Chapter 348

"He was the king who commanded the 'Great Goblin Invasion' that engulfed the entire western continent, one-third of the world. The damage inflicted at that time was so extensive that even now, the western part of the continent hasn't fully recovered."

The Bringar Duchy spanned from the center of the continent to the west. Further west of this area, there were several small city-states in a desert region.

The reason why the western part of the continent was so barren was due to those goblins.

'In the game, they weren't that strong...'

Honestly, I was baffled. I never thought Jackal would get this serious talking about goblins, which I used to consider more like a bonus stage.

"Normally, goblins aren't intelligent and are physically weak. They're just feeble creatures that swarm together. But under this King, things were different."

"How so?"

"He gathered goblins scattered across the continent, formed an army, and commanded them systematically. He equipped them and trained them well. And then he started a campaign of conquest."

Jackal explained while swallowing hard.

"That cunning mercenary tactic led to the fall of numerous other dynasties. Even though the kingdoms of the western continent were said to be at the forefront of magical civilization, they were easily swept away. Over ten kingdoms collapsed during that time."

"..."

"Fortunately, assassins from the coalition forces barely managed to assassinate the King. With no successor, the Goblin King's army disintegrated... although the situation had already turned the west into a wasteland."

So, this same king had been resurrected in the Lake Kingdom.

And now, he was preparing to invade human territories again in this boss stage...

'...Jackal's right. I can't be careless.'

It doesn't matter how formidable an enemy he really is. Just because it was easy in the game, my guard started to drop. Get a grip, me!

Didn't I pray this morning at the temple, asking that no one would die?

To make sure that happens, I must stay alert. Always...!

"By the way, you seem to know a lot about this. It's all old history, isn't it?"

"I'm from the west... People there still tremble at the mention of the Goblin King. Even crying babies stop when they hear his name."

Jackal explained with a sigh, looking up at his own Colosseum.

"Anyway, all my subordinate goblins have joined the Goblin King, so restoring this place has been delayed... I wonder when I'll ever finish the reconstruction by myself."

"..."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but grin.

We still had some time before the next defense stage. Maybe I could lend a hand here in the meantime.

"Hey Jackal, if I help restore your Colosseum, will you assist me in the upcoming defense?"

At that, Jackal kneeled before me with a solemn face.

"Your Highness, I am already your servant. If you require my assistance, you have it—unconditionally! Just command me!"

"Of course, I will. But the role I need you for is to be the master of this Colosseum..."

Rising from my seat, I looked at the flag in the center of the Colosseum, which sadly displayed Jackal's face.

"Let's just replace that flag with mine."

Looks like I've figured out where to use my next [Imperial Edict].

***

Since I was already in the dungeon, I visited the previously conquered Zone 1 [The Dried Sewer]. 

Resources regenerate in a conquered dungeon, collected at the end of every stage.

And those resources were:

[Zone 1 The Dried Sewer Occupation Reward]

- N-Grade Reward Box: 1

For example,

This is a random box...

Once the area was captured and farming was no longer possible, dungeon exploration clear rewards were freely provided at the end of each stage.

In some specific zones, unique materials and consumables might be generated, but in a featureless area like Zone 1, it simply spat out random boxes.

After retrieving the gray N-grade box that had appeared in what was originally the boss room, I grimaced. A fitting reward for Zone 1, indeed.

Well, in the long run, capturing multiple areas to farm additional boxes at the end of each stage is a good thing... but it ultimately means more randomness.

'I just realized, I've been accumulating these boxes.'

I had been collecting the reward boxes from Stage 11 onwards without opening them. I figured it was time to clear them all out.

I juggled the boxes in my hands as I took the teleport gate back to my mansion. Considering it's a holiday, I'm working quite hard, aren't I?

Flash!

As soon as I returned to the mansion, I went back to my room and dumped all the collected reward boxes onto my bed.

'N-grade a few, R-grade about 20... and SR-grade 3...'

I could just open them all, but this time, I had a different idea. I opened the system window and accessed the Achievement Store.

Aider had recently updated the Achievement Store, adding a new feature among others that I was planning to use.

That feature was—

[Reward Box Synthesizer]

That's it!

It's a function that combines lower-grade reward boxes into the next grade up.

The formula is as follows.

> Combine 10 N-grade boxes → 1 R-grade box

> 

> Combine 10 R-grade boxes → 1 SR-grade box

> 

> Combine 5 SR-grade boxes → 1 SSR-grade box

Actually, if you look at the efficiency, it's a waste... but now that the game has stabilized to some extent, it's better to aim for high-grade equipment through synthesis rather than collecting useless consumables or equipment by opening N and R-grade boxes.

'It was a feature supported in the game too.'

Even if I'm short on boxes, I could make up the points with magic materials for the synthesis.

A gamble within a gamble, as it were. I despised the randomness, but my viewers loved it...

Ding!

After spending my achievement points to purchase the feature, I began the actual process of combining boxes.

I combined the N-grade and R-grade boxes, and even poured in some magic materials to make up for the shortfall... Ultimately, I combined them into two SR-grade boxes.

Flash!

With a purple flash, the gray and blue boxes disappeared, leaving two purple boxes rolling on the floor. Hmm, not bad.

'If I combine them with the three I already had, that makes five SR-grade boxes... this is enough to aim for a jackpot.'

Five purple boxes!

I'll surely get something useful. I reached out to open the boxes...

"..."

...but then I hesitated, taking another glance at the Reward Box Synthesizer's formula.

> Combine 5 SR-grade boxes → 1 SSR-grade box

"..."

No.

No, no. That's not it.

That's utterly inefficient. I'd be a fool to fall for that.

Come on, RetroAddict! How many times did you try that in the game only to get crap items? It's even nicknamed 'Reward Fireworks'! Your rewards are going up in flames!

