God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 73: Episode 14 _ My Lord, You Know Best (4)

6.

As promised, the Specialists took two days off before logging back in, feeling refreshed.

“Wow. Second place still hasn’t even hit level 48,” Yeseul stated.

Hyeonsu claimed, “We have to clear out all the quests before that bastard hits 50.”

And Seolah agreed, “Let’s start right away.”

They were beginning Act 2 of the Main Quest.

While Act 1 had given every player an equal chance to attempt it, Act 2 only became available upon reaching the required level. This meant rewards were now strictly tiered according to skill and effort.

Naturally, countless players protested, but nothing changed.

No matter how much they grumbled, the game company had no authority to interfere with the game’s internal systems.

They did, however, cautiously submit a suggestion to BetaGo on behalf of the players who supported the game, but the answer that came back was always the same.

[Fantastic World is another world. Like Earth, everything operates organically, and those who work hard are rewarded accordingly. This is the reality that applies to all NPCs, and it is no different for players. To progress through the established narrative, you naturally need the appropriate strength and qualifications. If you wish to obtain something, you must work for it. Players who work harder than you are already ahead of you.]

It being another world was the fundamental reason players were so obsessed with the game. The moment BetaGo invoked that concept, the players had nothing left to say. Pushing the issue further would be tantamount to asking the developers to destroy the very feature they loved most.

Of course, that didn’t mean all dissatisfaction vanished. Time was one thing, but money was another. It was an open secret that among the top 1,000 rankers, there wasn’t a single player who hadn’t spent tens of thousands of dollars on the game.

And they would try to use that as leverage. After all, predatory monetization was something every game company had to be wary of. But here, too, BetaGo’s response was firm.

[Fantastic World does not regulate real-money trading and instead mediates it because the wealth that players bring into the game is, in itself, a form of ability. If investing a lot of money were the only way to level up quickly, we would have provided more options instead of restricting them. However, Fantastic World offers countless ways to level up, and there are methods far more efficient than spending cash. In fact, some players have already used those methods to become so strong that they might be considered over-balanced. Money is not everything.]

This was a clear reference to Han Simin.

Of course, the countless strokes of luck he’d received came with a massive penalty to his leveling—the very thing people were complaining about—but thanks to that whole fiasco, the Specialists could relax and start Act 2 of the Main Quest on their own.

“You are adventurers, and you have obtained the qualifications faster than anyone.”

“We only strive to protect the continent.”

“A fine attitude. But effort alone is never enough. You are still far too weak to uncover the source of the ominous atmosphere that has descended upon the continent. Go to the Northern Land of the Unknown, the Western Forest of Hallucination, the Southern Misty Coast, and the Eastern Cliffs of Fall. Track the forces of evil emerging from those places and gather clues.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Those regions are far too dangerous for adventurers like you to approach directly, but if you are only seeking the forces of evil that are gradually expanding their territory, you will not have to venture too deep. Follow this map.”

“Thank you.”

There were countless ways to progress the Main Quest. The fact that each kingdom had its own separate main quest line was proof enough. You could receive it from the king or from an old woman connected to the story.

You could even be persuaded by the very enemy you were supposed to defeat, which was exactly how Kang Yeseul had obtained her job at the end of Act 1.

What mattered was getting to the core of the quest as quickly and directly as possible. In that sense, Jeong Seolah judged that their current situation was not bad at all.

“Act 1 was about finding the source of the increasingly violent monsters and strange phenomena within the kingdom. Act 2 is expanding the scope to warn of the danger facing the entire continent, which means we’ll likely have to raid monsters to get to the root of it. Starting with an investigation instead of some errand is actually a pretty good sign.”

Her analysis was sharp and insightful. Her reasoning even accounted for the fact that this was, in the end, still a game—something easy to forget when you get immersed.

One way or another, the game had to keep players entertained and engaged while simultaneously ramping up the difficulty.

What was the best way to do that? Anyone who knew anything about games would give the same answer ninety-nine times out of a hundred—raids.

