Chapter 137 - Defense (1)

[ The presence of a Conqueror who has occupied 4 zones has been identified. ]

[ The Third Ordeal is about to enter its 3rd phase. Everyone, prepare yourselves. ]

“...Hmm?”

Seo Ah-in, who was checking the updated information, frowned slightly.

“They’ve never notified us like this before, have they?”

That was true.

It had always been a notification like, ‘The next stage is beginning!’ once the conditions were met, but there had never been a warning to prepare.

“Well, doesn’t that just mean Phase 3 is going to be that tough?”

“...I’m not getting that feeling from you at all, though?”

Seo Ah-in said in a disbelieving voice, looking at me as I sat in a rocking chair, repeating a pendulum-like motion back and forth.

Hmm, this was a Dwarf-made rocking chair, indeed. If I wasn’t careful, I could fall asleep just like this.

“No, I mean, well. You’re the type of person who, even if a world-ending gate suddenly opened, would nonchalantly say, ‘You just have to do this in that situation?’, right...”

“Hmm.”

“...Why aren’t you denying it?”

Because an event like that would actually happen later on.

It was the King of Flies event, related to Darien, who was probably running around trying to conquer the fifth zone right about now.

It was a scenario where the Magic Tower, Lee Si-yeong who was a key part of that story, and Darien who was a key part of clearing it, all get entangled in a huge commotion...

‘That’s something to worry about later.’

I had to do what needed to be done right now.

With that thought, I checked the point settlement window.

If I acquired all the bonuses from occupying zones and other miscellaneous points, my current total would rise to 1000p.

It was more than I expected, but in a situation like this, it was an amount that would be unmanageable if it didn't roll in like this.

“What? Were we in that much of an emergency?”

“It is... an emergency. But it’s not really an emergency, let’s just call it a situation.”

“...”

I grinned at Seo Ah-in, who was making a face that asked what on earth I was trying to say, and turned the map.

Inside the 3D map, where waves spread out like a radar, several red dots were marked.

It was a sign that pointed to ‘hostile targets,’ for anyone to see.

“Oh, this is...?”

“Well, it’s about time for them to start checking us.”

An announcement had also been made that a new phase would soon open, so it was only natural to try and pull down the one who was furthest ahead.

‘Hah, really.’

And the timing of them taking such action was even later than I had thought.

How long has it been since I put my name at the top of the leaderboard, and they’re only now crawling over.

“...What’s with that look that says you were waiting?”

“Weren’t you not just waiting, but constantly sharpening your blade to screw them over when they came?”

She saw right through me.

***

“...So, I’m still not convinced that’s the reason I was called third.”

Ms. Seo Hye-in said with a sulky look, her arms crossed.

Well. To be honest, from my perspective, it was quite baffling.

If I had said I needed her because the Climber Alliance was coming to attack us in this terrifying situation, I could understand her being terrified and asking why I was passing on such a dreadful responsibility.

But this was, how should I put it.

Didn't it feel like she was pouting about why she wasn't called sooner?

‘No way it’s that, though...’

No matter what, I wasn't that self-absorbed.

A person of her caliber wouldn't get upset over something as trivial as her turn—

“...Me, you...”

“Yes?”

“...Last time, you said you trusted me the most.”

“...”

Watching Ms. Seo Hye-in furtively glance this way and stammer out her words, I felt my mind go blank.

Why on earth was that actually true.

“...No. That’s not it.”

For now, it seemed the reason was, mysteriously, that, so I started spouting words to somehow soothe and placate her.

That what I said back then was by no means an empty promise, that in fact, this was a very critical situation and I had called the most trustworthy Ms. Seo Hye-in to match it, that I would be a dead man without her, and so on, and so on.

“...E-even if I, h-hear, such things. It doesn’t, particularly, make me, f-feel, better.”

You should try saying that after stopping your lips from curling up.

Watching her try so hard to maintain a solemn and strict expression of protest was almost pitiful.

It seemed that thought had shown on my face, as Ms. Seo Hye-in, after glancing at me, cleared her throat and turned her head away.

Then, she made eye contact with Seo Ah-in, who had been hiding in a corner and peeking this way.

“...”

“...”

Subsequently, the awkward silence that usually occurred whenever the two of them met settled between the Seo sisters.

However, the dynamic was a little different from usual. Normally, Seo Ah-in would have avoided eye contact and run away before a staring contest like this could even happen.

But now, she was staring at Ms. Seo Hye-in with empty eyes, as if she had witnessed the end of the world.

“...Climber Seo Ah-in? Is there a problem?”

In the end, unable to watch any longer, Ms. Seo Hye-in spoke up.

But from the other party, all that came back was a sniffle and words that seemed to be muttered to herself.

“Don’t make me laugh...”

“Excuse me?”

“Wh-when did you two get so close... Don’t tell me you’re really lovers... Hmph...”

“...”

After muttering something to herself, she disappeared.

