Episode 17
#17
A dim place veiled in shadow.
Seated around a rectangular table there were beings wearing pure white masks—the Representatives overseeing the Sacred Flame War.
Among them, the Representative sitting at the head seat, radiating the most tremendous presence, opened his mouth.
“From this moment, I shall commence the meeting regarding the final test of the Sacred Flame War.”
His voice reverberated magnificently through the surroundings.
The Representatives seated at their places began to lower their heads slightly toward him, observing propriety.
The one toward whom they lowered their heads possessed the greatest and most profound rank among the Representatives gathered here.
High-Rank Representative Javadon.
That was the name of the Representative who oversaw every Sacred Flame War in this region.
“Now, then.”
Javadon’s gaze turned to Haron, who sat in the seat closest to the head.
“Representative Haron. You have produced the most outstanding results among the Sacred Flame Wars held in this region. Zero fatalities up to the second trial... An excellent result.”
At those words, the Representatives began to murmur.
Because it was an unbelievable result, just as their reactions indicated.
Haron simply lowered his head calmly and replied.
“Thank you.”
“However, I presume you know that the zone under your charge is also the one with the most complaints from the Constellations?”
“Yes, I am aware.”
Haron slowly nodded toward Javadon.
Javadon continued in a solemn voice.
“Was there truly no preferential treatment whatsoever?”
As the High-Rank Representative overseeing the Sacred Flame Wars of a region, he must have already grasped what situations were occurring in the wars held there.
Yet he asked Haron despite knowing.
To hear a definitive statement from Haron and make the Representatives gathered here understand.
Understanding the meaning behind those words, Haron calmly repeated the oath he had sworn before.
“I swear upon my rank. The trial itself was conducted fairly.”
“...I see.”
He had sworn even staking his own rank.
It was a situation where one could not help but believe, even if they wished not to.
Perhaps those few words were enough to make every Representative gathered here understand.
“I shall believe you, Haron. However, whether you broke the rules or not, the Constellations’ dissatisfaction is no trivial matter. That is the reason this meeting was convened at this time.”
“The position of Representative is not one to be swayed by disgruntled Constellations. Can we not simply leave them be?”
“If it were as you say, there would have been no need to convene a meeting over a trifling matter such as this.”
At those words, Haron’s head turned toward Javadon.
Because he understood the meaning of Javadon’s words.
“It seems there is a Constellation of considerably high rank among those who feel dissatisfied.”
“Indeed.”
One might overlook the dissatisfaction of a low-rank Constellation, but that of a high-rank Constellation could not be taken lightly.
No matter how fairly the Sacred Flame War was conducted and proven, a sudden situation could arise in which a Constellation of considerable rank bore the restraint to interfere with the fair Sacred Flame War.
“He said that one of the Constellations in your zone is aiding a survivor with whom no contract has been made, even bearing the restraint. Is this true?”
Hearing those words, Haron finally realized the severity of the situation.
Whether what that Constellation saw was true or not, if the Constellation harbored dissatisfaction for such a reason, it meant justification had been given for them to interfere in the Sacred Flame War.
If there was any fortune in this, it was that it was not true.
Haron answered hastily.
“Even if it happened, it was during the rest period. Such a thing never occurred during the trial. I am telling you it was not foul play.”
“Very well, I believe your words, Haron. However, a method is needed to quell their dissatisfaction. You know the reason.”
High-Rank Representative Javadon was simply concerned that the trial of the final Sacred Flame War would be ruined by the intervention of a Constellation of tremendous rank.
That mattered not whether Haron had broken the rules or not.
No matter how much one explained, that Constellation already harbored dissatisfaction, and the moment they intervened in the Sacred Flame War, it would already be too late to settle matters.
To prevent that beforehand, he had asked Haron for a solution.
Haron answered calmly.
“If you speak of a method, I suppose you intend to change the content of the final Sacred Flame War.”
“Indeed.”
No matter that it was not true, a high-rank Constellation already harbored dissatisfaction.
Then the final trial had to be carried out more fairly than anything else.
