Chapter 277 – Starting from Zero (1)

===================

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

Sense of shame fully recharged.

Bringing up the investigation of the bizarre, in the end, I ended up watching [Dragon Monarch, Dark Dragon Lee Ho-yeol. Howls Towards the World] from beginning to end.

‘That is not me.’

It’s not me.

It absolutely must not be me.

Was it thanks to muttering endlessly.

I was able to regain my reason and evaluate my interview through the perspective of a third party.

‘Gilding my face so much……!’

Even listening to it again, there are no false words.

Only that it’s exceedingly prone to misunderstandings.

Especially, was it thanks to declaring that the Dark Dragon is merely a part.

-Don’t tell me he’s still hiding something??

-lol lol lol lol lol Come to think of it, he still hasn’t revealed his class

-Could it be there’s a Dragon Monarch class above Dragon Knight??

-Real lol lol

Starting with the class, various speculations are running rampant in the community.

As I look at the posts.

Somehow I feel like I’ve returned to the beginning again.

Why, to those days when I defeated Count Ascura as soon as I awakened as a player.

Even though I thought things had developed a lot.

The level of overestimation pouring in hasn’t changed in the slightest.

“One must not forget one’s original intentions from any position.”

The way of speaking is also the original intention.

The level of packaging is also exactly the original intention, Granfel.

However, the interview.

No, the time consumed to investigate that darn bizarre was not small, you see?

I hurriedly opened a portal heading to the Zero Mountain Range.

The portal’s coordinates were the Zero Mountain Range, Massive Alliance encampment.

“!!!”

A portal appearing suddenly.

Since I revealed my figure from within the light cluster of that portal.

The players of the Massive Alliance would probably have no choice but to be surprised.

Dilated pupils, open mouths, halted actions.

What is heard in the momentary stillness is only.

-Dragon Monarch Dark Dragon Lee Ho-yeol. A name that will be left in history!

……Only the story concerning me playing on the players’ smartphones.

Although I had expected it, it’s painful as expected.

But since I cannot show it as always.

I shamelessly opened my mouth.

“It seems preparations are finished.”

“……Ah-ah!”

Simultaneously as my words fell.

A returning voice.

Nam Chul-min pushed up his glasses and hurriedly approached.

‘Is it because I made up my mind to regain my original intentions.’

Nam Chul-min, whom I got to know at the first rift.

Facing him again, I feel like my original intentions are reviving.

By the way, did he say he was quitting smoking.

His complexion certainly looks much better than back then.

“I have been waiting, General Commander!”

Anyway, that darn General Commander is…….

‘Aren’t Ho-yeol-ssi plain and a bit better?’

I wanted our titles for each other to return to that time too.

But unlike back then, I was carrying far too many things.

Actually compared to Dark Dragon, General Commander is a gentleman, genuinely.

Considering it something to be immensely grateful for, I asked.

“How is the conquest situation of the Zero Mountain Range?”

“Thanks to you caring about it, General Commander, we are speeding up and conquering the mountain range! Of course, since the Zero Mountain Range is so vast…….”

“I understand. Because it is a land not recommended to anyone.”

It’s not empty words meant to comfort.

There might be a recommended level not recommended to anyone, but an overall completion rate does not exist for the Zero Mountain Range. However, there is a scale to gauge it at least roughly.

A hundred thousand caves, the Hundred Thousand Caves.

The number of caves the Massive Alliance has discovered so far was 8.

Meaning even including the [Sea of Magma] I discovered, it didn’t even reach ten. Well, even generously assuming the caves discovered by other guilds including World Unification and Shining are fifty…….

‘If it’s fifty out of a hundred thousand…….’

The completion rate is merely 0.05 percent.

Of course, I did conquer a dragon which could be called the final content of the Zero Mountain Range, however……. That conquest is a conquest of a different direction. Nam Chul-min scratched his head and continued speaking.

“Thank you for understanding! Tae-min and the other two will be on standby at the vanguard. While you were away, I racked my brain in my own way about what method would operate your combat power, General Commander, as efficiently as possible……!”

Human talents are certainly diverse.

‘He was quite clumsy back then.’

Although Nam Chul-min couldn’t reveal a great prominence as a player.

After becoming an analyst, he was observing the situation from various perspectives.

Of course, situations didn’t flow just as expected, though.

As we got closer to the vanguard, an unusual atmosphere was felt.

