Chapter 358: The Worst Game (4)

The capital Ane of the Western Briz Empire.

The Temple of the Sun God was located to the east, taking the imperial palace located in the center of the capital, as a reference.

[Go to the capital of the Western Empire and visit the Central Temple of the Sun God!]

Cale reviewed the mission and turned his gaze to the front.

– Human, we’re here already!

As Raon said, the Temple of the Sun God was very close to the three–story building where Cale was located.

Sub Mission 1:

The first Sub Mission was to visit the Central Temple of the Sun God.

Cale's personal objective — to steal the power of chaos.

‘The problem is that it doesn’t say anything about what to do once I visit the Central Temple.’

Probably, upon visiting the Central Temple, the next mission would be unlocked.

“Wow.”

Cale couldn’t help but admire the sight.

– Gulp.

Cheapskate swallowed hard.

Hong, next to Cale, murmured in astonishment.

“This is... for the rich…”

“It’s incredible.”

On agreed, equally amazed.

– Human, it’s the sun!

The Temple of the Sun God.

Tonight... was a new moon.
You couldn’t even see the moon.

Yet everything was glowing with dazzling brilliance.

Cheapskate shouted trembling.

– I-it’s a golden sun…!

A huge sun emitting golden light floated in the temple’s courtyard, radiating brilliant golden light.

– A statue made of gold, which also emits golden light thanks to magic?

Super Rock muttered in disbelief.

– It’s magnificent!

Cheapskate sincerely admired.

– Damn crazy people.

The Sky Eating Water, amazed, blurted out a curse word and fell silent.

– Sniff. Sniff.

Only the Thief started to sniff.

– I want to steal it.

Although her voice was barely a whisper, Cale’s heart beat a little faster, but he preferred to ignore it for now. Instead, he raised his hand.

Pat.

On and Hong leapt down from the rooftop, landing lightly on the roof of the neighboring building.

The two, now in their human forms—one boy, one girl—moved with agile precision as they reached their destination.

Choi Han tilted his head slightly and greeted Cale.

“Yes. See you later.”

The moment Cale gave a subtle hand gesture—

Pat!

At once, Choi Han, On, and Hong jumped from the rooftop and descended in unison.

Their target was the front yard of the Central Temple of the Sun God.

Though it was night, the area was as bright as midday. The radiant golden glow from the Sun God’s statue illuminated the entire temple grounds.

“What the—?! Hey! Hey! Call the Holy Knights!”

“They’re insane!”

The guards stationed at the main gate of the Central Temple froze, eyes widening as three masked figures—two small, one tall—charged toward them, clad in black from head to toe.

“W–who are you?!”

One of the guards shouted, hastily thrusting his spear forward in alarm.

Tap!

On stepped lightly on the outstretched spear, using it like a springboard to leap high into the air.

Hong followed right behind, mimicking her movements with nimble grace. As he soared upward, he shouted boldly:

“We are Arm!”

Siiigh.

On sighed as she flipped in midair and landed softly.

“Yes. We are Arm…”

Her tone was tired, as if deeply regretting the dramatic entrance.

“…”

Choi Han remained silent.

The moment the three stepped just past the main gate—

BEEEEP–BEEEEP–BEEEEP––––BEEEEP––––!

A piercing alarm blared through the Central Temple, so shrill and urgent it jolted the entire compound awake.

“!”

“This is bad!”

From the guards at the gate to the assistant priests, senior priests, and Holy Knights—all turned pale.

Wooooom— Wooooom—!

The Statue of the Sun’s Lament, towering at the center of the temple garden, began to tremble violently. A low, mournful resonance spilled from it, like a wail echoing through the sacred ground.

The golden statue, which held the sun’s essence, now shook with a dreadful warning—as if it had sensed something it could not forgive.

Upon seeing the statue’s reaction, the High Priest’s face turned deathly pale—then swiftly blue.

“An evil—!”

He cried out in horror, his voice trembling.

“How dare an evil trespass upon the sacred domain of the Sun!”

Goodness. Neutrality. Evil.

