Pick Me Up Infinite Gacha! Novel - Chapter 290
Pick me Up – Chapter 290 – Han Israt (1)
I opened my eyes.
A heavy pain pressed against my temples.
«Ha…»
I exhaled deeply.
Only then did my blurred vision clear.
The familiar wallpaper. The ceiling of my room in the Lobby.
‘A dream?’
No, I won’t rationalize it clumsily.
When I regained my composure, the relationship between events became clear.
The last mission, the 90th floor. There, all the NPCs of Taonier, including Pria, met their deaths. I tried to muster all my strength to face the culprit of Pria’s death, and at that moment, Aaron and Yurnet intervened.
‘So…’
Did they bring me here?
I let out a sarcastic laugh and stood up.
«Ha, ha, I never thought they would actually wake me up. This is something I did not expect.»
A female voice mixed with laughter.
Ssh! I unsheathed Bifrost, which was hanging on the wall.
Looking back, I saw a black-haired girl in a white dress sitting on a chair.
«Is this the first time we’ve seen each other since your promotion to two stars? It’s been a while, Loki. I missed you.»
«I can’t say the same.»
«That’s a pity. I came here to congratulate you. It took a lot of effort not to be discovered by your subordinates.»
Tel smiled broadly.
She looked like a beautiful girl, but I knew very well how crazy that woman was.
«Anyway, Loki, congratulations on completing the mission. Now you are the only user in Pick Me Up who has completed everything.»
«What about El Cid?»
«He cheated. If he hadn’t been a seven-star, he would have had many problems. Instead, you conquered the tower with your own power. That’s worthy of a true Master of Masters.»
«You better leave while I’m asking nicely.»
«I came to offer you a deal you’ll love.»
Tel stood up from the chair and approached me.
A dark energy swirled under her shadow.
«If you want…»
Tel placed her delicate fingers on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.
«I can revive Taonier.»
«…..»
«Everyone, Priacis, Pryos, and all the others. Even those here in the Lobby. If you wish, I can free everyone from the cycle of sacrifices.»
Tel continued while caressing my neck.
«We can bring the necessary energy from other dimensions. We can sustain Taonier for at least several centuries, maybe even a thousand years. It’s not a bad deal, right?»
Tel blew gently in my ear.
The edge of her white dress turned red.
A spear pierced her stomach.
«Ha, ha, this…»
«Stay away from my brother.»
Crash!
Aaron withdrew the spear and, with dazzling speed, plunged it into Tel’s heart.
Black blood gushed from the wound in her chest.
「Ahahahaha!」
The figure of the girl forming Tel dispersed into mist.
In the midst of that mist, red eyes appeared.
「An insignificant worm dares to interfere.」
«No one believes your words. If you don’t want to die, get lost.»
「It doesn’t matter if they believe or not. Loki, no matter what they say, you will fall into my hands. Never before have I seen such a ripe fruit. Ahahah! What a coincidence! Kill me! This is a revelation! It’s destiny! Loki, I will make you the seed of the new world. You will be the root of regeneration and bring light to all Mobius. Hahaha! Wait a bit, Loki. I will come for you soon. Don’t move…」
Crunch!
The spear pierced the red eye.
Tel’s mist dispersed.
«I had heard about her, but she definitely talks too much.»
Aaron twirled his spear and placed it on his back.
I observed him. He wore a black cape over his leather armor.
The man who blamed himself for his lack of talent had disappeared. His eyes now were filled with confidence as he looked at me. He looked nothing like the Aaron I knew.
«Brother, it’s been a while. Since the last competition.»
«You’ve changed.»
«We’ve both been through a lot.»
Aaron smiled shyly.
Then he cleared his throat.
«Ah, I’m very sorry about before. I had to touch you due to the situation.»
«What situation?»
«If I had left you, you would have died, brother.»
«I see.»
I responded briefly.
Aaron lowered his gaze.
«Brother.»
