Chapter 302

Chapter 302. Spotlight (4)

「The guild… Casualties have not yet been confirmed… Injured… Support for recovery as much as possible…」

A familiar voice was heard, but due to the noise in the dining hall, it was hard to understand properly.

Instinctively, Rashar’s body leaned slightly to the side.

At that moment, Ahel turned to Rashar and said abruptly.

“Oh, I can’t get it. Dame Bennet, over there.”

Rashar, startled by the sudden call, jerked her body in place.

“Huh, huh?”

Regardless of her reaction, Ahel continued speaking.

“No, it’s just by name now! Since everyone is equal! Rashar, could you lend me the Interpreter Magic Tool? Still hard to listen, it’s rather easier to read it.”

The Biharin did not enjoy the benefits of interpretation.

Fortunately, they could understand when speaking directly with players.

However, when it turned into digital areas like videos or application messages, it became useless.

Rashar, thankfully, was an exception to that frustrating situation.

“The dwarves prioritize delivering these to the association, so it’s hard to get enough Interpreter Magic Tools. So use this for now.”

Thanks to the Interpreter Magic Tool that K handed to her just before they parted ways—an earring-like magic tool she once saw when she first met K—Rashar never experienced communication issues in the camp.

Many who knew she possessed a magic tool often requested to borrow it.

Unable to ignore their frustration due to language barriers, Rashar tended not to refuse such requests.

‘But…’

Instead of handing over the magic tool, Rashar glanced at the tablet in Ahel’s hand.

She hesitated for a moment while watching the video playing.

‘I’ll look into it later.’

She was incredibly curious and highly concerned but didn’t want to acknowledge it openly.

She didn’t want anyone to notice her keen attention toward K.

So acting as if it were nothing, she removed the earring from one ear and handed it to Ahel.

After that, she couldn’t understand anything from the video content being transmitted.

Though bothered, Rashar pretended not to be and focused on reviewing for a long time.

She filled her personal time with training after the afternoon education sessions ended.

It was late evening when she finally returned to her dormitory with the bunk beds.

‘Is everyone asleep…?’

Only after confirming everyone sharing the room was asleep did she quietly open her locker that held her personal items.

「Nuna, just use the cosmetics in the order I numbered them. And the pink box contains supplements you should take once a day! And don’t worry about anything. Everything will be fine. Brother K is trying extremely hard to make it so, so focus only on adapting without worrying about anything! If you need anything, just send a letter!」

The first thing visible was the letter sent by Kim Yul along with gifts.

Below it, items sent by K and other players filled the inside.

There were electronic devices received by Ahel and Jordan, as well as cosmetics, clothes, shoes, various writing materials, and even Earth’s currency preserved meticulously.

Removing a few items to the side, Rashar found the tablet PC sent by K.

She took it and entered her bed, pulling the cover over herself.

‘The power button… here it is.’

Unlike Ahel, who didn’t mind others’ gazes and used the items sent by K freely, Rashar couldn’t bear to openly use items that incited a sense of discrimination.

Especially in a world where inherent status held no value.

Thus, she only fiddled with it occasionally in her room.

Though she wasn’t as proficient and familiar with it as someone using their belongings, finding a video on the homepage Ahel had been browsing earlier wasn’t difficult.

With clumsy gestures, she operated the tablet PC to launch UTube.

The search words she entered were the first words she memorized upon arriving here.

“K”

Search results appeared rapidly.

Most were videos newly uploaded today.

Rashar, nestled beneath the covers, began examining one video after another, featuring a familiar face making an unfamiliar expression.

* * *

Precisely 22 days had passed since we began rescuing refugees from the frontline.

Holes started opening more frequently and abundantly.

Yet, with the clans and guilds actively working, they managed to handle the increasing flow effectively.

During this time, the Beastfolk and dwarves established their own guilds, forming consortium contracts with several large guilds, including the association.

Naturally, the Palao Guild was one of the included parties.

Meanwhile, I was exceedingly busy.

Handling duties as a guild leader, battling to close high-rank holes opening in Korea, coordinating schedules with Kim Yul for content creation activities kept me fully occupied.

Once my face appeared, even the same content would gain an additional digit in the view count.

Sometimes, two more digits.

‘Though the thought of selling my face isn’t quite appealing.’

There’s no reason not to make use of any necessary resources.

Thus, I had allocated time for content filming today.

Sitting in a studio prepared for the live broadcast and commencing the broadcast, Kim Yul handed me a tablet PC.

“What do you want me to do?”

“MBTI test. Don’t you know what that is?”

“… I’ve heard of it, but I wonder why we should do it.”

In personality type tests, I’ve picked up bits here and there during its peak of popularity.

I had never directly undergone the test myself.

‘Can one really categorize people into merely 16 types?’

I never quite understood why this was such a trend.

Nonetheless, I swallowed a sigh and accepted the tablet PC.

When it came to camera angles, Kim Yul’s opinions typically took precedence over mine.

“Alright, while we wait for the test results… shall we do a Q&A? Waiting can be dull.”

Barely beginning the test, Kim Yul continued speaking through the live broadcast.

– RedSun: While K is taking the test, how can we do a Q&A?

– Bongole: Right, just wait a moment

Seeing the reactions, Kim Yul said with a playful expression.

“Because K can manage hearing and speaking separately, it’s fine. If you’re curious, feel free to ask. Your cute pink retriever will read them for you.”

I reflexively turned to look at Kim Yul.

