◈ 230. [Side Story] Director’s meeting
Ader’s room.
Ader and I sat face-to-face in this dry place, still achromatic and devoid of any furniture.
After a long time, this director’s son and I had a one-on-one conversation.
‘There are too many items to bring up when I start asking and arguing.’
First of all, I asked the closest and urgent agenda.
“There was an incident where an additional hostile corps invaded this stage.”
“Yes, I know. It was a werewolf army.”
“It wasn’t a dark event, and there were no omens, and it just came out of nowhere and crashed into it.”
I grinded my teeth.
“If this happens in the future, it will be difficult to continue attacking. At least you have to follow the rules to keep the game going!”
“As you said, this is a clear game rule violation.”
Ader nodded.
“So, in the next stage, an additional penalty will be given to the monster legion. As hard as it was this time, it will be easier next time.”
“… .”
While listening to Ader’s answer, I clenched my fists.
“There is a fundamental question.”
I glared at Ader.
“What is a ‘player’? Why are we fighting monsters in the form of a ‘game’?”
“… .”
“In exchange for invading the monster corps this time, they will get a penalty next time? So you’re saying they agreed to this ‘rule’ too? How the hell is this board running?”
I suddenly remembered what I had heard from the Emperor in the Imperial City.
– Discussing the fate of the world, putting the lives of others into words, and directly fighting for the hegemony of the world- a being on a higher level. A person who is qualified to play chess himself.
– That is the Player.
– To put it a little easier, you could also call him a prince.
The definition of ‘player’ given by the emperor.
It was a little different from what I was used to thinking.
Not just someone who plays games, but someone who argues with the fate of the world.
Then, is this ‘game’ that this self-proclaimed director’s son is making me also have a concept that has been extended in the same context?
“On a chessboard called the world. Countless players are playing chess in the name of war.”
Ader slowly opened his mouth.
“And here on the monster front, we are playing a game with our own local rules.”
“Local rules… ?”
“A human commander who protects the final line of deterrence between the nightmare demon king and the human race that occupied the Lake Kingdom.”
Ader began arranging the chess pieces on the chessboard on the desk.
“A defense game where both sides continue to exchange battles under the agreed upon rules – which side captures each other’s base first and kills the other’s king.”
widely. widely. widely.
The chess pieces begin to be placed in an orderly manner.
Pawn.
Knight.
Rook.
Bishop.
Queen.
“This is according to the pact concluded between the demon king and the human commander, and will continue until either side is completely destroyed.”
widely!
Finally, put the King in place.
Ader, who finished arranging the chess pieces, slowly removed his hand from the chess board.
“As the director who established the rules of this game, I am watching the direction of the game.”
“Who made the oath to play games with that demon king’s son?”
Ader looked at me silently. Frightened, I pointed at myself.
“Could I have done that?!”
“To be exact, it’s 3rd Prince Ash-sama.”
I let out a silent scream.
No, crazy Kim Ash! It’s you again! You are the very root of all evil. Just! You stupid, loud, round and round troublemaker bastard!
“The demon king agreed on the rules and the two players sat down at the game table.”
Ader laughed bitterly.
“However, due to various reasons, Prince Ash was in a situation where he was unable to continue his great power… I had to get an agent.”
“Is that me?”
“That’s right, old classic virtuoso.”
In the end, it seems to be a repetition of a story I already knew, but there is one big new thing I learned.
my opponent.
my grandson.
The demon king who controls all nightmares is also a player.
And he’s following the rules like a human being and playing a big game… … .
… As if it were some light entertainment.
This side struggles with all its might, but this one throws away its legion one by one as if it were a play.
“… I get it anyway. Then then.”
We had a lot to talk about.
First of all, dissatisfaction with the achievement shop.
The achievement shop has almost no items that are helpful for in-game play, and most of them are focused on adding systemic convenience.
So, I hardly ever used it.
Ader asked for my understanding, saying he was preparing an update for the achievement store. I mean, it’s being remodeled… … .
Aside from that, Ader and I talked about this and that.
“Younglord. I am the director of this game, but I am not the referee.”
Ader promised to help as much as possible.
“I am obviously praying for the lord to win. Even if we cannot provide direct help, we will try to accommodate you as much as possible.”
“… .”
“I am a community of destiny with the lord. Please do not forget this.”
The moment I heard that, the second brother in the ecliptic… … I remembered what I heard from Fernandez.
– Oh, and. As your aide on the southern front… … Ader.
– It’s good that you don’t trust that eternal child too much. Because he’s a scammer
I glanced at Ader, who wore bangles and glasses and smiled.
“… .”
Eternals and scammers?
‘There’s something more, but this bastard…’ … .’
Let’s dig into this after doing some more personal research.
Eolchu personal meeting was organized. I don’t think we talked much, but it was after a few hours had passed. It’s already late afternoon. it’ll be dinner soon
I asked as I was leaving Ader’s room.
“So what’s your relationship with Mumyung?”
However, Ader had a solid guard until the end.
