Chapter 168

[A new legend to follow Hase Ra, is it being born!]

[An E-class Hunter from a year ago is now a world Ranker? Who is the Skeleton King, who became a National Treasure overnight?]

[Dmir Workshop refuses all interviews. ‘The Skeleton King will continue to focus on Dungeon activities,’ they announced.]

[Some are voicing concerns that excessive attention may be burdensome to the hero.]

……

Drip!

I was skimming through the articles with my thumb.

Thud!

I tossed my phone aside.

“Still, it seems to have been neatly handled in just one day.”

Kim Jina’s work was swift.

She turned away the reporters swarming the workshop by saying I wasn’t there.

She also fed information directly to the reporters, making a concise statement.

Furthermore, she swayed public opinion on the Hunter bulletin board, spreading information like, [Supporting the hero from behind is the best way to help!].

‘Good.’

Meeting the Elder, becoming a Ranker.

All of it was incredible luck, but…

Isn’t the fact that a talent like Kim Jina came to my side on her own just as great a stroke of luck?

I gently placed my left hand over my chest.

Thump, thump.

Even now, after the darkness has passed and the new year has dawned, my heart is still racing.

Me, at 78th place……

Not only did I become a Ranker, but a high Ranker in the double digits……

The afterglow of that hasn’t faded yet.

– “So, you’ve come to a vacant lot like this, sitting here pathetically?”

The Elder, floating in the air, muttered.

That’s right.

I had asked Ki Soyul for her understanding yesterday and came here alone to space out.

To be precise, I was resting, having postponed everything I needed to do.

Because it was that hard.

Because I had suffered.

I wanted to rest without thinking about anything, just for this one day.

– “Still, a guy who’s made so much money is roughing it? Roughing it. Your world has plenty of fancy buildings. If I were you, I’d be running to the finest inn right away, ordering a feast, and soaking my body in a hot bath!”

“It’s just, memories, you know. This place.”

The vacant lot on the back mountain where I trained without fail for three years.

A forgotten state-owned land in a natural settlement area that no one cared about.

“This place is where my mind and body feel most at peace.”

– “Well, I guess. Roughing it is your daily life, so the floor might be more comfortable than a bed.”

“You know what’s funny?”

– “What?”

“The period I spent training here as an E-class Hunter for three years is shorter than the period from when I met you, Elder, until I became 78th in the rankings.”

– “Heh heh heh. Of course, it is.”

The Elder clicked his tongue and laughed.

– “How could a novice not wander when trying to pass through a dark mountain alone? You were just going around in circles when someone could have helped you go easily.”

“That someone has to be an expert, though. The best expert, like you, Elder.”

– “Alright.”

The Elder nodded as if satisfied.

Come to think of it, I’ve grown quite attached to the Elder.

I think we used to bicker a lot in the past.

Now, when there’s a difficult problem, I get psychologically anxious if the Elder isn’t by my side.

The skill, Legacy of the Ten Thousand Arts (SS-class), is truly the best weapon I have, isn’t it?

– “Ah.”

The Elder clapped his hands as if he had just remembered something.

– “By the way, there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Curious?”

– “That stone. Shouldn’t you use it soon?”

“Stone……”

The Dungeon Artifact I received from Delilah.

To be exact, it’s a necklace-shaped ornament, but it looks just like a lump of stone.

“That’s right. I should use it.”

Taking the artifact out of my pocket, I carefully caressed it.

[Item: Delilah’s Dungeon Artifact]

[Rank: SS]

[Type: Artifact]

[Description: Connects the ‘Empty World’ found by a Dungeon Maker in the outer reaches of the galaxy to reality.]

[Effect 1: The ‘Empty World’ can be used as a personal space.]

[Effect 2: Can be entered with others. Using 100 Energy will create a ‘Portal’ in that location for 24 hours.]

[Effect 3: Shares spacetime with the user’s world.]

“SS-class……?”

My eyes widened.

I knew it was precious, but I didn’t know it was SS-class.

