Chapter 153: Contaminated Land (2)

[Breaking News! Unknown signs an exclusive broadcasting contract with NET Media.]

[NET Media: ‘We’re thrilled to work with Unknown’—official statement.]

[NET Media’s stock rises after contract. Is the ‘Unknown Effect’ already starting?]

[NET Media’s director responds to a flood of viewer inquiries: ‘The program will air in three weeks.’]

The news of Unknown’s exclusive contract with NET Media became big news in South Korea's gaming community.

“This is insane, absolutely crazy!”

“No way, so we’ll be able to watch Unknown’s war video on the NET channel?”

“And it’s not just that. There’ll probably be Korean commentary and subtitles, too!”

“Amazing. Why did he sign with Korea though?”

“Yeah, isn’t the U.S. market way bigger for game broadcasts? Their offer surely must have been better...”

It didn’t take long for the shocking reason behind this to come to light.

Just a few hours later, Aris released the fully edited exclusive interview with Unknown. The views skyrocketed, and the players’ comments poured in even faster.

-Hey guys, did you watch the interview with Unknown?

└ Yeah, I did. He’s Korean.

└ Saw it. Apparently Unknown is Kai.

-Unknown, I’m so sorry for accusing you of cheating :(

-C’mon, he was just a cheater. I just thought he was Korean haha

└ You’ve got the order mixed up lol. But I guess it means the same thing.

It was like adding fuel to the fire. Before the shock had even subsided, the second wave hit, leaving people unable to regain their composure.

-So the current number one player is Korean?

└ Wasn’t the last one Korean, too? Yoo Ha-Rin.

└ Judging by the name, she’s probably Korean... but maybe not?

└ Nope, two consecutive Korean players at first place!

Of course, some quickly regained their composure—particularly South Korean gamers!

-I knew it. From the way he moved in-game, I thought it was definitely Korean-style gameplay.

└ Yeah right lmao. I checked your old posts. You called him a noob relying on gear and guild power.

└ Hey, that wasn’t me. My cat wrote that.

-We’ve got Cheonhwa in the top ten guilds, and now Unknown, or Kai, in first place!

└ Never underestimate Korea again!

Simply by signing an exclusive contract with NET Media, Unknown’s account saw another wave of donations flooding in.

“I like it.”

Kai smiled as he looked at the reactions, then closed the internet browser and spread out a map.

“This area is pretty heavily contaminated.”

The vast land that Kai had been granted by King Beoruk was rich with forests, seas, and high-quality minerals, yet no one could live there at the moment. The reason was simple.

[You sense the presence of the Blue Plague.]

[Poison Master activated.]

[You have fully resisted the effects of the Blue Plague.]

“I’m really thankful to Aosa.”

Who would have thought that such land had been contaminated by it in the past!

The sooner I purify this place, the better.

Afterward, his plan was to gather the elves and merfolk here and build a city. That was his goal.

I’ve already decided on a name for the city too.

It would be called the City of Freedom, Libertia!

Kai acted quickly toward his goal.

“This land is absurdly vast.”

Everything within his sight was now his property. Of course, it wouldn’t be long before this land would belong to the demi-human races.

I can see the sea and the forest. Hmm, a citadel could even be built from here all the way over to there.

Kai strolled through the land with a satisfied expression and nodded to himself.

“Those Church of Muldine guys... They’ll probably try something with the dwarves, too. I guess it’s time to stop lazing around and start moving.”

With his decision made, Kai’s slow walk gradually picked up speed, until his body shot forward like a bullet.

At least the good thing is there’s no threat of monsters with the Blue Plague here... huh?

Just as Kai was relieved, something shot toward him at high speed from the front. He dodged it by twisting and bending his back as if playing limbo, but the thorny vine grazed the tip of his nose as it whipped past.

If I had reacted even a second later...

It would have hit him directly.

Despite his nervous swallow, he turned to look at what had attacked him.

[Contaminated Plantia LV. 320]

“Level 320?!” Kai was startled and examined the creature closely.

It looks like a plantia, which is normally a level 260 monster, but...

Plantias were massive monsters that took the form of plants.

However, this one was covered in something like poisonous mushrooms.

So it’s been contaminated, huh...

It was clear that the creature had been corrupted by the Blue Plague.

I’ll need to ask about this later.

With that decision, Kai drew his sword.

“Level 320 sure is high, but...”

Kai had grown far stronger than before, thanks to the recent war.

“Supernova!”

The ground Kai kicked off of shattered, sending pieces of the earth flying everywhere. At the same time, Kai appeared behind the plantia, and his sword cleanly sliced down the middle of the creature.

Green, foul-smelling liquid spurted from the creature’s split body, but Kai ignored it and continued swinging his sword.

Slash! Slash!

It took only about eight seconds for the contaminated plantia to disintegrate into polygons. Five strikes were all it took.

“Wow, the XP is amazing.”

Kai grimaced as he pulled out a water bottle from his inventory and wiped off the creature’s blood, his lips pressed tightly together.

I should ask what’s going on with this...

Kai had a bitter gaze, as his fingers twitched.