“They’re the reason we farm and level up. And they’re the easiest way to distribute Unique-grade items.”

Raids made it easy to feel superior to other players, and many were drawn to the challenge itself. They were also the most obvious, game-like way to showcase the game’s appeal. It was no exaggeration to say raids were everything. They were the metric by which a game’s quality was judged.

“Let’s head out.”

“Yeah.”

How strong would the monsters waiting for them be this time? How intense would the rush of exhilaration be when they finally took them down? The tedious days of leveling had only been preparation for this moment.

With confident strides, the Specialists headed toward the location marked on the map.

* * *

“Oppa, where did you run off to this time?” Yeseul asked.

“Why are you asking? It’s not like you need me for the Main Quest anyway.”

As they traveled, Han Simin’s cheerful voice came through their party chat.

He had sent his carriage on its way and was now spending his days surfing the web, planning how to decorate his new three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. Where else could he find such a paradise, where he could comfortably buy his own place and furnish it to his liking?

He was in such a good mood that he could easily brush off Kang Yeseul’s whining. “No! We got new gear, and we want you to enhance it.”

“Enhancements? You don’t need that right now. I have to travel far, so I’ll do it later.”

“Even though we prepared a ton of money?”

“...How much?”

“I’ve got about a hundred thousand dollars. Unni and Hyeonsu Oppa basically replaced everything, so I think they have even more.”

’...Maybe I should head back.’

She had gone straight for his weak spot, but unfortunately, she still didn’t get the answer she wanted.

“Still, just wait a bit. A raid won’t show up in the Main Quest until you at least get to the mid-boss,” he said.

“Tch. You’re not even coming when Seolah says she misses you?”

“Yeah, I’m not falling for that. Anyway, just focus on the quest. Once I move in, I’ll invite you over for a housewarming, so bring lots of presents.”

“Huh? You’re moving?”

“I told you I was buying a place. I already signed the contract; I just have to move in.”

“Wow, that’s huge! I’m so excited to pick out a housewarming gift!”

The simple-minded girl completely forgot her original reason for calling and chatted for a while before hanging up. Listening to their conversation, Jeong Hyeonsu clicked his tongue.

“What a simpleton.”

“What was that?!” Yeseul shot back.

“Forget it. Talking to you just makes me dumber.”

“Ugh, fine. No heals for you.”

“I changed my gear. I’m tanky enough that I don’t need your heals.”

The ever-harmonious Specialists were bickering as always, and they soon arrived at the territory marked on the map.

“This is the place on the map, but I doubt the objective will be right here. We’ll probably have to head north.”

“Let’s go in first. Seolah, let’s get a room.”

“Alright.”

You can’t adventure on an empty stomach.

They would grab a bite and then proceed with the quest.

Besides, if what they were looking for was nearby, they might be able to get information from the territory’s NPCs. It was a basic part of the quest progression.

They crossed an undeveloped patch of land and reached a territory where the first signs of development were just beginning to show.

And there, the Specialists saw it. The territory was in an ominous state.

“Wh-what the hell?”

“What’s with all that dirt...?”

All the people who looked like residents were gathered together, filling in a massive pit.

That alone was eerie enough, but the moment the Specialists appeared, the residents turned and glared at them with wary eyes, as if they had been waiting.

’Were we not supposed to come here?’

That was the thought that crossed their minds.

The three of them exchanged quick glances. They debated on what to do and what to say.

Even in the capital of the Ain Kingdom, people didn’t look at strangers like they were criminals. What was with this place? It was chaos.

“Are they enemies?”

“Probably enemies, right?”

“They look like adventurers.”

“His lord said to beat any suspicious adventurers to death.”

The murderous muttering continued. The Specialists instinctively shuffled backward. They wanted to explain themselves, but it felt like a single wrong word would send the shovels in the residents’ hands flying at their heads.

Individually, the NPCs didn’t look that strong, but from a player’s perspective, there was absolutely nothing to gain from attacking NPCs. Their reaction was only natural.

