Aesthetics (1)
────── Current Contribution: 11,600p ──────
Ten thousand points breached. With no one to compare to, there was no way to know just how high that was.
If my heart had its way, I’d grab a nearby player and demand to know their contribution score. But clinging to petty achievements wasn’t in line with Grandfell’s pride either.
“Merely clearing out some trash, nothing more.”
I straightened my attire.
“Contribution? A most unworthy notion.”
That was the full extent of my sentiment.
Yes, utterly predictable.
But let’s think this through coldly.
No, I’m so frustrated I need to pat myself on the back at least.
As the risen contribution showed, I’d fulfilled my role as a bus passenger to the letter.
Thanks to the staircase I manifested, the players atop the walls were providing solid ranged support to our allies.
Harassment goes without saying.
They’d gone beyond support into preemptive strikes.
The rest is just routine.
Blocking enemy attacks with barriers? Child’s play for me, as natural as breathing.
And who was benefiting from my assistance?
“Your aid has made our movements far smoother, sir!”
So I could be shameless—no, righteously proud.
I paid my bus fare in full.
I hadn’t freeloaded…!
Clack—
Even now, entering Frost pristine—not a speck of dust or drop of blood on me.
A message floated into view.
You have entered 'Frost', which is falling into hell.
The northern city plunging into hell. Frost had devolved into a hellscape worthy of that descriptor.
Guard corpses littered the streets. Blood soaked everything.
“……Damn it all.”
Harcon Kingsguard and the Lion Heart knights trailed off at the horror.
Some ground their teeth so hard I could hear it.
Harcon spoke in a voice like ice.
“Frost is one of the Empire’s premier cities, so naturally, many in our order hail from here. I can’t imagine their pain.”
Impressive restraint.
This was brutality beyond imagining.
This isn’t some VR game—it’s reality.
Those sprawled bodies weren’t NPCs anymore. They were Frost’s residents.
The blood-slick streets. The stench assaulting my nose.
All too real.
Past me would’ve retched.
Like those players over there.
“……Hold on, my stomach’s turning. Urk.”
“Don’t push yourself.”
“We don’t have to do this…… Fuck!”
I used to grimace at draining meat, let alone corpses.
But I had pride.
Grandfell’s unyielding pride, unbroken in any circumstance.
Even amid this carnage, it didn’t mean dry-heaving, grimacing, or turning away.
I declared:
“We will recover the bodies.”
Recover the bodies.
Harcon blinked in surprise.
“Recover the bodies, sir……? You mean that?”
Not just him.
Stares like I was insane—from Kichi and the Shadow Mercenaries too.
Perfectly understandable.
I thought I was insane too.
Demon King’s army could charge from anywhere, anytime.
Frost’s entrance was choked with buildings.
Every building, every alley—potential ambush spots.
Recovering bodies here? Suicidal.
But I knew better.
This wasn’t my first rodeo.
It was all this damned pride…!
Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo is noble. No matter the foe, he never bows his head. His self-regard is immovably heavy. Even if it drowns him.
Yes, that pride demanded it.
Those who fell defending Frost.
Turning from them violated it.
Violate my pride? Even if it drowns me.
I couldn’t defy it.
But.
……You think I’ll just sink quietly?
Not my first time, as I said.
Before Count Ascura with nothing to my name.
Even before that mighty evil.
I’d survived worse, so I didn’t hesitate.
I knelt, bowed low.
Approached a Frost soldier who’d breathed his last against a wall. Eyes wide, refusing to close.
I closed them gently.
“I shall inherit your pride.”
Yes—sink me if you can!
I thrashed harder than anyone.
Harcon nodded at my actions.
The Lion Heart knights moved in unison.
Laid the fallen to rest gently.
Closed unseeing eyes.
Then someone approached.
“……Thank you.”
Helmet hid her face, but I knew the voice.
Jessica Bright—from Yusra Kingdom’s Golden Palace office, guarding me while I flailed.
“……And I’m sorry for before. Truly.”
She sniffled under the helm.
……Sorry for what, exactly?
Did she badmouth me behind my back? Fair enough.
I knew that “boss holding up quitting time” vibe.
I get it.
But I was perceptive enough.
I realized: Frost was her hometown.
Of course, I couldn’t grasp losing something precious to demons.
But Grandfell would.
“Do not let emotion sway you.”
I rose, continuing:
“You must press on regardless.”
……Is a little comfort too much to ask? Past me wanted to chew out Grandfell every time.
People aren’t all superhuman like you!
Thankfully, Jessica nodded.
