Chapter 216
Chapter 216
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: Forgotten High Priests
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Panstheon's first conference room.
Eldar finished his short presentation from the podium.
"...and as evidence, it has been confirmed that Owen, who was a priest of Black Rin, is still alive."
After a brief silence, Wisdom spoke.
"Impressive, Nebula. I knew your strategy of not intervening directly to let each entity's potential unfold, but I didn't expect you to pull this off to such a degree."
Krampus said.
"Off-field tactics? Black curtain? Either way, your behind-the-scenes maneuvers are undeniably top-tier."
Jang Wan added.
"How the hell did you do it? Getting them to move exactly as you want without laying a hand on them? Telekinesis or what?"
Seong-un replied awkwardly.
"I didn't know either."
"..."
"It's been 200 years since the last confirmation. Wouldn't anyone normally assume he's dead?"
"..."
"Why is he still alive? Anyone know?"
Im Chun-sik tapped his temple and said.
"You know... that thing among the ancient relic items, that one..."
Eldar answered.
"The Elixir of Life?"
"Yeah, that."
The elixir of immortality sought by Earth's Qin Shi Huang and countless others.
It actually existed in Lost World.
It didn't make one truly ageless or immortal, but simply extending lifespan dramatically made it invaluable. In civilizations capable of deciphering ancient languages, discovering such an elixir could completely upend the game's direction.
Countless mortal lords would dive into wars over it.
Players favored it too.
If your capable lord didn't die, you could advance civilization faster.
'For example, if Kyle Rak Orzan had taken the Elixir of Life, the game might've ended by now.'
Of course, Seong-un wasn't particularly regretful.
Looking back on any playthrough, there were always moments where luck let you wrap it up. Moments where you thought, 'What if I'd chosen differently?' But at the time, you couldn't know. You'd done your best. Unless you could turn back time, wallowing in regret and what-ifs was pointless.
'Anyway...'
Seong-un said.
"The Elixir of Life. It roughly doubles lifespan, sure. But Lizardmen max out at 80 years no matter how long they live, and in Owen's birth era, average lifespan was under 60."
AR1026, half-hiding her face with a fan, said.
"He was your priest, Nebula... So maybe elements from your domains affecting health, stamina, and lifespan were added to him...?"
Seong-un agreed.
A player's subdomains influenced believers somewhat, but priests quite strongly.
For instance, bug aversion was instinctive disgust for many races, yet none of Panstheon's priests felt it anymore.
Of course, some effects weren't precisely quantifiable. Like with a Herding subdomain—eating and raising such livestock provided some positive boost, but player analyses showed only subtle differences from groups without it.
'Subtle, but convincing enough.'
Among players, it was accepted that mortal lifespan increases with game progression weren't solely due to hygiene or medical advances.
"So roughly 10 to 20 more years. Say Owen's base is 80, plus Elixir 80, priest status and subdomains adding 20. That's still only about 180. But he's nearly 300. Way short."
Wisdom said.
"Hold on, Nebula. What if we think in a different direction?"
"Different direction?"
Wisdom's head rotated slowly.
"This isn't like playing Lost World. We have granular time and can scrutinize details the game didn't support. That's let us discover things unlike the game."
"So you're saying..."
"Yeah."
Wisdom continued.
"What we dismissed as bugs or errors happened more often than we thought. Things with reasons that aren't system-explained. Calling those 'just because' means Owen's 'just' living longer."
Seong-un cut in.
"Unsatisfying explanation."
Runda raised her hand and said.
"Alternative explanation."
"Let's hear it."
"Like this: At 180 years, maybe they just keep going. Elves aside, have you seen non-long-lived races hit 180? ...Why that pitiful look?"
"I'm wearing a mask. How do you see it?"
"After this long together, I can see through the mask."
Seong-un sighed.
"Fine, whatever on that. ...Jang Wan."
"Yeah?"
"Leak issue?"
As Jang Wan stepped forward, Eldar walked in.
Jang Wan said.
"We mentioned Owen, and it ties into this too."
"Obviously."
"It's related in a way different from what you... er, Nebula thought."
"...?"
Jang Wan continued.
"As expected, Hwi-kyung's return resolved much of the leak issue. But not perfectly."
"Owen's the problem."
