Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: ACT.10 Throne of Greed (5)
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“I had a feeling, but I didn't think you'd actually use the city hall as your base.”
“It sets the mood, doesn't it?”
“…Thanks to that, you almost seem human.”
Choi Yeon-soo let out a disbelieving laugh as he walked around the room.
He eventually stopped in front of a large map of Seoul hanging on the wall, so I spoke to Im Byeong-hwi, who had been stealing glances at him.
“Im Byeong-hwi-ssi. If I'm ever away, I'm appointing this person as my representative with full authority, so please follow his instructions.”
“A-A representative with full authority? Wouldn't Jeon Do-jin-nim be better? Just who is this person…?”
Startled, Im Byeong-hwi peeked at Choi Yeon-soo.
He didn't seem to doubt the man's character, probably because I was the one who introduced him.
In terms of loyalty and intelligence, Im Byeong-hwi is decent, but he's lacking something.
And Choi Yeon-soo has that something.
At my words, Choi Yeon-soo smiled affably and introduced himself.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Im Byeong-hwi-ssi. I'm Choi Yeon-soo. I may be lacking, but I've been serving as Kim Se-hyeon-nim's confidant behind the scenes.”
“‘Behind the scenes’… you say.”
Im Byeong-hwi's tone was one of strange understanding.
Was he thinking that it was strange for me to have come up with everything on my own, but it all made sense if I had discussed it with Choi Yeon-soo?
It was an ad-lib, not something we'd planned, but it was quite good.
This misunderstanding would build trust in Choi Yeon-soo. I didn't bother to correct him.
I quietly moved to Choi Yeon-soo's side.
“That's a plausible excuse.”
“You don't like it?”
“No. It's perfect.”
I chuckled and left Im Byeong-hwi to show Choi Yeon-soo the ropes.
After the two left the room, my gaze shifted to the giant map on the wall.
A massive map showing the entire Seoul area.
I unconsciously reached out and touched the map.
This is reality.
Many people will get hurt, and some may even die, because of what's to come.
Saving all of them is impossible.
So, I'll make sure that at least my people, the ones I'm certain of, reach the end without anyone dying.
Even if they come to hate me for it.
I will gladly use any means necessary.
Knock, knock.
A cautious knock sounded.
Im Byeong-hwi and Choi Yeon-soo just left.
They had no reason to come back, and even if they did, they wouldn't knock.
The twins were still training today, and Jeon Do-jin and Cha Eun-ha were busy working.
There was only one person who would bother to knock before entering.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
She entered, offering a careful greeting.
I looked her straight in the eye and asked.
“What can I do for you, Jeong Ha-yeon-ssi?”
Jeong Ha-yeon didn't answer.
Expressions of trouble and resolve flickered across her face.
After a long moment, she steadied her breathing and spoke.
“Se-hyeon-ssi. I want to become stronger, too.”
Her fist, resting on her chest, tightened.
“Please train me, just like you train those kids.”
Jeong Ha-yeon was one of the candidates I had in mind for the ‘Judge of Consecration's’ representative. The most likely one, at that.
Investing in building a good amount of trust with her was necessary.
After a brief moment of thought, I asked her.
“My training is intense. Are you confident you can keep up?”
“Yes.”
“Anyone can say that.”
“I'll show you with my actions.”
A burning passion shone in Jeong Ha-yeon's eyes.
People with eyes like that don't give up easily. I like it.
I smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
***
“Are you the ruler of the central region?”
A man in a white lab coat pushed up his glasses as he approached Yoo Seong-hoon.
Yoo Seong-hoon's eyes quickly scanned the man.
The ruler of the west. Park Seong-woo.
The peculiar thing about him was the various mechanical contraptions visible under his coat, which were quite distracting.
Yoo Seong-hoon tensed, inwardly sharpening his guard.
The ruler of the west, at least, was the same person as in the original game.
Yoo Seong-hoon already knew a fair bit about him.
‘The Mad Inventor.’
Recalling Park Seong-woo's nickname, Yoo Seong-hoon scowled.
