“Hmm.”

Looking into it, the preliminaries were still in progress. A desperate face fighting was conveniently shown in close-up. Who was that again? Judging by my lack of memory, it must have been a not very famous hunter.

To be honest, I didn’t understand their world and psychology. In the end, it’s about fighting and hurting the opponent, is that enjoyable? Is it fun to forcefully subdue others just because I’m strong?

I had seen a post saying that every time it’s held, more than 3 people die, so it didn’t look very appealing.

Maybe it was the kind of thought someone who had never been strong would have.

No, this was like trauma caused by Kali. A victory premised on death could never be welcome.

Wouldn’t it be better to live peacefully and without problems if possible?

The moment I had such thoughts.

[System:: ‘Ragnarok’ has declared a siege on Cheonrang.]

Along with a message appearing in midair.

[S∬§tem: ▒e siege begins. Please do your best to defend the castle▒!] [Would you like to check the siege information? Yes/No]

A loud noise rang out from somewhere.

[This is the timeline separator]

To be honest, I had heard there was such a thing as a siege, but I didn’t know it was actually possible.

The guild system and the guild grounds derived from that guild system. Treating the buildings built on the grounds as a ‘castle’ and fighting to take each other’s castles.

No one knows why the system has such a function. Some said it’s because the system imitates games, while others said games imitate the system, but the conclusion was simple.

Just proceed like a game. Except for the fact that you can actually die.

Crystals are installed at important points inside the guild, and if the attacking side captures all of these crystals within the time limit, they win. If they fail to capture all within the time limit, the attacking side still wins if the occupation rate is 70% or higher.

At first glance, it seems disadvantageous for the defending side, but isn’t that how defense usually is?

In return, if the defense is successful, the victorious guild can demand huge compensation from the defeated guild.

It’s said to be popular in some European countries, but is there really a need for sieges in South Korea when we’re not even at war?

In fact, there have been only 2 sieges in South Korean history.

And now it’s become the 3rd time.

“What the hell is this…”

Once again, a bang was heard from inside the guild building. I hurriedly tried to contact Cheon Shin Woo and Min Yu Shin, but there was no answer.

Shouldn’t everyone belonging to the guild see the information window?

I had an ominous feeling. Some of the letters in the system window were blurry, weren’t they? If this siege was intentionally declared today, and if the progress notification didn’t go out properly due to an error…

“Ha…”

I’m going crazy. Screams could be heard from inside the building. Didn’t they say there were some people who came to work even on holidays? Cold sweat ran down my back.

A dark, sticky energy permeated everywhere, to the point where I wondered why I hadn’t noticed it earlier.

This is no time to wait for an answer. Like a fool, I ran without even recalling that there was another direct contact method for Cheon Shin Woo.

I immediately rushed into the building.

[This is the timeline separator]

Cheon Shin Woo rolled his eyes indifferently. Familiar and bothersome things. In the midst of the cheers and heat of the ranking battle, he found this place rather boring.

Doing this wouldn’t bring him any closer to his goal, nor was it even fun.

Children’s play with mediocre skills.

That was all the impression he had of the domestic ranking battle.

Should I have just dropped out, no, should I not have established a guild in the first place?

Cheon Shin Woo smirked as he recalled the image of Yi Hyun sneering, asking if he ran away out of fear, and Min Yu Shin coaxing and persuading him to participate in the guild battle.

There was a time when these things were enjoyable.

Now…

Just as he was briefly lost in nostalgia.

[System:: ‘Ragnarok’ has declared a siege on Cheonrang.]

An alert that shouldn’t have sounded, rang out.

“Now, next up is Korea’s most popular and strongest hunter! There can be no one stronger under the sky. It’s time for Cheon Shin Woo of Cheonrang to take the stage!”

“I forfeit.”

“The very one everyone has been expecting and waiting for, what? What did you say?”

“All hunters belonging to Cheonrang, including myself, forfeit from all ranking battle events from this moment on. The rest of you can figure it out among yourselves.”

Cheon Shin Woo silenced his surroundings with just a few words. After a few seconds of silence, someone came running, wondering if they had heard correctly amidst the murmuring crowd.

“Wait a moment, Guild Master. What is this all about…!”

“Are your eyes and ears mere decorations? Cancel everything in progress.”

“What on earth…”

“Gather all those who are in good condition right now. Someone has declared a siege on Cheonrang.”

“What? There was no such notification… Huh?”

Behind the guild member who was frantically checking the system window in surprise, Cheon Shin Woo walked away steadily.

“I’ll go ahead, so prepare and follow me.”

As he left behind the clamoring surroundings, Cheon Shin Woo thought to himself.

That he must quickly identify the traitor.

