Episode 85
Chapter 18 The Beginning of Change (1)
There are regular gates available for players to use.
So, are the holes that players originally used to come and go can no longer be used?
‘It can’t be.’
Gates are just a means of safely traveling to and from Bihar, but are not required to be used.
‘It should be seen as using a combination of both.’
After all, the player has to visit the temple because of something related to the church.
In other words, it means that the creation of a new passage and the disappearance of a hole that has already been drilled between Earth and Earth are two different things.
Players can do missions in any number of conventional ways.
As evidence of this, Maxim, who entered the mission from Earth, disappeared along with the evolutionary species as soon as Meseo was destroyed.
‘The brown bears will be a bit surprised.’
When I stabbed it, it was the strongest of the evolutionary species I caught, so I’m going to have a hard time.
As long as they’re thinking of taking advantage of the player, I think it’s a necessary warning.
As a result, information about Hall is also released.
‘I can’t just trust the Korean government.’
It was dangerous to recklessly disclose information about the hall to an unspecified number of people.
Because I don’t know what the idiots who will be mixed in the majority will do.
But you can’t even keep your mouth shut.
Personally, I decided that it was necessary to inform a country with a strong military power.
Isn’t it something you need to know to prepare for war?
So, after thinking about it, I came to a conclusion. Let’s inform the group first before notifying everyone.
‘At the very least, an individual could delay an accident.’
Of course, being a group doesn’t mean that there are no accidents.
Rather, it will be more dangerous than the individual.
‘Because the range of cognition and activity will be so wide that it cannot even be compared with an individual.’
It is impossible to prevent the movement itself to abuse the hole in the first place.
Humans are cruel creatures that have never stopped fighting in history.
It is also a living being that can trample others only for greed, without survival.
That’s why I don’t think the world’s powers will just hold on to Hall-related information.
But it’s time to choose the lesser evil rather than the worst.
‘If I can’t completely block it, I have no choice but to control it as much as possible.’
It’s the best I can do on my line right now.
It would be great if we could solidify our position as both players and players while providing information to such selected places.
This time, by throwing an evolutionary species at Russia, information was also disclosed, and the need for players was also emphasized.
‘If you’re not a player, you’ll quickly realize that it’s not easy to penetrate the skin of an evolutionary species.’
The work to be done right now is over.
After Maxim disappeared, we moved out of the contaminated area and moved.
Then, they gathered at the tavern in Robole Castle and watched Maxim’s chat.
I sat cross-legged while Maxim briefed me on the situation in real time, thinking about those who were not present today.
‘Three non-participants, one of them died.’
There was no doubt as to whether the codename Jebla was dead or not.
One of the two remaining is Canadian, codenamed Maple Leaf.
The reason for his absence was not clearly explained, he just said it was a personal matter.
And the other non-participant is Yang Hye-won.
She also did not elaborate.
But I know the inside story because I heard something else.
‘It’s a meeting… … .’
Today, there is a meeting attended by the president and key members of the cabinet, and I heard that you are attending as a player representative.
This schedule was also made possible thanks to her background.
‘I never thought he was from the sixth school.’
Perhaps because of her unique background, Yang Hye-won was more likely to work with the NIS or the government than Kim Yul.
‘It’s good to have someone like that among the players.’
As a player himself, he would not blindly take sides with the government.
If properly positioned, it could serve as a mediator for both parties later on.
‘If I get a chance, I’ll give you a ride on the bus.’
After organizing the information of Yang Hye-won and other non-participants, I looked around the attendees.
After the meal came out, the overall atmosphere was a little refreshed.
Maybe it’s because he learned how to destroy Meseo for the first time, or because no one was injured during the hunt.
I don’t know the exact reason, but the atmosphere itself wasn’t bad.
Of course, no one drank alcohol. Maybe the tension isn’t all over yet.
Rather than a gathering of casual friends, would it be more like a party atmosphere in a department replenished with new personnel after the appointment of personnel in the new year?
Doran, awkward, but steady conversation came and went.
As I was eating, the atmosphere became more and more comfortable.
Of course, I didn’t intend to wear the mask, so I didn’t say anything.
‘It’s better than expected.’
In the future, you just have to keep recruiting people with other nationalities and grow in size.
I should be careful about the discord that arises in the process, but I didn’t intend to care too much.
‘Just because we go to the same company doesn’t mean we’re close, right?’
As long as we are faithful to our common goal, it doesn’t matter whether we curse at each other or grab each other by the collar.
While I was sitting there thinking about my future work, a red dot appeared on the church homepage icon.
‘Show new posts.’
Some of the Biharis who are not good at using the homepage dared to post.
I hurriedly checked the denomination community. What was there was a message from Rashar.
「Title: K, it seems that the mansion needs to be vacated. – Author: Lachar Bennett.
Description: There was a large-scale conflict in the contaminated area. An assembly order was given. I’m leaving a message because I won’t be at the mansion when you come back.”
Thanks to last night’s special training, it was a neat post without typos.
‘The resistance hasn’t dispersed yet, so I’ll have to go.’
I got up from my seat after commenting that I had checked the post.
Maxim’s chatting had also stopped, so he was thinking of going back.
‘The job Ahn Gi-jun asked for when he returned to Earth has been completed.’
“A chat message has arrived from the codename youkai.”
“A present has arrived from the codename youkai.”
[Do you want to receive the gift? (Y/N)]
When I pressed the Yes button, a new window popped up saying that magic power would be paid.
This is because magic power is required to use the gift-giving function after the server is connected.
‘It’s probably to limit the coming and going of civilizations from a completely different world.’
Except for modern firearms such as electronic devices, guns, and bombs, you can come and go as much as you like.
