Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Surrender
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'Surrender.'
Krampus didn't think Choi Seong-un's words were sudden.
When looking at the big picture, the clash between the Five Alliances and Black Forest was ongoing, and the battle between Danyeom and Black Forest was just one part of it.
Danyeom had adopted a strategy to buy time before the other nations could mobilize their forces.
'In the end, it seems they didn't achieve their goal.'
Separate from the failure of that strategic objective to stall for time, Danyeom had effectively lost to Black Forest.
The moment King Barbica Dolan—now crowned—led Basen Rak Orzan's army into the capital Daimérit without spilling a single drop of blood, the fight was over.
If Black Forest ultimately triumphed over the Five Alliances, this way of losing might even be the better option.
Krampus had played Lost World quite a bit.
War was a game where everyone involved lost.
The best choice was not to play at all, and if you had to, minimizing losses was key.
'If losses are inevitable, winning is preferable... but this game's already lost.'
But the moment he saw Seong-un's mask, Krampus fired off a question that suddenly popped into his head.
"Nebula."
"What?"
Krampus said,
"Do you think I'm bad at games?"
Seong-un shot Krampus a crooked glance and crossed his arms.
It looked like he was gauging intent, but he soon replied indifferently.
"Nah. I think you're pretty good."
"Really? Then why'd I lose?"
Seong-un tapped his mask with his index finger.
"You haven't lost yet. I haven't surrendered."
"Suppose I did."
"It's not surrender if we're just pretending, right?"
"Yeah."
"Tricky."
Krampus said,
"Ever think about playing the gracious winner sometimes? Spilling tips on a done deal won't leak any secrets."
"Is that so?"
Seong-un said,
"Then... I was just better?"
Krampus gazed at the distant mountains for a moment before turning back to Seong-un.
"Anything else? Did I ever have a shot at beating you?"
"Not gonna get into details, but honestly? No."
"So you had hidden cards up your sleeve."
"I've still got four opponents left to face."
Krampus conceded that point.
"Alright, let's narrow the scope."
"How?"
"Assuming no other variables, from the moment Rakrak killed Danyeom's king, through the Battle of Dilpa Gorge, up to Aranju surrendering to Basen—was there no way to beat you in that week?"
Seong-un seemed to ponder briefly before replying.
"There was."
"What?"
"Execute Barbica immediately after the king dies, and order Grand General Yubaim Dolan to retreat from Dilpa Gorge."
Krampus weighed Seong-un's idea.
Killing Barbica Tolro would leave no other figure of equal stature, so it could only be framed as a divine oracle.
No matter how influential Barbica was, he couldn't ignore a divine edict.
There might be some resistance, but offing him wouldn't be a big issue.
Worst case, just smite him with 'Divine Punishment.'
Divine Punishment was a skill unlocked once a subdomain was strong enough—it inflicted damage on entities worshiping the player, based on set conditions.
Krampus rarely used it, but Wisdom wielded it openly.
He had to admit it was efficient.
Once Barbica Tolro was dealt with, the inner city would plunge into even greater chaos rather than stabilize.
It might seem counterproductive at first glance, but if Grand General Yubaim retreated to Daimérit, power would inevitably consolidate under him and his formidable forces.
Yubaim was a loyalist concerned for the royal family, but under the pretext of quelling the immediate chaos, he'd use his might to stabilize the capital—and he'd wrap it up before Black Forest's army arrived.
'And assuming they then pursued an ideal siege instead of the failed strategy at Dilpa Gorge...'
Whatever ace Seong-un had hidden, it seemed like the outcome would be better than now.
Seong-un's idea rang true.
"But..."
"What?"
"I chose the best move at every turn. When the king died, I handed the chaos to Barbica Tolro to handle. When Yubaim Dolan returned, I let Barbica kill him to avert crisis. Aranju moved too fast for deep thought—that was a misstep—but things were already tangled before that."
Seong-un nodded, not bothering to argue.
"So, optimal moves moment-to-moment aren't enough to win."
Krampus asked,
"Then what else do you need?"
"A plan."
"...You had one ready? That's a quick answer."
"Reacting well isn't enough to win games. You need to paint the big picture."
Krampus stroked his goatee with interest.
"So you foresaw this unfolding?"
"Sort of, and sort of not."
"What does that mean?"
Seong-un explained.
"First off, it went according to plan that Barbica Tolro was blinded by ambition. We'd scouted key figures in each nation, and Barbica was one who thrived on power. I figured he'd make his move once the king was dead."
Krampus was surprised that Seong-un killing Danyeom's king via Rakrak wasn't mere showmanship or terrorism—it was calculated.
Its brutality had made him suspect impulsiveness.
"And Grand General Yubaim?"
"I thought he wouldn't go down easy. My vision was Barbica and Yubaim clashing in Daimérit."
"...I see."
That wasn't impossible.
