Pick Me Up!

Chapter 255: Requiem (1) (1)

After breaking through the 60th floor, Anytng began a large-scale expansion of facilities.

First, with the resources that had accumulated, we raised the level of the waiting room by one floor. Additionally, I ordered upgrades for everything from the equipment workshop, storage, and training facilities to the magic research lab.

‘This will take some time.’

It wasn’t as simple as just pressing a button and watching it magically get built like before.

Once the facility level reaches a certain point, upgrading requires not only a large amount of materials and craftsmen but also a long construction period.

As a result, for a while, the waiting room was filled with noises reminiscent of a construction site, and the heroes were given personal time to prepare themselves while the work was being completed.

During the day, I toured the lower floors to level up, and at night, I dedicated myself to sparring with Halkion.

I decided to spend my time training until Yurnet’s investigation was completed.

‘There’s something… on the higher floors.’

If it were simply about fighting powerful enemies like the Prince or the Fragment series, we could handle it. However, there was a possibility of unexpected variables I hadn’t predicted. If things went wrong, there would be no turning back.

Every night, I reread the book.

A picture book depicting El Cid’s past. The content didn’t change; it was merely a repetition of the story I already knew.

This routine continued until the day Yurnet completed her investigation.

One evening, in my room on the 4th floor of the waiting room, located in the lodging for the first party.

A vague mist began to form, shaping into a human figure. I turned my chair to face the shadow. Yurnet’s image slowly emerged from the darkness.

‘Looks like the investigation is over.’

It had taken about a month.

Considering that I had ordered the investigation immediately after El Cid’s death, it had taken longer than expected.

“You’re not here just to say hello, are you?”

I took a sip from my teacup.

Regular communication could easily be done through the network. There was only one reason to appear in person like this.

“Good job. You’ve worked hard.”

I nodded.

Yurnet approached me, and before I could say anything, she bowed deeply.

“What do you mean? Sorry for what?”

She spoke with her head still bowed.

I remained silent.

‘Failure?’

I hadn’t anticipated that.

“No, it’s fine. Raise your head. If it didn’t work, it didn’t work. You’re not all-powerful, after all.”

“Enough already. You’re making me uncomfortable.”

Yurnet slowly lifted her head.

Her expression remained unchanged, but I could read her emotions in her eyes.

‘There’s nothing more to say.’

It was me who had asked her for the favor.

Getting upset over a bad result would only be childish.

“More than that, I’d like to hear the reason why the investigation failed.”

Yurnet began her explanation, and I listened attentively from start to finish.

Yurnet’s basic method of gathering information was through accessing Mobius Corp’s database using a virtual ID.

She hacked into the game company’s system, created a virtual account, and gave it high-level permissions to retrieve internal data from Pick Me Up.

But this time…

“Even your account couldn’t access it?”

I frowned.

The task I had assigned Yurnet was simple.

Find out about Dorado’s ending.

‘It must be there.’

The reason El Cid was willing to wage war against all of Mobius to reach the 1st server.

‘I can guess.’

But I couldn’t be sure.

And now this result.

“Is that so?”

I clicked my tongue and responded.

“Then forget it.”

“You said there’s a risk of being caught, right? What’s the point of pushing that far? Just let it go.”

“That’s enough. You’ve worked hard. Go get some rest.”

I closed my mouth.

I was curious, but I wasn’t willing to put Niflheimr in danger just to find out. If Tel discovered we had stolen classified information, who knows what she’d do.

Yurnet bit her lip.

Her figure slowly dispersed into mist and disappeared.

I turned my chair toward my desk.

‘Hmm.’

They went to great lengths to hide this, huh?

Tel had said it herself. This game was created to restore a broken world.

So why go to such lengths to conceal the ending?

‘Something doesn’t add up. But still, I need certainty…’

Only with evidence could I devise a proper strategy.

But with Yurnet’s failure, the path to obtaining that evidence was blocked.

“…Sigh.”

Still, I can’t just sit around doing nothing.

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!