Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Inevitable Alliance
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Choi Seong-un said.
"There's nothing to worry about."
Ever since this game began, Seong-un had felt a slight reluctance to interact with his creations.
Even in Lost World, he hadn't really chatted with them. They were just AI, after all. Sure, Lost World allowed players to talk to creations, but they always spouted the same canned lines.
This game was different, though—and for another reason, it made him even more hesitant to engage.
-What do you mean, my lord?
Seong-un paused to think.
'Once the game became reality, they started talking way too much.'
It was like they had souls now.
It didn't feel bad, exactly.
Just... awkward to deal with.
Seong-un had always treated his creations like extra limbs—or, to put it another way, macro programs. And now those programs were striking up conversations.
'I could just ignore them completely. System-wise, my creations obey only me and stay loyal no matter what.'
But something about that felt off to him.
Being kind enough to answer a simple question wouldn't cost him anything.
"I knew it would come to this."
-You knew?
"Yeah."
Even if locust swarms devoured crops, they couldn't completely halt player progress.
Seong-un had scaled back their range, effects, and frequency to avoid making them look like player actions.
And there was always farming at higher latitudes where locusts struggled.
'At first, they probably chalked it up to natural disasters or events. But by now, they've had time to breathe. Checking out the other players on the continent one by one, they'd notice someone using the Subdomain: Bugs.'
It was just a matter of time.
"Maintaining the locust swarms isn't hard anyway. Nothing to worry about."
-That's a relief.
"If anyone's worth worrying about, it's you. You okay?"
-Yes. We lost a lot of locusts to the other gods' interventions, but they haven't spotted me yet.
Unlike Slatis, Seong-un's creation Honggo was small.
It wasn't built for combat—just locust control—so no need to make it fancy.
Overall, it resembled a bipedal brown locust: locust head, but a human silhouette reassembled from insect chitin and shells. Throw a sack over its head, and it'd pass for a sturdy human man. Wanderers were common in this era, so low chance of detection.
"...But losing you would be a real loss."
Unlike swarms, creating avatars cost not just Faith but also Abomination or Monstrosity Essence. And Honggo, having leveled up steadily through locust control, would lose a chunk of XP even if its level didn't drop.
Seong-un commanded.
"Mission complete. Until I give the next one, use the remaining swarms for disruption, maximize survival, and stay hidden. Leave the area if you have to."
-...Understood.
Seong-un cut contact with Honggo and began scouting.
Dozens of bug and bird views popped up before him. Mini-maps beside them showed what each was watching, and tapping a screen shared their hearing too—a standard Lost World addon setup.
'Satyros and Renar, as expected.'
Five players occupied the continent's center, split into three warring factions.
Seong-un categorized them by signature races. Satyros and Renar bordered his territory.
Satyros were half-human, half-beast—goat legs below. Fierce-tempered, but lovers of music, song, dance, and booze. Stats-wise, not far from humans.
Their whole race had fanatic traits: once they picked a faith, they stuck to it. Strong fanatics sacrificed everything for it. A strength that could turn into a weakness.
Renar, meanwhile, were bipedal foxes. Smaller than average, bigger than dwarves—low Strength, high Intelligence.
Intelligence was their edge, but they had more. Early fights favored foes, but once gunpowder hit, their small, nimble bodies shone.
'Only these two are mobilizing right now.'
The locust attacks had hit all five races evenly.
Even warring, they'd likely shared intel on him via chat.
No—Seong-un was certain. He'd been through this before.
'The other three need Satyros or Renar land to reach me. Impossible while hostile.'
They could use "attacking Seong-un" as an excuse to march, then hit the vacated lands. The two players wouldn't allow it.
'They probably proposed a truce to hit the guy behind me. In exchange for material aid instead of sending their own troops. Either way, I'm public enemy number one.'
Having to face all five indirectly was regrettable.
Fortunately, he'd anticipated it.
And their lack of full unification was a clear advantage.
'Alright then...'
Seong-un sprang into action.
The Satyros capital, Daimarit, nestled in a mountain valley. There, two kings conversed.
Renar king Hati, his fur grayed with age, spoke.
"Can you trust them?"
The "them" meant the other three races' leaders in the central continent.
"They've never once kept a promise."
Satyros king Fab, young but with a thick beard, replied.
"We can't just sit idle with the Lizardmen. The gods all say those wretched locust swarms come from them. They pray to their vile Blue Insect God to starve us and fatten themselves."
