Chapter 84

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Flash!

Along with the message, a blue light descended from the sky above.

Han-bit, coming down to the floor, moved his steps outside the clock tower.

“…What is this now?”

The landscape that entered his eyes upon coming outside.

It wasn’t the broken ruins he had been seeing until a little while ago.

It was the sight of a city maintaining a wholly intact form, as if time had been turned to the past.

“Black Dragon-nim!”

“What exactly happened? What about the golem?”

Avant-garde and Kim Jae-ha arriving promptly.

The two were also acting surprised while looking at the changed scenery.

“Is this the true private area? To think it could be so beautiful…!”

Avant-garde’s exclamation didn’t feel like an exaggeration at all.

A beautiful city.

Where else could they find a word to express it more clearly than that.

“Ah.”

Han-bit, recalling something, examined the turned-off broadcast screen.

At that, it had transitioned into a state capable of streaming.

“I will turn the broadcast on first.”

Han-bit reactivated the stream for the viewers who must have been feeling frustrated.

“You waited a long time, right? It somehow finished well.”

– Phew.

– Breathing for now.

– It took a freaking long time.

– Didn’t it end quickly?

– But what did you do?

– Is this the private area?

– Freaking unique.

– Why are there cars?

– ??

All sorts of reactions and questions poured into the returned chat window.

It was natural for them to look at the scenery seemingly mixing all sorts of eras and genres with fascination.

“There was a part where a walkthrough was needed, but I cleared it safely. The private area was liberated as well. I don’t really know what this space is either.”

– ?

– If you don’t know, who would know;

– A variable occurred.

– Was it not in the web novel either?

It was difficult to say anything in reply to the chat window scrolling up rapidly again.

Because he couldn’t put the Goddess into his mouth either.

“I will gratefully receive the prize money first.”

[You have succeeded in the challenge mission.]

[You received the prize money of 32,395,000 won.]

Challenge sponsorships that kept piling up even while the screen was gone.

Looking at the record, the names of corporations were seen a lot, as expected.

“But how did you really do it? I still can’t understand it.”

Kim Jae-ha asked while looking at the clock tower that had become tidy.

The figure of the stopped golem having already disappeared.

Because it was such a strong opponent, the current situation couldn’t easily be accepted.

Han-bit, looking around briefly, asked the two.

“You both got the reward message, right?”

“Ah, something about entry qualifications?”

“I also received the message.”

[Entry qualification is given to the players who liberated the 1st Private Area.]

The guidance message that floated up right after the scenery changed.

Not only Han-bit, but the two who fought together also gained something called ‘qualification’.

Even if he didn’t know what this place was used for, it was enough to formulate one plan.

Thinking briefly, Han-bit returned to the earlier conversation.

“The Guardian Golem can be halted by extinguishing its cores. The amount is 3… but I’m debating whether to upload the details as a video.”

“Oh! I really wanted to see what happened, so that’s a relief!”

Even at the word that he was debating, Avant-garde reacted with sparkling eyes.

Since it’s a private area, there’s also the method of not sharing the walkthrough.

However, the conclusion was that there was no need for that.

[A perk is given according to the first liberation of the private area.]

[A title is granted to the player ranking 1st in liberation contribution.]

[Gained the title: First Liberator.]

[First Liberator]

Upon the first liberation of a private area, you can manage all entry qualifications for each area.

Targets added to the blacklist will be stripped of their entry qualification to the corresponding area.

– Hul.

– Is this for real?

– So if Black Dragon slaps a ban, you can’t come in?

– Crazy lol

– Death note *shiver*

– Bow your heads.

An ability understandable just from the brief description.

Since this authority is given to the First Liberator, no matter who gets the entry qualification, they are fundamentally in the palm of his hand.

He’d have to gradually think about how to use this moving forward.

Anyway, it’s also unknown how many people would even succeed in liberating the private area.

“The exit seems to be over there.”

A door beneath the cleared-up clock tower.

A light the same as what they saw in the cave was wavering there.

It would probably act as both the exit and the entrance.

“Let’s look around this place first. If you discover anything, please tell me.”

