Lee Han Su's room had a double bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a computer.

The first thing I did was turn on the computer and enter the chat.

[Long Live Korean Independence] - 0 people online.

The guy who thought I was dead just because I entered the chat a few minutes late was missing.

And we have only an hour of time.

Since there was quite a major incident this time, I planned to get as much information out of Lee Baek Ho as possible.

Today I came first.

No sooner had I sat down on the sofa in a spacious room filled with antique furniture, than Lee Baek Ho entered the chat room after me. Up to this point, there have been no problems.

"Brother!"

But what is it with him? From his face, I realized that it was urgent.

"I'm in battle right now, so I need to leave urgently.

"What?"

"I don't have time to go into details.

"Wait...

"You've heard of the conquest, haven't you?" Do not join him under any circumstances, even in the future. I'm only here to tell you this.

"What are you doing to them-...

"See you next month!"

This was the end of our conversation. Only a few seconds passed, and Lee Baek Ho disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"What the...?"

I was stunned. However, having calmed down, I tried to understand the situation...

… Was he in battle?

One hour in the community was one second in reality. Since he left in such a hurry, it means that he is fighting a strong enemy. One minute here was only equal to 0.02 seconds out there, which proved that he couldn't spend even that brief moment.

What is he fighting against?

I didn't know.

Only one thing was clear: he was closely connected with the conquest of Noark.

Is this snot also in the underground city?

It was late at night, we were not in a labyrinth, and he was fighting the enemy? No other scenario came to mind. Only yesterday, the Army of Conquest went to war. From the alliance of the king's army and explorers to the army of paladins sent by the Temple. The sight when they entered the sewers in formation was very impressive.

And his last words... He must think the conquest will fail?

He told me not to join in any case. In his understanding, this means that the first conquest will fail and a second attack will be formed.

Phew, it's a shame...

Nothing good came of it, and I returned to my room. There were 3 hours left before the opening of the "Observers of the Round Table". With nothing to do, I began to browse the Internet. First, I checked the exchange, then bypassed the chats, in which there were no restrictions on entry. It was the same everywhere. Everyone was talking about the conquest of Noark.

... Chaos already reigns there.

A significant number of players participated in the conquest.

And this is what they said...

"I'm in the rear, so I can't judge, but the atmosphere is very bad. I constantly hear explosions at the front, but these damn commanders are silent and do not explain anything..." "Why are there so few participants today? Is everyone dead?"

Listening to their words, one would think that even at this moment, a fierce battle was unfolding underground. To be honest, I can't even imagine how fierce it is, especially after reading the post on the community wall.

I was shot in the neck, but when I opened my eyes, I was here. What the hell. EdwardBless77: I hope it's not an eternal dream. I hope you wake up in your house.*OP: I really hope so. GodFLEXyou: You're good. Rest in peace.*OP: Thank you for your comfort. StevenCastle: I suppose you were in the Front Line. I heard that there is a real hell there now. Have you met the Orcules?*OP: I don't know. I heard someone shouting that something had arrived, but I don't remember. Maybe he saw it wrong. We couldn't see a single meter ahead because of those sorcerer bastards. Teckmonkey: What do you most want to do?*OP: Reproduce.*Teckmonkey: Oh... then I have nothing to say. Tunaboot: Where are you from?*OP: I don't know what place you're asking. On Earth, from Canada. Here, the Aribeten clan. I was at the leadership level.*Tunabut: Of course, I was referring to my hometown. But the head of Aribeten? You were a big shot.*OP: It doesn't matter anymore, I'm going to die soon. Goodbye.*Ionboii: Wow, to reveal so much information, I guess you're not a troll. I sincerely hope that you will rest in peace. Good work. And just don't pay attention to the idiots who talk nonsense above.

There were dozens of others under this, too. Even if comments were added in real time, the author (OP) responded to each one. As if in a trance, I read all the comments and made one myself.

Elfnunna: Why are you already giving up? You have to log out and try to survive.

As long as you don't give up, there is still a chance. The probability may be infinitely close to zero, but it is not yet zero. I was proof of that. But after I wrote that, I realized it might sound rude, so I added an explanation.

Elfnunna: I've been stabbed in the neck too, and I've entered a countdown, like in a game. But my body was still moving. In the end, I killed the enemy, and after drinking the potion, I barely survived. So why don't you give it a try?

Given my experience in the Land of the Dead and the Blood Citadel, I wanted to give this stranger hope.

But...