The Church of the Sun God stood firmly on the side of good.

Thus, the temple’s sacred grounds had long been enchanted to issue a divine warning when evil stepped foot within its bounds.

And now—

BEEEEP—BEEEEP––– BEEEEP—BEEEEP–––!
WOOOOOOM–––WOOOOOOM–––!

The alarm continued to shriek across the temple grounds, and the Statue of the Sun’s Lament wailed with unrelenting sorrow.

It wasn’t just any evil.

This was a great evil—one powerful enough to simultaneously trigger the protective magic formation woven into the temple and awaken the divine statue’s mourning cry.

An evil of this magnitude… could not possibly be weak.

“Lower-ranking priests, retreat to the inner sanctum!”

“Get the believers to safety!”

Panic surged through the Central Temple like wildfire. Shouts echoed, robes fluttered, and footsteps scrambled through the halls.

“Surround them!”

The command roared out—and the Holy Knights began to move.

The Holy Knights burst forth from the temple halls, rushing to form a battle formation with trained precision.

But Choi Han, calmly fending off the startled guards, raised one hand.

On stepped forward.

She whispered, her voice low yet clear:

“Mist of Chaos, ascend.”

Whoooosh—!

At her command, a dense fog surged outward. It poured through the gates of the Sun God’s temple, spilled across the garden, and in the blink of an eye, spread to the temple.

The heavy mist slithered like a living thing, swallowing pillars, paving stones, and torches in its path.

On recalled what the teddy bear had told Cale:

‘Because you’re of an evil nature, when you step into a place you’re connected to, the opposition will sense it immediately.’

She, Hong, and Choi Han—members of the Seventh Evil—weren’t mere criminals.

They were chaos incarnate.

Hong leapt high into the air, his cloak fluttering behind him like wings.

“I offer you—the poison of chaos!”

His voice rang out with glee.

A sinister blend of red and green began to swirl within the mist—an eerie hue that stained the fog like a spreading wound.

Though masked and clad in black suits, it was unmistakable—On and Hong were merely a little girl and a little boy.

Yet the words they spoke with those innocent voices…

Were terrifying.

“Poison!”

“Don’t get involved!”

“Deploy the holy shield!”

The Holy Knights tried to maintain their composure, but their hands were already trembling.

Poisonous mist.

And not just any poison—this was chaos-infused, spreading fast and thick like a living nightmare.

It was no wonder that even seasoned battlefield commanders feared poison above all else. You could guard against sword and fire—but not the invisible killer that slithered through the air.

“Ugh!”

“Y-you okay? Ugh—!”

Some of the knights stumbled, clutching at their legs as paralysis began to set in. Others collapsed altogether, their bodies going limp as unconsciousness took hold.

The mist spared no one who touched it unguarded.

And the chaos had only just begun.

Those in the temple who were unable to escape the poisonous mist collapsed where they stood, while the Holy Knights scrambled to evacuate survivors behind the protection of the holy shield.

Out of the corner of his eye, Choi Han scanned his surroundings.

“My God. Is this a new mission?”

“Chaos? What is it—what is it?!”

“Incredible! Is this the start of a new route?!”

The Central Temple of the Sun God, glowing with golden light in the dead of night, had not only residents and priests—but players.

Foreigners. Outsiders.

Unlike the NPCs who screamed or retreated in terror, the players were thrilled.

Though shocked by the sudden chaos, they couldn’t suppress the excitement bubbling beneath the surface.

Choi Han couldn’t hear their whispered chatter, but the gleam in their eyes said everything.

Curiosity. Anticipation.

Reality and virtuality—this world blurred the line between them.

Wooooong!

A deep hum shook the temple once more.

The chaos was far from over.

At that moment, the ground rumbled with a powerful vibration.

Thoom—!

“Oh! Knight Boltien!”

A man clad in radiant white armor stepped out from the temple, his presence alone casting a brilliant glow across the mist-filled garden.

The priests and Holy Knights visibly relaxed at the sight of him.

“Incredible… That’s really him!”

“I’ve only ever heard of him—this is my first time seeing him in person!”

