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

26 – Upper (3)

At first glance, the state of the Lartania territory seemed quite good.

The territory that had only about 80 residents now had over 1400, and the barren land that had nothing to show for itself began to show signs of a territory.

However, an important fact to note here was that Lartania’s development was not due to the territory itself thriving but rather solely due to Kim Hyun-woo’s investment.

In other words, the Lartania territory was in a state where expenses overwhelmingly exceeded income, and if Kim Hyun-woo were to stop investing, the territory would go into stagnation.

Currently, Kim Hyun-woo was not collecting any taxes from the residents of the territory.

Of course, that was entirely his intention.

Temporarily exempting taxes to somehow gather the important labor force, the residents of the territory, was Kim Hyun-woo’s idea.

Likewise, it was his decision to not charge the incoming residents any taxes and provide them with residences.

Thanks to that, the rate of residents leaving the territory was close to zero, and the loyalty of the residents was also very high, so Kim Hyun-woo didn’t regret investing in the territory.

“But our resources are starting to run low.”

[Red Stone: 5800] [Blue Stone: 24211] [Gold Coins: 2134]

Kim Hyun-woo raised his gaze and looked at the resource window displayed on the UI.

The 9,700 red stones that were there had gradually been used up, leaving only 5,800 now, and the 1,500,000 blue stones were now reduced to only 24,211.

In other words, the resources that Kim Hyun-woo had acquired through the labyrinth break were slowly running out.

Of course, Kim Hyun-woo was not flustered.

He had anticipated this situation from the beginning.

“Creating resources with the blue stone, which has a much lower yield than directly mining, and constantly converting them into gold coins for the wages of laborers, there’s no way anything would be left.”

Kim Hyun-woo now gazed at the dwindling blue stones, barely around 20,000 left, then shifted his attention to the red stone.

Compared to the blue stones, the red stones still accounted for half of what they used to be. However, Kim Hyun-woo had no intention of using the red stones. No, it wasn’t just that he didn’t want to use them; he couldn’t afford to.

The red stones he currently held were absolutely essential for Kim Hyun-woo’s initial purpose of creating the labyrinthine city.

…Anyway, even though Kim Hyun-woo’s financial situation was on the verge of collapse after repeated investments in the Larthania territory, he remained unfazed.

For Kim Hyun-woo, who had foreseen this situation, there was a plan in place.

So.

“I originally planned to open trade routes to neighboring territories and sell the goods. The upper echelons shouldn’t mind.”

With such thoughts, Kim Hyun-woo began to manipulate the UI created by Loria.

The next day.

He visited Tynus Upper, who was still selling goods in the territory.

####

“There’s nothing to gain here.”

After wandering around the Larthania territory for about a day, Adriana came to that conclusion.

“Hmm.”

She had known from the beginning, when deciding to go to the Larthania territory, that the situation might be like this.

After all, the Larthania territory had only been properly operated for a few months at most.

Naturally, in a place where specialty goods were nonexistent and Tynus Upper, who didn’t sell resources with a significant weight from the start, it seemed difficult to buy anything.

However, aside from that, Adriana’s eyes held a peculiar curiosity as she surveyed the territory.

It was because of the territory residents.

“Considering the usual development trajectory, the living standards of the territory residents shouldn’t be this good.”

Adriana had traveled to many territories and, therefore, knew well about the deteriorating or just-reviving states of territories.

“If a territory develops rapidly, the living standards of the residents should decrease normally.”

However, the living standards of the Larthania territory residents did not seem to be decreasing.

No, it seemed they were not just maintaining but even enjoying a relatively cheap and basic luxury item, like soap.

At least, from Adriana’s perspective, it was a very intriguing sight.

Typically, when a territory develops rapidly, the resources and labor force generated there belong mostly to the residents.

Especially in a place like this without even a trading post, the situation would be even more intense. Therefore, Larthania Territory should have experienced the usual backlash of rapid development.

However, there was no sign of such backlash in Larthania.

Of course, there were many factors that piqued Adriana’s curiosity.

She wondered how such neat wooden houses were built in this territory where there were no wood processing shops or trading posts, and she was also curious about how the troops were being trained in a place with no mines.

At least she knew that Tienus, the Lord of Larthania, was the first to visit the territory that she had gathered information about.

And as her curiosity followed its source, Adriana’s curiosity eventually focused on one person.

“The Lord of Larthania.”

He was the man who had created Larthania in its heyday, whom she saw yesterday but didn’t seem particularly special in her eyes.

She could gather more accurate information by collecting various information through her secretary, but Adriana’s curiosity about the Lord was quite high regardless of that.

And.

“Adriana, the Lord is here to see you.”

She heard the voice of her secretary.

####

Adriana’s office.

“I heard you buy valuable items, so I wanted to sell this. Would that be possible?”

When Kim Hyun-woo suddenly showed up and placed a vial of potion on the desk and asked, Adriana’s expression was startled.

Of course, it wasn’t as if Adriana could read detailed descriptions just by looking at items like Kim Hyun-woo could. However, the reason she was surprised was because of the appearance of the potion bottle and the blue fluorescent liquid inside.

“Is this, by any chance, a potion for recovering from a coma?”

“Yes, it is.”

