[{"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-658":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},1848630,2454,"Chapter 658","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-658",658,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 658: The Great Prison Break (7)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A covenant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A promise that the head of the Renaissance family would revisit the black holes every 100 years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This covenant—one that would likely be fulfilled by Yeongwoo’s descendants—was already in the process of being formed for the third time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if one were to include the verbal promises Yeongwoo had made to Black Hole 49793 and Guinek, then in truth, it was no different from a fourth covenant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m sorry, my descendants…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Yeongwoo apologized to descendants who didn’t even exist yet, Turua raised her index finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssrk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its tip, a darkness began to form, sizzling like boiling oil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The covenant with the black hole had been created.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>● Do not forget. This is a ‘covenant.’ A promise that must be upheld.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I ever dare to betray a promise made with you, teachers? That will never happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If nothing else, he would need to continue using the black holes, so there was no way he would break a covenant with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless Renaissance were to be wiped out by some unforeseen accident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo reached out and made contact with the covenant floating in the air, his hand was instantly dyed pitch-black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiriririt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Turua nodded, looking thoroughly satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>● The covenant has been formed. Now, go and find your path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Turua swept its hand through the air, and the darkness that had filled the space above their heads split apart to either side, pouring down brilliant light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hwaaaaat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A passage had opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Yeongwoo stretched out his hand toward the light pouring down from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then everyone in the helm—including Yeongwoo—began to slowly float up into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—So this is how one passes through a black hole…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It feels different from the Void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were third-class prisoners—beings who were rarely forced by others into anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they were all astonished by this phenomenon of their bodies rising on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The way the passage is manifested differs slightly for each black hole. So the method of passing through it is different every time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It’s different every time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—How fascinating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Truly, the world is vast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing even these third-class beings—who must have roamed the cosmos—remark that “the world is vast,” Yeongwoo felt that he should be more humble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, who could claim to have experienced everything in the universe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Piaaaaat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, the white light of the ‘passage’ enveloped them all, and after a fleeting sense of dissonance, their vision began to return to normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the interior of Earthship’s helm, packed so tightly with third-class prisoners that there was barely room to stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…Oh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Did we just pass through the passage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—So, where have we arrived?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prisoners, now seeing outer space through the window, seemed to finally regain their senses and wanted to confirm their current location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Yeongwoo was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deputy, where exactly have we arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had been so focused on passing through the black hole that they hadn’t had the chance to check their destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Mantero projected a massive star map in the center of the helm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paaaaat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, a few of the prisoners let out low groans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Hmm. We’ve come quite far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Teshunda, isn’t it…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Not a bad place for a getaway route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just by looking at the arrangement of stars floating in the air, they had immediately recognized where they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantero nodded, confirming their words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Yes. We are currently at the center of the Teshunda Galaxy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teshunda…? Is this a famous place? The presidents seem to recognize it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Yeongwoo’s question, Mantero enlarged a specific point in the Teshunda Galaxy and displayed it on the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Piiit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a massive ring that looked like an asteroid belt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is that? Asteroids?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Fragments of ships and nearby planets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Ship fragments? You’re saying all of that is basically a pile of money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Teshunda is an ancient battlefield. Those are the remnants of a war that took place long ago. So…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantero explained that anything of value had long since been swept away by scavengers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What remained there was nothing but scrap metal so severely damaged that even the cost of transporting it wouldn’t be worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, then it’s basically a wasteland full of junk. How do the presidents even recognize a place like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, one could say it was because they were third-class beings with vast experience, but even so, was it really possible to deduce a location in this vast universe just from the arrangement of stars?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It must be famous for some kind of distinctive feature.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo blinked rapidly, before Mantero could even begin explaining, the third-class prisoners spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Because this is a dueling ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It’s still a battlefield as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? A dueling ground? A battlefield?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yeongwoo tilted his head in confusion, the long-haired man placed a hand on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Teshunda. Most of this galaxy has essentially become ruins. That’s because three large-scale wars have taken place here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there were almost no ‘natives’ in the surrounding area, and only scavengers occasionally came to collect whatever scrap might remain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That aside, you’re saying this place is also used as a dueling ground?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That’s right. A ruined and abandoned galaxy. With only scavengers as possible witnesses, isn’t it the perfect place for a duel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Yeongwoo still didn’t quite understand, Mantero quickly added what he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Captain, in this world, there are also unofficial duels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unofficial duels?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—There are times when, for certain reasons, one does not wish for the result of a duel—or even the duel itself—to become known externally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, well… I suppose that could happen depending on the situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—In such cases, people usually look for a dueling ground with strict security. But if they don’t even want the fact that the duel is taking place to be known, wouldn’t that also be difficult?