Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest
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A day had passed since I was banished from the other world, Eldorado.
I'd struggled a bit to fill in the two-year gap that didn't exist on Earth.
"Hey, kiddo. You one of those Eldo-whatevers, right? Been there?"
I'd run into the neighbor lady earlier when I stepped out to hit the convenience store.
It had been two years since we'd last seen each other, so she took an interest first.
Eldorado Continent.
The story of how only a select few hunters were summoned to the Eldorado Continent was hugely famous. It wasn't strange for a non-awakener like her to bring it up.
But I couldn't exactly say I'd been there.
Being summoned to Eldorado was certainly an honor. Who wouldn't want to go if it meant gaining power?
The reality was a brutally random lottery with insane odds.
Breaking through those odds to get there was pure luck and something to be proud of.
'But I can't say I went and came back.'
The reason was obvious.
I'd returned after two years with nothing to show for it. Even after staying with the White Church.
'If only I'd brought back a holy sword or something.'
And by holy sword, I meant the standard-issue kind, not some priceless relic.
The supply holy swords used by the White Church's Holy Knights.
They weren't a big deal in the Church. But from an Earth perspective, a Church-issued holy sword was basically a high-grade artifact.
The problem? Even if it was just standard-issue to them, they didn't hand those out to outsiders lightly.
Of course, there were exceptions.
A few years back, one of my academy classmates had gotten a supply holy sword from the Church before returning.
He'd earned it through meritorious service, nothing more.
That classmate was now making a name for himself as an A-rank hunter.
I, on the other hand, had been useless to the Church, so coming back empty-handed was predictable.
More importantly, hiding the fact that I'd gone to Eldorado was directly tied to my safety.
Returning hunters got swarmed by scouts everywhere.
Just look at those supply holy swords.
If becoming a Church Holy Knight got you one, on Earth it was a legendary blade.
Even trivial items from Eldorado could be artifacts to us.
And that was just items. Skills and abilities learned there were unheard-of opportunities on Earth.
So who would leave returning hunters alone? Even the government tracked down missing ones for mana scans.
Once you got a text like that, you couldn't officially enter a dungeon until you'd done the scan.
Even if I admitted I'd gone, the scan would reveal my pathetic state: "Ah, this guy's just wasted time all the way in Eldorado."
But would that really be the only reaction?
Maybe not. Someone might think, "What if that guy's hiding something good he brought back?"
If some psycho went digging into the rumor, it wouldn't end with simple torture.
That's why I hid it from the start.
It was safer that way.
Hunters vanishing for closed-door training or other reasons were a dime a dozen anyway.
No rush for me.
'I'll rest a few more days.'
Then find some porter work again.
Not that it'd be easy.
I was a powerless nobody with no status window or skills.
Not all porters were created equal.
With a status window, you could at least learn skills. Even a tiny inventory skill changed how porters were treated.
"I want a status window too..."
I muttered weakly and launched the game I'd downloaded yesterday.
My way of escaping reality for a bit.
I'd played plenty of games before going to Eldorado.
Checking yesterday after coming back, the two-year gap was huge.
New content and updates everywhere—returning players could barely keep up.
Filling it would take serious cash and grinding.
I just deleted it.
No time to waste with how busy I'd be.
And the game I'd downloaded yesterday: [Eldorado].
This one was pretty fresh.
A few gripes with some elements, but as far as I knew, it was the first game set in another world like that.
Managing a dungeon and setting monsters as lieutenants? Wild.
"What's the endgame goal here anyway?"
Unlike games with long tutorials, this one was brutally unhelpful.
No clue what to aim for.
Just grow the dungeon and cause chaos?
Shouldn't have skipped the intro story.
Whatever, past is past. I eyed my dungeon on screen.
The lieutenant I'd set was bustling around on screen.
Hm. Working hard.
Yeah, after all the cash I poured into you.
If the dungeon got breached suddenly, I'd be disappointed.
I checked the gold from yesterday's spending: exactly 100,000.
"What can I do with this?"
Did it hear me? A new window popped up.
Dungeon expansion?
Yeah, the current dungeon was way too small.
Named 'Nest of the Evil God,' but it looked shabby at that size.
'Expand first.'
Dungeons meant defending with monsters and traps. But in a tiny space, even hordes were useless against splash attacks.
