Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Floating Island Defense Battle
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What the hell is this random bastard now?
[Out of nowhere...? You,]
Heh.
Even though his form wasn't visible, I could picture him smirking like that.
Something lounging atop a hill of corpses, chin propped lazily, utterly relaxed—
A guy? A girl?
Couldn't confirm the gender, but he somehow felt male.
The guy spoke.
[You must've guessed something like me exists, right? Lying even now, huh?] "......"
Guessed.
For a while now, something had nagged at me a few times.
The occasional unidentified voices.
And the feeling that the system was being peeped at by someone.
I'd wondered if it was Loveheart... but no, it was probably this guy.
So, what the hell was he, watching me like that?
No, more precisely, why the hell was he settled inside my inner self?
Fwosh!
Before I could finish the thought, an intense light painted the sky.
I wondered if Nanar had struck first, but then the sun began to shrink.
"Ahahaha! Don't get so mad! Dragon God! God of Equality!! We top-tier gods should get along, right? It's been ages since I last met the Dragon God in person too."
"Hmm."
Olnist smiled brightly.
As if she thought it was bullshit.
"Let's settle this peacefully?"
[You, who was trying to force it until just now?]
Nanar waved his hands off at the two gods' words.
"Misunderstanding, total misunderstanding. I really just wanted to talk..."
[That's not what that sage wants. You've always twisted goodwill your way and blabbered on—that's what I hate about you.]
Grrrrr.
The moment the Dragon God let out a boiling growl.
Craaaack!
The universe appeared, then vanished.
That was the only way to describe the scene.
No sound, and it was so instantaneous I couldn't tell exactly, but my body had automatically activated Unfailing Evasion.
Heston, standing beside me, steadied my staggering form.
She gazed at the Dragon God with a look of disgust.
"Seriously... doesn't give a damn about causality or anything."
What the hell was that just now?
The sheer different scale... it thrilled me for a split second.
[Thrilled? Is that the right reaction?] Shut up.
Peeking into a new world is supposed to thrill you, right?
But this bastard casually reads my mind.
"Truly barbaric. Dragon God. Was freeing the Plague Dragon worth risking causality?"
[Plague Dragon? You turned Malakia into that mess. How dare you speak of safety?]
Roooar.
The Dragon God's eyes burned as Olnist slowly floated before him.
"Let's stop."
[Move aside.] "If you're gonna keep going, it'll be in a state of 'equality.' If you don't want that, mind stepping back?"
[......]
The Dragon God, who seemed afraid of nothing, hesitated for a moment.
Olnist flashed a bright smile in that gap.
"Of course, I don't want to fight you either. Same with Mad Faith."
"We agree there. Olnist."
Ignoring Nanar chiming in so casually, the two top gods locked eyes.
Soon, the Dragon God spoke.
[...Fine. But Mad Faith, if you're gonna talk, do it in front of everyone. No more weird schemes.] "Schemes~? That's the last word that fits me!"
The giggling sun's form gradually shrank.
"And it's kinda awkward. It's a secretive story, embarrassing to tell in front of others?"
[Nonsense.]
Three divinities stepped before the growling Dragon God.
Probably the God of Darkness, God of Wind, and that candle guy who impersonated the God of Fire earlier.
Definitely the lowest among Fire Gods. Hm.
[Obsessed with that now? Kiddo.] .....
Some weird voice echoes in my head~
Always picking faults.
[Well, you'd think you can escape the divine realm somehow, so you're relaxed. Pretending otherwise, but calculating survival. Right?]
Answering means I lose.
I'll shut up and observe.
[Nothing to observe. I'll tell you how it unfolds. Relax first. Mad won't crush you with authority anymore.] "......"
[Mad, Dragon, and Equality hold the top hierarchy. If we set aside power and look purely at class...]
What bullshit.
And Mad? Equality?
Weird ways to call gods.
[What else? The class stuff Loveheart never explained to you.] .....
[I'll explain bit by bit. I've got a lot piled up to tell you...]
I don't know what I did, but the grudge in his tone was real.
He soon began explaining.
[Class differences bring rank and power gaps. The guy humans call the main god, Light, is pretty big shit even among gods. Unlike others, he can ignore this world's rules to some extent and do whatever.] So?
[So, earlier, with Equality and Light on equal class and rank, the rest helped him rampage. But not now. Dragon, same top class, stepped up for you—now it's 2 against 1.]
He paused silently, as if waiting for my reaction, then continued.
[Light lost his class advantage. Wants force? Dragon and Equality are strong, and you resist too well... so he gave up crushing you.]
So damn cocky.
So what? What do you want me to do?
[So, the gods will vote.]
