Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Bottom Farm (3)

#07

Mental Power.

Just looking at the name, it is a stat that can feel somewhat difficult.

Strength is strong! Strength that increases physical damage and weight limit!

You can run for a long time! Endurance that increases the continuity of actions!

Compared to such major stats, it was true that it lacked intuitiveness.

However, anyone who had properly played Return Road could not fail to know how important this was.

‘Even more important for someone like me.’

There are countless variables in Return Road.

Bandits, traps, lightning, snakes in the bushes, tentacles that pop out the moment you open a box.

Random encounters full of malice would bestow merciless death on players who had become arrogant because they were regressors.

A high Mental Power value prevented disasters caused by so-called “unlucky events” in such situations.

‘It’s never an easy game. Dying to a rabbit in the carrot farm is still ridiculous.’

Characters with high Mental Power do not easily fall into status abnormalities such as fear, charm, or confusion.

Since they can endure sudden changes or pain, it is a great help regardless of the character.

The power to control variables. That was Mental Power.

There was only one drawback.

That growing Mental Power was damn difficult.

‘Even after putting on all kinds of shows it only rose as much as an ant’s gallstone. So dirty.’

But this time was different.

Because Bran had Weed’s Tenacity.

A broken trait that raises growth speed and skilled game knowledge.

With that combination, even an advanced stat like Mental Power could grow vigorously like a weed.

Of course it wouldn’t be an easy task.

“Cough! Gack!”

Bran coughed.

Every time he inhaled and exhaled it felt like ice water was being poured on his bronchi.

His heart was racing more noisily than when he had downed a 5-shot espresso at once.

‘I understand why the characters suffered so much. Even using Crown Turnip leaves it’s this bad.’

The cause was that he was crossing the cultivation site of Frost Mushrooms.

Thousands of white mushrooms were slowly blinking and spraying spores.

The symptoms that appeared when inhaling the spores were increased heart rate and improved concentration, pain as if rubbing ice.

Naturally it was a narcotic crop that interfered with the brain.

The dwarf who had been going ahead turned to look at Bran.

“Kekeke, without a mask it must taste like death. Should I take off my sock and give it to you?”

“······I’m fine.”

“Hmph, with that pride. Later you’ll cry and beg even for underwear.”

The dwarf’s walking speed quickened.

The guy had been circling around without going straight to the destination since earlier.

Five farms passed so far.

He seemed to have gotten grumpy because he wanted to see him crawling on the ground with his spirit broken but it wasn’t going as he wished.

『You are continuously overcoming a dangerous environment. Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『Resistance to plant toxins increases slightly. You become slightly desensitized to pain.』

However, for Bran it was unexpectedly not a bad situation.

He was repeating falling into and being released from various status abnormalities.

Although primitive, it was an excellent method for raising various resistances and Mental Power.

As long as he didn’t die.

Still, thanks to the Crown Turnip leaves it wasn’t to the point he couldn’t endure at all.

‘There are few environments better than here for raising Mental Power. I’ll raise it as much as possible and go.’

Building steel-like Mental Power.

It was the most important among the purposes Bran had come to the Bottom Farm.

The dwarf shouted.

“Walk quickly! Don’t pull any tricks!”

****

The management office that was the destination was located in the center of the Bottom Farm.

The damn dwarf took Bran to the management office only after passing three more farms.

Seeing him standing on two feet, the dwarf let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

“A tough guy. To endure this.”

“...”

Bran did not answer.

His throat was so swollen that he had to save words.

The management office was a stone building that gave off a gloomy atmosphere. In the courtyard, a dozen or so bandits wearing gas masks were standing guard, and the security looked much stricter than the fortress.

Bang bang bang!

The dwarf pounded on the main gate.

“Open the door Delgato! I brought a newbie!”

“...Delgato.”

Bran’s eyes narrowed.

Like Spera, it was a name he had heard early on.

Rumble rumble···!

The sentries who confirmed the dwarf’s face opened the main gate.

The two crossed the courtyard and entered the control room.

Confirming the door had closed, Bran caught his breath.

“Haaaaa···.”

“Tch, with the exaggeration.”

Breathing uncontaminated air, he felt he could live a bit.

The dwarf was giving him a sidelong glance from the side but he didn’t care whether he did or not.

It was a building larger in scale than it looked from the outside. Several doors were open on both sides of the long corridor.

The two who had gone up the stairs three times entered the door written “Control Room.”

“I’m here. Delgato.”

“······!”

Bran’s eyes widened.

Anyone could see it was a space of a ruler.

The splendid yet spacious room had three sides made of full glass.

Because the altitude was high, it was possible to survey almost all the farms at a glance.