Some of the players, who had come to the temple just to complete missions, gawked in amazement, their eyes sparkling with awe.

“Wow… When will I get to stand there?”

Others, who were still low-level and striving to become Holy Knights themselves, couldn’t hide their jealousy.

A few players who had successfully integrated into the temple—hiding their identity as foreigners—stood at a distance, quietly observing the chaos with bated breath.

They didn’t speak. They knew better than to draw attention.

But even their eyes were filled with anticipation.

The scene unfolding before them was clearly something… rare.

A major event had begun.

And none of them wanted to miss a second of it.

They were smart, in a way—those quiet players who blended in well.

By staying silent, they avoided the sharp gazes of the NPC priests, who were already suspicious of the overly talkative foreign players gawking at everything.

Then, a solemn voice echoed across the temple grounds.

“Why does such a great evil dare to covet the sacred light?”

All eyes turned toward the source.

Knight Boltien.

The man radiating divine energy in shining white armor.

The Holy Knight in command of all military forces within the Central Temple of Briz.

The highest-ranking Holy Knight ever dispatched directly by the Holy See itself.

He was not just a protector of faith—he was a symbol of it.

And now, that symbol had taken the field.

–––––

TL Note: It’s Holy See — not "Sea."

The Holy See refers to the jurisdiction of the Pope and the central governing body of the Roman Catholic Church. "See" in this context means "seat" — as in the episcopal seat or authority of a bishop (in this case, the Bishop of Rome, aka the Pope).

–––––

“……”

But Choi Han didn’t answer.

Wooooong—

He simply stared, unflinching, into the brilliant light radiating from Knight Boltien’s armor. Then, wordlessly, he raised his hand.

On clicked her tongue.

“Tch. Damn.”

She waved both hands through the air, her fingers sketching invisible symbols in front of her.

“I need to stir in more chaos.”

Meanwhile, Choi Han and Hong had already turned away.

They were retreating—calmly, but without hesitation.

On followed without a word.

But of course… they didn’t leave quietly.

“Chaos will soon descend upon this land!”

Whooooosh—!

A powerful gust erupted behind them, the wind carrying with it a dense surge of crimson-and-green mist—chaotic, toxic, and unnatural.

It surged like a wave, swallowing the golden light of the temple in its wake.

“T–this is bad!”

“Evacuate the temple!”

The wave of poisonous mist surged forward, crimson and green swirling together in a sickly dance that screamed of death.

Those preparing to give chase—Holy Knights, guards, even Boltien himself—hesitated.

They couldn’t charge blindly into that storm of corruption.

“Captain!”

“Knight Boltien!”

Boltien, still watching the retreating figures of Choi Han, On, and Hong, turned his gaze to the trembling faithful behind him.

Then, wordlessly, he stepped forward.

Reaching behind him, he pulled the large shield from his back—and slammed it into the marble floor with force.

Bang!

“Oh, brilliant light—!”

The instant his voice rang out in invocation—

Fwoooosh—!

A radiant golden light burst forth from the shield, sweeping outward like a divine tide.

It met the wall of poison head-on—and began to push back.

“!”

Boltien’s eyes widened.

The mist was… dispersing.

The poisonous wave came to an abrupt halt. The eerie red and green hues faded, dissolving into the golden light.

The mist, once thick and oppressive, began to vanish—leaving behind only a faint trace in the air.

“Thank the heavens! You even purified the environment!”

The High Priest approached Boltien, face alight with joy and relief.

The temple staff and Holy Knights began to relax.

A collective breath was released.

And then—

Boltien spoke in a flat, calm tone.

“…The poison wasn’t very dangerous.”

“…What?”

The High Priest blinked in confusion.

Boltien swept his gaze across the temple garden.

“Huh? The paralysis is gone.”

“What? They were just asleep? No lingering effects? Double-check everything!”

The temple assistants scrambled to inspect the fallen.

Indeed.

Those who had appeared paralyzed were now sitting up, confused but unharmed.

And those who had collapsed… had simply fallen into a light sleep.