A mad scientist who, after the world changed, had even gained related traits and started creating even more insane things.
But he couldn't openly show his dislike, so Yoo Seong-hoon struggled to keep his expression neutral.
“I hear you lost the most people in the recent incident.”
“…Cut the crap, will you? We're both in the same boat.”
Yoo Seong-hoon ground his teeth, momentarily thinking of Kim Se-hyeon.
The newcomer had kicked out the old guard.
That's exactly how Yoo Seong-hoon saw the current situation.
“This is a temporary alliance. Once we deal with the north, we'll go our separate ways and fight fair and square.”
“Of course.”
Park Seong-woo nodded, and the two walked together, keeping some distance between them.
Two of the three factions allied to strike the north.
Monsters appeared from time to time, but since the players outnumbered the already low-grade monsters, they posed no threat.
“Since stats have a limit anyway, weakening the enemy rather than strengthening oneself… An excellent tactic.”
“Hah. Praising the enemy. You must be full of yourself.”
“There's nothing to be gained from underestimating an opponent. You have to acknowledge their strengths to avoid being caught by a surprise attack.”
“Don't try to lecture me.”
“…I'm surprised you managed to become the ruler of the central region.”
“I don't usually back down from a fight. Are you picking one?”
“Did you hear that? Oh, my apologies. I was just mumbling to myself.”
“Damn you. Look, our short conversation just now was enough for me to know we don't get along. Let's just walk in silence.”
Yoo Seong-hoon spat on the ground, clearly displeased.
Park Seong-woo also let out a small "hmm" and turned his head away.
Not far off, the wall built by the northern survivors came into view.
“Well then, I shall attack from the west.”
“Just don't hold me back.”
The crowd split into two.
Yoo Seong-hoon spat again at Park Seong-woo's retreating back, recalling another thing that displeased him.
“I wonder what the east is doing.”
The eastern faction was the only one that hadn't joined the alliance.
In fact, they even seemed to be taking a lenient stance towards the north.
Yoo Seong-hoon snorted loudly.
‘Their motive is so obvious.’
Either a surprise attack for the final victory when the alliance lets its guard down after taking the north, or swooping in on an empty nest.
Either way, he was already prepared for it, so Yoo Seong-hoon bared his teeth and picked up the pace.
The northern faction was also aware of the two forces' attack.
“The enemy is attacking from two directions!”
“Did you lure the monsters to the west as planned?”
“Yes! We've formed a team of highly mobile players and are luring the monsters that way!”
“You need to pull back at the right moment to ensure our side suffers no casualties. Understood?”
“I've emphasized it several times, so they should understand.”
Kim Se-hyeon gave immediate orders as reports came in moment by moment, without any hesitation.
Because of this, Choi Yeon-soo was actually puzzled.
“You said you had a plan, but you're defending quite fiercely.”
“We have to hold them off to a certain extent, or they'll get suspicious.”
“I see… But I remember you saying time was tight for that plan. Won't this be too late?”
“Don't worry. I've already investigated when 'it' appears. It's not time yet. We'll move when it shows up, and I said time was tight with that in mind from the start.”
Choi Yeon-soo shivered.
He felt a thrill run through him every time he talked to Kim Se-hyeon.
Just how far ahead was he seeing?
He was curious about what went on inside Kim Se-hyeon's head.
It was enough to make him suspect that maybe, just maybe, he had come from the future after seeing everything.
“So? When does the plan start?”
“Not long now.”
The corners of Kim Se-hyeon's mouth curled up.
Choi Yeon-soo hadn't been helping Kim Se-hyeon for long, but there was one thing he'd learned quickly.
When Kim Se-hyeon smiled like that, it definitely meant something was up.
It was the smile he made when everything was going exactly according to his plan.
***
The north, holding out by using monster movements to keep enemies from crossing the wall, and the west-central alliance, attacking them.
At a glance, the situation seemed to be a stalemate, but it didn't last long.
The base didn't have sturdy castle walls.
Only hastily erected building walls and barricades, just enough to barely fend off an invasion of low-grade monsters.
It was bound to be vulnerable to attacks from players.
