Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 015
Chapter Title: The End of the Tutorial (2)
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A dazzling, radiant light enveloped Kang Mu-hyuk, beautiful like the sun rising at dawn. From that moment, the players began forming contracts with constellations one by one.
Whirrrrr!
Yeo Han-seol, Kim Sung-jin, Park Hye-min, Bae Jin-cheol, Im Dong-gyu, Seong Nak-hyun, Lee Bo-ra, and even Choi Tae-seong. Everyone found and selected their own constellations, gaining holy star seats.
"......"
Lee Sang-hyun watched them. He stood quietly, observing their awakenings in silence.
It offered no revelations, no transmission of holy constellation power. Just like always, it remained silent.
But Lee Sang-hyun wasn't impatient. Instinctively, he knew that composure was essential in moments like this.
So he stayed silent, unflustered even when Alice approached.
"Aren't you going to choose one, Mr. Lee Sang-hyun? Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and contract with a constellation."
Lee Sang-hyun answered Alice's question.
"I already did."
"...Pardon? Already?"
"Yeah."
Alice furrowed her brow at his response. Then she started probing openly.
"Who... No, which one did you contract with?"
Lee Sang-hyun hesitated for a moment on how to answer Alice's question. Because he didn't know who it was or even its name.
He was about to make something up when...
...it spoke in that taciturn voice.
Nameless.
Lee Sang-hyun spoke the name.
"Nameless."
Alice's wings fluttered at the word Nameless. Then she tilted her head.
"Na... Nameless?"
Lee Sang-hyun nodded and added.
"Nameless. That's right."
"Nameless... A constellation with a name, and its name is Nameless..."
Ha!
Alice's face twisted unpleasantly. It was an expression overflowing with mockery, clearly ridiculing Lee Sang-hyun.
"I see the level of your constellation. If it doesn't even have a name worth boasting, it's probably a 1st Hierarchy. One of those rare ones."
"......"
"Well, considering you're at 82 millionth out of 82 million players, Mr. Lee Sang-hyun... I guess it's not surprising you wouldn't understand. Anyway, congrats on contracting with your constellation. No idea what'll happen going forward, but give it your best. Who knows? Maybe you can climb higher than rock bottom."
Alice flapped her wings and flew off without a backward glance.
Lee Sang-hyun watched her go, then looked up at the sky.
"......"
Somewhere up there...
Is Nameless watching?
A special yet suspicious constellation?
Such trivial thoughts passed through Lee Sang-hyun's mind.
'It's been watching all along.'
The fact that it had been by his side the whole time brought a quiet, very quiet smile to Lee Sang-hyun's face.
He might have even doubted it.
Maybe it didn't exist.
Maybe it was all just delusion.
Fortunately, no such misfortune occurred. It existed. Nameless existed, and it was still by his side.
Thump...!
Alice looked at the people reborn as perfect players and spoke.
"Now, only the final trial awaits you all."
The mention of the final trial reignited the subdued players' momentum.
Fwosh!!
Their sharp auras were markedly different from before. Just ten minutes ago, they were amateurs; now, they exuded the vibe of seasoned veterans with a decade of experience.
Alice revealed her satisfaction.
"The final trial is more like a bonus game compared to the previous ones. Because the goal isn't competing against others, but clearing a 'dungeon.'"
"......"
"Of course, it's still a trial in that it gauges your capabilities. Fail, and you get nothing. Zilch."
It wasn't hard to grasp. Think of it as a test that's not quite a test.
"So choose wisely. As you all know, you only get one choice."
Alice didn't drag it out. She snapped her fingers with a crack!, presenting the players with their options.
Grave of the Fallen
📍 Objective: Clear
⏰ Time Limit: 99 hours
🎁 Difficulty: Stage 1 / Stage 2 / Stage 3 / Stage 4 / Stage 5
The translucent display showed a five-stage dungeon.
"Stage 5 is probably the hardest."
Kang Mu-hyuk was the first to speak up again. But unlike before, he seemed disinterested in 'scores.' Choi Tae-seong clicked his tongue, annoyed by the sight.
Alice answered Kang Mu-hyuk's question.
"Yes, exactly! Stage 5 is the toughest! For a hint: Stage 1 is called 'Dullard,' Stage 2 'Prodigy,' Stage 3 'Genius,' Stage 4 'Prophet,' and Stage 5... well... we call it 'Calamity' for now."
"Prophet and Calamity... Sounds tough."
Alice nodded at Kang Mu-hyuk's mutter.
"If you think you're a genius or better, go ahead and challenge it. But fail, and you get nothing. Absolutely zilch."
"Nothing?"
"Yep, nothing."
The players' eyes grew even more cautious at Alice's grave warning.
