olume 25 Chapter 2
2. Grapass
Translated by Enlightend End, proofread by FroshiAnaki, bloodadept and mrbaconator.
“The feeling of isolation while travelling alone… roaming freely and clearing out monsters, it’s the best feeling!”
Wyverns, Bingryong, Phoenix, Gold Man and Yellowy followed after Weed.
“There, don’t drop it! Pick up the japtem properly!”
Wyverns had to use their claws and beaks to pick up japtem. Every time there was a battle, it created new and pointless agony for them.
‘Isolation?’
‘To be exploiting us like this…’
While they were by themselves they hunted lazily, but as they followed after Weed the amount of work they had to do increased. Hunting, picking up japtem, doing chores, helping with cooking and being a flying transport.
“KIIIINNG!”
The Silver Bird sitting on top of Yellowy made a groaning sound, flapped its wings and suddenly collapsed. This did not work on Weed.
“You can’t die of exhaustion after this much. Get up quickly.”
Weed had experienced cold fatigue through overwork so many times that he was tired of it, pretending to be ill would never fool him.
Near Vargo Fortress there were plenty of dungeons around that no one dared to enter. There were also many monster dens, villages and hideouts.
On occasions other parties were the first to come and hunt but as the area around Vargo Fortress was in an establishing phase, it was more common for Weed with his companions or with the Sculpture Lifeforms to be the ones to take the first step.
What was good about having fixed party members or hunting with the Sculpture Lifeforms was that he did not need to waste time looking for trustworthy people or spend time trying to coordinate in a new party.
Usually conflict occurred when hunting with new party members due to different opinions and methods to use, but Weed never experienced such occasions.
“Everyone sleep.”
Until Weed spoke to finish up the hunting in the dungeon, Yellowy was in such a constant state of alert that he was unable to lower his tail. As each of them had their roles to play out in the dungeons filled with strong monsters, there was no time to be careless.
Even when a number of weak monsters appeared, they increased their speed so that they could hunt just one more in an hour.
“Today’s weather is cloudy and rain could come, so let’s spend the whole day hunting inside a dungeon.”
Only Weed had the power to make the absolute decisions regarding hunting or taking breaks.
“The sunlight is really warm. In this weather let’s pack some lunch and go hunting in a dungeon!”
He was a complete tyrant of hunts.
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“Found a new dungeon two days ago and looking for people to party up with. People who can dedicate the whole day, people who are already prepared and can leave now.”
“Hunting for treasure, looking for someone with a combat class. I am an adventurer. I have the first clue about the treasure but it’s not so trustworthy. Even then I would like to find people who can share the hardship with me.”
“Any explorers looking to go west? A party of 6 with an average level of 330. Looking for someone to draw a map while exploring.”
Not only was the repair work done in earnest at Vargo Fortress, the current situation attracted many players who wanted to hunt and have adventures near the frontier. As the monster attacks were so frequent, the standards of the players were also high.
“If you are not busy can we go hunt together?”
“Cough, I am not really that busy…”
The Geomchis were constantly popular. Seeing their brilliance in battle, the knights and swordsmen learned something from them. They, the Geomchis, fought fiercely so that the efficiency of the hunting was maximized. Always being at the forefront on the dangerous dungeon paths.
Thanks to them the adventurers were having fun.
“Together with them we can go anywhere.”
“Even if bad things happen they don’t despair.”
During adventures death occurred frequently. The Geomchis lost their lives to monsters or by falling into traps, but their disappointment lied in the fact that they could not protect their party members to the end. They were true men!
Mapan thought of how to level up fast as a merchant.
“Hyeong-nim, I brought wine and meat.”
“Oh!”
“If you are bored can we go hunting? I improved my cooking skill, and I brought two carriages worth of alcohol and I don’t plan on returning till all my stock is finished!”
“Let’s go!”
For merchants they had a rule, to use any methods possible. As Mapan partied up with the Geomchis his level rose up easily.
“That fruit, it’s a herb!”
“We refine steel and strengthen blades. Anyone who needs it, please come!”
