Chapter 356
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: 8uhl Chapter: 356 Chapter Title: Will You Accept? -----------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes, even rumors without legs travel a thousand miles.
Africa was no exception.
“They're restarting the conquest war from Egypt?”
“I heard Utopia Guild and the African military governments formed a continental alliance to oppose them?”
“And the leader of this alliance is the Eastern Outlaw, a white woman? What kind of bullshit is this?”
When the rumor first spread, few took it seriously.
Resuming a war that had already halted so abruptly was absurd enough.
But an unprecedented continental alliance forming in response, led by the Eastern Outlaw no less—a white woman from the east?
It was far too outlandish.
Yet before even a few days had passed, people realized it wasn't mere gossip.
The Egyptian legions, who had returned home after ending the conquest war, suddenly mobilized again.
Troops from military governments across Africa gathered in droves, assembling before their eyes and confirming the reality.
A massive war for Africa's hegemony was about to begin.
“My God...”
“A full-scale war is really breaking out? Between Egypt and the continental alliance?”
Once people learned the truth, they scrambled for information, albeit belatedly.
With their nation's survival or enslavement hanging on the war's outcome, they ran around like their pants were on fire.
Ironically, their frenzy only spawned more baseless rumors.
‘The losing side in this war will be reduced to ashes!’
‘Utopia Guild will obviously be the first target!’
‘The Summon Lord's disappearance is because he allied with another lord to call in reinforcements!’
Even amid the chaos, someone was making money off it.
Tabloids from various countries spread these wild tales, plunging already turbulent Africa into deeper confusion.
It was a consequence of Africa—under military rule—lacking proper media outlets.
Some rumors were pure tabloid fodder.
“By the way, I heard this war started over one guy.”
“What nonsense is that?”
“You know, the one the African Tyrant took as a concubine this time.”
“That genius strategist with the nation-toppling beauty? The Egyptian noble?”
“Apparently, he was originally the Eastern Outlaw's favored consort. So the Outlaw flipped out after losing him and started the war...”
“What the hell? You think war is a joke? Over some romantic spat?”
“...Yeah, that's gotta be fake news.”
“Obviously!”
Even the most gullible dismissed the idea of it being a lovers' quarrel.
The notoriously eccentric Eastern Outlaw? Fine. But the war-obsessed Tyrant bewitched by a man?
At that point, it was comedy gold.
Some tabloids hyped her as a beauty dooming nations anyway, just to sell copies.
But they didn't know.
That their rags would reach even a remote hideout.
Crunch.
A man with a vivid burn scar on his face and a severed left arm.
At first glance, he looked like a war victim or retired soldier.
But his sharp, piercing eyes belied his battered body as he silently stared at the newspapers and tabloids spread across the table.
Crunch crunch.
Editorials on the war.
Rumors of the Summon Lord's death.
Absurd claims that it all stemmed from a love triangle.
The mishmash of content barely qualified as journalism.
The man had even flipped through the tabloids at first like they were a comedy show.
Crunch crunch crunch.
Yet now, he rolled the steel therapy ball with cold, humorless eyes for one reason.
He'd seen something infuriating in the tabloid.
“Waging war for continental hegemony without me... Damn. Turns out becoming obsolete happens in a blink.”
The man let out a hollow chuckle.
He understood Namim's decision.
Utopia Guild couldn't face Egypt alone, so joining the continental alliance—even unilaterally—was inevitable, not ideal.
If blame was due, it lay with him for cutting ties and going into hiding.
Of course, if it had been a man, he'd have fed him alive to a summon. But he was generous with beauties.
Likewise, he could understand the Eastern Outlaw seizing the alliance leadership that should have been his.
“Well, that I can chalk up to 'shit happens'...'
All the world's beauties were his by right.
Be it Namim's Utopia or Rose's alliance.
They'd end up in his hands alongside them. No need to fret.
But one thing.
One intolerable affront.
“Why does this little shit keep crossing the line?”
He glared at one tabloid.
More precisely, the photo inside.
Snapped on a city stroll, it showed a woman in uniform and a blond, tanned boy.
Captioned as a date, but the boy's face was impassive, Hasneti's expression icy—like an inspection tour.
Yet the man, who lived to claim her, knew.
The boy might not realize.
But she was genuinely happy.
Her eyes on Rimor held a fiery affection absent in her usual gaze.
“What trick did he pull? Some enchantment skill?”
