Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Act 4. Authority of Flames (2)
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Color began to emerge from the transparent crystal orb.
First, it grew cloudy, then gradually turned a bright white.
The rank was determined by how bright it became.
“…Hmm.”
The result was as ambiguous as the reaction.
A hazy gray.
“High D-rank, perhaps...?”
I hadn’t expected much.
How could I get a high rank with such poor stats?
But this was the result I had wanted.
If I stood out by getting an ‘immeasurable’ result like in a novel, nothing would be more troublesome.
My presence would undoubtedly grow one day, but now was not the time.
‘It seems it can't detect what I gained through my special privilege.’
Is it because they're unreleased or marked with question marks?
Or is it because they never existed in the first place?
…Doesn't matter.
As long as I got the result I wanted, that's enough.
‘For now, it's best if there's nothing hindering my solo activities.’
Lee Seon-yul stroked the area around his mouth, lost in thought.
This way, Lee Seon-yul and Kim Ji-hyeon would also have to wonder.
Whether I was a talent they absolutely had to recruit, no matter what.
Being this ambiguous, they wouldn't be able to make a definitive judgment.
They'd keep an eye on me, but not enough to be a nuisance.
That was the best kind of relationship to have with them.
“High D-rank is decent for someone with low stats. It seems that useful skill of yours is what got you that much.”
With a grunt, Kim Ji-hyeon stood up and returned to the platform.
“To all survivors gathered in the stadium. I ask for your attention.”
Despite the lack of a microphone, her voice spread throughout the entire stadium.
The commotion was silenced in an instant.
She had subtly imbued her voice with power, making it feel impossible to resist.
“To survive here, each of us must take on our duties and perform them well.”
Perhaps they had been briefed beforehand, as the newly awakened Players let out short sighs as if they knew this was coming.
The job for those who had gained power.
Strengthening the security of the surrounding area.
“Then what happens to those who didn't awaken?”
Someone raised their hand.
One of the people who hadn't become a Player even when the angel appeared.
Their anxiety was palpable, fearing they would be kicked out for not being useful.
“Ordinary people will be assigned tasks suited to them, with no exceptions.”
“B-but my parents are ill...”
“That is not an excuse.”
The sharp reply caused another stir.
“In a world like this, anyone who is of no help is simply a parasite. The useless will be expelled.”
“Th-that's...!”
“If you don't like it.”
Kim Ji-hyeon's voice grew cold.
Though it was a windless night, something as sharp as a sea breeze seemed to envelop the area.
The person who had tried to protest, terrified like prey before a predator, fell silent.
“Then you can do their share for them.”
With that, Kim Ji-hyeon stepped down from the platform.
Her words were one-sided and highly controversial.
But no one dared to step forward.
“That's going to cause a lot of backlash.”
Lee Seon-yul handed Kim Ji-hyeon a bottle of water as if to say, 'Good work.'
Kim Ji-hyeon leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and drained the entire bottle.
“It's to give them a sense of urgency. We won't actually kick them out. There will be backlash, but it was necessary for short-term efficiency.”
Lee Seon-yul answered my question for her.
Besides Lee Seon-yul, those who appeared to be his colleagues didn't comment on Kim Ji-hyeon's actions either.
They must have already agreed to do it this way.
It's not a good method.
In terms of time efficiency, Lee Seon-yul is right, but this...
“What are you staring at?”
“...Nothing.”
“Don't worry about it. I just took on this role.”
Kim Ji-hyeon gave a wry laugh and shifted her gaze.
The water bottle she had set down beside her was completely crushed.
“Anyway, Kim Se-hyeon-ssi, you volunteered for the external reconnaissance team, right?”
Her words snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Yes. I figured you'd be short on manpower for external reconnaissance.”
“You're right. Even though they've awakened, they're still novices. We can't just send them out when they might encounter a monster at any moment.”
Lee Seon-yul brought over a box and spread a map on top of it.
It was a rather detailed map of the entire Seoul area.
“We've cleared the immediate vicinity on our way here. We plan to have the external reconnaissance teams gradually expand their operational range to rescue additional survivors and secure supplies.”
Lee Seon-yul's finger drew a circle.
A tiny circle centered on the Seoul World Cup Stadium, where we were.
Among them, his focus settled on one particular area.
“Kim Se-hyeon-ssi, you will...”
“I'll go here.”
I reached out and pointed to a spot.
Haneul Park.
A considerably large park located southwest of the stadium.
Lee Seon-yul stroked his chin as if in thought, then gave a slight nod.
“What about your team members?”
“There are people I'd like to bring, but that probably won't be enough, so I'd like to take volunteers. About three should do.”
“Not a bad idea. Then you can act as the leader, Se-hyeon-ssi.”
Lee Seon-yul nodded in agreement.
Of course, the ones I'd bring were the twins.
As for Lee Seong-chan... I'd take him if he volunteered.
Feeling several gazes furtively watching me, I forced the corners of my lips from rising.
If I was right, they would definitely take the bait.
Hook, line, and sinker. Enough to cause a huge stir.
***
The next morning, the external reconnaissance teams headed out to their assigned areas.
The team I was leading went to Haneul Park, as planned.
The members were the twins and Lee Seong-chan, just as I'd expected.
