Chapter 76: Growing Shadows
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: Growing Shadows
The battle against the unique squad and their intricate formations finally came to an end. With the enemies dispatched, the distribution of loot began.
[ Twisted Time Potion: Upon consumption, returns the user's physical state to how it was one hour ago for 15 minutes. If damage taken exceeds the limit, the user may die instantly after the 15 minutes expire. ]
[ Potion of Madness: Upon consumption, increases all basic stats by 30% for 15 minutes. After the duration ends, basic stats decrease by 40% for 6 hours. ]
[ Purification Stone: Upon use, nullifies all magical effects on the caster. ]
[ Tome of Necromancy: A secret manual for controlling vengeful spirits. ]
[ Finger of Innocence: A finger created through a secret ritual involving the sacrifice of an infant. Feeding it to a Jiangshi drastically increases the success rate of creating a Living Jiangshi. ]
[ Eight Trigrams Formation Manual: Basic knowledge of formations. ]
[ Spirit Illusion Formation: A specialized type of illusion formation. ]
The items listed were the only ones of significant value. While several decent martial arts manuals, magic books, and enchanted items had also dropped, Seo-un yielded all of them to his teammates.
"Since you're funneling all the kills to me, I can't be greedy with the items as well," he said.
At those words, many of the teammates nodded, their expressions saying, Well, obviously. Only a few players wore dark, uncertain looks.
As the players busied themselves with the loot, Seo-un stepped away for a moment. Gi-chan immediately rushed over and cast Silence.
"Hyung! Is this really okay?"
"Is what okay?" Seo-un replied nonchalantly.
Gi-chan narrowed his eyes at the casual response. "How many of these people do you actually think are helpful to the team?"
Instead of answering, Seo-un threw the question back at him. Gi-chan looked him straight in the eye.
"Excluding Jin Long? Three."
"And who are those three?"
"Juriel, Li Lingwei, and Kaien."
"I think so too," Seo-un agreed. "Aside from those three, the remaining players aren't actually much help. I realized that quite clearly when we were trapped in that formation earlier."
"But that has nothing to do with you sca—" Gi-chan trailed off.
Seo-un finished the sentence for him. "With me scamming them?"
"Yes."
"Listen carefully. Juriel and Li Lingwei know perfectly well that what I said was a lie. Even so, they're funneling the kills to me."
Gi-chan’s eyes widened in shock.
"As for the rest, most of them are players we'll never see again anyway," Seo-un continued coldly. "As we keep expanding our regular squad, they're people we'll either never meet or end up facing as enemies. Don't let your guard down just because they're in the same squad. Taking a little 'bus fare' from those guys and yielding the items is a win-win for everyone."
At Seo-un's chilling pragmatism, Gi-chan nodded reflexively. This wasn't the Seo-un who smiled and catered to the other players' whims; this was the face he usually wore in Cloyd—eyes sparkling with a sharp vitality, his thoughts completely unreadable.
"But Juriel and Li Lingwei know you're scamming them?"
"Of course. They're the ones who suggested it in the first place."
"What?!"
Gi-chan shouted so loudly that Seo-un glanced around to make sure the Silence hadn't broken before explaining.
"I made a deal with those two while standing watch on the first night. I told them that if we survive this game, I'd accept them into our regular squad in exchange for funneling the team's kills to me."
"Really?!"
"Even without them, I would have found a way to build trust and take the kills. But that woman, Juriel... she's not as innocent as she looks. Whatever life she led before, her political skills are top-notch."
Gi-chan stole a glance at Juriel, who was busy coordinating the item distribution in the back.
"She grasped this team's limitations within a single day," Seo-un said. "A chaotic mess where weak mages are the main force. The shielders supposed to protect those mages are only interested in grouping up and playing politics, and there are only five martial artists left. Aside from me, the melee damage output is practically non-existent. Her judgment is that the survival probability for a party like this is extremely low."
Only after hearing her hidden thoughts did Gi-chan coolly reassess their team's strength.
"But..."
