Conclusion of the Untrodden Subjugation

Papan Tribe.

About ten days had passed since they'd wiped them out.

In that time, they'd slain countless monsters, but they hadn't made much progress from the Papan Tribe's village. It was close enough that a brisk walk could get them back in five hours.

"Ah, no way!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Heal, please!"

A lot of players had died too. Their numbers, which had started at five thousand, were now less than half. Only around two thousand players remained.

The survivors were growing exhausted and despairing, with no end in sight to their ordeal.

Of course, Mu-hyuk could endure because he knew it was almost over.

"Damn it, fight a little!"

"I am fighting!"

"Is that what you call fighting, you bastard?!"

"What do you want me to do?!"

Dying here after coming this far would mean wasting all that time. So they clung on desperately.

But that desperation twisted into something ugly—a game of chicken to avoid death. They'd hang back subtly whenever others fought.

Muuk wasn't stupid.

"Hmm."

He'd known about it all along. He just didn't want to give up after coming this far.

"Captain."

"What is it."

"I don't think we can push any further."

A heavy silence followed Kirk's words from the vice-captain.

"We'll talk after the battle."

"Yes, sir."

Only then did Muuk and the official knights step forward.

They were definitely different.

Was this the gap in levels?

Krwaaaah!

The monsters began to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠melt away.

Like sand swept up in waves. The engulfed grains scattered helplessly before the surf's power.

By the time the overwhelming official knights sheathed their swords, every monster was gone.

"Vice-captain."

"Yes, Captain."

"We can't go any further, right?"

"That's how it looks."

"No choice, then."

Muuk made up his mind, let the players rest, and positioned himself at their center.

"Everyone, listen up!"

The players turned their heads.

"The subjugation ends here. Take ample rest and prepare to head back."

"Wh-what...?"

"Finally!"

Many players cheered.

The month-long subjugation had wrapped up like this. Regrettably, there weren't any major gains.

But Mu-hyuk knew. The second uncharted subjugation party, advancing from the Papan Tribe's village as their starting point, would claim some solid achievements.

*

The way back felt incredibly short.

"But why aren't the monsters respawning?"

"Who knows..."

"Hmm, maybe there were just so many that the ones wandering around hadn't respawned yet?"

"What're you talking about?"

"I mean, the respawn spot's A, but it overflowed, so they moved to B. We just cleared the ones in B."

"Ahh."

"Huh, that makes sense..."

"What else?"

"That there were that many monsters?"

"Obviously. How many did we kill?"

"True."

Mu-hyuk overheard it too.

Smart kid?

The player was spot on.

Thanks to no respawns, they made it back to the Weibra Empire in under three days. Only then did the reality of it being over sink in.

Sung Min-woo plopped down beside him.

"Hoo, that was rough."

"Yeah, it dragged on."

"I was worried it might never end, man."

"You leveled up a ton, though."

"True, six levels in a month."

"Not bad."

"You got six too."

That put Sung Min-woo at level 84 and Mu-hyuk at 86. It had been a whole month since Mu-hyuk hit 80 and learned his warhorse skill.

"Still a two-level gap."

"I'll catch up soon."

"You better. So, how many skulls?"

"Skulls?"

"Yeah."

"Eight."

He'd snagged a whopping eight skulls.

Six for warriors.

One for a mage.

One for an archer.

Of course, these were from his own efforts. After parting with the players, he'd head to an inn to evolve his skeletons.

That's when Muuk emerged from Count Kairon's mansion, followed by official knights carrying hefty crates.

Muuk stopped in place.

He looked at the players and spoke.

"Everyone, you did well."

Who could disagree?

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had been a grueling journey.

"Now, we'll distribute rewards based on contribution."

He called out one person.

"Millennia Commander Mu-hyuk, step forward."

Mu-hyuk advanced.

Face-to-face with Muuk.

"Your countless contributions in battle and beyond—I'm grateful. Count Kairon holds you in special regard and has decided to gift you something truly precious. I think you'll like it."

Vice-captain Kirk brought a long box and handed it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to Muuk, who passed it to Mu-hyuk.

"Thank you."

He accepted the long box.

A grin broke across his face.

Over 600 contribution points, plus unexpected achievement points. Imagining what he could buy with them lifted his spirits.

What to get with the contribution?

Combined with what he already had, he could snag an item with killer options.

This made him eager to master crafting. Mastering it unlocked a new skill that supercharged items.