“It took longer than expected.”

In front of it stood a man wearing a black coat.

His height was not that great but the atmosphere was different.

The man was looking down at the farm with his hands behind his back. Like a boy observing ants.

The dwarf took off his gas mask.

“Sorry. This guy is so dull.”

“Isn’t it that you were late because you circled around uselessly?”

“Wh-what are you saying? Why would I do that?”

“It’s a joke.”

Then, the man called Delgato turned his back.

It was a pretty youth. Age around mid to late twenties.

The double coat that complemented the slender build suited him well.

If only he hadn’t applied the damn lipstick to his lips he would have thought he was a normal human.

‘Not easy.’

It was even black lipstick.

The weight was different in a bad sense from seeing it beyond the screen.

Scanning Bran up and down, he smiled brightly.

“A younger friend than expected? To come this far safely without a mask, impressive.”

“A guy who is only stubborn for no reason. It would be better to kill him quickly and bring another slave.”

“Haha, looking at the face I can see why you’d dislike him. Because you hate handsome people.”

“What? I-I never did that!”

The dwarf shouted loudly.

Seeing the extreme reaction, it seemed he had hit the mark.

Delgato who slowly approached requested a handshake from Bran.

“Nice to meet you. I am Delgato, the general manager of the Bottom Farm.”

Bran politely clasped the hand.

It was the first honorific he had heard since possession, but his mood was not very good.

Because Delgato was the most nauseating human in this Blackstone Fortress.

“···I am Bran.”

However there was nothing good about being disliked from the start.

While holding and shaking the cold hand, Bran thought that he really resembled Spera.

‘Tail Feather Delgato. Finally met.’

It was natural if natural.

Because Delgato was the younger brother of Spera, the captain of the bandit group.

If Spera was the flashy feather, Delgato was the tail feather that maintained balance.

While Delgato solidified the internal affairs with the Bottom Farm, Spera used that funds to expand her power. While buttering up lords and nobles.

“Your body looks solid, do you have any specialties?”

“I’ll do whatever you order, but what I’m most confident in is work that uses strength.”

“Haha, a perfect answer as a slave. It’s a type my older sister would like very much.”

Instead of answering, Bran only bowed his head politely.

Since he had even received a proposal to share a bed from Spera, it was a fairly accurate guess.

Suddenly scary. Surely this guy won’t propose too?

“There is a workplace that suits you perfectly. However, before the introduction, would you not listen to just one request of mine?”

“A request?”

“Yes. It’s a very simple matter.”

Suddenly Delgato extended his index finger.

Turning his gaze along the white finger, the dwarf pacing in the control room came into view.

“Would you not take care of that greedy shorty standing there?”

“What? Me? Are you talking about me right now?”

The dwarf who recognized he had been pointed out raised his eyebrows.

The bewildered him let out a hollow laugh.

“Not funny Delgato. What kind of joke is that?”

“This time it’s not a joke. It seems emotions have built up between us, so let’s resolve it on this occasion.”

Suddenly taking out a key, Delgato released Bran’s restraints.

Clank! The handcuffs fell to the floor.

With both hands free, Bran quietly stared at the dwarf.

“Wait, wait a minute··· why are you doing this?”

The dwarf who met Bran’s eyes stepped back.

The sentries who had come up at some point were blocking the door of the control room.

“This fuck, are you in your right mind right now?!”

“Didn’t I warn you repeatedly from before. Not to touch the organization’s goods. Did you think I wouldn’t know that you siphoned off a bit of medicine every time you went to the surface?”

Delgato’s gentle eyes were still curved like a crescent moon.

The dwarf was astonished.

“What dog shit! I never did that kind of thing! I swear to the Rock God that I never touched the medicine!”

“Haa··· lying to the end. I don’t want to see that face anymore so take care of him quickly.”

Delgato sighed.

Just as he was about to hand Bran the longsword displayed on the wall.

The dwarf who drew a dagger from his ankle shouted and charged.

“Damn it, as expected working under trash like you was wrong!”

The target was Delgato.

Seeing the stable posture, it seemed he had handled a dagger quite a bit.

Tadadak! The distance narrowed in an instant.

“Die!”

“Huff···!”

Delgato gasped.

Bran clicked his tongue.

The eyes that had floated round as if surprised were hateful.

Considering the guy’s skill, a dwarf like that wouldn’t even be a mouthful.

Seeing that the sentries also didn’t restrain the dwarf, the intention was clear.

‘That damn test. I’ll do as you wish.’

To think even this point was the same as the game.

Sighing inwardly, Bran blocked the front of the dwarf.

