#215
215. The First (3)
#1 in the rankings, El Cid.
Pick Me Up’s first master and first ranker.
And just now, he became the first user to clear the game.
Calculating the timing, it was after clearing the game that El Cid invaded Muryeon.
This next thing was important. He had to know the cause of his attack on Mu-Ryeon so he could prepare for it in advance. If I am not perfect as a Master, and Siris is in the current state where he is missing, if he attacks, Niflheim will have to be prepared for considerable blood loss. Maybe he could have been defeated.
‘why?’
The only things Yunet reported to me were a reenactment of the moment when Muryeon was destroyed and the entry into the Hall of Fame as the No. 1 player in the rankings. For other information, the results have not yet been released, and they said they were investigating to the best of their ability.
Moreover, Yournet said it would be difficult to obtain more meaningful information than this. In the first place, even if the distance between the servers was far, it was too far, so even succeeding in reproducing the video deserved to be called a miracle.
Should I be active?
Or should I wait and watch?
There wasn’t much time to think.
Because I was ahead of the 50th floor, the core section of Taone.
“You have a lot of trouble.”
A special room installed in the castle on the 13th floor of Niflheim.
Yurnet held out the car to me. The finest teacup made of pure white porcelain.
As I passed the tea water, the spicy scent spread to the tip of my nose.
“Don’t worry too much. You have an important battle ahead. Niflheim’s work shouldn’t interfere with your mission there.”
“Whenever I tell you not to go,”
“If Master wants it, I will just pave the way. Of course, it’s not that he doesn’t want something. For example… Lately, he hasn’t been in contact with me. These are trivial things. Come to think of it, the last private contact with Master When did you come? I don’t remember.”
Yurnet smiled.
I just drank the tea without saying a word.
“Anyway, even if we run into them, it won’t be too soon.”
“Still, it’s frustrating.”
I made several hypotheses, but none of them fit.
The first hypothesis is that after clearing the stage, El Cid changed his play style towards PVP because his goal disappeared. But this makes no sense.
I don’t know him very well, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t met him at all.
We chatted a few times and even got tips on the game for a while.
More than anything… … .
‘Why didn’t I go back?’
If he became a hero like me and fell into Moebius, he could return to reality from the moment he cleared the game.
That you can leave this messed up world. If it were me, I would have headed for Earth without looking back.
But El Cid did not leave.
“master.”
“……why.”
“We are currently collecting the personal information of the No. 1 ranking member. At the latest, you will receive it by the time the Master clears the 50th floor.”
Is the reason still unknown?
‘I don’t know English.’
I remembered the conversation I had with Tell at the two-star promotion ceremony.
The purpose for which Pick Me Up was created.
‘To restore the destroyed world.’
What was needed there was the power of the Earth, the upper dimension.
Therefore, this place was made like a mobile game to induce the participation of earthlings.
‘If El Cid climbed the tower all the way… … .’
Did Dorado, the world there, break away from the form of the tower and return to its original state?
How is it there now?
It is also unknown.
“…that’s annoying.”
I scratched my head.
I don’t want to worry about holding on to a problem that has no answer.
But it was a matter of no importance.
To the point where I can’t stop thinking about it.
As far as I can see, it voluntarily gave up returning to Earth.
Tell could have hit the target once again, but… … .
‘I really don’t know.’
I scratched my head hard.
“Then the hair falls out.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll never fall.”
I replied nervously and got up from my seat.
It was as Yunet said. Even if I were to fight El Cid, it would be after clearing the 50th floor.
There is an order to work. Even if you hold on to the unanswered question and grunt, you will not get any results.
‘I’ll have to go to the memorial service.’
Wiryeong accepted my offer to guard the waiting room while we were out on missions.
It was a role as important as being active in the mission. If the waiting room is in ruins when you return, there’s no such thing as too much exhaustion.
Whether you can fight properly, whether your mental state is okay.
It was necessary to check her condition and accept her promise again.
“Don’t worry. You can do it. You can’t just eat rice.”
The ghost smiled and answered me.
The shadow didn’t go away from his face, but he seemed much better than when he first came.
“I just have one request. If the day comes to fight him…”
The ghost, who was about to say something, lowered his eyes.
“No. It’s an embarrassing request for me, who has not accomplished anything, to ask Gongja. I’ll tell you when the day comes.”
“Do it.”
If the time comes when we’re going to have a fierce battle with him, it’s okay to listen to him then.
Until then, this guy will be active as a hero of Taoni, not a warrior.
“The speaker’s oath… I’ll try to find a way to use it in my mission.
“I like the idea. I hope to do that soon.”
“However, why does Confucius go through such asceticism? To think that the head of the Daemun faction works as a gatekeeper in an insignificant periphery. Is this some kind of training method?”
“…you can see that.”
It was cumbersome to explain each one.
I gave a rough answer.
“Gongja, can I ask you one more question?”
“If you can answer.”
“Do you know what Zone 1 is?”
I narrowed my eyes.
I don’t know the intent of the question.
