Chapter 264

Chapter 264. Promised Counterattack (1)

“Peeking at someone else’s research results indiscriminately, are you out of your mind?! Hand it over now!”

Irel had been agitated upon realizing that I had looked at her research data.

Was it simply the discomfort of having her research results stolen by someone else?

Or perhaps it was because there was something in there that I wasn’t supposed to see.

I kept my gaze fixed on Irel and spoke leisurely.

“Try taking it if you can.”

There was no way one could penetrate the pocket dimension made by the gods.

“For your information, the pocket dimension we have is destroyed when the bonded subject dies.”

If a player died, the items in the inventory could never be retrieved.

When I pointed this out, Irel trembled all over with rage.

“You, you, uncultured…!”

I couldn’t hide my smirk at the words she uttered at that moment.

“Then should I show etiquette to you?”

In a relationship where both were keen on using each other, what duty was there to keep?

I had no intention of indulging Irel, who was wasting time by nitpicking irrelevant details.

So, I activated the restraint device again.

“Aaaaah!”

Irel screamed and crumbled.

“Move quickly. Don’t waste my precious time.”

I nudged Irel, who was writhing on the floor, with my foot to urge her.

This time, I had activated it at a warning level, so Irel didn’t lose consciousness.

As I brought out mana as if to activate the restraint device once more, Irel staggered to her feet.

She looked humiliated, her face flushed red, trembling all over her body.

But for now, she moved according to my instructions.

I carefully observed Irel. Thanks to that, I quickly noticed.

She wasn’t moving with any special purpose.

She was bringing various things and laying them out on the table.

‘That’s a research record from five years ago.’

I couldn’t not know by looking at it.

‘She’s stalling for time.’

The circumstantial evidence increasingly began morphing into certainty.

But this was not enough.

I stood up from my seat to gain clearer confidence.

The divine canopy that hid us collapsed as soon as I moved, but I didn’t mind.

The conversation that needed to be hidden was already over.

I silently approached Irel from behind.

I handed her a bundle of thick parchment just as she reached for a shelf taller than herself, saying,

“You don’t particularly need any other method, do you?”

As soon as I posed the question, I could feel Irel’s heartbeat pause momentarily.

Like a beast holding its breath at the moment of crisis.

“You just need to be able to wield divinity, right?”

Irel’s shoulders began trembling finely, visibly showing the fear she felt.

Her reaction allowed me to solidify the suspicions I had been harboring into absolute certainty.

At the moment of having an unyielding and perfect assurance that brooked no objections,

“Do you think divinity is a power someone like you can handle so easily… kuhak!”

I reached out without a moment’s hesitation.

“Kuugh, kuh…!”

Blood dripped, drop by drop, from the hand that had pierced through Irel’s chest.

It became clear that inheriting divinity alone could break the shackles.

Hence, there was no reason to let a capable mage live.

There was no need for a grand battle to eliminate Irel.

A grand heroic tale widely spreading my story was also unnecessary.

‘Let the dog have such things.’

Killing someone from behind might be a stigma to some.

But to me, it was merely a satisfying achievement.

Maximizing efficiency with minimal effort.

What was the issue if it seemed cowardly and pathetic?

It might as well be the most excellent result.

I pulled out my hand that had pierced Irel’s heart.

Even at the sight of blood pouring out with a splattering sound, I felt no particular emotion.

‘It ended somewhat blandly.’

Still, releasing Irel in the past had been a remarkable choice in hindsight.

Thanks to it, I had found the nest of the mages.

‘Though I hadn’t released Irel expecting this.’

In retrospect, it turned out to be an extraordinary success.

Wiping Irel’s blood off, I spoke.

“System, start the next main scenario.”

After my low voice faded, silence lingered for a moment.

Perhaps the system was trying to figure out what conversations Irel and I had had.

But even with such pondering, it wouldn’t know I was preparing to strike from behind.

‘Even if it knew, what could it do?’

Just as I needed the Damned System, the System also needed me.

Until this war was over, we were in a grudged symbiotic relationship.

As anticipated.

「The trait capitalism is activated.」

「The system transitions to a support mode. Support target player: Kang Hyunwoo.」

「A new main scenario is being added.」

MISSION

「Main Scenario Act 2 Scenario 1: Bloody Revenge」

You have discovered the stronghold of the significant enemy forces invading Earth and the mages who betrayed the demi-human alliance.

Players are requested to infiltrate the stronghold and annihilate the enemy forces.

* You can gain Attribute Mana Stones from mages who die during this battle.

* Enter through the main scenario mission area to participate. (View exclusive mission)

「Rewards」

Participation Reward: Choose one from below.

* Mana 5000, reputation 250

* Attribute Mana 2500, reputation 500

Ranking Reward: Distributed according to the ranking displayed below (1~? rank).

* Store free coupon

* Random box(X?)

* Achievement 20000

The achievements, whose use was still unknown, increased by a hundred times beyond regular mana or attribute mana, tenfold compared to usual.

‘And it also added a special drop feature for Attribute Mana Stones against Biharin instead of monsters.’

To add this main scenario, I had to give the system more divinity.

But I had no regrets. This mission would make the players stronger.

’32 hours left until the update removing the auction feature.’

Before that, gather a substantial amount of Attribute Mana Stones to boost the player’s power and weaken the mages’ capabilities.

‘Before freeing the shackles of Biharin, remove as many potential threats as possible.’

While I was catching my breath, having reviewed my plan constantly, participant indicators began appearing atop the mission window.

