Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Wish Village (Ideaya Peninsula) (6)
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10.
“Park Hyun-su……?”
In my hazy consciousness, I forced a weak smile.
“A Korean? Another Korean here…… I’m Shin Tae-yeop…….”
Just then, a chill wind blew in from somewhere.
I pulled my cloak tighter and shivered faintly.
“Ah…… It’s so cold…….”
“I’ve come to help.”
“You’ll help us? Why……? Players who help others are rare…….”
“You’re in luck. I’m one of those rare players.”
Was that a pun meant to lighten the dark mood……? I forced another smile.
“Ah…… Haha…… Wait, Park Hyun-su? If it’s Park Hyun-su, then surely…….”
The hero of the Holy City.
That was probably the name he was famous by.
[HP: 4.3%]
The Holy City, Castle Beia, was the site of the largest main event on this Ideaya Peninsula.
To earn the title of hero from the NPCs there…… He must be more impressive than he looks.
“I figured you’d be some amazing person…….”
My first impression was that he seemed so pure.
Unlike Jeong Cheol, he wasn’t sharp or keen…… Just gentle.
Just facing him put my mind at ease.
“He looks just like a neighborhood uncle.”
Right then.
Undead pouring in from over there.
I instinctively calculated a spell in my head and cast it.
───Roooaaarrrrrr!
Hiiiieeeeek…….
I could see the undead writhing madly, engulfed in flames.
[HP: 4.1%]
The problem is, I’m at my limit too.
I collapsed right there onto the ground.
“Ah…… That bastard Richard…….”
Park Hyun-su rode up on horseback. Bell jumped down from the saddle and came to me.
“I have one favor to ask…… Is it okay……? Can I call you…… Uncle……?”
“The title doesn’t matter. Your wounds…… This isn’t the time, Bloodwind!”
Park Hyun-su shouted urgently.
His horse knelt down in front of me.
Bloodwind……?
That was definitely the horse ridden by the king of the Holy City, Johan III…… Isn’t that a horse you’re not supposed to be able to get?
“Please…… Tell him…….”
I grabbed Park Hyun-su’s outstretched arm.
“When you meet the Elite Sorcerer…… Tell him the Elite Hunter…… betrayed us, and fought the Elite Knight…….”
“……?!”
“I don’t know…… how they connected…… Livione tried to protect me…….”
[HP: 3.6%]
“Ah…… So cold…….”
At that moment.
Park Hyun-su pulled my arm, gently lifting me onto the saddle.
“I’m not good with words, so I can’t remember all that.”
“……?”
I blinked, and Park Hyun-su gave a soft smile.
“That’s why you have to tell him yourself. Michelle!”
Park Hyun-su turned and shouted to the others. She was a woman with a gaunt face.
“You can use Elder Sign, right? Use it to protect these survivors now.”
“What about you? What are you going to do?”
“Her condition is serious…… She’s been poisoned.”
“……!”
“She’ll die if we stay here. We need to find Valerine.”
Valerine……?
Without even getting consent from his companion Michelle, Park Hyun-su kicked the horse’s flank.
“Hey…… W-wait! How do you plan to break through here alone?”
That was it.
My voice…… my senses……
Fading farther and farther away…… I…… Ah…… Dad…….
11.
My father killed himself.
“Tae-yeop, listen to Dad carefully.”
“Okay.”
“People can only truly be happy when they help each other.”
I remember.
How my father tried to be a good person to everyone.
“You know the Chinese character for person? Ren (人). Why do you think it looks like they’re supporting each other?”
That was the kind of father he was.
What drove such a bright and kind father to suicide?
“He must’ve been scammed by someone he trusted…….”
“…….”
“That fucking bastard, after all your dad did for him specially.”
You too, you turned away when Dad came to you in pain. I saw it all.
“Hang in there, kid. You’ve got a handsome face and a smart head—you’ll become a big shot.”
That’s when I was disappointed in people. I had to be.
So I could carry out this murder game.
So I could justify killing five players……
“Is that really true?”
Suddenly, my father’s figure appeared from the darkness ahead.
“Dad?”
