Chapter 123 : Chapter 123

Chapter 123 - Warm-up (2)

“War? No, what is that supposed to mean...!”

“How are we supposed to prepare for something like that now!”

As soon as they heard the Guardian's words, such voices erupted from all over the place.

Well, it was a normal reaction for the word 'war' to suddenly pop up.

In the first place, showing such a reaction meant they were idiots. Was there really a need to admit with their own mouths that they had no foundation prepared?

In fact, in contrast to such people, there were a few who didn't even flinch and waited for the Guardian's next words.

It meant that those guys would be the actual ‘competitors’.

However, apart from that, I made sure to remember the faces of the small fry who just jumped up, one by one. In this particular ordeal, ‘who gets eliminated first’ was also quite important.

-Now, now, don't be like that. It won't be too late to get angry after you've heard the details, right?

As the Guardian spoke in a relaxed voice and waved her hand, a blue hologram soon floated up inside the hall.

Against a background meticulously depicting terrain that seemed to be about the size of a couple of cities, intricately drawn lines divided the area.

-I just said ‘war’ earlier. But if you look at its essence... yes. It would be better to call it a ‘land grab’.

As the Guardian continued to speak, the divided areas were painted in different colors.

And in the center of those areas, a crystal-shaped icon shot up.

-All Conquerors will be assigned an area by ‘affiliation’, and each will be assigned one Core Crystal. The goal of this ordeal is to advance to the ‘Core Crystal’ in the core area. When you ‘conquer’ it, the corresponding area will be treated as conquered. The maximum initial number of personnel that each Conqueror can organize is 20.

“20 people...?”

“What on earth is the standard? How can you call that a war with just that many?”

Such voices flowed from all over.

It certainly wasn't strange to think that way if you only heard the number 20.

But she said ‘initial personnel’.

It meant that how it would be ‘expanded’ was all in one's own hands.

And that was consistent with the story that followed.

-Each area has a different characteristic. For example...

The hologram then split and showed enlargements of different terrains.

A mountain range burning red and a cave frozen so white that it was blinding.

-The ‘Scorching Mountain Range’ and the ‘Extreme Tundra’ have characteristics that stand out at a glance, right? Fittingly, the ‘native creatures’ here also have similar characteristics.

Flame Lizards and Infernal Hounds nesting in the Scorching Mountain Range, and Arctic Walkers that looked similar to polar bears and Frozen Golems inhabiting the Extreme Tundra.

-These native creatures can be killed and processed in useful ways, or they can be converted into ‘points’ that can be used for various other things... but the detailed breakdown will be revealed after the ordeal begins. More importantly, if it were just these things, it couldn't be called a ‘war’, right?

Again, the hologram rotated and showed another scene inside.

The ‘Fire Spirits’ living in villages in the Scorching Mountain Range. And the ‘Barbarian Warriors’ wearing fur and forming colonies in the Extreme Tundra.

-Each area has a large number of ‘natives’ like this living in it. These natives all have civilizations you can negotiate with. Now, if I've said this much, you all understand, right?

The hologram rotated one last time and showed the Fire Spirits and Barbarian Warriors engaged in a fierce battle.

The scene of them fighting fiercely with their crystals behind their backs continued, and it concluded with the Barbarian Warriors, who had gained the upper hand, breaking through the Fire Spirits' defense and destroying their crystal.

Then, the Scorching Mountain Range, which had been marked in red on the hologram, was dyed blue, and the Fire Spirits bowed their heads to the Barbarian Warriors with gloomy expressions.

-Utilize the ‘native creatures’ and ‘natives’ in your respective areas to occupy the opponent's area. The one who has conquered the most areas after the time limit has passed will be judged the final winner. The resources of the occupied areas will be immediately claimed by the occupier, so it would be best to move as quickly as possible, right?

“That is...”

“It will depend on one's adaptability after the actual ordeal begins. Advance preparation won't be very meaningful.”

The nearby Climbers murmured among themselves like that, but I just gave a bitter smile to myself.

It might seem that way.

But no. Absolutely not.

It would probably become noticeably apparent from the mid-game when the ordeal begins to intensify in earnest. Did they think I ran around like a madman before this started for no reason?

And, as I had previously described it as ‘dirty,’ this system was not one that induced fair competition among users.

-Ah, of course. Looking at what I've said so far, you might be wondering how the ‘success or failure’ of the ordeal is determined. It's simple.

The Guardian continued in a still relaxed voice.

However, the content that came out next did not match it at all.

-If no one has occupied the ‘majority’ of the entire territory by the time the time limit ends, the ordeal will be judged a failure. All participants will die on the spot.

“...”

“...”

A heavy silence fell over the entire hall.

-Also, if the ordeal ends in failure, we plan to impose a ‘punishment’... well.

The Guardian continued with a faint smile.

-Wiping out about half the planet should be appropriate, right?

