Chapter 36

Event item. The description explained:

[Songpyeon (Common)]

When consumed, Health and Mana recovery increase by 50 points each.

Duration: 04:00:00

Valid until October 14, 2089.

The effect was straightforward. Continuous recovery of health and mana for a whopping four hours! This feature was highly favored by Revenge players who relied heavily on auto-farming bots.

As it was a limited-time item, its effects were superior compared to other food items of similar rarity. Each Songpyeon weighed only 0g, allowing up to 99 pieces to stack in one inventory slot. Due to their negligible weight and space consumption, people would have filled their alt character inventories with these if possible.

‘But it isn’t possible.’

Songpyeon was ultimately just a limited item. During the Chuseok period (three days), they would drop and become inactive after the next day of Chuseok.

“Ah, previously you could gather lower-level songpyeon to make higher-level ones.”

According to information found on the Internet, the current high drop rate is a trace from that time. However, some players discovered a bug which allowed them to create legendary songpyeon, causing problems. Instead of fixing the bug, Nemesis Soft responded by removing the recipe altogether and increasing the drop rate of the higher-level songpyeon.

“Well, it’s fortunate for me.”

I downloaded human anatomy and memorized it while moving my character to continuously pick up songpyeon with one hand on Cheddar’s stomach. There was automatic combat but no automatic songpyeon collection, so I had to pick them up individually. One hour passed… Two hours passed…

Obviously, this process wasn’t fun at all. It wasn’t a game but hard labor. However, each click provided soldiers with one meal. When considering that these meals also added buffs, it would be stupid not to do it. Thus, I spent three hours collecting.

“Wow! I gathered a lot.”

In about three hours of picking up songpyeon, I collected more than 3,000 pieces! Even rare-grade songpyeon amounted to around 80!

“Log in.”

I entered Ardenia feeling mentally drained after memorizing only ten pages out of over a thousand from my anatomy and physiology textbook.

“Ah, if I had studied this diligently during high school, I might have joined the steel division,” I grumbled as I disembarked from the carriage. In any case, it was time to empty my inventory since it was full again.

“Would you like something to eat?” Flower, who had been waiting nearby, asked.

I shook my head. “No, thank you. Please gather all party members and inform Smile about it. Tell them I have something to distribute… Oh, include those on standby as well.”

“Yes, Lordship.”

After sending off Flower, I retrieved some colorful Songpyeon (Rare) items from my inventory.

“Let’s see… Even for rare-grade ones, there are still only seventeen per plate. Well, within the game, they’re just differentiated by color.”

One plate of songpyeon was considered as one item. In the inventory, it weighed zero grams, but naturally, it had weight when taken out in reality. The quantity was substantial, enough to fill even a robust man’s stomach after eating just one plate.

‘The buff activates once the last piece of songpyeon enters your mouth. In other words, if shared, they serve merely as food.’

I conducted various tests while seated near the prepared carriage area. Shortly afterward, I gathered the party leaders and distributed both regular and premium-grade songpyeon among them. With such an abundance of songpyeon, managing their distribution became quite a task. Now, with over a hundred party members present, each received several dozen plates of songpyeon, which they promptly stored in their inventories.

As I distributed the Songpyeon, I explained the buffs they provided and informed them about their expiration dates. Based on recommendations from party leaders and evaluations by the two knights, I then granted class cards to those waiting eagerly. With the birth of new elite soldiers, I finally emptied my inventory of equipment.

“Hundred, take these.”

I produced ten iron bows (general grade), which were one of the few general-grade items dropped by Cyclops trainees.

I’m not sure why Cyclops Samurai drops iron bows… But it doesn’t matter.

“They are longbows! Just when the power of shortbows was becoming inadequate…” Hundred initially seemed pleased but frowned as he tried lifting an iron bow.

“Are they too heavy?”

“Yes, and the draw strength is considerable.”

In games like Revenge, it didn’t matter whether bows were made of wood or iron; there were no level or stat restrictions based on materials. However, considering the laws of physics applied in reality, one must carefully consider equipment and material properties.

“I’ll start with our archers who have exceptional strength. Although handling them may be challenging, their range and attack power will significantly improve.”

“If they lack strength, instruct them to increase their Strength stat as needed. While Agility is fundamental for archers, being able to handle this equipment takes precedence.”

“Yes, Lordship.”

After issuing all necessary instructions, we sat down for dinner. We enjoyed a hearty stew packed with meat, followed by Songpyeon as dessert.

“Oh my… It’s truly delicious, Lordship. So sweet and fragrant.”

The response to Songpyeon was very good. In this Land of Midgard, where both sweet and savory flavors were lacking, Songpyeon was considered a high-end food. Even the ordinary grade bean Songpyeon received positive reviews from the soldiers. It had a unique chewiness never experienced before.

Anyway, after one day passed, we found ourselves surrounding the pillar of light.

“Dig round holes! Deeper! And put a fence beyond that!”

“Thousands of goblins could pour out from the pillar of light! Hurry up!”

Surprisingly, we were able to surround the dungeon without any significant combat.

“It’s unexpected. I thought it was only possible for monsters to regenerate and exit the dungeons, but now they can enter them too.”

This was completely different from how it worked in the game, so there was no reference material on the website to consult. In Revenge, monsters respawned in the field rather than pouring out from dungeons like here.

“In the end, we have no choice but to verify this ourselves… Swordsman, how long has the scouting party been inside?”

“It’s now been five hours.”

“That’s quite a while…”

Despite instructing them to choose easy mode if possible, they were still taking this much time.

