Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: The 120 Trillion Challenge
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119,601,255,800,000.
In other words.
119.6 trillion won.
“My God.”
The number defies common sense so utterly that even a hollow laugh won’t come.
Just grasping the scale of trillions is impossible, let alone 120 trillion.
It matches the annual budget of a decent nation. Enough to buy out a major corporation wholesale, or even a Terra-class battleship if you shop smart.
For a picky Giggas that chooses its owner, it’s enough to buy a Star-class one—and there aren’t even 1,000 of those across the entire greater universe.
‘No way. No country could aim for that in a short time.’
Even a Transcendent would struggle to handle this much money.
Take the owner of the Fate Mage Tower, Archmage Lucky Strike—he dumped 300 trillion into stocks and still hasn’t recovered, earning him the ridiculous epithet [Transcendent Slave], didn’t he?
“Ha.”
But a sigh soon follows.
“Gotta earn it somehow……”
That’s the only way.
There were a few methods like stock manipulation or seizing assets by force, but with the God of Justice and God of Truth glaring daggers on the 34th Earth, nothing like that would fly.
More than anything, I didn’t want to stoop to it.
Flash!
A spell embedded in my mercenary registration teleports me straight to the Mercenary Management Office. I wanted to grab a mission ASAP, but……
I got an unexpected response from Cheon Hyun-il, the Mercenary Bureau Chief.
“None.”
I’m thrown by the blunt reply.
“What?”
“None, I said. Missions have dried up.”
“No, that can’t……”
It’s absurd. With the whole universe groaning under the monster crisis, how could missions vanish now? In this era where military power matters more than anything?
But Chief Cheon Hyun-il shoots back like I’m the weird one.
“What, you thought requests would pour in endlessly? Space mercenaries on the 34th Earth charge top rates. Clients’ pockets are running dry—how do you expect them to hire?”
“Ah……”
Reality isn’t a game. No endless repeat quests here. Especially not for high-pay space mercenary work, infamous for its rates.
“Sure, there’s plenty of work out there. Want to volunteer your talents?”
“Even so, that’s a bit……”
I didn’t become a space mercenary to fight for fun or rack up good deeds.
My goal is purely money!
And right when I need to chase 120 trillion, volunteer work?
“But surely some rich clients are left?”
“You mean Noblesse or Elrohim types? They’ve all found ways to handle it themselves.”
The monster crisis was an unprecedented catastrophe, but the greater universe isn’t a pushover getting steamrolled unilaterally.
The 34th Earth alone invented a device to lure respawning monsters within a certain range to one spot, and similar inventions popped up everywhere.
Factions with advanced tech and talent had devised ways to guide dimension-breaching monsters, drawing them out to the middle of space to deal with them.
Monsters popping up in city centers or inside ships would be a disaster, but in open space? Manageable opponents or self-destructing pests—that’s reality.
Concentrate populations in one spot, lock down surrounding coordinates, and you block monster attacks outright.
“So, only civilizations that can’t fully cover their territory need mercenaries.”
“And they’re broke.”
“Haa……”
I’m sighing at the unforeseen roadblock when.
“That’s why.”
Hyun-il pulls a few sheets from the papers on his desk and hands them over.
“The government’s recruiting a Space Peace Force for neighboring civilizations. You’re a powerful combat Transcendent—they’ll treat you well if you join.”
“Space Peace Force……”
Overkill name for one civilization’s effort, but for the 34th Earth? Not impossible.
Still billions of elders alive, far more Giggas, billions of mages, and the infrastructure to employ them all.
If the 34th Earth’s might—which once crushed the space pirate Basara that even alliances couldn’t touch—projects outward again, the impact won’t be small.
“They’ll supply top gear, spread your name far and wide. Money’s nice, but at your level, fame matters too. Rack up merits, and you might score a transcendent weapon.”
“Ah, yeah……”
I nod at the sales pitch, but my heart chills the moment I see the contract.
‘The pay……’
Makes sense. It’s not an army for profit. More like cosmic-scale volunteer work.
Honor and influence over economic gain.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Sure.”
Back at Dragon Star after the talk.
The Five Dragons are out for a concert.
“What to do……”
No mercenary work is a fatal blow. My main income—hundreds of billions a week from just one week’s gigs.
Sure, I still make bank.
Royalties from thousands of works, music copyrights, ads, acting fees, variety shows, etc.
But no matter how much, it won’t hit 1 trillion. Even all my earnings combined wouldn’t.
“Find……another way?”
Feels like hitting a wall. Diligence alone can’t breach this limit.
“Borrow……maybe?”
Even that crosses my mind. And it seems plausible, which is the problem.
I’m the Apostle of the Game God, a cosmic genius who hit Transcendent in my twenties.
‘At least that’s the outside view.’
If I mortgage my future, big money would flow in. Would the Apostle of the Game God really run off with loans? People would trust and lend.
Then, with that money.
‘Become All Master and pay it back! No, pay with interest!’
