Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 014
Chapter Title: End of the Tutorial
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The survival game had ended. Alice, who had gathered all the players, spoke in a quiet voice.
"I won't drone on about this and that. You've all got plenty to reflect on anyway. But you need to know where you stand now, right? Check your status windows."
At Alice's words, Choi Tae-seong hurriedly called up his status window.
It was because the survival game had ended the moment he'd fallen to Kang Mu-hyuk.
'Please...!'
He couldn't judge the ranking right away, but one thing was clear: his evaluation had dropped. The number of constellations watching him had shrunk from six to five in just two hours.
'Damn it...! Damn you, Kang Mu-hyuk!!'
Choi Tae-seong's resentment naturally turned toward Kang Mu-hyuk.
'That pathetic bastard dared to take me down? Fuck! If I hadn't let my guard down...!'
His resentment soon turned to outright hatred.
Of course, Kang Mu-hyuk didn't give a rat's ass about Choi Tae-seong. Honestly, he didn't even know he was being watched. Savoring his joy was far more important than that nonsense.
His grade had risen to two stars.
And ranking first.
Brr!
Kang Mu-hyuk's lips twitched uncontrollably from the overwhelming joy. He was so elated that he barely noticed his surroundings and completely failed at controlling his expression.
However, there was one thing nagging at him...
'...Why did the number of watching constellations decrease? It wouldn't be strange if it had increased to ten.'
It was the fact that the number of constellations had dropped to just one. Why? What reason could there be?
"......"
Kang Mu-hyuk wiped the smile from his face and pondered the reason. But no answer came to mind.
'...I'll have to wait for Alice to explain.'
Kang Mu-hyuk exercised patience.
Lee Sang-hyun, who had opened his eyes, also checked his status window.
As expected, his ranking was dead last. His grade hadn't changed either. Everything was the same.
'No awakening, huh.'
Being human, Lee Sang-hyun had secretly hoped his grade might rise.
'Hmm.'
But since it hadn't, he felt a bit disappointed.
Of course, he didn't take it too hard. After all, he'd managed to survive those five days just as instructed.
Those hellish five days.
Alice looked around at the players and spoke.
"Have you all checked your levels? If so, you must have some feelings about it. Of course, that doesn't decide your future! It's just the current state. You can overturn it with your own efforts anytime."
It sounded encouraging, but the story wasn't over. There was more to come.
"However, not right now. With contracts with the constellations imminent, you'll be chosen based on your current level. Because that's your report card."
To some, it was no different from a death sentence. Don't expect more than what you showed.
Unable to let go, Choi Tae-seong asked,
"...Is there really no more chance?"
Alice nodded at his question.
"You've been given plenty of opportunities already. Any more would be asking too much. Well, don't be too disappointed. As I said, it all depends on your efforts. That's just how it is now."
"......"
Choi Tae-seong hung his head at Alice's response. His disappointment was plain even without words.
Leaving him be, Alice moved on to the next step.
"Now, you will be 'chosen.' Chosen by the great constellations who have watched you from the high heavens! Yes, that's right! True awakening, becoming perfect players."
This much was somewhat expected. But what came next surprised everyone.
"And a special opportunity has arisen."
"?!!"
"?!!"
At the words "special opportunity," everyone—even the dejected Choi Tae-seong—looked up at Alice.
Having drawn the reaction she wanted, Alice smiled meaningfully and said,
"Something that would never happen under normal circumstances, but the generous constellations have decided to give you a chance!"
A chance...?
All eyes and ears turned to Alice.
Alice grinned and said,
"The right to 'choose'! Can you believe it? The power to select a great constellation with your own hands? It's utterly unbelievable!"
"......"
"......"
Alice seemed determined to explain just how incredible this privilege was, even spitting as she spoke.
"It's absolutely impossible under normal rules! Yet the constellations have graciously granted you this right. They trust your judgment completely."
At her words, all the players blinked in silence. Most were dumbfounded. It was ambiguous whether this was truly an opportunity.
'This is...!'