Maybe Harcon’s mental training worked.
Such idle thoughts crossed my mind—
“……!”
Suddenly, my quest window blinked.
I flinched.
……Wait, what’s this?
*
Ten gates. Sieges raging simultaneously.
“……Done!”
“Yeah, if they’ve got any conscience, it’ll open. You bastards!”
“How many potions did we dump?!”
Gates that wouldn’t budge finally crumbled.
Except the one Hoyeol claimed—the pace was even across the board.
“Crazy, those guys’ force is no joke?”
Demon King’s army emerged from behind the gates—identical timing.
But one difference.
Players on the walls.
“……Wait, aren’t those players?”
“Looks like. How’d they get up there?”
“Did they already breach from another side?!”
Yes.
Hoyeol’s manifested stone stairs.
They’d climbed, seized the walls.
Raced along to other gates, aiding in suppressing the demon army.
“Good call moving, right?”
Cold society. No room for helping others.
All for EXP and contribution.
“Stupid thinking we’d get scraps.”
“Seriously. Different league, you saw?”
“Can’t keep up with their hunt speed. Period.”
Hoyeol, Lion Heart knights, Shadow Mercenaries.
No room to spoon in where they went.
Quick decision: head to other gates.
Whoosh—whoosh!
Their support fire rattled the demon ranks plenty.
Not enough?
“……Fewer than expected?”
Fewer demon soldiers than predicted.
Easy to spot why.
“Lee Hoyeol. They concentrated forces there.”
Simple.
An opportunity.
Shining wouldn’t hold top spot by missing chances.
Rocks, ever scheming, decided.
“Push straight to Frost’s heart fast.”
“OK~ Kinda sorry for them.”
“Sorry my ass. We’re busy saving our own skins.”
“……Where’s our princess now?”
Camilla scanned around, bowstring taut.
Jessie, who’d been spamming skills, was gone.
Rocks and Dmitri shrugged it off.
Jessie vanishing on whims wasn’t new.
Right when Lee Hoyeol’s name dropped?
“Hmm…… I kinda know~?”
But Camilla zipped it.
Insane to piss off Jessie.
…
Demon forces concentrated on Hoyeol.
Opportunity for some.
Thunderbolt for others.
“……?!”
Gaon and Berserker.
Couldn’t empty Yusra Kingdom entirely.
Forced alliance with split forces.
“……What?”
“This sucks.”
Nam Taemin and Leoni halted together.
Smooth entry thanks to Hoyeol……
Leoni gnashed her teeth.
“Sorry I bailed, but I don’t do debts.”
She planned to join Hoyeol immediately.
……Worry? Nah.
No way he needs it.
Pure stubborn pride.
No more just taking.
“I’m all for it, sis.”
“I’ll cheer that resolve to the end.”
“Shut up.”
Nam Taemin told his guild:
“We’re joining Hoyeol too.”
Hoyeol, Lion Hearts, Shadows.
He knew their level……
But numbers mattered.
Not huge help, but bodies count.
Guilds aligned—no hesitation.
Yet something nagged.
Nam Taemin stopped.
“Go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
Ruined Frost.
Couldn’t just pass by.
Couldn’t ignore.
“……”
Silently, he recovered bodies.
Worried for familiar faces.
Chewing boiling rage.
His quest window blinked too.
Class Quest: Proof of Ferocity
📍 Conditions met.
Twice over.
────── Current Contribution: 3,300p ──────
* Just recovering bodies.
And contribution rose.
This boost was substantial.
────── Current Contribution: 19,600p ──────
I thought: Good deeds bring blessings…!
Of course, not done for points.
Ulcer-inducing mustard tears.
Madness forced by dominating pride.
Maybe ’cause I expected nothing.
Not bad feeling.
No outward show, though.
Wrong situation.
A Shadow Mercenary on a roof:
“They’re coming straight at us. Damn, annoying.”
Just closing eyes, laying bodies flat.
Still, delay inevitable.
Drawing demon reinforcements.
Incoming demons appeared.
Unlike bland [Demon King Infantry]—distinct looks.
Didn’t matter.
I knew from update notes.
No need to look far.
Weaker than Baek Isul—no, succubus—I hunted recently.
So what about numbers?
Mobs? Irrelevant.
Best for hordes: my magic.
Come, my EXP, contributions.
Of course, cramped urban battlefield.
Allies at risk, buildings could collapse.
Not an issue for me.
Straightened attire.
Even adjusted rumpled [Handkerchief].
“No time to waste. End it in one go.”
Yes—now to test the new stat, Aesthetics.