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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The restrictions of the Role Play theme.
Or rather, the rules of this alternate world.
The weakening of power due to these rules.
It increased the difficulty for those who entered.
But it seemed the rules couldn’t touch the cheats.
The difficulty plummeted with the cheats still functioning normally.
Forced hard mode had been changed to easy mode.
“And since the inventory is working fine…”
…if I couldn’t obtain the Core Destruction Qualification, I would just have to relinquish my Top Student title.
“So, first, let’s assess the geography.”
Since the cheats were working perfectly, unlike the 90% sealed powers, there was no need to postpone the geographical assessment.
Ding.
I activated Infinite Mana.
Having confirmed that there was no one nearby, I activated the cheat without hesitation.
And then, I activated Clairvoyance.
Like an airplane soaring through the sky, I surveyed the terrain of this alternate world.
And as I assessed the geography, centering on my current location, I got a sense of the size of this alternate world.
‘About half the size of the Korean peninsula.’
Or perhaps even smaller.
Still, it was large compared to the alternate worlds, the mutated Rifts, I had experienced so far.
‘But what’s that fog?’
Slightly north of my location…
…a dark purple fog covered most of the northern region.
I noticed the fog slowly, very slowly, expanding its range and immediately zoomed in.
And I carefully examined the fog-covered area.
‘Contaminated land, an ominous atmosphere, a dangerous-looking fog.’
It looked like the perfect location for a Demon King’s lair.
Of course, it might not be.
Considering the twisted clichés of the novels I had read, it could simply be a regional characteristic, or perhaps an entity completely unrelated to the Demon King resided there.
So, I wouldn’t jump to conclusions.
I zoomed in further to examine the area more closely, but…
‘…Huh?’
My vision couldn’t penetrate the fog.
It was as if an invisible barrier was blocking it.
‘An area where Clairvoyance doesn’t work?’
Oh.
There really might be a Demon King there.
My suspicion turned into a near certainty.
The possibility that the objective of my assigned role was located within that fog… emerged.
‘…Too bad.’
If only Transfer’s rank was higher.
I would have bombarded that suspicious area with holy grenades.
‘Tsk.’
I clicked my tongue, disappointed that I couldn’t examine the fog-covered area.
‘It can’t be helped.’
I would have to mark it and check other locations.
I made a mental note of the fog-covered area and shifted my vision elsewhere.
I carefully assessed the geography, memorizing as much as I could. And when I had imprinted most of the important locations in my mind, I deactivated Clairvoyance and Infinite Mana.
“Phew…”
My head throbbed.
My eyes ached, as if they were being burned.
Well, it was only natural.
I had just crammed a map of an area half the size of the Korean peninsula into my brain.
I massaged my temples and looked around.
I walked towards a relatively well-preserved chair, located near a patch of weeds with a few blooming flowers.
I brushed off the dust with my hand.
I could have just sat down, dust or not.
Along with the power restrictions imposed by the rules, my Academy uniform had been replaced with an outfit appropriate for this alternate world, so it didn’t matter if my clothes got dirty.
And since my inventory and cheats were functioning normally, I could simply change into clean clothes if they got dirty.
But I didn’t want to get my clothes dirty if I could avoid it.
“I quite like this outfit.”
Perhaps because my assigned role was the last descendant of a fallen house… the material and design of the outfit weren’t bad.
So, while I would change later, I didn’t intend to right now.
I sat down on the chair.
Creak.
The chair groaned.
It seemed surprised by the weight of a person after such a long time.
But despite the sound, it held my weight without a wobble.
“Sturdy.”
I briefly admired the chair’s sturdiness and raised my right wrist.
I looked at my smartwatch, which, unlike my clothes, hadn’t changed.
As expected of the Grand Wizard.
He could easily bypass the rules.
I once again marveled at the Transcendent’s power and activated the hologram on my smartwatch, opening the messaging app.
And I opened the group chat, “1-A Class (100/100).”
Unread messages, timestamped with today’s date, appeared.
“…That’s a lot.”
I let out a gasp, surprised by the number of messages that had accumulated while I was assessing the geography.
I slowly read through the messages.
– Is everyone alright?
– It seems we’ve been scattered.
– Does anyone know where we are?
– We’ve been assigned roles. What roles did you get?
– I feel like I’ve become weaker. Are you guys feeling the same?
And so on.
The messages were all similar.
“It seems everyone’s safe.”
I was relieved.
My anxiety subsided.
Of course, there wasn’t much to worry about.
As Kang Chul-soo had said, we were all wearing safety devices crafted by the Grand Wizard, so even if we encountered a life-threatening situation, we could safely return to the real world.
Still, this was an alternate world.
Even if it wasn’t influenced by the Fallen, there could be unforeseen variables.
So, it was impossible not to worry.
I sighed in relief and typed on the hologram keyboard.
────────────────────
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Has everyone finished assessing this alternate world?
[Asuka]
– Yu-jin-ssi! I was so worried!
[Arthur]
– Lee Yu-jin, I was worried because I couldn’t reach you.
[Lee Seo-yeon]
– Yu-jin! Why didn’t you answer my calls?! I kept calling, but you didn’t answer. I was so worried because I couldn’t see your messages.
