Chapter 16: Pioneering The Labyrinth (1)
Fundamentally, Arteils territorial development follows a pretty standard route for territory-based content.
Starting with the Lords castle as the base, after building all the basic production buildings, then the first-tier buildings are constructed.
That is, until all the first-tier buildings are built and the territory is somewhat on track.
However, after that, when you can start building second-tier buildings and define the territorys actual direction, Arteil becomes distinct from other web-based territory games.
Unlike the usual territory content where you simply level up buildings, recruit many soldiers, and blindly battle to plunder resources or expand territory, Arteil has many forms of territories.
Among them, there are three main types: commercial, production, and combat territories.
For combat territories, as the name suggests, its a type that uses PVP combat to plunder resources and seize castles for territorial development.
Commercial territories, literally, involve operating a large trading company, buying territories with money, or investing funds for development.
Lastly, production territories are a type that focuses on developing the territory by selling special resources that can only be produced through a production route, along with hero-equipped artifacts from Labyrinths.
While there are many other forms of territories, users basically choose one of these three directions.
Of course, as the territory level increases and develops, you can enjoy all content evenly, but Kim Hyunwoo also initially raised his territory level as a commercial territory.
If Arteil were a common territory game, combat territories would have been the most highlighted, but surprisingly, Arteil wasnt well suited for indiscriminate fighting.
The reason is due to the relationship system based on the territorys direction.
For each, commercial territories have high relationships with trading company NPCs, and production territories have high relationships with production guilds, adventurers, and heroes based on actions, making it difficult for combat guilds, which must solely supply resources from outside, to interfere.
Conversely, commercial and production territories must also consistently consume resources to maintain high relationships to deter combat territories from plundering, making Arteil well-balanced and diverse in direction for a territory game.
Well, even that well-made balance was blown away by a single BM.
With that thought, Kim Hyunwoo looked at the territory window.
Territory: Lartania
Territory Development: 58
Territory Residents:
[Humans: 1084]
Owned Buildings: [Lord's Castle LV1 >>> Upgrading 0%]
[Wall LV1]
[Residential District LV1 >>> Upgrading 0%]
[Blacksmith LV1 >>> Upgrading 0%]
[Barracks LV1 >>> Upgrading 22%]
[Tavern LV1 >>> Upgrading 0%]
Owned Troops:
-None-
In about three weeks, many aspects of the territory had changed.
Immediately, the residential area was densely populated with many people living together, a stark contrast to when Kim Hyunwoo first arrived, and small businesses were operating between the narrow paths.
In front of them were a blacksmith and a tavern, with barracks built to the east of the Lords castle and residents engaged in farming to the west of the residential area.
In other words, positively speaking, Lartania had now finally taken the form of a proper territory.
Of course, negatively, one could say it had only just reached the very beginning of the tutorial in Arteil, but ultimately, the important thing for Kim Hyunwoo was that the foundation for properly managing the territory had been established.
Lord, basic management is now possible.
Then lets start getting down to it.
Starting with Kim Hyunwoo responding to Lorias words with a smile.
Well, shall we start with developing the territory first?
He murmured.
Lord, Im sorry, but may I ask you something?
What is it?
I remember you mentioned making a Labyrinth city last time, but what exactly do you mean by that type of territory?
Kim Hyunwoo nodded as if that was a reasonable question to Lorias curious inquiry.
She was basically an NPC that helped with the development of the territory, but a territory like the labyrinth city mentioned by Kim Hyunwoo did not exist in Arteil.
Thus, contemplating how to explain this territory, Kim Hyunwoo soon opened his mouth as if he had thought of a good explanation.
Simply put, think of it as doing business through the Labyrinth.
Doing business through the Labyrinth, you say?
Yes, more precisely, its about doing business with Magic Stones that come from the Labyrinth.
Basically, there are monsters inside the Labyrinths of this world, and when these monsters are dealt with, Magic Stones are dropped.
These Magic Stones are an energy source like oil and electricity in Kim Hyunwoos world and an essential resource for weapons and more in Arteil, hence the demand is high, but the supply is limited.
The reason is the Lords monopoly on Magic Stones.
Basically, in this world, the only way to obtain Magic Stones is to hunt monsters in the Labyrinths.
However, Labyrinths exist only in territories with a Lords castle, and naturally, one cannot enter such Labyrinths without the Lords permission.
Thus, at this point, only Lords with territories could produce Magic Stones, and hence, they strictly controlled the demand for Magic Stones.
The important resource of Magic Stones gave the lord a strategic advantage over various guilds, adventurers, and mage towers.
Does that mean you intend to open Lartanias Labyrinth?
Thats right.
However, at Kim Hyunwoos declaration to give up the strategic advantage a Lord could gain without hesitation, Loria seemed to pause for a moment before speaking.