[This is the timeline separator]

As I entered the front, an unpleasant smell brushed my nose.

I first ran to where I heard screams to check if people were safe, but there were no guild members who should have been there, only traces of chaos.

Fortunately, all documents were backed up twice, otherwise it would have been a real disaster.

What kind of people are these Ragnarok guys to do such a thing without even a shred of manners?

I quietly gritted my teeth and leaned against the wall.

Three people wearing robes and strange masks. They whispered so quietly that even I could barely understand, then soon left behind one unconscious office worker.

[Occupation Status 0% ■■■■□□□□□□ 100%]

They’ve occupied quite a lot. It’s only been a few tens of minutes since the siege was declared.

The speed was fast due to the lack of people.

Fortunately, I could immediately see where the crystals needed for occupation were located. I opened the map window and, after some consideration, headed towards a crystal that hadn’t been occupied yet.

Out of a total of ten crystals, three were in the process of being occupied, two hadn’t been discovered yet, and one was where the remaining combat guild members were engaged in battle.

Perhaps because I was set as the vice guild master, the map showed me a lot of information.

Anyway, if they can’t occupy within the time limit, it’s the enemy’s defeat. Conversely, we can also recapture the occupied crystals, so it should be fine if we just reduce the number of enemies as much as possible and hold out.

Thinking this while on the way to the crystal.

“Oh my? I heard there was no one on this side, but someone was still here.”

I encountered a masked person in a robe. Three of them, in fact.

“It’s just one person anyway. Let’s deal with it quickly and go.”

“Hey, it’d be a shame to just leave after meeting such a cute little one. Hello. Want to play with big sister?”

“What’s immediately important to us now is the fragment. 32nd, behave properly.”

“It’s fine to play a little, isn’t it?”

“I’d rather not have things delayed any further because of your bad habit. 102nd.”

“Yes.”

“You deal with it.”

These guys are really taking me lightly.

I pulled out the standard-issue staff I had received recently.

Just as I was about to swing the staff to use magic, everything around me turned to darkness.

It was only for 2 seconds, but when my vision returned, two people were gone.

Only the one called 102nd remained.

“You cannot pass here!”

It was quite a solemn voice. I was dumbfounded. How can they be so solemn after barging into someone else’s home?

“And I can handle someone like you just fine.”

17? 18 years old? The voice sounded quite young. I lowered my raised staff and quietly exhaled.

The occupation speed is still at 50%. Wait, it should be fine to have a brief, very brief conversation.

“…Why are you doing this?”

“Are you trying to buy time with words because you think you’ll lose! It’s useless!”

“Useless or not, you suddenly barge into someone else’s guild and have a lot to say? I’ve been looking around hunter information sites recently, and I’ve never heard of a guild called Ragnarok. Who are you guys?”

“…”

The person who had been empty-handed now pulled out knuckles.

“I suppose it’s okay to tell you this much since you’re going to die anyway.”

Then he rushed at me.

“To set right the principles of the world!”

[This is the timeline separator]

There was something suppressed. No, to be precise, it should be said that there was something that had to be suppressed.

At the innocent age of 14, a young child who had just returned to the world where I was born and couldn’t adapt to the unfamiliar environment, knowing nothing.

‘No, I can do it. Look, if I do this…’

‘I don’t understand what you’re saying. Why should I? I don’t want to. I won’t do it.’

A girl who was frozen at the age of 7, with only her body becoming 14 years old, always spoke words that seemed like delusions.

A child who boasted that she was very great and could do anything, but when actually told to do something, she would primly say she didn’t want to do anything.

Yes, perhaps at that time, I really could have used my power.

‘Really? That’s amazing! Are you perhaps stronger than your elder sister?’

‘Hmm? I’m not sure about that. But I don’t want to use my power to hurt my elder sister.’

‘Then shall we play rock-paper-scissors? The winner gets to do what they want.’

There was someone who settled me into this world. Someone who accepted my stubbornness that I displayed like a child, who patiently reasoned with me even when I threw tantrums, and slowly taught me how to adapt to this world.

‘If we don’t go support now, everyone will die!’

‘But the order hasn’t…’

‘Are you going to let everyone die because of an order?!’

The worst wave that had occurred in South Korea, the association members frantically pacing about.

In the midst of that.

‘I’ll go.’

‘I can save them. Let me go.’

To a maladjusted returner throwing a tantrum, to an unawakened returner, there was only one thing adults could say.

‘What could you possibly do if you went! No, you haven’t even finished the adaptation period yet, and there’s nothing an unawakened person can do!’

What action did I take when I heard such an answer? I don’t remember much about that time now.

All I can recall is that after that day, I had no choice but to accept reality due to the death of the person who cared for me the most and looked after me wholeheartedly.