Chapter 174
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: 11th Round Begins
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The day before the 11th round began, Ryu Min met Min Ju-ri.
“What’s this thing you wanted to give me?”
“Yeah, this.”
When he handed her a slightly oversized ring case, Min Ju-ri’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
“W-what is this?”
“Open it up.”
With her heart pounding, Min Ju-ri opened the case and let out an involuntary gasp.
A massive 5-carat diamond sparkled brilliantly inside.
Thump-thump-thump-thump—
-What do I even say? I’m not ready for this yet!
Ryu Min could clearly see her fantasies playing out, so he quickly drew a line.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s a gift from an acquaintance I know, but I don’t need it, so I’m giving it to you.”
“You don’t need this?”
“A guy has no use for jewelry. Sell it or do whatever.”
“How much is it worth?”
“They appraised it at 300 million won.”
“Th-three hundred m-million?”
“Could be more.”
“……”
Min Ju-ri was too stunned to even close her mouth.
“Why give it to me?”
“I told you, I don’t need it.”
“You could just sell it.”
“Too much hassle. Even if I did, it’s pocket change to me.”
“……You know what? That was kinda obnoxious just now.”
“Just stating facts.”
Ma Kyung-rok’s company, which had a market cap of 900 billion won, had doubled in just eight months.
Naturally, Ryu Min’s investment had doubled along with it.
He effectively held close to 600 billion won in assets.
So who was going to miss a measly 300 million?
“To me, it’s gum money. But not to you. Better if someone who needs it has it.”
“B-but……”
“Use it to help your dad out. Play the good daughter for once. Convenience store business isn’t what it used to be these days.”
“That’s true, but you don’t have to do this. I hate owing people.”
“Don’t think of it as debt. Friends help each other out. If it bothers you that much, just call it a gift.”
“Who the hell gifts something worth 300 million?”
“Rich people do. All the time.”
“……”
She couldn’t land a single counter, couldn’t back down.
Instead, Min Ju-ri found herself wondering how to refuse.
“Just say thanks. No need to feel burdened.”
“I really don’t need help like this……”
She said that, but honestly, Min Ju-ri was tempted.
She’d been helping her dad at the convenience store, but sales had been dropping day by day.
She’d even confessed to her dad about blowing the 10 million won Ryu Min had given her on living expenses, forcing them to take out loans.
Just the other day, she’d been agonizing over selling her equipped gear to scrape together some cash.
Her situation was desperate, so she couldn’t help but be drawn to the jewel.
“Really…… can I have it?”
“I’m telling you, yeah.”
“Thank you……. But I’m not just taking it. I’m borrowing. I’ll pay it back with interest, for sure.”
“Sure. Do that.”
Min Ju-ri clutched the diamond to her chest.
Thinking of her gratitude toward Ryu Min.
“Thank you so, so much. But let’s make one thing clear.”
“What?”
“I’m a dutiful daughter by nature, okay?”
* * *
November 1st, 00:00:00.
The time to head to the otherworld was always precise.
Every 1st of the month, sleepiness hit like narcolepsy, and they collapsed into bed.
Their minds wandered the otherworld’s plains.
[Hello! All 690 of you humans? Quite the surprise—no deaths this time, everyone’s back safe.]
No deaths?
That made sense.
‘Most of them are PleSeBa members.’
Out of 690, 489 were surviving PleSeBa members.
PleSeBa members had been rigorously screened for character, honest folk who never fought among themselves.
‘The other 201 didn’t fight either, it seems.’
Thanks to the CPF unit led by Black Scythe, no idiots committing crimes had popped up in October.
Seo Ah-rin’s CPF public service announcements had helped too.
‘Anyone who’s not a moron would get it. With so few people left, killing each other just hurts everyone.’
The more murders, the fewer achievement slots.
Narrowing their own path to survival.
[Before explaining the 11th round, with fewer people, we’ll consolidate zones first, yes?]
The angel flapped its wings, and the ground rumbled—drdrdr—the plains reshaped.
This was the fourth consolidation already, so no one looked surprised.
Until it fully completed, anyway.
[Overwhelmed by the crowd? Can’t be helped. We’ve merged every zone worldwide.]
“E-every zone?”
The plains stretched endlessly with people.
They’d thought it’d be 5,000 at a time like before, but the scale was massive.
