Episode 136.
“I’m telling you, there has been two more giant monsters’ appearance since.”
“Such words are spreading jokingly: The Grand Raid era has begun.”
Apart from its original meaning, Raid had been widely used as a game term for charging and hunting a single boss with a large number. But that was currently happening in reality.
“That’s really funny. Then are troops formed or something?”
“How’d you know? People who usually attack the dungeon together are playing like that. But as I see it so far, those kinds will never last long.”
“Those groups that see that these social conditions will maintain and wait for the giant monster’s appearance rather than dungeon attacks are already plenty among them.”
Lee Seo-hee shrugged, saying so. Coincidentally, the place where they gathered now was the same cafe where the group of people gathered to drink tea on the same day the giant teddy bear appeared in Germany.
“Of course, that teddy bear-like bastard we caught was a special case, but the ones that have appeared since then definitely are quite highly valued monetarily for their corpses and Mana Stones. There are quite a few opinions about whether this is a blessing, not a curse, for humankind.”
At Marina’s words, Jung Si-woo snorted. How would people react when they realized that all of them were jabs that the gods threw to the Earth once in a while? No, it wouldn’t change much.
“Only Seo-hee’s value has gone up a lot, thanks to that. To protect important buildings, the barrier ability is the best.”
“What’s wrong with you? You’re embarrassing me.”
However, Lee Seo-hee didn’t deny Marina’s words. It was never a bad feeling to be recognized for one’s worth. Jung Si-woo knew it well, too. However, Seria said in an urgent tone as jealous when Jung Si-woo looked at Lee Seo-hee with a delighted gaze.
“Of course, big monsters indeed impose a sense of crisis in the world, but we managed to get along well because of the harmony. I was rather relieved that Si-woo-nim was safe.”
“You’re not going to tell me why you suddenly disappeared in Germany, and what happened for a week?”
“Oh, how did you know?”
“I hate you!”
Jung Si-woo laughed Marina’s words away. He had no intention of telling them the deep truth when he couldn’t take them to the alien world.
“The importance of facilities to withstand the attack of monsters is emerging. Shares of companies that participated in the construction of the artificial island are also rising…”
“The Earth is changing.”
Construction was also immediately underway in Korea, starting with major government facilities. Players, no longer able to get dollars from dungeons, took part-time jobs personnel and facilities. It was possible since they didn’t continuously remain in the dungeon anyway.
“Of course, they couldn’t choose to let go of civilization…”
“Si-woo, what are you talking about?”
“…No, nothing.”
Jung Si-woo himself thought he had been to Potupou with a light heart. Still, he recalled the world’s hopeless scenery as he saw monsters’ appearance and the changing Earth accordingly. When he realized that fact, he stood up with a bitter smile.
“Anyway, I’m glad I made sure you are all safe. I’ll get up now.”
“I want to date with Si-woo more.”
“Date will be for later.”
“Later!”
Marina bit the end of his talk. Facing her eyes glistening blue, Jung Si-woo thought he had made a mistake.
“Now that I’m stimulated a lot from all over the place from the outside, I want to focus on growth rather than leisurely relaxing for the time being.”
“It’s evident that you’ve become stronger in that short time for someone who had leisurely rested…”
“I’m not only talking about my own growth.”
These days, Jung Si-woo had often of enemies. Although they didn’t directly fight, he watched some of the forces established by humans who followed a god in the alien world. He saw those small groups of people that stood on the other side, falling apart, as well. If there was one thing that made Jung Si-woo think after seeing them, Jung Si-woo shouldn’t become stronger alone. Otherwise, Earth would surely follow in the footsteps of Potupou.
‘There is no specific intention to save the humans. It’s also not that I have a lingering affection for civilization…but it’s also true that there’s no point in living alone in the world. I don’t like the idea of children in front of me dying, too.’
There was a lack of calling it the awakening of a hero. Jung Si-woo was neither good, had a sense of duty, any noble resolution, nor determination for sacrifice. However, the idea that he would be bored even if left alone made his move accordingly. With that shallow thinking and modification of the course of action alone, he had the ability and potential enough to become a savior.
“I wish Si-woo could clear the sky with me. Every day will be exciting…I’m sure the dungeon attack will be much faster incomparably to now.”
“I’ve been thinking about that, too.”
In fact, Jung Si-woo did one experiment as soon as he left Potupou and returned to Earth. It was the actualization of his previously conceived ideas. It was to reach Sky Castle by riding the Phantom Bike. It wasn’t difficult in itself, as the Phantom Bike was faster than anything else, and it could fly high. But as soon as he reached Sky Castle, the moment he grabbed the steps of Sky Castle with his hands, an unimaginable reaction occurred and plunged him to the ground.
[You have to reach it purely with your ability.]
As he was thrown to the ground with terrible force, the message left on his retina was only one sentence that seemed to sting him for trying to cheat. By that, he realized that Sky Castle wasn’t an area that wasn’t allowed for him. But simultaneously, if there is one thing he was certain of, Sky Castle would surely open the gates to him someday.
‘It was never a complete denial. It just blamed me for not coming in the right way, but it didn’t scold me for coming.’
It may simply be Jung Si-woo’s mistake, but it didn’t matter if it was a mistake. For a better future, Jung Si-woo was definitely going to get the right to be a player.
“So wait a little longer.”
“Si-woo has so many mysteries.”
“Si-woo-nim, then my course of action is…”
“Yes, I don’t know what’s going to happen later, but please do as you do now for the time being.”
