Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Ares Awakens
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As we stepped inside the bunker, Major Kim Juncheol greeted us with open arms. He rushed right up to the door, beaming with a radiant smile.
Well, we were players who had cleared up to the tenth round, so it was no surprise that the main NPC on the human side was thrilled to see us.
"Kim Cheonjae! It's been a while. How have you been?"
I nodded.
"Of course. And you, Major? Doing well?"
"Yes, thanks to you, I've been doing great."
"Ha ha... I'm grateful for your kind words."
After the greetings, we followed Major Kim Juncheol into his office. He pulled out some orange juice and a few cups from the fridge, handing one to each of us.
"I heard about what happened in Mechania from the Operations Officer."
"...What did he say?"
Kim Juncheol scratched his forehead with an awkward expression.
"He said there were infected there too, and it seemed like they needed help."
"They needed help?"
"Yes, he said the residents were suffering."
I shook my head slowly.
"Major."
"Yes?"
"I'm not sure where to even start..."
"......?"
"Are you taking everything the Operations Officer reports at face value?"
My question brought a calm look to his face. He understood the intent behind my words.
"To be honest, no, I'm not believing everything."
"Then let me be direct. I think I'm heading toward an adversarial relationship with him."
"...May I ask why?"
I laid out the facts the Operations Officer was hiding, one by one.
Starting with how I hadn't spoken up until now due to lack of evidence, then the connection between Dr. Oh and the Operations Officer, and all the schemes they were plotting.
From the modified zombies created in the lab with the monkey ears, to Dr. Oh's plan to create a new virus and step into the realm of creation.
And even how they had spread the virus in Mechania to produce research results, joining hands with him.
Kim Juncheol's expression hardened as he listened.
"Do you have any evidence for what you've told me?"
"The syringe that held the virus, the blood from a modified zombie found in a nearby dungeon. And the location of the lab. That's about all I've got."
"Hmm..."
"What I've told you, Major, is mostly speculation based on insufficient evidence."
"......"
I shook the syringe that had contained the virus and continued.
"But if that speculation turns out to be reality, you can imagine the consequences, right?"
"Cheonjae."
"Yes."
"I'm on your side. When the Operations Officer arrived first from Mechania, he told me something."
"What was it?"
"That you and your group threatened him and the soldiers dispatched there."
"......"
Of course, he conveniently left out anything unfavorable to himself.
As I started to explain, Kim Juncheol spoke first.
"That day, after hearing it, I came back into the bunker and thought it over. Why on earth would Cheonjae attack us? Is there any reason for that?"
"......"
"There was only one answer in my head. Unless we attack first, you would never attack us. There's no reason for it."
What a relief.
If Kim Juncheol had been the stubborn, conservative type, he might have believed the Operations Officer. Fortunately, he was sharp-minded.
I nodded in agreement.
"You know me well."
"That's why I'm still alive."
"So you'll believe everything I said?"
"...To be honest, I can't say I believe it all completely. But I do know for sure that the Operations Officer is lying to me."
Just getting him to realize that much was a huge win for me. The conversation had shifted in my favor.
With Dr. Oh and the Operations Officer now stripped of trust, full support from Kim Juncheol would be off the table.
"That's enough. The reason I came here was to make sure you don't get betrayed by them."
"Thank you for looking out for me."
Kim Juncheol bowed his head politely, like a junior to a senior. A fine man who knew how to show his gratitude.
I returned the gesture and headed for the bunker exit.
"Then I'll be on my way."
"...Cheonjae."
"Yes?"
"On second thought, I got a report that the Operations Officer recently left the village without notifying the guard post."
"Outside the village?"
"Yes. Tracing the time and his route, it seems he stopped by Daekyungseong."
"Daekyungseong?"
Why would the Operations Officer go there of all places? It only had an auction house and a museum.
Unable to figure it out, I tilted my head.
"Why would he go to Daekyungseong?"
"I don't know either. If you happen to head that way, could you look into it?"
"...Wouldn't it be faster if you investigated yourself, Major? There are soldiers stationed there too."
"I did ask. But they reported not seeing him. The Operations Officer himself insisted he never went."
I shrugged.
"How do you know he stopped by Daekyungseong then?"
"I've had someone tailing him lately because his movements seemed suspicious."
"Ah..."
"Even though he clearly went there, he denies it to the end."
"Do you know why he's denying it?"
"Not that far. They say the moment he entered Daekyungseong, he vanished somewhere. Being ex-special forces, he's good at hiding..."
The Operations Officer visiting Daekyungseong and denying it.
It reeked of suspicion.
I nodded and replied to Kim Juncheol.
