Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: I Wasn't the Only One Moved by a Surging Sense of Justice
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I wasn't the only one spurred into action by a boiling sense of justice.
Every survivor had come out of their houses and was eyeing the skeletons.
Among them was the young man who'd just been itching to rush off and save people moments ago.
"..."
"..."
The moment I laid out the rewards, everyone clammed up, probably embarrassed about jumping the gun.
In the awkward silence, the young man muttered under his breath.
"If you're gonna act like this, why didn't you move earlier? People these days..."
His snide jab made the survivors' eyebrows twitch.
The young man shut his mouth with a flinch as the atmosphere turned hostile.
It felt like boasting moral superiority would get him buried alive.
Once things calmed down, I turned to Min Jae-yoon and said,
"Alright, now let's go save those people."
"Pardon? Just the two of us?"
"Got anyone else in mind?"
"No, but two people feels a bit shaky."
Min Jae-yoon's gaze flicked toward the skeletons.
He still seemed haunted by the sight of them butchering people.
I shrugged lightly at him.
"You trust total strangers more?"
"At least they won't suddenly attack."
"Who knows? What if someone completes their quest and swings a weapon at your back the second it's done?"
"Why the hell would they?"
I jerked my chin toward the survivors in response to his incredulous stare.
"One village, fifteen heads all wanting to be king."
"...!"
Min Jae-yoon's jaw dropped in realization.
In the game, tons of players were no issue.
Spawn points were spread far apart, and the first to hit the village claimed it.
But now that it was reality, everything had flipped.
Fifteen players holed up in one village.
"Short-sighted power-hungry types? A backstab from them wouldn't surprise anyone."
"Th-that's..."
"What about me?"
I smirked at his suspicion.
"I said short-sighted types might. Anyone with a brain wouldn't pull that crap."
"What do you mean?"
"This is reality. In a game, you click a few buttons for everything. Out here? Good luck."
"Ah!"
Games let you handle internal affairs and diplomacy with mouse clicks.
No city-management interface in real life, though.
The status window only affected individuals, not the town.
Everything required hands-on work, and no one could do it solo.
No middle management, no dice.
Middle managers would inevitably be the competent players.
Hierarchies might form, but player cooperation was essential.
"People don't always act rationally, though. Short tempers, oversized greed—better stick together for now."
"Mm, got it."
Min Jae-yoon nodded, convinced, but soon frowned.
"Still, you sure about this? There are way too many skeletons."
Unlike the scattered goblins, skeletons packed the streets at a glance.
Exaggerating a bit, it rivaled zombie hordes in movies.
One wrong step inside, and you'd be swarmed and shredded.
I grinned at his unease.
"Told you. I'm a black mage."
If you think a mage shines with ranged attacks, that's dead wrong.
"My spells pack a punch."
Because a mage's true power is insanely strong ranged attacks.
'Fuck, fuck, fuck!'
The tattooed guy, Park Sang-gu, cursed up a storm in his head.
He wanted to tackle the quest, but had no way to do it.
'No way in hell I can solo this. Need at least one more body.'
Skeletons weren't pushovers like goblins, and they weren't few either.
Charge in blind, and you'd get surrounded from all sides.
To boost survival odds, you needed a buddy covering your rear.
Problem was, no one would team up with him.
'Should've never touched that damn house if I knew.'
Picking fights with every newbie in the safe zone had backfired.
He thought he was being clever, but it alienated every survivor.
No way they'd team up now. Hell, they'd probably pretend to and axe him instead.
'Nah, still got a shot. They're all side-eyeing each other too.'
Amid his anxiety, Park Sang-gu clung to hope.
He'd pissed off the survivors, sure, but they distrusted each other just as much.
Quest-hungry eyes brimmed with suspicion.
Normal, not knowing who was who.
'One'll crack and go solo soon. That's my in. They hate it? Tough shit if they want rewards.'
That last message proved it—no quests done, and poof, gone.
This one had a timer for sure.
Ignore it, lose out big while doers pull ahead.
'Don't wanna rot at the bottom? Grab my hand. I'll wait for the desperate one.'
He ignored the risk of being the lone loser.