Could there be unexpected difficulties unique to this world? Did they get wiped out somehow?

I practiced chakra cultivation while guarding the entrance to the dungeon. After 24 hours had passed…

I couldn’t deny it anymore.

‘They’ve been annihilated.’

The dungeons at each starting point might be difficult, but none took that long to raid. There were no puzzle mazes or bosses with gimmicks—nothing like that existed.

‘Revenge isn’t that kind of game.’

If I lost against monsters, it was because I was weak, not because I didn’t know how to tackle them. If I failed to clear a dungeon, it meant I needed better equipment and class upgrades; looking at strategy guides on fan sites wouldn’t help.

“I’m going.”

“Lordship!”

Flower, as well as the knights, mages, and soldiers nearby, all turned with surprise towards me. Regardless of their reactions, I equipped the full set of mithril armor from my inventory.

Ping! Ping! Ping!

The mithril armor covered my body, surprisingly warm for metal. I looked back at my subordinates watching me closely.

“No matter how many times you’ve seen it, goblins can’t do anything against me. Their attacks won’t penetrate my armor, and once I start running, I’m faster than any arrow.”

“Then…at least let me accompany you.”

I shook my head at Stonestone’s request. “When we fought the orcs, I brought you along because it was uncertain whether we would survive. But there is no need for that now. Since I might be inside the dungeon for a while, I can’t bring the command unit with me. The plan has changed slightly, but… Swordsman!”

“Yes, Lordship?”

“Select the three best parties to join me.”

“Aye! Sword! Spear! Shield!”

“Yes sir!”

“Get ready!”

“Understood!”

Three squads of five soldiers each promptly lined up in front of the dungeon entrance. Each squad consisted of one shield bearer, two swordsmen, a spearmen, and an archer.

“Stonestone, Hundred. Maintain vigilance around here and conserve your forces until I return.”

“Aye, sir!”

“Smile, quickly level up to class 3. I’ll teach you some wide-area magic spells.”

“Y-Yes! Understood!” Smile almost screamed before I headed towards the dungeon. Many soldiers looked at me with worried eyes but didn’t dare to stop me. Then as usual…

Pop!

I entered the pillar of light.

[Red Axe Hillside]

The place where I arrived was a typical northern region. It had cool and dry weather, with more rocks than soil.

”…This is…”

It was a familiar landscape. No, it wasn’t just familiar.

”…Isn’t this the north?”

The appearance of the surrounding mountains hadn’t changed since entering the dungeon. However, there was something different.

“Humans! Humans! Humans, here are humans! Armoured humans!”

“Eh? Over there, over there too, they are humans! Humans holding shields! Humans have appeared!”

“Over there, over there is also humans! Humans with bows!”

There were goblin villages located all over the mountains, and numerous goblins roamed between them.

“Ah!” I was finally able to grasp the situation. “Isn’t this the background of Revenge? The situation where monsters dominate the continent? Are we not in a dungeon but out in the field?”

This wasn’t the only problem.

“Gruk! Come on, you bastards!”

“Get together! Is anyone nearby?!”

The soldiers who entered the dungeon were scattered at intervals of several hundred metres apart. Fortunately, their numbers were intact at 15 people, but they couldn’t survive if they were spread so far apart!

Crash!

As soon as I assessed the situation, I sprang forward, soaring through the air while summoning my pet:

[The Iron Armor Rhino Sting (Rare) has been summoned.]

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!

In no time, I covered several hundred meters and reached a soldier wielding his spear against nearby goblins.

“Lordship!”

I addressed the relieved-looking spearmen.

“Get on the rhino! You’ll die if you don’t!”

With that, I took off again. Goblins tried to block my path, but…

Bam! Bam!

There was no need to swing my sword; their bodies were crushed effortlessly by the rhino’s charge.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

My speed was akin to an arrow being fired. Despite only possessing beginner-level agility, my ogre-like physical strength propelled me aggressively with each step.

Crunch!

The goblin’s head was crushed by my knee impact.

Crack! Crack!

Swinging my sword haphazardly as I ran, several heads flew off.

“Lordship!”

“Ta!”

I sprinted hundreds of meters to gather scattered soldiers. Although they were summoned all over the place, they eventually ended up near the dragon’s vein. Thanks to my superhuman abilities drawing attention while causing chaos, I could assemble all the soldiers in one spot. Fortunately, all fifteen members were safe. Two archers sustained minor injuries, but these could be easily treated with potions.

However, at that moment…

“Huh?”

In the middle of the dragon’s vein, amidst structures resembling makeshift tents, I spotted something familiar.

Red Horned Hop Goblin (Rare)

Jibago…

”…Hmm?”

I had planned to gradually engage in guerrilla warfare after gathering all my soldiers but immediately changed my strategy upon recalling the clear condition for this hell-mode dungeon.

Stomp!

As I leaped from the ground, drawing the bone long sword from my inventory:

Krrrk!

My muscles bulged and stretched, bending like lightning as my body propelled forward with a burst of light aimed at the hopping goblin.

BANG!

With a loud explosion, its upper torso disintegrated.

Thud.

“Huff… Huff…”

“Lordship! Are you alright?”

Upon landing, my soldiers surrounded me, revealing beyond their shoulders the confused goblins that had halted mid-sprint, unsure what to do next.

And then, just as it happened:

[The Hell difficulty of Red Spiked Goblin Fortress (Common~Rare) has been conquered!]

[Guilds can now apply for Siege Warfare based on the order of completion conditions!]

[A Humble Earth Fortress (Common) will appear!]