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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 111: First Night (2)
The place they were transported to felt like being sucked into a painting—standing atop a steep cliff.
A vast wilderness that seemed untouched by human hands since the beginning of time.
In the middle of it stood a single European-style castle, towering and imposing.
Strangely out of place.
“Wow…”
“This is our lodging…?”
The overwhelming scenery made the presence of 2,000 people feel as insignificant as a single drop of water in a glass.
Standing atop the cliff, surrounded by an endless expanse of red hues, all they could do was sigh in awe.
“Ha… Everything’s really red.”
The deep crimson sunset covered the wide-open sky.
Even the deep blue sea beneath the cliff and the vast plains stretching to the horizon were all tinted in red.
“Wow… This is amazing.”
“Do you not like it?”
“No, I mean…”
Yeojin, mouth agape, looked around in astonishment.
Mumbling as if talking to herself in response to Sola’s question.
“…It feels like academic elitism.”
“Pfft— It’s been a while since I heard that.”
Sola chuckled at her remark.
Just then—
“Kyah! I love this place!”
“Huh? Yura, where are you going…?”
“Let’s play tag! Hurry!”
Yura burst into laughter as she dashed across the plains.
Her joy was warmer than the breaking sunset.
“…It’s nice to see.”
I muttered.
Hearing that, Yeon Bora peeked her head out and commented,
“That’s all?”
“What is?”
“I just find it surprising that all you have to say after seeing this incredible view is ‘It’s nice to see.’”
She mimicked my tone, lowering her voice as she said it.
I had no idea what was so surprising about my reaction, so I asked,
“…It’s breathtaking.”
At that, Yeon Bora let out a laugh.
Her hair, bathed in the sunset glow, shimmered.
Black and purple alike, all turned red.
“You know, sometimes it’s hard to tell whether you’re cold or warm.”
“So, I’m neither too cold nor too hot, just right? I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“…One thing’s for sure—you’re shameless.”
Maybe the past couple of days had been overwhelming.
Just the fact that we could have such a casual conversation was enough to make my face relax.
Without realizing it, I smiled, and Yeon Bora fidgeted with her bangs before speaking.
“…Well, I like both…”
But before she could finish her sentence—
“Hyung! Hyuuuung!”
Jaehyuk came running urgently.
Earlier, he had gone inside the castle with a group to explore, but now he was running back alone like a messenger.
What had happened?
“There… over there!”
“Hm? What is it?”
Jaehyuk took a deep breath, steadied himself, then shouted,
“There’s a dining hall!!”
His face looked as if he had just won the world.
“It’s amazing…!”
“…What?”
This dumb mutt.
Was he just really hungry?
“…Alright, let’s go.”
Suppressing a sigh, we headed inside the building.
And then—
“…!”
Instead of a sigh, my eyes widened.
“Everyone, come this way!!”
The castle’s interior was unexpectedly modern, contrasting with its fairy-tale-like exterior.
Following Jaehyuk’s large strides, we arrived at—
“S-Sola! Look over there!”
“W-What is all this?!”
A massive banquet hall that could easily fit thousands.
It was so vast that it was hard to tell whether it was a grand hall or a sports stadium.
A space so elegant and magnificent, it could have hosted a royal wedding reception in the British monarchy.
And in the center of it all lay a feast, stretching out like a valley of delicacies.
“Wow…”
“M-Min Yeojin! This…!”
Everyone’s jaws dropped.
Even Yeojin, who had grumbled about feeling uncomfortable just moments ago.
“…Academic elitism is the best!”
* * *
“I love having a private room! Don’t you?”
“Yeon Bora. You like it because it’s a single room?”
“Of course! Our dorms were four people per room, and it was tough since everyone had different sleep schedules.”
Fair enough.
“But then… why aren’t you enjoying your comfortable room? Why are you in mine?”
Why was everyone in my room?
Not just one or two people, but everyone.