What’s with her?

“...She seemed to be in a very bad mood for some reason.”

And why were you getting all fidgety about it again?

Stick to your concept.

“Well, that’s that.”

I wished she would stop distracting me and please focus on the task at hand.

With that wish in mind, I grabbed Ms. Seo Hye-in's hand and moved to another location.

Why grab her hand when I could just call her name?

“Y-you should set the mood a little before doing something like this!”

“...”

It was because she had been unable to keep her composure like this since a while ago.

At least she seemed to have regained some of her senses after arriving at our destination.

“This is...”

Ms. Seo Hye-in, who had looked around, muttered with her eyes slightly widened.

‘There was a function like that during the Phase 2 update.’

Creating a ‘Base’ in a conquered zone.

What had revealed itself before this person was also that kind of facility. It was a building I had constructed around the crystal, buying structures one by one with points.

Well, anyone who had worked for a large guild would probably recognize it immediately.

It was a defensive facility to prepare for a ‘raid,’ a facility familiar to any Climber who was occasionally called for support in Gate phenomena.

However, understanding the ‘meaning’ this facility held now was something only possible for someone who had worked in a large guild like the Hunting Alliance.

“...Isn't it vicious.”

“Excuse me?”

“Just how much do you plan to torment other people to create a structure like this...”

“...”

Just as they say, sisters do resemble each other.

Ms. Seo Hye-in was repeating the exact same thing Seo Ah-in had said.

***

“Is that it...”

“Hey. Everyone, get a grip! We’re really here now.”

As one of the Climbers in the lead said that, all those following him stopped in their tracks.

The ‘Extreme Tundra’, one of the zones occupied by the current number one, Kim Gyu-sik, and the one located on the very outskirts, had appeared before their eyes.

Someone gulped, looking at the alien sight of a blizzard raging inside the blue boundary line.

Tension was clearly visible on the faces of everyone there, regardless of age or gender.

Among them, those with weaker mental fortitude had even turned pale, their breathing becoming ragged.

“Tsk. What are you all going to do, being so scared? Even if he’s the genius of Asia or whatever, the opponent is ultimately a human just like us! A Climber from the East who was ignored for a long time at that!”

Unable to watch any longer, one of them said so, but the fear that had spread like a plague among them showed no signs of easily dissipating.

No, what was just said was definitely all true.

But wasn't it because he popped out from that very same ignored East and smashed the heads of anyone who came at him without a second thought that he earned such a reputation?

“Dammit! Are you guys just going to stand by and watch that guy run wild on his own! You’re all Climbers who came here to get a piece of the pie, so if you’re going to act like such cowards, go back right now!”

“...W-well, that’s true, right?”

“Alright. It’ll be fine.”

As the man in the lead screamed his head off, the fear on the faces of the people there finally began to recede to some extent.

Indeed, hadn't they come here in the first place to teach a lesson to the guy who was running a solo race? They too were Climbers who were a big deal in their respective affiliations. It didn't suit them to be so dispirited before even starting.

However, what appeared before them as they entered with renewed determination was an unidentified structure.

“...What is this?”

Such words absentmindedly escaped from someone who saw the automatic door, which looked like it would belong at the entrance of a stylishly designed research institute.

It was not a building that exuded an atmosphere befitting a place where ferocious demonic beasts appeared and life-or-death struggles took place.

Rather than that... it was more like, how should I put it.

It had an appearance that would be more fittingly called a ‘recreational facility,’ where a sports match could be held inside.

Still, it was clearly a defensive facility, so as they cautiously walked inside, that sense of unease only accelerated.

There were no traps or guardians commonly placed in bases, not even turrets or snipers using long-range projectiles.

It was to the point where they, who had come prepared with countermeasures for every situation, felt embarrassed.

“That guy, Kim Gyu-sik, what on earth is he thinking?”

“Hmph. It just means his foundation is only this deep. He was so engrossed in his conquest activities that it’s no wonder he couldn't solidify his internal affairs.”

Ah, so that was it.

There had to be a reason why a Climber from the East was showing such superhuman abilities.

Perhaps because he was running around all over the place, beyond his means to invest resources in defending his zones, his main base must be completely empty.

That’s what everyone thought.

Until they heard the voice echoing through the facility.

[Ah, ah, mic check.]

“...What’s this?”

“It’s Kim Gyu-sik’s voice!”

[Yeah, yeah, looks like I’ve gotten pretty well-known. There are even people who recognize me just by my voice.]

“Ha, of course! We all came here to devour you!”

[Yep. I can tell by looking.]

The faces of those who had done some research on the person named Kim Gyu-sik and knew a thing or two already hardened with a sense of foreboding.

[But you know. That can be interpreted in another way, right?]

And those who didn't became that way after the sentence that followed.

[If you came to devour someone, I’ll take that to mean you’re all prepared to be devoured yourselves, right?]

Starting with that sentence.

A living hell began.

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