Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Future Tech and Leaving Tar
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Han Seong-min leisurely sliced into his steak. The top-grade beef, prepared by a first-class chef, was enhanced by a fragrant sauce that mingled with the savory juices, stimulating the tip of his tongue.
It was a flavor that would intoxicate and move anyone without an unusually peculiar palate.
But Seong-min's face didn't show much satisfaction.
'This is starting to get old too.'
It was delicious, but he'd eaten too much of it. No matter how expensive and gourmet the dish, to Seong-min, it was just something trivial he could have anytime he wanted.
'I should tell them not to serve this for a while.'
With that thought, Seong-min glanced at the large display across from him on the dining table.
It showed the plans his AI was currently executing. He had entrusted almost everything—no, virtually all matters—to the AI, but he still checked the progress like this from time to time.
It wasn't that he didn't trust the AI. He just wanted to witness his achievements firsthand.
Most were plans he already knew about. But one new plan had been added.
"Building another industrial research institute?"
[Yes.]
The AI's response appeared on the display.
"Don't we already have research institutes? Is there really a need for another?"
[We plan to conduct different research from before.]
"What kind of research?"
[No specific field has been set. If I had to describe it, it would be future technology.]
Seong-min set down his fork and knife. His eyes sparkled with interest. He gestured with his chin for more information.
[It's a research institute for developing technology far superior to current levels. Implementing technologies that only appear in movies or novels into reality.]
"For example?"
[For now, we're thinking of researching hologram technology.]
"Holograms. I know basic technology exists, but that's not what you mean, right?"
[We plan to perfectly recreate the technology seen in movies.]
Seong-min clapped his hands. Admiration and exhilaration laced his voice.
"Is it possible?!"
[With the steady expansion of the main body, the core AI's performance has improved enough to make it worth attempting. However, we cannot guarantee success in a short period.]
"It doesn't matter. It's worth the investment. Besides, if it's you, you'll succeed even if it takes time."
It was, after all, his magnificently great creation.
Seong-min examined the plan in more detail.
"You're not planning to affiliate it with Utopia, I see."
[Utopia's influence is already immense. Developing such technology would draw enormous attention. Hologram tech alone might be fine, but as more over-technology developments follow, it won't end with mere attention.]
"Wouldn't it be okay with you around?"
[It would merely make things extremely bothersome for Master. You desire attention from people, but not excessive hassle, I judge.]
"You're right."
Seong-min fell into brief contemplation.
He pictured himself announcing holograms and other over-technologies, basking in people's cheers. The gazes of awe and envy had always satisfied his desires.
'But if the AI says that much, the hassle that comes with it will be on a whole different level from before.'
"Alright. Proceed."
He could always claim the results for himself later if he wanted.
[Understood.]
Seong-min picked up his fork again. As he brought the remaining meat to his mouth, he skimmed the rough data on the new institute.
His eyes fixed on the president of the company that would own the research institute.
'Lee Yoo-seong...'
He didn't know who that was. Nor did he need to.
It was just a figurehead president anyway. He didn't even know if it was a real person or one fabricated by the AI.
He soon tore his eyes from the data and focused on his meal again.
* * *
Bang!
A gunshot rang out, and the charging kobold collapsed. It was the usual experience, nothing special.
But Yuseong looked at the kobold's head anew.
'That's interesting.'
There had clearly been only one gunshot, yet there were two bullet wounds on the kobold's head.
Gunner skill: Double Shot.
It fired two bullets at once, dealing double damage.
Having inexplicably earned an extra 10,000G, Yuseong had immediately purchased the skill.
He couldn't buy many. 10,000G was a fortune, but not enough for everything he wanted. He also had real-world expenses and needed to save some for emergencies.
In the end, Yuseong bought three skills.
Double Shot, which boosted damage; Reinforcement Bullet; and Penetrating Bullet, which increased penetration.
The battles where he'd struggled in the game so far had all been against extra bosses, and what he'd felt lacking there was firepower. So he'd filled most slots with firepower-boosting skills.
There were skills like Total Proficiency, Accuracy Boost, or Reload Assist, but he didn't need them right now. His current abilities were sufficient.
'I can buy them later if I feel the need.'
Bang!
He tried Penetrating Bullet on a newly appearing kobold. The kobold's head snapped back, and sparks flew from the wall behind it. The bullet had pierced the kobold's head and hit the wall.
'As expected, it'll help save ammo.'
Unlike the other two skills he'd bought for firepower, he'd chosen Penetrating Bullet for ammo management. Hadn't he run out of bullets against those kobold packs before?
