Chapter 148
Chapter 148
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Apostle of the Game God
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Originally scheduled to last a week, the filming of Survival Island wrapped up in just three days.
Even so, Na Taeseok's editing team wouldn't have to struggle with a lack of footage.
If anything, they'd have too much to edit.
"And yet you're doing such a long interview?"
"Come on. Jaeyeon, you're the star of this broadcast. After all the money you're getting paid, don't complain over a little interview."
The alien in the form of a Siamese cat, Na Taeseok, grinned shamelessly. All sorts of cats trailed around him, staring at me.
At a glance, they looked like a pack of stray kittens prowling the wilderness, but they were actually the PDs and cameras in the middle of filming.
"By the way, what about the broadcast?"
"We can't air it right away. This incident is too big for a variety show to cover first..."
As he spoke, Taeseok turned his head toward one wall.
With a blink of his eyes, the wooden-looking wall turned into a display screen, and the news came on.
[News related to the monster incident. During the filming of the popular program Survival Island, a level 27 monster wave occurred. Shockingly, there were multiple transcendent-grade monsters as well. To bring you the intense scene from that day, we'll connect to our reporter on-site. Reporter Im Yeon-hee?]
The screen switched, showing a pretty female reporter standing atop the massive crater created by a breath attack.
[This is Im Yeon-hee. I'm at the center of Bulcho Island, where the scars left on the ground and the still-roiling mana reveal the ferocity of the incident.]
[A level 27 monster wave... The largest since the Doomsday Project. What exactly happened?]
[On the early morning of the 22nd at 3:30 a.m., the rift on Bulcho Island—which had swallowed numerous celebrities and crew members, causing widespread worry—finally closed. Eyewitness accounts from survivors and the footage revealed information about an unimaginable monster wave. This location, the filming site for the popular program Survival Island...]
Beep!
The screen turned off. Taeseok swished his tail as he spoke.
"Whew. Things have been crazy lately. Editing the news version, making videos for reports, even producing a documentary!"
"If you're that busy..."
"But the most important thing is still Survival Island!"
"..."
I grumbled at Taeseok.
'This guy's thrilled.'
His mouth was grinning all the way up to the sky. He was so excited that even sitting still, his fluffy butt bobbed up and down.
"Oh, right. Won't you get an award too, PD?"
"Yeah, something about leading people well. It was just luck, but if they count it as merit, I'm happy."
The celebrities and crew who participated in the filming were all hospitalized together.
There had been so many injuries, and over thirty hours of consecutive battles had left everyone exhausted.
In particular, the masters who fought on the front lines were assigned top-tier suites, enjoying luxuries rivaling a high-end hotel.
"Not just the broadcast, but you're the star of the awards too, Jaeyeon. You got first place overall."
"What about F·D?"
"They don't participate in this stuff. A fresh thousand-year-old holy dragon, they say... Even in this battle. A holy dragon casting ultimate magic with a single sentence? Where in the world does that exist? If it were possible, dragons would've conquered the universe already. No matter how I look at it, they seem over four thousand years old, but when I ask Dragonia, they just parrot that F·D's words are true..."
It seemed no one knew F·D's true identity. And why would they? With time stop in play, who could have seen them?
'Who saw? I did.'
Frankly, it was hard to understand. It had nothing to do with inferior mana affinity. Time stop was a tangible phenomenon that forcibly affected the material world, wasn't it?
'Probably because of Ardania...'
As I pondered briefly, there was a knock, and a staff member poked their head in.
"Han Jaeyeon. One hour until the awards ceremony. Please get ready. Oh! Taeseok, you here again? Go prepare!"
"Got it. See you later, Jaeyeon."
After Taeseok left, I showered once more and changed clothes. As always, it was the suit gifted by Baesarang.
It gave off a bit of a one-suit guy vibe, but being such high-end designer wear, it was fine anywhere.
"Whew."
Standing by the window, I looked down at the city. Countless people moved along the streets.
'The protagonist.'
I had slain Hyperion and Dark Messiah in front of the cameras. This was no light matter.
Even if the 34th Earth was a demon world where police arrested transcendents, it didn't mean transcendents were weak.
'The 34th Earth's public authority that can capture such mighty transcendents is the terrifying one.'
Once someone reached transcendent level, they could become chaebols with their own power on the 34th Earth without much time needed.
Of course, I wasn't a transcendent... But to others, didn't I just look like a fresh twenty-something?
'Many things will change.'
Many people would focus on me.
Many options would open up to me.
The fame from this incident was on another level from the fame gained from a now-mainstream movie's success.
People would see me not as a mere celebrity, but as a future transcendent.
"Han Jaeyeon. Time to get ready~"
"Yes."
I passed through the teleport magic circle in the hospital.
Quite a crowd had gathered for the awards ceremony. As a cosmic issue involving the monster incident, even the undamaged 34th Earth had to treat it seriously.
"Heard the talk? Monster appearances in surrounding civilizations have dropped sharply."
"Well, they all poured out in one spot like that..."
"We thought they were infinite, but apparently not. And there were even transcendents."
"Ah, but it'll be okay, right? Even on the 34th Earth, if transcendent monsters do a suicide terror, it's unmanageable."
"Transcendents who could be worshipped as gods in normal civilizations, and we're worrying about them suicide bombing..."
Passing the murmuring crowd, I reached my assigned seat. Seongjae, already there, waved.
"Yo~ Your准神ship has arrived."
"What nonsense."
"You took down transcendents without being one, so doesn't that make you quasi-transcendent? Anyway, thanks to you, I hit 7th class. My summoning spells leveled up too."
"Master! I can handle way more vibrations now! My cup size grew half a size too..."
