Chapter 337

Chapter 337. Status(格) and Isolation(隔) (3)

「(Breaking News) Acute Hole opened at Seocho High School. Casualty and injured count are unavailable. Nearby citizens, please evacuate promptly following the emergency drill manual.」

Emergency news subtitles scrolled across the bottom of a cooking show.

A problem had occurred in the middle of the city at a school with students, so it was reported immediately.

After a brief wait, every broadcasting station began to air urgent news.

「Good day, viewers. I am announcer Han Kyungsoo. A breaking news report states an acute Hole opened at Seocho High School at 2:14 PM today. Following this, a mysterious dark…」

The screen changed as the announcer’s reading, which felt a bit rushed, continued.

Footage was broadcasted from a drone sent to capture the scene from a distance.

The black canopy, seen through Rice Cake’s eyes, still stood strong.

The drone circled around the dome, but no visible breach could be seen.

‘Did they already repair it?’

Currently, I had no way to know the internal situation as Rice Cake was not sharing its sight.

As I ground my teeth, the announcer’s voice continued in the background.

「Regrettably, the students’ safety cannot be confirmed, and players’ entry is impossible due to an unidentified black dome.」

Unknown fate.

Those few words drove me insane.

I heard the sound of the smartphone ringing from where I had dropped it in the room, but I couldn’t muster the courage to retrieve it.

Everything felt like it would crumble if anything went off by an inch.

Just standing there stiffly with my arms crossed required all my strength.

「The Player’s Association advises nearby citizens to evacuate promptly to the bunker…」

The announcer’s calm voice faded into the background.

‘Since Kim Yul entered, it’s not the worst.’

I had trained him to face even nemesis-rank foes alone.

So, knowing he’d be fine, yet my heart raced uncontrollably, in contrast to my cold, rational mind.

How ridiculous.

After killing hundreds and thousands of people to get to today.

Now, I felt stirred by the thought that my family might Die.

I closed my eyes tightly to suppress the loud, overwhelming thoughts and impulses.

After a brief silence, I looked at Ethan and spoke.

“I’d like you to go support there.”

“No.”

Despite the firm refusal, I persisted and said again.

“I promise I won’t move unless my stats are restored.”

“…”

“Even if my siblings die there.”

I wouldn’t move.

That was the answer after much contemplation.

Once again, promising in a solid voice as always, Ethan shifted his attention between me and the TV with a serious expression.

“… You promise.”

“Yes, my mind is clear right now, so you can trust me.”

I added that if he was that uneasy, he could use the barrier stone on his way.

Ethan didn’t refuse my suggestion.

If players got their abilities, they could easily break through.

But in the current state, I’d only be trapped.

After Ethan used the barrier stone and left, I slumped with a thud onto the sofa.

I had expended too much energy controlling my emotions in a short time.

Thanks to that, my body felt limp and exhausted.

But my eyes remained fixated on the TV.

‘Why now?’

Due to the monster invasion starting last year, there were many holidays, leading to insufficient attendance.

Naturally, winter vacation had to be postponed by a few weeks.

Did the enemies know and attack today because of that?

‘The possibility is high.’

Seeing as how they intended to block external support, they must have deliberately chosen the Hole’s location.

It wasn’t an accidental Hole opening near a school; it was a planned target on the school.

What does that suggest?

‘It seems my family’s information has been leaked to the enemies.’

The timing and location they chose were so opportune; it couldn’t be dismissed as mere coincidence.

“Damn it!”

Lost in thought, I couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted.

It wasn’t an unexpected issue, and I had even prepared adequately for it.

I had never held mercy when dealing with opponents, so I had no right to blame them for targeting my family.

But at this powerless moment, unable to forgive myself for putting my family in danger.

‘I was too confident.’

Assuming it was just a week’s gap.

That I could easily manage risks that short.

Proudly spreading rumors of my state far and wide.

Forgetting that humans can’t predict the future.

In result, I was trapped within a barrier, venting alone in frustration.

‘They might have planned this attack hearing about my current state.’

If that’s really the case, I might as well admit I brought this raid upon myself.

The more I mulled over it, the greater my self-reproach grew.

But there was no way to reverse what had already happened.

I gritted my teeth and persevered to avoid falling apart.

How many minutes passed that way?

Miraculously, Rice Cake reconnected sight.

Two, no, three nemesis-rank enemies! Plus, five general-ranks!

A formidable force for Kim Yul to handle alone.

As soon as I realized this, my heart sank suddenly, but then…

「Oh! This just in! It’s reported that Ethan Rembrandt from the UK Player’s Association and players from the Palao Guild have successfully entered the inside!」

I spotted Ethan in the corner of my vision.

「And according to on-site officials, Kim Yul, the Korean Platinum rank player, is already inside. With two Platinum rank players involved, perhaps we can await further news a bit at ease.」

Even the announcer, as if truly relieved, wiped sweat from his brow.

