Player of a Ruined World - Chapter 84

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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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Player of the Ruined World – Episode 084
Skipping episodes?
What is this supposed to mean?
“Doyun.”
Park Sangha emerged from the kitchen and approached my side.
He took the plate from my hands and gazed at the System Message before us, asking the question.
“What does this mean?”
“I… I have no idea what this is.”
Ding-!
[The Mutant that was supposed to appear in the Third Episode has already been executed.]
[Skipping the Third Episode Mutant Hunt.]
[Providing all Survivors with 5,000 Clear Reward Points.]
Ding-!
[The King of the Zombies that was supposed to appear in the Fourth Episode has already found his lost child.]
[Skipping the Fourth Episode King of the Zombies.]
[Providing all Survivors with 8,000 Clear Reward Points.]
Ding-!
[The Giant Zombie that was supposed to appear in the Fifth Episode has already been executed.]
[Skipping the Fifth Episode Giant Zombie.]
[Providing all Survivors with 8,000 Clear Reward Points.]
Ding-!
[The Singularity Mutant that was supposed to appear in the Sixth Episode has already been executed.]
[Skipping the Sixth Episode Singularity.]
[Providing all Survivors with 11,000 Clear Reward Points.]
Ding-!
[The Seventh Episode that was supposed to appear…]
System Messages continued to cascade endlessly.
And when the System Messages finally ceased…
Ding-!
[Now beginning the Twelfth Main Episode ‘Traces of Investigation’ (#12-0).]
Ding-!
[#12-0 Traces of Investigation]
[Word has spread that a research facility necessary for vaccine development exists.]
[Search the designated locations and uncover information about the research facility.]
[Time Limit: 480 hours]
[Search Areas: Jamsil L Tower, Mapo World Cup Stadium, Gimpo Airport.]
[Clear Reward: 30,000 Points]
[Failure: Vaccine development becomes impossible.]
My jaw hung open in disbelief.
We had just finished the Second Episode, and now we were jumping straight to the Twelfth Episode?
Of course, it’s not impossible.
I defeated a Mutant that should have appeared in the third episode during the first episode, and the Zombie King, Giant Zombies, and even a Mutant that should have appeared in the sixth episode “Singularity” all emerged in the first episode.
Furthermore, from the seventh episode through the eleventh episode, the main episodes in between were mostly competitions among the Survivors.
Since that’s no different from what appeared in the second episode, it makes sense that we skipped ahead to the twelfth episode in an instant.
The problem is….
‘They won’t be able to adapt.’
The question of whether my group can adapt to the twelfth episode.
“Doyun, tell me everything you know.”
Park Sangha closed the System Message and looked directly into my eyes as he asked.
The expressions on everyone else’s faces were the same.
Just moments ago, the atmosphere had been festive and joyful, but the System Message had instantly doused us with cold water.
I wanted to consult with Hong Yeonhui about the episode, but she was too intoxicated to have a proper conversation.
Everything depended on the choice I made.
“Kim Miyeon.”
Kim Miyeon, who had been with the children, looked at me with an anxious expression.
“Do you know where Siyun’s Father and Si Yun are right now?”
“Siyun’s Father? Probably… they’re at the apartment’s main gate with Si Yun.”
“The main gate?”
“Yes, because Kim Hana can’t enter the safe house.”
Even if the Zombie King Kim Hana had regained her rationality, she was still a Zombie.
Since she couldn’t enter the safe house, Si Yun and Siyun’s Father had gone to the apartment’s main gate to see his wife.
“Please use your Whisper ability to tell them to come back quickly.”
“Okay, got it.”
“From now on, I’ll tell you everything necessary for survival. If we work together, we can definitely do this, so don’t panic and focus.”

* * *
The twelfth episode: “Trace Search.”
Even though the game had become reality, the settings of No Way Home hadn’t changed.
In No Way Home, I had to wander through designated research facilities or locations to find the real laboratory capable of vaccine development.
In the game, I would hear news of a research facility in Russia capable of vaccine development and travel there, but reality would be different.
Russia wouldn’t be playing No Way Home.
