Ex-level Player With the Greatest Civilization of All Time - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 111

That’s what I believe, anyway.
Major figures have a certain way they’re expected to conduct themselves.
And by now, I’m undeniably a major figure.
A Player who’s stepped into the ranks of the Named — that’s what they’d call me.
Because of that, I can’t afford to be stingy with gratitude, not anymore.
In other words: whether I wanted it or not, I’ve incurred a debt to the Arc Guild, and debts must be repaid.
So I’d been mulling over how to settle this, and fortune smiled — this worked out perfectly.
“I’ll give you the Residual Sword of Sword Ghost.”
And as I said before, I’m a major figure now.
But a major figure doesn’t just guard one thing — their word.
Once you’ve spoken, you keep it; that’s what makes you a major figure.
If I said I’d sell it through a private auction, that’s what I do.
But if my benefactor asks me to reverse that promise?
A person of integrity can’t refuse.
I have to repay the favor by sacrificing my own honor — what else can I do?
So of course the Residual Sword of Sword Ghost is….
“But it won’t be free. You’ll pay the proper price.”
James exhaled a heavy sigh.
He’d clearly been hoping to use this to make me feel indebted while simultaneously winning my favor.
But this way, he’d know that plan was dead.
“Haa….”
Before I changed my terms, I looked at Neia.
She had the bid records that had come in to Baek Jin-seong.

『The Arc Guild currently has a bid registered for 80 trillion won.』

It seemed they’d engaged in quite the price war with the Tempest Guild.
Because of that, they’d bid high.
“I’ll sell it for 80 trillion. Do you have it now?”
When I said that to Miller, he looked at James.
James shook his head at the man treating him like a wallet and spoke.
“As promised, I’m going unpaid for three years — you said it, so keep your word, Miller.”
“I don’t speak out of both sides of my mouth.”
James exhaled a sigh so deep it seemed the earth itself would crack, then touched his status window.
He appeared to be contacting someone outside the guild through the status messenger.
“I’ve transferred it to Baek Jin-seong’s account. Confirm the deposit.”
I looked at Baek Jin-seong.
He nodded quietly.
The deposit had gone through.
I opened my Inventory and handed the Residual Sword of Sword Ghost to Miller.
Miller took the blade and, apparently pleased, drew it and swung it through the air.
Rip—
With a sound like the air tearing, a Sword Aura carved powerfully across the field.
Seeing that, Miller’s mouth curved into a smile.
‘Looks satisfied.’
The blow just now certainly hadn’t seemed to use any particular skill.
Yet the power behind it was considerable.
I wondered if the monster had grown stronger once more, now that he had the Residual Sword.
I examined the mark left by the blade strike, then spoke to James.
“…Still, that was a fair deal.”
James’s expression held both satisfaction and regret in equal measure.
With a wistful face, James bowed to me and withdrew with his guild members.
“Well, that settles one thing….”
I then checked on those standing a short distance away.
Kang Seong, Mir, Nakhwa.
I owed them my proper thanks as well.
Honestly, it couldn’t have been easy for them to choose to stand against Gluttony.
I’m grateful they came running the moment they heard I was in danger.
“I’ll make sure to look after all of you later as well. If anyone needs anything in particular, please let Baek Jin-seong know.”
The three of them beam at my words.
The guild members who came with them cheer as well.
The atmosphere is decidedly celebratory.
They look like contract workers who’ve just received a hefty performance bonus.
Maybe they’re planning a beef dinner somewhere.
I watched people file out one by one through the elevator, and finally, with only us remaining on the field, I let my guard down.
“They all gone?”
I took in the state of the ravaged field and spoke.
“Still, there’s work to be done.”
Because my real work was only just beginning.

* * *

Regardless of what anyone else might think—
I still had things to do on this field, now that Gluttony had vanished.
Namely, a closer inspection of that city that had been swallowed by Gluttony.
Of course, I’d love nothing more than to get out of this nauseating 50th Floor field.
But what choice do I have?
I can’t just ignore it—it’s bothering me too much.
“Neia, would you check on something for me?”

『Yes, understood.』

My gut tells me it’s not entirely unrelated to Nemesis.
I felt it clearly enough.

『Directive confirmed. Organizing reconnaissance unit… Dispatch complete. Analyzing…』

About ten minutes passed as I waited to see what results would come back.
Neia, having finished her confirmation, reported the findings.

『Nemesis and City similarity: 31%.』

“31%? Seriously?”

