Chapter 836: The Last (69)

‘I’ll have to fix this before I go.’

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Hee-ra. I knew that she could smash the Dark Plague Lord or anyone for that matter.

But wasn’t war keeping the two of them in a cage? Maybe…

‘It’s going to be more difficult than I thought…’

In terms of difficulty, it was quite high. Even at a glance, the Plague Lord side seemed to have had his stats increased to some extent.

I didn’t know exactly how the dungeon system of the Continent Where the Son of Light Was Sacrificed. Still, if I considered the Revolutionary War and the Demon Summoner case, it seemed like it could be said to have undergone an upward adjustment to some extent.

There was a possibility that the difficulty or method of attack would be different.

In the case of the revolutionary Cardinal who appeared in the Revolutionary War, it was even more so considering that he was an NPC who couldn’t communicate his intentions properly.

Since the design of the continent-wide dungeon most likely cost a tremendous amount of divinity, it could have been designed that way in terms of cost reduction.

However, in the Revolutionary War, Oscar and the soldiers were the protagonists in the first place. So it was unreasonable to see him as the event boss who was in charge of the big axis of the event.

The Revolutionary Cardinal was nothing more or less than an NPC who simply stepped on and moved according to a set behavioral pattern.

In Jin Qing’s case, it was a little different. I didn’t know how Jihye brought him here.

However, he clearly remembered the past and expressed his intentions, and a unique attack method was also installed.

Of course, Jin Qing had no function that could hold the lifeline of reality with that game.

It was a little different, but it was right to think that he was also upgraded, just like Jung Jin-ho and Ito Souta on the board.

“This is too obvious.”

It was a story that was already buried in the past and disappeared into history, since stories were often exaggerated and subjected to various corrections.

I thought that the Doom Kiyoung I was looking at right now would have received an upgrade but would never have received a downgrade.

“What matters is what’s inside that. You either brought your own soul, or you could be a simple body with thoughts. I’m a little sorry to say this to you, but do you have the perception that you’re the original?”

—I do. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that it is incorrect information. Are you wondering what’s inside that Plague Lord?

“It doesn’t really matter, but I’m curious. The Plague Lord recorded in history was very cold, charismatic, and ruthless. He was pretty cool too… well, he had that kind of image.”

-Image?

“Don’t worry about it. Please keep talking, Hyejin. I just said something I shouldn’t have.”

—So you mean that his personality was created?

“I feel like the probability is high.”

—I don’t know why you’re worried. A created personality is just that. I don’t know exactly how the system governing the continent works, but if that’s a sloppy chunk of data, there’s no reason to worry about it.

“It’s because it might be similar to the original. Have you ever thought that the game board you are running right now is strange? It’s too similar to the original to be a simple game…”

—You’re crazy.

“It was made by Jihye.”

—Crazy bastards.

“It was created using the system we have, but using divinity means that the results are quite plausible. She succeeded in creating a program that resembled actual people. I didn’t even expect it. But look at this. Isn’t it really like the original?”

—That’s really absurd… crazy bastards.

“What’s wrong? Even you think it’s interesting. Errors such as the Sunset Swordsman are occasionally seen, but… aside from those errors, this chunk of data is near-perfect. It can think for itself, and it can evolve. It is safe to say that it is a very well-crafted artificial intelligence. It’s a coincidence, but judging it as a simple piece of data is an insult to Jihye who created this system.”

Cho Hyejin, who was conveying my words, paused for a moment.

It looked like she had something to say, but she focused on saying what I was saying for now.

—Then…

“Yes. Perhaps what is now inside the Plague Lord is a personality created by that system.”

Many things were likely to have been cut off.

It was just a chunk of the system, but Doom Kiyoung was dangerous in many ways.

Considering that he actually gave a blow to Seraphim…

‘I don’t need to say anything.’

It wasn’t enough to say that it was a feat that a single chunk of data had given a blow to upper dimensional people.

‘Anyway…’

Maybe it disappeared with all personality and memories and put Doom Kiyoung into the base spirit. Or, he might have signed a separate contract with Jihye. Maybe it was both. In the process of coaxing him, she might have signed a contract and pruned the twigs to make a chess horse piece out of the complete Plague Lord.

Jihye liked Doom Kiyoung quite a bit, after all.

‘It must have been the best method to effectively reduce costs.’

I was certain that if it were me, I would have made the same choice. She was probably thinking about making a real named entity, so she thought it would be better to put a little more effort into it.

No matter how she tricked him, he was probably putting off a chess piece.

No, it wasn’t acting. He most likely really considered himself the Plague Lord. All the mental collisions had been swept away, after all.

The memories of the dummy world would have been wiped out on their own.

‘What could be the content of the contract?’

It wasn’t something to make me interested. Well, it had to be regarding the treatment of the Dummy World or the people who lived there. I couldn’t guarantee that she would keep the promise, and frankly, it might be something with a different personality based on the real Doom Kiyoung.

Everything was just a simple assumption. However…

‘It’s pretty dangerous.’