"Right. For now, we'll manage somehow, and if our farming luck is good, the teammates might get stronger quickly. But there are ten mages who make up the core. Unless someone is funneled all the items..."
"The overall combat power won't increase much," Gi-chan finished.
"That's why she set a condition. We operate the team as much as possible until we encounter a powerful enemy. If we meet an opponent we can't beat, we switch to a guerrilla team, sacrifice the remaining members, and ensure a small group survives."
Gulp. Gi-chan reflexively swallowed hard. "And those members are..."
"Me, you, Ju Yeo-run, Kaien, Juriel, and Li Lingwei. And the variable, Jin Long."
It was a predictable, ruthless lineup. Even so, Gi-chan breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his voice even further. "Have you talked to the other members?"
"I just told you, and she probably gave a hint to Kaien and Ju Yeo-run last night. Finally, Jin Long... I'll have to handle him."
"But will it be okay? They're still our teammates..."
"Don't you get it? This is her first regular round, but her playstyle is absolutely not that of a beginner. She claims she received advice from a high-round player, but... this isn't the kind of play you get from mere advice. The four who survived from the squad we just fought. Jin Long, who survived. Plus the guerrillas. This is..."
"A survival unit!"
"Exactly. A guerrilla team isn't always a survival unit, but I bet every squad operates one secretly. Whether it's official or unofficial, it's a way to increase the survival rate. Even if people have to be sacrificed, it's only natural if it improves the team's results. But if we brought this up to our teammates—most of whom are first-timers with no skill or sense—they'd all riot trying to get into the survival unit. Especially those knight bastards."
Fire flared in Seo-un's eyes as he looked at Kite. Gi-chan nodded in agreement.
"The conclusion she reached is this: if the worst-case scenario happens, the best option is for the survival unit to save themselves by sacrificing the teammates without looking back. The second-best option is for me to survive even if I have to run away alone. In exchange, she said she'd find a way to yield all the kills to me. I just happened to be the one who found that way."
"You should have told me."
Seeing Gi-chan's dejected expression, Seo-un shook his head. "Did you even have time for that while you were busy catering to the teammates? Whispering with you, a fellow regular squad member, wouldn't have looked good. That's why I focused even more on winning over the others."
"Whew. No wonder. I was shocked when you started writing a novel with a plot from some trashy soap opera."
"Which of the main items do you want the most?" Seo-un asked, changing the subject.
"Well... hmm... the Player Rights Revival Ticket, the Dragon Heart, and the Insight of the Mad Demon, I guess."
"Why?"
"The Player Rights Revival Ticket is obviously a bonus life in this unstable game, so who wouldn't want it? The Dragon Heart would be worth whatever price you name. And the Insight of the Mad Demon... since it's likely a lock-on item, it can be shared."
Snap! Seo-un snapped his fingers, his eyes gleaming.
"Exactly. I don't know how effective it'll be, but the most useful item for both you and me to grow to the next level is the Insight of the Mad Demon."
"But I'm not at a high enough level as a martial artist like you, Hyung."
"My skill comes from items and internal energy. Honestly, as long as I keep playing, I don't even need elixirs anymore. If I funnel all the elixirs we find to you, you'll catch up in no time. But there's a clear limit to getting stronger through items alone. We don't know how long that'll work in Cloyd."
With every passing round, Seo-un felt the level of the players rising remarkably. His anxiety, born from such experience, was a natural reaction.
Just then, as the item distribution ended, Seo-un walked past Gi-chan toward the other players. Gi-chan forced his serious expression away and put on a bright face. He always tried to keep up, but Seo-un was always looking and moving toward a point much further than he could see.
*
Ten days had passed since they broke the killing formation and emerged victorious. During those ten days, Seo-un had been yielded many kills, reaching a total of 43. They had lost one knight and one mage during three skirmishes, but it wasn't a bad result.
Survivors: 1350/2000
[ Nam Sa-gwang --> Aoi Chie (Kill with fist/foot.) ]
Seo-un frowned as he checked the kill feed. That guy Nam Sa-gwang was definitely a monstrous expert who could manifest Aura.
