Pick me Up – Chapter 268 – Golden Legacy (2)
Late afternoon.
I left Iselle's room and returned to the mansion.
The Engraving of El Cid.
This must be the Golden Legacy Alpha Zero mentioned.
It was much more useful than an absurd master key for server one.
An Engraving used by the number one in the ranking. It goes without saying how powerful it was.
Of course, I couldn't use it yet.
I hadn't finished interpreting the book.
But someday, it would undoubtedly be in my hands.
‘I must reach 7 stars.’
I already had the necessary conditions.
I knew it was insufficient to stay at 6 stars.
The difficulty was much greater than a normal account, with the presence of the 7-star monster, the Prince, and Siris's intervention. The environment was changing drastically.
‘Those without power...’
They have no right to choose.
They would only be dragged along like a buoy, just like when Siris attacked me recently.
This was only a truce.
I was tired of being dragged around by others.
I didn't want to end up running away without knowing anything.
You could call it ambition. I had been through a lot here. Everything about me had changed from head to toe. I probably couldn't live as before if I returned to Earth.
I didn't want to leave things to regret.
I choose.
Whether to stay or go back.
For that, I need power.
‘I must take revenge at least.’
Tel had bothered me so much.
I must return the favor.
[Master Anything, welcome to Pick Me Up!]
A holographic window appeared before my eyes.
It was the connection message from Anything.
[Loading complete.]
[T O U C H (Select)]
At first, the connection time was late at night, but now it was fixed in the afternoon.
Even counting only the playtime, it had doubled. I had entered the realm of addicts.
[You have received a work report from Sub-Master Han (★★★★★). Do you wish to review it?]
[Yes (Select) / No]
The report screen appeared on Anything's interface.
It was something Nerissa and I prepared every night.
The resource values like food, wood, minerals, policy proposals, operational direction, and the progress of the heroes were meticulously recorded. Anything read the report by dragging the screen with familiar movements.
Then the game began.
It was played similarly to a simulation game.
Facilities are updated, heroes are assigned to each floor, and they are given appropriate roles.
Thanks to diligent studies, Anything was completely familiar. The difference with the previous neglected management was like night and day.
‘In terms of tactics, it's still indifferent.’
Mission strategy was almost left to chance.
It was delegated to key combatants, including myself.
Sometimes tactical tools were used depending on the situation, but basically, the will of the heroes was respected.
Probably because Anything trusted me.
[Gift a War Horse Statue to Han (★★★★★)]
[Gift a War Horse Statue to Han (★★★★★)]
[Gift a War Horse Statue...]
Pop!
With a childish sound effect, the statues began to accumulate in the display case.
I watched the collection accumulate indifferently. Anything seemed to think I would like it if they were mass-produced like in a factory...
[Han (★★★★★) is pleased to receive the War Horse Statue.]
[Affinity increase.]
I wonder if Anything knows.
What's really happening inside the game he's playing.
That the heroes in the game are living beings and how many secrets are hidden in this world.
Well, he couldn't imagine it.
Reading the diary, it seemed that Anything had suspicions, but they would remain as doubts. It had nothing to do with him.
[Memory Album]
After finishing his daily tasks, Anything pressed the book icon on the right side of the screen.
Memory Album. It was content updated with the new patch. They said they made it for users who enjoyed decorating.
[Here you can view photos and videos taken inside the game. Relive the precious memories with the heroes.]
Lately, Anything had been focusing on decorating these albums after finishing his daily tasks.
I was the protagonist of most of those albums.
[Album No.032 – Han napping]
[Album No.033 – A moment with the War Horse Statue]
[Album No.034 – Decapitation]
The album photos were treated with the game's graphics.
A bit exaggerated. I would like him to pay attention to how I look too.
“...”
Suddenly, a question arose in me.
What kind of person would Anything be? It wouldn't be a bad idea to look him up when I return to Earth.
Even if I revealed my identity, he wouldn't believe me, and I had no intention of doing so, but at least I wanted to see his face.
<Why are you so melancholy?>
I looked to my side.
A fat pigeon was waddling in.
<You should practice once more instead of wasting time like this. The showdown with the prince is near. Don't become arrogant just because you gained invincible power.>
“Wow!”
I grabbed the pigeon's neck and lifted it.
<What are you doing? Put me down right now!>
“Is it really invincible? I feel cheated.”
<It's your fault for not training enough! The Black Dragon's Blood is invincible anywhere in Taonier...>
“That's within Taonier. Outside is another story.”
I didn't call it on purpose.
I wonder how it would react if it saw Siris's power.
“Well, it's time to get moving.”
I stood up from the chair.
The destination was the special Training Ground on the fifth floor.
Anything had prepared that place for Group 1, and it wouldn't be damaged no matter what kind of disaster occurred.
“Guaah!”
With the pigeon in one hand, I headed to the Training Ground.
I greeted the guard at the entrance with a glance and opened the steel door.
Clang! Clang!
Training was already in full swing in the Training Ground, which was similar to a large auditorium.
‘Jenna and Belkist.’
