Unearthing Iron and the Emperor's Path

The moment the iron filings clung to the magnet.

The sudden message caught Mu-hyuk's eye.

A choice quest?

Holograms popped up one after another.

It was the type of quest he'd only heard about a few times before.

Hoo, so that's how it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠works.

The process and outcome would change entirely based on his choice, so he had to be cautious.

He pondered one option, imagining the process and results it would lead to.

Even so, he couldn't easily decide. Choosing the first meant forgoing some profits from the mine, which felt like a huge loss, while the second seemed daunting—how long would it take to grow the village enough to form a subjugation force?

Hm...?

Then, a realization flashed through his mind.

Damn, I'm an idiot.

He'd forgotten the most important thing.

"Tch, right."

Mu-hyuk decided on the first option.

Excessive greed invites disaster.

Better to speed things up instead.

Of course, that wasn't the real reason. After mulling it over, he'd realized he was utterly ignorant about mining.

He'd found the iron deposit, but had no clue how to extract the ore afterward. That ignorance was the true reason for picking the first quest.

He had no grasp on the development process, so from his position, it was the obvious choice.

He memorized the location once more, then turned away.

As if he'd just logged in, he stood still and activated Illusion TV. Pretending nothing had happened, he checked the incoming chat with feigned leisure.

The mood was pretty good.

Smiling warmly, he closed the chat window and summoned his warhorse. Ignoring the monsters, he headed straight for the village. At the entrance, three figures were pacing around.

"Oppa!"

Yerin approached with a bright smile.

"You're here."

Sung Min-woo, sounding indifferent.

And even Rudolph, with an awkward expression.

The moment he saw them, Mu-hyuk changed his plans.

Not today.

He'd called them here himself, so he couldn't just bolt right away. With 7 days given and his warhorse for transport, leaving tomorrow would still leave plenty of time.

Mu-hyuk dismounted, smiling at the approaching Yerin.

"You came?"

"Yeah!"

She hugged him immediately.

"Hehe."

She was utterly lovable.

Practically embracing, they entered the village gate.

"Ugh, no shame at all."

At Sung Min-woo's words, Yerin pulled away a bit, embarrassed. Mu-hyuk shrugged and shot back.

"Why the grumbling? Things didn't work out with that girl from before?"

"......"

"Strike ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out?"

"Yeah."

"Kukukuk."

Sung Min-woo sighed at Mu-hyuk's laughter.

"Screw it. Couples are hell, solo is heaven!"

Yerin looked at him pitifully and called out in a sympathetic tone.

"Min-woo oppa."

"Yeah?"

"Want me to introduce you to a friend?"

Light sparked in Sung Min-woo's eyes.

"F-For real?"

"Yeah."

"Pretty?"

"Sweet."

"Pretty?"

"Great cook."

"Is she pretty?"

"Good job."

No mention of pretty, so Sung Min-woo shook his head.

"Nah, I'm good."

"Why? She's a really nice friend."

"I like being solo."

"Tch, total looks-ist."

A bit stung, Sung Min-woo cleared his throat.

"Ahem, guys are like that."

"Idiot, dummy."

Then he muttered lowly.

"She's actually super pretty."

Sung Min-woo whipped around.

"No, just introduce her."

"Nope."

"Doesn't have to be pretty."

"Liar. You heard me say she's pretty, right?"

"Huh? Did I?"

"Wow, lying without changing a muscle."

As the two bickered playfully,

Mu-hyuk glanced at Rudolph.

He stood there awkwardly, not even introduced.

Ah.

Time for proper hellos.

"You two know each other, right?"

"Huh?"

Sung Min-woo eyed Rudolph. Yerin didn't know him well, so she just looked curious, but Sung Min-woo remembered and scowled openly.

"The PK asshole from before."

"Yeah. He's been behaving now. And you know—we made a contract over the weapon..."

"Fair enough."

Sung Min-woo nodded like he got it. Having lost his most prized item and forced into a slave-like contract, Rudolph's position wasn't great either. Still, the memory of being PK'd lingered, so Sung Min-woo's tone stayed curt.

