Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 008
Chapter Title: Paradise Zone, New Seodaemun-gu (2)
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12.
The term "communications officer" lent tremendous credibility to his subsequent statements.
Even a field-grade officer.
He must know the overall situation best, having used military radio communications.
“Nightmare Zones appeared in places like the Blue House and military command centers—key national facilities.”
“…………!”
“Survivors can be counted on one hand. They were wiped out the moment the invasion began. By those ‘Exalted Ones.’”
“No way.”
“Believe me. Those things are impossible for humans to hunt! They can annihilate a division in seconds?”
Chaos erupted from all directions.
The annihilation of a military unit served as an objective measure of combat power.
“Why should we follow that damned woman’s orders in the first place? She’s a subordinate of the bastard who destroyed our lives?”
A few nodded. The burly man shouted again.
“Let’s just stay in paradise here! Or go find our families!”
Family.
At that word, people began to stir. Even Park Ji-yeon beside me.
“Right. We have to find my daughter, Min-ji.”
“Me too. I wonder where she is now…….”
The wave of agreement hadn’t surged fiercely yet, probably due to the Star Messenger’s intimidating presence. But surprisingly.
“Do as you please.”
The Star Messenger drove a wedge into the rift.
“Even if you don’t fulfill your mission, I won’t interfere in any way.”
……What?
I flinched in surprise.
I couldn’t pinpoint it, but there seemed to be a chilling killing intent hidden in her words. Why?
“Good. Let’s go.”
“I’m going too.”
Unlike me, they apparently hadn’t sensed it. About a dozen people stood up. They were siding with the burly man.
“……Baek-jun.”
“Yes?”
“I…… I think I need to go find my family too.”
Park Ji-yeon seemed half-swayed.
Of course…… After experiencing the nightmare firsthand, it wasn’t unreasonable. But.
“No. Stay seated for now. Something feels off.”
At my dissuasion, Park Ji-yeon anxiously glanced around.
In an instant, thirty people had stood, and more were rising. They were following the burly man toward the exit.
“Please trust me.”
“Ugh…… Okay. I’ll trust your judgment this time too, Baek-jun.”
“I’ll go try to stop those people.”
As I started to stand, a chill ran through my entire body.
I happened to glance at the Star Messenger’s eyes…… They curved for a moment, then emitted a piercing blue glow.
“But the beings who personally chose you will be greatly disappointed…… Can you bear that?”
A horrific scream echoed from behind.
I whipped around to see a sight that turned my mind blank.
“Sa-save, save, save me.”
“It hurts. It hurts. It huuuuurrrts.”
People clutching their chests, barely gasping for breath.
Cracks were spreading across their bodies. Starlight leaked from the fissures.
“Stop, stop it!”
By the time I shouted, the starlight from the cracks had already erupted in a flash.
“Kuaaaaaaaaah!”
Soon the screams peaked, and their bodies exploded.
Something flew and stuck to my cheek. It was warm. When I wiped it with my hand, it was someone’s flesh.
I stood there dazed for a long while.
The brief pandemonium turned into a deafening silence.
In the metallic stench of blood, no trace of the deserters remained.
“Now, brave 948 Hunters. Hear my words.”
Not a single person among the survivors screamed.
No one even raised their voice. Everyone was frozen in place, holding even their breaths.
“I’ll convey just two key pieces of information more, then end my sermon.”
Everyone had realized it.
What beings they were bound to, and what fate awaited them.
“……One. The ‘Paradise Zone’ has a population limit. It applies only to civilians.”
An info window appeared at the edge of my vision.
=====
[Population Limit]
Paradise Name: New Seodaemun-gu
Current / Limit: 1,981 / 3,000
=====
Park Ji-yeon gasped.
It was an era where even rescuing lives was a competition.
Decisively, the only way to bring everyone to safety…… was to end the hunt.
“Two. Until the hunt ends, no one can leave Seoul.”
I glared at the Star Messenger, clenching my fists until they bled.
Before overwhelming power, amid the prior irrational deaths and this senseless game, that was my only protest.
“……If you wish to reclaim the world, to save those not chosen…….”
Was that all?
Did I hope that was all?
I found the Star Messenger repulsive, this situation of being toyed with repulsive…… and my own silence repulsive.
“……Exterminate the Exalted Ones from this land! And ascend to transcendence! Now, go! May the stars’ blessings aid your hunt!”
……Dong…… Dong…… Dong…….
The clock tower began to toll, and the Star Messenger raised both hands piously, as if giving a benediction.
“Great Five Absolute Gods and Seven Star Gods, grant clarity in the hunt to these departing Hunters!”
The ‘game tutorial’ was transmitted in [Info Window] form.
=====
[Hunting Basics]
- About Nightmare Zones.
- About Hunting Zones.
- About Paradise Zones.
[Hunting Essence Usage]
- Purchase equipment.
- Purchase combat consumables.
- Purchase food.
- Enhance various stats.
[Communication and Transportation Methods]
- Unmanned Twin-Headed Carriage
- Hunters’ Messenger, Giant Raven
=====
It hurts. My head hurts.
I bolted out of the cathedral.
No destination in mind. I just ran. If I didn’t, I felt like I’d suffocate under the frustration.
As I dashed out, I spotted a sign reading [General Store] in the cathedral’s first-floor lobby. Immediately, a tooltip popped up before my eyes.
=====
[General Store]
- Sells combat consumables and [Leather] armor.
=====
I shook my head to dismiss the info window, then noticed the cathedral’s outer annex had become a <Blacksmith>. Another info window unfolded.
