Chapter 217
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: 13th Round Begins
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January 1, 2023. The new year dawned.
As the midnight bells rang out, some people resolved to quit smoking, study harder, or exercise more—but for players, such things were nothing but luxuries.
Their ultimate goal was survival, after all.
‘The 13th round has begun right on cue, even in the new year.’
Ryu Min let out a sigh as he gazed at the achromatic space, now so familiar it bordered on tedious.
‘And to think that’s everyone left.’
The vast area still held nearly 10,000 people, but it was undeniably fewer than before.
‘Too many died in the 12th round.’
Without summoners in their parties, three-quarters had vanished in the Trial Cave.
‘It couldn’t be helped. There was nothing I could do to stop it.’
He couldn’t exactly go around explaining strategies to everyone in front of the masses, could he?
‘With numbers thinning out, it’s time to look after the other players too. Not just those around me.’
At the very least, he planned to take care of the Reaper Church followers.
That was the point of releasing the 13th round strategy guide.
‘If half survive this round and half the next, we’ll be left with nearly 2,500.’
The problem was the 15th round, though.
Only a quarter could pass the infamous 15th—roughly 600 people—but its insane difficulty meant fewer than 50 would actually survive.
That made it the most critical round aside from the final one out of the twenty total.
‘I need to save as many as possible in the 15th. Can’t let it fall short like the 12th.’
He intended to push for a full 600 survivors if he could.
The more people around for the final boss fight, the better—especially with zero intel on the boss.
‘More survivors are always good when we know nothing. That’s why I’m looking after the Reaper Church. Prep for the 16th too.’
Having plenty of Korean players survive was key to clearing the 16th without casualties.
Hence the released strategy—if they followed it, they’d clear with ease.
‘If things go well, every Korean player might make it.’
Of course, he hadn’t limited it to Koreans.
Christine, Jeffrey, Russell, Victor, John Delgado, and others.
He’d shared easy-clear strategies with foreign players too.
“Black Scythe.”
Min Ju-ri had just arrived.
“You’re here? Reaper Church follower.”
“Haha… ‘Follower’ feels weird. Just call me Democracy like always. Or my name casually…”
Everyone had registered their details upon joining the Reaper Church.
He knew her name, but Ryu Min shook his head.
“Democracy suits you better than your name.”
“Really?”
Min Ju-ri smiled brightly and followed his gaze to the crowd.
They could be seen as rivals, but they’d all made it through 12 rounds together—comrades in arms, in a way.
“A new year, and instead of watching the sunrise, all these people are stuck in a survival game… Kinda sad, huh.”
“Pretty sentimental.”
Her cheeks puffed out at what felt like a jab.
“‘Looks tough but is actually soft’… something like that?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Lacking confidence in a verbal spar with her, Ryu Min quietly turned away.
Just then, Seo Ah-rin and Heo Tae-seok approached from the side.
“Black Scythe!”
“Sad you missed the sunrise too?”
“Huh? What’re you talking about?”
“We can’t see it anyway, time limit and all.”
Thanks to Ryu Min, everyone knew this round’s limit was 10 hours.
By the time they returned to reality, it’d be 10 a.m.
“Oh, Democracy said she wanted to see the sunrise?”
“N-No, I didn’t! I just…”
“Who with? Boyfriend maybe?”
“N-No boyfriend!”
“Huh? Someone as beautiful as you?”
“Don’t joke, Church Lord.”
“Not joking…”
The group suddenly grew lively with two more people.
Ryu Min, who’d sparked it with the sunrise talk, just stood quietly.
‘Hope the necromancer’s doing fine.’
He’d given one order to his enslaved John Delgado.
A simple one: avoid other apostles in the otherworld.
‘Can’t let the Messiah goons target Jeffrey.’
He’d learned of their plans to target Jeffrey from John.
Ordering full disclosure of any schemes had paid off.
‘They planned to grab and interrogate him this round, but too bad. I already know.’
Only John Delgado, his former party member, could track Jeffrey’s location.
Instructing him to steer clear of apostles deliberately?
It wrecked their plans easily.
John would earn some hate, sure.
“Black Scythe!”
Turning, he saw Um Jun-seok, Joo Seong-tak, and Yamtti approaching one after another.
Then Christine, Jeffrey, Jo Yong-ho, and the rest came looking for Black Scythe, swelling the crowd in an instant.
‘Jo Yong-ho brings a crowd.’
True to the Mercenary King, he arrived with over thirty mercenaries.
All Koreans and Reaper Church followers, of course.
‘I only turned Jo Yong-ho, and his whole crew tags along. Not bad.’
As the familiar faces exchanged greetings and laughs, the angel appeared.
[Hello, humans. You’ve all shown up right on time again!]
Knowing full well they hadn’t come willingly, the angel teased them anyway.
[Oh my! Fewer than 10,000 survivors across all zones! Last round was tough, huh? Don’t worry—give it a few more, and we’ll be down to two digits in no time. Kuhuhu.]
“T-Two digits?”
“C-Crazy.”
The angel giggled, savoring the anxiety it had stirred.
[Kuhuhu, shall we open the quest? This one won’t be too hard, so relax. Promise.]
It flapped its wings emphatically, as if to build trust.
