Level Up Machine

Chapter 118 My Gundam is Not Like This! (5)

A strange silence settled. The guild members narrowed their eyes and stared at Yeong-sik. It wasn’t hard to read the thoughts that surfaced on their faces.

How far does he intend to go?

The guild members looked at Yeong-sik with eyes that conveyed this meaning.

First Terminator, and now Gundam. At this point, even if there was an accusation of plagiarism, there would be nothing to say in defense.

“…It wasn’t my intention.”

Yeong-sik spoke with a wronged expression. He also hadn’t expected the S-grade android to have such an appearance. He had followed the recipe, and this was the design that came out. What else could he have done?

“…No.”

At that moment, a low voice reached Yeong-sik’s ears. It was Park Cheol-tae’s voice. Yeong-sik tilted his head and looked at him.

“What do you mean by ‘no’?”

“This isn’t Gundam.”

“…Pardon?”

Yeong-sik looked at him with a puzzled expression. He already knew that this wasn’t an actual robot from the comic.

“How could anyone accept this Seed as a Gundam!”

“? What?”

– Thud.

Park Cheol-tae stomped his foot roughly and shouted. Yeong-sik couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“My Gundam is not like this!”

Park Cheol-tae shouted with an excited expression.

Yeong-sik and the guild members stared at him with a dumbfounded expression.

Seeing the usually silent and solemn Cheol-tae crying out that his Gundam wasn’t like this felt surreal, as if they were dreaming.

“Ah… So…

“Don’t you think so too? This is just a robot that looks similar!”

“Ah… Yes, that’s right…

Yeong-sik turned to the guild members with a face that showed he had no idea how to respond.

They, too, looked at him with confused expressions, as if seeing this side of Park Cheol-tae for the first time.

“So what I mean to say is…

“Ah, Cheol-tae. Why don’t you come over here and talk with me for a moment?”

Gil-soo quickly stepped forward and took the excited Cheol-tae away. The warehouse was left in a mess, as if a storm had swept through.

“Sigh. So, should we proceed with the performance test right away?”

Yu-na sighed briefly and asked Yeong-sik. Yeong-sik also shook off thoughts about Cheol-tae’s peculiar side and answered.

“No, later. Let’s do it somewhere else.”

Even just the fight between Gil-soo and the A-grade android caused a shock that shook the warehouse. If the S-grade android and Yu-na were to fight, there was a possibility that the entire warehouse might explode.

“Hmm. That’s a shame. I wanted to test how strong that android is.”

Yu-na muttered as she looked at the S-grade android, exuding an intimidating aura just by its presence.

“Let’s test it tomorrow. I have something else to do today.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Yu-na tilted her head and asked.

“I want to do some enhancements with the remaining materials.”

Yeong-sik replied, looking at the A-grade metal cores. Currently, he had only used B-grade metal cores to enhance his weapons.

‘Creating androids is important, but there’s no need to invest all the materials into that.’

In terms of efficiency, it was much more beneficial for Yeong-sik himself to become stronger rather than making a few more androids. Moreover, he needed to check the newly added recipes now that his manufacturing level had reached level 8, and also look into the skill ‘Synthesis’.

“…How about taking a little break first?”

Ara, who had been listening to their conversation, approached and asked cautiously.

“Hmm. Should we? It’s not an urgent matter right now anyway.”

“Y-Yes, right? Rest is important too.”

Ara, delighted, took out a basket from her inventory. It was a basket filled with snacks she had prepared for Yeong-sik.

“I prepared this in the morning…

“Ah, Yeong-sik. I brought a lunchbox, so how about eating outside?”

Before Ara could finish her sentence, Tiria approached Yeong-sik with a bright smile. She was holding a large basket in her hand.

“Ah?”

Tiria and Ara’s gazes met. They quickly realized that both of them had prepared lunchboxes.

“Oh my, Ara, you brought a lunchbox, how surprising. Hoho. Here, I’ve been in charge of cooking regularly, so…

“Don’t you think it might get boring if you always eat what the guild leader makes? Here, try mine…”

They competed, offering their baskets containing the lunchboxes to Yeong-sik.

Yeong-sik looked at the two women with a troubled expression. He sighed briefly and spoke.

“There are a lot of people here, so let’s all eat outside together.”

It was a reasonable suggestion that was hard to argue with, and the two women stiffened.

Bringing others into this! They looked at Yeong-sik with expressions that showed they thought it was unfair.

Chae-rin watched the two women with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

She sneaked up to Yeong-sik, smiling slyly, and asked in a subtle voice.

“Yeong-sik oppa.”

“Yes?”

“Who do you like more, Ara unni or Tiria unni?”

It was an unexpected blunt question. Yeong-sik looked at her with a slightly embarrassed expression. Chae-rin looked at him with an innocent expression, her eyes sparkling as if she was clueless.