“What brings you here?”

“We’re adventurers traveling to investigate the darkness spreading across the continent.”

Just then, a savior emerged from among the residents: a man with rolls of fat, dressed in fine fabric.

Jeong Seolah stepped forward with relief and explained their situation. Surely they wouldn’t attack adventurers who were in the middle of the Main Quest. As it turned out, her worry was unfounded.

“Squeak?”

“Oh? A rabbit!”

Just as they were about to continue the conversation, a few very familiar rabbits appeared.

The aide of the Rich Territory and Jeong Seolah locked eyes, both wearing equally awkward expressions.

* * *

7.

“...So you’re saying this is Mr. Simin’s territory?” Seolah asked.

“Yes. His lord has departed on a long journey, saying he had something to enhance.”

Over tea in what passed for the most luxurious building—the lord’s manor—the truth came out.

“Wow. What are the odds?!” Yeseul exclaimed.

“The location really is good, though,” Hyeonsu commented.

Of all the countless territories in the world, the one they stumbled upon while progressing the Main Quest just had to belong to Han Simin.

Of course, this wasn’t a bad thing for them.

“Nice. Since we’re here anyway, let’s look around.”

They could check its potential for development and, since he had boasted about the high-level hunting grounds and dungeons nearby, confirm that with their own eyes. The thought that this might become their base of operations planted a very positive impression of the territory in their minds.

“The residents here are pretty self-reliant, huh? They’re really wary of unfamiliar adventurers.”

“That’s because a few hours ago, a large group of adventurers swarmed in to attack the territory. I apologize for the misunderstanding,” the aide apologized.

“Not at all. But adventurers targeting Simin’s territory? They must have a death wish.”

“Fortunately, we were able to avert the crisis thanks to the rabbits his lord left behind.”

“...Right.”

He said it with such pride that they couldn’t exactly cheer along. What could they say?

It wasn’t like Han Simin had personally fought to protect the place; he had gone off to do his own thing, leaving the rabbits to fend for the territory, and they were the ones who had repelled the invading players.

“Then that pit over there...”

“Oh, that. It’s a trap we prepared just in case. Our budget was tight, so we could only make it single-use, but it proved quite helpful.” The aide’s voice was full of pride.

He also showed great favor toward the group, who listened attentively to his explanation.

“I’ll arrange rooms for you, so please take your time. If you’re friends of his lord, we must, of course, treat you with the utmost hospitality.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Thanks to Simin, the Specialists were able to stay comfortably and look around the area. Just as Han Simin had said, the Rich Territory was a dreamland for players.

“Level 70-plus monsters are crawling all over the place...”

“And tons of dungeons.”

“If we could find a gold mine or something...”

The moment they confirmed that, the Ain Kingdom’s guild house vanished from their minds. This was it. They would have less interaction with other players, but the members were never the type to care about that in the first place. They played for their own satisfaction; why would other players matter?

Even after they passed level 100, a short trip would put them near one of the four hunting grounds mentioned in the Main Quest, so there was nothing to worry about.

Transportation was convenient, so there would be no issues restocking consumables or gear. As for the fact that the territory itself was still underdeveloped, they had already heard how much money Han Simin was pouring into the place, so that wasn’t a concern either.

“Let’s stay here while we work on the Main Quest. When Mr. Simin comes back, we can talk to him about the guild house right away.” Seolah suggested.

“Yeah. I love it. This peace! It feels like we’re on some kind of farm-stay trip. Hehe.” Yeseul shared.

No one was happier than Kang Yeseul. The simple, honest residents, the vivid sense of people living busy lives—that kind of raw energy was something she rarely got to experience. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

So the residents prepared a gift for her. Her passion and the vividness of it all grew.

“Aaaah!”

“...What the hell is that?”

Two days later, the Specialists finally understood why that single-use pit had been built.

“We’re in trouble! Please help us!”

And so they were drafted into labor, heading out to defend Han Simin’s territory alongside the rabbits.

* * *

Episode 74