"Even including Owen. Compared to Hwi-kyung, Owen's share isn't that big. Hwi-kyung had to show 'miracles' constantly. Owen's not aggressive with his powers. Gotta burn herbs to refill mental strength when using chosen-one abilities."
"So we're back to square one."
Jang Wan cut in on Seong-un's words.
"Not quite. Ties into what Wisdom said. Not as much as Hwi-kyung or Owen, but characters like them..."
Jang Wan unfurled the world map hovering in the air.
All four continents filled the screen.
He snapped his fingers, and red dots popped up here and there.
"Are scattered around. These are high priests once under player influence but forgotten. Some are creations—guardians."
Krampus said.
"Ah, that's why you asked last time."
"Right."
Jang Wan had gone to each Pantheon player, checking entities once under player influence but missing from Pantheon records.
Some were in the afterlife primordial lands or Pantheon, but others weren't.
"Some surely changed or abandoned faith. But some..."
"Still follow the gods?"
"Exactly."
Seong-un said.
"Hard to grasp. I slipped with Hwi-kyung and Owen—twice—but for entities players directly manage, forgetting them like that? Especially creations? Doesn't make sense."
Wisdom said.
"I agree. Controlling all is impossible, but 'losing' high priests or player-made creations? Near impossible."
Jang Wan shrugged.
Then glanced at the other players.
Seong-un and Wisdom looked around too.
No one met their eyes.
Jang Wan said.
"Get it? Not just you two."
Seong-un said.
"Runda, explain convincingly."
"Why me?"
"You're the least cautious."
Runda mumbled.
"Well, my Mafdet Piyu..."
"Mafdet? Divine beast, right?"
In Lost World, Mafdet resembled a cute mongoose divine beast.
Righteous, judging evil—like many divine beasts, nothing special.
But divine beasts were divine beasts. Successfully making one follow yielded faith without upkeep costs, even farming faith resources.
"You tamed a divine beast and lost it?"
"Knew you'd chew me out like this, so I didn't say."
Runda sensed Seong-un's mask hid a deeply sullen expression.
Seong-un said.
"Fine. Continue."
After players' confessions and Seong-un's rebukes, he said.
"...I see."
Runda recoiled.
"I see what? Teaming up was a mistake?"
"...No, didn't say that."
"Then what?"
"Not just this time—now I get why routine leak issues happened in Lost World."
Obviously undiscoverable during normal play.
People don't scrutinize their play that deeply.
But probing leaks directly revealed it now.
'People make a lot of mistakes.'
Seong-un said to Jang Wan.
"This isn't the end of the presentation, right?"
"Obviously."
Jang Wan said.
"Left the big ones like Hwi-kyung and Sai-ran to them, and using ground assets that can move to track."
And Lamin Solost Muel was one of those trackers.
"We know you met Owen, so no lies."
Sarcho stroked his chin with the hand not holding the gun.
"You're Empire folk?"
"Yes."
Sarcho said.
"Then I can't discuss Owen's movements. He's my friend—I won't put him in danger."
To Sarcho, if the Empire hunted Owen, the reason was singular.
Owen didn't blindly follow divine will.
Indeed, Colle Gotten Independent Republic's failed negotiations with the Lubeil revolutionaries owed to Owen's advice.
The Empire must hate him, Sarcho thought.
But at his words, Lamin did something unexpected.
He sheathed the sword he'd been aiming.
Sarcho asked.
"...What're you doing?"
Lamin said.
"If you claim friendship with Owen, I can't point a blade at you."
"Why?"
"Owen's my master."
"Pardon?"
Lamin said.
"Owen taught me the sword. Not just that—he taught me how to live. I'm still pretty pathetic, though."
Gorgota Palu beside him said.
"...Why self-reflect while leaving a gun pointed at you?"
"Ah, I get sentimental. You know."
"Never thought that once..."
"Really?"
"Ever cry at plays or books?"
"...Huh?"
Sarcho lowered his gun.
No point keeping it aimed anymore.
Sarcho said.
"Fine. I'll trust you. Why's Owen being hunted?"
Lamin said.
"We asked first. Know where Owen went?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
Sarcho hesitated briefly, then answered.
Truth wouldn't hurt.
"To the port. Said he's heading to the western continent."