Chapter 81
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Sub-Administrator
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‘We ended up as friends on a whim, but it should be fine.’
I'd become friends with Blue Moon Flower and even dropped the formal speech, but I didn't mind at all.
Thinking of it as similar to an online friend, I decided to look into her channel a bit.
‘What kind of world is Channel 1?’
By any chance, can you tell me what your world is like?
This world? Why do you ask?
If there's anything I can help with, I want to lend a hand.
Help us? Is the situation in your world okay?
Honestly, in terms of surviving population, Channel 2 was in worse shape.
But since we were safely inside the relatively secure Great Labyrinth, I replied that things were fine.
Everyone's hiding in a safe place right now, so we're good.
Are you hiding too?
Yeah, I'm in the same place for now.
The difference was that I was with the Hero Party, heading deep into the labyrinth.
We've found a hidden cave and are staying there.
A cave? If you're living in a cave, there can't be many people.
No, we found a pretty big limestone cave. There are about 500 people.
‘A cave...’
I figured Blue Moon Flower was living much like us here.
‘Still, she mentioned digging up roots to eat, so they probably go outside often.’
Anyway, about this world...
Soon, Blue Moon Flower began explaining about Channel 1.
I haven't traveled the whole world, so I can't tell you everything. But where I lived was the martial arts world...
I tilted my head at Blue Moon Flower's explanation.
It reminded me of those old wuxia movies I'd seen on TV.
Do they use palm winds and run across the sky or something?
Yeah. Not just anyone can, but those who reach a certain realm can.
‘It's really a wuxia world?’
Then one day, the sky suddenly darkened, and a massive monster appeared.
A monster?
Yeah. People called it the Ancient God, and now everyone does.
Just like the other channels, Channel 1 seemed to have monsters appear, leading to doom.
The closer you get to the Ancient God, the louder an unidentified voice gets in your head. If your mind breaks under it, you turn into a monster.
People turn into monsters?
At her words, I inwardly wondered what kind of monster does that.
And since the voice was in their heads, plugging their ears wouldn't help.
It's true. And among those who turn into monsters, the especially strong ones mutate further and become the Ancient God's minions.
So if we just take out the Ancient God, that might be it?
What came to mind was the attack that pierced the Dream Demon in Channel 4's factory district.
‘Rail Cannon, was it?’
It had impressive range, so maybe sniping the Ancient God from afar with that Rail Cannon?
You might be right that killing the Ancient God would end it... but almost everyone has turned into monsters.
Monsters everywhere?
Exactly. The Ancient God's minions can turn people into monsters too. Even ordinary folks can't resist.
To sum it up, the Ancient God or its minions could turn regular people into monsters right then and there within range.
So if a minion wandered around, it would cause a catastrophe.
‘No, the catastrophe has already happened.’
Since the Doom Salvation Gallery had appeared in Channel 1 too, it was safe to say disaster had struck.
Then the gallery suddenly appeared amid all that, so everyone thought it was the Ancient God's trick to find the survivors.
From their perspective, both the Ancient God and the gallery were unbelievable phenomena.
With their lives on the line, it made sense they'd hesitate to use the gallery.
What about taking out the Ancient God's minions?
Not easy. Becoming a minion means you're a top expert to begin with. Monsters also get several times stronger than in life.
“...”
What kind of world is this?
‘Given Channel 1's remaining population, it feels like minions are roaming everywhere.’
Experts turned monsters, several times stronger—they could probably cover hundreds of kilometers a day.
How many minions are there?
A lot... At first, a bunch of top experts gathered to subjugate the Ancient God without knowing better.
They got close, exposed to the Ancient God's voice, and ended up as minions?
Yeah. They probably resisted at first, but hearing the voice nonstop eventually...
Even if they resisted initially, constant exposure broke their minds, turning them into monsters.
‘For Channel 1, we need to deal with that voice first.’
Solving the voice issue might let us make progress. As I thought that, Blue Moon Flower messaged again.
I've arrived at our hideout. If it's okay, can you send more food?
Sending it right now.
Remembering there were about 500 people in the cave, I bought extra food and sent it over.
‘That should feed them well for at least two weeks.’
I could send more, but without refrigeration, I stuck to about two weeks' worth.
And since it was a cave, keeping it cool might make it last the full two weeks.
‘A wuxia world, huh...’
Channel 3: abilities.
Channel 4: weapons.
