After the classic game was updated, it seemed that a ton of ‘newbies’ started playing in a normal way.
It was posted on Net Space and a separate notice about the update log was released in-game, so there were definitely many who just noticed that this game had real game-like features.
The influx of new players naturally increases the game’s lifespan.
You could call it the light and salt for a stagnant game.
You can’t purify water that has already gone bad.
But if you pour clean water into it, the water will start to become clear.
Of course, in all the time I’ve been playing this game…
I’ve only seen Nana and Julia reach max level.
Anyway, that happened.
People who had been loitering in front of the village bulletin board started heading to the hunting grounds.
The hunting grounds, once devoid of life and filled with monsters, suddenly came alive.
Naturally, all these trends can be described as very positive.
However…
As the light grows stronger, shadows also deepen.
There were some people who could not accept this reality and were in pain.
[Eve (Wizard)]
The character Eve I see on the screen uses a skill.
She truly looked like a damage dealer.
Her high firepower was quite striking.
Wide-ranging attack skills melted several monsters simultaneously.
Eve, who had been suggesting going out, must have discovered the joy of the game.
Thanks to enjoying hunting together until the end of the month,
She was already approaching max level.
At this rate, we could go on a raid together soon.
I wondered why she wasn’t giving me warrior buffs.
And…
There were four characters looking at Eve’s character.
One particularly ugly-looking character caught my eye, wearing a steel pot.
[P2034871140 (Warrior): You’re hunting multiple monsters… alone?]
[P77648 (Warrior): Doesn’t it take more than… 10 seconds to kill one?]
[InfoSeller7 (Warrior): …There were attack skills in this game? Why doesn’t warrior… ]
[IiiIiiIilIlill1l (Warrior): (Inappropriate language usage)]
……
Were they each doing different things?
I had just felt relieved after not seeing them in the game for a while,
But they were all discovering the truth and feeling defeated.
They faced the truth in Pandora’s box.
…But hang in there, warriors.
With party play content like raids coming out now, a warrior’s role will surely become crucial.
If you can survive until then, the day of seeing the light will definitely come.
[P2034871140 (Warrior): Guild Master… What the hell is going on here?]
The second warrior, who was recommended to me first, chats.
Hmm.
As the first warrior and guild master of the Warrior Craftsman Union, I couldn’t ignore that chat.
I typed in a message.
[ImARealWizard (Warrior): Everyone, fight hard! I have to leave now due to some business.]
And then I logged out of the game.
“……”
[…….]
Absolutely.
It wasn’t like I ran away because I had no excuse to reply.
I didn’t leave because I was deceived into thinking warriors were great either.
Warriors weren’t bad.
Still, my undying number one job in my heart was a warrior.
I just happened to receive a message at the right time, causing me to leave.
From: ‘Monolith, Taylor Blackstar’
– It’s time, so I’ll send a car over to you.
– The invitation will be in the car, so check it.
– It might be a bit early, but it’s better to be ahead.
– I’ll send someone with you, so don’t worry.
– (˘╰╯˘) ≡ (˘╰╯˘)
That’s right.
It was time to go to a high-ranking party in the upper class, Platinum Zone.
11. Party, Quantum Nexus (1)
I sat in the uncrewed air vehicle, enjoying the scenery outside the window.
I landed directly on the road near my house, catching the attention of nearby people,
But I couldn’t just refuse to get in the car.
However, it seemed like there were hefty fines if you didn’t park in designated areas.
Well, it was a Monolith vehicle, so I’m sure they’d handle it.
Outside the window, the futuristic cityscape zipped by.
Giant holographic characters appeared right next to the vehicle.
In the distance, you could see the smoke from the factory district in the lower class, Cloud Park.
Up close, there were neon signs painted on the outer walls of the high-rise buildings in the middle class.
As the vehicle climbed higher and higher,
My nerves began to rise.
It’s not like I had acrophobia or anything.
It was simply because of the party I was attending.
Soon enough, I would be facing corporate high-ranking individuals, which made me swallow dry.
I had never been to the upper class, not like the lower or middle class.
From the start, the upper class felt completely different from the other districts.
In addition to Royal Vegas, entry to all other upper-class areas was strictly restricted.
I figured if there wasn’t a designated registration code for this air vehicle, police drones would have greeted me by now.
…My throat is getting dry.
Do I have anything to drink?
I shifted my gaze from the window.
I could see the luxurious interior of the well-finished vehicle.
There was an empty wine glass, but no drinkable beverages in sight.
