Chapter 10 - Divine Pioneer Group (1)
Chapter 10 - Divine Pioneer Group (1)
"Th-this is..."
The headquarters of the Divine Order in the imperial capital.
The priests, who had been going about their usual, mundane routines, were shocked by the scene that unfolded without warning.
It was because a story that had only been recorded in myths—from long ago when the hordes of the Demon World began to erode this world—was starting to happen for real.
The ancient holy relics and divine objects, which had been forgotten for ages, began to blaze with the explosive divine power they had long suppressed; it meant that God had begun to watch over them once again.
The miracle that the people of the Order had cherished for so long was now actually happening.
"The fading divinity has returned. The Great One has come to this land again! Q-quickly, find them! Find those who have received His revelation!"
The Archbishop, who had come running in a panic, saw the divine power—something he had never experienced in his entire life—beginning to dwell within his own body, and he trembled, his long white beard shaking in disbelief.
According to the scriptures passed down through the Order, it was known that whenever God visited like this, He always chose heroes who could represent His will.
"They say priests blessed by the light have appeared in the Southern Diocese!"
"At the Technology Bureau headquarters as well!"
"A-and at Eisenblut too!"
Soon, reports filled with excitement began to pour in from all sides.
It was a report that various people chosen by the pillars of light that had descended from the sky without warning were beginning to appear all over the empire.
'Ah~ so that's the setting.'
After hearing the excited priest's words, I could roughly understand it.
In the game, the Player just had to pick the units they liked and go.
After that, they would properly control the units or assign them to their respective positions and roles, running and growing the Pioneer Corps to reclaim the Corrupted Lands, which had been considered forbidden territory until now.
But that was a simplified version where many things were omitted.
Even if there was a cheat-like setting called "God's will," in actual reality, quite complex systems were intertwined.
Those who acted as lubricants in the middle to reduce that sense of discrepancy—they were the priests of the Divine Order.
"According to confirmed records, the last time the chosen ones of this land appeared was about 500 years ago. Since then, we haven't been able to advance into the Corrupted Lands. Without divinity, we cannot withstand the demonic energy of the Corrupted Lands."
The young priestess Lea, who had come running to explain things to me, still looked excited.
"With this power, we can advance there too!"
Lea muttered ecstatically, looking at the golden light shining from her hand.
The moment the Player appeared, divine power, a force that had long disappeared from this land, returned.
The reason we could only block the invading enemies and not counterattack was because of the demonic energy of the Corrupted Lands, which had been eroded for so long and assimilated into the Demon World.
That was the only power capable of purifying and pushing back the demonic energy.
"According to the scriptures, including the pillar of light that shone from the sky, that mark on the back of your hand signifies the destiny of a chosen Pioneer."
"I don't think I'm the only one."
"That's right. As far as I know, many people... they say 4 were born here, including you?"
She pointed to the symbol faintly engraved on the back of my hand.
I glanced down at the complex-looking thing and smirked.
The number of people in the Pioneer Corps that the Player forms when they start the game in earnest is 16.
They are classified into combat units, support units, production units, and research units.
4 people are selected from each facility, like Eisenblut.
[Post: Finished picking everyone. I can just start the exploration like this, right?]
ㄴThe others seem so-so?
ㄴCombat units are important in the early-mid game, or actually until the very end, so this is a damn good pull.
ㄴSeeing them all gathered like this is honestly ridiculous, Leon. Look at how his proficiency and traits just pop out compared to everyone else.
ㄴThe others besides Leon are also units people would scramble to pick up, but the comparison is real lol
ㄴWhy are you acting like it's all over? It's just starting. Honestly, the facility raid event has already triggered, and in runs that aren't meant to work out, they just don't work out no matter what.
While Lea was away for a moment.
Leaning back in my chair, I stared at the screen only I could see.
Lea said she was just a low-ranking priest and didn't know much about the other Pioneers, but I could see them all at a glance right now.
That was because a screenshot showing all 16 units selected by the Player was attached to the post.
Their appearances were pixel art, but their names, traits, and proficiency statuses were written in detail.
'The support, production, and research characters are so-so? I guess that might be the case.'
It looks like they were carefully selected, but units with 0 training status actually have their limits.
In the end, the Player's play and decisions are more important.
However, as the community users said, the combat units were a bit different.
[Leon] [Rosaria] [Seira] [Hermann]
I see 4 familiar names.
They are people whose proficiency, not to mention traits, is qualitatively different from other units from the start.
ㄴI composed it with two frontliners and two backliners according to the guide. They said Leon only has swordsmanship leveled up, so I should go that way, right? I thought about discarding Rosaria because her spear proficiency was high in the preview and it felt like a waste, but swordsmanship appeared again.
ㄴSince Leon will be your main force anyway, you chose well with units that will thoroughly perform support roles.