But the quick-witted ones realized it immediately. This was another 'test.'
"Now, you must repay that trust. Choose the constellation that understands you best, the one that desires you most."
The players who believed more watching constellations were always better were thrown into panic. Bae Jin-cheol, in particular, froze up in shock.
"What the hell..."
His body trembled...
Seven constellations watching him. And now he had to pick just one? Without any hints?
"...Ar-Are they all the same?"
Alice shook her head at the foolish question.
"Of course not. They're all different, from the lowest 1st hierarchy to the highest 6th. A wide variety of constellations."
"...Is there no way to distinguish their hierarchies?"
At Bae Jin-cheol's question, the other players perked up their ears. Knowing the hierarchies would make choosing easier.
But the answer was disappointing.
"You can only learn a constellation's hierarchy after contracting with them."
"Th-That's...!"
"Well, it's not like there are no hints at all."
"Hints?"
"Yes! Look at the names carefully. The answer is in the names. As you all know, 'influence' starts with the name. Naturally, constellations with names are far more special. Oh, and once you decide, you can't go back, so choose wisely."
"......"
It wasn't particularly helpful.
They'd already guessed that flashier names meant stronger constellations.
'Damn it... Should I just leave it to luck?'
Without any real hints, Bae Jin-cheol bit his lip and glared at his status window.
Demon God, Dragon Lord, El Sar Alam, Magic King, Eternal Archmage, Valcar, Hell Mood.
Which one was the strongest?
Which had the highest hierarchy?
Should he pick Demon God, who'd watched him the longest?
Or Eternal Archmage?
'Damn it...'
Bae Jin-cheol's dilemma deepened.
The other players were in much the same boat. Most had 3 to 6, up to 7 constellations watching, and lower-ranked ones had all sorts of miscellaneous ones.
But Yeo Han-seol's situation was a bit different.
'Two... Only one of these is the constellation I need.'
Thanks to her exploits as a Shadow Archer, she'd placed second in her group and 873,442nd overall, narrowing her options.
She just needed to pick one of the two, and Shadow Thorn had been watching her from the start.
A 50% chance even if she closed her eyes and guessed.
'...Is there really no way to figure it out?'
Yeo Han-seol crossed her arms in thought. But no method came to mind.
She'd have to leave it to luck.
At that moment, Alice flitted by, fluttering her wings.
'...Does Alice know the answer?'
The thought struck her, and without hesitation, Yeo Han-seol asked,
"Alice. If you were me... which one would you choose? Who should I pick to have no regrets?"
Alice turned back at the question, then suddenly clapped her hands.
Clap clap clap!
"Excellent judgment, Miss Yeo Han-seol! Sometimes, leaving it to someone with sharper eyes is a valid strategy! In that spirit, I'll give you—and only you—the answer!"
"?!!"
Yeo Han-seol's face lit up with joy at the promise of the answer.
Meanwhile, the other players who missed their chance couldn't hide their envy and jealousy.
'Th-There was such a simple way...!'
'I hesitated on whether to ask...!'
'Ah, damn it!'
'That's cheating...!'
'Why was Alice over there...!'
Amid the players' mixed emotions, one person remained calm.
Kang Mu-hyuk.
"......"
In truth, he had nothing to agonize over. He only had one constellation watching.
[ 'Edge of the Sword' is watching. ]
What was there to deliberate with only one option?
Kang Mu-hyuk didn't hesitate. He was just curious why there was only one.
'Why only one... Why just a single constellation... No need to overthink it.'
The answer came quickly.
He realized it easily.
I...
'I've been chosen. Among those who want me, the strongest, the greatest constellation...!!'
Thump!!
In that instant, his heartbeat enveloped the world. He couldn't think of anything else.
That alone was the 'truth.'
'Let's go!'
Kang Mu-hyuk waited no longer.
Like a prophet receiving divine revelation, he surrendered to his fate.
"I choose this one."
Thump...!
Contract and oath.
Kang Mu-hyuk had become a true player.
Whirrrrr!!