Chapter 214

Chapter 214. Inheritance (6)

The two-story stone building in Habon served as a base for K’s party. The atmosphere felt heavier than usual.

This was because the communication with K, the central figure of this party, had been interrupted.

“Still can’t get in touch?”

At Kim Yul’s question, Yang Taeho, with an unusually stern face, nodded.

Both their eyes were glued to their chat windows.

After the conclusion of the main scenario.

When K sent a message saying he would be away for a few days, they weren’t particularly worried. He often engaged in solo activities.

He was someone who went around hitting others rather than getting hit.

But it felt odd that there had been no contact for over two days.

When K wasn’t with the party, he usually provided a status report once a day at midnight. It was a kind of survival declaration, sharing his schedule at the same time.

But two consecutive days of silence?

When they sent a message asking when he would return since something felt off:

「Unable to send a message to this player.」

Unlike normal, a warning message popped up.

Three more days passed that way.

Today was the fifth day since K had left.

“Phew.”

“Sigh.”

Kim Yul and Yang Taeho sighed in turns.

It was puzzling why a warning message appeared in response to K’s actions.

Both knew K was hiding something.

But they hadn’t cared much before.

Because he hadn’t deceived them.

He could have lied to cover things up but didn’t.

He just expressed he didn’t want to talk about it.

They assumed in due time, as their trust deepened, he would tell them and waited.

If they had known this wait would lead to such unease, they might have asked sooner.

“Ugh!”

Kim Yul finally exploded in irritation.

Normally, Yang Taeho would have calmed him, but not this time. He felt equally anxious.

If something had happened to K, they would rush to help, sleeves rolled up. But they didn’t know where K was.

Even if that weren’t the case, leaving in their current situation would be a bad move. Rumors that K was absent had spread among those who were connected with him.

If his party members showed signs of unrest, it would admit something had happened to him.

Fortunately, there had been no warning message saying K had died.

Since this was the first time, asserting K’s death felt uncertain.

‘Then, there must be plenty willing to help us.’

Thanks to their outstanding party leader, they had strong connections.

Yang Taeho chose to be a bit bolder using that advantage.

“Act as if nothing is wrong, like always.”

“What about the ones Hamas placed around our residence?”

“Provoking first, like usual. Act as if K is around and will be back soon, like there is no issue. Got it?”

And decrease outgoing activities.

Act as though taking a break following the main scenario’s end.

“… Okay.”

When K wasn’t around, they were to follow Yang Taeho’s lead.

This was a rule set directly by K.

That’s why Yang Taeho deliberated before issuing guidelines. Kim Yul agreed without hesitation.

Yet neither the one making the decisions nor the one following them could conceal their unease.

“Woof!”

“Hmm?”

At that moment, absorbed in their thoughts, Yang Taeho and Kim Yul looked upstairs.

“Woof, woof-woof!”

Sounds of a dog barking began to grow closer.

Only one being inside the base could make such sounds.

As expected, Rice Cake barged into the dining area shortly after and clung noisily to Yang Taeho’s leg near the entrance.

“Woof-woof!”

Kim Yul and Yang Taeho exchanged puzzled glances.

The mysterious creature K had once picked up was generally mild-mannered.

It wasn’t particularly sensitive or wary of strangers.

Anyone could hold it without resisting.

But it had never approached or clung to anyone other than K.

Only K received a tail wag of welcome.

So, why was it like this today?

Despite his confusion, Yang Taeho lifted Rice Cake and asked,

“Want food?”

In response, Rice Cake barked even more noisily.

* * *

I twisted and pulled out the dagger that I had plunged under the clavicle of the fake Yeonwoo as I watched the fake Jinwoo approaching.

Then I tossed the limp body aside, only to have to repeat the action multiple times.

I had already killed over forty of them.

Corpses were strewn everywhere, and the once white floor was stained red.

Yet, I again thrust my dagger into another one disguised as Jinwoo.

“Damn it!”

Stabbing a blade into the bodies of those I loved was a horrific experience.

Even knowing they were fakes, the vivid imagery was too realistic.

It felt as though I was actually piercing Yeonwoo and killing Jinwoo.

But stopping wasn’t an option.

If I didn’t kill them, I could die.

I was nothing but an average adult male with a good physique at that moment.

With my inventory blocked, I couldn’t pull out any potions.

All my abilities as a player were sealed, so I couldn’t use mana.

Patching wounds as I usually did was not feasible.

That left me bleeding constantly from the stab wound on my back.

Adding to this was the increasingly troublesome situation.

‘Initially, they came one by one.’

Then, all of a sudden, groups of five or six started assaulting me simultaneously.

Not just that, the respawn time was shortening too.

Allowing any further injuries now would make it hard to withstand this long fight.

In an unpredictable battle like this, conserving my strength was essential.

Hence, I focused on delivering fatal blows to the counterfeit enemies.

I killed relentlessly.

Despite the overwhelming repugnance, I wielded my dagger with no hesitation.

Battling the nauseating urge and dizzying sensation each time I did so.

“Hey, Kang Hyunwoo.”

