Ex-level Player With the Greatest Civilization of All Time - Chapter 87

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

Episode 87

The elite strike team.
Just this morning, the atmosphere had been unmistakably gloomy.
But now—now it felt utterly transformed.
They’d proven it beyond doubt.
The shift in public sentiment was palpable, written across every face.
Already the whispers had begun—”hero” and such.
It was nauseating how easily the chorus of blame from yesterday had reversed course.
Still, it was understandable enough, all things considered.
The masses had always been sensitive to the smallest tremor.
“I told you there was no reason to shrink back.”
“We fight seventieth-floor monsters every day anyway.”
“It’s rare to find a woman as decisive as Representative Yu.”
After the interview outside,
Yu Se-ra returned with food she’d purchased.
The strike team was now unwinding with it, simple as that.
There was no alcohol, of course.
Being inside a dungeon or close to it, they maintained that line when lives were at stake.
But rich food and drink were enough to lift spirits.
Yu Se-ra smiled warmly as she spoke.
“What, did I do everything? You all worked just as hard.”
“True enough. Kang Min-hyuk got all the spotlight every day, but we suffered the same—that was rough.”
“Right. And Neia—what about her? Strong as she is, you can’t really compare someone from the twenties to, well, her standing.”
Yu Se-ra nodded along with the representatives’ voices, then turned to Cha Seong-hoon.
“Representative Cha, you seem out of sorts. What’s wrong?”
“There’s no way that could be.”
Taking the role of leader for the first time.
As long as nothing went seriously wrong, that was enough.
But naturally, worry wouldn’t let go.
“It’s only that I feel we may be moving forward too hastily.”
“The Crystal Tower?”
Cha Seong-hoon nodded.
When night fell, the Crystal Tower became even more visible because of its distinctive glow.
The reinforcements they’d brought in today were distributed around that location.
Those positions weighed on his mind.
The other representatives of the major guilds added their own remarks to Cha Seong-hoon’s concern.
They too had things to say.
“True, there’s much to worry about.”
“We waited roughly three hours just to be safe, didn’t we?”
“That’s right. That should be plenty.”
After dealing with the Monster Wave,
they’d monitored the area in case there were additional attacks.
Yet nothing serious had occurred.
And to this moment, no urgent reports had come in.
But intuition was a real thing.
Ever since the Crystal Tower was installed,
monsters converging on the surrounding area—
they hadn’t uncovered the reason, and that kept gnawing at him.
Still, he had his sense of occasion.
Voicing dark thoughts now would only poison the mood.
“Perhaps I was being too sensitive after all.”
Just as Cha Seong-hoon was about to step back with those words,
the radio he’d set beside him shrieked urgently to life.

“Th—this is Crystal Tower-003! Aberration spotted! Kyaaahhh!!”

“Crystal Tower-003, respond. 003!”

He grabbed the radio in a panic and tried to respond, but the sudden call went unanswered from that moment on.
The heated atmosphere of moments before plummeted into cold dread in an instant.
“An Aberration? A monster?”
“If it’s just some ordinary creature, we’ve got enough power left to handle it. It’s probably not a run-of-the-mill monster.”
Cha Seong-hoon was already gauging their direction.
“If it’s 003, that’s quite far from here. We should hurry.”
“Yes, understood!”
Not only the guild members stationed there, but additional attacks could follow in succession.
Cha Seong-hoon was moving hastily with a few of the other leaders when—
The radio crackled to life again.

“This is Crystal Tower–006. The entire perimeter guard was taken down in a single instant.”

“Taken down by what?”

“Unknown. We’ve never seen a monster like this before….”

“Is it still there?”

“Negative. After it destroyed the tower, it vanished….”

The transmissions didn’t stop there.
Every report was disturbingly similar.

“Crystal Tower–004, the tower has been destroyed.”
“Crystal Tower–007, we estimate the monster at roughly twenty meters. Black fur, horns….”

“Could there be more than one?”
Yu Se-ra’s voice trembled.
But Cha Seong-hoon could offer no certainty either.
Still, if he had to calculate the odds….
“It’s more likely a single creature.”
Each transmission, though brief, bore gaps of roughly a minute between them.
“And its movement pattern is quite predictable.”
The nearest tower to each attacked location kept becoming the next target.
The closest tower after 007 would be 008.
It wasn’t far.
“Huff… huff….”
They arrived at Crystal Tower 008, rushing headlong.
It still stood untouched.
“Looks like we made it in time, at least?”
That was when Yu Se-ra spoke.
A faint tremor.
Sensing danger, Cha Seong-hoon seized her by the nape of the neck and yanked her backward.
What came down in its place was a massive claw.
Boom—
It was a hair’s breadth away.
Nearly instinctive, the movement.
Had he not pulled her clear in time, Yu Se-ra would have been torn to shreds instead of the ground beneath them splitting open.
“No wonder they can’t mount a defense.”
Black fur and horns sprouting from its brow.
Bat-like wings stretched across its back, and a long tail lashed behind it.
The creature’s massive frame moved with speed and power that defied its sheer size.
“I’m casting!”
Yu Se-ra readied her magic.
The leaders raised their weapons, forming a protective line around her.
Cha Seong-hoon did the same.
For a moment, he moved at the front, blocking the creature’s charge as it lunged at her.
“Get back!”
“Thunder Calling.”
A thick bolt of lightning splits the clear sky, descending in a sharp line.
Boom—
The spell connects directly with the creature’s head.
Yet despite the tremendous force, it thrashes its forelimbs with remarkable resilience.

