I Entered a Gacha Game That Had Been Abandoned for 10 Years chapter 92

92 – Items (3)

Arteil has a concept called the territory’s characteristics.

This territory characteristic refers to the characteristics surrounding the territory regardless of the development of the territory itself, meaning that it is determined by the characteristics surrounding the territory.

For example, if there is a mine within a certain distance of the territory, it becomes a territory with the characteristic of a mine, and if there is a gold mine, it becomes a territory with the characteristic of a gold mine. In addition to fertile land suitable for agriculture, Arteil has various characteristics such as mining, agriculture, and so on.

However, despite the considerable number of territory characteristics, the Lartania territory had none.

The reason was simply that there was truly nothing around Lartania.

There were no significant mines or gold mines around the Lartania territory, nor were there fertile lands. It was not easy to siege the area due to its mountainous terrain, and even the possibility of animal husbandry, which was relatively feasible due to the surrounding grasslands, was not as good as other territories.

In other words, to put it bluntly, the place where the Lartania territory was located was not a place like a gold mine behind a mountain in other fantasies, but a place where there was truly nothing.

…Of course, Kim Hyun-woo knew this fact and still chose to establish his territory here.

Because, in the first place, the creation of a territory in Arteil was purely random.

No one knew where the territory would be created, whether it be north, south, east, or west.

Of course, if a player got a location they didn’t want, they could continuously delete their account and recreate it until they got the desired location by repeatedly rerunning the reslammer, but he didn’t go through that process.

Half by choice, and half by chance.

“…If the players hadn’t gathered together, I would have tried.”

The reason Kim Hyun-woo didn’t bother with research was because of the players.

If he had been a player who had enjoyed the game from the beginning, when Arteil started, it wouldn’t be a problem. But he was a player who started playing after some time had passed since Arteil’s release.

By the time he was considering researching the territory, the place where the rumor of its excellence had spread was already filled with players bustling about.

In other words, at that point, even if he could obtain a good territory feature, it was almost certain that he would have to fight with other players to obtain that feature. That’s why Kim Hyun-woo didn’t bother with research.

To beat players who had already advanced despite starting late, it would inevitably require spending money, but he was just a student at that time.

Anyway, to conclude, Kim Hyun-woo had never experienced such a territory feature before, so he couldn’t help but smile at the sudden appearance of the hot spring.

Of course, the feature that had just appeared wasn’t a good one like a gold mine or a mine, or even a farming feature, but it seemed more than enough to fill the territory development gauge.

That’s why.

“First, allocate all available manpower and redirect them to the outskirts of the destroyed area to temporarily create a large road. And for the hot spring…send someone from the lumber mill to put up a fence there first, and tell the person in charge of the lumber mill to come over here.”

That’s how Kim Hyun-woo ended his conversation with the security guard who came to report.

“…Attracting tourists wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

He smiled.

####

At that time.

In the Randalon Territory.

“It’s been three days.”

“…Hasn’t it already been a month?”

“I know.”

“Isn’t this going against the promise?”

Kelba sighed as he looked at Duke Randaron, who was clearly unimpressed. “Yes, I admit it. But there is a reason for everything.”

“What reason?”

“All the external summoning circles have been destroyed.”

“…What?”

Randaron’s questioning was filled with curiosity, but Kelba continued without answering.

“Of course, the plan can still proceed as it is. It’s just that all the ones who would attract attention from the outside have been taken care of, so we are currently creating a substitute. In other words, it’s a matter of reasonable time.”

“…Tsk.”

Randaron, with a tongue chilled as if he clearly didn’t like it, sighed deeply and replied.

“You won’t change your mind in three days, will you?”

“Unfortunately, even if I wanted to change my mind at that time, I wouldn’t be able to, would I? You’re watching too, aren’t you?”

In response to Kelba’s words, Duke Randaron turned his head quietly.

In the massive underground cave of Randaron Manor where they were located, there were black orbs that easily exceeded the height of a human, pulsating.

As if it were a heart.

However, it was clear to Duke Randaron, who was staring intently at it, that it gave a deep sense of unease every time it beat, but it couldn’t be called the pulse of life.

“After three days, that thing will awaken. At the same time, the army will rise as well. Once that happens, you can do as you please. After all, everything else is already prepared.”

“…I hope that statement is really true this time.”

Duke Randaron’s words.

In response, Kelba sighed deeply for a moment and muttered something that sounded like a complaint.

