How to Survive as a Player Chapter 99

#99

Bill Will’s eyes were elegantly curved. He was quite an abomination. If he had meant to tell, he would have mentioned the right to question in front of everyone on the day of selection when players first came to Elix.

But he didn’t say that, and only gave information to those who came and asked. It was an action that could only be seen as intentional.

It was highly likely that Fan and Agatha had already used the question ticket. What they found out was not information that could be found through research and search.

“I guess a watch won’t work this time?”

[I will say it varies depending on the severity.]

His answer comes with a price. Also, depending on the severity of the question, there are things you can receive in return and things you cannot. The ‘right to ask questions’ may be a player’s unique right created to obtain information that cannot be heard even in exchange for a price.

[Would you like to exhaust your right to ask questions?]

“Let’s change the question.”

[it’s possible.]

“Why did you intervene with me?”

The smile disappeared from the corner of Billwill’s mouth, where a deep smile was revealed. Her narrow, curved eyes were also dead. Billwill looked down at her Sehyun with a frightening expression.

The ‘intervention’ that Fen spoke of. If noise is an intervention, then the noise that Sehyun experienced when checking Ruhak’s final trustworthiness would also be an intervention. Sehyun was curious about that. Why did you intervene at that time?

“I used the question ticket, but you won’t tell me? Or is it not enough? Shall I use another one?”

Billwill’s body slowly began to descend. When her floating toes touched the ground without a sound and her tailcoat, which had been fluttering in the air, landed neatly, Billwill opened his tightly shut mouth.

It was the beginning of a long story.

[Your two questions will be used up. We also inform you in advance that the guides’ choices were made solely for Elix.]

The start was calm. Billwill announced her truth with a solemn look, as if conveying her unfortunate news.

[As you expected, our guide has been directly involved in your empire.]

“Why?”

[This was because there was a need to strike a balance between road players.]

Sehyeon’s eyes closed tiredly. For some reason, problems she had never thought about before coming to Elix began to surface during the banquet.

The balance between players meant a growth gap with Sehyun.

[This Elix planet and the tower have a symbiotic relationship. However, as the strategy for topping the tower, which should be progressed step by step, began to be targeted indiscriminately at some point, the difference in strategy levels between players widened overwhelmingly, resulting in a phenomenon where the balance between road players collapsed. We had to make a choice. This is because the balance of road players is directly related to survival. Additionally, the role of the tower had to be maintained.]

The role of the tower he is talking about is probably a ‘barrier’. Everyone saw it a little while ago.

“Then why didn’t you do it sooner? I should have done it sooner. “You are the ones who gave it time for this to happen.”

[I will remain silent on that part. Please note that there is no obligation to answer.]

“Hey, Mr. Billwill.”

Sehyeon called out to Bill Will in a hushed voice. However, Billwill turned his back on Sehyun’s words and opened his mouth again.

[Everyone who comes here on Selection Day is given time to grow, time to adapt, and time to get to know this world. This is directly related to the tower strategy. According to theory, the tower that road players who came here on Selection Day should attack was at least around the 50th floor. But, what about now?]

84th floor. The current situation was that even Fan, who was ranked 2nd in the empire rankings, was unable to break the 74th floor and was lagging behind. It was a far-off gap.

[The time the tower can perform its function is limited. Until a certain period of time after the attack. And the limited time you have conquered the 84th floor is about 120 days. If you do not attack the tower within the set time, the tower’s role will be lost.]

Bill Will was currently talking about the whole thing that Sehyun would know about the ‘barrier’. He said he knew everything that was happening outside.

[Therefore, the tower strategy must be progressed step by step. But you didn’t, and that left current players with less time to grow. This is why we intervened with you.]

If the time given to users was to clear the 100th floor of the tower, as Bill Will said, the users had no time. The remaining floors are at most the 16th floor. It was not enough time for all empires to develop as much power as Sehyeon.

