Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Seeds of Possibility
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In the end, I shook my head to cast off any lingering regrets and returned to Ardenia.
"My lord... there's so much power overflowing in me."
"With your total stats more than tripled, that's only natural."
I granted Flower, the head maid, the Priest (Rare) class. I also passed on the Heal (Common) skill I'd bought with gold while logged out, letting her learn it.
The stat boost from a rare class was a whopping 300 points.
For Flower, who had maintained a slender figure through diligent care but was ultimately just a human woman unable to awaken to ether arts, this was a change on the level of heaven and earth parting.
Her primary stat, mana power, shot up by a full 100 points, forcibly awakening her talent for mana. Her secondary stats, mana and mana recovery, each rose by 60 points. Even her other stats, vitality and stamina, climbed by 40 points.
On top of that, there was a constant 50% increase to healing effects—a buff she might not notice right away.
'At least she transferred to a priestly line, so this is manageable. If it'd been a rare warrior class, she probably couldn't even control the overflowing power.'
With that in mind, I granted the advanced class High Wizard (Advanced) to the mage Smile.
I didn't buy her any separate skills. Hundred the knight and Smile the mage were already talents who could wield their boosted stats in their own ways.
"No... no way. My mana has nearly doubled in an instant!"
"My god. My physical abilities..."
I watched the two stunned powerhouses for a moment before speaking.
"You already know this, but your classes can't even compare to Steelstone's."
"My god. Even though we're this strong?"
"Yes. They're only advanced rank."
"Ah, green is advanced... then the head maid's blue light must be rare rank."
"Right. And hero is purple."
Hundred and Smile nodded at my words. There was no scene of them whining, 'What? I got a lower rank than that lowly thing?'
They weren't idiots.
If these guys were the kind of morons who'd complain to me like that, they wouldn't have survived in this barbaric medieval land of Revenge.
People without that much common sense were either nobles born with silver spoons or modern folk who could spout nonsense without risking an axe to the head.
When the ruler made a decision, they shouldn't harbor complaints—they should think about the reasons. And these clever ones knew it: the head maid Flower possessed something they lacked.
Loyalty and trust.
'Advanced is almost too good for them, honestly.'
But investments required spending. These guys weren't entirely reliable, but they wouldn't stab me in the back—they just weren't loyal. Above all, they were top-three talents in our territory by ability, too valuable to discard.
Talent to awaken ether arts without class assistance comparable to Earth's forced awakening was precious beyond measure; even sifting through ten thousand humans yielded barely a handful.
"We'll do our utmost."
"Thank you, my lord."
"Good."
I said that much and was about to start moving when—
"Hm?"
Something was racing over the hill in the distance. I circulated my inner energy to enhance my vision and recognized it as the scout I'd sent earlier.
'Fast.'
He wasn't even a proper soldier, just a scout. A guy famous for his speed who'd taken on scouting duties alongside the dungeon disaster.
But gauging it with my eyes now—
He was covering 100 meters in 8.5 seconds.
'Well, now.'
It wasn't mere physical prowess.
"Huff... huff... my lord!"
I patted the back of the scout who reached me panting raggedly, telling him to calm down. After a moment, he lifted his head and spoke.
"An army! A monster army is marching south!"
"Were they the green-skinned ones about a meter tall?"
"Huh? How did you know? Yes! Those monsters are swarming down in droves!"
"How many?"
"At least thousands!"
His shout, like a scream, made the territory folk's faces grave. At least supplies were plentiful and arms sufficient, so no fear rippled through—that was fortunate.
I knew the scout wouldn't lie, yet doubt crept in.
'Why?'
Our territory's initial orc surge numbered around 10,000. With Vulcan orc generals prowling early on—ones we couldn't even spot—it seemed more had spawned later, but they only sent tracking parties of 100, never moving in large formations.
'It felt more like they were cleaning near the dungeon.'
Yet these goblins marched south in thousands? Their behavior differed sharply from the orcs'.
'In Revenge, clear at least four dungeons to build a [Home], declare it your territory, and gain rights over it as lord. You can even adjust respawn rates to make monster-free land. So why abandon the dungeon and scatter...? Things must be different in Ardenia, or maybe the monsters don't know the settings.'
I had to ask.
"Why are they marching south?"
"Pursuit."
"Pursuit?"
"Yes, my lord. From the northern territory—Red X Territory—folk are fleeing south, some in small groups, others dozens strong."
"Refugees."
In a way, similar to our situation. Quite some time had passed since the dungeon outbreak, yet they were only fleeing now—meaning they hadn't escaped immediately like us. They'd probably clung to their territory, fighting a few more times.
'A natural choice for a lord... but unwinnable. Especially a prolonged war.'
Even if goblins were weak monsters, that changed nothing.
Because monsters respawned.
'But who on Ardenia continent could realize that right away?'