At Olya's words, Seongjae bristled.
"Ah, please! Don't talk about that! Ah, don't grab your chest like that! How many cameras are here!"
"Ooh. Seongjae. You look young but act like a total boomer."
"Me, a bo... Ah, headache. Seriously..."
I sat down, ignoring their bickering.
Lea, the amplification sorceress from our team, bowed her head in greeting.
"Hello. Feeling better?"
"Of course. You, Lea?"
"I only amplified. Still, thank you. My amplification coefficient rose a lot, even if not as much as Seongjae's class up."
Hye-young greeted next.
"I unlocked dark attribute humanity too. Thanks to you, Jaeyeon."
"It was your own efforts, but hearing that makes me feel..."
I just smacked a few backs, that's all.
Then the host announced.
"The President is entering."
Everyone stood. A middle-aged man appeared from one side and ascended the podium.
"Somehow exciting. This is the first time handing out presidential commendations since taking office."
Grinning broadly, he was Cheon Jong-myeong, President of the 34th Earth's strongest nation, the Republic of Korea.
'First time seeing him in person.'
The first immigrant-born president after the seats of the God of Justice and God of Truth solidified. And he wasn't even a prosecutor.
-What's the most just profession on Earth?
On the 34th Earth, nine out of ten would pick the same job to that question.
Prosecutor.
Naturally, not swordsman (劍士), but prosecutor (檢事).
The Prosecutors' Office was the world's most just organization, with more priests of the God of Justice than even the Justice Temple.
Thus, most politicians were former prosecutors. Even if not, lawyers or police. For a first-generation immigrant athlete from a civilization without prosecutors, lawyers, or even abilities to reach the presidency was truly legendary.
'An amazing person.'
About a hundred years ago on Earth, everyone tried to jump into politics, they say.
Clergy, celebrities, chaebols, even criminals.
But to do it properly?
Few things in the world are harder than politics.
'You can tell just from Bram.'
Hate to admit it, but Bram was one in ten thousand, no, one in a hundred thousand talent. Even with the 34th Earth's advanced infrastructure, how could an average person reach 8th class?
Even he, per investigations, got stuck at vice-minister level.
'Quit before even getting vetted by the God of Justice.'
Politicians need high understanding across diverse fields, social skills, and creativity.
Work never ends no matter how much you do, and you can't claim rewards matching the effort. The moment you do, it's corruption.
With their immense authority, politicians require ironclad morality and sense of justice. And the President of Korea stands at the pinnacle.
"...Therefore, this is not just a triumph for the 34th Earth, but for the entire universe suffering from the monster crisis..."
Cheon Jong-myeong commended me and thirty others.
It felt a bit like a principal's speech, but no one complained. We weren't just getting useless commendation plaques.
"To Olya Grant, a commendation plaque and permanent lease rights to the supply Giggas Red Roaring Dragon."
"Thank you!"
"To Kim Hye-young, a commendation plaque and permanent lease rights to the supply Giggas Dark Panther."
"Thank you."
"To Lee Seongjae, a commendation plaque and permanent lease rights to the supply Giggas Golden Unicorn."
"Yes!"
Along with the plaques, they handed out prizes.
'Whoa. All Giggas.'
The prizes for resolving the monster crisis were immensely valuable, with wide choices.
However, cash rewards or sellable items were forbidden, as it would dilute the commendation's meaning.
Thus, instead of giving Giggas outright, they offered permanent lease rights.
'Can't sell them, but can pass as inheritance and get maintenance, so better than owning outright.'
But I couldn't choose a Giggas lease like them. I lacked Giggas affinity.
Still, no regrets.
"I watched the footage. Han Jaeyeon. A second-generation immigrant approaching transcendent realm... Impressive."
"Just luck."
"Haha. I talked too much? Han Jaeyeon—no, Han Jaeyeon-ssi. To you, a commendation plaque and..."
Yes. No regrets. I chose something far more valuable than a Giggas.
"...affinity alteration procedure rights."
The curse that had bound me my whole life... The time to break that chain had come.
Inferior mana affinity.
"Ah."
My hand trembled slightly holding the glowing golden card. President Cheon Jong-myeong beamed at the sight.
"Glad you're happy. Well, with that."
"Wouldn't ending it there feel lacking?"
"Ending it lacking...? Wait, what is this? Huh?"
A man stood beside President Cheon Jong-myeong. Tall but slender. No overwhelming dignity or flashy looks—just a decent handsome guy.
"Huh?"
"Ah?"
"Uh..."
It was an utterly sudden appearance, but no one yelled "What are you doing?" or "Drag him out."
Because they recognized him.
"Ah? Ah. Ah... Ah! Ah!?"
"No, no way."
"Can't be..."
Yes. They recognized him. Who on the 34th Earth wouldn't?
The supreme god with no equal in the greater universe.
A superhuman born of divine bloodline, shattering even his limits.
The savior who rescued a doomed Earth and made his name echo across the universe.
Great.
And.
Game Master.
"Han Jaeyeon."
He called me.
"I appoint you as my apostle."
Flash!
Light poured from the high heavens, striking me. No pain. Just basking in the deluge.
"Apostle... He said apostle, not priest?"
"The Game God's apostle—isn't there only one right now?"
"That one's just rumor! To appoint publicly like this...!"
Screams erupted everywhere. A god's sudden descent warranted it.
But at some point.
They all froze.
"...!?"
A familiar sensation.
Time stop.
"Ah, so it ends up like this."
In the stopped time, the Game Master poked his head out. I could perceive the halted time but couldn't move, only watching.
"Apostle appointment... Didn't go through?"
With a playful expression.
The Game Master looked at me.