The City-State's Whispers (Part 3)
In the city-state of Uristia, rumors spread like wildfire, weaving through the narrow streets and bustling markets. The people whispered in hushed tones, their voices carrying an undercurrent of fear that no one could ignore. It was as if the very air hummed with uncertainty, the kind that made even the bold merchants lower their voices and glance over their shoulders. I, having lived through countless game campaigns as a veteran player, found myself drawn into this chaotic web of whispers, my mind racing with the kind of analytical detachment that came from countless hours spent dissecting every possible outcome in Sa-gye War. The game had prepared me well for this, but nothing could fully prepare me for the raw, unscripted panic unfolding right before my eyes.
The items of Sa-gye War fell into three distinct categories, and I had always marveled at how cleverly the developers had balanced them to keep players engaged. First came the equipment items—melee weapons like swords and bows, along with durable gear that could be used indefinitely as long as it wasn't destroyed. I had wielded a myth-tier weapon during my earlier confrontation with the disaster, and it still served me well today. Then there were the consumable tools for combat and daily life, items with a set number of uses that vanished once exhausted. The food items I had served to Mishra fell neatly into this category, their temporary nature adding a layer of strategy to every meal.
But the third category was the one that truly stood out, the one I had overlooked in the game but now saw with crystal clarity in this world: the event items. These were items exclusive to the game's campaign, items the developers had created on their own to inject unique twists into the experience. They appeared only at specific times, and many were nearly useless in gameplay—costumes with quirky designs and strange trinkets that players rarely bothered with. Most of them disappeared after the event ended, leaving only nostalgic echoes in the player's inventory. Yet here, in this real world, it was different. The simple images in my inventory had been deceptive; these were solid, tangible objects with actual physical presence, simple and practical to use without any of the game's limitations.
Of course, as a high-ranking player who had sunk countless hours into Sa-gye War like a complete hermit, I had never missed a single event. It was a point of pride, something I had honed over years of grinding through campaigns. Too many high-grade items had been lost in the chaos, but enough remnants remained to make the effort worthwhile. I pulled out one such item from my inventory: the Heavenly Orgel.
It had originated from the long-past "Island of Sun and Moon" event, a unique artifact that had first caught my eye among the warehouse finds right after I arrived in this world. Inside it was an event-exclusive song, and I had already confirmed its flawless operation long ago. "What is this? A metal box?"
The Heavenly Orgel resembled a silver metal container, its design screaming luxury even from a glance. Morris tilted his head as he held it, his fancy mustache twitching with curiosity. I had confidently placed it before him for a reason—I had hoarded it from the start with the sole intention of using it as currency. It had no real value to me in combat, and I was tired of listening to the same insertion tracks, so I figured trading it for maps was a win-win.
But what about the merchant? Surely it couldn't have infinite worth.
Especially since most event items in this world lacked equivalents, giving them an irresistible appeal to anyone with even a spark of curiosity. "Let's swap this."
"Swap with this metal box and the map? Hmm, a fair trade, I suppose. As long as the price is right... let's see..."
My bold suggestion made Morris scrutinize the item with grave intensity, his eyes flashing like a seasoned appraiser's. "The luster is subtle, but there's a clear sense of refinement. The fluctuations won't be as noticeable. Many noble ladies would adore it. And there's an unusual engraving on the front..."
He muttered to himself as if deep in calculation, the expression of a shopkeeper who had reached a high tier. "A truly rare pattern. Even I haven't seen its like before. But the rarity doesn't necessarily mean it's valuable..."
He was surely running the numbers in his head, determining whether the map was worth the swap. Soon, Morris set down the Orgel, his face set in a firm judgment. "It's definitely a valuable piece, but as for me, I can't give it a high rating. Swapping for a map? The price won't be too steep, though the desired map is from a high-demand empire... this is tricky."
He crossed his arms and tapped his fingers in contemplation, showing little interest in the deal. The merchant's evaluation was final; they rarely budged once made. If this was all, I should have walked away right then. Morris's hesitation, as if buying time, was clearly waiting for me to raise the ante in my anxious state.
But instead of leaving or haggling further, I reached for the Orgel. "Hmm, changing your mind? That's a shame..."
