Ex-level Player With the Greatest Civilization of All Time - Chapter 44

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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 44

After ordering ten more servings and eating our fill, we headed to the Large Mart next.
I thought I’d pick up whatever supplies we needed while we were there.
Krayle, though—
In the Camping Corner, he picked up a Knife as if entranced.
The label beneath it explained it was a utility Knife crafted from high-purity Mana Metal.
“Do you want it?”
“No, sir.”
But his eyes were clearly fixed on it.
So I spoke up.
I wanted to buy him something more expensive and better anyway.
“There are plenty of better options than this one, though.”
Right now, this was camping equipment.
It seemed quite unsuitable for actual combat.
“I like the grip.”
“The grip?”
“Yes. As for the blade itself, it doesn’t matter. Even though it looks like this, it uses fairly quality material—I can simply sharpen it.”
Well, that was the survival specialist’s assessment, and I didn’t press further.
A quick decision made.
“Thank you, Commander.”
“It’s nothing much.”
Though in reality, it wasn’t cheap.
By ordinary standards, at least.
But at this point, that kind of money was pocket change.
“Now, where was Ar…?”
I spotted a familiar back and outfit, so I headed over.
It was Ar, just as expected.
He was absorbed in a Game Console.
I whispered into Ar’s ear without him noticing I’d arrived, lost as he was in the game.
“Want it?”
Ar jumped in surprise, then tried to deny it.
“No, sir.”
“Nonsense. We agreed to play games together anyway. Then I’ll have to buy it.”
A smile spread across Ar’s face.
That’s right—smile while you can, Ar.
When you get back, Sermin’s hellish training awaits you.
After buying the Game Console for him as well, I wandered around to see if there was anything else we needed.
But the two of them already looked like they’d been given the whole world.
As for Baek Jinsung…
“I appreciate the thought, but I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Actually, I’ve been worried lately—I have nowhere to spend my money.”
He was in much the same position as me.
Even a 10% share of the broadcast earnings was enormous…
Easily enough to outspend any famous player.
“All right then. Shall we head back?”
“Yes.”
Just as we were leaving the mart after shopping.
“There! There he is!”
People spotted me and came rushing over in a crowd.
“Excuse me… you’re Neia, aren’t you?”
“For real?”
“I’m so glad I rushed over right after watching the broadcast.”

It didn’t seem like they’d recognized my actual face.
As I’d anticipated beforehand.
It seemed they’d made the identification from Baek Jinsung and Krayle and Ar around me.
Thanks to the Cognitive Obfuscation Artifact, there was no risk of my face being recognized—at least that was a relief.
Krayle stepped forward without hesitation, blocking the citizens’ path, and glared at them sharply.
The intensity of his gaze startled them, and they retreated instinctively.
Krayle activated his ability, training the barrel of a concealed Hunter Drone on the approaching crowd as he spoke.
“Answer me. What’s your purpose in approaching the Commander?”
I considered stopping Krayle but decided against it.
The situation we were in—
Even if it made the news tomorrow in massive headlines, it wouldn’t be strange.
When I’d left home this morning, I’d made a firm decision.
That I would entrust security matters entirely to Krayle.
“We just wanted an autograph.”
“I wanted to take a picture….”
“You’re not actually going to kill us, are you?”
Krayle didn’t relent in his suspicion and even conducted a body search before looking toward me.
He seemed to be asking what to do with them.
“There’s nothing suspicious about them, right?”
“That’s correct.”
I spoke to the self-proclaimed fans in an awkward tone.
“Don’t move for now. Krayle’s just being cautious, that’s all.”
“Ah, yes.”
The way they were being treated—on their knees, hands raised—was as though they were prisoners captured by a terrorist organization.
I approached the group kneeling with their hands up, picked up a pen that had fallen during the search, and spoke.
“Where would you like me to sign?”
“Oh, um… could you sign on our back?”
I asked their names and signed on their clothes, then gave autographs to the other citizens who wanted them as well.
Then I turned to the fan who’d wanted to take a picture.
“You wanted to take a picture?”
“Ah, yes! Is that okay?”
“Go ahead.”
It’s not as if anything could go wrong with Krayle glaring at them like he was about to kill them any second.
Though I supposed he’d only tolerate it if the fan stood behind me rather than pressing in close for a group shot.
After I gave permission and we were waiting, the fan said something.
“Then let me move back a bit. Is that alright?”
He stood up and carefully backed away, then raised his phone’s camera toward me.
‘Wait—is this what taking a picture means?’
I’d naturally assumed we’d be taking it together.
But he photographed Ar, then Baek Jinsung, and even Krayle, who was still glowering.
“Krayle, smile for me.”
“Yes.”
Krayle’s mouth curled upward awkwardly.
Click—
Anyway, just as I turned to leave after dealing with this unusual fan, another crowd came rushing toward us.
At first I accommodated each group, but I soon realized something.
‘This is never going to end.’
Eventually, I had no choice but to give up and escape the scene.
And yet, even after being treated like this, they still wanted autographs?
It was harsh enough to raise questions about basic human rights. I wondered if they were really okay with it….

