Chapter 278 – Starting from Zero (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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It is common knowledge among players.

That system messages do not lie.

So they could not believe it when he, Lee Ho-yeol, saw through [Stealth].

[Stealth (Master) : Hides one’s body in the surrounding environment. The farther the distance from the opponent, the probability of being discovered decreases vastly.]

The skill proficiency of stealth that reached Master.

As if that wasn’t enough, it explicitly stated ‘vastly’ in the description?

Even if it were a dragon living at the peak of the Zero Mountain Range. Unless they emitted killing intent first, their existence shouldn’t be noticeable from a distance of over hundreds of meters.

‘Because the aggro system is a different realm.’

The objective was information gathering to the bitter end.

Since it wasn’t an ambush or anything like that.

Naturally, the man and the special forces had no animosity whatsoever.

‘It should be absolutely impossible to be noticed…….’

Because he had countless experiences, he couldn’t understand it even more.

In the midst of that, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Could it be that it’s natural to not understand……?

‘……Dark Dragon.’

Even dragons cannot figure it out.

If so, if it is an existence greater than dragons.

If it’s the Dark Dragon.

‘He might be able to see through stealth……!’

And that Dark Dragon was right before his eyes.

The moment he made the judgment.

The man ended up realizing what kind of act they were committing.

“!”

To tail the Dark Dragon……!

This was an unplanned development.

Furthermore, it was also a judgment for the Lord.

If, by any chance, they ended up encountering Ho-yeol like this.

‘That arrow will return not to me, but to the Lord.’

Nod─

So the man signaled towards the special forces.

At this very moment, it’s a strategic retreat. To ignore the Dark Dragon’s warning just to obtain information regarding the Massive Alliance? Because the calculation didn’t balance out.

Sssrk!

The man swallowed a sigh of relief as he stepped back.

And he realized anew.

The fact that he preserved his life at this moment.

Was thanks to the Dark Dragon’s generous mercy.

‘If it wasn’t for him.’

I might have ended up in the same plight as those whose contact got cut off.

Thinking of them, a “what if” thought came to mind.

‘The possibility that Lee Ho-yeol is involved in the disappearances is…….’

If it’s Lee Ho-yeol.

It would be possible to subdue the strong ones of World Unification in a short time and remain perfectly fine.

However, the man soon shook his head.

Understandably so.

Weren’t his moves being broadcasted live to the world?

Even up until just a moment ago.

‘He was surrounded by reporters and cameras.’

Even if he manifested a portal and moved, the time doesn’t match.

Above all, Lee Ho-yeol, he had no reason to come into contact with the strong ones of World Unification. Decisively, isn’t it obvious just seeing how he showed mercy to them?

‘He is not a figure possessing an ordinary vessel.’

Meaning he’s not someone to pull tricks behind the scenes.

“……If so, who on earth could it be?”

He suspected the Massive Alliance from the sight of them assembling troops.

If the reason for that was due to Lee Ho-yeol, it was understood.

Why, grandly welcoming a Monarch would be the natural duty of retainers.

Thanks to that, the thought circuit that fell into a fog.

What awakened the man was none other than a vibration.

Bzzzzt!

“……!”

Those who had gone missing.

As if nothing had happened at all.

It was news that they had nonchalantly returned to the assembly point.

“What’s this, exactly?”

Rather than the regret of having made a futile effort, he couldn’t understand it.

Even if the Lord was absent from his seat in the Zero Mountain Range for the sake of the connector.

To think they’d return as if nothing happened despite disobeying the Lord’s order.

“It is a behavior I cannot just watch as a Five Star.”

Even if he couldn’t completely fill the Lord’s absence.

However, substituting for the Lord even a little.

He would have to hold them accountable regarding the violation of rules.

“We move swiftly.”

The man and the special forces headed to the assembly point.

The culprit of the situation they had been searching so frantically for over there.

Not even knowing that the Shadow Mercenaries were coiled up there.

*

Squeak squeak!

A mouse urgently disappearing into the bushes.

Just because I revived my original intentions.

There was no need for even my way of speaking to return to those days.

Through the surrounding reactions, I realize the ripple effect of my snout.

“To say you would present an eternal night, it is a truly impressive expression.”

Do not nod your head as if deeply moved, Hisagi.

There, who is that person taking notes again?!

Damn it, I’m already starting to regret choosing this cave.

‘He’ll probably more than enough praise them for taking good notes, considering Granfel’s personality.’

Instead of spitting out such words.

