------------------
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
------------------
Chapter 4: Prologue
A thrilling tremor that stimulated his peripheral nerves.
“Hooo….”
Yohan steadied his breathing.
Before his eyes was a ring.
It had a beautiful appearance, crafted from black meteoric iron.
The delicate metalwork and various decorations stood out.
[You have acquired the ‘Crimson Lotus Ring’.]
He had his suspicions, but he never thought he would actually obtain this.
Holding the ring in his hand, Yohan struggled to calm his pounding heart.
If he could just use this properly, it would play an enormous role in breaking through the early episodes.
‘I guess I can leave now.’
The objective was achieved.
From now on, he had to pour all his effort into planning the best build to utilize this ring.
＊ ＊ ＊
Time flowed quickly.
Before long, midnight was approaching.
Yohan, who had planned to briefly show his face at the celebratory banquet, ran into someone on the way.
It was Cadmun, the one he had crushed at the coming-of-age ceremony.
Flinching, the young vampire’s body trembled slightly.
The terror from the ceremony must not have faded yet.
‘Good. I wanted to see him again anyway, so this is perfect.’
Yohan approached the boy with his hands clasped behind his back.
“It was Cadmun, wasn’t it?”
“Y-Yes… that’s right.”
Cadmun's attitude was remarkably different.
A herbivore before a predator.
He was docile and weak.
Even so, he couldn't completely hide the feelings within.
Because he was young.
Because he was humiliated.
He did not yet possess the heart of a wolf, which would have allowed him to suppress it all.
“Don’t be so stiff, just act like you normally do. We’ll be seeing each other for a long time, and I’d rather we not be on bad terms.”
“Is it… really okay?”
‘Of course, it’s okay.’
‘How could I, a man of such great magnanimity, possibly hold a grudge just because some ill-mannered brats were disrespectful and even insulted my parents a little?’
‘That’s just how kids grow up.’
‘They bicker, and then they get close by playing together.’
In that spirit, he was thinking of playing a simple game.
In his 305th playthrough, he had been completely hooked on modern sports for a while.
Playing together would be a fun way to build some camaraderie.
After listening to the explanation of a game called ‘bowling,’ Cadmun nodded his head.
"Just the two of us won't be enough."
"Go bring the other friends who participated in the ceremony. We should take this chance to clear up any misunderstandings."
Except for that Scarlet girl.
He wanted the rest to come, every last one of them.
The game of bowling that began was something quite different from the original.
Because the bowling pins were vampires.
And the bowling ball was a two-meter-long armadillo.
"I-I was wrong. I was wrong."
"I truly believed that you, Lord Yohan, were the one meant to be the next clan head!"
"Ah, no, I was the one who was certain that Lord Yohan was the only new moon of Ataraxia!"
The vampires trembled as they defended themselves.
The one who teased him.
The one who mocked him.
That son of a bitch at the end of the second row was the one who discriminated against him because of his hair color.
"You know something? The truly mad dogs are usually the quiet ones."
The ones that growl all day are just scared.
A rabid dog just waits quietly.
For the one who picks a fight with it to come closer.
"My body is made of balls."
After steadying his breath, Yohan rolled the ball toward the vampires huddled together.
"Kieeeek!"
The armadillo, curled up into a ball, performed its role as a bowling ball magnificently.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa....
......Kwaaaang!!!
“Wow.“
They're really flying.
That guy flattened over there looked like he'd have a hard time lifting a spoon with his own hands for a while.
"Kugh..."
"My... my leg!"
The bodies of the vampires, sent flying without a single one left, twitched intermittently.
"Ha, haha... w-wonderful, Lord Yohan. Is this what you call a... str-strike?"
Cadmun, standing beside him with a pale face, began to clap.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
It was a disciplined yet thunderous ovation.
Yohan stared intently at Cadmun.
‘Why are you just standing there smiling?’
"Now that you know how it's done, shouldn't you hurry up and get to the spot where you belong?"
As it happened, they were short on bowling pins for the next round.
"I-If I play along this time, can I live in peace from now on?"
"Of course. It's my principle to live cheerfully with the friends I've played with."
A man who never holds a grudge and can embrace everyone with great magnanimity.
That was him.
＊ ＊ ＊
Thirty minutes later, after finishing his brutal revenge match for the coming-of-age ceremony, Yohan arrived at the banquet hall.
Everyone was busy enjoying the after-party, drinking wine.
"Our prince must also have a drink on such an auspicious day, no?"
"The night is just getting started, where are you headed?"
"I tired myself out a bit earlier, so I'm feeling a little fatigued. I'll be back in a few hours."
He'd made his appearance.
Now it was time to go to the Blood Prison.
By now, he should be able to attempt his 1,000th playthrough without being disturbed by anyone.
However.
When he reached the place where the forbidden book was kept, the unbelievable happened.
"So, you've come."
"Moth...er?"
Yohan's pupils quaked.
Standing before him was a Progenitor exuding an unapproachable aura.
Alice von Ataraxia.
The head of the Ataraxia clan and Yohan's mother.
