Novel Lived
Chapter 292
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 292: New Capital, Seoul (2)
When asked if their country was playing the role of the villain, Yeongwoo07 didn’t hesitate for a moment before responding with a question of his own.
"Villain? What exactly makes someone a villain? Is having strong power what makes one a villain?"
At this, everyone present fell silent.
'Damn... we really are the villains, huh?'
'So, I’ve become one of the bad guys...?’
'I wanted a rich and powerful nation, but I never asked to become a villain!'
Meanwhile, the core hovering over Gangnam continued to grow larger.
Vroooom…!
The core had already started to exceed a diameter of 20 meters, so much so that even Yeongwoo, who had activated it, glanced at it out of the corner of his eye.
'Is that really okay? Just how big is it going to get?'
Contrary to Yeongwoo’s inner thoughts, on the outside, at least, Korea was becoming quite powerful.
The mere presence of a giant metal sphere in the sky casting a dark shadow gave the impression of an evil lair.
“So… what kind of evil deeds are we supposed to commit, exactly?”
“Are we going to start engaging in invasions and plundering?”
“What about war? If we’re the villains, does that mean the two companies that declared war on us are the righteous ones?”
"Oh, right. Did they declare war on us because we're the villains?"
The room became noisy again, descending into chaos.
“……”
Feeling a slight throbbing in his temples, Yeongwoo pressed his finger against his head and, as if resigned, spoke.
“Hah… Well, since they’ve declared war, we’ll have to fight. We’ll start by crushing whichever of Mara or Lemu is closer.”
“Oooh…?”
The citizens got excited at Yeongwoo’s somewhat aggressive wording, "crush."
After all, if they were going to be villains, it was better to be a formidable villain who builds an empire rather than a low-level villain who gets wiped out.
“And in Australia, we have an army of… oh, at least several thousand orcs.”
As Yeongwoo said this, pointing south where Australia lay, everyone in the room turned to look in that direction.
“When we attack Mara, the orcs will join us in the assault. To secure this alliance, the orcs in northern Australia have been giving us 80 million Karma daily.”
“Eighty million?”
“…An army of thousands of orcs?”
“We’re earning 80 million in foreign currency every day?”
The people were dumbfounded by the unbelievable briefing, but Yeongwoo wasn’t done reporting his achievements.
“We’ve also expanded into China. With the costs controlled, our pure profit from China is around 100 million Karma daily, and we’re planning to take even more, depending on the situation.”
“One hundred million?”
“You’re planning to take even more?”
“So we’re already engaging in invasions and plundering?”
As the citizens began to question whether this was all really okay, Yeongwoo proudly puffed out his chest.
“Fortunately, the former President of China, Im Dupyeong, was already bleeding the country dry long before we got involved. This has somewhat diluted our misdeeds, so we won’t go down in history as the worst invaders.”
At some point, Yeongwoo had started speaking rather bluntly, but the citizens nodded in agreement as if relieved, having lost their sense of reality.
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“Anyway, didn’t we take down a dictator? That’s a good thing… right?”
There’s a saying that anything taken to the extreme can break the opponent’s spirit.
“Of course, we’re not invincible yet. As long as we haven’t identified the locations of the other two companies involved in planetary development, there will always be threats, and our relationship with Japan is still unresolved.”
As soon as Yeongwoo mentioned "Japan," a fire lit in the eyes of some citizens.
Given the national sentiment, Japan was naturally considered a potential adversary.
After all, during the Pangaea era, hadn’t Japan attempted to land in Busan?
At the very least, southern Japan was indeed an enemy.
“Now that we can use the tower to travel around the Earth, we should also assess the situation in Japan. It’s a large country, so they must have a lot of money.”
“Ah… Japan too?”
“Well, they are a dangerous country.”
“Aren’t they a former war criminal nation? There’s no guarantee they won’t start another war.”
But even then, Yeongwoo wasn’t finished with his accomplishments.
“I’ve been entering dungeons every night, saving people, and obtaining bonds.”
“Bonds?”
“You saved people, Mr. Yeongwoo?”
Some responded with disbelief, but what was even harder to believe was the amount and the countries from which those bonds came.
