NOVEL WEB Chapter 174
Rudel, who had heard news of the Ice Castle Guild Master, let out a hollow laugh. Although Aleon sulked, Ifrea looked at Rudel with a calm demeanor. Even though nothing was mentioned in front of them, Ifrea was actually the one who was most surprised and delighted to hear that Rudel was alive. This was true both when thinking of Aleon and by her own will.
[“Ifrea, of course, you’ll be with us, right? …I can tell just by looking at your eyes. Separate the combatants from the non-combatants; the combatants will stay, and the non-combatants will follow me.”]
[“They’ve already been sorted and are waiting.”]
[“Good. Let’s go right away. Tell Aleon we’ll see him later. I don’t have time, so I’m off now—”]
As soon as Rudel turned around, a fierce hug suddenly enveloped her from behind, almost knocking her over. Her hair fell forward, and her back and chest throbbed from the unexpected collision.
[“You’re really mean. Truly.”]
[“…Aleon, you can say things like that?”]
[“But I was going to tell you that I like you.”]
Instead of saying “so I like you” as usual, it was “but I like you.”
Well, Rudel had committed treason against the Blue Saint. Who knows how much this man cried because of Rudel. It might have been fortunate that Akata wasn’t here, having gone to placate Nahean, who was likely upset.
Rudel waited until Aleon released the hug first.
[“Sorry for coming late. It wasn’t because I forgot; it was because of the distance.”]
Finally, they properly looked at each other’s faces. Aleon gently stroked Rudel’s cheek, as if confirming she was truly alive. This time, Rudel let him. The radiant smile of the saint, who had cast off all previous grievances, brightened the surroundings.
[“I understand you had to look after the weaker ones first.”]
In truth, Rudel hadn’t postponed the reunion with Aleon for that reason alone.
‘In a crucial scene, you have to delay as long as possible to keep the viewers on edge…’
[Standard Time 14:28, Game Planner ‘Muraul’ Camera]
[“Take orders from Blance! That damn kid—”]
Muraul frantically chased after a girl sprinting ahead. In the direction the axe-wielding murderer was headed, Rudel was leading about 400 people.
The girl leapt towards Rudel.
Thud!
A beast hung from the lamp above Rudel’s head. Rudel raised her head a moment too late.
A sharp axe blade was aimed at her neck. The characters swallowed their screams. Rudel is going to die like this!
However, Rudel, without any particular tension, made eye contact with the small murderer. Soon, words burst from the girl’s mouth.
[“I destroyed the abandoned city. Where to next?”]
Yudirei didn’t listen to anyone. Blance’s instructions were no exception.
Except for one person.
[“Good job. Next, go and wreck the Western Fantasy Field. You know where that is, right? The place used for the event round.”]
[“That shitty place?”]
Yudirei’s axe blade still greedily traced Rudel’s neckline. Blood trickled down lightly. The girl licked her lips with her tongue and then stopped. She turned and flew away.
Muraul was still busy chasing her breathlessly.
[Standard Time 15:33, Game Planner ‘Akata’ Camera]
By this time, the paths of Rudel’s group and Shemarin’s group, approaching from the other side, finally converged. It was time to unite their forces.
The guild they were going to deal with next:
[“You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting.”]
Against the backdrop of a grassy pasture, a tall and slender man stood with his arms crossed. He always looked like Rudel’s sibling whenever they met.
[“I like this idea you came up with. It makes me angry that I didn’t think of it sooner.”]
He drew a deep curve with his lips. Watching him, Rudel suddenly felt her vision blur.
‘If I weren’t here, Runehan, you could have shone as brightly as I did.’
After coming to reality, Rudel was sure of what Runehan’s existence was.
Runehan was truly a character created to continue Rudel’s success or sometimes to check her.
However, Runehan seemed carefree, as if he had forgotten all that. He seemed more stable.
Throughout the conversation, he kept glancing at Tian, and his eyes were dripping with love.
Rudel watched him fondly and then asked Runehan to persuade the second-generation guilds like her to lead the lower-level players.
Runehan gladly accepted.
After finishing the conversation and about to move again, Rudel suddenly remembered something and whispered to Shemarin.
[“You said you wished I were a man. Here I am. But you’re not as interested as I thought?”]
[“I wanted you as a man, not a man who looks like you.”]
[“Isn’t that the same thing?”]
[“Move!”]
Though all the surrounding players had already backed off, Unahar growled the warning. Soon, a mist enveloped him.
Thud-!! A massive wolf’s paw thudded heavily on the pension’s floor. Its imposing size and majesty justified his warning for others to stay far away.
[“Aaaah—! Ahh!!”]
The screams from the players were louder than those for the previous monsters. The hundreds of players present were all well-acquainted with this mad wolf of insanity.
But something significant had changed. The wolf was now in control.
‘Those damned things. Have they ever seen a monster?’
Unable to speak human language, the wolf grumbled internally as it bit into a monster and flung it outside.
* * *
I left the dome-shaped building of the raid battle as the final arena. Numerous attacks were directed at the large dome visible from the outside.
Watching the scene with satisfaction, I turned to face Akata’s camera head-on and smirked.
Step back. We’ve already won this fight.
Can you go against this fervor supporting us now, this righteousness?
You know as well as I do. This has become the greatest and ultimate content of Ranking of Soul.
You know how it should end for a perfect conclusion to this round.
You can’t forsake a brilliant ending either.
The final arena that made players laugh and cry.
Shards of glass flew like hail as the round glass shattered. Soon, the central pillar broke, and the grandeur collapsed unceremoniously.
“……!”
Someone pointed above with their finger. All eyes focused there.
Just before the dome crumbled, something suddenly emerged at the top.
A white flag fluttering in the wind.
For the first time, the loud cheers I heard made my heart race.
It was our victory.