The Ruined World Was Mistaken for a Game

Chapter 252: The Evil God's Constellation (5)

Translator: DreamscribeThe Evil God's Tower and the Constellation System received high praise. They became excellent content that stoked the Heroes' hunger for leveling up.

The vast structure, spanning from floor 1 all the way to floor 666, left the Heroes astonished. At first, they assumed it was made up of dungeons, but it was composed of all sorts of different content.

The advance of the corrupted goblin legions, massive boss monsters, and sprawling open fields and seas all drew gasps of admiration. Each floor had spaces where parties could be assembled, and there were even floors where entire expeditions could be organized.

Everything the Heroes had experienced through the episodes was compressed and arranged inside, and it wasn't an exaggeration to say that every piece of Arsilan Saga content released so far had been poured into it. Of course, even this was only a fraction of the Evil God's Tower.

Even the Heroes who had reached level 150 and were climbing the Evil God's Tower hadn't yet broken past floor 200. As for what lay higher up, there was only speculation.

Jinwoo planned to keep adding content he created or collected from the Dimensional Realm in real time.

Every day, many Avatar Candidates arrived on floor 1 from the Dimensional Realm, and their numbers kept growing. As soon as the Candidates arrived, the Heroes who had become Constellations all rushed over. And among the people of Arsilan, there were quite a few who had the qualifications and were scouted as Constellations as well.

Jinwoo recruited Constellations beyond just the members of the Erosion Headquarters. With the number of Avatar Candidates steadily increasing, more Constellations were needed.

'Nice.'

Jinwoo observed the Heroes who had become the first generation of Constellations.

The Avatars chosen by them were showing rapid growth.

NorthernGrandDuke's Avatar, 'Gloron', was a man whose entire body was pure muscle. He stood over two meters tall, and his skin was purplish. Various tattoos were etched across his skin, giving off the air of a warrior.

[Lv.21] Gloron

Race: Saropsu

Title: [E] Unstoppable

Dimension: Galatans (destroyed)

[Skills Possessed]

[F+] Northern Combat Technique

A combat technique devised by the Constellation Northern Valkyrie through her research into the movements of orcs. By channeling mana into a weapon, devastating power can be unleashed. However, the physical strain is severe, requiring a high level of strength.

[D] Inexperienced Berserker

A trait bestowed by the Constellation Northern Valkyrie.

Physical stats increase as HP decreases.

Wielding a massive two-handed sword, Gloron had cleared floors at a rapid pace and already reached floor 31.

'Not bad.'

He couldn't keep up with the Heroes, but he was putting on a pretty respectable showing.

[Northern Valkyrie (NorthernGrandDuke) praises your growth.]

"Thank you, Constellation."

[She suggests you rest.]

"I'm sorry. I..., must grow stronger quickly."

The Avatars were using the Arsilan Common Language.

Upon clearing floor 1, the Arsilan Common Language was imprinted into their minds as a reward.

Without hesitation, Gloron began climbing again.

[Northern Valkyrie asks the reason.]

"My family, my kin..., they're in danger."

[Northern Valkyrie nods. She cheers you on, telling you to keep at it.]

"Haha, thank you! That gives me strength!"

Gloron had been hiding in the frontier regions of the Kalsus Dimensional Empire.

Jinwoo knew of various dimensions from reading the Avatars' information, and he had gathered a fair amount of intelligence on the Kalsus Dimensional Empire as well. Having kept climbing the tower, Gloron had collapsed from exhaustion several times. In the end, he had no choice but to rest.

[Gloron has exited the Evil God's Tower.]

Even after leaving the Evil God's Tower, it was still possible to watch over one's Avatar. By spending Constellation Points, one could enter in and view things up close, just like in the tower itself.

[Northern Valkyrie descends beside you.]

NorthernGrandDuke moved to Gloron's side.

This place was a frontier region under the rule of the Kalsus Dimensional Empire. Through dimensional annexation, it had fallen under Kalsus control and been exploited. Now it had been stripped bare and abandoned.

The sky was dark, and the air was foul.

