Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: End of Round 3
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★ Round 3 Results Tally ★
[All Zones]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv30 Reaper) 3,631 kills
└2nd. Dumb Idiots (Lv13 Shaman) 982 kills
└3rd. Cheonma (Lv13 Dark Knight) 963 kills
[Current Zone ESKS45-5]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv30 Reaper) 3,631 kills
└2nd. Ahn Sang-chul (Lv11 Knight) 687 kills
└3rd. Seo Ah-rin (Lv11 Summoner) 576 kills
What surprised people about the results was something else entirely.
"Black Scythe killed 3,600 all by himself?"
"And the second-place player didn't even break a thousand?"
It was no surprise that Black Scythe was in first place.
But no one had imagined he would have killed so many.
Moreover.
"Look at his level. 30?"
"Whoa... That's insane."
"Did he get an experience bonus or something?"
Everyone was dumbfounded by the overwhelming level difference.
Everyone, that is, except for the man himself, Ryu Min.
'I did get an experience buff. Though you wouldn't even know it exists unless you place first in all zones.'
The first-place player in all zones receives a Special Reward Selection Box.
The triple experience bonus can only be obtained by opening that box.
'The second and third-place players in all zones get far inferior rewards. And the rewards for the top three in a single zone don't even compare.'
Still, it was better to be in the top three and receive an additional reward.
It made a clear difference in the speed of growth.
'Plus, with a higher growth rate, the chances of placing in the top three in the next round increase.'
As rewards accumulate, growth snowballs, and eventually, you become a being on a different level from other players.
'That's why getting on the rankings is so important.'
As expected, [Cheonma] Ma Kyung-rok had placed in the top three again.
The same went for [Dumb Idiots].
'That Dumb Idiots guy is pretty damn talented, too.'
Does having psychopathic tendencies make it easier to rank high?
As he was pondering this, a message appeared.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest by placing 1st in the current zone!]
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest by placing 1st in all zones!]
[Your current rank is 1st in all zones and 1st in the current zone.]
[As a reward for ranking 1st in the current zone, you will receive an 'Intermediate Rare Ring Selection Ticket'!]
[As a reward for ranking 1st in all zones, you will receive a 'Special Reward Selection Box'!]
'The Intermediate Ring Selection Ticket has arrived.'
The rewards received vary depending on the player's level.
'If another player had taken first place, they would have received a low-grade one.'
Confirming the reward, Ryu Min used it immediately.
[You may select one of the following rare rings.]
[Please touch your desired reward.]
└ 1. Ring of Swift Wind
└ 2. Azure Mana Ring
└ 3. Ring of Resistance
Ryu Min's finger moved without hesitation.
'I choose number 3, the Ring of Resistance.'
[Ring of Resistance]
-Classification: Ring
-Grade: Rare
-Effect: Luck +4, Resistance +35%
-Durability: 450/450
-Usage Restriction: Regular Grade or higher
-Description: A ring that provides resistance against status effects.
You couldn't check the information on items given as a choice beforehand.
'You have to guess what the item is based on its name alone.'
He was sure that almost no one would choose the Ring of Resistance.
Just from the name, it sounded weak.
But resistance was essential for survival.
'If you get hit with a status effect, you're screwed.'
The system contained countless status effects.
Stun, Bind, Sleep, Fear, Silence, Freeze, Bleed, Burn, Blind, Slow, Weaken, and so on.
'Some monsters inflict status effects, and they can also be attached to player skills.'
Players might not know it yet, but as the rounds progressed, they would encounter them more and more.
And they would come to realize.
'Just how important resistance is for survival.'
No matter how high your stats were, if you were afflicted by a status effect, you were as good as dead.
Furthermore, resistance couldn't be raised through stats.
There weren't many items with resistance options, either.
In other words, it was hard to come by.
'Even if I don't use it right away, it's better to have it.'
It also raised the Luck stat, so he figured he should keep it equipped.
Next, Ryu Min used the Special Reward Selection Box.
'There won't be a triple experience buff this time.'
And just as he thought.
[You may select one of the following special rewards.]
[Please touch your desired reward.]
└ 1. 50% Stat Increase Buff (Round 4 only)
└ 2. 4,000 Gold
└ 3. Information about Round 4
The triple experience buff, which was always in the first slot, was gone.