That’s what Gaia had said.
She configured the game to match each country’s characteristics.
If it were Russia, they’d likely be progressing through Giant Punisher rather than the zombie game No Way Home.
Giant Punisher, with its steampunk setting of battling colossal enemies, would suit Russia’s atmosphere far better.
Then….
‘The research facility must be in Korea.’
I couldn’t know which other countries were playing No Way Home, but considering the current situation where travel to other nations was blocked, the research facility would be in Korea.
Each country playing No Way Home would have its own research facility.
Then, is there a research facility in Seoul?
Unlikely.
Following the game’s settings, most search areas that appear early in the twelfth episode are traps.
The core of the twelfth episode is breaking through the traps, gathering information, and finding the true location of the research facility.
Besides, looking at just the search areas, they have nothing to do with a research facility, do they?
L Tower, the World Cup Stadium, and Gimpo Airport.
The three given locations have no connection to each other.
Then….
‘There must be a reason for including Gimpo Airport.’
Perhaps I’d need to take a domestic flight to travel somewhere.
To where the real research facility is located.
As I stroked my chin and repeated my chain of reasoning, Park Sangha smacked his lips and asked.
“Doyun, did something go wrong?”
“Pardon?”
“You said you’d tell us everything needed for survival.”
“Oh, yes. I was just organizing my thoughts for a moment.”
I shared everything I’d pieced together with the group.
That the real research facility was elsewhere, and that the three locations were likely mostly traps.
Then Elder Chulmin, who had been listening quietly, crossed his arms and asked.
“If they’re traps… what kind of traps are you talking about?”
“There could be mutant lairs, or there could be other mutants.”
“Other mutants? Are you talking about the Giant Zombie?”
“No, besides the Giant Zombie and the King of the Zombies, there are several other mutants.”
“….”
“As we progress through the episode, we’ll have to solve them step by step, but based on what’s happened so far, they’ll definitely all appear at once.”
“How many types of other mutants are there?”
“In the game, there were four types. But in reality… there must be another mutant variant that doesn’t exist in the game.”
As I spoke matter-of-factly, Elder Chulmin tilted his head and asked.
“Isn’t the possibility of another mutant variant existing outside the game quite slim? What grounds do you have for reaching such a conclusion?”
“Do you remember that man who was the leader of those thugs from before?”
“That bastard Yun Taeseong?”
“Yes. He was another mutant variant that doesn’t exist in the game. A mutant zombie born from an extremely rare possibility—a human who abandoned his humanity in pursuit of becoming a Baster.”
“…”
“We can’t know how many such lunatics there are. There are definitely mutant zombies I’m unaware of.”
Park Sangha, who had been listening quietly, raised his right hand slightly and asked.
“Doyun, first tell us about the four types of mutant zombies you know.”
“Giant Zombies, the King of the Zombies, Creepers, and Jokers.”
“Creepers and Jokers? What are those?”
“Creepers are the ones that crawl on the ground. They’re zombies that have been revived among the dead.”
At the mention of crawling on the ground, the expressions of everyone present twisted.
I too was the type that preferred to avoid encountering Creepers.
They crawled at a disgustingly fast speed, and they were a threat in places where visibility was poor since they approached from beneath your feet.
“Jokers are the ones that keep laughing. They cling to people while laughing.”
“Cling?”
“Yes. Their attack and defense power aren’t high, but they were troublesome in the game.”
“Why?”
“Because they hide and then appear. They suddenly emerge from somewhere and target the party from behind.”
“Target from behind?”
“Yes. They instinctively seek out Healing Factors or Whispers and target them. Once they cling on, they laugh like madmen while attacking only the face… they got the nickname Joker because of that appearance.”
Just hearing the explanation made everyone’s skin crawl, and those in the living room trembled and frowned.
Park Sangha, feeling the same unease, asked with a troubled expression.
“In other words… there are many creatures that interfere with us moving together? Preventing us from staying unified?”
“Yes. If those types appear when zombies swarm in, it will be difficult to maintain formation.”
Then Lee Kwanghyun, who had been silent for a while, opened his mouth.
