NOVEL SIMPLE [Translator – Asura]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Chapter 518
The Golden Wheel.
This golden wheel, capable of reverting Seong Jihan to his state from 24 hours earlier, functioned in a way that was completely enigmatic, its mechanism a mystery.
However,
“With more understanding, it now seems possible to apply it.”
Seong Jihan brought the Golden Wheel close to the ‘Invitation from BattleNet.’
Then,
Rrrrrrr…
The golden wheel gradually began to move in reverse.
Along with it, the characters that had been dyed red,
Began to regain their original color.
[Using that ability… on the invitation?]
“Yes.”
[Then humanity will belong to BattleNet again. Wouldn’t it be better to forgo the 120 million and free them from BattleNet instead?]
“I need to prepare them before leaving. Otherwise, it’ll be a disaster, didn’t you demonstrate that?”
Since BattleNet had become intrinsically linked with human society,
Preparation was necessary before departure.
So, for now,
“Back to it.”
Rrkk. Rrrrrrr…
The golden wheel moved, and,
The letters on the invitation rapidly returned to their original color.
And,
-Oh… my body suddenly feels much healthier.
-The status window is back!
-Ah, the GP is exactly the same
-I was really scared… It’s all reverted back to the original. It seems Seong Jihan did something.
-Wouldn’t the people who didn’t press the eye be the real winners?
-Wow, those without faith, tsk tsk.
The world began to rapidly revert to the era when it belonged to BattleNet.
[System Error Detected.]
[Repair work underway.]
And for those who had pressed the red eye,
A message announcing an error along with simultaneous repairs were conducted.
Soon after, the power of the red portal weakened significantly.
‘It seems the connection of that hundred million will thus be disconnected.’
Although it was regrettable to use up the last Golden Wheel,
If it completely eliminated the Red Administrator, it was worth it.
Now then,
‘Just removing that portal should end it.’
Seong Jihan, feeling the cessation of external energies, picked up his sword.
[That’s thwarted too…]
Though the voice of the Red Administrator still emanated from the portal.
“Enough talk, go now.”
Infinite Annihilation God
Taiji Sword
Blue Light Sword
Paah!
Seong Jihan didn’t allow him to finish speaking before he split the portal in two.
A stretch of blue sword light soared to the sky.
The strike exhibited an overwhelming adversary’s power for the portal.
Even if the portal would eventually be consumed by that force,
‘Can’t leave even a piece of residue.’
Seong Jihan vigilantly ensured nothing escaped from there.
Leaving any leftovers would result in potential future troubles.
This time, he had to completely extinguish even the smallest ember.
As Seong Jihan stood fully prepared,
Ssssss…
The bisected portal revealed a face.
The face of the red giant.
It was the Red Administrator.
[There’s no escaping this…]
[Blue, you have won.]
Looking at the half-face speaking one piece after another,
‘What’s he up to now?’
Seong Jihan swung his sword, but,
[A reward is necessary for the winner.]
[To the Blue Administrator, I transfer the ownership of ‘HeavenNet’.]
The ‘transfer’ from the Red Administrator was hastier.
[Do you accept the transfer of ownership of ‘HeavenNet’?]
Then a message popped up before Seong Jihan.
He almost refused, but,
[Should you refuse, ownership of HeavenNet will automatically transfer to the White Administrator.]
Upon seeing the message that ownership would automatically pass to the White Administrator, Seong Jihan hesitated.
Unlike the Red, the White Administrator still boasted formidable power.
If it went to him, it might lead to troublesome consequences.
‘…Better to take it into my own hands.’
So deciding that, he pressed ‘accept’.
[HeavenNet service starts.]
[Player ‘Seong Jihan’ steps up as the permanent administrator of HeavenNet.]
[Existing systems will transfer to the new system……]
[……]
Flash. Flash.
Innumerable message windows popped up and disappeared before Seong Jihan,
And centered on his feet, a bright white light spread out.
‘This is…’
The space had become completely isolated from the original world.
[You are now connected to HeavenNet.]
* * *
“Ha. This guy really doesn’t die easily.”
Stepping into HeavenNet, Seong Jihan frowned.
The Red Administrator.
Truly a nuisance until the very end.
‘The surrounding landscape… more hellish than heavenly.’
Despite its name, HeavenNet’s vista was closer to an inferno.
With both the land and sky flickering in nothing but bright, searing flames.
‘Might as well just destroy it immediately.’
Just as Seong Jihan, who was literally grinding his teeth, began to gather his power while observing the scenery,
[You have been inaugurated as the permanent administrator of HeavenNet.]
