The Pharaoh's Proposal

Marco Hofman was a German-Egyptian.

After receiving the Tower's invitation, he began earning quiet fame as a promising supporter player. Recently, he had even gained the sponsorship of Osiris, the second most powerful figure in the Ennead after the God King.

After the first Great Erosion, players had become indispensable for maintaining public order. Marco Hofman's value rose with each passing day.

A flawless, unblemished path through life.

Even someone like Marco had a person he admired.

'Yu Jinho, the hero of the Spice Islands.'

A player from Korea.

The incident that first drew Marco's attention was the Buru Island affair. It was the region the Indonesian government had abandoned, deliberately allowing a Gate Break. Jinho and his guild members had achieved results no one could have believed possible.

'That was when it began. When I started paying attention to Jinho-nim.'

Marco had researched everything about Jinho, from his first media appearance to his most recent activities. A player fresh out of the tutorial had demanded a price equivalent to a hundred million dollars. In the Silver promotion match, he had completely overwhelmed Alexis, Greece's rising star and contractor of the God King.

Marco was so captivated that he secretly operated a Yu Jinho fan club in Egypt.

Then, in the Gold promotion match, he came face to face with Jinho.

'This is an honor for my family.'

Marco placed a hand over his chest, trying to calm his racing heart.

"Even if you fuss, you won't be able to beat Jinho-nim."

Marco grumbled while looking up at the sky.

Just one hour earlier, even the formation empowered by Osiris's full ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blessing had failed to so much as touch Jinho's feet. They had been overwhelmed from the very beginning in terms of raw power.

"Jinho-nim has an incredible variety of combat styles. If you're already losing in a contest of strength, it's already over."

Marco shrugged.

Among the constellations, Osiris belonged to the relatively gentle faction. Many constellations affiliated with the Pantheon watched him with interest. They already knew of Jinho's overwhelming strength. That was why Osiris hoped his contractor would gain something from this battle rather than simply win.

Marco belatedly understood Osiris's intent and smiled.

"It is an honor to serve such a merciful constellation."

The opening clash ended in an instant. Marco and most of the Egyptian players perished in the first engagement. The difference in strength was obvious.

"Guildmaster, please spar with me once."

"I'm in the middle of a promotion match, you know?"

"The power gap is this huge, though."

Karla muttered with a dissatisfied expression. Everyone seemed far too relaxed.

-Are you trying to force emotions you yourself do not feel onto others?

"Why? I'm quite busy myself."

-That does not sound like something someone who dumps all the work on their subordinates should say.

She had no comeback.

The party quickly seized two-thirds of the strongholds on the island. Once the conditions for producing War Golems were met, the Egyptian side would have no choice but to move quickly.

"Kyaaooo!"

Thanks to Lexy summoned through Void Projection, they could stretch the front line wide. With overwhelming mobility and vision, they crushed any players trying to slip south or north while leaving only the path to the central factory area open.

Some time passed.

The mummy army that had been defeated an hour earlier reappeared beyond the plains once more.

"Jinho-niiiim!!!"

A scream—or rather, a cheer—tore through the air from afar. He had promised to give autographs to anyone who fought with everything they had.

Hoo.

Jinho let out a short sigh and signed Marco's business card.

To think the first person he signed for after regressing would be Osiris's contractor. How ironic.

"Just in case there is any misunderstanding, I should clarify. The constellation I serve wishes to test himself against Jinho-nim."

"Ah, if it's Osiris's will, then fine."

"How did you know?!"

"An undead army of mummies empowered by holy power? There aren't many constellations that fit."

"As expected of Jinho-nim. Your insight is remarkable."

At this rate, he was going to start applauding the man for going to the bathroom.

Jinho frowned.

"By the way, once the battle ends, I have a request for Jinho-nim."

"Say it, as long as it's not asking to join our guild."

"Ah, aah……"

Marco lowered his head, visibly disappointed. His thoughts were obvious. A High Ranker from Germany and a key force on the Western European front alongside Youngsoo-hyung. Recruiting him would be a tremendous help to the guild in the future.

But that was exactly why it was problematic.

The future was already diverging from the one before the regression. Marco becoming his fan was a positive variable, but if things strayed too far from the original history, he would lose control. Furthermore, Youngsoo-hyung, who should have immigrated to England, was now tied to Korea. If the man who was supposed to hold the European front during the age of destruction came to Korea instead, what kind of variables would that create……

"Jinho-nim, may I ask the reason?"

"Yeokcheon prefers a small, elite force."

