Chapter 140

Chapter 140 – Across the Terube Castle Wall (1)

1 .

The NPC hadn’t reach the status of being a young man . Its youthful appearance was stuck between that of a boy and a young man .

“Are you serious?”

It spoke in a grave manner, which clashed with the delicate voice it possessed .

“Will you really do as you say?”

Even the deep wrinkles that was forming at the top of its face gave off a child-like impression . It diluted the message it was giving .

“Are you really planning on traveling beyond the Terube castle wall?”

It was the captain in charge of the Terube castle wall . It had been loyal subject to Prince Dean . However, it was also a hidden hero of this world, who had fought against the Corrupted monsters . Bagel rejoiced at the offer given by the man in front of it . It was beyond rejoicing . There seemed to be a different reason aside from happiness that made Bagel suddenly stand up from its seat .

“Ooh-oohk!”

When it stood up, a moan immediately escaped Bagel’s mouth . It was always prepared for battle . Bagel was in its office, yet it was in its armor . This was why one couldn’t see the wound beneath the armor . It still possessed the evidence of betrayal perpetrated by Prince Dean and the White-eyed swordsman Argardo . It still had the sword wound .

Bagel was lucky to be alive . The wound was so severe that it was shocking that Bagel was still carrying out his duties, while equipped in its armor . This was why Bagel didn’t complain about its slow recovery .

“I’m fine . I’m all right . ”

When he heard the moan, the guest got up from his seat to approach Bagel . Bagel waved him away .

“I’m just thankful that I am alive . I don’t want to burden a hero like you, because of this . ”

The guest put on an awkward smile, and he sat back down . Bagel moved to the corner of its office where its books were organized . It immediately pulled out a book .

“This is something I acquired a long time ago . ”

From its outward appearance, the book was thick . However, the book wasn’t filled with many pages . The reason being the thickness of each page . The book was filled with woodblocks . Bagel took out the book, and it carefully looked over the engravings on the pages .

“This was before I became the captain in charge of the Terube wall . This was even before I followed him when he became the Guardian of the Northern lands . ”

The woodblocks were filled with engravings of a map . Bagel took the book, and he sat atop of his desk . In the process, his heavy armor moved, and it seemed the wound had been disturbed again . Bagel’s expression crumpled, but it didn’t moan this time .

When Bagel’s pained face resolved itself, it took out the woodblocks contained in the book . It started piecing them together as if they were pieces of a puzzle .

As Hyrkan had surmised, the woodblocks were a map .

“This is the map of the Northern land . This was before this era where the endless battle hadn’t started yet . ”

His explanation was grandiose, but the content of the map was quite poor . Most of the map was drawn in an abstract manner . There was a long road, and there were monsters that were letting out flame next to the road . The mountain was drawn like a big lump of cotton . The trees inside the forest was drawn like doodles, and there were no markers naming everything . Moreover, the map was incomplete . The top part of the map was missing . It was as if the map’s head had been cut away .

“It is a relic from a long time ago, so it isn’t perfect . ”

Bagel tapped on top of of the table as he tapped at the empty portion of the map .

“In the end, I never found out what is here . Moreover, there is no one alive that knows this information either . ”

The guest, who had listened to it in silence, finally asked some questions .

What do you think is over there? Do you perhaps know any other information regarding the place?

However, Bagel had heard all the information available, so it let out a long sigh .

“I have my hand full from defending the Terube castle wall . At times, I tasked a subordinate to investigate what was on the other side of the castle wall . However, they just came back with warnings of overwhelming number of monsters, or they went missing . If I wanted a thorough investigation, I would have to lead forth a large army . I couldn’t send a large army across the thick castle wall, and through the mysterious barrier to explore the Northern land . This is especially true, since I’ll be doing it just to satisfy my curiosity . ”

The guest said couple more words to Bagel . Bagel gathered boths its hand, so it could prop its chin on top . It spoke in that position .

“Yes . It is as you said . The power of Corruption may be… That upright person might have a clue about the power of Corruption . This is why I was curious about what was there in the past . However, I felt I had a duty to find out what was there . However!”

However… .

That word was filled with heavy implication . The guest was about to ask a question, but he swallowed the question .

“No one was allowed to explore this place . ”

Bagel immediately put on a big frown . It wasn’t caused by his wound .

“There are already movements set in motion . A large-scale change is coming . For now, no one will be able to assume the power of the Northern land . In such a situation, no rewards will be given . There will be a ban placed on the Northern land . The Hiban kingdom, and even the Subjugation Association won’t lend a hand . This is a search conducted to find the unknown, and there will be no prize awarded . The only way you will be able to receive a reward is to bring back result . ”

Bagel maintained its expression, and it immediately asked him a question .

“Do you still want to go to the other side of the castle wall?”

