Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Gyeongseong Showdown
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Jo Younggi turned the key in the ignition of one of the pickup trucks parked in front of the Conqueror's Tomb.
Vroom-vroom-vroom-. Vroom-vroom-vroom-.
The truck let out a feeble rumble, like a drunken foal. He kept twisting the key until—pop!—it finally cleared like a clogged hole bursting open, belching out a cloud of black smoke.
The sound of the engine turning over filled the air.
Rrrrrumble!
I climbed into the front passenger seat alongside Jo Younggi.
Kim Ria and Kim Yeonhui got in the back.
We set off straight for Gyeongseong.
“Kim Cheonjae, we're heading out.”
“Hold up. Jo Younggi, you got a driver's license?”
“Of course I do.”
“...Good. But is it Class 1 or 2? This thing looks manual.”
“Manual, automatic—I'm good with both. Don't worry. I've got a pro license.”
Pro license sounded reliable, but I'd never heard of it.
Was it something only given to race car drivers? I asked him.
“Pro license?”
“Yeah. Rainbow Gloves. I'm gonna drive faster than anyone, so grab the handle tight.”
“Rainbow Gloves? Wait, what the hell is—”
Vroooom!
Jo Younggi floored the accelerator.
Gravity yanked at my back, slamming my body into the seat.
Even the tiniest pebble made the truck jolt. Kim Ria and Kim Yeonhui screamed their heads off.
I gripped the handle with both hands and yelled at Jo Younggi.
“You crazy bastard! Pull over!”
Jo Younggi flashed a wicked grin as he shifted gears. He handled the controls like a pro, so he clearly knew how to drive.
So why the hell was he driving like a maniac?
Jo Younggi shouted.
“The forest is coming up!”
Crash!
We smashed through branches and plunged into the woods. Piles of corpses came into view inside—they were the monsters I'd prepared for the fourth round.
'Ugh... A-alright. At least I can take those guys with me.'
“Skeleton Summon.”
Dozens of skeleton warriors rose at my command.
[Summon List]
- Park Gyuhwan (Soldier) 1/1: Idle
- Gawain (Tiger) 1/1: Idle
- Skeleton (Warrior) 40/40: Idle
- Skeleton (Archer) 20/20: Idle
- Skeleton (Mage) 3/3: Idle
Not enough mages to make a perfect combo.
The best lineup I could pull off with these...
Dozens, hundreds of combinations flashed through my mind like assembling a puzzle.
My head sparked.
I'd figured out the final combo for this fight.
40 warriors, 20 archers, 2 mages.
Using 62 skeletons total to create two ultimate weapons.
'...In case Kim Ria turns out to be a traitor, I'll combo them later.'
The skeletons chased after the truck. No way they could catch up, but they ran hard anyway.
My summons could always track my location, so they'd find me on their own.
* * * * *
We crossed the Forest of the Dead and returned to the desert. The truck kicked up sand as it barreled forward at full speed.
Keeping my eyes on the road ahead, I asked Jo Younggi.
“Like I said before, no fancy plans. No time—just charge in and bulldoze them.”
“We don't even know how many are waiting.”
“Kyeongseong's got Korean soldiers stationed there anyway. Hanjo won't be able to run wild.”
Jo Younggi tilted his head.
“...You sure about that? A Korean necromancer's teamed up with Hanjo. And what if the enemies are stronger than you?”
“No way that's happening. He's still stuck in the third round.”
“...Kim Cheonjae.”
“What?”
“Don't assume someone stuck in the third round is weaker than you just because of that.”
He had a point.
Even if they'd only been in the third round, there were endless ways they could've grown stronger than me.
It'd take forever, sure.
But given the same time, players further along in the rounds would always pull ahead.
I knew Yi Ryanghun's skill level. Right now, I was probably stronger than him.
'Probably...'
Screeech!
Jo Younggi slammed on the brakes.
An oasis a short distance from Gyeongseong.
“We walk from here. If we roll up in the truck, they'll spot us and tighten up their defenses.”
“...Never thought I'd see you thinking ahead for once.”
“I'm naturally cautious. Unlike you, I don't just wing it.”
They say you see what you want to see.
My elaborate plans must've looked like improvisation to Chakan i.
I just nodded.
Better to let him hear what he wanted.
“Anyway, since we're here, let's split up.”
“...How?”
“You take Kim Ria and Kim Yeonhui through the back gate. Act like you have no connection to me and go looking for my friends.”
“...And you?”
“I'll go in the front and draw their fire. Pull all the enemy eyes my way.”
“While I find your group?”
I snapped my fingers.
Snap!
“Bingo! You're finally using your head.”
“Sigh... Like I told you before, I was a ranker player.”
Sure you were.
“Then I'll head in as soon as the skeleton troops arrive. You go first.”
“...In that case, we'll take the truck. Less suspicious that way.”
“Got it. Hanjo knows your face, so throw on a cloak or mask. Don't get spotted.”
