Let’s Turn the Abyss into a Tourist Attraction

Three choices given to me. Clearly, all three are incredible options. No matter which one I pick, if I manage the situation well, it will surely snowball into something massive and bring good things my way. The problem is that I am a human filled with greed. All three are great, but... I want to choose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the absolute best among them. That’s what made me agonize over it, and this "happy dilemma" had soon turned into a pain so intense it made me want to tear my hair out.

"I feel like I'm going insane."

Ziegfried, Frankenstein... or perhaps Enkidu? Ziegfried must refer to the legendary dragon slayer I know. Ziegfried and I are... well, you could say we’re quite close. Not only does he view me favorably, but we’ve also crossed paths several times, so he’s a familiar presence. Moreover, his martial prowess has been proven time and again. Honestly, among those I’ve encountered so far, excluding the gods, I consider him the strongest. I’ve often used Ziegfried as a benchmark for strength, but... truthfully, I can’t even fathom just how strong he really is.

In contrast, Frankenstein and Enkidu are complete unknowns. If I were to guess based on their names, it would be Dr. Frankenstein and that Enkidu from Sumerian mythology who beat the hell out of Gilgamesh(?).

"One who reached the realm of gods through martial arts... one who challenged the gods with technology... and one who was crafted by the gods but abandoned the desire to be a god..."

All three are big names. They are figures who frequently appear in subculture, too...

"The problem is the people recommending them, too..."

Ziegfried, recommended by the Poacher. Since Ziegfried is a man who hunts dragons, he probably crossed paths with the Poacher, who goes around catching rare creatures. And Frankenstein, recommended by the drug dealer, is likely a mad scientist. He looks incredibly dangerous. Finally, Enkidu, recommended by the slave trader, feels like that clown bastard is trying to dump a guy he failed to capture onto me. That clown wouldn't give anyone something good.

"In that case..."

I have a good relationship with Ziegfried. However, the possibility that Ziegfried’s hunting ground is of insane difficulty is high. Of course, if I use the 'Seal of Lagal' I received as a reward for Yewon’s achievement to transform into a dragon, I could probably reach Ziegfried safely. I just have to pray that I don't get killed by Ziegfried’s hands due to a misunderstanding.

"Frankenstein’s lab seems like Frankenstein himself would be fucking dangerous, more so than the lab itself... and as for Enkidu’s sealing ground, just waking up a sealed Enkidu sounds like a whole ordeal..."

However, if I wake Enkidu, there’s a high probability he might try to repay the favor. Based on my experience so far, most NPCs have tried to return the favor if they received one. If that’s the case, it would become easier to take him along for the Paimon raid. I’d have to struggle to persuade Ziegfried and Frankenstein to fight the Demon King, but... if I ask Enkidu to do me a favor on the condition that I release him from his seal, he’d likely follow my orders easily.

"Of course, that’s assuming he has a good personality..."

As expected, I shouldn’t choose just yet. It would be better to visit the black market merchants on the day the market opens, ask for some rough information, and then decide.

—*Flap.*

Around that time, the Saintess came to my tent. She was flanked by Eila and Bella, who were like little mensgaki.

"Hello...? Uh... hi?"

"Ah... wait a second."

Since Anna, like Erickson, couldn't speak perfect Korean yet, she drank a communication potion. I had given one to Erickson to drink, but since Eila and Bella were here this time, I decided I should drink one myself.

"Um... you said you called for me..."

"Yeah. Come here and sit down. I have something to ask."

"Okay..."

Soon, Anna sat across from me. She couldn't lift her head. It seemed she was thinking about the time she and I had tangled our bodies in this very tent. She was the one who had lost her mind and mated with me back then, but now that she had regained her senses, she was embarrassed. Watching that, Eila and Bella pinched the Saintess’s shoulders and arms, scolding her.

"Why are you being shy! When Oppa wants to talk, you have to look him in the eye! Lift your head! Where are your manners! I did some research, and Korea is a huge Confucian country! Show some respect!"

"Bella unnie is right! We slept with Oppa too!"

"Uh... Eila. You don't really have to say that..."

As Eila and Bella chattered away, Anna finally lifted her head slightly. I raised my hand to silence the two, then grabbed Anna’s hand and fidgeted with it as I asked.

"Are you eating well? You look like you've lost some weight."

"Yes. I'm eating well... you don't have to worry..."

"Really? That’s a relief. Anyway, I have something I want to ask... what did you choose as your achievement reward for clearing the Forest of the Missing?"

"Achievement reward?"

"Yeah. Erickson told me you received one."

"Ah... that clear reward?"

"Yeah. That one."

At my words, Anna finally nodded and told me the reward she had chosen.

"I chose the last will."

"The last will of the missing person? What did it say?"

