24. End of Round 2
★ Round 2 Sub-Quest Results Tally ★
[All Areas]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv16 Reaper) 00:39:42
└2nd. Sky Horse (Lv10 Dark Knight) 02:36:15
└3rd. Stupid Idiots (Lv10 Shaman) 02:37:17
[This Area ESKS45-5]
└1st. Black Scythe (Lv16 Reaper) 00:39:42
└2nd. None
└3rd. None
People were all surprised to see the tally results.
"1st place is... Black Scythe?"
"Black Scythe was the only one who changed class in our area?"
Moreover, the job he changed to was no ordinary one.
"Reaper? What kind of job is that?"
"It sounds like an extremely strong job, doesn't it?"
"Is that why he was carrying that huge scythe?"
Jo Jung-sik, who checked the results like others, clicked his tongue.
'Damn it, of all people, Black Scythe changed class.'
Command Authority doesn't work on those who have changed class.
In the end, his plan to make Black Scythe commit suicide has fallen through.
[Round 2 rankings were determined by the order of completing the sub-quest fastest. The player who changed class in our area is Black Scythe.]
The angel, who was speaking calmly, suddenly looked surprised.
[Oh? To take 1st place not just in this area but across all areas? And in less than 40 minutes?]
While Ryumin changed class 39 minutes after starting Round 2, 2nd place took 2 hours and 36 minutes.
An enormous gap.
It was a record so fast even the angel was surprised.
[Amazing! Black Scythe! Not only did you get the unique Reaper class, but you even matched your nickname to it!]
The angel, who was genuinely impressed, looked at Ryumin.
[Answer me! Black Scythe! How were you able to choose such a nickname? Did you know in advance you'd get the Reaper job?]
Despite the angel's question hitting the mark, Ryumin didn't panic.
'Even the angel doesn't know how I obtained Reaper. It just knows it's a unique class.'
If he said he killed an angel to get the class change item, it would probably be shocked.
"I didn't know I'd get a job matching my nickname either."
[Then was it a coincidence you changed to Reaper?]
"Yes."
Ryumin just answered the same as in previous regressions.
The angel showed the same reaction as then.
[Ah! I see? Is this what you call fate? Kihihihi! How interesting.]
The angel smiled as if amused.
It will probably move on without further questions.
'And then it will talk about Command Authority.'
Sure enough.
[With only one person having a job in this area, they'll be the only one not affected by Command Authority. Kihihi.]
"Huh? Not affected by Command Authority?"
"What do you mean by that, Angel?"
The angel smiled mischievously at people's questions.
[Kiki, should I tell you everything since I'm at it? Humans with jobs are not affected by Command Authority. In other words, the district representative can't control Black Scythe at will.]
People were surprised, but the angel wasn't finished.
[Plus, there are only 10 chances to use Command Authority. The district representative can't wield unlimited power. Kiki.]
"It can only be used 10 times?"
"Was that how it worked?"
People's gazes naturally turned to the district representative.
Jo Jung-sik's expression was one of pure embarrassment.
'Damn it! You crazy angel bastard! How could you say that!'
Jo Jung-sik glared at the angel as if he wanted to kill it.
Its wide grin made it clear it had spoken deliberately to cause trouble.
[Now then, I should give a reward to Black Scythe who changed class the fastest, right?]
Following the angel's signal, a message appeared before Ryumin's eyes.
[Congratulations! You completed the quest 1st in this area!]
[Congratulations! You completed the quest 1st across all areas!]
[Black Scythe's current ranking is 1st across all areas, 1st in this area.]
[You receive 'Low-grade Rare Armor Selection Ticket' as reward for 1st place in this area!]
[You receive 'Special Reward Selection Box' as reward for 1st place across all areas!]
The rewards were deposited in his inventory.
Ryumin immediately used the items.
[You can select one of the following rare armors.]
[Please touch the reward you want.]
└ 1. Medieval Knight's Plate Armor
└ 2. Experienced Hunter's Leather Armor
└ 3. Well-Ventilated Mage Robe
'An obvious choice.'
Ryumin immediately chose number 2.
Number 1 is heavy and slows movement, while number 3 has almost no defense.
Number 2, which is easy to move in and increases agility stat, was best for Ryumin.
Next, Ryumin used the Special Reward Selection Box.
[You can select one of the following special rewards.]
[Please touch the reward you want.]
└ 1. 3x Experience Gain Buff (Limited to Round 3)
└ 2. 3,000 Gold
└ 3. Information about Round 3
'This is the same.'
Without hesitation, Ryumin chose the experience buff.
There was no reason not to choose the experience buff for Round 3 where many monsters appear.
◀ ROUND 2 End ▶
[All Areas]
└Survivors: 873,500,205
[This Area ESKS45-5]
└Survivors: 4,988
[Your soul will soon transfer back to your body in the original dimension.]
[Round 3 will begin at midnight on March 1, 2022. We'll see you in the next round. Congratulations on surviving.]
*
Shortly after 3 AM.
"Huff!"
Hwang Yongmin, who woke up in bed, first checked his arms.
'Th-they're here. Both arms are intact!'
When his arms were cut off by Black Scythe, Hwang Yongmin felt devastated.
He was worried about how he would live without both arms.
'As I expected. If you don't die, you return with an intact body!'
He jumped on the bed waving his arms in joy, but only for a moment.
Cold sweat ran down his spine as he recalled the player called Black Scythe who inflicted extreme pain on him.
'Never... I should never mess with Black Scythe again.'
He had no pride left.
He didn't harbor any useless thoughts of revenge.
