Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant

Chapter 531

“......What?”

Su-ho doubted his own ears.

What existed?

At Su-ho’s question, Umbrada kindly answered once more.

- I said there exists a final game that can sever one’s world from the system and make it independent.

Umbrada was calm.

Because he had expected Su-ho to be shocked.

But Su-ho couldn’t be.

He’d never imagined a game like that could exist in the world—no, he’d never even imagined there could be a proper method to become independent from the system in the first place.

'There were times I thought I’d break free from that goddamn system completely someday, but to think a method like this existed......!'

It was absurd.

It was beyond ridiculous.

No matter how he thought about it, it made no sense.

And on top of that, learning this fact made him realize something once again.

This lunatic system bastard really was a dopamine-soaked freak that pursued pure entertainment.

As Su-ho sat there, only his brow furrowed from the shock, Umbrada spoke.

- The shock must be great. I understand. I was the same at first. Then may I continue the explanation?

“Y-yeah. Sorry. Go on.”

- Understood. The name of this game is called the “Independence Game.” Only Constellations with a player grade can participate, and if you win the game, you can completely sever your world from the system and also turn the timeline of your world back to before the system ever appeared. Naturally, after victory you will not be invaded by the system, and you will receive complete protection from invasions by other beings, and even from other worlds.

“Protection? Who’s protecting you? Don’t tell me the system?”

- That is correct.

“What is the system that it’s protecting you? No, before that—so there are other bastards besides the system too?”

- The world is broader and more diverse than you think.

“Wow.......”

- I cannot say more than this because your security grade is insufficient, but one thing is certain: the existence of the system holding our leash at present is far more powerful than you imagine.

Yeah. Of course it was.

If it weren’t, it could never run a playground like this.

Su-ho asked,

“Then did you participate in that Independence Game or whatever too?”

- I participated. And I lost. That is why I am trying to ask you for help.

“Explain it in detail.”

- The Independence Game grants a total of three opportunities. And if you fail all three opportunities, you are stripped of your qualifications as a Constellation, and the Constellation’s world is extinguished. Of course, there is a way to avoid being extinguished even after using all three opportunities. It is to live forever as the system’s helper—an eternal Non-Player helper.

“Then you used all three opportunities and failed all of them?”

- Yes. I failed all three. So I live forever as the system’s Non-Player helper. However, I have one last opportunity remaining—just one.

“What kind of opportunity?”

- To stake my freedom and the freedom of my world, and bet on another Constellation player winning the Independence Game.

“W-what, what are you saying?”

- You heard correctly. The last opportunity I have left is to stake my freedom and my world’s freedom and bet on another Constellation player’s victory in the Independence Game. And this is, in my view, the only way for my world and me to be saved.

“What the...... there’s a rule like that?”

- Yes. It is a rule created by the system. A Constellation player who has lost all three challenge opportunities must live forever as a Non-Player helper, a slave to the system—but they are given one final chance to escape the system by betting, once, on another Constellation player who can still challenge the Independence Game.

“......And the player you want to bet on is me?”

- That is correct.

Umbrada rippled.

Umbrada’s eyes were infinitely serious.

“Why me?”

- Because I saw possibility only in you.

“So what kind of possibility did you see, and how?”

- You alone brought my divine beast into the spirit world, killed my proxy, and succeeded in meeting me. That is the reason.

“Your proxy... you mean that Demon King of Shadow Castle from earlier?”

- That is correct.

“Give me a break...... yeah, I was curious about that bastard anyway. What was he? Why was he so desperate to die?”

- He was a player from another world. Like you, he pursued my power and brought my legacy here, but in the end he failed to prove his strength and died, becoming my puppet proxy.

“A player from another world?”

- Yes.

Only now did everything make sense.

So that was why, whenever he looked at that bastard, he’d been reminded of the cursed Flying Dutchman.

Umbrada continued.

- As a helper Constellation that exists for the system’s playground, I scattered my Sacred Marks across countless other worlds. That is my role, and I have already expended all three opportunities. Thus, countless outworlders were drawn by my power and came to the spirit world, but in the end they met death before my puppet.

“Then why did that guy become your proxy? Was he something like your first challenger or something?”

- That is correct. He was the first challenger who first dared to attack me. So after resurrecting him, I used him as the final sieve. If someone cannot even defeat this one, then there is even less value in placing any expectations.

“But I beat him.”

- Yes. You became the first to bring down my puppet. That is why I saw hope. Of course, aside from bringing down the puppet, I have also watched your path all along, and that is why my expectations grew even further.

Continuing, Umbrada’s gaze gleamed as he spoke to Su-ho.

- Therefore, I intend to ask you. Please win the Independence Game, and liberate me and my world from the system.

Umbrada meant it.

