Surrender of Quenam
Grand Steward Nio's brow furrowed deeply.
"What? They're refusing our request for reinforcements?"
"Yes, Grand Steward."
Nio's body trembled at the mage's response through the crystal orb. A torrent of rage and bewilderment surged uncontrollably from him.
"Contact them again! Right now!"
"Understood."
As soon as the connection was reestablished, Nio stepped forward.
"This is Grand Steward Nio of the Quenam Empire!"
- Hello.
"We requested aid from an allied nation—how dare you refuse?!"
- We're sorry. They want to observe the situation a bit longer.
"What? Observe?!"
- Yes.
"Observe what in this situation?!"
- We believe you still have some leeway. And we have our own circumstances as well.
"Circumstances? What circumstances?!"
- It's difficult to discuss.
"Urgh...!"
- We're busy, so we'll end the call here.
The connection cut off.
"How dare they...!"
After trembling in fury for a while, Nio finally regained his composure and sought out the emperor.
"Your Majesty."
"Yes? Did everything go well?"
"Well..."
Sensing something off in Nio's demeanor, Emperor Barta III twisted his lips.
"What did they say?"
"They only said to observe the situation further..."
"What?"
"It seems we can't expect reinforcements."
"Kuh... Kuhahaha! How amusing. Truly amusing."
The other two empires on Kaion Continent were saying they wouldn't care even if Quenam fell.
It made sense from their perspective—Quenam had always been the southern outlier, after all.
"Heh, indeed. An alliance in name only. I'd forgotten that for a moment."
"What shall we do, Your Majesty?"
"Heh heh. For this to happen in my reign... It's almost laughable."
Even as they spoke, the building shook.
Boom. Rumble.
"Your Majesty, the shield is about to break soon."
"Your Majesty, you must decide now!"
The nobles grew urgent as well.
Emperor Barta III had no choice but to make the call.
"Surrender."
"Y-Your Majesty...?"
"Your Majesty! At least send the elite soldiers...!"
"No. Needless sacrifices are pointless. No takebacks. Do it."
Grand Steward Nio rose to his feet.
He immediately climbed the walls and planted a white flag.
The symbol of surrender.
The moment they spotted the flag, Duke Amur used amplification magic to convey his command.
"Everyone, cease fire!"
The artisans, and even the players, halted their attacks.
"The enemy has surrendered—the gates will open soon!"
"Woooooh!"
"See? It wasn't that big a deal."
"We were just too strong."
"You think? Heh."
As they chatted, the gates of Quenam Empire began to creak open.
With Duke Amur at the lead, soldiers and players followed behind.
They entered with utmost dignity. But suddenly, Duke Amur halted mid-stride.
"It's been a while."
Emperor Barta III of Quenam Empire had been waiting.
"Indeed. Good to see you."
"Meeting under these circumstances is regrettable, Your Majesty."
"I feel the same."
The two gazed at each other briefly.
This was clearly Duke Amur's victory, yet the man was an emperor. No one could treat him lightly.
Besides, even in war, this was a continental conflict.
Truth be told, swallowing an entire continent was impossible.
Showing strength to claim what they wanted was enough. This battle had been merely the means to that end.
"Let's go inside first."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Duke Amur turned to take in the players.
"Rest well, all of you."
As Duke Amur and the emperor departed, the players wandered the empire's interior, sightseeing or heading to restaurants to enjoy meals and relax.
Watching them, Mu-hyuk's eyes suddenly gleamed.
"Hey, wait a sec!"
He hurriedly cast amplification magic to call out to the players.
"Something just occurred to me."
The players tilted their heads.
"How about setting Quenam Empire as our starting point?"
"Huh?"
"As our respawn point?"
"Yeah. The reason we haven't changed it is because we might die every time we respawn on Kaion Continent, right? But Quenam is part of Kaion, and we've taken its surrender, so it should be safe."
"Hmm..."
"Yeah, it would definitely reduce risks."
Some players nodded in agreement.
"Still, the future's uncertain..."
"Of course. Not forcing it—just something to consider."
Of course, Mu-hyuk planned to set it here himself.
"Ooh, sounds good."
"Anywhere with oppa is fine by me."
Sung Min-woo, Yerin, and Kim Ji-yeon agreed too.
"Then let's do it here."
"Yeah!"
Mu-hyuk and his group promptly set Quenam Empire as their starting point.
Upon death, you will respawn in Quenam Empire.
Now, even if they died, they could rejoin the battle after just one day.
"Let's rack up contribution points and get some real rewards."
"Okay!"
"Awesome!"
They spent the time relaxing leisurely afterward.
Suddenly, Sung Min-woo spread his arms wide, savoring his freedom.
"Ahh, this feels great!"
"What’s with you all of a sudden?"
"Just feels good, man."
