When the Walls Opened

Item ‘Skin of the Twin-Headed Serpent’ equipped.

The item-bound title ‘Lord (Count)’ is applied.

People will perceive the wearer as a being assimilated with the serpent’s skin.

The moment the Lord title applied, the color of the title ‘Wanderer’ turned gray.

Deactivated.

It meant simultaneous application was impossible.

‘Doesn’t matter.’

『Title List Owned

……

Of the Frozen Earth/Mole

Model of All Things/Artisan

Of the Abandoned Land/Pioneer

The One Who/Called a False Morning』

The other titles remained blue.

Blue indicated they could stack with the currently active title.

Number of titles that can be applied simultaneously in the current state: 3

While staring at the status window, I frowned.

‘Can that number increase?’

Strange.

There was no level or experience system visible.

‘Clearing quests only gave points. No EXP.’

So was there another growth condition?

No time to dwell.

Not now.

Applying title ‘Of the Abandoned Land/Pioneer.’

Truthfully, none of the titles I’d earned were particularly grand.

Dig some land.

Find a buried object.

That’s it.

‘How you use it is another matter.’

A bottle of oil disappears in the ocean.

But thrown into flame, it births a firestorm.

『Title Details:

Of the Abandoned Land/Pioneer

Granted to one who cultivated land forsaken by all life.

Can cause the slumbering land to resound greatly.』

The system descriptions were unhelpful.

‘First time playing, I couldn’t make heads or tails of this.’

Who even made this trash game—

Enough.

‘In cases like this….’

Activating effect of title ‘Of the Abandoned Land/Pioneer.’

“Listen up, you idiots! I’m about to give you some valuable information, so wash your ears and hear me properly!”

My voice boomed across the territory.

‘Amplification effect.’

Usable only within land recognized as mine.

‘Pretty useless.’

Probably meant for speeches to subjects.

Maybe it feels useless because I have no subjects.

Probably just that.

Movement between walls requires use of a ‘Path’ that opens at specific times under specific conditions.

It is currently not a time when the Path may be used.

“The first appearance of the Path is three hours after the Box forms!”

That was according to prior runs.

But now?

Different story.

I forced DAY 3.

No guarantee the Path would follow the old timing.

Doesn’t matter.

“Impatient bastards, listen up! I’ll tell you how to force it open!”

If it won’t open—

Break it open.

“Throw something alive from the wall.”

At that, Seonjeonggong atop the Box reacted.

“It’s suddenly gotten noisy.”

Apparently the reaction below was loud.

Understandably so.

“That’s a harsh condition. Nearly impossible, isn’t it?”

I glanced up reflexively.

Our eyes met—or felt like it.

“If you throw something living from the wall, the Path opens? Who would do that?”

He flicked a finger.

A line formed in the air, pointing between walls.

We both knew what lay there.

“They’d die.”

Post-Apocalypse Creatures.

“Though during the sub-quest, those things didn’t react to humans, did they? Perhaps someone thinks this is a good test.”

So someone speculated that before.

“Then why not test it?”

He smiled faintly.

“If it works, great. If not—”

I almost spoke.

Had no intention to.

Then he murmured lightly—

“It’s not my life being used.”

Too light.

And I opened my mouth.

“…During the sub-quest, their non-reaction was situational.”

Even as I said it, I didn’t understand myself.

“This time’s different.”

I searched memory.

Another method?

If not, I’d have to improvise.

Maybe stall until the bridge opened naturally.

Thin incoming forces.

Stir discord between Lords.

“Whoever falls will die.”

Seonjeonggong spoke again.

“You’ve prepared quite a lot. Diligent.”

Not sure who he meant.

But it grated.

“Though unnecessary.”

“….”

“Still, I like it.”

I almost addressed him directly.

Movement between walls requires a Path—

Currently…

The quest notice changed mid-line.

I swallowed.

This—

“See?”

He muttered.

No laughter in his voice.

The Path is connected.

“I knew it would turn out like this….”

I stopped listening.

‘The Path opened.’

Then I had work to do.

‘It was someone’s choice.’

Who pushed?

Who fell?

‘It’s a game.’

Fake morning dawned.

Fake path opened.

Scheduled DAY 3 rules…

The WWC Selection Quest runs linear.

On rails.

Introduce too many variables—

It shakes violently.

Cannot apply scheduled rules.

Cannotapplyscheduledrules.

Cannot apply sched uled ru les.

Error.

🙁

Shuffling edited cards.

Drawing.

Drawing.

I could imagine the chaos below.

Shock.

Confusion.

I wasn’t surprised.

I knew how unstable this system was.

‘I was aiming for that.’

Multiple variables cause panic.

Bad phrasing—makes it sound alive.

Whatever.

From experience, the system would now draw from pre-edited scenarios and apply one.

Like a board game action card.

Flip it—

“Congratulations! Pay tax to receive your reward!”

Or

“The Demon of Misfortune hunts tonight. Dance to avoid its gaze!”

Even I didn’t know all the possible cards.

Not that hardcore.

“Better we all scramble than just me.”

I froze.

“…Title still active.”

My gleeful voice echoed across the Box.

“……”

Then steadied.

What’s there to fear?

Only one wins anyway.

‘And they’ll think it’s OZ.’

Voice tests confirmed that.

The Path is open. You may attack other factions.

Be cautious of resource depletion.

error!

error!

error!

Due to ‘Distorted Plan’ effect, original system cannot be maintained.

Resource consumption increases 4x.

5x.

…!

Footsteps.

People rushing across the bridge.

Dongju resources critical!

Replenish or prune population!

The largest factions lit red first.

‘Path’ duration limited!

To extend—!

Still one title slot free.

Applying ‘Model of All Things/Artisan.’

Warning!

Jungju’s gate under attack!

Not surprised.

Attack the weakest first.

But I moved fast.

Gate durability: 3/20

Because I could see how pathetic it was.

OZ consistent as ever.

And so was my stat trash.

Couldn’t reinforce.

‘Doesn’t matter.’

Jungju gate destroyed!

Jungju open to all!

『Title Details:

Model of All Things/Artisan

Granted to one who cultivated a ‘Microcosm Model’ using edited Tool.

Precision scales with proficiency.

Upgradeable upon growth.』

I was certain.

‘Anyone with a brain isn’t here.’

Why?

Because the one who revealed the trick was OZ.

They’d expect madness.

They weren’t wrong.

Problem is—

It wasn’t OZ inside.

Jungju Lord opens the gates!

Didn’t say I wouldn’t be crazy too.

Jungju open to all—including Post-Apocalypse Creatures!

I shouted for all to hear.

“Welcome to OZ’s land, you bastards!”

The creatures in neutral territory shrieked.

Wings flapped.

Heavy footsteps thundered closer.

Curses and screams erupted.

Idiots everywhere.

Anyway.

“I’ll step aside—have fun with the other guests!”

Deactivating ‘Pioneer.’

Applying ‘Of the Frozen Earth/Mole.’

『Title Details:

Of the Frozen Earth/Mole

Granted to one who dug frozen land 20,000+ times.

Can dig barehanded.

Can breathe underground.』

I abandoned Jungju.

And now—

“Hahahahaha!”

Why is Seonjeonggong laughing like that?

‘He’s kind of insane.’

Usually lighthearted.

But moments like this—

Who the hell did he take after….