『Confirmed.』

I had her double-check because I found it so hard to believe.
Even after she confirmed it again, I felt oddly embarrassed.
The figure was far too low compared to what I’d been so confident about.
According to Neia, a 31% similarity meant there was a possibility it derived from the same lineage as Nemesis, but it was too ambiguous to say for certain.
She said that while additional internal investigation of the city might yield clues, this was the extent of what could be determined at present.
“But it definitely reacted to my mana, didn’t it?”

『I’ll take that into account as well and investigate further.』

Is she subtly telling me to go home and rest?
She’s been asking about my physical condition repeatedly since a moment ago.
She must be quite worried.
Well, “surviving after being consumed by Gluttony” is a harrowing achievement that’s nearly impossible to pull off.
It might be best not to overdo it.

『Seon-woo, when you return to the City, perhaps first tend to your muscles’ fatigue with warm water…』

“Got it.”
Though that doesn’t mean I’m leaving right this second.
I gave Neia a firm reply to her fussing and then gathered my thoughts.
Even as he left, he made one more sweep of the site to ensure nothing had been overlooked.
A manager had to check in with his subordinates before clocking out, after all.
“Hmm?”
That was when the City caught his eye.
Small though it was, it was densely packed with substance.
Wait—wasn’t this actually valuable?
He’d thought the reward was meager a moment ago, but if he played this right….
A sense of possibility flickered through him—the feeling that he could swing something major here.
He turned to Neia at once.
“Neia.”

『Yes, Seon-woo.』

“What do you think of this City? Any parts worth salvaging?”
Neia had once told him about Nemesis in connection with the Void Leech.
A city constructed from underground minerals.
If that were the case, wouldn’t there be something worth reclaiming if he took this with him?
Even if it was a bit worn, with Nemesis’s technical expertise, there had to be something worth extracting.

『I was shortsighted, sir. I shall attempt to dismantle the City and recoup what value we can.』

“How long will that take?”

『Approximately one day, I estimate.』

That timeframe seemed manageable, though it might be wise to notify Kang Se-hyun about restricting access just in case.
He was turning this over in his mind when
Baek Jin-seong spoke up carefully.
“Um….”
“What is it?”
“Aren’t you taking that, sir?”
“That?”
He paused, then remembered what he’d forgotten.
The Mark of Gluttony.
It was almost certainly lying somewhere in the City.
Given how large even a small city could be, it would be difficult to search manually. He asked Neia for help.
“Neia, could you do me a favor?”

『I shall search for it at once.』

As Neia deployed her Drones to begin the search, he waited with genuine hope that results would come quickly.
But the discovery took longer than expected, and sure enough—
Neia delivered unwelcome news.

『Given that it hasn’t been located yet, it’s quite possible the Mark has been buried beneath the City.』

“Is that so…?”
Neia shot a meaningful look at Baek Jin-seong, who had just handed him yet another task, before speaking.

『I would recommend leaving it to me and heading home. Rest is truly your priority now.』

How many times had he heard that today?
Of course, even if she hadn’t said it, he’d reached his limit anyway and would’ve clocked out.

‘Now I understand what it means when people say their whole body aches.’

He decided to call it a day at a reasonable hour.

* * *

I headed for the Gate with only a portion of my forces—Baek Jin-seong, Krail, Ar, and a few others.
Using the elevator to exit into the Neutral Zone would be the most straightforward approach.
But for now, I had business on the 50th Floor, including the city’s dismantling.
I needed to enter the city through the Gate, not make an exit via elevator.
“Did you send it?”
Of course, for this to work, no one could be allowed to access the 50th Floor for a while.
I’d rely on Drones for surveillance, naturally.
But to avoid complications altogether, I’d had Baek Jin-seong request through Kang Se-hyun that access be restricted.
“Yes, a reply came back immediately. He said it’ll be done.”
Good. With that settled, there shouldn’t be any real problems.
I made my way to the Gate’s entrance.
I spoke to Baek Jin-seong.
“Want to take a look inside?”
“Is… is that really allowed?”
He must have been quite curious, the way he didn’t try to decline.
“Why not? You’re hardly the type to run your mouth about it.”
We’d faced death together more than once.
Trust had already been forged between us. What was the harm?
“Then thank you….”
I invited Baek Jin-seong through the Gate.
“Watch carefully, and don’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”
I spoke with pride to Baek Jin-seong as he followed me inside.
“Welcome to my Nemesis.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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