Chapter 217
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Is this District 5?”
In the conference room of the SR Gaming building, Park Sung-ho, Vice Center Director of the National Game Strategy Center, let out a short sigh while watching Black Dragon’s stream. It was because District 5, which had not been implemented in RP, appeared. The place, shaped like a black cube, was not ordinary even in its atmosphere.
“Information Team Leader, do you have any guesses?”
“No, I don’t.”
The Information Team Leader, who was searching for materials on his laptop, shook his head. Clues about District 5 did not exist even in the data the center had accumulated so far. Nothing was collected except for stories circulating like urban legends.
“The impact of the update appeared immediately. This would be included in the area expansion too, right?”
“Since it’s Black Dragon, wouldn’t there be some hidden quests too?”
The employees who were looking at the situation together each put out their opinions. And the largest variable appeared soon after.
“Holy State players…”
The joint test with the Sacred Body Faction candidates was established unexpectedly. They had been involved in Black Dragon’s sixth episode too, but this time the scale was different. Especially, it was flustering that it was decided by the proctors, who were NPCs of the episode.
“Check all the faces, and collect data on those whose identities are confirmed. Something might happen on the inside.”
Park Sung-ho ordered his team to find information on the players seen. Not only the faces that appeared through Black Dragon’s stream, but players who newly joined the Sacred Body Faction also existed. It was unknown how they cleared the ‘Conversion’ quest to change factions this quickly.
“There are four Korean players. None are particularly noteworthy talents, and for the new faces, it’ll be hard to expect data. I can’t even guess their nationalities.”
Han Yu-ri, the Player Trend Analysis Team Leader who was checking the countenances, reported. There were about 50 players in the Sacred Body Faction. Among them, there were fewer than 10 for whom information existed. Those who moved from the Hardliners and Moderates to the Sacred Body Faction were also not those who had been active while revealing their existence.
“Find out more through possible channels, and for the rest, continue to keep an eye on Black Dragon’s stream. We have to grasp the situation as much as possible until the Center Director arrives.”
“When is the Center Director coming?”
“He’s departed. Seems he was watching Black Dragon’s stream.”
Center Director Ryu Seong-ryong ordered work immediately upon his return. The word at its center was Black Dragon. As it was delivered secretly only to the team leaders of the departments, ordinary employees only thought it was a normal matter. Now, he was out, saying a sudden appointment had come up.
‘To confirm the Sacred Body Faction as the enemy.’
The purpose of the center’s establishment was to clear RP and obtain ownership. Whether it was the government or the people, as long as it was within the sphere of influence of South Korea, it didn’t matter. It meant it was important to find people with the ability to clear the game, no matter which faction they belonged to.
Therefore, Ryu Seong-ryong’s decision to regard the entire Sacred Body Faction as the enemy was puzzling. No matter how strong Black Dragon was, wouldn’t it have been better to keep the possibilities wider?
“They’ve entered the inside.”
Right then, the Investigation Team candidate players were transferred inside the Cube. When Black Dragon’s vision, which had been dyed black, turned into a dark forest, Park Sung-ho focused on the stream while shaking off distracting thoughts.
「Kwagwang-!」
「Peobeobong-!」
Black Dragon’s movements starting from the area of loss were difficult to understand. It was a battle where no difficulty was felt even after losing one arm. Then, he saved his companions, the twins, and blew away the area with an explosion.
「I’m a Moderate, a Moderate!」
Meanwhile, a player named Ping-pong appeared. When he introduced himself as a Moderate and brought up the story about the death penalty, Park Sung-ho felt something was strange. If it didn’t apply as a quest field, the Cube of Hell was like a lawless zone. After watching the situation for a while, Park Sung-ho turned his gaze to the Player Trend Analysis Team Leader.
“There might be intervention from external players. Contact the informants who are out in the cities near District 5…”
“You don’t have to contact them.”
Right then, the conference room door opened and Center Director Ryu Seong-ryong appeared. Walking inside, he looked at the stream screen displayed on the monitor.