Upon Kim Hyun-woo’s answer, Adriana stared at the potion in a daze for a moment, then looked at Kim Hyun-woo as if realizing something and spoke.

“I’m sorry. The item you brought is a bit, too unexpected. If it’s not too rude, may I try using an emotion scroll to check the emotions?”

“It’s fine.”

“Then please wait a moment.”

At Kim Hyun-woo’s words, Adriana took a ring from her finger and inserted it towards the potion.

Hwack-!

At the same time, red magic power spread in all directions and a magic circle unfolded, witnessing this, Kim Hyun-woo…

“…Is it real?”

“Well, it’s real, right?”

Adriana spoke with a very surprised expression, making him feel doubtful, but he didn’t show it and answered.

Soon, Adriana, who was staring blankly at the potion for recovering from a coma, looked at Kim Hyun-woo with eyes that seemed to be thinking something and spoke.

“First of all, let me tell you that the potion for recovering from a coma has become a very rare item since five years ago, when mystical merchants stopped appearing and it is no longer circulating as goods.”

“Mystical merchants… ah.”

‘When you think about it, the concept of buying things with blue stones, excluding resources, is from mysterious merchants.’

Kim Hyun-woo mumbled Adriah’s words and recalled Arteel’s concept before continuing the conversation.

“So, does that mean there is no longer anyone selling the comatose recovery potion since five years ago?”

“Yes.”

Kim Hyun-woo nodded in agreement with Adriah’s words and thought,

‘…As expected.’

With the use of blue stones, it was possible to purchase items that would be helpful in the game.

However, the reason Kim Hyun-woo specifically brought the comatose recovery potion was because he knew that this potion could only be purchased with blue stones.

In other words, Kim Hyun-woo decided to test Adriah’s reaction in the hopes of seeing if Adriah could recover from the coma using the recovery potion.

If he was the only one in this world who could use blue stones as currency, then the value of items that could be purchased with blue stones would undoubtedly be very high.

“So, how much can you purchase this item for?”

Realizing that his thoughts were correct through Adriah’s reaction, Kim Hyun-woo asked the question.

Adriah remained silent for a while, then glanced at Kim Hyun-woo and sighed softly before speaking.

“Considering this, I think we can purchase it for 16,000 gold coins.”

She opened her mouth.

“16,000 gold coins, did you say?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing Adriah’s words, Kim Hyun-woo unknowingly prevented his mouth from gaping open in surprise.

‘If it’s 16,000 gold coins, how much is the profit?’

Kim Hyun-woo quickly began calculating.

‘If we immediately convert the blue stones into gold coins, we can convert one stone into four gold coins. And the comatose recovery potion is a 1,000 stone item. If you only consider the simple market difference…’

Four times.

As the answer floated in Kim Hyun-woo’s mind, he felt his mouth almost drop open, but he held it back with superhuman patience.

Although it was already four times more profitable, Kim Hyun-woo had no intention of being satisfied and selling the item immediately.

Therefore.

“Master, I have a very good proposal. Would you like to hear it?”

“…A good business proposal?”

“Yes, it’s a proposal that will surely satisfy both of us.”

He began to speak.

At that moment, in the underground of the Kalan Kingdom.

Loriel bowed her head to her master, the absolute ruler of darkness.

“Still, have you not found it yet?”

“…I apologize.”

The reason was that, despite some time passing, she hadn’t found information about the ‘Executioner’s Blade,’ the last item she was searching for.

“No information at all?”

…”

The voice of the absolute ruler of darkness was full of oppression and melancholy at the same time.

Listening to those words, Loriel remained silent, contemplating.

In truth, she had found information about the ‘Executioner’s Blade,’ not just for herself but for all five swords of Kalan.

However, she kept silent because she knew that this information would be excruciating for her master.

So, Loriel continued to ponder.

“I asked.”

Finally, at the continued voice of the absolute ruler of darkness, Loriel opened her mouth.

“…Master.”

She could never lie to her master.

Therefore.

“Based on our findings, it seems that the Executioner’s Blade is an artifact that doesn’t even appear in the labyrinth. Furthermore, we know nothing about its crafting method, except for the ‘Crimson Mystic Merchant,’ who completely concealed any traces five years ago.”

Loriel conveyed the information she had discovered to the ruler of darkness.

“…Ah?”

In the gloomy pupils of the ruler of darkness.

“Ah…”

Despair began to cast its shadow.

And then, silently,

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Loriel watched her shedding tears without saying a word, then quietly bowed her head and left the presence, leaving the ruler of darkness to experience the draining of strength and the overwhelming sense of despair, with tears flowing silently, as if in a void of emptiness.

However, at some moment,

The girl, who had been shedding tears with vacant eyes,

“No.”

Quietly,

“No, you.”

She murmured.

She clenched her teeth, pushing away the despair that reluctantly filled her body.

“There is still a way.”

She didn’t want to give up like this.

She didn’t want to lose him like this.

She didn’t want to give up on affection without trying anything.

That’s why.

The ruler of darkness suddenly reminded herself of one fact with a menacing gaze filled with venom.

That she wasn’t the only one who received the execution sword.

And she knew the hero who received the execution sword.

“If it’s something we can’t get anymore-“

She clenched her fist, thinking of the wolf with red eyes.

“-we just have to take it away.”

…From the clenched fist, her nails dug in and blood began to flow.