— Hisssss—

“Ugh…!”
“It’s not working?”
The shield barely holds back its rampage, but the force is terrifying.
Though there’s one saving grace…
Crackle-crackle-crackle—
For a moment I thought the spell had failed, but it hadn’t.
“It’s slowing down a bit—I think the paralysis is taking effect.”
Cha Seong-hoon slammed the creature’s ribs.
With its speed noticeably reduced, the attack landed with full impact.

— Screech—

Watching it thrash in pain and attack wildly, Yu Se-ra spoke up.
“Then let’s hit it with another one!”
And just as she was preparing her next spell—
the creature suddenly turned its back and bolted.
The guild representatives tried to give chase, but its speed was beyond them.
Once Cha Seong-hoon sensed it was gone, he stopped the representatives from pursuing.
“Stop…! This is dangerous—let’s call it here. We must have lost it anyway.”

* * *

A familiar ceiling.
“The Living Room?”
As I wonder why I fell asleep here, a memory surfaces.
“Right, yesterday…”
The Humanoids returned, and we drank beer with chicken here.
I push aside one of Ar’s legs that has settled on my chest and prop myself up halfway to check.
Everyone is tangled up asleep here except Sermin and Tia.
Why are only those two missing?
Did they go back?
Just as that question forms, another memory returns.
“Ah, I put them in my Private Room.”
It was getting late, they were saying they’d head back, but I held them fast and kicked up a fuss until finally I stuffed them off to sleep in my Private Room.
This is completely like a young executive syndrome.
There’s a reason I got drunk too.
“My competitive spirit got fired up in there.”
Especially when Ar kept needling me about how I couldn’t drink—that flipped my switch.
Of course, I fed that one plenty of cola.
So it’s really true that humans can’t beat machines!
Though admittedly the contest was rigged against me from the start—
I was strangely furious about it.
“Here’s your water.”
“Thanks, Neia.”
I was thirsty—perfect timing.
She really does have good sense.
I gulp it down, but then I notice something odd.
“Is something wrong?”
I wasn’t seeing things.
“Is it finished?”
“Yes, I’m sorry I couldn’t join the team gathering, but…”
Seeing the Humanoid Neia, I’m overwhelmed with emotion.
“As a celebration, I’ve prepared breakfast myself.”
“Really? I’m looking forward to it.”
I slipped past the ones still sleeping and headed to the kitchen, taking a seat.
Neia then set down Kimchi Jjigae and Gyeran Mari in front of me.
This combination couldn’t possibly taste bad.
“Thank you for the meal.”
I cut the Gyeran Mari in half, took a bite with the Kimchi Jjigae, and froze.
Somehow I managed to swallow it and stared at Neia.
“Does it suit your palate?”
“…Did you taste it yourself?”
“Humanoids theoretically do not require sustenance.”
“I see.”
That much was true, but.
“The recipe?”
“I referenced a video about the most popular breakfast for modern people.”
And yet this happened?
I couldn’t fathom how a flavor this appalling could emerge.
“However, I also added certain nutrients that would be beneficial to your health.”
That figured.
There was no way this shocking taste could have come about otherwise.
“Perhaps it doesn’t meet your expectations?”
Sensing confusion in my reaction,
Neia asked carefully.
She was the Neia I’d always watched through a screen.
A face I’d grown more than accustomed to by now.
But having a real conversation with her right in front of me—did I think I could be as blunt as usual?
“It tastes absolutely terrible. A recipe is only meaningful when you actually follow it!”
“However, your usual nutritional imbalance is quite severe.”
I was now certain this wasn’t something words would fix.
From now on, I’d leave the kitchen to the others.
“Neia, please remove your apron and step away from the kitchen.”
Why was she making such a sad face!
This culinary assassin!
“What’s the matter?”
Krail and the humanoids stirred awake at my rather loud outburst.
I was about to explain everything plainly when I told them instead:
“Good timing you’re up. Come have a meal.”
And then I saw it for the first time that day.
The look of genuine gravity on Krail’s face.

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