Vote?
I think Nanar mentioned that earlier too.
[Vote means vote. 999 beings vote on agendas, and once adopted, no one can defy it. The right is equal regardless of class. Even low gods can throw out opinions. Just deciding agendas will take ages.]
...Ah, fuck.
[Oh, you caught on? Yeah, that's the bad part for you. Light's agenda? Whatever. The voting's the issue.]
This Almiraz incident was objectively big, and plenty of gods have their eyes on me.
Plus, every vote is equal, and each one is a god.
Gods. Beings worshiped by someone, egos through the roof.
Opinions will split massively.
No telling how many votes or how long each takes.
No life threat anymore, but they'll bicker endlessly about dragging me here or sending me back. Headache.
[Kukukuku. Others relieved by now, but you're calling it a hassle. Anyway, how about a proposal...?]
Proposal?
[Simple. Give and take.] Suspicious...
[What I do for you vs. my loss is overwhelming. You'll agree once you hear.]
Truth rang in the relaxed tone.
Might be worth hearing out.
"The agenda?"
In the meantime, Olnist questioned Nanar.
"Whether to tell that kid my story or not. Something like that?"
"Wrong. Whether to tell Dre your personal story privately or here."
[Telling it? Acting all high and mighty. You'll be the one regretting it, Nanar.]
Olnist spoke leisurely, the Dragon God with burning rage.
Nanar seemed relaxed as ever.
"Ahahaha. I'm a bit shy, y'know? Understand. Other agendas... give that kid a reward or a penalty."
Oh boy. Penalty?
Can't give reward, so why bring up penalty?
Then the blue old man stepped forward.
"Obviously punishment!"
Bam. The blue prick slammed the trident's butt on the ground and glared at me murderously.
"The culprit behind everything, who wants all gone, spared for personal greed. I say punish and revoke prior rewards!"
[Shut your trap, Poseidon.]
The Dragon God spoke sternly to the blue old man.
"What?!"
[You're not mad at the actions you mentioned. You're pissed that the sage attacked and scratched you. Obvious.] "You bastard...!"
Trembling, but no sign of charging. Anger management on point.
Anyway, this is bad. Gotta escape.
Not impossible.
There was an ultimate escape skill from that old escape game.
But first time here, needs focus, and who knows what Nanar and the gods'll do meanwhile.
[Without that sage, this farce would've ended. Still want punish for not finishing Forgotten? Blocking or delaying descent is huge gratitude, no?] "Makes sense."
Nanar agreed unexpectedly.
"But dunno how others'll take it?"
The Dragon God glanced at the hundreds surrounding us.
Not clear their feelings toward me, but definite... discontent and unease over Almiraz.
[No shred of tolerance. And you call yourselves gods?] "Ahahaha. Everyone's anxious. You know how long this race has lasted?"
"I think reward's in order too."
Olnist cut in, and I desperately wanted to bolt.
Quiet now, but if surrounding gods start piping up, no end.
According to the mystery guy in my head...
[Guessed who I am, so why play dumb?] ...Per him, votes allow freeform agendas.
Alright. Time to escape.
Spill the proposal already, you shady bastard.
To that, the mystery being grinned and said,
[I'll get you out. Make it so they can't casually summon you anymore. And since first time talking today, special—no need fulfill my demands, just hear what it is and you're out.] “Deal!!”
Instant call on terms where only he loses, felt him stunned like this guy?.
[What, fine. Then my demand...] Yeah.
[Don't half-ass answers... Fine. What I want? Just hear my story. No need reply, just listen.]
What?
For busting me out this space, way too cheap price.
Prior joy at "just hear and out" faded—it's nothing.
On second thought, same as Nanar, but intent felt different.
At least no malice.
I nodded silently.
[Good. Contract established.]
With a giggling voice, space around me cracked—crunch, crackle.
Like concrete shattering under a fierce punch. Heston beside looked shocked.
"...Hoo."
Olnist smiled, eyes slightly widened at me.
Right after, felt powerfully yanked.
Last sight: Nanar's mouth curved in thicker smile as light faded, and finally, the guy's eyes in the light.
Eyes like finding treasure—extremely unpleasant.
Kuuaaaak!!
[I'll keep the promise...]
Felt the voice in my head fading as I opened my eyes to the carriage ceiling.
Zero sense of reality.
If not for the lingering god aura on my body, I'd think it a dream.
Then.
"You're back."
"......?"
Why the fuck is this guy here?
I sat up at the shitty voice and saw the person on the coachman's seat.
Kaiz...?
"Clone. Main body's handling cleanup."
"...You do everything."
I lay back and sighed.
"Why're you driving the carriage?"