No need to dwell on worst-case bullshit when he was jittery enough.
As Park Sang-gu schooled his face to neutral,
"H-hey, what?"
"Someone's heading out?"
"Just two? Are they nuts?"
Murmurs rippled through the survivors.
Two were apparently questing out.
'Team up already? Not even an hour in? Who the hell...!?'
Park Sang-gu's eyes bulged at the pair exiting the safe zone.
"Th-that bastard! The mage prick!"
The first he'd threatened, the one who'd tried to kill him without hesitation.
That dark blast exploding in his face? Crystal clear in memory.
Seeing the guy outside made his teeth grind.
'Wanna charge and kill him now, but...'
That'd guarantee no teammates. Killing players vs. monsters? Worlds apart.
He swallowed his rage, forcing a sneer.
"Idiot. Thinks a few spells make him hot shit?"
Magic was strong, sure.
But limited casts? Fatal flaw.
Run dry, and you're just a punching bag.
Two against that skeleton horde? Suicidal.
'Doesn't even know mages suck in early swarm fights? How'd a moron like that beta test?'
He could already picture it: early wins, then mana drought, frantic retreat.
Snickering at the thought, the mage spoke.
Black Missile
Kwaaang!
"...!?"
The entire group gawked at the skeleton in shock.
The hulking thing had crumbled into a heap, bones scattering.
Murmurs swelled among the stunned survivors.
"What the hell!?"
"Skeleton went down in one hit!"
"Is magic always that strong?"
"Fuck if I know?"
The mage ignored the chatter, methodically pointing and murmuring.
Black Missile, Black Missile, Black Missile
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
One shot, one skeleton down.
Anyone would've mistaken them for one-shottable fodder.
But no idiots here thought that.
They'd just shown superhuman strength against humans.
Yet one-shot by that?
Everyone stared at the mage, dumbfounded.
Only Park Sang-gu gnashed his teeth, shaking his head.
Not yet! That's not the end!
Skeletons didn't vanish on collapse.
Moments later, the bones began reassembling.
"Wh-what!?"
"It's putting itself back together!"
As gasps erupted, Park Sang-gu inwardly cheered.
That's right! Proper skeletons! What now, punk!?
No confirmation kill? They revive around their core essence.
Minimum two hits, even for the strong.
A mage's nightmare—double mana drain.
He awaited screams, but heard calm instead.
Energy Drain
Fuss...
"...!?"
Another spell, and the reassembling skeleton turned to dust.
Two more on the verge followed suit.
Energy Drain, Energy Drain
Fuss...
Casual incantations shattered them.
Park Sang-gu gaped at the spell name.
Energy Drain!? That fucker's a black mage!?
Early-game invincible, late-game trash job.
A true black mage shattered all his assumptions.
This mess was their playground.
Energy Drain sucked life force or essence.
Useless on the fully dead or essenceless—no recharge.
Skeletons? Revived once around essence.
Goddamn, just smash without killing fully, then Drain—easy mode!
Drain counted as an attack, blocking revival to boot.
The black mage knew, spamming everywhere.
Black Missile, Energy Drain, Black Missile, Black Missile, Energy Drain...!
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
"What the insane fuck!"
One survivor spat in disbelief.
The black mage farmed EXP risk-free, cherry-picking kills.
A few skeletons neared, but no real threat.
"Jae-yoon! Can't watch my back right now—handle it!"
"R-right!"
His backline buddy dashed in, sword cleaving a skeleton.
No payoff for reaching the mage—it dusted instantly.
Five minutes, area cleared.
The black mage turned to his partner, refreshed.
"No more obstacles. Let's quest!"
"Wh-where to start?"
"I've been around. That building first, then..."
"..."
The survivors watched their backs in silence.
Speechless, Park Sang-gu sweated bullets.
That forgotten line resurfaced.
'Run into me outside the safe zone, you're dead.'
Back then, he'd scoffed—bring it.
Blind faith he'd hold his own.
That faith? Long gone.
Wiping sweat, Park Sang-gu thought,
Screw quests... better stay put.
Life over pride.
That was Park Sang-gu.