Chapter 336

Chapter 336. Status(格) and Isolation(隔)(2)

“Me? You?”

The person, presumably a player, tilted their head in confusion, pointing at themselves as if they couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

Then, they laughed incredulously, as if they’d heard something ridiculous.

“Have I gone crazy?”

To save a civilian infected, they needed to take a High-Rank potion once every minute until an Alpha arrived.

Currently, in Korea, the absence of someone who could carry out purification like an Alpha was a serious issue.

To hold out until an Alpha visited from another country, it would require mana to the tune of hundreds of thousands.

The player had no intention of sacrificing that much mana to save a man.

‘Unless I take him to the association’s shelter…’

There, with the common supplies available, it might be possible to sustain him.

But to be honest, it was not something the person felt inclined to do.

The more resources spent on him, the fewer potions available for treating the injuries of other players.

‘Just leave him.’

Considering the setup of the equipment, he seemed like a broadcaster who had willingly come crawling here.

‘If he were someone capable of common sense, he wouldn’t have come crawling in here.’

Thus, it didn’t seem worth the cost to save him.

Furthermore, the camera hadn’t captured the person’s image.

Even if that guy died, it wouldn’t be the person’s fault.

Having decided easily, the player spoke plainly to the man.

“When I joined the guild, during the welcome ceremony, our guildmaster said something really remarkable.”

For a moment, it seemed as though the emblem of Palao on the player’s armor glowed with a flicker of light.

The player continued, gently tracing the emblem with a finger.

“With freedom comes responsibility, he said.”

So, if someone makes decisions based on their free will, they must take responsibility for their actions as well.

– But.

On the contrary, if all judgments and decisions were left to him and they simply followed.

– All responsibility would be mine, he said.

He warned not to use half-baked ideas to blunder about and just follow him.

– He promised that if people trusted and followed him, he would ensure victory in this war.

Recalling Hyunwoo’s rather thrilling speech, the player turned around and added.

“You too must bear the responsibility for your precious freedom.”

The man likely learned that lesson the hard way, through his demise.

* * *

It had been five days since the new offensive had begun.

My thoughts inclined more towards the notion that merely waiting for character transformation wouldn’t solve anything.

‘I must take some action; I can’t delay any longer.’

Thus, I set out to find a way.

I decided to seek advice from those who might know about this issue.

The first targets were Gretman and Gilenios.

Those who possessed their own authority through their status.

I held hope that they might know what was needed to complete my status.

However, the outcome was not entirely satisfactory.

『Well… I didn’t intensely study theology, so I don’t know the specifics. What I know is something like the truth I naturally realized as I acquired my status.』

Gilenios’s voice came through the smartphone.

『And, our status wasn’t complete to begin with. It was bestowed upon us when we were chosen as apostles. Think of it as traces left from contact with a being far greater, if you will.』

Regarding Gretman, due to his long time living as an apostle, he would have accumulated a personal status over time.

『Though if you’re weighing it, it’s not much. Status doesn’t accumulate easily after all. Both he and I received indirectly about 80 to 90 percent from divine beings.』

The emergence of personal authority from such an incomplete status was indeed unusual.

‘I suppose it was possible because their individuality, ideology, or convictions were incredibly distinct.’

This was merely conjecture, but it seemed plausible.

From what I knew, the two apostles who possessed authority were both quite eccentric, far from ordinary.

On the other hand, ordinary apostles like Rashar, whom I could understand and grasp, did not manifest such an authority.

‘It’s not an immediate issue for now, though.’

Unable to obtain answers from Gilenios, I intended to contact Gretman.

“… He isn’t picking up.”

He didn’t answer. Hence, I couldn’t get any clues about completing status from the apostles with unique authority.

Next, I considered consulting Yuria and Hemar, or priests like Jordan.

Theology, as mentioned by Gilenios, was something they would know better.

Hoping to catch a clue, I decided to call them.

『You’re asking about the conditions for divinity? Well…』

First was Jordan.

Although my abrupt question might have bewildered him, he contemplated it for a while before offering a calm reply.

『Honestly, regarding status, I’m not knowledgeable.』

I was almost disappointed at the negative start, but…

『But if the divinity you’re speaking of represents the status or presence of a god as I understand it… We could make some assumptions.』

“Assumptions, huh…”

Essentially, theology narrates the history and deeds of all the gods, except Karlos, through origin myths.

『And what these six myths invariably cover are the achievements accomplished by the gods when they were mortals.』

These mostly included achievements altering the world, such as splitting the earth and painting the skies.

Hence, by speculating upon those records…

『Don’t you think it implies that some notable achievement is necessary to become a god? Furthermore, each Order teaches its doctrines by emphasizing achievements from their gods’ myths.』

Frankly, I was a bit surprised. I didn’t expect Jordan to get to the essence so accurately.

After all, status is something accumulated through one’s recorded actions.

To assert that achievements are necessary to build status isn’t exactly wrong.