「Seogeok-!」
「Peobeobong-!」
Black Dragon’s party, who moved to the Taunt Area, was fighting a swarm of monsters swarming in. Ryu Seong-ryong, taking his eyes off, said while taking off his coat.
“The high-tier vanguards of the Sacred Body Faction will intervene.”
“…Eh?”
Park Sung-ho opened his eyes wide at the story brought up abruptly. Before he could even throw a question, Ryu Seong-ryong turned his body to the inner room where RP gears were installed.
“Center Director, by any chance, are you going to the Cube?”
“Who would deal with the high-tier vanguards? They’ll be people difficult to handle to begin with.”
Dalckak-
Opening the door, he stopped his feet for a moment. Then he looked at Park Sung-ho and said.
“It will become noisy when the rankings are disclosed. Please keep an eye on the reactions of the corporations on the Sacred Body Faction’s side. Ah, and send an official document to DD Studio under the center’s name. As if introducing ourselves?”
Leaving short instructions, Ryu Seong-ryong disappeared inside.
“No, what…”
While flustered Park Sung-ho was about to follow, the voices of employees were heard.
“…Uh? Black Dragon was eaten by a snake?”
“He really approached with his own feet and was eaten!”
Park Sung-ho quickly turned his gaze to the screen at the strange sound. There, really, Black Dragon who entered inside something was moving while rummaging through its body.
「Ppuduedeuk-!」
「Puuk-!」
He moved without hesitation as if he knew the structure. Rummaging through the monster, he soon reached an organ that looked like a heart. Black Dragon, linked with his companions outside, quickly tore off the key fragment that was attached to the surface.
「You have obtained the first Secret Room key fragment.」
“Key fragment?”
It was a development that continued unexpectedly. Whether he achieved the goal, Black Dragon quickly escaped from the snake’s body. Immediately ending the monster’s breath, he washed and dried his body with the help of spirit power.
At that moment, golden lightning fell towards Black Dragon.
***
“Hmm.”
Han-bit, who had been transferred out of the blue, arrived in a dark and damp space. Looking around, it looked like a space below a tree trunk. The touch of the Summoning Stone Imbued with Madness, which cancelled the summoning reflexively, was felt in his palm.
“Eh?”
“What is this?”
“This place is…”
The twins and Ping-pong, who were transferred together, did not understand the situation. Han-bit turned his gaze to the man who had the answer.
[Seongryong]
The two-character name was confirmed at the last moment. To that request, Seongryong nodded and said.
“Of course, I intend to do so. Since I’ve also been waiting for this moment. You’ve also stopped the stream just in time.”
Just as he said, Han-bit had temporarily suspended the stream transmission. From the viewers’ perspective, it would have looked like it changed to a waiting screen along with a sudden situation. While thinking such thoughts, Seongryong handed over a paper like a document and said.
“I am Ryu Seong-ryong, the president of SR Gaming and the head of the National Game Strategy Center, an unofficial organization directly under the President.”
“…National Game Strategy Center?”
The name of a government organization that even included the title of the President. It was a proof that drove a wedge clearly enough to make the name unofficial meaningless. But it was inevitable to feel wariness towards an organization called a national institution.
“You don’t have to worry that much. Since the center is also a place to support Koreans clearing RP.”
“Not the nation, but helping individuals clear?”
“It’s a matter of realism. Clearing is impossible with only the center’s strength, and there’s no way a player with potential would give up game ownership.”
Ryu Seong-ryong added words, saying that consultation with the player was the best. It was a contract to promise the authority to utilize RP in national industries and assist in clearing. It was understandable considering the value of RP’s ownership.
“So, can I see it as you wanting that contract with me?”
“Hmm, first, is that person someone trustworthy? I know you met for the first time in the Area of Loss.”
Ryu Seong-ryong asked while turning his gaze to Ping-pong. Standing blankly, he said in fluster.
“I, I really have a heavy mouth! Just don’t kick me out!”
Ping-pong, who still felt fear at the death penalty. Han-bit, who pondered for a moment, threw a question to him.
“Where did you say your affiliation is now?”