“A mask, huh...”
A smirk crept across Jo Younggi's face. Kim Ria and Kim Yeonhui frowned at him.
No wonder—a thug like him looking sleazy.
* * * * *
Jo Younggi left first.
I combined the arriving skeleton soldiers in sequence, forging two advanced summons.
These guys would be the key to the fight.
※ New Recruit: Skeleton Captain (Advanced)
Level: 64
HP: 3200/3200
Mana: 0/0
Stamina: 32 Attack: 32
Defense: 32 Speed: 32
▶ Commander's Pride (Mana Cost: 0)
-All skeletons within 100m obey the 'Skeleton Captain's' commands. (Includes enemies.)
▶ Throat Interrogation (Mana Cost: 0)
-Conducts forced investigation on a target designated by the summoner. (Target under investigation is immobilized.)
'Perfect... Absolutely perfect...'
Skeletons clad in what looked like Joseon-era detective uniforms, wielding bone clubs.
They stuck close to my side.
[Kim Cheonjae's Skeleton Population Limit: 64/64]
Combo kept the population count the same, so no more skeletons.
But these two would play a huge role, so it was fine.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
Gawain arrived, panting hard. Running nonstop through the scorching desert sun would do that.
“......”
Park Gyuhwan showed up next, heavy breaths rasping from behind his mask.
I let them rest at the oasis until their breathing steadied.
Better to handle anything that could hinder the fight before moving out.
“......”
Group window showed no deaths yet.
Still, better hurry—just in case.
'No guarantee they'll keep their word.'
Once rested, the two Skeleton Captains and skeleton mages fell in behind me.
We trudged slowly across the desert toward Gyeongseong.
Before long, scattered grass appeared in the sand, quickly thickening into jungle.
Unlike a few days ago, no animals in sight.
Someone hunting them?
No idea, but no materials for Revive.
'...Nothing to be done.'
At Gyeongseong's gates, I strode right in.
Second time around, the guards just bowed—no ID check.
-Have a good trip.
“Thanks.”
Creeeak-.
Thud!
The gates swung open.
As I entered, every eye turned my way. They looked like NPCs, but wary stares.
Looking around, Korean players mixed in among the NPCs—new arrivals by their gear.
They turned away, ignoring me.
“......”
Did they recognize me?
Or just avoiding confrontation?
Either way, one thing was clear.
'Gyeongseong's changed.'
Thanks to Korea winning the fourth round, all the Japanese troops were gone.
The guards at the gates wore goblin masks—Kim Juncheol's soldiers.
Seeing them eased my mind a bit.
Allies who could help.
'Where the hell are Hanjo and Yi Ryanghun?'
To track them down, I approached a player in Gyeongseong.
“Hello.”
A bearded old man glanced sideways.
“Uh, yeah. Gotta go—busy.”
“...Wait. Why are you avoiding me?”
He waved his hands in flustered denial.
“Avoiding? What're you talking about?”
“You won't even look me in the eye.”
“I've got panic attacks—can't make eye contact.”
“...For real?”
“Yeah!”
I scratched my head.
“I see. Okay... If I don't look you in the eye, can I ask something?”
“Huh? No.”
“...Pardon?”
“No asking. If I'm caught talking to you...”
Caught talking to me?
That clicked everything into place.
Glancing around on a hunch, there it was—my wanted poster plastered on the wall.
'They were gonna sic bounty hunters on me.'
I snorted and shook my head.
“Understood. I won't ask anymore.”
Hanging my wanted poster where Kim Juncheol's troops were stationed.
Hmph.
“Well, I'll be off then...”
He hurried away.
I scratched my head awkwardly and headed to the crowded square.
If I was their target, they'd come find me.
“......You've come.”
Hanjo.
He approached with about a hundred underlings. I'd expected Yi Ryanghun too, but he was facing me solo?
I snorted.
“......Hanjo.”
“Long time no see, Kim Cheonjae.”
Up close, his aura felt different.
Peeking under the bandages, purple skin—and his emanating aura spiked sharp like a monster's.
“Got stronger while I was away?”
“Yeah... Got it from forbidden power.”
Forbidden power.
I knew what they were researching in his camp from the skin color alone.
X Virus injected into players.
A variant of the Z Virus—like modded zombies.
Disgusting bastard. Gave up being human for power.
I dragged the Dragon Fang across the ground and continued.
“Where's Yi Ryanghun?”
“Somewhere.”
He doesn't know.
“You handle the fifth round okay?”
“......Yeah, killed them all.”
Killed them all?
No such flow in the fourth round that I knew.
“......Must've gone a different story route than me.”
“Who cares how the story flows? Point is, we're meeting again.”
I brushed off my butt and stood, warning him.
“Hanjo... That level of power won't beat me. I'll let this slide once—hand over my friends and scram.”
Hanjo drew his sword.
Shiiiing.
“Long or short—we'll see when we clash. This is the Land of Ruin. If you want something, take it by force.”