A fair trial to the extent that even that Constellation could not harbor dissatisfaction and would acknowledge it.
Javadon looked around at the surrounding Representatives and continued.
“The final trial’s content shall be changed as follows.”
* * *
A day passed, and one hour remained until the third trial ended.
During that time, I cleared all the remaining gates and reaped great benefits.
I looked at the status window that appeared before my eyes.
Name: Gim Hancheol
Level: 30
Unique Skill: EX-grade Sky Island
Strength: 138 (12↑) Agility: 139 (12↑) Stamina: 141 (11↑) Defense: 135 (10↑) Mana: 135 (10↑) Mental Strength: 135 (10↑) Divine Power: 0
I had reached level 30.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected to reach the level I was targeting during the Sacred Flame War.
I couldn’t know the exact details right now, but there would likely be a great change when I returned to the Sky Island. And that wasn’t all.
‘Around six?’
This was probably the greatest gain from the third trial.
While I was clearing gates, requests occasionally came from Constellations, and thanks to that, I had been able to form contracts sealed by oaths with a total of six Constellations.
I didn’t particularly need the points they gave as sponsorship, but I would be able to obtain the items they possessed in the form of requests when I wanted them.
There would be no Constellation who broke their oath even at the cost of lowering their rank.
While I was happily contemplating what requests to make, a Constellation opened their mouth to me.
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ proposes a contract with you.]
“...Huh?”
What? The Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze is proposing a contract?
Wasn’t that Constellation one who kept only a single contractor?
I looked at the message window with a puzzled expression, and the Fairy’s words continued.
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ says you may be proud.]
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ points at herself and says possessing two or more contractors is unprecedented.]
It certainly was unprecedented... but that was all.
It was unusual, not special.
It wasn’t even known as a great Constellation... Still, since it was a Constellation, I politely shook my head and spoke.
“I apologize, but I do not yet intend to contract with any Constellations.”
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ is shocked by your words.]
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ says she is a greater Constellation than you think.]
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ sponsors 1,000 points.]
A great Constellation, huh...
Honestly, I was a bit curious about that Constellation’s true identity.
In both the game and the novel, it had only been portrayed as an unusual Constellation.
Of course, regardless of whether its rank was high or not, I hadn’t intended to contract with anyone in the first place.
I spoke somewhat vaguely in a polite tone.
“I do not need it. And I am sorry.”
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ receives a great shock.]
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ says, ‘Well, it cannot be helped then; I shall give up.’]
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ says she will cheer for you nonetheless.]
A Constellation whose emotions change faster than expected.
Well, I was grateful that she gave up.
I smirked at the Fairy’s last words.
Then, at the Fairy’s final words, my eyes widened greatly.
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ says you will surely become the ‘King of the Region.’]
At the same time as those words.
Fzzzt!
For an instant, a blue spark flared within the message.
Simultaneously with the spark, the message’s content had changed.
[The Constellation ‘Kind Fairy of the Gentle Breeze’ says you will surely become ‘■■■ ■.’]
“Hah...”
Admiration flowed out of me unconsciously at that sight.
That Constellation just bore the restraint.
To think she would reveal the contents of the next trial of the Sacred Flame War to a survivor with whom she had no contract...
Were those thoughtless words?
No, no matter how thoughtlessly spoken, I had seen contents related to the next trial for an instant.
That meant that Fairy’s rank was higher than I expected.
Because she had borne the restraint of the ‘Greatest Ones,’ even if only for an instant.
‘Just what kind of Constellation is she?’
A Constellation shrouded in mystery in many ways.
Honestly, I had thought until now that she was a Constellation without a very high rank, but the situation that just occurred forced me to think differently.
This Constellation was one possessing a considerably high rank.
It seemed this was not a being to be taken lightly.
“It seems everyone has succeeded in clearing the gates safely within the time limit after all.”
Then Haron appeared in mid-air.
He looked around with his usual calm demeanor, slowly descending to the ground, and opened his mouth.
