Chapter 379
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 379
Chapter Title: The Harpa Nobles
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The Harpa race.
They averaged over 4 meters in height, with bulging muscles as their passive trait.
The monstrous strength emanating from those muscles could crush a human like an insect, and their durability was top-notch as well.
Each was also born with a unique trait, which could elevate or lower their status depending on its rank.
And every Harpa participating in today's survival league held noble status.
In other words, they were the chosen elite among the Harpa.
"Why do we have to bother with killing some pathetic humans?"
One Harpa grumbled.
He was one who had awakened the Five Senses trait, boasting senses superior to the average Harpa.
His eyesight was so sharp it was hard to measure, and his hearing was sensitive enough to pick up even the tiniest sounds clearly.
Thanks to the trait, his sense of smell could detect the faintest odors, and his taste was equally acute.
His sense of touch was far more sensitive than other Harp as well, earning him the nickname "Sensitive Boss" among them.
At a glance, it might seem like an ordinary trait.
But very few Harp as awakened this kind of trait.
Steel body.
Eloquence.
Sword talent.
Archery talent, and so on.
Traits usually focused on one area, but Five Senses maximized all five senses, making it noble-worthy.
Plus, those heightened senses were a massive weapon in combat.
"Hey, the rewards are generous, aren't they?"
The Harp as had joined the league for the rewards, of course.
It wasn't just Jecheon promising them the gods themselves had pledged the prizes.
That drew applicants in droves, resulting in only nobles being selected.
The one with Five Senses hadn't volunteered; he'd been dragged in by his two companions, so he was the only one complaining.
"Yeah. Hang in there, Chafer. They're just humans."
Only ten Harp as had been chosen, but Chafer had two companions.
That made three from their group in the league.
With his buddy buttering him up, Chafer's scowl eased.
"Let's grab the rewards quick and get out."
Chafer followed the others forward.
This round's objective: seize the enemy base.
Humans would be a breezejust bulldoze them with brute force.
That's when it happened.
Bang!
A faint gunshot rang out.
'......!'
Chafer reflexively jerked his head aside.
Crunch!
A sharp pain stung his cheek, and a hole punched through the tree behind him.
"Chafer!"
A companion shouted his name urgently.
Chafer raised a hand to signal he was fine, then turned to inspect the tree.
"...A gun."
The scorched edges around the hole could suggest magic, but the gunshot he'd heard confirmed it: 100 bullet.
"Where the hell did it come from?"
"Did they get ahead of us somehow?"
No human, no matter how exceptional, could outpace Harp as in speed.
The Harpa at the front even had a Detection trait, guiding them the fastest route.
"No, that's not it."
Chafer's face was ice-cold.
He scanned the surroundings and was certain.
"It was fired from way far off."
The lead Harpa with Detection chimed in.
He could detect up to 5km ahead, and nothing registered within that range.
"...Is that even possible?"
The Harp as reacted with disbelief.
"It's possible, or I would've been a goner."
Chafer's words left them all speechless.
"This is a warning."
"A warning?"
All eyes turned to the Detection Harpa leading them.
"Yeah. 'Come any closer, and next time it's your head.'"
"...Yeah, if it weren't for me, it wouldn't have ended like this."
No one had sensed the incoming bullet.
Without his heightened senses, Chafer's head would've been mush.
Now he understood why the gods had stepped in against mere humans.
The gods knew.
These weren't ordinary humans.
"So what do we do?"
"What do you mean? We keep pushing."
"No, we can't."
"Why not?"
"Detection's not working. If they hit us here, casualties will be heavy."
"You saying we just sit back and waste time?"
"No, give me a bit. I'll expand the detection to the whole map."
"How long?"
"...Two days."
"Too long."
Chafer wanted to rip the invisible sniper apart right then.
"Chafer, Pros is right for once."
One companion tried to persuade him.
"Ugh, so we hunker down for two days?"
"Let's scout around. Occupying the enemy base isn't everything."
They'd passed a few checkpoints on the way.
He'd ignored them to rush ahead, but now priorities had shiftedcheck the points first.
"Humans have probably checked theirs by now."
"Then let's head back quick."
Bang!
Another faint shot, and one Harpa dropped to a knee.
"Grk!"
The bullet Chafer had dodged now pierced Pros's right thigh.
"Pros!"
