Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Underground Hangar and the Next Quest
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Thirty meters underground.
Standing before the group that had descended on a massive elevator, Antonio Choi muttered with a nonchalant expression.
He wore a yellow hard hat commonly seen on construction sites, with a dry yellow towel draped around his neck.
He was dressed in a soot-stained tank top and gray overalls, and somehow, he even had a cigarette dangling from his lips.
Hearing Antonio Choi's reply, Kang-seok looked up and surveyed the underground cavern once more.
The elevator was so large that the shaft it traveled through was the size of a tunnel. But where it had arrived, a space large enough to play soccer in unfolded before them.
The support beams and lights set up everywhere, and the sight of stone golems busily moving about even now, kept making him chuckle inanely.
Kim Kang-san finally managed to speak.
“What… for….”
“Hm?”
“No, I mean, why go to all this trouble….”
It truly looked like a base for an Earth Defense Force, the kind you’d see in a sci-fi movie. He wouldn’t have been surprised if a giant robot launched from that elevator.
Go Min-gu and Choi Yu-ra, who usually bickered, nodded in agreement as if they were of one mind.
Antonio Choi took the cigarette from his lips and answered leisurely.
“It’s a hangar. An airship hangar. Can’t just leave it outside in the rain or snow, you know. Besides, I’m a firm believer that if you build it, a use for it will come….”
If you're going to build something, build it big and build it right.
At the mention of an airship hangar, Yang Jun-gyu's eyes sparkled.
“Wow, so the Black Dragon comes in through that elevator?”
“Once it’s completed according to the blueprints, rapid deployment will be possible too. You know, like in the movies. A secret base.”
“Whoa.”
The look in Yang Jun-gyu's eyes as he stared at Antonio Choi was now beginning to transform from envy to reverence.
Meanwhile, Kang-seok looked around the cavern again. On closer inspection, he could see that it was sectioned off into bays large enough for airships, like an underground parking garage.
“Airships… should I buy a few more?”
As he muttered to himself, Seong Yu-jin shook her head. But somehow, Antonio Choi overheard and chimed in.
“Airships are great, but how about collecting a variety of vehicles? Like tanks, high-speed airships, combat airships, that sort of thing.”
It seemed he was genuinely planning to build an Earth Defense Force base.
Park Han-yeong asked.
“By the way, what’s with those golems? I don’t think World Craft has anything like that, does it?”
Laborers 1 through 7.
Watching them move with heavy thuds, easily carrying massive materials, it seemed they would be perfectly suitable for combat as well.
‘Wait, wasn’t one of them fighting monsters up top…?’
When Laborer 7 first appeared, it had been holding a monster's corpse. These golems must have been the ones guarding the docking area while Kang-seok’s party was away.
Again, Antonio Choi answered as if it were nothing.
“If it’s a golem with a simple structure, you can make it with World Craft. Things like guards… It’s just that it’s difficult to make, so people don’t really try. It’s, how should I put it… a tool that lets users practically program things if they use it well? A lot of people think World Craft is just a 3D pixel art game, but it’s much more profound than you’d think.”
Kang-seok decided to just accept it. Park Han-yeong, who had asked the question, also seemed to have no desire to press further.
In truth, the more Antonio Choi could do, the more it benefited the Adamas Guild.
Seong Yu-jin looked up at the ceiling again.
“But is it okay to dig such a huge hole in a mountain? What about the ground stability…?”
“Don’t worry about that. He’s an expert in this field. He was famous for being a prodigy. Architecture and engineering? Computers? Anyway, he’s multitalented in that area.”
Choi Yu-ra said, her face betraying a hint of pride. No matter what, he was family, so it was understandable that she felt good boasting about Antonio Choi.
After all, the two were so close that she had nearly burst into tears when she thought Antonio Choi was in danger.
Antonio Choi, who smiled openly at Choi Yu-ra's praise, turned to Kang-seok.
“It’s impossible right now, but with a bit more research, and if I’m given the materials and sufficient financial support, I could probably even build an airship. Look forward to it. This base will become much more powerful, too.”
Of all the words he could have chosen, it had to be ‘powerful’.
Once again, all Kang-seok could do was nod. It felt like he’d been cruising through a fantasy world and suddenly ran into science fiction.
Yang Jun-gyu bounced on his feet and asked Antonio Choi.
“Hey, hey, Antonio-hyung. What about the inside? Has it also transformed into a cool base that goes *shkang-shkang-pew-pew-pow*?!”
Spouting nonsensical sound effects, his bouncing was like an excited puppy wagging its tail.
It wasn't just Yang Jun-gyu; Kang-seok, Kim Kang-san, Park Han-yeong, Go Min-gu, and even Seong Yu-jin looked at Antonio Choi with eyes full of expectation.
