Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Michael's Revival
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It didn't take long to drive out the giants.
Because of 'Michael's Blessing', they couldn't regain their senses, allowing us to unilaterally pour attacks on them.
We perfectly handled the Twin Beholder with two heads and the Triple Beholder with three.
However, a few of the regular giants—known as the weakest among the beholders—managed to escape.
Was the impact lesser because they were weak?
It felt off, but there was nothing we could do about the ones that got away. Chasing them outside the city was far too dangerous.
Eidos directed the robot units to move the giant corpses outside the city.
The automatic cleaners Kang Daewon had built began scrubbing the entire city.
Steam billowing from the cleaning vehicles wiped away the giant blood soaking the roads.
The residents emerged from the tower and returned to their posts.
In just one day, the devastated city rose anew through the power of AI and Kang Daewon.
Kang Daewon said to me,
"Kim Cheonjae, thank you so much."
"No need. I've handed Eidos's authority over to you, so from now on, you take good care of this city."
"......Roger that."
His eyes were alive with energy—nothing like when I'd first seen him.
Losing a son must have left him reeling with grief, yet his mental fortitude was remarkable.
"Better late than never, but I'm sorry about your son."
"Why apologize when it wasn't your fault, Cheonjae?"
"Because it was people from our side who did it."
"Don't worry about it. You're our hero, Cheonjae."
He gave me a smile.
I hugged him and whispered in his ear,
"Daewon, it's not over yet—stay sharp."
"......Pardon?"
* * * * *
After the giants were gone, smiles never left the faces of everyone in Mechania.
We spent our mandatory stay wandering the city.
My group and Jo Youngki's group went to find the Opener statue created by the system.
'......What the hell?'
I couldn't hide my bewilderment.
None of us could.
The statue was shattered.
Traces of something emerging from within were visible, along with a viscous transparent liquid and a glass tube inside the statue.
As if it had contained a living being.
Ma Jeongwoo kicked the statue.
Thud!
"What the fuck!"
"Jeongwoo, who activated that thing?"
"No idea! It was intact right up until I was dealing with the giants. Jo Youngki, was it you?"
Jo Youngki waved his hands.
"No way I'd activate that. It was the biggest obstacle to my Transcendent group."
Kim Yeonhee raised her hand with a cheeky smile and stepped forward.
Her action planted unease in us all.
"It was me? I activated it!"
We all stared at Kim Yeonhee. Her answer made the situation clear.
She hadn't trusted me and had awakened the 'fake Opener' to fend off the giants.
So that was the thing that protected the tower when it was in danger.
'......Ha!'
Ma Jeongwoo laughed in disbelief and smacked the back of Kim Yeonhee's head.
Smack!
"This crazy bitch."
"Ow! Why? Why'd you do that?"
"You know who that is and you still let it out?"
"Uh.... Kim Jeongjae, right? So what...."
"You knew and let it out? Don't you know why that bastard's called Mad Dog?"
Kim Yeonhee replied with a sour expression.
"I do. But.... I had no choice! If we hadn't used that statue, we'd all be dead."
I nodded in agreement. She had a point, to some extent.
Lighting a cigarette, I said,
"It's done. It's out anyway. Let's drop the topic of that bastard here."
"Hey, Kim Cheonjae, this isn't something to laugh off."
"I'm not laughing. What's done is done—let's think positive."
"Ha...."
Ma Jeongwoo glared at Kim Yeonhee.
She glanced around nervously and bowed her head.
Jo Youngki stepped in.
"I'll apologize for this one."
"Keep that bitch on a leash. We could've all died for real."
"Sorry."
"......Sigh."
Jo Youngki pulled out a cigarette and handed it to Ma Jeongwoo.
Ma Jeongwoo let out heavy sighs as he took it.
Whirrrrrr-!
Five robot units arrived carrying the Titan's corpse to the statue.
"Thanks, Eidos."
[The robot units have completed all commands and are returning to standby.]
I gazed at the charred Titan corpse. Then, with Ma Jeongwoo, I began slicing into its body with our blades.
