Rabbit Hunt

[R: In WWC, the subtitle of the chapter where Quest DAY 4 occurs was this: “Rabbit Hunt.”]

DAY 4 has been applied to a specific user only.

Even ‘candidates’ without DAY 4 unlocked can participate in that user’s quest.

“Wow, what a disgusting bastard.”

With my hands tucked into the pockets of the basic uniform coat I’d been given on my first day in Bran, I clicked my tongue as I read the system message.

“Look at the wording. Someone might think it’s a good thing.”

If this were my original world, that thing could’ve made a killing as an AI that writes self-promotional essays. Too bad it was born in the wrong place.

As always when a ‘DAY’ begins, the quest rules appeared one after another in the air.

DAY 4: ‘Put Yourself in Their Shoes’

Jeok-o muttered.

“Put yourself in their shoes?”

While his attention was on that, I quietly stepped away from him. I needed as much distance as possible until my preparations were complete. Not just from him—from most of the ‘candidates.’

The reason this chapter was called Rabbit Hunt was simple. It came down to the rules of DAY 4.

A king is one who protects territory and people from ‘post-apocalyptic creatures,’ but that alone does not define a king.

Without followers, the position of king cannot exist.

Therefore, candidates aspiring to be king must be able to understand the hearts of others.

It sounded reasonable.

The best way to truly understand someone is to stand in their position.

And so—

That might’ve made sense… if I weren’t the only target.

During DAY 4, ‘Lords’ will be enclosed within a ‘Box.’

Inside the Box, all buffs and stats are reduced to 1/3.

Some users will receive a portion of the original Lord’s buffs.

Some users will receive a portion of the original Lord’s items.

※ Users receiving buffs are selected 100% at random.

[R: Think of games like chess. The ‘king’ can barely attack and is confined to a limited space.]

But unlike real chess—

“This is basically a rule that encourages outright betrayal.”

In chess, if the king dies, it’s game over. But not here.

[R: That’s right. Even though there are factions and leaders, everyone here is still just a ‘candidate.’]

A streak of light flashed across the air. Thousands of butterflies burst outward like blooming flowers, and Seonjeonggong appeared from within. The luxurious robe he wore today was one I had never even seen before.

“Hahaha, if you stare too much, I’ll get embarrassed.”

“……”

Even in this situation, I frowned. There’s no way he was talking to me, right? There are plenty of people here.

“…Right?”

Well… considering it’s him, maybe not impossible.

“Anyway, it’s troublesome to call me out before contract time like this. It’s not like we’re on daylight saving time.”

Caliburn pretended to think for a moment, then lifted his head. And wait—he wasn’t wearing just one robe, but multiple layers.

“But since it’s for a good cause, I’ll cooperate. Making the world more beautiful is a celebrity’s duty, after all!”

With a flick of his finger, some of the jewel butterflies swirling around him turned into a staff.

“The intent behind this quest is simple, everyone. Your current position—Lord, knight, or servant—is merely your current score.”

BOOM!

The massive staff of light shot down somewhere in Bran. The entire place shook like an earthquake.

“Everyone here has the right to inherit the throne. Even a mere servant can become king in the end. And in that process… even if you hang your current lord—”

I could almost imagine Caliburn’s expression beneath his robe—eyes narrowed, smiling.

“That is not treason. Not at all. Because you, too, were chosen as a successor by me.”

As if enjoying a show.

“Approved.”

DAY 4 Beta Test has begun.

A full release of DAY 4 may follow.

Yeah, sure. After they finish screwing me over first.

“……”

I expected this. That Caliburn would approve it. That’s why I prepared for it.

So technically… everything was going according to plan.

Still—

“Feels like shit.”

Did he really have to look that excited? There’s such a thing as roommate loyalty.

“Ha.”

I glared at him—and our eyes met. This time, I was sure of it.

He spoke.

“Of course, some people might be dissatisfied.”

Right here.

“But more people will benefit from this beta test.”

So the minority should just quietly get crushed for the greater good?

“I wasn’t planning to—”

“Of course, that minority doesn’t have to go quietly.”

Unexpected words came out of his mouth.

“Remember what I said. Everyone here is a successor to the throne.”

DAY 4 rules are now applied inside the Box!

All abilities of the player inside the Box are reduced to 1/3.

All buffs are canceled.

“You came all the way here because you want to become king, right? Then you must’ve imagined your ideal king at least once. So let me ask you something.”

‘Lord’ title detected within the Box.

Error!

The player inside the Box is not a normal ‘Lord.’

Cannot apply standard rules.

“Rule by virtue? Sure. Rule by domination? That works too. But—”

The title ‘Lord (Central Count)’ is bound to an item.

Custom firmware detected!

Applying penalty!

“What happens to your kingdom if the king dies trying to uphold such ideals?”

A ‘pseudo-territory’ item has been detected.

Error!

Bound ‘subjects’ exist within the pseudo-territory.

Cannot apply normal rules……

“You don’t have to sacrifice yourself.”

A strange feeling crept over me. I knew I had to move quickly, but I couldn’t stop looking at him.

The arbiter sat cross-legged in midair, staring only at me—as if no one else existed.

“Don’t sacrifice yourself.”

The system that designs the selection process. The arbiter who oversees it.

For a moment, I wondered—were they really on the same side?

“Darling.”

…I didn’t know. But—

“Break it.”

That was my plan.

Honestly, having my stats cut to one-third didn’t mean much to me.

‘They weren’t great to begin with.’

Cutting 900 down to 300 looks drastic. Cutting 3 down to 1? Not so much.

Of course, the system wasn’t stupid. It knew that too.

So—

Rules are modified according to the user’s unique condition.

This was what it was really aiming for.

Lord Buff Cancellation → Time until ‘Lord (Central / Count / Item-bound)’ title removal shortened

Time remaining: 15 minutes 20 seconds

The reason was simple.

To reveal to all candidates that the ‘OZ’ they knew was gone—and I had only been pretending.

Current total stat rank of DAY 4-applied candidate: Grade 5 (lowest)

※ Includes currently owned items

‘They really went all in to finish me off.’

Even knowing I was impersonating OZ, they made sure no one would hesitate thinking I might still be strong.

But—

[R: Another reason DAY 4 favored betrayal—those who gained a Lord’s stats, skills, or items could keep them even after killing the king.]

Still, in this case, I was the only ‘rabbit.’

And now everyone knew I didn’t even have worthwhile items. That reduced their motivation to hunt me.

So how would the system motivate them?

‘Simple.’

If the target is eliminated before the ‘Lord’ title disappears, all possessions of the target will be inherited.

Possessions—meaning:

Obtainable possessions include the territory tied to the ‘Lord’ title.

Land.

That turned DAY 4 from a worthless hunt into a game where you could catch not just two birds—but a mythical roc—with one stone.

Additional rewards will be provided to candidates under DAY 4.

DAY 4-applied candidates can view a map of Bran.

People are displayed as dots.

※ Rank 1 = Red, Rank 2 = Orange, Rank 3 = Yellow, Rank 4 = Green, Rank 5 = Blue

“…What is this, an air pollution app?”

Still—

“Trying to make this look generous, huh?”

The sky turned pitch black—as if someone poured ink over it. Probably only in my vision.

Then it began to sparkle like stars. Mostly green, some yellow, a few orange—moving constantly.

Like a night sky seen through a telescope.

‘Not that it’s anything romantic.’

Those weren’t stars.

Each and every one of them—

Was a gun aimed straight at me.