Episode 23

5.

According to Team Leader Kim, Ground Zero is not just a useless wasteland.

It is true that the environment is uninhabitable due to the runaway of magical energy, but it is said that players with a certain level of magical resistance can operate.

And most importantly, there was a high-quality magicite mine inside Ground Zero.

Magic stone.

A mineral created by crystallizing magic power, which can be said to be magic power itself.

Although it is one of the main by-products obtained from monsters that mainly use magical power, high-quality magic stones are mostly produced in magic stone mines.

It wasn't too strange because it was knowledge that was well known even in Eden.

Moreover, it was not absurd that the magicite mine was located at ground zero.

This is because it has already been proven that magicite mines are mainly created naturally in magic-contaminated areas.

So, what is the relationship between the magicite mine and this current situation?

“It is understood that a battle between players took place inside Ground Zero over the magicite mine. The number of deaths estimated to date is at least five. “They were players with the resistance to operate inside Ground Zero, so they are presumed to be at least A-level hunters.”

“It’s amazing. “You guys are amazing.”

“Because nothing can replace the high-quality magicite available at Ground Zero.”

This is because the players have reached a point where they are fighting over the magicite mine.

I took a sip of coffee down my throat while listening to Team Leader Kim’s explanation.

Is the coffee bitter or is this situation bitter?

“As you know, Siwoo, magic gemstone is a mineral that is absolutely necessary to craft players’ equipment. “Since the magicite mine was discovered at Ground Zero a year ago, each large guild has formed a specialized team and been participating in mining.”

“Wouldn’t it have been better if the government had taken control of the situation from the beginning?”

Team Leader Kim answered my obvious question with a weak smile.

“Almost all of those with magic resistance who can operate at Ground Zero belong to large guilds. “All we could do was record our entry and exit from Ground Zero.”

It's not that I don't control it, it's that I can't control it.

I roughly understood the situation. And I was quickly able to figure out why the government was preventing me from entering Ground Zero.

“The moment Siu enters Ground Zero, our government cannot help you in any way.”

Lawless zone.

This was the word that popped into my head after listening to Team Leader Kim’s explanation.

One strange thing is that Minsu, who explained the plan to me, was also unaware of this fact, and Team Leader Kim also told me why.

“Except for the large guilds, very few people know that there is a magicite mine at Ground Zero. “No one wants to share information about limited resources.”

If you think about it, magic stones have enough value to be classified as strategic resources.

So far, the value has been to help maintain confidentiality.

Team Leader Kim took a sip of water and continued the conversation in a calm voice.

“Over the past year, mining has been progressing smoothly through a council formed by large guilds… … “There has been a problem for some time now.”

There was only one reason for conflict between guilds that were working together to mine.

I said while raising the corners of my mouth.

“It seems like the amount of mining has decreased.”

“… … you're right."

“It’s fun. fun."

A fight broke out over the rights.

The reason why the Ability Management Department blocks me from entering Ground Zero is probably because they don't want me to get caught up in the fight.

Now the whole picture is starting to make sense.

So, let me summarize this situation neatly.

“Don’t get involved in a fight over food and see blood for no reason, is this what you mean?”

“We always think of Siwoo first... … .”

"ha."

If this was going to happen, they should have asked and started voting a long time ago.

To blame Minsu, Minsu was also unaware of the situation currently occurring at Ground Zero.

I don't know if this is because of the damn causality, but somehow, this shit happens every time I come up with a plausible plan.

The simplest solution in the current situation is to overturn the vote.

However, if that were really the case, it would have been obvious that the image would not have been that of a ‘denomination that symbolizes hope’ but that of a ‘denomination that lied from the beginning.’

So that method is the worst.

I tried many ways, but in the end, there was only one answer.

I chewed the ice in my coffee cup and poured it down my throat, then clenched my fist and said,

“There are some things religious people and politicians should not do. Do you know what the most representative one is?”

"well… … .”

“It’s a lie. “If you want to be trusted by people, you must not lie.”

Overturned?

Do I really have to overturn it because I'm scared of big guild guys fighting over food?

It was my decision to a certain extent, but I had no intention of withdrawing it just because of the shallow power struggles between the large guilds.

“Isn’t it a difficult situation because the government can’t manage the lawless area called Ground Zero?”

“That’s true.”

“Then let’s do it this way.”

I looked at Team Leader Kim and slightly raised the corners of my mouth. And he spoke in a quiet voice.

“I will end that difficult situation.”

“… … “What do you mean?”

“Haha, Team Leader Kim knows it well.”

How long.

They say that when you go to Rome, you have to follow the law, but in a lawless area, you have to follow the law.

6.

The work proceeded smoothly.

At first, Team Leader Kim was also opposed, but his position was ultimately approved.

The reason why approval was passed was simple.

Since the force includes two awakened people who are at least S-class hunters, it does not make sense to deny entry for safety reasons.>

The Supernatural Talent Management Department had decided that Leo was similar to Choi, the head of the Goblin Guild, and maybe even more.

Talks have already ended with the Minister of Talent Management, who has the final approval authority.

My promise was simple.

We really want to clean up Ground Zero.

Of course, I decided to pay for some kind of trouble separately.

It wasn't just a lie, since the contamination in some areas could definitely be removed by using Rimen's token.

Anyway, my entry was approved, and two days passed.

“It’s high.”

I let out an exclamation as I looked at the huge wall blocking my eyes.