The impact had blackened it down to the subcutaneous layer.
It wasn't until we cut away about a meter of flesh that blood finally started flowing.
"......Everyone ready?"
We all nodded.
One of us would vanish. Trapped inside the Titan's body by Michael.
We'd already discussed it.
It was an unavoidable sacrifice for story progression, but unlike the game, dying here meant true death....
Tension was thick in the air.
Seizing the moment, I swung my scythe with all my might.
"Here we go!"
Whoosh-.
Crack!
The scythe tip sank deep.
I yanked the handle hard.
Sccccch-.
From the throat to the abdomen, sliced clean in one go. Golden wings gleamed between the Titan's parted flesh.
We all pulled the Titan's abdomen open to the sides.
Squish.
The angel's face appeared.
The moment sunlight hit it, light burst forth.
Boom!
We were all flung back.
['Kim Cheonjae' group's sixth round main event ends at this time.]
['Inferno' difficulty clear rewards granted.]
[Steel Attribute book granted.]
Attribute book?
An item only found after the tenth round, but Inferno difficulty rewards were on another level.
Me, Ma Jeongwoo, Jo Youngki, Kim Yeonhee.
Those of us who'd played the game were all stunned.
Except Michael and Yoo Sora.
[Well done.]
A hologram message announced our event success as the angel opened its eyes.
[The angel hidden in the devil's body has appeared.]
[A great being desires a human body.]
[One player from this round's participants will be used as sacrifice.]
It had begun.
I swallowed hard.
A roulette wheel appeared before me. Six sections, only one with the angel's face.
I slowly raised my hand and pressed the button.
The rapidly spinning wheel slowed and stopped on an empty section.
As expected.
By system rules, the group leader isn't selected. Though exceptions could arise.
That's why I'd tensed up briefly.
I sighed in relief and looked at the others.
Ma Jeongwoo and Jo Youngki looked safe. From their button-pressing speed, neither seemed attached to life.
Not that I was any different.
"Ma Jeongwoo."
"I'm good."
"Jo Youngki."
"......What?"
"How'd your roulette go?"
"Mine was fine. Check that guy."
Jo Youngki pointed at Michael. Michael scowled at his roulette.
'No way?'
"Failed to get the angel!"
"Getting the angel means death!"
"Oh, really?"
"Ha.... Jeez...."
I'd explained a dozen times that landing on the angel meant death for that crazy bastard....
Jo Youngki gave a wry smile.
"That guy really speaks Korean, right? Or maybe he doesn't remember our talks."
"......Could be both."
"You sure drag around some sweet potato of a guy."
"Beggars can't be choosers. He'll come in handy someday."
"Real chill. Hope it stays that way."
Jo Youngki grinned and slung an arm around my shoulders.
"Creepy—get off."
"Why? We go way back now."
"Way back my ass."
"We do. We've been through life and death together."
I shoved his arm off my neck.
"......Fine, just get off already. It's hot—why're you clinging?"
"Alright, alright. Your lil' bro's stepping back now—."
"Farther."
Jo Youngki straightened his shirt collar and headed toward the Titan corpse.
"Sure, sure, I'll go admire Michael then."
Why's that bastard like that?
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The system played the sound of clock hands turning.
Unselected players would grow increasingly anxious.
Left were Yoo Sora and Kim Yeonhee.
Sweat beaded on Yoo Sora's forehead. She eyed Kim Yeonhee, hesitating on the button.
Silence fell.
Those already safe deliberately stepped away. Ma Jeongwoo lit a cigarette and dragged Jo Youngki off.
Michael was pulled along with them.
I alone remained, watching the two.
"......Hurry up and choose?"
Yoo Sora looked at me, face flushed.
"Cheonjae...."
I set my expression firm.
"Choose now. Waiting won't make it go away."
"......"
Players hadn't uncovered the algorithm yet, but the roulette clearly had criteria for selecting the sacrifice.
One known fact: group leaders aren't picked.
There were surely more criteria we didn't know.
Neighborhood assassin Kim Yeonhee.
Opener's companion Yoo Sora.
Who between them would die?
