The Regressed Necromancer Prepares for the Apocalypse - Chapter 23

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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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The Necromancer Who Returned Prepares for the End — Episode 23

It was an oddly behaving quest window.
For some reason, the letters in the quest title kept shifting, never settling.
Like…….

“A slot machine,” Do Jin murmured.

Rank: D-Rank
Login Limit: 10 players / Level 50 or below
Objective: Mount the assigned War Chariot inside the Stadium and be the first to complete three full laps
Reward: D-Rank weapon item (type varies by player class)

“Ohhhhh! Chariot Race!”
“……Damn it, my money……!”

The quest was announced, but the reaction from the Spectator Stands was strange. No one seemed to care about the reward at all.
The same held true at the Temporary Broadcast Station.

— It’s finally arrived! Today’s quest is confirmed as Chariot Race!
— For those who guessed correctly, our sincere congratulations! The payout is…… incredible — a full 1.2 times multiplier!

Watching Hong Jin Gu’s barely contained excitement, Do Jin’s expression turned thoroughly bemused.

“You’re using quests to gamble?”

Hong Jin Gu’s eyes glinted with cool amusement before he began to explain with a foolish grin.

“This Arena has been strange from the very beginning when it was first discovered. The rewards are stingy, few players can log into the Stadium, and the quests keep changing endlessly — right?”

Hong Jin Gu’s explanation continued. At first, both the government and corporations lost interest when they saw the paltry rewards, but some players fascinated by the quest-rotation feature began to observe the Arena continuously. And so, eventually, it transformed into a gambling den.

“The quests repeat?”
“Yes! Sometimes we get races like this Chariot Race, and sometimes it’s close-combat battles between players like Gladiator Matches…… but broadly speaking, only three types of quests appear.”

Races, duels, and what were called Team Missions.
Sometimes players stepped into the Arena directly, like in Chariot Races or Gladiator Matches; sometimes they sent their minions into competition, like in Cockfighting or Cricket Fighting; and sometimes multiple players formed teams to compete.

“After observing all this, some gangster boss started running a business through the Arena. After all, as long as players just log in and avoid streaming, nobody on the outside can know what’s happening inside the Arena. And this business went absolutely massive.”
“Of course. From ancient times, nothing has stimulated dopamine quite like gambling.”
“Heh heh…….”

Do Jin corrected Hong Jin Gu’s euphemistic word “business” to “gambling” in his mind and fell silent in thought.
A player’s stream earned money. Only if that player attracted viewers, though.
Even high-level players whom the audience disliked earned almost no revenue beyond their quest rewards.

‘Poor performance, maybe. Unattractive appearance. Or they’d caused scandals and only drew anti-fans.’

Or perhaps they were active or former criminals who couldn’t openly reveal their faces.
But what if there were players who cared nothing for leveling or quests, yet possessed wealth and status?

‘Exactly. Players from the upper echelons of finance and politics.’

In the Tutorial Season, what players focused on was ultimately making money. Even those grinding for levels did so with the ultimate goal of acquiring more Mana Stones and Gold.
So why would players already holding wealth and power bother logging into the Arena and grinding through difficult quests just to obtain Mana Stones and Gold?

‘There’s no reason they wouldn’t. They’ll try to acquire Mana Stones and Gold the way they’re already accustomed to.’

Through investment, commerce, or taxation — methods long established in the old world.

‘Unless they’re genuinely passionate about clearing Quests or exceptionally talented, no one throws themselves into an unfamiliar world. Why would they?’

……Honestly, he’d sighed when he realized just how many reasons players had to neglect leveling during the Tutorial Season.

In any case, Do Jin had sorted through his thoughts and opened his mouth.

“So this Arena operates by having wealthy players enjoy gambling as spectators, while a handful of players serve as entertainment in the Stadium.”
“Precisely. The name ‘Kingdom of Gambling’ really does fit, doesn’t it?”
“Then tell me, Hong Jin Gu.”

