Season 4: Chapter 220. Chikicha (3)
“This is the Dragon of Streaming Destruction’s second roar. When the third roar echoes, the invasion will begin.”
The Dragon of Streaming Destruction’s threat was drawing closer.
“We must leave soon. Prepare yourselves.”
— Oh man!
— So it’s coming soon
— Why does it show up like that? Like a formal notice or something?
— Holy crap!
“We can’t just leave immediately. Let’s start a Council of Viewers.” Almond convened a council made up of viewers.
— Viewer Council LOL
— Nice
— Are we participating too or what? LOL
— Viewer Council LMAO
***
A short while later, the disciples sat around a round table inside the fortress. They took their seats one by one.
“Ah, sorry I’m late!” Potato Servant rushed in belatedly. “I got held up because of the training.”
“Hm. Important work. Sit.” Almond acknowledged his work and gave him a pass.
— “Important work” LMAOOOO
— In our country, that’s basically the Minister of Education
And so, all six disciples had gathered.
Almond said, “Is the Dragon of Streaming Destruction coming tonight?”
They needed to determine exactly when the Dragon of Streaming Destruction would arrive and prepare accordingly.
“We don’t know, but the king never appears first in any war.”
Other monsters would likely arrive first, and the Dragon of Streaming Destruction would come later.
“Then we have some time.” Almond nodded.
He brought up the agenda to the Knights at the round table.
“As you know, all of us are now disciples of Treeana. For the time being, we can’t operate Cheese Village.”
Gulp.
The Knights swallowed dryly and nodded. Managing Cheese Village was no longer their top priority. If they failed the quest they had received as disciples, the entire server would be destroyed.
“First, we need to appoint capable people to run things in our stead. Since we’re all destined to leave, there’s no point deciding only among ourselves.”
“Huh? Then what do we do?”
“I invited a few more people to this meeting.”
“Kiiyaaaah!” Someone outside the window made a bizarre sound as they appeared.
Maid Black Tea brightened. “Green Tea!”
The transformed Green Tea with the Nonghyup Union’s three leaders riding on top of him. When Maid Black Tea opened the window, they all entered and showed proper respect.
“Thank you for summoning us, my lord.”
“The reason I called the Nonghyup Union is simple. If Cheese Village is to be run going forward, the Knights and the Nonghyup Union must cooperate.”
Viewers felt shocked by how surprisingly well Almond ran the meeting.
— Damn
— Is this really Almond??
— Did someone rent Almond’s brain? LOL
— He’s using an external walnut CPU right now
— Brain running at max speed because the stream is ending soon
— Ah-Sung style meeting
“It’s an honor, my lord!”
The Nonghyup Union seemed grateful to be entrusted with state affairs.
“Then, we need to decide on our side. First, I recommend Lackey ForeverAlone.”
Almond nominated ForeverAlone as the Knights’ administrator.
“Does anyone object or wish to recommend someone else?”
All of the Knights shook their heads. They easily agreed that Lackey ForeverAlone was clearly the best choice.
“We need two more besides Lackey ForeverAlone. The Nonghyup Union has too many people,” Radish Servant whispered to Almond from the side.
Power couldn’t be skewed too far in one direction.
— Dude, the server is basically ending LOL
— Still checking the Nonghyup Union to the end, damn LOL
— This is ruthless, insane
Rustle.
Lemon Servant raised a hand. “Mmm. I recommend Bubblegum. Even while we were gone, he kept up the independence movement. He can rally the NPCs too~.”
— “Rally” LOL
— Cheese Village necromancer
— That’s true though LOL
— Wait... Bubblegum gets a major post? LOL
Everyone briefly hesitated at the idea of giving Bubblegum an important position, but no real objections came up.
“We need one more.” Radish Servant recommended picking one more Knight talent.
“Radish Servant... uh... Everyone betrayed us, so there’s really nobody left to pick.” Potato Servant delivered the painful reality.
— LMAOOOOO
— True
— What even is this?
— Damn it
Green Tea stepped forward. “I am an external executive of the Knights.”
