Chapter 61
Easy and Difficult Things (3)
I watched the assault team far ahead, engaged in full-scale combat with Agemor.
Seo Jaehyuk stepped onto the Legato he spread in midair and instantly closed in on Agemor.
He used thin golden threads as stepping stones.
He seemed to have a real talent for improvisation.
I couldn’t help but admire him.
It was clear that he was striking Agemor, who was wrapped in a thick foggy shield.
At that moment—
“Danger!”
“Ugh!”
Someone grabbed me, and I fell backward.
At the same time, a black vine shot sharply between my legs.
Then, a knight cut the moving, almost living vine and shouted roughly,
“Stay alert! One wrong move and you’re dead!”
Where the vine had turned to dust, a black pit appeared—just looking at it sent chills down my spine.
Because the mask on my brother’s face made me momentarily dizzy with the thought that I almost couldn’t leave descendants.
‘Ugh… if I get hit now, I’m dead.’
In the middle of this massive battlefield, I realized I was less than an ant.
Unless I safely made it out of the 51st floor, as an ordinary awakened person with no merchant’s mark, that was all I was.
I had thought I could fight as coolly as Seo Jaehyuk, but here I was, depending on a big guy for help.
I curled up and moved desperately.
‘You’re dead weight, better get out!’
If I had nothing useful to do, hiding was better than just being in the way.
I needed to get a skill I could actually use.
‘Without magic or stamina, how can anyone survive?’
I hid behind a low rock and breathed heavily.
I promised myself one thing: don’t die.
Peeking out at the plains, the fierce battle continued.
Vines extended endlessly from a huge form shrouded in black mist.
But everyone faced it together, determined to light a future shrouded in darkness.
A beastman who had cut a vine grabbed the arm of a fallen human and helped them up.
Humans lifted sharp blades to free the beastman trapped in the vine prison.
The beastman warrior fought back-to-back with a human knight, while the human archer cleared the path ahead.
“…My goodness.”
I had come thinking I’d just watch the fight shamelessly, but seeing the battlefield in front of me made me shiver.
Just a few days ago, I couldn’t have even imagined this scene.
All the warriors of this dimension pressed forward relentlessly, black stains marking their shoulders, arms, and legs.
I couldn’t fight, just like a useless extra, but I could watch.
‘Oerisa can do it.’
I snapped back to reality and searched my inventory.
I had one last mission.
“I just need to place Paroxia on the ground and tap it three times.”
The beautiful compass imbued with Oerisa’s power.
The needle, which had been pointing to opposite extremes, now aligned in one direction, aiming sharply at the enemy, Agemor.
As if saying it wouldn’t forgive the one who made them hate each other for so long.
I carefully placed Paroxia on the pounding ground.
Then, just as Oerisa had instructed, I tapped it three times.
Tap, tap, tap.
At that moment, golden waves of energy exploded from the compass.
The warm light, like the rising sun, made everyone pause.
This sacred and warm energy was the holy power Oerisa had poured into it, power that couldn’t leave Probel.
The golden waves instantly drove away the darkness, and the green grass regained its natural color.
The blackened blades shone sharply again.
I couldn’t do it, but Oerisa could.
It was a miracle.
Not enough to save the continent, but enough to give those fighting for each other hope.
A beastman staring blankly at the light muttered,
“…God hasn’t abandoned us.”
“God hasn’t abandoned us!”
“Oerisa is watching over us!”
Technically, it was Lee Hae-won who suggested it and Oerisa accepted, but that didn’t matter now.
For those risking their lives against the darkness, simply showing hope—showing them they could survive—was enough.
The black stains clinging to their bodies weren’t erased.
But the fog that rose to their throats vanished.
It wasn’t only the humans and beastmen affected by Oerisa’s light.
Far off, I saw the assault team turn around, wide-eyed.
I quickly hid and watched their movements.
‘Now, it’s time.’
Agemor, affected by Oerisa’s light, faltered.
The protective shield around him weakened against the golden radiance.
“Y-you insects…”
His dissatisfied mutter pierced my eardrums.
The usually arrogant Agemor now looked uneasy, proving it was time to finish him.
“Now!”
I heard Ahn Yeon-seo’s hoarse shout from here.
At the same time Han Romi spread a green, heat-like field, and Jung Min-gu leaned back and leapt forward.
His red-tinged fist struck Agemor’s chest.
Agemor, standing with his feet together, was lifted into the air.
The blow landed perfectly.
Agemor, rising high, fell awkwardly, slamming into the ground.
He barely got up, dropping to one knee, clutching his stomach, and vomiting.
