From Lord to Nothing

The box surrounding me shattered and disappeared.

That felt… better.

It had been semi-transparent anyway, so it wasn’t like it restricted movement—but still. Something about it had been irritating.

“Why does everyone look like that?”

The atmosphere was cold.

Like someone had just dumped ice water over the entire place.

“You’d think something went wrong.”

“…Depending on perspective, it might have.”

A reply came.

I turned toward the voice.

“Jeok-o.”

For a moment, I hesitated—unsure what to say first.

Then I scratched the back of my neck and spoke.

“You followed me?”

“You really are like a loach. Running away is your specialty.”

Fair enough.

That had happened a lot between us.

“Come catch me, darling, hahaha—”

“……”

“…Yeah, never mind.”

I shut up immediately.

Lesson learned: don’t just say whatever comes to mind.

Intelligence +1.

Actually… it might’ve been embarrassment +1.

‘Caliburn would’ve played along.’

…No.

That was exactly the problem.

‘That kind of nonsense rubbed off from him in the first place.’

Lately, I’d been around him too much.

“Anyway.”

I raised both hands lightly, palms forward.

“Seonjeonggong will be here soon to wrap things up. Maybe we should all disperse.”

That was mostly directed at Jeok-o.

The quest was over—attacking me now wouldn’t benefit him.

Jeok-o was sharp.

He understood immediately.

“And why do you get to decide that? If I can finally squash the mosquito that’s been buzzing around my ears this whole time, that’s a gain for me.”

Understanding didn’t mean agreeing.

Still—

“Are we… close or something?”

“What?”

“Never mind. Your face is killing me.”

Seriously—

Why did the way he talked sound so much like me?

‘This is unsettling.’

But I didn’t have time to think about it.

“Liar!”

Someone shouted.

“You deceived us!”

“How can someone be this cruel—”

“Murderer!”

The noise grew louder.

“Hypocrites.”

Jeok-o scoffed—and only then did I realize all those accusations were aimed at me.

“Hmm.”

I looked at the former residents of my Model Garden.

Most of them were pale, trembling.

Their eyes burned with hostility.

I tilted my head.

“If you’re talking to me, I think you’ve got the wrong address.”

…Yeah, they probably didn’t get that.

“What lie did I tell? I kept every promise. Buffs? Given. Independence? Granted. Even free of charge.”

Wow.

I sounded like a philanthropist.

Would be nice if someone helped me like that.

“Don’t act like you showed us mercy!”

Someone shouted immediately.

Probably someone close to the guy who died earlier—he hadn’t moved from that body.

“You used us!”

“That’s true.”

I answered without hesitation.

That seemed to throw him off more than denial would’ve.

“Then what were you expecting me to say?”

“……”

“It was a win-win deal, wasn’t it?”

I was getting tired.

CP: 29/100

It had gone up again.

Probably because of Jeok-o.

“Let’s break it down. Our connection goes back to the previous quest. That’s a long relationship, right? No? Fine.”

I stepped toward them slowly.

I just wanted to finish this and leave.

“Was I the one who sent you to Central Territory? No. Imok abandoned you. Let’s be clear—he used you. I was the one invaded. If anything, I was the victim, and you were the aggressors.”

“…And you abandoned the walls! You knew what would happen!”

“I did.”

I shrugged.

Intentionally irritating.

“And still—!”

Wow, that worked a little too well.

“Then you’re a murderer too!”

Fair.

In another world, maybe.

But not here.

“The world already ended. Debating morality now is pointless.”

“What?!”

“Oh, you can debate it. But then also acknowledge that you survived by entering my Model Garden.”

Silence.

“People are funny. They won’t criticize powerful people for big crimes—but they’ll tear apart weaker ones for small ones.”

I smiled bitterly.

I wanted to sneer like Imok or Jeok-o—but it didn’t come out that way.

CP: 32/100

“You fear me less than Imok. You’re less attached to me than your friend who tried to kill me.”

“……”

“So I’m just a convenient scapegoat.”

Silence followed.

Different this time.

Uncomfortable.

“But still…”

Someone spoke up again.

“You didn’t have to go that far.”

I glanced at the corpse.

That could’ve been me.

No—

Without the rebound, it would have been.

But apparently, that simple logic wasn’t so simple for others.

“You should’ve written it more clearly… those dangerous conditions…”

Or maybe they just didn’t want to see it.

“If you had, none of this would’ve happened…”

Right.

The type who blames warnings for not being big enough.

CP: 33/100

I didn’t want to deal with them anymore.

‘What’s the point?’

Nothing would change.

I shrugged and stepped back—

But someone suddenly jumped between us.

A small figure.

“Shameless!”

They shouted.

‘Why does everyone talk like this?’

“Are you not ashamed? Master saved us again and again, and you blame him?”

“Who are you—!”

“If you hadn’t harbored ill intent, you wouldn’t have died! And did anyone thank him for saving us and protecting us from the creatures?!”

The small figure trembled—but spoke firmly.

I raised an arm, stopping them.

They flinched but finished anyway.

“You’re the ones using him…!”

Then they looked up at me—

And went pale.

‘What?’

“Master…”

Ah.

It was him.

The boy I saved at the wall.

The only seed whose face I knew.

“I-I’m sorry. You didn’t ask me to—I just—”

“No, that’s fine.”

“Huh?”

“It’s your choice.”

But—

“Don’t call me that.”

His eyes widened.

So I clarified.

“Don’t call me ‘Master.’ You’re free now.”

He didn’t answer.

Just stared at me.

Blinking.

Like he couldn’t process it.

“…Hey.”

He looked—

Confused.

DAY 4 Beta Test final records compiling…

(……)

Compilation complete 🙂

Participants, please check your results.

…Why does this feel bad?

The turn has ended.

Lords must pay taxes based on their subjects.

Failure to pay results in penalties.

No territory. No subjects.

No taxes.

That was the logic.

I had transferred everything.

There was no way anyone would refuse free ownership.

‘Obviously.’

…There shouldn’t be.

I looked at the boy.

He blinked up at me—

Eyes full of trust.

A pseudo-territory has been detected among your assets.

Please pay taxes.

No payment available.

Penalty applied.

I grabbed the back of my neck.

‘…Ah, shit.’

Penalty: Player rank temporarily reduced.

Current status: Wanderer

No territory. No affiliation.

Below that was—

Temporary status: s*ave

…Ah.

“f*ck.”

You must now serve a territory to escape slavery.

Good luck.

I collapsed onto the ground.

What kind of bullshit luck is this?