Chapter 88.1: A looming crisis and me firing the third arrow (1)
Translated by X-tremeEdited by X-treme
My prediction had come true.
Six hours had pa.s.sed since the start of the [Temptation of the Evil G.o.d]. The ground on the other side of the log fence was covered with corpses, and the surface of the ground was barely visible. The trench that had been dug so deep was now filled with corpses and no longer served its purpose.
The log fence that we had reinforced so much was in shambles, and I wondered how many times we had to repair it along the way. To be honest, it was almost a miracle that we had lasted this long with such a difference in strength. I had already activated the golem three times. Two of the G.o.d statues were broken and useless.
The reason we haven’t been destroyed yet is partly due to our perseverance, but……is not the only reason. I guess he wants to see me suffer for as long as possible, so he doesn’t attack all at once, but slowly pushes me to the brink of death.
The villagers have been fighting without a break since then. The sun hasn’t even risen yet, and I, as well as the player of the G.o.d of Nature, were exhausted. I’ve been making internet calls on the newer computer, but all I hear is complaining and whining.
“I can’t do it anymore…….The villagers have reached their limit.”
It was understandable that he would want to complain. In fact, the villagers were so exhausted that only a dozen of them, including Gams, could still manage to move. The villagers who had taken refuge in the building volunteered to stand guard, trying their best to give the combatants a break.
Chem used too much magic to heal the injured and fainted. Now she has managed to wake up and is lying down in the rest area. Her complexion was as white as paper, and she said she would be in danger if she had used any more magic. As for the injured, thanks to the recovery potion that I had left for this day, they were able to manage, but I guess that means they would have scars all over their body.
The reason why I can review the war situation like this now is because the other side has not made any move. They must be convinced that we no longer have the power to resist and launch an all-out attack. It was the calm before the storm.
The majority of them were sitting on the ground with exhausted expressions on their faces. The only ones who still have light in their eyes are……Lodis family, Gams, Chem, Ran, Kang, and Murus. None of the old members had given up yet. I was more than happy about that. They still believe in me – the G.o.d of Fate.
“I won’t give up until the village is destroyed. Until then, I will never give up.”
“But there’s nothing we can do about it. In a few minutes, the final attack will begin and we’ll be……out of the game. We’ve practiced, but we don’t know how many enemies are going to attack us in the end…….”
G.o.d of Nature’s weak voice almost breaks my heart. I’m aware that my hand is trembling faintly as I hold the mouse. But I’m not. Suddenly, I feel something cold on the back of my hand. I look down and see Destiny gently placing his hand on mine. He’s staring at my face and nods repeatedly.
“Thanks, buddy.”
I pat Destiny’s head and turn my attention to the computer. The dark screen is getting a little brighter. It seems that the sun has begun to rise. It looks like an unwinnable battle at the moment, I had a secret plan but only G.o.d knows if it will be carried out.
[Temptation of the Evil G.o.ds the final a.s.sault.]
The deafening sound and the red letters that occupied the screen blinked again and again. It’s finally here, the final battle!
Beyond the fence, the land filled with dead bodies was illuminated by the morning sun. Against the backdrop of the gradually ascending sunlight, I could see an incomparable number of herds slowly coming towards the village, an uncountable number of monsters. There was no need to spare their strength here. It was only natural that they would put all their strength into it.
“What should I do? I can’t do this anymore!”
As I listened to his dazed voice, I waited. I was waiting for that moment to come. Suddenly, a ring sounded. It was a phone number that I hadn’t registered, but I could guess who it was. There’s only one person who would call me at this time of day, this early in the morning……. I put the phone on speakerphone so that he could hear me while I was on the computer.
“How do you feel about being cornered?”
This sarcastic voice was definitely Chosokabe, the president of Utopia.
“I think you’re getting desperate.”
“What? Who are you??”
“Oh, who’s there? Are you a player from the Dark Elf Village?”
He sensed it right away. Well, there’s only one answer when it comes to someone involved in a game that has to be kept secret in this situation.