[Administrator privileges have been granted.]
[Your level adjusts to the permanent administrator’s standards, rising to 9999.]
A system message with a red background quickly rose.
‘…9999?’
Normally administrators shouldn’t have a level entry.
What was with 9999?
Seong Jihan opened his character window.
Name: Seong Jihan
Level: 9999
Red: 100
Blue: 999 (Will increase by +731 at SSS level)
Void (Inactive)
Eternity (Inactive)
Remaining Points: 9999
‘Quite a few changes.’
With a character window filled with 999s, and both Void and Eternity inactivated,
Seong Jihan looked at his left hand.
The Taiji Sword, which he had created using the Void, had extinguished since entering HeavenNet,
Only blue sword energy flickered forth now.
‘Could I upgrade the points I have left solely in Red and Blue? I should first try raising the Blue since it clearly belongs to my abilities.’
The thought of upgrading Red was a bit discomforting, but since Blue definitely was his skill,
Seong Jihan attempted to invest his remaining points in Blue, but,
[HeavenNet’s remaining points cannot raise the Blue.]
A message appeared saying that the Blue cannot be raised.
‘So, I can only raise the Red?’
Now that it had come to this, he felt even more reluctant to raise Red.
Seong Jihan decided to let go of his attachment to the remaining points and picked up his sword.
Though the Taiji Sword had vanished with the sealing of the Void,
‘Let’s make use of the Blue instead.’
Ziiiiiing…
Blue light shimmered, and a sword of light formed in Seong Jihan’s hand.
He extended the sword once,
Suuuuurrr…
Some flames were quenched, revealing places previously hidden by fire.
What appeared were characters used by the Blood Clan.
Though Seong Jihan could read them, they contained significantly complex information.
[HeavenNet Blueprints]
Written there were the blueprints for HeavenNet.
One would normally not understand what these blueprints meant just by reading,
‘…Oddly enough, I understand this at a glance.’
Perhaps because he had become a permanent administrator.
As soon as Seong Jihan saw the blueprints of HeavenNet, he instinctively understood them.
‘Eventually, the usage of HeavenNet means, rule like a god using Red.’
The resources expended here for reigning as a permanent administrator were Red stats.
This not only included the given remaining 9999 points but also the flames continually arising here, and even those in the ‘Hell.’
‘How should I effectively eliminate this…’
After swinging his sword a few times, Seong Jihan realized.
Even with Blue stats at the SS level, he couldn’t eliminate this world.
There must be a better way than just swinging the sword.
Seong Jihan paused to think for a moment, then,
“System, is the Red Administrator here by any chance?”
He asked HeavenNet’s system.
[Translator – Asura]
[Proofreader – Gun]
[The previous owner, ‘Red Administrator’, sacrificed himself in Hell. Currently, he is being used as a source of energy for HeavenNet.]
“Is that so? I was wondering how this place was maintained after cutting the connection with humanity.”
The 120 million humanity following the Red Administrator.
Though he had severed their energy supply, it seemed HeavenNet continued to function.
The Red Administrator had even thrown himself into Hell.
What a stubborn guy.
[You can summon his fragments. Do you wish to proceed?]
“Summon him.”
[You will need 50 in the Red stat.]
Seong Jihan nodded.
Fwaaarrrr…
Flames flashed before his eyes.
There, burning fiercely, were the scorched red eyes.
[Why have you summoned me?]
The Red Administrator, even while being used as an energy source in Hell, still seemed nonchalant.
Seong Jihan spoke to him,
“I was seeking advice.”
[From me…?]
“Yep. Related to destroying HeavenNet. You designed it, so who better to know how?”
[…And you’re asking me for that?]
While the Red Administrator was confused,
Seong Jihan asked the system.
“How much Red is needed to make sure he speaks only the truth?”
[Each question requires 100 in the Red stat.]
“Just 100?”
It took 50 to summon his eyes, and now 100 per question.
It looked like he would have to use the remaining points then.
Seong Jihan opened his character window and used 50 of the remaining points.
Then,
Fwaaarrrr…
Flames burst from all around.
[You receive support from Hell.]
[Your Red stat grows threefold.]
His Red stat rose by 150 to 200.
Rather than his swiftly grown powers,
‘This… feels no joke.’
The sensation he felt from raising the Red stat was impressively pleasant.
It felt addictively pleasant, more than anything else.
“Hey. Why does it feel like this when I raise the Red? Designer, answer me.”
Upon Seong Jihan’s question, 100 of his Red stat disappeared, and,
The Red Administrator spoke the truth.