I’d rather look away.

I averted my gaze to the popping-up message.

[Sanctuary of the Little Champion Beneath the Mountain Range]

[Recommended Level : 850]

[Collapse Rate : 100%]

Someone might ask.

Why I abruptly brought up a proverb regarding mice.

The reason for that is simple and clear.

Because the little champion in the message referred to mice.

“Its structure is similar to a labyrinth.”

At the place Hisagi pointed to while saying so, there was a mouse hole in the bushes.

It’s not a metaphor, but a real mouse hole mice go in and out of.

I wondered how he discovered such a thing, but.

Looking at Hisagi’s snake eyes, I ended up understanding.

‘Come to think of it, snakes are also the natural enemies of mice.’

Although Hisagi isn’t a real snake.

By the way, my body paused, albeit for a split second.

For Granfel of the world to pause.

It was not a common occurrence.

‘It naturally cannot be because he’s scared.’

Level 850.

Even though it belonged to quite the high end, I was one who stood upright instead of shrinking back even in front of rifts and monsters worse than that. Ultimately, the reason Granfel hesitated would be only one.

‘Anyway, that darn obsession with attire.’

He’s probably worried whether his clothes will get wrinkled while entering the small mouse hole.

Yeah, it’s nice to feel humanity after a long while, but…….

Even so, isn’t the direction of your worries far too different from others?

Knowing no way of my inner thoughts, Hisagi continues speaking.

“However, fitting for a cave, a peculiar system exists. The moment you enter, the size of your body will shrink. To the extent that a small mouse looks like a monster reaching several meters.”

I felt it in the [Sea of Magma] where I encountered the Sirens too, but the caves of the Zero Mountain Range definitely had tricky elements existing in them. The fact that ‘something’ exists in each cave that cannot be conquered with levels alone.

‘That’s why experience is important.’

Wasn’t I the one who realized that levels are merely the size of a drawing paper?

Depending on what one draws on the drawing paper through what experiences, the drawn result will also differ.

In that sense.

“It will be not a bad challenge for you.”

The Zero Mountain Range.

Especially the experiences in the caves will become great nourishment for the players. Of course, that includes me, Lee Ho-yeol, as well among you. Anyhow, to shake off hesitation so quickly at Hisagi’s words.

‘Since there’d be no need to struggle passing through the mouse hole if the body gets smaller.’

Since Granfel, whose worry over his clothes getting wrinkled disappeared, had nothing left to fear.

Without hesitation towards the mouse hole.

I stepped forward towards the cave entrance.

Hisagi follows behind and continues speaking.

“Thank you for trusting and choosing me.”

……No, hearing that, someone might think I made some important choice.

The reason I chose Hisagi’s cave was simple.

Because simply its recommended level was the highest.

But is it because he got infected by pride.

Attaching grandiose meanings to every action.

It’s exactly like watching Granfel, Hisagi…….

‘I wish to decline any more clones, genuinely.’

I swallowed a lament and took a step.

[Entering the ‘Sanctuary of the Little Champion Beneath the Mountain Range’.]

.

.

.

Squeak squeak!

The cries of mice ring out loudly enough to make eardrums drop.

Simultaneously with the entry message, I realize my body has shrunk.

‘By the way.’

There’s a reason it was named a sanctuary. Is it because it’s a sanctuary built up by mice. It’s somewhat clumsy somewhere, but an explicitly pious atmosphere overflows.

‘The Goddess Order’s holy land, Muon, had exactly this kind of atmosphere, probably?’

To compare a sanctuary of mice and a holy land of the Goddess Order.

Talrim might feel sad if he hears it.

But what can I do when it feels that way.

“Grand.”

Above all, the massive scale overwhelmed its clumsiness.

The actual size might be nothing special, but.

It means it looks incomparably huge from my shrunken field of vision.

Leaving me engrossed in aesthetic evaluations behind.

Hisagi plunged into conquest preparations.

Setting up a base camp, dividing vanguard and rearguard roles.

I guess this is what a systematic conquest is.

‘As expected, I still lack a lot.’

It would be useless knowledge if I insisted on solo play like before, but I was one who ended up shouldering even the Holy War Allied Forces going beyond a guild. As these experiences pile up and pile up, a day to put them to use will come someday.

Hisagi, having finished preparations, said.

“Then we will plunge into action in earnest. If by any chance you see any inadequate points, please scold us severely anytime, General Commander Lee Ho-yeol.”

I need the qualification to scold to scold you.