The Harp as rushed to him in shock.
He wasn't just a detectorhe was a classic tank.
No wonder he'd led from the front.
Yet someone had sniped the heavily armored Pros from afar, inflicting a gunshot wound.
'Damn it......'
Chafer bared his teeth at the unseen sniper.
He'd pull back for now, but he'd tear them apart with his own hands.
'Good.'
Lee Na-yeon released the trigger once she confirmed the Harp as retreating.
She wanted to wipe them out and storm their base, but at her son's request, she'd limited it to warning shots.
Still, this was temporary.
They'd come up with a new plan and charge again.
Lee Na-yeon called Ha-jin via communicator.
"Ha-jin."
Static Yes, ma'am? Crackle.
Some noise, but communication was fine.
"The enemies are pulling back."
Already?
"Yeah. They have no clue where you are. Still, stay cautious."
Got it! I'll scout the terrain and bail.
Scouting enemy movements was James and Ha-jin's job, but the Harp as seemed to have detection.
Otherwise, they couldn't have pushed the shortest path.
So she'd forced a retreat with warning fire.
Lee Na-yeon signaled Yeo Min-ji next.
Static Yes, ma'am? Crackle.
"Min-ji, status?"
Checked three checkpoints. Something wrong?
"Enemies were pushing down."
Really......?
"But it's fine. I made them retreat for now."
Understood! I'll use the time to check more and head back.
"Good. I'll keep watch."
Yes!
Communication ended.
"Impressive......"
Sophia and Amelie, finishing debuff trap setup, approached.
"Hm?"
"We overheard. You forced the enemy retreat."
"Oh, just luck."
"...Doesn't seem like luck to me."
Sophia was genuinely awed.
Just two shots.
Those two had scared them into retreating.
'Who the hell is she?'
When she saw five Koreans on the list, she'd thought Jeong Hoon was playing favorites.
The two from New World days were rankers, but the other three? Unknowns.
No info made trust hard.
From HoneyTube tips, Jeong Hoon's skills were unmatched.
So maybe they'd ridden his coattails here.
That's why she hadn't stopped Damien's blabbering.
'I was wrong... That shooting was the real deal.'
No room for doubt now.
Sophia asked politely.
"Could you hint about the 6th advancement?"
She was nearing level 2,000 but stuck at 5th.
Didn't even know 6th existed; without HoneyTube, she'd think 5th was the end.
She didn't expect Lee Na-yeon to tell, though.
Damien's mess had soured things.
"Sure, I can."
But Lee Na-yeon nodded readily.
Her kind smile made Sophia's eyes tremble.
"...Really?"
"Yes."
"I thought you wouldn't."
"Why?"
"We were so rude......"
Sophia's voice shrank, uncharacteristically.
'Heavens, Sophia acting like that?'
Amelie gaped at her unusual demeanor.
The usually arrogant Sophia wouldn't even meet eyes.
"Yes, you were."
"......"
Lee Na-yeon nodded, and Sophia swallowed hard.
"But that's water under the bridge after apologies, right? What about you, miss?"
"Oh, no."
Sophia waved it off frantically.
"Good enough. Truth is, I got here with my son's help too."
"......"
"And actually, the 6th hint? That was from me, not him."
Lee Na-yeon whispered conspiratorially, winking.
The divine realm.
The five named ones gathered stared at the unfolding events with seething annoyance.
"Hey. Those guys are really supposed to be a superior race?"
Beelzebul griped at Logos, voice dripping irritation.
"Tch, it's just starting. Watch."
"Watch what? The human we're after didn't even show in round 1. How's it going now?"
As he said, round 1 had gone opposite expectations from the start.
Humans hadn't panicked; they'd assigned roles and moved efficiently.
The superior Harpa race had clumped together, charging the human base.
Result: one Harpa injured, forcing them to abandon the plan and retreat.
While humans activated five checkpoints, Harp as were just heading to their first.
No real combat yet, but humans had seized the advantage.
"You're sure that human's not there?"
Ulion eyed Logos and Beelzebul.
"Shit, that's why I'm pissedhe's not."
Beelzebul slammed the table.
"Fine. It's just round 1. They're testing the waters, so we watch leisurely."
"Right. If it's coming to us anyway, better see them squirm more. Makes the despair hit harder."
Harmageddon grinned wickedly.