WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B.
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 69: 069
──────
Around dawn.
After waking up, I scratched my stomach and headed for the living room.
“Noona. Make me some soybean paste soup.”
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
When I entered the living room while scratching my stomach...
“First, we need to replace the LNG plants. Isn't Magic Stone power generation difficult to use for peak-load response?”
“That is true. But Magic Stone Reactors have built-in ESS functions, so it would be best to replace the capital region's LNG plants with Magic Stone power generation first...”
“As for the transmission grid...”
“What about the location for the 100GW-class power plant? Wouldn't it be better to build it here?”
Three dark-haired middle-aged men were gathered together, quietly discussing something.
Han Seonga stood blankly beside them.
After looking them over, I asked her.
“Han Seonga. Don't tell me those people didn't sleep?”
“Yes. They seem to be so eager to resolve the Republic of Korea's power shortage that they have even cut back on sleep to revise the plan.”
“Oh.”
What remarkable people.
They hadn't even slept, and they were seriously holding discussions in this cramped living room.
I see.
Was that how people had to obsess over their work to rise to high positions?
On top of that, they were patriotic enough to stay in the country until the very end.
They were more than qualified to become executives of my Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant!
Feeling pleased with them, I showed them a rare act of kindness.
“I should at least make you a cup of coffee. What about you, Han Seonga?”
“If you offer, I would gratefully accept.”
“Please wait a moment.”
I personally served them instant coffee!
This was instant coffee mixed by the very director of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant!
Not just anyone could receive such treatment!
They should consider it an honor.
“The water ratio is a little...”
“Hunter-nim, you're not very good at making coffee. Our graduate students make a damn fine cup of coffee.”
“Hahahahaha!”
But these middle-aged men.
They had the luxury to look down on my Extreme Lunatic Hell instant coffee.
How dare they disregard this body's coffee-making skills...!
I'll never make them coffee again.
“Anyway, is the planning going well?”
I checked on the achievements of the professor-level engineering nerds.
A large map of Korea was spread across the dining table.
It was covered in a complicated diagram.
Red, blue, green... shapes in every color had been marked all over the place.
Thick and thin lines tangled together in a complicated mess.
Numbers like 345kV and 765kV were written everywhere.
Was this a map of Korea's power grid?
It was ridiculously complicated.
It felt like looking at a nationwide transportation map.
One of the men answered my question.
“The plan is progressing smoothly. We have narrowed down the power plants to replace, and we have also selected candidate sites for the future 100GW-class power plant.”
“Then Korea's electricity will be completely replaced with Magic Stone power generation, right?”
“Ah, that will be difficult.”
“...Why? Can't 114GW handle all of Korea's electricity?”
I was puzzled.
I'd brought them 114GW worth of Magic Stone Reactors.
Wouldn't that cover Korea's entire power generation capacity?
The man continued.
“The Small and Medium Magic Stone Reactors can be deployed immediately. We only need to remove the turbines from existing power plants and install the Magic Stone Reactors in their place. That would allow us to use the existing transmission grid and substations as they are. But... the Large one cannot be used right away.”
“Why not?”
“There are no substations or transmission grids capable of handling 100GW of power. We would need to build separate facilities... Constructing ultra-high-voltage transmission lines and massive substations capable of handling that much power would physically take at least several months, or even years.”
“...Hmm.”
So to summarize.
The 1GW and 10GW Magic Stone Reactors could be deployed immediately by using existing power plant facilities.
But the 100GW reactor was too enormous to use right away?
“Even so, 14GW of Magic Stone power generation facilities should be enough to resolve the current power shortage.”
“Then will electricity bills get cheaper?”
“That... may be difficult. It might be possible once the 100GW-class power plant is completed, but for now... We would need around 60GW before the electricity supply price could become dramatically cheaper. At that point, we could replace all current coal and LNG generation.”
Apparently, there were not enough Small and Medium Magic Stone Reactors available for immediate use, so the replacement rate was low.
They could more than make up for the power shortage.
But making electricity cheap right away would be difficult.
I scratched my chin and asked.
“Then what if I bring back a lot of Small or Medium Magic Stone Reactors instead of the Large one? Could electricity become cheap immediately?”
“It could, but Magic Stone Reactors are not items that can be obtained so easi...”
“Please wait a moment.”