“Understood.”
Seria wasn’t appalled by Marina as much as she used to be. It was sad to say this to her, but it was obvious that she had matured personally since she shook off Luinos’s power.
“Then let’s dismiss.”
“Next time, you have to reply to my text a little longer.”
“Yes, yes.”
He came out of the cafe after moderately dealing with Marina, who was clinging to him like a puppy. Soo Ah-rin and Yong Se-ha, who was waiting, behaved, asked him with anticipation.
“Oppa, then now-”
“Hyung-nim.”
“Yes.”
Jung Si-woo gave a firm nod.
“Let’s go raise the level of the resting place.”
They went straight to the resting place. In fact, as soon as he returned to Earth, Jung Si-woo rushed toward the Sky Castle and faced failure. After that, he had to respond to Marina’s call as she had been waiting again, so he couldn’t even step into the resting place.
[To develop your resting place level to 6, 2.2% of your current bead stock will be consumed.]
“Upgrade it as much as possible. And the accessories too, as much as possible.”
[With the currently available conditions, the level of the resting place can be increased to 7. Summing the cost of upgrading all the subsidiary furniture, 11% of the current bead stock will be consumed.]
“Alright.”
It was a clear indication of how many beads Jung Si-woo earned in the integrated dungeon. 11% to develop the resting place to level 7! It was clear that the reason for growing the resting place to level 8 wasn’t solely because of the beads. Soon after some of the beads stored in the resting place disappeared, a dull shock fell over the whole resting place. It was the vibrations they always felt when they were growing the resting place, but this was the first time they had felt such a big shock. Soon, a clear message came upon his retina.
[Resting place upgrade in progress…1%]
“Are you upgrading a game!”
He instinctively criticized the message! In the meantime, update…the upgrade of the resting place proceeded gradually. As previously, all the furniture that composed the resting place changed significantly, creating an independent space as it expanded.
[Resting place upgrade in progress…5%]
“Oh, our resting place is bigger than TowXr Palace!”
“You’re definitely from a middle-class family, Ah-rin…”
From the changing resting place, the single-room-like appearance was nowhere to be found anymore. It continued to expand, and there was even one more level created. Come to think of it, it wouldn’t be necessary to maintain a modern building structure, but it was hard to see why it changed this way.
“Oh, several extra bedrooms were added!”
“Now we don’t have to sleep in a dollhouse or a baby bed anymore!”
Yong Se-ha’s exclamation was a little sad, so he decided not to answer. By the time two hours had passed, the vibration died down, and the upgrade, which was running late 90%, had finally ended.
[Resting place upgrade in progress…99%…done.]
[The resting place has reached level 7. The residence area will be larger. You can now bring outsiders into the resting place.]
“Uh…”
The moment such doubted conditions were added. Jung Si-woo thought deeply about the phrase for a moment. Perhaps could this be due to a change in one’s mindset…no, it was just a coincidence, and it must have been something that Jung Si-woo overthought about.
“I have a lot of useless worries these days. Am I old, too?”
“Stop saying things that can provoke so many unspecified people too much!”
It’s only a function of the resting place itself, and the abilities of the attached furniture hadn’t yet been revealed. Jung Si-woo checked all the messages that came up.
[Resting place Lv7 – Outsiders accessible]
[Bedroom Lv4 – Sleepable; 40% increase in stamina and Mana recovery efficiency during rest periods. The proficiency of all skills increases quite quickly. The recovery of chronic disease and fatal wounds.]
[Drawer Lv4 – Items can be stored. Recovery of even the fatal damage on artifacts. Recharge consumables.]
[Door Lv4 – Door to the outside. One can enter the dungeon at the closest distance by using the bead, and one can make the same result through the key to the resting area. It is possible to enter and exit by appointing five places that one is familiar with.]
[Bathroom Lv3 – Improvement of all resistance skills’ permanent ability when bathing. Relieve the poison, curse, and other unclean energy left in the body. A mild blessing endowed.]
[Refrigerator Lv4 – Food can be stored. For three bottles every 10 hours, creates a medium-to-high-level potion with random ability.]
[Explorer Lv3 – Allows one to explore dungeons within a 250-kilometer radius by consuming the beads stored in the resting area. It is possible to navigate the path of intruders.]
[Kitchen Lv3 – Cooking available. Positive effects on all dishes cooked in the kitchen. Artifact processing and upgrade available, artifact’s degraded version replication possible.]
[Training Room Lv2 – Training available. The objects inside will never be destroyed. Increases growth rate by 20%.]
“Well.”
Jung Si-woo made a cold judgment.
“It’s a paradise on earth.”
“You had self-awareness…”
The level of most of the attached furniture had increased except for the door. As a result, the desirable environment for all Earthlings had been completed! And as that they could now get outsiders into the place, it could also create a greater effect.
[Master?]
Then the door to the residence area opened, and Caina pushed her face through the crack. Caina, looking blankly at the resting place that had changed completely from the previous one, soon found Jung Si-woo.
[Was it indeed because of you, master, that the residence area expanded? I’m glad you came back safely, but at least I wanted you to say hello.]
“Huh…I’m back.”
[Thank you even if it’s late. More than that, you’re here at the right time.]
Caina added as she grinned at his sly voice.
[Beto’s first work has just been completed. Won’t you please come and take a look?]
**Translator’s note: TowXr Palace= brand of an apartment complex.
