8th basement floor of the research center.
This was the lowest level, a place with little traffic. It wasn't that no one came and went, but the number of people coming and going was extremely limited.
There are no secrets hidden, such as the secrets of the Cellbrox Lab or traces of human experiments that should not be made public. Kushan is not such a foolish person.
The reason is simpler.
First, because I just have nothing to do. And second, because.
'It's so fucking hot… … .'
Kim Yi-hyeon, who came down to the lowest floor for the first time, didn't even have time to feel moved. Not even a minute had passed since he got off the elevator, but he was already dripping with sweat.
The cause was a furnace that spewed out an absurdly high temperature. The 8th floor underground was a production workshop that used an entire floor. The concept of a production workshop is essential in the game.
"Why did you call me?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't get it either!"
The companion was a retired rifleman named Tatalia. She was the one who brought the news. It was said that a call had been received from Tamtam, the owner of the production workshop.
"But how did you end up being treated like this?"
"The truth is, this is how it happened…."
Cheeeeek!
"…So, of all people, I...."
Brother, Brother!
It was so noisy that it was hard to even have a conversation. The sound of the furnace running, the sound of iron striking, the sound of metal melting. It was a space where even just walking would make the discomfort index seem to pierce through the ceiling.
"Okay. Let's just go."
"yep."
There were about 10 people living on the 8th basement floor. Although it was a small number, there was no shortage of manpower. The production workshop was originally a facility that operated half on the power of Tamtam.
From crafting weapons and quest items to maintaining the equipment of agents, Tamtam was forced to do an astonishing amount of work, but he never missed a single second of his scheduled time.
Rather, she often achieves great success. There is not a single user who has not been indebted to TamTam. The prevailing opinion is that rap is ruined on the day she goes on strike.
The great woman was smoking a cigarette.
"Oh, you're here. Are you Hyeon?"
Chelsea's hair is roughly tied up like a ponytail. Her blue hair and eyes are impressive. Her baggy T-shirt has a rabbit picture painted on it.
"Wow. It looks better in person than on video!"
"What video?"
"I saw your operational log."
He stretched his hand high and hit Kim I-Hyeon on the back. He was so short that he had to stand on tiptoe to touch Kim I-Hyeon's back. Tam-Tam was a typical dwarf technician.
"...I understand, but could you please put out your cigarette?"
"Huh? Oh, you feel embarrassed?"
"Rather than being embarrassed, um."
Because of his appearance, he had the temperament of a scholar. Did he notice the meaning in Kim Yi-hyeon's gaze? Tam-tam said in a laughable tone.
"I'm ten years older than you, you little brat."
"흠…."
"Okay, okay. That's a bit tricky."
Hey, he said, and lit a cigarette against the wall. I couldn't shake off the feeling of crime.
On another note, Kim Yi-hyeon was very uncomfortable with Tamtam. Other users would have felt the same way. While acknowledging her hard work, there was a reason why he couldn't like her purely.
It was because of 'that line' that still rings in my ears.
― Ouch! I was dozing off and then…!
― Haha, that was bad luck. I'll do better next time.
- Oops, my hand slipped!
This is a script that appears randomly when reinforcement fails.
There was a malice in every line, without a single line of dialogue. In the community, there was a rumor that she was a 'crazy bitch who relieved stress by destroying other people's equipment' whenever she was bored.
'How many did this bitch break and eat…?'
There were more than a few times when I thought about slapping her in the face. And then we actually met like this. Kim Lee-hyun's arms, which had gotten thicker than before, twitched.
"What's wrong, you? Where does it hurt?"
The eyes looking up were innocent. They were eyes filled with pure worry.
Kim Yi-hyeon was internally angry. I'm crazy. Let's just see the game as a game. If you start acting up here, you'll only end up being the one who gets hurt.
"It's nothing. More importantly, you said you came looking for me. Why?"
"Didn't you hear from Kushan?"
"There was nothing in particular said."
"Oh my, that surprise bottle. Just wait a minute."
Tamtam got down from her chair, making a "ssssss" sound with her mouth. She went into the back of the lounge, and returned less than 30 seconds later, carrying something long in her arms.
"Okay. Take it."
The object handed over was none other than a knife.
A straight sword with the blade and handle integrated. It was a design that gave off a near-future feel, in contrast to the old-fashioned swords Snowfield used to handle.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"I received an order from Kushan. To make a weapon that you can use. That's why I saw your operational records… Oh, I've been doing maintenance all day, so it's been a while since I've exerted myself, so I feel sore."
Even after hearing the circumstances, I still didn't understand. Tamtam continued speaking, perhaps with a look of doubt on his face.
"You don't think it's very useful? You can just make it into a spell."
That was correct.
In fact, Kim Yi-Hyeon had never experienced any trouble due to not having a weapon in his hand. Special weapons were usually of the highest quality, even at 1 star. 1 and 2 star equipment were superior to average guns and swords.
Tamtam explained it to him.
"I think it's just for show."
"You're going to show me?"
"Yes. If you put it in a place where it's visible, such as on your back or waist, the other person will feel intimidated, right? As you move forward, such negotiations will sometimes become necessary. Besides, there will be situations where you don't have to use spells."
Or, there might be situations where it can't be used? she added.
Hearing this, I could nod my head. A method of intentionally sticking out the sword to take advantage of the enemy's weak point also comes to mind. The element of being noticeable is actually a plus.
It was simple, but it had a blind spot that I had never thought of before.
'I didn't know Kushan would be this considerate.'