“Doyun.”
“Yes, Kwanghyun.”
“I have one question too. You said it before, right? That there are a total of six types of mutants?”
“You mean besides the other mutant variant?”
“Yeah, let’s just give it a separate name. Since you keep saying ‘another mutant variant,’ it’s hard to understand all at once.”
“Then… let’s call the other mutant variant a ‘Mutant Zombie’ from now on.”
Creatures that are neither zombies nor regular mutants.
Everyone agreed with the term Mutant Zombie.
Lee Kwanghyun continued with a slight cough.
“What we know are Water Demons, Euitaejong, Resonance Species, and Severing Type. What’s the remaining one?”
“The other one is called the Reinforcement Type.”
“Reinforcement Type? Does it enhance the body?”
“Yes. However, the Reinforcement Type itself doesn’t become stronger—it enhances the Mutants around it.”
Lee Kwanghyun scratched his head at the brief explanation.
“Enhance the Mutants around it? A Mutant enhancing Mutants?”
“Yes. A Mutant Zombie that enhances Zombies is the Zombie King. You can think of a Mutant that enhances other Mutants as a Reinforcement Type.”
“…”
“Unlike the Zombie King, it can’t strengthen large numbers, but the defining trait of a Reinforcement Type is making already powerful Mutants even stronger—so they must be eliminated on sight.”
Park Sangha, who had been listening to the explanation, then asked.
“How does a Reinforcement Type look?”
“Like an extremely ordinary person. The only distinguishing feature is the horns on its head.”
“Like a goblin?”
“Yes. Any creature with horns on its head must be killed immediately upon discovery. A Reinforcement Type isn’t particularly strong itself, but its ability is far too troublesome.”
“How long does the enhancement last on a Mutant?”
“Until it dies.”
“…!”
At the words that the enhancement persists until death, Park Sangha’s expression shifted to shock.
Before another question could be asked, I looked at my companions and spoke.
“Now that the twelfth episode has opened, we can’t ignore the physical capabilities of ordinary Zombies anymore.”
“…”
“On top of that, Mutants and Mutant Zombies will have been enhanced as well. For example, the Euitaejong we knew before has likely become incomparably stronger.”
“…”
“In the game itself, the main episode where you truly feel that difference is right now—the twelfth episode.”
Park Sangha let out a long sigh, brushed back his bangs, and sat down in a chair before the dining table before asking.
“If we’re struggling this much… what happens to the other Survivors?”
“Other Survivors besides our League Members?”
“Yeah, people like those Apgujeong Survivors we saw when we were moving in the modified vehicle.”
People who showed no hope for life, no lingering attachment.
People who sat beneath tents and merely stared blankly as we drove past in our vehicle.
Those kinds of people probably…
Unable to bring myself to speak, I looked away, and Park Sangha didn’t continue with further questions either.
Everyone gathered in the living room wore the same expression.
The children, unable to understand the current situation, tugged at the adults’ sleeves and asked questions.
But there were no adults to answer those questions.
I exhaled sharply and spoke to my companions.
“First… if we head to the search zone, we’ll inevitably encounter them.”
“You mean Mutant Zombies?”
“Whether Mutants or Mutant Zombies, all of them will be there.”
“…”
“We still have time, so don’t think too anxiously about it. We just need to prepare thoroughly and move.”
My companions nodded silently.
But their expressions were filled with worry and concern.
I don’t have the luxury of soothing their anxieties as well.
I can only hope they overcome this on their own.
Or perhaps when Park Sangil awakens… will he be able to bring stability to their hearts?
Since dealing with people isn’t my strength, I conveyed the information directly and plainly.
“Sangha.”
“Yeah.”
“Please focus on accumulating points for equipment reinforcement and vehicle upgrades.”
“Got it.”
“Investing points in my gear would be wasteful, so you need to prioritize the others first. From now on, we won’t survive without sufficient reinforcement.”
“So you’re saying I shouldn’t upgrade your equipment at all?”
“Just upgrade my weapon. There’s a reason for it.”
“…Understood.”

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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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