Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: This World Must Perish, Loss of Humanity (2)
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3.
“The Outer Cosmos wants exactly this. Loss of humanity.”
Loss of humanity...?
In simple terms, it means stripping away our human nature?
“Why... would they do something like that...?”
“The Outer Cosmos delights in watching the creations of the Genesis God fall into depravity as a form of entertainment.”
Creations of the Genesis God.
From the back-and-forth so far, it seems humans are the creations of this Genesis God.
“But even in that fall, there are those who stand out.”
Valerin glanced at Chris and Park Hyun-su before continuing flatly.
“Beings like Edelweiss, Lishar Hu, Mitsurugi Gensou, Paul Reed.”
Edelweiss.
At that name, I held my breath.
I could see shadows fall over Chris and Park Hyun-su’s eyes.
“It turns the world into a game precisely to select those kinds as subordinates.”
Something didn’t add up.
The elites were set at five from the start.
Wait, does that mean...
This game never even considered normal players like us?
I swallowed dryly.
In other words, it’s a subordinate selection battle for elite players?
If so, our chances of winning... are zero?
“Cut the bullshit.”
One of the union survivors spat and stood up.
“You... Valerin, was it? How do you know all this so well?”
Valerin touched the mysterious iridescent gem hanging around her neck and shook her head.
“My master told me.”
“Who’s that?”
“I can’t say. But it’s reliable information.”
“And if we help you win? What happens then?”
“My master can send you back to your world. No wish fulfillment, though.”
The man snorted and turned to us.
“Hear that? Their outfits are suspicious as hell, and so’s the info. How can we trust that?”
Then one player timidly pushed back.
“The promise from that admin Shalluan was suspicious too.”
“Yeah, it was! That’s why it’s a matter of who to believe.”
“...?”
“Look, it could be real. But what if these NPCs are a trap set by the admin?”
“............!”
“What if we follow them, get pulled out of our VR capsules, and get executed? You wanna risk that?”
We shuddered for a moment.
- You’re all in virtual reality capsules right now.
On the first day of the battle royale, admin Shalluan had told us that.
- But if you die in the game, that body dies too!
It had looked that way in reality.
Every time a player died nearby, footage played on the UI of them being dragged from their VR capsule and shot.
“If we follow these guys? We all know we’d have to take down five elite players, right?”
“...!”
“You confident you can beat monsters like Lishar or Jeong Cheol?”
“............”
“I’ll pass. I’d rather grab the pant leg of one of those crazies.”
As the man headed for the door, whispers started among the surrounding players.
“...The risk is insane. And there’s no reward.”
“...Yeah. No wishes granted either.”
“...Meanwhile, the admin’s promise has rewards matching the risk.”
A feast of pragmatic judgments.
Soon, players began standing one by one... heading for the door.
Among them was my first companion, the <Storyteller> Bell.
“Bell...!”
I called out to stop her, but Bell didn’t even meet my eyes.
“I... I have a grandma...”
“...?”
“My parents abandoned me when I was little... But Grandma’s sick... Really sick...”
And then Bell looked up.
Her eyes.
They looked so sad that I forgot what to say for a moment.
“I haven’t done anything for you so far... I... I’m gonna save Grandma no matter what...”
That was Bell’s and my farewell.
Bell didn’t look back and just walked out the door.
Damn it...
Ah... damn it all...
I stood frozen in place, my fists trembling silently.
Dad...
What should I do?
Whose words do I believe? What do I have to do for Dad...
The answer.
Had been set from the beginning.
I missed my father. I wanted to see him again so badly it hurt.
Go hiking again.
Eat together again.
Laugh at dumb jokes again.
But... why... why won’t these damn feet... move...?
“Tae-yeop, don’t push yourself.”
Then a thick hand landed on my shoulder. It was Park Hyun-su.
“No one’ll blame you for leaving. Or judge you.”
“You too, Uncle...?”
“Me? Why would I? You and I were both dragged here with our wishes as hostages.”
That probably wasn’t true.
Most players were staking their lives on wish fulfillment.
He really saw the best in people.
“The ones who deserve blame are the Outer Cosmos playing games with our wishes.”
The moment I heard that.
What vision flashed before my eyes?
Dad’s smile toward me.
And Dad turning away from me, my whole body soaked in blood.
- The Outer Cosmos wants loss of humanity.
I don’t know why.
But if that happens...
If we lose all our humanity...
It felt like I wouldn’t even be able to remember Dad...
Damn it...
Maybe even Dad...
Doesn’t want me to end up like that.
Damn it... damn it... damn it...
So.
That’s why I.
Didn’t move. Didn’t leave.
Tap... tap tap... tap tap tap...
Tears fell from my silently crying eyes.
Go. Just go.
Just step outside.
Then I can see Dad again. Right?
No... no. No. No.
Was reason holding back desire, making my instincts sob inside?
Those 10 minutes felt like a thousand years.
After 10 minutes, the only ones left were me... no, three including me.
Robar and Sharon...?
The French duo, renowned in the player union for their skills. Why’d they stay?
“Are you all idiots?”
Park Hyun-su asked us firmly.
“Why stay here, giving up desperate wishes?”
Robar chuckled and shrugged.
“I wished for a happy life. Can’t be happy if Earth ends up like this.”
Park Hyun-su gave a bitter smile and bowed his head politely.
“To all of you... my sincere respect for your noble humanity.”
Chris Meyers stepped up beside him and bowed gracefully.
“Then, Mr. Park Hyun-su. I need to hurry back to the Arcrad Continent.”
“Understood.”