‘Perhaps, when someone influences causality or creates an anomaly significant enough for causality to intervene…’

Such events accumulate and create status.

If one survives while accumulating countless statuses without being excluded by causality, they become a god.

At least, that’s what I’ve believed so far.

Jordan grasped this essence as well.

“My thoughts align with yours. But what I’m looking for is something beyond that.”

I’ve seized countless statuses so far.

And I reached the stage of character regeneration by completing my status.

What’s required now is not more achievements for additional status.

‘I need something beyond to complete the status I’ve gathered so far.’

I needed to find the final piece.

『Hmm… something beyond….』

Upon listening, Jordan fell silent again.

And he then mentioned a word I did not anticipate.

『Followers….』

Perhaps the most basic and essential requirement.

『All godly myths end similarly.』

Jordan, continuing, used the myth of Palao as an example.

『When noble compassion and charity awe the worshipers, only then the god becomes whole.』

Now that I think about it.

‘When the Seven Gods contracted with Earth’s system, they surely ensured they kept the Biharin adherents bound.’

They knew losing them would’ve been catastrophic.

『If one wishes to become a god, they need followers who will worship and venerate them, don’t you think?』

It was like being struck hard in the head.

『K?』

While I could hear Jordan calling me, it was all but faint due to my deep contemplation.

If this indeed was the final condition.

If I needed those who would worship me.

‘This is insane.’

I had no idea where to even begin with tackling this last requirement.

Fundamentally, I have many who are supportive.

However, those are all alliances built around mutual benefits.

The concept differs from religious veneration.

‘Considering, the only ones who would definitely act upon my orders now are Palao’s guild members….’

Yet, even if I mobilized them, resolving this issue seemed unlikely.

How could I possibly tell the guild members?

To worship me? Saying it’s the only way to win this war?

‘It would be a relief not to be branded as a lunatic.’

Attempting even a small misstep could lead other factions, seeking benefits from me, to deem me mad and sever ties.

‘Where should I even begin…?’

What must I do to secure existences that would venerate me as their god?

Despite racking my brains, no plausible Scenario or tangible solution emerged.

While seriously contemplating this with the warm smartphone in hand.

Suddenly, Rice Cake connected its vision with mine.

Upon confirming the vision in my mind, I leaped out of my seat.

Bang! Crash!

My phone slipped from my hand with a loud thud as I darted out of the room.

I immediately sprinted towards the front door but couldn’t make it outside.

For someone grabbed my waist, lifting me up effortlessly.

“K, what’s going on?”

It was Ethan.

With Yang Taeho and Kim Yul out investigating the Hole, Ethan was currently the only one by my side.

I writhed fiercely to break free, not having the time to think logically whether I could overpower a Platinum rank player.

– Kyaah!

– Save us!

The school, where the twins attended, was under attack.

Despite several safety precautions set around the twins, and with a separate security team secretly guarding the school area.

My agitation stemmed from one simple fact.

A black shroud had enveloped the entire school.

‘Isolated from the outside.’

No aid could be expected from the players stationed outside the school.

Should anything go wrong, the twins might perish.

To make matters worse, Rice Cake suddenly severed its shared vision.

Just as a monster from the Hole was about to enter the school!

“Let go!”

I protested, shouting while hitting Ethan’s face with my elbow.

Ethan calmly blocked my attack as gently as he could.

To prevent my arm from breaking, I presumed.

But, amidst the urgency of my siblings being attacked, such care was irrelevant.

Seeing my intense struggle, Ethan expertly restrained both my arms behind my back.

Yet he didn’t stop there, pinning me firmly down onto the ground.

Ethan was merely doing his duty.

“You can’t go outside under these circumstances.”

As a civilian, should I be infected, there was an extremely high risk of fatality.

Hence, since the onset of the new offensive, I hadn’t stepped a foot outside.

From a tactical viewpoint, I was of higher value than hundreds or thousands of civilians.

Therefore, being the top protection priority made sense.

Which is also why the association paired the key European asset, Ethan, with me.

Even though I had momentarily forgotten this reality in my heightened state.

Thanks to Ethan’s intervention, my rationality started returning.

Fortuitously, at that very moment, Rice Cake reconnected its vision.

Crash!

With a loud sound, part of the black shroud shattered and fell away.

– Nice, Ahel-hyung!

It was through that breach that Kim Yul appeared with his hair all disheveled.

I wasn’t sure how he managed to get there while he should’ve been wrestling with those black vines.

– Hey, monsters! You can’t just cause trouble here, alright?!

Upon Kim Yul’s appearance, the tension in my body dissipated.

Ethan withdrew his hand immediately as well.

Yet he wisely distanced me from the door, preparing for any unforeseen developments by standing firm in front of it himself.

My senses having somewhat returned, I refrained from making any rash moves this time.

That didn’t prevent my heart from nearly leaping out of my chest, with my entire body still trembling.

With shaky hands, I finally mustered the control to turn on the TV.

After shifting through the various news channels a few times, I found what I was looking for.

Damned System