Chapter 133
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Dimensional Traveler, Main Quest - 1
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After the war event ended, a transcendent-level object was said to have appeared on Ganghwa Island.
As Ganghwa Island had been the Black Orc army's forward base, the main reward had appeared there.
"So, you're saying that the object... is in the shape of a tree?"
Lee Hyun-wook was aboard the Prydwen, communicating with Team Leader Lee Gyo-jun via Mana Messenger.
He seemed to be inside a helicopter, his voice shouting as he answered.
- Yes, that's right! According to the system message, its name is Shindansu!
"Shindansu? Don't tell me it's the one from the Dangun myth..."
- It seems likely, but we'll have to check the details to be sure! Ah, by any chance, did you get anything as a reward for the war event? Like how you obtained the Master Key to Laputa during the 4th wave!
At that question, Lee Hyun-wook took an item from his pocket.
[Item Information]
- Name: Relic of an Ancient Nation
- Effect: Unknown
"...I think I did get something like that."
- Just as I thought.
Lee Gyo-jun let out a sigh of relief.
It was a ceremonial instrument known as a Paljuryeong, a type of bronze bell.
This item seemed to be one of the Cheonbuin from the Dangun myth.
If so, did the ancient nation here refer to Gojoseon?
‘Of course, it wouldn’t be the Gojoseon of historical significance.’
This game featured monsters and items that took motifs from myths, legends, and history.
But they were just that—motifs. Their actual forms were always completely different.
- In any case, I need you to come right away! After the battle ended, a system message appeared before everyone, announcing the creation of the Shindansu... We're holding them back, but people are swarming the area! You know how it is, seeing is wanting. Who knows what they might do for a transcendent-level object?
The ‘reinforcement players’ who had flocked from home and abroad had been allies in the war, but they were also targets for caution. Mercenaries who joined the fight for rewards could turn into robbers at any moment...
‘And a good number of them are probably actual robbers mixed in...’
- Also, we were on guard against the ‘Masks,’ but the battlefield was so chaotic that our surveillance network collapsed.
Here, ‘Masks’ referred to the terrorists who had infiltrated while concealing their identities—in other words, Villains.
Lee Hyun-wook ended the Mana Messenger communication and prepared to head to Ganghwa Island.
"An object imbued with divine power has been born in this country too, right?"
The one who spoke was the Saintess, Emilia Müller, sitting beside him.
When Lee Hyun-wook turned his head, she was gazing at the western sky.
"Now that you mention it... I can definitely feel it."
As a top-tier player of the divine class, she could detect powerful sacred energy from a great distance.
"Really? They said it's tree-shaped. Could it be something on the level of the World Tree?"
Lee Hyun-wook asked with anticipation, but she shook her head without hesitation.
"Hmm, I don't know if it's because it's still young, but its class is a bit lower."
Indeed, the ‘World Tree’ born in the Republic of Chad was ‘Yggdrasil,’ the cosmic tree from Norse mythology.
Usually, the rank of items and objects was determined by the influence of the story they were based on. In that respect, the Shindansu was bound to be set at a lower class than Yggdrasil.
‘In any case, just having something similar to the World Tree will be a huge advantage.’
From <Laputa> in Seoul, to the <Sanctuary of Fire> in Gangwon Province, and now the <Shindansu> on Ganghwa Island...
Various parts of this land had been modified with special powers, and all were under Lee Hyun-wook's authority.
Furthermore, it would likely become easier to manufacture weapons imbued with divine power in the future.
"Should I go and take a closer look for you? I'll be able to sense it better up close."
Lee Hyun-wook thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"I don't think that's a good idea. For now, please stay in Laputa."
"Huh? Why? Who else is as knowledgeable in this field as I am..."
"No, it's not that... They'll be gathered there in droves."
Lee Hyun-wook spoke in a low voice, as if worried someone might overhear, but he refrained from using the word Villain.
"You don't have to worry about me. I have my own methods now."
"Still, let's make the best choice, just in case."
When Lee Hyun-wook spoke firmly, she reluctantly nodded.
"True, I owe my life to you... Yes, I'll listen to you."
Not long ago, they had learned that the Necromancer had already begun his activities.