“I-Im Byeong-hwi-nim! We're in trouble! The wall has been breached!”
“The wall was suddenly breached!? Why!?”
“I-I don't know! They appeared out of nowhere and… Ugh!”
The player urgently reporting to Im Byeong-hwi was struck from behind and collapsed.
Seeing the enemies that had appeared behind him, Im Byeong-hwi's face hardened.
The enemy had already reached the city hall, the heart of their base?
They were fast. Too fast.
‘A traitor?’
The thought suddenly occurred to him.
Otherwise, their speed couldn't be explained.
“Don't kill them! Just subdue them! If they die, that's one less person to collect taxes from!”
Hearing a familiar voice from not far away, Im Byeong-hwi finally realized this was reality.
The former ruler, Yoo Seong-hoon, who had once abandoned the north without a second thought.
That bastard was back to rule the north again.
He unconsciously turned and started running.
This was no time to stand around.
Kim Se-hyeon couldn't just give orders; he had to join the battle immediately.
“Kim Se-hyeon-nim! The situation has changed drastically…!”
However, Im Byeong-hwi, who had burst through the door, couldn't finish his sentence.
Because the room where Kim Se-hyeon should have been giving orders was empty.
An unbelievable system message appeared before the bewildered Im Byeong-hwi.
[The ruler of the north has relinquished their title.]
“What… did you say…?”
Im Byeong-hwi collapsed weakly, his face a mask of despair.
The ruler had voluntarily given up his title, and he was nowhere to be seen.
That could only mean one thing.
‘Kim Se-hyeon ran away.’
Struck by a shock as if he'd been punched, Im Byeong-hwi couldn't say a word and let out a hollow laugh.
The rumor that Kim Se-hyeon had fled spread not long after.
“Puhahahaha!”
Yoo Seong-hoon burst into a roar of laughter upon seeing the system message.
“So he tucked his tail and ran, that coward! To think he was such a coward and a fool to throw away the ruler's trait so easily! I guess he never expected us to declare war so aggressively!?”
The corners of Yoo Seong-hoon's mouth stretched into a wide grin that wouldn't fade.
Inwardly, Yoo Seong-hoon had been worried about something.
A ruler receives a significant stat boost within their own territory.
He'd thought the fight would be difficult because of that, but his biggest worry had vanished in an instant.
“So, what's it going to be?”
Chuckling with delight, Yoo Seong-hoon turned his gaze to the people in front of him.
Choi Yeon-soo and Im Byeong-hwi were at the very front.
Many people stood behind them, but all their faces were cast in shadow.
Gritting his teeth, Im Byeong-hwi drew a self-defense weapon and stepped forward.
“I'd rather die than hand this place over to a bastard like you…!”
“We, the ‘North,’ surrender. I, Choi Yeon-soo, the representative with full authority for the fugitive ruler of the north, Kim Se-hyeon, declare this on his behalf.”
“Choi Yeon-soo-nim!?”
Im Byeong-hwi raised his voice in disbelief.
The representative with full authority was Choi Yeon-soo, not Im Byeong-hwi.
Since he had made such a declaration, there was no turning back.
Im Byeong-hwi grabbed Choi Yeon-soo's shoulders firmly.
“How… how could you make such a decision! Is that truly Kim Se-hyeon-nim's will!?”
“Kim Se-hyeon ran away.”
Choi Yeon-soo brushed Im Byeong-hwi's hands off with a blank expression.
He didn't even use an honorific.
The small difference seemed to hit hard; Im Byeong-hwi's face turned pale, his lips trembling.
Yoo Seong-hoon walked over and patted Choi Yeon-soo's shoulder.
“That's my Choi Yeon-soo. I knew I could count on you.”
“Thank you, Yoo Seong-hoon-nim.”
“Ch-Choi Yeon-soo… nim…?”
Im Byeong-hwi's eyes widened in disbelief.
“N-No way.”
A sudden thought struck him.
What if Choi Yeon-soo was actually a spy?
It seemed impossible, but if it were true, everything would make sense.
“The wall being breached so suddenly… was that your doing?”