Suddenly, the Oxford’s Sage’s words flashed through my mind.

That stone. You got it?

Wow, I didn’t expect it. She gave you that?

Delilah, that little……!

When I asked to trade, she hid it tightly, sweating bullets!

She just happily handed over the best quality item?

It looks two grades better than mine?

A Hunter ranked 4th!

Just how good is it that she made such a fuss?

– “Isn’t it an amazing ability the more you look at it? To wander around that vast universe as you please, and even connect it. What are you doing? Let’s use it quickly.”

“Yes.”

Holding the stone, I closed my eyes.

‘Is this how you use it?’

Then, I gently let my energy flow.

Drip!

It was then that my energy drained as if I were using a skill.

[Using ‘Delilah’s Dungeon Artifact’ (SS-class).]

[Consuming 100 Energy.]

Whoosh!

It was then that a golden oval door appeared before my eyes.

The inside of the door was distorted as if space was twisted, feeling alien.

[A ‘Portal’ is created in this location.]

[If you enter the ‘Portal’, you can move to the ‘Empty World’.]

[Be careful! This ‘Portal’ will disappear after 24 hours.]

‘A portal.’

I was a little scared, but I felt more excited.

What’s inside?

What kind of world is it that Delilah confidently gave it as a gift?

Step.

I boldly stretched out my foot and stepped into the space.

Fwoosh!

At the same time, my vision flickered.

—

[Arriving at the ‘Empty World’ with no name.]

[Please name this ‘World’.]

“Hmm?”

I opened my eyes to the dazzling sunlight.

– “Oh.”

Next to me, the Elder clicked his tongue and sighed.

– “Crazy. Truly crazy! The Peach Blossom Land I’ve only heard about is spread out here!”

“……”

The space seemed similar to Earth.

A star of moderate brightness was shining down on the space.

The smell of the air and gravity were also no different from Earth’s.

Also, the place where I was standing was high ground.

Below, I could see countless wide-spreading forests and streams.

In the distance, streams gathered into rivers across the vast land.

Not only that.

Various fruits and herbs.

The smell of grass.

Even the sounds of birds and beasts similar to those on Earth.

On top of that, the temperature was moderately cool, making me feel good.

“Hmph.”

I fully enjoyed the blowing wind.

“Hoo, the Elder was right. This is Peach Blossom Land.”

I exhaled toward the sky and muttered.

Then.

[Would you like to name this ‘World’ ‘Peach Blossom Land’?]

A message popped up.

‘Peach Blossom Land?’

I nodded.

Anything was fine.

I didn’t particularly have anything to name it.

I didn’t usually value names that much anyway.

[The name of the ‘Empty World’ is changed to ‘Peach Blossom Land’.]

[There are no intelligent life forms in this ‘Peach Blossom Land’.]

[Please use it as a personal space.]

“Really, it’s amazing.”

So.

This wonderful world is all mine?

It’s my own space?

– “Did that girl Delilah know that you were always training in that shabby vacant lot on the back mountain? How could she give you exactly this kind of space as a gift?”

“I think I know why the Oxford’s Sage was so upset.”

In the future, I could use it as a training ground.

Also, all the resources in this vast place were mine!

‘Huh? Resources?’

It was at that moment.

[The Essence of Wood smiles gently.]

[The trees and grass in this space grow even greener.]

[A rotten sapling regains life.]

“Essence of Wood……?”

[The Essence of Metal opens its eyes.]

[A lot of minerals are created around.]

“Huh!”

I blinked.

‘Right, minerals……!’

The first thing that came to my mind as soon as I saw this space was Dmir.

‘Should I call Dmir?’

No, let’s call Kim Jina too.

If she, who wants to create a guild, knows about the existence of this space, she can use it more effectively.

[Consuming 100 Energy.]

[A ‘Portal’ is created in this location.]

I created a portal again and quickly escaped back to the vacant lot.

If I only used 100 Energy each time, it wasn’t difficult to go back and forth between the connected spaces.