Thanks to the completely pink-dyed hair, that bizarre nickname had gained massive popularity across numerous communities.

Nonetheless, I was still surprised.

‘I can’t believe he uttered that nickname himself.’

Staring at him blankly, in disbelief, Kim Yul asked with an innocent face.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Am I too cute to look away?”

I debated for a moment.

‘Should I hit him or not?’

Eventually, I decided to refrain.

Suppressing a sigh, I shook my head slightly and resumed reading the survey questions.

Click, click.

Choosing answers with more force than usual, Kim Yul continued the broadcast.

“I’ll only read the nickname and the question. Just chat casually like with a friend. Everyone already knows your rough personality, don’t they? Okay, let’s start? Klovek asks, ‘Has K ever dated? You were popular, right?'”

“A few times during middle and high school. As for the second question, defining popularity isn’t straightforward.”

“Usually, people know, right? Often receiving gifts or confessions. Oh! How many gifts did you receive on Valentine’s Day?”

“I’d arrive to find my desk piled up in the morning, though I never counted precisely. Next question.”

“The life of a popular man… Um, tofu Seon asks, ‘Can you show your body? Can you take off your shirt?'”

“Watch your own body if you want. Do you even call that a question? Block that pervert immediately. Next.”

“Rough and bad words without a filter, indeed the spicy K flavor. Next is from Mona Mi Nam, they’re asking about the ongoing staff recruitment at Palao Guild, if they could possibly get accepted if they apply… Ouch! Why hit me?!”

“If that Mona Mi guy genuinely wanted to get recruited, they’d submit inquiries to the HR team and prepare a resume. Would they bother asking such a question here? They should ask about interview preparation at least to make me consider answering. Stop wasting time with useless questions and do it properly.”

After snapping at Kim Yul, the Q&A session continued for about ten more minutes.

The much-anticipated test results came in for both the audience and Kim Yul.

I handed the tablet back to Kim Yul, who, checking the screen, wore an intentionally orchestrated smile.

“Yes, everyone. Our prediction was spot on.”

Shortly after, he turned the tablet screen towards the camera, showing the results to all viewers.

“ENTJ”

“Extroverted, intuitive, thinking, judging… Wow, what are these numbers with each over 90%? This is indeed a strong ENTJ.”

The chatroom was updated at a tremendous speed, unreadable unless one had a player’s dynamic vision.

Most of that swiftly moving chat shared a similar sentiment.

– SOLO93: As expected

– Midnight: Apparently, no one was surprised

– OrangeCakaraMel: Honestly, I could see it a mile away……

– Viola: Is he really human, can he be like that?

– MonMon: WowㅋㅋㅋㅋGenuinely a confident ENTJㅋㅋㅋ

Watching the remarkably consistent reactions, Kim Yul slyly added.

“Just in case you’re curious, I’m an ESFJ.”

“So?”

Wondering what he was getting at, I stared at him.

As if he never expected any different, Kim Yul turned back with another calculated smile.

“Um, just saying… See, everyone, this is the confidence of an ENTJ. Don’t be too shocked.”

Thereafter, the Q&A continued as if nothing happened.

I matched the broadcasting tone and proceeded.

Once filming wrapped up, I headed to the office I used alone.

Having received an email from Lily, I downloaded the attached file.

‘Refugee Rescue Operation Mid-Term Report.’

Now, the population remaining in Bihar was roughly 30% of the original.

Refugee rescue from all castles except for central Ater Empire, guarded by the new Wall of Patience, was completed.

‘Though those who re-established portals crawled out midway.’

Not a single one remained alive. The temples were sealed and monitored more securely than any other location during evacuation operations.

Thanks to that, bizarre incidents of intruders mingling with refugees didn’t occur.

Currently, all players temporarily withdrew from Bihar to catch their breath.

‘Now they’ll tear each other apart again within the prison of their own making.’

Of course, in Bihar now, there are powerless individuals who’ve been left behind merely because they happened to be in the same area as the power holders, without having any choice.

If we were to list the impending deaths, they’d be first in line.

However, I chose their demise over saving them to fall with the powerful.

Though not a comforting thought, I worked diligently to prevent it from turning into guilt.

‘Most would’ve likely rejoiced at having stayed in a safe area with the power holders by mere chance.’

Among those left behind, how many would have claimed we should immediately dismantle the Wall of Patience and protect those outside, and actually put that into practice?

Typically, ordinary people remain silent in turbulent times if they haven’t been treated unfairly.

Therefore, determining the weak as inherently virtuous simply because they are deemed powerless and faultless is dangerous.

‘While it’s true that the weak need help, they aren’t necessarily good.’

Along the same lines, it wasn’t that those abandoned outside the Wall of Patience were rescued due to virtue.

‘After all, I didn’t draft an evacuation plan arguing justice.’

In this world, there’s no such thing as justice. Only pursuits of self-interest.

Those who fled to Earth are beneficiaries of my pursuit, whereas the weak left in Bihar are merely collateral damage.

To protect myself, I had to draw a line and keep emotions like guilt and disgust at a distance.

Only by doing so could I continue forward.

Fortunately, ignoring parts out of necessity was manageable.

I had some form of rationale to convince myself that I hadn’t ignored everything.

“Hoo.”

Breathing out deeply, I meticulously reviewed the file sent by Lily.

As I dedicated my days to fulfilling my responsibilities, the completion of the first round of refugees’ education, who had crossed to Earth, approached.

Damned System