Antonio Choi scratched the back of his head.
“Nah, I haven’t worked on the inside yet. Spent all my time building this.”
Come to think of it, he had completed this massive construction project in just half a month.
He had dug dozens of meters deep, created a cavern, moved all the earth outside, installed a giant elevator and a retractable entrance, and built seven stone golems.
All in just two weeks.
To ask for more would be greedy.
Still, the group was strangely disappointed. They had expected the inside to be even more spectacular, given how magnificent the entrance was.
Antonio Choi spoke to the disappointed group.
“Ah, but I did work on the bedrooms a bit. Made some beds in my spare time.”
“Ooh.”
Choi Yu-ra gasped in admiration, and the female members like Seong Yu-jin and Park Han-yeong couldn't hide their delight either.
This world was strangely developed in some ways, but its beds still couldn't compare to modern ones.
Moreover, the beds in the Adamas Guild were in even worse condition. It was no different from sleeping on a wooden plank.
“Shall we go take a look?”
With a grin, Antonio Choi spun around and began to lead the way. Kang-seok and the others followed him with brisk and eager steps.
* * *
While Kang-seok's party was busy exploring their new home, the Seven Sword Knights were on their way back to their headquarters in a speeding carriage.
A clue to the second World Quest, given as soon as the first had ended.
The location: Sicily Island in the Olympian Sea, in the northern part of Shangri-la.
The time: three or four months from now.
Scholars disagreed on the exact time of the Legendary King’s death, but their opinions didn't vary by several months.
Even the most disparate theories were only about two weeks apart, so anyone intending to participate could simply go to the Olympian Sea early and wait.
“One of the Divine Artifacts is definitely thunder, but the other is a mystery.”
Putting down the book of myths he was holding, Park Chang-ho tilted his head from side to side to loosen his stiff neck. He chuckled upon seeing Hoshino Asuka sitting across from him in the same carriage.
“Something on your mind?”
Hoshino Asuka had never been good at hiding her feelings, but since coming to this world, it had become even harder. It was because of the cat ears and tail that so clearly revealed her emotional state.
After pursing her lips a few times, Asuka nodded. She shuffled forward on her knees, getting a little closer to Park Chang-ho before asking.
“Um… will a lot of people participate in the second World Quest?”
The number of Players who died in the first World Quest, the Tower of Raum, exceeded three hundred.
Considering that only about five hundred Players had gathered at the Tower of Raum to begin with, it was an enormous death rate.
Of course, the rewards for participating in the World Quest were by no means small.
Not only those who made it onto the MVP or VP lists, but even those who simply entered the tower and survived received a significant amount of Kron and experience based on their performance.
In the case of the Seven Sword Knights, their guild had even gained a level, so they had reaped substantial benefits from the expedition.
As with most RPGs, the higher the level, the more experience was needed to level up again. In that sense, participating in a World Quest was an opportunity to gain a level in one fell swoop.
But even so, were these rewards truly valuable enough to risk one’s life for?
Fortunately, there were no deaths among the Seven Sword Knights. But among the Players they had fought alongside, there were quite a few casualties.
Khalid had been gloomy for days because a Player named Kim Ha-neul had died right in front of him.
From the preview video alone, the second World Quest was already expected to be more difficult than the first. Would Players really be willing to challenge it?
Park Chang-ho understood what Asuka was getting at.
So, instead of asking why she thought that, he answered directly.
“They will participate. Of course they will. It’s still only the second World Quest.”
Asuka blinked. Park Chang-ho beckoned her closer, and as she shuffled forward on her knees, he patted her head.
“There are three types of Players who will participate in the World Quest. First, there are those who can't fully grasp the gravity of the deaths from the first World Quest.”
That was hard to understand at first. Park Chang-ho elaborated.
“It’s simple. There are currently about nine thousand Players summoned to this world. Of those, about five hundred participated, and about three hundred died. We saw their deaths firsthand. We saw how only a hundred-something survived out of five hundred. But most Players—over eight thousand of them—did not. To them, three hundred deaths don't feel real. They might feel a sense of caution at the fact that three hundred people died, but the number of World Quests is still too low for them to feel true fear. It’s only been one World Quest so far.”
The deaths of strangers, far too distant.
The death of a living, breathing comrade right beside you felt entirely different from the deaths of faceless strangers in a faraway place.
Furthermore, most Players didn’t know how or in what way the Players in the Tower of Raum had died.
This wasn't a world with television broadcasts, so all they had was word of mouth, and naturally, they couldn't get the full story.
“‘Maybe I’ll be fine. It’s only been one time. What is a World Quest, anyway? I heard the rewards are amazing. Can’t I just watch from afar and jump in if it looks doable?’—They’ll have all sorts of thoughts. Not many of the Players who climbed the Tower of Raum will rush into the second World Quest. But just as many new Players will flock to it. I guarantee it.”
