Whether the demon has resurrected and is causing havoc, or if all the managers are on edge due to the Lemegeton cult, or someone is frequently visiting Yor, time flows unceasingly. Regardless of whether life is difficult or not, the sun will rise tomorrow.
As a result, two months have passed since then. Considering the release date of [Demons Saga], it has been nearly a year.
And just like every game that celebrates its one-year anniversary with a big patch, this game also had something to announce. Out of the blue, a game that usually doesn’t even bother with patches released an extensive patch note filled with new content.
[Ver 02. Patch Notes]
The resurrection of Seere and the joining of the otherworldly beings to Lemegeton has intensified the conflicts between the otherworlders and the Gaia inhabitants. Due to indiscriminate fighting everywhere, the damage has escalated. Not only are there broken objects, but the anxiety level among Gaia inhabitants has reached new heights.
In response, we are implementing a measure. GM Gaia has worked diligently to successfully manifest some of the powers of the otherworlders.
We are introducing a new facility: the "Arena." Should inevitable conflicts arise, please resolve them here.
It was immediately clear that this was a PVP content. Even NPCs could participate in PVP. Well, since they aren’t users, perhaps we should consider it a blend of PVE as well.
Regardless, it was a pretty impressive patch note.
Who would have thought they’d create a fighting arena because players were constantly clashing? To be fair, they had been fighting pretty harshly.
The otherworlders were at each other’s throats, and the conflict had only escalated since Seere descended. Many among the otherworlders had joined the Lemegeton faction. For the NPCs, Lemegeton was an enemy of the continent, tied to their very existence.
Yet, the otherworlders seemed attracted to Seere’s good looks. For such trivial reasons as curiosity about his choices, they had switched sides... So, naturally, the NPCs wouldn't look kindly upon that.
As a result, the NPCs' hatred for the otherworlders was skyrocketing. It was only natural that innocent users who hadn't joined Lemegeton felt wronged. Thus, whenever they met, they fought.
Recently, the taverns in [Demons Saga] had been devoid of patrons. I heard the owners were shedding tears over this... But who would have guessed they’d create such a thing? The entry method to the Arena was surprisingly simple as well.
All you had to do was tear an entry ticket to enter.
Given how outrageous this update was, the forums were buzzing with activity.
[So this game does get patches...?]
Well, it seems natural since it’s a game, but the developers completely ignored the players, so I thought there wouldn’t be any patches.
So the game has actually been keeping up...
[Always grateful]
[Why listen to user feedback? There's nothing else to replace this game with, lol]
[Well, if you don’t like it, we should quit!]
[I’ve always been curious though]
Why do these guys always create such a serious atmosphere whenever they post announcements? They really sound like obsessed fans with their powers and Gaia.
[It’s a concept]
[If you’re bothered by that, how do you live in this world?]
[So when does the Arena open?]
I really love sparring and have been picking fights at the tavern, but now I don’t have to do that, right? Now we can have life-or-death battles in the Arena, right? Haha.
[Why the hell are you picking fights, you crazy bitch?]
[Life-or-death battles (with a 15% survival rate)]
[Lmao, that’s so gay]
[If that’s the case, just grow a dick, lol]
[When does the Arena open? Starting today?]
This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēwebnovel.com.
[For real?]
[I’m at Alhez Plateau right now, and I saw a coliseum I’ve never seen before. That’s probably the Arena.]
[Oh, there’s one here too? I’m at Tuss Plains, and there’s something similar here.]
[Let’s check it out after the patch.]
[What the hell? The game company updates ahead of time and posts announcements, lol.]
The community was incredibly lively. With the new content released, it felt almost like a festival. A few quick players had already experienced the Arena and were posting their impressions. They mentioned there were a ton of settings and a wide variety of sparring types.
Overall, the responses were quite positive.
“Hmm.”
Chae-rin nodded as she read through the comments. Honestly, she wasn’t particularly interested in the Arena. She was too busy leveling up to bother fighting other players.
Of course, as a streamer, she thought it would be great to use later as content, but that was a concern for another time.
Right now, there was something more important at hand.
She smiled to herself, thinking, ‘Now I have more to talk about.’
This meant she had another story to share with Yor!