She had been absent for quite a long time, so to run into her at this exact moment...
He was sure he wouldn't see her today, especially since she hadn't even shown up for the coming-of-age ceremony.
Why?
And of all things... he didn't know if it was a coincidence or not, but she was holding the forbidden book.
There was no denying it.
He was completely caught.
If he was lucky, he'd get a whipping.
If not, a shower of blood skewers would rain down on him.
The highest priority command from his cerebrum—'Survive'—was issued to his tongue.
"Well... I received this ring as a prize at the coming-of-age ceremony, but I was thinking I'd like to choose something else."
Yohan spouted his excuse, but Alice showed no sign of anger or reprimand.
Instead.
It was worry.
Yes. Her eyes and face were filled with nothing but a deep maternal love for her child.
"Do you know what this book is?"
"Isn't it just a slightly unusual novel?"
A novel with an insane difficulty level.
And a lot of strange parts.
A novel he honestly wanted to tear into shreds about 999 times.
However.
The words that came from Alice's lips completely shattered Yohan's common sense.
"It's a book of prophecy. A book in which future events are recorded. Of course, when I or others look at it, it's nothing but blank pages. It seems you were the one who was chosen."
"What?"
'Wait, what is she talking about? A book of prophecy? Does that mean it wasn't simply a fictional world? And by what standard was I chosen?'
The confusion mashed his thoughts into dough.
Right at that moment.
Woooong!
A golden light began to overflow from the book.
As if to say that there wasn't much time left.
"Don't blame yourself. It was only a matter of time; eventually, 'they' would have noticed our existence."
Her words laid out the truth of his new mission: that from now on, he would be going outside the Tower, and that the things he had experienced would happen in reality.
"The only one who can do this, Yohan... is you."
No one else could.
Because they had absolutely no information about an apocalypse that would surpass the worst imaginable.
Above all, the only one who could currently break the seal and go outside the Tower of Trials was the one chosen by the forbidden book.
[The 'Final Playthrough' will now begin.]
A bright halo of light from the book began to envelop Yohan.
Alice bit her lip.
Their faces slowly began to blur.
Feelings of worry, concern, and affection filled the air around them.
"We will find our own way. No matter what happens, we will not give up, and we will devise a way to save you."
So.
Please, stay safe.
We will.
We will...
...come to help you.
[View the end of the forbidden book. Upon failure...]
And so.
[All life forms inside the 'Tower of Trials,' including you, will be annihilated.]
The forbidden book encroached upon reality.
＊ ＊ ＊
[You have been moved to the 'Starting Point'!]
With a bright light, a familiar place unfolded.
It was the very same place he had started from countless times.
The only difference was that this was no longer a world within the forbidden book, but reality, existing outside the Tower of Trials.
The 1,000th playthrough, and at the same time, the final one that would never be repeated, had begun.
"Hooo."
Yohan let out a long sigh.
Certainly...
It had started out lightly.
Just experiencing the world outside the Tower he had been trapped in his whole life was enough.
When he learned that it could grant a wish.
Well, to be honest, he began to take it much more seriously.
But.
Now that he knew it had become reality, with the fates of everyone hanging in the balance...
'This isn't easy.'
He felt as if he would be crushed by its weight.
The time for enjoying himself was over.
Because the worst of all apocalypses was coming.
Of course.
There were Hunters in the modern world, too.
And there were guilds and alliances that had built up their own power.
However.
'This will be hard.'
It was true they had their own underlying strength, but that only applied to situations that were, to some extent, manageable.
This, however, was far, far beyond the realm of common sense.
Yohan checked the electronic billboard in the center of the building.
But then.
[December 9th. 3:57 PM]
[Disaster Alert: One Unopened Gate (Rank Undetermined) has appeared near Cheonho Station Exit 3, Gangdong-gu. Response teams have been urgently dispatched. Citizens, please be cautious on your way home.]
[Additional Disaster Alert: Signs of 4 additional Gates appearing in the Gangdong-gu area.]
[Breaking News: Arrest warrant requested for a high-ranking executive of Taehwa Pharmaceuticals on charges of 'Illegal Drug Development'. It is presumed they also had some sort of deal with the Hestia Empire.]
[Economy: Price of Mana Stones has risen approximately 11.55% from yesterday due to an explosion in demand.]
[Breaking News: 'Cult of the Moon' followers occupying Mapo Bridge in a group protest. Demanding designation as a state religion and declaring a hunger strike.]
“……!!??”
No way.
Many breaking news reports followed, but only one thing caught Yohan's eye.
December 9th.
The moment he saw that number, he felt as if ice water had been poured over his entire body.
And for good reason.
Until now, the starting date for all his 999 playthroughs had been December 16th.
The very day the apocalypse began.
But.
'I've come back a week earlier.'
The thing he had wished for so desperately.
The chance to start at the same point as everyone else had finally arrived.
It was a benefit so shocking that it washed away all the worries and thoughts he'd had just moments before.
Moreover.
The surprises didn't end there.
Tiring!