“Killing people can’t be excused by any words.”
“Excuse……? They were enemies!”
“…….”
“They came at me with knives first!”
I tried to run toward the darkness. But…… no matter how much I ran, the distance stayed the same.
“Don’t go! It was all for you! To save you!”
“…….”
“You committed suicide first! You left me and Mom…… You killed yourself!”
My father gave a sad smile and turned away. From me.
“Do you even know…… how much it hurt us…… how hard it was for me……?!”
My mouth…… no, my whole body felt like it was burning.
“How desperate did I have to be to come to a battle royale like this──!”
Then, suddenly, the metallic stench of blood hit me.
What……? Looking down, my whole body was covered in blood and chunks of flesh.
“What is this…… What the hell…….”
It was a familiar smell.
The smell when I first killed someone after coming here……
“Don’t go, Dad, Dad!”
The blood made me keep slipping on the ground.
“Wait, please……! Damn it, damn it! Why won’t this wipe off?!”
No matter how much I wiped the blood, it wouldn’t go away—instead, my whole body grew stickier and slimier.
“I’m right here. Can’t you see I’m right here?!”
I couldn’t catch my father as he moved farther away.
“Dad! Dad! Dad!”
Right then.
The darkness lifted all at once, and faint light poured in.
“Dad……!”
Panting, I reached out my arm—then a burning pain shot across my shoulder blade.
“Ahk…….”
Pain……?
Next, a ceiling full of stalactites came into view.
The damp smell unique to caves……
Looking around, I saw my entire upper body wrapped in bandages.
[HP: 49%]
The status window now displayed routinely in the corner of my vision.
What……
When did my HP recover?
I clutched my sweat-soaked forehead. That’s when the voice came.
“Having a nightmare?”
I flinched and tried to sit up, only to collapse back down from the stabbing pain.
“Don’t move.”
“…….”
“The deadly poison spreading through your body was only recently neutralized with herbs. There’s still some toxin left.”
“…………?”
“You have that ‘where am I?’ look. A cave in the northern forest of Bryuka’ruk.”
“…………………?”
“Don’t worry. It’s pretty safe. Once my companions secure the area, we’ll head out for proper treatment.”
Who is this?
This voice…… I remember.
I barely turned my head. Near the cave entrance, blocked off, was an excessively broad back.
“Park Hyun-su……?”
What is he doing right now?
Then, a savory aroma wafted into my nostrils.
“Good, you remember.”
“Of course…… This is a game, after all.”
“Mind if I drop the formalities? You look about the same age as my little sister.”
Park Hyun-su rose with that massive frame and approached me.
“What…….”
His whole body was splattered in blood.
His shirt torn, armor shattered…… limping on one leg.
“This? It’s porridge. Mixed some herbs and potions in.”
Somehow, seeing him in that state holding a steaming bowl was comical.
“You must be starving, right?”
“…….”
“The hungriest time is right after recovering from injuries. Your body needs energy.”
Park Hyun-su knelt on one knee in front of me, handing over the porridge bowl and spoon with a gentle smile.
“So eat up first. Sorry, but I can’t guarantee the taste.”
That smile.
So bright and dazzling.
For a moment, I lost myself. I saw my father’s smile in it.
……Awoooooo……
That’s when the wolf pack’s howls echoed.
Elite Knight……?
My heart skipped a beat, Bloodwind neighed, and Park Hyun-su snapped his gaze outside the cave.
“Already pursuing……? I set up a scent-blocking spell…….”
That persistent bastard……
Did he track me all the way here?
“Uncle, leave me here and go.”
“What? Why?”
“Why? What use am I right now? What reason do you have to help me?”
Park Hyun-su just tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
“Use? What use?”
What…… that expression……
I slapped the bowl from his hand.
“I said leave me, you fucking idiot! Look at me! I can barely cast a couple spells. I’m dead weight!”
The bowl spilled on the cave floor with a metallic clang. Steam rose from the porridge in the cool cave air.
“This is a battle royale! A competition! I’m your enemy. Someday I’ll have to kill you!”
My fingertips trembled.
