by the morning after and return here. If you arrive at the Human Empire via the tunnel, the empire will accept you as equal imperial citizens. I guarantee it in the name of Han Jaeyeon, Emperor of the Human Empire."
Of course, no forcing it.
Taking in the disgruntled would just sow discord in the empire.
"Those who stay—if you're here two days from now, I'll provide ample food and gear to fight enemies. Of course, not returning is fine too."
Conversations erupted among the demi-humans again at my words. A natural flow, so I ended with this.
"Remember: morning after tomorrow."
Rumble!
The Landworm moved with a roar. I quickly swapped gear.
"Ah, damn, forgot about this.'
At least we'd talked from a distance, so I consoled myself and sent the Landworm away.
Then, a group of demi-humans approached me.
"Most generous, Your Majesty. We thought you'd force us for sure."
The first to speak was a green-haired woman, tall and slender. Her long ears and stunning beauty fit elven stereotypes perfectly.
"Just had the leeway to do so."
"Truly... an immeasurable vessel. An honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Nasha Blackwood, leader of the Ebonywood Clan."
Next, a dwarf elder stepped forward. Short stature, bushy beard, broad shoulders—textbook dwarf.
"Pleased to meet you, Emperor of Humans. I am Terra, leader of the Iron Anvil Clan."
Unlike the arrogant, stubborn dwarf rumors, his demeanor was extremely polite. In this situation, only an idiot would act cocky toward me—and he wouldn't have survived this long.
Finally, a scarred middle-aged man.
"Pleased. Red Fang, leader of the Fierce Fang Clan."
He looked human-like, but his cat-like nose and ears, plus 2.5-meter height, marked him as different.
'Tigerkin.'
Among beastkin, top-tier combatants.
"Good to meet you. Han Jaeyeon."
As I spoke, I glanced behind them. With the dungeon cleared and monsters gone, the 100,000 demi-humans scattered through the city, gathering assets, books, food, and clothes from everywhere—they were locals, after all.
"No need to dawdle."
Terra rummaged in his bosom and pulled out a book. Not large—half the size and thickness of a notebook.
But the gold-embossed cover and intricate mechanisms proved it no ordinary item.
"This?"
"Heard you're seeking books of history and tradition. The Iron Flame Engineering Manual."
"Oh?"
I couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
'No way? This easily?'
The sudden treasure book's appearance jolted me awake.
And it didn't end there.
"Here."
Nasha approached and handed over a small booklet. Uniquely woven from leaves that looked vividly alive.
"With this flow......"
"Yes. The Book of the World Tree."
Elf and dwarf had each offered their treasures.
'I figured they'd be near ley lines, but both here?'
As I marveled, Red Fang spoke.
"We're unlearned, no precious books like that. Instead, we'll send a Variant Ranger. Elite through harsh training—should be useful."
A sudden barrage of gifts. I had to ask.
"Why? Not just because I saved you."
At my words, the demi-human leaders exchanged glances.
And.
Thud.
They knelt simultaneously.
"...What's this?"
"Emperor. We don't trust humans. Since continental history began... they've discriminated against us and lusted after us endlessly."
In truth, elves and dwarves weren't on great terms. Dwarves loving iron, fire, and digging versus forest guardians elves—innately incompatible.
Same for beastkin.
Lumped as beastkin, but massive differences existed. Catkin and dogkin were literally cats and dogs; herbivore beastkin like deer or rabbits felt instinctive terror near carnivores like tigers or wolves.
Yet they'd formed the Crystal Alliance together.
How? Demi-humans so rational they transcended personal likes for common gain? All perfectly politically correct?
'As if.'
All because of humans.
They hated and distrusted humans far more than each other.
"Undeniable fact. But so what? I'm human too."
"Protect us from humans. We won't ask for favoritism. Now and in the future... just keep human desires from enslaving us."
"Be precise."
Nasha bowed her head at my words.
"We beg you ban slavery by law. Promise that, and all demi-humans will pledge full loyalty to Your Majesty."
I laughed at their words. No need to agonize.
"Fine."
"We know it's difficult...... What?"
Terra forgot his solemnity, face blank. His beard quivered.
Red Fang asked in panic.
"Heard right? Permanently abolish slavery?"
"You heard right, no worries. I said it already—the empire will accept you as equal citizens."
"No...... really?"
"Emperor, are you sincere?"
My casual reply flustered the petitioners. I nodded.
"No need for your worries. Frankly, a bit hurt. Am I that untrustworthy?"
"Ah, no, not that."
"Even a lone wanderer we'd trust, let alone an emperor?"
Terra said so, but Red Fang looked confused.
"But slavery......"
"Enough. Go govern your people. Many ex-prisoners, it'll be chaotic."
At my words, the leaders glanced at each other, bowed politely, and withdrew.
I took the Iron Flame Engineering Manual and Book of the World Tree, sat on a nearby broad rock.
"Logout."
Back to my studio. I clenched my fist.
"Jackpot!"
Like finding gold on the street. Utterly unexpected, leaving me dumbfounded.
I took deep breaths to calm my pounding heart.
"Don't get excited... This'll be duplicates too. No need to reset spirit arts or crafting skills, right?"
Like the Grimoire of Magic, these would come with shaved sponsorship. The mysterious sponsors valued not just the karma in the works, but their originality.
"Well, still...... worth billions at least."
Muttered it casually, then chuckled wryly.
'Billions at least'?
Unbelievable from the guy doing convenience store gigs last year.
"Ah, my sense of money's broken......"
Aftermath of the encyclopedia's 1.5 billion storm sponsorship and Nemesis stock windfall. Handling such huge sums suddenly warped my financial sense.
Even now.
Truth is, I could grind. Despite not paying off my negative premium yet, my stats were way higher than last year's me. I could combo convenience store, club prayer, factory production for 24-hour labor like before.
But I didn't. Couldn't. Sure, I hustled now too, but...
'Can't compare to before.'
Compared to those days saving for stocks—endless repetition, labor driving me mad—it was pure leisure now.
Instead of splitting 24 hours, I even luxuriated in bed.
"Can't settle for daily wages of hundreds of thousands anymore......"
Yeah.
I'd already fallen.