Chapter 132
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: 9th Round Representative Selection Match
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Time flew by, and midnight on September 1st arrived.
The players no longer panicked.
Even if their surroundings shifted to a colorless space in the blink of an eye.
Even if hundreds of people popped into existence in midair one after another.
Even if that damn angel Ariel flashed into view from the sky amid a burst of light.
The players, who had endured eight long months, simply looked up at her with stoic faces.
[Hello, humans! It's nice seeing you all like this every time. Feels kinda familiar now, doesn't it?]
“…….”
As the players stayed silent, a delicate furrow creased Ariel's pretty brow.
[What's this? This cold reaction? Think you're hot stuff just 'cause you've leveled up a bit and can look down on angels? Aren't you happy to see me?]
“Haha…… Y-yeah, happy to see you.”
“Yeah, totally. So happy.”
Forced smiles spread across the players' faces.
'Fucking power trip.'
Anyone with half a brain knew to hold their tongue, and the angel seemed satisfied with that, flashing a sweet smile.
[Hehe, good. I'm happy to see you humans too. But sadly, this'll be the last time you see me after this round. We're integrating zones this time!]
“Zone integration?”
“Again?”
“Feels like they do this a lot.”
Only about 900 players remained.
It was about time for integration.
'This is the last zone integration just among us in Korea. From Round 11, it'll merge with other countries.'
As if to prove Ryu Min's thoughts, the angel explained.
[No need to complain about it being frequent. This is the last zone integration for Korea.]
“Last zone integration……?”
[With so few people left, we have to merge all seven remaining zones in Korea.]
“Merging all remaining zones?”
“Does that mean only one zone left?”
[Exactly. Everything unifies into a single zone. A chance for all you scattered Korean players to finally meet up!]
She said it like some long-lost family reunion.
[Alright, let's get the integration started right away.]
Rrrrrumble—
The ground shook as the landscape shattered and reformed.
Players from across Korea gathered in one place.
Around 6,000 in total.
Seeing all these new faces, the players thought to themselves.
'All these people are the only players left in Korea?'
'So now we have to compete against each other again?'
'What happens if we get culled even more from here?'
'No idea, but surviving this should boost a player's value even higher, right?'
Their thoughts varied.
Some burned with rivalry, others lamented the loss of potential allies.
[All Korean players are finally together! Exactly 6,008 in total. The new unified zone is C3-ESKA001.]
“6,000?”
“That's all that's left of Korea's players?”
From 9 million starters, down to 6,000 in just eight months.
And it would keep shrinking.
[Now that the zones are unified, we need to hold a representative selection match like always, right? Us angels will discuss it, so say hi to each other in the meantime. Gather with your friends and catch up!]
The angel vanished, and the 6,000 players erupted in complaints.
“Tell us to mingle when we're about to compete?”
“What? 'Gather with friends and catch up'?”
“What is this, a meetup square? Give me a break.”
Even with unification, familiar faces were rare.
Most friends or acquaintances had dropped out rounds ago, turning to dust.
But not for everyone.
“J…… No, Black Scythe!”
The first to approach Ryu Min was Yamtti.
Ryu Min had tipped her off about the integration and told her to find him immediately after.
'I knew I'd run into Yamtti eventually. Can't exactly play stranger like in real life. Plus, I need her for future quests.'
To use her effectively, better to keep her close and act like old acquaintances from the start.
“Black Scythe, so glad to see you. We're acquainted, right?”
“Cut it. No need for the act when it's just us.”
“Oh, r-right? Hehe, seeing you here in another world makes me sooo happy, Master!”
“Shh. Keep your voice down. Check for invisible assassins within 30 meters, just in case.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Yamtti scanned her surroundings warily, then sidled up to whisper in his ear.
“So, how was my acting at first? Pretty good, right?”
“Eh. Over the top. Tone down the emotions next time.”
“Hehe, thanks for the advice, Master.”
“And don't stick so close. What if someone sees?”
“Ah, y-yes…… Got it.”
She pulled away, whispering in his ear with a secretly sulky look.
That's when someone entered the 30-meter radius.
Both detected it with presence sense and turned simultaneously.
“Uh…… Black Scythe?”
It was Min Ju-ri.
She'd come straight to Black Scythe as usual, only to freeze in shock.
He was suddenly cozying up with some woman she'd never seen.
“Who's she……?”
“Hi, I'm Yamtti.”
“I didn't ask your nickname. What's your relationship with Black Scythe?”
Yamtti's face soured at the prickly tone.
Then, as if struck by a thought, she snorted and smirked.
“Hmm, who knows? Do I have to tell you?”
“What?”
“What about you? First time seeing you, and what's your deal with Black Scythe?”
“Me? I'm Black Scythe's p…….”
Min Ju-ri trailed off, glancing at Black Scythe.
Partner? She wanted to say it, but did he see her the same way? Doubt crept in.
They'd only teamed up out of necessity; they'd never called each other partners.
“Par…….”
“What? Can't hear you.”
“I-I…….”
“Enough. Both of you.”