Lately, she had been visiting him often, running out of things to discuss, but now she had a fresh topic to throw into the mix. Although it had nothing to do with him, he enjoyed hearing about the happenings in the world.
‘I’ll visit him first thing tomorrow morning.’
With that thought, she smiled wider, already anticipating her visit, even though she had no idea what to expect.
Before falling asleep, she glanced at the night sky. There was no moon floating up there.
In other words, it was a new moon.
It had already been two months since the sacred water drought began. And in those two months, I had to face a shocking reality.
The sacred water had run out.
And today, of all days, was when the Frenzy A incident occurred.
What does that mean?
Whoosh—! Whoosh—! Boom—!
“Ugh...!”
I found myself inflicting self-harm on my body for the first time in months.
I sliced into my left shoulder with the dagger in hand. Blood burst forth from the cut like a fountain. The fiery pain was an added bonus. I grimaced as I looked at the sight.
‘Damn it, this timing really sucks...’
Recently, with the occurrences of Frenzy A, the sacred water had run low, and now it decided to strike again just when I had run out.
It felt even harder to endure the pain after so long without experiencing it.
Of course, just because it was hard to endure didn’t mean Frenzy would be kinder and alleviate my suffering.
The world flows regardless of my wishes.
Therefore, I had only one choice.
I could only hope that this pain would end and endure through the night. There was no other option.
Of course, there was also the option of surrendering my body to a demon... but I forcefully erased that from my mind.
It was obvious what the fate of those who became demons was, so I didn’t need to explain it.
So, I crawled deeper into the cave, twisting my body against the ground.
“Ugh, ah...”
My bones felt crushed, and my skin crawled. Each time, an indescribable pain followed me.
I held the dagger tightly, diligently draining the blood flowing from me.
Every time, I couldn’t help but wish for someone to be beside me.
Anyone would do. They didn’t even have to help. Just their presence would be enough.
It was a bit much to endure this thick silence alone.
As I suffered in this endlessly dark cave, I sometimes felt as if I were left completely alone in the world. That unnecessary fear would come rushing in.
Of course, it was a ridiculous thought.
It was already awkward to illuminate the Frenzy, and there was nothing about this scene that I would want to show anyone.
Still, time passed nonetheless.
“Haah... Haah...”
After enduring for quite a while, I finally felt the blood slowing down. The long night was over, and morning had finally arrived.
I glanced around. It was a sight I hadn’t seen in a while—blood everywhere.
The ground was slick with crimson, and naturally, my body was drenched in it as if I had showered in blood. A sticky and damp sensation enveloped me.
While it’s said that blood smells metallic, that only applies to a certain extent.
Once you exceed a certain amount, only the stench of rancid blood fills the air.
I forced my heavy body up and headed toward the cave entrance.
I wanted to see sunlight. Cleaning up could wait, as usual.
As I made my way outside, various negative thoughts flooded my mind.
‘How long do I have to endure this?’
The first thought that crossed my mind was this. Although I had endured this month's pain, it wasn’t the last Frenzy I would face in my life.
Next month, next year, or perhaps decades later. I would have to endure this pain every month.
I would wish for a clear way to prevent the Frenzy, but I had no idea if such a thing even existed.
Thinking about that was exhausting. Was there really any value in living a life like this...?
I usually tried not to think about it, but being human meant these thoughts inevitably surfaced during moments like this.
“Haah...”
Regardless of the circumstances, this was an extraordinarily annoying morning. Perhaps because it was the first time I had felt Frenzy A in months, the annoyance was multiplied.
My nerves were fraying, and I felt inexplicably irritated.
In that state, I stepped outside and encountered someone.
It was a regular visitor who had been coming to my home frequently. Yuchae-rin.
“Uh, uh...?”
Her face went seriously pale when she saw me.
Thud.
The weapon she had been holding dropped from her hand. She was so startled that she dropped it.
Considering my body was drenched in blood, it was understandable.
“What, what’s this...?”
Under normal circumstances, I would have greeted her warmly, but I was feeling pretty miserable at the moment.
Naturally, the words that came out of my mouth were impulsive and sharp.
“What are you staring at, you idiot? Is it fascinating to see someone covered in blood?”
After saying that, I felt a twinge of guilt.