Sudden Quest

For a moment, Jeog-o doubted his ears.

“The walls are building themselves?”

But the answer was the same as before.

“Yes. Stones are flying in and stacking into walls on their own. And……”

“Spit it out! Don’t drag it out!”

“Post-Ruin creatures are appearing beyond the walls.”

Jeog-o’s expression went blank for a split second.

The next moment, he shot into the sky and flew toward the border of his territory.

Just as his aide reported, a wall was rising on its own without anyone touching it.

Beyond it, Imokgun stood.

“The same is happening elsewhere.”

Imokgun glanced coolly at Jeog-o, who had arrived with terrifying momentum.

Jeog-o understood at once.

“It’s happening at other borders too? Even Seolya’s?”

Imokgun looked at him.

“Do you mention only Count Seol because he is the only rival you acknowledge?”

“What?”

“Arrogant.”

“Are you insane? Who are you calling arrogant?”

“You disregard all but the one in first place. What has made you so arrogant? Surely that strategist of yours.”

Realizing who Imokgun meant, Jeog-o’s face twisted like a specter’s.

“13.”

The mysterious man who had manipulated DAY 1 was known by that name.

Named after the percentage he gained.

“Damn it, that bastard—.”

“Deny it all you like. No one believes you.”

Imokgun cut him off and gestured to the air.

“Things will no longer go your way, Red Western Count.”

“DAY 3 Preparation Period 🙂

Please wait a little.”

Beneath the floating text, grotesque lifeforms began settling between the walls.

Some looked like monsters.

Some like gods.

The beings called “post-Ruin creatures” outside.

Jeog-o narrowed his eyes.

‘Are they real?’

Or like DAY 1……

“I saw your strategist.”

Jeog-o snapped his gaze to Imokgun.

“Not my strategist—damn it! You saw him? Where?”

If not for the creatures between the walls, he would have lunged at Imokgun.

“Last night. In my territory.”

“What?”

For the first time, one corner of Imokgun’s mouth twisted upward.

Then it vanished.

“So you didn’t send him.”

“How many times do I have to—!”

“You are reckless. If I were in your position, even if 13 were not truly mine, I would remain silent. Whether to claim him or cut down a runaway colt—those are matters to handle in the shadows.”

Jeog-o could only grind his teeth.

He knew Imokgun wasn’t wrong.

His temper was fiery, but he wasn’t foolish.

“You wouldn’t understand. Nor do you need to.”

“I have no intention to.”

Imokgun added calmly.

“I merely thought that if he is not welcomed by you, perhaps I might take him.”

“What insane nonsense are you spouting—.”

Boom!

A thunderous crash shook everything.

Both turned toward the sound.

“DAY 3 Preparation Period :)”

“What, it’s still preparation—.”

…In the middle of that!

A surprise quest for our bored candidates has arrived :D!

Another boom.

The half-built walls trembled.

“Facing post-Ruin creatures is a fundamental duty of a future king.

Protect your territory from their attacks and safely complete your walls.

※All post-Ruin creatures are genuine.”

[R: First Generation After the Ruin. Those who witnessed the Ruin firsthand.]

“Genuine?”

Someone muttered, breaking the heavy silence.

[R: If we were to name the candidates gathered in Bran, they would be the Second or perhaps 2.5 Generation After the Ruin.]

“They’re real?”

Murmurs spread instantly.

“This is insane.”

“They’re actually real?”

[R: The greatest difference between the First Generation and those after was experience. Experience of despair. Experience of inhuman beings gifting despair. The candidates in Bran had little direct experience fighting post-Ruin creatures.]

Between the walls, the creatures varied wildly.

Some resembled massive serpents.

Others were grotesque hybrids of tree, arthropod, and octopus.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Crash!

All were enormous.

“The wall is collapsing!”

“Hold it! Stop the stones!”

Another massive root slammed into the wall.

Cracks split the stone.

Rubble fell.

People clung desperately to the wall, but they were sandcastles before a tide.

“What do we do, Imokgun?”

Eyes turned to their lord.

[R: Of course there were exceptions. The Five Stars, chosen by godlike beings, had defended cities before.]

“Give orders!”

“Anything!”

[R: But one must not overlook this.]

“Haha, that might be difficult.”

A carefree voice echoed from above.

“Lord Arbiter.”

“Good morning, Eastern Lord.”

Jeog-o shouted,

“What is this sudden quest?”

“Hahaha. Exactly what it says.”

Caliburn sat in midair, legs crossed, touching the floating text.

[R: It looked like a pet fawning over its master.]

“As explained, defend the walls from post-Ruin creatures. Easy, right?”

“Easy?!”

Jeog-o’s face flushed red.

“One rank-four creature destroyed three villages south of Gyesung in under a day! And you want us to face this many at once?”

Faces paled.

[R: Even the chosen had never fought this many at once.]

“My god…….”

“What do we do?”

Some even begged Caliburn.

“They’re illusions, right? Like the first day?”

“Hahaha. I don’t reuse tricks.”

“They’re all real. Why so shocked? You came to become king. A king must face post-Ruin creatures.”

Silence fell heavy.

“This is absurd!”

Jeog-o erupted again.

“You’re telling us to die!”

“Then die.”

Jeog-o blinked in disbelief.

Caliburn smiled.

“Don’t overthink. If you cannot solve it, it wouldn’t be a quest.”

“Look at them!”

“Read the victory condition again, Red Western Count.”

“…Victory condition?”

Caliburn only smiled.

“Think. You can. You’re chosen. One of you will be king.”

This time, there was little laughter in his voice.

The air grew heavy.

“Can’t you help?”

Someone asked, instinctively.

“Hahaha. What a joke.”

“I am the Arbiter. I watch who is fit to be king.”

He crossed his legs comfortably.

“My role is to observe.”

[R: Only then did many truly understand. The Arbiter was not human.]

“I cannot interfere with the system.”

[R: No one laughed.]

“It’s delicately designed so one of you may become king.”

He smiled encouragingly.

[R: He said, “It’s fine. You can solve it.”]

“It’s fine. You can solve it.”

A modified script has been detected, revising.

[N/S: He said it as though he had seen it himself. Caliburn had another nickname.]

“Have you seen the future?”

Prophet.

Hope flickered at his smile.

“I’ll be cheering.”

I turned and began moving.

There was much to do.

[R: The sub-quest victory condition was simple.]

After failing several times in previous runs, I knew that well.

Who cares?

Eat the prepared meat.

“And if I’m eating, I’ll take the best cut.”

Time to find the biggest bone.