Chapter 37 – Party, Quantum Nexus (1)
Chapter 37 – Party, Quantum Nexus (1)
[Translator – Late Dreamer]
[Proofreader – Seeker]
Chapter 37 – Party, Quantum Nexus (1)
After the update of the classic game, it seemed that there were a lot more newcomers, or so-called ‘newbies’, playing the game in the usual way.
The update logs were posted on various platforms, including NetSpace, and there were also separate announcements within the game.
Wow, this game really had some game-like features.
Some people might just be realizing it now.
A new influx of players naturally extends the lifespan of the game.
In stagnant games, new players are like a ray of light or salt, you could say.
You cannot purify water that is already rotten.
However, if you pour clean water into it daily, the water will become clear.
Of course, in all the time I’ve been playing this game, I’ve only ever seen Julia and myself reach max level, so to speak.
Anyway, that’s how it was.
The people who were lingering in front of the town bulletin board started heading to the hunting grounds, and the silent hunting grounds, which were once filled with monsters, began to show signs of life.
Naturally, all these developments were quite positive.
However, just as the light intensifies, so does the shadow.
Some people couldn’t accept this reality and were suffering.
[Eve (Mage)]
The character Eve on my screen uses skills.
As expected, she seemed to be a dealer class.
Her immense firepower was evident.
Her wide-ranging attack skills melted multiple monsters at once.
Had Eve, who was suggesting we go out, also discovered the joy of the game?
Thanks to me, who enjoyed hunting with you, until the end of this month, you will be close to reaching the maximum level.
At this rate, we could soon participate in raids together.
I still wondered why she wasn’t buffing the warrior.
And there were four characters who were observing Eve’s character.
One with a particularly ugly-looking steel helmet caught my eye.
[P2034871140 (Warrior): Are you saying you hunt multiple monsters… alone?]
[P77648 (Warrior): Does it take you… less than 10 seconds to kill one?]
[InfoSeller7 (Warrior):…There are separate attack skills in this game? Then why…]
[IiiIiiIilIlill1l (Warrior): (Inappropriate language)]
…
Were they all doing something different?
I had been relieved for a while because they hadn’t been visible in the game, but…
The veteran players I encountered after a long time all seemed to be realizing the truth and feeling frustrated.
They had come face-to-face with the truth in Pandora’s box.
…Still, hang in there, Warriors.
Now that raid-like party play content has been introduced, the role of Warriors will undoubtedly become important.
As long as you don’t die, the day will surely come when you see the light.
[P2034871140 (Warrior): Guild Master… What the hell happened?]
First, the warrior who recommended the class to me chatted.
Hmm.
As the Guild Master of the Warrior Craftsman Union, I couldn’t ignore that chat.
I entered a message.
[ImARealMageHere (Warrior): Good luck, everyone. I have something to take care of, so I’m logging off now.]
And then I closed the game.
“….”
[……]
It wasn’t because there was no excuse to answer.
Nor was it because I left because I was deceived into thinking Warrior was good.
The Warriors weren’t bad.
They still held an unwavering top-tier position in my heart.
It was just that the timing was right.
A message had arrived for me, and I had things to do.
Sender: ‘Black Monolith, Taylor Blackstar’
– It’s time, so we’ll send a car over there.
– We’ll leave the invitation in the car for you to confirm.
– It might be a little early, but it’s better to be there in advance.
– We’ll assign someone to take care of you, so don’t worry.
– ( *˘╰╯˘*) ≡ (*˘╰╯˘*)
That’s right.
It was time to go to the upper class, the platinum area, for the high-ranking party.
Sitting in the unmanned aerial vehicle, I gazed out the window at the scenery passing by.
Landing directly on the road near my house might have attracted some attention, but I couldn’t take the car.
But wasn’t it supposed to be fine if you parked outside the designated area?
Well, it was a Monolith vehicle, so I guess it would handle it.
Outside the window, the landscape of the futuristic city was passing by.
Giant holographic characters could be seen right next to the vehicle.
In the distance, there was smoke rising from the factories in the lower area, Cloud Park, and nearby were the neon signs painted on the exterior walls of the high-rise buildings in the middle area.
As the vehicle’s altitude rose higher and higher…
My nervousness grew stronger as it led me to my destination.
I don’t particularly have a fear of being sued.
It was the party I was going to that made me nervous.
In a moment, I would be facing high-ranking corporate figures, so I swallowed my dry throat repeatedly.
Not the lower or middle class.
I’ve been to the upper floors a few times.
In the first place, the upper class felt different from the other areas.
They strictly restricted access to all upper-class areas except for Royal Vegas.
If the unmanned aerial vehicle I was on didn’t have a designated registration code, I would have expected police drones to meet me long ago.
…My throat feels dry.
Is there anything to drink around here?
I shifted my gaze from the window.
