Episode 396 Hidden Stage – Hidden Garden
I looked at the message floating in the air and exclaimed in admiration.
Somehow I didn’t go straight to the scenario waiting room and stayed there, but it turns out there was something else prepared.
[Hidden Stage, Hidden Garden opens.]
Hidden Garden. The setting for the second scenario on the 70th floor.
It’s a place where everyone has left and where I was having a hard time until just now.
-Woooooooooo
A portal appears in front of you as if telling you to come in.
I thought about this while stretching and loosening up my body.
What will you find inside? There is a high probability that there will be elves and druids… … .
“Surely you wouldn’t attack me out of the blue?”
“Yeah.”
“Right? That can’t be it, right?”
Common sense tells you that it wouldn’t be possible. But I did something.
There was some interaction during the scenario progression, and since he has the World Tree Ring, his affinity will probably be quite high.
It’s all because of the top. You’re just being needlessly suspicious.
Still, it’s right to prepare for any situation that might arise.
‘I’m saying that my physical condition isn’t that good right now.’
The aftereffects of what we endured while uniting with the World Tree are creeping in.
Although I have physically recovered, the startled nerves and painful memories still remain.
People are said to be forgetful creatures, but how could they have forgotten something that hasn’t even been a day?
My hands are still shaking. It got a little better thanks to Deokchun licking them.
Phew.
I took a deep breath and straightened my posture.
“Let’s go in.”
“Ugh.”
It would be disappointing if you didn’t go in even though they invited you.
I was curious, and I didn’t know how long the portal would be open, so I didn’t want to wander around and miss it.
I entered the portal.
* * *
[Enter the Hidden Garden.] [Enter the Hidden Garden for the first time on the entire server!] [Acquire the title, Recipient of a Suspicious Invitation!]
A shaking space. A message was created indicating that a title had been created along with a notification indicating the position.
Is this the first time on the server?
No, more than that.
“What is that trap card-like title?”
I’m the one who receives suspicious invitations. It’s an invitation that I want to return just by hearing the name.
You never know. It might be good.
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Let’s examine the effect of the title with some anticipation.
[Suspicious Invitee – Title]
-You are getting a lot of attention!
-Not just the public.
-Even those who are not outwardly interested are interested!
-Their invitations can be sweet or dangerous.
-good luck!
Oh, this is a title whose name and content match.
It seems like it’s a title that was created from the accumulation of past achievements.
Entering the Hidden Garden was the trigger.
There are a variety of explanations, but to summarize briefly… … .
“It means that people I don’t know well are becoming interested in me.”
No one knows whether that person is an assistant or a mastermind.
I don’t know if it would be different in other places, but it’s a bit like that at the top.
I’m already getting more attention than I need. I’ve been busy lately and haven’t been able to check the community much, but when I checked briefly last time, there were quite a few messages from Lee Jun-seok.
I haven’t opened it yet because I’m scared to look at it.
wait for a sec…….
“What if my mental protection is at SSS-level now?”
Hohoho. Woohooho. If I have this, I won’t be afraid of messages from the Pujing Union!
Deokchun shaking his head with a sad expression, and I roaring in victory inside.
The timing of the silent screams continuing.
“Welcome to the Hidden Garden, our friend.”
“I’ve been waiting.”
A familiar voice was heard.
I slowly turn around and see a face I know.
“Whika, Miffy.”
The final suicide squad sets out to normalize the world tree.
Both women went inside with us, then gave us time to enter the center with Pargal.
“ah.”
I looked around slowly.
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forest.
The Hidden Stage and Hidden Garden were forests. If other people had seen them, they wouldn’t have known the difference from other forests.
“It was modeled after the World Forest.”
“You know what I mean.”
“There’s no way you wouldn’t recognize me.”
It was just where we were until just now. And the forest we see now is no ordinary forest.
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A forest where the remains of strange trees remain. They are not completely strange trees.
[Purified Twisted Tree]
-The spirit that was possessed is resting.
It had been purified. The evidence of this was the disappearance of the spirits that could be felt when approaching the tree.
Whether it’s the title effect or because I’ve become close to the spirits, I can now sense their energy.
Although they are no match for elves or druids.
If you think about it, it’s a similar feeling to feeling divine power or magic.
Miffy gently caresses the tree.
Even though it has been purified, the characteristics of a monster tree still remain, as it tilts a tree trunk and rubs its body against the palm of its hand.
“Are there any creatures?”
“Unfortunately, all the creatures were scattered and could not be found. Some had already been transformed into demons.”
“It’s sad. It always stays in my mind.”
That’s a bit of a shame.
I followed Miffy and Whikka slowly into the forest.
These strange trees don’t look boring. It must not be a good memory for them either, but perhaps keeping them like this is a sign of their will to not forget the events of that time.
Or maybe it was affection for the spirits who had suffered.
A clearing created in the middle of the forest. Originally, the World Tree should have been located here, but it was not there, and instead, a space was created for the members of the Hidden Garden to rest.
As we sit down on the chair, Miffy offers us some fragrant tea.
“Huh? I guess it’s over now?”
“Good job, Evil Eye!”
A few familiar elves wave.
Did you see it well? Is it over now?
no way…….
“Yes. We were also watching Evil Eye clear the scenario.”
“NPCs can do that too, I guess.”
“Because it’s a scenario based on our world.”
He nodded. Well, that must be why they welcomed us as friends as soon as we arrived.
