Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Hell Worlds
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"How about creating hell?"
Wisdom said.
"I think everyone's been neglecting the afterlife too much. If we turn one world completely into hell, they'll all become way more devout."
Runda replied to that.
"Then what role do the other worlds play?"
Wisdom said.
"Hells that are just a bit less horrific than the first hell. For those whose sins aren't heavy enough to warrant the first hell, but who still deserve punishment."
"And the next world after that?"
"A hell that's just a bit less horrific than the second hell?"
"...So they're all hells?"
Wisdom shrugged.
"The afterworlds don't directly impact Lost World anyway—only the real worlds do. So what does it matter?"
Eldar raised his hand at those words.
"If we're doing it that way, what about paradise?"
"Eldar, humans are inherently more sensitive to punishment than reward. Plus, everyone hates pain, but what they like varies. Not everyone would enjoy baby angels blowing trumpets and choirs singing praises to the gods in paradise."
"Well... we have six worlds ready to use right now. Why not tailor them to different desires?"
"Such as?"
"Greed for wealth, honor, gluttony, sloth, lust..."
"Too bad."
"Pardon?"
"I was going to say that talking about the seven deadly sins makes it no different from hell."
Krampus chimed in.
"Yeah, that doesn't sound much different from hell."
Runda said to Eldar.
"You brought up lust, so you handle it."
"Pardon?"
Seong-un, who had lowered the screen, spoke up.
"The priests are all here. Should we proceed just as we discussed earlier?"
"Nebula, I'm curious about your thoughts on the reward-and-punishment system."
Seong-un pondered for a moment before responding to Wisdom's question.
"Hell itself doesn't sound bad."
"It doesn't?"
Seong-un had made good use of the concept of hell in Lost World before.
The current afterworld, resembling the 'Primal Plains,' required little management.
Leaving it alone or having those hailed as heroes in life control the dead was enough to prevent any issues.
However, with no issues arising, the benefits were minimal.
'Of course, the Primal Plains isn't just that.'
The place where Star Reader and his descendants resided functioned as a sort of afterlife research institute.
Besides that, outstanding warriors like the supreme warrior Yur and Tatar still trained the dead as warriors, and this training projected into the dreams of descendant warriors, exerting some influence.
But transmitting knowledge through dreams consumed a significant amount of faith.
'Using a hell concept would have different effects.'
Threatening eternal punishment after death could firmly instill specific doctrines.
This benefited actual gameplay.
Declaring a religion heretical or demonic could drastically reduce conversions or betrayals to it.
It could also correct believers' habits—like washing hands for cleanliness, being diligent instead of lazy, or suppressing desires.
Cleanliness actually lowered infection rates from diseases, reducing mortality. Rejecting laziness fostered cultural progress. Agreeing on temperance lowered crime rates.
'It's simple and effective, but...'
Forcing such things naturally had side effects.
Hand-washing becomes a ritual, providing grounds for sects to alter it.
Emphasizing diligence desensitizes to culture, arts, and entertainment, slowing those developments.
Lower desires weaken the community's economic power.
Seong-un said.
"Flexibility is key."
"Flexibility?"
Wisdom sounded surprised.
Seong-un explained.
"In a typical game, this is when you'd set a clear goal. Pick one direction and develop civilization sharply toward it. Then, unless the other players go for an extreme counter-meta, you'd have the advantage from advancing first."
"But?"
Seong-un replied.
"But this game isn't like the ones we knew anymore. Not just because they're real worlds now, but..."
"The evil gods."
Seong-un nodded.
"We need to handle various situations with leeway. Honestly, I'm not even sure the victory conditions are the same anymore."
"Why's that?"
Lost World's victory conditions were simple.
Make all players except yourself or your allies vassals—i.e., kill them.
Since enemy divinity levels scaled with their civilization size, total destruction wasn't necessary.
Destroying key apostles, creations, priests, and major temples would drop their EXP enough to surpass their divinity level.
"But that victory rule had a quirky addendum. Anyone know it?"
As Seong-un looked around, Wisdom and Eldar seemed to know, while the others looked puzzled.