◀ ROUND 13 ▶
[Main Quest]
└ Raise one race's reputation to 'Very Friendly' within 10 hours
[Sub Quest]
└???? (Multiple)
[Integrated Zone CA-EA001]
└Participants: 9,994
└Achievers: 0/4,997
A straightforward quest.
Especially for Ryu Min—the easiest across all rounds.
‘Already cleared.’
[This round’s survival requires raising one race’s reputation to Very Friendly. Easy compared to others, right?]
“Very Friendly?”
“We can raise reputation?”
Most didn’t even know reputation existed.
‘If you’ve never raised it, you wouldn’t know.’
But Ryu Min had maxed elves to Very Friendly in round 8.
Three others besides elves.
‘Elves even hit Eternal Alliance.’
The Reputation Rune, boosting all reps by one level, had been key.
So Ryu Min had nothing to do this round.
He’d cleared it at the start, essentially.
[Reputation starts at Neutral. Do favors for a race to reach Friendly, then Very Friendly.]
Two steps from Neutral.
‘Not easy.’
Far from the easy round it sounded like.
Hence the generous 10 hours.
But Reaper Church followers, armed with his strategy, saw it differently.
‘I gave them the quests that raise rep fastest.’
The angel was explaining just that.
[You’ve done subquest missions in the fantasy world before? Do quests a specific race likes, and rep builds up. Plus EXP, gold, items as rewards.]
“Quests to raise rep?”
“Pick one race and spam their subquests?”
[Rep gains and rewards vary by quest difficulty, so choose wisely. Bottom line: Get one race to Very Friendly in 10 hours to survive. Got it?]
“10 hours means it’s that hard, right?”
“Ugh… This won’t be easy.”
Most felt lost at sea without a light, but the 170 informed Reaper Church followers knew the path.
At least which quests led to quick clears.
[No time to chat. Fastest to max rep top the survivor list. Achievers get 10 free hours, but who’d have done it alrea—Huh?]
The angel faltered, checking the achiever list.
[O-One? A human already at Very Friendly or higher…]
No nickname mentioned, but one meant obvious.
‘That’s me.’
Ryu Min smirked, utterly relaxed.
Cleared at the start—10 free hours for subquests, as the angel said.
[Uh, anyway—pick your starting spot?]
A message window popped up before the players.
[Touch to select starting area.]
└ 1. Albiz Kingdom
└ 2. Brahm Kingdom
└ 3. Holy Empire
└ 4. Elsorium
[Random selection if not chosen in time limit.]
[Time remaining: 00:00:59]
While others pondered, Reaper Church knew exactly where.
“We’ll head out first, Black Scythe.”
“Me too.”
As Heo Tae-seok and Seo Ah-rin moved to select, Min Ju-ri called out.
“Ah, wait! Buffs first!”
She quickly buffed the group, earning thanks.
“Thanks, Democracy.”
“You’ll be blessed!”
“Fight on this round, everyone!”
Exchanging encouragements, they selected and vanished.
“Black Scythe, your buff.”
“Thanks.”
Ryu Min, secretly hoping for it, smiled pleasantly upon receiving it.
He didn’t need it, but who knew with people?
‘The archangel might show for revenge.’
With Sariel’s prior appearance, it was likely.
Once Jo Yong-ho’s mercenaries and Min Ju-ri left, only Ryu Min remained.
Glancing at the options, he’d decided pre-round.
‘4. Elsorium.’
A touch, and his spot shifted instantly.
* * *
Tweet-tweet—
Landing in a lush forest, Ryu Min scanned around.
‘This is it.’
He’d chosen Elsorium for one reason.
‘Need those rune fragments from the elves’ treasure vault.’
Friendly wouldn’t cut it, but Eternal Alliance?
They’d hand it over gladly.
Even Princess Yuphnelcia.
In Elsorium, ruled by the council elders, her position was weak.
Rustle—rustle—
Pushing through brush, Ryu Min eyed ahead.
‘That way.’
Trees everywhere, but an odd aura emanated.
Stepping over the boundary moments later.
Whoosh—
Bushes and trees vanished, revealing pristine, towering elven architecture.
The magic-veiled elven city: Elsorium.
‘Impressive buildings.’
He crossed the rainbow river via bridge, admiring the kingdom-scale structures.
At the gate, elf guards crossed spears.
“What business does a human have here?”
“Begone!”
Ignoring the cold words, Ryu Min looked skyward.
[Round trait ‘Interpretation’ active.]
[Can converse with otherworld races.]
[Language barrier removed for all players.]
NPC talks wouldn’t be an issue.
“Human! Deaf, are you!”
“We said begone—Huh?”
About to shoo him for being human, the guards gawked at his face.
As if they recognized him.
“Gasp! C-Could you be the otherworld warrior, Black Scythe?”
“Think so?”
Their curt reply snapped the guards to attention, bowing 90 degrees.
“F-Forgive us for not recognizing you, esteemed one!”
“P-Pardon our rudeness!”
Attitudes flipped 180.
‘Eternal Alliance’ was a legendary rep earned by saving the race itself.
Treatment above royalty was fitting.
“Enough. Fetch the council elders. I need to meet them.”
“Th-The elders?”
“I have a direct request.”
“P-Please wait. We’ll summon them at once.”
Ryu Min waited leisurely as the guards hurried off.