And he was desperate.

More than anyone in any world.

At that request, Su-ho narrowed his eyes.

And after thinking for a while, he slowly opened his mouth.

“But something about what you’re saying is weird.”

Su-ho’s gaze sank, calm and heavy.

“If it’s a request, it’s a request, so what do you mean you ‘intend’ to ask?”

- As expected, you are not soft. I meant it literally. I intend to ask you. If you pass my last condition.

“Interesting. No, should I say it’s absurd? Aren’t you the one in the position to beg here? And you’re attaching conditions?”

- I have no choice but to. As I said, I have only one opportunity left. And I want the independence of me and my world as much as you—no, more than any player in any world. If so, I have no choice but to be that much stricter. I am also very desperate, so I cannot entrust everything to a mere rough measure.

He had a point.

It wasn’t wrong, so Su-ho nodded as well.

“Fine. I get it. But tell me—if I get annoyed by your test-like attitude, and even if I meet your condition, I still don’t grant your request, then what?”

- No. You will have no choice but to grant it.

“Yeah? That’s a little too confident.”

- I am not appealing to you through emotion alone. You, too, love your own world as much as I do, and you possess a desire to make it independent more than any player in any world. For that, you will need power. You have three chances to challenge the Independence Game, but you also have the possibility of failing twice.

“So what are you trying to say?”

- I view you positively. So I hope you will prove qualifications beyond my expectations, and through that, obtain the powers I possess. That way, even if only a little, the probability of winning the Independence Game will rise.

“Obtain your powers? Don’t tell me you’re saying that in exchange for granting your request, you’ll hand over all your power?”

- Yes. That is how desperate I am. I am serving the system to prevent the extinction of me and my world; I am not doing it because I want to. Why do you think I stopped time in my world and stole the shadows of all beings?

Su-ho didn’t answer.

They say a man is nothing but a corpse without confidence, but honestly, there would come a point where the knowledge from his previous life stopped being of any help.

'No... maybe it’s already come.'

Even right now, wasn’t he surrounded by nothing but things he didn’t know?

And on top of that, this world—heaven beyond heaven—seemed even harder and harsher than anything he knew.

'Like Umbrada said, I’m in a situation where I can’t afford to turn down even a handful of power.'

Why did I obsess over leveling up and collecting skills and items?

It was all because of power.

At first, it had been for revenge and for finishing the Big Gate, but looking at how things were going, he now knew that even if he cleared every Big Gate, he still wouldn’t be able to escape this goddamn system’s shackles.

'Truth really is damn bitter.'

An offer he couldn’t refuse.

No—there hadn’t been a choice from the start.

Umbrada knew that too, which was why he’d set up a board like this.

But the creepiest part of all was—

'The meeting with Umbrada had been designated as a special quest.'

In other words, the system knew everything, and instead, it had been anticipating the meeting between him and Umbrada.

That was one viciously dopamine-soaked bastard.

Normally, you’d worry about your own playground breaking and keep an eye out for someone who goes off-script or an irregular, but that system bastard didn’t seem concerned about any of that, not even a little.

'That’s the leisure of the strong, I guess.'

It was ridiculous.

But the complaints of the powerless didn’t mean anything.

Su-ho nodded and said,

“Fine. You’re right. I can’t even argue. But before that, there are a few things I’m curious about.”

- What are they?

“If I receive your power after earning your recognition, but I still fail my challenge in the Independence Game, then what?”

- There is no return without risk. Especially the greater «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the reward, the greater the risk. Even so, I have no intention of living forever in fear while serving as a slave. In the first place, the very rule of the final bet was likely created by the system with that intent.

“I see. Then another question—someone stronger than me could appear, right?”

- That is a meaningless question. The moment you receive my recognition, whoever you are, you will be a player better than I am.

“Fine. Then last question. You said you stopped time in the spirit world and stole everyone’s shadows to prevent extinction, right? But you’re a guardian deity who loves your world. Then you could just tell everyone the truth and explain the circumstances—so why did you go out of your way to create things like Demon King Mountain and a Demon King and put on a pointless play?”

- It is not a pointless play.

“Then what is it?”

- Sometimes, rather than revealing the entire truth, it is better for only one person to be hated while the others enjoy happiness and hope within an illusion. Some truths are so cruel that they make it impossible to hold onto even hope.

“......I see.”

Su-ho nodded heavily.

Because from that answer, he could feel deeply how much Umbrada loved his world.

“Fine. Now I’m done with questions. I’ll accept your proposal. I’ll pass your test, earn your recognition, absorb your power, and someday win the Independence Game and save you and my world.”

At those words, Umbrada grinned.

And then—

[ The condition has been fulfilled. ]

[ A second special quest has occurred from the Shadow Lord. ]