Episode 121:
A hotel in Tokyo.
Taehyun, who had reserved a room while hiding his identity, was doing push-ups.
He was standing on his head to match his increased stats without using any magical power.
“Hmm… ten thousand… ten…”
Tiring.
[Strength has increased by 1.]
[Stamina has increased by 1.]
As soon as the last number was filled, a message window appeared in front of me.
dump.
Taehyun lay down on the floor and exhaled.
“Whoa… But how can I even post something like this?”
It was a long time since my stats improved through home training.
Taehyun immediately opened the status window.
Name: Taehyun Kim
Age: 19
Grade: AA
Strength: 201 Stamina: 201 Speed: 180 Magic Power: 280 Charisma: 150 Fatigue:
15%
Remaining Magic Power: 280/280
[Skill]
Predation (AA) – Can prey on a desired target. Magic Power: 50
Shadow Skin (AA) – Strengthens the body and hides the body. Magic Power: 15
Lord’s World (AA) – Forms a special field strengthened with magic power. Magic Power: 20
Monarch’s Awe (AA) – Releases a spirit strengthened by magic power. Magic Power: 20
Chain of Binding (AA) – Designates an opponent and binds them. Skill tracking and cancellation are possible. Magic Power: 20
Queen’s Man (AA) – Summons Rosaria, Queen of Dream Demons. Magic Power: 200
Complete Hypnosis (AA) – Specifies an opponent and hypnotizes them. Magic Power: 40
Blood Rush(?) – ?
“It’s neat.”
Perhaps thanks to skill fusion, it was much simpler than before.
And although it is invisible to the eye.
Taehyun felt that his magic control had become more flexible.
It is now possible to control as much horsepower as you want, when you want, just like turning a machine’s power switch on and off.
That’s a different realization from other players who rely on skill.
Since I had never awakened a skill in my previous life, I just dismissed it as something that happened naturally along with my stats increasing.
In any case, Taehyun was growing in many ways, living up to his name as a growth-oriented awakener.
‘good. ‘If it’s like this, it’s worth a try.’
After drinking the fatigue potion I kept in the refrigerator, I turned on the monitor provided in the room.
An announcer was delivering information along with the text “Breaking News.”
I could feel the excitement and heat in his calm voice.
[The Kyoto branch has fallen, but our Empire of Japan stands against evil monsters… Prime Minister Suga and Players’ Association Chairman Masataka Kubota are carrying out joint operations between the Self-Defense Forces and players… The leadership is confident that they can stop the break with their own power alone. showed. Currently, it has rejected support from several countries, including New Korea, and has expressed its intention to accept supplies and materials without restrictions. People holding Rising Sun flags everywhere are enthusiastically cheering for the war against monsters. Next, there are two national powerhouses leading the player….]
“Is this how it ends up?”
Taehyun clicked his tongue.
The saint Yoshikawa Tsurara and the demon sword Shinji Nakata.
The influence these two have in Japan is enormous.
That’s why even more so.
They hoped that the head of the players’ association would recognize Taehyun’s rights.
To prevent further damage and prevent innocent lives from being lost.
Three national power level people.
Even if Taehyun, who has brought other national powers to their knees, joins, the win rate will increase exponentially.
If you truly cared for your people, you had to be able to set aside your personal greed.
Taehyun thought that the president of the association, Masataka Kubota, had at least that much sense.
“Was it trash that couldn’t be recycled?”
In the end, he discarded the best card and chose the worst card according to his political greed.
There was nothing more to see.
Taehyun turned off the monitor and went back to training.
This time, I planned to increase my physical strength by doing lower body exercises.
If it was just a simple measurement, it would have been about dealing with monsters or demons, but he didn’t dislike this old-fashioned exercise method.
‘Right now, the priority is to completely control my body.’
In less than a year after his return, he gained national power.
It was a growth rate that exceeded expectations, and as his strength grew, more and more mysterious things happened.
‘king. grandee. A guy in the world of imagination. It’s getting more and more complicated.’
Taehyun shook his head vigorously and then moved his body.
With the mechanical movement, I remembered what would happen in the future.
It’s at a level where it can no longer be called a brake.
It was a disaster.
* * *
Osaka, Japan.
30,000 Self-Defense Forces troops and 1,000 players gathered there.
It was to stop the monsters that occupied Kyoto.
A military force made up of players and awakeners who can be said to be Japan’s elite.
And there were civilians in an atmosphere that did not fit there.
They were the 50 elite employees of Yuki Broadcasting Station, the only company permitted by the government to film.
A man in front of them shouted loudly.
It was Okudera Mizuno, the director of Yuki Broadcasting Station.
“Concentration!! We capture a historic moment today!!! Did everyone understand!!”
“yes!!!”
Forty-nine employees cheered in response to his shout.
Okudera looked at this with a satisfied expression for a moment and then gave an order.
“good!! Team A contains videos of the Self-Defense Forces in action. Team B focuses on the player chopping up monsters. There is no need to worry about the ghost sword and the saint since Team C was in the air to film them. The editorial department cuts the video as soon as it is filmed and broadcasts it. Do you understand!!”
“yes!!!”
Unilateral order issuance and acceptance, no different from the military.
At that time, a man quietly raised his hand.