Being judged as a named monster in the dungeon was meaningful.

If Lucifer and Jihye had designed a body based on an exaggerated history and put a chunk of data that could be exploited in it…

‘It would definitely be a nightmare.’

Tension rose in the eyes of the leaders of the Federation War upon hearing the news of the State and Laios.

Doom Kiyoung, looking down at the dirty insects with his arrogant eyes, definitely had class.

A huge army of demons lined up behind him, and a plague dragon was standing right next to him. Limur, Ronove, and the other Four Heavenly Kings were not seen, but Donovan and other fake demons were there.

The spears held by the soldiers who were looking at them from quite a distance were shaking.

The adventurers of the Federation, who remembered the previous battle, had faces like they were being led to the slaughterhouse.

True to the name of the Plague Lord…

-Cha Hee-ra.

-Report.

-Some areas cannot be battled on. To be precise, they became infested with plagues that can’t be purged by any means. Even for high-ranking adventurers, surviving for an hour or so is the limit…

-So, this is a battlefield that cannot be used practically. Next.

-The ghosts summoned by the Plague Lord…

-Create a separate response team to deal with it. What about the evacuation of federal citizens?

-As you said, the evacuation of federal citizens is our top priority. All high-ranking priests and useful alchemists have been recruited to distinguish the infected from those who are not, but there is a shortage of manpower as there are too many.

-Your thoughts.

-I think it would be good to recruit manpower at the main unit. Of course, it might become difficult to maintain the fronts, but…

-Then do it.

-Are you serious?

-The battlefield must be cleared quickly. This is better than cumbersome things. Do you have any contacts from other places?

-No.

-Get ready to enter within three days.

-…

-Three. Days.

-I’ll… I’ll… do my best…

The situation itself didn’t look advantageous.

It certainly seems to have received an upgrade. Unlike this side, where only a few ghosts could move, it seemed to be able to move on a big scale.

It could even generate plague-infested areas. With that much… the word “redesigned” fits well.

I could feel that Hee-ra would use her troops in her own style.

In fact, it was also efficient. That was also like her…

It was a flaw that she trusted people too much, but she was also excellent at distinguishing between those she could believe and those she couldn’t…

As I always thought, she was closer to becoming an ideal monarch than our regressor.

If I had to look for her weakness, it was that Cha Hee-ra was pressured by groups.

There were kinds of leaders who gathered people even when they were standing still.

There might be several reasons. As Choi Young-ki said, there might have been grace, and there might have been others who were simply drawn to her name and actions.

In a way, she was a blessed talent, but to her, her group would feel like a chain.

She couldn’t abandon her own people. That might have been the reason why Kim Hyunsung measured up against Cha Hee-ra.

Thus, she couldn’t accept the complete destruction of the continent.

“So, you need help.”

—Didn’t I tell you? I no longer…

“This is not a request, Commander. It’s counter-intimidation. If you become a hero of the shadows, you must walk like one.”

- I said…

—…

“And why are you doing this? To be honest, it looks like it would be fun for you too. Think of it as playing the real last game.”

—…

“It’s going to be really fun this time.”

—…

“After all, you’re the Shadow Hero. I’ll be careful not to step on the screen again. Heera seems to be the main character here.”

—Damn…

This bastard was even thinking it over.

It seemed like he wanted to avoid any further involvement as much as possible, but that wasn’t the case with games.

People often played one more even after saying it was their last match. He humbly wanted to accept his end, so before he went… it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think of the last match.

Besides, the opponent was the Plague Lord. It would be strange if his soul as a gambler didn’t burn.

—How can I help you?

“The operation and supply of the overall force… no, just think about what you’re doing from the beginning to end. Of course, I’ll have to lead first, and finally, you’ll have to work with Heera too. If you speak well, you can do whatever you want, from start to finish.”

—28 hours.

“What?”

—Let’s say we’re ready to go in 28 hours, Cho Hyejin. Contact the outpost right now…

-Okay. I will.

Cha Hee-ra’s puzzled expression was reflected in the Goddess’s Mirror.

—It’s me. We will finish preparations for departure within 28 hours.

-…

—Connect the data I need to know right now and the lieutenants who will handle miscellaneous tasks.

‘This bastard kept talking with honorifics and then stopped right away. He completely let himself go.’

From Cha Hee-ra’s point of view, it might be a little shocking. How absurd it would be when a connection came in through an unknown line, and Jin Qing, the hero of the shadows, asked for information.

However, she didn’t seem to care much. After that, while staring intently at the screen, she spoke up.

-Leave it to me. Connect the communication channel.

—What would you like to do? Do you want anything?

-I’m going to the nest.

It seemed that the destination had been decided.

‘It’s Limur’s nest without Limur.’

It was the place where Cha Hee-ra, who was the general commander at the time, had no choice but to retreat her troops.

-By the way, Vice Guild Master.

“Yeah?”

-Are you really okay?

“What?”

-No… it’s nothing.