Only dry, dusty winds blew through, evaporating every drop of sweat from Gloron's body.

Not a single blade of grass remained, and the mountains had crumbled to sand, producing nothing but dust. The occasional rainfall was their only lifeline. Gloron's kin were hiding in this place, aided by liberation forces that were slowly beginning to stir.

Jinwoo allowed Constellations to observe information about the dimensions their Avatars came from. This way, they could naturally take in the background and become even more immersed in the main episodes to come.

Of course, anything too cruel or that couldn't be disclosed was filtered out. It had been set up to look and sound as natural as possible.

'Gotta protect the Heroes' innocence.'

Arsilan Saga was a dark fantasy, but it was a game. Its strength lay in an immersion that blurred reality and gameplay. The Heroes would feel sorrow and rage, but it couldn't be turned into a documentary.

The filtering worked well.

Corpses piled up like mountains came into view.

Even here on this plain, where no real mountains remained, there was one mountain that did exist. The bodies hadn't decayed but had dried and withered, heaped haphazardly together.

Thanks to the filtering, what NorthernGrandDuke saw was a pile of skeletons.

It wasn't simply censorship; it had been adjusted so that the horror could still be felt within an acceptable range. Because the Magic Tower processed visual, auditory, and olfactory information in real time, it could be applied to every Hero.

'A reality this horrible..., it's better that it be a game.'

Better that it be a story inside a game.

Jinwoo watched Gloron through NorthernGrandDuke's eyes. Gloron brushed away the thick dust covering the ground with his hand and found a door. It was a door leading underground.

When he stepped inside, he saw not just the Saropsu, but members of various other races as well. An elderly man who appeared to be their leader came into view, and he rose with difficulty and approached Gloron.

"I'm sorry. I keep relying on you alone every time."

"It's nothing. Without you, Lord Alex, we would all have died as slaves."

"Heh heh, that was long ago. And to think the boy you once were has grown into such a gallant warrior."

People and children gathered around Gloron.

They were all thin from malnutrition, but they could smile. Because there was hope. Throughout the underground living quarters, statues of the Evil God had been erected. Everyone praised the merciful Evil God and offered up prayers each day.

"Hehe! Daddy!"

Gloron ruffled his son's hair roughly and grinned. The tattoos engraved on his body were the names of his departed wife and the family he was sworn to protect.

Gloron opened his Inventory and pulled out what he had hunted.

Sometimes the monsters dropped meat upon dying, and he had brought every last piece back with him.

"This is the grace bestowed upon us by the Constellation Northern Valkyrie."

"Thank you, Constellation."

"Thank you."

They offered their thanks to NorthernGrandDuke.

Jinwoo watched NorthernGrandDuke's expression. It was full of warmth, but soon a more complicated emotion surfaced. Monster meat wasn't enough to feed everyone here to their fill.

It was just barely enough to sustain life.

Water was scarce too, and the environment was poor.

It was far too barren a place for the light and shadow of Arsilan to take root.

'Better patch this right away.'

There still weren't all that many Heroes who had observed external dimensions. Many Constellations were staying inside the tower and not venturing outside.

Jinwoo immediately pushed a patch.

[You may now bestow grace upon your Avatar using Constellation Points or Arsilan Gold.]

[The 'Grace' category has been added to the Constellation Shop.]

An information window popped up in front of NorthernGrandDuke.

She immediately accessed the shop and browsed through the Grace list.

[-] Clean Bottled Water Box

A box containing 20 bottles (2L) of drinking water.

[-] Arsilan Rice

Rice grown in Arsilan.

Packed with Arsilan's mana and nutrients.

Since it's delivered across dimensions, it costs considerably more than its sale price within Arsilan.

[-] Alusión Ramen

Ramen made as a collaboration between FS Games and the food company Ansim.

Comes in mild, spicy, and Arsilan flavors.

[-] Tent

A tent for novice travelers.

Purchase now and receive a free sleeping bag included.

Items without ranks could be bought with Arsilan Gold. Items that had ranks, however, cost Constellation Points. NorthernGrandDuke poured out Arsilan Gold to buy food and supplies. Then she bestowed them upon Gloron right away.