ㄴIt's right to focus on one thing in the early game, but as you get to the late game, you eventually have to level up multiple techs. You chose Rosaria well.
ㄴSetting aside Seira, who already has high position-swapping proficiency, why did you pick Hermann? I feel like there are better shooters.
ㄴAll three of them have special conditions attached, right? It says mental power reduction is reduced by 30% when they are with Leon. I read that in the late game, many runs end up failing because of mental power.
The Player evaluated us together with the community users and shared opinions on the reasons for the selection.
Setting me aside, there was one interesting point about the reasons for the others' selection.
'Unit synergy, huh...'
There were synergies and anti-synergies between units, which often shattered the players' mental states.
For some reason, there were guys who were enemies and would get a combat power debuff if made to fight together, while there were combinations that provided mental care just by being placed together.
Rosaria, whom I saved and who realized her true feelings thanks to that; Seira, whom I've known since childhood; and even my roommate friend Hermann.
It means our relationship has deepened that much through the daily life and series of events at Eisenblut.
"It doesn't matter. Whoever it is."
I sighed, muttered to myself, and got up from my seat.
From the Player's perspective, it's natural to aim for synergy and pick those close to me.
So I wasn't going to dwell on that choice.
There will be countless crises, and those crises will threaten all of our lives.
But whoever is with me, I intended to make sure they wouldn't die easily.
Even if it's just to clear the game.
"Having endured hundreds of years, at last, the Great One has given us another chance. You are the chosen Pioneers who will be the vanguard of that opportunity."
Not long after. A large group of people arrived here at Eisenblut, which is located at the very front line among the facilities.
In addition to those selected as support, production, and research units, there were countless people from the Divine Order.
High-ranking nobles and even people from the Imperial family were included.
Following the immediate order of the Emperor, who is at the pinnacle of imperial power, the entire empire paid attention to and focused on this matter.
It couldn't be helped.
Reclaiming the Corrupted Lands was literally a "duty."
It was a task that required full support and attention.
After all, no matter how great and powerful the Emperor might be, this was a matter where "God" Himself was looking down on this world and had begun to directly intervene and command.
'But there were guys who didn't think that way.'
I laughed inwardly while watching the Grand Duke, who was acting as a proxy to announce the Emperor's imperial edict and personal letter.
When playing from the Player's perspective, one of the most absurd events was the Imperial family's waywardness.
It must be frustrating for them to have the power and attention they've enjoyed for hundreds of years suddenly taken away by the ancient God and His Pioneers who appeared out of nowhere.
'Is there no talent in the Imperial family right now?'
Of course, understanding with your head and accepting with your heart are different things.
It's already dizzying to think that the Imperial family might pointlessly try to keep us in check and hold us back.
One of the best ways to prevent that is for the Player to make someone from the Imperial family a unit and put them into the Pioneer Corps.
If they do that, since one of their own is included, there's no reason for them to throw a fit, so the Imperial family can be dealt with smoothly.
"There is no time to hesitate. To carry out the noble and great mission bestowed by God. All of you, prepare to depart."
The moment the Grand Duke folded the official document, the game began in earnest.
"I think it was a good thing I listened to you. Putting down the spear and training with the sword. Perhaps that's the reason He chose me."
Immediately after the ceremony, which was as stifling as it was solemn, and as rigid as it was flashy, ended.
Rosaria, who had been standing next to me, stiff with tension in an attention stance, sighed and opened her mouth.
She said that she felt the reason she was chosen was because she took my advice and trained with the sword.
Since that was actually the case, it was a fairly sharp insight.
"You acted as if you knew that. Did God perhaps give you a hint beforehand?"
"The Corrupted Lands are a place teeming with unknown enemies and terrible monsters. Aren't you afraid?"
As she tilted her head with sparkling eyes, I changed the subject.
I knew what her true feelings were, but feelings can change at any time.
"I have no regrets. If I were going to, I would have already. I was already fated to die once."
She smirked and shrugged her shoulders.
There isn't a separate mental-type trait, but there is definitely a limit to mental power.
It seemed like Rosaria's mental power was gradually increasing.
"Yeah. We don't have regrets. As long as we're with you."
"It feels like it'll work out somehow..."
It was the same for Seira, who had approached and linked her arm with mine, and Hermann.
Like the Player said, they all considered me a kind of bastion.
As long as my existence doesn't collapse.
They won't collapse either.
"We aren't the only ones in the Pioneer Corps."
I smirked and looked elsewhere.
There, I saw people huddled together like us.
'What kind of people are they?'
Just as I was watching them, they were also glancing at us.
Problems can easily erupt within the Pioneer Corps as well.
For now, it seems the Player didn't choose those with tendencies that could manifest negatively... but no one knows what will happen yet.