Instead of answering, the guest nodded his head . Bagel immediately got up from its seat .

Afterwards, Bagel worked with practiced ease . It painted ink over the woodblocks, and Bagel placed a white parchment over it . The very rough map was handed over to the guest .

“Be safe . ”

2 .

“Be safe . ”

[Quest ‘Across the Terube Castle Wall’ has started . ]

When Bagel said those words, Hrykan heard the Quest Announcement . Hyrkan’s expression was twitching right now .

‘Shit . ’

He was forcefully trying to hide his expression . It seemed he wasn’t trying to hide a favorable expression . It was quite evident that he was trying to hide a negative emotion .

He had a reason for it .

“This is the word I told those before you, who are willingly throw one’s body forward into danger for the peace of the world . I will also say those same words to you . Be safe, and I hope you bring hope like before . ”

Someone had arrived before him .

‘Some bastard came here before me?’

If one wanted to go to the Frozen Kingdom, this place was the door everyone had to pass through . When Hyrkan arrived at the Terube castle, he was greeted fondly by Bagel . Hyrkan was the Hiban kingdom’s hero, and he was the Arbiter of Corruption . Moreover, Hyrkan had defeated Argardo, who scored a deep wound on Bagel . Hyrkan was Bagel’s savior and hero .

It was to be expected . Bagel had been a bit prickly in the past, but it wasn’t like that at all .

On top of it all, Hyrkan felt uncomfortable when he saw what kind of expression Bagel had on when it looked at Hyrkan . It was as if a young junior was looking at a cool senior with longing and expectation mixed within its gaze . Moreover, the gaze was coming from a pretty boy, and Hyrkan had never received such a gaze from anyone before . From Hyrkan’s perspective, it was beyond uncomfortable . It was close to unsettling .

This was how the conversation had started, and Hyrkan’s inside started to feel a wrenching sensation as the conversation continued along .

When the conversation came to an end, Hyrkan’s inside had moved on from feeling a wrenching feeling . His inside were in a knot .

‘I don’t know who, but that bastard cost me one Title . ’

Someone had already met Bagel, and this someone was already headed towards the Frozen Kingdom .

This fact in itself didn’t put him in a good mood . No one would welcome the appearance of a competitor .

‘The Noble Walk Title… . It increases one’s Stamina by 50 points, yet I lost it to someone else . Before I did my other tasks, I should have come here to get the Quest and Title beforehand . Shit!’

From Hyrkan’s perspective, the preceding visitor had stolen a Title that was rightfully his .

‘In the end, I was only able to earn the Noble Explorer . ’

The Title ‘Noble Explorer’ was something one earned when one gained the incredibly important Exploration Quest . It increased one’s Intelligence by 25 points .

However, Hyrkan felt wistful at losing the Title ‘Noble Steps . ’

It was a Title given to the first one to receive the Quest and the Noble Explorer Title . It increased one’s Stamina by 50 Points .

He had lost a Title that would have raised his Stamina by 50 Points . This wasn’t something he could simply get over by feeling sorry for himself .

‘Which organization was it?’

His insides were hurting so much that it felt as if his insides were rotting .

However, his pain shrivelled away when a thought that made a chill run up his spine popped up inside his head .

‘Was it perhaps the Stormhunters?’

One couldn’t go across the Terube Castle just because one wanted to .

First, one needed a prior relationship with Bagel . At the same time, one needed to have done a lot of jobs related to the Subjugation Association . If one did a lot of work related to the Subjugation Association, it meant one probably had to catch a hideous amount of monsters .

At this point in the game, the only ones that had the qualifications to start the Frozen Kingdom Quest was the highest Ranked Users .

Moreover, the Stormhunters sufficiently met this criteria . Before he returned to the past, the Frozen Kingdom had been monopolized by the Storm Hunters . This was why Hyrkan was well informed about the Titles . The Stormhunters monopolized the Frozen Kingdom, and they revealed the Titles, Skill Books and Items that were obtained there .

Basically, he didn’t discount the idea that maybe some Items were fated to be in the hands of certain individual . He couldn’t discount the fact that this was meant to be . At this point in the game, it was quite possible that the Stormhunters were progressing in the Frozen Kingdom Quest .

Moreover, this version of the Stormhunters guild was much stronger than the one that had attempted the Frozen Kingdom .

‘This is driving me nuts . ’

“Understood . ”

While he was deep within thoughts, Hyrkan was trying to wrap up the conversation, so he spoke the words that would basically put an end to their exchange .

Since he put an end to the conversation, he was about to get up .

“Are you planning on heading there immediately?”

“What?”

Bagel suddenly grabbed Hyrkan .

“It will be a dangerous road . I was thinking maybe you should make a little bit more preparation… . I readied something that’ll help you in your exploration . ”

Hyrkan put on an awkward smile .

