Chapter 113: Winds of Change
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: Winds of Change
"Saje!"
"Brother!"
Jin Long and Lyle were the first to welcome Seo-un back.
Just as the rest of the team began to swarm toward him, Juriel appeared.
"Juriel!"
Having been transported to the waiting room without experiencing death for the first time since she started playing, she looked around, visibly dazed.
"The notification... it said we became the... the Last Squad..."
Seo-un noticed her confusion; the notification she had received was different from the usual game-over messages she was accustomed to.
"It’s a notification only the last survivor hears. 'Last Squad.' For the record, I was one of only two survivors in mine."
At Seo-un’s words, the other players chimed in.
"I was one of eight."
"Tsk, I was one of thirteen."
"I was one of nine."
As everyone offered their own experiences, she finally nodded as if she understood.
"The squad rewards are the same anyway. Though, Juriel, you’ll get a bit more now. There’s a separate reward for being the final survivor."
Having heard this before, she gave Seo-un an apologetic look.
"Seo-un, you should have been the one to make it out..."
"You were the one who found the Absolute Compass, Juriel. Who knows what would have happened if I had tried to take it out myself?"
With his qualification to participate on the line, he couldn't afford to take risks out of greed for coins.
"It’s been quite a while since I left. You did well to hold out in the sea for so long."
He was impressed. She was a pure mage who hadn't learned martial arts or knight skills, meaning she lacked physical stamina, yet she had managed to survive in the ocean for over an hour.
"No, the Sirens helped me just in time. It was as if they knew and were waiting nearby."
"I thought they were just monsters, but they have a sense of loyalty," Li Min remarked.
Dump nodded in agreement.
"Right? And they have great bod—"
Thwack.
Li Min smacked the back of Dump’s head before he could finish his dangerous comment and shook his head.
"More importantly, the Absolute Compass. What kind of item is it?" Nam Sa-gwang asked, his face full of curiosity.
It was an item significant enough to summon an unkillable Epic Monster. It was an item that had pushed the game to its limits and forced players to stake their very right to participate. It couldn't possibly be trivial.
When she had first obtained it, the situation was too dire to ask for details.
"Ah! This... it’s an incredible item."
As she spoke and took a breath, every player’s attention focused on her lips.
"It’s a compass that allows the holder to find exactly what they need most."
The explanation was cryptic yet remarkably intuitive, causing the players' expressions to shift subtly.
"So, you mean..."
"What I need most?"
While everyone was lost in thought regarding the compass's function, Nam Sa-gwang was the first to speak.
"We have to buy that!"
"He's right. This is an item we must get, even if we have to pool all our coins together!" Seo-un added.
Being sharp-witted, Juriel couldn't fail to understand their point. She had thought more about the compass's usage and effects than anyone else. She smiled and nodded.
"Of course."
Naturally, Dump, the slowest of the bunch, tilted his head.
"Is it really that great? I don't really have anything I 'need most'..."
"You idiot."
Dump flinched instinctively at Nam Sa-gwang’s habitual insult. It was a conditioned response from being hit by Sa-gwang every time those words were uttered.
Seeing Dump like that, Seo-un explained, "Think about how effective farming will be with this. It lets you find the items you need most."
"Ah!"
The confused expressions of the teammates instantly brightened. Just then, the final game notification rang out.
[Ding! Before the rewards, player voting will begin. Please vote for the player you believe was the MVP of the squad.]
[Ta-da! By a unanimous vote, excluding himself, Jin Seo-un has been chosen as the Honorable Player!]
The result lacked any real tension this time as well. Since he was the one who had devised the overall strategy and pushed through to achieve the results, there was really no one else to vote for.
[Next, please vote for the Worst Player. Ding! Please vote carefully. If a player receives a unanimous vote, they will be permanently banned from Cloyd Survival. Those who receive many votes will face a penalty on their reward coins.]
[Ding! A unanimous vote for abstention has been recorded. Praise be to the teamwork of Jin Seo-un’s squad!]
Along with the notification sound, the rewards began.
[Ding! You have obtained 240 reward coins. Kill bonus! An additional 50 coins have been granted. You have placed in the Top 5 for six consecutive games. An additional 240 coins have been granted. You have been selected as the Honorable Player, granting an additional 50 coins.]
Compared to the previous game, the reward breakdown was quite simple. Even so, he had secured 580 coins, though it felt a bit lacking compared to last time.
"Now, let's move on to the draw."
Everyone nodded and fell silent as the notifications continued.
[Ding-ding-ding! Draw tickets are being granted to the Top 5 squads.]
[Player, you may spin three times.]
"It would be great if the Absolute Compass showed up," Gi-chan said, and everyone nodded.
"How many coins is the Absolute Compass?"
"It’s... 350 coins."
"Three... three hundred?"
Everyone’s eyes widened at her words.
"It really must be an incredible item."
"That just means its influence on the game is that significant. If we all chip in, we only need to collect 35 coins each," Seo-un said.
Dump added his two cents. "The best thing would be to get it through the draw."