“Just a moment, General Commander.”

It wasn’t that some tremendous existence was emitting a presence or anything.

‘It’s bloody.’

It was simply a sign I noticed by looking at the players’ complexions.

By the way, it seems the situation is certainly serious.

How bad must it be that they didn’t even notice my clacking footsteps.

‘Just what exactly is going on.’

The doubt was brief.

I eventually understood.

It certainly seems they had no mind to pay attention elsewhere.

Red insignia.

Because the players of World Unification were confronting the masters of the Massive Alliance.

Nam Tae-min, Hisagi, Leoni.

World Unification, I thought I already caught one of the three birds.

Soon, the guild members of World Unification turned their bodies.

“What’s with those bastards?”

At Nam Tae-min’s muttering, Nam Chul-min hurriedly runs out.

“Tae-min-ah, what’s going on?”

“Uh, Hyung. It’s nothing else but……. Wait, Ho-yeol-ssi?!”

“My. To make the General Commander wait, I have no face.”

“……Phew.”

Nam Tae-min, Hisagi, Leoni.

Their diverse reactions poured out only momentarily.

Nam Tae-min confessed the whole story of the incident.

“World Unification, those guys generally don’t even mix words with us.”

I had heard and knew about the closed nature of World Unification.

However, to think it would be to the point of not even mixing words with other guilds.

Nam Tae-min tilted his head.

“Did they say they are the center of the world? Their snobbery is far too high, you see. That’s why we were also feeling flabbergasted. Coming to our sector out of nowhere and abruptly asking if we haven’t seen them. What bullshit are those guys spouting when they are looking right at us?”

Nam Chul-min, who was listening, adjusted his glasses and said.

“If they think of themselves as World Unification……. They wouldn’t ask if we have or haven’t seen the meeting just now. It seems an incident has definitely occurred inside World Unification. To the extent they urgently stepped out to find the culprit of the incident from within.”

“A crack inside World Unification……?”

“Huh? How do you know that, Hyung?”

Hisagi and Nam Tae-min asking back.

I felt the same way.

To be able to deduce such information from a single sentence.

As expected, he’s not an analyst for nothing, right?

Nam Chul-min laid out the basis of his judgment.

“Movement speed buffs were applied to the World Unification players. It’s a skill that isn’t manifested during combat if possible because a considerable amount of magic power is consumed to maintain the effect. It means they stepped out purely for a conversation with us, the Massive Alliance.”

I gently nodded my head.

‘If you keep your mouth shut, you can go half the way.’

The psychology of a player is something even Granfel of the world cannot read.

Of course, I, Lee Ho-yeol, also lack confidence in that area.

High-level monsters including demons.

And although I have experience jostling with Arcana citizens not envying anyone else.

Directly clashing with players…….

‘It is definitely rare.’

In that sense, it’s reassuring.

Because behind me was the Massive Alliance of Gaon, Inazuma, and Berserker.

Of course, relying on the experience of others was an action contrary to pride.

I opened my mouth.

“Since I am here, there is nothing to worry about.”

Yeah, I just let you go this time because the timing barely didn’t align, but you see. You better not expect to just turn back next time too, World Unification.

‘Now that I made you a target of three birds with one stone.’

Because I and Granfel will return having obtained results no matter how.

By the way, at my words, Nam Chul-min bursts into a small laugh.

‘The sharp senses of an analyst…….’

When looked at from that perspective.

Did he burst into laughter at my shamelessness, I wondered.

Nam Chul-min looked at me and continued speaking.

“I apologize. It’s because I feel like I heard similar words from you, General Commander, when I first met you. Somehow I feel deeply moved anew and……. My heart felt that the General Commander hasn’t lost your original intentions even now!”

Certainly, if it’s this darn runaway mouth.

It would have more than likely said words similar to now.

At that sound, Hisagi gently closed his narrowed eyes and murmured.

“The original intentions of the General Commander which I do not know of…….”

Following that, Nam Tae-min and Leoni reacted.

“I don’t know it either. Do you know it?”

“Well. But I probably know better than you.”

……I wondered what conversation the three were having.

But seeing Leoni oddly shrug her shoulders, I became certain.

‘Somehow, their faces are bright in the order they got to know me……?’

Nam Chul-min whom I met at the first rift conquest.

Next was Leoni.

Next I met Nam Tae-min and Hisagi, right……?

