Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Quitting the Game
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[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: Whew, finally finished sorting all the gear. ]
[ #Eom-sot: Guild master, are you really quitting this time? ㅠㅠ ]
[ #Lobby's Ghaster: Someone with cheese ]
[ #Eom-sot: If the guild master leaves, our guild's average combat power is gonna tank... ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: Yeah ㅋㅋㅋㅋ It's not fun anymore, everything's stale, I've done all the content worth doing. ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: And I've blown way too much money on it. ]
[ #No Future: WWE? ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: Nah, UFC. ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: This ain't a game anymore. Time to quit. ]
[ #Eom-sot: Seeing you sell off all your gear, it really feels like you're quitting... ]
[ #Lobby's Ghaster: Someone with cheese ]
[ #Dap-du: Boo-hoo, if the big spender leaves, who am I gonna sell my loot to... ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Dap-du-nim, time for you to switch to real life online too. This game's hopeless. ]
[ Auction Dome Dol: Buying Freya set +20 or higher, excluding gloves@@@@@@@ Whisper me plz!! ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: Staring at the same screen all day, clicking away at the keyboard to kill time... ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: But anyway ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: It was fun spending time with you all. ]
[ #Ju-dyu Ju-dyu: ㅠㅠ ]
[ #Lobby's Ghaster: Someone with cheese ]
[ #No Future: Did that newbie join the guild just to beg for cheese? ]
[ #Lobby's Ghaster: I'll give it, why would I not just give it ]
[ #Ju-dyu Ju-dyu: Ghaster-nim, here's some cheese~ ]
[ #Lobby's Ghaster: Thx, I'm in channel 10. ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: Anyway, escape safely everyone... I'm out~~ Have fun, bb. ]
[ #No Future: See you at the summer event, Gerden. ]
[ #IgugwodenGerdeon: ㅗ ]
Today was a bittersweet day, sad yet refreshing.
It was the day I quit the online game I'd poured years into.
Truth be told, I'd decided to quit months ago.
It used to give me that dopamine hit, but now it just ate my money without delivering any joy.
Still, I'd kept at it out of loyalty to the guild, lingering attachment to the game, and sheer habit.
Yeah. Habit.
Like a cigarette you can't quit once you start, I'd log in on autopilot, mash buttons, hunt monsters.
I'd tried quitting a few times, for real.
It wasn't eating money in moderation.
That vicious pay-to-win system made me think I should bail, but like a salmon swimming upstream, I'd always come back, spamming guild chat with "Raid for comeback celebration, LFG@@@"
Now, I could finally quit. No more squeezing out drops of dopamine from this dry sponge of a game!
'Dopamine? I'm getting plenty from elsewhere.'
For a tenth—no, a hundredth—of what I spent on this game, I could have cute girls calling me a god and enjoy all sorts of scenes with them every day?!
It was so epic, I could almost hear thumping EDM blasting from somewhere beyond!
Anyway, I handed the guild master spot to someone reliable and sold off all my items for cash.
The result? Enough money to cover sponsorships for a good while without worry.
I'd really dumped a fortune into this trash game.
Couldn't recoup it all since it's a game, but whatever—the rest was the price of fun. No other choice. I wasn't playing to make money.
'Alright. Ammo's stocked for now.'
That didn't mean I'd blow through it recklessly.
I wanted to savor this comic for as long as possible.
With Luca, I'd gone overboard in the heat of the moment... But dumping big cash every time dulled the thrill.
Power creep meta!
Pacing it out, thinking "That's all?" and spending strategically, step by step, was way more fun than going all-in from the start!
And I'm a god, right? Gods can't act recklessly forever, or the world falls into chaos. Time to embrace the divine mindset.
I'm dead serious, so no calling me an overimmersion nut.
Right then.
Weeeng!
My phone buzzed with a notification—the next chapter had uploaded.
'It’s here!'
Time to check today's episode!
Latest one was the three getting knighted as Holy Knights, right?
With a lighter heart, I tapped the next chapter.
* * *
After the Dish of Holy Knights commissioning ceremony.
The three newcomers finally introduced themselves.
"I am Ophelia Translente, who will serve as your comrade in the Dish of Holy Knights from here on. Luca, Linea. Let's get along."
"I'm Luca Hevnisian. I might be the weakest body here... but I'll work hard not to hold you back."
"I'm Linea von Ainsberg. Please treat me as an equal comrade, without regard for status. I'd appreciate it."
