I Entered a Gacha Game That Had Been Abandoned for 10 Years chapter 60

60 – Side Effects (2) (Revised)

Kim Hyun-woo’s planned labyrinthine city had garnered unprecedented attention on the continent, given its status as a territory that had never existed before.

Thanks to this, Larthania currently boasted a significantly larger number of mercenaries than residents, creating a positive feedback loop due to various beneficial effects.

However, as expected, where there are advantages, there are disadvantages.

Opening the labyrinthine city in this world meant that Larthania’s distribution of magical stones, essentially a monopoly of the lords, would likely not sit well with other lords.

Nevertheless, Kim Hyun-woo had reasons for immediately planning and presenting the labyrinthine city with minimal preparation.

He was confident in nurturing Larthania’s territory within the gaps of those lords.

Of course, Larthania was not in an ideal environment for developing a territory.

Initially, there were no unique resources around Larthania, and most importantly, the nation had already been established around Larthania.

In reality, Larthania was practically in the midst of the Kalan Kingdom, Norba Kingdom, and the Eastern Union Clan.

Despite knowing this, Kim Hyun-woo was confident, even considering the current situation to be quite favorable.

Ultimately, to successfully develop Larthania as per Kim Hyun-woo’s plan, the cooperation of the three neighboring nations was undoubtedly necessary.

Anyway, to sum it up, Kim Hyun-woo had anticipated diplomatic challenges sooner or later after creating the labyrinthine city.

“I bring you a message from Duke Randon, Sir Kutrah Ha-o.”

“…Ah, I see.”

“Let’s get straight to the point. Duke Randon wishes for you to become his vassal.”

“…His vassal?”

“Yes, continue managing your territory, but become an honored member of Duke Randon’s affiliation.”

…”

Honestly, this situation was entirely unexpected.

Kim Hyun-woo gazed at the envoy with a protruding belly and felt truly dumbfounded.

Of course, it’s not that I didn’t foresee this situation.

No, rather, I almost foresaw this kind of situation first.

That’s because, when you think about what would be the best way for Rantaron to swallow Lartania for free from the other party’s perspective, the first thing that comes to mind.

“If Lartania comes under the Marquis Rantaron’s wing, she will gain the same security as if she had obtained a million soldiers. Of course, she will have to pay a small price to receive the Marquis’s gracious mercy.”

“…”

At the last words of the plump messenger, Kim Hyun-woo was convinced that the messenger in front of him was creating a ‘justification’.

Since Lartania’s territory is not affiliated with any country, deliberately spouting nonsense to create a pretext for ‘war’ and devour the territory was the situation at hand.

As soon as Kim Hyun-woo realized that what he had suspected was true, he involuntarily let out a chuckle.

Of course, it was not difficult to anticipate that such a proposal would come.

“Well, I think it’s a very good proposal-“

Regardless, he was glowing blatantly to create a pretext, contrary to Kim Hyun-woo’s thoughts that he would subtly scratch the surface while progressing the conversation.

That’s why.

“Do you really think it’s a good proposal?”

“It’s a natural question.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

“…What?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Kim Hyun-woo erased his chuckle and spoke with a frown, and the Rantaron messenger, who was now dumbfounded, finally spoke with a trembling voice to confirm if his words had been properly understood.

“What did you just say?”

“I don’t know, do you want to eat? Why are you talking nonsense? Or should I explain a little more? Right now, I want to strangle you and bury you next to your parents’ graves~ like this?”

The head of the reaper quickly turned red at Kim Hyun-woo’s provocation.

“You’ll regret those words.”

However, amidst all that, he twisted his mouth as if he had achieved what he wanted and spoke. But even in the face of the reaper’s words, Kim Hyun-woo smirked and replied.

“If you’re done talking, get lost, you piglet.”

A crisp dismissal.

The reaper’s face turned red once again, and he strode out of the office with determination.

“Huh…”

Beside Kim Hyun-woo, Elena, who had been standing quietly, spoke as she watched the reaper leave.

“…I feel like I keep saying the same thing, but are you okay? That reaper, Randon, came from the Randon Territory.”

“I know. He’s one of the three dukes of the Norba Kingdom, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. As far as I know, the Randon Territory has the largest military force within the Norba Kingdom.”

Elena nodded and expressed concern with a slightly worried expression.

However, Kim Hyun-woo, who had recently shown a temperamental side, now seemed to have returned to his usual self and assured her.