Because Hwang Yongmin was weak before the strong.
'Damn, I never want to get involved with that cold-blooded monster again.'
Shuddering as if just thinking about it gave him goosebumps, Hwang Yongmin picked up his phone.
He was worried if his friends' bodies were okay.
"Hey, how's your body? You okay? My missing arms are back too. Let's gather the guys and meet up."
After contacting his friends, Hwang Yongmin went outside and walked down an alley.
There was a group smoking cigarettes in the alley lit by streetlights.
"Yongmin, you're here?"
It was his delinquent friends who survived Round 2 together.
"This bastard's arms and legs are really fine?"
"You're completely fine too? Not even a bruise on your face."
"Damn, I still ache thinking about getting beaten by Black Scythe."
"Ah..."
The friends shuddered when Black Scythe was mentioned.
"Let's make a promise. Never mention the words Black Scythe again."
"Yeah, you saw the tally results? That guy alone reached level 16."
"We're only level 5, damn it..."
"And his job is Reaper."
"He really is a grim reaper. A reaper..."
It seems they developed trauma from this incident.
'No wonder, damn it. We all nearly died after having our arms and legs cut off.'
He could confidently say there was no greater pain than that.
"That's why I said it, right? That trying to rape Seo Arin was a reckless plan. Look what happened from needlessly messing with her?"
"Look at this bastard? Where was this attitude when you were excited seeing Seo Arin?"
"Honestly, it wasn't a reckless plan. We were on the verge of succeeding."
"Right. If we had just killed that bodyguard bastard next to her."
"Sigh... Who could have known Black Scythe would appear there?"
The friends shook their heads and just smoked cigarettes.
It was too late to regret what happened.
"Still, it's fortunate. That our real bodies are fine."
"I'm not going to stand out anymore. I'll live quietly like an extra. Damn it!"
"Instead of chasing after Seo Arin, we should have just hunted in the forest to at least get rewards!"
"Right. If we had reached level 10 and changed class, we could have escaped the district representative's orders too."
"By the way, the district representative chosen this time looked really nasty."
"I heard he's some gang boss?"
"Seeing how he confronted Black Scythe, he's got guts."
As the topic shifted to the district representative, Hwang Yongmin brightened up.
"You guys don't know Jo Jung-sik?"
"Who's that?"
"Jo Jung-sik, boss of the Jung-sik faction! He's my role model! Ah, you probably don't know if you're not interested in gangs."
"Kuku, Yongmin, you said your future dream was to be a gangster, and you already have a role model?"
"Kukukuku."
Hwang Yongmin flared up at his friends' laughter.
"Don't laugh, you bastards! I'm dead serious!"
"Is that why you told us to vote for Life is a Documentary?"
"Yeah. The Jung-sik faction is the organization I want to join. The problem is I don't know how to approach them."
"Now that he's district representative, you can try talking to him next round."
"That's what I'm planning to do."
Hwang Yongmin thought.
He decided to seek out Jo Jung-sik as soon as they enter the other world next month.
"I'll go tell him. To let me join the Jung-sik faction."
A smile spread across Hwang Yongmin's face.
Though he didn't know if he would be accepted or not.
*
"Good work. Ms. Arin."
"What did I do? You're the one who worked hard, Mr. Bodyguard..."
Seo Arin, who returned from the other world, looked at An Sang-cheol with grateful eyes.
An Sang-cheol had drawn his sword to protect her from the pursuers.
Even if it was a business relationship, she was still grateful.
Seo Arin's gaze turned to An Sang-cheol's thigh.
"Is your injury okay?"
"Yes. It's fine. How about you, Ms. Arin?"
"I'm perfectly fine without a single wound too."
"As I expected. Seems injuries in the other world don't affect our real bodies."
"Thank you. For protecting me..."
An Sang-cheol smiled awkwardly at Seo Arin's sudden thanks.
"Haha, it's nothing. It's just what I should do as your manager and bodyguard."
Honestly, since he had considered abandoning her, An Sang-cheol couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
"I'd like to express my gratitude to Black Scythe again too... I wonder if there's a way?"
An Sang-cheol shook his head at Seo Arin's words.
"There's no way to find him since we don't know his real appearance. Plus, Black Scythe doesn't seem to want his identity revealed."
"He doesn't want it revealed?"
"Didn't I ask for his account number to reward him? But seeing how he immediately refused, Black Scythe must have known too. That his real identity could be traced through his account number."
"Ah..."
"If you really want to express gratitude, how about giving him an item when we meet in the next round? Or find something that could help him. Well, he seems to survive just fine without our help..."
"Hmm... I guess I'll have to. I should think about how to properly thank him."
"Then get some rest today, and I'll see you tomorrow morning."
"Okay."
As Seo Arin turned around deep in thought after saying goodbye, An Sang-cheol left the penthouse and picked up his phone.
Though it was dawn, he had an urgent report to make.
"CEO Ma?"
-Ah, Director An Sang-cheol.
"You're still awake?"
-I was just having some whiskey after returning.
"I saw the tally results. Congratulations on changing to Dark Knight."
-It's nothing. How did things go on your end?
"Ms. Seo Arin and I only reached level 8. Leveling up was harder than expected. We got injured in the middle which hindered hunting..."
-Injured?
"I was going to report about this... Do you have time? It's related to Black Scythe."
-Black Scythe?
The voice on the call turned cold.
-Come to the hotel. I'll hear the details in person.
"Yes, I'll be there within 20 minutes."
An Sang-cheol hung up and quickly got in his car.
But he didn't know.
That someone was tailing him.