I cut the man off and called Na Hyeji.
“Hyeji. Come to my house right away.”
-Why are you calling me this early in the morning?
“Make Great Korea Again!!!”
-???
-Iing Iing!
“Make the Republic of Korea Great Again!!!”
They said the Small and Medium Magic Stone Reactors I currently possessed could resolve the power shortage.
But hadn't I made a promise?
That I would make electricity bills cheaper!
Could this body, the director of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant, be satisfied with merely resolving the power shortage?
I was Korean.
We were a people who did everything fast.
I wanted electricity to become cheap quickly.
So...
“The director of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant needs power plants.”
-...Aren't you already building one?
“Damn it! The director of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant has no time to wait for construction... I want rapid development through instant farming.”
-Ehh...
I had to go to the Tower, right?
So I summoned Hyeji to my house.
Then I entered the Tower immediately.
* * *
[Entering Tower Floor 26.]
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
[Baek Jiho (Republic of Korea: Floor 26)]
[You have completed Tower Floor 26.]
[You have defeated 358 Rock Golems (300).]
[You have defeated 13 Steel Golems (3,000).]
[Points are being calculated.]
[Tower Floor 27 has been unlocked.]
[Returning.]
* * *
“Here are eight Small Magic Stone Reactors.”
I had farmed eight Magic Stone Reactors in thirty minutes.
The moment I entered the Tower, I swept through the urban area with Super Fireball Punch.
“Huh? Huh? Huhhh...?!”
“You got Magic Stone Reactors in that short time?!”
“What in the world...!”
Eight Small Magic Stone Reactors had been added in an instant.
The professor-level engineering nerds stared at them with dazed expressions.
But it wasn't over yet.
“I'll bring more tomorrow. Ah, Medium ones are fine too, right?”
“...Is it possible for you to bring back more?”
“Probably.”
The next day, I entered the Tower again.
* * *
[Entering Tower Floor 27.]
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
[Baek Jiho (Republic of Korea: Floor 27)]
[You have completed Tower Floor 27.]
[You have defeated 421 Rock Golems (300).]
[You have defeated 17 Steel Golems (3,000).]
[Points are being calculated.]
[Tower Floor 28 has been unlocked.]
[Returning.]
* * *
“Two Medium Magic Stone Reactors dropped today.”
“My goodness... How...”
“We need to redo the plan...!”
“With this much, we could replace part of the thermal power complex in Gyeongnam, not to mention the capital region!”
I obtained two Medium Magic Stone Reactors on Floor 27.
The middle-aged men looked at me with astonishment and admiration in their eyes.
Of course, it still wasn't over.
“I'll bring more tomorrow too.”
“...No, how are you obtaining so many Magic Stone Reactors?!”
“It's me.”
* * *
[Entering Tower Floor 28.]
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
-Kwaaaaaaaaaaang...!
[Baek Jiho (Republic of Korea: Floor 28)]
[You have completed Tower Floor 28.]
[You have defeated 463 Rock Golems (300).]
[You have defeated 24 Steel Golems (3,000).]
[Points are being calculated.]
[Tower Floor 29 has been unlocked.]
[Returning.]
* * *
“Today's Magic Stone Reactors are...! Drumroll! Two Medium ones and nine Small ones!”
“...My goodness.”
“Is this even possible? These precious Magic Stone Reactors are appearing every day?”
“This is absurd...”
On Floor 28, I brought back two Medium Magic Stone Reactors.
And nine Small Magic Stone Reactors.
The Magic Stone Reactors I had brought in total were now:
One Large.
Five Medium.
Twenty-one Small.
A total of 171GW.
Counting only the Medium and Small ones, 71GW.
“With this much... we should be able to replace every thermal power plant in Korea.”
“Then electricity bills will get cheaper?”
“Yes. It will take several days to convert the facilities and import Magic Stones, but... we will see tangible results soon. At the very least, the supply price should be reduced by more than half.”
“Good.”
Thanks to repeatedly farming Magic Stone Reactors, they said Korea could now replace the majority of its thermal power plants.
“On top of that, once the 100GW Magic Stone power plant is completed... Korea will boast electricity prices more abundant and cheaper than those of any other country in the world.”
And since we even had the 100GW Magic Stone Reactor...
One day, electricity might not just become cheap.
It might feel practically free.