"Feels kinda weird relaxing in enemy territory like this."
"Right? Me too..."
Mu-hyuk nodded, agreeing with Yerin and Kim Ji-yeon. Sung Min-woo alone threw his head back, basking in it.
"What's weird about it? I like it even more because of that. Ahh, sooo good!"
"You're insane."
"Seriously weird."
"I-I think so too. B-but he's still a good guy..."
Sung Min-woo grinned sheepishly at Kim Ji-yeon's words.
"Feel the freedom in your heart! It's amazing."
"Tch."
"Jeez..."
They clicked their tongues, but smiles tugged at Mu-hyuk's and Yerin's lips anyway.
It was an unfamiliar experience, but that made it all the more enjoyable.
"Alright, we've eaten."
"Oppa, going back to enhancements?"
"Gotta."
"Then I should reinforce my squirrels too. Let's go together."
"Sure."
Yerin and Mu-hyuk settled in, focusing on their respective tasks.
In the meantime, Duke Amur and Emperor Barta III had a thorough discussion, reaching a mutually satisfactory conclusion.
"Then, please ensure solid compensation."
"Don't worry."
"Also..."
"Once the war ends, I'll put in a good word for Count Alteon."
"Thank you."
"Heading back?"
"Yes. The other empires don't seem cooperative."
"I see. Rest before you go."
"Understood."
Duke Amur stood.
"Then."
After bidding farewell and stepping outside, he addressed the soldiers and Forma Continent players.
"We'll rest fully for two days before departing. The gates will stay closed during that time—no dangers, so relax."
"Ooh, a proper break at last."
"Haa. Logging out. See you tomorrow."
"Me too!"
The players dwindled quickly.
With their packed schedule so far, rest was essential.
"Shall we go too?"
"Haven't seen the outside in ages, oppa."
"Sounds good. Beer?"
"Yeah!"
Sung Min-woo and Kim Ji-yeon logged out next.
Clang, clang!
Yerin and Mu-hyuk immersed themselves in their work.
"Ah, success!"
Yerin beamed after successfully enhancing her squirrels, turning her head aside.
There sat Mu-hyuk, still deep in concentration.
As she watched him quietly, footsteps approached from behind. Turning, she saw numerous men in armor emblazoned with Quenam Empire's crest.
The knight captain at the front froze, stunned by Yerin's beauty.
"Hoo, she's a beauty."
Yerin frowned slightly.
His tone and attitude reeked of unpleasantness.
"Now I see why His Majesty specially allowed you to stay here."
"What do you mean?"
"With beauties like you scattered around...!"
The knight captain smirked sleazily.
"He must mean for us to have some fun together."
The captain approached Yerin.
"Come with us."
"No, what are you even...!"
At that moment, Mu-hyuk, who had been working beside her, stood up.
"Ah, oppa."
"Hoo."
His focus broken, Mu-hyuk had caught the knight captain's words.
Game or not, seeing someone he loved treated this way made fury rise to his throat.
"What did you just say?"
"Hah, a filthy outsider daring to speak casually to a knight? His Majesty pitied you wretches and took you in—know your place! Men, scram. Women, come with us. Just have some fun with us."
Mu-hyuk let out a scoffing laugh.
Not from amusement.
From rising irritation.
From peaking rage.
The area was already filling with onlookers.
"Hah, is that knight crazy?"
"Tch. Some blockheads like that pop up."
"Knights and nobles..."
"Plenty of decent NPCs too."
"Problem is that blockhead talking like that to Mu-hyuk..."
"Let's watch for now."
Their chatter didn't even register.
Only one person filled his vision.
The knight before him.
Grip.
Then, the feel of Yerin's hand on his arm.
"Oppa."
"Ahh..."
He finally regained his cool and looked at her.
"You okay? Scared?"
"A little."
"What about that knight scum?"
"Beat him till he's half-dead."
Mu-hyuk smiled at her words.
"Got it."
With that, he summoned all his skeletons.
The knight captain's face paled slightly at the skeletons bursting from everywhere.
"Wh-what is this?!"
"What else? Reeducating an idiot. Let's start by fixing that useless head of yours."
Mu-hyuk's hand moved swiftly.
Swish, twang!
He nocked and loosed an arrow in an instant. The close range left the knight no time to dodge. The arrow embedded straight into his helmet.
"Kuhuk!"
The impact whipped the knight's head around.
"Y-you mad...!"
As he recoiled and raised his head, another arrow struck the same spot.
Bang!
This one hit harder.
"Att-attack!"
At his order, the other knights advanced hesitantly. Unlike their captain, they weren't fools—they grasped the dire situation.
But the captain, drunk on power, refused to see reality.
Even in defeated Quenam, they should have treated the victors properly. Yet he lacked even that basic sense.