The Biggest Bone

“Protect your territory from the attacks of post-Ruin creatures and safely complete the walls.

In other words, there is no need to defeat them.”

Whether they could be defeated in the first place was another matter entirely.

“And what the Arbiter said.

He guaranteed that anyone here could fulfill the victory condition.

Anyone here.

Not just the lords.”

Even those without powerful supernatural abilities.

Even those who had never fought a defensive battle against post-Ruin creatures.

“It means this: think.”

The Arbiter said that was enough.

“It means there’s a rule preventing the newly appeared post-Ruin creatures from attacking the castle.”

Hmm.

“It would have been nice if I could’ve given a grand speech and earned everyone’s admiration.”

I wanted to enjoy that kind of honey too.

Appear dramatically, explain the phenomenon, have everyone go ‘Oooh!’

Get promoted.

Rise smoothly.

Conquer the world.

But this damn trash game doesn’t go that route.

“The Arbiter won’t even parachute me into a good position.

Why won’t this storyline let me be happy easily?”

I grumbled and scratched the back of my head.

No one was listening, but talking to myself felt awkward.

And also.

‘I’m here.’

I had reached my destination.

A place where I needed to make a very important choice for what lay ahead.

The surroundings looked like ruined castle grounds.

Massive stones lay scattered near collapsed buildings.

“Looks like a post-Ruin creature already rampaged through here.”

Unlike other territories in chaos, there wasn’t a single creature in sight.

Only the fallen stones that once formed the wall.

And there were no people nearby.

Dead?

No.

There simply hadn’t been many people here to begin with.

The reason was—

“Confirmed! That massive tree-like creature does not react to human voices or presence!”

As soon as I climbed onto the half-collapsed wall, I heard that shout.

Not from here.

From another territory.

[R: The panic from the sudden situation was brief. Once they accepted reality, people quickly grasped the meaning of the sub-quest.]

“Don’t attack!”

“We can’t even scratch them with our current strength! Attacking will only provoke them!”

“Carefully!”

“The stones! The stones used to build the walls! The creatures are reacting only to those stones!”

“Is there something in the stones that provokes them?”

“Or maybe—.”

The voices drifting from other territories were mostly correct.

“Ugh.”

My head started aching again.

Up until my fifth run, I couldn’t solve this and wasted so much time.

And died.

“….”

Okay, more than ten times.

In my defense, it wasn’t my fault.

Anyone would’ve struggled.

If some famous streamer had played this, there’d be a compilation video titled something like, “BJ ○○○○ dies every minute in this trash game.”

‘Then again, what celebrity would play this trash.’

I’m sick of saying it, but I’ll say it again.

Damn it, why did I ever pick up this game.

‘Anyway.’

I slowed my steps and crouched lower.

It was about time.

[R: Hiding in the shadows, I crouched. But.]

Calling it a “die-anytime trash game” wasn’t exaggeration.

WWC’s difficulty was brutal.

[R: Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. Feeling inexplicable fear, I ran.]

Dead endings were scattered like landmines from the very start.

[R: And an arrow from nowhere pierced my neck precisely—.]

What kind of insane game lets you die just walking down an empty path?

The urge to run surged through me.

But I endured it and crouched even lower.

The script that always narrated a few seconds ahead erased a few lines.

Then rewrote itself.

Route Change.

I had barely avoided a dead ending.

If I’d run, I would’ve died.

[R: Someone grabbed the back of my neck and yanked me back. A face loomed close, snarling.]

My neck was jerked back.

“What’s this rat doing here?”

I stiffened my expression to avoid grinning.

Because the person who appeared was exactly who I expected.

“What’s with this black hide.”

Ah.

Still wearing the Half-White Half-Black Hide.

Could’ve just smiled.

“Ah. So it’s you. 13.”

“….”

“I’ve been wanting to see you up close.”

His face moved even closer.

Almost nose to nose.

He had grabbed my collar and leaned in.

…I was very glad I was wearing the hide.

[R: He was like a shadow. In many ways. Where Seolya was white, this man was nearly black from head to toe. Messy hair, worn clothes, dark skin.]

His teeth stood out when he grinned.

Sharp white fangs.

Not my imagination.

[R: The only things not dark were his beastlike white teeth and the colorful tattoos covering his body.]

I looked away from the script.

Half by choice.

Half because I had no choice.

“Nice to meet you, 13. Everyone’s interested in you. Me too.”

He forced my gaze back to him.

“Info: Moon-Shadow Feathered Transformation, OZ.

Seals: Mark of the Evil Beast, Mark of Strong Iron.

…

(Number of seals exceeds display limit.)”

Damn it.

Even though he couldn’t see my face, I imitated his grin.

Cold sweat prickled.

If I didn’t, I might ruin my plan out of fear.

“The wall between the world you consider ‘reality’ and this one will thin.”

I praised Caliburn internally.

Truly a prophet.

I hadn’t been shaken when facing Jeog-o or Seolya.

But this was different.

OZ was the last ending I saw before transmigrating.

Maybe that’s why it hit harder.

“Everyone says you’re the Red Crow’s strategist.

Why are you crawling into my territory?”

His hand released my collar—

Then gripped my throat.

“Ghk!”

Terrifying strength.

Among the Five Stars, OZ held the most seals.

His constitution was special.

An affinity for all cruel post-Ruin creatures.

[R: Even without enhanced weapons, OZ could display the strength of bears or mountain lords. Breaking a neck with his bare hands was trivial.]

He’d done it often.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Your neck’s still intact?”

“W-wait, Moon—.”

“Call me that and I’ll tear you apart.”

I shut up immediately.

“Good. You learn fast.”

He seemed genuinely pleased.

This psycho.

Was choosing him really the right decision?

In this situation, yes.

Probably.

“Did you reinforce your neck?”

He released me.

I coughed and nodded.

My precious points.

I had scraped them together to reinforce my neck bones just before the sub-quest began.

I was broke.

Completely broke.

“Only the neck?”

Only the neck!

“Wow. What a waste.”

Yeah.

A waste.

“Even that snake who can make lakes with gold wouldn’t waste like that.”

Reinforcement items were expensive and rare.

I could’ve bought full-body enhancement instead.

But I doubted that would beat his grip strength.

“Crazy bastard.”

“….”

My indignation dulled my fear.

It’s unfair for him to call me crazy.

He should know himself.

“Interesting.”

The worst part?

I had to stay silent.

His hand gripped my neck again.

“Fine. I’ll spare you for now. Come to my camp.”

Just as planned.

Though I felt oddly close to tears.