The best territory designer of all time - Episode 65
65fury. Reinforcement of phantom species (1)
“Podong?”
“……uh?”
A small sound suddenly heard from next to me.
As if whispering and approaching.
Or as if it’s softly burrowing.
That's what it sounded like.
Thanks to this, Lloyd suddenly came to his senses..
I turned to the side just as I was blocking my nosebleed with my sleeve..
“Podong-ah?”
“Podong!”
There was a poop poop on the blacksmith workbench..
I don't know when it came up, but it was looking up with chubby cheeks and dark eyes..
That wasn't all.
“Bell!”
“Hamang!”
Following Podongi, Baeulgi also crawled over and over again from the corner of the table..
Hamang was also late, so he came rolling around..
I looked up with the same round, black eyes..
“Umm, you guys? What are you doing?”
“Podong!”
“Bell!”
“Hamang!”
“what? ask me to play?”
“kiss!”
“room!”
“under!”
The three phantom species lined up side by side and nodded vigorously..
You asked me to come and play with you at this time of night, when I was in the midst of all my worries..
I got a little embarrassed.
“Um, sorry, can we hang out next time??”
“Podong?”
“Bell?”
“hippopotamus?”
“Hey, I'm a bit busy today. There is a lot to think about and research. This is something that must succeed..”
“Podo-dong?”
“Drop drops?”
“Hamang……?”
“Sorry. So let's play next time. huh? Even though my nose is bleeding right now, I can't rest and just keep clinging to this. Actually, I also want to play and rest with you..”
“Podong!”
“Bell! Drop drops!”
“Hamamamang!”
“Oh, no, I'm not saying let's play or rest now.…….”
“Podo-dong?”
“It means that it's just the heart. Sorry for keeping you waiting. I'm really sorry. huh? So let's play next time.”
Lloyd laughed awkwardly..
He really wanted to rest too.
I even wanted to play for a little while.
But I thought it couldn't be that way..
It was a construction order that was won by the Count out of curiosity..
He says he has a new construction method of his own, and that if he uses it, he can successfully build it..
It was a situation where people shouted so loudly..
But it was blocked from the preparation stage..
Making cement was much more difficult than expected.
I didn't want to even imagine tripping over a rock and falling over here..
“So, now is a moment where I have to overcome even though it is a bit difficult and difficult. Don't worry though. I'll do my best. huh? When we're done with this, let's have some real fun then..”
Lloyd smiled and patted the three phantom species..
They were good kids who listened well..
I thought that if I did this, I would listen again this time..
But this time was different.
“Podo-dong!”
“Bell!”
“Hamang!”
For some reason, the three phantom species resolutely(?) held on..
No, I was stubborn and lay down on my seat..
It was rolling around on the cement mixing note that I had scribbled while thinking about it..
“Pododododong!”
“Bell! Baba drops!”
“Hippo! Hamang!”
“Uh, hmm? Guys?”
After that, Lloyd calmed down the three phantom species and calmed them down..
I hugged him and patted him..
He worked hard and worked hard too..
But it was no use at all.
For some reason, for the first time, the three phantom species did not listen to themselves and became stubborn..
No, later on, he even looked up in this direction, his black eyes widening and watering..
“Podo-dong…….”
“Bell…….”
“Hahahaha…….”
His body was twisted and he was ready to shed tears like chicken shit..
In fact, the three phantom species had their own reasons for doing so..
This wasn't just complaining or stubbornness..
A sense of duty to protect Lloyd.
That heart was moving the three phantom species..
‘Podo-dong, Po-dong…….’
In fact, pets understand their owners much better than we think..
There is only one reason.
This is because they spend all day looking at their companions..
Therefore, the three phantom species knew Lloyd's current condition better than Lloyd himself..
‘Bell…….’
In the eyes of the three phantom species, recent Lloyds have gone too far..
I haven't slept well for several days..
Even when I was awake, I was busy worrying and experimenting all day long..
Excessive immersion and chronic fatigue.
Because of that, my field of vision narrowed..
Judgment was also worse than usual..
‘Hamang…….’
So I had to give it a little rest..
I felt like I needed to put aside work for a moment and change my mood..
So the three phantom species became even more stubborn and stopped Lloyd from doing what he did..