A harmless paralysis. A gentle sleep-inducing mist.

The damage wasn’t nearly as threatening as they’d first believed.

Yet no one dared laugh.

Because this wasn’t mercy.

It was a message.

Woooo—Woooo–––

The trembling of the statue slowly began to subside.

Beeeep–––!

The piercing alarm that had engulfed the entire temple gradually faded into silence.

Peace returned.

But it was an uneasy calm.

This formation… this statue… they did not give false warnings.

They were sacred instruments, infused with divine power—unable to lie.

Which meant only one thing:

What had invaded was a true evil.

And not just any evil—one powerful enough to stir the divine, yet restrained.

“They made it weak on purpose.”

Knight Boltien’s voice was quiet, but heavy.

No one argued. No one could.

His eyes narrowed.

“…Chaos, huh. Your Excellency the Bishop.”

“Yes, Knight Boltien.”

Step by step, a figure emerged from within the temple’s sacred inner hall.

Boltien politely asked the elderly woman who was coming out of the temple.

“Is there any evil related to chaos?”

Serisa—the bishop who resided in the Central Temple of the great Western Briz Empire, the nation of culture, and who was responsible for the worship of the Western Empire’s Sun God—responded softly.

“…Well, I don’t know.”

Her voice was quiet, but she hadn’t denied it. She simply didn’t give a clear answer.

Boltien was about to ask her more questions—
But he was interrupted.

“Captain! The guards say they heard the intruders’ identity!”

The sinister mist had almost fully dissipated now.

One of the guards, pale and shaking, spoke up with urgency.

“Ah… Arm—”

“Arm?”

“Yes, yes! They said they were ‘Arm’!”

Chaos and Arm.

Those two words now enveloped the Central Temple of the Sun God like a dark omen.

* * *

“We only used a light poison! There shouldn’t be any injuries!”

“Yes. No one should have been hurt.”

On gently stroked Hong’s worried face, then turned and picked up her pace.

Tap. Tap.

Their footsteps echoed as On, Hong, and Choi Han moved swiftly through the streets.

The wave of poisonous mist had been released to block pursuit, not to harm. Still, they didn’t linger.

“They’re chasing us.”

Just as Choi Han said, figures could be seen in the distance, trailing behind them.

“We’ll lose them within the hour.”

“Perfect!”

“No problem.”

The three slipped away from the pursuers of the Temple of the Sun God, deliberately leaving a trail behind them.

On and Hong didn’t do anything special—but Choi Han was someone the temple pursuers could never catch.
In fact, the difference in skill was so great that he could have easily knocked them all out and fled.

“I wonder if they saw how we escaped.”

On, running ahead, asked cautiously.

Choi Han replied with a calm voice.

“I saw Cale and Raon enter and leave the temple. Don’t worry.”

At the exact moment the poisonous mist spread—Cale and Raon had stealthily infiltrated the temple.
And when Choi Han, On, and Hong withdrew, Cale and Raon had left right alongside them.

– Human! Did you see that mist wave earlier? I created the wind wave inside that mist! I’m stronger than before, right?

“Yes. Well done. You were great.”

– Hihi!

Cale answered Raon’s excited voice half-heartedly and continued walking, calm and composed.

Choi Han, On, and Hong.

When they had entered the temple…

A warning siren had echoed across the entire domain.

The Seventh Evil had appeared.

‘And when Raon and I turned transparent and jumped over the fence—’

Cale had infiltrated the temple from a different direction than the others.

Wooooong~

The Statue of the Sun’s Lament let out a deep, resonating cry.

The appearance of the worst of evils—

The Most Evil One had entered.

But thanks to the chaos caused by Choi Han, On, and Hong, no one noticed Cale and Raon, who had cloaked themselves in invisibility.

‘It’s a shame I couldn’t explore more.’

He clicked his tongue inwardly.

This time, he had to settle for just getting in and out.

For someone of evil nature like Cale, sneaking into the Central Temple and exploring its inner sanctum wasn’t exactly easy.

Also, Cale’s goal wasn’t to look around the Central Temple.

Sub Mission 1.