Anyway, after shaking off the crowd, I spoke to Baek Jinsung.
“Let’s part ways here. You worked hard today, Jinsung. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes! Take care of yourself!”
After parting with Baek Jinsung, I began preparing to head home.
I moved to a place with few people.
Through Krayle, I confirmed no one was watching, then entered the Public Restroom, placed the two of them through the Gate, and returned home under the protection of concealed Hunter Drones.
“Well, I’m back!”
It was a short outing, but I felt twice as exhausted as usual.
Still, a glass of water swept those thoughts away, and I opened the Gate again.
The party wasn’t over yet, after all.
I summoned Ar and Krayle, who had been waiting, back inside.
“Alright, let’s play some games now.”
Ar set up a game console and the three of us enjoyed playing together.
We rotated through new releases across different genres, and when hunger set in, we ordered late-night snacks.
“The chicken must have arrived.”
Since we couldn’t agree on a preference, we got half seasoned and half fried.
Beer and cola didn’t go missing either.
Ahh—
What is life, really? This is paradise.
Anyway, after satisfying our hunger, we began scouting games for the second round.
That’s when I noticed Ar showing interest in something.
It was Tekken, the fighting game that had been on display at the Large Mart earlier.
“You want to play that? I’d rather you didn’t.”
Fighting games have a steep gap between veterans and newcomers.
You learn by taking hits.
That’s why I tried to talk her out of it.
But Ar brazenly provoked me.
“Commander, are you afraid of my progress?”
Ar was actually adapting to games remarkably fast.
Maybe it’s the AI aspect?
Regardless, by the end of other games too, she’d been playing better than me.
“Fine. Let’s do it.”
I went all out and thrashed Ar thoroughly.
“Ar, don’t you know how to block? You don’t, do you? Then you just have to take it.”
I gave her a good beating and then said,
“Ah, that was fun. Should we clean up now?”
“Just one more round….”
“It’s already gotten pretty late though. Next time.”
By the time I’d finished beating Ar senseless, it was already past midnight.
Trembling Ar was cute, and part of me wanted to hit her a bit more, but
I decided to send the two of them home for the night.
“Get home safe, both of you.”
Both of them looked reluctant to leave.
Ar, well, that’s to be expected….
‘But Krayle is surprising?’
First, I spoke to Ar, who couldn’t take her eyes off the game console.
“Go home for today. But from now on, I’ll keep the Gate open, so come visit and play whenever you like.”
“Is it truly alright for me to do so?”
“Yes.”
It’s not like keeping a Gate open in my room causes any problems anyway.
After I’d sent Ar home appeased, next came Krayle.
“Speak up if you have something to say.”
What came out of Krayle’s mouth was somewhat unexpected.
“That thing from before… is it still valid?”
“That thing?”
“The offer you made regarding my rank advancement, sir.”
I recalled the matter of the Rank Advancement Test.
I had told her to speak up anytime if she needed it.
I remembered clearly telling her that it would be difficult if too much time passed.
“Since you seem to remember, I’ll shamelessly take back my words. I want to advance my rank, Commander.”
Granting it wasn’t an issue—she was simply receiving the opportunity she should have gotten in the first place.
What concerned me was the reason behind it.
“What made you change your mind?”
“I want to grow stronger.”
When I heard Krayle’s explanation, it amounted to this:
This time too, she had been critically lacking.
She had come to realize this was something willpower and resolve alone could not overcome.
Because when the comparison targets became Ar and Sermin, both Heroic Models,
it was natural for Krayle, a Special Model, to feel the barrier.
Moreover, Humanoids have limited capacity for stat increases.
The route is more about equipping powerful weapon parts.
There was a limit to how much one could grow through personal effort alone.
“So in the middle of all this, you learned about the Rank Advancement Test’s effects?”
“Yes.”
Ar must have been boasting about it with unbridled enthusiasm.
“Good, come here.”
I approached Krayle and swapped out the insignia on his chest before using the Rank Advancement Test.

[Krayle’s rank has been elevated.]
[Rank: Sergeant → Wonsa]
[Krayle’s tactical ability increases by 20%.]
[Krayle’s defense increases by 20%.]

“Congratulations, Wonsa Krayle.”
The one regret was whether a mere twenty percent boost in specs would truly resolve his fundamental shortcomings.
But if even this fell short, it would be my responsibility to devise another approach.
Ding—
I was clearing through notifications one by one.
Then an unfamiliar alert caught my eye.

[Would you like to replace Krayle’s model?]

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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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