Chapter 217 – The 13th Round Begins
January 1st, 2023. A new year dawned.
Some people, hearing the bell of New Year’s Eve, might set goals like quitting smoking, studying, or working out—but for Players, that kind of thing was a luxury.
Their ultimate goal was survival, and nothing else.
‘Even in the new year, the 13th Round has started without fail.’
Staring at the colorless space that was now familiar to the point of boredom, Ryu Min let out a sigh.
‘To think that the number of people I can see up ahead is all of them.’
In the vast space, there were still nearly ten thousand people, but compared to before, it was definitely fewer.
‘Too many died in the 12th Round.’
Because of the Cave of Trials that you couldn’t clear without a Summoner in your party, three quarters were wiped out.
‘It can’t be helped. It wasn’t something I could stop.’
Was it even possible to tell a攻略 method to every single person in front of such a huge crowd?
‘Now that the numbers are down, it’s time to start taking care of other Players too. Not just the people around me.’
At the very least, he planned to take care of the believers of the Reaper Church for sure.
That was why he’d released the 13th Round攻略 method.
‘If half survive this Round, and half survive the next Round too, then close to 2,500 will remain.’
But the problem is the 15th Round.
In the dreaded 15th Round, only a quarter can pass.
It would be roughly 600 people, but because the difficulty is insane, not even 50 survive.
That’s why, among the total twenty Rounds, excluding the final Round, it could be considered the most important Round.
‘In the 15th Round, I have to save as many people as possible. I can’t let it fall short like the 12th Round.’
He intended to fill it to the brim with 600 and save them.
That way, in the final Round, he could fight the boss battle with as many people as possible.
‘Since we have no information at all about the boss, having more survivors can’t be a bad thing. That’s why I’m saying I’ll take care of the Reaper Church—and to prepare for the 16th Round too.’
If many Korean Players survive, they can clear the 16th Round without losses.
That was why he’d released the 13th Round攻略 method—and if they did exactly as instructed, they should be able to clear it smoothly.
‘If it goes well, every Korean Player might survive.’
Of course, he didn’t only take care of Koreans.
Christine and Jeffrey, Russell, Victor, John Delgado, and so on.
He also told foreign Players a攻略 method that made it easy to clear.
“Black Scythe-nim.”
The one who had just come over was Min Juri as well.
“You’re here? Reaper Church believer.”
“Haha… it feels awkward when you call me a believer. Please call me Democracy like usual. Or you can comfortably call me by my name…”
When joining the Reaper Church, she’d written down all her personal information.
There was no way he didn’t know her name, but Ryu Min shook his head.
“For me, Democracy is more comfortable than your name.”
“Is that so?”
Smiling softly, Min Juri followed Ryu Min’s gaze and looked at the people.
They could be seen as competitors, but on the other hand, they were the ones who’d made it through to the 12th Round—comrades-in-arms, in a way.
“It’s the new year for once, and yet all these people can’t even see a sunrise—they have to take part in a survival game… it’s kind of sad.”
“You’re pretty sentimental.”
Maybe it sounded like a jab, because Min Juri puffed out her cheeks.
“Sentimental, even though I don’t look like it… is that what you mean?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Not confident he could win an argument with Min Juri, Ryu Min subtly turned his head.
Just then, Seo Arin and Heo Tae-seok were coming from over there.
“Black Scythe-nim!”
“Are you sad you can’t see the sunrise too?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Because of the time limit, you can’t see the sunrise anyway.”
Thanks to Ryu Min, everyone knew the time limit for this Round was ten hours.
When they returned to reality, it would already be 10 a.m.
“Ahh, Democracy-nim said she wanted to see the sunrise?”
“I-I didn’t say that. It’s just…”
“Who do you want to see it with? A boyfriend, maybe?”
“I-I don’t have a boyfriend!”
“Huh? Someone as beautiful as Democracy-nim—why?”
“Don’t joke around, Leader.”
“I’m not joking…”
With two more people suddenly gathered, it got noisy and bustling.
Even though Ryu Min—who’d sparked the sunrise topic—was just sitting there quietly.
‘By the way, the Necromancer is doing well, right?’
Ryu Min had given one order to John Delgado, who’d become a slave.
A simple order: in the other world, do not meet the other apostles.
‘I can’t let those Messiah bastards target Jeffrey.’
He knew from John that they were targeting Jeffrey.