“I’ll go down that way.”

“I will look around from the outskirts.”

Along with Han-bit’s words, the two moved their steps.

Left alone in the city center, he looked up at the purple sky.

‘This wouldn’t be the end.’

A figure completely different from the ruins he wandered after dying.

There’s no way it merely intended to show a beautiful city.

If so, it means there is definitely a meaning to this space as well.

– It’s fascinating no matter how much I look.

– Is this fusion fantasy or whatever that is?

– Gonna lift the background image once the original video goes up.

– The community is blowing up right now. Lol

– The corporations are gonna get fucking busy.

– It doesn’t seem to be the time to push vanguard stories;

– Even if they come, they’ll just get robbed by Black Dragon, right?

The scenery more akin to fantasy than fantasy was novel to the viewers as well.

Opening the system, Han-bit sent the recorded video and a message to Yeon-woo.

「I’m sending it in advance, so watch it first. Let’s talk later after the broadcast ends.」

「Yes. I’ll continue watching the broadcast too.」

A reply arriving immediately.

Because it’s a video with likely a huge ripple effect, it’s a good thing if utilized as well as possible.

First, he should find the meaning of this space.

Step-

Han-bit moved his feet slowly along the path.

The street without a single person was quiet, but it didn’t feel empty.

Creaaak-

Approaching one building, Han-bit lightly pushed the door.

The interior was the structure of an ordinary store selling groceries.

“….?”

His feet, gazing at the display shelves, stopped.

Familiar ingredients such as cooking oil, sugar, and red pepper powder were placed there.

– Soybean oil.

– God-sugar.

– King-pepper powder;

– But why are these coming out of here?

– Isn’t this corporate promotion?

– Metaverse *shiver*

– There are a lot of weird things too though?

– The colors are weird.

– Isn’t that mint choco?

Along with ingredients everyone knew, there were also many seen for the very first time.

Even guessing was difficult because the names were entirely unfamiliar things.

Creaaak-

Looking around for a moment, Han-bit came outside the building.

Then he moved to other buildings and inspected their interiors.

‘I don’t know what anything means at all.’

Han-bit, having investigated up to the last building, stood blankly on the street.

There were too many familiar and unique things, but because he had absolutely no gains.

“What, did you look through it all?”

At that time, a voice was heard from behind.

Turning his head, Kim Jae-ha was approaching.

“I looked through all this side. How was it for you, hyung?”

“It was fascinating, but I couldn’t find anything that could be a clue.”

He who had investigated other buildings was also not different from Han-bit.

Since it was to the extent of not even knowing what might be a clue, reaping a harvest would be difficult.

“Let’s go towards the outside area for now.”

The two pacing about headed to the outskirts.

Around the time the intact stone walls came into view, a familiar voice was heard.

“Ah, you’ve come at a good time just now!”

The figure of Avant-garde moving small atop the stone wall.

Because it was a hand gesture urging them to come closer, the two quickly moved their steps.

“Did you find something?”

Approaching closer, Han-bit asked Avant-garde who was lowering his posture.

Turning his head, he spoke while pointing downward.

“Would you take a look at this?”

“What is it?”

Approaching behind, Han-bit tilted his upper body.

Then a single gravestone embedded down below entered his vision.

“This is…”

A white crescent moon carved on the surface and a sword crossing its center.

It was the symbol drawn on the entrance they came through via the compass.

“Isn’t that what we saw in the cave? It’s here too.”

“Yes. It seems there is definitely some meaning to it, but it doesn’t move even if I touch it.”

The two who naturally realized it also expressed their doubts.

Han-bit, staring silently at the gravestone, stretched out his arm.

And the moment his fingertip touched the smooth surface.

Ding-

A unique alarm rang in his ears.

[A message has arrived from Team Zero.]

***

“Tsk.”

Inside the bustling cave.

Ranger glared at the blocked wall and clicked his tongue.

“Are you absolutely sure the broadcast isn’t working? It’s been quite a long time.”

“Why would I lie? The viewer count must be skyrocketing like crazy.”

