A Veteran in a Dead Game - Chapter 193



Only Krnovel

193. Ark (3)

“It’s unexpected. And unexpected.”

Wasn’t the Ark the final resting place for humanity that the Regeneration Society had worked hard to create for nearly a hundred years?

As the president of that regeneration society, Peña would naturally have an attachment, a sense of responsibility, or even an obsession with this ark.

But I won’t stay in the ark.

“The real beginning will be after the ark is closed.”

The Ark after closure will be a narrow society where everything is limited. Expected and unexpected problems will continue to arise.

Besides, from then on, the members of the regeneration group who had been active outside will not start living together.

Each of them has sufficient skills, self-confidence, and achievements. It is impossible for such big names to live together in harmony.

So, there has to be someone who can hold the center.

In Kyle’s opinion, Peña was the perfect person to take on this role. Not only did he have a track record of leading the regeneration group well, but he also had excellent military skills.

But Peña shook his head.

“After the Ark is closed… I won’t be needed anymore. It wasn’t my job to run the Ark in the first place. There are many experts better than me.”

“I’m not talking about operational issues.”

Peña smiled faintly.

“Are you worried?”

“I just thought it was a waste.”

Although it was assessed that it only met the minimum conditions for survival… in any case, the ark itself was quite an impressive place.

Isn’t it a great thing in itself to have the minimum conditions necessary to sustain humanity forever?

However, if the ark that was built with such great effort were to collapse in vain, it would naturally be a shame. It would be even more regrettable if it was Peña who personally led the construction of the ark.

“There’s no need for that. It’s a problem that’s already been considered. If it’s a problem that will explode even if I don’t, then it’s something that won’t be solved even if I do.”

Kyle didn’t add any further comment.

Peña was involved in the entire process of discovering, designing, and building the dungeon that would house the Ark. She says she’s fine, so what else can I add?

Giving advice with limited knowledge would be nothing more than meddling.

“I did everything I could on the ark.”

“…….”

“If I stay here, my life will continue as I discover, one by one, the problems with the things I’ve prepared so far. I won’t be able to leave any other meaning behind other than the fact that I’m alive.”

When Kyle first met Dirra in the White Mountains, he asked her what the Regeneration Society was trying to accomplish.

Then Dirghra answered like this.

[I guess I’ll just survive.]

That was only half the answer.

Peña and other members of the regeneration group wanted more than just to breathe, they wanted to find meaning in their lives.

If you think about it, there are plenty of easier ways to just survive.

There’s no need to be obsessed with the ark. It’s not that hard to find a space where you can live alone.

After gathering the items that produce food and water and some odds and ends to kill time, you can just choose a suitable dungeon and go in.

‘There must be people who are already living like that.’

Who else but the Rebirth Society would want to hide in a dungeon to avoid the apocalypse?

Nevertheless, the reason the members of the Regeneration Society worked for the ark was… because they wanted something more than just being alive.

Hoping that the traces of one’s life will not be erased by the end. To leave behind some small meaning in this world. Or, at the very least, to satisfy oneself.

“…You’ve come this far, and you’re going to let go of the ark now? After creating such a great result?”

“Kyle, you too, right?”

“that…”

“You’ve done enough. Now take a rest. Just because you hear that doesn’t mean you’ll stop, right?”

Kyle laughed bitterly. Peña wasn’t wrong.

If Kyle had been someone who was moderately satisfied and able to settle down, he would not have gone on a two-year journey to find the tutorial dungeon in the first place.

“The Ark was the biggest project of the Regeneration Society. But at the same time, it was also nothing more than an insurance policy. A lifeline to hold on to when all other avenues were blocked.”

“…….”

“No matter how unlikely the hope may be, even if it ends up being in vain… if there is a better possibility, I want to follow it.”

Despite his serious injuries, Peña’s eyes remained vivid.

This was Peña’s true intention. Even while building the ark, she always thought. Would it be best to run away?

And now, Peña has made up his mind.

“Kyle. Even if our regeneration group is trapped in the ark, will you continue to fight against the disaster?”

“Of course.”

“You are truly a madman. You dare to challenge the impossible! Yes, your attitude has dispelled my delusion.”

As he said that, Peña smiled as if he was really happy.

It wasn’t the suspicious and sinister smile he’d had before, it was a really normal smile.