‘Bagel hadn’t been such a character before… Things are turning a bit weird now that our Affinity is high . ’

At that moment, Hyrkan had no choice, but to sit back down .

‘Well, I did kill someone, who had tried to kill him . He wouldn’t send me into a deadly situation without giving me anything . Absolutely . ’

Since it said it will give him something, he wasn’t going to turn it down . Moreover, Hyrkan had spent much more than he had planned on his recent purchases .

‘Give me a Skill Book . Please . ’

After he gained the [Chivalry] skill, he once again purchased No Name Skill Books to gain the [Leader] Skill .

However, the result was a complete loss .

When he thought about that, Hyrkan eventually frowned . He had tossed money into the air . Of course, he wouldn’t feel good about it .

“Wait a moment . ”

Of course, Bagel didn’t know Hyrkan’s true feelings . It vacated its seat to get the present for Hyrkan .

When he was alone, Hyrkan once again agonized over his thoughts .

‘For reals . Who was it?’

He kept worrying over it… He was worried he had missed something important .

3 .

Natal had his Hologram Window in front of him, and he was looking at something . He was looking at portraits .

“What are you looking at?”

Sohank discreetly appeared behind him . He had shown enough of a presence as he approached Natal . He didn’t want to surprise Natal . This was also why Natal was able to answer in a calm manner .

“This is the portraits of the Users that gained the Quest from Bagel after us . ”

Portrait .

In Warlord, one could film from all kinds of angle unlike in reality . However, if the Users being filmed had turned off the facial recognition setting, there was no way one could film their faces .

This was why this method was developed . A User that was adept at drawing would draw a portrait after seeing the target with his own eyes .

In Warlord and any other virtual reality games, everything was made possible through cutting edge technology . In such a world, the people who were good with their hands were more valuable . It was ironic that they were more valuable in a virtual world .

Of course, Sohank and Natal didn’t care if it was ironic or not .

“So basically the one we are chasing may be in one of these portraits . ”

“Yes . ”

The appearance of the Users that had a face to face meeting with Bagel was saved . This was to gather information on their competitors beforehand .

“Fortunately, there aren’t anyone famous here . ”

“If you say we are fortunate, we are fortunate . ”

If there had been a famous face amongst them,there was no downside in being vigilant against the famous User . Still, even if they were unknown Users, there was a chance they might become a big competitor . There was no reason why they shouldn’t gather information on everyone like this . It might not matter to any other guild, but it was very important to the Hydra guild .

They knew the importance of data and information . Their guild used both as weapons .

“This one looks pretty hopeless . ”

Of course, not everyone was determined to be a competitor . Sometimes, one could discount a person just by looking at his face . One shouldn’t be prejudiced when making a judgement in a game . On the other hand, these habits were hard to break .

“Ah . Doesn’t this guy look like a real pushover?”

However, Natal wasn’t also free from judging a book by its cover .

“I am hesitant to make judgements based on a person’s look, but even I think this guy isn’t one of our competitors . ”

“I feel the same way . Still, it could be possible, right?”

“That is what people who purchase lottery tickets think before they purchase it . ”

Natal smirked at Sohank’s words .

When he heard Natal’s laughter, Sohank discreetly changed his expression . He spoke in a slightly calmer voice .

“This is going to be quite an annoying mission . I’m just here as the muscle, but the rest of eight heads have to assess all possibilities . ”

“Isn’t that our role?”

“Sometime I wonder if I cause harm to our guild . ”

After he spoke those words, a bitter smile appeared on his lips . He was on break, but it seemed Sohand was unable to take a break . It seemed he felt apologetic towards his comrades, who had to constantly use their intellect .

Natal immediately shot down that idea .

“That is the case at all . We can’t do this through our heads only . We were able to get to this point thanks to Sohank-nim . ”

“No . We are lacking with just me . In truth, I already know how I measure up to others . If our Stats are the same, I might be able to go up against the Matador, but I know I will lose to the Storm Queen . Then there is the Hahoe…”

The two of them were about to have a more frank discussion, but… .

– The monsters have appeared! There are nine of them . I don’t think it’ll be easy .

An urgent voice was heard through the voice talk .

Sohank didn’t finish his words before he started speaking out new directions .

“I’ll be there . Before I get there, put the Tankers at the center, and defend! Don’t attempt any rash attacks until I get there!”

– Yes!

Kwah-ahng!

Before the conversation could end, a terrifying roar rang out . Sohank and Natal moved together . They didn’t have to speak to coordinate with each other . There was no carelessness or leisure in their movements .

This place was a location beyond the Terube castle walls . Even the Hydra guild’s best troops couldn’t be careless . This place was filled with level 200 monsters, and they were of a different quality from all the monsters they had faced before .