Chapter 317

Chapter 317. Daily Life During War (3)

“Did it end quickly?”

In response to Yang Taeho’s question, I nodded and answered, “Only one nemesis-rank emerged.”

“Even though it ended quickly, why was it like that?”

However, when it came to the following question, I had to take a moment to choose my words carefully.

‘I need to organize my thoughts.’

While I was in Bihar earlier, I had slaughtered a vast number of monsters. It wasn’t on a scale to match a legion, but it was more than a detachment usually led by a general-rank.

‘Why was a nemesis-rank acting alone with those creatures?’

Just as I was about to destroy the messeo, I spotted a wrecked one next to it. But what was that wrecked one by its side? There was no proof left by the scattered mana that what I saw was a messeo.

Yet, finding a single woman’s shoe amidst the monsters and thinking it wasn’t a messeo felt even stranger.

‘I don’t know the scale, but…’

Why were the destroyed messeo laid out side by side? Pondering the enigma, I queried the player, who was practically the only survivor at the scene.

As I roughly discerned the situation, the questions only deepend.

‘Is there a separate hole for general-rank?’

When I arrived, there was only one hole in the vicinity.

‘If so, the other one must’ve been closed before I got there.’

Who did it? How? Various questions began to branch out. I tried piecing together the information I held to make a deduction.

‘Let’s first organize what we know about the hole.’

Based on what I’ve learned from communicating with the Damned System, the size of mana introduced to Earth through the hole is closely correlated with the level of creatures that can pass through it.

It was impossible for a legion commander with ten stars to pass using the messeo in a level 1 corrupted area.

Generally, the rank of the messeo connected to that hole denotes the evolution rank that can utilize it.

But what if there were exceptions to that common knowledge?

As my thoughts reached there, an unsettling hypothesis appeared.

‘What if it wasn’t an artificial closure but rather a destruction?’

After five general-rank creatures passed through, leaving no one to close it, the hole was closed. What if it naturally ceased to exist due to exceeding its original capacity?

‘Not good.’

If the rank of the hole is low, the time it takes for it to open again decreases. And if the enemies found a way to use low-rank holes to send elite forces…

‘I need to prepare.’

We must strengthen hole detection. But, with the current player manpower, we cannot handle it. Even now, incidents occasionally arise because not all holes are discovered.

Hence, there’s only one option remaining.

“6th selection…”

It seems the time has come to force more people into this war. It wasn’t something I welcomed, yet I knew it would inevitably arrive sooner or later.

Essentially, I wasn’t wrong in my predictions.

No sooner had Bihar nearly met its end than the monsters began launching a full-scale assault on Earth.

Fortunately, because powerful figures had already been deployed in several areas, while there were casualties, there was no retreat.

‘If I was alone, I would never have been able to handle it.’

Earth needs more forces for its defense. Once I tidy up the front in Saudi Arabia, I must discuss with the Damned System and the necessary gods to proceed.

“What is it, why are you saying this?”

Right then, Yang Taeho kept asking questions.

After having finished sorting through my thoughts, I let out a brief sigh and answered.

“Well, it’s going to be troublesome? It’s just an assumption, but to flexibly respond, we need to take measures.”

“It really is a mountain beyond a mountain.”

Hearing the unfavorable news, Yang Taeho too, let out a deep, helpless sigh.

“The state of the players hasn’t been good as it is…”

True—it wasn’t. As the battles dragged on, especially the players’ mental states were precarious. The overall Chaos level was getting high, which was a problem, indeed.

For the 5th players, the situation was repeatedly too harsh for them to bear.

Unlike other rounds, who adjusted their pace and grew accordingly,

‘The 5th faced a massive crisis immediately upon being selected from Bihar and another similar incident on Earth…’

Their modern minds, accustomed to peace, began to break down under the harsh conditions they couldn’t withstand.

‘The suicide rate was 2.2% just last week… it’s spiraling out of control.’

Evidence of this has been shown in the steadily rising number of those opting for a self-inflicted end over the past month.

It highlighted just how cornered the players were becoming.

‘Psychiatrists are providing counseling support, but…’

Whether pairing mentally unstable players with civilian doctors was ideal kept being questioned.

If a player were to lose control just once and lash out, desks and furniture would shatter.

Concerns were growing ever louder that the doctors might directly be endangered by such instability.

‘And indeed, there was an incident related to that recently.’

I merely wished to win this war. Yet the issues I must tackle to gain that victory are piling up like a mountain, beyond just combat.

Just as I sighed deeply, a transmission came through the earphones I had plugged in.

“This is communication, K. May I ask your estimated time of arrival?”

Pressing the transmission button, I responded stolidly.

“I’ll arrive within ten minutes.”

Initially, I was heading north towards the battlefield where a new legion commander had been sighted.

Then suddenly, sensing a nemesis-rank equivalent mana, I rushed there.

‘First, I’ll sort out the battlefield.’

After that, the other problems could be resolved. Just like always, step by step, firmly and steadily.

Adding to my to-do list, I then lifted the Silver rank player and said, “For now, let’s head north.”

Since the rest of the search team wasn’t annihilated, he’d need to report to the command unit to receive a new affiliation.

“Yes, yes!”

Hearing the player’s answer, Yang Taeho and I swiftly left the place.

***

“Hello, everyone!”

Someone might criticize him for doing a carefree live broadcast amidst such a chaotic time, but Kim Yul firmly arranged his laptop and camera on the table in front of the sofa.

Then he warned the fairies and Rice Cake not to leave their rooms under any circumstances.

“Today’s an impromptu live stream.”

He comfortably set up the broadcast, adjusted the camera angle, and smiled leisurely.