[Speak with the thoughts of Cherantia.]

[Speak with the thoughts of Shimizu.]

These were the special abilities tied to the Holy Ring Petra and Holy Pauldron Nike. The function allowed him to converse with the thoughts of the previous apostles and seek their wisdom...

... which is ridiculous. I almost died when I tried talking to both of them at once last time.

The terrifying memory of two spirits constantly following him and talking non-stop made him shudder.

Even so, he hesitantly moved his hand.

“Still, Shimizu was a bit more tolerable than Cherantia...”

Kai selected the option to converse with Shimizu. As a result, 5,000 Holy Power was immediately consumed. At the same time, a translucent figure appeared before him.

—Oh my, it's the Fourth One.

“Shimizu,” Kai said.

—Yes?

The woman who was covering her faintly smiling lips was none other than Shimizu, the first Solaris Cleric. She wore a large cleric robe and had a shining circlet on her head.

Blinking her doe-like eyes, Shimizu asked,

—So what business today? Oh! Where is Cherantia? It was truly a meaningful and wonderful time when the three of us had a conversation last time. Could we possibly chat with the three of us again today?

“No, absolutely not.”

Kai wasn't foolish enough to willingly walk into hell.

Seeing his firm refusal, Shimizu frowned.

Then, Kai asked her, “Shimizu, could you please take a look around.”

—Look around here... Hm! This energy... It's the Blue Plague.

Shimizu wiped away her playful expression and surveyed the area with dignity befitting a high priest.

“I heard this place became uninhabitable because of the Blue Plague that swept through in the past. But I’ve seen monsters roaming around, and they’re contaminated.”

—This is new to me as well. Normally, the Blue Plague dissipates over time, as it spreads in a vaporous form... Could you tell me the exact location of this place?

Kai unfolded a map and showed it to her.

Shimizu let out a soft sigh in response.

—This used to be the location of a secret base of the Church of Muldine. I believe it was a site for repeated experiments and research on Aosa.

“Then, the poisons contaminating this land are...”

—Yes, it's likely a remnant of Aosa's poison.

Kai let out a faint sigh at Shimizu’s explanation.

This is turning out to be more troublesome than I thought.

Purifying this vast land was already a great task. If there were also mutated monsters created from the Church of Muldine’s plague experiments lurking around in addition to that...

I don’t know when this will end...

Kai bit his lower lip before asking another question. “What would be the fastest way to purify this land?”

—Hmm... It would be very difficult. You said you defeated Aosa recently, right?

“Yes.”

—Well, since these poisons originated from Aosa, they won’t disappear easily unless Aosa were to come back and absorb them itself. Of course, you could forcibly remove them using the power of an Apostle, but...

Shimizu glanced at Kai and shook her head.

—I told you, didn’t I? You should’ve gone to the main church of the Solarian Church and inherited the true power of the Apostle.

“That is... I’ve been too busy... I was planning to visit after finishing this purification,” Kai replied, unable to hide his frustration as he let out a deep sigh.

After completely clearing the Trial of Hanox, both Shimizu and Cherantia had told him:

—Head to the main church of the Solarian Church.

—Meet with the high priest there and inherit the true power of the Apostle.

But Kai hadn’t had the luxury of time with the elves waiting for him.

That was why I was planning to quickly finish this purification and then visit the Solarian Church’s main church...

He hadn't expected the corruption to be so severe that it would be difficult to purify even with his current power.

Shimizu tried to comfort him, noticing his disheartened expression.

—It’s unfortunate, but it’s still better if you head to the main church even now. Dead Aosa isn’t coming back.

“... But what would happen if Aosa did come back?”

—Aosa was a creature who, through the research of the Church of Muldine, gained full control over the Blue Plague. As I said before, if it were here, it could absorb the plague’s power. Though, if that happened, it would grow even stronger, so I absolutely wouldn’t recommend that.

“Aosa can absorb it?” Kai murmured as his eyes sparkled. “Enhanced summoning, Mimic.”

[Due to the enhancement effect, maximum HP has been increased.]

When Mimic was first summoned, it appeared in a slime-like form. From this basic state, Mimic had the ability to perfectly imitate any monster it had previously copied.

Usually, I only see it sleeping in its default form...

But today was different. Mimic quickly started crawling around the ground in its slime-like body!

Watching this, Shimizu tilted her head and asked,

—Kai, what is this small and cute creature?

“

Oh

, Mimic? This guy is...” Unsure how to explain, Kai shrugged and murmured, “It’s like... a prototype of Aosa, I suppose?”

—What is that supposed to mean...?

Shimizu, who usually maintained a calm demeanor like a still lake, showed a rare expression of surprise. It was no wonder, as the Blue Plague that filled the surroundings was starting to be absorbed into Mimic's body.

Ding!

[Mimic has begun absorbing the source of the Blue Plague.]

[Mimic will be able to fully control the power of the Blue Plague once the absorption is complete.]

[Absorption rate: 0.3%...]

[Absorption rate: 0.4%...]

“

Oooo

.”

Kai's lips curled upward into a smile as a parade of amusing messages appeared before him.