[Northern Valkyrie stretches herself a little to bestow grace upon you.]

"Grace, from the Constellation...?"

The instant Gloron gasped in shock, a black swamp formed in front of him, and the food and goods sent by NorthernGrandDuke rose up from it. Clean water, long-preservable food, and all kinds of necessities filled the space.

At first, everyone just stood there dumbstruck.

With goods suddenly appearing out of nowhere, they couldn't believe their own eyes.

"Oh, oh, ohhh!"

"Water!"

"Eeek!"

"Sob! Th-thank you."

Some cried out in joy, while others dropped to their knees and wept. Gloron knelt on the spot and bowed his head deeply.

"Thank you, Constellation! I will never forget this grace!"

[Northern Valkyrie says that your growing stronger is all the repayment she needs.]

"Yes, I will absolutely grow stronger! More than anyone else...!"

[Northern Valkyrie is pleased with your words.]

Once the people learned that NorthernGrandDuke had bestowed the goods upon them, they all expressed their deep gratitude to her, and they carved her emblem into the walls. There were even those who carved it into their own bodies.

[Northern Valkyrie has spread the light of Arsilan into the Dimensional Realm for the first time!]

[You have earned Dimensional Realm Achievement Points! A title has been awarded!]

[B] Constellation of Light

A title granted to a warm-hearted Constellation who helped her Avatar's family.

The Avatar's people have found salvation in your grace.

*Constellation Points +10

She, who had bestowed grace, was rewarded as well. Jinwoo wanted this to become a virtuous cycle.

The people carefully sipped the water and rejoiced. Although it was preserved food, it was packed with Arsilan's mana, which made it remarkably delicious.

"Water this clean, I've never had anything like it."

"It, it's delicious!"

"Sob!"

The elderly man, too, was moved to tears as he gripped Gloron's hand tightly.

"Follow the Constellation's words well. We will help however we can, too."

Gloron smiled and nodded.

The sudden aid might not have fit the logic or setting of the world. But that didn't really matter.

'This is a game, after all.'

Right, it had to be a game, something you could tweak and bend to suit convenience.

Because that way, a little of the sad reality could be overcome.

Jinwoo watched NorthernGrandDuke.

"Ahem..."

Her eyes were reddening, and she was sniffling.

With Heroes all around her, she was just barely holding back her tears.

A Constellation board had been newly established on Arsilan Worlds. Every Hero could view it, but no one could post. There, Constellations who had experienced their Avatars' worlds left write-ups.

Title: The tension is insane.

My Avatar lives in an underground prison.

The Kalsus bastards locked him up there and have him processing materials, and every day he has to meet a quota and hand it over.

So pitiable I could die.

Thank god I can set up a dummy in his cell using Constellation Points. He finishes all his material processing in the Evil God's Tower and then climbs the tower.

Right now he's hiding his power, so he gets beat up every time there's an inspection, but his body is totally fine. He's level 18, so the punches of those weak-ass soldiers are nothing ㅋㅋㅋ

But every time they hit my boy, I feel like I'm about to lose it.

These bastards who'd die in one sword swing...

Once he hits level 50, I'm planning to flip the whole place upside down.

Pumping in Constellation Points like crazy right now.

Y'all know this?

You can exchange Achievement Points for Constellation Points. So I'm off to clear all my backed-up quests.

Saintess of Abyss and Tentacles: So pitiable! Please tell your Avatar to hang in there!

└ Striking Blade: Whoa! The #2 Constellation! A super-high-ranking Constellation descending upon this lowly post!

└ Sweeping Ice Flower: I saw that Constellation's Avatar once, they were just soloing everything like a one-person army.

└ Arrogant Eye of Starlight: Wasn't that impressive tbh.

└ Sweeping Ice Flower: Your Avatar is a total scaredy-cat though ㅋㅋㅋ

└ Arrogant Eye of Starlight: He just hasn't bloomed yet!

└ Striking Blade: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ sure, sure.

Magic Worshipper: Saving my Constellation Points. Gonna splurge on something big later.