"I see! So you're the renowned Linea. Honored to meet you. And Luca, you were vice-top of Luprantia Academy, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you know Irina by any chance? She graduated top of your class."
"We're close friends. Do you know her?"
"Indeed. We studied together as kids. A friend of Irina's is a friend of mine! Let's have a good time ahead!"
"I look forward to learning from you, Ophelia."
Luca clasped Ophelia's hand, offered with a bright smile.
"Right. I had something I was curious about personally—"
In this way, Ophelia broke the ice.
Curiosity gleamed in her golden eyes, shining like gold.
She had talent in swordsmanship but was slow to learn knowledge. So she asked questions freely without hesitation.
Even queries that might make one think 'Is it okay to ask this?'—people out of sync with her found her exhausting, but—
"Indeed...! Impressive, Luca. So much to learn from Luprantia Academy's vice-top."
"You're too kind, Ophelia."
Fortunately, she clicked well with Luca.
Linea watched the two silently.
By rights, as Eirene had said, she might have schemed to outmaneuver them and become a Holy Knight alone—
But circumstances had changed. Eirene now believed in the Igugwoden Church more than anyone. Starting trouble now would surely draw her wrath.
Even so, Linea couldn't open her heart easily. She knew the world was improving... but the fear from her mother and sister lingered.
Right then.
"There you are, everyone."
Saintess Erin approached slowly, Holy Scripture in her arms—the one they were bound to protect.
Her overwhelming Divine Power Pouch jiggled ceaselessly with each step.
"From now on, you'll live, eat, and sleep in the cathedral. Private rooms are prepared for you three. If you have food preferences, tell the attendant nun. I'll inform you of missions as they arise, so rest and steady your mind and body until then."
""Yes!""
"And..."
Erin scanned their faces, then fixed on Linea.
"Though suddenly appointed to the Dish of Holy Knights by God's will, you accepted without refusal—thank you again. As I said, the Sole God Igugwoden doesn't demand faith. Everyone accepts His will at their own pace. So don't feel pressured... slowly. Very slowly, feel God's Plain Fact. Understood?"
Linea bowed quietly.
Erin knew. That she wasn't devout. Saying that much—did it mean she cared? Or else—
"...I'll keep it in mind, Saintess."
"Good. Then follow me, everyone."
* * *
After assigning rooms.
It was the moment they reached the last one, Ophelia's door.
"Saintess. I have a question."
"For me? Of course. Ask anything."
Ophelia bowed formally, showing knightly courtesy.
In pure faith in God, Ophelia burned the brightest of the three.
Thus, she showed the Saintess the most reverence.
"Lately, everyone meeting the Saintess has spoken of the Sole God Igugwoden-nim's... profound..."
"Plain Fact?"
"Ah, yes! I heard rumors they've felt the Plain Fact... Is it true?"
Erin smiled kindly, without scolding Ophelia's basic slip.
"Yes. Lord Igugwoden's Plain Fact has led many to enlightenment."
Ophelia thumped her chest, golden eyes sparkling.
"Could you let me experience it too?"
"You, Ophelia? As one chosen by Lord Igugwoden, you needn't go through me for the Plain Fact..."
"It's embarrassing, but... I'm slower to learn than others. I slipped up earlier... So, experiencing God's miracle here would bring me closer to His will, letting me become a proud Dish of Holy Knights member, unashamed before comrades. If you're willing, Saintess, please allow it."
Erin smiled.
"If one chosen by God wishes it, it's God's will. How could I refuse?"
"Then...!"
"Come here, Ophelia. I'll show you how amazing and cool God's Plain Fact is...!"
Ophelia knelt on one knee before Erin.
Erin clutched the Holy Scripture tight to her Divine Power Pouch, then slowly pressed it to Ophelia's forehead.
In that instant, white light poured from the Scripture, engulfing Ophelia.
And... minutes later.
The light faded. Erin slowly pulled back the Scripture.
"How is it, Ophelia...? God's utterly ecstatic yet Plain Fact?"
"Uh..."
Ophelia raised her head slowly.
Her golden eyes trembled.
From Erin's view, this was normal. Those experiencing 'God's miracle' shook in shock, wept as the Plain Fact filled every corner of their being.
But—
"Um... is it over?"
"Yes...?"
"I closed my eyes when the light came from the Scripture... Is it done?"
"......???"
—Ophelia's utterly unexpected response spilled from her lips.