Chapter 181


    The forest of little people, a certain field some people called the Forest of Dwarfs, wasnt in the Korean server, but the Italian server.


    The ce where the worlds gear is born.


    There existed a ce called the Vige of Dwarfs. It was said that 70%, the majority of legendary created items distributed around the world, were produced there.


    If its that ce, it may be possible to restore the Old Crown.


    The problem was, the dwarfs who lived there had very foul tempers.


    A ce most yers avoided entering.


    The Vige of Dwarfs was a ce yers didnt enter without good reason, no matter how high their level. Only a limited few went therethe people wemonly called Masters or Craftsmen. Only they returned from the Vige of Dwarfs with meaningful results.


    Ordinary yers


    would often die or go missing after going in. ording to eyewitness reports, some were working as ves in the dwarfs workshop.


    The reason why the vige was not subjugated despite that was, of course, because it was the worlds most prominent producer of very outstanding gear.


    Though even if we wanted to subjugate them, it might not even be possible.


    The dwarfs were strong.


    I remember they were estimated to be as strong as level 60 yers.


    If they had dwarfs in charge of fighting among their ranks, those individuals would likely possess even greater battle prowess.


    I believe the <em>manly</em> man Pedro should know as well.


    W-Well


    A manly man does not lie. Isnt that right?


    O-Of couuuurse!


    It seems to me that youre stuttering.


    Not at all! A manly man does not stutter.


    I thought so. You definitely know. Please share what you know.


    Pedros face turned ck for a moment, and then he spoke.


    It is a ce linked to my main quest. And my damned teacher is there, too.


    By teacher, he was probably referring to Elder Bufafa.


    Do you also know where it is?


    Of course. Theres nothing a manly man doesnt know.


    Jackson smiled lightly. Then its settled. We need to make the Gran Seoul Dungeons new entrance, after all.


    In the end, we had to go to the Forest of Dwarfs. We needed to restore the Old Crown into the Crown, a key item that would open the Gran Seoul Dungeons hidden field.


    Jackson shrugged. I will stay here and continue investigating. There are also things I need to check with the folks currently clearing the dungeon.


    I nodded. Jackson would stay behind.


    The future Fight King spoke up for the first time. I will also


    Oi, you little shitter. Theres a thing called friendship between men. You tryna backstab me?


    ...not stay behind and go with you. I know the Italian server very well.


    For a moment, V seemed resigned to his fate. But then, fighting spirit suddenly zed from him.


    All of a sudden?


    Why was he so vtile? I couldnt fathom why he was overflowing with fighting spirit right now.


    But wait, dwarfs? Little people? Whatever they are, are they good at fighting?


    ...


    <em>You would be no match for them as you are now, dude.</em>


    Are they good at fighting?


    They are.


    Are they stronger than me?


    Most likely. I wouldnt know since Ive never met them.


    Really?


    Really.


    Are they stronger than my rival we met back then?


    <em>Rival? Ah, right. But since when did the Demon King be your rival?</em>


    I dont know, either.


    V smacked his lips. There are a lot of strong guys out there.


    I thought his fighting spirit was going out for a moment, but then


    If theyre stronger than me, Ive gotta go at it with them.


    Even after getting so wrecked by the Demon King, he still hadnt gotten his head on straight.


    Youll die trying.


    You seem to know quite a lot about these dwarf dudes.


    So I told him the truth, if you could call it that.


    I know the future, after all.


    You were a Precognitive Eye user?


    I was actually a regressor, but in any case, I definitely knew the future. I hadnt lied.


    I know the future. Though it has changed a great deal due to variables.


    Ohh. V stared at me in amazement. You amaze me more and more every day. Youre an archer, but youre stronger than most close-ranged yers.


    Why was this guy getting worked up again?


    And you even have Precognitive Eye.


    V spoke to me with naive eyes. It seemed he thought of himself as being very earnest.


    Lets have another roundter.


    Why was that his conclusion? Was this guy really battle-crazy?


    Eh? V tilted his head. Hey. Pedro. Isnt archer abat ss?


    Dont say something so obvious.


    But I need to go into the dungeon with a nonbat ss?


    There was a moment of silence. I had already prepared an answerI had a multi-faceted ss, and I just had to set my main ss as sovereign. Thats what I nned on saying.


    Whatever, doesnt matter. As long as we can go in, its fine.


    As expected. This creature could not be understood bymon sense.


    ...


    I was soundly defeatedst time, but I wont always be defeated. Ill give you a good thrashingter.


    V really wanted to fight me again, it seemed.


    Anytime. If you can.


    Great!


    V broke into a radiant smile, clearly delighted. In any case, he was an amusing fellow.


    Pedro tilted his head. You say youre an archer?


    Yes, well. For now.


    But I dont see any archer items on you.


    Im a bit scarce on items.


    Of course, I had the transcendent item Isabel, but it was true that I didnt have any items as an archer. I hadnt lied.


    It seems we were destined to meet.


    What do you mean?


    I will tell you if the Forest of Dwarfs business works out.


    I read Pedros emotions.


    State: Anticipation / Slightly Worked Up / Having Fun


    I didnt know what he was talking about, but it seemed to be a good thing for me.


    Lets go to Italy, then.


    * * *


    * * *


    V and Pedros jaws dropped.


    You want to use the Teleport Gateway?


    It took a hefty 20,000 Coins each way.


    Instead of going by ne?


    Yes. It should be possible to teleport from Tutorial Building to Tutorial Building if apanied by a yer from another server.


    Hyukjin nced at Senia. She nodded.


    That is correct. There are two Italian server yers here, so one yer from a foreign server can teleport to the Italian server. The cost to use the Teleport Gateway is 20,000 Coins each way.