“Because it’s no comment.”
I can’t tell you until the end… … ?
“Then just answer this. Does anonymity have anything to do with the true ending condition?”
“I’ll just say ‘not very much’.”
Ader smiled and gave an ambiguous answer.
So I guess you can tell by talking about something related. I snorted.
In the end, nothing changes.
Whether it be an enemy player or not, throw away the demon king’s offspring and wipe out all the monsters.
In the process, I protect the people within my reach.
Keep doing what you’ve always done.
One step towards clearing. Step by step.
***
Sitting in Yeongju’s office, I am sipping coffee and looking at the system window in front of me.
“Hmm… .”
There is something like this floating in the system window.
[Level Upgrading Quest]
– Target: Damian (N)
> The character possesses abilities that exceed the level he or she possesses and can be upgraded.
> Upon promotion, the character’s stats and skills may change.
> Upgrade-specific consumable items are required for promotion. < expand list >
> Do you want to promote?
Level up!
It means that Damien’s rank, which is N-rank, will rise.
‘In the first place, it didn’t make sense that Damian was N-ranked.’
Of course, as a healer, it is true that he has N-level abilities, but it means that he has [Clairsight]. Best morale feature in this game!
‘the problem is… First of all, it’s the first time I’ve seen this promotion.’
Does the character’s level change?
It’s unheard of. At least I haven’t seen one since I woke up 742 times.
Stats and skills can change, but I don’t know what will happen then.
Of course, I think it will change for the better, but this damn game has a lot of original body traps, so it’s too early to be sure.
‘I’ll have to do it anyway.’
It’s a bit cruel to say this, but there’s no possibility that N-rank stats and skill sets will get any worse.
I’m worried that there will be something that doesn’t suit Damien now.
I’m going to do it anyway… … .
‘What are the consumable items for promotion only?’
Let’s expand the list and open it.
“Ah.”
There was an item name that immediately caught my eye.
[All types of ‘Yeouiju’ items]
“It fits perfectly like this… … .”
I took out ‘Jormungand’s Lady’ from my inventory. This time, it was the item that Jormungandh had gone to.
[Yormungand’s Lady]
– An orb of power that contains Jormungand’s essence. It is used to increase the level of existence.
Legends like this aren’t common on Earth.
In the process of training to become a dragon, the Imoogi’s strength gathers to form a bead, which is Yeouiju.
If you have only one Yeouiju, the Imoogi can be promoted to a dragon, but if you are greedy and have more than that, you cannot become a dragon.
Well, that’s why there are quite a few folk tales about serpents ascending to the dragons and going to the leftover yeouiju.
‘Why did Jormungandr’s son look like a snake? Was he actually a serpent?’
Whether it’s a serpent or an earthworm, whatever. Anyway, I gave you the items I needed just right. I wondered how to write this.
Just then, Damian was at my mansion. I called Damian into the office.
“Did you call me, Prince?”
As soon as Damian enters my room, I STOP! and raised his hand.
“Stand there, Damian! Yes, there in front of the full-length mirror!”
“yes? uh yes… … .”
Damian stood at the entrance of the room in a mess. It is in front of the full-length mirror.
“That’s right, just look in the mirror like that.”
Damian looked at himself in the mirror, though he didn’t know why.
‘It’s a monumental grade promotion scene, so I’ll have to watch it splendidly from various angles!’
Without hesitation, I completed Damian’s promotion quest using the Yeouiju item.
[Promotion Quest Succeeded!]
Dig-!
A gray aura stretched behind Damian’s back. It is an N-class color.
Whoa!
Soon after, the color began to change. Dry spittle ran down my throat.
How will our Damian rank change?
R? SR? Or maybe SSR?!
‘Is it blue?! Is it purple?! no! Just give me the gold one!’
Tsur! Tsur! Tsar God! I believe ah!
Demian looked down at his own body and widened his eyes, probably feeling something in front of me as I put my hands together and prayed.
And-
flash!
Not blue, not purple, not gold.
A white, transparent light poured out from behind Damian’s back. I widened my eyes.
Eh?
‘What grade color is that?’
and.
The identity was soon revealed.
Tring!
[The grade of the hero character ‘Demian’ will be changed.]
> Damian (N) → Damian (EX)
“… ah.”
I gaped.
EX grade?
What do you mean ‘out of the norm’?
… Didn’t you think of this?
Then all sorts of messages popped up and covered my system window.
[Hero character ‘Damian (EX)’s job is changed.]
[Hero character ‘Damian (EX)’s skills are changed.] [Hero character ‘Damian (EX)’
s stats are changed.] [Hero character ‘Damian (EX)”s stats are changed.
] The character ‘Demian (EX)’… … .]
[The hero character ‘Demian (EX)’… … .]
Tring! Tring! Tring! Tring! Tring!
As I was staring at the screen with a lot of flashes on my face with my mouth open, Damian looked at me with a tear-stained face and asked.
“That prince, something feels strange… . Did I do something wrong?”