This was an achievement worthy of the title, director of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant.
Hehe. I felt proud.
The thought of citizens suffering through the power shortage living with abundant electricity made me happy.
That was when I was smiling with satisfaction.
“Mr. Baek Jiho. No, Hunter Baek Jiho-nim!”
“Yes?”
Grab!
The professor-level engineering nerd grabbed my hand tightly.
I was startled.
No, why was this man being so creepy and grabbing someone else's hand?
“Hunter Baek Jiho-nim is a treasure of the Republic of Korea! Thanks to you, the people will be able to enjoy abundant electricity!”
“No, please let go of my hand. It's damp with sweat. It feels gross.”
“I, Jang Baljeon, am deeply moved by Hunter Baek Jiho-nim's dedication! Obtaining so many Magic Stone Reactors could not have been easy for you either...! You must have faced danger so terrible you had to risk your life...”
“No, I got them very easily with a few clicks.”
“As an ordinary citizen of the Republic of Korea, I respect Hunter Baek Jiho-nim. No, I love you! Hunter Baek Jiho-nim! You are a great figure without equal in this world!”
“Aaaah, he's crazy!”
A chill ran down my spine.
Why was a dark-haired middle-aged man acting like this instead of a pretty woman?
No matter how much I was Longbow Apache, defender of political correctness...
I had my own preferences too.
Anyway.
That was how...
Construction of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant steadily progressed.
“What if we start with Taean, Dangjin, and Boryeong?”
“Let's redirect five Small ones toward Yeongheung.”
“Let's move toward closing the smaller plants in Yeosu and Donghae. Instead, we can dismantle and relocate the substations there...”
“As for Gangneung and Samcheok...”
The professor-level engineering nerds searched through maps and all kinds of documents as they made plans.
-Vrooom.
Vehicles from the National Intelligence Service carefully transported the Magic Stone Reactors I had farmed.
“Hunter Baek Jiho-nim, the President would like you to make time to meet with him sometime. He wishes to thank you personally.”
“Hmm... That's a hassle. Tell him I'll meet him later because I'm busy with the Tower.”
“Understood.”
I even received an invitation from the President.
Thanks to the help of this body, director of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant, the power shortage seemed likely to be resolved.
He wanted to thank me, but...
Going out was such a hassle.
So I put it off.
“Jiho, are you insane? You rejected an invitation from the President because it was a hassle?”
“But it really is a hassle.”
“Don't you want to see the Blue House? It's where the President of our country lives.”
“Not at all. Looking at Hunter Gallery is more fun than looking at the Blue House.”
“Ehh.”
In my spare time, I became engrossed in Hunter Gallery.
I had become a proper community addict now!
If you were a shut-in, you needed to become addicted to either online communities or games. That was only natural.
Anyway.
When I opened Hunter Gallery again today...
[Another blackout today.]
[The convenience store where I work had a blackout. Thanks to that, I got to slack off for half the day. Fucking sweet lol.]
[My refrigerator stopped, so all my ice cream melted. Fuck.]
[Is it real that the exchange rate went up 100 won in one day?]
[My money is being deleted!!!]
[I want to immigrate.]
[Should I close my store too? It really feels like the country's going to collapse.]
[Public safety is legendary these days. Is this place Gotham City or something?]
It was full of nothing but gloomy posts.
Unable to keep watching, I made a new post.
[Post Title: Guys, hang in there a little longer. The electricity problem will be solved soon lol]
[Author: Blue Dot]
My Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Project is steadily moving forward.
So trust me and hold on a little longer.
I'll provide cheap, abundant electricity soon.
We can all do this!
Let's go, let's go, fighting!
Make Korea Great Again!!!
Make the Republic of Korea Great Again!!!
└Ah, give us electricity already. I'm getting dizzy here.
└Seeing this post, I think our country is really fucked... Is it real that even a lunatic like this is worried about the country?
└I don't need lower electricity bills, I just want the supply to be stable.
└Don't waste electricity posting shit like this, you fucking bastard. People like you are why our country has blackouts.
└└Blue Dot: I'll soon make far more electricity than I've used, so it's fine even if I post shit.
└└Bullshit.
...
The Hunter Gallery users still treated me like someone committed to a fake-story persona.
I clicked my tongue.
This body was farming Magic Stone Reactors day and night to solve Korea's power shortage.
