The Dome Closes

I quickly read the script filling the air.

[R: On the second day, a faint box-shaped dome covered all of Bran.]

🙂

The weak have been filtered out on the first day.

All remaining individuals are qualified strong ones and cannot leave the designated area until conditions are met.

🙁

To exit the Box, physical methods may be used.

To exit the Box, becoming a corpse is a valid method.

To exit the Box, ceasing to be human is a valid method.

There are no other ways to exit the Box.

[R: And then.]

🙂

When the qualifications are satisfied, the Box will automatically dismantle.

“What the hell?!”

Jeok-o shouted in shock.

He wasn’t the only one.

“What’s happening?”

“A creature? A post-apocalypse creature?”

“What is this supposed to—?!”

[R: We were forcibly thrown into the blizzard.]

The scenery changed in an instant.

The gray walls vanished, replaced by an endless white snowfield.

At the same time, a bone-chilling blizzard surged from all directions.

🙂

A king must possess land as a foundation.

Claim this ownerless wasteland as your own.

When all land has found an owner, the Box will be dismantled.

Based on the area claimed, you may earn the title of “Lord.”

Based on the area claimed, you may earn the title of “s*ave.”

Wasteland?

More like snow-waste.

Or frozen graveyard.

[R: It was essentially survival. First, surviving this brutal blizzard was a challenge. Second—]

Right on cue, someone shouted through the storm.

“Grab them! Hold them down so no one can move! Make them kneel! If they swear to become slaves, spare them. If not, kill them!”

[R:

【Choice 1. Stand there blankly】

【Choice 2. Run away】]

Choose wrong here and you die.

But that wasn’t my concern.

[R: I ran. Someone might have grabbed my hand just before I fled, but I wasn’t sure. The blizzard was too fierce. I couldn’t see even a step ahead. My feet kept sinking into the snow—]

Modified script detected.

Applying changes.

[N/S: I ran. The blizzard was vicious, but I didn’t care. Because—]

DAY 1 Quest Success Reward Points Available

Current usable points: 1200

This was a game.

And games meant quest rewards.

Rewards meant points.

Points meant items, weapons, skills.

‘Open Shop.’

Here you may purchase items or weapons you have previously obtained, using points.

So only things I had already bought in past playthroughs.

Cheap.

Acquired: Tail of the Thousand-Year Snow Leopard.

Acquired: Half-Gray Half-Black Hide.

Acquired: One Set of Myeongju Danwon.

『Thousand-Year Snow Leopard: A white leopard-type post-apocalypse creature. Holding its tail maintains body temperature even in the deep sea.』

『Half-Gray Half-Black: A massive bear-like post-apocalypse creature, half gray and half black. Brutal and fond of human flesh. Its foul-smelling hide is extremely warm.』

『Myeongju Danwon: A post-apocalypse creature said to appear the day after lightning strikes from a clear sky. Goose-egg sized, capable of illuminating any darkness, and brings wealth to its owner.』

Some glossary parts were corrupted.

I’d ask Caliburn later.

“First things first.”

This was a game.

And no strategy guide was easier than one you’d already memorized.

The blizzard was merciless.

But not to everyone.

For Seolya, the freezing wind was a warm breeze.

The snowstorm, spring snow.

Candidate “Seolya” has acquired Point 348-D75.

The wind shredded the floating text like paper.

Candidate “Seolya” has occupied over 15% of the total territory.

Title of “Viscount” granted.

Quest titles are temporary.

Quest titles may change.

Final titles will be granted after quest completion.

Each time Seolya moved, more notifications appeared.

18%.

19%.

20%.

Title of “Count” granted.

Other candidates gritted their teeth.

“This is unfair!”

“This only benefits certain people! Anyone without water- or ice-related marks will freeze to death here!”

After the collapse, some survivors awakened special powers.

Chosen by strange beings that hadn’t even existed before.

Seolya bore the dual marks of the Northern River God and the Ice-Jade Qilin.

Naturally advantageous here.

“Seolya must’ve bribed the Selector!”

“Selector! Where is he?!”

The loudest protests came from the entourages of powerful candidates.

The weak were too busy surviving.

Or already frozen.

Candidate “Seolya” 22%.

“Lee Mok-gun—!”

Candidate “Lee Mok-gun” 14%.

The man who had been shouting fell silent.

He felt cold realization.

“I’ll have him expelled.”

Lee Mok-gun’s followers dragged the protester into the storm.

His fate was obvious.

The storm would finish him.

“Foolish.”

Lee Mok-gun’s green mark glowed almost black.

16%.

“Was he truly troubled by such trivialities?”

“Know your place.”

Admiration shimmered in his followers’ eyes.

“The one fit to be king.”

Others believed the same—about their own masters.

Candidate “Benchel” 15%.

Candidate “OZ” 11%.

Candidate “Jeok-o” 9%.

The names repeated.

The predetermined few.

Seolya 29%.

Lee Mok-gun 16%.

Benchel 17%.

OZ 15%.

Jeok-o 11%.

The quest has reached midpoint.

From this point, if any individual claims over 30%, the quest will end.

“Attack Seolya!”

“Burn his territory!”

28%.

29%.

28%.

29%.

Then—

Quest completion condition satisfied.

Quest terminated. 🙂

“…Ah.”

A collective sigh.

“Seolya reached 30%.”

Everyone assumed so.

But—

“100% allocation complete.”

The blizzard gathered into a single colossal butterfly.

“Thank you for your enthusiastic participation, dear customers.”

The man seated atop the butterfly looked down at them.

“Selector.”

Lee Mok-gun stepped forward.

“Haha, that was quicker than expected. Lee Mok-gun, your final occupation rate is 16%. Final titles and rewards will be distributed after shareholder approval—ah, pardon me. After agreement.”

“What did you mean by 100%?”

Caliburn adjusted imaginary glasses and set down a tablet like a real estate agent.

“Exactly what I said. All territory around Bran has found owners. I don’t do trick questions.”

“Then Seolya—!”

“Final rate: 28%.”

Silence spread.

“Seolya 28%. Lee Mok-gun 16%. Benchel 17%. OZ 15%. Jeok-o 11%.”

That totaled 87%.

“Then the remaining 13%—?”

Caliburn’s gaze shifted past Lee Mok-gun.

Someone stepped forward.

“Caliburn, you know land isn’t all equal.”

A figure cloaked head to toe in half-black, half-gray bear hide.

“Talking about soil quality?”

“No.”

No one recognized him.

“Then?”

The figure made a circle with thumb and forefinger.

“Land value.”

“Ah.”

“A rocky hillside and prime city land aren’t the same price.”

He faced the powerful candidates.

“13%.”

“What?”

“I’m selling my 13%. Name your terms.”

He added casually.

“Be generous. As I said—it’s prime real estate.”