Martial God Regressed to Level 2

[Translator - Asura]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 582

'A puppet? You?'

Seong Jihan questioned, seemingly not understanding.

The Red Administrator.

Hadn't he escaped when his term was nearly over, indirectly manipulating the Martial God through his clan by giving humans Red?

How could such a being be a puppet?

But.

[Why do you think I'm in here?]

'Why?'

[Because in here, I'm not dragged around by Red.]

Dragged around by Red?

'Isn't Red your power? Why does it drag you around?'

[Haven't you experienced it too? When you obtained more Red than you could control, getting intoxicated by that power.]

Seong Jihan nodded at those words.

When he obtained more Red than Blue could control,

He had struggled to keep his sanity.

If the Red Administrator hadn't actively cooperated each time,

He might have undone the Blue and Red seal with his own hands, intoxicated by Red's power.

[When I was outside, I was always in that state.]

'...? But you're not like that in there? There's much more Red overflowing in there.'

[Yes. In Hell cut off from the outside... The Red stat doesn't make me go mad... Rather, I could calmly continue my research.]

If those words were true,

He had thought the Red stat itself had the characteristic of making one obsess over power, but was that not the case?

If one was inside, sealed off from the outside by Blue, they could maintain their sanity no matter how much Red was generated.

'It's not easy to understand right away.'

[I didn't know this was the problem until I was sealed. I had always pursued power since obtaining Red. But when I came in here, something was different...]

'So that's why you tried so hard not to leave?'

[That's right. Last time when the seal was broken, an intense impulse came. An impulse to escape from here and put everything in the world into Hell. If the Blue and Red resealing had been a little late, I wouldn't be here.]

He was fine inside the Blue and Red,

But if he went outside, he would go crazy.

Just like when Seong Jihan exceeded his Red stat in the past.

'Hmm... I roughly understand what you're saying. But what does that have to do with White Light?'

[In here, I've analyzed quite a few abilities. But I couldn't find any significant clues. However, I never had the chance to analyze BattleNet's 0th stat, White Light.]

'So you want to analyze White Light to see if it's related to Red's madness?'

[That's right.]

Seong Jihan pondered deeply at that answer.

The Red Administrator had formed a trust relationship with him while in the Blue and Red, more so than when he was humanity's enemy.

But still, he was ultimately Seong Jihan's sealing target.

He shouldn't fully believe those words just yet.

'Hmm... But analyzing White Light is something I need to do too.'

Urd, who had blocked all of Seong Jihan's attacks with the white clock.

The power she used was surely related to White Light.

He needed to learn about White Light to break through it later.

'Then...'

Seong Jihan looked at his status window.

With his level rising by 99, he was also given 99 residual points.

'I should invest 90 first.'

Since Hell's influence had strengthened with the level-up, raising Blue was essential.

No matter how much White Light needed to be analyzed,

Blue had to maintain the centre for now.

'Since Blue has risen to SSS rank, the stat probably won't increase immediately.'

An administrator's stat that had reached SSS-rank.

How many residual points would it take to raise this by 1?

Seong Jihan invested in the ability, thinking it would take at least 5 points per 1, but.

[Stat 'Blue' increases by 90.]

'Oh.'

Blue increased honestly with each investment.

'Why is the efficiency so good?'

He didn't expect it to increase this well.

Seong Jihan summoned the Blue and Red with a smile on his face.

Just as Hell's domain seemed to expand, the Blue and Red returned to its original form, strengthened by the powerful Blue.

'No need to worry about the seal breaking.'

Seong Jihan unsummoned the Blue and Red again and started preparing to obtain White Light in earnest.

When he logged into the BattleTube channel where the White Administrator had left messages,

The messages spamming towards the Red Administrator had all disappeared, like before.

[Blue Administrator. This is related to Urd. Let's talk immediately.]

[If you want to communicate with me, obtain White Light.]

Along with the message to obtain White Light to talk,

['White Administrator' is trying to grant the stat White Light.]

[Will you accept?]

A system message was displayed.

'Geez, everyone's urging me to get White Light from all sides.'

What on earth was in that ability that made them act like this?

Seong Jihan slightly furrowed his brow, but.

'One should be fine. Let's get it for now.'

He pressed yes to prepare for Urd.

Then.

[You obtain 1 White Light stat.]

As White Light was added to the stat window with 1,

[You have achieved the administrator achievement 'First Stat Collection'.]

[As a reward for achieving the achievement, you can be promoted to a term-limited administrator.]

[You are a temporary administrator. You meet the promotion conditions.]

An administrator achievement was accomplished.

* * *

'I thought there might be an achievement for collecting all administrator stats...'

White Light, Void, Blue, Red, Eternity.

Currently, Seong Jihan's status window contained all five administrator abilities.

He thought a hidden achievement might be unlocked if he obtained all these abilities, but.

'It's not about having all 5 stats. Just obtaining White Light alone allows me to become a term-limited administrator.'

A term-limited administrator would be

On the same level as the Red Administrator or Green Administrator.

Now, there were only two permanent administrators above Seong Jihan in BattleNet.

'Was the first stat that important?'

Seong Jihan examined himself to see if anything had changed after obtaining the White Light stat.

'Nothing much.'

Red and White had been so insistent on obtaining it.

He thought there might be a change even with just 1 stat, but his body felt completely normal.

[Did you perhaps obtain White Light...?]

'Yeah. But there's nothing special.'

[It seems so. White Light's presence is too faint. It's impossible to analyze at this level.]

The Red Administrator seemed quite disappointed, perhaps having had high expectations for analyzing White Light.

[Can you perhaps raise it with the residual points?]

'White Light can't be invested in. Unlike other stats.'

Other stats all had a + mark for investing residual points.

Only White Light didn't have such a thing next to it.