In other words, that meant there would be no monsters to kill.
And that was indeed the case.
'The goal of Round 4 isn't to kill monsters.'
Not that he needed the alternative stat increase buff, either.
Without a moment's hesitation, Ryu Min moved his finger.
'Number 2, I choose the gold.'
As soon as he made his choice, 4,000 gold was added to his possession.
There was no other option.
[Now then, humans? You've all checked your ranks via the messages, yes? The cutoff is 1,225th place.]
"A-Angel! Please wait! Something is wrong!"
"I think the system miscalculated! Please check it again!"
"That's right. There's no way my rank is this low after I killed so many..."
The players who failed to make the cut protested, but...
[Then I shall now eliminate the insects who failed to place within the top 1,225.]
Olive proceeded with the elimination without mercy.
A wicked smile on her face, completely at odds with her appearance.
*Fwoosh-*
Nearly half of the 2,400 who had survived the wave were eliminated.
◀ END OF ROUND 3 ▶
[All Zones]
└Survivors: 214,007,550
[Current Zone ESKS45-5]
└Survivors: 1,225
[Your soul will now be transferred to your original dimensional body.]
[Round 4 will begin at midnight on April 1, 2022. I will see you in the next round. Congratulations on your survival.]
***
"Hah!"
Opening her eyes, Seo Ah-rin checked her surroundings.
'I'm back. I survived Round 3.'
And not just survived.
She had even obtained a class, Summoner.
On that thought, she tried using her skill again.
'Summon Fairy.'
A small, shimmering fairy appeared in a flash of light and hovered around her.
It was a summon that cast a protective barrier.
Although it had no combat abilities, it had allowed her to clear the fifth wave safely.
'The fact that my bodyguard drew their attention was a big help, too.'
She would have to thank him later.
But that wasn't her only cause for celebration.
She had also achieved the incredible feat of ranking third in the zone.
'To think I ranked third...'
Although it was only the zone ranking, it was the first time her name had been listed.
She had also received a reward: a purple magic stone.
Seo Ah-rin took out the magic stone and examined it from all angles, marveling at it.
'I wonder if Mr. Black Scythe will like this if I give it to him?'
She didn't know what it was used for, but since it was a reward, it had to be useful.
She carefully placed the magic stone back into her inventory.
When Round 4 began, she planned to find Black Scythe and give it to him as a token of her gratitude.
'I hope he likes it...'
What if he didn't?
What should she give him then?
'I have to give him something. It's the only way I'll feel at ease.'
To the man who had saved her life, Seo Ah-rin was prepared to give even more.
***
The first thing Hwang Yong-min did upon returning to reality was open his status window.
[Penalty is in effect.]
[All stats are permanently decreased by 50%.]
Sure enough, his stats were cut in half.
'Ah... fuck.'
A look of regret washed over Hwang Yong-min's face.
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have ordered them to destroy the artifact.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
The caller ID showed it was one of his delinquent friends.
"Hey, Seung-han."
-Hey, are you crazy?
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
-Look at this bastard playing dumb. Do you have any idea we're all screwed because of you?
His friend's voice trembled with rage.
-How could you use your Right of Command to control your own friends? Are you even human?
"Hey! It was a situation I couldn't help. If I hadn't done that, Black Scythe might have killed me."
-You should have just died, then.
"What?"
-You should've just kicked the bucket instead of screwing over your friends.
"Hey! I'm a victim too, damn it! My stats got nerfed just because I was the zone representative!"
-You think you're the only one who got nerfed? We got used by our own friend.
"..."
-None of this would have happened if you hadn't been so greedy for the zone representative position in the first place, you traitorous bastard.
Speechless, Hwang Yong-min remained silent.
-You son of a bitch. You're no friend of mine.
"Hey..."
-Don't contact me again. Not in reality, not in the other world. Don't even act like you know me. If I see your face, I might get pissed off enough to kill you.
With that, the call ended.
He sounded seriously pissed.
'Did I really do something that wrong? Fuck, I'm a victim here, too.'
It felt unfair, but he figured he should probably try to smooth things over.
He tried calling another friend, but they didn't pick up.
He checked CocoaTalk and saw he'd been kicked out of the group chat.
"Wow... these bastards just toss me aside without even hearing me out."
Friends who couldn't even try to understand him.
A sneer escaped his lips.