Though pro blacksmiths would master it faster, of course.

He shook off the thought and stepped back.

"Next, Millennia Commander Sung Min-woo."

"Yes, sir!"

Sung Min-woo, promoted to millennia commander after the Papan Tribe, responded loudly and stepped up. While he received his reward, Mu-hyuk checked the box.

Click.

Inside lay a single sword.

Hm? This is...

It wasn't the reward Mu-hyuk remembered. Probably because his contribution outstripped that past player's.

He gripped the hilt and lifted it.

Check info.

A hologram appeared.

Mu-hyuk's eyes trembled. Sky-high physical and magical attack.

It had increased cutting power, plus a whopping 2% reaction speed.

The requirements were tricky, but no issue for him. One item could cover the wisdom gap.

Try equipping?

He bought a wisdom-boosting earring from the auction house. Once equipped, gripping Kurkan's Longsword activated the options.

A light swing showed its perfect balance—heavy yet nimble.

Best of all: the transformation magic.

Transform.

The longsword became a staff.

The staff became a bow.

The bow reverted to sword.

Three forms, seamlessly linked.

A weapon made for him.

No more fumbling in inventory: sword in, bow out; bow in, staff out.

That hesitation created gaps—gaps that could become fatal over time.

No more.

Hunting would be smoother from now on.

Perfect.

Muuk hadn't exaggerated.

Swish.

He stowed his bow, pulled out a shield for his back, and sheathed Kurkan's Longsword at his side.

"Next, century commanders..."

Sung Min-woo had finished and stepped down; century commanders went up one by one.

"All decade commanders, step forward."

Then all the decade commanders.

Finally, the remaining players got theirs at once.

"Freedom at last!"

"I'm free!"

"Let's rest proper and chill on some quests."

"Sounds good."

As the cheering players moved to leave, Muuk stopped them.

"Finally, everyone except the two millennia commanders—follow Vice-captain Kirk."

"Huh?"

"Isn't it over?"

"What's this?"

Kirk stepped forward.

"The Count has opened a small warehouse specially. Pick something fitting your contributions!"

The players halted.

"What?"

"More rewards?"

"Something matching our contributions?"

"Let's check it out."

"If it's extra loot, jackpot."

They followed Kirk, puzzled.

All players gone except the two.

"Millennia commanders."

"Yes."

"Yessir!"

"Come inside."

Sung Min-woo, box still unopened, and the composed Mu-hyuk followed Muuk into the mansion.

Passing a long corridor, Sung Min-woo regretfully inventory-ed the whole box.

Muuk opened a door at the end, revealing the Count inside.

"You're here."

He closed his papers and sat on the sofa.

"Good work. You're dismissed."

"Yes, my lord."

Muuk withdrew, leaving Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo.

"Sit."

Mu-hyuk, having met him before, had no issue. Sung Min-woo, a bit dazed, just followed suit.

"Heard you worked hard again."

"It was tough."

"Haha, straightforward—I like it. As before, your contributions were huge."

"Thank you."

"And your comrade's impressive too, they say."

"Th-thanks."

Count Kairon smiled.

"You'll get access to my personal warehouse again."

Mu-hyuk's eyes gleamed.

Nice.

Qualitatively different from the others' "small warehouse." He said "personal warehouse" this time.

"Thank you."

"No need. You earned it. We'll see each other often, I suspect."

Mu-hyuk just smiled.

"No need to visit again. Browse the warehouse and go. Ah, but if I summon you later, will you come?"

"Of course."

"Good. Take this token."

He accepted the token.

"10% discount anywhere in the Weibra Empire. Using it lets me track your location—makes summoning easier."

"I'll use it well."

"Alright, off you go."

Muuk waited outside the office.

"Follow me."

He led them to the warehouse.

Once inside, Sung Min-woo finally spoke.

"What the hell is this?"

"Something good."

"G-good?"

"Yeah. What's your contribution score?"

"760."

"Pick something matching."

Sung Min-woo finally scanned the room.

Innumerable treasures.

Weapons among them.

"H-here?"

"Yep."

Sung Min-woo grabbed the nearest sword.

"Whoa!"

"Good?"

"In-insane! Too good!"

His face fell.

"But my contribution's short."

"Plenty more. Take your time."

"Right... whoa..."

Sung Min-woo wandered in a daze.

"Snap out of it."

"Uh, yeah."

Mu-hyuk started browsing too, hearing the absentminded reply.