Ryu Min, unable to stomach the girls' bickering, stepped between them.
Then, as pre-arranged, he explained.
“Yamtti here is an acquaintance of mine from real life. Not a girlfriend or anything, so no weird misunderstandings. And Minjujuui…….”
Ryu Min stared straight at Min Ju-ri.
“She's my partner. We've partied up multiple times.”
“Ah.”
Was it the partner line she'd longed to hear?
Or the clear line drawn on girlfriend status?
Min Ju-ri's shocked lips curved into a long smile.
Her chest felt wide open.
An irrepressible grin spread.
“So you're someone Black Scythe knows from real life. Sorry for getting snippy. New face triggered my guard.”
She apologized with a laugh, brushing off her earlier mood.
With her taking the high road first, Yamtti had to follow suit.
“Sorry. I snapped too.”
Ryu Min answered.
“Snapped? More like rude to a stranger.”
He shot Yamtti a glare behind Min Ju-ri's back.
'Don't pick fights with my contacts, slave. Unless you want a scolding.'
Reading his eyes, Yamtti dropped her gaze like a scolded puppy.
Then, a familiar group approached from afar.
Seo Ah-rin, Ahn Sang-chul, and Ma Kyung-rok.
“Hello, Black Scythe.”
“Hi!”
Excluding Ma Kyung-rok, the two beamed brighter than usual.
Seo Ah-rin was glad to see Black Scythe again, even from real life.
Ahn Sang-chul seemed pleased to reunite with Ma Kyung-rok.
“Who's that with you?”
When Ryu Min feigned ignorance toward Ma Kyung-rok, Ahn Sang-chul jumped in eagerly.
“Let me introduce him. Black Scythe, this is our company CEO, Ma…… Heavenly Demon.”
“Ma Heavenly Demon?”
“N-no, just Heavenly Demon.”
Heavenly Demon Ma Kyung-rok stepped forward and offered his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Black Scythe.”
Ryu Min shook it, brazenly playing dumb.
“Heavenly Demon…… Never thought I'd meet a named ranker at 2nd or 3rd in the old zone rankings.”
“Haha, named ranker? I'm barely scraping top ranks now.”
Ma Kyung-rok was friendly despite it being their first meeting.
He owed Black Scythe a debt.
“Heard a lot from Manager Ahn. You saved him from thugs in Round 2. And power-leveled him in a party during Round 6.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Thanks on behalf of our CEO. For helping our employee.”
“Save the thanks.”
Ryu Min stuck to casual speech for the persona.
Luckily, Ma Kyung-rok didn't seem offended.
What could a Lv38 do if an 80 wanted to talk down?
Seo Ah-rin cautiously joined in.
“But Black Scythe, who's that over there……?”
She pointed at Yamtti.
Called out, Yamtti lifted her chin primly.
“Nice to meet you. Black Scythe's partner? I'm Yamtti, his real-life acquaintance.”
“Real-life…… acquaintance?”
Seo Ah-rin's pupils shook.
Black Scythe from real life wasn't exclusive to her?
'Well, a powerhouse like Black Scythe must have lots of people around.'
Even now, a crowd gathered.
'Wait, does that mean Yamtti knows Black Scythe's real face?'
She'd only seen the white mask; no real face.
Seo Ah-rin shot Yamtti a jealous glance.
Deep down, she wanted to be called his real-life acquaintance too.
[Had a good catch-up, Korean players?]
The angels' discussion must've ended—Ariel returned.
[We have seven zones merged, so seven representatives. As mentioned, we need to select one zone rep from them. This one's basically Korea's player rep.]
Ma Kyung-rok listened intently.
He was one of those reps.
Rivaling Black Scythe now.
[How to select? We considered a basic deathmatch…….]
At "deathmatch," Ma Kyung-rok flinched and eyed Ryu Min.
'Deathmatch? No confidence there…….'
Against an 80? Outcome obvious.
[After discussion, we decided on a fair vote for this rep selection.]
“Vote?”
[You all voted in Round 2, right? Same deal—pick one from the seven candidates.]
Hope lit Ma Kyung-rok's face at "vote."
'Might have a shot after all?'
No chance in deathmatch, but voting? Slim possibility.
[Let's vote now. Unchosen humans vanish, so pick quick.]
As the angel flapped her wings, messages appeared before everyone.
[Vote for one to be the unified zone representative from the following.]
└ 1. Black Scythe (Lv80 Reaper)
└ 2. Heavenly Demon (Lv38 Dark Knight)
………………
…………
└ 7. Dumb Idiots (Lv38 Shaman)
[Time until vote ends: 00:00:59]
Players tapped after deliberation.
Private screens—no need to peek.
[Note: Zone reps are candidates, so no vote for you. Leave it to fate.]
As instructed, Ma Kyung-rok swallowed hard, praying for luck.
'Might even snag zone rep over Black Scythe.'
He eyed Black Scythe expectantly.
'No way he'd show it, but his ass must be clenching.'
Even he had to be nervous this time.
Zone rep on the line.
A minute later, the angel spoke.
[Results are in. Shall we check?]