"Th-that's because... we need to come up with a strategy! Right, unnie?"
"Of course, of course!"
"What kind of strategy?"
"Well, um... Ah! Did you hear what the host said earlier?"
At Yeon Bora’s words, Jieun hurriedly nodded.
Then, she hastily brought up a topic.
It was obvious she was trying to change the subject.
'They're probably just gathering because they're anxious about being alone.'
Thinking that, I played along.
"You mean the talk about regular and contract positions?"
"Yes. Regular positions seem like the obvious choice, but the 100-person limit is bothering me."
"You too, unnie? I feel uneasy about it too. It's not like this is some idol audition!"
100 people.
Considering the remaining participants, it's an absurdly small number.
That's just 0.001% of 100,000.
More than anything...
"There are already 2,000 people just in our sector..."
Jieun was right.
Although it’s currently being conducted as a team event, in the end, only a select few will survive.
No one knows how that fact will impact the upcoming missions.
'At first, everyone will be focused on teamwork, but...'
Eventually, divisions will form.
When that happens, what choice will I have to make?
No...
'Will I even be in a position to make a choice?'
"But earlier, I saw there was alcohol in the cafeteria. Do you think we can drink it?"
"A-alcohol? Are you crazy? Knives are flying at us at every turn, and you want to drink? Are you kidding me?"
"W-what! If you don’t want to drink, fine! No need to yell!"
As I watched my companions chatter away with a bitter feeling—
Ding!
A message notification sounded, even though I thought today was already over.
[Congratulations!]
[Recipient: 'Lee Eunho.' A special incentive has been prepared for you.]
'A special incentive?'
[Oh, and by the way, the leader of the first-place team receives additional points! Keep that in mind!]
Ah.
So there was something more beyond the extra 5 points I received earlier.
No wonder I felt something was missing.
With half uncertainty and half excitement, I quietly kept my mouth shut.
Paah!
A glowing arrow appeared at my feet.
It wagged its tail as if telling me to follow it.
[Recipient: 'Lee Eunho.' Hurry up!]
"So back then, I..."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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"And at that time..."
As I walked down the hallway, the voices of my companions faded further into the distance.
Step. Step. Step.
Following the glowing arrow, I arrived at an ornate door at the end of the hallway.
[Recipient: 'Lee Eunho,' please enter!]
What could it be?
An armory?
A treasure vault?
Or maybe, just as that loudmouth had panicked, a dungeon?
With countless thoughts swirling in my head, I grabbed the doorknob.
With my other hand, I instinctively brushed the hilt of the summoned sword.
But—
Whoosh!
The moment I opened the door, a wave of heat engulfed my face.
The steam was so thick that I could barely see ahead.
And beyond it—
A grand bathhouse emerged from the mist.
'!!'
The heat from the bath and the cold air from outside mixed around me.
For a moment, the dizziness made me blink in confusion, and just then, a system message rang out.
Ding!
[Recipient Lee Eunho, welcome to 'The Conqueror's Caldarium'!]
[Enjoy the famous red peace to your heart’s content!]
'A caldarium, huh?'
Massive marble pillars supported the space.
Trumpet-blowing angels, wings, and feathers were meticulously carved, giving the place the look of an ancient temple.
At the center, instead of an altar, there was a bath.
A massive tile-lined tub, like something straight out of a public bathhouse.
▣ The Conqueror's Caldarium
-A hot bath made by drawing 'The Spring of Vitality' and heating it with ancient flames.
Bathing in it relieves fatigue and invigorates the body.
It also seems to smoothen the skin.
-Bathing restriction: 0/1 person.
"Petrification."
Splash!
Just in case, I reinforced my hand and dipped it into the water.
It was slightly hotter than expected.
The green-tinted water emitted a herbal scent.
'Nothing seems suspicious.'
I took off my clothes and slipped into the bath.
Swoosh!
Fatigue melted away.
A sensation of my muscles unwinding instantly.