“You’re from the Nonghyup Union, you bastard!”
“Maid Black Tea is the same. Count me as Knight too, and that makes it three to three.”
Potato Servant was left speechless.
Everyone at the round table had no choice but to accept. With that, Cheese Village operations were assigned to the Nonghyup Union’s three leaders, Lackey ForeverAlone, and two external executives of the Knights.
— I was an outer disciple of the Knights, and now I’ve become the sect leader!?
— the external executives never betrayed them, only the employees did LOL
— Lackey ForeverAlone really was the last loyal retainer
“Then, next agenda item.”
Almond moved on to the truly important point.
“What are we going to do with Zelu?”
— Oh shit
— Damn
— Here it comes
— Mass purge?
— Zelu...
Potato Servant confidently said, “Shouldn’t he follow his father to the grave?”
— LMAOOOOOO
— Insane LOL
— LOL
The Nonghyup Union’s three leaders all laughed. None of the Knights objected either.
“Right. Right.”
Even Orange, who was from Paprika, simply nodded in agreement. The general opinion seemed to be execution after a trial. However, an entirely unexpected person objected.
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said no.”
“W-Why not?” Orange asked, flustered.
“Because unlike you, he possesses an enormous amount of chakra.”
“Unbelievable...”
— Orange LOL another crit
— No way LOL
— LMAOOOOO
— Why are they doing Orange like that?
“His chakra will be useful later.”
“But Saintess, he committed a grave crime against the village! He’s a vicious bastard!” Potato Servant argued for execution.
The Saintess didn’t budge. “True evil is the dragon that requires too much network usage. To stop it, we need a vast amount of chakra. Zelu is a necessary evil.”
Ba-bam.
Just then, a donation popped up on Almond’s channel.
[TheInterpreter has donated 500,000 won.]
[So basically, to block the telecom companies, we need a one-million-signature petition, right~]
— Hahahahahahaha
— Hey now
— Holy crap, fifty...
— Telecom companies? It’s the Dragon of Streaming Destruction, though?
— Hahahaha holy shit hahaha
— Ah, such a grand vision...
— Ants win by numbers!
— Kyaa
— What’s with that surprise donation? damn
“I can feel the truth in that interpretation.” Almond nodded. “I will follow the Saintess’s opinion. We gain nothing by executing Zelu right now.”
“L-Lord!?”
“How could this be...?”
The Knights, sickened to death of Zelu, grew restless. However, they couldn’t do anything. No one here had more say than the Lord and the Saintess, unless each of them brought 500,000 won and donated.
“A wise judgment, Disciple Almond. Should we not gather the people of Paprika next? For that, Zelu is needed. You must not forget your original purpose.”
Right, they had returned to gather Paprika’s chakra. Zelu was not a Paprika resident, but he could lead them and bring them along.
“This all happened because the one here wasn’t sufficient enough...” The Saintess once again took a jab at Orange.
This would all have been solved long ago if Orange had drawn enough Paprika viewers.
“I-I mean, it’s increased quite a lot now!”
— Hahahahahahahahaha
— Ah...
— This is insane hahaha
— Oh no...
— Critical hit lol
“Insufficient.” The Saintess remained cold.
“I understand the reason, Saintess. However...” Radish Servant nodded along with the Saintess and raised an objection. “Would Zelu even want to keep doing this? He’s already been squeezed dry....”
The meeting hall fell into silence. No one had considered that possibility. The Survival Craft joint broadcast was a long project. Several streamers had dropped out midway. Zelu, in particular, was at high risk. The more viewers he had, the more they complained that all he played was Survival Craft.
“I took a quick look when I locked him up. He seemed like he’d completely lost the will to go on.”
“Hmm...” Almond pondered. “I’ll go down and check myself. If he truly has no will left... then it can’t be helped.”
Almond looked at the Saintess.
She nodded after a brief pause. “Even if we drag him along by force, the chakra would lose its meaning. Very well.”
***
Faint sunlight filtered in through the prison bars.