"Um... well..."

Anna told me the contents written in the missing person’s last will.

"The will contained greetings to the family... and the password to a safe."

"The password to a safe?"

"Yes. Along with the password, it said to find a hidden underground storage."

"Underground storage...? What is this..."

What could it be? Suddenly, an underground storage. Nothing comes to mind at all. Then, Anna told me the location of the underground storage.

"To find the underground storage, you’ll have to go back into the Forest of the Missing."

"Huh..."

Come to think of it, the Forest of the Missing event was a recurring one. Although updates had stopped for some reason now, it was said that it could open again someday when the Forest of the Missing was ongoing. So, they told those who couldn't escape the forest and were left behind to try and survive as long as possible until the Forest of the Missing opened again.

"And there were many abandoned buildings in the Forest of the Missing itself... so there’s an underground storage among them..."

For instance, the concrete building that housed the kotoribako, which provided the catalyst for Lee Eun-ha to become a Curse Doll, or the abandoned library where I could meet Nanase Sora. If I wander around the forest, I should be able to find the underground storage.

"Moreover... if I succeed in clearing it again, I’ll be able to obtain the Idol of the Gods... and then I can feed it to the Yo-seok to mass-produce Oni..."

If it comes to this, there’s no need to choose the missing person’s last will. Anna already received that. In the end, the remaining options are the Drifter’s Journal and the Straggler’s Letter. In my view, the Straggler’s Letter likely contains curses against those who left them behind and the location where the straggler themselves was abandoned, while the Drifter’s Journal likely contains a map of the forest or detailed information.

"If the clear reward for the Forest of the Missing itself... is a reward with the next visit in mind... I must choose the Drifter’s Journal..."

If I can know the map or detailed information of the forest, I might be able to discover the underground storage without wandering around. I decided to choose the Drifter’s Journal.

"Oh."

A worn-out, old journal was generated. It was a very dilapidated diary.

"Huh? This is in Korean?"

"The will I received was in English... I think it’s set to the language the person receiving the reward can read."

"Aha..."

The journal contained various information about the forest and descriptions of several buildings the drifter had discovered. It was incredibly convenient, as it even noted the danger level for each building. It was as if the drifter had recorded it to clear the forest.

"Here it is... underground storage. The danger level is... insane."

The underground storage written in the will Anna received. The danger level was top-tier. It says there is a type of peculiar Yokai inside the underground storage that humans should never encounter. It was noted that even the person who wrote the journal barely escaped. It was marked as impossible to clear...

"Beware of Oshira-sama... shit, who is Oshira?"

It seems like it just translated the Japanese phonetically... I’ll have to ask Sora or my Japanese friends when I return to the base later. Among the Japanese priests, there were some older people, so someone might know.

"Anyway, I’ve asked everything I was curious about... Anna, do you have anything else to do?"

"Huh? Oh... no. I finished hanging up the laundry, and it’s break time."

"What about Eila and Bella?"

"We’re Anna’s monitors!"

"Like Bella unnie said, we just have to monitor Anna! You bad Saintess!"

"Ouch... it hurts..."

Judging by how Eila tortured Roy last time, she had a fairly sadistic tendency. It was to the point where I could feel Bella usually restraining Eila a lot. Perhaps that’s why she was puffing out her nose while slapping Anna. She must be feeling sadistic pleasure at the sight of Anna, who couldn't even resist out of fear despite the pain.

"Hmm. I’ve asked everything I wanted to ask, so you can go if you want. You can stay here, too. Do as you please."

"Uh... then I’ll go..."

"Hey!"

"Ouch...!"

As Anna tried to leave immediately because the situation with me was so awkward, Eila and Bella slapped Anna’s back and sat her back down. Since the twin sisters liked me strangely, they seemed angry that Anna said she was leaving so soon. In the end, Anna sat down while tearing up, and Eila and Bella climbed onto me like pets and rubbed their bodies against me. I stroked them roughly and chose the next reward. This time, it was the 'Train to the Abyss' achievement.

Abyss Millipede Nest: A nest that produces millipedes capable of opening their shells. When supplied with appropriate organic matter and moisture, a millipede that follows the owner’s commands is born. They are slow but have high stamina.

Abyss Mite Nest: A nest that produces mites that are easy to ride. When supplied with appropriate organic matter and moisture, a mite that follows the owner’s commands is born. Both speed and stamina are moderate.

Abyss Botfly Nest: A nest that produces botflies that fly around the Abyss and move corpses. When supplied with appropriate organic matter and moisture, a botfly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that follows the owner’s commands is born. They have low stamina but are fast.

"Oh..."