It was crucial that he’d ordered John—just in case—to confess if they were plotting anything.
‘They probably planned to capture Jeffrey in this Round and interrogate him, but too bad. I already found out.’
The only one who can track Jeffrey’s location is John Delgado, who once partied with him.
So if John is told to intentionally avoid the apostles?
The operation can be easily ruined.
Of course, John will be hated for it.
“Black Scythe-nim!”
When he turned his head, this time Eom Jun-seok, Ju Seong-tak, and Yamtti appeared in turn.
Then Christine, Jeffrey, and Jo Yong-ho’s group came to find Black Scythe as well, and the number of people swelled in an instant.
‘Once Jo Yong-ho joins, the number of people really increases.’
As if he wasn’t called the Mercenary King for nothing, he appeared with more than thirty mercenaries.
Of course, all of them were Koreans and believers of the Reaper Church.
‘All I did was make Jo Yong-ho my ally, and even his mercenaries came along with him. Not bad.’
While the group he’d gotten acquainted with smiled and exchanged greetings, an angel appeared.
[Hello, humans. You came again today, just as always!]
Even though it wasn’t that they came because they wanted to, the angel teased the humans.
[Oh dear! Across all zones, there aren’t even ten thousand survivors left! The last Round was a bit difficult, wasn’t it? Don’t worry. After just a few more Rounds, it’ll quickly drop to two digits. Ku-huhuhut.]
“T-two digits?”
“M-mad.”
The angel, having stirred anxiety for no reason, giggled as if enjoying their reaction.
[Kuheuheu, then shall we open the Quest first? This time it won’t be that difficult, so relax. Really.]
The angel, speaking as if telling them to believe it, flapped its wings.
◀ ROUND 13 ▶ <Main Quest>
└Raise one species’ reputation to ‘Very Friendly’ within 10 hours <Sub Quests>
└???? multiple
[Unified Zone CA-EA001]
└Participants: 9,994
└Achievers: 0/4,997
It was a simple Quest.
Especially to Ryu Min, among all the Rounds, there had been no Round easier than this.
‘Because I’m already in a completed state.’
[This Round is a Quest where you survive by raising a species’ reputation to Very Friendly. Compared to other Rounds, it’s pretty easy, right?]
“Very Friendly?”
“You could even raise reputation?”
Most people didn’t even know reputation existed in the first place.
‘If your reputation has never gone up, you might not know.’
But Ryu Min had already raised his reputation with the elves to Very Friendly back in the 8th Round.
And besides the elves, he had three other Very Friendly achievements as well.
‘Especially the elves went beyond Very Friendly—all the way to Eternal Alliance.’
The Rune of Reputation, which raised all reputations by one stage, had played a big role.
That was why, in this Round, there wasn’t really anything Ryu Min needed to do.
It was practically the same as having cleared the Quest the moment it started.
[Species reputation starts at Neutral. If you do things that that species likes, it becomes Friendly, and the next stage after that is Very Friendly.]
From Neutral to Very Friendly was two stages.
‘Raising it two stages isn’t an easy thing.’
This wasn’t an easy Round like the angel made it sound.
That was why the long ten-hour time limit was given.
But for the Reaper Church believers who’d heard Ryu Min’s攻略 method, it would feel different.
‘Because I told them the Quests that raise reputation quickly.’
As if on cue, the angel was explaining that very thing.
[You’ve done missions before where you roam a fantasy world doing Sub Quests, right? Like that, if you do Sub Quests that a certain species will like, your reputation will pile up. As a bonus, you can also get EXP, gold, and items as quest rewards.]
“To raise reputation, you have to do Quests?”
“So you just pick one species and clear Sub Quests like crazy, that’s all?”
[Of course, depending on a quest’s difficulty, the reputation gained and the rewards will differ, so do your best on your own. The conclusion is: within 10 hours, you must raise one species’ reputation to Very Friendly in order to survive—keep that in mind.]
“Ten hours means it’s that hard to raise it, right?”
“Ugh… this won’t be easy.”
Most people probably felt like they’d been dropped into a vast ocean with no light, but the 170 believers of the Reaper Church were not like that.
At minimum, they knew the route—what quests to do to clear quickly.
[You won’t have time to fool around. The faster you reach Very Friendly, the sooner you’ll be placed on the survivor list. Well, if there’s already a human who achieved it, it’d be like they get ten hours of free time, but there’s no way such a human exists—huh?]