It was Jake Maxim, a man in the video editing department.
As an American-Japanese, he could not understand the current instructions in any way.
“Well… it’s still a war… there will be a lot of casualties… shouldn’t we put some effort into editing? “There are scenes that are somewhat inappropriate or sensational to be broadcast at the current time lag…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Director Okudera burst out laughing.
“Holy shit!! What is our company motto?!!”
“The truth… as it is.”
He lowered his eyes and responded to Director Okudera’s murderous gaze.
“Why are you talking nonsense when you know so well?!! We capture those who sacrifice for our country on camera and transmit them to the public as quickly as possible. Do you understand!!”
“Yes….”
“Your voice is small!! Do you understand!!”
“yes!! Oh, I understand!!”
Jake screamed without realizing it as the voice persistently repeated the question.
“Tsk tsk. “If you just stay still, you’ll get halfway.”
“That’s right. “What good will it do if you make yourself feel good about something you’re going to do anyway?”
People around him seemed to be mocking him, as if asking why he said such a useless thing.
Jake lowered his head and his fists gained strength.
‘You bastards. ‘I’m just pretending to be honest about a subject that is blinded by viewership ratings.’
Those thoughts rose up to my throat.
Fortunately, I knew that I couldn’t go any further than this.
After that, Director Okudera’s speech continued for about 5 more minutes.
‘The Japanese people are waiting for our broadcast at this very moment.’
‘This battle is the first step toward recreating the glory of the Japanese Empire.’
‘The video is filmed as provocatively as possible and editing is kept to a minimum.’ It was the same things.
“The cameramen will be escorted by B-class and A-class players, so make sure to capture vivid scenes!! That’s it!!!”
“yes!!!”
Those gathered here are among the elites of Yuki Broadcasting Station.
There was no one who did not know that the broadcasting station president and Prime Minister Suga were related.
If this business trip ends successfully, it will not end with a bonus or promotion.
“now!! Then everyone hurry up and move!!”
At Director Okudera’s words, loud cheers erupted once again.
‘Whew… whatever happens happens happens.’
It’s something you get paid to do anyway.
He also thought that he would just have to do what he was told like everyone else.
* * *
Kyoto.
It was a place where everything had already been destroyed.
There were a bunch of people there who shouldn’t be on Earth.
These were the monsters that came over with the dungeon break.
They were scattered, gathering the still living humans in one place.
“Black… Black… Please save me…”
“Please… Just the child…”
Humans and monsters cannot communicate.
Nevertheless.
Survivors did not stop begging for their lives.
This is because there is not much that an ordinary person can do when surrounded by dozens of monsters.
[Chwiik. Chwiik.]
[Crrrrr.]
Surprisingly.
Orc Silverfang Ogre, etc.
Although the monsters were drooling, they were not eating humans.
This was a phenomenon that did not fit with the common sense of the world that monsters prey on humans and are not intelligent.
Centaur, a high-ranking monster that was leading the group.
He burst into laughter at those who were trying to understand the situation.
I want to trample and chew on these poor creatures right now.
However, since the king had ordered his capture, it was something he should not do now.
[Everything is according to the king’s will.]
Although the centaur said it with loyalty.
To humans’ ears, it was just a monster’s growl.
* * *
Beomjinsa Temple was a famous temple in Kyoto.
One day.
The gate break occurred there.
Dozens of S-class monsters were stopped after sacrifice.
In the end, we couldn’t prevent the gate break from turning into a dungeon.
A Japanese attack force led by a saint and a ghost sword entered, but the attack ended in failure with devastating damage.
Afterwards, the place, which was listed as one of the world’s unexplored dungeons, was neglected under strict surveillance.
It was a place that creatures did not go near for quite some time.
The Beomjinsa dungeon was broken.
There.
Wood clatter. Quad deuk.
A being three times larger than an ordinary centaur was eating humans.
King of the Centaurs.
It was Kenta Zenas, which was unofficially given an SS grade by the Japan Players Association.
A monster armed with heavy armor approached Centagenas.
It was a Grand Centaur rated S+.
[O king. Humans are coming.]
Upon hearing his subordinate’s report, Centazenas threw away the humans he was eating.
[It is finally time for the blood festival.]
[The humans have been gathered together as the king ordered.]
The Grand Centaur said, bowing his head.
To humans, it is simply food.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Nevertheless, the reason he was kept alive rather than killed was purely because of the king’s will.
Centagenas is not only the strongest of the Centaur clan, but also possesses great wisdom.
The Grand Duke who rules the Abyss.
That was why he was recognized by the Demon Beast King Orgal and granted territory.
[Centamion. What is that child doing?]
[He is still staying in the dungeon and feasting on the humans he has procured.]
[Hehe. It’s still not enough.]
Kentazenas let out a dark laugh.
At the same time, he trampled on the head of the man who was begging for his life.
It was a player captured from the Kyoto branch.
The centaurs who were guarding the side rushed forward and began to eat it.
Kenta Zenas, who watched the scene and smiled bitterly, raised his magic power.
[The blood festival begins.]
This is the energy emitted by an SS-class monster.
As a signal, a huge magic wave spreads throughout the Kyoto area.
The advance of the monsters has begun.