Truth be told, I wanted Kim Yeonhee dead right now.
If Yoo Sora died, I'd lose the player to read the 'Book of the Lion',
forcing me to find another group member for that role.
Meaning more time stuck in this game.
So I'd altered the plan.
Even if Yoo Sora was selected, I'd make Kim Yeonhee the sacrifice. Via the system's equivalent exchange.
I'd already squared it with Ma Jeongwoo.
That's why I took Jo Youngki and Michael away. Leaving me here.
Kim Yeonhee bit her nails.
"You survived, so no worries for you!"
I scowled.
"You think I pressed without a care?"
"......Difference in resolve."
Yoo Sora swallowed, then pressed the button. The roulette spun.
My heart raced with its speed. Kim Yeonhee stared at it, face rigid.
'Please.'
Whirrrrrr-
Beep!
"......It's over."
* * * * *
Yoo Sora's roulette stopped on a white section. She cheered in joy at surviving. But seeing Kim Yeonhee's darkened face, she wiped the smile away.
"S-sorry...."
Kim Yeonhee shook her head.
"No.... It's not like.... you chose it...."
Now the only remaining section on the roulette was the sacrifice one with the angel.
She gritted her teeth and placed her hand on the button.
"Hnggg.... Fuck...... Fuck......"
Kim Yeonhee's fingers trembled like leaves in the wind. Unable to press, she just shed endless tears.
Yoo Sora hugged her.
"I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry...."
"......Hic-. It's not your fault, sis.... Hic, why keep apologizing!"
With a cold expression, I said to Kim Yeonhee,
"Kim Yeonhee, I told you clearly—this round's life or death."
"......I know!"
"The roulette result is absolute."
"Who said otherwise? No one's talking, so why flip out?"
"Then stop crying and spin it. That's what you need to do now."
"......"
"And I told you one more thing?"
Kim Yeonhee tilted her head.
"What?"
"It might not be death."
"......Duh. I've cleared the sixth round on PC myself?"
"......"
I shrugged.
Kim Yeonhee wiped her tears with her sleeve and pressed the button.
"Live well and eat plenty! You.... you.... sob.... rotten bastards."
Whirrrrr!
The roulette spun.
Its rapid pace slowed, heading toward the angel wing section.
I watched Kim Yeonhee's face change. The one who'd only wept now hardened coldly.
Fear or despair.
If neither.... then resignation.
The expression of one who'd abandoned hope of life.
Kim Yeonhee slowly lowered her gaze to the ground.
"Should've died in that beautiful elf village if I knew...."
Her long sigh seemed to sink into the earth.
The slowing roulette chimed 'ding!' and stopped.
Kim Yeonhee didn't look. Yoo Sora avoided her gaze, not checking either.
I was shocked seeing the result.
"Kim Yeonhee."
"......What?"
"Look at the roulette."
"Huh?"
"Check it."
She raised her head. Seeing the hologram result, Kim Yeonhee clutched her cheeks and screamed.
-Aaahhh!
"K-K-K-Kim Cheonjae!!"
"......"
What the hell?
Kim Yeonhee's result defied my prediction.
Her arrow stopped on an empty spot.
Is the story glitched? Or does the altered flow not need a sacrifice?
Weird.
Neither, surely.
The system itself said a sacrifice was required.
Staring at her result, my mind raced.
"......No way."
Kim Yeonhee rushed to Yoo Sora and hugged her.
"I lived!!"
"Thank goodness! Congrats, Yeonhee!"
"H-how did this happen?"
"Cheonjae said the story flow keeps changing. Guess we all live!"
'......No chance.'
No sacrifice means no next round.
Unlike their joyful faces, one player's expression among the gathered slowly hardened.
I walked toward him. Jo Youngki, smoking by the Titan, stared blankly at me.
"Kim Cheonjae."
"......Speak."
"I've left all my money to that kid."
"......"
"Thanks for putting up with a bastard like me all this time. High-level player."
[Roulette ended]
[For sixth round 'Michael's Revival', player Jo Youngki selected as sacrifice.]
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