You’re probably right, since exchanging gifts between players on Earth doesn’t require magic.
It took a small amount of magical energy to take out the modern items that were put in the locker.
‘The system does not block the exchange of civilization.’
But that doesn’t mean I’m not happy about it.
It really just wasn’t banned in the literal sense.
As long as the player exists, perfect severance will be impossible.
‘It can be said that I started with a little giving up from the beginning.’
Depending on the items brought in, the mana varies greatly.
There will be some things that you have to pay a very expensive price to come and go from different worlds.
‘Probably skills or knowledge that the system does not want to allow exchange.’
Fortunately, the gift Ahn Ki-jun sent this time was not that expensive.
I said after receiving the goods sent by Ahn Ki-jun.
“I go first.”
While watching the group chat window, the eyes of those who continued to eat in threes and threes were fixed on me.
Among them, a player with dark brown curly hair stood up after me and asked back.
“Are you going already?”
Codename Fabian, as the name suggests, was a player of French nationality.
“The hunt is over.”
“I will stop too. The party members are waiting.”
Ethan interrupted before Fabian or another player could add a word.
“Actually, I thought I should go too.”
“I, too, have to go hunting.”
After that, Lily Evans and a player called Sniper added their words.
In the end, it was decided that about half of them would happen and about half would stay.
‘I tried to go back alone, but they follow me like sausages.’
Well, this is better than being caught and wasting time.
Those who decided to return first gathered together on the way to the temple, and words of evaluation of today’s battle were exchanged.
“I don’t think it would be bad to have a pool party.”
“It makes sense. It was burdensome to increase the number of people who are allocated magical power, but with two tanks, the space that can be covered increases. It was much easier.”
In today’s temporary party, there were two people who played tanks.
It’s Fabian left at the tavern and Ethan walking next to me now.
It was Lily and the sniper who were talking about their performance, and I agreed with their conversation.
‘Certainly, party play is more comfortable.’
Hunting with Kim Yul and Ahn Ki-jun was hard to see as party play.
All three of them were melee dealers, so their hands were a bit stretched.
However, in the evolutionary species raid that took place a little while ago, people with different positions gathered and organized a group hunt.
In the front line, the tanker definitely draws aggro, and the monster that moves out of sight is covered by the ranged attack with a bow.
It was different from simply extending the hand.
That’s why I’m going to have to do it for a moment.
‘Shall I throw a party too?’
Of course, it was a temptation that soon faded.
‘Even if I pack it now, it’s there.’
Although the positions are fixed, most of the players are still ragtags.
It means that he simply drives monsters with his excellent physical abilities, but his weapon handling skills are not very good.
‘If I meet the guys who chased Rashar the other day, they won’t be able to resist properly and will be annihilated.’
Right now, I can’t properly handle the spear I want to use as my main weapon.
Learning spearmanship and using it in real combat.
The gap between them was bigger than I vaguely thought.
It is not too late to organize a party after the players have accumulated experience and what can be called skills.
Rather, it would be easier to go there and make a party.
‘Because it will be after filtering once.’
Until then, it is efficient to focus on my growth.
A few times on the way back, others spoke to me, but I replied lightly.
But in the process, things changed when Lily brought up a question about my personal information.
“Just because you announced your affiliation and name to all directions, should I do the same?”
When I reacted sensitively, Lily immediately tried to defuse the situation.
“Oh, that doesn’t mean… … .”
“Come to think of it, you advertised in the community that you were looking for me, right? why? You want to catch me?”
But I had no intention of taking it lightly.
“I’m warning you, if that was my intention, get out of this meeting.”
I thought I would react more sensitively than anyone else if someone asked for my information or did a background investigation.
“I am gathering people to cooperate with the players. I have no intention of carrying someone who is different from me.”
And I will retaliate in any way I can.
‘Because that’s the way to protect my family until it’s settled properly.’
Lily brought out an apology right away, but instead of replying, I immediately left.
Since she chose Robole as her base, there is no need to go to the temple together.
I heard Ethan talking to Lily from behind.
Instead of looking back, I said goodbye to Ethan through chat and headed straight for the temple.
“Tsk.”
And as soon as he returned to the temple of Harbon and was left alone, he clicked his tongue.
As long as my external activities are increasing, it is an expected problem that attention is focused on me.
But isn’t there a way to be happy just because you expected it?
There must be David in England, the CIA in America, and someone else looking for me somewhere.
‘Ethan won’t tell David.’
It is only a matter of time before it becomes known to David through others.
I was reluctant to have my nationality exposed under such circumstances.
But I struggled to comfort myself. It would be difficult to catch my tail just by knowing my nationality.
‘I won’t even exist on Earth for a while.’
How do you catch someone who doesn’t even exist?
It would be difficult to identify me as a player just because my whereabouts are unknown.
‘How many people go missing in a year.’
It’s better to be stuck here in order not to be caught in unnecessary suspicion or crap.
I consciously turned away from the gate to return to Earth.
Then he gazed in the direction of the Palao Bridge.
I wondered if I should stop by after I came out, but I quickly shook my head.
I don’t think I’ll be able to get a mark just because I go now.
In the first place, the reason why I had ample time to revisit was because I didn’t think it would be ready in one day.
‘What’s next?’
I have to go around once to learn the geography of Harbon.
I hurriedly left the temple.
And as soon as I returned to the mansion, I found the little boy who had always been in my heart.
“Do you know where Belta is?”
As soon as I went through the front door and talked to the first attendant I met, I heard a loud sound from upstairs.
Soon after, it became a little noisy with the sound of people talking, and then a small shadow came out from the railing on the second floor.
“K!”
Even with her eyes swollen red, it was Belta who was still weeping.