Pick Me Up Infinite Gacha! Novel - Chapter 214
C214
I said I would stay in Niflheim until the investigation results were out, but I couldn’t linger too long.
Even now, in Taonier, the Fragment Series egg must be squirming. The time I can stay in Niflheim is at most three to four days. After that, I would have to return immediately.
‘It’s all chaos.’
I sighed and continued to review the documents on the desk.
They were documents about power expansion brought from Taonier.
I had to start finalizing the work as soon as I got back, so there was no time to rest.
‘The target force is 400 people, five medium to small-sized aircraft. The level of heroes must be at least 40, and the leading level heroes must have appropriate skills and Engravings.’
When I was the Master of Niflheim, I could simply choose someone appropriate to delegate tasks to, but now it wasn’t easy.
I couldn’t just move Nerissa, who was already busy, elsewhere. Among the existing heroes, there was no one suitable for an administrative position.
«Please, have it.»
A steaming cup of tea was placed on the desk.
Turning around, I saw Yurnet standing there, not knowing when she had arrived.
«The preliminary results will be ready by this afternoon at the latest. You don’t need to rush so much. We know this is a critical time for Taonier.»
After drinking the hot tea, I said:
«You don’t ask me to stay here as before.»
«I would like to… but I found out that the Master has an attachment to that place.»
«Attachment?»
I clicked my tongue.
It was more stubbornness than attachment.
A sort of life-or-death challenge.
«Perhaps that’s also a form of attachment.»
Yurnet smiled slightly.
«At first, I was worried about leaving the Master alone, but now I have decided to watch from a distance. I have come to understand that it also has its meaning. If the Master had come directly to Niflheim, it might have taken a long time to adapt.»
«That doesn’t make much sense, does it? As you know, it’s a place where all sorts of people play.»
«The gates of Niflheim are always open, Master. Please, if you wish.»
I remained silent.
After all, it was I who had decided to stay in Taonier.
«I believe you will overcome any crisis that arises. We will only watch from afar.»
«That’s appreciated.»
I finished drinking the tea in one gulp and then finished organizing the documents.
That almost concluded the verification work I had been doing all night.
«Master, what do you plan to do with Wiryung?»
«Take her to Taonier. The Master will clearly be watching.»
I couldn’t be away for too long using the excuse of the Daily Dungeon.
Moreover, I had found a way to use that person. Someone had to do it, and it was an absolutely necessary role in Taonier at the moment.
«Understood. Tomorrow morning, we will prepare the aircraft.»
«That’s a quick farewell.»
«It’s not a quick farewell, Master. It’s just that I want to see you achieve your goal soon.»
Click.
A black sword sheath was placed on the desk.
Made of special black iron, not wood, with the long handle of the sword visible from the outside.
«The repair of Bifröst is complete. It has been adjusted according to the Engravings the Master possesses, so I believe it will be much easier to handle than before.»
I strapped Bifröst to my belt.
It was a little heavier than before, but the characteristic weight hadn’t been lost.
«I will use it well.»
«I hope so.»
That person, with their personality, surely had added all sorts of functions to Bifröst.
The demonstration ceremony would take place after returning to Taonier, in a real situation.
«I’m sorry for showing such inappropriate behavior, Master.»
That night, Wiryung came to me to apologize.
«I apologize for showing such an unpleasant aspect, I got carried away by emotion. I ask you to be indulgent.»
«Why are you suddenly using such formal language? Just continue as you were.»
«But, as the Master of Niflheim…»
When I gave her a threatening look, Wiryung hesitated.
I continued:
«If Dorado attacked Mu-ryeon without reason, we won’t stand still. You never know when they’ll attack us from behind. We’re investigating now, so don’t make a fuss about revenge or justice and keep calm.»
Wiryung nodded uncomfortably.
It seemed she had regained her reason. If she had still been talking nonsense, she would have been immediately discarded by Anything upon returning to Taonier. It seems she barely saved herself from being synthesized.
I explained to Wiryung the role she would play in Taonier.
She couldn’t exercise her power in the mission field due to the Lotus Oath. But according to Lydigion, she didn’t receive penalties outside of the mission, so there was only one role she could play.
«Responsible for External Affairs.»
Anything’s reputation had recently worsened due to rumors spread by the Silver Star Guild.
Occasionally, thugs invaded the place. If they were to attack during the 50th floor mission, Taonier could suffer catastrophic damage with just a small group of people.
‘Someone has to stay on-site.’
If we only increased Wiryung’s level, which was originally at the peak of rank six, she could easily handle dozens of heroes by herself. I proposed this role to Wiryung.
«Is it a temporary job?»
«It would be better if you participated in the mission if possible, but do it like this for now.»
«Understood.»
Wiryung responded immediately.
Although it seemed wasteful to use a five-star hero in external affairs, it was much better than discarding her through synthesis.
At dawn that day, I was alone in the annex on the 13th floor.
Yurnet had called me here saying special procedures were needed to receive the report.
«Master, I have kept you waiting for too long. The investigation results are ready.»
Yurnet appeared from the other side of the annex.
She wore the same white attire as when we first met.
In her right hand, the magical illusion grimoire, Naglfar, was open.
«It would be more appropriate to say it’s a recreation rather than an investigation.»
«Recreation?»
Shhh.