Sticky black liquid dripped from his mouth.
I watched Agemor through the warriors and soldiers cutting the vines.
He looked around in disbelief before fixing his gaze on one spot.
“…So the last one is Seo Jaehyuk.”
He was clearly staring at Seo Jaehyuk.
Seo Jaehyuk, calm and composed atop the Legato he had summoned, looked down at him, eyes full of mocking laughter.
Slowly, the Legato floating in midair began to change.
Thin golden threads twisted and intertwined, forming a perfect spiral.
Soon, it transformed into a spear of lightning, floating before Seo Jaehyuk.
Electric currents ran along the tip, and the surrounding air rippled with intense heat.
‘Isn’t that more like a work of art than a weapon?’
The Legato, capable of perfectly reproducing the form and use of weapons it had seen, was known as the “Strings that Play Memories.”
Weapons with titles were known to have exceptional power.
Moreover, the Legato was the first S+ rank weapon in Korea.
Seeing it in action, I was overwhelmed by its presence.
Seo Jaehyuk lifted the spear with a gesture.
“Symphony of Eternity.”
The ultimate skill that made Seo Jaehyuk #1 in the rankings manifested before my eyes.
“This ends now.”
Even from a distance, his voice seemed to carry clearly.
As if commanding the attack.
With a single decisive strike, Seo Jaehyuk thrust forward.
The brightest spear pierced the darkest being’s stomach and struck the land, restoring its original color.
“AAAAAH—!”
Agemor’s scream tore through the sky.
It was a rage so fierce it could shake the continent.
I immediately understood—
This was not a scream of petty anger, but the cry of someone facing death unexpectedly, full of injustice and resentment.
At the same time, the black clouds covering the sky began to split.
And then—
“…It’s the sky.”
At someone’s whisper, I looked up.
A bright blue spot appeared in the previously dull gray sky, gradually expanding.
It was like a majestic miracle.
Faster than Agemor had spread darkness across the continent, the blue began to dominate the sky.
The sky cleared completely.
The once-gray sky now shone a brilliant blue, free of clouds.
The vines turned to ash one by one.
Finally,
Ganasia bathed in sunlight after the long darkness.
Everyone watched Agemor’s disappearance in silence, unable to speak.
Then—
Ding!
[■ Babel System > 51st Floor Notice
Main Scenario “Such a Desperate Peace” has been completed.]
The notification appeared in the sky for the assault team to see.
I stared at it, dumbfounded.
Finally—
[■ Babel System: ‘Guild Alliance’ has cleared the 51st floor.]
[■ Babel System: With the completion of the perfect scenario, Floors 51 and 52 are now open.]
Watching the flood of notifications, I placed a hand over my chest.
Joy, relief, and countless mixed emotions surged within me.
Although I hadn’t contributed to the final battle, this was my first time participating in a scenario.
Seeing the assault team catch their breath and gaze at the sky, they were witnessing the same scene I was—
The letters of the ending rising in the bright blue sky.
[■ Babel System: 53rd Floor will open in 9D 23:59:59]
As the darkness of the sky lifted completely, the residents of Ganasia shouted in joy.
“It’s finally over!”
“The darkness is gone!”
I covered my ears at the deafening cheers but couldn’t help smiling at the joy on their faces.
Seeing beastmen and humans linking arms was a strange but heartwarming sight.
I lifted my robe and took a deep breath.
Air without fog felt so pure.
The lush plains and the bright blue sky—Ganasia was such a beautiful place.
Remi couldn’t see this, but Echo and Kongi could.
‘Is this… satisfaction?’
I tried to name the feeling, just for a moment.
Then—
[■ Babel System > 51st Floor Notice
Rewards will be distributed according to contribution to “Such a Desperate Peace.”]
“Contribution?”
It was my first scenario clear, so I had never seen this window.
I stared casually.
Then—
[■ “Such a Desperate Peace” Contribution Ranking
1st) Lee Hae
2nd) Seo Jaehyuk
3rd) Han
4th) Aegis Silse …]
I rubbed my eyes in disbelief.
Of course, I had been busy moving around, but—
‘Is this a dream?’
[1st) Lee Hae]
No.
The nickname I intended to keep secret was now permanently displayed as #1 under the terrifying banner of “Contribution Ranking.”
‘So much for anonymity!’
I panicked and glanced at the assault team.
They, far away, finishing their battle and resting, were all looking at the sky.
They weren’t checking their rankings.
They must have been fixated on the unfamiliar name, “Lee Hae”…
Among the Ganasia residents embracing each other in joy, I whispered with my mouth wide open:
“…I’m screwed.”
