[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world":3,"chapter-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-513":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Level 4 Human in a Ruined World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1848527,2454,"Chapter 513","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-513",513,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 513: Racetrack (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Pick your first attack target and don’t say it out loud, huh…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone could tell — with as many as seven people gathered in the rearguard group — that was going to turn into a mud fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the ones who bet on Jeong Yeongwoo, who was part of the rearguard group in all this, weren’t your average gamblers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They don’t know a thing about me, yet they put money on me getting through this mess?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ridiculous, and yet… he felt oddly grateful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the soft sentiment didn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large presence suddenly rammed into Yeongwoo’s shoulder as it barged past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Whoops, sorry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he looked up toward the voice that came from quite a bit above, there was a hulking one-eyed giant easily five meters tall, scratching at his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— You a rider too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cyclops shifted his gaze from Yeongwoo to Negwig.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he slightly turned his head to glance behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble rumble rumble…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From that direction, a massive steel centipede came charging in with a deafening clatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mount the cyclops had brought was a robotic centipede.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Looks like today’s going to be fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sly grin, the cyclops swung himself onto the centipede coming up from behind and leapt forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he headed toward the center of the rearguard course, where the riders were beginning to gather one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like avoiding a fight isn’t going to be an option.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After checking that Bastard at his waist was secure, Yeongwoo began walking slowly toward the meeting point in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clank, clank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the riders who had already gathered turned their eyes toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Hm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Haven’t seen that guy before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— He’s got two eyes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of “two eyes,” Yeongwoo finally realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Oh… these guys…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he thought about it, the riders were subtly divided into groups — according to the number of eyes they had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sort of species-based camaraderie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, they said not to say your attack target out loud, but they didn’t say you can’t form groups.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even among humans, when you’re abroad, you tend to feel more affinity toward someone from your own country than to foreigners. Aliens weren’t all that different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Groups, huh? That’s going to be a bit troublesome.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the seven in the rearguard line, three were cyclopes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two had three eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the two-eyed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Oh…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yeongwoo showed up, the only two-eyed rider had been alone — but not anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Welcome!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even just from the blue skin, it was clear he wasn’t human, but the moment he saw Yeongwoo was two-eyed, his face lit up and he hurried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yeongwoo awkwardly nodded, the blue-skinned rider quickly leaned close and muttered through his teeth:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Please, just smile at me. Like we’re old friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo asked back, but went along and gave a big smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, in the same teeth-hidden manner, he asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell is going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— You want to get eliminated the moment this starts? If you don’t have an ally here, you’re automatically the first prey…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo finally noticed that all the other riders were watching the “two-eyed meeting” closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it looked like the two-eyed riders hadn’t formed an unspoken alliance, the others were planning to cut them down the moment the race began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So it’s not just racing, it’s politics too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the situation, Yeongwoo broke into a wide grin and slung his arm over the blue-skinned man’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he whispered into his ear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But aren’t we still competitors in the end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— The real opponents are way out ahead. We need to break out of the rearguard line before we can even think about winning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This rearguard group was basically out of contention for the win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real contenders — five of them — were set to start much farther ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of those, three would start at the very front, and two just behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if they wanted even a chance of catching up, they first had to survive and push past this miserable rearguard pack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… you’ve done much racing before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yeongwoo finally showed some interest in the man’s background, the blue-skinned rider extended a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…A handshake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yeongwoo reached out, the man gripped his forearm instead and introduced himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— I’ve done a few races in my backwater home. This is my first time on such a big stage, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, locking eyes with Yeongwoo, he introduced himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Tyke of the Zendor family from the planet Palta.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tyke of the Zendor family — apparently not royalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yeongwoo also gripped Tyke’s forearm and introduced himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jeong Yeongwoo 07, from the Blue Star, Earth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Jeong Yeongwoo 07…? So you’re from the generation that went through the planetary trial?