The size of the barrier we actually faced was bigger than it looked in the photo.

“The name of this wall is Ark. “Like Noah’s Ark, it means the last bastion of civilization.”

Team Leader Kim was with us today as well. This is because he had no choice but to receive help to get through the gate control center at Ground Zero.

I spoke with a small exclamation at Team Leader Kim’s explanation.

“If you look at that, the people of Earth really have a good sense of naming.”

If it were Eden, it would have just been built like an anti-magic blocking wall.

Team Leader Kim slightly bowed his head in response to my exclamation and then asked carefully.

“Is it really just the two of you going in today?”

There were only two people in our group that arrived here today, including me.

Except for me, the other one is of course Leo.

Perhaps the reason Team Leader Kim asked that question was because Minsu was not around.

“I heard that electronic machines don’t work in the Ground Zero area anyway. “Do we really need a filming team in a situation like that?”

“Gu Min-soo’s company has a number of pretty good A-level hunters. “It could have provided enough power.”

To that, I naturally responded

“Haha, someone might think I came here to fight. What should we just say... … Preliminary field trip. “I came to take a preliminary tour of the temple site.”

“… … “Oh, I made a mistake.”

Of course, that doesn't mean it wasn't considered at all.

But in the end, I decided that just me and Leo were enough. This is because there seemed to be no need to increase the damage by bringing in other people.

I nodded and hinted to Team Leader Kim.

“I saw advertisements for several guilds on the Internet. “We fight together for the country and the people, and most people promote it by saying that.”

Advertisements that caught my eye while I was resting at home over the past two days.

As if to indicate that this is the era of guilds and players, most of the advertisements were advertisements promoting guilds.

Among them, there were quite a few guilds believed to be currently fighting at Ground Zero.

“It was so funny to think that those guys would bleed without hesitation over a piece of stone on the other side of the wall.”

To be honest, I don't have this sense of duty to administer justice.

Although I ascended to the position of Pope thanks to Rimen's halo, I also understand very well that it is not because I am morally superior to others.

I was just a little annoyed.

I was already getting nervous because nothing was going according to plan, so I got caught up in it.

I smiled slightly, and Team Leader Kim, who saw my smile, sighed and said,

“I would like you to avoid battle if possible. After all, they are also the power of the Republic of Korea.”

"of course. You won't be the first to fight. “I can swear that much in Limen’s name.”

Of course, this is a promise not to start a fight first.

If other players came to fight first, I had no intention of paying attention to it.

The conversation with Team Leader Kim ended like that, and he led me and Leo toward the entrance to Ground Zero.

There, soldiers wearing radiation protection suits and holding guns were standing guard, and they saluted us as soon as they saw us.

“Loyalty. “Nothing is out of bounds.”

“Thank you for your hard work. “The approval has been completed. Could you please open the door?”

"All right!"

kkiiiiik-.

When the soldiers pressed the button, the thick door opened slightly, and soon a strong magical power began to be felt inside.

It seems that the magic power was a little too much for Team Leader Kim.

He frowned slightly, then bowed his head politely towards me and spoke.

“Well then, I wish you luck.”

“Don’t worry. It's Leo. “Let’s go in.”

“Yes, His Holiness the Pope.”

I led Leo and walked beyond the door.

Couuuuuung.

As we entered the door, it closed again, and soon a fairly long passageway appeared with dim lighting.

It is quite thick as it is a 5-layer wall.

When we were left alone, Leo started asking me questions about things he was curious about.

“If there was a way to record entry and exit like that, wouldn’t it be possible to find out who is currently in the area?”

“In principle, yes. “But there’s no law that says people have to use the front door.”

If all procedures were carried out only through the front door in the first place, there is no way the government would not know detailed information.

Moreover, Team Leader Kim already told me about the existence of the backdoor.

There is a hidden passage somewhere here.

Therefore, it was impossible to properly estimate how many players were fighting inside.

Leo nodded once in response to my answer, then immediately moved on to the next question.

“But why didn’t you tell Team Leader Kim what you were going to do with the magic crystal mine?”

“Is there a reason you really need to tell me?”

“… … Still, aren’t we on the same side?”

I smiled and answered the very Leo-like question.

“Let’s think of it as just the cost of trouble for us to solve a problem. Is there such a thing on Earth? Give and take. And don't worry. “I’ve already finished talking to higher-ups.”

“No matter what, it’s a bit uncomfortable. “I feel like a businessman.”

“Is there anything in the doctrine that says not to receive compensation for one’s work?”

“There is no such content, but I guess… … .”

“Let’s just skip it this time. “We also needed a lot of magic stones, right?”

Magic stones are useful in more places than you might think.

Leo reluctantly nodded.

“… … All right."

“It is slowly becoming visible.”

While we were talking, we arrived at the end of the passage and were soon able to see the scenery beyond the wall.

"her."

The scenery beyond the wall was much more gloomy than I expected.

Half-collapsed buildings.

Not even the weeds that would have originally been lush were visible, and the ruins looked as if they had been stuffed from that day five years ago.

And the magic power blooming between them.

It was truly a landscape that gave off the feeling of an apocalypse.

It was a time when I was looking at the scenery with mixed feelings.

I felt something in my senses, which had become more sensitive due to magic, and Leo also said with a distorted expression.

“His Holiness the Pope. This… … .”

"I know."

[Be careful. Demon energy is being detected.]

Through the thick magic power, evil magic energy was felt.