I shook my head hard..
I whined and rolled around..
I licked the back of Lloyd's hand and cheek..
He waved his tail and stretched out his short legs..
It looked like a puppy screaming at me to go for a walk..
It was the same in Lloyd's eyes..
The appearance of three whimpering phantom species.
Suddenly, my furry friend from the past appeared overlapping with me..
‘Autumn.’
The dog I raised as a child.
A friend who is no longer leaving.
Maybe that was why I didn't know..
Without realizing it, Lloyd said what he had said every day in the past..
“Then, shall we go for a walk??”
“Podong!”
“Bell!”
“Hamang!”
The three phantom species nodded their round heads..
Podongi and Hamangi celebrated the success of the operation and gave a short high five..
Even Bell, who has no hands, joined in the high five with his chubby tail..
“Am I really that good?.”
When I saw it, I couldn't help but smile bitterly..
I held three children in my arms..
I left the blacksmith workshop..
I went out into the dark night street.
‘It's cold.’
It was a dockside in early winter..
It wasn't just an ordinary sharp wind..
Lloyd lifted the lapels of his coat and looked down into his arms..
“you are okay?”
“kiss! room! under!”
The three phantom bells in the inner pocket answered in unison..
Lloyd's bitter smile became deeper..
“hey? No matter how you look at it, this isn’t a walk, is it??”
“kiss? room? under?”
“I'm the one walking, and you're riding on me. That too for free.”
“Pooh? Baan? ha?”
“Wow. I'm just pretending not to know and tilting my head. Then it's cute. Yeah, it's cute. cute. what the.”
Isn’t this enough for me to be taken for a walk by these guys?.
Lloyd stopped laughing blandly..
Three children looking up at themselves brightly.
Suddenly, once again, I saw the face of my old dog overlapping with that image..
‘Autumn was like that too..’
It was a white puppy with curly fur..
Did you say it's a mix between a poodle and a maltese?.
I decided to immigrate to the United States.
But I can't take him with me..
These were the words of the person who entrusted Gaeul, who was not yet a year old, to her care..
From that day on, Gaeul became family..
It happened when I was in middle school..
I thought you would be by my side forever.
While taking a walk every day.
I did that while playing ball..
Ga Eul often grumbled and complained..
Especially when I was studying for exams..
Every time, let’s play next time.
Let's go for a walk next time.
I used to smile and say sorry and put it off.
So I didn't know.
The fact that it can't be like that forever.
The fact that all those days will one day pass by and never come back is also true..
‘I should have played a lot back then..’
When you become a high school student or a college student.
In the meantime, Gaeul also grew older..
I've grown old before I know it.
When I returned from the military, I had a hard time even going for a walk..
But still, I couldn't pay much attention to it..
The shadow of a large debt hanging over the family.
The whole family suffered under that dark cloud..
It was such a difficult day..
I no longer have the energy to pay attention to a small puppy..
When early winter came like this,.
One unusually clear afternoon in mid-November.
Autumn crossed the rainbow bridge quietly, as if she was falling asleep..
It was full of regrets that I couldn't take care of it more and play with it more..
‘Ah, Mr. I tried not to think about it.’
It was an upsetting memory every time I thought about it..
So I tried not to think about it as much as possible..
Lloyd walked the streets at night, burying the feelings that had surfaced again..
Sometimes, I would blow on my hands in the cold wind and chat with the three fantastic species in my inner pocket..
Every time, Podongi, Baulgi, and Hamangi’s eyes sparkled..
I smiled as if I was enjoying this fun time..
Lloyd thought as he looked at that. I reflected.
‘Maybe I was just taking advantage of them..’
Podongi, Baeulgi, Hamangi too.
Before they were all phantom species, they were children who felt emotions with warm hearts..
But how have you been so far?.
‘I only found them when I needed them.’
treated like a tool.
It was considered only construction equipment..
‘This is why nothing has changed since I regretted leaving Ga Eul..’
When I thought about it, I felt like I had been selfish..
I clenched my fists between regret, reflection, and future resolutions..
It was the moment I returned to the blacksmith workshop..
Ding dong.
Suddenly, an unexpected message appeared before Lloyd's eyes..
[The phantom species are feeling your sincerity..]