"You look young. Let's be careful from now on."

"Yes, sorry about that time..."

With an apology already, there was nothing more to say.

"Tch, since it's like this anyway. Let's get along."

"Thank you. Feel free to speak casually."

"Ahem, maybe."

It'd be awkward at first, but they'd warm up eventually.

Three favors owed.

Until he used them, they'd cross paths often.

*

The four partied up and roamed the fields until late at night.

"Whew, getting tired now."

"Me too."

"See you tomorrow then."

Mu-hyuk stopped the three about to log out.

"Hold on."

"Yeah? What?"

"Got a sudden quest. Gotta head to the Hemil Empire tomorrow."

"Oh, okay?"

"Yeah. You three party hunt without me for a bit."

Yerin pouted disappointingly.

"Important quest?"

"Yeah, kinda."

"How long?"

"A day should do it."

"Really? Phew."

"I'll wrap it up fast and come back."

"Okay!"

"Night."

"You too, oppa."

The three logged out one by one. Feeling no fatigue, Mu-hyuk decided to log out from the Hemil Empire. He rode his warhorse to Abenso Village with the warp gate. After about an hour's gallop, he arrived.

"Welcome."

"To the Hemil Empire."

After paying, he stepped onto the gate.

Whoooosh.

A slight dizziness hit, and his body felt like it was floating. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Then the space around him shifted in an instant.

"Welcome. We greet your arrival to the Hemil Empire."

He descended the gate amid the greeting.

Logout.

He emerged from the capsule and collapsed onto the bed. The hour-long ride had brought delayed exhaustion.

Ugh, tired.

Sleep overtook him instantly.

The next day.

After his usual routine, he checked the tips board on the Illusion homepage.

"Hm."

Mu-hyuk's post still held #1.

Views: 2.9 million.

The climb was relentless.

He'd predicted ten million, but it might surpass that. Curiosity stirred.

How many hit the dungeon?

Browsing the free board, he saw various video links.

Play.

The video started around the time-attack dungeon.

"Whoa."

A massive crowd.

After a long wait, the protagonist and party challenged it. Their thorough prep let them clear it first try.

D-grade, unfortunately.

"Huh?"

Then he spotted a message the user hadn't noticed.

Rankings based on clear time. Mu-hyuk's name topped due to highest contribution.

The surprise didn't end there. The note at the bottom drew his gaze.

Hidden feature.

Once 1st to 100th were set, he'd get a message too.

Hope I stay #1.

He hit back.

Anything else?

More news trickled in.

Oh?

He checked a post about a boss monster.

Licking his lips at the level, he returned to the list. Too low-level; by the time he got there, it'd be gone, and the rewards wouldn't excite him anyway.

Hm.

Nothing else caught his interest.

Closing the site, he logged into Illusion.

Heading straight for the palace, he bypassed the line and approached the guard.

Flashing his Hemil Empire noble token, the guard snapped to attention with crisp salute.

"Sir!"

"Can I go in?"

"Of course!"

Inside the palace, Mu-hyuk first sought Duke Amur. Fortunately, the duke welcomed him warmly.

"Good timing. Sit."

"Yes."

"How's the village?"

"Not in great shape."

"Haha, figured."

Figured?

Like it was obvious.

"Ah, that came out wrong?"

"No, sir."

"It's fine. I tried giving you good land, but His Majesty changed his mind at the last second."

"Changed his mind...?"

"Wanted to test you once more."

In other words, to mess with him.

Couldn't curse an emperor.

Mu-hyuk forced a smile.

"I see."

"Work hard anyway. Only by turning that barren place around will you earn true recognition."

"I will."

"So, what brings you here?"

Perfect timing.

"You said to prove my ability?"

"I did."

"Looks like the chance has come."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

Gazing at Duke Amur's puzzled expression, Mu-hyuk spoke.

"Truth is, in the mountains west of the territory you granted me—Column Village—I stumbled upon an iron mine deposit."