They seemed unaware of my arrival and continued training.
Sparks flew as they crossed the floor, ceiling, and walls, coming together and then separating again. It looked like they were practicing pure combat without using skills.
<Why have you come here? This is not your training ground.>
So it was.
Since obtaining the dragon's soul, I usually trained with Halgion in the mental world.
The difference in efficiency was enormous, and the pigeon caused such a fuss about it not being an appropriate level that I eventually gave up. Besides, it wasn't a real space.
‘I don't see the other members...’
Katio must be busy with various matters, and Kishasha seemed entertained with the newly summoned beast heroes.
The two here were witnesses to my clash with Siris. They knew my true identity, of course.
“Wait, wait. Stop for a moment!”
Belkist's longsword stopped right in front of Jenna's neck.
“Do you surrender?”
“It's not surrender, it's that my brother has come!”
“What nonsense. I won't fall for that now...”
“Have I really been so far from you guys?”
I slowly walked towards the Training Ground.
Belkist let out an ironic laugh.
“...It's real.”
“You think it's fake?”
Jenna wiped the sweat from her forehead and sheathed her bow.
“Brother, I didn't expect you to come.”
“I thought you didn't want to be with us.”
“That's not it.”
I released the pigeon I was holding.
<Damn you...! What are you doing?!>
Siris might be watching this scene.
Even if she had withdrawn, I couldn't know if she was hiding and watching.
Still, I didn't care.
“Do you remember the woman who pointed a sword at me a few days ago?”
I started to speak.
Jenna nodded repeatedly and Belkist frowned, disgusted.
“You mean the insolent knight.”
“Her name is Siris Agentheim. When I was a master, she was my most outstanding subordinate. I assure you, she is incredibly strong. Even if there were dozens of me, I couldn't beat her. And there are four more like her. In total, five. All are monsters.”
“Why are you telling us this?”
Belkist spoke.
I smiled.
“Think about it. Isn't it unfair, five against one?”
We didn't need to fight.
Their goal was to return me to Earth. It matched my previous goal.
So we just needed to gain enough strength to complete the mission. It wasn't necessary to become stronger by force. However...
‘At least.’
I wanted to finish it on my own.
I didn't want to be dragged here by force and then return by force.
Why have I gone through all this if not?
“As expected. 5 against 3 would be fair.”
Jenna nudged Belkist.
“It's their choice. I don't force you.”
Belkist closed his eyes and crossed his arms.
Then he spoke in a low voice.
“How strong is it?”
“More than you can imagine.”
“Then.”
“We must become stronger.”
“How much stronger can we be?”
“There is enough potential.”
Belkist opened his eyes.
“Then there is no reason to refuse. We have already received much.”
“To be clear, this has no relation to the mission. It's a personal matter of mine.”
“It doesn't matter. Let me know when you have a plan. I'll be warming up.”
Belkist sheathed his sword and left the Training Ground without hesitation.
“I thought you'd let it go, but it turned out well. That's how my brother should be.”
“It won't be easy.”
“If it were easy, it wouldn't be fun.”
Jenna winked at me.
The pigeon looked at us with astonished eyes.
<What nonsense are you talking about? At a time like this, before the showdown with the prince...>
“Hey. I'll give you a week. Let those two enter the mental world too.”
<...?>
Halgion looked at me in astonishment.
<Wait, you mean the mental world I'm thinking of?>
“Yes. The efficiency is different.”
In that place, where time flowed differently, one could get a training effect similar to the varied dimension where Muden was.
It was just the beginning.
<Idiot! You say nonsense! This is absurd!>
“I think Belkist can do it. Jenna... find a way.”
<Why should I do something like that for those who haven't made a contract with me?>
“For Taonier. If it continues like this, I might go on strike.”
<Damn...>
The pigeon started jumping in its seat.
It seemed quite happy.
“It seems like an interesting conversation.”
“Prepare to remove your Engraving too. I'll give you a new one.”
“You'll give me a new one?”
Jenna blinked.
Jenna's Engraving, the Blessing of the Wind Arrow, had the advantage of being very versatile and easy to handle, but it had a growth limit. At some point, it would need to be changed.
‘I found something suitable.’
The Book of the Inverted Sky not only contained El Cid's Engraving.
It also recorded the Engravings of Leetha and Kirzak, known as the two workhorses of Golden. Moreover, many more Engravings were inscribed. Even the Engraving of Dan Ziheum, the second in the ranking, which El Cid had absorbed.
What seemed to be just a book turned out to be an incredible treasure.
With this, it's enough.
The conditions are met.
‘Let's see.’
Who will win?
I won't give up easily. I've always had a difficult temperament.
The more I'm oppressed, the more I rebel.
<If three people enter at the same time, their consciousness could mix and go crazy! Do you know what you're saying? Don't speak without knowing anything...>
First, I have to convince this one.
I know a very effective way to do it.
‘He likes water.’
If I dunk him in a water puddle headfirst, he'll be so happy he won't know what to do.
Within three days, I'll get an answer.
“Gugugu...”
I grabbed Halgion, who was jumping from side to side.
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