LIGHTNOVELSTORY chapter 16
16 – Exploration of the Maze (1)
Fundamentally, Arteil’s territory development followed a fairly conventional route for territorial development.
Starting with the lord’s residence as the foundation and constructing all the basic buildings, which can be referred to as primary structures, and only then moving on to the construction of secondary buildings.
Only when all those primary buildings are completed and the territory reaches a certain track, the true development of the domain starts.
However, right after that, with the capability to erect secondary buildings within the domain and the ability to define the domain’s true direction, Arteil sets itself apart from other web-based territorial games.
Unlike ordinary territorial games that simply raise building levels, recruit numerous soldiers, and engage in battles recklessly to plunder resources from other territories or engage in land grabs, Arteil comes in various forms among numerous territories.
Among these, there are three main ones, namely Commercial, Production, and Combat territories.
The Combat territories, as the name suggests, revolve around PVP battles to plunder resources and seize castles for the development of the domain.
Commercial territories, on the other hand, manage large-scale trading operations, either by purchasing territories with money or investing funds to develop the domain.
Lastly, the Production territories involve exploring special resources that can only be obtained by following the production route and selling hero equipment artifacts found within dungeons to foster the domain’s development.
While there exist numerous other forms of territories, users primarily orient themselves towards one of these three. As the domain level increases and the overall development advances, all content can be enjoyed evenly. However, initially, Kim Hyunwoo also raised his domain level through a Commercial territory.
If Arteil were a typical territorial game, Combat territories would have received the most attention. Surprisingly, Arteil wasn’t particularly conducive to random skirmishes.
The reason lies in the relationship system based on the domain’s direction. Commercial territories have high relationships with upper-tier NPCs, while Production territories have high relationships with production guilds, adventurers, and heroes based on their actions. Thus, for combat guilds relying solely on external resource acquisition, it’s difficult to interfere.
Conversely, Commercial and Production territories also constantly consume resources to maintain good relationships, preventing Combat territories from attempting to plunder. In many ways, compared to other territorial games, Arteil’s direction was diverse and its balance quite well-maintained.
“Well, that well-maintained balance was all blown away by a single BM though,” Kim Hyunwoo mused, gazing at the domain window.
—-
Domain: Lartania
Domain Development Level: 58
Domain Residents
[Humans: 1084 individuals]
Owned Buildings
[Lord’s Residence LV1 >>> Upgrading in progress 0%]
[Castle Wall LV1]
[Residential Zone LV1 >>> Upgrading in progress 0%]
[Blacksmith LV1 >>> Upgrading in progress 0%]
[Barracks LV1 >>> Upgrading in progress 22%]
[Tavern LV1] >>> Upgrading in progress 0%
Owned Troops
– None –
Approximately three weeks had passed, and significant changes had taken place in the territory.
The residential area, in stark contrast to when Kim Hyun-woo first arrived, was now densely populated with numerous people living closely together, engaging in trade along the narrow alleys.
Ahead, blacksmiths and taverns had been constructed, while to the east of the lord’s castle, barracks were erected. In the west of the residential area, inhabitants of the territory were busy cultivating crops.
In other words, one could say that Larvandia had finally assumed the appearance of a proper territory.
…Admittedly, one could also view it negatively, considering that Kim Hyun-woo had only just reached the early stages of the tutorial in Arteil. However, what mattered to him was that the foundation for properly managing the territory had finally been established.
“[My Lord, basic administration is now possible.]”
“Alright, let’s slowly get started then.”
With a smile, Kim Hyun-woo began responding to Loria’s statement.
“Now, shall we start with the development of the territory?”
He mumbled.
####
“[My Lord, I apologize, but may I ask one thing?]”
“What is it?”
[I remember you mentioned creating a labyrinth city last time, but could you specify what type of territory you are referring to?]
In response to Loria’s curious question, Kim Hyun-woo nodded as if acknowledging the possibility.
Fundamentally, she was an NPC that assisted in the development of the territory, but since there was no labyrinth-like city in Arteil as Kim Hyun-woo had mentioned, he pondered how to explain this particular territory.
Soon, it seemed like he had thought of a good way to describe it, and he opened his mouth.
“Simply put, think of it as doing business in a labyrinth.”
[In a labyrinth, you say…?]
“Yes, more precisely, doing business with mana stones coming out of the labyrinth.”
Essentially, in this world’s labyrinths, monsters existed, and when those monsters were dealt with, mana stones, a crucial resource equivalent to energy sources like oil and electricity in Kim Hyun-woo’s world, would drop.
However, the supply of mana stones was scarce, and the reason was the monopoly of mana stones by the lords.
In this world, the only way to obtain mana stones was by defeating monsters in the labyrinth. However, labyrinths existed only in territories with a lord’s mana stone, and entering such labyrinths required the lord’s permission.
Thus, as of now, only lords with territories could produce mana stones, and as a result, they had strict control over the demand for mana stones.
The crucial resource of mana stones allowed lords to gain strategic advantages over various guilds, adventurers, and even magic towers.
[Are you saying you want to create a labyrinth in Larvandia?]
“That’s right.”