The residents and players had confidence in Weed, who after conquering the fortress had become its lord, and migrated to the fortress. Repair work was constantly underway inside the fortress as businesses were restored, the elves and dwarves nearby came daily to trade their goods.
Looking from afar the fortress was constructed using eerie, black, contaminated rocks that made the place feel like an Undead would pop out any second. But the vitality and life within the fortress was coming back.
Once the crumbling fortress was fully repaired, construction of new buildings would take place.
Starting with Parvo, other architects who polished their skill in Morata now flocked towards Vargo Fortress.
“I think residential buildings can be built later.”
“Yes, I think so as well.”
The residential buildings were not a problem as many shacks could be built on the hills leading up to Vargo Fortress. Of course, later on more luxurious homes would be necessary but right now the priority was on repairing the fortress.
The builders who lacked skill were stuck being safety officers on the work related to repairing the wall. The 1st class builders who were involved in building Parvo’s Art Center and Morata’s business districts were the ones responsible for repairing the buildings inside the fortress.
“Let’s restore this building to its original image.”
“A lot of black stone will be needed.”
“The lord invested such enormous funds into repairing the fortress that it generated quests to gather building materials here. The residents and the amateur merchants are constantly bringing the materials so we have enough to use right now.”
Weed had invested an immense amount of funds into the repairs of Vargo Fortress. In Morata when immense funds were invested it resulted in a festival, here the corruption among soldiers rose and any random residents came to do repair work.
“The place the Bone Dragon rampaged is really problematic... upto how much could we renovate it?”
“As much as we can. We should try our best. The area was melted by the Breath attack and a lot of the support columns are broken, so half of the whole area has to be rebuilt.”
“Hmm, if the scale is that big then this will become a real construction project.”
For the builders, the work of restoring Vargo Fortress was a large project that would leave a mark. Their excitement was growing as funds from the lord and taxes were appropriated for the repair works.
“The tower that the Bone Dragons were in, looking at it, it’s tilted a lot.”
The central tower that was the main attraction of Vargo Fortress! Looking at it from afar or even close up, it was so tilted that it created a strange feeling nearby. It was amazing that it did not collapse or fall yet.
The builders explored the ground and found that due to the firm ground with well-constructed foundations, there was no danger of the tower collapsing.
“Weed-nim instructed us to leave the tower as it is for now.”
For Weed, restoring Vargo Fortress completely to how it was before would cost too much money.
“Doing the interior or any construction, once the money starts going in, unimaginable things will happen that will leave me penniless.”
Not only did the central tower pull people’s gazes, it was a historic place that protected Lich Balkan’s Life Vessel. The tall and enormous construct was too precious to demolish and rebuild.
“Let’s just leave it.”
The best method to preserve the historic building was to leave it without spending any money!
Like the leaning tower of Pisa, the slanted central tower could become Vargo Fortress’ new attraction.
The magicians with high levels and those who became affluent, built their own towers. But compared to those, the height and slant of the central tower was incomparable.
“The feeling of imminent collapse like that of the central tower cannot be found in Versailles continent!”
Presently, most of Vargo Fortress was destroyed and it looked void. The monster invasions, while facilitating easy hunting, were hampering the development of the area.
If there was a method to soothe the depressing atmosphere, it was a sculpture!
Weed made his Wyverns carefully transport boulders to the top of the slanted central tower.
“If I make a sculpture here, then everyone in the fortress will be able to see it.”
It was without a doubt, the best place to exhibit a sculpture. As it was a place that a sculpture would have to withstand rain and wind, a fragile and delicate piece would not suit it very well.
“I have to make a piece that suits the feeling of Vargo Fortress.”
As always, Weed did not think long on the piece he wanted to make.
“There is a piece that has to be made in this place.”
He started to carve the firm boulder into a sculpture. The residents and players who were coming back from their work or hunting were able to see Weed making a new piece.
“He’s also making a sculpture here. I am really curious to see what it will turn out as.”
Whenever Weed started making a new sculpture, there was always a great interest from the people. If he created a good sculpture like in Morata it would help in many ways so