If many people die in the second World Quest as well, things might change significantly from the third one onward. But not yet.
“And the second type are those who have a compelling reason to return to their original world.”
They were all summoned to another world.
But their desperation was different.
Park Chang-ho pinched Asuka's cheek.
“Asuka, do you miss your mother? You said you have a younger sibling, right?”
Asuka blinked at the sudden question. Soon, her large eyes began to well up with moisture. She didn't sob, but her eyes turned red, and it looked as if tears would start rolling down her cheeks at any moment.
Park Chang-ho didn't press for an answer. His tone was slightly softer than before as he spoke.
“A fiancée, a family member with an incurable disease, a situation where they have to be the breadwinner… There will be people with reasons they must return. People for whom their duties in their original world are more important than their own survival here. For them, the World Quest is the only immediate and certain solution. To return to their original world, they have to clear the World Quests. It would be nice if others cleared it for them, but if not, they have no choice but to step up themselves. And there's a high chance these people will take action out of sheer frustration.”
Park Chang-ho wet his throat with his favorite waterskin.
“And the third and final type. Those who move because they are alive and will continue to live. How long can we survive? Will Kron continue to be supplied as it is now? A year from now, two years from now… what about even further in the future? Will they just helplessly hope for others to clear the World Quest? Will they just wait in anxiety?”
Those who stand up for themselves.
Those who take the lead.
It was impossible from the start for all nine thousand Players to participate in the World Quest.
From the third or fourth World Quest, the structure would become clear.
A small vanguard of challengers.
The majority of Players, who just hope the challengers clear the World Quest for them.
Those who strive to join the challengers.
‘The Dark Destiny Lord, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor.’
Those two could already be considered part of the vanguard. They would undoubtedly distinguish themselves in future World Quests.
Park Chang-ho had seen many Players at the Tower of Raum. And among them were some worth watching.
Park Hyeong-sik of the Amaranth Guild.
The solo Player, Christian.
Among the nine thousand Players, there had to be dozens, or even hundreds, more like them.
Park Chang-ho's explanation was a bit difficult for Asuka, but she could grasp the general meaning.
Asuka hesitated for a moment before looking up. She asked her captain, whom she feared less and had come to rely on, albeit slightly, since they conquered the Tower of Raum together.
“Captain, what are you planning to do?”
Will the Seven Sword Knights become part of the vanguard?
Instead of answering directly, Park Chang-ho turned his head. He smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on the carriage ceiling, on the distant emptiness beyond it.
The reason Park Chang-ho created the Seven Sword Knights.
The reason he gathered people and built up strength.
“Well, for now, we have to survive.”
Asuka tilted her head, but Park Chang-ho didn't explain further. He simply patted her head.
* * *
The day after Kang-seok's party returned to the guild hideout.
The Adamas guild members hurried to prepare for departure first thing in the morning. They were heading to Wiesbaden, the capital of the Britannia Kingdom.
Four members would be participating in this trip to the capital.
Kang-seok, who needed to meet Vivian, the Witch of the Lake.
Seong Yu-jin and Choi Yu-ra, who naturally insisted on coming along.
And Yang Jun-gyu, who would be piloting the Black Dragon.
The rest of the party decided to stay behind at the guild hideout to defend it and assist Antonio Choi with his work.
Sent off by the remaining guild members, the Black Dragon took to the skies.
Standing on the deck, Choi Yu-ra waved to the ground below before her body went limp. Seong Yu-jin, standing beside her, asked with a playful smile.
“Did you not sleep well? I thought you liked the princess bed.”
The bedroom Antonio Choi had prepared.
The other members' beds were all ordinary, but not Choi Yu-ra's. It was literally a princess bed, complete with a canopy and dripping with lace.
Remembering the other guild members' reactions when Antonio Choi had given a thumbs-up, saying it was perfectly suited to her taste, Choi Yu-ra's face turned beet red again.
To think that Seong Yu-jin, of all people, would attack her like this.
Pouting, Choi Yu-ra retaliated by pinching Seong Yu-jin's side.
Meanwhile, below deck, Kang-seok stood beside Yang Jun-gyu, who was piloting the airship, and looked down at the Sauerland Mountains. The sight of the Laborer series, Go Min-gu, and Kim Kang-san bustling about under Antonio Choi's command was impressive.
How much would it change by the time they returned from the capital?
“Aren’t you excited?”
Yang Jun-gyu asked with a bright smile, as if he had read Kang-seok's mind.
Kang-seok's eyes shifted a few times before he gave an honest nod.
Maybe next time they came back, there would be a giant cannon or something attached to it.
At the pleasant thought, Kang-seok and Yang Jun-gyu looked at each other and smiled.