*

Surprisingly, there were many more members of the Rebirth Society who shared Peña’s views. It seems that not all of the members of the Rebirth Society wanted to end their lives in the ark.

This was especially true for members who were nearing the end of their lives.

People who lived longer in the old days. People with skills and pride, who once lost everything. They did not want to end their lives as old people trapped in the back room called the Ark.

I can’t help but hate the idea of ​​having to spend the rest of my life reminiscing about the bitterness of defeat.

Of course, that didn’t mean they were going to throw in the towel and go with Kyle right now. After all, the Ark was a huge project that had been going on for nearly a hundred years, and it definitely had to be tied up.

If the spirit subjugation that is being prepared is successfully completed…

At that time, the members of the Regeneration Society who will not remain in the ark will also join Kyle.

“Well then, I guess I should move on to the story I originally wanted to share… but I guess I’ll have to stop here.”

Peña’s voice began to crack.

“You can discuss the rest with Sarah.”

As she said that, Peña slowly leaned to the side and laid down on the bed. Soon, her breathing became even.

In that brief moment, Peña fell asleep.

Kyle understood Peña. The serious injuries and curse left by Mines and Trim were still eating away at Peña. Just talking to him must have made him feel the limits of his physical strength.

Kyle looked down at Peña’s defenseless figure, then turned to Sera, who was waiting outside.

“Are you here?”

Sarah sat quietly in the conference room of the regeneration conference room downstairs.

“What about the chairman?”

“Fell asleep.”

“Oh my. So I told you to just leave it to me and rest. How far did we get?”

There is no need to tell you the story I shared with Peña. Peña must have wanted that in the first place to send Sera away.

If Sera truly respects and follows Peña… I don’t know how she will react to Peña’s words that she will not remain in the ark.

“There was nothing particularly important to talk about.”

“That means there was something important to talk about. There’s no way you’d sit quietly and listen to something that doesn’t have much nutritional value.”

“…….”

That was so true that I had nothing to say.

“Well, that’s okay. I’m curious, but… even the Chairman has a private life.”

Sarah said, getting up from her seat.

“Come with me. It’s no fun talking here. Let’s go down to the warehouse. It’s on the third basement floor.”

The elevator was quite slow. I thought it would be much faster to just jump out the window.

“Peña’s condition is not good.”

Kyle, who had been quietly watching the numbers indicating the stairs change in a space of about two pyeong, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Yeah. Tram, the injuries left by that mine were really bad.”

“How is the treatment progressing?”

“I’m using the Staff of Asclepius and the Flame of Purification. Of course, I’m also using potions and skills.”

The Staff of Asclepius is a sacred item that can be used to heal people, and the Fire of Purification is a top-tier potion.

It meant that the best possible means were being used to restore Peña.

“What about the soil of the Great Mother Earth?”

“Would that help too?”

“The curse left behind by Tram… Among them, it will be especially effective on the Nachal skill.”

Second-tier skill, Nachal. This skill is largely responsible for Peña’s illness. Kyle then gave her a few more minor methods.

“Oh! Thank you. I’ll remember.”

Not only did she remember, but Sera took out a notebook the size of her palm and wrote on it. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation that she could improve Peña’s condition even a little.

Kyle, who had been quietly watching the scene, asked a question.

“It seems like you follow the chairman quite a bit.”

“Huh? Yeah. There’s no great reason. If he hadn’t been here, I would have starved to death long ago. When I was a child who had been saved, how great would the Rebirth Society and the Chairman have seemed to me?”

Kyle recalled the moment when the entrance to the tutorial dungeon appeared before his eyes.

The joy at that time was truly great. Didn’t it feel like the two years of hardship that had gone by were all being rewarded?

The emotions Sarah felt as a child must have been more than that.

“At the time, I just wanted to be with these great people… but as I gained experience, other reasons arose.”

“What was it?”

“That’s amazing!”

Sarah’s voice grew slightly louder.

“In particular… it’s amazing that your heart hasn’t changed in 100 long years. It’s embarrassing, but… there was a time when I also had different thoughts.”

“Any other thoughts?”

“I thought that since there was no hope for those outside the ark anyway, I could just use it and leave it at that. But the chairman thought differently.”

Sarah shrugged.

“If you start cutting like that, there will be no end,” he said.

Sarah chuckled.

“The Chairman saved me when I was at my most worthless. How could I argue with that?”