“Then I shall begin distributing the rewards.”
Simultaneously with his words, a notification window popped up before me.
[Hero-grade item ‘Ring of Levitation’ is given as a reward.]
The moment I saw the reward given, my pupils widened greatly.
It wasn’t the reward I had known about, but because it was an extremely useful reward.
‘I didn’t know I’d receive this?’
The corners of my mouth rose into a grin without my realizing.
The Ring of Levitation was a ring equipped with the function of consuming mana to fly through the sky.
Of course, while it allowed one to fly, it was after all levitation, so maneuverability was poor. Even so, it could be said to be a fairly useful item.
While I was wearing the ring on my finger with a pleasant smile, Haron sent me a telepathic message.
‘It seems you are pleased with the reward this time. I am glad.’
‘Yes, it is a decent reward.’
At my words, Haron also somehow looked relieved and pleased.
However, his voice that followed next was one that seemed to sink weakly.
‘Survivor Gim Hancheol.’
‘Yes?’
‘I cannot give you a detailed explanation. It is the rule. But I wish to apologize in advance.’
What was he saying?
Had Haron done something wrong to me?
I looked at Haron with a puzzled expression.
Haron simply continued his next words calmly.
‘It is merely an advance apology because my inadequate handling may cause you slight harm, Survivor Gim Hancheol.’
It was still an incomprehensible apology.
Harm could come to me?
I couldn’t understand what kind of situation this was at all.
Just in case, I asked Haron.
‘Could it be that the next trial... has something wrong with it?’
‘...’
Haron answered with silence to those words.
From that, I could tell.
That something had changed in the Sacred Flame War, though I didn’t know the reason.
And in a direction unfavorable to me at that.
Tsk.
No wonder it had been strange that the Representative who should have stayed in his position left in a hurry before I entered the gate.
A meeting between the Representatives representing the Sacred Flame Wars of this region must have been held.
It was certain that some words regarding the final trial had been exchanged there.
‘I have to take first place in the final trial, above all else...’
I knew the contents of the final trial.
It was the true reason the Sacred Flame War was held and the greatest benefit to me.
No, even if it wasn’t a benefit, there was a reason I absolutely had to take first place.
* * *
The next morning.
Survivors gathered around Haron.
He confirmed that the survivors had gathered and opened his mouth toward them.
“From this moment, I shall begin the final trial.”
At those words, every survivor gulped in tension.
It was the end of the bizarre trial that had threatened their lives.
They were anxious yet tense about what kind of trial awaited them.
“There is a matter to note before we begin.”
The survivors looked at him with puzzled faces at Haron’s words.
The words Haron spoke the next moment were enough to shock the survivors.
“All survivors except for the leader of the group with the highest recorded score in this zone, Survivor Gim Hancheol, and the leader of the group with the second-highest recorded score, Sin Yua, will not be given the qualification to participate in the final trial.”
“What?”
“No, what do you mean?”
The murmuring among the survivors began to grow.
Naturally, having worked hard to get here, being told they didn’t have the qualification to participate in the final trial meant that, in the end, everyone except those two was excluded from the Sacred Flame War.
Of course, I was surprised as well.
Because things were unfolding differently from the final trial I knew.
Originally, the final Sacred Flame War was a battle conducted by groups.
And not just this zone, but the entire region participated to determine first place.
But to say that everyone except two representatives couldn’t participate...
I looked at Haron with a momentarily serious, stiff face, but Haron simply continued speaking in his usual calm tone, shaking his head.
“It seems there was a misunderstanding in my words. I said qualification would not be given, but I did not say you would be excluded from the final trial.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it the same thing?”
When people made puzzled expressions at Haron’s words.
Haron continued his explanation.
“The final trial is conducted with participants from the Sacred Flame Wars held across the entire region, not just this zone, gathering in one place.”
The fact that the entire region would be combined and held was no different from the contents of the game.
Then what on earth had changed?
“I will continue the detailed explanation after we move locations.”
With those words, Haron raised his hand, and with a snap, people were instantly moved to a different location.