"Got it. I was heading to Daekyungseong anyway, so I'll check it out."
"Thank you!"
* * * *
A massive hole tore open in the sky as if a new world was dawning, pouring down brilliant light.
It felt like angels were about to descend. The players who saw it cheered.
That light was the precursor that appeared when someone on the same server cleared the tenth round.
In other words, it meant there was now hope of escaping this place for them.
-Wow! Someone must've reached the tenth round!
-Does that mean we can get out of this game soon too?
-No, isn't it only for those who finish the game?
-I don't think so! The final round said all players participate.
Michael puffed up his chest amid the other players, seemingly eager to brag about what we'd done, but I pulled him back by the shoulder.
"Stay quiet while you're unequipped."
"...Got it."
Gathered in the village square, we tossed gold coins to check our fortunes for the day.
[Minor Omen of Misfortune, Chaotic Omen of Misfortune, Major Omen of Misfortune. A once-in-a-lifetime crisis approaches you.]
"......"
What?
I tossed the coins again. The result was the same. It meant something bad was coming.
"Jeongwoo, my fortune's terrible."
"...What'd it say?"
"A once-in-a-lifetime crisis is coming for me."
Jeongwoo snickered.
"A big crisis, huh... Wonder what it is."
"No idea."
"So you're not going to Daekyungseong?"
I shook my head.
"I've gotta go. No time left if I want to wrap up everything pending by tomorrow."
"Hmm... Then come with me. We can leave the stuff here to Sora and Michael."
Kim Yeonhee shot her hand up.
"Me too!"
"...Yeah, her too."
I nodded reluctantly.
"Fine. With you along, even a big crisis should be okay."
"Just trust me. My fortune's the best."
"What'd yours say?"
"'A noble person who will change your fate is coming. Do not miss that opportunity.'"
"......That's bullshit."
"Totally bullshit."
We scattered from the square as soon as the talk ended. It was unavoidable if we wanted to finish everything before the deadline.
Jeongwoo and I headed to Daekyungseong, while the others stayed in the village to gather items needed for the next round.
* * * *
Upon arriving at Daekyungseong, Jeongwoo and I made straight for the museum. Hurrying to the innermost room, we saw the statues of Greco-Roman gods lined up.
Having skipped the eighth and ninth rounds, I now had three Myth-grade heroes to choose from.
###
*Heracles (Myth)
-A warrior-type hero, half-god and half-human, possessing immense strength.
*Ares (Myth)
-A pure-blooded hero with exceptional combat sense unlike others and special skills.
*Aphrodite (Myth)
-A support hero, goddess of desire, who uses seductive charms fueled by lust.
###
If I hadn't spoken with Vulcanus, I might have agonized over it. But I selected the second option without hesitation.
[Myth-grade summon discovered]
[It's a 'Myth'-grade summon reaching a population of 20.]
[Will you recruit 'Ares'?]
"Yes."
Crack!
The statue of Ares, with its frizzy hair and thick eyebrows, began to crumble bit by bit.
I crossed my arms and waited for him to awaken.
"Kim Cheonjae, is that guy Ares?"
"Yeah. First time seeing him?"
"Yeah. No reason for a warrior class to come here."
"...True."
Once the statue fragments fully fell away, a man in a red cape and blue armor emerged from within.
"Who has called me?"
※ New Recruit: Ares (Warlord)
Level: 85
Health: 1050/1050
Mana: 0/0
Stamina: 100 Attack: 85
Defense: 85 Speed: 85
▶Warlord (Mana Cost: 0)
-Ares's normal attacks are judged as lethal blows, dealing critical damage to enemies.
*Critical Chance +99.98%
▶Endless Battle (Mana Cost: 0)
-Boosts ally morale to lead battles to victory.
*Health Regen +50 Mana Regen +50 (per second)
For a Myth-grade hero, his stats were surprisingly low.
Yet he felt utterly reliable. His two skills were absurd.
Every attack functioning like a skill with 'Warlord', and per-second health and mana regen of 50 with 'Endless Battle'.
A completely different vibe from Gawain or Park Gyuhwan's strength.
I looked up at him and said.
"I called you."
"...A human, eh."
"Yeah. How's it feel to awaken?"
Ares slowly examined his body, then nodded with satisfaction.
"Not bad."
"Good."
I extended my hand toward him.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Cheonjae, your master."
Ares slowly bent his knee and took my hand.
"My master, eh. Nice to meet you too—"
As we shook hands,
Boom!
A massive boom echoed.
[Body modification of 'Operations Officer' No Hyoman has been completed.]
['Kim Cheonjae'-nim's group's main storyline has changed.]
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