To ask about the 1st server out of the blue.
“I heard him mention about Zone 1.”
“Did you mention it?”
I asked.
My gaze must have been ferocious, and the spirits hurriedly responded.
“No, it was just a moment. Maybe I heard it wrong.”
“That’s a test server. Not a place to go.”
Server 1 was used during the beta test of Pick Me Up and was the server where the main system that oversees all areas of the game was located. Server 1 was closed when the game was officially opened.
Raskanda mentioned 1 server.
It was information that was not heard when the martial arts were reproduced.
Suddenly, a feeling of foreboding passed through my head.
“…”
However, I kept that thought shut.
I decided to think about that guy later.
Now, the 50th floor was first.
“I’m sorry for saying unnecessary things. I think I was mistaken.”
The spirit bowed its head to me.
Well, I think it would be fine if I didn’t tell you now.
Next, I explained the schedule to the spirits.
We were to return to Taoni by express boat at dawn the next day.
When you return to Taoni, you will begin the final preparations for reaching the 50th floor.
‘The resource problem has been solved.’
Both troops and airships filled the target numbers.
But the next obstacle remained.
‘Is it a matter of the hero’s level?’
Taoneer’s main attack group goes far beyond the standard 4-star hero level.
This fact can be seen just by monopolizing large-scale events in a 4-star dimensional city.
But that wasn’t enough.
My prediction is that on the 50th floor, a large number of named monsters will be dispatched.
They were dozens of times stronger than normal monsters. In order to properly fight against them, we also needed to further strengthen our forces.
‘Even if it doesn’t work for me, there has to be someone similar to me.’
I can’t use the spirits bound by the oath in missions,
I had to select one of the existing promising players and develop it intensively.
‘Jenna or Belquist, either one.’
He told Gugucon that he had plans to increase his power.
I’ll ask right away when I get back.
After parting with the spirits, I prepared for my return to Taoni.
Well, there is nothing to prepare. To the extent of tying Bifrost’s scabbard tightly to his belt and taking care of the plan he wrote the night before.
It’s time to go back.
Whoops.
A simple dock installed on the 13th floor of Niflheim.
A small, high-speed airship was taking off.
“I beg you, may you win.”
Lydigion ignored me.
I nodded without speaking.
It was a silent greeting, as always.
“I will not forget the grudge of Wei Gong and Lianzhu.”
Ridigion took a fist while watching the spirit next to me.
“Thank you.”
Wiryeong also greeted them face-to-face, and then took a step ahead and went up the stairs.
Yurnet, finely dressed in Niflheim’s uniform, approached me.
“Master, as always, I believe you will win.”
“Always.”
“Isn’t Master invincible? Whoever is the enemy. Just like the time you rescued us from hell, please save them this time too. And… just return safely.”
Yurnet put her hand on her chest.
“Don’t forget. If you’re having a hard time, you can always come back. I will leave Niflheim’s seat of power empty.”
“That’s not going to happen…”
I closed my mouth.
It may sound like this time, but if there is a day to return completely, it will be after breaking the 100th floor.
But it’s tasteless to say that here. I smiled and continued.
“Please take good care of me then.”
“I am.”
Yurnet bowed her head to me.
“Don’t be too harsh. I’ll call you often.”
“If you do, I don’t ask for anything.”
Yurnet smiled mischievously and withdrew slowly.
I made eye contact with both of them. And boarded the airship.
<Let’s go!>
With the pilot’s guidance, the flying airship moved toward the dimensional vortex.
***
[Congratulations!]
[Congratulations on clearing all stages of Master, Pick Me Up!]
the man was watching
[Master’s ranking is ‘1st’!]
[You are the first clear user to be honored!]
“…”
A hologram screen floats.
On the screen, awkwardly made paper dolls were clapping.
[Congratulations again!]
[The master’s feat will be praised forever.]
[Mobius INC.]
[DIRECTER-ALPHA0]
A bit childish, 8-bit background music flowed.
The screen turned black, and the staff rolls in white letters slowly fell onto the screen.
[GAME DESIGN]
[Senior Game Designer – ALPHA1]
[Lead Game Designer – ALPHA2]
[Game Designer – ALPHA3]
[Game Designer – ALPHA4]
[Game Designer… … .]
The man was looking at it without blinking an eye.
[CHARACTER MODELING]
[Lead Game Designer – DELTA1]
[Game Designer – DELTA2]
[Game Designer… … ]
The video lasted a long time.
from 1 minute to 5 minutes. 5 minutes to 10 minutes.
[SPECIAL THANKS]
[RAUD… … .]
Finally, after a long video that lasted about 20 minutes, the staff roll was closed.
A message popped up with a sound effect.
[Master, the scenario ‘Dorado’ has come to an end.]
[But don’t forget.]
[The real adventure begins now!]
Jijik.
Gray noise flashed across the screen, and the hologram window disappeared cleanly.
The man stood alone in a vast square.
Soon after, it became dark everywhere.
“… this world.”
muttered the man.
“There is nothing.”