Combining the two months that Sehyeon had been away with the approximately one month that had passed since he came here, Sehyeon had to attack the tower within a month, just as Fan said. And, funny enough, it wasn’t difficult for Sehyun at all.

“why… “Am I the only one who is different?”

Until I heard what everyone said, I thought it could be explained by affection alone. I thought that because the affection Sehyun gave was especially special, the heroes worked hard, and as a result, a good synergy occurred and the national power increased accordingly.

however… It was at this point that Sehyeon realized that it was just his imagination.

[you… This is because he is the one most similar to the Archduke’s dream. That’s why you were outstanding.]

Sehyun laughed helplessly. The dream that was said to become reality when it came true. What on earth is that? I didn’t want to understand anything right now. The whole situation just felt cruel. What Sehyun wanted to hear wasn’t this vast story.

“what… “It was an intervention.”

[Our guides had no choice but to make a choice that would allow everyone to survive ‘together’. We inform you that this was an inevitable decision.]

“which… “Was it intervention?”

I hoped not. After barely swallowing the heat, all I could see was Bill Will with a miserable expression.

[…] I have provided you with many conveniences. We have placed by your side people with rankers and genius talents from the same country. I also helped you without any compensation. That part… Let’s say it is the guides’ compensation for their mistakes.]

compensation. Jaeyoung Lee and Dohyeon Baek. Gapjun Kim, Jeha Yoon, and Jeonghan Kwak. Everything that came back to Sehyun was wrapped in the word compensation. Without the slightest mention of the countless hardships and hard work that carried everything.

“idem… Don’t keep making me do it, but say it straight away. “What kind of intervention was it?”

There was a terrifying silence. And soon, an unbelievable truth rang out.

[Giving you a different answer. That was our intervention.]

“I… The answer I received during the last reliability check was… That it was a different answer… is it?”

[At least… That was not the answer you heard.]

The moment Bill Will’s eyes closed heavily, thick tears flowed down Sehyun’s cheeks. Kwak Jeong-han’s gaze, which had been following this, gradually sank. The tears that were falling on the floor stopped the moment Sehyun lifted her sleeve.

“I… If I hadn’t quit… “If that was the case, what were you going to do?”

[We intervene based on all our analysis. I was close to a hundred percent sure that you would quit. And you proved it yourself.]

The story ended there. This was because something flew towards Bill Will’s face with such force, as if to mark a one-sided ending.

Billwill caught it lightly and held it in his hand. Then she shifted her gaze and looked down at something wrapped in her hand. It was the same cookie shape as the one she had received earlier.

When Billwill looked back at Sehyeon, his back had already started to move away. It didn’t take long for the small light to become a dot and move away. Bilwill followed the trail for a while and carefully put the snack in his hand into his bosom.

It was a soundless space. Billwill stood where she had been left, still with her feet planted. And when she was completely alone, Billwill’s head hung low.

Rabbit ears, as bent as his head, fell down on his cheeks. The ear stayed on his cheek for a long time and did not disappear.

“Frog.”

It was then that a familiar voice was heard from behind Billwill, who was drooping. Bill Will’s gaze turned back at the sound of footsteps approaching.

On the other side of the pure white space, a frog tribe carrying a basket the same size as my body was waddling towards Billwill. The ceaseless steps stopped exactly next to Bill Will.

“Frog.”

He was asking if I had seen anyone. Billwill opened her mouth with a sad expression.

[I already went… It’s a shame.]

“Agave… .”

The frog’s gaze sank. The depressed head also lowered. Billwill went down, chasing the hand that was tightly holding the basket. He was a man who appeared often and snooped around as if waiting for someone. Also, he was a ‘king without a country’.

Billwill looked down at the depressed figure of the frog and slowly closed his eyes. After a while, she heard the sound of weak footsteps again.

When Billwill opened his eyes again, there was no one left in that space. After she was left alone, as she always was.

In front of Billwill, there was only a rice ball wrapped in cloth left behind by the frog tribe.