'Instead, it says I can be promoted to a term-limited administrator.'

[Term-limited...? Why?]

'It says I achieved an administrator achievement by obtaining White Light.'

[Hmm. It wasn't like that in my time...]

The Red Administrator fell into deep thought at Seong Jihan's words.

Then.

Zing...

A white screen appeared before Seong Jihan's eyes.

[Blue Administrator. You made a wise choice.]

On the screen, a pure white light cluster sparkled,

Praising Seong Jihan.

The White Administrator, whose voice alone gave off an arrogant feeling.

'He's certainly different from Black, even though they're both permanent administrators.'

Thinking this, Seong Jihan asked the White Administrator.

"How do I use this White Light? It doesn't even increase with residual points."

[For now, all I can tell you is to be active on BattleTube.]

"BattleTube?"

[Yes. BattleTube is under White's jurisdiction. If you're active there, you'll learn how to use White Light.]

[Translator - Asura]

[Proofreader - Gun]

"Why BattleTube all of a sudden?"

Seong Jihan frowned, but.

[If you're active on BattleTube, your White Light ability will increase automatically.]

"Then I guess I'll have to do it."

He quickly agreed at the mention of stats increasing automatically.

He couldn't miss an opportunity to raise his abilities for free.

"Hmm... Can I use my old account then?"

[I suspended it when I expelled you, but I'll unlock it right now.]

"So it was you who expelled me after all."

[That was in the past. Anyway, didn't I lift your expulsion status?]

"You lifted my expulsion? When?"

[Since I gave you White Light, you should have become a term-limited administrator. Doesn't that automatically lift your expulsion status?]

"I haven't been promoted yet though?"

At those words, the light cluster flashed more intensely.

[Promote yourself immediately. You must attend the administrator meeting in my place since I'm sealed.]

"Administrator meeting?"

[Yes. It's a meeting where permanent and term-limited administrators participate together.]

So he was given White Light to become a term-limited administrator and attend the meeting?

Seong Jihan blinked at his words.

"What do they do there?"

[Major BattleNet agendas are decided there... Proposals passed in the meeting are immediately applied to BattleNet. But right now, only two beings can attend the meeting.]

"Two... The Black Administrator and, don't tell me, Urd?"

[That's right. She has already inherited the Green Administrator's position.]

After devouring Yggdrasil, she quickly became the Green Administrator.

Just as he was thinking how swift her actions were,

The White Administrator continued.

[Since I'm sealed and can't attend the meeting, only two are attending the administrator meeting.]

"The Black Administrator and Urd, who became the Green Administrator."

[Yes... But the Black Administrator owes Urd an outstanding debt, so he won't oppose her proposed agenda. He'll probably just abstain most of the time.]

If only two attend the meeting, and one of them abstains...

"So Urd's proposals get a free pass?"

[That's right. What that woman ultimately aims for is my position... We must stop that attempt.]

"Ah. So you want me to become a term-limited administrator and attend the meeting."

He wanted to add an administrator who would vote against Urd.

'This proposal isn't bad for me either.'

Urd, who was after Seong Jihan's abilities.

It would become very troublesome if she passed all the agendas favourable to her alone in the administrator meeting.

He had to attend the meeting in this situation, even if the White Administrator tried to stop him.

Seong Jihan nodded and then spoke.

"I'll cooperate on attending the meeting. But there's one thing I'm curious about."

[Speak. I'll answer what I can.]

"Why does the Black Administrator show such a weak attitude towards her?"

[...Hmm. Originally, this is like our shameful secret... But since you're being cooperative, I'll tell you specially.]

The White Administrator, who had remained silent for a moment at Seong Jihan's question,

[It was Urd who made the Black Administrator a permanent administrator.]

Revealed a secret history of BattleNet to Seong Jihan.

"...Urd made Black a permanent administrator? Weren't Black and White the same rank?"

[No. In the past, there was only one permanent administrator: White. But that woman committed the insane act of giving freedom to Black...]

"She gave freedom to Black?"

[Black was originally under White's jurisdiction. Yes... By your standards, it was nothing more than a garbage dump. But that crazy woman gave it 'autonomy', and furthermore, appointed it as a permanent administrator.]

So initially there was only one absolute ruler of BattleNet, the White Administrator.

And Urd elevated Black to its current position?

"...Why on earth?"

[I'd like to know that more than anyone.]

"But Urd also had the Void seal stamped on her. Didn't the Black Administrator victimize her then?"

[No. She deliberately got stamped by the seal. To come down from the position of an absolute god... She's completely insane. She's a great sinner who overturned the order of BattleNet that White had ruled.]

The White Administrator, who seemed like he would grind his teeth if he had any,

Revealed his anger towards Urd and said to Seong Jihan,

[The administrator meeting will start in 5 days. It would be good to rise to term-limited administrator before then.]

"Alright. I owe that woman a debt too."

[Good attitude... Then, let's cooperate until that woman falls.]

Beep!

With those final words, the white screen turned off.

[...Surprising. To think the Black Administrator had such a past.]

"I know. It's hard to believe, given the current situation."

[Still, with that much, it's understandable to say there's a 'debt' from the past...]

So there was a reason he just watched when Urd was causing trouble.

No,

It's fortunate he didn't attack Seong Jihan, saying he'd help Urd, who gave him freedom.

'This... I absolutely must attend the meeting.'

If Black abstained and proposals submitted by Urd, who became the Green Administrator, were passed one after another...

It would be terrifying just to think about it.

Seong Jihan reopened the message window that had been displayed after achieving the achievement.

['Do you want to promote to Term-limited Administrator'?]

The promotion message that appeared.

"Promote."

As he said that,

Flash...!

Seong Jihan's entire body was immediately enveloped in blue light.

[Translator - Asura]

[Proofreader - Gun]