“30 million from India, 100 million from the U.S., 10 million from Poland, 20 million from the U.K., 40 million from Peru, and 80 million from Saudi Arabia.”
“Huh…?”
“Is that the total amount of bonds we hold?”
“It seems to add up to about 280 million?”
Could such a large sum have been received purely as a reward for good deeds?
“Yes, that’s right. I’m planning to collect that money soon.”
As Yeongwoo folded one finger after another, recalling the bond amounts, the people began to look a bit weary.
“Crazy… This is too much.”
“At this point, shouldn’t we be the ones disappearing from the Earth?”
“We’re just pure evil.”
Yet, deep down, they felt it keenly.
While the methods might have been rough, the Strongest Sword before them was indeed on track to fulfill his promise of "strengthening the nation and unifying the world."
And, more than anything else...
'This is bad... I don’t think anyone else can clean up this mess.'
It was becoming increasingly clear that no one could replace Yeongwoo07.
'At this rate, he might really unify the world.'
'…If we’re willing to accept that we’re the villains.'
'What does he plan to do with all this massive karma?'
While every citizen in the room was trapped in this dilemma, Oh Yeonhee from Songpa was the first to put a stop to it.
“So, if I understand correctly.”
Tap!
As she spoke, clearly somewhat angry, and took a couple of steps forward, the crowd naturally parted to make way for her.
“All that we’ve done in the name of our country so far is collude with the orcs who’ve illegally occupied Australia and extorted money from countries around the world?”
“That’s correct. As a result, our steady income will soon reach 200 million a day. We’re well on our way to achieving a rich and powerful nation.”
“No, how can that be…?”
Oh Yeonhee tried to protest but couldn’t.
The only issue was that they were walking a brutal path; otherwise, everything else was exactly as promised during the election.
And by that time, Yeongwoo had taken a few steps forward into the crowd, making way for Negwig to walk ahead.
Click, click.
“Are we villains? In the old world, perhaps. But where are we now?”
When Yeongwoo asked the question into the air, someone within the crowd mumbled to themselves, lacking confidence.
“A… a reset world?”
Yeongwoo, who somehow overheard this, snapped his thumb and middle finger, making a sharp sound.
Snap!
"That's right. This is a reset world. Everything has been reset—our destiny, the social structure, and even the way we survive."
Click.
As Yeongwoo took another step forward, the citizens filled the space he left behind.
"Therefore, I refuse to be defined by those outdated values of the past."
"Huh? Then, what...?"
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
When the citizens tilted their heads in confusion and questioned him, Yeongwoo pointed his sword towards the core floating in the sky.
"We are not villains; we are a great power."
"...!"
"If anyone dares to call the Korean Peninsula a den of evil, bring me their name. We must correct what's wrong. If you have power, you can change even concepts."
"Crazy..."
"Has he lost his mind...?"
Some citizens were so shocked that they covered their mouths in disbelief, while others were impressed by the ruthless ideology that burned through their mental circuits.
That's right.
If you don't want to be a villain, just eliminate everyone who calls you one.
Whoosh!
"Are we villains?"
Yeongwoo asked, thrusting his blood-red cursed sword into the air.
No one dared to answer 'yes.'
Just as Yeongwoo had declared, the very concept of 'villain' had changed—or rather, disappeared altogether.
"Then what are we? What do you want to become?"
He asked, rephrasing his question.
A few citizens cautiously opened their mouths.
"A... great power?"
"A great power."
As if waiting for this response, Yeongwoo shouted the phrase that had been his campaign slogan.
"We shall rule the world with national prosperity and military strength!"
At that moment, with a crashing sound, the core floating in the sky shattered into dozens of pieces and began to release a powerful energy field, causing the citizens to collapse on the spot and scream.
"Aaaaah!"
"What's happening?"
"Is that thing going to explode?"
But Yeongwoo stood tall atop the steel structure, staring straight at the core with an unyielding gaze.
Because in Yeongwoo's eyes, the regional reinforcement interface had appeared.
「Steel Core is ready for activation.」
「Steel Core」 - ◇ Toma Power Source
【C-Class Development Site Creation】
【Guardian Dragon】
【Annihilation Mode】
Activation ready.
