Chapter 293

Chapter 293. Palao’s Will (8)

– Thanks for dying, hahaha! That guts to blatantly say such things.

– With the school days’ episodes and all, he really seems like a remarkable guy.

– Honestly, I’m getting curious about his MBTI. Judging by his speech, he seems pretty T and J.

– Why did the tumbler become a ball……?

– From today, put announcers in the extreme occupation category. Am I the only one who feels sorry seeing them shiver in front of K? ㅠㅠㅠ

– Cheering you on. Thank you always. Go, K! Go, players!

– K: My personal goal is saving Earth. Damn, that’s cool. Even I, a guy, find it impressive.

– Damn, strong ENTP vibes…!

– K, you look handsome!

– Attention seekers are really a problem everywhere. They ignore behavioral guidelines, act on their own, and get themselves killed. Then their families criticize the hardworking police or players.

– I live in Daegu, and here too, there are families protesting over such deaths. It’s so noisy that it’s difficult to concentrate on work.

– I totally agree. Attention seekers are a real issue.

– Stay strong, K! We’re supporting you!

– About a week ago, while working, I ran like mad when I received a safety disaster text about a Hole opening near my home. Thankfully, the players arrived on time, preventing any monsters from coming out. Thanks to them, my family is safe. Thank you for your hard work.

– Wow, rolling up the sleeves was brilliant. Look at those veins and muscles on his arm.

– Why doesn’t my tumbler get crushed! I want to become a player too ㅠㅠ

– In the end, it’s just saying you don’t want to save ordinary people. Stingy. If you have power, you should know to share it. Don’t you know Noblesse Oblige?

– Here comes another idiot ranting.

– Would you risk yourself doing something you were told not to, just because of some idiot causing trouble? What about players who Die while rescuing civilians?

– Blabbering about Noblesse Oblige. Such self-comfort with begging behavior.

– I hope those broadcasting Holes live get eaten. If they just died, players wouldn’t have to go through the unnecessary trouble of saving them.

– K sounds a bit sinister. Is he planning to only save people who listen to him?

– Gosh, is K really creating a guild? Are you not planning to list it? I’ll prepare my bullets!

– Aren’t you hiring for administrative positions? I’m ready to switch jobs.

– Working with players sounds pretty cool.

Reactions appeared to be polarizing yet,

‘Still, there are three times more comments criticizing those who recklessly charge into danger.’

Shaping public opinion this way, the societal atmosphere would naturally flow in that direction.

It was a natural reaction to want to feel morally superior compared to others.

‘This should be enough.’

Everything could be regularly checked through the promotion team of the guild currently being formed.

After checking the videos and comments with my own eyes, I was about to return the smartphone to Park Hayoung.

Bang!

A quite loud noise was heard. It was a delivery motorcycle sliding on the alley next to the café while trying to avoid a car.

I glanced at the accident scene briefly, then looked back at Park Hayoung.

She was completely frozen, not even breathing.

‘As expected, it wasn’t a mistake.’

It seemed like a PTSD from a specific incident was being relived.

I reached out to grab Park Hayoung’s face, making her look directly at me.

‘Why did she get better back then?’

Noticing something strange, I monitored carefully, and it helped me remember accurately.

“Hey, Park Hayoung. Snap out of it.”

Just as I remembered, her stiff body loosened up as soon as I spoke.

Following my memories, Park Hayoung regained her composure after I spoke a few more words.

“I, I’m okay now.”

“Don’t be stubborn and consider attending a counseling session, okay?”

I had brought her out to discuss this very matter.

So when the opportunity arose, I opted to speak directly without beating around the bush.

“I know a psychiatrist professor who used to be close to Uncle Jonghun. I had consultations for quite a while right after my parents passed away, and it was a good fit for me. Want the contact?”

“Um… I’m fine, I’m already receiving counseling actually.”

“Really? Good. Is there anything else you need?”

“Hmm…… Could you maybe record your voice telling me to snap out of it?”

“Voice?”

Upon asking why that would be necessary, I realized that the memory of me saving her was intensely imprinted.

It wasn’t difficult, so I repeatedly said phrases urging her to regain consciousness and created a recording for her.

After returning the smartphone, I promptly got up from my seat.

Having concluded my business with Park Hayoung, it was time to head back.

“Are you leaving?”

“I should. We’ve finished our business.”

“You’re always so straightforward, aren’t you?”

“I told you. People don’t change easily.”

Advising her to attend her counseling sessions, I warmly pressed down on Park Hayoung’s head before heading home.

I quietly gazed at the empty sky, where nothing was visible.

‘It’s quiet.’

Since returning to Earth, the Damned System hadn’t shown itself.

It was probably grappling with Gilenios at the first gate.

As much as I wanted to go to Biharin immediately.

‘Not yet.’

I needed to drag things out a bit longer.

‘Only then can I reveal their true face to the world.’

Until then, Gilenios had to hold out against the system.

As someone who even declared he’d kiss my feet to survive.

‘And an apostle of Karlos too.’

As long as he could use his authority, I could leave the power struggle with the system to Gilenios for now.

‘If you truly wish to survive, endure it.’

Throwing words that would never reach Gilenios beyond the dimension, I rummaged through my interdimensional pouch.

Eventually, I pulled out a small piece of paper from the pouch.

「Gate Relocation Voucher」

The words written on it seemed to glimmer for some reason.

* * *

Eight days had passed. Only eight days since the outsiders’ gates disappeared.