I hesitate to say this, but isnt that too reckless?
It might seem that way.
Kim Hyunwoo thought Lorias concern was valid.
The system he mentioned had never been attempted in any territory before, and more strictly speaking, it was a method that no one had even dared to consider initially-
I understand your thinking, Lord. You plan to open the Labyrinth to the public, not just ordinary citizens but to gather adventurers, mercenaries, and guilds.
Thats correct.
Doing so will solve most of the problems you are currently facing, Lord. The territorys development level will skyrocket, and the city will naturally become prosperous with just a sufficient number of troops for management. However, as you know, Lord, that requires-
You mean to say that Magic Stones must continue to come out of the Labyrinth, right?
Thats correct.
This method was, in fact, a form of territory that originally couldnt exist.
Monsters in the territorys attached Labyrinth basically drop Magic Stones.
That was an undeniable fact.
However, one additional fact to be aware of is when the Labyrinths monsters respawn.
The Labyrinths monsters typically respawn on a weekly basis.
Thus, the amount of Magic Stones that can be obtained from each territory on a weekly basis is ultimately limited, even if one delves deeper into the Labyrinth.
Even if one obtains high-quality Magic Stones, the quantity available is still limited, and even that quantity is not large, so its unlikely that adventurers or guilds would flock to it.
However, the reason for Kim Hyunwoos confidence despite this is.
Dont worry, theres a way for everything.
A method, you say?
Because he had a very good method for making this impossible Labyrinth city.
Loria, you said we have to start from the beginning with Labyrinth exploration, right?
Yes, every time we fail to prevent a Labyrinth break, the exploration level is reset by one layer, so at this point, you have to start from the very beginning.
Following Lorias words, Kim Hyunwoo spoke with a confident expression.
Lets go find a hero first.
Elena is a hero.
To be more precise, she was a hero who was unwelcome everywhere, just an ordinary hero.
It was because, even by her own admission, Elenas abilities were too ambiguous.
Although she was a combat hero, her abilities were oddly inferior compared to other heroes.
Of course, as a hero, she was stronger than ordinary soldiers, but that was all; compared to other heroes, her abilities were significantly lower, and thus, she continued an unwanted nomadic life without being able to settle in any territory.
While it might have been different in the past when territories were barely emerging, at this point, no Lord wanted to hire a hero with such ambiguous abilities as hers.
Of course, it wasnt that Elena hadnt tried.
She was filled with the desire to become famous, to spread her name across the Continent, and to become stronger than others.
And at the same time, wanting to take revenge on the Lords and heroes who had scorned and ignored her, she had tried several times over the past few years to break free from this cycle.
With the money she had painstakingly saved, she changed weapons, trained until dawn, and even tried to learn magic and archery, which she had never used before.
But no matter how much Elena tried, that was all.
It was as if her limits were set, and after struggling for five years, Elena gave up on becoming stronger.
She crushed her pride and simultaneously acknowledged it.
That her limits were just that.
Afterward, while wandering from territory to territory earning money through minor jobs, Elena heard a rumor.
That the Lartania territory, which had been completely destroyed after its Lord disappeared ten years ago, was beginning to be rebuilt with the return of its Lord.
Upon hearing that, Elena, as if enchanted, headed towards the Lartania territory.
Perhaps because of the hope that she might be employed by the Lord.
According to the rumors she had heard, the Lartania territory seemed no different from the territories that had employed her ten years ago, just beginning to emerge.
However, when Elena arrived at Lartania and entered a tavern, she was unwittingly disappointed.
The reason was, of course, because there were quite a few heroes inside the tavern.
At that moment, Elena was disappointed.
Having realized that there were already more than five heroes in the tavern, she had an epiphany.
Thus, she had been giving up.
You want to hire me?
Yes.
Until that answer came back without a moments hesitation.
Elena looked around in surprise.
Of course, the heroes sitting in this tavern didnt seem very strong to Elena, but objectively speaking, they were stronger than her.
Sadly, among all the heroes, she was the one with the lowest capability.
Are you sure Im okay for the job?
So much so, she stuttered these words out with a voice that seemed to crawl along the floor.
It was a kind of cold self-deprecation automatically ingrained in her due to a series of unfortunate past events.
Yes. No, rather!
But.
The answer came back instantly again, as if there was no need to even ponder.
As if she was really needed.
And then.
Snap-!
If not you, then it wont do!
At the Lords action of snatching her hand up and saying such words,
Elenas eyes widened in an instant.
This, this is!
A confession?
It couldnt be, right?
While Elena was startled by the sudden turn of events, Kim Hyunwoo, who was actually holding her hand,
This is amazing!
Was smiling as he looked at Elenas information window that appeared before his eyes.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