#963. Now that I know it
* * *
After the monster wave.
The world is in chaos.
No matter how thorough preparations were made, global evacuation would not have been easy.
Especially predators and flying monsters.
It was really dangerous when the blockade area collapsed before the evacuation and defense line construction was finished due to an unexpected incident.
But mankind has finally overcome that hurdle.
Thanks to the great success of the seven princesses and other absolutes, the defense line was finally completed.
Of course, it wasn’t without sacrifice.
Blockade forces that oxidized while blocking monsters.
Some citizens ignored evacuation orders.
A country that fought hard but was unable to complete a defense line.
In all, close to 100 million people disappeared in the first few days of the monster wave.
But in other words, it meant that the monsters were blocked with less than 100 million damage.
It was a miraculous achievement, considering that tens of thousands of damages were caused by the monster wave that only briefly occurred when the seal of the Seven Arcs was lifted.
Of course, that’s just an initial response story.
Even after the evacuation was over, the battle with the monsters continued on the defense line.
Citizens couldn’t hide their anxiety because they didn’t know when the monsters would arrive.
But after a day
Another week passes.
for over a month.
Despite continuing to suffer casualties, the defense line steadfastly stopped the monsters.
conscript the people
Lay down the truth and barriers.
Create a maze of buildings.
plow the whole plain.
Covering the mountains with sacks.
Even infinite monsters could not easily break through the multi-layered defense line built by pouring all of humanity into it.
The precarious frontline is all the more so because the absolutes, including the seven princesses, directly supported it.
Humans are animals of adaptation.
The refugees, who were anxious at first, gradually got used to the daily life in the shelter.
The policies of the Seven Dragons Association and governments of each country, which induced voluntary labor with all kinds of rewards and rewards, also encouraged the adaptation.
As the rear stabilizes like that.
It also made it easier to support the wires.
Including the fact that the number of monsters that were pouring endlessly at first decreased little by little.
Thanks to this, there was an optimistic atmosphere in society as a whole.
The hope that if you hold on like this, the monster wave will end and you may be able to return to your daily life.
…before the Starlight Church appeared.
“My mistake. I should have prepared in advance…”
[It’s not Li Qingyu’s fault. We did everything we could. The Constellations were just too cunning.]
“It’s my fault for not being as cunning as they were.”
A shadow fell over Li Qingyu’s face.
Starlight Church.
The Liberation Brigade was like that.
Just like the World Federation did.
An organization newly created by the Constellations to interfere with the world.
In fact, I expected that the Constellations would do tricks.
A case where some players ran out of control when monsters attacked Brazil.
It was obvious that the Constellations were preparing something, seeing as many high-level players disappeared after that.
That’s why he took the resistance and forced high-level players to use restraints.
One thing they didn’t expect.
[To destroy the defense line using civilians, not even players, are they really trash?]
That’s right.
It wasn’t just the players that the Constellations used.
By endowing players who follow them with spiritual skills, they spread a religion based on the apocalypse to the civilian population.
Among them, I used those who were strong in their faith.
It was already too late when the seven princesses, who were distracted by just stopping the monsters, realized that.
and.
Tragedy happened.
Bullets were mixed with unexploded rounds, and weapons suddenly broke or exploded.
Soldiers who ate the supplied food were poisoned after a few days and collapsed vomiting blood or developed a disease.
Sudden demonstrations and riots broke out in the rear, and even among the soldiers on the defense line, there were people who aimed guns at their comrades.
Even the players of the Starlight Church command the monsters and attack the defense line, of course.
There was even a suicide bombing attack targeting the leaders and officers of the Seven Dragons.
The result of all of that happening simultaneously.
The defense line collapsed.
Tens or tens of thousands of soldiers were crushed.
The refugees, who believed that they had barely regained their daily lives, were eaten alive by monsters.
Those who managed to avoid the monsters ran away in search of a safer place, were caught by the Starlight Cultists, and were forcibly converted or killed.
It is a real mayhem.
No, it was living hell itself.
Being able to subjugate the Starlight Church and re-establish the defense line in the midst of the battle can be considered a miracle in itself.
But the price was high.
Losing 70% of humanity’s territory.
With half of all mankind annihilated.
In the midst of a lack of everything from supplies to troops, everyone lost hope and suffered in despair.
And it wasn’t just the stories of civilians.
[But honestly, I understand the Starlight Church, right? Most of them are still struggling to survive from monsters.]
“Because not being attacked by monsters is honestly a big advantage.”
[Those monsters are, after all, the limbs of the Constellations.]
[They create and solve problems. It is self-made. It’s a clichéd pseudo-tactic, but it’s just as effective.]
Li Qingyu smiled bitterly.
The rapid increase in power of the Starlight Church was not just because of the favorable environment for the doomsday theory to prevail.
It was because there were so many benefits.
Making contracts with the Constellations easier.
All sorts of quests and automatic level ups.
Above all, not to be preemptively attacked by monsters.
Anyone could be tempted by the enormous benefits that were difficult to imitate, not even a mere cult, but even an upright church.
Especially when it comes to civilians hungry for power and safety.
That’s why even though they couldn’t forgive those who fell for the Starlight Church, they could understand.
Originally, the more suppressed religion is, the more secretive and deeply infiltrated it is.