"Don't pressure her," Li Lingwei said, poking Dump in the ribs as she saw Juriel biting her nails.
"There's no need to feel pressured. 35 coins is nothing," Seo-un reassured her.
Juriel managed a smile at his words. Usually, everyone would be busy spinning their own draw boards, but this time, all eyes were fixed on hers. Her pale, slender hand trembled slightly as she spun the board.
[Whirrrrrrrrrrr... Ding! You have obtained Kandat's Staff. Congratulations.]
"Ah..."
Thwack! Thud!
Fists from his teammates flew into the back of Dump’s head and his ribs after he let out an involuntary groan of disappointment.
Taking a deep breath, Juriel spun the board again.
[Whirrrrrrrrrrr... Ding! You have obtained Dante's Necklace. Congratulations.]
Immediately, she spun the board for the final time.
[Whirrrrrrrrrrr... Ding! You have obtained the Absolute Compass. Congratulations.]
"Whoooooo!"
Seeing Dump roar with joy and her teammates beam with bright smiles, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad you got it, but it wouldn't have been a big deal even if you hadn't," Seo-un said.
Juriel nodded, but she couldn't bring herself to lower the hand she had placed over her heart. It seemed the pressure had been immense, knowing her teammates' coins were at stake rather than just her own.
With light hearts, everyone began to focus on their own draw boards.
Seo-un also stood before his board, looking up at it with a dissatisfied expression. Since the game had focused heavily on ships and hadn't involved much combat, there weren't as many items to take away as usual. During the final battle, there hadn't even been time to farm.
Most of all, there were no items that particularly appealed to him.
[Whirrrrrrrrrrr... Ding! You have obtained Iron Blood Leggings. Congratulations.]
They were worth 60 coins, but they weren't particularly useful other than for cashing out.
Well, they'll make some money.
[Whirrrrrrrrrrr... Ding! You have obtained Dorun's Bracelet. Congratulations.]
It was a bracelet that increased Mana by 500, but for Seo-un, who rarely used magic, it was another useless item.
[Whirrrrrrrrrrr... Ding! You have obtained a Fragmented Secret Manual. Congratulations.]
The draw concluded with him obtaining a single Fragmented Secret Manual that didn't overlap with his existing ones.
After Dump paid back the 6 coins he had borrowed last time, Seo-un had 789 coins remaining. Thinking of the next game, he saved all his coins and didn't select any other items.
Since we have the Absolute Compass, it’s best to save as many coins as possible.
Seeing that 300-coin items were starting to appear, he figured the probability of high-priced items appearing would increase as the games continued. He thought it would be beneficial to save coins for that time.
This game was worth it just for learning the Aura technique.
Though it was still incomplete and his Aura was like a firefly before the sun compared to Nam Sa-gwang’s, the important thing was that he had finally opened the door.
Once everyone finished selecting their items, warm farewells began.
"Good work, everyone. See you in the next game."
"Good job, Seo-un!"
"Saje, take good care of yourself until the next game."
"See you soon."
"I'll contact you when I get there."
"Sure, do that... Huh? What? Wait, excuse me...?"
The words of the two women, naturally mixed in with the others' farewells, were unsettling. Before he could even ask for clarification, his vision shifted.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the ceiling of his still-unfamiliar house. As soon as he bolted upright in bed, his phone rang.
A flustered Gi-chan couldn't finish his sentence.
"You heard it too? I didn't mishear it, did I?"
"...Surely they won't actually come?"
"That’s true, but... would they really give up all those massive main rewards to use a World Escape Ticket? No one in their right mind would do that..."
Gi-chan stood there holding the disconnected phone, calling out to Seo-un for a long time.
"Nah. No way. They wouldn't actually come. Not unless they're crazy."
*
"What did you say?"
"It is as I have told you."
Juriel finished speaking, her head held high before her elderly father. The old man, whose clear eyes shone with a brilliance that didn't match his wrinkled skin, furrowed his already lined brow.
"So. Such a world exists, and you have been traveling there? And this time, you fought as an enemy of His Majesty the King, and you even won?!"
"Yes. I know it is hard to believe, but..."
"I believe you."
"Pardon?"
Her eyes widened as she was explaining about Cloyd.
"Cloyd Survival, was it? Even without your word, a royal decree was sent to the nobility. It said that if any nobles were participating in such a game, they must report it immediately."
"I-is that so?"
Being born as a woman of a noble family was not as comfortable as one might think. While everyone on the outside looked up to them with envy, the fate of a noblewoman was often to be sold off for the sake of the family's wealth and power.
Despite achieving the incredible feat of reaching the 7th Circle through Cloyd, she was still unable to escape those shackles.
At twenty-two, she had managed to hold out against marriage using the excuse of studying magic. But she could push it no further. In the Ronis family, which was as recognized for its magical talent as the Askro Squad, a 7th Circle female mage didn't hold much status. Rather, she was merely a nuisance who overshadowed her older and younger brothers.
"To think my own daughter would receive such a selection."