Marco let out a sigh and glanced behind him, his eyes filled with envy and jealousy.

Sorry, but he would rather avoid any more variables. Please rein in that fanboy enthusiasm.

"In that case!"

"Hm?"

"Please let me fight against a Yeokcheon guild member! So I can prove that I am worthy to be Jinho-nim's loyal subordinate!"

Oh dear.

Marco had made an unexpected proposal. Jinho had not expected him to be this devoted.

The other guild members who heard him began to show fighting spirit one by one.

-Hohoho, things are getting interesting.

Jinho found none of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it interesting.

"Crazy."

A curse slipped out reflexively from the absurdity. He had known that most constellations from the Ennead, aside from Set, were moderate in nature, but he had never expected one to expend their own divinity just to strengthen their contractor.

This was something he would never see from Olympus, which prioritized self-preservation above all, or the Aesir, whose intentions were always unclear.

-To think there exists a constellation who cares so deeply for mortals. How beautiful.

It was strange that Marco had not followed Osiris and left Earth during the age of destruction in the previous timeline.

"Then fight our youngest."

"By youngest, do you mean that child?"

"You! Who are you calling a tiny little kid?!"

Enrique flared up, veins bulging on his neck.

"No, I never said anything like……"

"Don't stop me, mister. I'm going to smash him to pieces!"

Yeah. He wasn't stopping him.

The atmosphere had heated up nicely. Jinho withdrew from the front line.

Two people backed by S-rank constellations. Enrique was a candidate for Monarch, and Marco had also possessed enough talent in the previous timeline to stand against Monarchs. With Osiris setting the stage, this was the best way to avoid significantly altering the flow of the original history.

No, now that he knew Osiris was this friendly toward mortals, he could make use of it.

The effect was immediate.

-Stop having such sinister thoughts, you.

"What did I do?"

-I can tell just by looking at your face.

"Damn it."

He really needed to practice controlling his expressions.

Enrique narrowed his eyes.

Hundreds of mummies. He had fought them before, but they were not opponents to be underestimated.

'This is the perfect chance to show Uncle what I can do.'

Jinho had saved both him and his parents from the clutches of the Santa Fe gang. Enrique always carried gratitude in his heart, but expressing it out loud was difficult. The peaceful days his family spent in Korea were all thanks to Jinho reaching out a hand. That was why he worked so hard not to fall behind the other guild members.

"Sorry, but there won't be a place for you!"

[Mechanic Control]

[Synchronization]

He synchronized the armor covering his entire body with his mana circuits. The cores embedded in each part amplified according to Enrique's control.

Unlike in Argentina, he was not using firearms. Synchronizing the custom-made armor with his mana circuits raised efficiency far higher.

He kicked off the ground and released mana through the soles of his feet.

Tu-tu-tu-tu-tung—! Enrique soared dozens of meters into the air and spread his palms.

[Mechanic Control]

[Mana Release Amplification]

Energy blasts rained down on the ground.

Each mana bullet carried power on the level of Jinho's Fireball. Part of the mummy army was destroyed, but when Marco poured holy power into them, they quickly regenerated.

"That level of firepower cannot harm me, boy."

"I told you I'm not a kid!!!"

"No. I never said anything like……"

Sparks flew in Enrique's eyes.

"Boy"—in other words, an immature male. Marco's careless remark was more than enough to ignite Enrique's anger.

[Mechanic Control]

[Create Mechanic]

When Enrique waved his hand, space distorted. A massive arm burst forth. A metal fist crashed down onto the heads of the mummy army.

Kwaaaang—!

The mummies vanished into dust one after another. Dozens were annihilated by the shock that exceeded their limits.

"Th-this is a War Golem's arm!"

Marco's eyes trembled.

This was why Jinho had let Enrique board the War Golem. His skill [Mechanic] allowed him to manifest it like this as long as he understood the structure of the target machine. Not every Mechanic user could do this. Only someone with Enrique's exceptional comprehension could pull it off.

The fact that he had become one of the six Monarchs was no coincidence.

"Hey, mister who's just tall like a pole."

"You're calling me a pole?"

"Better than a midget so short you have to look ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠down just to see him."

"I never said anything like……"

"I'm Yeokcheon's youngest, you know? Whether by age or by joining order."

"So?"

"If you can't even beat me, don't even dream of joining Yeokcheon!"

Enrique continued to decode and manifest parts of the War Golem's structure that he had understood on the 30th floor.

Approximately thirty minutes after the battle began, Marco met his second death in the promotion match.