    V tantly pretended not to hear her with slight embarrassment.


    Dont have any money?


    Wh-Who do you think I am?!


    You dont, right?


    ...


    You dont, right?


    I dont.


    Ill lend you some.


    ...Can I maybe not pay you back?


    You want to end our rtionship over a measly 20,000 Coins?


    Can I not fight you if our rtionship ends?


    Did this guy only have fighting in his brain? Hyukjin sighed.


    Eh? I have 20,000 Coins? Looks like I dont need to borrow any. Uhehe! heughed merrily.


    Hyukjin had already given up on understanding V. He stared at Pedro.


    Ive given you the Tomb Pilfering Shovel.


    That was a <em>legendary</em> item.


    Y-You did.


    Do you think thats cheaper than 20,000 Coins?


    Of course not.


    Do you have 20,000 Coins?


    For reference, Pedros current life savings totaled to 24,000 Coins.


    I-I do.


    Thats fine, then.


    Is going by ne not an option?


    Too much time is wasted. If Coins can buy time, then of course you have to buy. If youre a manly man, thats the right answer.


    Of course. I think so as well.


    Pedros hand trembled ever so slightly. In the eyes of Hyukjin the Observer, the tiny movement looked like big quakes.


    The current V and Pedro were still newly-hatched chicks that hadnt grown to maturity. Hyukjin was a little amused because he could feel that.


    To think I would feel that V and Pedro are just fledgling chicks.


    If put another way, it meant Kim Hyukjin had grown that rapidly.


    The Gran Seoul Dungeon clear is steadily progressing in the Korean server.


    He had already spoken to the Taeguk Shield, Song Kiyeol, asking him to slow down the clearing speed a little. Hyukjin asked for cooperation in opening the Gran Seouls hidden field, and Song Kiyeol acquiesced.


    I will increase our break times a little and clear the dungeon a little more safely. However, I cannot slow down the clear forever.


    Time was money. No, it was more important than money, even more so for a Ranker. Hyukjin, V, and Pedro went together to the D-Tower. More specifically, the Teleport Gateway on the 1st floor of the Tutorial Building.


    They went up to the Teleport Gateway. The Teleport Gateway Administrator, an NPC wearing a white nuns habit named Luna, said, Would you like to use the Teleport Gateway?


    She went on to give a few exnations. They might experience dizziness, the fee was 20,000 Coins per person, teleporting one Korean server yer to the Italian server required two Italian yers,bat yers had to be at least level 30, while nonbat ss yers had to be at least level 25, etc.


    They walked onto a golden magic circle, attracting the gazes of nearby people.


    Huh? There are crazy people who would use the Teleport Gateway?


    Doesnt that thing take 20,000 Coins per person?


    Woah. Theyre really using it.


    Do they have money to burn? Damn, what a waste.


    Time was more precious than money. Only those who realized that could be Rankers. That was how Hyukjin saw it. He, Pedro, and V were enveloped in golden rays of light.


    <em>sh!</em>


    There was a sh of light.


    The situation in the Italian server wasnt much different from the Korean server. Countless yers were upying the Tutorial Building, and their attention was instantly drawn to the golden light.


    The hell?


    There are people who seriously use that Teleport Gateway?


    Hyukjin couldnt understand their words, but he could tell what they were saying from their expressions. At this point in time, the value of 20,000 Coins was unimaginable to them. These people hadnt yetprehended what kind of value buying time with money had.


    Were going to Piazza Navona.


    The square, an Italian sightseeing attraction, was built on the site where the Stadium of Domitian, a former emperor, once stood. It was only a five minute walk from another sightseeing attraction, the Pantheon, and had the Fiumi Fountain (Fountain of the Four Rivers) in the middle.


    Pedro flinched in surprise. What? he thought. Did I ever mention Piazza Navona? I dont think I did.


    Unable to resist his curiosity, he asked, How did you know that we need to go to Piazza Navona?


    The Forest of Dwarfs is a ce I know as well.


    ...


    Are you surprised?


    No. A manly man does not get surprised.


    Pedros hand trembled. He was really bad at hiding his thoughts. When Hyukjin saw Pedro on Youtube, he thought that was just a character for the screen, but it was his real personality. That was more of a surprise than anything. Hyukjin grinned inwardly.


    Pedro asked, But how do you know about the Forest of Dwarfs?


    A yer based in the Korean server, someone who had officially yed only in the Korean server, knew how to enter the Forest of Dwarfs located in the Italian server?


    Even in Italy, not many people know it, thought Pedro.


    Information appeared to be spreading through acquaintancestely, but this was still high-level intel. A production ss yer might barely know it. Just who was this man?


    Hyukjin smiled. He tapped his eyes.


    My eyes are a bit special, you see.


    You saw it with your eyes?


    Yes, he did. Via Youtube.


    Come to think of it Hyukjin mused. The person who had given him the most detailed information about the Forest of Dwarfs was in front of him. After all, Pedro was both a Master and a famous Youtuber.


    I read you.


    ...


    Pedro was rmed. M-Me?


    Why was he covering his chest?


    I see. Special eyes!


    Again, why was he covering that part? Whatever he was imagining, Pedros face reddened a little. He was feeling slight shame.


    Its not polite to inspect a manly mans body!


    What the heck was this?


    Ara.


    Something caught Observers Eye. A clue.[Observing with Observers Eye.]


    Observation aided further observation. Something you didnt notice would stay unnoticed, but once you started seeing something, you were bound to keep seeing it.


    The white fog covering Pedros status window began to clear. Pedros mental fortitude was shaken, and that became a crack. Hyukjin broke the items shielding.


    And then, he read Pedros full status window.


    Eh?


    He learned things he hadnt known.