That [all] [dead] [beings] [revived] [infinitely] wasn't a miracle—it defied natural law.
Even witnessing a respawn wouldn't lead to instant understanding. Noticing it meant you weren't sharp—you were a madman.
The kind who doesn't see vaccines from the state as public health but a conspiracy to implant RFID chips and control bodies and souls.
"You ran impressively fast earlier. What's your name, scout?"
"An honor, my lord! Runningman, at your service!"
"Haha. Gotten cocky since becoming a scout, eh? Runningman."
"Yes?"
"Hm?"
For a moment, Runningman and I stared at each other in mutual confusion.
Soon, I asked incredulously.
"Surely that's not your real name?"
"Of course it is, my lord! My mother gave it to me!"
"Runningman grows up to be a scout. Go figure."
Ardenians generally named with clear intent. Steelstone for growing hard like rock and steel, Hundred to battle a hundred foes, Flower to be beautiful like blossoms, Smile to always grin.
Such straightforward names were mostly commoners'; nobles differed. But Runningman actually being swift enough for scouting was intriguing.
I'd assumed it was a nickname, like Butcher (the Slayer) running the territory's sole tavern.
"That's the power in a name from Mother!"
"I see."
I nodded, then pulled out a single card.
An Archer (Common) class card.
"Whoa."
"That's—"
The watching territory folk gasped in surprise.
"My lord?"
"Take it."
"Ah, yes."
Flash!
White light exploded, signifying a common class.
"Wh-what? Huh?"
Feeling his boosted stats from the class, he wriggled around before kicking off the ground.
Boom!
He leaped two meters straight up!
"Incredible! A standing jump that high?"
"Even for nimble Runningman..."
"That's the card's power!"
The onlookers gawked. Runningman landed gracefully and prostrated before me.
"Th-thank you, my lord! To grant me such strength..."
"This is just the beginning. You'll grow stronger every time you slay a monster now."
"My god."
Joy flooded his face. Natural in this brutal world where power was everything. Our territory had decent security—no crime syndicates, really.
But not enough to upend the world's essence.
I addressed the folk staring at me.
"Prepare for battle! To those who show sufficient potential to me, who faithfully execute orders, who rack up great feats..."
I declared solemnly to them.
"I shall bestow the seeds of possibility."
* * *
3:30 a.m.
When all should be asleep, Nemesis Soft's headquarters blazed brighter than daylight.
"Kieeeeek! I-I can't do it anymore!"
One employee, fingers flying madly with magic hands equipped, collapsed screaming. Nearby workers startled into action.
"Kim, hold on! Hot Summer Phase 2 event's got only 61 hours left!"
"No... I can't..."
"Just finish the Ifrit design, then collapse!"
"Grurk..."
Kim passed out. From afar, Kwon the section chief said,
"Yang, inject him."
At the firm command, the woman beside Kwon turned. Her neat ponytail and petite frame made her look like a student.
"The awakening agent's effect lasts 24 hours. With 61 hours left in the event, is that okay?"
"Inject again then."
"What? But consecutive doses..."
"We'll call a priest. What do we earn money for if not times like this?"
"...Yes."
Yang approached the frothing Kim and jabbed a syringe into his neck.
Pshk!
"Giyooooot!"
Kim bolted upright.
Kwon, watching impassively, said,
"Kim. Ifrit."
"Giyooooot! Ifrit!"
As work resumed, Kwon glanced aside and asked,
"Any anomalies?"
"Ah... one thing."
"There is?"
Yang spoke as Kwon turned.
"A new player spent about 40 million won on class summon tickets."
"What's anomalous about that? Everyday stuff."
Revenge was a ruthless pay-to-win game, its top players spending beyond normal imagination. Not joking—whales dropping billions on a single costume were a dime a dozen.
So 40 million? On popular class summon tickets? Hardly notable.
"They bought the tickets, then destroyed them."
Even Kwon couldn't hide his doubt at Yang's follow-up.
"What? Destroyed common and advanced dud cards?"
"No. Destroyed the summon tickets themselves."
"What does that mean? Bought them but didn't even draw, just trashed them?"
"Yes. Bought the tickets, didn't summon, just destroyed them. Nearly 40 million won worth, all gone."
"...Why?"
"No idea. Also trashed starter packs, bought skillbooks with gold from hunting, then destroyed those too."
"Recovery requests?"
"None."
"What kind of nut? Streaming or something?"
Yang asked the baffled Kwon,
"Shall I look into it?"
"Nah, no loss to the company, right? Leave it. If they request recovery, remind 'em even bulk deletions allow only up to three restores."
"Yes, chief."
"Yeah. Back to work."
Kwon watched Yang bow and leave, then muttered absently.
"Buys cash items... then trashes them all...?"
He chuckled dryly, shaking his head.
"What a lunatic."