“I’m fine. Besides, considering he came here after hearing some nonsensical story, he must have come to create some kind of pretext. No matter how I handle it, it would have ended up like this.”

“Oh…”

“So, it’s better to be pissed off at him. Besides, there’s no need to worry too much.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The guy who started the fight is a duke… Naturally, I’ve already thought about how to deal with this situation.”

Kim Hyun-woo smiled as he spoke and soon took out paper and a pen from the drawer.

Giral, who was essentially the second in command among the Four Kings of the Red Eyes, began to move with his followers towards the vicinity of the Lartania territory.

Since the Red Eyes were originally formed to gather around Merilda, without her, there would be no Red Eyes.

However, Giral was moving separately from the followers who were starting to relocate, and the reason for this was precisely because of the two of the Four Kings.

The unusual rabbit-like creature, Ryu, who was a member of the Red Eyes and firmly held a position as one of the Four Kings, and the wolf-like Gram, with long scars on his face.

They were both greatly interested in the story that Giral had first told them about Merilda.

They were on their way to see Merilda first, even striking a deal with the remaining last of the Four Kings to lead the followers, just to see Merilda.

At least for them, Giral’s story about Merilda had piqued their interest greatly.

So.

“Did the boss really laugh like that? hehehe.”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, I really want to see that face.”

“Hmph, so the boss was ultimately a female.”

“Do that story in front of the boss, and you might end up as decoration in no time.”

“Stop kidding, you crazy rabbit.”

“Both of you, quiet down. And I’ll say it again, never speak ill of that human in front of the boss. If you’re lucky, you might just vanish from that spot.”

The three of the Red Eyes’ Four Kings were talking like that as they headed towards Merilda.

Before long, they were able to meet Merilda.

“… Long time no see.”

Merilda’s greeting seemed a little melancholic.

“Huk…”

However, in response to Merilda’s greeting, Ryu and Gram couldn’t help but exclaim, “Huk,” unknowingly.

It was understandable, as they, too, had rarely spoken with Merilda, and she had never greeted them first. The expression on the faces of the Four Lords, initially surprised, soon turned questioning as they observed Merilda, who seemed a bit melancholic.

“Leader, um, is something the matter?”

Ryu asked subtly, glancing at the Leader with a curious expression.

“…Is there a way to erase infamy?” Merilda spoke.

“Infamy?”

The Four Lords wore puzzled expressions at her words, but Gram was the first to respond.

“…If you want to get rid of infamy, there’s a clean way.”

“What is it?”

“Just kill everyone, right? If you eliminate the ones you don’t like, the accumulated infamy should disappear.”

Gram suggested. However, Merilda, still wearing a melancholic expression, continued.

“I’ve thought about that method too…”

“But?”

“…There are too many to handle.”

“Ah… We have around dozens as well. Isn’t it the same for the Leader?”

“…Yes.”

“…number?”

“…around a few hundred.”

“…that’s quite a lot, indeed.”

Gram silently acknowledging while a subsequent silence settled in.

However, this time, it was Ryu who spoke up.

“Well… realistically, maybe we can start building a positive image by quietly resolving conflicts with those we had a hostile relationship with.”

“…positive image?”

“Yeah, basically, if we don’t cause major incidents, people tend to forget about the bad reputation over time… and on top of that, doing some good deeds wouldn’t hurt.”

From Noble mtl dot com

Ryu’s words.

After pondering something, Merilda nodded in agreement.

“…yeah, doing something is probably better than doing nothing.”

However, a few minutes later.

A carriage heading outside the territory of Lartania and…

“You arrogant brat!! I’ll make sure you regret this! I’ll shove you into the underground prison later and make you useful as a punching bag!”

Hearing the resolute voice from inside the carriage.

“…Ryu.”

“…yes?”

“If you really want to kill someone, but doing so would tarnish your reputation?”

“…is that so?”

“Then as long as we don’t kill them, our notoriety won’t increase, right?”

Ryu could see the leader’s eyes flickering with life.

“But still, it feels like it will increase, doesn’t it?”

“Then how about one arm?”

“Wouldn’t that increase it too?”

“One leg?”

“…That too.”

“The head?”

Ryu, without explicitly saying that it’s just killing, stared at her with a strange look in her eyes.

“Hm… Leader, if that’s the case, I have a very good solution.”

Kiral, who had been silent but was considered somewhat clever among the red-eyed Four Kings, spoke up.