However, in response to Kim Hyun-woo’s declaration that he would willingly abandon any strategic advantage Lord Yeongju could gain, Loria spoke after a moment of silence.
[…I must say, this may be too reckless.]
“It may seem that way.”
Kim Hyun-woo thought Loria’s concerns were valid.
The system he had just mentioned was a method that had never been attempted in any territory before, and, to put it more strictly, it was a method that no one had dared to consider, to begin with.
[I understand Lord Yeongju’s thoughts. By opening the labyrinth to the general public, you intend to gather not ordinary citizens, but adventurers, mercenaries, and guilds.]
“That’s right.”
[By doing so, most of the problems you are currently facing as Lord will be resolved. The development of the territory will skyrocket, and the city will automatically become stronger with just a certain amount of force for management. However, as Lord is aware, that-]
“You mean the Mausoleum monsters need to keep coming out, is that what you want to say?”
[Yes.]
– This method was, in fact, the original form of the territory that could not have emerged in the first place.
Basically, the monsters in the Mausoleum attached to the territory drop Mausoleum Stones.
That is an undeniable fact.
However, one additional fact to be recognized here is the time when the Mausoleum monsters revive.
Mausoleum monsters respawn on a weekly basis as a basic rule.
In other words, the amount of Mausoleum Stones that can be obtained from each territory is ultimately limited, and that means that even if you dig deep into the labyrinth, it remains the same.
No matter how good the Mausoleum Stones obtained are, the amount that can be obtained is limited, and it is not even large, making it overwhelming for adventurers and guilds to flock.
However, the reason Kim Hyun-woo is confident nonetheless.
“Don’t worry, there are various ways.”
[Various ways, you say?]
He had a very good reason for wanting to create this seemingly impossible Mausoleum City.
“Loria, didn’t I say that we have to start the Mausoleum exploration from scratch?”
[Yes, when the Mausoleum Break cannot be stopped, the exploration floors are reset one by one, so you have to start from the beginning at this point.]
In response to Loria’s following words, Kim Hyun-woo spoke confidently with a determined expression.
“Let’s go find heroes first.”
####
Elena is a hero.
… To be more precise, she is an unwelcome hero anywhere, just an ordinary hero.
That’s because Elena’s abilities were too ambiguous even for her own consideration.
She was a combat hero, but oddly enough, her abilities were significantly inferior when compared to other heroes.
Of course, she was stronger than the soldiers by virtue of being a hero, but that was about it. Compared to other heroes, her abilities were woefully lacking, and as a result, she continued her unwanted wandering life without settling in any territory.
Back in the days when territories were just beginning to emerge, there were no lords at this point who wanted to hire a hero with such uncertain abilities.
Certainly, Elena did not lack effort. Filled with the desire to spread her name widely across the continent, wanting to become stronger than others, she had strived.
… And at the same time, she had worked tirelessly for the past few years to break free from the shackles, wanting revenge against the lords and heroes who had belittled and ignored her.
She had changed weapons with the hard-earned money, practiced unfamiliar magic until dawn, and even tried archery, which she had never used before.
But no matter how hard Elena tried, that was it.
She couldn’t become stronger, as if her limits were set, and at the point of struggling for five years, Elena gave up on getting stronger.
It was a breaking of her pride and, at the same time, an acknowledgment.
That her limits were set right there.
…
And afterward, while earning money with small tasks, wandering between territories, Elena heard a rumor.
The Laratania territory, completely ruined ten years ago when the lord disappeared, had begun to rebuild as the lord returned.
Upon hearing this, Elena, somewhat enchanted, moved toward the Laratania territory.
Perhaps it was because of the expectation that she might be able to be employed by the lord.
Based on the rumor she heard, the Laratania territory seemed no different from the territories that had employed her ten years ago, which were just emerging.
However, when Elena entered a tavern upon arriving at the Laratania territory, she was disappointed without even realizing it.
The reason, of course, was that there were quite a few heroes in the tavern.
The heroes sitting in this tavern, even in Elena’s eyes, were not particularly powerful, but objectively evaluated, they were stronger than her.
Sadly, she was the owner of the capability crawling on the ground even among all the heroes.
“… You want to hire someone like me?”
“Yeah.”
Until such an answer came back without hesitation.
Elena looked around with bewildered eyes.
Of course, the heroes sitting in this tavern were not that strong in Elena’s eyes, but objectively, they were stronger than her.
Unluckily, she was the possessor of the capability crawling on the ground, thanks to the continuous misfortunes of the past, it could be said to be a cold self-objectification ingrained automatically.
“Yes. No, on the contrary!”
But.
Once again, the answer came back in an instant. As if there was no value in even considering it.
As if she was truly necessary.
And.
Chin-!
“If it’s not you, then it can’t be.”
As the Count said those words while holding her hand under his chin.
Elena’s eyes widened in an instant.
‘T-This…!’
Is he confessing?
No, he must not be.
In the moment Elena was taken aback by what had suddenly happened, Kim Hyun-woo, who was holding his hand, was…
“This is amazing…!”
He smiled as he looked at Elena’s information window that appeared in front of him.