And the three other Players I thought would volunteer.
“Let's move in teams of three.”
“But there are seven of us, aren't there?”
“I'll be moving alone.”
If I were to travel with someone, there would be no point in coming here.
The twins reacted with concern, but I simply answered with a smile.
The monsters that appeared in Haneul Park weren't much of a threat.
Especially not now, right after I'd received my settlement and raised my stats.
“We'll split the teams like this.”
I paired the twins with Lee Seong-chan, then turned my attention to the other team.
The three who I presumed had played the game before.
As expected, they had taken the bait I'd thrown without a shred of doubt.
It was obvious what they were here to do.
I would end up fighting them, but ultimately, it would be to my benefit.
“S-Se-hyeon-ssi. Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?”
“That's right, Oppa. Still, being alone...”
“I'll be fine. I'm just doing a simple reconnaissance. I'll get away if I run into any enemies.”
I'm more worried about them.
Even with their increased stats, they have little real combat experience.
Especially the timid Lee Seong-chan and the still-young twins; they'd have a hard time killing monsters without hesitation.
This was a form of training, too.
While I was at it, I checked Min-woo's information.
[Character Information]
Name: Jo Min-woo
Strength: 5 Stamina: 7 Agility: 3(+1) Magic: 0
Unique Ability: (None)
Traits: Fighting Spirit (E), Martial Frame (E)
Skills: (None)
That trait was important.
Martial Frame.
It was unremarkable at its current low rank, but if it grew to S-rank, few traits would be better.
Its effect was to randomly increase Strength, Agility, or Stamina as its rank went up.
Starting with Agility wasn't bad.
‘Well, its true value lies in the synergy with the unique ability he'll gain later.’
“We'll head that way.”
Having finished their discussion, the other three pointed to their destination.
Of course.
I already knew they would go that way.
There was no reason to stop them, so I nodded.
“Alright, let's regroup here in four hours. Our objective is exploration and reconnaissance. Avoid any reckless battles.”
“Yes!”
“Understood.”
They each replied and went on their way.
Only after confirming that everyone had departed in their respective directions did I start moving.
Toward the ruined building I had glimpsed.
It was also the same direction the three volunteers had gone.
After passing through the collapsed entrance, which I could only enter by ducking, I heard a loud noise from inside.
The interior was quite chaotic.
Instead of monsters attacking a single person, three Players were filling that role.
The corpse of a bug-type monster lay at my feet.
The kind that spits acidic fluid, I believe.
They're tricky to deal with, but not too difficult if you know the strategy.
I turned my gaze toward the fight.
The three Players from the team that had left first.
A young man who looked to be about my age was being ganged up on by the three of them.
‘Han Hyeok-jun.’
The rival who clashed with the game's protagonist at every turn.
And at the same time, a sort of ally, moving toward the same goal.
I had come here directly, but I was bound to come here eventually.
Meeting him was essential to the story's progression.
The first time you meet Han Hyeok-jun, you're given one of two choices.
Either talk to Han Hyeok-jun, or pretend you didn't see him and walk away.
The former leads to building a slight rapport, while the latter cuts off all interaction.
However, the people gathered here now had chosen neither of those options.
They were taking an entirely different course of action.
“Kill him!!”
When you first play the game, the ending is utterly absurd.
The infamous Chapter 3.
The absurdity of being unable to proceed no matter what you do, forced down a path you know leads to death.
That's why so many people quit midway.
Even if you try again and take a different route, the ending is always death.
After replaying it a few times, you realize that a new choice becomes available.
Killing Han Hyeok-jun.
This is where Han Hyeok-jun obtains the 'Authority of Flames' trait.
But if you kill him here and take the trait for yourself, you can get past Chapter 3.
In other words, everyone gathered here...
...were all experienced players who had made it past Chapter 3.
It's unbelievable.
The percentage of people who started the game and made it past Chapter 3 couldn't have been more than 5%.
To think there were so many of them nearby.
“Crazy bastards...!”
Han Hyeok-jun's sword flashed, and the man in the lead was unable to withstand the force and was pushed back.
Han Hyeok-jun was one of the 'Chosen Ones'.
Because he already possessed a powerful and excellent trait, he was nearly unbeatable.
Despite that, no one backed down.
Instead, they burned with fighting spirit, trying to exploit any opening Han Hyeok-jun showed.
I don't want to die.
To proceed without dying, I have to kill Han Hyeok-jun and get that S-rank trait.
They were acting solely on that single-minded conviction.
From Han Hyeok-jun's perspective, it must be baffling.
To be suddenly attacked by a bunch of strangers for no apparent reason.
“Reinforcements...!”
Han Hyeok-jun glared at me, panting heavily.
Han Hyeok-jun's strength was only relative compared to the current Players.
The gap wasn't as wide as with Lee Seon-yul or Kim Ji-hyeon, so his stamina was already heavily drained.
“You're...?”
“Of course. You've played the game too, haven't you?”
The Players, on the other hand, were energized.
Everyone gathered here knew that Han Hyeok-jun was strong.
In such a situation, an increase in forces was a welcome development.
Gritting his teeth, Han Hyeok-jun glared and shouted.
“Come on. I don't know why you're all attacking me, but I won't go down easily!”