‘Because it’s the role Hyunwoo assigned to me.’

Despite his usual dislike for online media or broadcasts, because it was important for Kim Yul, he showed enough respect to collaborate by setting aside his own preferences.

Hence, maintaining a favorable public sentiment and influence through consistent exposure and interaction was a key task for Kim Yul.

“Let’s just chat today.”

– Love it.

– I’ve been waiting for today.

– Yul-ha! You’re so handsome today too!

– But where now? It isn’t the guild studio.

As soon as the live began, viewers quickly logged in, flooding the chat. Using his quick eye for detail, Kim Yul caught up and responded gracefully.

“Today, I’m streaming from home.”

– Amazing!

– Isn’t this the first house reveal?

– When is K returning? There’s word breaking out that players gathered in Saudi were ordered to disperse—is it true?

Despite messages that seemed to come from aspiring journalists in the chat, he skillfully ignored them.

– Show us around!

– Let’s have a virtual housewarming party!

– Is this the living room? Why is it so empty? There are too few furniture pieces.

There was no way he could show his housemates, so naturally, he had to decline proposals.

“I’ll conduct a house tour once we’ve decorated it a bit more. Both Hyunwoo and I barely spend time at home lately; only the basic electronics and furniture are in place for real use.”

A suitable chat to shift the subject suddenly popped up.

– Yul-ah, I’m evacuating in a bunker due to a hole in Gangneung ㅠㅠㅠ It’s really scary ㅠㅠ

“Evacuating in a bunker you say? Wait, if it’s Gangneung…?”

Checking details on the Guardian app from his smartphone, Kim Yul reviewed the hole status by region.

“Currently, only one hole is being attacked in Gangneung.”

After confirming a familiar term, Kim Yul reassured the viewer not to worry unnecessarily.

“Don’t worry too much. I know the players there; they’re quite competent. The purification will conclude soon, and you’ll be able to go home. Meanwhile, let me accompany you here. I’m on standby today, so I won’t step outside.”

– You’re an E. Can you really do that?

“Ah! Come on, I also have moments when I want to be a homebody too, you know?”

– Sometimes….

– Sometimes…

– Oh boy, sometimes hahaha.

– For me, it’s every day…

– That is the epitome of an extreme E.

– What will you do at home?

– Reaction video?

“Hmm, truly, what should I do… I’ve rarely spent leisure time at home…”

While pretending to ponder, Kim Yul’s smartwatch abruptly vibrated on his wrist.

“Eh?”

As he picked up the phone he’d just tossed onto the sofa behind him, seemingly nothing out of the ordinary.

“It seems a hole has emerged.”

And it was close to home.

“Planned to stay in, but seems even heaven isn’t helping.”

Just his luck for a hole to pop up in his jurisdiction.

“It’s a residential area, so it’d be faster for me to go than waiting for the on-site players to arrive…”

– Lol!

– The best timing.

– Indeed, homebody isn’t just for anyone.

– Go and return soon.

“There’s no need to turn off the stream, right?”

– Yep, we’ll wait.

– Keep the cam on! We’ll wait here.

– Yes, yes, yes, don’t turn it off.

– We’re here to demand a guaranteed live from the Pink Retriever!

– Since we’ve got nothing to do anyway.

– We’re the true homebodies.

“Alright…”

Glancing beyond the camera, Kim Yul quickly set aside worries.

‘They rarely leave their rooms anyway.’

Based on the Guardian app’s information, the hole’s rank was low.

‘Should take about 20, 30 minutes. Nothing much would happen during that?’

Having donned his gear placed in the room, Kim Yul tilted the laptop and camera slightly towards the veranda.

Just in case, he figured it was better to capture outdoor footage rather than the interior of his home.

“Alright, I’ll keep the cam on. While I’m gone, feel free to have your meal or finish any errands!”

And rather than through the front door, he opened the veranda window, stepping over the railing as he spoke.

“I’ll be right back!”

Waving towards the camera he left behind, Kim Yul unhesitatingly leaped from the veranda.

Then he began striding across the air, away into the distance.

Observing the scene, viewers left comments in the chat.

– Why did he go out that way? Hahaha

– Hahahahaha

– Doors are unnecessary.

– ??? Is entering and exiting possible from there?

– Hahaha, it seems quite high, impressive.

– I want to fly too, huh?ㅠㅠㅠ

After Kim Yul vacated the scene,

Peace enveloped the visible area beyond the camera.

While viewers engaged in idle chatter or busied themselves in their spaces, time seemed to have slipped by unknowingly.

Beep beep.

The sound of the door lock clicked.

– Is Yul back already?

– Why come through the door this time?

– Was he perhaps scolded by security?

– Pink Retriever! Show your face quickly!

– Where are you, and turn the cam swiftly!

The once quiet chat had started updating rapidly.

– Where’s the front door?

– Probably behind the camera.

– Yul, come quickly.

However, contrary to the viewers’ expectations, Kim Yul never appeared in the camera’s view.

Instead, an outer coat—someone’s—fell onto the table where the laptop was located.

Then, with a flop,

Someone was caught lounging face down on the sofa just at the edge of the screen’s frame.

“Hoo.”

The deep sigh of a person who lay face-down on the sofa, their head turned towards the camera’s direction, was picked up by the camera mic.

Upon recognizing his face, viewers started reacting intensely.

– Gasp!

– It’s K

– It’s K!

– K?

– Oh my, K appeared.

Unexpectedly, it was Hyunwoo—having returned after fully concluding operations in Saudi Arabia—caught in the camera during Kim Yul’s live broadcast.

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

Yul’s in trouble.