The silence in the hall became even heavier.

“...In that case.”

And what abruptly broke the long-continuing silence was an elderly Climber who was sitting in the corner of the hall with his chin propped on his hand.

“What is given to the final winner of the ordeal?”

-...

At the sight of him being perfectly composed even after hearing the terrifying penalty for failure that had just been announced, the smile on the Guardian’s face deepened slightly.

Well, this was probably the kind of sight she was hoping for.

In the first place, the Tower’s purpose was not simply to hand down ordeals and slaughter people. It was to screen for the ‘right talent’ by continuously handing down such things.

-As you can see, this ordeal will revolve around the Conquerors' excellent command abilities and situational judgment. So the reward must also be prepared in accordance with that theme, right?

The Guardian paused for a moment after saying that.

As if to add a dramatic effect to the enormous thing that would follow.

-Just once.

And, clearly.

-We will grant you full command authority over the ‘Round Table’. For just one time, you can command everyone here as your private soldiers.

It was definitely a reward worth it.

***

“...It’s chaos out there.”

Seo Ah-in said, alternating her gaze between her mobile phone and the TV.

“The previous ordeals also drew a lot of attention. But this time, it’s on a different level. All the prominent Western guilds have their feelers out.”

That would be the case.

Everyone who attended that place saw with their own eyes just how terrifying the beings of the Round Table were. Each one of them was on the same level as Evangeline.

And from the perspective of the guilds, whose eyes were red from fighting over their interests all day long, being able to command such an asymmetrical force for once was... well. It was probably something like a nuclear weapon.

“There are even cases of people saying they’ll participate in the ordeal by proxy... No, is this even allowed?”

“They probably won’t stop it.”

I answered with difficulty while grunting and trying to wrap the Blood Reaven I had taken from Batan.

Seriously, I knew it was contaminated with demonic mana, but why was it so hard to handle?

“From the Round Table's perspective, it’s to their advantage the more capable a person they can screen, so they’re probably thinking, ‘send up the most capable person among you.’ If someone takes it, the one who took it did well, and the one who got it taken is at fault.”

“Yes. If that's the feeling, it seems to have succeeded for sure.”

Seo Ah-in said with a slightly stiff expression.

“...The Lancester Guild said they're coming.”

So, it wasn't just that her face was a little stiff.

To be precise, it was closer to being terrified.

The Lancester Guild. One of the places called the world’s top three guilds. It was famous in many ways, as its guild master was one of the few EX-rank Climbers in the world.

“...”

From the perspective of a Conqueror player, it was simply known by the nickname ‘trash dump’.

All the bad things that happened to the Seo family happened because that guild master was a man of broken character.

There was a reason she was showing this kind of reaction right now.

“Well, let them come.”

That was all I had to say.

Seo Ah-in glared at me with eyes that said she had a lot she wanted to say about this, but she soon let out a deep sigh as if she had given up.

“Ah, right. This is who he was.”

“Right. I’m usually an unkind guy, but this time, you'll have to listen to an explanation.”

Ironclad, who had been silent until now, spoke up as if tossing out a comment.

“In what way is my family related to that ordeal you just mentioned?”

“Your family is alive inside there.”

“...What?”

“Probably because that Guardian over there is pouring all sorts of attention on me... there are likely some guys in the Round Table who dislike me.”

Evangeline herself had insanely raised the difficulty of the second ordeal for that reason, but in fact, she was on the more rational side.

In the Round Table, there were quite a few crazy Guardian die-hard fans who made her look tame.

From their perspective, I would definitely be a thorn in their side, so what was certain was.

“They’re going to stick me in the worst possible area, you see?”

“...Did they sell off fair proceedings at a second-hand market?”

“I don't really care since it's half-intentional on my part.”

Well, just because ‘they think’ it's the worst, doesn't mean it's actually the worst.

It all depended on how you utilized it.

“Your family is definitely in there too. So get ready for a moving reunion there.”

“...”

Ironclad closed his mouth with a complicated expression. It seemed he was organizing his thoughts.

Considering the circumstances of his separation from his family, there was a high possibility he was wondering how they ended up in there.

“...Right. Whether that’s really true is something I'll see when the time comes. What have you been doing since a while ago?”

Ironclad said, looking at the Blood Reaven I was grunting and struggling to wrap.

The difficulty was bound to be high since I had to vacuum-pack it using only mana without it touching my body, so I might look a bit unseemly.

“Well, I need to use this well to gain an advantage as soon as I get in there.”

“You’re going to use a weapon cursed by a demon? Who on earth can handle that?”

“...There is someone.”

It's just that it was a person I was extremely reluctant to contact.

“Hey, gofer.”

“Could you please call me by my name...?”

Seeing her react properly even while saying that, you've already adapted, Seo Ah-in.

Anyway.

“...What's the Gusegyo's number?”

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