I don’t know if that kind of thinking is right or not. It probably depends on the person.

Some might say that it is right to prioritize efficiency, while others might say that ideals should be followed no matter what the outcome.

However, the reason Peña has been able to lead the members of the Regeneration Association until now is because he pursued ideals while compromising with reality and walking a tightrope between various opinions.

Pursue the best, but don’t get caught up in it. If the odds are slim, choose the lesser of two evils, and once a decision is made, don’t hesitate or regret it.

No one can belittle the achievements Peña has made so far.

Ding-

By that time, the elevator had reached the third basement level. Sarah explained as she passed through the door that opened with a creak.

“From here to the 5th basement floor, it’s all warehouse. The 3rd basement floor stores various materials, the 4th floor stores items, and the 5th floor stores consumables such as herbs, potions, and elixirs.”

Sarah smiled broadly.

“Okay, then let’s have a leisurely chat while we enjoy some shopping.”

*

All the items in the warehouse of the regeneration meeting were excellent in both quality and quantity.

‘I’m satisfied.’

The warehouse of the Partshet. And, to the warehouse of the Regeneration Society.

Recently, Kyle has been able to get his hands on two of the most heavily stocked warehouses in the modern era. There is no better environment to get the supplies you need.

Of course, Kyle couldn’t use the supplies in the Regeneration Society’s warehouse as he pleased. It was a transaction between Kyle and the Regeneration Society.

But there was no need to give up one thing to gain another.

“You don’t need that? This?”

The reason Sarah gave him so many things that it made you wonder if it was okay for him to do that.

Although Kyle couldn’t just take everything from the warehouse, he was able to grab whatever he felt he might need.

“It’s lighter than I thought.”

“Because it includes repayment for what happened before. Of course, this deal itself is also incredibly satisfying. Oh my, Dagda’s Cauldron is a craftable item!”

An item that fills up with grain every day, Dagda’s Cauldron. This could be an invaluable resource for the Ark.

However, since the materials for production are extremely rare and the production method is difficult, mass production is not possible.

“Besides, these are things that won’t be of much use once the ark is closed anyway.”

Besides that, Sarah was very satisfied with the information Kyle gave her.

“As expected, there’s nothing to lose by being with you.”

As she said that, Sarah tossed a smooth glass marble from the shelf to Kyle. It was just a toy thrown to the table, but it was actually a reverse slingshot.

“Now, a present.”

A disposable item that absorbs and reflects skills used by others. This rare item was handed over to Kyle without him asking for it.

“Okay, let’s wrap things up here. Is there anything else you need?”

“I would like to be introduced to a skilled blacksmith priest and a priest of waves.”

Now that we have obtained excellent materials and all kinds of herbs, shouldn’t we use them?

The subspace of Kyle’s storage box skill was also filled with items brought from Part Shet’s warehouse, so there were many items that needed to be made.

“Okay. I’ll look into the Blacksmith’s Priest. The Wave Priest… Oh, Mr. Ratchet said he’d be back tomorrow.”

“High Priest of Waves, Ratchet Lenk? He’s quite the big shot.”

“To be exact, I am a former high priest.”

Even by the standards of the old days, Ratchet was already a world-renowned craftsman. It was only natural that one had to have outstanding potion-making skills to become the High Priest of the Waves.

If he had continued to make potions even after the world was destroyed, his career would easily last over 250 years.

If it’s Ratchet, he can make not only the elixir that Kyle asks for, but also the item that Kyle has forgotten.

“Talk to Uncle Ratchet in person tomorrow.”

“Don’t do that.”

“Let’s go out. I’m suffocating from just staying in the basement. I’ve prepared a separate room for you.”

So, first of all, I finish up my work in the warehouse and go out and walk out onto the street for a while.

“This, this.”

On the way to the accommodation, someone approached me.

A young man with narrow, snake-like eyes. A face Kyle knew.

Saladan Otto.

A big shot from the old days. One of the members of the Regeneration Association. A named character that appeared in the game.

And, a person who is willing to sacrifice others for his own sake. And, a person who actually did such things several times in the old days.

“Sarah-sama. It’s been a while. You’re back at the ark. I heard you’ve been busy. Oh, by any chance, is the person next to you the one about the rumor?”

Saladan turned his gaze towards Kyle. Through his narrowed eyes, he could see Saladan’s bright yellow eyes.