«…..»
«I don’t want to see you like this. The brother I knew was always full of confidence and solved every problem. He overcame any difficult mission and resolved any concern.»
«Do you know…?»
«Yes. The master told me everything.»
Aaron nodded.
Of course. No further explanation was necessary.
«Your sister is dead. She can’t be revived.»
«I know that too.»
«Don’t you care?»
«Of course, I do. When they first explained it to me, I was sick for days. I rebelled against the master, telling him not to lie to me. But accepting reality is the only thing that will allow me to move forward.»
Aaron lowered his gaze.
«Only after accepting that I had no talent could I take a step forward. All thanks to you, brother.»
«…..»
«What I tried to protect… my family… they might no longer be in this world.»
Aaron clenched his fists.
His face showed a flash of emotion.
«But…»
«But?»
«I trust you, brother.»
Aaron looked at me with clear eyes.
I let out a sarcastic laugh. Had he gone crazy? He seemed to have lost touch with reality from being in the same place for so long.
«Do you trust me? Based on what? No matter how strong I am, I’m just a hero. Do you really think I can change anything?»
«The master said there was a one in ten million chance. The probability of surpassing my limits.»
Aaron closed his eyes.
«If I had been scared hearing that, nothing would have changed. I would have stayed curled up in a corner. Although I have wielded a spear for centuries and have almost no memories of my life… I haven’t forgotten one thing.»
<I told you not to make unnecessary comments.>
Aaron opened his eyes.
The door opened, and a woman in a cloak stepped out.
Yurnet Sid.
It wasn’t an illusion. It was a real entity with tangible texture.
She pushed aside her white hair and looked at Aaron.
«I told you to bring the master, not to do something unauthorized.»
«…..»
«If you keep tempting the master with your foolish words, I won’t leave you alone, even if you’re a disciple of Muden. Withdraw. Don’t approach the master until this ceremony is over.»
«Sorry.»
Aaron looked at me and then left the room.
Yurnet bowed deeply to me.
«Sorry for the interruption. He is not yet fully trained.»
«Trained? Won’t he return to Taonier?»
«Could we leave that explanation for later?»
I nodded.
Yurnet opened the door with a respectful gesture and guided me outside.
The first thing I saw was a gray sky. A sign that the master was disconnected. But beyond the gloomy sky, a message appeared that I had never seen before.
[Warning!]
[Error – 7909]
[This account has been sanctioned for the use of unauthorized programs. For more details, please consult the customer service center. The sanctioned account may be permanently blocked, making it impossible to create new accounts or reconnect.]
Error 7909.
I had seen it before.
During the macro crisis in the early days of the game, it was a common error. Users who used illegal macros were all blocked, and that sanction was never lifted.
«7909?»
As far as I know, two years ago, after the first case of macros, Mobius Corp., completely redesigned the client.
And now, a sanction for macros has been applied.
No. It’s not possible that Anything, an ordinary master, did something like that.
Only one possibility comes to mind.
«Master, we don’t have much time.»
Yurnet quickened her pace.
I followed her and spoke.
«Did they block a legitimate account?»
«Probably. It seems the company wants to intervene seriously.»
Wow.
What a crazy game.
«If this were known, the game would collapse.»
«According to Siris, they are developing a new server based on a new game. They don’t care what happens to this game.»
«… A new game.»
«The Mobius Corp., on Earth is mostly a facade. It’s a ghost company skillfully manipulated. It won’t cost them much to create another company.»
Of course.
It’s easier to create a new game than to rescue a failed one.
After being at the top of mobile games for two years, they must have amassed a fortune.
[Oh my!]
The message in the sky dissolved, and a new window appeared.
Like a chat window, it displayed digital letters and an emoticon.
[Why reveal our secret plan? It was a surprise kept so carefully. What a problem! Anyway, wait a bit, Loki. We will come for you soon! >_<]
The chat window quickly disappeared, and the warning reappeared.
