Became the Transcendent Monarch of the Corner of the Room - Chapter 33

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 33

Did I just hear that wrong?

So, so that means….

The reward for the A-grade Quest isn’t items or points or anything like that—

‘Aldea Village to me?!’

Choi Hyun-min blinked his eyes as if he couldn’t believe it.

However, their reaction was the same as before.

People prostrating themselves completely, repeating the same words.

“H-how did this happen?”

Had something like this ever occurred before?

No, in the first place, I only just learned that there was a village inside the maze.

And that can become my property?

[Aldea Village has been bound to you.]

[You can adjust permissions for Aldea Village in the Creation Management window.]

Choi Hyun-min stared blankly into space.

He summoned the Creation Management window as the message instructed.

‘This is….’

Then his vision spun around, and the entire Aldea Village was displayed like a small model.

As if it had become Block Toys, shrunk to a size that could be taken in at a glance.

At the same time, various letters and numbers appeared in a row.

[Aldea Village]

[Location: Dungeon Basement 5th Floor]

[Owner: Choi Hyun-min (Transcendent Lord)]

[Population: ★]

[Prosperity: ☆]

[Collect Taxes]

[Open Village]

How fascinating.

It had changed to look similar to the Block Toys.

‘Though some things are displayed in even more detail than the toys.’

Things like population numbers and prosperity were stats I was seeing for the first time in Aldea.

Probably something I became able to see after receiving the village as a reward….

—From now on, the fate of Aldea Village depends on our new Master, so please do not abandon us!

—Please do not abandon us!

—We entrust Aldea to you!

‘Ugh….’

The words of the Aldea residents echoed loudly in his ears.

More than that, what was this ‘Collect Taxes’ thing?

There wasn’t much that Choi Hyun-min could do right now.

After pondering for a moment, Choi Hyun-min cautiously pressed ‘Collect Taxes’.

Then his vision seemed to return to normal—

Step. Step.

The village chief, Baldun, approached this way.

—Though it’s shameless of us, this is Aldea’s tax that we’ve been saving up. Naturally, if Master desires it, it would be proper to offer it to you.

Then he took out a small leather pouch from his bosom and held it out to me.

Clink.

When I received it, I heard a small friction sound from inside.

‘Stones…?’

I quickly checked the pouch and inside it was—

“Magic stones?”

Magic stones.

Stones you could obtain by hunting monsters within the maze.

Since they contained magical power, they were traded for considerable amounts depending on their quality.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that most Hunters hunted monsters essentially because of these.

When I lightly felt the pouch with my hand, I grasped a few lowest-grade magic stones.

—I… I’m sorry.

“Sorry?”

Why was he suddenly saying such things?

When I looked up at Baldun, he conversely bowed his head deeply.

—As you can see, the village itself isn’t very large, and we’ve been tormented by Larmon all this time, so we weren’t in a position to collect taxes.

“….”

—If you give us time, next time we’ll prepare much more….

Ah, I see.

Well, at a glance, it would be unreasonable to consider this a place where many taxes could be collected.

The size of the village too.

At a glance, it looked like nothing more than a small rural farming village.

Choi Hyun-min thought about something for a moment.

He returned the pouch of magic stones he was holding to Baldun.

—Huh…? A-are you returning it?

“I don’t really need it right now.”

—B-but….

“Instead, when the village grows larger and is in a position to collect sufficient taxes. I’ll receive it then.”

—Thank you…. Thank you so much, Master.

At Choi Hyun-min’s words, tears slightly welled up in Baldun’s eyes.

Money wasn’t that urgent anyway.

Unlike other Hunters who had to buy equipment, he wasn’t greatly constrained by money.

‘For me, I just need enough money to buy a few pieces of bread at the convenience store.’

Rather, if I support the village now, I might be able to grow it into a larger village.

Then I could receive much greater rewards than taking a few magic stones now.

A village….

Growing the village larger….

“By any chance, are there merchants in this village too?”

Choi Hyun-min stroked his chin for a while.

He asked Baldun casually.

—There are people who do various trades within the village, but… since we’ve had no contact with other villages outside or with Hunters….

That would naturally be the case.

Since we didn’t even know the village existed in the first place.

Naturally, there wouldn’t have been situations where they traded with ordinary Hunters.

If only ordinary Hunters could use it like a trading post….

‘Huh…? Wait a minute….’

Something flashed through his mind like lightning.

The Collect Taxes button I saw earlier.

There was definitely an [Open Village] button below it, right?

“Then if other people came in from outside….”

Before Choi Hyun-min could even finish his sentence.

As soon as he heard those words, Baldun’s expression brightened considerably.

—If that could happen…. Our Aldea could prosper much more than now!

Of course.

Even if Hunters flocked here to buy things from them and use inns or shops.

For them now, it would be tremendous profit.

‘If that’s the case…’

As soon as he heard Baldun’s answer, Choi Hyun-min immediately pressed the village opening button.

At that moment, a system message appeared before his eyes.

[You have opened Aldea Village to the outside world.]

[From now on, the village’s existence will be known to the outside, and external entities including Hunters can freely come and go.]

[All authority over the village belongs solely to you, and the power to control entry and exit is entirely in your hands.]

[Additionally, a portion of the income generated here will be accumulated in the form of taxes.]