[Im Da-hee]
– Lee Yu-jin! You’re safe!
[Park Ga-ram]
– Yeah, I knew Yu-jin-ssi would be fine.
[Noah]
– Yes, I’ve finished my assessment.
[Park Sung-woo]
– Wow, look at Lee Seo-yeon’s obsession. Lee Yu-jin must be so freaked out that he’s ignoring all calls…
[Lee Seo-yeon]
– Where are you?
[Park Sung-woo]
– I’msosorryIwasoutoflinepleasespareme
────────────────────
And as expected, replies flooded in.
I chuckled, reading the messages filled with concern, and checked my missed calls.
And…
[Lee Seo-yeon][99+]
[Asuka][92]
[Arthur][88]
[Im Da-hee][33]
[Park Ga-ram][4]
[Noah][2]
[Park Sung-woo][1]
[…][1]
…….
….
“……”
I had a lot of missed calls.
Especially from Lee Seo-yeon.
“…Maybe it’s because of her meeting with the Sword Saint.”
Her obsession seemed to have intensified.
“But it’s not a dark obsession.”
The measures I had taken to strengthen the bonds between the heroines seemed to have worked. Lee Seo-yeon’s twisted obsession from the game was absent.
“If this were the game, I would have already been stabbed by Lee Seo-yeon’s sword.”
Or perhaps Asuka, Arthur, or one of the other heroines would have been stabbed.
I recalled the “Lee Seo-yeon’s Heroine Assault” event, which occurred when I chose the “Lee Seo-yeon Route” in the game and failed to manage the other heroines’ affection levels.
“I’m glad I took measures early on.”
I shuddered, remembering the blackening event.
Anyway, thanks to the measures I had taken early on, unlike in the game, the blackening event hadn’t occurred in reality.
I sighed in relief and opened the chat window again.
────────────────────
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Sorry for making you worry.
– I was assessing the geography, so I didn’t check my calls and messages.
[Asuka]
– Yu-jin-ssi, don’t worry us like that. I was really scared.
[Arthur]
– I agree with Asuka.
– You shouldn’t worry us.
[Lee Seo-yeon]
– Yu-jin, where are you?
– I’ll come right away. Tell me your location.
[Im Da-hee]
– Me too! I’ll come too!
[Park Ga-ram]
– Um, guys.
– Do we really need to go to Yu-jin-ssi?
– I think we’ll only be a hindrance.
[Noah]
– I agree with Park Ga-ram-ssi.
– Lee Yu-jin-nim is far more capable than we think.
– So, instead of going to him, it would be more helpful for us to fulfill our assigned roles and obtain the Core Destruction Qualification quickly.
────────────────────
Oh, as expected of Noah.
He understood me perfectly.
────────────────────
[Lee Yu-jin]
– As Noah said, it would be better for you to fulfill your assigned roles instead of coming to me.
– While the instructor said to focus on gaining experience, and that he would enter after a week in real-world time… we should still try to clear the Rift, shouldn’t we?
[Asuka]
– You’re right.
– I think the instructor would be happier if we cleared it.
[Arthur]
– Hmm.
– I suppose that’s true.
[Lee Seo-yeon]
– …But I still want to go to you.
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Lee Seo-yeon, please.
– And we’ll meet eventually as we fulfill our roles.
[Lee Seo-yeon]
– …If you say so.
– I’ll fulfill my role as quickly as possible and come find you.
[Im Da-hee]
– Me too, me too. I’ll fulfill my role quickly and come find you, Lee Yu-jin.
[Park Ga-ram]
– I can’t leave this magic tower… I’m so envious.
[Noah]
– Yes, I understand.
– I’ll contact you again after completing my role.
[Park Sung-woo]
– Oh, right.
– Hey, Lee Yu-jin.
[Lee Yu-jin]
– What?
[Park Sung-woo]
– What’s your assigned role?
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Me?
────────────────────
At Park Sung-woo’s question, the Role Play quest window, which I had closed earlier, reappeared.
I glanced at the quest window and typed on the hologram keyboard.
────────────────────
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Last descendant of the fallen House of Yggdrasil.
[Park Sung-woo]
– Wow, what a cool role.
– Mine is something like, “Centurion of the 4th Unit of the Lionheart Brigade.”
– You and the top-ranked students all have special roles.
────────────────────
“The top-ranked students, too…”
Did the main characters also receive special roles like me?
────────────────────
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Really? Then do you know who else received special roles? No, wait. Among those currently in the chat, who received special roles? Tell me what your roles and objectives are.
[Asuka]
– Me!
– I received the role of “Beloved Daughter of the Blossom Merchant Guild.”
– And my objective is to “Assist the Hero until they achieve their goal.”
– But my powers are severely restricted, so I’ll probably have to provide financial assistance rather than physical support.
[Arthur]
– I received the role of “Wandering Paladin.”
– My objective is to “Assist the Hero in defeating the Demon King.”
– And while my powers are weakened, I can still provide combat support.
[Lee Seo-yeon]
– I received the role of “Sword Saint’s Disciple.”
– My objective is the same as Arthur’s.