[An additional perk for the final playthrough has been granted.]
[The strategy guide in your possession will disappear.]
[You have acquired the 'Prophet's Eye (7-day conditional version),' in which the contents of the strategy guide have been saved.]
Fwoosh!
The strategy guide that had been with him through every playthrough turned to ash.
In its place.
The essence containing its memories seeped directly into his right eye.
'The Prophet's Eye!'
Yohan's heart pounded once again.
Among all the eyes that existed in this world, it was one that ranked within the top five.
On top of that, with the contents of the strategy guide now saved within it, the ability was downright broken.
Of course, there was the seven-day restriction, but there was a way to solve that.
The warning of the apocalypse would appear at 4 PM.
After that, a one-week preparation period would be given.
It went without saying, but there was nothing related to this in the breaking news reports yet.
Just one more minute.
Yohan stared at the blinking clock.
Soon.
In sixty seconds, the world would be thrown into upheaval.
And the moment the digital numbers changed to 16:00.
Swaaaaa...
Everything changed.
-The black rain is a kind of omen.
Rain began to fall.
A rain of a dark and ominous color.
-It is the prelude that washes away the old and signals a new beginning.
"W-What is this?"
"Why is the rain this color?"
"Is this some kind of Gate-related contamination? Damn it. It's one thing after another."
"Tsk, let's just get out of it. Let's go to that convenience store over there. Ugh, it's so filthy."
The people walking the streets scurried under buildings to take cover from the sudden phenomenon.
The blackened moon had already covered the sun.
A total solar eclipse, at the wrong time of day.
And then, as if it were a lie.
Tiring!
A status window flashed before the eyes of all humanity.
[Conditions have been met.]
[The Apocalypse Episode for Planet 'Earth', Dimension #A109, will now begin.]
It was real.
With this, there was no longer any reason to doubt.
[You can view your detailed personal information by activating your Personal Status Window.]
[All of humanity, please prepare for the first episode.]
[#01. Green Wave]
[Time Remaining 6D : 23H : 59M : 59S]
Yohan quietly chewed over each and every letter written on the status window.
＊＊＊
The message of the end had suddenly appeared before humanity.
The ripple effect born from those few short sentences was beyond imagination.
-FindingYourAunt: An apocalypse episode is suddenly starting in a week? What is this nonsense? I thought the apocalypse was over after we conquered the Tower of Trials?
-CardcaptorCherry: This isn't some hidden camera prank, is it? Did the Association pull a prank?
-WasGonnaSay: To say that, it doesn't make sense for the status window to appear for everyone. There isn't a single person in the world with that kind of ability.
-AssaultMonster: This seems like it'll be on a whole different level from the dungeons we have now. Are we going to be okay?
-AAProducing: C'mon, you think anything's really gonna happen? Do you even know how strong the major guilds' Hunters are in the world right now? Go watch some ViewTube analysis videos on the major guilds, mercenaries, and the Cult's forces.
-z105s63: IKR. Honestly, my little kitty could solo this apocalypse thing, easy.
-BanReaver: My hamster's pretty strong too, I'll send him on the expedition for you.
The internet and online communities were ablaze with this single topic.
While there were many worried reactions, there were just as many who were overconfident.
Although there had been the Tower of Trials, humanity's worst disaster, that was already a story from well over 20 years ago.
Humanity had continued to develop ever since.
And now, in the present.
Jamsil, where the Korean Hunter's Association was located.
On the table sat a cup of coffee that had already gone cold.
Just as the coffee remained untouched, no clear solution had emerged.
"You're saying... you haven't been able to determine the cause at all?"
The President of the Korean Hunter's Association, Han Sangjin, spoke gravely.
"Yes. It's the same with foreign intelligence agencies."
"The major guilds are also quickly recalling their Rankers, but it seems to be more a measure to preserve their forces than a sign that they've figured something out."
"The prices of Mana Stones, Healing Potions, and the like are also fluctuating wildly."
"Rotten bastards. They're hoarding supplies in a situation like this?"
"The Alchemist Guild and the Mage Guild have also announced they will be controlling their supply. And... I think we'll have to keep a close eye on the Empire, too."
At that last statement, Han Sangjin's eyes narrowed.
"Yes. They would see this as an opportunity. Those bastards."
A 'Second Impact,' where a civilization from another dimension crosses over entirely.
Humanity had faced five Second Impacts before.
'Only one had been dealt with properly.'
The other four civilizations were still established on Earth.
In particular, unlike the three relatively quiet civilizations, the 'Hestia Empire' was still in constant conflict with humanity, so they had to pay it special attention.
And perhaps...
...he had a premonition that this event would be far more dangerous than a Second Impact.
"For now, keep a close watch on the situation and activate the emergency system 24/7 for the remaining week."
"We'll reallocate personnel and outsource the clearing of low-rank dungeons."
There was no telling what would happen.
Therefore.
Their core forces had to be preserved at all costs.
Han Sangjin watched the black rain falling outside the window, lost in deep thought.
------------------
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
------------------
