I Entered a Gacha Game That Had Been Abandoned for 10 Years

14 – Deafening Darkness (3)

“How, though?”

A question flowed from Lordmalis’s mouth.

“Seriously, how?”

There wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t a question.

From the moment he became entangled with Laratania, there wasn’t a single thing that didn’t raise questions.

It was a question why one of Laratania’s heroes was harboring a grudge against the Kalan Kingdom.

It was a question why a pair of red eyes were raging for a lord who now possessed nothing but ruins, unlike ten years ago.

Among all the questions, the most perplexing one was that the red eyes were standing in front of him.

This was undeniably a strange tale.

Lordmalis was dead.

He had only revived by borrowing the power of an artifact, and his death was an undeniable fact.

‘Even if that’s the case, why?’

The red eyes were waiting for Lordmalis.

As if they already knew he would come back to life.

So, without realizing it, Lordmalis threw a question.

“Just intuition.”

To Lordmalis, the answer was so empty and disappointing that it felt hollow.

The next moment.

Shaaaack!

“Screaaaam!”

Lordmalis realized in horror that both of his legs had been severed by the red eyes and let out a shrill scream.

As Merilda silently lifted a wine bottle placed on one side and placed her foot on Lordmalis’s chest, removing the cork from the bottle.

“Why are you doing this! Why on earth! Why are you doing this to me!!!”

A scream erupted from the lips of Lordmalis.

“…”

Merilda looked at Lordmalis indifferently, her hands busy with the reins.

“It’s strange, everything is strange, all of it!”

However, Lordmalis, now more filled with a sense of injustice and anger than the fear he had moments ago, began shouting as if expelling something.

“Red Eyes! Why are you doing this for the Lord of ten years ago!? Why is the Absolute of Darkness lurking in the Kalan Kingdom!?”

“You, you’re no longer a part of Lartania! The Absolute of Darkness, neither are you!”

Lordmalis knew that despite the red eyes attacking the territory, she was not a hero affiliated with Lartania’s territory.

No, he couldn’t help but know.

Those who became lords with the power of the territory stone could see if the heroes were bound by a contractual relationship through the colors representing them.

Red meant heroes who were already contracted and could not be contracted.

Green meant heroes available for contracts.

The colorless white, which showed no color at all, indicated heroes not belonging anywhere but with no intention of being recruited.

And when Lordmalis saw the red eyes for the first time in the Sertova territory, he saw the color emanating from the red-eyed body was white.

“Why are you like this when you’re not even affiliated – when you have no more connection with that lord!!!”

Spitting out blood from his lips as if venting his frustration, Lordmalis, after uttering all those words, regained his senses and wore a fearful expression.

While speaking, he felt unjustly entangled as if the whole world was grabbing his ankles, but after venting his anger, the feeling of fear began to creep in again.

However.

Surprisingly, the red eyes, who had been listening to Lordmalis’s angry outburst, looked down at him with an unexpectedly indifferent expression.

“…?”

Just as he began to feel puzzled by this.

“There’s one thing everyone, including you, has misunderstood.”

She spoke calmly, unlike before when she expressed anger.

“My relationship with the master is not merely bound by such a contractual relationship.”

The red eyes bowed.

“Think about who made me, who was once chased by slave hunters and had such strength.”

“Who taught the ignorant Rangin tribe about combat techniques?”

“The alias and name you are shouting and remembering – do you know who gave it to me?”

“Even this attire and hairstyle. The instinct that can perceive that you will come back to life -“

Roadmalis looked out.

“Everything, received from the master.”

“Without exception, all to the master.”

Red eyes stared at Roadmalis.

Roadmalis also looked into the red eyes.

And in those moments, he realized two things he had mistaken.

“The master, is my everything.”

Among them, one was that the red eyes, which seemed endlessly indifferent and cold, possessed something unique to the madness of a lunatic.

The other thing was.

“My, everything.”

“Uh, agh-“

The red eyes were not calm, but angrier than ever.

And.

“So, you who tried to take away my everything-“

Thunk!

“-are going to die.”

The red eyes that silenced Roadmalis by piercing a wine bottle into his throat disappeared from the spot without a word.

####

Territory: Lartania.

Territorial Development: 23

Territorial Residents

[Human: 918 people]

Owned Buildings

[Lord’s Castle LV1]

[City Wall LV1]

[Residential Zone LV1]

[Blacksmith LV0 [Under Construction] 0%]

[Barracks LV0 [Under Construction] 77%]

[Tavern LV0 [Under Construction] 77%]

Ownership Forces

– None –

—-

Kim Hyun-woo, who had been staring blankly at the growing number of territory residents, now approaching 900, had a very strange expression on his face.

The reason was the ever-increasing number of territory residents.

Of course, it was a good thing that the number of territory residents was increasing.

After all, in Arteil, the number of territory residents essentially equated to labor force.

However, this was only true when the basic structure of the territory was in place. If the number of territory residents increases but there is no manpower to manage them, it could lead to rebellion in the worst-case scenario.

Of course, in the original game, rebellions rarely occurred in the early stages of play.

When Arteil was first started, the basic buildings were either already constructed or could be built in an instant.

But what about the territory of Larthenia right now?

The library was only just completed, and the partially destroyed Lord’s Castle had not been fixed yet.

And what else?

The influx of territory residents required additional labor in residential areas, and the blacksmith, which was supposed to serve as the foundation for the military and farming operations, had not yet been built.

Furthermore, the tavern, where a hero could be selected to manage internal affairs of the territory? Nonexistent.

What about the trading post? Similarly, nonexistent.

In other words, in the current state of Larthenia’s territory, despite there being practically nothing Kim Hyun-woo could do, it was not surprising that the territory residents were gathering and a rebellion could happen at any time.