“The fairies and the Holy City’s power alone can’t stop Jeong Cheol.”
“That’s... probably true.”
“It will be. So finish the Holy Grail War as soon as possible and bring reinforcements.”
She knew the importance of the Holy Grail War for force calculations... as expected of a 5th-cycle elite hunter or higher?
“Wait.”
Robar stepped forward.
“Mind if we tag along too?”
“With me?”
“Yes. Honestly, a bit self-serving... I figured following you, a former elite player, wouldn’t hurt.”
But Chris looked awkward at being called an elite player.
“And over a big burly guy... following a beautiful lady like── Oof!”
Robar yelped.
Sharon had kicked him in the butt from behind.
“Sorry. This guy hits on every woman like that.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”
“But... can we really come along?”
At Sharon’s question, Chris and Park Hyun-su exchanged glances.
“It’s fine.”
Park Hyun-su nodded first with a smile.
“I’ve got Amber and Valerin with me.”
Then Park Hyun-su looked at me and nodded toward Chris.
Meaning I should go too.
But I didn’t follow the elite player. Instead, I stood beside him and said this.
“And there’s Shin Tae-yeop, the genius grand wizard and former union leader of the player alliance.”
If Robar and Sharon stayed looking at Chris, I stayed looking at Park Hyun-su.
The reason I stayed here.
The reason I could remain human... was all thanks to Uncle.
“You...”
Park Hyun-su stared at me blankly, then shook his head. I cut in quickly.
“Of course, a valuable asset like me doesn’t come free!”
“...?!”
“Amber! Valerin!”
To brush off the awkwardness, I just blurted it out recklessly.
“You’d better teach me magic, or else!”
And that day.
The day we chose light over darkness.
“If Park Hyun-su wishes it, so be it.”
I became the first in this world-axis’s history to learn magic from a supreme male-female wizard duo without precedent.
And so.
The clock ticked back to the present.
Soon, jumping four weeks forward.
4.
“Guess it’s time to go.”
Holy City, Castlebay East Gate.
Park Hyun-su gave a wry smile at Alfred’s words.
“Yes, we must.”
Guardian of the Holy City, Alfred.
This NPC was the most tragic figure in [For the Princess].
- Born a bastard, he wandered mercenary bands from childhood.
Only after his father died without heirs did he inherit the fief of <Enderskip> and become lord.
- Quite the bizarre tale.
Bloodline and authority.
Alfred lacked both more than any Holy City lord.
- But he cherished and loved his people more than any lord.
In the Holy City siege.
On a battlefield where all nobles fled.
Alfred remained a lord to the end, protecting his people and dying heroically.
- I tried to change his fate. But... it was all in vain.
Jeong Cheol had said that.
And in the original scenario, that’s how it should’ve been...
“Oh, are you Park Hyun-su’s new companion?”
But there he was.
Standing before me now as regent with the title [Guardian of the Holy City].
“Pleased to meet you. To think someone so young... my sincere respects.”
The knight order standing at attention on either side of him.
The Holy City’s Spiritwood Knights, famed for their elite dignity.
“Oh, no, Your Excellency. No need to thank me so much.”
Alfred glanced at the knights, then lowered his voice.
“I heard you were originally Edelweiss’s friend.”
“...!”
“Oh, no need to panic like that. I was his friend too.”
Alfred, saying that, wore a strangely sad smile.
“He seems cold... but his heart is truly kind. Isn’t it?”
I couldn’t answer.
It was strange... How did Alfred know Jeong Cheol like this?
“The Abyss, the whispers of the Abyss, have eroded even his soul... Ah, Durshiel.”
Alfred made the sign of the cross with a mournful expression.
“If you meet him... if he’s in his right mind, will you pass on my words?”
I answered after a long pause.
“If that’s what Your Excellency wishes...”
“Tell him we’re waiting. Tell him to come back. I’ll convince the archbishop.”
“...!”
“And that I’ll pray with tears for that confessor saint to reach the Light...”
I looked quietly up at Alfred, then finally lowered my gaze.
- I’m prepared to kill anyone who gets in my way, no matter who it is.
Would Jeong Cheol really come back?
Even with such firm resolve... when the central idea was already turned to a bloodbath by Jeong Cheol’s hands.
“Why go that far...?”
“It’s in the scriptures. What we must hate is the Abyss, not the frail human heart.”
“...”
“Of course, there must be judgment for his deeds... but let us pray his soul finds salvation.”
“Got it. I’ll tell him.”
If he’s willing to hear it... I didn’t say that.
“Thank you truly. I’ll make sure to repay you.”
Alfred smiled warmly, then embraced Park Hyun-su like a brother.
“Take care, brother. May the Suns of Peace and Moons of Grace guide your path.”
“You too, Your Excellency... I’ll definitely return, so hold on until then. That’s a promise.”
“I’ll wait without fail. Until the day you return.”
As Park Hyun-su stepped back with a wry smile, clack... the knights struck their sword hilts in unison with their fists.
As expected... the Holy City’s hero.
The Spiritwood Knights’ highest salute, reserved only for emperors like the continent’s emperor or the Sun Kingdom’s king.
And they gave it to Park Hyun-su.
Park Hyun-su returned the salute, striking the hilt of the famed sword <Azuregang> at his side.
“Then everyone... farewell.”
Finally, Regent of the State Alfred struck his sword hilt with a sad smile.
“May the grace of light be with your journey... I’ll pray every night.”
That was the last moment I saw Alfred.
The Holy City siege that followed after.
There, Alfred... was killed by the Edelweiss he cherished so much...