‘This little rascal…!’

Yeong-sik glanced at Tiria and Ara, who were looking at him with burning eyes, and made a troubled expression.

Yeong-sik thought that he would have to respond to the kindness shown by Tiria and Ara someday.

But at least, now was not the time. He had too much work left to be lost in the sweet emotion of love.

“R-right, Yeong-sik. I’m a bit curious about that too.”

“Ahem. Well, even if I don’t say anything, it’s something you can just tell.”

“…What do you mean by that, Ara?”

Tiria narrowed her eyes and looked at Ara in response to her provocative words. Ara opened her mouth with an awkward smile.

“Oh my, haven’t you noticed Yeong-sik’s feelings yet?”

“Ugh. O-of course, I can tell Yeong-sik’s feelings!”

The two women glanced at Yeong-sik with awkward smiles.

Yeong-sik looked at them with a complicated expression.

“…Tiria unni, Ara unni. Yeong-sik is uncomfortable. Let’s talk about this later. And Chae-rin, you should behave.”

It was Yu-na who saved him from the awkward situation. Yeong-sik looked at her with a surprised expression.

Receiving his gaze, Yu-na blushed slightly and turned her head.

“Come on, let’s eat quickly. I’m starving.”

“O-okay…”

“W-wait a minute, Yu-na. A little slower…”

Yu-na pulled Tiria and Ara towards the guild house. Tiria and Ara looked back at Yeong-sik with regretful expressions, but they didn’t shake off Yu-na’s hand.

Chae-rin, who had been quietly watching the three women enter the guild house, lightly poked Yeong-sik in the waist with her elbow.

“Yeong-sik oppa.”

“? What.”

“Why don’t you just date them all?”

Yeong-sik turned to look at Chae-rin, who was smiling slyly, with narrowed eyes.

In fact, it wasn’t an entirely absurd idea. On the Elnote Continent, the concept of monogamy, as in Korea, didn’t exist. Marriages here were often political, and it was common for one man to have multiple wives, and vice versa.

The number of partners someone had was even considered a measure of their power and influence. It was actually rare for a man and a woman to fall in love and successfully get married.

Of course, apart from Tiria, the other guild members still held on to the Korean mindset, so they might feel uncomfortable, but their resistance would be much weaker than when they lived in Korea, where polygamy was legally forbidden.

“Huhu… Think about it, oppa. If you play your cards right, you could even achieve a threesome… no, a foursome! It’s an opportunity to fulfill a man’s dream!”

She entwined her fingers, making an obscene gesture.

“Oh, are you suggesting that I should include you in that group? Huhuh. Sorry, but I have Yoo Jin oppa as my future lover, so that’s impossible!”

Chae-rin hugged herself and twisted her body.

Yeong-sik felt like he understood why Yu-na always smacked the back of her head.

At that moment, he desperately wanted to see Yu-na, who had gone into the guild house.

– Thwack!

“Ack!”

“Stop talking nonsense and go eat.”

Yeong-sik flicked her forehead lightly with his finger, then sighed deeply. Chae-rin rubbed her forehead with an indignant expression and soon went inside the guild house.

“Haha. It’s always nice to see Chae-rin so cheerful.”

“Ugh. She’s so bright that it’s a problem.”

Gil-soo approached Yeong-sik, flashing his usual good-natured smile.

“So, what do you think of Chae-rin’s suggestion?”

“Even you, Uncle Gil-soo?”

“Honestly, it’s not a bad idea. Of course, I’d prefer if you and Ara got along well, but Tiria has also been through tough times…”

Yeong-sik lightly frowned at Gil-soo’s continued words.

“Making such a choice out of mere sympathy is the worst.”

“Sometimes even sympathy can lead to happiness.”

Gil-soo chuckled heartily and patted Yeong-sik on the shoulder.

“Don’t overthink it. Just be honest with your feelings.”

“…Understood.”

“Well then, I’ll go in first. You come in at your own pace.”

Yeong-sik watched Gil-soo’s retreating figure heading into the guild house and then followed him, looking somewhat relieved.

After the somewhat noisy meal, Yeong-sik returned to the warehouse. The other guild members had all started their afternoon training, so Yeong-sik was alone in the warehouse.

“Well then…”

Yeong-sik walked over to the A-grade metal cores, which were still plentiful.

He placed his hand on his right arm and spoke in a low voice.

“Enhance.”

– Ding.

A clear ringing sound echoed in his ears.

[“Rocket Punch” requires 5 A-grade metal cores for enhancement. Do you wish to proceed?]

Yeong-sik nodded without hesitation. He had plenty of A-grade metal cores at the moment.

– Ding.

[“Rocket Punch” has been upgraded to Level 4.]