In that case, the Villains would try to eliminate the Saintess by any means necessary.
She would be the biggest obstacle when the Army of Death made its move in the future...
Therefore, Emilia Müller decided to wait in Laputa.
Meanwhile, everyone who had fought on this field expressed their desire to go to Ganghwa Island together.
"Something appeared on Ganghwa Island, right?"
"Then it's okay for us to go too, right?"
"Oh, then I want to go! I can't miss this."
They too felt a player's intuition and instinct that there might be some kind of reward.
After all, having fought through such a difficult raid, they couldn't possibly miss out on the place where rewards were being given.
‘And taking them with me will be helpful in many ways.’
With this much firepower in one place, the Villains wouldn't be able to act recklessly.
And so, they headed for Ganghwa Island once more.
During that time, Lee Hyun-wook examined one particular item in detail.
[Item Information]
- Name: Unidentifiable Black Fragment (Special)
- Effect: Unknown
This seemed to be the information originally disclosed, but to Lee Hyun-wook's eyes, there was one more line below it.
* Hidden Information: Collect the dimensional fragments to open the ‘Black Gate.’
This was hidden information he saw through the <Insight Lens> he had obtained after swallowing the Eye of Horus.
‘A dimensional fragment...’
In any case, it meant that this one piece alone wasn't enough to open that Black Gate.
‘Does this mean I'll have to defeat a few more ancient gods in the future?’
And if he went inside, would he be able to learn the truth of this game...
Whatever it was, someday he would witness what lay inside... and beyond that, the truth.
***
Ganghwa Island, the largest island off Seoul's west coast, was still burning across its entirety.
The flames ignited by Lee Hyun-wook's ‘demolition plan’ had not yet died down, and fierce battles had raged for hours afterward, so it was no exaggeration to say the entire island had been reduced to a charcoal husk.
But the players seemed to have no intention of leaving the island, thick with acrid smoke.
Instead, they were racing deeper, as if competing to reach somewhere in the island's interior.
"Oh—there it is!"
Their steps came to a halt in the southern plains of Ganghwa Island, near a reservoir.
The area around it also bore clear signs of battle, with monstrous craters gouged into the earth.
But in one section, an incongruous white luminescence was shimmering.
"Wow..."
The moment they witnessed what lay beyond that glow, the players let out exclamations of awe.
*Woong—*
In a place that had once been nothing but rice paddies, a 5-meter-tall tree stood, radiating a brilliant light.
It was clear at a glance that this was no ordinary tree. A white light could be seen traveling up from its roots, through its trunk, and spreading to every leaf, emitting a sacred shimmer in all directions.
*Woong— Woong—*
As they drew closer, they could feel the radiant power touching their bodies.
- You have entered the shade of the Divine Tree ‘Shindansu.’
* All recovery speed is greatly increased.
* All status ailments are rapidly cured.
* All dark-type spells are weakened.
* A ‘Mana Ecosystem’ will be established in the area.
* A ‘Sanctuary’ effect is applied to the area.
"Wow, this is really similar to the World Tree."
"Right? Is it like a miniature World Tree?"
Of course, its size and power were nothing compared to the World Tree in the Republic of Chad. But that was because the World Tree was an absurdly overpowered existence; this, too, was a top-grade object of incalculable value.
However...
"...You cannot approach any further!"
"Hey! You there, player, don't come any closer!"
ROK A.M.T. forces were blocking the area around the Shindansu, preventing players from approaching.
Protests erupted from all sides.
"What, we can't even take a look? Why are they overreacting like that?"
"This is ridiculous... Didn't we fight too? Damn it, the rewards should be shared fairly!"
"Three of my guild members died, and this is how they treat us? Like second-class citizens?"
- Now, please calm down. This is an item with established ownership, and the owner is on their way!
A voice boomed through a megaphone from a helicopter hovering in the sky.
"Who's the owner that we can't even get close? Couldn't it be one of us?"
"And let's share a little! Didn't we save this country?"
In the world of players, ownership of items or objects is usually determined by a ‘system judgment.’
Simply put, the system grants ownership based on one's contribution.
If not, it often follows the simple, brutish rule of finders-keepers.
