C240
I've finished my business with El Cid.
Of course, I still have some doubts about him.
First, the reason El Cid wanted to go to Server 1.
This was not difficult to deduce.
During the process of completing the Dorado scenario, he developed grievances against the game company and decided to roll up his sleeves to resolve it himself.
‘The grievances are...’
I reviewed the contents of the Inverted Heaven Book.
From the 50th floor, where El Cid fell in the game, to the 80th floor where he was crowned king, everything was well recorded with text and images.
The problem came after.
‘The last story is highly likely to be false.’
The story that was clumsily added at the end of the book.
The content that El Cid saved Dorado and became king before embarking on another adventure.
The official story of Dorado was probably written on the pages that had been smeared with ink and were illegible.
‘There was a problem with the stages after the 80th floor.’
From the 80th floor onwards, the series of fragments began to appear officially.
It seems that the scenario at that time flowed in the opposite direction to what El Cid had thought.
Seeing how El Cid devoured his subordinates, it seems they couldn't even return home after climbing to the top of the tower.
“…”
This is becoming a headache.
There are too many doubts. Why did El Cid, instead of merging with the sub-master, become a one-star hero and fall in Dorado? What did he see at the end of his mission? And why was he determined to confront me with almost suicidal actions?
‘Would he rather give me his relics than die at the hands of a low-level master?’
It's too late to ask now.
I stored the questions. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't find the answer.
In the end, only by reaching the top of the tower will I know the answer.
Anyway, the Inverted Heaven Book, the key material for the 7-star promotion and the final Raid reward, ended up with Anything.
I don't know if Iselle has it due to record manipulation.
If the Inverted Heaven Book had been in usable condition, I would have passed it to one of the members of Group 1 from Niflheim, but now that item is nothing more than an ornament.
I decided to keep it for now.
You never know when it might be needed.
After Wiryung and I returned to Taonier, we were given a long maintenance period.
We had suffered considerable losses passing through the 50th floor. Edith, among other elite heroes, had died, and most of the aircraft were damaged or destroyed. It would take a long time to regain their original strength.
So I'm taking a vacation for now.
Although I say vacation, it's more like personal training time.
I had been neglecting my training due to the recent hustle and bustle, so I needed to replenish myself.
‘I should pay attention to the general situation.’
Zzzzzp.
As I sipped through the straw, a refreshing liquid flowed down my throat.
A special energy drink made by a Taonier pharmacist.
It helps increase training efficiency.
Woooom.
As I moved my feet on the pedals, the two wheels spun frantically.
What I'm riding is a new training apparatus that Anything brought to the 4th Floor Training Field.
Jenna jumped surprised at seeing this new technology, but I was already fed up with seeing it on Earth.
Exercise bike.
That is, a stationary bike.
Following Anything's plans, a carpenter from the equipment workshop made the body, and Katio made the motor.
Although its appearance was crude, the level of completion was high. If you place a weight of about 50 kg, the training would be more effective.
I hung a towel around my neck and occasionally drank while pedaling.
With my left hand, I held the bike's handlebar, and with my right hand, I touched the holographic window.
[MyTube™]
[Anything's Channel, Pick Me Up Master]
[Subscribers: 13,253]
Several conveniences emerged after passing the 50th floor.
One of them is that the available time to connect to the internet increased significantly.
Moreover, now I can enter sites without hearing Iselle's ‘Fairy Power.’
‘Subscribers have increased.’
I scrolled down the screen.
A newly uploaded video titled ‘Taonier, 50th Floor’ was posted.
The total view count was 320,000. It far surpassed the records of any famous BJ.
I entered the video and started reading the comments.
<Lee Pureum> 3 HOURS AGO
I enjoyed it ^^
The scale of this stage is huge!
Highly recommended! I am also looking forward to reaching the 55th floor!
But… why does the Series of Fragments start here from the 50th floor?
Isn't the account bugged? From what I know, they're supposed to appear after the 80th floor.
<Glasses Senior> 6 HOURS AGO
At first, I thought you were just riding the coattails, but it seems your skills are also improving rapidly.
The more I watch, the stronger you become! At this rate, you almost seem like a prospect at Siris's level.
The reaction in the comments has changed a lot compared to before.
Up to the 30th floor, half of the comments were insults about ‘carrying,’ but now those comments are barely seen.
At most, there are some that bring up the incident with the Silver Star Guild to criticize him.
‘Anything has also improved a lot.’
At least he no longer just observes.
Even on the 50th floor, he was organizing the fleet formation, supplying items, and warning about dangers, showing various small acts of bravery.
Compared to the Anything of before, it's like night and day.
He has changed from just being ‘carried’ to being a master who contributes more than necessary.
It's like an ant has evolved into a Brachiosaurus.
‘His gameplay pattern has also changed.’
I looked up.
Although it was almost dawn by Earth time, Anything had not disconnected.
He was busy handling tasks in the Lobby.
His average connection time has more than doubled.
If it had been only one or two days, it would have been one thing, but it has been happening for almost a month now.
