Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Those Who Get Entangled (2)
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The ill-tempered devil has finally shown up.
His glare, full of displeasure, bore into me.
‘It’s only natural.’
On top of usage fees, the devil extorts additional money by allowing Rulers to collect taxes.
That was how, ‘overall,’ he managed to squeeze out even more fees.
The devil gained two main benefits.
A large amount of coins flowing to him.
And the amusing sight of humans struggling in all sorts of ways in a more difficult situation.
But if I became the unified Conqueror of Seoul, the story would change.
Since taxes were also treated as usage fees, I wouldn't have to pay anything.
I would be collecting taxes from all over Seoul, making it impossible for him to gain additional coins through Rulers anywhere else.
What if I were to collect even 100 coins in taxes?
I would gain an enormous profit at no cost to myself.
There was no way the devil would just stand by and watch that happen.
Furthermore, the ‘Ruler’ system was something the devil was personally funding.
He only did it because it generated profit, but if it started causing losses, he would naturally try to eliminate the Conqueror altogether.
That was what I was aiming for.
[Kim Se-hyeon… I don't like you.]
Even though he was floating in mid-air, it felt as if his tail was making a *thwack, thwack* sound with its movements.
It was a cat-like gesture indicating his displeasure, but his appearance was anything but cute.
[You were the one who stopped the wave at the World Cup Stadium, weren't you?]
A chill ran down my spine as his icy gaze fell upon me.
It's fine. The devil himself can't kill me directly.
I calmly settled my mind.
“I just did what I could.”
[Right. I'm sure you did. I know. You've been up to some pretty interesting things, haven't you? Thanks to you, the 'higher-ups' have taken an interest, which has become quite a nuisance.]
That's a relief.
Hearing the lines I remembered coming from the devil, a smile broke out on my face, contrary to the tense atmosphere that felt like it could explode at any moment.
What the devil would do next was already set in stone.
[But if you fall behind and get pushed out by others in a place like this, their interest will fade anyway, so it won't matter, right?]
[A Sub Quest has occurred.]
[Sub Quest – Bounty Hunting]
Kill Kim Se-hyeon.
Reward: 100,000 Coins
No penalty for failure
Time Limit: 29 minutes
“I thought you said you wouldn't harm me.”
[I meant I wouldn't harm you *directly*.]
He chuckled, his expression truly befitting a devil.
100,000 coins. He’s quite generous.
If he were to convert all my stats, traits, and skills into coins and reclaim them, he would get back much more than that.
In the end, the devil wasn't paying anything at all.
I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh at how he was trying to profit even from this.
“A h-hundred thousand…?”
“100,000 coins…”
The sound of people swallowing nervously echoed from all around.
An amount that would still be plenty even after maxing out all stats to the chapter limit.
It was natural for their eyes to widen with greed.
However, no one made a move rashly.
“But Kim Se-hyeon is a Ruler, isn't he…?”
“He beat those guys even in a 1-on-3 fight. How are we supposed to win?”
“I-I'm not doing it. No matter how big the reward, you have to do something that's actually possible.”
Those who gave up immediately because of the difference in power they had witnessed firsthand.
“Don't mock us, devil! Do you think we would kill the man who has worked so hard for us with our own hands just because he doesn't please you?!”
“That's right! Why would we kill Kim Se-hyeon-nim!?”
“Don't be ridiculous!”
Those who trusted and supported me.
“…”
A few who wanted to somehow seize this sudden opportunity, but could only glare with wide eyes, their hands cuffed.
The devil's face twisted more and more.
It was one of the devil's bad habits.
The slightest annoyance showed on his face, making it easy to take control of the situation or predict his next move.
[Hah, what a bunch of funny bastards. It's 100,000 coins. 100,000. You could become stronger than Kim Se-hyeon. Is that not enough? Should I give you more? How about I transfer all his stats, traits, and skills directly to you?]
It was still quiet, but some people's eyes wavered as if it were a tempting offer.
Surely there weren't any fools who would actually fall for that.
It was a power beyond the standard.
A power that far surpassed the chapter's upper limit.
If he transferred that power as is, it would create 'another me' who would be difficult to control. Would he just let that happen?
It was obvious he'd force a contract on them, something like being unable to defy the devil's words.
Trusting a devil in the first place… you have to trust someone trustworthy.
[…This is annoying. Really annoying.]
His twisted face changed into a twisted smile.
I got a bad feeling.
That smile.
The typical smile that appeared when the devil had come up with some wicked scheme.
I reflexively drew my sword.
[If you don't move, you'll be the first to die.]
*CRUNCH!*
The sound of something being chewed spread out.
The sound of something hard being crushed by large, sharp teeth.
Everyone's gaze simultaneously shifted to where the sound came from.
There was a bloody mess.
Someone who must have been alive just moments ago, half of their body swallowed by something unknown that had risen from the ground.
[Quest details have been updated.]
[If you do not act for more than 5 seconds, a hellish maw will be summoned beneath your feet and devour you.]
[00:05]
A timer appeared above the heads of everyone except me.
People's dazed gazes turned to the timers above each other's heads.
No way.
This can't be real.
Such gazes wavered endlessly, and then.
[00:04]
“U-Uwaaaah!!”
“Kyaaaaak!!”
The moment one second ticked away, people started moving with ear-splitting screams.
Dammit.
Even when I first saw this in the game, the pressure was immense, but facing it in reality made the hair on my body stand on end.
*Swish!*
*Whoosh!*
The faces of those who charged at me were all etched with the fear of death.