If Barbica couldn't kill Yubaim, he'd constantly test loyalties to hold power, disrupting the chain of command.
Seong-un continued.
"Either way, until one offed the other, Black Forest would have the edge. The goal was a swift entry in the meantime."
"...Hmm."
"But things didn't go as planned..."
"So you got lucky in the end?"
"What more is there to say?"
The two players stared at each other for a moment.
Seong-un said,
"So, about surrendering? I could offer decent terms if you do it now."
Krampus gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"No surrender."
Krampus promptly closed Seong-un's video chat window.
"What do you think Krampus is thinking?"
"Game's not over yet, right? He's just seeing it through. I think that's a solid attitude."
"I'd have given up."
Seong-un looked at Eldar.
Eldar's face flushed slightly.
"Not out of despair—I'd pity the elves who believe in me."
"I didn't say anything."
"Hm."
"Not a bad attitude either."
Seong-un gazed down at Daimérit alongside Eldar.
Daimérit had farmland even within its high walls and hugged a river.
If Danyeom had mounted a proper defense, Black Forest would have braced for a grueling siege.
'We took it without a fight, but can't chalk it all up to luck.'
Far across from Seong-un stood Krampus.
Like Seong-un, he fiddled with system windows, tending to his play.
'I get what he's aiming for. But I can't touch it yet...'
Seong-un first checked if necessary tasks were progressing.
Documenting Danyeom's surrender.
Danyeom's capitulation had been swift.
This didn't mean new King Aranju Dolan was cowardly or rash.
Quite the opposite.
"General Basen, you must acknowledge that Danyeom's internal forces outnumber your army. It's obvious we'd have suffered heavy losses if I hadn't surrendered."
"...Hm. But Danyeom doesn't want bloodshed either, does it? Your forces are fully disarmed now. If you plan to rebel bare-handed, I won't stop you. You let us in first—no regrets there."
"Overly harsh demands would alienate Danyeom's people and show poor judgment. Word will spread to the other alliances too. If tales paint Black Forest as cruel, who else will surrender like us? Do you want prolonged hard fights?"
Though surrendered, Aranju Dolan held his head high.
As if kingship was his birthright, born to royal blood.
Basen had heard the basics on Aranju from insiders.
He'd loved horseback and swordplay since childhood, roamed fields with local thugs, and entered the military on his father's recommendation once mature.
Aside from not being royal, he wasn't much different from Basen.
'Just days ago, he never dreamed of the throne.'
Seong-un knew the answer.
'Becoming king is a massive event for anyone, especially a non-royal. His stats surged upon ascension. Hidden ones like Charisma and Leadership rose to solid levels. They were latent—just invisible to players.'
Even accounting for that, Aranju Dolan was holding his own against mighty Black Forest and capable General Basen, safeguarding Danyeom's interests.
Seong-un wasn't too worried, though.
Basen wasn't built for negotiation tables.
Behind Basen lurked Kyle Rak Orzan.
'Gotta wait for word from Orzan anyway.'
Basic treaty terms were already set.
Black Forest's army received victory reparations and lodging costs from Daimérit, with pillaging banned.
Fortunately, after the Dilpa Gorge rout and bloodless entry, the no-loot rule sparked no major gripes.
Most troops lacked war experience, another blessing.
As Black Forest's presence stabilized security during inner intrigues, Daimérit thawed from its rigidity, regaining some bustle.
But amid that bustle, the players' hands moved.
Eldar helped at Seong-un's request, but Seong-un said victory was impossible here.
"...Even if we don't win?"
"Yeah. This isn't army warfare. Daimérit's Krampus's turf—winning's off the table. Protecting Black Forest's forces is enough."
In secluded woods on Daimérit's outskirts, crumbling ruins, dark alleys.
Masked figures gathered secretly at dawn amid the city's vigor.
Some Danyeom nobles were stabbed in the back or slain in sleep with daggers to the heart.
Quite a few died in Daimérit while awaiting Orzan's envoys.
Seong-un popped back intermittently from other tasks.
"Looks like it's wrapping up."
These past days were what players called 'pruning.'
Unclear loyalties were culled, sides sharply divided between ours and theirs.
Players orchestrated it.
They tested entities with shaky or weak faith, tipping them decisively.
If they leaned wrong, other followers got divine orders to assassinate.
Thus, enemies and allies stood clear.
"Now hidden faiths reveal themselves starkly."
As Seong-un said.
Early morning.
Danyeom and Satyros followers of Mujin gathered in Daimérit's plaza, hurling insults at Black Forest and Wild Heaven.
Onlookers nodded fervent agreement.
The Mujin agitator in the plaza declared,
"Lord Mujin spoke last night! We can surrender to Black Forest, but never to Wild Heaven!"
The crowd erupted in fervor.
Eldar said to Seong-un,
"Wait, does this mean... the event's already triggered?"
"Yeah."
Seong-un nodded.
"Separation of church and state."