Chapter 125
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Catastrophe, and the Transcendent
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Thanks to Ruska's words, I got a rough idea of how I'd met her in the first round and the steps I'd taken using her.
'...Sorry, Ruska, but I've heard enough about this woman. There are other things I need to know.'
For now, the most pressing issue—and the one I was most curious about.
"Do you happen to know what a Transcendent is?"
I figured she would, since she'd basically worked with me on our plans back in the first round.
"A Transcendent... Seeing you mention them means you've learned something about the Catastrophe too, haven't you, Master?"
"...So you know what a Transcendent is—and what the Catastrophe is."
"Not everything. But I know a little."
I was a bit disappointed she didn't know it all, but beggars couldn't be choosers.
"Outsiders like you are probably getting help from the System, right?"
"Yes, that's right. The natives..."
"Natives don't get any help from the System. Only Outsiders do."
I already knew that. Natives couldn't grow strong in a short time like Players because they lacked the System's aid.
Instead, they trained rigorously over years—or usually decades—to grow slowly.
Of course, individual talent affected growth rates.
"From what I know... or rather, what I've heard, Players like you can see their strength displayed as numbers. Stats, was it?"
"Yes."
"I recall hearing that if one or more of those stats exceeds 100, you become a Transcendent. But only base stats count—equipment or traits cap at 100."
'...Stats over 100?'
I couldn't help but sink into thought. Because...
'Fuck, is it even possible to exceed 100 in a stat?'
Take Yun Yeon as an example: her highest stat was 95 Agility.
That was from a while back, so she might have grown since then.
Even so, 100 was a distant number.
'Come to think of it, she was a Transcendent candidate.'
That meant Yun Yeon had potential. Seo Yu-ju, chosen as the Regressor, probably did too.
'...But it's not easy. We failed to raise one in the first round.'
"...Does that mean you have no chance of becoming a Transcendent, Ruska?"
Her Unique Traits seemed superior to Seo Yu-ju's or Yun Yeon's. She was older, after all.
She'd once been the youngest elven warlord. I had high hopes from my perspective.
"I've heard only those empowered by the System can become Transcendents. Meaning only Outsiders like you."
"Damn..."
So Ruska could never become one, no matter how strong she got.
"Got it for now. So what exactly is the Catastrophe?"
"...The World Eater. That's another name for it."
"...What?"
"Sorry, Master. That's all I know. Just that it'll come to Eras someday, and without a Transcendent, Eras will perish."
A sudden wave of unease hit me. I'd imagined the threat as some dungeon or monster.
But her words gave me a bad feeling.
'This is fucked.'
If it were a dragon from legend or a dungeon, I'd shrug it off.
'The name alone is fucked up.'
World Eater. How could that not sound ominous?
It made me wonder why Players—called Outsiders—were summoned to Eras.
The Tutorial voice had gone silent after the intro, leaving the reason unknown.
'Maybe to stop this Catastrophe...'
Just a guess, but it felt right. Only System-empowered beings could become Transcendents—that was solid evidence.
I didn't know why not empower the natives instead of dragging Earthlings here.
'Damn it, I have to stop this thing?'
Seo Yu-ju would handle the direct fight, but I knew the truth and had to guide her to Transcendence.
As I clutched my head, Ruska spoke in a worried tone.
"Master, you don't need to worry too much yet. There's still plenty of time, so..."
"......"
Her concern was appreciated, but we all died if the World Eater wasn't stopped—not just me.
'Seo Yu-ju, Yu-hyeon, Yu-rim, Yun Yeon... everyone.'
No way to avoid the stress.
'Damn... No. Focus on what I can solve first.'
If worrying didn't help, no point agonizing.
As Ruska said, we had years before the World Eater arrived.
"...Got it."
"Are you okay, Master? Your face..."
"I'm fine. Yeah, there's time."
"...I'll stay by your side. Whatever you need, I'll help. I even made a clan to support you. It's new, but..."
"...You made a clan?"
She nodded and continued.
"Yes, Master. It's an underworld clan, but I thought it'd help you more. It's recent, but I've built up considerable power."
'What? Crazy... What the hell have you been up to?'
"I made it to help you. So all its funds, forces, info—everything's yours."
Suddenly gifted an entire clan—I was stunned. Who could've predicted this?
"I'm the Clan Master for now... But as your slave, what's mine is yours."
"...How strong is that clan militarily?"
A idea struck me. Something possible with her clan, not Eternity.
Eternity had too much risk. But her clan? Even if shit hit the fan, it was their problem.
'Separate from Eternity.'
As long as she was the public Clan Master.
I could pull strings from the shadows, enabling riskier moves.
"With me, military strength isn't an issue. I know it's boastful, but... I'm very strong."
'Yeah, obviously.'
Her Status Window proved it.
"Then I have a personal request. Can you grant it?"
"Of course. Anything you want."
I didn't know why she was so loyal. But more cards in hand was good.
"Turn that clan into an information guild."
"...An information guild?"
It puzzled her.
'One of the best ways to exploit my Unique Trait.'
An idea I'd scrapped for danger, but with her strength and clan? Different story.
"I'll give you Status Windows of Players active in Eras. You sell that info."
"Selling info..."
"Take commissions. Client wants info on a Player; clan delivers and gets paid."
"...Ah, I see. Yeah, that could work."
Normally, retaliation would kill the idea. But an established underworld clan? Fine.
"Of course, falsify or reject some requests."
"Yours and your allies', right?"
"Exactly."
Selling my circle's info would ruin everything.
Not selling only ours might raise suspicion, but selling scraps on randos fixed that.
I checked most Players' Status Windows anyway—and could reopen seen ones.
'Perfect business.'
Curiosity or hostility might draw attacks on the clan.
'Leave that to Ruska.'
Her power aside, it wasn't my clan—no responsibility.
"I'll do as you say. But... one request."
"Ah, sure... What is it?"
'She wants something after all this devotion?'
Made sense.
"...Master, why do you keep using formal speech with me?"
"...Huh?"
"In the first round, you spoke casually to me. I prefer that."
"Well... I don't remember the first round?"
"Even so, what master uses formal speech with a slave? Speak casually, please."
"The first round aside, we're not master-slave now. I'm not binding you..."
"Then bind me. Would you speak casually then? I want to renew the slave contract."
'What...'
More talk would tire me, and casual speech was no big deal.
"...Fine. Casual it is."
She looked delighted.
'What's the difference between formal and casual?'
"Then I'll head back to the clan... Oh, wait."
Something else to ask. The prior questions were huge, but this was useful too.
"Ruska, what's the identity of the Execution Cult's Leader?"
I'd seen her kill him on my orders in the Library of Records. She should know.
"Do you know about the Leader and the other seven executives?"
"I do. But correction: the key figures are the Leader and six executives."
"...What? Isn't it seven executives besides the Leader? Shin Ju-tae was caught, but still."
Per Shin Ju-tae, seven executives excluding the Leader.
"Master, I said six because one of the seven executives is the Leader."
"...What?"
"Rumor in the Cult: only two executives know the Leader's face. One is the Leader."
'Clever bastard.'
I hadn't considered that. Assumed Leader separate from seven.
'Smoke and mirrors.'
Spread that rumor internally, and no one suspects an executive is Leader.
As I admired it, Ruska continued.
"The Execution Cult's Leader is a Player named Jeon Myeong-cheon."