I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 12

[Summary] – Everline Lake has lost its natural form due to the magic emitted by Uruk.

[Request] – Defeat Uruk to purify the lake.

[Reward] – 30 five-point beads

Despite the quest’s extravagant reward, Isabel couldn’t care less.

It was because of the dramatic encounter between the catfish that had emerged from the water, walking, and a human.

“Uruk?”

Uruk’s whiskers, compensating for its low vision, brushed against Isabel.

Even in the undying virtual gate, the touch was as real as life. Isabel shivered.

“…I really can’t stomach this.”

Isabel, her face smeared with sticky mucus, and the suddenly appearing monster. Lake turned to stone.

“Isabel… calm down, just don’t excite the fish…”

As Lake said, Uruk was bobbing its head, looking around.

‘Whiskers…’

Isabelle scrutinized Uruk closely. Uruk was using his beard like a cane, continuously feeling the ground.

“Thought he only looked like a catfish…”

Noticing something, Isabelle pulled a marble from her pocket and rolled it on the ground.

“Uruk!?”

Uruk stopped chasing the marble with a strange noise.

“It’s the size that gave it away.”

Isabelle organized her thoughts. Everything became clear.

“Lake. Tests sure have a lot of variables, don’t they?”

“Yeah, they do.”

“Waiting for that fish to disappear is just too inefficient, right?”

“You… don’t mean…”

“You’ll be the bait.”

At Isabelle’s firm words, Lake bit his lip hard.

“Bait? If anyone else had suggested this, I’d have blown their head off!”

“If only we had left when I said we should earlier!”

Lake shouted, and Uruk approached, feeling the slight vibration. His slimy face and beard… up close, they were even more repulsive.

“Uruk?”

“Hey… got a problem?”

Isabelle glared, venomous, and Lake, knowing her temperament, bent his stance.

“I mean there’s got to be another way…”

“You know as well as I do. Those antennae only feel vibrations. Just distract it for a moment; I’ll take care of the fish.”

Urged by Isabelle, Lake made a frustrated face. The choices were clear: a bad-tempered witch or an unpleasant fish. Either way, Lake had to confront one of them.

“Ah, being weak is my sin.”

After glaring at Isabelle, Lake shouted loudly.

“Damn it… Hey fish, over here!”

Lake ran, deliberately making thumping vibrations.

“Uruurgh!”

Uruk began to chase after him fiercely. Isabelle, watching the scene with satisfaction, touched the red gem tucked in her uniform, now that Uruk was at a distance.

‘Can it be used in the virtual gate too?’

The jewel she held in her hand was an artifact. And not just any artifact, but one of ‘Mystic’ grade, a high-class artifact.

“Buried acorn.”

Sssshhh.

As she uttered the artifact’s activation word, the density of mana around her increased, and the atmosphere churned. The jewel’s name was ‘Squirrel.’ Normally, it absorbed and stored the surrounding magical power.

But when she spoke the activation word like this, it transferred the accumulated mana to its owner. A high-priced artifact not easily obtained by corporations or guilds.

This item was proof of Isabel’s talent and her solid background.

– “You seem to be in good condition.”

To Blaze’s question, Isabel responded nonchalantly.

“Really?”

Isabel’s stigma glowed red, and the mana’s wave burst forth, enveloping her.

“Kyaaak! Isabel! How much longer?”

Thwack!

In the dire situation where Lake’s life hung by a thread due to Uruk’s attack, using his tail like a cudgel, Isabel remained calm.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already used it.”

“What?”

Lake finally noticed the huge shadow on the ground. Looking up at the sky, laughter escaped him involuntarily.

“Ha, haha. This is madness.”

Whoosh!

The identity of the shadow was a fireball, larger than Uruk. A magical device realized by Isabel, the most talented in the academy’s history, with the help of an artifact. Such a device was far from ordinary.

“Hey, you wicked woman! This isn’t right!”

Lake quickly hid behind a tree and used a mana shield. But it was as futile as trying to cover the sun with a palm.

Boom!

The fireball hit the ground near Lake and Uruk, and a whirlwind erupted from that point.

Kaboom!

The explosion created a crater, sending vibrations through the air. The damage tore giant trees like paper and sent fragments of shattered stones flying. Unidentifiable debris swept across the area, and dust rose.

Whirring.

After a while, the dust slowly, very slowly, cleared.

All that remained was the large crater, evidence of the commotion, and Isabel, by herself.

– “Lake has been eliminated.”

– “Three contestants remain.”

The announcer informed the entire gate of the number of surviving students. Isabel, with her arms crossed, kept her gaze on the pit.

“Hey~ sorry about that.”

Not a hint of remorse was evident in Isabel’s expression.

“You thought you’d survive, huh?”

Isabel apologized, but of course, no answer came from the pit.

– You have defeated [The Lake’s Master].

– With the death of Uruk, Everline Lake will soon regain its natural beauty.

– The government has prepared a reward to honor the achievements of [Hunter] Isabel.

