Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Colson's Desperate Deal
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“W-who is it...?”
Colson opened his message box with a face drained of all color.
Thanks to the black dragon's appearance stirring up chaos across the continent, he'd bought himself some time. But he was still the picture of despair.
As the messages piled up relentlessly, Colson's face grew even paler.
“D-damn it...!! I'm done for!!”
Unable to return to the church's base, he'd been hiding in the forest near Torn Bach. He clutched his head and whimpered.
“Even death won't end it... What the hell am I supposed to do? Damn it...!”
“I get it!! Fuck!!!! Stop sending them!!”
Colson snapped irritably and glared at the latest message.
“What the...?”
Unlike the others, this message made Colson relax his furrowed brow as he tapped the screen.
“W-what...?! For real?”
It felt like he'd come back from the dead.
Colson slapped his own cheeks repeatedly as he reread the message.
“H-heh...!! Heaven hasn't abandoned me, Colson!!”
He dropped to his knees in front of the message box, bowing repeatedly and shouting.
'Charging at that guy alone would be insane. Yeah... better to stay alive first. Play along, get the gratuity, and get revenge later.'
Colson steeled himself with a half-baked plan for vengeance.
“They say he's coming right away... the reply just came in.”
“Figured as much.”
Woojin closed the wide-open window.
“Finally, the smell of medicine is fading. Though... outside's no picnic either.”
He righted a toppled chair, leaned back in it, and eyed the five bound figures before him.
“Stay quiet until Colson gets here.”
“Mmph...! Mmph!!”
“Mmph! Mmph!!”
Everyone except the one who'd just sent the message nodded frantically.
They were all strung up from the ceiling, limbs severed and bound.
“It's effective... but creepy as hell.”
Weden muttered uneasily at the sight of the dangling Genesis Unit members.
“Reviving them at their shrine would just make more trouble.”
They'd been killed by Luen, revived a few more times, and charged at Woojin—only to end up hanging from the ceiling each time.
“Fair point. Can't let them attack or suicide. Lesson learned, I guess.”
“...Don't learn this stuff.”
Woojin sighed at Weden's earnest nod.
“How's the mana mine?”
“Pulled all the laborers out for now. They're in worse shape than these guys.”
“Breathing in fumes harsher than hallucinogens every day will do that.”
Woojin ground his teeth at Peron's report, still seething.
“Do people know mana stones are supplied like this?”
“They probably suspect. But they hush it up. Mana stones are worth the price.”
“Hiring them fairly? Fine. But forcing scum to work the mines and cutting out their tongues for secrecy? You think that's okay?”
“What, like some medieval bullshit?”
“Just vermin behavior.”
Peron gave an awkward laugh at Woojin's blunt reply.
'...He's gonna snap today.'
He could tell from Woojin's glare.
“Hey, how long till he shows?”
“Y-yes!! Less than an hour, he said.”
“Good.”
Woojin stood up.
“Won't he bring his goons?”
“He was alone in Torn Bach. Mobilizing forces won't be easy with the gratuity issue hanging over him.”
“Hmm... makes sense.”
“What’s your plan?”
“Meet him first, cancel all the mining contracts for the villagers.”
The village deed was in Nomura Shun's name, but the contracts were handled by administrator Colson.
'Can't take the village, but need Colson to free at least Aunt Lea.'
Luen was looking after her now.
Her severed tongue was too old for ordinary healing.
'Maybe Fairy Queen's recovery spell could do it.'
Woojin recalled how she'd restored his severed arm.
'Gotta get Aunt Lea out of this village for that.'
On the other hand, he wondered.
Had Raoul never returned to the village after that?
Or...
'This other world might be different.'
No players like them there.
Yorcka Village in the other world might have stayed peaceful.
The village, changed by their presence.
'Should leave a mark so Raoul knows to come back.'
He was wielding the sword Raoul was meant to use.
Game Raoul might walk a different path from the other world's Raoul.
'Wonder what he'll be like...'
Excitement mixed with worry.
What if taking the sword derailed his life?
'Find him before that happens.'
That was his second task here.
'He's here.'
Woojin looked up from his thoughts.
The village entrance was in an uproar.
“Peron, watch these guys. Be back soon.”
“Got it.”
It was consideration on Woojin's part.
Peron had handled Colson's old duties; running into him might cause issues.
“I'll come with you.”
Kalran stepped up beside Woojin as if waiting.
“You said it's fine, but what if he tries something? Even an outsider won't mess with the Sword Lord's house lightly.”