"We're just asking to touch it to see if it really has an owner!"
In other words, until ownership was proven, a pack of hyenas would inevitably swarm, drooling openly.
- We apologize, but forced ownership transfer may occur, so contact is strictly forbidden!
"What, it's not like I can steal an object that big. This is absurd..."
"Just let us touch it once! There might be a quest or an additional reward!"
Soon, hundreds of people had gathered near the Shindansu, and a heated commotion began to brew. Still flushed with the excitement of battle, the situation was so precarious it felt like a major incident could erupt at any moment.
Meanwhile, ‘Villains’ were also mixed among them.
"Chief, I suppose this has also fallen into his hands?"
"Tsk, probably... A sacred tree of all things. This is not good."
"Indeed. Our side mainly consists of dark-type users..."
These were members of the ‘Amseong’ organization, disguised as members of the <Bango> Guild.
They had judged that Lee Hyun-wook would be unable to defeat the Black Orc boss monsters.
But about two hours ago, a system message announcing the successful completion of the war event had appeared before their eyes.
Although they hadn't seen it themselves, it was clear that the war event had been ‘conquered’ by Lee Hyun-wook.
"Lee Hyun-wook... How on earth did he win?"
Even though their operation had completely failed, they had not yet left the area.
"But if this is the case... we have no choice but to execute the next plan, do we?"
Because the next operation was already prepared.
Just then, two large men approached them.
"Pit Bull Brothers, long time no see."
They were Harry and William Bernard, known as the Pit Bull Brothers.
They were independent American players, famous as the best mercenary tankers.
Even before becoming powerful players, they possessed formidable physical stats. Both were over 2 meters tall and wore heavy iron armor, creating a significant sense of pressure as they approached.
"Whoa... Was this old-timer in charge of this operation?"
At the words of the younger brother, William Bernard, Chief Zhou Wei of Amseong smirked.
"Kid, you'd better watch that mouth... I might just take you down before we get the target."
"What? Hahaha— You're honestly not at a level where you can do anything to me, are you?"
"Don't you remember whining after you got trapped in an ice wall for mouthing off to me last time?"
"That was years ago, and you're still holding onto it? Just like an old-timer, living in the glory of the past."
The two sides shared a dark secret, but that didn't necessarily mean they were on good terms.
"Alright, that's enough greetings for now. Let's keep our voices down."
It was Harry Bernard who stepped in to mediate the sparks flying between the two.
Contrary to his nickname, Red Berserker, he seemed to be a rather serious man.
"And Chief Zhou Wei, we have reinforcements coming who aren't on the list."
At Harry Bernard's words, Zhou Wei tilted his head.
"Hmm, I haven't heard anything about that. Has this been reported to our Elder?"
"Sorry, but this is a weapon our Chairman prepared in secret."
"My, my... How are we supposed to work together if you're going to be so uncooperative?"
Chairman and Elder—the secret titles of the Villain leaders of their respective countries.
"...The door to the mansion's basement will be opened today."
"Hmm? The mansion's basement? Are you talking about that cannibal player?"
At that question, Harry Bernard nodded, and Zhou Wei clicked his tongue.
"Hah— Is it really okay to send that little brat, who isn't even fully grown, into a real fight?"
"If we lined up by age and size, I'd be at the very front. That kid... is a monster."
Just then, the gathered players began to turn their heads one by one toward the eastern sky.
"Well, it looks like he's finally here..."
A white airship was approaching, facing the light of the sun sinking in the west.
"Look, he's here! Steel Rain has returned, just as expected!"
Whispers began to spread here and there.
"Does this mean Steel Rain is really the owner of the Shindansu?"
"Well, he was practically the one with the highest contribution in this war event..."
There was no reason for him to return to this island other than for the Shindansu.
*Wooooo—*
The Prydwen reached the vicinity of the Shindansu and began to slowly lower its altitude.
Seeing the brilliant airship up close, the players felt their spirits shrink.
"Wow, that's so cool and so annoying at the same time... How much stuff does he have?"
"Laputa, an airship, all sorts of magitech equipment, and now a divine tree?"
Meanwhile, among the more well-known players, talk of keeping Steel Rain in check was quietly spreading.