"Process of elimination. Instructors and students on island restoration. Rest getting treated. Transporting injured VIPs wanting identity hidden? Best done by reliable idle guy, no?"
No reply, recalled just now.
This, pissed off the gods hard, right?
No good rewards ahead maybe.
Asked the silently driving Kaiz, unconcerned by my silence.
"You know where I went?"
"Saw the foreigners' gods, right?"
"Yeah sorta... Hm?"
Words nagged, so I looked at him.
But pride stung asking this bastard what "foreigners' gods" meant, so shut up and asked else.
"Why's the carriage shaking so much?"
"When island authority taken, most magitech glitched. Seems temporary."
I shut my mouth.
Lots curious—Prostia, instructors, murderers—but too tired.
Can learn later plenty, rest first.
That moment, Kaiz spoke.
"More importantly, think ahead."
"Huh?"
Answered with intent to speak plainly, clone Kaiz said flatly.
"Ever tasted fame?"
"...Hm? Almost once."
Felt ambiguous reply make clone turn.
Clone? Aura near identical to Kaiz.
His blue eyes looked down. Eyes met briefly, he averted first.
"...You'll learn painfully soon."
What.
Battle with Almiraz seen only by instructors, Asita, students.
Kaiz's comrades saw, but they'll credit Kaiz, murderers out before I shone, leader Veil busy tortured now.
Island CCTV existed, but confirmed all off post-Almiraz takeover.
If something filmed and watched, maybe. No fame issue.
[Kukukuku...]
...Why laugh, bastard.
Said "see later" then chats in 1 min—couldn't help exasperation at mystery.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"......"
[Holy shit for real] — Anonymous [That guy's name Dre?] — Anonymous [Not instructor for nothing... barely relies on skills.] — Anonymous [Stop bootlicking.] — Anonymous [What bootlick idiot. Can you do any one thing he did?] — Anonymous [That level, tons of special intel right?] — Anonymous [No clan yet right?] ⭐ Top Comment — Anonymous [Where top rankers go?] — Anonymous [All left in a swarm earlier.] — Anonymous [Adel left the chatroom.] — Anonymous [Adel leaves now.] — Anonymous [Scouting Dre maybe?] — Anonymous [Fuck, talent gap hits self-hate lololol] — Anonymous [Dre honestly cool.] — Anonymous [Don't call my bro casually. ㅠㅠ] — Anonymous [What bitch?] — Anonymous [Since when your bro? My bro?] — Anonymous [My bro.] Yun Hye-mi closed the community.
Swept back her hair and let out a deep sigh.
Sword-il safe was a relief, but this was too much, she thought.
'Gave the dog the meat we slaved for.'
The desperately prepped stream ended up solely hyping Dre, making only him shine.
But exploding at him? He resolved huge crisis, saved Sword-il.
Relief, anger, frustration unable vent—complex emotions swirled, sighs nonstop.
Clan leader's fury scattered staff waiting storm pass.
Shin Jin-pae... said "see later" and hurried out.
He was hearing reports now.
Which clans wanted Dre, top rankers moving recruit him, etc.
Dre's name spread not just users.
Users blab island crisis detail, obvious—new Dark Horse fame vast world.
Gods eyeing Dre too.
Rank rise sure.
Rank up means meet us, 'headquarters' natural.
Meet Shin Jin-pae self... near worst, but barely passable then.
But if meets 'chairman'...
Shin Jin-pae dialed somewhere.
"Me. Nakamura. Yeah... no report on your tastes. Got task. Hate? Switch person beside."
Brief deep breath, spoke to switched receiver.
"Man named Dre exists. Bring him politely."
Cut comm.
Hands still trembled.
"Shin Jin-pae."
"...Yun Sok-il."
Saw normal man chased him, Shin spoke crawling voice.
Clearly changed from first meet, Yun asked.
"That... curious. Original world, Dre's friend?"
"No. Not at all. Same class..."
Desperate denial, re-looked man.
Seemed useful future, maybe other ways.
Like what Dre did unknown period.
"Talk now possible?"
"I'm fine, but director not busy?"
"...I'll make time. No, cancel all schedules—gotta talk."
To him, Dre was such existence.
Closed eyes briefly.
Long time, nightmare coming.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Politely escort... huh?"
Huge building reception desk.
Looks just like Dre's original world at glance, woman with neat updo pondered, hmm.
Her handling famed manual-perfect.
FM as manual.
"Usual etiquette drill, right?"
Not close to Shin Jin-pae, and as said, manual expert only.
So, aimed receiver odd direction.
"Gold Sun Clan'll do."
Can't imagine future events, she contacts anyway.
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