Yet they dared to treat me like a concept addict...!
How outrageous!
But I was the great and merciful director of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant.
Even such insolent commoners should be allowed to enjoy electricity equally.
Because I was merciful.
└└Blue Dot: You have committed the sacrilege of calling me a “fucking bastard” and saying “bullshit,” but there will be no place where electricity fails to reach you. For I am the noble and merciful director of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant. I will forgive you and will not discriminate against you in supplying electricity. Always feel gratitude and appreciation toward me.
└└What the fuck is “gratitude and appreciation,” you insane concept bastard? Why should I thank you?
└└Blue Dot: Even the President is inviting me to thank me, so shouldn't an ordinary citizen like you thank me too?
└└Stop writing your fucking bullshit novel, you bastard.
...
“I am merciful!”
“Jiho... Could you stop baiting people? You're about to sign a formal contract and reveal your name. Do you really want to act like this?”
“Come to think of it, Elon Mengsk reveals his face and name while doing plenty of attention-seeking stuff. Is there any reason I can't do the same? So I've decided to keep living as usual.”
“...”
“And baiting people on Hunter Gallery is the most fun thing after climbing. If I can't do it, I'll die from dopamine deficiency.”
“What... Ehh. That damn Hunter Gallery...”
Hyeji, who was watching beside me, let out a deep sigh.
For reference, Iing Iing was hiding inside a handbag.
Professor-level engineering nerds and Han Seonga had been visiting our house far too often lately.
It was hard to take Iing Iing out.
-Iing Iing...
“Iing Iing, does it feel stuffy? Wait a little longer. I'll let you out once everyone leaves.”
-Iing...
Maybe Iing Iing was the one suffering the most from construction of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant.
She had to hide inside a handbag every time people came to our house...
I needed to build the power plant quickly.
While thinking that and browsing Hunter Gallery...
[Breaking news) President's national address.]
[What is this, are they announcing martial law?]
[It is about time to declare martial law. Public safety and electricity are both completely fucked...]
[Ah, I should take out my reserve forces uniform. Fuck.]
New posts appeared.
It seemed the President was going to deliver a national address.
“Looks like he's finally planning to announce it.”
Unlike what most Hunter Gallery users thought.
Today's announcement was not about martial law.
I turned on the television in the living room.
-The President will make a national address. Regular programming is suspended.
The television showed the Blue House press room.
The President stepped up to the podium and stood before the microphone.
-Dear citizens...
The President slowly began to speak.
-The Republic of Korea currently stands before a catastrophic crisis of depleted Points and a paralyzed power supply.
-My heart breaks when I think of citizens spending the night in dark rooms without even a single light.
-But please endure just a little longer.
-We will never collapse like this.
Glance.
I turned my eyes toward Hunter Gallery.
[We will never collapse like this. (Collapses)]
[Is this really martial law? I'm going to get my uniform, fuck...]
[It was about time they imposed martial law.]
[LOL I'm a public service worker, so I won't get called up for reserve duty.]
[└Public service workers get dragged into reserve duty too, idiot.]
[└Huh... Really?]
Hunter Gallery was still expecting martial law.
The President's voice continued from the television.
-The government promises that the power shortage will soon be completely resolved.
-This is thanks to the help of one patriot.
-I would like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude, not as President, but as one citizen of the Republic of Korea.
Bow.
The President on screen lowered his head.
The light reflected off the bare top of his head.
The President was bald.
Looking at how severe his patchy hair loss was, he must have been under a lot of stress.
After the President slowly straightened back up, he spoke in a low, solemn voice.
-The government is currently pursuing construction of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant.
-This is part of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plan...
At the President's continued words, Na Hyeji muttered as she watched the television with me.
“Jiho. It feels strange hearing the President say ‘Extreme Lunatic Hell.’”
“It's me.”
“That's not something to brag about... Did you really have to keep pushing that name to the end? It makes it sound so cheap.”
How did it sound cheap?
Extreme, Lunatic, Hell Power Plant.
An extreme, crazy, hellish power plant!
It had three cool-sounding words attached to it. How cool was that?
Anyway.
“Hehe. Shall I see Hunter Gallery's reaction?”
Those commoners who treated this body like a concept addict.
I was curious about their reactions.
I slowly lifted my smartphone.
Footnotes:
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