Pick Me Up!

El Cid is dead.

The remains of the creature that Wiryung dealt with soon dissipated into light, leaving behind only a few items. The once infamous El Cid, who had spread terror across the entire Pick Me Up ranking, disappeared just like that. His name and achievements will soon be forgotten.

I gave the order to disband the heroes who were preparing for battle on the deck and solidified the defenses of Niflheimr. Since El Cid had infiltrated this area, other rankers might be planning something as well, though what exactly was uncertain.

However, days passed, and the rankers remained quiet.

It seemed they believed I had obtained the Book of Reversal.

Even if I told them that the vessel was broken, they certainly wouldn’t believe me.

Now, the community sites would be buzzing with rumors about Loki having acquired the Book of Reversal and how the balance of the rankers was about to shift. I decided to let them have their fun and laughed it off.

“Anyway…”

The incident had ended, but I hadn’t yet left Brynhildr01.

There were still a few loose ends to tie up. Although these were minor issues that didn’t require my presence, I decided to handle them since I was already here. After all, once I return to Townia, I won’t be coming back here for a while.

#### Plaque of Appreciation

[Acknowledging Loki and Niflheimr for defeating the notorious El Cid, who disrupted the order of Mobius.]

[Mobius Inc.]

A rectangular silver plaque with a classic design sat on my desk. Mobius HQ sent it immediately after El Cid was defeated. Although Wiryung was the one who dealt the final blow, and Anytng got the actual kill, they must have known the full story.

#### Invitation

[To celebrate the top-ranking Loki and his heroes who saved us from a crisis, a party has been arranged! As soon as you RSVP, we will prepare the venue…]

I shoved the gold-embossed paper into the trash can.

Ridiculous nonsense.

When I first opened the box, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it.

I didn’t fight El Cid for such trash. I fought him with everything on the line for the survival of Niflheimr. If Tel hadn’t intervened, El Cid and I would have had a proper battle.

“It’s all in the past now.”

I sighed and threw the plaque into the trash as well.

Thud. A heavy sound echoed through the office.

Most of the work in Niflheimr was now finished.

Tomorrow morning, Wiryung and I would board a high-speed ship back to Townia.

Today was the last day I’d spend here.

What should I do?

Most tasks were already completed, and Yurnet would take care of the rest.

So it was time to handle something I had been putting off.

I took out a document from the bottom drawer of the table.

This somewhat crumpled report was sent to me by Yurnet the day after El Cid died, detailing his personal information.

In other words, it contained details about El Cid’s life on Earth.

At this point, it seemed pointless, but I had nothing else to do, so I decided to go through it for fun.

“Let’s see…”

He was born in a small country in Western Europe.

His parents were from a well-known political family in that country, wealthy enough to own a large mansion with servants and butlers. He seemed to have led a relatively affluent life. Compared to me, who was abandoned by my parents before I even turned ten, he was quite fortunate.

“By this point, you’d think he might be living in heaven… but no.”

It seemed something unimaginable in secure South Korea had happened.

“An assassination by a political rival, huh.”

It was more of a massacre than an assassination, as multiple bombs exploded in the mansion, and his parents and siblings were found riddled with hundreds of bullets.

It was a scene I couldn’t easily picture, being from the other side of the world.

What followed was as expected.

Left alone, he lost the will to live. He wandered aimlessly until he stumbled upon the game Pick Me Up, and then became completely absorbed in it.

As if escaping from reality.

“How predictable.”

He had no place to belong on Earth.

That much was easy to guess.

I chuckled and put the report away.

It was a great tragedy for him, but not an uncommon story in the grand scheme of things.

“People who lose the will to live find something to cling to.”

For El Cid, that something was the game.

Compared to drugs or alcohol, it was several times healthier, at least.

Next, I opened the middle drawer of the table.

Inside was something much more important than the report.

#### Book of Reversal

[Grade: U]

[Contains the memories and hopes of a certain adventurer.]

[Note – Damaged. Unusable.]

This Book of Reversal fell from his body.

It was an essential item for advancing to seven stars, a material coveted by countless masters, but now it was just an empty shell. The excessive use of power during the raid had wiped out El Cid’s interference.

However, it was only temporarily damaged, so there is a way to restore it.

Though it’s incredibly difficult.

“……”

I placed the Book of Reversal on the table.

“A book…”

The Book of Reversal appeared as a thick, leather-bound book.

Its cover was plain, with no decorations.

I took a sip of warm tea and turned the first page.

“From here on…”

It wasn’t the story of a young man who gave up on life, but rather the biography of a great hero.

A great hero.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

No, that couldn’t be right.

Every world within Pick Me Up is stained with blood and death.

It would be difficult for an ordinary young man to handle. If it weren’t for my experiences as a child, I would have died long ago.

I slowly began to read the book.

El Cid fell to Dorado on the 53rd floor.

Two years ago, there were barely any masters who could surpass the 30th floor, so his progress was remarkable.

The difference between us was that the heroes there didn’t know El Cid was a master.

He had to start over as a mere hero.

“So that’s why he went silent.”

I nodded.

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