Ch.258″I don’t have many friends.”

When the merciless factual assault hit me, I chose immediate resistance instead of remaining silent.

The problem was, this didn’t change the reality that I didn’t have many close acquaintances.

If there was any way to escape from that cruel fa-ct…

—————————————-

<~Solo Rankers’ Room~>

-[Hey there](Icarus)

-[Welcome Icarus](Menaldu)

-[hi](Koenig)

—————————————-

At least this “Solo Rankers” room could be considered a glimmer of hope.

But as I’d already heard once before…

The solo rankers here were, by all accounts, quite far from being “pure solo players.”

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-[How’s playing solo for you guys](Icarus)

-[Solo?](Laura)

-[We’re a bit different from pure solo players like you, aren’t we?](Indefatigable)

-[But if we’re being honest, isn’t Icarus also quite far from being a pure solo player?](Laura)

-[agreed](Menaldu)

-[huh?](Koenig)

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The four “solo” rankers besides me who spoke so matter-of-factly.

The truth was, despite being called solo players, they all received support or belonged to factions in their own ways.

If we were to discuss them by ranking order:

Laura, ranked 6th, was essentially an external advisor and long-term mercenary for the Justice Clan led by Arcadia.

Indefatigable, ranked 7th… well, being somewhat temperamental, they’d take jobs from any clan they liked.

While they accepted requests from Justice or Loki Clans, they prioritized Humanity Clan’s requests, making them essentially Humanity’s external personnel.

Menaldu was probably the most similar to me here, and could genuinely be considered a solo player, but…

—————————————-

-[Oh right, I just got recruitment offers from 3 clans simultaneously](Menaldu)

-[Oh](Icarus)

-[The 3 are competing, and I told them I’d go with the highest bidder, so I’ll probably leave this chat room soon?](Menaldu)

-[You got a job, congrats](Indefatigable)

-[lololol it really is like getting a job, congrats](Koenig)

-[thx thx](Menaldu)

—————————————-

As evident from the chat that appeared right after my thoughts, three mid-sized clans affiliated with the Xenovia Empire were competing to recruit Menaldu.

Before long, they would officially belong to a separate clan.

And finally, regarding Koenig…

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-[Come to think of it, haven’t you received any recruitment offers from clans, Koenig?](Laura)

-[I get quite a few, but I’m not interested in participating in clan wars as a member of just one side](Koenig)

-[Huh?]

-[?? What does that mean?](Menaldu)

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“Hahaha, look Jessica!”

“What is it, Commander?”

“There’s someone like me out there!”

“…”

It felt somewhat unseemly.

Anyway, feeling relieved that there was someone like me(?), I immediately showed the chat room to Jessica.

But that feeling was short-lived…

Soon, Koenig revealed that they were properly executing the approach I had once attempted but eventually abandoned because I was too busy.

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-[I’m satisfied just providing strategic consulting or serving as an advisor to small and medium-sized clans]

-[Or participating as a mercenary in small battles while leveling up, earning gold or gacha tickets](Koenig)

-[Oh…](Icarus)

-[So you’re going a similar route to mine, but focusing on the advisory role?](Indefatigable)

-[Yeah, actually I just adapted after watching what you and Icarus were doing](Koenig)

-[Good thinking, yeah](Indefatigable)

—————————————-

“Hmm…”

“Well, that’s what they’re saying.”

“I thought they were in the Central Zone since they called themselves a solo player, but I guess not.”

Seeing those messages, I realized that Koenig wasn’t in the Central Zone, that den of clanless losers.

Instead, they seemed to be living in an area with many small and medium-sized clans, so I casually asked which zone they were in.

In response to my question, Koenig nonchalantly revealed their zone, saying it wasn’t a big deal.

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-[Which zone are you in then?](Icarus)

-[Zone?]

-[Oh, I’m somewhere between the space pirates, Earth Federation, and Central Zone]

-[But if I had to specify, I’d say I’m within the pirates’ territory?](Koenig)

-[What? You’re not from the Central Zone?](Icarus)

-[Nobody lives in the center of the Central Zone except you](Menaldu)

-[yeah](Indefatigable)

-[true](Laura)

-[whawhawhawhawhawhawhat](Icarus)

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At the same time, I coincidentally learned about the locations of the other solo rankers as well.

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-[You didn’t know until now?]

-[Even I’m located between the Central Zone and the Xenovia Empire](Laura)

-[I’m not exactly straddling zones, but I’m near the Earth Federation border](Indefatigable)

-[I’m also close to the border between the Earth Federation and the Pirate Union](Menaldu)

-[…Don’t tell me you’re actually living in the heart of the Central Zone?](Koenig)

-[fck](Icarus)

—————————————-

Thanks to this suddenly revealed secret(?), I finally understood why, unlike other solo rankers, I hadn’t received approaches from other clans until this recent event.

I could feel extreme rage boiling up from deep within me.

==========

What added more fuel to my burning anger wasn’t just the solo rankers’ chat room.

When I sneakily checked the “Solo Players” chat room, I discovered it had transformed into a social venue for players who worked as external mercenaries for clans, with only a few exceptions including myself.

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-[lolololololol]

-[How’s that clan? This one offers 2500 gold monthly plus 1 gacha ticket]

-[Seems kinda lame]

-[This clan is awesome lolol rewards double after just one battle!]

-[Are there still idiots who play purely solo?]

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Further irritated by this, I went to the gallery to delete some provocative posts as usual to relieve stress.

Just as I spotted one post and was about to delete it out of annoyance…

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Title: Honestly, we have to admit Icarus is just average

Author: Anonymous

Content: [Image of a toad making an annoyed expression]

Unlike other rankers who join clans, he acts all noble by himself, which is annoying

Then occasionally when discussions come up, he’s always bragging about his fleet but whines in the auction house because he has no gold since he doesn’t get clan support

All other rankers live with clan support, but this average guy whines about not having a clan, agree? Yeah, totally agree

Comments

None

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Normally I would have just glanced at this and moved on, but after Jessica’s factual assault, the other solo rankers’ stories, and the talk about players enjoying “clan” benefits, my already irritated mind couldn’t take it anymore.

After quickly deleting that damn post and imposing a 15-day ban…

“Jessica, oh Jessica.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Today is a day when my pinto is severely disturbed.”

“Pinto…?”

While everyone else uses “cities” or “star systems” conquered by their clans…

Unlike me who only receives protection, they get proper resources and material and human support, living well…

‘Am I seriously the only player who truly plays solo?’

Having realized this shocking truth, I could feel extreme rage bubbling up inside me with a “hororororolororok” sound.