「Number of Participants: 75,138」

「Number of Participants: 159,887」

「Number of Participants: 547,332」

「Number of Participants: 891,513」

……..

Numbers began to soar steeply.

Even at this moment, as I calmly watched the mission window, the numbers kept increasing.

The numbers appeared to represent those who aligned with my intentions, which made me feel somewhat emotional, perhaps.

‘Calm down.’

The time had come to repay the grudge felt that day when they dared to trample on the land where my family lived and stained it with blood.

I couldn’t afford to make mistakes by failing to control even a single emotion.

I took a deep breath to suppress any agitation.

Just then, the player’s preemptive attack commenced.

‘Experience that damned feeling of being ambushed, you too.’

With cold eyes, I watched the birth of new deaths unfold.

* * *

For a player to enter Bihar, two methods existed.

One was to use the regular gate created by the system to enter Romole.

This had the disadvantage of consuming time while moving to the corrupted area.

However, it was safe upon entry, leaving the beginning and end of the hunt to the player’s discretion.

If it felt dangerous, one could stop hunting at any time.

Usually, the retreat path toward the forward base was secured first, making it possible to withdraw safely.

After the gate opened, the player mortality rate dropped to a quarter of what it had been.

‘On the other hand, the second method had completely different pros and cons.’

When directly entering the corrupted area through a Hole, unlike entering through a gate, risks existed.

Monsters might be encountered upon entry.

The possibility was high to drop in the middle, deep inside, rather than on the outskirts of the corrupted area.

As a result, securing a retreat path was nearly impossible.

Without destroying the messeo, returning to Earth was also not possible.

So, few players entered the mission area directly after the gate had opened.

I, too, rarely thought about directly entering the mission area.

Then I saw it.

Mages carrying the messeo embedded in their bodies.

After seeing that, one thought kept recurring nearly every day.

‘Can’t we also move the messeo to create a mission area at a desired location?’

At first, there was neither the time nor the luxury to confirm it, so it was continually postponed.

Upon meeting Dennis and discovering the mages’ nest, the story changed.

I picked up some 1 or 2-star messeo scattered in the corrupted area, just in case.

I tried putting it in a spatial pocket purchased through an auction.

‘And it fit inside.’

It wouldn’t go in a player’s inventory.

But it would fit into the spatial magic tool made by Biharin.

Even though I couldn’t precisely understand why, it became clear that this could be utilized.

From that point on, I began to plan with the system.

To destroy the artificial island created by the mages and eradicate the mages gathered there.

A considerable contribution to that plan was made by Rice Cake.

While I searched through the magic tower, Rice Cake made laps around the artificial island with a spatial pocket hanging from its neck.

In the process, it pulled out the messeo I had packed into the spatial pocket and scattered them here and there.

Thanks to that, at the moment, scenario 1 of Act 2 of the main scenario had begun.

Players scattered across various regions could enter the mission area through the messeo.

‘Effectively, this artificial island became a mission area.’

Things had proceeded according to my plan up to this point.

And likely, things wouldn’t deviate too much from this point onward either.

“Wow.”

Bang! Boom!

The tower shook as though an earthquake, accompanied by enormous explosions, proving the facts.

As soon as the explosions erupted, a blaring, warning sound also began.

Hearing the noise inside the tower clearly, Dennis must be moving as well.

After moving Irel’s body to the corner, I approached the window.

The screams coming from all directions were quite explicit.

In contrast to the four towers protected by defensive magic,

the comparatively lower buildings between the towers were collapsing one by one.

‘They must have prepared with all their might.’

This seemed to be beyond preparation; it was as though they were grinding their teeth, given the situation.

‘How many did they bring in?’

I couldn’t help but click my tongue watching the ongoing explosions near the tower.

The origin of those explosions wasn’t magic but bombs.

Not having expertise in this area, I couldn’t discern what was what.

‘The sound of them exploding isn’t ordinary.’

How much mana they must have poured in for today alone, it was unimaginable.

But there was no other choice.

‘No matter how strong we become, we’re still counterfeit.’

Could they attack the nest of authentic mages with magic at the forefront?

‘Casting area magics would only get disarmed, wouldn’t it?’

Hence, the preparation for this mission proceeded nearly on a national level.

The entry missions were fully allocated in advance.

Aside from that, solo players were led under the command of association officials entering the same mission area.

While I gathered my thoughts, the first bombardment ended.

Those who couldn’t magically respond to this surprise attack were likely dead.

Now it was time to kill as many survivors as possible.

‘Should I start moving too?’

Just as I finished checking my gear and turned around, a marble the size of my head located in the corner of the lab began to light up.

‘That is…’

A voice transmission magic tool, the most expensive of those, if I remember correctly.

I think I heard there were only about 300 of them in Biharin?

During my stay in the Bennet estate, I got to see Rashar using it a few times.

Thanks to that, I knew how to use the tool.

“We’re under attack! Lady Irel, the outsiders have invaded! Currently, other mages are gathering at the top floor of Tower 2 for concentrated bombardment. Please hurry to join them!”

After leaving only what they wanted to say, the voice cut off abruptly.

Consequently, the light from the marble also disappeared.

“Hmm.”

Having inadvertently learned of the enemy’s movements, a smile spread across my lips.

“The top floor, huh?”

Graciously, the mages in the tower were gathering at one spot.

Being in the position of a guest, it would be polite to drop by and greet them.

Just like the time when the monster allies of them crawled to the Gangnam area where I was.

‘Since they said they were assembling, let’s wait a bit before.’

To make a greeting, it’s best and cleanest to do so when everyone is gathered together.

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

K is pretty decisive.