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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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[Congratulations!]
[Quest Complete!]
As the Knights retreated, a system window appeared before the otherworlders. The quest’s objective, “Repel the Knights,” had been achieved.
I saw it through Player’s Eye.
The otherworlders cheered.
“Yes! No more jail time!”
They’d been worried about the penalty. It was understandable. It could affect their future gameplay.
‘…Hmm.’
I thought about the quest reward. There had been a “???” in the reward description.
The “Increased chance of surviving future calamities” was understandable, but the “???”… I assumed it was something I had to provide.
When I’d given Chae-rin that quest, the reward had also been “???”.
And I wanted to give them something. They’d risked a lot to help me.
But I had nothing to give. And there were a lot of them.
“…What about this?”
“Hmm, good idea.”
I looked at the items the otherworlders on the Knights’ side had dropped. Some had logged out after dying, but their items remained.
The otherworlders were looking at the items, unsure of what to do. They belonged to no one now, but taking them felt… wrong.
These items had real-world value.
I had an idea.
I gathered the items and spoke to the otherworlders.
“I’ll sell these and split the profits. Sound good?”
“Oh, yes sir!”
“Sounds good to us.”
I’d accumulated a lot of weapons and equipment from the otherworlders I’d killed since the subjugation decree. My weapon pouch was full. I’d been planning to sell some anyway.
And I had the items from the deeper layers.
‘I won’t have to worry about money for a while.’
Of course, I’d have to wait for the subjugation decree to be rescinded before I could sell anything.
“…”
I looked towards the edge of the forest, leaving my fate in the hands of destiny.
I thanked the otherworlders and sent them on their way.
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That night, the community forums erupted in celebration.
+
[Those greedy bastards who joined the subjugation force got wrecked lol]
Kill the boss?
Don’t make me laugh lol
You couldn’t even beat the Knights, how were you going to beat him?
Cry about your lost gear lol
+
[We are the true heroes, risking everything for justice!]
[Your lost items! Will never! Be returned!!!]
[Don’t worry~ We’ll put that reward money to good use~~]
[You bastards!]
It was a celebration for some, a wake for others. The otherworlders who’d sided with the Knights had suffered heavy losses.
Those who’d sided with Yor, and those who’d simply watched the stream, mocked them relentlessly.
It had been a major event, viewed by countless players.
+
[I knew he was strong, but…]
I didn’t expect him to single-handedly defeat the Knights;
Watching him destroy the Fourth Knight Commander was amazing.
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[lol Was that even a real fight? He just used cheap tricks.]
[Subjugation force, assemble lol]
[Idiot, creating favorable conditions is a skill. He used the environment to his advantage.]
[And he fought the Knight Commander one-on-one at the end lol]
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[This is… hot…]
(png)
His ripped shirt, his intense expression…
Those muscles…
I feel things…
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[He’d be hotter without all the blood]
[I like the blood?]
[? Bruh]
[Just die]
[Look at those muscles. He’s ripped.]
[I want to… do things to him…]
[This sub is so creepy ㅠㅠ]
[Just another day in this sub ㅎㅎ]
The forums were filled with Yor-related posts. Almost every trending post was about him.
The streamers’ editors were probably working overtime, editing the footage.
Most players were supportive. The subjugation decree hadn’t been popular, and Yor’s victory had been… satisfying.
And he was a man. That mattered.
The conversation between Yor and Reilly had been captured on video. The distance had made it difficult to hear everything, but the gist of it had been conveyed.
+
[So, is the subjugation decree being rescinded?]
Just curious.
+
[We don’t know yet. It’s up to the Emperor.]
[It’ll never happen. It was an imperial decree. He can’t lose face.]
[Rescinding it would save face. He spared the lives of hundreds of Knights. Sending another subjugation force would be ridiculous.]
[Seriously lol. After all that, sending another force would be inhumane.]
It was a complex issue, even for the players.
They could only wait and see.
And thankfully… fate was on Yor’s side.
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An era of chaos.
Since the demons’ return… no, since the otherworlders’ arrival.
Scholars had predicted it.
And in times of chaos, everything changed.
Old beliefs were challenged, the lines between right and wrong blurred.
Long-held truths became outdated, the ramblings of madmen became the teachings of sages.
It was an era of upheaval.
The otherworlders had brought new ideas, new perspectives. And they couldn’t be stopped. They could respawn, traveling freely.
The Gaians had two choices.
Resist and be swept away, or adapt and survive.
The Emperor, thankfully, chose the latter.
He’d ruled for a long time. He knew how to read the currents.
The world demanded acceptance of Carriers. Even if the Gaians weren’t ready, the otherworlders were.
His decision was swift.
“Rescind the decree.”
A few days later, the subjugation notices disappeared from the guild boards.
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The decree had been rescinded.
I heard the news minutes after it happened.
Not hours, minutes.
And it wasn’t Chae-rin or Ha-neul who told me. They were probably just finding out themselves.
It wasn’t Shin Han-byeol, or any of my other acquaintances.
“The decree has been rescinded.”
A messenger from the Empire.
A middle-aged Knight, holding a letter. He seemed… respectful. Not hostile.
“And we are grateful for your mercy. You spared the lives of our Knights, valuable assets to the Empire.”
He tossed something towards me.
A familiar, yet foreign object.
An Empire identification tag. A wooden tag, etched with the Empire’s insignia.
A commoner’s tag.
‘Wow…’
I stared at it, speechless. The meaning was clear.
“A small token of our gratitude. Issued by His Majesty himself. You will no longer be barred from entering our cities.”
My hand trembled.
Finally…
It seemed like a small gesture, but considering the backlash they’d face for this decision… it was significant.
Unconventional.
I could enter the cities freely. Not the cities I remembered, but still… cities.
Was this real? Was there a catch?
I was suspicious, but also… elated.
And the messenger wasn’t done.
His next words were even more unconventional.
“And you are invited to the Imperial City. His Majesty wishes to speak with you.”
An invitation to the Imperial City, where the nobles resided. A place even commoners rarely entered.
It was shocking. Almost unbelievable.
‘What are they planning?’
I looked at the messenger, silent.
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[Your Text Here]
Woah woah woah, hold the partner.
Have ya never heard of ‘too fast too soon’?
Yor finally being treated right 😭 thanks for the chappie!
I mean, you’d actually have to be nuts to go without some kind of major assurance being put in place, though. Going there without some kind of magic contract preventing them from attacking or something would be like sticking your head in a tiger’s mouth. Hell, for Yor the tiger’s mouth would probably be safer.