From the moment the Constellations started their tricks with the religion of the Starlight Church, they were unstoppable.
But…
[By the way, I can’t understand the kids who destroyed the country while fighting politics in the middle of this?]
“…That was still a rare case.”
[The problem is that the Starlight Church gained more power because of that rare case. It was a mess even when the Republic of Korea collapsed right away, wasn’t it?]
Catherine shook her head excitedly.
Republic of Korea.
It was originally the territory of the Black Dragon Clan, but it did not become the territory of the Seven Dragons because Limon had been protecting it for a long time.
Nevertheless, the Republic of Korea endured the monster wave exceptionally well.
Terrain favorable for defense.
Quite faithful troops and equipment.
Relatively large number of high-level players.
And another complicated reason.
Thanks to various conditions being right, in the early days, the war situation was more stable than the few countries that the seven princesses directly guarded.
That may have been the case.
Why did the coup happen?
Of course, later investigation revealed that many circumstances were complicatedly intertwined.
People’s dissatisfaction with compulsory policies such as regulations on players in the deteriorating economic situation.
Politicians worry that Shin Myung-wun, who cooperated with the Seven Dragons, might monopolize power if he blocks the monster wave.
In addition, the Starlight Church’s trick, which secretly spread evil rumors about the Seven Dragons.
The result of all that added up.
Because the coup took place before the Starlight Cultists could do anything.
In fact, it was more like a riot by protesters backed by politicians than a coup.
The problem is three.
One is that the Blue House gave up restoring expensive defense facilities that were destroyed by the sword attack.
The two are that President Shin Myung-woon even sent troops to the defense line to use as his bodyguards.
The third was that there was a high-level player among the demonstrators who raised his level after the monster wave and avoided surveillance.
The result was the fall of the Blue House.
And it was the death of Shin Myung-woon.
The Seven Dragons, those who staged a riot, and the Starlight Church.
Unexpected incidents created enormous chaos.
In addition, a confession of conscience that it was a riot for money broke out, and politicians blamed each other for blaming or arguing with each other.
In the yard where the commander-in-chief was lost, the heirs also died, were framed, or ran away.
In the end, the defense line collapsed with supplies cut off, and the Republic of Goryeo perished.
Except for a few cities, all territories were lost and more than 90% of the population was exterminated.
It was such a great result that even the Starlight Church, which had only been helping a little as it was still secretly moving, was dumbfounded.
[Anyway, do you understand why the ancestors didn’t warn mankind about the Constellation?]
[Even if the world perishes in 100 years, there have always been people who prioritize their own interests today.] “
… Needless expectations lead to disappointment.”
Yekathrice mocking.
Maia speaks pessimistically.
Ainsha is expressionlessly silent.
Even the aides who don’t deny the words, even though each of them has a subtle expression.
In a space filled with a cold atmosphere overall, Li Qingyu put on a bitter expression.
Even though he was able to escape with only his clan, he endured enormous hardships to protect the world from the invasion of the Constellations.
It wasn’t that he succumbed to the Constellation’s temptation, but that he self-destructed through his own greed and stupidity.
Why should I sacrifice for this kind of humanity?
As the princess of the Seven Dragons, who had been persecuted for being called the Demonic Cult for a long time, she had no choice but to feel skeptical.
Especially because I know about the one who made the biggest sacrifice than anyone else.
So it was.
The reason why Li Qingyu had no choice but to stop at Yekathrice’s words.
[Thanks to that, I’ve been able to find out lately.]
“What do you mean?”
[How great my brother is.]
“….”
[I already want to beat him up, but he’s been protecting this kind of humanity for hundreds of years. Anyway, oppa is just as crazy as me?]
If you’re sane, that’s impossible.
It was the expressionless Ainsha who accepted Yekathrice’s words while giggling.
[It’s not that I’m crazy, it’s that the bowl is big. Lee is great. After all, he is my groom.]
[I think Ainsha forgot, but oppa is also my groom?]
[There is no disappointment if there is no excitement. He’s quite overestimating him as a bride.]
[He’s the princess’s father, but…] [
…Couples look alike, so it’s the nobleness of our princess’s father.]
[ You’re saying it right. If he wasn’t of that level, how could my princess have made her my sire?]
As if boasting of her treasure.
After staring closely at the princess who boasts of each other and her aides who zealously claim possession of the princess on behalf of the princess she respects.
cook
After laughing, covering the corners of my mouth.
Li Qingyu spoke calmly.
“Your swordsman is a great person. It is because He is still fighting that mankind has not yet perished.”
in the last half year.
From as little as one to as many as five or six per day.
Thanks to the collapse every day, the dungeon gate was now reduced by almost half, and the defense line that was holding out thanks to the reduction of monsters by that much.
And for half a year…
no, thinking of the groom who may have been fighting for more than a few years.
Li Qingyu chuckled.
“So we can’t give up.”
like the answer.
I didn’t even have to listen.
Each person’s eyes, smile, silence.
It was because they were showing their determination to protect humanity no matter what until the day their beloved lover or mother-in-law returned.
So, close your eyes deeply.
Li Qingyu brought up the main topic of the seven dragons meeting today.
“In that sense, don’t you think monsters’ movements have gotten weird lately?”