'Don't get fooled! Don't get fooled! Don—'

Ding!

"Gah?!"

But my hand had moved of its own accord, shoving all five purple boxes into the synthesizer. Stop! Stop!

Rumble.

"...Ah."

I did it. I actually did it.

I stared at the golden box clenched in my hand, my mouth slightly ajar.

'It's okay, something good will come out. The odds of getting a dud among SSRs are almost none, right?'

Going for the sure thing! I'm definitely not addicted to gacha!

Swallowing my dry spit, I excitedly opened the box.

"Did I get a cheat item?!"

What emerged with a dazzling golden effect was:

[Fragment of the Great Commander's Flag] (3/5)

- One of the five pieces for character 'Ash's exclusive equipment [Great Commander's Flag (EX)].

- Combine all five pieces to complete the flag.

It was just a fragment of a flag...

"..."

Flutter flutter.

The torn flag fragment asserted its presence as it fluttered inside the box. It was an inanimate object, but I wanted to destroy it.

"Still... it's... accumulating somehow..."

I muttered through gritted teeth.

The culmination of all the blood, sweat, and tears gathered from Stage 11 to 14... The culmination of our friendship, effort, and labor... was a flag fragment I couldn't even use right away!

'The completed item better have game-changing effects. If not, Aider is dead.'

I mentally threatened the morally corrupt director and tossed the flag fragment into my inventory.

Anyway, it's the third piece. Just two more and I'll have my own exclusive equipment.

Let's think positively, positively...

'...I'll have to go on a shopping spree at the blacksmith's tomorrow.'

I'll have to splurge on equipment tomorrow to heal today's emotional wounds...

***

Was it the hearty New Year's stew I had? Or maybe it was because I received an abundance of blessings at the temple? Or perhaps, it was because I finally got some fresh air?

I felt refreshed as I rose from my seat the next day. My physical condition was completely fine.

'I can go full throttle preparing for the next defense battle.'

There was no reason to delay. I immediately started to move.

First, I stopped by the Alchemy Workshop. I was there to hasten the completion of the defense tower—[Magic Turret]—for which I had previously commissioned research. Fortunately, they were in the final stages.

"It should be completed today."

"Good. I plan to run a field test this afternoon, so have it ready by then."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After receiving the Alchemy Guild Master's send-off, I left the workshop.

Next, I visited the Mercenary Guild.

Due to a previous espionage incident, they had added an extra layer of identity verification. Despite that, a large number of mercenaries were milling about, waiting for deployment.

No particularly outstanding parties stood out, but the overall quality had risen. Now R-grade heroes were more prevalent than N-grade.

I quickly scanned the list, slammed the file shut, and gave a brief command.

"Hire them all."

"Yes, My Lord. However..."

Lucas, who had followed me, trailed off, and I looked at him quizzically.

"However?"

"We're nearing capacity for our barracks. We're still okay for now, but if you continue to hire at this rate, we'll run out of lodging for the mercenaries."

Here in Crossroad, the facility could accommodate just over three thousand troops, and we had just crossed two thousand.

Although one might think that we still have room for another thousand, only a few stages ago, at Stage 10, we had just over one thousand troops.

Now, standing on the threshold of Stage 15, we're over two thousand. It took only a few months for our numbers to double.

If this trend continues, we'll soon reach our maximum capacity of three thousand. That's what Lucas was pointing out.

"Contact the Woodworking and Stonemasonry Guilds. Request additional construction for the barracks. Schedule a meeting for tomorrow to discuss it."

"So, you're planning to increase our forces further?"

"The number of monsters will only increase. It's always better to have more troops."

Money was never really an issue. The influx of monsters caused a surge in magic stone revenue, filling up the coffers nicely.

Even now, thanks to Silver Winter's Merchant Guild distributing magic stones across the continent, the funds were quite substantial.

But the loss of life wasn't something that could be easily replaced.

To minimize casualties and effectively counter the monsters, it was crucial to maintain an overwhelmingly superior force. 

'More than anything, we need more heroes. High-ranking heroes...'

Although the number of regular soldiers had been generously replenished, there was a shortage of hero characters, especially those of SR grade or higher.

'We need to build a hotel with a casino ASAP!'

Once the land was prepared and the cold weather passed, the construction of the hotel would begin in earnest. Then, high-ranking mercenaries hooked on the casino would start appearing. My tourism city project, show your effectiveness soon...!

For now, I had to be content with this. I got up from my seat. It was time to hit the blacksmith and splurge on equipment.

Just as Lucas and I were about to leave the mercenary guild,

Bang!

The door to the mercenary guild swung open, and five large figures staggered in.

Clad in hefty armor, their bodies were wrapped in bandages like mummies, visible through the gaps in their armor.

Their faces were either wrapped in bandages, hidden under robes or hoods, or concealed by overturned helmets.

A mixture of herbal and sickly odors emanated from them. Recognizing who they were, the mercenaries inside the guild recoiled in horror.

"Eek?!"

"Those are the 'Leprosy Extermination Squad'!"

"Why are these monsters here?!"

While other mercenaries distanced themselves as if they had seen something horrifying, Lucas too seemed quite guarded. 

But I felt the opposite.

My eyes sparkled involuntarily, and a joyful shiver ran down my spine. 

'Holy moly, what a New Year's blessing!'

It seemed like I was off to a very lucky start this year.

No wonder.

Flicker, flicker.

Behind these ominous and dangerous-looking five, a beautiful purple light was flashing.

These guys, they're all SR-grade mercenaries!

Overwhelmed with joy, I couldn't help but spread my arms and exclaim,

"Welcome to Crossroad!"

"...?"

The five giants seemed puzzled by my reaction, freezing in place as they stepped inside.