“I’m in a company called Pretzel! It’s a place in a corner of San Francisco, even though it’s only two people including my friend…”
Ping-pong poured out all sorts of information to live. To summarize, it was a startup just created with a friend who was a fellow RP player. He, who coughed up everything including real name, address, family history, SNS, and phone number, looked at the two people with a pitiful expression.
“Can I… stay here?”
Ping-pong, who proved himself in all sorts of ways. Watching that appearance, Ryu Seong-ryong moved his fingers as if sending a message. After a while, he nodded and said.
“It seems it’s not a lie. But I think the decision must be made by Black Dragon-nim.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Since I have to talk a bit about stories of another world.”
“…”
It was a word that popped out abruptly in an ordinary conversation. But thinking of previous cases, it wasn’t strange even if there were more people involved.
“Just talk. I’m going to bring that person to our company anyway.”
“…Eh?”
Ping-pong made a blank expression at the decision thrown out. But having confirmed the value of the shield he possessed and his potential as a tanker, he had no intention of letting go. Since he was a person whose humanity was clearly visible to the point of being transparent, it would be a matter of setting his growth direction well. For the friend in partnership too, a plan would exist, whether it was recruitment or compensation.
“I understand.”
Ryu Seong-ryong, who nodded composedly, made his posture a bit more relaxed. And he brought up the main point of the conversation.
“I am a person who experienced the other world by receiving grace from the Goddess of Silence. You can think of me as Black Dragon-nim’s peer and junior.”
“Is it… the Goddess of Silence?”
Hearing such clear talk, the feeling was somewhat subtle. Because proper conversation was impossible due to there being parts that were greatly astray from Adventurer A or Holy State players. Furthermore, as he said they were influenced by the hands of the same goddess, a sense of kinship was felt unknowingly.
“Goddess? Other world?”
“Be quiet for a moment. I’ll explain later.”
When Ping-pong brought up a dumbfounded doubt, Haneul quickly restrained him. Meanwhile, Ryu Seong-ryong continued his words.
“The Goddess wished to help the Recorder, and I decided to follow that wish.”
“…Recorder?”
“The Recorder who endured 55 lives. When she introduced him, it looked as if emotions were imbued in her expressionless face. Even my mood became strange. It was regrettable enough that I could only proceed with one regression turn.”
Ryu Seong-ryong shared that he lived a life in the other world with only one opportunity. Given the characteristics of that place, he wouldn’t have spent a long time, but if he could share such talk with the Goddess, he must have been quite excellent.
‘The 55th Recorder.’
The name was clearly embedded in the title’s name. The appearance of the Goddess introducing herself to others was not easily drawn.
“After returning to Earth like that, I had waited quietly. Then RP was released, and as he appeared, the puzzles in my head came to be matched.”
“I understood the situation well. But I don’t remember hearing anything like a wish from the Goddess. The last thing I heard was the vague word ‘I look forward to your kind cooperation there as well’.”
“She wasn’t a person with good eloquence. Or maybe she left the choice to Black Dragon-nim.”
“…”
The Goddess’s inner thoughts were utterly unknown. But there wasn’t much time to share such talk peacefully.
Kwarareung-!
Fierce thunder spreading from above the ground shook the body. Ryu Seong-ryong, who was checking the clock, took out a green patterned sword and said.
“I had doubts, but I didn’t know Odin would really join the Sacred Body Faction.”
“What do you mean by having doubts?”
“It’s a story of master and disciple, but let’s postpone the detailed conversation a bit. If left as is, the progression of the main quest itself will become difficult later.”
Ryu Seong-ryong continued preparation by taking out a few more items. Wearing gloves, he looked at Han-bit.
“I hope you clear this main quest while I stop Odin. It’s better to finish before midnight.”
“Midnight… that’s the time the rankings are disclosed.”
“Yes. So, it would be best to finish within 2 hours.”
It was the process of finding the remaining 2 key fragments and reaching the room where the relic was. It was a dumbfounded request to finish within 2 hours while receiving interference from monsters and players in between.
But Han-bit had no intention of dragging out time any longer. Rising his body, he took out the Giant Snake’s Heart from his inventory and said.
“I’ll finish within 1 hour. Let’s move immediately.”