The silver metal box and engraving were nothing more than packaging. I activated my "device" to reveal the Orgel's true value. A metallic creak echoed, followed by a haunting melody that filled the room. The music that enveloped the shop felt oddly familiar to me. It was from the event "Island of Sun and Moon," one of the most emotionally charged in Sa-gye War. The clear, natural melody blended the brightness of day with the darkness of night, a unique harmony. Even among the hundreds of original tracks, this was a standout gem, now realized in this thousand-year-old world.
"...Huh?"
Morris's mouth fell open in surprise, his focus snapping to the sound. He scanned his surroundings with unfocused eyes before fixing on one spot, his lips parting in astonishment. I watched with a half-lidded gaze as he clutched a bundle of maps to his chest. It was a good deal, but too much.
- Map! You wanted a map, right?!
- ...Yeah.
- Here, take this too! Everything—it's a perfect swap! Don't renege later!
Replaying the scene, Morris's attitude shift was bizarre. Of course, playing the song would seal the deal, but the drama was a bit much. "Was the Orgel worth this much..."
Of course, the inserted song was excellent. And more importantly, the Heavenly Orgel wasn't consumable, so it had infinite battery life. I had planned to tease the trade with hints of the song, but there was no need. It was... strange. Morris, the type who haggled over every detail and never lost, had clearly underestimated this.
Even in a world with rare music, there were orchestras and ballad singers. The value of several maps might exist, but not this level. "Well... it doesn't matter."
It was fine either way. Even if the value exceeded expectations, it was more than enough by my standards. Besides, the Orgel was only part of my collection; there was no point in reclaiming it. If I forgot it, so be it. Uristia wasn't my long-term destination anyway.
"Ugh..."
I was a bit curious, but I let it go. A soft sigh escaped me as I opened my tote bag and stuffed the bundle of maps inside. There weren't many empire maps needed, and most were useless, but I couldn't throw them away. I barely managed to cram them in, then closed the bag with a sigh. When I looked up, the sky had grown overcast. Was it about to rain? That would be inconvenient.
It was then that a piercing scream tore through the air. "Kyaaah!"
A sudden scream. The panic didn't stop there. The crowd's footsteps quickened, sharp cries echoing. I turned my head in a hurry and saw it.
A snake, but not just any snake. One with what looked like a limb—either arm or leg—attached, but its head was unmistakably a serpent's. Yet it was massive. On the opposite highland, a black snake with a tail coiled around the edge of the forest, using two enormous hands to grip the rooftops of the houses. Those hands were huge enough to cover an entire roof.
"God! It's the Snake God!"
"Damn, that monster is back!"
"Someone else is going to be eaten!"
The despairing voices left no doubt—this was the "god" from the rumors. I had dismissed it as mere gossip when Petr had mentioned it, but it was real. The mere presence of the creature was enough to demand the title "god." Who would dare challenge it?
Surprisingly, I analyzed it calmly. "So... it's a god..."
It wasn't entirely wrong. In a world where gods had vanished, these beings had become replacements. But anyone who knew even a little about true gods would agree that the name was grossly inadequate.
Earlier, during my talk with Mishra, we had discussed the god's relic Obelisk. I had forgotten about it until recently. The greatest object in the world, the Obelisk, could only be managed and controlled by the creator and supreme god, the Four Gods. Even those who reached godhood could only touch it minimally. But the gods had abandoned their positions too long. Most gods had long disappeared, and the neglected Obelisk had fallen into disuse. With the Four Gods gone, the Obelisks occasionally malfunctioned, letting faint divine power leak into the world. This was rare, but the astronomical odds of a normal creature touching it... well, that was the creation of the "junk god" in the game.
A nameless monster born from that cosmic accident—a lowly animal suddenly infused with divine power. The Snake God was probably just a normal snake at its core. "But seeing it in person... it's terrifying."
In the game, it was just an exp-grind monster. Facing it with my own eyes... I had to admit, I was genuinely scared. The Snake God stared fiercely from the rooftops, its eyes rolling as if deciding something. The atmosphere it created was effective.
"Uwaaaaah!"
The citizens, having endured so much from it, were in full panic. Some collapsed with weak legs, others trembled and gnashed their teeth. I empathized fully. This wasn't the game anymore—this was reality. I felt my tension rising. Should I turn and run? But running might make me the first target.
Did the beast have a weakness?
To defeat a monster empowered by divine power, you'd need several Hero-class warriors. With my trash-tier level as Quillere, I had no help...
"...Wait a second."