'...This is nice.'
I'm always up for something that relaxes my body.
Back in the day, I always used to wonder...
For someone who makes a living through physical activity, high-quality rest is just as important.
Back then, I would get massages from professional physical therapists or go for light recovery runs.
Getting a good night's sleep was a given.
I don't know how the new employee training program is structured, but I'm sure it will be helpful.
The higher-ups wouldn't just throw a few books at us and tell us to read them.
"Check training points."
[Target: 'Lee Eunho.' Total training points: 77p.]
A response came immediately, so I fired off another question.
"Can I know the training content?"
[Unable to answer.]
"Then, what's the difference between full-time and contract employees?"
[Unable to answer.]
After a series of questions and the same consistent responses—
"What is the contract period for contract employees?"
This was the only answer I managed to get.
[It depends on the contract.]
Meaning, the contract terms vary from person to person.
Judging by how the process has worked so far, it will likely be determined based on performance at the training center.
SPLASH!
I dunked my face into the water and lifted it out as I sorted through my thoughts.
By the time my whole body felt like soft mochi—
Ding! Ding! Ding…!
A series of notifications rang out.
[Temporary trait 'Languid Vitality' acquired!]
[Stamina recovery speed increases by 50%.]
[Fatigue recovery speed increases by 50%.]
[Impurities in your skin are expelled. Charm slightly increases.]
[Psychological stability increases. Slight resistance to 'Fear' effects.]
[Remaining duration: 24 hours.]
A stamina and fatigue recovery buff, huh?
'It's the opposite of the Swearer’s skill.'
Might as well go out and ask him exactly what his skill does.
With that thought, I got out of the bath, wiped myself down with a neatly folded towel, put on my completely dry clothes, and was about to leave when an idea struck me.
Pause.
'Can't I take this with me?'
If I had this bath, I could receive buffs indefinitely.
Which means I could perform at 150% of my ability every day.
That would give me a massive advantage during training.
Taking an entire bathhouse with me?
Absurd, obviously.
'But just in case…'
Swish.
I reached out to the bath and spoke.
"Store."
A ridiculous idea, but worth a shot.
Of course, there was no response.
Figured.
I was about to turn and leave when—
[Bound items cannot be stored.]
Huh?
"Who is it bound to?"
[Unable to answer.]
So there's a separate concept of 'binding' beyond simply storing items in the inventory.
If that's the case—
"Summon."
Time to test it out.
Vwoom—!
Standing before the bath, filled with thick steam, I raised my Skybreaker and called out.
I must have looked ridiculous, standing there in my barely dressed state, brandishing a pitch-black greatsword.
"Bind."
Ding—!
[Would you like to bind 'Skybreaker' as your personal possession?]
‘!!’
So it works.
Binding.
‘And it seems like no one else knows about it.’
If they did, that foul-mouthed guy wouldn’t have been able to take the mace during the Dark Path mission.
But there’s something I don’t understand.
'Brahmastra. Why wasn’t that bound?'
Why would they use such a precious weapon on me without binding it?
As if answering my question, another message appeared.
[Warning: Changing the bound owner may degrade the item's performance.]
'So if the owner is changed…'
That explains it.
If Iro was planning to give that weapon to someone else—
'Did I intercept the director’s weapon?'
Given the circumstances, no one said anything, but I might have unknowingly made an enemy out of an incredibly powerful person.
I let out a breath of relief and immediately spoke.
"I’ll bind it."
Like attaching an anti-theft tag to an expensive laptop.
[Binding 'Skybreaker' as your personal possession…]
Ah, right.
"And Brahmastra too."
Better add it in, just in case they try to take it back later.
[Binding 'Skybreaker' and one additional artifact as your personal possessions!]
['Skybreaker' recognizes its new owner.]
['Restored Brahmastra' recognizes its new owner.]
Flash—!
Amid the dense steam, two beams of light burst forth.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!
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