When Do Jin suddenly addressed him by his full name, Hong Jin Gu’s shoulders flinched.

“How do poor players with no guild affiliation end up here?”

Gambling is illegal in South Korea, after all.
Naturally, the existence of an Arena like the Kingdom of Gambling operating as a gambling center would be kept under strict wraps from public knowledge.
It was not the sort of place that would reach a young player like Hae Won — someone with neither money nor connections.

“Well, for desperate players without backing or funds, it’s simple enough. This place overflows with players who can serve as betting fodder.”

Hong Jin Gu fell silent in thought for a moment, then shrugged as he answered.

“The high-ranking folks who gamble here have subordinates serving under them — not just one or two. All those people need do is make the rounds outside…….”

They can sweep up hordes of players who can’t even log into the Arena because they’ve never encountered an Awakening Department Official.

“Hah…….”

Do Jin exhaled. He knew Jin Gu’s words weren’t wrong.

“That’s true — the Arena has limited login slots, the officials are limited in number, yet low-rank players just keep multiplying.”
“The players who actually log in faithfully following all the rules under official supervision……they’re probably just a small minority.”

Before returning, he’d nearly become one of them himself.
Do Jin recalled those bitter memories and turned his gaze toward the Stadium.

“One more question, then.”
“Yes, sir! Ask away.”
“I should participate too.”
“……What?”

* * *

……

Hae Won stared blankly at the War Chariot before her.
The moment the Chariot Race Quest was decided, the Chariots suddenly materialized before the players who’d descended into the Stadium.
They were Chariots drawn by intricately crafted horse figurines.

“Wouldn’t an actual car race be better than this?”

Hae Won surveyed the Stadium around her.
There were nine players in total challenging the Quest alongside her.
Some of them were grouped into pairs or trios.

‘…What now?’

Hae Won found herself at a loss. She recalled the parting words of that bastard who’d dragged her into this mess.

—It’s simple. Once a Quest is decided, you just head down to the Stadium and complete it.
—You don’t need to prepare anything. Just show up!
—You don’t even need to place first! Just by participating, you can earn 10 Gold.

10 Gold. Pocket change, really.
But there was nothing Hae Won could do without resources.
Just as it had always been.
She’d have no choice but to run the Arena for such pittance.

“…!”

Pushed along by the habitual thought that she had to do something, she’d answered the call and found herself standing here again.
But why am I here?
…I signed a contract with the Test Guild. Father’s been hospitalized.
So I shouldn’t have to do this anymore, should I?
And yet.
A vile memory surfaced, pressing down on a doubt that had risen for the first time in ages.

—You actually believed that?

A mocking voice. A voice thick with disbelief.

“…”

Hae Won’s mind became a quagmire.
Teachers and police who wouldn’t help when she needed it most, a father who spat curses before throwing his fists, street thugs who whispered sweet words before drawing a blade…
Her mother, turning away and disappearing into the distance.
Tap!

“…!”

Hae Won startled violently. In that moment, the dark, viscous thing that had been blackening her thoughts scattered and fled.
A man’s hand resting on her shoulder.
For an instant, her father’s rough hand flashed in her mind.
But in the next moment, hearing a different voice, she realized it belonged to someone else entirely.

“Hey there, newbie. Should the two of us do this Quest together?”
“…”

Hae Won slowly lifted her head. She hadn’t even realized when she’d bowed it down.
The man before her wore a neat black-and-white suit, so immaculate that not a speck of dust marred it—just looking at him made it clear he inhabited a different world from her own.
As he came fully into view, his features were orderly and refined, yet the smile playing at his lips held something careful, almost cautious.
For Hae Won, who’d spent so long reading others’ moods, it sparked a strange confusion.

‘…Do Jin.’

She’d barely managed to recall his name. But how to address him eluded her.
She’d never met an adult who wore such a guarded expression while offering her his hand.
At the same moment, a new notification window materialized.

Login confirmed.
Will you form a team with player Seo Hae Won?
Yes / No

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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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