A sudden flash of information. It highlighted what I had missed, pointing out possibilities: Quillere's characteristics, game knowledge, and the Snake God's weakness...
My brain spun at full speed, but a painful roar cut through it. "Oh god!"
The speaker was a plump middle-aged man. He jingled with sparkling accessories and shook his jowls as he shouted. "Stabilize it! Do not harm any more lambs!"
There was a clear disconnect between his aristocratic appearance and his words. Next to him stood a lanky man who joined in. "That's right! This city belongs to us humans! Return to the forest!"
I stared at the two in confusion. Were these people sane? If they were this scared, they wouldn't have come this far. They were probably just stirring the Snake God's anger. Now they were doomed...
[Is... is that so...]
The ground shook with a grinding sound, like metal on metal. When I realized it was the Snake God's voice, I couldn't hide my disbelief. What kind of situation was this?
Why accept it? Why create the situation only to accept it?
It was absurd, and I clicked my tongue. But the crowd seemed to have different thoughts. "Oh, oh! The lords are persuading the Snake God! Maybe we can be saved."
"Calming that monster... as expected of the lords..."
"Hail the rain! Hail the Griant!"
I had heard that people were easy to manipulate when terrified. The citizens blindly believed the half-truths. Ah, so that's how it was.
As soon as I recognized the two men's identities, it clicked. This was a staged play. The surprise was that they had recruited the Snake God as an actor, but it was too obvious. The citizens might not know, but I did—corruption was rampant in this era's Uristia. The lords themselves sacrificing to the god? It didn't make sense. And it was too coincidental.
"I'll fall for it again..."
There was no better tool for exploiting fear than this.
Their goal was clearly to manipulate public opinion... something like that. They already knew they were using the Snake God, but to the ignorant citizens, they looked like saviors.
Watching their despicable performance, I nodded. Good, it was time to leave. If I stayed during the retreat, I might suffer some fate.
Just as I turned to go, another cry rang out. "The disaster has arrived!"
"Welcome the Day of Awakening!"
From somewhere, men in black robes appeared and shouted at the crowd. I stopped in my tracks. "The herald of disaster has personally come to enlighten the foolish masses! Can you see them?"
They raised both hands and spewed nonsensical words. The citizens murmured in bewilderment, but they ignored it and shouted at the Snake God. "You're here! Please wield your great power to enlighten these foolish people. This is the majesty of disaster! Hurry, hurry!"
It was an absurd display of courage and confidence, something even a friend of the Snake God could believe.
How unfortunate... I had guessed their identities. The group that worshipped the disaster was rare.
Probably the ones who had spread chaos across the continent with history rivaling empires. At this point, they were smaller, but they still had significant power.
Was Uristia cursed?
I wanted to know how many times this city had been in chaos in a single day.
[This... is impossible...]
The Snake God seemed to be getting annoyed. The lords, who had been frozen, looked pale, thinking the situation was different from expected.
Even as the unsettling atmosphere spread, the robed men continued their frenzy. Finally, the Snake God twitched its eyes and flicked its forked tongue. One of them fell with a thud.
"What... ugh!"
The attackers noticed and fell in line. A gray-haired man moved with fluid, economical grace, cutting through the group like a storm.
I widened my eyes in surprise. I had thought he was just a decently experienced person, but this level of skill...
It was even more impressive that I had never seen him before. "Hah!"
The street corner became a battlefield of pained groans and battle cries. But the outcome was clear. Watching the organization's numbers dwindle in real time, I knew it would end soon.
As an objective observer, I reached out unconsciously toward the danger. One of the attackers was about to strike the Sorap's back. The cold breath instantly pierced his torso. "Ugh!"
He froze for a moment and couldn't complete the attack. Sorap predicted it just in time, twisting his wrist and chopping his neck to subdue him. The dagger bounced on the ground with a clatter.
"..."
I glanced at Sorap and exchanged a cool nod before turning away. It felt awkward, but necessary. Even if I hadn't helped, nothing would have happened. I had given directions, so that was the price. Besides, we had a connection; if I ignored it and he got injured, the aftertaste wouldn't be good.
It was time to leave the city for good. I turned toward the post station.
But as I walked away, another voice echoed. "The disaster is here!"
The black-robed figures continued their preaching, and the citizens' panic only grew. I sighed softly. The situation was too complicated, and I had a feeling things would only get worse. Still, I kept moving, my mind already planning the next steps in this ever-unfolding game of survival.