=====
<Blacksmith>
- Sells weapons and [Light Armor], [Medium Armor].
=====
I’d acknowledged it to some extent.
But…… with the game system shoved so blatantly in our faces, my head throbbed.
This is reality.
Reality overlaid with a game.
I knew that in my head.
But whether my reason accepted it so easily was another matter……
Sometime later, raindrops began to fall.
By the time I was running past Severance Hospital in Sinchon, it was pouring.
The hospital building, now a pitch-black cathedral. Its front yard teemed with refugees.
“P-please, just a little more. Just a bit. My child is starving.”
Desperate voices carried from there.
“Me too, give me just one more.”
“I’m sorry. The system controls daily rations, so even if I want to give more, it forces me to stop. See? My hand won’t move.”
The voices momentarily brimmed with energy.
“System?”
“Has the central control AI come back online? Is Seondeok alive?”
“No, it’s…… like a game system, I guess. Anyway, it won’t let me. I’ve basically turned into an NPC.”
“NPC? You bastard mocking us right now? Let go! Let me go!”
Looking closely, a sign reading [Rations] hung in front of the hospital.
Some people leaned against the outer wall.
Holding bread and bowls. They’d apparently been lucky enough to finish rationing early.
“……Mommy, I’m hungry, hungry.”
“Shh, eat mine too.”
Innocent children wailing. Adults with hollow eyes.
Not just the kids—some adults whimpered “Mommy…… Mommy……” under their breath.
All of reality was bleak and despairing.
The city resounding with bells was gloomy, yet the Holy Apostles’ starlight shone fiercely through the thunderclouds.
I bellowed into the rain.
This crumbling world hurt unbearably.
Voices of my parents echoed in my chest. Whispers from my childhood dreams joined in.
Hunt down every enemy of the world.
Rebuild this world into a world again.
Not anyone else—you.
You must do it.
“B-Baek-jun, Baek-jun!”
A breathless voice stopped me.
Turning, I saw Park Ji-yeon, soaked to the skin, clutching her knees and panting. She’d chased me here.
“Where are you, rushing off to like that?”
A very simple question.
I could answer with a very simple reply.
But…… primal fear? Only after steeling myself in my mind, over and over, did my mouth open.
“I’m heading to Jongno-gu.”
Park Ji-yeon’s face paled.
“Jongno-gu…… That’s…… a Nightmare Zone.”
“I know.”
“You’re insane! The info from the Star Messenger said the Exalted Ones each command seven Subordinates!”
Subordinates—think mid-bosses. Conveniently.
In game terms, every boss has seven mid-bosses, and you must defeat those seven to even qualify to challenge the boss.
“With those Subordinates deployed, it’s even more dangerous than before. So it’s better to grow stronger in a Hunting Zone first…….”
“No time for leisurely leveling. Monsters come from Nightmare Zones too.”
“……You mean?”
“Yes. I’ll grow stronger by hunting them, take down the Subordinates along the way. That way I’ll get familiar with the terrain, and eventually tackle the Exalted Ones.”
“Leveling and bossing at the same time……?”
“In game terms…… yeah, something like that.”
“That’s insanely dangerous. Why push yourself so hard?”
I had to go to the place everyone called a nightmare and feared. Because.
“I’ll end this mad game. Before the world collapses completely.”
“Liar.”
Park Ji-yeon gave a wry smile.
“You’re going to Jongno-gu to save people who might still be there, right?”
“That too…… yeah.”
“Knew it. No one else would head to Jongno-gu from the start.”
Looking at her face, her unique ability suddenly came to mind.
The power that shattered the military bulkhead.
Incredibly useful in urban areas.
“Ji-yeon, if you’re okay with it, come with me? You’d be a huge help.”
Park Ji-yeon stared at me silently for a while.
“I…… can’t be a hero like you, Baek-jun.”
She bit her lip, averting her gaze.
“I’m going to Mapo-gu. My family’s there. I have to save them. Before the Paradise population fills up…… That’s most important to me. I’m so selfish, right?”
I smiled faintly.
“How is saving your family selfish? It’s normal. I’m just a lone bachelor without family, so I can be this reckless.”
Only the sound of rain filled the air for a while.
I extended my hand first for a handshake.
“Hope we meet again someday…… Sincerely.”
Park Ji-yeon grasped my hand with both of hers.
Warm hands. Her head bowed, so I couldn’t see her face, but her faint voice was fragile.
“……Thank you. And sorry. Baek-jun, don’t die. Promise me…… you won’t…….”
Park Ji-yeon looked up, meeting my eyes. I smiled with my eyes.
“I’ll keep that promise.”
I dashed into the cold rain.
Ran and ran. Until my lungs burned.
If I said I wasn’t disappointed, I’d be lying.
It’d be a lonely fight. But I had no right or reason to force her choice.
[Warning: You are attempting to enter a ‘Nightmare Zone.’]
The people weren’t wrong.
[Choices: YES / NO]
This world turned mad game was wrong.
[YES]
To fix that wrongness.
[Region Entry: Nightmare Realm - New Jongno-gu]
I’d end this mad game.
「……Heeheehehehehe……!」
And those damned gamblers up in the sky.
「SHIRAKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!」
I’d end them…… no matter what.
[《Holy Flame Succession》: Humanity (人間性) increased by (24).]
- Humanity: 117 -> 141
[《Holy Flame Succession》: Succession Progress improved (2% -> 3%)]
- Combat Memory Synchronization. (2% -> 3%)
- Physical Ability Synchronization. (2% -> 3%)