I also felt somewhat relieved with Ethan’s arrival.

However, complete relief was impossible.

That familiar habit of contemplating the worst-case Scenario returned.

‘That black dome.’

Surely mages were involved.

Those with grudges against me more than anyone else.

They’d strive by any means to achieve their purposes.

What could Kim Yul and Ethan do if a tower-lord level figure emerged?

Crack.

Unconsciously biting hard, the sound resonated through the empty living room.

At that moment.

– Really not going?

Suddenly, kerax spoke up.

Those words which had barely restrained the impulses violently surged again.

The emotions raging inside urged me to head there immediately.

But, gripping my trembling hands until they turned white, I closed my eyes.

‘I must not go.’

It’s not just because of the promise with Ethan.

This concerns my objective valuation of my value.

‘At this moment, I’m the only one who could eliminate those “beyond the rules”.’

If I die, there’s no one left to hunt figures like Karklein.

That means this war cannot end in the short term.

It would take far more time for the system to shape a new Hunter.

That delay would exponentially decrease the probability of victory.

‘The Bihar precedent is a clear indicator.’

Among the worst-case scenarios I imagined, its outcome was predictable.

‘Damn it.’

At the start of this game, my sole wish was to protect this land where my family lives.

So, I tried harder than anyone else and never hesitated to make cold choices.

‘It was a compelling justification.’

Every choice I made justified the best course for victory.

That justification seemed to have devolved into an obligation to reclaim victory.

And now, it became shackles binding me to this position.

Already, having discarded someone else’s family like game pieces.

Me compromising the war out of concern for my family’s safety?

‘Fuck it.’

As long as the memory of those whose blood I shed lingered, I couldn’t allow myself that luxury.

I was trapped in burdens and sins accumulated over the past.

At some point, the pursuit buried the purpose, distorting it all the while.

Thinking, recollecting, and dodging myself repeatedly.

Increasingly, burgeoning thoughts began to entangle me more fiercely.

The kid bitten by a dog in Palao’s third trial.

Citizens cheering as I emerged, sealing the Hole.

The hundreds of thousands of guild members entrusting their faith.

All those people thanking me, grateful, despite having never met face-to-face, sending comments and DMs.

‘Without me, their future fades.’

Thus, I shouldn’t rush to that scene.

Even if the twins Die there, no matter what.

Repeatedly seizing similar words like a self-imposed mental drill.

Using dozens, even hundreds of logical reasons to justify why I should not be there.

The majority were painful truths.

It was an agonizing period like no other.

Even with blood dripping down as my nails dug into skin.

I seemed to have persevered well beyond my limits.

The news continued broadcasting the image of a dark dome.

Neither Kim Yul nor Ethan emerging, nor guild mages dispelling the dome occurred.

Prompting something naturally, the worst-case conjecture arose.

‘What if they were already annihilated?’

My siblings and students inside, their lives alongside Rice Cake, as well as the newly arrived Kim Yul and Ethan, if they were all dead.

“I’ll chase them to hell’s end and tear them apart…”

On the day when I regain the player’s abilities.

I vowed to rend apart every soul involved with more brutality than hellish Asuras.

That vow marked all I could presently do.

Then, kerak, having been silent after the initial question, spoke again.

– All these years, in my observation, you were never simply righteous nor heroic.

Eyes flying open intimidate the room, I gazed towards the bedroom direction.

– If anything, you resembled a villain to a great degree. Ruthless enough to abandon powerless without choice and cruel enough to use any means and methods for goals.

Denouncing me as akin to those despised all their lives.

– Being that unrelenting, even to discard family, especially reminds me of them.

Such audacity while I endured with what resolve I could muster!

Rising abruptly, I strode resolutely to the bedroom.

And swung open the door.

– Thus, you might accomplish what I couldn’t.

Kerax’s voice uttered incomprehensible words just as I seized it.

Clinging to the spatial leather pouch, just in case, it dangled and swayed.

– If truly so, I might revere you, the one so relentless.

Kerax’s words seemed to echo from the depths of deep consciousness.

“Heup!”

「You found an ego that worships you.」

「Progress 100%.」

「A new character matching your status is completed.」

「Ascended to godhood and ranks ‘beyond standard’.」

「Congratulations! You’ve become a god with a complete status.」

「Reviewing past achievements to ascertain your ‘God’s Call’.」

「Leading the battlefield previously…」

…

A plethora of messages unfurled, too numerous to take in all at once, overwhelming sight.

And then, everything faded briefly into bright light as consciousness began to dim.

Beyond the receding awareness, kerax’s voice sounded out.

– May you fulfill your grand aspiration.

My body dissolved like smoke, dispersing away.

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

Fina-, fucking, -lly!