[Here, every time the Red goes up, it becomes integrated with HeavenNet. The sensation of unification with the server is more intense than any pleasure. But… you seem alright.]
“Actually, it was quite intense. I almost raised it more.”
[I was hoping you would.]
“Why did you give me HeavenNet?”
[If the Blue Administrator becomes the master of HeavenNet, this world will become complete. If you belong here, even the antithetical Blue can be absorbed, making it a grand achievement for the designer.]
“So you sacrificed yourself just for that?”
[Indeed.]
The Red Administrator answered immediately.
Even if he died, if HeavenNet’s completeness increased, that was enough for him.
Seong Jihan could see just how obsessed the opponent was with this place.
“Thinking of asking you how to destroy HeavenNet actually amuses me.”
[…Do you think I’ll give you a proper answer?]
“Ah, I’ve run out of Red.”
Seong Jihan, realizing his resistance, noticed he had depleted his Red stat.
He pressed to allocate remaining points, and the Red Administrator spoke,
[This world is my life’s work. To tell you how to destroy it from my own mouth… Figure it out yourself!]
“You have the expertise here, first I need to hear what you have to say. Now. Speak quickly.”
In the world he created, the permanent administrator’s orders could not be defied.
[The fastest way is to raise the Red to 9999 and command its destruction.]
To raise the Red to 9999.
That seemed risky for himself.
“Let’s change the question. How can I eliminate this world without any side effects to myself?”
[Without side effects… that will take a considerable amount of time.]
“Don’t care. Safety first.”
[…]
At Seong Jihan’s inquiry, the Red Administrator glared fiercely.
But as merely a fragment, he could not overcome the permanent administrator’s authority.
[To reduce the domain of HeavenNet, lower the level of the permanent administrator.]
“Lower the level?”
The Red Administrator, his scorched eyes bloodshot, provided that method.
“How low?”
[At least it has to drop to three digits.]
“Hmm. From 9999 to three digits…”
That was the way to safely eliminate HeavenNet?
Seong Jihan squinted but,
“Alright. Let’s try that.”
Decided to follow the designer’s advice.
After all, his level was 9999.
Just lower it and if the domain didn’t shrink, seek another method.
Thus, the process of downgrading levels began.
It took longer than expected.
* * *
[The level drops to 2.]
“…So it’s come to this.”
While the Red Administrator did say the level had to reach three digits for destruction,
‘HeavenNet, you’re more tenacious than I thought.‘
The level had to drop to a single digit.
And that was down to 2, before a solution emerged.
Seong Jihan surveyed his surroundings.
Unlike before, no flames were seen in the pitch-dark space.
The only thing casting light here
Was a red sphere floating before his eyes.
‘The domain of HeavenNet… it won’t shrink further from here.’
Even if the level dropped to 1, the reduction of the domain would not progress further.
Now it was time to end this.
Ssssss…
Blue mist swirled around Seong Jihan’s left hand.
From there, a blue light formed a sword.
The red sphere was immediately pierced.
Then,
Ssssss…
As HeavenNet crumbled, red light began to spread in all directions.
Although he hoped it would disappear with a single thrust, the resistant HeavenNet…
As the light spread, if even a fragment was left, it would be troublesome.
‘In that case…’
Seong Jihan’s eyes twinkled.
Infinite Annihilation God
Suppress Fire, Seal Hell
Blue-Red
From within the blue sword, Red energy manifested.
As the red sphere’s light began to be sucked into the sword,
Shuuuuuu…
The blue sword, storing the strength of HeavenNet inwardly,
The exterior’s blue and the interior’s red stood out starkly in the form of Blue and red.
“…It’s done.”
Huff.
Seong Jihan exhaled a sigh of relief.
From 9999 down to level 2, he wondered if it would ever be resolved.
In the end, he succeeded in trapping HeavenNet within the sword.
Continuing to extinguish the Red legacy with Blue from here on out should finish it.
“Then… shall I return?”
Although eliminating HeavenNet felt like it took a long while…
‘Even if many years have passed, it can’t be much…’
Yeah.
No matter how much time has passed, it’s just a few years.
With that thought, Seong Jihan began his return.
[TL/N: Due to lacking context, we had mistaken “Yggdrasil” as a male. With more context, it has been made clear that “Yggdrasil” is a female, and we’ll be using “She/Her” pronouns from now on. We apologize for the inconvenience.]
[PR/N: Really sorry for the inconvenience guys, We’ll go back and change all Yggdrasil’s pronouns to she/her ASAP.]
[Translator – Asura]
[Proofreader – Gun]