While shouting in as dramatic a voice as possible.

“Hey, stop!”

“Kid! If you interfere I’ll kill you first!”

The dwarf growled.

The dagger that changed direction was shot toward Bran.

“Tch···!”

Bran clenched his teeth.

Even considering being under various status abnormalities, he could easily take care of a shorty like this.

But he must not show such an appearance now.

Because I came here as a slave, not a mercenary.

Just as the dagger was about to pierce Bran’s chest!

“Passed.”

Suddenly Delgato’s voice was heard from behind.

Even before Bran could turn his head.

Grab! Delgato who rushed out like a gust of wind grabbed the dwarf’s face.

“Gack?!”

The dwarf’s eyes widened.

The sound of facial bones being crushed was heard.

Delgato slammed the dwarf into the floor as is.

Boooom!!!

The moment the back of the head collided with the floor, the dwarf’s head exploded into pieces.

“Haha, now it’s somewhat worth looking at.”

Delgato laughed while covering his mouth.

When he removed his hand, the face stuck to the floor revealed itself.

The popped-out eyeballs were rolling on the floor.

The blood sprayed on the rug was reminiscent of fully bloomed roses.

‘The specs seem the same as the game too. It’s become troublesome.’

Bran twisted his lips.

The monstrous strength beyond common sense was the same as what he had seen in the game.

Indeed level 4.

A strength befitting the second-in-command of Blackstone Fortress, next to Spera.

Forcing out a flustered expression, Bran stammered.

“Passed··· what is all this?”

“Actually this was an experiment to see your reaction. You produced the best correct answer. Throwing your body to protect me, I was slightly moved.”

Delgato had tears welling up but Bran said nothing.

Because they were fake tears anyway.

A swindler who habitually deceives as if breathing.

If he had shown an appearance of easily subduing the dwarf, it would have rather bought wariness.

Taking out a handkerchief, Delgato wiped the blood on his face.

“Anyway, as written in the report. You are an excellent talent.”

“Report?”

“I received your information in advance from the Overseer of Zone 1. The Bottom Farm is a place where you can’t just put anyone in even if they’re a slave. Do you know what was written?”

Bran shook his head.

The Overseer of Zone 1 was the bald one who beat him every day.

“It was full of praise. Not only diligent, but also said to look smart. I was very happy that such a talent volunteered for the Bottom Farm.”

It was extremely unexpected. He had thought only curses would be written.

Although he didn’t show it, it seemed he had rated him quite highly.

Collecting the dwarf’s gas mask, Delgato instructed the sentries.

“Clean it up.”

It was a tone as if telling them to clean up trash.

The sentries silently dragged the dwarf’s corpse out. The spilled blood created a red path.

Delgato smiled with his eyes.

“Actually, that dwarf never siphoned off medicine.”

“···Yes?”

Then a shocking statement came out.

Facing Bran, he clicked his tongue.

“However it is true that he laid hands on the organization’s goods. Look at this pitiful face··· is it okay to handle a precious worker so roughly?”

The cold hand stroked Bran’s cheek.

Pretending to handle him preciously but the premise that he was already an object was laid.

It was unpleasant enough that he wanted to kick his crotch right away but he had to endure here.

“But more than that I got tired of the attitude and cleaned him up. Doing work that even a monkey can do yet acting as if he had become a great technician. Well, since I could also confirm your loyalty it was a very valuable death.”

Saying that, Delgato put the dwarf’s gas mask on Bran.

“Welcome to the Bottom Farm. Bran.”

“······!”

Bran’s eyes widened.

It was high-grade equipment of a different dimension from the cloth scrap masks that ordinary slaves used.

“Originally I should send you to the Laughing Rose farm where the slave who died yesterday worked, but I want to entrust you with a more important position. Is there a place you want to work among those three zones over there?”

Delgato took Bran to the window.

With his arm around Bran’s shoulder, he pointed out the zones that needed reinforcement one by one.

Malice was felt in the point that he didn’t explain what crops they were.

Suddenly, Bran’s gaze that was slowly moving stopped at the last zone.

“I’ve decided.”

“Fast. Where did you choose?”

“There, I’ll work at the place with that large tree.”

“······There?”

Bran’s index finger was pointing to the most remote place in the Bottom Farm.

The trunk of a huge red tree was connecting the floor and the ceiling.

It was a giant tree so thick that even fifty adults doing a circle dance couldn’t encompass it.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Slaves holding pickaxes were desperately striking the tree.

Delgato’s black lips drew a smile like a crack.

“You’re the type without luck. Choosing the hardest place.”

Bran did not answer.

Because he already knew himself.

That it was a place worth sweating for.