However, Kim Hyun-woo wore a subtle expression even in such a situation.

[Labor Efficiency: 75%]

The reason was that despite the influx of territory residents, the labor efficiency that should have decreased was still quite high, and in addition, the discontent among the territory residents was lower than expected.

And the reason for that was-

“… because of the title?”

[Yes, the story about the title ‘King of Logs’ that spread when it was created last time has also reached the refugees who have come this time.]

Kim Hyun-woo nodded at Loria’s words and spoke.

“Ah, so it’s because of the story about that messenger of the god or something spreading, that’s why the discontent is low.”

[No.]

“Huh? Then what is it? Weren’t you talking about that a while ago?”

[The story about the event when the title ‘King of Logs’ was created is correct, but the story that primarily spread was not about the messenger of the god, but about the event when logs crushed the thieves.]

“…”

[To explain in more detail, the story that is spreading is that after saying, ‘Want to taste some log meat?’ and waving their hand, logs would emerge and turn the thieves into minced meat.]

“Wait, I never said that!”

“Rumors tend to take on a life of their own, my lord.”

“…It’s weird how they do.”

“Still, thanks to that, dissatisfaction levels are significantly low.”

Now, Kim Hyunwoo realized that the low dissatisfaction wasn’t just a religious expression but held a more ominous meaning. He made a subtle expression and spoke.

“So, how much longer until the territory runs smoothly?”

“About 20 days from now, once the blacksmith, barracks, tavern, and trading post are all properly established, you should be able to start managing the territory effectively.”

“Is that so?”

Hearing Loria’s words, Kim Hyunwoo nodded in satisfaction, glancing beyond the lord’s castle at the residential area visible.

The population had undoubtedly increased significantly from before.

He spotted refugees from outside, setting up their makeshift stalls, perhaps since the market hadn’t been constructed yet. Seeing them, Kim Hyunwoo suddenly remembered where the refugees had come from.

“Sertova Territory—”

Sertova Territory.

The representatives of the refugees who had arrived right after the recent event had shared stories of their eyes being set on the territory, intending to disrupt it, turning into refugees and seeking refuge in the Larutania Territory.

At that moment, Kim Hyunwoo realized one undeniable fact: for some reason, Merilda was aiding him.

Of course, he couldn’t quite fathom why Merilda would be helping him. However, dismissing this as mere coincidence became difficult, especially considering that Merilda had been targeting territories associated with him ever since a slightly uncomfortable incident.

He quietly believed his speculations were right.

Therefore.

“Perhaps I should meet her at some point to express gratitude and have a conversation when the opportunity arises.”

As Kim Hyunwoo contemplated this, Loria spoke up.

“However—”

“Yes?”

“Once the basic structure of the territory is complete, how do you plan to develop it further? While the current population is somewhat manageable, under these circumstances, growing the territory through conventional means seems challenging.”

“Hmm.”

Indeed, Loria’s point was valid.

Although he could afford to take it easy as he couldn’t immediately engage in management, the truth was he couldn’t leisurely grow the territory as he did in Arteil. Even if it wasn’t a concern at the moment, once the territory grew and resources began accumulating, other territories would covet his resources, likely leading to conflict.

Furthermore, beyond the development of the territory, due to the excessively high level of the territory, strong monsters from the maze were likely to periodically emerge from level 30 onward, along with, as Kim Hyunwoo expected, a multitude of high-risk, high-return events.

“All the hierarchical raids will proceed as planned.”

As a result, if Kim Hyunwoo operates a territory in the usual manner at this point, he will inevitably fail.

No, it’s not just a matter of course; it’s a fate.

However, despite knowing this fact.

“It’s okay. I have a plan.”

Kim Hyunwoo confidently stated.

[May I ask how you plan to manage the territory?]

In response to Loria’s question that followed.

“I’m going to create a labyrinthine city.”

[Labyrinth, city… Are you serious?]

“Yes.”

Kim Hyunwoo chuckled with a sly smile.

“I mean a city where the talents known throughout the continent will gather.”

####

He is the lord of the prosperous territory of Laipeil, which is both a territory to the east of the Kalan Kingdom and simultaneously belongs to the kingdom, being one of the three most affluent territories in the kingdom.

Laipeilaoxin Duke, a powerful figure within the kingdom, fundamentally possesses the temperament of an indifferent noble.

However, most nobles and even the king of the Kalan Kingdom did not criticize the duke for his indifferent demeanor.

The simple reason was that Laipeilaoxin Duke was in a position where it was acceptable.

Holding power within the kingdom, including the king, and boasting more than eight heroes with legacies within his territory alone, beyond the fame he had within the kingdom.

Moreover, in his territory, there were thousands of soldiers that the duke could summon at any time, and it was the only territory belonging to the kingdom with quite a few combat guilds.

Thanks to this, Laipeilaoxin Duke, who possessed the temperament of an indifferent noble, could easily mobilize mercenaries with just money, and-

“Just kill him, right? The teacher was uncomfortable, wasn’t he?”

“Hush, Ruin. The teacher only gave a warning and asked him to come.”

“I want to kill him. Can’t I kill him?”

“Do you want to trouble the teacher?”

“Ha. Why should I spare a piglet who didn’t even heed the one warning not to touch the Larthania territory, despite hearing it and not obeying the words of the teacher?”

“Shut up, Ruin. It could be a nuisance even to the ‘master’ if you don’t handle it carefully.”

“Why?”

“You need to give him the chance to be killed directly.”

“Oh.”

“Is that so?”

“Then shall we kill only half?”

“Hmm-“

Due to the five swords of Kallan, who came to obey the command of the absolute ruler of darkness, fear trembled within him.