OP: I know what you mean. But I'm an archer. I won't be able to use the method you mentioned.

The answer was complete humility.

*Elfnunna: Maybe you should try it anyway?

I commented, being in a daze. The answer was not long in coming.

OP: I'm sorry, but if I'm going to die anyway, I want to die like me.

My head went blank as soon as I saw it. I tore my hand away from the keyboard. What could I say here? That even if it was, it wasn't his real body? Is it just a manifestation of his self-perception? Well, no one can challenge the author's decision. And he shouldn't have done it.

—…

Without knowing it, I stared at the cabinet, or rather, at the mirror hanging next to it. I saw Li Han Su.

*Tap! Tap!*

I typed again on the keyboard. "I wish you peace," "I hope you wake up in the real world," I typed and deleted these comforts many times, but I couldn't press "Enter" calmly.

*Tap! Tap!*

Even when I was tapping on the keyboard, unable to send anything, the players continued to add comments, and the author replied to each of them.

Branbran_Helmet: Fucking trash game.*OP: Okay, fucking trash game!

After this comment, they were no more. I clicked "Update". Before I had time to look back, the author's nickname blurred at the top.

—…

This meant that he was dead.

***

I didn't know why. I didn't know his face and had never spoken to him in person, but my heart continued to beat wildly.

*Tump! Tump! Tump!*

I've seen death countless times since I woke up in this world. But today it seemed heavier. What could be the reason?

*Scrolling*

As if in search of an answer, I scrolled up the post and read it again, starting from the beginning. Thanks to the fact that many people asked him what he was like, it was possible to get an idea of the life of this man.

*Scrolling*

He was originally from Canada. He was born into a family of farmers, his real name was Mac Davis.

He kissed for the first time at the age of 17.

With his girlfriend's best friend???

He seemed to be an eccentric, but he had done nothing in his life worth dying for.

*Scrolling*

His dream was to become a veterinarian. This was due to the fact that in childhood his dog choked on his vomit. But because he didn't have the brains to study, he failed. As a result, he began to help his parents with the housework and sometimes played games.

*Scrolling*

Yes, he was a normal person, moderately pleasant, but sometimes he was remembered by some as a bad person... One way or another, an ordinary person.

*Scrolling*

Soon I stopped scrolling at one point on the screen. I saw that a new comment was attached to the comment I had left.

OP: I think about your words all the time. For some reason, it seems to me that you are a strong person. I hope you can get through this game and come back. Although, of course, it's your choice.

He left words of encouragement for me as I repeatedly typed and erased those few comforting sentences. The word "choice" alone shows how attentive this man was.

*Tap! Tap!*

I typed a new comment on my keyboard, even though he couldn't see it now.

*Elfnunna: If I come back, I will definitely write a letter to the address you mentioned above.*Elfnunna: You have done a good job.

Leaving meaningless comments, I left the post. Then I lay in bed for a while, and in a daze I was lost in thought.

How much time has passed?

[03:07]

There were only 3 minutes left before the deadline for accepting applications for participation in the meeting of the "Observers of the Round Table".

But what is it?

*Creak*

The room with the round table, which I entered in a hurry, was empty.

***

Neither the Crescent Moon, nor the Goblin, nor the Fox, nor the Deer, nor even the Clown, were there. Only I was sitting at the round table.

… Are they all participating in the conquest?

Nothing else comes to mind. 3 hours in the community is only 3 seconds out of it. What could have kept them from taking those 3 seconds to come here?

I don't think they decided to play a prank on me...

Following Lee Baek Ho, I was blown by the wind of loneliness again. Before I could even feel despondent, everything around me burst into flames, and when I came to, I was back in my room.

[Minimum number of participants not reached. Meeting closed].

A message appeared on the monitor. This is what happened if the minimum number of participants was not reached. Thus, the essence of social activity was lost.

Still, you need to look around before leaving.

In the end, I had no choice but to go online and check the trivial news. So time passed, and it was time to finish.

[You're transported to Rafdonia]

The familiar room and Bjorn's body seemed strange today.

Maybe I'm just tired?

I'll just sleep.

I cleared my head and lay down on the bed.

*Creak*

As always, the bed sank inside with a groan. That was the end of another day.

And after 3 days...

"Bjorn!" Come out quickly! The Army of Conquest has returned from the ground!

The troops on their way to Noark returned.

Only a third of them survived.

—…

—…

The soldiers walked past us down the street silently and with their shoulders bowed. This was enough to understand the result.

They have indeed failed.

Everything was going awry.