“Settings are done, shall we check the rewards?”

Isabel descended into the pit. In the center, seemingly unaffected by the explosion, were thirty 5-point beads gathered together.

“I thought it would be over quickly. To make me suffer like this…”

She had already obtained a significant number of score beads. Waiting for the test to end wouldn’t be a bad result. However, Isabel wanted a complete victory and revenge.

“Really. It’s turned out quite laughable.”

Thinking about it, she had been hit hard. A hidden event with… a boss mob? What a cunning gift.

[It’s a gift!]

Remembering Gian’s provocation, Isabel let out a sly chuckle.

“Yeah. Four-eyes. I’ll be sure to repay your gift, so just you wait…”

* * *

1st Virtual Gate Test.

The weak team, Gian and Eria.

The strong team, but alone, Isabel.

Watching the tense showdown between the two teams, Brodo exclaimed.

“I’m glad I came! Look, I’ve already caught a big fish.”

He was referring to Gian on screen number one.

Game Broadcasting Station G Channel.

First prize of 500 million coins.

Total prize money of 3 billion coins.

The mega game broadcast, with a total production cost of 20 billion coins, is soon to be scheduled. It’s possible thanks to the sponsorship of the mega-corporation IG, which maintains the top spot with the game [Battle Survival].

The chief PD in charge of this program is none other than Brodo.

Next to him is Caston, the assistant PD with eyes like a dead fish.

“You’re quite lively today. Honestly, collaborating with Saber is something I’m also fond of. Saber-related products sell well, after all. But do we have to go around doing all this? Why?”

Caston kept grumbling as if he disliked the fact. Watching him, Brodo slyly passed him some vitamins.

“It’s your vitamin deficiency that’s making you cranky. If the broadcast is popular, that’s the end of it. What’s the problem?”

“What do you mean, directly casting all 99 recruitment members? I told you we should go by first-come-first-served or by grades, didn’t I?”

“What? Just pick any participant? Is it that hard to put in the legwork?”

“Hard? I’ve had more overtime this month than not! Whoever it was that suggested we pitch tents at the station and sleep there… I’ll catch them for sure.”

“This guy keeps going on about it today. Hey, Caston.”

Brodo looked at him with an uncharacteristically serious expression, and Caston glanced back at Brodo.

“…Yes?”

“Sigh. Hah.”

Brodo took a deep drag of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke. He pointed at the screen. On it was a close-up of Gian’s face.

“What do you think broadcasting is?”

“Broadcasting? It’s just broadcasting, isn’t it?”

Brodo raised his voice, seemingly dissatisfied with Caston’s answer.

“Damn it, broadcasting is about character.”

‘…That guy, he’s at it again.’

Lost in his thoughts, Brodo failed to notice Caston’s expression growing stiff.

“It’s about characters with drama! Characters are created for the consumers.”

“Yeah, yeah… Of course.”

Caston, accustomed to such situations, casually brushed it off.

Still full of passion, Brodo pointed at screen number three.

“Look at screen three. See the handsome guy?”

“Isn’t that kind of face common?”

On the screen was a man with delicate facial features, a beautiful androgynous look. One of the chosen ones.

“That’s why you still have a long way to go. I told you, it’s all about character. Didn’t you just see?”

Excited, Brodo continued, spitting as he spoke.

“This guy just sliced through three big guys in one go? It’s that gap! That’s where the charm comes from.”

At Brodo’s words, Caston finally nodded.

‘Hmm, that’s definitely true. After all, this eccentric guy does have the skills.’

“So, is that the big fish you picked?”

As Caston pointed to Gian on the number one screen, Brodo nodded his head. A hint of pride could be seen in his expression.

“Yes. I just checked the documents, and a whole drama unfolded.”

Brodo pulled out Gian’s personal file and began to read.

“17 years old. Gian Russel. The surname is from the orphanage. Ranked 162nd in the first semester.”

“Wow, 162nd means…”

Caston checked the ranking on the document and sighed.

“Dead last. I thought it was obviously number one…”

“Yes. Not good enough for the party scene. But!”

Brodo crumpled the document and stuffed it into his pocket.

“If it doesn’t work out, we can just add him as a member.”

“Besides, with a face like that, we can zoom in with the main camera without any worries.”

“Exactly. The direction is already taking shape. We start with him in the introduction, pop up a photo of the orphanage, place a child there, and zoom in—then add the perfect narration.”

Brodo cleared his throat and began to speak in an actor’s tone.

“That’s when I, Gian Russel, made a vow at the orphanage. To become a Saver! To help the weak! To protect the citizens! Staccato, sharp and clear!”

“Ooh~ A Saver from an orphanage! That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? But do we need to go that far for an entertainment show? What if that friend complains about the editing…”

“Have I done business just once or twice? If he doesn’t like it, he can direct it himself.”

Brodo, as if there was nothing more to see, wrote the scout offer and got up from his seat. Caston, who had been quietly watching the screen, asked with a surprised look.