He'd hated his father's prestige before, but now wielded it freely for Woojin.
“Appreciate the thought.”
Woojin ruffled Kalran's hair with a smile.
“We meet again.”
Colson stood nervously in the village square.
At Woojin's words, he whipped his head around.
“You're really... here?”
“Obviously.”
“You owe me big from Torn Bach.”
“Owe you? The real debt starts now.”
Unlike Colson grinding his teeth, Woojin was calm.
“Need that death gratuity, right?”
“...”
“My demand's simple: cancel the mining contracts for everyone.”
“...Impossible.”
“Why?”
“Clan leader'll notice the second I cancel them.”
“He'll notice if you don't deliver the gratuity too. Which is worse?”
'...Bastard.'
Colson bit his lip at Woojin's words.
“...One.”
He held up a finger.
“Mark said an NPC caused this mess. Can't do everyone, but I can sneak one out.”
“No interest in the gratuity?”
“That's the best I can do!!”
“Scram.”
'Damn it...!!!'
“Killing me doesn't cancel contracts. Why not settle nicely? I get gratuity, you save your NPC.”
Colson's words tumbled faster.
“Raid the village later instead. Promise no resistance.”
“...Raid?”
“Y-yeah!! Declare war with a clan, attack enemy villages, take 'em over. I'll hand it intact.”
'Just get the gratuity. What he does after? Tell the clan leader.'
Genesis Unit rivaled top 10 clans already.
With high-rankers aplenty, clear the [Hellgate] quest, rally them, and crush Woojin, Colson thought.
'Hurry up and hand it over. Next time, I'll grind you to dust.'
“Fine.”
“...!!”
As expected, Woojin agreed. Colson nodded eagerly.
“Right!! We understand each other. Nice and clean, huh?”
“NPC named Lea. Burn her contract.”
“Lea? Hang on, let me check...”
Colson pulled up his system window.
He clicked her name in the list. A window opened, revealing an old document.
“That's your NPC's contract.”
As he dragged his finger over the paper, it turned to ash in an instant and vanished.
“She's free now.”
Woojin glanced at Luen, who was supporting Lea. Luen nodded, confirming the contract mark on her nape had disappeared.
Colson caught the [Deceased's Death Gratuity] Woojin tossed and finally exhaled in relief.
“Later.”
Fearing pursuit, he bolted out of the village.
“...”
Woojin watched him go impassively.
“Kekeke... Save the village? What a hero. Think you can take on Genesis Unit, you punk?”
Once clear of Woojin, Colson flipped him off triumphantly and yelled.
“Watch your neck, asshole! Back home, you're marked for execution!!”
'Knew it.'
Woojin sighed, unsurprised, and ignored the shouting to approach the trembling Lea.
“Looks like withdrawal symptoms.”
“Brought the ingredients for antidote. Better find an alchemist in Tekan right away.”
“Yeah. Take care of her till we get there.”
“Leave it to me.”
Woojin thanked Luen.
“But... you okay just letting him go like that? Want me to handle it?”
“Nah. Let him live on purpose. Gotta see this.”
“...Huh?”
“Should be about done by now...”
Luen tilted her head, puzzled.
Then—
KABOOM―――!!
Mana Mine Chimney
Flames and thunderous roars erupted from the mana mine's chimney.
“Told Setsuna to smash every mining machine in there.”
With Mist Step, she'd escape even if it collapsed.
Rumble...
Twisted chimneys toppled with a clamor.
“Wouldn't want him to miss the show.”
Woojin smirked coldly toward wherever Colson was watching.
'Mine's gone, villagers get a break from the poison for a while.'
Couldn't free them fully, but wanted to help a little.
Mana mines dotted the continent.
Many places like this, people dying unknowingly.
“Worried about them?”
“...Dunno.”
Luen asked as if reading his mind.
Woojin didn't get it himself.
NPCs felt more human lately.
Getting sucked into this world?
Or just damn good game design.
Or losing his mind.
“You need power.”
Queenly aura?
Her voice shifted subtly.
“The power of a ruler.”
Her words strangely stirred Woojin's chest.
“You saying I should be king?”
“A master could do it... but I want more than a king.”
Luen smiled at him.
“Something greater.”
“Where'd you learn jokes like that?”
Silence fell briefly, but Woojin chuckled and shook his head.
“Let's go.”
He started walking.
“...”
Yet her words lingered oddly in his mind.
The forsaken little village.
Here began the first spark to change the continent's history.