"Hmm..."
Everyone bordering Heukrin agreed it was growing stronger.
They minted their own "notes" currency—superior tech made others worthless by comparison.
Merchants profited beyond Autocity, but Heukrin gained even more.
Left unchecked, Satyros and Renar lands might fall to Rakrak's grasp too.
Fab said.
"We might take some losses, but it's unavoidable. We're closer to Heukrin's borders... And we can't let the other three armies cross our lands. Doesn't it come down to us moving?"
"But..."
"I share your worries, Hati. But this has all five gods' blessing. And the prophecy?"
Before year's end, Satyros and Renar would unite to burn Heukrin's capital, Oran.
The prophecy spread to all five races—not just them.
Players had used the system "Prophecy" skill to seal their pact: Satyros and Renar seize Oran fast, weaken Lizardmen; others aid.
Seeing it spread, all races recognized the gods' will.
Hati asked.
"You think their 'Blue Insect God' is apart from the five gods?"
"I do. Rumors say Lizardmen fight dishonorably, slyly. Their altars get rotten meat offerings to attract bugs."
"Disgusting and vile."
Subdomain: Bugs' weakness.
Acts tied to rival divinities repulsed believers.
Shaking his head, Hati said.
"So, what's our attack route?"
"Hm..."
Fab eyed the map.
The east was poorly mapped.
Only one real path.
To Autocity. Beyond, just names—no precise locations.
Decided, Fab spoke.
"Coastal route would be ideal, but..."
"Cursed lands. Crawling with bugs. Bugs? Maybe that's theirs too..."
"No roads either."
"Only one worth calling a road: to Autocity. It's been sieged but never taken."
"Except by Lizardmen."
Autocity's fall was legend centrally.
Sneaky Lizardmen couldn't breach walls, so they meddled in succession, propped up a puppet lord.
Merchants spun tales of turmoil ties, but folks preferred simple stories.
Fab said.
"Someone needs to free Autocity from Rakrak. This might be the chance."
"Satyros alone?"
"Yes."
Hati thought.
'Satyros are greedy as ever. Claim Autocity? Fine, if they gain from sieging it. Target's still Oran.'
Hati said.
"Then I'll take the long way through the wasteland."
"Good. Let's plan specifics."
Fab and Hati mustered armies in under a month.
Satyros: 800. Renar: 1100. Biggest expedition on the third continent.
The kings led forth.
Above, two gods watched.
One looked the devil incarnate.
Black suit, ruddy skin, glowing yellow eyes like goat slits.
Six horns curved up, side, down from his head; mouth opened to red flames.
Satyros god, player Krampus, anxiously eyed the army from the air.
"By the way, your supply plan?"
"Supplies?"
The responder looked like a normal human woman.
Long flowing hair, white mini-dress baring shoulders.
On the ground, she'd never pass for divine.
Renar god, player Runda.
"We'll resupply till the wasteland, then skirt the north coast."
"Loot along the way?"
"Yep. Renar are small, so units need less. North coast has oasis villages midway."
"Got it."
Krampus nodded—known intel.
Plan: Renar first, hit enemy when Satyros assaults Autocity.
Splitting forces risked defeat in detail usually.
But in Lost World, forcing fights in two spots? Smart.
Foe splits Divinity/Faith, shuttles confusedly.
Krampus glanced at Runda; she turned.
"What? Something to say?"
"N-no. Just... Still no word from Nebula?"
"Yeah. Blocked. You?"
Krampus checked his status window.
Whisper to Nebula (Seong-un): blocked.
"Same."
Initially, Krampus would've forgiven Nebula for compensation—decent payout for harassing masses.
But Nebula doubled down: training troops, more scouts.
All five players fumed.
Runda nodded.
"Gotta monitor internals while watching the army. Call it?"
"Uh, one thing."
"What?"
Krampus said.
"That form—your creation? Not your real look."
Since game start, Krampus felt odd; meeting Runda revealed loneliness.
Gods ignored time's flow, but he felt human emotions.
Especially post-loose alliance. His eyes drifted to fellow player Runda. Spotted her beauty mark then.
Dot under her left eye—unnecessary detail, he thought.
'Unless she recreated herself exactly.'
Runda smiled.
"What do you think?"
Krampus froze, no answer.
When he tried, she'd turned to her system window.
Runda's face lit with surprise.
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Whisper request."
"Nebula?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"It's... 'Eldar'?"