Creaking Skeleton Mage: My Avatar's just grinding through the tower. I'll probably break into the top 50 rankings soon too.

The Constellations breathed new life into Arsilan Saga, and the Avatars' stories filled out the narrative of liberating the Dimensional Realm, a narrative that might otherwise have felt lacking.

As Jinwoo was watching over the Avatars, Tiris appeared behind him.

"It's almost time for it to hatch."

Jinwoo thought of the Larva that had returned to Erosion's Domain.

He had planted a Parasitic Egg inside the Larva and had been waiting for the time to ripen.

The Larva had reached the deep regions of Erosion and was relaxing there. In that place, it had been possible to observe beings far larger than the Higher Entities that had been devoured back in Arsilan.

With its Authority being eaten away by the Parasitic Egg, the Larva had made a nest in the deepest part of Erosion's Domain and retreated into a Cocoon. It had judged that it was in a strange physical state from expending too much of its Authority. Even as it entered the Cocoon, it did not hide its hostility toward Arsilan.

Once the Cocoon was fully formed, a spatial severance spread around it, one that even a Higher Entity couldn't interfere with.

[Heh heh! Just you wait. I shall deliver unto you eternal suffering.]

The Larva was grinding its teeth as it recalled the humiliation it had suffered in Arsilan. Its voice was transmitted vividly through the Parasitic Egg planted inside it.

Jinwoo grinned.

There was no longer any need to stay quiet. Whatever happened inside that Cocoon, the Erosion entities on the outside had no way of knowing.

Jinwoo sent a signal to the Parasitic Egg.

KRRRACK!

The Parasitic Egg cracked open and emerged, revealing its hideous form.

The Parasitic Egg was connected to the Soul Moon and was brimming with Jinwoo's Sacred Power. Influenced by his thickening Evil Karma, it had turned into a grotesque parasitic worm.

"A rather decent appearance, isn't it."

"...Good thing it's not here with us."

The parasite began to move in earnest. Its mouth split wide open, and it began gnawing away at the Larva from the inside. It was feeding on the Authority and conceptual essence that made up the Larva.

[Huh? Huh?! Krgaaaaaaah!]

The Larva thrashed, but its screams were hollow. The parasite devoured it without mercy. Feeling boundless agony, the Larva writhed furiously and tried to break out of the Cocoon, but tragically the Cocoon was far too solid.

It didn't so much as tremble.

"We could disguise ourselves as Erosion."

Just as Tiris said, it looked like they could devour the Larva completely and then use it to masquerade as Erosion. This was a truly excellent opportunity to properly understand Erosion.

At Jinwoo's signal, the parasite linked the Larva to the Dimensional Transit Ship. From the ship, the Larva could see Jinwoo looking down at it.

[Y-you...]

"Been well? You've slimmed down, so I guess you've been working out?"

The moment the Larva saw Jinwoo, it convulsed and writhed.

"Yeah, you've gotta keep exercising if you want to live a long life."

[Wh-what are you playing at?! How in the world...! Krgaaah!]

"Want me to show you?"

Jinwoo let it see the parasite devouring it from within. When the Larva saw the parasite, it went into a frenzy. For a human, it would be no different from watching a ghastly alien creature feeding on one's own organs with one's own eyes.

[Wh-what is that?! Krgh, krgaaah! N-not there! Not..., aaaaaahh!]

"Sounds nice."

"Agreed."

The Larva began to beg as it howled in pain.

[I'll, I'll do anything you want! Please, please stop..., if, if all of that gets eaten, I'll...!]

Jinwoo controlled the Larva's senses so that it could only see the parasite. Now it would be forced to watch until it was completely consumed.

"Grow up nice and big."

The parasite's body plumped up as it fed on the Larva.

It gnawed away at the Larva slowly, as if savoring it, swelling in size. Jinwoo looked forward to the moment when the parasite would finish devouring the Larva entirely and transform into its new form.

*****

"The Ruined World Was Mistaken for a Game" has been adapted into a Manhwa.

https://comix.to/title/10w5n-the-ruined-world-was-mistaken-for-a-game

*****

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