'Friends? Who needs them? In the end, you live and die alone.'
He didn't feel lonely, even though his friends had abandoned him.
On the contrary, his eyes were burning with rage.
'What? Pissed off enough to kill me if you see my face? Is that little punk trying to pick a fight with me?'
Hwang Yong-min made a vow to himself.
'Fine, just you wait until we meet again. I'll kill you all.'
He decided he would be the one to retaliate if he saw his "friends" again.
***
"Welcome, Manager Ahn. I see you've made it back again."
As his master, Ma Kyung-rok, spoke with a smile, Ahn Sang-chul looked embarrassed and scratched the back of his head.
"I was lucky, haha."
"Round 3 must have been a bit difficult. Are you alright?"
"Yes. The monsters were weakened, so it wasn't too tough."
"Have you gotten a class? What's your current level?"
"I'm level 11. I changed my class to Knight."
"A Knight... a very fine class indeed."
"For your reference, Ms. Seo Ah-rin is the same level. Though her class is different; she's a Summoner."
"A Summoner?"
Ma Kyung-rok's reaction was one of pleasant surprise.
"Impressive. That doesn't seem like a common class."
"I was surprised as well. After her class change, she summoned a fairy. It cast a protective barrier, which allowed me to hunt safely."
"That's wonderful. Continue to maintain a close relationship with Actress Seo, just as you are now. If you like her, you can even date her."
"Date her? What are you suggesting..."
"I'm saying it's easier to find a weakness if you're dating. I don't mean you should get serious."
"Ah..."
Even at the instruction to find a weakness, Ahn Sang-chul wasn't fazed.
He had carried out far worse orders before.
"Should I... date her?"
"Hahaha! It's been a while since I've seen you flustered, Manager Ahn. If it's difficult, you don't have to force it."
"Ah... yes."
Ahn Sang-chul let out a sigh of relief.
"Besides, I doubt Ms. Seo Ah-rin has any feelings for me."
"Why not? You're so dependable and manly, Manager Ahn."
"She still respectfully calls me 'Bodyguard-nim' and uses formal language."
"Is that so?"
Ma Kyung-rok swirled the whiskey in his glass and smiled.
Teasing Ahn Sang-chul was one of his little hobbies.
"By the way, what was it you needed to report so urgently?"
"Ah...!"
Remembering belatedly, Ahn Sang-chul first bowed his head.
"First, I must apologize."
"Why is that?"
"I was unable to carry out your order to assist Black Scythe. I was also unable to deliver your message."
"Is that right? There must have been a reason?"
Nodding, Ahn Sang-chul reported on Black Scythe's activities in detail.
Ma Kyung-rok wasn't surprised to hear that he had been so overwhelming as to block the entrance all by himself; he had already guessed as much from the tally of 3,631 kills.
However, when he heard that a sub-quest had appeared because the artifact was broken, even Ma Kyung-rok couldn't hide his surprise.
"A sub-quest appears if you break the artifact? In our zone, we protected it and got 2,000 gold as a reward."
"Yes. It was a quest to survive for 30 minutes against a being called the Agent of Punishment..."
When he said that Black Scythe had killed the creature instead, Ma Kyung-rok's eyes widened.
"From the sounds of it, it seemed like a strong opponent. And he killed it?"
"Yes. He dispatched it with overwhelming skill, as if he already knew how to defeat it."
"..."
The fact that he was level 30 was telling enough.
It spoke volumes about Black Scythe's prowess.
'And here I was, so happy about getting the Black Knight's Rune, thinking it was overpowered. How ridiculous I must seem.'
The truly overpowered being was someone else entirely.
"Black Scythe was never a being who needed help in the first place. No matter how hard I looked, there was nothing I could do to assist him."
"I understand."
Ma Kyung-rok nodded.
If Black Scythe was that strong, there would have been no need for Manager Ahn to step in.
'Black Scythe. I'd like to meet him once, if I get the chance.'
It would be nice to know his identity in the real world, but there was no way to find out.
And he couldn't see him in the other world, either.
It was a shame they were in different zones.
"Since there was a valid reason, I won't hold you responsible."
"My apologies."
"That aside..."
Speaking of real-world identities, a certain group came to mind.
"What's the status on tracking down those punks?"
He was talking about none other than Hwang Yong-min's crew.