Of course, he knew charms didn't work on her.
No gift, no heartfelt proposal, not even burning hesitation away swayed her.
She always looked at him like a bug, so falling for this brat? Unbelievable.
“...Really pisses me off.”
Griiiind!
He crushed the steel ball in his hand.
The thought that she might have already bedded this punk.
No—even if not—daring to harbor another man in her heart boiled his blood.
Perhaps the premonition that this war truly was over jealousy fueled it more.
Plop plop.
That's why.
He fell silent after dropping the ball's shards.
Pondering.
Gazing at the floor.
Then he sighed softly.
“No choice.”
The man looked up.
Gazing at the sky outside—specifically, a star there—he murmured lowly.
“‘Gatekeeper Who Opens the World.’”
The constellation contracted with you responds to your call.
‘Gatekeeper Who Opens the World’ proposes a contract renewal. If you agree, you will gain the power to seize what you desire.
Will you accept the contract renewal?
The constellation contracted with you responds to your call.
‘Gatekeeper Who Opens the World’ proposes a contract renewal. If you agree, you will gain the power to seize what you desire.
Will you accept the contract renewal?
Right then.
A message appeared.
The same proposal from the constellation he'd once postponed resurfaced.
He'd had no intention of accepting.
Even benevolent constellations granting power via contracts didn't make offers like this, as far as he knew.
He'd planned to gather more info before deciding.
But his wrecked body.
The shifting continental landscape.
Above all, his seething impatience and rage.
Drove him to crave power at any cost.
“I accept the contract renewal.”
At that moment, Brangga—level 100 player and one of only eight, the Summon Lord—made his long-delayed choice.
The world's balance shook.
A hole tore in the natural order.
And with a brilliant light...
Squelch.
Grrrrrind!
Kaaaah! Aaaargh!
―A single star burrowed into him.
Bam!
“How do you plan to take responsibility for this mess, Mezion?!”
Liberation Brigade's No. 4 Wraith, Labyrinth, slammed the table.
And bellowed like a dragon spewing fire.
“I told you to stay out of it and lie low! So why are we the ones getting wrecked?!”
[...As foretold by the Great Star's prophecy, the Seven Dragon Society's turmoil has already begun.]
“Economic sanctions? You call that turmoil?”
[This is merely the beginning. The turmoil will grow. Bide your time.]
“Bullshit! Half our branches are already smashed! How much longer? Until the entire brigade is wiped out?!”
Labyrinth didn't hide his hostility.
The other attending Wraiths showed their displeasure too.
The Liberation Brigade's plight was that dire.
Luckily, the Eight Great Guilds hadn't mobilized, sparing the Wraiths.
But a third of executive ranks were dead.
Low-level casualties were incalculable.
Even viewing underlings as tools, the loss of forces and wealth grated.
“Cut the crap and fix this, or step down from No. 2 and own it!”
[I cannot.]
“Dodging responsibility?”
[No—with a new comrade joining our brigade, I've already stepped down to No. 3.]
“...What?”
Labyrinth and the others reeled in shock as Mezion coolly continued.
[I mentioned recruiting new comrades to fill the gaps.]
“You gave No. 2 to this new guy?”
[Yes.]
The Wraiths murmured.
They knew what ceding the unshakable No. 2 spot meant.
“...But fully accepting the Star's blessing takes time. What about the spirit weapon?”
[The spirit weapon is ready, and the new comrade is adapting to the blessing as best they can.]
“Then wait until they're adapted before handing over ranks?”
[No need to worry.]
Frustrated at losing his eyed No. 2 spot so easily, Labyrinth pressed, but Mezion remained unshaken.
Calmly replying.
[The new comrade's power has already surpassed mine.]
“What?!”
Labyrinth jumped.
Weak among lords, but as a Wraith, Mezion was a powerhouse even against multiple peers.
A fresh blessing recipient surpassing him? Unthinkable.
[Look forward to it.]
Mezion addressed the stunned Wraiths.
The new comrade's innate combat prowess was middling, but they possessed a unique absolute skill.
That power would more than compensate for losses from Seven Dragon Society bounties and pursuits.
And...
[Once the new comrade fully adapts, not even the dragonized Seven Dragon Society princess or a Sword Master will stand against us.]
Not mere speculation.
With ironclad certainty.
Liberation Brigade's new No. 3 Wraith smirked coldly.