As if the angel had checked the achiever list, it spoke in a flustered voice.
[Th-there’s one? A human who already achieved Very Friendly or higher….]
It didn’t mention the nickname, but if it was one person, there was no need to look.
‘That’s me.’
Ryu Min gave a small smirk, his expression relaxed.
Since he’d cleared at the start, as the angel said, he could freely do Sub Quests for ten hours.
[Th-then shall we choose the starting location?]
A message window appeared before the Players’ eyes.
[Touch the region where you want to start from the following.]
└ 1. Kingdom of Albitz
└ 2. Kingdom of Braham
└ 3. Holy Empire
└ 4. Elsorium
[If you do not choose within the time limit, it will be chosen at random.]
[Time remaining until selection ends: 00:00:59]
While people fell into 고민 over the options, the Reaper Church believers knew exactly where they had to go.
“I’ll go first, Black Scythe-nim.”
“Me too.”
As Heo Tae-seok and Seo Arin were about to move, Min Juri cried out urgently.
“Ah, wait! Get buffs before you go!”
She quickly distributed buffs to the group, and thanks came back.
“Thank you, Democracy-nim.”
“You’ll be blessed!”
“Everyone, fighting this Round too!”
After exchanging encouragement, they pressed their choices and vanished as usual.
“Black Scythe-nim, you should get buffs too.”
“Thanks.”
Ryu Min, who’d been quietly expecting it, accepted the buffs and smiled pleasantly.
He didn’t particularly need buffs, but you never knew with people, did you?
‘An archangel might show up again saying it’s here for revenge.’
Since Sariel had appeared, there was a high chance it would show up again this time too.
After Jo Yong-ho’s mercenary group and Min Juri disappeared as well, only Ryu Min remained.
Glance—
Ryu Min looked at the options, and he’d already decided where to go even before the Round started.
‘I choose number 4. Elsorium.’
The moment he touched it with his finger, the place where Ryu Min stood changed in an instant.
Chirp-chirp—
Dropped into a dense forest, Ryu Min looked around.
‘This is the right place.’
There was a reason he chose Elsorium.
‘Because I need to obtain the Rune fragments in the elves’ treasure vault.’
If it were only Friendly, it would be impossible—but with an Eternal Alliance reputation, they would willingly open the treasure vault.
Even Princess Euphynelsia.
Because in Elsorium, where the council elders held power, the princess’s position was that weak.
Rustle— rustle—
Pushing through the bushes, Ryu Min looked ahead.
‘That way.’
He could only see tightly packed trees, but somehow he sensed an alien presence.
After walking a little more, the moment he stepped onto the boundary line—
Fwoooosh—
The bushes and trees that had been there a moment ago vanished, and a clean, majestic, towering structure spread out before his eyes.
It was Elsorium—the elves’ city, concealed by a magical barrier.
‘What a majestic city.’
Looking up at the kingdom-scale buildings the elves had created, he moved forward.
After passing a river with rainbow-colored light flowing through it and crossing a bridge, elf guards at the entrance crossed their spear shafts and blocked him.
“For what reason has a human come here?”
“Return at once!”
Ignoring their cold voices, Ryu Min’s gaze shifted to empty air.
[Round Trait ‘Interpretation’ is active.]
[You can converse with the species of the other world.]
[You can converse with all Players without a language barrier.]
Thankfully, it seemed there would be no problem speaking with NPCs.
“Human! Are you hard of hearing!”
“We said return—huh?”
The guards who’d been trying to turn him away at the gate because he was human jolted in shock after recognizing Ryu Min’s face.
As if they knew who he was.
“Hk—th-this… could it be the otherworldly warrior, Black Scythe-nim?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking?”
When he replied icily, the guards came to their senses and bent their heads to ninety degrees.
“W-we’re sorry we didn’t recognize a noble guest!”
“P-please forgive our rudeness just now!”
The guards’ attitude did a full 180.
‘Eternal Alliance’ is a great reputation you receive only when you save a species beyond the individual level.
It wouldn’t be strange for him to be treated above royalty.
“Enough. Call the council elders. I need to meet them.”
“C-call the elders?”
“I have something I need to demand directly.”
“P-please wait just a moment. We will call them right away.”
Watching the guard hurry off, Ryu Min waited calmly.