And right now, Celia alone could hold it.
I dumped all 100,000 gold into expansions.
Looking at the bigger dungeon felt satisfying.
The small cave had stretched into a vast underground network.
Even invaders would take time to reach the end now.
I could slowly add monsters and traps along the paths.
For now, Dungeon Stealth kept intruders away.
Expansion had more perks.
"Oh, so that's how you get stronger."
I got the gist.
Of course, it needed intruders for sacrifices.
"Or just send her out?"
I tried sending Lieutenant Celia outside.
Not available yet.
Disappointing, but I had a better idea of how to play now.
Anyway, next up?
"Time to reroll."
I swapped my 3-star lieutenant to a 6-star.
And bam—mailbox gift!
Loyalty, now affinity.
Lots to manage.
Good rewards, though. S-grade costume.
Affinity should skyrocket.
Claimed it and tapped the ticket.
Screen filled with outfits: teddy bear hoodies, pajamas, dresses, even skimpy stuff.
'Why is this S-grade?'
No stats shown, just looks. And nothing too weird visually.
No need to overthink.
Picked the maid outfit.
Perfect for a dungeon-managing lieutenant.
Not because I like it—fits the image. Brilliant choice.
Maid Outfit (S) - Reduces damage taken from holy attacks by 90%.
"Oh."
S-grade for sure.
Tapped Celia and hit [Gift].
Quick response.
Affinity maxed instantly.
"From now on, manage the dungeon in that outfit."
Celia looked perfect in the maid outfit.
Celia cleaned and managed every corner of the dungeon to fulfill her master Yi Kang-hyun's orders.
Fortunately, she had memories from managing dungeons as the disciple of the Succubus Queen.
She drew on those to avoid burdening her master.
Her master was a noble being, practically a god.
He'd effortlessly rescued her from the White Church's heavily guarded underground.
Who else could be greater?
As she thought that—
The dungeon shook.
"What...?"
Shock was brief.
The dungeon was expanding rapidly.
She was stunned.
Enlarging a dungeon without effort? Unheard of.
Dungeon masters fought over ownership partly because expansion took massive labor, time, and funds.
Yet her master did it with power alone.
"Truly a supreme being."
Her surprise didn't end there.
A maid outfit appeared before her.
'...'
No ordinary one—immense power emanated from it.
'Where did he get something like this?'
Celia vowed to give her all for life to such a master.
"Priest, it's dangerous. Why not head back? One sealing stone vanished yesterday, and the Church is in an uproar."
In a mountain range of the Sail Kingdom, two men climbed a path.
One wore priest robes; the other plain clothes with a supply holy sword at his waist.
Priest and Holy Knight.
More precisely, apprentice priest and Holy Knight.
Though the Holy Knight outranked him, he spoke deferentially, lowering his posture.
The apprentice wasn't ordinary.
His name: Yuel.
His ability: Eye of Insight.
It pierced all illusions, drawing the Church's attention.
Some said he'd lead the Church one day.
Seeing through everything made purging heretics easy.
To the Church, he was a blessing.
Ordination as full priest loomed soon.
"Don't worry. It was a succubus from the sealing stone, right? A 3-star one at that."
Simple point: no need to fuss over a mere 3-star.
3-stars were nothing.
Why seal one underground? Questionable.
5-stars, maybe.
But 5-stars weren't casual encounters.
Disaster-class.
Cities would go on high alert if one moved.
Even if Yuel met one by slim chance, he had a trump card.
The Church supplied high-grade artifacts since he was key.
Sacred relics, no less.
The Holy Knight nodded, knowing this.
Nothing threatened them now.
Show Church IDs, and nobles bowed.
Trouble only from above 5-stars.
But those were ultra-rare. Once-in-a-lifetime sights.
Sure, records of a 7-star centuries ago nearly devoured the continent.
Ancient history now. Mythical, ignored.
How long had they climbed?
Yuel stopped.
"What's wrong, Priest?"
"There's a cave."
Cave?
The Holy Knight tilted his head.
Yuel pointed at vines.
But Eye of Insight revealed a hidden cave beyond.
"Nest of the Evil God..."
At least no dungeon aura.
"Knight, looks like heretics are here."
Yuel's expression hardened.