– “Heh heh, this guy is always losing his mind when minerals come out.”

Leaving the Elder laughing next to me, I headed to Dmir’s Workshop.

“Huh? President? What brings you here during the day?”

“Oho, Lord! You’ve come!”

I saw Dmir and Kim Jina talking in the VIP room on the second floor.

“Just a moment.”

[Consuming 100 Energy.]

[A ‘Portal’ is created in this location.]

I immediately created a portal there.

“W-what is this all of a sudden?”

Kim Jina was flustered by the alien appearance of the portal.

“Well, it’s a little complicated to explain. First, would you like to go in?”

“Here?”

Kim Jina made an uneasy expression.

Well, even I thought it was scary at first.

“Think of it as a Dungeon. A safe Dungeon with no monsters. If you’re uneasy, I’ll go in first, so would you like to follow me?”

“……”

Looking at her, who was silent, I had no choice but to throw out bait she’d react to.

“I think it will be very helpful for the guild in the future.”

“Really?!”

Kim Jina’s eyes lit up.

“T-then even though I’m scared, I have to go in right away!”

It’s that simple to coax someone with a clear goal.

—

[Arriving at ‘Peach Blossom Land’.]

“Crazy! Crazy! Crazy! All of this is really ours? As long as we have a portal, we can come and go as we please, and it’s another world where time flows the same? So, a living subspace?”

“You understand it pretty well.”

“How can something like this……? This is that, right? Delilah’s Artifact!”

Oh.

She deduced it in one go.

Well, she’s always had the best intuition.

“How did you know that?”

“Who doesn’t know that! Wow, really, President. How much more are you going to surprise me……”

“Do you like it?”

“Like it? Of course, I like it! You know what’s one of the most important things in creating a guild? It’s the base. The base! A base with thorough security!”

Well.

When it comes to security, it couldn’t be better than this.

A space where only I could control access.

‘However, the downside is.’

Only I could create that portal.

And it’s a portal that only lasts for 24 hours, so if you’re not careful, you might be abandoned inside.

“That’s not a problem. We can just calculate the time well and get out. Actually, since the President became a world-class Ranker, there have been a lot of problems.”

“Problems?”

“Yes, it’s good that we have more customers because we’re famous…… but the problem is that we’ve become too famous.”

Kim Jina muttered, her eyes shining.

“No matter how much the President is 78th, there are many strong people in the world. Also, the President can’t always protect the workshop.”

“You mean there’s a risk of terrorism.”

“Yes, of course, there hasn’t been any terrorism yet since it’s only been revealed for a day…… but I think there’s almost a 100% chance there will be.”

That was right.

In the past, Nick Jakan, the owner of the Dark Shadow Group, was also ranked 92nd in the world.

Also, the assassin who infiltrated under Shin Jongo’s orders was a world Ranker.

“But, if we have a space like this, we can prepare for that. Ah, could you call Dmir for a moment?”

“Dmir? Yes.”

I changed my weapon to a staff and swung it.

[Using the skill, ‘Summon Skeleton Lord’ (S-class).]

[Consuming 10 Energy.]

[‘Dmir’ appears.]

“Hmm, Lord?”

The short skeleton Dmir appeared in the posture of swinging a hammer.

“It’s been a while since you called me directly. But where is this……”

Dmir, who put down his hammer and looked around, was surprised.

“Oh, what a great place. This is the first time in my life I’ve seen such a vast and beautiful space. The smell of minerals is also as strong as our Titan in the past.”

The hidden city of the Dwarves of Stone.

Titan, also known as the dwarves’ holy land.

“Dmir.”

Kim Jina pointed with a serious expression.

The direction she was pointing was that vast open field.

“Is it possible to build a building and workshop there that could become the base of our guild?”

“There?”

Dmir’s eyes lit up.

“It requires the Lord’s permission, but just being able to create something in such a place would be an honor for me and our dwarves.”

As his master, I could feel the emotion in his eyes.

Excitement.

Dmir was clearly excited by the new creative desire.