[Go to the capital of the Western Empire and visit the Central Temple of the Sun God!]

The moment he visited it, the mission was linked, and a new submission appeared.

[Shake hands with the believer of the God of Chaos (Serisa)!]

“I found her.”

He found the rat.

Serisa.

The bishop in charge of the Sun God’s Church in Briz.

And someone connected to the God of Chaos.

“Perfect.”

This mission was turning out to be quite useful.

Of course, Cale had no intention of obediently following the mission’s instructions.
He only intended to twist it to serve his own goals.

“I think they said there’s a conference.”

Cale had already memorized all the official schedules and information related to the Central Temple of the Sun God.

Two days later.

Serisa was scheduled to attend a conference at the Imperial Academy of Briz.

“It’ll be the perfect time to shake her hand.”

Cale smiled cheerfully.

* * *

Click.

Alberu accessed a section of the RMPAG community bulletin board.

– Briz bulletin board, Ane…

The Western Briz Empire—
This was the bulletin board dedicated to its capital, Ane.

===================
<New Character in Moonlight Shadow!>

– A strange NPC showed up at the Moonlight Shadow inn! He had two cats dangling from him and an egg tucked into a baby bib! I saw him this afternoon! Looks like he’s part of the new update! I’m going to try talking to him tomorrow.

– I saw that new character near the square earlier today. Was he headed to Moonlight Shadow?

– Cats? Egg? A tamer class maybe? Could it be a new job related to taming?

– He’s handsome. Blonde hair, blue eyes… and yeah, really handsome.

===================

“Blonde hair and blue eyes?”

Alberu’s expression twisted slightly.

He knew all too well who Cale Henituse was trying to imitate.

===================

<Urgent! There was a raid on the Temple of the Sun God!>

– It seems like someone of an evil nature has infiltrated! Chaos? Arm? I have no idea. Is this the start of a new mission?

– There’s too much new content after the update. I love it! Should we just keep staying invisible like this? Yes?

– I’m digging for info. If “chaos” showed up, could there be a God of Chaos involved? Maybe that’s why they attacked the Temple of the Sun God.

– Ohhh, that actually makes sense. Is an Evil God finally making an appearance?!

– Aren’t there Evil Gods in the New World already?

– Nope, just demons. No Demon Gods or Evil Gods—at least, not yet.

– Then this really is it! An Evil God has arrived!

– The content is getting wild.

===================

“It seems they handled it well.”

Alberu smiled wryly as he moved to close the bulletin board window.
He had already gathered the key information he needed.

But then—he paused.

A newly posted thread had just appeared on the general bulletin board.

His hand froze above the window.

===================

<Urgent! The Crown Prince of the Eastern Empire is number 1 in the rankings!>

===================

It was a post with nothing but a title—no content, no explanation—meant to convey the urgency of the news.

And it worked.

The bulletin board didn't just stir—

It caught fire.

The Eastern Lehnti Empire.
It had already been announced that a major event would soon be held there.
An occasion that would officially introduce the Crown Prince to the public.

And that Crown Prince was now confirmed to be—

“The guy who took Taerang.”

The one currently ranked number 1.

Known by players and users across the board as Taerang.
The one at the top of the rankings.

He had revealed his face.
And then—

– Crazy! If that’s true, Taerang will be the first one to become king—no, emperor!

The Great First Step of RMPAG.
It marked not just a major event, but the beginning of the game’s true storyline.

“Your Highness, where are we going now?”

Alberu closed the bulletin board and calmly responded to Rosalyn’s question.

“We’re going to the Demon Kingdom.”

“…Demon Kingdom? Where is that?”

Alberu let out a soft chuckle and answered again.

“It’s a place where the weak and the trash gather.”

Without another word, Alberu began walking.

He was already heading toward his next destination.

Rosalyn quietly followed behind him.

The sunlight shining over the sky of the virtual world spilled across Alberu’s back—
And the shadow he cast seemed longer, darker, and larger than ever.

----------

Translator's Comment:

When evil walks in divine light, even gods tremble—chaos has begun.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]