In a way, it was typical of Kushan. He's not the type to show off when giving things as gifts. In any case, he was giving it to me for free, so I had to accept it gratefully.
"Try pulling it out. Swing it around and see."
As Tamtam said, I took it out of the scabbard and a blade appeared. It was a grayish color, almost black. It was about 50cm long. There were no fancy engravings or anything.
I quite liked the simplicity that seemed to focus on performance. Another noticeable part was the border between the blade and the handle. There was a small, protruding square part.
"What is this?"
"Batteries. Ultra-vibration cutters, vibroblades... whatever you want to call them. That's the kind of equipment they are. Don't complain even if the lifespan is short. It's better than nothing, right?"
I couldn't help but laugh out loud. There are tools like plasma cutters in real life, but when I saw it in the form of a sword, a sudden sci-fi feeling came over me.
'After all, a game is a game.'
It was difficult to even consider realism. Even the world view was a mess of civilization balance between each country. I remember seeing similar equipment on billboards when I was living in Cilicia.
"It seems a bit light. Maybe it needs some adjusting."
"It's pretty serious for a show-off."
"Of course. I'm a craftsman too. I have pride."
Tamtam watched Kim Yi-hyeon carefully as he held the sword. He even crouched down and tilted his head back as if he wanted to look at it from various angles.
"I didn't make it in vain. Do you know how much blood, sweat, and effort went into this one?"
"I don't know about that… I'll use it well. Thank you."
"Make sure to write it well. I'll check it for you. You just don't manage it properly, okay?"
He was a persistent guy. However, I could accept a few words without hesitation. When I received good things, I felt like my affection for Tamtam had increased a little.
In terms of numbers, it's about 3. The resentment of the former employee who blew two months' salary was deep.
* * *
Day 3 after returning to the lab.
I have not yet met with the professor and his party. They have not yet returned from their dispatch to the Republic of Salares.
To begin with, the main episode 3 takes place over a period of about a month in the story. Even if things proceed normally, it would take another 3 weeks.
'What was the scenario damage rate?'
I don't remember every single one. The messages that occasionally appeared before Kim Yi-Hyeon's eyes were seriously unfriendly, and they would appear and disappear on their own. It was impossible to even check the log.
'Anyway, it's damaged, so it must be different.'
If I say I have no worries, I am lying. However, I also realize that excessive intervention is only toxic. Just as I have grown, professors also need to gain experience.
There is no guarantee that it will only change in a bad direction. Rather, if you think about it normally, wouldn't the difficulty level have become easier? There is a high probability that you will be hurt by the unexpected departure of executives.
'The episode featuring Shadow and Snowfield has already been blown up.'
In the case of Shadow, the part where the character's own narrative is the center. Also, Snowfield has unique individual skills, except for the special 'godmother' in many ways.
In other words, it is difficult to replace it with another character. You cannot proceed as is by simply replacing the boss like in Cilicia.
'Now the problem is that part.'
As I was walking, lost in thought, I spotted a figure on the landing. A face that was so familiar that it had become familiar. As it happened, Asterike was coming up the stairs.
"Ah, Hyun… Yes."
It was quite a sight to see her yawning with her nostrils flaring. It was almost afternoon, and she had just woken up, her hair disheveled. Fortunately, she wasn't in her pajamas.
"...Life here seems to have become a lot more comfortable."
"I can adapt well anywhere. It's an important skill for living."
"That's true. He's the kind of person who sleeps well even in a warehouse with a door that's open."
"There were times like that...."
The hazy expression was strangely funny. Kim Yi-hyun approached and roughly adjusted his clothes. When he saw the hoodie string hanging behind his back, he couldn't help but touch it.
'Why are you wearing your hat inside out again?'
It was hard to just sit there and watch that unkempt appearance. At least after making it look like a person, I could see Asterike's flustered face.
"What did you do well? Why are you laughing? Let's go out and look in the mirror."
"Have you seen it?"
"But is it like this…?"
At this point, it might be a matter of aesthetic sense. Perhaps among the pecatum, an unorganized style might be popular as vintage or nerdy… .
It was a time when I was seriously contemplating.
"Hyun, what are you doing today? Where do you want to go?"
It seems like they've already decided to act together. It seems like it was only yesterday that they were sullen and sullen, but they've become quite shameless. With naps and outings, Asterike was making the most of her vacation.
But Kim Yi-hyeon's vacation ended here.
"Not today. I have somewhere to go."
"Huh? Where?"
"I'll tell you when I get back."
He told me to just wipe the eye boogers off and got on the elevator.
The destination is the ground. Kim Lee-hyun, who came out of the lab, walked along the same path he had taken a while ago and arrived at the helipad.
"…You're here. Are you really leaving like this?"
The helicopter stopped at the airport. The pilot asked with a nervous expression.
"I got permission. Is there a problem?"
"No, it's not a problem."
The pilot rubbed his neck in embarrassment. There was not a single person in sight at the airport besides the two of them. In other words, Kim Lee-hyun had chartered this flight.
'I don't know if this will work.'
Helicopters are rarely used in the lab due to concerns about damage. They were only used in the Atlanta infiltration due to the distance.
Given this, this time was even unusual.
Kim Lee-hyun, who is not even an agent of the rap company, was granted exclusive use permission. This was an unprecedented case. Not only that, but even the destination was unexpected.
'I don't know what the director is thinking.'
The pilot shook his head. It didn't matter. His job in the lab was to move people and materials safely and quickly.
"Come on. I'll take you to the border."
The place we are heading to from now on is Bastetira.
This is the holy land of the mutant race, Pecatum.