[Zone name: CA-EA001. As said, all 190 zones worldwide merged. Participants: exactly 132,126. That’s 195 countries’ worth, though populous ones like India or China had multiple zones. Smaller countries got merged.]
“Makes sense. Big countries split into multiples, not like ours with just one.”
Players nodded at the explanation.
All nations gathered explained the sea of people.
Even the angels were numerous.
At least 190 hovered in the sky, explaining to their former zones.
[We’ll proceed as one zone from now on. Now, shall we reveal the 11th round quest?]
◀ ROUND 11 ▶
[Main Quest]
└Accumulate points in the fantasy world for 24 hours
[Sub Quests]
└???? (Multiple)
[Consolidated Zone CA-EA001]
└Participating Zones: 190
└Achieved Zones: 0/95
“Huh? What’s this?”
“Participating zones? Achieved zones?”
“Not participants or achievers?”
Players buzzed at the unusual quest window, and the angel explained.
[You filled sub quests in the fantasy world last round, right? Similar vibe this time. Difference: it’s a team battle—highest team points wins.]
“Team battle……?”
[Yes. Unlike individual scores before, now it’s by original zone—one team per zone.]
“By zone……?”
“But we just consolidated.”
[Naturally, pre-consolidation zones. Roughly 700 per party, though varies. Not real parties sharing EXP—just sharing win/loss. Shared fate, you could say?]
“Ah…….”
Players nodded in understanding.
[Quest is simple: roam fantasy world, complete sub quests for points. Personal points add to team total. Highest team points wins.]
“Ah…….”
“Real team battle…….”
“Points personal, but win shared.”
“So even low scorers can survive if team ranks well?”
[Exactly. Slackers pass if team hits top ranks. Top 95 teams by points pass, 1st to 95th.]
“Aah, that’s why it says participating/achieved zones.”
Korean players eyed each other.
Rivals now teammates, sharing the boat.
[Doesn’t mean shared rewards, though. Ranking rewards based on individual performance.]
“Individual scores too, huh.”
“But outside top 3, no rewards anyway, right?”
“Yeah.”
[Consolidated zone means boosted rewards this round. Work hard for top ranks.]
Players remained lukewarm despite the angel’s words.
They didn’t dream of top-3 exclusive rewards.
Just max points to survive was enough.
[Consolidated zone needs one rep. Top individual points becomes consolidated zone rep.]
“Top individual?”
“Guess zone rep’s off the table.”
No one said it, but they thought it.
Black Scythe would take 1st again.
[For survival, hustle—but another reason for points: survive, and Special Shop opens. Use earned points there.]
“Special Shop?”
[Buy special buffs/items with points earned here. Points are the currency.]
Hearing points as currency sparked motivation.
“Either way, max points is key.”
“No choice—let’s grind quests like mad for points!”
Korean players rallied, glancing at others.
Many unfamiliar foreign players.
Most customized looks, but not race swaps, so foreigners stood out.
‘This round’s like a national showdown, competing points.’
Everyone seemed fired up, but the angel hadn’t revealed everything.
Another way to earn points.
[Many ways to earn points. In 24 hours, clear sub quests everywhere like last round—points by difficulty. Kill field monsters for EXP and points.]
“Simple.”
“Just smash sub quests like before.”
They grinned confidently—until the angel’s next words silenced them instantly.
[Oh, and killing other players gives points too.]
“…….”
[Won’t say how many. Try it yourself. More than you think? Hohoho!]
The angel beamed innocently, but no one laughed.
-Killing people gives points?
-Th-then teammates too……?
-No. Killing team hurts—loses a point-earner.
-Target other countries.
As thoughts rippled, Ryu Min sighed and shook his head.
‘Angel’s plan worked. They’ll see each other as enemies.’
Killing-for-points rule wasn’t random.
Designed to breed suspicion and murder.
‘Split by nation now, then 12th round forces cross-nation alliances.’
Whoever designed this had vile tastes.
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Ryu Min watched the players.
Silence shattered—they chanted fight on.
“No choice—let’s grind sub quests together!”
“Stick together, nothing to fear!”
“Right! We’ve got rank-1 Black Scythe!”
“Points? Easy! Let’s all survive!”
Cheers faded quick.
[Explanation over—sending to fantasy world now. Oh, starting spots random.]
“R-random?”
[Same spot for all? Boring.]
Realizing scatter inevitable, all fell silent.