A guy like that getting a kill with his bare hands?
That meant he had beaten his opponent to death. And the fact that he had beaten a player who seemed to be a Japanese woman to death made Seo-un's heart feel strangely heavy.
— My granddaughter's grudge...
The final, grudge-filled words of the old mage who had brought down the Meteor lingered in his ears. As he was lost in thought, Kaien, who was scouting ahead, raised his hand.
As the players stopped and crouched low, Kaien quickly approached and signaled. At that moment, a mage cast a wide-area Silence.
"There are traces of players ahead. They aren't very old, and there's a fairly large village further up."
"Maybe they're in the middle of farming!" one of the players whispered urgently, excited by the prospect of a large village.
"The probability is quite high," Kaien replied, looking at Juriel.
The decision now rested with her.
"Let's move in for now."
The players approached the village and observed it from across the fence, keeping their distance. They could clearly see signs of life and traces of farming.
"I told you, tonight is my turn."
"What are you talking about? Who was the one who made them submissive? I'm the one who persuaded those two. So this time, it's me."
From the nearest house, a conversation drifted out that made one feel filthy just hearing half of it. Li Lingwei and Juriel grimaced in disgust. Seo-un and Gi-chan didn't have the experience yet, but in squad games that lasted for months, such disgusting situations occasionally occurred.
Though he didn't want to know the details, Seo-un understood the situation instantly. He narrowed his eyes.
"Let's wipe them all out."
Juriel nodded in agreement. "We'll ambush them while they're farming."
"My senior and I will handle the ambush," Seo-un said, referring to Jin Long. "The rest of you, pour your magic on them when they gather."
As soon as the plan was set, Seo-un quickly vaulted through the second-story window of the house where the foul conversation was taking place. Jin Long followed behind him, his presence almost perfectly erased.
As they hid by the stairs on the second floor, a martial artist and a knight, still bickering, came into view.
"I'm telling you! Today, I—"
Crunch.
In an instant, the man's skull was crushed. His eyeballs popped out and splattered against the chest of the martial artist next to him. The moment the martial artist tried to leap back, Jin Long's sword grazed his throat with blinding speed.
"Gurgle..."
As the man collapsed, blood bubbling from his throat, Seo-un crushed his head as well. Immediately, waves of mana were felt from all directions as the scattered players began to converge.
Roooooar! Boom!
The sound of stored magic being unleashed upon the enemies rang out. Simultaneously, Jin Long and Seo-un burst through the roof. While scanning the enemies who were flustered by the ambush, Seo-un's brow furrowed.
A familiar player entered his sight.
"Jo Chang-jun."
Seo-un had already drawn his bow and notched a pyeonjeon. His arrow flew toward Jo Chang-jun in an instant, shattering the barrier protecting him and exploding. The enemies' gazes snapped toward Seo-un, who was already re-notching another arrow on the roof.
Flame Bursts exploded, creating waves of mana that swallowed Seo-un's position. Strangely, Seo-un, who should have vanished in the explosion, appeared on the roof of a building a short distance away, placing a new arrow into his tonga and drawing his bowstring.
Swish! Crash!
As another barrier broke, the players realized Seo-un had moved. They began scanning their surroundings, only to see no fewer than eleven Seo-uns surrounding them, all aiming their bows. The mages' focus on defense was inevitably split by the illusions.
"Jin Seo-un!!"
Naturally, Jo Chang-jun was among those who spotted him. Ju Min-ah, holding a shield, blocked the pyeonjeon flying toward his back.
Clang!
With a sharp ring, her blue-glowing shield narrowly blocked Seo-un's arrow. She had managed to identify his true body and protect Jo Chang-jun.
— All-out attack!
Juriel's thunderous order fell. Jin Long, who had already taken the enemies' rear, charged, and the martial artists in the front surged forward with rising momentum. The remaining fourteen players were already losing the battle of morale. Among them, five, including Jo Chang-jun, turned and began to flee without looking back.
— I'll pursue them!