This reward was for transport agents that could move through the vast Abyss more quickly. Millipedes are slow but have high stamina, while botflies are fast but have low stamina. Mites are right in the middle... and as expected of the Abyss, creatures that look like shit will be born. For the development of the Abyss, wouldn't the mite, which is right in the middle, be the best? Botflies don't seem like they could carry many items... and millipedes are so slow that operating a car might be faster. Then, it would be much better to just pull out mites. I decided to hold off on this for now as it wasn't something I needed to receive right here.

"Next is the Abyss tourist..."

This was probably achieved by occupying all four zones of the Abyss.

Underground Breeding Farm Restoration Blueprint: Turns the trapped nest back into a farm for the underground people. When the farm is rebuilt, you will be able to raise large livestock-type bugs that the underground people used to raise. They can also be used for combat. Parasitic humans will acquire breeding skills.

Underground Forge Restoration Blueprint: Turns the Abyss ruins back into a forge for the underground people. When the forge is rebuilt, some of the lost metallurgy of the underground people will be restored. You can make gear with rare metals. Parasitic humans will acquire metallurgy skills.

Underground Prayer House Restoration Blueprint: Turns the Crimson Zone back into a sanctuary for the underground people. When the sanctuary is rebuilt, you can regain the forgotten faith of the underground people. Parasitic humans change into smart and sturdy underground people. The underground people regain their supernatural powers.

"Holy shit."

Underground people... that must mean the parasitic humans before they degenerated. I fell into deep thought. I had to choose one among the farm, the forge, and the sanctuary.

"If I choose the breeding farm, the types of livestock will increase significantly... worries about food will completely disappear..."

The reason I’m working my ass off carrying dirt to the Abyss right now is to get food to feed the humans at the US East Camp. But if I build a breeding farm, that problem is solved immediately. Of course, since they can't just eat bugs, I’ll still create an environment where they can farm...

"The forge can make weapons or armor if I have metal..."

If I choose the forge, there’s a high possibility that the desolate Abyss ruins will change like a dwarf mining city. If that happens, the farmland I was creating in the Abyss ruins will all be demolished, and essentially, the Abyss would have to be seen as a logistics base.

"It’s an opportunity to arm the slaves starting from the parasitic tree hosts... but where do I get the metal? Should I dig up the ground of the Abyss?"

The last option, the prayer house that turns parasitic humans into underground people, is also quite good. Given the mental communication abilities of the parasitic humans right now, I couldn't even imagine how strong they would become when they awakened supernatural powers.

"But... management might be even harder..."

Parasitic humans have the advantage of being inherently weak and lazy, so they are obedient enough that there’s no need to make them slaves the moment they are born... but if they change into underground people, the possibility of them gaining independence and becoming rebellious is high. If I didn't have the slave brand and had absolutely no way to handle parasitic humans, it would be good to create a sanctuary and open up another friendly race... but I didn't feel the need to do so. It’s better for slaves to be a bit stupid. The current parasitic humans are enough.

"A logistics base... or a food warehouse..."

I pondered quietly. After spending some time like that, Bella and Eila, who were clinging to me, fell asleep.

'Come to think of it....'

An item I had purchased at the black market came to mind.

"Wow... holy shit. This is it."

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠feels like the puzzle pieces have finally clicked into place. Perhaps... is all of my choosing being done by someone’s calculation? I even get that kind of thought. If I hadn't purchased this back then... I probably would have ended up choosing the breeding farm restoration blueprint.

"Ore Seed..."

Yes, the small pebble I had purchased from the Poacher. A peculiar creature that burrows into the ground, absorbs all the moisture in the surrounding area, and turns a certain area into an ore vein as much as it has absorbed. It was even said that I could obtain various types of minerals. I’ll plant that in the Abyss ruins.

"After all... the Abyss ruins have a fuckton of water..."

In the Abyss ruins, water that is clean enough to drink if boiled drips endlessly from the ceiling. That’s why I had set up a waterproof tent even now, and the reason I was trying to farm here was also because there was plenty of clean water. Therefore, if I plant the Ore Seed in the Abyss ruins...

"The ore vein will grow endlessly..."

Then, if I build the underground people’s forge here, the parasitic humans will be able to mine the endlessly generated ore vein and run the blast furnace infinitely. Even if I raise Abyss mites, I could order them to move the ore. With this, I can now fully arm all my slaves. By the time the resurrected Nick comes looking for me... he will be facing thousands of heavy-armored mushroom warriors. Is this the feeling of a Demon King waiting for a hero? I’m already looking forward to the hero who will despair in front of an overwhelming military force.

"Fucking awesome."

"Huh? What is?"

"Ah, it’s just a thing."

I laughed while stroking the heads of Eila and Bella, who had woken up from their sleep. Then, Anna, who was watching us, looked at my hand with a slightly envious look. It seemed Anna wanted to be touched, too.