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The news of the Southern Top-tier Undead Terni’s extermination has spread, bringing a sense of ease among users.

In January, when the disaster first struck, even regular folks couldn’t walk around freely, but now there was a sort of “healing” happening.

“Was it a zombie or a demon that was almost captured?”

“Sigh. I just wish it would end soon. Every time I come home from work, I get chills hearing those zombie noises.”

“It should be over soon.”

A couple of regular users, looking like they were on a vacation, were enjoying the refreshing scenery of the Western Tourist Area.

They sat on a long hammock with colorful cocktails in hand.

Most users in Deoen belong to non-combat roles.

With less than 30% able to fight, and if we narrow it down to those who actually contribute to the battle, it’s below 5%.

Since most users play Deoen for “healing” and “experience,” they weren’t too happy about the demons attacking the world with zombies.

Some criticized the game for organizing such events, but in this virtual reality, there was only one game to play.

Like it or not, if they wanted to enjoy the immersive experience, they had to play Deoen.

A level 12 regular user, who hadn’t even defeated ten monsters in two years, shook their head in disbelief.

“Why is it taking so long? We should have taken care of this in a month.”

“But they’re fighting hard. We should be grateful they’re doing it for us.”

“Grateful? They’re just trying to get game items. I saw on the shorts that they were having a serious debate about angels and demons. Totally childish. Ugh.”

As the female user pretended to gag slightly, the male user nodded in agreement.

From his perspective, it didn’t seem that worthy of such criticism, but he didn’t want to contradict his girlfriend.

He figured he’d just go along with it.

“What was that person’s name? The one you mentioned. She was super pretty.”

“Lily?”

“Yeah. The one who does the broadcasts. She said she was capturing angels instead of demons. What’s that about?”

“Well… I guess angels are bosses too? I’m not sure, but I heard that if you capture angels, then some weird events won’t happen later.”

“Really? But aren’t angels supposed to be good?”

“Maybe?”

The guy answered his girlfriend’s question with uncertainty.

Angels definitely had a ‘good’ image.

While some works portray angels as evil beings, most media depicts them as kind.

Especially for someone like his girlfriend, an office worker who comes in late at dawn and is completely out of touch with the game, it made even more sense.

“Why are they capturing angels anyway? They look like angels themselves.”

“I don’t really know. Maybe it’s some kind of penalty?”

“Penalty?”

“Yeah, hidden. It’s a risk that comes when you acquire special jobs or items…”

He explained as best as he could, even though he himself didn’t enjoy fighting and was only level 30. He remembered a few occurrences of siege wars and DCK.

After hearing the guy’s explanation, the girl summarized it very simply.

“So basically, they just got too absorbed in the game?”

“Um… not really.”

“Right. I mean, how could anyone go nuts, or act out of control over ‘just’ a game.”

“…True. You’re right.”

It would just be a hassle to argue against that.

From the guy’s perspective, it was much less tiring to just nod along.

The girl savored her cocktail while looking at the scenery.

Even now, the view of the large city safeguarded by rankers.

Although they were enjoying “healing” from the city they protected from countless zombies, to her, it felt like a given.

“Ugh~ I don’t know. Let’s just take a break. I have to go to work tomorrow.”

“Yeah.”

The guy nodded.

And he too thought while sipping his cocktail.

‘Really, what is Lily up to?’

■

“Don’t know?”

“I don’t, meow.”

February 14th.

The 45th day since the disaster arrived.

Yena, blocking about five hundred zombies, wiped the bloodied green hermit with a swipe while looking at someone.

Another woman holding a bloodstained hammer.

Uriel dropped her huge hammer with a thud! and sat on the blood-soaked rock.

Around them were corpses that couldn’t move.

“I don’t know anything about Lily’s past either. We’re friends, but I didn’t really pry,”

“Didn’t you at least chat a bit?”

“Um, meow…”

Yena sat down across from Uriel, appearing to consider.

Seeing Yena lost in deep thought, Uriel went back to knock down zombies rising from afar.

After the top-tier undead Terni died, it sometimes occurred that the completely dead corpses would come back to life.

Even if half the body gets blown away, or the heart or brain is gone, they still rise.

Therefore, users were putting in more effort to exterminate corpses, but they were weak zombies.