As I said, I’m an amateur when it comes to party or guild level conquests. I can’t even benefit from Granfel’s mighty settings because a player-style conquest was explicitly different from the tactics in Arcana.

However, as expected, I babble shamelessly.

“If so, I shall watch, Hisagi.”

Of course, it doesn’t mean I’ll just stay back entirely.

Even struggling needs pace adjustment.

Simply put, if I don’t differentiate between standard tactics and shortcuts, a recommended level 850 or so, I can clear it even on my own. However, what I need to look towards is not an inch ahead, but the near future.

‘Because there’s no meaning in advancing alone.’

Experience points?

Well, I do need them just to wear the jacket properly.

But even if it’s not necessarily this cave.

The means for me to obtain experience points are overflowing.

‘Because I can enter the Arcana Continent.’

So my thought was to step forward appropriately when I should step forward, and watch when I should watch. I said it grandiosely, but as I said, just watching was a profitable business.

However…….

As expected, fitting for the underground of a land not recommended to anyone.

Starting from the dragon at the peak.

Everything in the Zero Mountain Range cannot be judged by levels alone.

The Hundred Thousand Caves are the same.

Squeak squeak squeak!

Loud cries heard from everywhere.

Eventually.

Giant mice revealing their figures.

“Hisagi-san! Formations seem meaningless at this rate!”

Naturally, it can’t be helped but be meaningless.

When house-sized mice are swarming from everywhere.

Distinguishing between vanguard and rearguard probably wouldn’t yield any strategic advantage.

Hisagi shouted while raising his spear.

“Concentrated breakthrough!”

It is an exceedingly common-sense judgment.

Defense or melee combat in a space open in all directions?

It would be no different from a suicidal act.

However, no matter how I look at it, the balance doesn’t match.

Squeak squeak!

An aura rising everywhere in the sanctuary.

It’s probably the ability of the ‘Little Champion’, the boss mob of this cave.

Thanks to the sanctuary, the morale of the giant mice seemed to be in a rapidly increased state.

‘Is this a home team buff.’

In contrast, how is the situation on our side?

Currently, Hisagi’s level is in the mid-500s.

Meaning he is lagging behind the recommended level of the cave by a whopping 300 levels.

Since Hisagi, a ranker, is in that situation, there’s no need to mention the others.

Because they knew that fact.

‘That must be why Hisagi and the other two hadn’t entered either.’

In short, because they trusted my combat power.

The Massive Alliance plunged into the conquest of the cave.

If so, even just to meet expectations.

It’s natural that I also devote my full power.

Of course, beating monsters to death isn’t always the only best option, is it?

As I said, what’s necessary is appropriate pace adjustment.

My role, as a director.

Is to boost the away team’s morale to the point of not falling behind the home team.

If so, first of all.

‘I need to do something about the annoying buff.’

There are two methods.

Either smash the sanctuary and throw cold water on the home team.

Or if not, give the Massive Alliance a buff comparable to the sanctuary buff.

Which option is the best.

The deliberation was not long.

What is desperate for the players.

Is not catching the fish.

It is the method of catching fish.

Did they say Little Champion?

It seems it reigns like a god here.

Since there’s also an existence who is small but amazing on this side, you see.

“Hiel.”

That is true.

Right now.

A battlefield suitable for Hiel, who specializes in support abilities, to unfold her abilities.

Soon, Hiel, answering my call, revealed her figure in midair.

But, wait a minute…….

Why are you so big, Hiel?!

A thought that suddenly crossed my mind.

Don’t tell me, to the {Inherent Spirit} Hiel who is not a player.

The shrinking the moment you enter.

Cave’s system doesn’t apply?

“……!!!”

Thanks to that, Hiel’s already splendid and trailing figure couldn’t help but look even more noble and grandiose. A murmuring sound came from among the players.

But.

“W-Wait a minute……. What is that?”

“The halo is so strong I can’t see the face well.”

“But, for such an existence in Arcana…….”

“D-Don’t tell me……. Is, isn’t that the Goddess-nim……?!”

What did you say, a Goddeeessss?!

Don’t tell me Hiel is…….

The Arcana Continent’s largest religion.

Are they mistaking her for the Goddess of the Goddess Order right now?

‘Even if the face isn’t visible, a Goddess?’

By the way, why are prioritizing listening, Hiel……?

Even if you are Granfel’s clone.

You don’t have to resemble the excessive shamelessness.

No, moreover, what’s with that gentle smile like the Goddess?!