At Seo-un's order, Gi-chan followed behind to support him. As Seo-un quickly closed the distance, chasing Ju Min-ah, Jo Chang-jun, one knight, and two mages, a Flame Bird spread its wings and lunged at him.
Whoosh!
He could endure magic of this level, even if it was a bit hot. Passing through the fire bird with his bare body, Seo-un notched and fired another pyeonjeon. An electric field unfolded from the arrow as it slammed into the ground in front of the fleeing enemies.
Inevitably, their path was blocked. They decided to quickly deal with the two pursuers. Since Gi-chan was handling the incoming magic from behind, Seo-un faced the lunging players without hesitation.
Screeeech!
A knight hid behind a large shield and thrust his spear. When Seo-un's Blood Bone Claw swept past the spear, the faint yellow energy surrounding it was instantly sliced and dissipated.
Crash!
Following up with another Blood Bone Claw, the knight, his shield crumpled, was pushed back. Jo Chang-jun, who was attacking Seo-un half-heartedly, was no match for him. Seo-un wondered how he had managed to crawl his way up to being a regular with such pathetic skills.
Just as he was about to tear Jo Chang-jun's throat, Ju Min-ah, holding a shield and a staff, blocked his path.
Riiip!
Seo-un's attack instantly tore through her shield and the pauldron covering her shoulder, but she fought back with magic.
Crackle!
Enduring her magic with his body, Seo-un ran past the three of them and lunged at the mages engaged in a magic battle with Gi-chan. The moment the two mages tried to step onto their air boards in panic, their heads were already crushed.
With Gi-chan's magic and Seo-un's Blood Bone Claw, the remaining knight couldn't hold out for long.
"D-Don't do this! We're fellow Korean players... We were classmates, too. Is there really a need...?"
Looking at the man who sought out nationality and personal connections only when things got desperate, Seo-un approached with cold eyes. As he took a step closer, Jo Chang-jun's legs gave out, and he collapsed, screaming in desperation.
"W-Who do you think you are?! You son of a bitch! Don't come any closer! Do you have any idea what I had to do to get into this survival party?!"
At his words, as he shrieked pathetically like a character in a cheap movie, Seo-un's expression shifted. Then his eyes turned toward Ju Min-ah.
"Y-Yeah. At least think of Min-ah. You liked Min-ah too, didn't you? Right? Yeah. If you help me, I'll... with Min-ah..."
Crunch!
Seo-un stepped on and crushed the head of the fallen Jo Chang-jun, then turned his gaze to Ju Min-ah, who was standing nearby.
"Seo-un, I..."
"Don't speak. I don't really want to hear it," Seo-un said. "I don't want to know what you've been through, either. Come to think of it, it was always like that. Looking back, even when you acted all noble and innocent, you were always surrounded by wealthy friends. Even if it wasn't Jo Chang-jun. If a smart girl like you made that choice, the reason is obvious."
"It's not like that! I..."
"It's not because of money? Then why is someone like you doing this here?"
In an instant, the sorrowful expression on Ju Min-ah's face, which looked like a tragic heroine's, transformed completely. "How much do you think you know about me to act like you do?!"
Clang!
Before her staff could unleash its stored magic, it was swatted away by the Blood Bone Claw.
"You! You..."
"Congratulations on meeting a rich guy," Seo-un said flatly. "Now, live in reality. There's no place for people like you in Cloyd."
Slash!
As he finished speaking and passed her, her throat split open, and red blood poured out. Leaving the sprawled corpse behind, Seo-un walked away, tossing a fire orb over his shoulder.
Whoosh!
The corpses ignited, confirming five kills. Seo-un snatched the coins that popped up in front of him and tucked the Red Coins into his subspace.
As he re-entered the battlefield where the resistance was still somewhat persistent, the fight was settled before long once he began to run wild. Just as he finished off the last player, a notification sounded.
[ Ding! A boss monster has been hunted. Glory to the Nam Sa-gwang Squad! ]
Juriel and Seo-un immediately opened their maps and calculated the distance to where the boss monster had appeared.