“There! Pitch the tent properly!”

“We’re distributing blankets!”

“Move over to this side, everyone!”

“Hold your children’s hands so you don’t get separated!”

Within that time, Bihar changed extraordinarily fast.

The scene unfolding before Rashar’s eyes was part of that change.

The crowd densely packed outside the fortress walls was so vast that it couldn’t be comprehended at a glance.

There must be tens of thousands at least.

Refugees and the Order’s army who had abandoned Villea Fortress for Habon were among them.

Rashar considered the inevitable outcome of these transformations cast upon her view.

‘Is it ruin…’

It wasn’t an absurdly vague assumption.

Once the outsiders vanishing, the legions of foes reappeared as if biding their time.

An impending army, another legion manifested, advancing like clockwork towards the Order’s strongholds without the outsiders.

The Order’s might alone couldn’t hold against them.

Especially in the midle and northern frontlines, which had sustained significant damage in prior battles.

Particularly, the northern region, having sacrificed more than half their forces to slay a corps commander.

There, they repeated the deeds of the past nobles of the Kingdom of Kairoth.

Most of the Order’s high command had fled through portals, stirring unrest among many troops who deserted, escaping by land.

The situation was no different for the priests of Temoria, who upheld the Wall of Patience.

Nearly 30% of them, frightened, abandoned their posts, causing the barrier, which kept watch over the frontline, to collapse.

Despite apostles of Temoria hastily heading to various frontline fortresses to establish new barriers.

These barriers merely protected the forts they guarded, unlike the previous widespread barrier covering three regions.

Yet, it was action taken to prevent the appearance of Messeos within the castle interior.

Their choice proved right. Between the strongholds, messeos had begun forming once more.

Already, close to four Messeos had appeared near Habon, protected by Greg.

Though destroyed as they appeared, there might still be undiscovered ones lurking.

Soon, beasts mutated under the messeo’s influence might congregate, forming monsters in one spot.

“Whew.”

Rashar exhaled a long, suffocating sigh, yet nothing changed.

Even in the central and southern regions, those who flirted with radicals or those hypocritical even to the faithful pompously fled through portals to Gemal.

Perhaps due to their history of sinister deeds?

When Rashar heard the news, she wasn’t as surprised as she thought she’d be.

‘The real shock was the lengths they went after their escape.’

Stationed with Yuria in Gemal, uneasy about K’s words before leaving.

Because of this, she saw the hundreds of knights launching an assault on Palao’s main headquarters in full armor.

In the nick of time, moving the personnel to Habon Temple, the portal lost power.

Presumably, the ones who attacked the Palao headquarters destroyed the portal’s key crystal.

It was said that even the temples of Karlos and Temoria faced assaults.

During which, Jose Molfrian, the Assembly Chairman and the highest high priest of the Order of Temoria, was killed.

A power struggle erupted within Finelpenia between moderates and radicals, resulting in a massacre.

Ultimately, the radicals, aided by borrowing private armies from nobles, slaughtered the moderates, taking control of the headquarters.

‘K anticipated all of this.’

Even Rashar, who had spent her life alongside them, hadn’t expected this extreme.

And K, who had only spent a couple of years on this land, foresaw their malevolent choices.

Was that why he thought there was no longer a need to help?

Perhaps he even found associating with them repulsive.

Even after his departure, the vivid memories of their time together kept surfacing.

“Rashar!”

But she couldn’t remain lost in her thoughts forever.

‘No more reminiscing.’

As the saying goes, he was someone who had already left.

No reason to cling to the past and neglect the present.

Responding to one calling her name, Rashar turned around.

“Priest Jordan, what’s the matter?”

“I need to discuss issues about supplies. We’re running dangerously low on military rations.”

“Ah…”

“We’ve sent messages to temples and castles stationed at the rear, but it might be tough to receive supplies anytime soon. Even if we did, the amount wouldn’t be substantial.”

With the current dire situation alone unbearable, yet another issue arises.

“With barriers down, significant bastions risk becoming isolated with time. They’d have to reserve provisions accordingly.”

A valid prediction. Messeo was already appearing along travel routes between strongholds.

As all portals were destroyed, inter-stronghold exchange would soon become near impossible.

That wasn’t the only issue.

“The enemies possess the ability to travel utilizing messeo.”

Just as the Order’s forces previously moved teleportationally through portals.

They, too, held the capability for massive movement beyond magic’s limits.

“How long can we hold at Habon? Is it possible to hold at all? Shouldn’t we retreat to Chedaltman at once?”

Facing reality, Rashar’s golden eyes momentarily darkened, reflecting hopelessness.

“Truly……”

All that remains is ruin.

She had expected to endure for several more months.

Contrary to Rashar’s thoughts, the end draws much closer.

As she watched its silent encroachment, pessimistic ideas continued to crop up.

‘Perhaps, the worst could befall us, with monsters surging from within the castle.’

Currently, Temoria’s apostles numbered eight, practically only seven, as Hayley was imprisoned.

In castles without apostles, Temoria’s priests, receiving blessings, had to reestablish barriers.

‘Where on earth would the materials be procured for offerings?’

With the frontline crumbled, nobles from Atar would not extend their aid to such distant castles.

‘They’d likely rebuild walls only within the scope of navigable supply routes.’

These people, unhesitatingly abandoning distant fortresses to save themselves.

‘The exodus of Temoria’s priests was perhaps……’

Did they set prior inducements for priests?

Damned System