Zelu stared vacantly beyond them. “Damn it, I really am following in my father’s footsteps.”
— Hahahahahahahahaha
— For real lol
— Hahahahaha
— Oh no...
— Like father, like son
— Guess this is destiny
This time, it didn’t seem like the Lord would let things slide.
“Looks like I’ll just be stuck here fore~ver. Maybe I should just do some IRL streams until the server finale?”
— Hahahahahahahaha seriously
— Probably should
— Yeah just quit Survival Craft already
— If I were the Lord, I’d never let him out lol
— No execution ceremony?
— Like father like son execution ceremony go go
“No, come on, everyone. Executions are only fun the first time. You want to do it again?” Zelu waved dismissively and shouted toward the sky beyond the bars, “Father...! Tell me the right answer!”
— ?
— Hahahahahahaha
— What the hell is he doing??
— Holy shit hahaha
“Y-Yes...? The grandson’s name should be Zela? Understood, Father. The Legend of Zela. Here we go again.”
Zelu had said he’d quit Survival Craft for IRL streams, yet here he was, already deciding on his grandson’s name. Apparently, he still wasn’t over it.
— Holy shit hahaha
— Didn’t you say you were done?
— You said you wouldn’t, you maniac
— The Legend of Zela hahaha
— He’s about to shed Tears of the Kingdom
“No, I really was going to just do IRL streams! But I can’t leave it like this! Guys, this is killing me! I can’t end it like th—”
Then, it happened.
Creeeak.
The main gate opened in the distance, and someone entered.
“Salute!” The guards snapped to attention.
Thud.
As the door closed, the silhouette before Zelu came into focus.
[Almond]
‘This is insane.’
Zelu swallowed dryly as Almond trudged toward him.
“You said you can’t end it like this?”
If Zelu still had the will, Almond intended to grant him a pardon. If he didn’t, they had no reason to drag him along by force.
“Ah, no, my lord... That’s not what I meant...”
— Oh shit lol
— Damn...
— He’s going to die...
“You just said you can’t end it like this.”
“N-No! It should end! Please, end it!” Zelu shook his head frantically.
— Hahahahahahaha
— He’s asking to end it lol
— Is he asking to be killed?
— He needs to reincarnate as Zela, hurry up
Almond simply stared down at him.
‘What? He definitely said that... Does he really have no will left?’
Perplexed, Almond asked again, “You don’t want to do Survival Craft anymore?”
Zelu stared at him in silence.
“You don’t want to? Huh?”
“N-No, it’s just... I feel wronged...”
Something in their communication was clearly off. Almond was asking sincerely, but Zelu thought he was being chewed out.
“So, you’re done with Survival Craft because you’ve been wronged?”
— What kind of grilling is this? lol
— Is Almond inexperienced? Is it because he was an athlete? That scolding feels too natural
— You’ve been wronged, so you’re done with Survival Craft? huh?
— Holy shit hahaha
“N-No! That’s not it!”
Almond blankly stared at him again. “Then, what is it? Because you’ve been wronged, you want to continue Survival Craft?”
“N-No... th-that... I-I’m sorry!”
Almond’s eyes widened. Zelu’s behavior simply surprised him.
To Zelu, it looked like Almond was glaring daggers at him.
To make matters worse, Almond asked out of pure curiosity, “What are you sorry for?”
— Hahahahahahaha holy shit
— Oh my god hahaha
— Ahahaha
— He’s so dead
— Great Lord
Zelu panicked and dropped flat to the ground. “I-I... I mean...”
Almond turned to the guard behind him. “Hey. Guard.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Did this man do something worth apologizing for?”
“Ah... well....”
— Oh shit hahaha
— Fall in, above me, below you, damn
— Is he erasing chakra with military PTSD? Lol
— Summoning the demon private, insane
— Why are you doing this to him!!??
— Spare Zelu~!
Zelu screamed in terror, “I-I committed a crime worthy of death! M-My loooord!”
“So, you’re saying you just want to die?”
Zelu could only remain silent.
It took them roughly thirty more minutes to finally understand each other’s intentions.