“…I wish it were true for me too.”

“…?”

Duke Landon, slightly chilled by Kelba’s appearance, a sight he had never seen before.

However.

“Prepare the military in three days. Until then, I need to create a replacement for the broken summoning circle.”

“…Where are you going this time?”

“We discussed it earlier. Since the summoning circle is completely ruined, I’m creating a new one, just in case. I’ve hidden it in Roland’s Forest, so I’ll go activate it.”

With those words, Kelba disappeared.

The Duke stared intently at the spot where Kelba had been.

####

A few hours later.

Now, beyond lunchtime, as the sun was gradually setting, Kim Hyun-woo could receive additional reports.

“As you instructed, we temporarily constructed a road, but the condition is not stable yet. It seems we’ll need to deploy more manpower for a few more days. As for the hot spring, we’ve immediately fenced the surroundings.”

After nodding in acknowledgment to the guard’s report, Kim Hyun-woo turned to the leader of the lumber processing workshop, Karok, who entered as soon as the guard left. He had received orders from Kim Hyun-woo this morning.

“Lord.”

After the guard left, Kim Hyun-woo spoke to Karok, who had finished roughly estimating the situation with the workforce today.

“Have you roughly grasped the situation?”

“Yes. As you instructed, today we took some workers and hastily fenced the area to estimate the cost approximately.”

“How is it?”

“In conclusion, building the hot spring that you mentioned should not be a significant challenge. However—”

“However?”

“It seems that it will take a bit of time to complete the construction of the hot springs.”

“Is there a shortage of manpower? If so, we can always add more. Or is it a shortage of materials?”

When Kim Hyun-woo asked, Karok, after appearing to contemplate for a moment, began to speak gradually.

“In fact, manpower is important, but what matters more is the materials.”

“…Materials?”

“Yes. The materials used in hot spring construction are not ordinary wood; they either use magic-treated wood from the Matap or, if not, they have to use magic trees from the Roland Forest as the material.”

“Would there be a problem if they don’t?”

“Yes. If it’s just ordinary hot spring water, you can add a bit of additional processing to the wood and build the structure without any issues. But because the hot spring water is a bit special…”

“Special?”

“Yes, one of the laborers working at the processing plant came to the famous hot spring territory to investigate and found that the hot spring water here is exceptionally good, with a slight mix of magic. In other words, it’s not just regular hot spring water; it’s remarkably good hot spring water…”

“…Is the issue that there’s magic mixed in the hot spring water?”

“Yes, when magic mixes into the hot spring water, unless it’s a material specially treated with magic, it quickly deteriorates. Especially since the magic mixed in the hot spring water is mostly ground magic…”

“Hmm…”

Honestly, Kim Hyun-woo didn’t really know what ground magic was, but he didn’t feel the need to understand it right now.

Ultimately, what was important here was how long it would take to create the hot springs.

“…So, is the time to create the hot springs longer than expected?”

That’s why Kim Hyun-woo asked.

“If we only focus on construction, it can be completed quickly in about five to seven days, but considering the time it takes for the materials to arrive… It might take more than two months, I think.”

At Karok’s subsequent answer, Kim Hyun-woo made a slightly troubled expression, took a sip, and sighed.

In conclusion, if it takes more than two months right now, it doesn’t help at all with the current quest.

Certainly, nevertheless, it was clear that it would undeniably have a positive impact on territorial development.

“…Well, there’s no helping that it takes time. First, let’s quickly request materials. We’ll cover all the costs for supplies.”

“Understood. Then, if there are any other necessary materials, may I mention them?”

“Go ahead.”

Kim Hyun-woo began nodding as if to acknowledge Karok’s words.

At that moment.

The three heroes who were gazing at the Lord’s Castle while hoping that Kim Hyun-woo wouldn’t notice, thanks to the complete overhaul of the roadside leading to Lartania.

“…That, that’s it!”

“The tree that appears in Roland’s Forest…!”

“We, we need to go right now-!”

As if finding a way to atone for their conversation taking place in the castle, each one of them had shining eyes.

‘…’

In their consciousness, all three heroes, with determined gazes, focused on the Lord’s Castle far in the distance as if climbing a hill, Adriana looked at them with a somewhat cold expression.

‘…Really, they’re a bit stubborn…’

With a gaze that was cold and distant, she looked at the heroes with pleading expressions, containing a subtle emotion.