Channel 5: magic.
Channel 7: elixirs.
Each channel had specific goods or powers for trade.
‘Channel 2 makes do with my food and modern items.’
Now knowing Channel 1 was a wuxia world, I wondered what help I could get.
‘Wuxia world... martial arts?’
The problem was martial arts didn't come easy overnight.
Personally, leveling my Telekinesis might be better than learning martial arts.
‘And they'd probably be stingy about teaching it anyway.’
After sending a large batch of food and ending the 1:1 trade, Blue Moon Flower went quiet, probably explaining to her group.
Given Channel 1's insular nature, food appearing from thin air would take time to accept.
People have calmed down now. Thanks so much for the food. We'll eat well.
Glad I could help.
But why are you helping us like this? Everyone's asking.
The reason for helping...
If I reach out first, they might do the same for me.
We all needed to help each other against doom, so I extended a hand first.
I wondered if I'd get anything from Channel 1, but I couldn't just let them perish.
‘One doomed world is enough with Channel 6.’
After that reply, Blue Moon Flower responded soon.
You're a virtuous soul and a good person.
Virtuous soul? Good person?
I don't think it's that big a deal. Anyway, I'll look into the Ancient God's voice.
Look into it? How?
I'll ask the other channels. Someone from Channel 5 might know something.
The Ancient God turning people into monsters felt like magic.
So the magic-savvy witches in Channel 5 might have clues.
‘Plus, Channel 5...’
They'd summoned an outer god and wiped out the world once.
They might know something, so Channel 5 came to mind.
But I don't think there's anything we can offer you in return.
We can figure that out later. Don't worry about it.
Hunting the Ancient God's minions and monsters could even earn points.
‘Though is earning points right...’
Minions and monsters were once people.
Turning former humans into points via [Point Acquisition] felt off, but...
‘Channel 3 earns points by killing zombies too.’
No time to overthink it now.
Deciding to discuss that later, I tried wrapping up with Blue Moon Flower.
Anyway, I'll go look into the Ancient God.
Go? Can't you just look it up while chatting like this?
“...?”
I need to chat with Channel 5 the same way, so I have to finish with you first.
Ah, got it. About a一刻 (15 minutes)?
Even so, 15 minutes is a bit...
Then half a shichen (about 1 hour)?
“...”
For some reason, I started getting a strange vibe from Blue Moon Flower.
I have stuff to do too, so that's tough. I'll message tomorrow.
Tomorrow...
Blue Moon Flower seemed dissatisfied.
‘Maybe stress from the Ancient God's threat and cave life.’
Still, I couldn't chat all day.
Besides asking Channel 5's witch about the Ancient God, I had other tasks.
‘Setting up trades for Channel 3's Ice Queen and feeding Channel 7's Yoo Hyun-min.’
Resigned, I ended the chat with Blue Moon Flower.
I'll contact you tomorrow, so teach others about the gallery in the meantime.
Got it. I'll do that.
Take care.
After ending the 1:1 with Blue Moon Flower, I was about to head to Channel 5, but Channel 1 nagged at me.
‘They think it's the Ancient God's trap?’
Put positively, proving it wasn't a trap might activate Channel 1's gallery.
“...”
After some thought, I posted to inform them it wasn't a trap.
[This isn't the Ancient God's trap! I'll prove it! Fuck the Ancient God!]
‘That should shift their certainty to doubt.’
Deeming that enough for now, I headed to Channel 5 to ask about the Ancient God.
Friend, 'Ice Queen' has requested a 1:1 chat.
But right on cue, Ice Queen messaged, so I had to put it off.
I set up three trades today.
Today too? Aren't you overdoing it?
I'm benefiting a lot thanks to you, so it's fine. Congrats on becoming the unified channel admin, by the way.
Was this worth congratulations...?
Yeah, thanks.
I ended with thanks.
By the way... what can you do as unified channel admin?
Pretty much anything gallery-related, it seems.
The old admins became temporary, right? Do you know the differences?
Fortunately, I'd checked that too, so I knew roughly.
Sub-admins I officially appoint can unlock the same functions as me. Like translation, for example.
Of course, it cost points.
Any gallery tweak cost points, basically.
I unlocked functions by spending points.
‘Meeting Haven at the end? Looks like I need to buy it myself to use it.’
1.5 million points was daunting.
Summarizing the functions for her, Ice Queen replied.
Could I be a sub-admin?