It was just a hassle, not particularly difficult.

“Didn’t turn on the broadcast?”

“I’ll do it later, meow. I feel like I’m just killing mindless zombies.”

“Lily asked to capture as many undead and demons as possible. The Angel Guild is supposed to do that. Anyway, angels probably can’t even fight.”

This was an anticipated result from the moment they ‘cooperated’ with the angels.

The Angel Guild was also aware of this fact and had their preparations in place.

Of course, it didn’t seem like angels would actually betray them…

“So we’re diligently doing it. Don’t underestimate us; we’re pretty strong.”

“Oh? You wanna go a round with me?”

“I don’t avoid combat; I’m pretty confident, you know?”

Uriel gripped her hammer again.

Yena also stood up, seemingly preparing to fight, only to suddenly clap her hands and sit back down.

“Can’t do it, meow.”

“Why?”

“I’ve used up quite a few lives in the Terni battle. I can actually swap extra lives for power, meow.”

“? Then just fight without reviving.”

When Uriel asked, Yena laughed and shook her head.

“That would be boring, meow. If I don’t put in my full strength.”

“That’s true…”

“And also, you can talk comfortably. Normally, it’s fine, but your tone is a bit odd.”

“Really? How old are you?”

“Me? 25? No, I just turned 26, meow.”

“Great, we’re friends. I’ll keep it casual.”

As Uriel reached out, Yena took his hand.

While they shook hands, feeling each other’s strength, they both realized something and let go of each other’s hands.

‘Strong.’

Yena had learned a lot from numerous hidden lessons and Lily’s teachings.

Uriel had received holiness through the angel.

Even if the outcome tilted toward Yena, there was a high chance a fierce battle would ensue.

“So really, you don’t know anything? You’re close with Lily.”

“I don’t know much. It’s a bit awkward to talk about, meow. She doesn’t disclose much.”

“…Is that so?”

“I actually want to ask you. Don’t you know anything as the Angel Guild, meow?”

“I don’t know everything either.”

They were the first to cooperate with the angels, but they hadn’t been granted permission for all the information.

They were told to discover secrets themselves through training instead of being easily handed over.

When Uriel spoke this way, Yena nodded in agreement, “Okay, okay… I can tell you this much.”

“Oh. What is it?”

“But you absolutely can’t tell anyone else, meow. This is something Lily entrusted to you specially.”

“Oh, got it.”

Uriel listened closely, thinking.

Lily’s past.

Lily was a completely unknown entity.

While she had received some sort of ‘warning’ from an angel, she never spoke about her detailed past.

All he knew was that Lily had an unpleasant incident with some celestial beings, and since then, she harbored great resentment against them?

Gabriel or Michael probably knew more.

Yena, with a serious attitude, brought a finger to her lips.

“Lily is… an alien, meow.”

“…Huh?”

“An alien. Not from Earth, but actually an alien from another world. While Lily is proficient with game-related knowledge, strangely, her information about reality is weak because of that, meow. At first, I thought it was nonsense, but after chatting for a while, I realized it was true, meow. Creepy, right? And not just any alien; it’s somewhat a reincarnation…”

“Shut it.”

“Huh? But that’s true, meow.”

“Believe me. No, actually, I don’t.”

Uriel got up from his spot.

Though he too had experienced many things being connected to angels, those words were still difficult to accept as ‘user’ Uriel.

So it was just a matter of conveying what was asked.

Uriel pulled out a small piece.

A fragment of the rosary that Lily received from Gabriel.

Yena tilted her head at the fragment she received.

“What’s this, meow?”

“You. You chose the black badge, right?”

“Right, meow.”

“Then you have to catch the angel. Using that, you’ll be able to cross into the angel’s world.”

“Oh? You’re giving it to me, meow?”

“Be prepared; it won’t be easy.”

“Okay! Thanks, meow! I’ll turn on the broadcast and try it right away!”

Yena jumped up, nodded her head quickly, and vanished like the wind.

“……”

Left alone, Uriel retrieved her hammer and stared blankly at the sky.

And then recalled someone’s words.

‘He’ who bestowed holiness upon the Angel Guild.

─She has already lost much.

The balance has already collapsed, so those who stand on the Path of Light cannot be on her side.

“…It should be fine, right?”

I believe it will be fine.

 

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