It likely meant that the region was now ready to be transformed into a C-class development zone.
‘The time has come to rewrite history.’
According to the "Capital Relocation" quest, the region that this core would transform would become the new capital of Earth in the future.
[Mission] Secure the remodeling core of the Forbidden City and establish the new capital of Earth.
This line also hinted at Yeongwoo's determination to somehow drive out his competitors, Lemu and Mara, from planetary development.
So, trusting in his backing by Dogo, Yeongwoo shouted:
"Now, watch closely! See how we will become a great power!"
"W-what...?"
"Is there something more?"
As the citizens, who had been cowering, began to raise their heads, Yeongwoo approved the core's activation.
Flash!
Then, an invisible wave spread out from within the opened core, displaying a system message to Yeongwoo.
「Current selected coordinates are |l||I-Earth-482-183-4361-83. Locally classified as 'Gangnam District.' Convert to a C-class development zone?」
'Huh? Not Seoul, but Gangnam?'
Yeongwoo hesitated to give the approval.
Since the quest mentioned the term "capital," he assumed it would apply to an entire city, but it turned out the maximum area that could be reinforced with this core was only at the district level.
'What’s going on? Is the concept of a capital in the universe smaller than I thought?'
Although he felt slightly disappointed, he couldn't back down now, with all eyes focused on him and the core.
So, in the end, Yeongwoo decided.
'Approve.'
He approved Gangnam District as a C-class development zone.
「Gangnam District has been set as a C-class development zone.」
Shortly after, a brief notification message appeared, followed by a loud sonic boom from the sky.
Whooosh!
"What the...?"
When Yeongwoo looked up at the sky, he saw a large metallic object, clearly a product of Toma, falling rapidly.
‘Ah, so that's what was used to create Metal Forbidden City…’
Yeongwoo quickly understood.
Activating the core to make a specific region development-ready would cause Toma to arrive from outer space to begin construction.
‘So, it’s not Metal Seoul, but… starting with Metal Gangnam?’
Well, no one became full from the first bite.
Yeongwoo thought it wasn't a bad start, either.
After all, no myth was created in a single day.
‘Anyway, this is the beginning. The success story of mine!’
As Yeongwoo watched the falling alien supplies with anticipation, he noticed another metal object falling from even higher up.
"Huh?"
"What’s that?"
"Something else...?"
The object grew larger as it fell rapidly, quickly catching the attention of the general citizens as it struck down the Toma supply unit to the side and instead landed on Gangnam soil.
Boom!
It landed near the core, exuding an ominous atmosphere as if it were a dud.
「Now commencing the planet's second development process.」
"Second...?"
It was none other than a module sent by Dogo.
「The current module has arrived in C-class development zone 'Gangnam District.' Would you like to upgrade this area to B-class development zone 'Seoul'?」
"Ah...!"
Yeongwoo's pupils widened as he realized the significance.
At the same time, his hand was already slamming the activation button on the module.
Bang!
「This city will be upgraded with the support of the intergalactic weapons brand, Dogo!」
Then, another invisible wave emanated from the module, and this time, a dramatic change began immediately.
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
Starting from the ground beneath the core, ashen steel tiles began to spread rapidly.
"Huh?"
"What, what is this?"
Before the citizens could even react, the ground beneath their feet turned into metal, and the COEX building, which was supposed to be used as a business presentation venue today, was transforming into a fortified structure.
Then, like a mutation log from the first day of the reset, the upgrade log for B-class development zone Seoul appeared in quick succession.
—Dogo's development module has discovered the key site 'Gyeongbokgung Palace' in 'Seoul.'
—Dogo's development module has discovered the key site 'Jongmyo Shrine' in 'Seoul.'
—Dogo's development module has discovered the key site 'Four Main Gates' in 'Seoul.'
It was clear that Dogo was currently exploring Seoul.
A Metal Seoul, where Gyeongbokgung Palace fires photon cannons and the Four Main Gates rise to defend the city in times of crisis, was no longer just a dream.
"Aah!"
Feeling the steel heart pounding in his chest, Yeongwoo shouted his final advertising line.
"This is the new capital of Earth! Dogo Special City, Metal Seoul!"
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]