Wait… if it’s this much…

‘Isn’t this almost like being a king?’

If I can open and close the village as I please.

And let anyone in or kick them out regardless of who’s inside…

Isn’t this practically the same as being the king of Aldea?

Now I finally understood why Aldea Village was an A-grade reward.

“From now on, I’ve opened the village, so more people from outside might come in.”

-Is, is that really true?

At Choi Hyun-min’s words, Baldun’s eyes widened as if they might pop out.

Since the village had been practically isolated until Larmon was dealt with.

It wasn’t unreasonable for him to show such a reaction.

“Normally, of course I should stay here and manage Aldea myself, but… that seems a bit difficult.”

-I understand, Master. Since you are a Hunter…

“So while I’m away, I’ll entrust everything about Aldea to you, Baldun.”

Baldun was already the village chief of this place.

He would know much better than me how Aldea operates.

-I will not disappoint you, Master.

“Then I’ll be counting on you.”

I guess this concludes matters regarding Aldea.

How much Aldea will prosper.

How much tax it will bring in depends entirely on time.

From now on, all I had to do was wait.

-Fang! Fang!

-Master, when do we eat Fang?

-We’ve been waiting for so long…

“Ah, that’s right, sorry. Shall we head back now?”

The Block Toys had been waiting blankly while I talked with Baldun.

At Choi Hyun-min’s words, they immediately bounced around like puppies whose anger had been appeased.

-Finally! Finally, Fang time has returned!

-Today I’m going to eat the yellow Fang!

-Then I’ll take the pink one!

-Before that, I’m going to eat them all up first!

Neigh neigh neigh!

The horses nearby also cried out following their masters.

Meanwhile, Baldun was carefully reading the mood.

-Um… Master.

“Yes?”

As he cautiously opened his mouth, about ten villagers came trailing out behind him.

-If it’s alright… could you possibly take these folks with you?

“What do you mean by that?”

Take them with me?

When I glanced over, the villagers were scratching their heads with embarrassed faces.

Let’s see, one, two, three… ten people in total?

-These folks want to follow you and explore the Maze, Master. Though they don’t have much experience, they’re stronger and more agile than average… I was wondering if you could make use of them, even if just a little…

As soon as he finished speaking, the system directly posed a question.

[10 people wish to newly join under the Transcendent Lord’s command.]

[Will you accept them?]

So the numbers would increase?

For Choi Hyun-min, there was naturally no need to refuse.

The current 11 Block Toys already showed incredible destructive power.

If that number doubled?

“Of course! I’ll accept them.”

[10 new soldiers have been incorporated.]

[Appropriate equipment will be provided to match the Transcendent Lord’s current technological level.]

Whoooosh!

As soon as approval was given, the eleven residents were enveloped in pure white light.

Soon they transformed from shabby rural villagers into the appearance of dignified cavalry.

-Please take care of us, Master!

-Even if we leave Aldea, we will always protect you, Master!

As soon as their appearance changed, they excitedly greeted him.

Just by their outward appearance, they had become indistinguishable from the original knights.

“Well, I’ll be going now. If there’s ever anything important, I’ll come visit… Please take good care of Aldea.”

-We shall do as you command, Master of Aldea!

Having entrusted Aldea’s affairs to Baldun, Choi Hyun-min came out of the Maze.

“Phew-“

As he returned to his room, the Block Toys were naturally summoned to the room as well.

Thud. Thud thud.

Let’s see…

One, two…

‘Not only the original ones, but the Aldea people also turned into Block Toys?’

The original number of toys was eleven.

When I counted the small knight-shaped blocks, they had increased to twenty-one.

Clearly those guys weren’t originally Block Toys.

‘Is this also one of the Transcendent Lord’s abilities?’

I didn’t know the reason, but it wasn’t a bad thing.

If those guys hadn’t turned into Block Toys…

‘Then ten horses would be bustling around in this room.’

Just thinking about it was horrifying.

-Master! Master! Finally it’s Fang time!

“I know, so wait just a moment.”

Leaving behind the guys who were whining like three-year-olds.

Choi Hyun-min brought the plastic bag he had set aside.

Inside were plenty of breads he had bought from the convenience store.

As he set them down on the desk, the cavalry gathered like ghosts.

Not only that, but the guys who joined from Aldea also cautiously approached.

-Fang? What is Fang?

-Delicious thing! It’s a delicious thing!

-Those guys don’t know Fang! They’ll know once they try it this time!

-Ooh… Is it food?

“Alright, now eat-“

[You have become the lord of new lands, completing the Quest for the Empire.]

[Grade: S]

Huh?

Just as he was about to spread out the bread and have a feast(?).

Choi Hyun-min’s eyes widened at the Quest notification.

‘Right. Come to think of it… there was this Quest?’

The Quest he had newly received when he obtained the stone fragment not long ago.

Though it was S-grade, he had no idea how to clear it.

So he had thought to just leave it be.

But could it be…

‘Ah! The Quest was completed when I became the Master of Aldea!’

He hadn’t thought that far ahead.

Choi Hyun-min waited calmly for the next message.

The moment the next message rang in his head.

[The reward for the S-grade Quest has been granted.]

He unconsciously gaped his mouth open.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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