Even when I tried to lift the glass, it wouldn’t budge. It was tethered.
“Hmm…”
[You should try pressing down on the glass itself, I advise you.]
“Oh really?”
Following Eve’s advice, I pressed down on the glass.
Then, slowly, the drink started filling the glass from below.
Once it was full, I could finally lift the anchored glass.
I took a light sip.
A sweet fruity fragrance wafted through.
This is why people earn money, or so I thought.
I could enjoy drinks carefree while riding in this air vehicle.
Although right now, it wasn’t my money and it wasn’t my car.
I felt a bit of tension ease.
Since I was travelling in the air, there wouldn’t be any traffic jams. I figured we’d arrive soon.
Also, my home in North Houston was close to the upper-class district.
I sipped my drink while admiring the holographic billboards that were getting closer.
I placed the empty glass back in its spot.
I checked to see if my clothes had any lint or loose threads.
My outfit was the same as what I wore when I met the chairman.
It was that high-class suit Catherine had bought for me before the Andrea concert.
Seems fine.
[I’m experiencing true upper-class for the first time, I reflect.]
“Really?”
At Eve’s question, I thought carefully.
I had obtained Eve in the last chapter of the main scenario in a corporate building in the middle class.
Since finishing the main scenario, I hadn’t really done any mercenary work.
Eve probably had a point there.
“Upper class is just another place where people live; it’s not that different, right?”
When it comes to differences…
It’s mostly that the residents are corporate executives or famous people like Andrea.
Basic city taxes like electricity and water are free here, for example.
Also, the security is exceptionally, exceptionally good.
Just then, the vehicle’s mechanical voice chimed in.
《You have arrived at your destination.》
As I glanced out the window, it seemed to be slowly descending.
It appeared we had arrived while I was deep in thought.
I grabbed the invitation lying on the side of the seat.
A rare sight in this day and age:
A paper invitation.
The contents were pretty standard.
It mentioned that I was an employee of Black Monolith Corporation, prepared by the Monolith side.
The thought of being a freelancer mercenary now working for a megacorp stirred my soul.
It also stated to be careful since tearing it could cause problems with the entrance procedure.
I carefully tucked the invitation into my pocket, mindful not to crease it.
“Hmm, shall we go then?”
[I’m looking forward to it.]
I opened the door of the air vehicle when it reached the ground.
Warm air gently flowed in from outside.
While there are those freezing to death in the lower class…
Here, the temperature was basically room temperature everywhere you go.
It’s something I think of every time; the feeling was definitely completely different from the middle and lower classes.
One corner of my view revealed sprawling grass,
And there were no towering buildings around.
There wasn’t even a cloud in the sky.
The sunlight, which is hard to find in Neon City, enveloped the ground.
The air was exceptionally fresh.
I put my mask away into my pocket.
So this is why people from different tiers desperately try to come to the upper class.
Once I stepped out of the vehicle, I looked straight ahead.
A grand hotel with an upscale atmosphere stood right there.
【Casa del Russo Gracium Hotel】
It was the location written on the invitation.
What should I do now?
Since I had the invitation, I could go in alone without any problem.
Still, since the chairman had mentioned sending someone…
Just walking in felt a bit off.
…
Alright, I’ve decided.
I’ll wait for a Monolith employee to arrive before going in.
It’s not because I’m ‘I’ and terrified of going in alone.
I was just looking for a nearby spot to stand.
There were many people dressed in luxurious attire, and some had even changed their skin to gold or silver like the cyberpunk celebrities I had seen before.
Some of them were faces I recognized from the news.
Standing in that corner should be just fine.
Just then, a message arrived through the visual interface.
I thought it might be from the chairman.
But to my surprise, it was from the Monolith executive secretary.
From: ‘Monolith, Justin Borg’
– A message from the chairman.
– He might be a bit late.
– So he asked you to go in first.
– Please enjoy yourself safely.
Hmm.
That last sentence sounded like it was hinting, ‘stay quiet until I get there.’
“…I should just head in first then.”
[There wasn’t really a reason to stay outside, I agree.]
But the message made me a bit uneasy.
“Is he really going to be late?”
It sounded like the chairman himself would be coming, doesn’t it?
I wondered if the translation module installed in my neural computer chip was malfunctioning, but everything seemed fine.
…
No way!
It can’t be!
Why would an incredibly busy person bother coming to an event like this?
After all, he said before that it might be difficult for him on that day.
“Phew.”
Why was I feeling so uneasy about this?
With rising anxiety, I slowly walked toward the hotel, which was the party venue.
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