Elves and druids returning from picking fruit and gathering herbs in the forest.
Perhaps due to the effects of destruction, the number of Druids was not large.
furthermore.
‘The elders are nowhere to be seen.’
Not only is Medi, who was with us until the end, nowhere to be seen, but Pargal, who supported us from behind, is also nowhere to be seen.
“You know what? Our world also protected the World Tree just like Evil Eye did.”
This is something I didn’t know. The 76th floor is just a reenactment of an existing incident.
I don’t know how things originally went.
“It’s different from what Evil Eye did. When they became NPCs and disappeared, the remaining ones were wiped out. That’s why they were finally driven to the World Tree.”
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“At that time, more than half of the people were sacrificed, and when we reached the World Forest, many more disappeared as tributes. Because in our time, there was no one like you.”
Tribute. Thanks to Mediga offering himself as a tribute at the end, the World Tree was able to be restored to normal without a hitch.
They seem to have reached a similar conclusion.
“The world tree has returned to normal, but the destruction index has reached 100 points, and a final choice has been given.”
“Whether to remain in the world or become an NPC.”
“Elder Medi and Elder Pargal decided to stay in the world. Someone has to take care of those who remain.”
“In order to grow the seeds of the World Tree, we also needed the Elder’s power.”
A story heard from those who have already experienced destruction.
“It seems like the world won’t be in any shape or form even if the destruction index exceeds 100.”
“There are some changes, but not much. In fact, the members continued to live there for a while after that.”
“The world tree that grew up at that time is Hainu.”
Whikka smiles faintly.
Hainu, the first snow spirit queen I met and the one who gave me the World Tree quest.
I never thought you’d be from this world.
“Are you curious about what will happen to the destroyed world?”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious.”
“I don’t usually say it, but I want to say it to you.”
Miffy leans in closer.
“When the destruction index reaches 100, part of the world becomes dependent on the tower. That’s why there were old people and children in the scenario. They are fake objects created by the tower.”
He frowned.
Part of the world becomes dependent?
It’s the same as becoming a material to make a tower.
“Those who decided to become NPCs are continuing on to the Hidden Garden and supplying elixirs and herbs here.”
“Among the elixirs we obtained while climbing, there must have been some that we made?”
I heard briefly while the scenario was going on that there was a recipe for making an elixir.
It seems like they are working in the tower, taking advantage of their racial characteristics.
Now the mystery is solved. Why was the Hidden Garden, which was the setting of the scenario, recognized as a group of NPCs?
The Hidden Garden was created by those who came from the destroyed world and came together again.
“It was nice to see, even if only for a little while, that the world could become a better place. I’m sure we’ll have another chance someday.”
“Because every NPC still has a chance.”
You’re probably talking about the successor.
It seems like something is given when the successor reaches the 100th floor. I don’t know the specifics though since no one has experienced it firsthand.
“This is our gift.”
“I hope you have a safe climb. Hidden Garden supports you.”
[NPC group, friendly relationship with Hidden Garden.] [Increased influence in the tower.] [Title, effect of receiving a suspicious invitation!] [People will start to pay attention to you.]
Messages that come to mind one after another.
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Following Hell Dying Kitchen, Framberg, and Daerimwon, Hidden Garden is now receiving support… … .
I wonder if there is anyone among climbers who has developed a bond with NPCs as much as I have.
There are three items given as gifts.
[Purity of the Monster (S)]
– An elixir made from the fruit of a purified tree!
-It is imbued with the power of nature.
And that precious S-class elixir.
[Recipe from Hidden Garden]
-Contains recipes for various herbs and elixirs.
-Precious information that money can’t buy!
In addition to the recipes they use.
[Hidden Garden Special Herb Pack]
-A set of the highest quality herbs produced in the Hidden Garden!
-You can store herbs in optimal condition.
A subspace item exclusively for herbs. It is filled with herbs of various types.
I also learned while making potions, so I know that there are quite a few precious things mixed in.
“I will accept it, thank you.”
“Thank you. Thank you for not giving up on us.”
“Your time is up. This is a place that is usually off-limits. I hope your world is safe.”
Whikka and Miffy smiled brightly and waved at me as I expressed my gratitude.
[Hidden Garden feels grateful to you.] [Affinity increases.] [Title, an Elf friend is created.] [Title, a Druid friend is created.]
The view changed with the title of becoming friends of the two races.
[Hidden Stage, Hidden Garden are closed.] [You will be transferred to the scenario waiting room.]
* * *
-Paaaaaaah!
A waiting room that was transmitted with bursts of light.
The space that appeared after the vibrant forest disappeared was… … .
“Hey, doesn’t this change the mood too much?”
“Yeah.”
[Waiting Room – Black Ground] [Please rest before entering the scenario on floors 77-79.] [When the appropriate number of people or the appropriate amount of time is met, you will be transferred to floor 77.]
It was a bleak, faded plain.
It was a place where a dry wind blew and it was full of things like charcoal or something.
Is that a volcano in the distance? It looks like a volcanic zone, with red lava flowing out from between the cracked ground.
The waiting room is warm. It’s not that hot thanks to the fire resistance.
“It’s been a while, why don’t you take a bath? Let’s go, Deokchun!”
“Ouch!”
A pit with black smoke rising. I took off my top and jumped into the lava pool.
-Two-hwa-ah!
The moment you step into the hot lava.
“Who, who are you?”
I could tell there were passengers.
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…who are you?
