Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Setsuna's Hidden Memory
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'Luen!'
The absurdity of the update faded in an instant as Woojin first checked on Luen's safety by calling up the system window.
"......Good. She's safe."
Woojin let out a sigh of relief after confirming her name on the mercenary list.
When a player logs out, contracted mercenaries stay in a space called the [Mercenary Lounge], much like summons in the [Summon Space].
The difference is that summons are unconditionally pulled into the [Summon Space] with no other options, while mercenaries can continue missions even after logout if the player sets absence orders beforehand.
That's why some people assign repetitive quests like hunting or gathering to mercenaries, letting them earn money even while logged out.
'Thank goodness I didn't set any absence orders......'
Among those orders were survival-related ones.
Things like "return to a specific village" or "use recovery items if HP drops below a certain level."
Players who keep hunting or questing after logout usually set them, but since he couldn't log out in the first place, he hadn't given any orders.
And that turned out to be a blessing.
She might not have returned to the lounge if she'd been busy carrying out orders.
'It'd be nice if there was a command like "immediately return to the lounge upon logout"......'
Apparently, contracted mercenaries return to the lounge about 1-2 minutes after a player logs out.
"1-2 minutes......"
He couldn't help but hesitate as he stared at the alert.
'She's in the lounge, so she probably didn't die in the bombardment......'
But that didn't mean she was perfectly fine.
'And I don't have any potions to use right now anyway.'
He was curious about Luen's condition, but it was smarter to head back to a village and summon her there instead of risking it.
"She's alive—that's what matters."
Woojin calmed himself and flipped to the next window.
Swoooosh......!!
The moment he hit confirm, the air rippled in front of him, and Setsuna appeared.
-Master!!
She opened her eyes and shouted toward Woojin.
"You okay?"
-I was so scared!!
"Yeah. No kidding. I felt the same at first."
Woojin soothed the panicking Setsuna.
It felt like looking at his past self somehow.
Going back and forth between two worlds was no ordinary thing, after all.
Especially since Setsuna wasn't human like him—she was a program.
On one hand, he worried if she'd adapt to this situation.
-Suddenly explosions everywhere, fire breaking out all around, and then Master just vanishes......!
"......What?"
-You disappeared, and I was so confused. Then I got pulled into a black space.
Unlike Woojin, who froze speechless, Setsuna clapped her hands as if remembering something, her eyes widening.
-Oh right!! What about Luen? Is she okay?!
"You...... don't remember anything?"
-Huh? What do you mean? Of course I remember! The bombardment......! Who do you think did it? Did the Federation start the war?
Woojin stared at her blankly.
'Does Setsuna not remember the other world?'
Irlin had said the Primordial Spirit held the "Power of the Rift," the force connecting worlds.
And since Setsuna inherited that power too, she might be able to bridge the worlds as well.
But......
Far from bridging worlds, Setsuna seemed to remember nothing once back in the game.
Just like a normal summon.
Crunch.
Woojin bit his lip.
What was going on?
If the system knew about his trips to the other world, as he suspected......
'It could restrict Setsuna too.'
She wasn't a player like him.
Even trapped in the game, he belonged to reality, not the game.
Unable to manage him directly, maybe the system altered the game itself around his actions?
'There's still a lot to check......'
But unlike him, she was a program.
Born under the system's domain from the start.
It was entirely possible.
"Damn it......"
He'd finally thought he had a comrade to share his secret with......
Frustration and resentment gnawed at him, but he couldn't just wallow.
'First, link up with Peron.'
Peron and Weden were heading to [Brown Cro], the 19th village in the Labyrinth Tower.
It was home to the [White Tavern], the Ulld Union contact point, and one of the larger villages in the tower.
'It has medical facilities and a temple too......'
The safest place to check Luen's status.
Rumble......
Rumblerumblerumble......
The explosive booms echoed on without end.
"Let's hurry."
Woojin broke into a run.
He needed to check how the game had changed during his absence due to the update.
"Whoa...... the auction house is empty?"
"Who the hell swept it all up?"
"Who else? The big clans. They say you can't even list skillbooks anymore. Rankers camp out front and snatch them all."
"What's going on? A sudden update......?"
[Labyrinth Tower 19th Village: Brown Cro]
The plaza was buzzing with people agitated by the update as soon as Woojin entered the village.
"Master!!!"
Peron, who had been waiting, spotted him and rushed over.
"Are you alright? The Kingdom of Dalus declared war. The bombings started right after we left."
"We were so shocked when you suddenly logged out. Nothing happened, right?"
Weden, with Peron, asked Woojin worriedly too.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But this update...... when did it hit?"
"Just a bit ago."
"Just now? Any server maintenance?"
"Nope. Updates these days install in the background beforehand."
"Hmm......"
"I suspect it was because of the Phoenix Unit."
"......Phoenix Unit?"
Woojin echoed Peron's unexpected answer.
"Yes. They cleared the 11th floor of the Labyrinth Tower just this dawn."
"The Federation's busy with war, but the Five Kingdoms are throwing a party."
"Why? Did they find something new on the 11th floor?"
"Yeah. Unlike other floors, after downing the boss, no more monsters spawn there."
A floor without monsters.
That meant a safe zone inside the Labyrinth Tower.
"Technicians dispatched from the Five Kingdoms plan to build a midpoint base there."
"Probably why the update hit—攻略 to upper floors is blocked during construction."
Their reasoning made sense.
The sub-update included a new Coliseum season and two new dungeons for levels 50 and 60.
Plus mid-grade runestone events—plenty for players while tower progress halted.
"Central Continent feels alive again after so long. More people farming dungeons for skillbooks...... and whales moving for the one-per-account mid-grade runestones."
Peron said a single mid-grade runestone went for at least 150,000 gold.
Two billion won.
Runestones permanently boosted stats—the effect was insanely valuable, so players naturally wanted them for themselves.
But the price was the issue.
"A lot of mid-tier players are selling theirs instead of using them."
Made perfect sense.
Unless you were a top ranker with sponsors, such cash from the game was rare.
"People are calling this update a life-changer."
Woojin gave Weden a wry smile.
"What about you guys?"
"Brother Peron got his runestone. I haven't yet. You?"
"Me......"
He paused and opened his status window.
His level was still 58, pre-otherworld trip.
But his Strength was different.
Previously +25 from lowest-grade rune; now +40.
"......Mid-grade runes boost stats by 15, right?"
He casually asked, and they both nodded.
Just like before, the rune effect from the other world applied perfectly.
"Yes, exactly."
"No way...... you already got one?"
"Yeah. Even used it."
"Damn...... as expected. I'm actually torn, even if I haven't gotten mine yet."
Weden scratched his head sheepishly.
It was too much money to pass up for the game.
Everyone could get one mid-grade runestone.
Until recently, they didn't exist in-game, so Woojin's otherworld-boosted stats might've raised flags—but now, with the event, no issue.
Whether because of him or truly the Phoenix Unit's clear, this perfect fit gave him chills.
'......Status window?'
Suddenly, a strange feeling hit him.
Flip.
Swiping his status brought up summon and mercenary windows.
"......Huh?"
Woojin's expression hardened.
Setsuna's level had risen from 23 to 25.
At that moment,
-Master?
Setsuna tilted her head, index finger to her lips.
It seemed innocuous, but Woojin instinctively knew.
'She hasn't lost her memory.'
......Then why?
Who was she trying to fool?