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he was still in the middle of the planetary trial, but Yeongwoo wasn’t about to share that detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’ve got racing experience, you must have some tips. Got any advice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tyke glanced up at the air as if thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Well… honestly, if you can fight decently, you’ll make it to the middle ranks easily…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his eyes widened, as if he’d just remembered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Oh, there is one mistake beginners often make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Movement must be done only while mounted on your steed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean? So if I get thrown off, I have to just stand there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Exactly. It’s ‘horse racing,’ after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Tyke’s explanation, you weren’t even allowed to run after your mount if you fell off, much less abandon it to run on foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— That’s why protecting your mount is extremely important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the flip side, if I destroy my opponent’s mount, that’s basically one person out of the race, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Well… yes. But it won’t be easy. Everyone came here with that thought in mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, even that huge one-eyed guy earlier had brought along a steel centipede.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, there were no actual ‘horses’ here to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every mount had been chosen assuming the worst possible combat situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armored beasts, gorillas with multiple arms, steel centipedes, and…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Wait. You…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s jaw dropped when he finally saw Tyke’s mount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing behind Tyke was something like a tin can robot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two arms, two legs, and a cylindrical torso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only, where the head should have been was a seat for Tyke, along with what looked like a rather complex set of controls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re going to race while piloting a robot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— It runs autonomously by default, but I handle a few ‘special maneuvers’ myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Special maneuvers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Yeongwoo tilted his head, a loud signal blared overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BEEEEEP!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The race will begin in about 10 seconds. All riders, please mount your steeds.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that announcement, everyone hurried to climb onto their mounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clank!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tyke did the same with his humanoid robot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— I think the key will be which of us the one-eyes attack first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tyke glanced sidelong at the three one-eyes who had already clustered together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From atop his mount, the four-legged Negwig, Yeongwoo replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ll probably target us first. We’re the smallest ones here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— If that happens… nothing we can do. We just fight our best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Tyke raised his index finger and added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— But if the one-eyes go after the three-eyes first, we should charge ahead while we can.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already acting like he and Yeongwoo were a solid team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo, on the other hand, didn’t really care—he knew this game was every man for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Either way, if I can fight through here, I can break out. If I can’t even get past this rear group, I’ve got no shot at winning anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He considered this a kind of preliminary round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short signal sounded, and numbers appeared over the racetrack ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「3」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「2」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It dropped to 1.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「1」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One second to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo gripped Negwig’s reins tightly, and in the next moment, the crowd roared as the start signal rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BEEEEEEEEEP!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All racers, go!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the one-eyes turned toward Tyke and Yeongwoo, just as if they’d been waiting for this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the smallest two-eyed riders had been chosen as the first targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— M-Mr. Yeongwoo! It’s us after all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know, so just ca—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yeongwoo could finish saying “calm down,” Tyke’s robot spewed black smoke in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhhhhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like an octopus under attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Yeongwoo! That light—it’s pointing forward! Head that way!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? What light?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yeongwoo could even ask, the robot’s abdomen opened and fired a large orb of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THOONG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, even through the black smoke, they could see the glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This guy’s got some clever tricks.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, a backwater racer’s ingenuity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the two-eyed pair had overlooked one thing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Did you think cheap tricks would stop us?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— I’m insulted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— You’re out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their opponents were major-leaguers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether they had motion sensors or some other method, the one-eyes easily found Tyke’s robot through the smoke and hurled it to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BAM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A four-armed gorilla pinned Tyke down, its massive fists pounding, while Yeongwoo, seeing the light’s indicated direction, started to urge Negwig forward—then stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Shit.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because he’d been in Doatel just hours earlier, a flicker of conscience stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And besides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— M-Mr. Yeongwoo…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tyke was barely managing to block the gorilla’s blows with his robot’s chunky arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the other two one-eyes—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Stop right there!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— You’re next!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— were charging straight for Yeongwoo, riding a steel centipede and a giant lizard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRASH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Yeongwoo just bolted down the track now, he could easily escape them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead of abandoning Tyke, he chose to draw Bastard atop Negwig.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhhhk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he realized the massive crowd beyond the racetrack was watching this “first clash” of the rear group with great interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I might be a villain, but I’m also a businessman. Can’t have a coward’s image.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swung the sword wide, cleaving the nearest one-eye clean in half just as it closed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SPLAT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one’s flesh is like tofu. I assume you two are the same?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1731,"2026-06-09T07:04:10.527Z",1,"novelbin.me","3502d2ad255a6ee4a02aec59e83b1e0cd461828fc16da56def98d9d5a45cf620","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-514","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-512",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]