[Warning!]
[Error – 7909]
«We have less time than I expected.»
Bang!
Yurnet pressed the descent button of the elevator.
The elevator quickly took us to the lower level.
Shortly after, the view of the Taonier Lobby appeared through the glass.
All around were soldiers in Niflheim uniforms.
They were taking the heroes of Taonier somewhere. Inside the aircraft hangar, Niflheim fleet ships were stationed. I clicked my tongue and murmured.
«When did they enter?»
«When you were on the 90th floor.»
«So they are going to intervene openly.»
«It’s to protect the heroes here.»
It seems Taonier has already been taken by Niflheim.
All around were immobilized fighters.
‘As expected…’
Even with the increase in conquered floors, Taonier’s real strength couldn’t compare to Niflheim, which had accumulated power for a long time. Moreover, with Anything disconnected during the progress, they couldn’t offer much resistance.
7th floor. 6th floor. 5th floor.
The view didn’t change as we descended.
The heroes of Taonier were being dragged one after another.
«Don’t worry. We haven’t hurt anyone in the process.»
«Where are they being taken?»
«When you return to Earth, we will protect them in Niflheim. Don’t worry.»
Ding!
2nd floor of Taonier.
The elevator doors opened.
«…..»
Outside was Siris in a Niflheim uniform.
She wore a black uniform with a red emblem. The golden badge on her chest symbolized her position as a submaster of Niflheim. It was a gift from me.
«Good job, Yurnet. From here, I’ll guide him.»
Yurnet bowed to me again and went up in the elevator.
Siris examined me with a cold gaze.
«I will guide you to the promotion room. Follow me.»
«This looks like a prisoner scene.»
If they put handcuffs on me, anyone would think so.
I laughed and followed Siris. Her cold voice escaped her lips.
«Once you complete the promotion to seven stars, I will open a dimensional portal directly to Earth. Don’t get distracted and return.»
«Where are Jenna and Belkist? And the others?»
«It’s none of your business.»
«If you have done anything to them…»
«Didn’t Yurnet tell you? We haven’t harmed them.»
«Are you protecting them?»
Siris nodded.
‘From their point of view, it’s protection.’
Not bad.
Anyway, if Mobius extends their hand, Taonier will be quickly dismantled.
It’s much safer for Niflheim to protect them. Niflheim Group 1 has the capacity to interfere with the company.
«Siris.»
«…..?»
«Can’t I do anything?»
«What do you mean?»
«Do I just have to disappear quietly?»
«Don’t you understand yet?»
«I know. I understand everything. I know Mobius is already over, the true nature of those damn fragments, and why you treat me this way.»
«Then…»
«But I’m furious.»
That was my honest emotion.
‘I’m so angry I could die.’
The image of Pria dying from blood loss stayed in my mind.
I couldn’t do anything. I just watched helplessly.
I got up for revenge, but it didn’t work.
‘The universe is already destroyed.’
There is no hope in this world.
Soon, the fragments will destroy everything in Mobius.
‘…Smile at me.’
Pria’s last words echoed in my ears.
«You’re not acting like a master. Calm down and think rationally.»
«…..»
«There’s nothing you can do. A wise master should know that.»
«I guess.»
«It’s obvious.»
«Can’t I kill them all?»
Siris stopped.
«Those fragments, although there are many, are not infinite. If I kill them, won’t the end come?»
«When you return… you should undergo a psychiatric evaluation.»
Siris replied coldly and continued walking.
I stood there, stunned.
‘A psychiatric evaluation.’
Since Pria’s death, something had broken in me.
My logic didn’t work correctly.
There is no hope.
I know it rationally.
Maybe they are not infinite. But their number is almost infinite.
And those eyes. It was a monster that could crush the gods of Mobius like insects. And it was only a small part of them.
But no matter how much I think about it,
No matter how many times I remember,
‘I can’t help but be angry.’