Mist began to sprout from the edge of Yurnet’s attire, enveloping the entire annex.
From floor to ceiling, the mist that filled the place completely soon transformed into a different landscape.
Numerous pointed pagodas and buildings. The streamlined roofs were covered with tiles, and beneath the buildings were ponds with countless lotuses blooming.
I decided not to be surprised by every detail.
It was expected from beings with such powers.
«This recreation is based on memories extracted from Wiryung, residual magical energy in the place, and information collected by agents deployed before the server merger. The matching rate is approximately 90%. The margin of error is less than 5%.»
Human figures began to form from the mist at various points in the building.
Then, the mist transformed into the image of Mu-ryeon faction heroes, dressed in robes and armed.
Crack.
The space filled with interference, and soon they turned into corpses lying on the floor.
It wasn’t tens.
It was hundreds. The blood flowing from their bodies cascaded into the pond from the building’s floor like a waterfall.
And in the center of the pond stood a red pagoda.
Two people were standing there.
One was a middle-aged man of common appearance.
He wore a simple, wide toga, with a broken sword at his feet and red blood dripping from his lower right abdomen.
The other was a young man with gray hair.
The young man, wrapped in a wolf fur coat, looked down at the middle-aged man, who was half kneeling.
«They are respectively the Submasters of Mu-ryeon and Dorado, Dan Ziheum and Laskandar.»
«The outcome has been decided.»
«Yes. We couldn’t recreate the battle process due to the impact of magical collision, but it seems to have been one-sided.»
I examined the bodies scattered around the place, slowly walking towards where the two heroes were.
«Were they all maximum six-star heroes?»
They must have been the elite of Mu-ryeon.
Anywhere in the Pick Me Up world, they wouldn’t be inferior.
They were massacred by that single person.
«It wasn’t a total war.»
They didn’t bring a large army for a surprise attack.
The invader was alone. Mu-ryeon was annihilated by a single hero.
Yurnet narrowed her eyes.
«There were a few more accompanying, but the only one who participated in the actual combat was that one.»
«…»
I scrutinized the young man carefully.
Laskandar, El Cid’s Submaster.
That man with dark gray hair fluttering in the wind, just a year ago, was synonymous with power.
But after a year of absence, Siris took his place.
‘It was said that he reached seven stars…’
If what I know is correct, that hero absorbed Dorado’s master.
«M-Master Dan… ugh!»
I turned my head.
On the way to the pagoda, a familiar woman lay fallen.
It was Wiryung.
Indeed.
Was this what he saw?
Crack.
The noise throughout space increased significantly.
And Dan Ziheum’s mouth opened.
«Why?»
«…»
Laskandar remained silent.
From where I stood, I couldn’t see his face.
I wanted to approach, but a transparent wall blocked the way.
It seemed to be the limit of recreation magic.
«Master, I discovered something during the recreation process.»
«What is it?»
«That hero is a little different from the other seven-star ones. According to my research, the others of seven stars cannot suppress the eruption of their interference power, which makes their magic patterns unstable, but he was perfectly stabilized. Like… like you right now, Master.»
Always beating around the bush when speaking.
I just smiled.
It seemed he understood what Yurnet meant.
‘Like me now.’
There’s no need to complicate it.
The condition to ascend to seven stars is the fusion between the hero and the Master. But considering the events of the Guild Union, it seems difficult for a hero to handle a Master’s power.
‘So he’s using it correctly.’
I still couldn’t confirm it.
But I had a strong feeling.
‘It’s not that the hero devoured the Master…’
Could it be the other way around?
«Our Mu-ryeon has not caused you any harm. How can you commit such an atrocious act…!?»
Dan Ziheum half-knelt.
His face had already turned pale, and dead blood flowed from his mouth.
«…Funny.»
It was a somewhat grave voice.
But it had a clear tone like that of a song.
«It was a very fun adventure.»
«What… are you saying?»
«Everything has been fun since I arrived here. I had meaningful experiences. Perhaps I was the luckiest in the universe.»
Laskandar slowly opened his mouth.
«But, all of that is over now.»
Crack.
It sounded as if someone’s neck was being cut, and mist swirled through the space.
«The video ends here.»
«Good job.»
An adventure.
It seems that guy also has a loose screw.
«Master, this is the final report.»
«Is there more?»
«Yes. In a certain way, this report could be the core of everything.»
Yurnet waved her hand and a hologram window appeared in front of me.
It was the main menu of Pick Me Up. Yurnet operated the menu in front of me, entering the help tab. Upon checking the account information, the username Loki, along with a unique number, playtime, achievements reached, and more appeared listed.
«Laskandar mentioned earlier that it was an adventure.»
«That’s right.»
Yurnet pressed a trophy-shaped icon in the corner of the account section.
It was a window to check achievements.
[Pick Me Up! – Hall of Fame]
[The master of masters, only the best of the best can occupy this place of honor!]
[In the Hall of Fame, you can see the list and rankings of players who have completed Pick Me Up.]
Hall of Fame.
In Pick Me Up, where clear users don’t appear, it was a nearly decorative useless feature.
«That hero’s words about the end of his adventure…»
Yurnet scrolled down the screen.
«It seems he was right.»
[1. El Cid (Server 4)]
[First place in the Hall of Fame!]
[Congratulations on completing all floors!]