And that's not all, lately he has been spending almost 100,000 won on gems every few days.
‘A casual player with no expenses… has turned into a hardcore player who spends a lot.’
If you add up all the money Anything has spent, it easily exceeds a million won.
[N/T: Around 725 dollars.]
Although MyTube generates profits, the personal losses must also be considerable.
‘He is becoming a veteran.’
According to Iselle's reports, it seems that Anything is also giving Pick Me Up tips to his MyTube subscribers.
They say the content has also changed. He no longer gives trash advice like ‘If you give a horse statue to a hero you like, they will carry you.’
Now he seems to know how to handle the heroes to some extent.
Right after clearing the 50th floor, there was a reward for Anything's main fighters.
He gave Kishasha premium meat, Belkist training clothes, Katio a pillow for endless nights of work, Jenna a hunting bow. And to me…
‘Why do I still have a horse statue?’
It seems there's a problem.
‘……’
I shook my head.
Well, now I don't care what I receive.
Anyway, I had no desire for other gifts.
If it's not a statue, everything else is useless.
Beep.
By touching the ‘X’ icon in Windows, the internet closed.
I had done enough web browsing. After completing basic endurance training, I decided to start weapon training.
Anything had not yet disconnected.
Click.
I reached my hand to the sheath of my Bifröst sword.
In front of me was a specially made steel dummy.
I can't remember how many I've destroyed.
I took a deep breath slowly…
[¡Ding!]
[Master, you have received a friend request! Please check the ‘Community’ tab.]
[Do you accept the friend request?]
[Yes / No]
An alert appeared on Anything's control panel.
Friend requests were no longer unusual.
Anything tried to close the window with a familiar motion.
[※ Notification]
[The user who sent the request is registered in your ‘Directory.’ Do you really want to cancel? Please check again!]
[Tips/ When installing, if you agreed to the ‘provide personal data’ checkbox, you can receive various services.]
Anything paused.
It seems that the user who sent the friend request was in his directory.
The game had read Anything's phone directory to show that warning.
That user is…
‘Someone Anything knows in real life?’
After a brief hesitation, Anything touched ‘Yes.’
[¡Ding!]
[wlsghWkd has been registered as a new friend!]
Immediately, a private message from the unknown master arrived.
wlsghWkd> Is tomorrow your day off at work?
Anything remained silent for a moment before responding.
Anything> No.
wlsghWkd> And you're playing at this hour?
Anything> Lately, I sleep less.
wlsghWkd> Eh, I heard you fell asleep at work. Do you spend all day in your room playing with your phone on your days off? Is this game that fun? I just installed it, but I'm not sure.
Anything> It's okay when you're bored. It's also fun to watch.
wlsghWkd> Today, Aunt complained a lot to me. She said you're so into the game that you don't go out.
‘Who is this guy?’
I can't decide how to call him by his nickname.
W, L, S…
‘… Jinho-jjang?’
He wrote his name in Korean as wlsghWkd in English.
A sense of the name that transcends Anything.
wlsghWkd> Anyway, turn off the game and sleep. You have to work tomorrow. You can't fall asleep at work again.
Anything> …ㅠ.ㅠ.
wlsghWkd> Don't cry. If you don't sleep, should I tell Aunt? And answer the phone. You used all your data installing the game.
Anything> Aren't you going to school tomorrow?
wlsghWkd> It's the school's anniversary day.
Anything> I'm so jealous…
I slid half of the Bifröst sword back into its sheath.
Something I had never witnessed since arriving here was happening.
wlsghWkd> Is this game that fun? The name is a bit outdated, and my friends say it's a game ruined by luck and money.
Anything> Isn't it better than Maple Story or Dungeon & Bike?
wlsghWkd> Games from what era? haha No one in my class plays them. Generation gap, you know? Yes, yes, I understand! Even though you're still playing Kart Rider.
Anything> I won't give you any more pocket money.
wlsghWkd> Sorry.
I scratched my cheek.
It seems I had momentarily forgotten that this guy was a common citizen of Earth.
Of course, he would have these kinds of conversations with his younger cousin.
Anything> I'll play for 10 more minutes and then go to sleep. Don't gossip to mom.
wlsghWkd> haha Okay.
Anything> Since you installed the game, try it too. Did you do the tutorial?
wlsghWkd> The one that ends with killing a goblin? Yes, I finished it. Now they're going to give me a free summon.
Anything> Continue for now. Make sure to favorite the one you get in the free summon.
wlsghWkd> It seems boring. I'll just watch from afar. I can't control it.
Anything> If you finish the tutorial, I'll help you a bit.
wlsghWkd> Oh. Now that you mention it, are you an expert in this game? How do you plan to help me?
Anything> I'll send my sub-master. He's just in a rest period.
… What?
Anything> He'll teach you the basic tips and how to play the game. Don't try to keep him, just think about learning and take it easy.
wlsghWkd> It seems it will be boring. But I'll try anyway. Do it tomorrow morning before I go to work. I want to try it on the bus.
Anything> Ok.
I let out a hollow laugh.
What kind of nonsense is this kid saying?
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