Inside the neatly finished vehicle with luxurious seats, there was an empty wine glass, but no drink to be found.
Even when I tried to lift the glass to see it, it didn’t budge. It was fixed to the handle.
[Translator – Late Dreamer]
[Proofreader – Seeker]
“Hmm….”
[I advise you to push the glass itself downward.]
“Is that so?”
Following Eve’s advice, I pushed the glass downward.
Then, from under the glass, the drink began to trickle into it.
Once the drink had filled up, I was able to lift the fixed glass.
I took a sip of the drink lightly.
It carried a sweet, fruity aroma.
This is probably why people work, isn’t it?
When traveling in an aerial vehicle, you can freely drink whatever you want, whether it’s alcohol or a soft drink.
Although it wasn’t my money or my car.
I felt a little less tense.
Since we were moving in the air, there was no chance of traffic jams. It seemed we would arrive soon with just a little wait.
And the fact that my home in North Houston was close to the destination, the upper class, also contributed.
As I approached the holographic advertising boards that were getting closer to the vehicle, I sipped my drink while enjoying the sight.
I placed the empty glass back in its place.
I even checked if there were any lint or threads on my clothes.
My attire was the same as when I met the chairman.
It was the high-end suit Catherine bought me before going to Andrea’s concert.
It seems fine.
[This is my first time on the upper floor, and I appreciate it.]
“Is that so?”
At Eve’s statement, I pondered for a moment.
I had obtained Eve in the corporate building for the middle class as part of the main scenario.
Since the main scenario ended, I have hardly done any mercenary work.
Perhaps Eve’s words were correct.
“The upper class is just a place where people live, isn’t it? It might not be that different after all.”
Even if I tried to point out the differences…
It’s basically just that the residents are high-ranking corporate officials or celebrities like Andrea.
And maybe the basic urban taxes like electricity and water are free.
There’s also the part about the security being really good.
Then a mechanical voice came from the vehicle.
《You have arrived at your destination.》
Looking out the window, we were gradually descending.
It seems we arrived while I was lost in thought.
I picked up the invitation that was placed on one of the chairs.
It’s rare to see a paper invitation these days.
There wasn’t much written on it.
It said I was an employee of Monolith, prepared in advance by Monolith.
As a freelance mercenary, I’m now an employee of Mega Corp. … It felt grand.
Since tearing it could cause problems with the entry process, there was also a warning to handle it with care.
I carefully put the invitation into my pocket to prevent it from getting crumpled.
“Well… shall we go?”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I opened the door of the aerial vehicle that had landed on the ground.
Warm air flowed in naturally from outside the door.
In the lower class, there are people freezing to death, but here, the temperature is always moderate wherever you go.
I’ve always thought about it whenever I come here, but it definitely feels completely different from the middle or lower class.
On one side, there was grass spread out, and there were no high-rise buildings in sight.
There weren’t even any clouds in the sky.
The sunlight, which was rare to see in Neon City, was enveloping the ground.
The air was incredibly clear.
I took off my mask and put it in my pocket.
I think this is why people from other classes are trying to come to the upper class.
As I got out of the car, I looked straight ahead.
There was a large, luxurious hotel.
【Casa del Luso Gracium Hotel】
The location written on the invitation was correct.
Now, what should I do?
Since I had the invitation, there was no problem entering alone.
But since the chairman sent someone, it felt a bit awkward to just go in.
…
Alright, I’ve made up my mind.
I’ll go in with the Black Monolith staff when they arrive.
It’s not because I’m scared to go in alone.
I looked around to find a suitable place to stand.
There were many people dressed elegantly, and quite a few had altered their skin color to gold or silver, like the cyberpunk celebrities I’d seen before.
Some of them were faces I’d seen in the news.
I’ll just stay tucked away in that corner.
Just as I was thinking that, a message came through the visual interface.
I thought it might be from the chairman, but it was from the Black Monolith General Secretary.
Sender: ‘Black Monolith, Justin Borg’
– A message from the chairman.
– He says he might be a bit late.
– He told you to go in first.
– Please enjoy yourself carefully.
Hmm.
The last part seemed like a subtle hint to not make a fuss and just quietly go in.
“…I guess I’ll just go in first.”
[There’s no reason to stay outside, I agree.]
But the content of the message made me uneasy.
‘Might be a bit late.’
It sounded like something the chairman himself would say.
I even checked the translation module installed in my neural chip, but there was no issue at all.
…
No, it couldn’t be, right?
It’s unlikely.
Why would someone incredibly busy bother to come to an event like this?
They mentioned it last time too.
They might be busy, so that day could be tough.
“Hmm.”
But why am I so anxious?
With rising anxiety, I slowly walked towards the hotel, the venue of the party.
****
[Translator – Late Dreamer]
[Proofreader – Seeker]