– …My powers are significantly reduced as well. About 40% restricted.
[Noah]
– I received the role of “Pilgrimage Saint.”
– My objective is the same as Arthur-ssi and Lee Seo-yeon-ssi.
– Hmm… my holy power is reduced by about half.
[Im Da-hee]
– …Your roles sound like a Hero’s party.
– I wish I had received a special role like that, even if it meant having my powers restricted.
[Park Ga-ram]
– I can’t even leave this magic tower… I’m so envious.
────────────────────
“Hmm… indeed.”
As Im Da-hee said the main characters’ roles could be summarized as follows,
Asuka: Merchant.
Arthur and Lee Seo-yeon: Knights.
Noah: Healer.
They were all fitting roles for a Hero’s party.
“Then am I the thief?”
I recalled the talents and skills that weren’t sealed.
Shadowless Steps (A).
A talent for stealthy movement.
True Sight (A).
A talent for seeing through illusions and lies.
And the skills Clairvoyance, Insight, and Transfer.
They were all perfect for a thief role.
“No wonder my assigned role is the last descendant of a fallen noble house.”
I chuckled and closed the Role Play quest window.
And I asked my classmates with ordinary roles about their objectives.
────────────────────
[Park Sung-woo]
– My objective is to “Become a Centurion,” but how do I do that?
– And why am I the only one in the army?
[Im Da-hee]
– My objective is to “Become a Knight.”
– Since my current role is “Knight Trainee,” I have a better chance than Park Sung-woo.
[Park Ga-ram]
– I don’t think I can complete my objective…
– I have to promote three apprentice mages to full mages.
– But they all lack magical aptitude… I’m doomed…
[Lee Si-a]
– I don’t think I can do it either…
– I’ve only ever used a sword in my life, how am I supposed to become a Master Chef?
[Park Kwang-jin]
– Seriously, at least your objective is related to your profession.
– I’m a mage, and my objective is to “Become an Apprentice Priest.” Does that even make sense?
[Noah]
– Oh, Park Kwang-jin-nim.
– Is your objective to become a priest? Shall I assist you?
[Park Kwang-jin]
– …No, I’m a mage.
────────────────────
Somehow, the ordinary roles seemed more difficult than the special roles.
I shook my head, reading their objectives in the chat.
“So that’s why the number of required Core Destruction Qualifications is 10.”
No wonder.
The number seemed low.
Still, fortunately the special roles all shared the same objective.
Assist the Hero and defeat the Demon King.
If they achieved that, they would obtain five Core Destruction Qualifications.
“Honestly, some of the ordinary roles should be completed by then.”
They couldn’t all be stuck until the Demon King was defeated.
────────────────────
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Then those with special roles should meet up.
– We should find the Hero together.
[Asuka]
– Yes! Let’s meet!
[Arthur]
– I’m currently on my way to the royal capital, having accepted an escort request from a merchant guild.
[Asuka]
– Huh?
– Arthur-ssi, just to be sure…
– Is the merchant guild’s carriage pink?
[Arthur]
– Yes.
[Asuka]
– One moment.
– …Arthur-ssi, there you are.
[Arthur]
– …It’s good to see you.
[Park Sung-woo]
– Seriously, if you’re in the same place, talk to each other instead of chatting.
[Lee Seo-yeon]
– Yu-jin, I’m in the royal capital.
– I’m staying at the “Passing Wind” inn. Contact me when you arrive.
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Okay.
– Then I’ll see you in the royal capital.
– Oh, and let me know if you find the Hero or hear any news about them.
────────────────────
I closed the chat window.
I deactivated the hologram on my smartwatch and stood up from the chair.
I recalled the map of the alternate world imprinted in my mind, the one I had seen with Clairvoyance, and located the royal capital.
“The distance from here to the royal capital is about… 50 kilometers.”
Not that far.
“With the Iron Golem, I should be able to get there quickly.”
So, I could check out the old mansion and still arrive on time.
I looked at the dilapidated mansion, which looked like it could collapse at any moment. And as I was about to walk towards it…
[Master, I have a suggestion.]
…Terra sent a message.
“A suggestion? What is it?”
[Master’s overall power is currently significantly reduced.]
“Yes, that’s true.”
[So, as a precaution, I suggest retrieving the ‘Battle Maid’ you obtained earlier.]
“Ah, right.”
The Battle Maid.
I had forgotten about her.
“Yes, that’s a good idea.”
As Terra said, I was currently very weak.
Even with the cheats functioning normally, I couldn’t easily detect ambushes without talents like Sniper’s Sharp Sense (A+), which enhanced my senses.
So, I needed another means of defense besides Aegis.
And thanks to Terra’s suggestion, I now had one.
[Please place her on the chair you were sitting on.]
“Okay.”
I retrieved the beautiful doll from my inventory.
The Battle Maid.
And I placed her on the chair.
And then…
[Acquiring control of the Battle Maid.]
…Terra’s message appeared.
And…
“Ah…”
…the Battle Maid’s lips parted.
A pleasant voice echoed.
And then…
“Master.”
…bright blue eyes looked at me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[Your Text Here]
Welcome to the party, Terra.
I knew it.