“True. Why would he hide something that would raise his own ransom?”

Right after Black Dragon’s party disappeared following the light, everyone focused on the broadcast.

However, all that was visible was a pitch-black screen.

Although Black Dragon’s message saying he would liberate the private area popped up, no one could know the internal situation.

“Wow, it’s packed.”

At that time, a voice was heard from the direction of the cave entrance.

Turning their heads, a black-haired human female was approaching.

The scabbard at her waist emitted a white color so beautiful.

“Huh? Isn’t that Luna?”

“Luna? That vanguard?”

“Luna came?”

Players who realized her identity reacted first.

And Ranger’s expression also changed immediately.

“Luna? Why are you here? Vanguard subjugation should still be underway.”

“Who are you to pretend to know me? If you want to go, you go.”

“…….”

At Luna’s coldly spat words, Ranger closed his mouth.

Because he hadn’t been invited to the elite subjugation.

Even among the same vanguards, their competitiveness also sometimes had a difference like heaven and earth.

Remaining silent for a moment, Ranger struck up a conversation again.

“I heard you have no interest in others. It seems Black Dragon is an unexpected existence even to a conglomerate.”

“I have no interest in humans like you.”

Luna, not even turning her gaze, began inspecting the vicinity of the wall.

Despite that cold reaction, Ranger did not back down.

“Don’t pretend you aren’t. Whether corporation or vanguard, the goal is obvious. To monopolize Black Dragon no matter what.”

“What stupid nonsense is that?”

“What?”

At the question thrown with a pathetic voice, Ranger knit his brow.

Luna continued speaking while fingering the symbol on the wall.

“Think about it properly. Is Black Dragon a character that can be monopolized?”

“If you borrow the power of your family, you should be able to pour a huge sum too.”

“If it was going to work thusly, the bastards wanting Black Dragon would have lined up in order of corporate ranking.”

Right after exchanging messages with Black Dragon.

Luna used the info he gave to complete the Crystal Rabbit quest that had been stuck for a long time.

She cleared it so easily it was dumbfounding, but thanks to that, she came an echelon closer to certainty.

That man is not an ordinary existence.

Tap tap-

Luna placed her hand on the wall surface.

No reaction returned even when tapping lightly.

Beyond being fascinating, not even a clue to aid understanding existed.

In that situation, Black Dragon had opened the private area as if to show off and charged in.

Staring at the wall, she muttered softly.

“It makes sense his eyes rolled backwards. Even hiring a PK guild.”

“You never tire of it. I’ve never made a request to Nesto. I heard the raiding bastards got out of prison, so go look for them yourself and verify.”

“Feeling guilty? Didn’t say that pointing to you.”

“…….”

Ranger lost his words with a flabbergasted expression.

However, Luna was from the start looking at the swarming players.

Among them, some suspicious people.

They were people playing the roles of informants for corporations and vanguards.

‘I wonder who Adventurer A is?’

Luna recalled the conversation she exchanged with Black Dragon via message.

The info on ‘Adventurer A’ that he specifically picked out and asked about.

It definitely meant he felt something.

‘Black Dragon has good intuition too.’

Adventurer A was just like an adult suffering from eighth-grader syndrome.

The interest was purely severed right there, but she could be certain that the culprit who hired the PK guild was that human.

Because the guidebook and walkthroughs that proved his own worth were all twisted entirely with the appearance of the person named Black Dragon.

To Adventurer A, showing off his knowledge while acting high and mighty, this situation would be hated more than death.

The figure of trying to harm Black Dragon, falling into a sense of inferiority and complex, was painted clearly before her eyes.

Checking the faces of the surrounding players, Luna turned her back.

“…Are you leaving like this?”

Ranger asked with a questioning expression.

“For what purpose would I stay more?”

“The door might open again. There are infinite variables concerning the private area.”

“Do you not watch the broadcast?”

Saying so, Luna disappeared outside the cave.

“Broadcast?”

At the unexpected words, Ranger turned his gaze to the pitch-black screen.

Before anyone knew it, Black Dragon’s screen had surfaced there.