In the throng of twins, Jaehyuk appeared.

“Hyunwoo.”

Then Jonghun showed up, aiming his blade at me.

This damnable situation seemed determined to push me to my limits.

Starting with Jonghun, everyone I’d known and had good relations with was showing up.

Manager Hwang Kyungsoo from the logistics center who supported me understandingly.

The colleagues I worked part-time with.

My teachers and friends from school, and acquaintances I met as a player—all surfaced like a chain.

Not just Yang Taeho and Kim Yul, but even Order members like Jordan, Yuria, and Rashar joined in.

In that situation, the fake ones wielded an array of diverse weapons.

Daggers, longswords, hammers, maces, spears, scythes, hoes, even awls.

All sorts of sharp implements were involved.

The attack trajectories diversified beyond merely slashing and stabbing.

Retracting the dagger after each swing became strenuous.

Weapons dropped by the enemies I had slain were scattered around.

I forcefully kicked the fake Jaehyuk in the chin, with the dagger embedded beneath his throat.

With a thud, his body fell, stumbling into a group of other fakes rushing in.

The opportunity allowed me to breach their encirclement and distance myself.

I picked up a dropped awl and flung it.

Spinning through the air, it implanted itself in Jonghun’s forehead.

As I continued to kill, with each act, I repeatedly assured myself.

‘This is an illusion.’

Not reality. The twins, as well as Jonghun, Jaehyuk, and everyone I knew were safe.

Wasn’t that the very reason I roamed the bog of Bihar?

So don’t doubt it, it’s purely an illusion.

The words echoed thousands, even tens of thousands of times.

Yet, the vivid visions, tactile sensations, and intense scent of blood surrounding me refused to validate my beliefs.

After a while, suddenly.

The sight of dozens, including the twins, Jaehyuk, Jonghun, and others who greeted me warmly charging to kill me began to overwhelm me.

People precious and significant to me acted as enemies.

It didn’t just end with the objective fact that my life was threatened.

It felt as though my very world was rejecting me.

The value of my existence seemed to dissolve, and the societal position I held began to crumble.

The fact that I didn’t collapse at that moment wasn’t because I was special.

– Woof!

A lone sound echoed in my mind, grounding me.

– Woof, woof-woof!

A bizarre incident unfolded. I was heading toward Kim Yul and Yang Taeho.

It made no sense, as I was retreating from them.

‘What—this is….’

The confusing visuals of them trying to kill me mingled with their bewildered expressions watching me from afar.

‘Wait, not me—’

– Woof-woof, woof!

It was Rice Cake barking noisily at them.

Fake Jaehyuk swung a crude ax just as Yang Taeho lifted Rice Cake.

“Gasp!”

In a rush, I twisted my shoulders aside.

The ax blade narrowly missed grazing my forearm.

It was then I realized my mind and eyes were perceiving different things.

– Want food?

In timing with the mental imagery of Yang Taeho, holding Rice Cake’s collar, clutching the ring attached to it.

He hesitated momentarily before muttering a short phrase.

– Parasite.

In line with the activation keyword, mana flowed from the Mana Accumulation Tool.

– Woof! Woof!

– Why isn’t eating?

Rice Cake merely barked without consuming, prompting Kim Yul to reach for it.

– If it is not eating, turn it off. There’s not much mana left in the feeder…..

But before he could finish, Kim Yul’s image vanished.

Rice Cake’s barking faded too.

Instead, I saw Yang Taeho charging at me intently.

Even amidst the chaos, I managed to kick his abdomen.

With him toppling backward, I used his shoulder as leverage for a well-timed leap.

As I extricated myself from their encirclement and seized a longsword lying on the floor.

– But with K hyung, isn’t his personality incredibly distinct?

Again, my sight diverged from my thoughts.

– If raising it anyway, treat it well, why choose ‘Parasite’ as the mana tool activation word, so unfamiliarly?

Now, Kim Yul was the one holding Rice Cake.

– Maybe he doesn’t want to get attached, using sharp words intentionally to push away.

– What does that mean?

– Doesn’t want to get close, so it’s a preemptive wall. Seems overly cautious.

– And you say he’s overly cautious? How do you conclude that?

– Just seems that way to me. Acts of suspicion first, because he doesn’t want to trust and get betrayed. Only someone who’s been severely backstabbed would do that……

– Oh… I’m not sure… well, I don’t understand too well?

Similar happenings unfurled a few more times.

Appearing in my mind, vanishing thereafter.

The clarity in the discussion between my party members about me settled the confusion.

Any existential threat to my worth vanished.

No sensation of losing my rightful place ensued.

– …… Do you think he’ll be alright?

– He’s not someone who’d easily die. Just await his return, calm and collectedly.

Slaying foes while simultaneously attending to mental discussions among my party members bolstered me.

With each word they bantered, my footing became more solid.

Their conversations provided evidence that imbued confidence.

That is my reality.

I refocused on the vivid yet illusionary faces of Yang Taeho and Kim Yul, renewing my grip on the dulled blade.

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

Rice Cake for the win.