Was I scared of his answer? I wanted to scream not to pity me like this.
“Don’t you get it? Are you stupid? An idiot?”
- This isn’t a game. It’s battle royale. No allies. Anywhere. Remember that.
Faces flashed before my eyes. Elite Sorcerer · Hunter.
- Dumb kid. In battle royale, there are only the deceived and the deceivers.
“How stupid can you be?”
He’s right.
This is battle royale.
You might counter that I protected my alliance members too. But that’s different.
The alliance members were all people I gathered. I had every reason to take responsibility for them.
“So go, just go.”
But Park Hyun-su and I were strangers. No reason for him to help me.
“Leave baggage like me behind.”
Park Hyun-su scratched the back of his head awkwardly, stood, and picked up the bowl and spoon.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Yeah……
This is how it should be……
After what Jeong Cheol told me, I wanted to be like this too……
“It’s really okay, you don’t have to force yourself.”
Then Park Hyun-su replied.
He rinsed the bowl with water from a bottle and filled it with fresh porridge.
“I’ve been on real battlefields, so I know. Real war, I mean. Seen lots of guys like you.”
Real battlefield……?
Did this guy serve in the Korean Unification War like Jeong Cheol?
“They yelled to leave them behind…… but deep down, they wanted to live more than anyone and thanked us.”
“…….”
“Asking for help isn’t pathetic. Helping others isn’t stupid.”
Park Hyun-su paused filling the bowl and gave an apologetic smile.
“Helping each other is natural…… We’re human, right? I’m really fine.”
Human……?
Suddenly, my chest tightened at my dad’s voice.
“I’m not great with words…… Hope what I just said didn’t offend you.”
Why?
Why did such intense resentment surge then?
Guilt? If not that…… then what?
“You fucking idiot! Didn’t you hear? I’ll be your enemy someday. A rival you’ll have to kill!”
Park Hyun-su silently approached with the bowl.
“You’ll have a hard time. Even if I’m weak like a cripple now, I’m actually ridiculously strong?”
One step. Another step.
Then he plopped down defenselessly in front of me.
“If you want, I’ll show you my power right now. Try enduring it.”
To set up a magic circle, I opened my palm.
Right then. Just before the magic circle formed on my palm.
“Someday…… right?”
Park Hyun-su placed the warm bowl on it first.
“That means not enemies yet, right?”
“What……?”
He handed me the spoon with his other hand and smirked.
“Someday, you said. So right now, it’s fine, isn’t it?”
- Every player becomes an enemy someday. No allies.
I held my breath.
That smile…… overlapping with Jeong Cheol’s in contrast.
“Eat that and rest a bit. We leave in an hour.”
As I stared blankly, Park Hyun-su smiled gently and asked, “Want me to feed you?”
“No…… Not between guys.”
I looked down at the porridge bowl.
I stared at that watery porridge for a long time.
“Give me the spoon.”
After he awkwardly tried to feed me, I hurriedly scooped a spoonful and put it in my mouth.
For an instant, my whole body stiffened.
It was savory.
Warm.
The taste of life itself.
Damn it……
A single tear rolled down my cheek unbidden.
Damn it…… Damn it……
Second spoonful. Third.
I squeezed my eyes shut and shoved the porridge into my mouth.
Damn it…… Damn it…… Damn it…… Damn it……
With silent sobs, the forcibly swallowed porridge leaked out.
Weak as he is…… helping others like a fool……?
- Dad, why do heroes help other people?
- Hmm, because they’re heroes?
- Wow, then! Does that mean Dad’s a hero too?
When……
When did I start twisting like this?
- Then! I wanna grow up to be like Dad!
Me too…… when I was little…… I definitely…… wanted to be…… that kind of fool……
12.
Battle of Bryuka’ruk Forest.
The clash between these elite players, disguised as a raid, ended in the Sorcerer’s crushing defeat due to the Hunter’s betrayal.
The Elite Sorcerer went missing, and the player alliance disintegrated.
Rumors of over 90% casualties were the only thing floating around in the terror.
And.
I don’t know…… the whereabouts of those less-than-10% survivors.