I lamented inwardly.

‘In the end, pride is the problem.’

It’s childish, everyone!

Granfel.

Because you spread the pride of the 8th-grade syndrome to others.

Aren’t they all competing in childish ways as if they became middle schoolers?

‘A great sin, truly.’

Not satisfied with the Arcana Continent, even the 8th-grade syndrome to reality……. No, in order to pay the price for spreading pride. As expected, there is no choice but to diligently move my body.

“As I told you in advance, General Commander, in order to maximize your combat power. Our Massive Alliance will conquer 3 caves simultaneously.”

In that sense, it was an incomparably good plan.

‘If I suffer three times as much, I won’t even have time to be plagued by idle thoughts.’

I reflect on the recommended levels of the Hundred Thousand Caves.

[Recommended Level : 800]

[Recommended Level : 750]

[Recommended Level : 850]

Forget one, but three simultaneously.

No matter if it’s me, it was a difficulty where I couldn’t let go of the string of tension.

No, objectively speaking, I also feel it’ll be a bit too much for me.

Understandably so.

‘Because magic power consumption won’t be a joke.’

A whopping three caves.

Simultaneously conquerable.

What is the biggest reason?

“Because it is you, General Commander, you will be able to manifest portals leading from a cave to another cave! If you use those portals, we will be able to continue the conquest efficiently without dispersing combat power!”

That is true.

It is thanks to my magic manifestation power that entered the realm of [『Bizarre』].

However, speaking from experience, the magic power consumption won’t be a joke. Even if the [First World Tree’s Blessing] was in effect, it doesn’t mean the maximum magic power capacity increases.

‘Factually speaking, I’m opening portals leading from rift to rift.’

And depending on the situation, the players of the Massive Alliance will use the portals as well.

‘Just thinking about it makes me feel like my legs will tremble from magic power exhaustion.’

However.

This kind of overestimation.

Was an incomparably familiar thing to Granfel.

“A flawless plan.”

In direct opposition to the arrogant words.

It means the time has come to diligently struggle beneath the calm water surface in order to realize the overestimation from now on.

*

World Unification.

Gulp─

What they drank like water was an [Intermediate Magic Power Recovery Potion].

Its value was similar to a decent equipment item, but it couldn’t be helped. Following the movement speed increase skill, [Swift Footwork], they had to manifest even [Stealth].

[Skill, ‘Stealth’ is activated.]

Massive Alliance.

They had said they knew absolutely nothing concerning their whereabouts.

However, that is an unbelievable story.

‘There is no way they would vanish without a single reason.’

It was not one party that disobeyed the Lord’s assembly order, but reaching ten(一十). This is not a rebellion. It’s not one, but ten, and while they were conspiring, there is no way the Lord wouldn’t catch wind of it.

‘It is definitely the doing of an external faction.’

It was World Unification who declared supremacy.

Those who would look at such World Unification with displeasing eyes?

Abounded in the Zero Mountain Range.

Among them, the Massive Alliance.

‘Especially the beast and the snake bastard.’

From the days of Gaon and Inazuma.

If it’s Nam Tae-min and Hisagi who were pushed around by World Unification, they must hold a grudge against World Unification. The possibility of them revealing their true colors seizing this opportunity overflowed.

Didn’t they even confirm it at the face-to-face meeting just a moment ago?

That the Massive Alliance was in a state of assembling a considerable military force.

Of course.

‘No traces of battle were seen.’

Those whose news were cut off?

Although not as much as themselves, the Five Stars, they were strong ones with widespread rumors even inside World Unification. They looked far too perfectly fine to say they engaged in a death struggle with them.

‘However, everything is the more the better.’

Especially information, even more so.

Even if it ends up as a simple happening, information regarding the Massive Alliance will be helpful to the Lord. Therefore, the players of World Unification hid their bodies and only waited for the Massive Alliance to move.

And they encountered.

“……?”

Clack─

Outside expectations.

No, an existence outside standard.

And he opened his mouth.

“Are you mice eavesdropping on daylight words.”

……Do not be shaken.

“If you cannot differentiate between day and night.”

There is no way he could see through stealth from this distance……

“Presenting an eternal night would not be bad either.”

No.

Presenting an eternal night.

To spit out words filled with such certainty means.

“……!!!”

He, Lee Ho-yeol, had definitely seen through our stealth……!!