Her eyes darkened at her father's words. The years of receiving no recognition simply because she was a daughter stung her heart once again.
"Father. I..."
"I forbid it."
The old man cut her off sharply. Her lips trembled at that single phrase.
"His Majesty's messenger will arrive soon. Wait for his word."
Even in a situation where his daughter's life might be at stake, the elderly father didn't waver in the slightest. She cursed herself for bowing her head and submitting to his will.
It had been two days since the game ended. She had wanted to leave quietly, but she couldn't even make the important choices that would decide her own life.
Just then, the doors of the mansion were thrown open, and a man accompanied by dozens of knights strode confidently inside.
Her cold father, who usually showed no emotion, bolted upright and walked toward the man, bowing deeply—a sight that felt utterly foreign to her.
Ignoring her father, Senrurk approached her. She bowed her head. Ignoring a Duke of Cresen and the head of the Ronis family in such a manner was a breach of etiquette, but for Senrurk, who was notorious as the Madman of the Battlefield, such behavior was hardly surprising.
"Juriel Ronis. Correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Did you throw away that mask?"
At Senrurk’s question, she replied calmly, "I returned it to its owner. Bringing even a single mask back would have required wasting coins."
"Your magic skills were impressive. 7th Circle?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then why did I not know? Of the birth of a High-grade Court Mage?"
He directed his final question toward her father, who was standing behind her.
"T-that is, my daughter's achievements are merely..."
"Such thoughts sicken this country and eat away at its strength. Even now, the battlefield needs warriors who will bring glory to the name of Cresen."
"Y-Your Majesty! There has never been a case in any empire where a woman was appointed as a Court Mage! A woman on the battlefield!"
Senrurk shook his head as he watched the old man, whose neck veins were bulging.
"What a stubborn old man. Lift your head. You are a magnificent mage, the pride of Cresen."
As she lifted her head, Senrurk looked at her with his characteristic mad eyes and spoke.
"I shall grant you the position of High-grade Court Mage. You may live as you wish and do as you please, whether in the palace or on the battlefield. Will you follow me?"
"Your Majesty!!!"
Senrurk’s gaze was infinitely cold as he looked back at her father, who was practically foaming at the mouth. It was a look she had seen many times. With those eyes, Senrurk had killed countless lords and loyal subjects. Seeing those eyes that had earned him the name Madman of the Battlefield, the old man could say nothing more.
"I cannot accept that offer."
"Why?"
"I am going to Earth."
Senrurk’s lips twisted at her words.
"Not another empire, but Earth?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. If you would allow it, I wish to go."
After staring into her dark eyes for a moment, Senrurk shook his head.
"Tsk, your eyes are completely different from back then. If that is the place where you can truly live, then you must go. If you go... can you deliver a message to that man for me?"
"Yes."
She didn't need to ask to know which man Senrurk was referring to.
"Tell him that when we meet again, it might be fun to try fighting on the same side."
For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed her face.
"I... I understand."
Turning his back on her, Senrurk spoke as he passed the old man.
"By my decree as the King of Cresen: no one shall block the path Juriel Ronis chooses to take."
As he issued the royal command and walked out, the old man’s face froze at what Senrurk said to the knight beside him.
"Where was that place with the maid who uses knight skills?"
"It is ruin. Ruin has come to us..."
Passing her elderly father, who was muttering weakly, she walked toward her room with a step that was infinitely light.
*
"Wei. What did you say?"
"I said I have decided on the man I will marry."
"No. After that."
"Yes. I said I am going to the other world called Earth."
"..."
The Master of Jindok Valley, a man of grand stature known by the name Blood-Crazed Kin, looked at his youngest granddaughter with a dark expression.
It wasn't that he didn't believe her story about traveling to another world to play a game. She could pull all sorts of things out of thin air and brought back mysterious items she claimed to have obtained; he had no choice but to believe her. Recently, listening to his granddaughter's experiences in the other world had become the joy of his later years.
However, the name Jin Seo-un had been appearing frequently in her stories, which had been bothering him. Now, his granddaughter had finally dropped a bombshell.
"Wei! Are you saying you will leave your grandfather behind? And to another world, not even this one?!"
"I have already given him the Maehonnang."
"Hah! How... do you like that boy that much?"
"He is a manly man, much like you, Grandfather. He is the type of man who will surely repay what he has received, even at the risk of his life."
"..."
Looking at his granddaughter, who had fallen for a man like himself and was now leaving this world, the old man was speechless. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Wei, it is not this world. Once you go, you can never return."
"I am prepared for that."
"You brat, your grandfather isn't prepared at all..."
"Grandfather. Please let me go for the sake of my happiness."
"Haha... Then give me time. Time. There will be much to prepare for my granddaughter's wedding."
Knowing his granddaughter's personality—that once she set her mind on something, she would surely follow through—the old man instinctively knew there was no way to stop her. Since her stubbornness was a perfect reflection of his own, he knew better than anyone that she wouldn't back down.
*
"Ugh... am I catching a cold? I have the chills..."
When even Hamit said so, Seo-un’s expression darkened.