It wasn't out of resentment for me, or for personal gain.
It was the desperate, on-the-verge-of-breaking expression of someone who truly didn't want to die, forced to do something they hated.
[Yes! You should have done that from the start! Isn't this a much better sight?]
The devil laughed loudly.
A chilling laugh echoing through the urban center, collapsed and on fire from the ravages of war.
And on top of that, people charging like a horde of zombies that had spotted a human.
Hah. This really feels like an apocalypse.
*KWAANG!*
“Ugh!?”
“W-What is this!”
Since I couldn't just kill them, I focused on using skills for intimidation or to block their approach.
Black, shimmering iron bars shot up from the ground, blocking the path.
A short distance away, I noticed my companions, unsure of what to do.
Their faces were agitated, biting their lips, as if they didn't know what to do.
I gave them a reassuring smile.
There's a way to beat this.
I couldn't say it out loud, because an even angrier devil would resort to harsher measures, but either Jo Min-ah or Jo Min-woo would figure it out soon enough.
My best bet was to deal with them for a bit and then make my escape.
Ideally, it would be best to get far enough away that they couldn't chase me at all.
I gestured to Jun Bo-ra for help, but she simply ignored me.
Instead, her vibe was more like, ‘You should be glad I'm taking it easy on you.’
‘Did she even buff them?’
I clicked my tongue seeing the dark violet aura surrounding each person.
All those people had their stats boosted.
I didn't know by how much, but the force I felt from their blocking swords was distinctly different.
That wasn't all.
[‘Devil's Curse’ has been activated.]
[All stats will be reduced by 20 while this quest is in progress.]
Damn it.
The devil must be completely insane. Intervening to this extent must come with a hefty penalty for him as well.
Did he decide that not dealing with me now would lead to an even greater loss?
‘Still, it's not threatening enough to be a real problem yet.’
I swung my sword wide, parrying all the attacks, and then stomped my foot.
*Shwiiik!*
Countless jet-black thorns shot up, creating an environment where they couldn't move carelessly.
With their mobility gone, next was visibility.
I immediately drew upon my mana and spread darkness.
A darkness so thick you couldn't see an inch in front of you consumed the area.
“I can't see!”
“Agh! Something hit me!”
[Activating ‘Army of Darkness’.]
I summoned four soldiers without sparing any mana.
Each one had fought on par with the Rulers, and they had the ability to recover instantly even when cut.
The people who had witnessed that firsthand flinched, not knowing what to do.
“Just hold them off. Don't hurt them. Just buy time.”
The dark soldiers nodded and split into four groups, blocking the people's paths.
Whenever the people tried to act, the soldiers would immediately move to block them and prevent them from getting close to me.
That was enough.
The condition for death was ‘not acting’.
If I just blocked them from doing something, this could end without anyone dying.
Fighting the dark soldiers I summoned would still count as acting to catch me.
I promptly turned my back and fled.
The time limit was 29 minutes.
As long as I stayed far away from them during that time, it would be fine.
After that, the devil wouldn't be able to do whatever he wanted anymore.
‘30 minutes after the devil appears.’
When the first disaster's effects began.
The moment the next main quest started, the devil wouldn't be able to interfere to this extent.
That's why he set the time limit to 29 minutes.
In fact, if I ran away for the full 29 minutes, the devil would only waste more power. There was no downside.
“Hoo…”
After running at full speed for who knows how long, no one was chasing me anymore.
I'd entered a mountainous area, so even if they were driven here, they wouldn't find me easily.
I leaned against a nearby tree and caught my breath, which was coming in ragged gasps.
I think I've run far enough to be outside of Seoul.
The devil could tell people my location, but even then, they wouldn't be in a position to catch me.
To catch up to me, they'd need a stat boost of at least 30 or 40. Giving that kind of buff to so many people?
Ridiculous. Even a high-ranking devil couldn't do that.
Rather, what I should be wary of in this situation was something else.
*Rustle.*
At the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, I immediately pushed off the tree and scanned my surroundings.
It wasn't a monster.
And there was no way the other players from back there could have caught up already.
If there was a possibility, it was only one person.
“What a pathetic sight, Kim Se-hyeon.”
The moment I heard the voice, my expression naturally hardened.
A chill like a winter wind seemed to caress my face.
I turned my gaze in the direction of the voice and forced out the name.
“…Hwang Chan-jin.”
“Things have gotten interesting.”
Hwang Chan-jin wore a mocking smile.
Whether he had predicted this situation, or he genuinely found it amusing.
One thing was certain: Hwang Chan-jin was also undertaking the sub quest offered by the devil.
“I doubt you came all this way just to laugh at me.”
“Of course not. There are 100,000 coins at stake, after all.”
Just as I thought. I had already expected this.
The faint, dark violet aura rising around his body was proof.
If Hwang Chan-jin had properly followed the solo player route, his stats would naturally be maxed out to the limit.
Plus, recalling when I last checked, he had traits that gave bonus stats.
No, just the fact that he took down the Herald of Verdure alone made it clear that Hwang Chan-jin was a cut above the other Rulers.
On top of that, he had the devil's buff while I had a curse.
Since I was still within Seoul, I was receiving the ‘Conqueror’ stat bonus, but…
‘Hwang Chan-jin had that item, too.’
I should basically consider the stat bonus nullified.
I calmly pointed my sword at Hwang Chan-jin.
At that, Hwang Chan-jin gave a twisted smile.
“To be honest, I'm quite pleased. I've been counting the days until I could avenge myself for that day.”