Translator: Dreamscribe

Kim Seok-jun, once the leading anchor of NBS, had not been able to find a clear path since declaring himself freelancer.

All the slots in cable or YouTube channels were already full, and most leaned toward provocative content. His calm, long-form delivery didn’t fit that mold.

He had even tried starting his own personal YouTube channel, but it didn’t gain much traction.

What lifted him out of despair and sparked excitement again was Arsilan Saga. Though he couldn’t obtain a Soul Link, he watched the Goblin Subjugation Battle through videos and was so moved he cried. When the message he wrote floated up in the sky, an electrifying thrill wrapped around his body, giving him goosebumps.

Yet he also felt a sense of longing.

It wasn’t because the emotion had been lacking. On the contrary, it had been overwhelming. He wanted to see and share the stories that the video couldn’t capture, the ones that had been left out.

Before going freelance, he had even considered switching professions to journalism. He had left early due to mismatched values with the NBS news division.

It might have been greedy, but he wanted to encompass all fields, announcer, journalist, and producer.

‘This is it! This is the path I must follow!’

Just then, a recruitment announcement appeared from FS Games on Arsilan Worlds looking for professional broadcasters. Although it was for streamers, Kim Seok-jun sent a lengthy letter and a resume to FS Games.

Perhaps that caught their eye?

He got an interview, passed with confidence, and was assigned to Arsilan News Bureau, one of the broadcasting channels within Arsilan Worlds app.

Since then, FS Games hadn’t given any specific directives, but this situation could never be ignored.

He happened to be heading toward Gron Village, so he was able to reach Lunatie in time. The Arsilan News Bureau hadn’t staffed anyone else yet, so Kim Seok-jun was the only one for now.

The camera was easy to control, so there was no inconvenience in broadcasting. Supported by FS Games, he had access to more diverse functions than regular broadcasters.

Swish!

He pulled out a robe and a small wooden staff from his inventory. On the back of the robe, the words “Arsilan News Bureau” were engraved. At the end of the wooden staff was a round cotton tip.

Beneath that cotton tip was a square box, on which the words “Arsilan News” were written. It looked like a crude, old-fashioned broadcast microphone.

“Hello, viewers! This is Kim Seok-jun from Arsilan News, bringing you vivid news and information directly from the field. I’m currently reporting live from Lunatie.”

His appearance looked very similar to his real self.

Only his height, a complex of his, had been slightly increased.

As Arsilan News Bureau began broadcasting, viewers started to tune in.

“There’s a heavy tension hanging over Lunatie right now. Many Heroes are setting up defensive lines and preparing to face the approaching enemy.”

The round sphere floating above his head, the camera, rose up and showed a panoramic view of Lunatie.

-Huh? Kim Seok-jun?

-Wasn’t he an NBS anchor?

-Wow, drone view? The screen quality is insane.

-Official broadcast really does feel different.

-They even have Arsilan News nowㅋㅋ

Lunatie was located beneath a wolf-shaped peak. Unlike Evanth, its architecture had a graceful charm thanks to its resemblance to East Asian styles.

In front of Lunatie, multi-layered wooden palisades formed defensive lines. The village chief and mages of the Beastkin were preparing Teleportation Magic Circles, and player mages were helping by supplying Magic Power.

Kim Seok-jun first approached the palisade.

A player who appeared to be a Warrior was gazing at his sword. When Kim Seok-jun approached, the player looked surprised.

“How did you come to participate in this defense battle?”

He remained silent for a moment before replying.

“I was mentally struggling, but I found a lot of healing here.”

“I see.”

“So I took a day off and came. My boss bast... boss said something about it, but I don’t care even if I get fired.”

“Is it worth that much to you?”

In response to Kim Seok-jun’s question, the player smiled faintly.

“Of course. Because this place needs me.”

“I feel the same way. I hope it ends well for you.”

-Office workers have it tough.

-If the boss had a Soul Link, he’d understand.

-Is your job important? Lunatie is about to disappear!

-What company could possibly contain a Hero? You’ve done nothing wrong!

Kim Seok-jun headed further toward the palisade.

High-level players had gathered there. Among them was the Northern Grand Duke, one of the most famous players in Arsilan Saga. She was quietly gazing at a pink gem hanging from her necklace.

Kim Seok-jun considered interviewing her but gave up. Her eyes were far too intense.