Wisdom said.
"But that rule had no real viability, and even if it worked, it was meaningless..."
Jangwan snapped irritably.
"So what is it?"
Seong-un said.
"All players allying."
"...Isn't that not allowed in ranked games?"
"Nearly impossible. But some did it."
"How?"
Seong-un answered.
"I proposed it every game out of curiosity, and after dozens of tries, everyone accepted once. The game ended the moment we allied. But it was pointless. Victory message popped, but they said ranking dropped like a loss or draw."
Eldar said.
"Ah, so if we convince everyone this time..."
"Won't work. Not with unknown evil gods out there."
"Ah."
Seong-un said.
"In the extreme, even if we meet victory conditions, will the game end?"
The players seemed lost in thought.
If the game didn't end, it wasn't a big deal—they remained gods even in victory.
But fighting forever with evil gods lingering wasn't true victory.
Seong-un shook his head.
"Anyway, let's table that. No point overthinking. Handle the urgent stuff first. Eldar?"
"Yes, speak."
"No objections, so prepare as discussed. Priests are mostly here."
At that, Jangwan slightly lifted his head but said nothing and turned away.
Eldar glanced around before replying.
"Understood."
─┼
"They're all here now."
Rakrak arrived at the suspected convergence point of the lands beyond death, bringing Shunen Rak Oran with him.
A sharply rising gray barrier stood there, with tall stairs leading to a smooth iron gate that entered the barrier.
Shunen said.
"Is this... where the gods reside?"
"A bit plain, isn't it? Probably too busy to care."
"Pardon? But..."
Shunen was awestruck by the barrier's scale, impossible for all the world's people to build.
Rakrak patted Shunen's shoulder.
"It'll be better next time. We're latest, so let's hurry."
"Next time?"
Rakrak urged Anax forward without answering.
As they climbed the stairs, the iron gate began opening on its own.
"Amazing, that huge gate opening by itself..."
"By itself?"
At Rakrak's words, Shunen looked behind the gate.
A massive stag beetle over 20 meters long had wrapped the gate's chains around its horn and was pulling.
The gate's weight wasn't light even for it; it opened slowly with each step.
Rakrak said.
"That's Hecup. Temporary gatekeeper."
"Temporary?"
"Most things here are. Nothing's settled yet. The gods gathered to decide."
Shunen said.
"Will I meet the gods too?"
"Yes."
Hecup said.
"You two are the last."
Rakrak just nodded and passed Hecup.
Shunen saw Hecup closing the gate with its huge foreleg.
Inside was dark and dim.
As Rakrak walked between massive pillars, only self-glowing fireflies lit the few meters ahead.
Enormous shadows moved among the darkness, sometimes passing overhead.
Terrified, Shunen ducked his head, but Rakrak said.
"No need to fear. These are the gods' direct creations, gathered here without assigned places yet."
"Is Ya-cheon's Scale here too?"
"Just walked over our heads."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Other gods' guardians were lurking to scare you. Slatis chased them off."
Shunen regained his composure.
Rakrak and Shunen joined the distant cluster of light.
Six priests of various races in different garb were praying.
'What are they praying about?'
A voice echoed.
-"You're late, Rakrak."
It was a clear, pure voice he'd never heard.
Rakrak dismounted Anax and said.
"It turned out that way."
Shunen dismounted too, passing behind the priests to find the voice's owner.
He instantly understood their prayers.
At first glance, long hair, pointed ears, small stature, and androgynous features—an elf.
But with a seventh or eighth sense Shunen had never felt, he knew this being was special and noble.
Even as a lizardman, gazing at the elf's features, he immediately found them beautiful.
Stammering, Shunen asked Rakrak.
"Th-that one is...?"
"The god of Jarin and the elves, the Dancing Shadow God, Muyoung."
It was Eldar.
Eldar smiled slightly at Shunen, making his heart pound wildly.
Shunen collapsed in weakness, beginning to pray.
Eldar spoke before the priests.
-"With the seven priests gathered, I, as the gods' herald and storyteller, shall relay what transpired among the gods."