“This is the boss of the Evil G.o.d side that’s attacking us right now. And this one is the G.o.d of Nature player.”
There’s no need to hide it, so I’ll tell them both.
“How come the enemy boss is……Oh, by the way, I’ve seen……before.”
I told him about my history with Chosokabe, though briefly. So he seems to have guessed.
“I knew you were working together. It’s just as well that you’re both here. Now that we’re about to start the carnage, do you have any last words? It’s a shame that I’ll be the only one who remembers the game.”
“Uh, well, you know, maybe you could withdraw.”
“Impossible.”
“Ooh!”
The G.o.d of Nature player fell silent when his plea was so easily rejected.
“Don’t you have something to say to me?”
Oops, you asked me that question. I glanced at the PCs and saw that the monsters had stopped moving and were waiting patiently. Don’t you want to attack us while we are discussing?
“I guess so. I have a simple question, what are you going to do with the partic.i.p.ating employees after you win the battle? Do you give them bonuses?”
“Are you sure you want to ask such a silly question? I’ve told them that they’ll get a bonus and a vacation. But, well, that’s just a promise.”
A verbal promise? I’m not sure. This is……I quietly grab my mouse and click.
“Didn’t you make them stay up all night today?”
“Well, yeah. They did a great job until today. But I don’t need them anymore. I gathered them to defeat you as a means to get her, remember? Even if my men are players on the Evil G.o.d side, they’ll be useless once I’ve achieved my goal. I’ll fire them for any reason.”
It’s terrible. He is loyal to his own desires and thinks of others as p.a.w.ns. If I were an employee, I wouldn’t want to work for someone like him.
“So you’re saying you’ll cheat and betray your friends?”
“Don’t tell me what to do. I have a G.o.d-given miracle of luck, I don’t need those guys. I have to cut costs.”
He is a picture-perfect, self-centered man.
“You don’t want to risk getting betrayed and an attack on your home base.”
“It is forbidden to attack the base of a player on the same side and I don’t care if they betray me. For me, this game is just a means to get ahead in real life. If I can get Seika-san with this, then my wish is complete.”
You have a good character to say that. I’m impressed that you went this far. But he was right, wasn’t he? When you’re proud of your victory and in a good mood, you’re easy to talk about, so it’s easy to reveal the truth. I was frowning at him, but I never thought he’d reveal this much so easily.
“You’ve had three arrows in your quiver, but you haven’t been able to string any of them together.”
What are you saying all of a sudden? What are you talking about? Oh dear, I pity you.”
He sighs and makes fun of me, but I don’t particularly care, because there is a reason why I brought up the a.n.a.logy here. I’m embarra.s.sed to remember that I once mistook Chosokabe for a warlord named Mori Motonari, famous for the anecdote of the three arrows.
I compared me and the G.o.d of Nature player to two arrows. At that time, we were one arrow short of the three arrows as in that anecdote, but……here is where I shoot the third arrow.
“It’s good to hear you say that…….Hey, employees.”
I spoke into the other internet microphone that I had connected with the mouse earlier.
“I knew he was a smooth-talking p.r.i.c.k, but I never thought he’d go this far.”
“I’m going to have to go back to job hunting…….It’s hard to go back to my old company, and I’m in trouble.”
The voices of a man and a woman come from the speakers of the PC.
“Huh? Whose voice is it this time?”
The G.o.d of Nature player sounded puzzled because I hadn’t dared to explain.
“I don’t think that voice is……so I’m on the line with one of my employees! What’s going on? Answer me!”
Chosokabe seemed to understand the current situation immediately.
“I’m just connecting with your employees over the Internet. If you were playing together, you would have noticed this right away.”
I manipulate the mouse in the middle of talking so that the other side can hear our conversation.
“No way, you guys have been working together behind the scenes! No, but even if you could get in touch with them, there’s no reason for them to help an ex-neet like……you!”
“Well, yes, there isn’t. But what if there’s a benefit that’s worth betraying?”
There is an effective way to turn a player on the Evil side. When I presented it to them, one of the players easily turned on him. I contacted the player right after I called the G.o.ddess of Fate.