I shake off the stray thought.
Even so, borrowing over 100 trillion is risky.
120 trillion at 1% interest? 1.2 trillion just in interest.
No joke—you could spend a lifetime paying interest alone. And All Master wouldn’t make me true Emperor Class anyway?
Like when I was non-Transcendent and got Mythic Class. Boosts power massively, but doesn’t elevate my tier.
“Or……ask Game Master to lend it.”
That pops up too. 100 trillion is chump change to a great supreme god.
“Haha. Crazy talk.”
Hollow laugh. Cornered, wild ideas swarm.
People think I’m Game Master’s apostle, but we’re unrelated. If anything, he just lent his name for one-sided protection and gifted a transcendent weapon.
Asking for money on top?
Shameless aside, too risky. Plants a bad image with supreme god Daeha.
“Haa…… Maybe ask Sarang. Join Nemesis as co-CEO or something?”
Mid-deliberation.
Flash!
The scenery shifts abruptly. Not forced teleport. I’m in my inner world somehow.
[What? Dragged here? But it’s ocean here too?]
Hyperion, reading a novel, frowns and stands. I grimace too, glancing at Zero Sum on my arm.
‘Couldn’t block it. Like a……forced event.’
I scan around. As Hyperion said, open sea. No islands, just endless horizon.
But not empty.
Peer below the surface: an unfathomable abyss. Things swimming there defy estimation.
“Not my inner world.”
[What? Then whose……]
Hyperion’s confusion.
“Killians hyungnim! Long time no see!”
A man in silver armor rises from the sea. His beaming face at me is unfamiliar.
Then it clicks.
“……Smashed Sack?”
“Now it’s Gold Pouch. Doing well?”
Shockingly, his look’s transformed beyond compare.
Scrawny frame now muscled and solid, rough skin smoothed.
Sword, pistol, shoes, necklace, helmet—and chest armor—all items.
“Doing well. You too, looks like.”
“All thanks to you, hyungnim! Hit Silver 3!”
I pause.
‘No……feels like ages passed, still Silver?’
Absurd, but his game explains it.
AOS.
Eternal battlefield of equal champions, built on [Death] as baseline.
5v5 teamfights, stacking wins without a single death? No small feat.
“Where’s Merlin?”
“No idea. I got pulled suddenly too……”
Rumble!
“Merlin?”
Right on cue, dimension rips—Merlin bursts out.
Mood’s off.
Rrrumble——!
Azure water streams whirl around Merlin. Not mere water—something more. Ineffable mystery and power, churning like a stormy sea.
He shouts.
“Killians! Dark Messiah nearby?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah……”
“Attack! Right now!”
“……Out of nowhere?”
“No need to kill! I’ll explain later—just tie his feet for one minute! Log in!”
Roar, and Merlin vanishes.
“……”
“……”
Me and Smashed Sack—no, Gold Pouch—stare blankly. Hyperion mutters awkwardly.
[What’s going on……]
Gold Pouch startles, spotting her now.
“Eek? Who’s this girl!?”
“Never mind that.”
I ignore their glares and think.
‘Grab Dark Messiah?’
Nonsensical, but……
No big deal anyway.
“Log in.”
Whisper, and scenery shifts. Inner world login executes smoothly, almost magically.
[Came again…… Hmm?]
[Wait! Everyone, careful!]
[Why’s this guy charging again?]
My low stance on entry puts the 12 monsters on guard.
Ignore them—charge.
Clang!
Sudden barrier blocks before Hyperion. Immense physical force and blazing sword aura can’t tear it!
Dark Messiah, drawing a card, smirks coldly.
[You underestimate me. Not that powerhouse strike—just ordinary attack.]
“Not underestimating.”
[Ha! Then what’s this…… Hmm?]
Dark Messiah’s mocking grin freezes.
I store Hyperion in inventory—
Crack!
And grab the barrier. The dimension within it too.
[Urk!? What!? Help! Get this guy off!]
[What? What’s happening?]
[Why the fuss?]
Other monsters question Dark Messiah’s freakout. Means they sense no real threat from me.
But Dark Messiah’s grim.
[Quick! Peel him off! Retreat! Retreat! Damn! Grabbing the dimension itself!]
Wooong——!
Dark Messiah spams cards, but can’t flee. I’ve seized the dimension—no movement works!
[Don’t know your game, but……get off!]
[Hup!]
Flank attacks incoming. I grit teeth, brace firm.
Slash! Crack!
Full-power sword auras slice skin and muscle, but bones hold.
Crunch!
Ice spike pierces side—tolerable wound.
Fierce strikes, but without prep, they can’t disable me.
[Quick! Get him off! Hurry……]
[What’s with the panic……]
Pale Dark Messiah, flustered Transcendents.
Then.
[Game Clear! The game has been cleared!]
Text floats before me.
[Game Name: Dark Star.]
[ID: Merlin.]
The sound of the balance shattering.