[The phantom species look at you warmer than before, just as they look at their family..]
[The level of communication with the possessed fantasy species has increased from to.]
‘uh?’
It was a message with content I had never expected..
The message didn't end there.
Lloyd's eyes became busy..
[New features are activated as your level of communication with the phantom species increases..]
[ Feature is now open.]
[Requires 500 RP.]
[ You can equip new skills through functions..]
[Once executed, it is impossible to undo. Please execute carefully.]
‘What is this... … oh my god.’
Lloyd's eyes grew increasingly wide..
Reinforcing the phantom species.
Creating a new skill.
He really didn't know that something like this was possible..
‘Also, I never thought I would get such benefits as a result of choosing to stop what I was doing and go for a walk with my kids..’
They say don't be a ruler of your life.
Sometimes they say the quickest way to get around is the high pass..
‘500 Ganghwara investing RP.’
What kind of skills are created?.
Lloyd felt half curious and half hopeful..
His eyes turned to his inner pocket..
Three phantom species still twitching in my inner pocket.
He asked the guys who were looking up at him with black eyes..
“Hey you guys.”
“Podong?”
“Bell?”
“Hamang?”
“Hmm, did you feel it too? Contents of messages I read?”
“kiss! room! under!”
The three phantom species nodded in unison..
I guess they know they can be strengthened..
No, it wasn't just that..
“Bell! Drop by drop! Bell!”
For some reason, Baeul-gi jumped up and down with his eyes shining exceptionally brightly..
It's like asking me to pick you.
Or he said he would do it himself..
It was like a baby bird ticking away with its mouth open..
That wasn't all.
“Podong! Podo-dong!”
“Damn! hippopotamus!”
Ppodongi and Hamangi lifted Baulgi up..
I pushed it towards this side as if lifting a trophy..
It was as if he had to choose Bang-Bul-i..
Lloyd asked out of curiosity..
“You guys, do you think Baeul-gi needs to be strengthened??”
“kiss! room! under!”
“Then, you can feel what kind of skills you will have when you are strengthened.?”
“kiss! room! under!”
“what? I think Baeul-ri will be a big help this time.?”
“Bell!”
The final answer was given by Baulgi himself..
“Bell! Drop by drop! Bell!”
“Trust it first and strengthen it? Because there will never be any loss?”
“Bell!”
The bell nods its head wildly.
Lloyd thought as he looked at that..
‘If Baeul-gi is that confident, maybe we can get our hopes up..’
I gradually developed that belief..
Podongi, Baeulgi, Hamangi too.
These were children who had helped me in many ways until now..
They were the ones who always took on the most appropriate roles at the most necessary moments..
It was something that the kids confidently recommended..
There must be a reason for that..
So I thought let’s believe it..
‘Yes, you have to lose money to get even..’
It cost a whopping 500 RP..
Still, I had enough RP saved up..
No, it wasn't enough, it was piled up so much that it overflowed..
‘Let's give it a try.’
If you fail, you lose even money..
As these guys say, if you have the right skills, it's great..
Thinking like that, Lloyd selected the ‘Enhancement of Phantom Species’ menu..
Ding dong.
[Activate the phantom species enhancement function.]
[Please select a fantasy species to strengthen..]
‘drops.’
I placed a bell on my palm..
That's how I chose him..
[The phantom species you selected is ‘Bangul-i’..]
[Bubble Enhancement Cost: 500 RP ]
[RP you currently own : 2401]
[Do you want to run reinforcement??]
[YES/NO]
‘okay.’
Lloyd nodded..
[Perform phantom species reinforcement.]
It was from then on..
“Bell?”
Hwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
The bell was enveloped in a transparent and mysterious light..
I hope so for a while.
Finally, the message I was waiting for came to mind..
[Succeeded in strengthening Baulgi..]
[strengthening phase : +1]
[A new skill has been created as a reward for successful reinforcement.]
[Digging up dirt (Lv). 3)]
[Speed up dirt digestion (Lv). 3)]
[Steel grunt discharge (Lv). 5)]
[Volcanic Eruption (Lv. 1)]
‘……what?’
Lloyd's eyes as he read the message carefully.
His gaze landed on the last line..
‘volcanic eruption?’
His eyes were colored with surprise upon hearing the name of the new skill..
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