Before he knew it, it had become dawn.

Only the torches placed between the palisades illuminated the area. Kim Seok-jun captured the entire scene on video.

“Over five thousand Heroes are here defending Lunatie. All of them are united in purpose and will, gathered here in solidarity. Ah! Just as I speak, fifteen more Heroes have joined! They are still arriving one after another. To escape the Death Knight and reach this place, they must climb slopes and cross cliffs, but none of that is stopping them.”

Kim Seok-jun calmly continued his commentary.

He looked at the chat window and nodded.

“Just in, there’s a report that the Quest has been completed in the Elf Village, Elvens. As a result, it’s expected that Elvens will remain safe for the time being...”

Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine.

Kim Seok-jun stopped speaking.

Clatter!

The sound of bones colliding echoed.

The countless overlapping noises turned into something like the sound of hail crashing down.

“Skeletons...! Th-the Death Knight has appeared! The army of Erosion has arrived here in Lunatie!”

Kim Seok-jun stammered as he explained the situation.

Through the darkness, the Skeletons began to reveal themselves.

The Death Knight sat arrogantly on a throne made of bones, gazing down at Lunatie as if on a leisurely visit. He was overflowing with composure.

The number of Skeletons had increased even more than during the destruction of Gron Village.

"He's here."

The Northern Grand Duke rose from her seat.

She walked out to the front lines. There, the advance guard was already standing by.

These were the vanguard units who had settled in Gron Village and Lunatie. They glanced at Leon’s praise stickers and nodded.

Everyone knew what needed to be done.

The Northern Grand Duke looked out at the players gathered on the front lines.

“We’re weaker than those bastards. These damn skeletons keep resurrecting, and that fucking Death Knight toys with us."

Everyone paid attention to the Northern Grand Duke's words.

Kim Seok-jun captured their faces on camera.

"He said he would devour the Arsilanians, and he actually did. Hans... is dead. Lonta and Naria were eaten by that bastard. The guards died, and Gron disappeared. What we have left now are their hearts.”

Shing!

She raised her two-handed axe.

“We resurrect once every hour. If I die, hold the line for an hour. If you die, I’ll hold it. Repeated deaths... will probably bring penalties. Maybe we’ll even lose our gear. But who the hell cares anymore?”

The vanguard unit all drew their weapons.

So did the players behind the palisade. Countless hearts were united as one.

From the moment they arrived here, they didn’t care about loss.

Lunatie and the Beastkin might vanish like Gron, it could be the natural flow of the scenario. But nothing was decided. With enough resistance, it could all be changed.

No matter what happens, they would hold to the end, like true Heroes.

“If we can hold out until the Beastkin complete the Teleportation Magic Circle, victory is ours!”

The Northern Grand Duke raised her double axe high.

“As long as we stand, that son of a bitch will take nothing from us! Endure like Heroes!”

“Uwooooaaahhh!”

“Let’s fight like Heroes!”

“Yaaaaahhh!”

“Die like Heroes and resurrect like Heroes!”

Their morale soared.

Even if they died over and over again, they would endure to the end.

“For Arsilan! For Lunatie!”

“Hold the line!”

“Never fall back!”

Though they would be defeated and continue to die, as long as the statue of the Goddess Ella remained standing in Lunatie, they could revive every hour on this land.

Clatter! Clatter!

As if mocking such players, the skeletons advanced, making clattering sounds.

“Let’s hold on for Mia!”

"I want to touch the village chief's wolf ears! After this battle, I definitely...!"

"I want to receive Mia's kneading!"

"Ah, if it were Leon nim, he would surely have done this."

“Lonta lives on as one in my heart!”

The players shouted whatever came to mind to raise their spirits.

The Northern Grand Duke turned her head and looked at Kim Seok-jun.

“Broadcast the situation inside the village and at the front line. Tell the village’s mages and the incoming Heroes what’s happening here.”

“Understood!”

Kim Seok-jun nodded with a determined expression.

He was too low-level to be of use in battle, but this, this he could do.

He had become a war correspondent.

For Arsilan, for Lunatie.

"...and for Hans."

The Northern Grand Duke softly said those words and clutched the Heart Gem on her necklace tightly before tucking it inside her armor.

"Come on!"

The pink gem, warmed by her body heat, gave her the will to sharpen her anger into resolve.