"Also, failing a challenge puts you behind even those who succeed at Stage 1. Like sprinting ahead only to trip over a pebble. You won't die, but the penalty is massive."
"......"
Kang Mu-hyuk, who had been set on Stage 5, frowned at that.
Choi Tae-seong frowned too, not hiding his discomfort.
'...So are you telling me to challenge it or not?'
Regardless, Alice gave her final advice as a guide.
"So choose carefully. Going for the highest isn't always best."
Despite Alice's advice, Kang Mu-hyuk kept his eyes on Stage 5, the highest difficulty.
The reason? He judged he could clear it with his 6th Hierarchy constellation contract.
'No doubt about my talent. If anything, I've been undervaluing myself. Thinking I might not be a genius. So this time, act boldly. No need to copy Choi Tae-seong, but there's something to learn from his aggressiveness.'
Kang Mu-hyuk's mind tilted toward challenging it. Objectively, there was no reason to avoid it.
6th Hierarchy contract.
Ranking 1st.
One rank higher.
With all that, any reason to back down?
None. Absolutely none.
'Challenge it.'
Kang Mu-hyuk decided on Stage 5. No fear. If anything, a sense of mission because it was him.
"?"
But unexpectedly, someone blocked him: Alice.
She halted Kang Mu-hyuk as he went for Stage 5 and whispered secretly.
"Choose Stage 4. Stage 5 isn't made to be cleared—it's made to inspire despair."
Before he could ask what that meant, Alice vanished.
"......"
Left alone, Kang Mu-hyuk mulled over her words repeatedly.
Not made to be cleared.
Made to inspire despair.
Not hard to understand. A little imagination made it clear.
'...A trap. A trap disguised as a trial. A lesson for reckless fools.'
Lesson or not, Stage 5 was clearly the wrong answer.
So Kang Mu-hyuk chose the right one.
After agonizing, Choi Tae-seong decided on Stage 5. Because there was no other way to close the gap with the leaders.
'Can't catch the frontrunners with ordinary methods. Gotta challenge even if it's reckless.'
A fleeting thought: Isn't Stage 5 too reckless? But his 12 millionth ranking clouded his judgment.
'...Damn it! If I hadn't let my guard down then, top 10,000 would've been easy! Curse you!!'
Bubble bubble!
The more he thought, the more fury toward Kang Mu-hyuk boiled up. It clouded his rational thinking.
Still, he had something to rely on.
'This time... I'll make it no matter what. No, I have to! Me, 12 millionth? After beating that damn Kang Mu-hyuk three times? And my constellation's 4th Hierarchy!!'
The 4th Hierarchy constellation and vastly empowered mana gave him ample confidence.
'I'll... definitely catch up.'
Choi Tae-seong vowed to completely rewrite his evaluation this time.
................
......
'Tsk tsk! Idiot who doesn't know his place!'
Alice clicked her tongue secretly at where Choi Tae-seong had vanished.
'Has to die to come to his senses.'
Her eyes held contempt for the fool, even anger. But she didn't bother wasting more on Lee Sang-hyun, just crossing her arms.
'...Last place glancing at Stage 5. Does he have a brain or not? Whatever, do what you want. You'll still be last.'
With that, Alice completely lost interest in Lee Sang-hyun. Instead, she whispered advice to players with famous constellations.
Stage 3 seems good.
How about Stage 2?
Stage 4 is a bit...
Whisper whisper!
What to choose?
Lee Sang-hyun pondered seriously.
'Realistically, Stage 3 is most appropriate.'
Considering his Berserker class traits, Stages 1 and 2 were out. Minimum Stage 3, Stage 4 with some strain, Stage 5 assuming death.
'Stage 5... Honestly, no clue if I can clear it.'
Then he overheard Alice and Kang Mu-hyuk's conversation.
'...Not made to be cleared, but to inspire despair?'
He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but it reached his ears.
'Not a trap, then.'
Strictly speaking, not a trap. If she'd only told Kang Mu-hyuk about the 'Calamity,' maybe. But she'd said it to everyone.
So Lee Sang-hyun ruled out Stage 5. It was despair and calamity, not opportunity.
'Essentially, Stage 4 is the real highest. What to do? Challenge Stage 4 like Kang Mu-hyuk...'
As his mind shifted from 3 to 4, light shone from Stage 5.
"......"
He recognized it instantly, like when he chose Berserker. Unmistakable.
'...Stage 5.'
Lee Sang-hyun exhaled quietly. But he didn't overthink like an idiot.
'Stage 5.'
Simply.
As Nameless wished, he chose Stage 5.
He didn't know what results this choice would bring, but it didn't matter.
What mattered was being with Nameless.
'Now it begins.'