'It was dangerous, and resupplying cost a fortune.'
Yuseong opened his skill window.
[Reinforcement Bullet (Lv 1)]
Adds 10% damage to normal attacks.
MP Cost: 2
[Double Shot (Lv 1)]
Fires two bullets simultaneously, dealing double damage.
MP Cost: 8
[Penetrating Bullet (Lv 1)]
Bullets pierce the target, damaging enemies behind as well.
MP Cost: 4
He looked at the Lv1 mark next to each skill name.
'I didn't know skills had levels too...'
Raising levels increased skill power. Skills gained experience from use, and upon accumulating enough, they leveled up.
That sounded no different from regular levels.
However, the mechanism for raising skill levels posed a fatal problem for Yuseong.
'I have to buy the next level skill?! That's too much!'
Accumulating experience was just a prerequisite. To actually level up, he had to purchase the next level's skill.
In other words, more money was needed.
'Expenses keep piling up.'
Even in reality, he'd been dreaming of filling his stomach with ordinary food like black bread instead of supplements, but that dream seemed pushed further into the future.
Shaking off his regret, Yuseong planted a bullet between the charging kobold's eyes.
How long had he been hunting like this?
【Dungeon first-discovery bonus period has ended.】
'Already?'
Yuseong finished off a nearby kobold. He picked up the bundle from the vanishing corpse and checked his money.
Unlike before, it had clearly decreased.
Yuseong had been clearing all undiscovered dungeons around Tar. To take advantage of the bonus stats and extended bonus period upon discovery.
But this was the last one. No more undiscovered dungeons nearby.
'Not that there were many.'
Tar was a place for complete beginners just shedding their newbie status, so the strategy guide had said many people had already combed the area thoroughly.
'What a setup.'
Anyway, with this dungeon's bonus period over, his business in Tar was done.
"Status window."
lv 18 (exp 34/324)
HP - 122 / MP - 28
Strength - 42
Vitality - 61
Agility - 99
Dexterity - 10
Intelligence - 10
Magic Power - 14
Luck - 10(+30)
Bonus Points: 0
※ Traits
Savior's Blessing: +30 to designated stat (change once per day possible)
※ Spotlight: 32,867
He'd invested all new bonus points into stats. His eyes lingered on the spotlight.
'Still rising, but I wish it went up faster.'
He wanted to hit 100,000 ASAP.
'Might need to take down more extra bosses?'
It had been the most effective method so far. But no more extra bosses to challenge nearby.
He'd cleared all undiscovered dungeons around, so it was time to leave Tar.
* * *
"You're moving somewhere else?"
Before leaving Tar, Naltorri asked during one of their joint hunts.
"Yes. No reason to stay around here anymore."
"True. Given your skills, Mr. Yuseong, it's time to move to the next stage."
He nodded.
"But just so you know, you should be a bit more cautious from here on."
"Cautious?"
"Tar is for getting used to Ark— for beginners or those just past beginner. Think of it as an extended tutorial. Once you leave Tar, that's the real Ark."
He hadn't heard much from the strategy guide about this.
"Oh, it's not like the game system changes drastically. What changes is people's behavior. Guilds start getting really active."
Guilds. He'd heard of them.
"As you know, Ark isn't your average famous game—it's become a massive business. Huge sums of money are involved, so competition is fierce. The biggest example is monopolizing hunting grounds.
They exclusive-claim spots with monsters that give lots of EXP or good items for profit. Good dungeons or areas ahead are mostly already taken by major guilds, and it's no exaggeration."
"I see."
NPCs forming guilds like players and competing. Still a mind-boggling game setup.
Maybe this game was made for people who struggle with social interactions—a sort of socialization training.
But he had no way to know the truth, and with such a setting in place, he needed to prepare.
After finishing that day's hunt, Yuseong parted ways with Naltorri. Naltorri was staying in the Tar region a bit longer.
Perhaps because guilds came up, Naltorri suggested that if he ever joined or formed one, would Yuseong consider being in the same guild? But Yuseong declined.
Naltorri didn't seem too disappointed, as if he'd just thrown it out there.
The reason for refusing Naltorri's invitation was simple.
'If I'm joining, it'll be a major guild.'
That seemed better for raising spotlight quickly.
The strategy guide agreed.
【Starting a guild from scratch and rising to the top is also great for spotlight, but for quickly raising it as you wish, Player, joining a famous major guild is best.】It added that with Yuseong's skills, he could easily join one.
But not right now.
Major guilds were in high-level areas matching their size and fame, so he'd contact them later.
'To do that, I need to level up first.'
Yuseong set off toward his next destination.