Hadn't Donald Harris, who became the guardian of the World Tree a few years ago, grown at an incredible rate?
As a result, that man was now regarded as either the strongest or second-strongest person in the world.
But if someone were to possess two transcendent-level objects, their potential would be immeasurable.
In other words, he would soon become a powerhouse capable of shaking international society, which meant he needed to be kept in check.
"Wouldn't it be a total jackpot if someone just went crazy and ambushed and killed him right now?"
"Hehehe... Then I'd quickly grab Moglei and run!"
"Hey, you think you could even lift that thing? Grabbing that crazy powerful shotgun would be the best move."
Thus, the value of the items Lee Hyun-wook possessed was so immense that it sparked such futile fantasies.
*Wooooo—*
But behind the Prydwen, a dozen more airships flew in formation.
And in the far sky, within sight, even the massive ‘War Box’ was floating.
It was, in effect, a deliberate display, with all kinds of armaments mobilized to cover the sky above.
"Uh..."
At the grand entrance, the protesting players faltered and stepped back.
"What, what is this? He's clearly showing off, right?"
"Wow... Is he saying, 'Try me if you dare'?"
The shadows of the fleet swept across the ground, falling over the players' heads.
"...It's actually kind of scary."
Although it would never happen, the thought that a rain of steel could pour down from above was terrifying.
Meanwhile, Hugin was perched on the prow of the Prydwen.
Lee Hyun-wook borrowed its eyes to scan the gathered players.
As expected, he saw some familiar faces; a considerable number of Villains had infiltrated.
‘Red Berserker...’
If Lee Hyun-wook hadn't obtained Moglei during the 4th wave, it would have fallen into that giant's hands.
A few years after that, Lee Hyun-wook defeating him and taking it was the scenario of his past life.
‘And his younger brother, William Bernard, is here too.’
He was the Villain who had struck Lee Hyun-wook's head with a wooden mallet in the last moments of his past life.
In other words, he was the very person who had murdered Lee Hyun-wook, causing him to regress.
‘After I died, that bastard must have taken my Moglei, right?’
As Lee Hyun-wook lay fallen, he had brandished Moglei, celebrating that he had reclaimed his brother's possession.
It was undeniable that he and those brothers shared a twisted fate entangled with Moglei.
But at that moment...
- (!) The main quest has been updated.
‘...What now?’
- Congratulations! You have reached the first branch of the main quest <2: Kill the Dimensional Traveler>.
"Huh?"
- Warning! An old nemesis from a past life—the first dimensional traveler—is scheduled to appear. You must kill him!
An old nemesis from a past life clearly meant William Bernard.
Lee Hyun-wook had Hugin take flight and observed the man closely.
At that moment, the man scrunched up his face as hard as he could and clutched his abdomen.
"Keuk—!"
And then, didn't he suddenly start vomiting blood?
"B-Bro..."
"Huh? What's wrong with you?"
"B-Bro, bro, keuk..."
He curled his large body, retching in pain, and finally spat something out.
"Kua—argh—!"
*Thud—*
It was a fist-sized black orb.
"Wh-what is this? Why was this inside my body..."
At that moment, the orb shot into the sky and caused a massive explosion.
*Jjeo-eong—!*
A black light erupted from within, then was instantly sucked back in, coalescing into a single point.
"Wait, isn't that a gate?"
A dimensional rift, a gate, was opening on the spot.
Moreover, it was a black gate... a Black Gate.
‘What the...’
Immediately after, someone leaped out from within.
*Thump—*
"Well, well... Was I the first one chosen? Hehehe..."
A large man in black iron armor... he looked around and smiled faintly.
William Bernard, who had vomited the black orb, staggered to his feet and raised his index finger.
"Bro, that... isn't that me?"
That's right. Though his attire was slightly different, the man who emerged from the Black Gate was undoubtedly William Bernard.
To be precise, it was likely the William Bernard from the future... from the past life Lee Hyun-wook had lived.
Lee Hyun-wook could hear him muttering to himself as he looked around, thanks to Hugin.
"With this, I might be able to achieve 'transcendence' before the Chairman and the Necromancer."
And on his shoulder... rested the greatsword, Moglei.