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because just visiting a well-known dueling ground would imply a duel is happening…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Exactly. And so, in such cases, the place they seek out is here—Teshunda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Yeongwoo rolled his eyes in a circle and immediately raised a counterargument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But isn’t Teshunda already a famous dueling ground? If it were me, I’d set up cameras here to spread rumors about unofficial duels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantero’s jaw twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—In reality, it’s difficult to install cameras across an entire galaxy. And most duels involve ‘cleaning’ the area beforehand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cleaning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—As you said, to prevent any recording devices or transmitters from remaining, the area around the dueling ground is destroyed. Sometimes, the scavengers in the vicinity are killed along with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah… so since it’s already an abandoned region, it doesn’t matter whether you set off bombs or split planets apart?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Exactly. Measures that are only possible in a galaxy that has effectively been abandoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Yeongwoo begin to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why this place was used for private duels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I suppose when wars are fought here, it’s for a similar reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long-haired man shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—War is different. If a war is fought in Teshunda, it means that only the outcome matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—If you wage war in Teshunda, only troop losses occur. Damage to planets can be completely prevented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, so when you say only the outcome matters…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It means a war where the victor takes everything intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That sounds even more brutal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, the universe was vast, and as a newly appointed family head, Yeongwoo still had far too much to learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could have imagined that a place where most of a galaxy had become ruins would be used as a secret dueling ground?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Thanks to black holes, I’m seeing all kinds of places.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo thought this and looked out at Teshunda through the window, something suddenly came to mind, and he asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then that means somewhere in this galaxy right now, a duel is probably taking place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Most likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But even so, we can’t tell who it is or where they’re fighting, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man let out a dry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—For someone who moves celestial bodies, you are remarkably ignorant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single galaxy contains, at a minimum, tens of billions of stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So unless, by some near-miraculous coincidence, a duel was happening on a planet immediately adjacent to them, there was no way to locate it—even within the same Teshunda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—In a ruin, no communication networks remain. So even if someone is fighting a duel somewhere here right now, we should assume there’s no way for us to find them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Yeongwoo suddenly asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if we follow someone who’s on their way to the dueling ground right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the long-haired man looked at him as if he didn’t understand what he was saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo raised a finger and pointed somewhere into space outside the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I noticed it earlier… no matter how I look at it, doesn’t that seem like a ship?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, everyone’s gaze followed Yeongwoo’s finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And soon, they all saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single object moving rapidly in the distance, leaving behind a white trail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Hmm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That is…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prisoners who spotted it opened their mouths one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the planetary shipmaster had said—it was clearly a vessel moving at high speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ship that had deliberately entered the ruined galaxy of Teshunda… it was, with overwhelming likelihood, a duelist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it had come for war, it would have brought a fleet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—A ship… why is there a ship here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Could it really be a duelist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room grew noisy again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, before long, one of the prisoners deduced the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The black hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What do you mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Within Teshunda, which place is especially devoid of visitors?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That makes sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Scavengers rarely come near black holes. No one has business with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for this side—for the thousand or so prisoners and the Earthship—the black hole was a passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why they were stationed right in front of it—at the center of Teshunda, yet paradoxically its most remote point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… that ship must have come all the way here on purpose, right? Teshunda alone wasn’t enough, so it came near a black hole too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That would seem to be the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—One of the nearby planets must be the dueling ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What kind of duel could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It’s impossible not to be curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third-class prisoners, burning with impatience, stomped in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn’t they just caught the tail of an extremely secretive duel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since everyone was unable to take their eyes off the white trajectory outside the window, Yeongwoo quickly asked Mantero:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deputy! We can track that ship, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantero, who had already been checking the captain’s seat monitor, nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It appears to be operating in complete secrecy, with even its radar turned off. But… it likely didn’t anticipate that outsiders would be waiting in front of a black hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then they haven’t noticed us yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The black hole is effectively concealing us. If we move slowly, they won’t detect us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they were in a position to conduct a one-sided pursuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Mantero added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—However, there is something quite unusual for a duelist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Yeongwoo’s question, Mantero glanced at the prisoners filling the helm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That ship belongs to the Delmir family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Delmir?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Delmir. One of the so-called Three Great Benevolent Families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Three Great Benevolent Families…? Then someone from Delmir came all the way here to fight a duel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantero replied with a slightly uneasy expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Which is precisely why… they must have come for a secret duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1960,"2026-06-09T07:04:16.708Z",1,"novelbin.me","a1e8abc90c61d1f41fa4808178b90cd4e83ca57f02d895e013b697c028653d22","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-659","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-608",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]