Chapter 155
Translator: penny
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: The Atmosphere Feels Off?
[The atmosphere doesn't feel right?]
[They're not about to attack, are they?]
The chat exploded with tension all of a sudden. While most viewers expressed concern, a few offered different takes.
[Doesn't the quest progression from here depend on how you answer?]
[Could be a branching point.]
[Better to answer carefully.]
No matter what they thought, the viewers watched the situation unfold with bated breath. Finally, Yuseong spoke.
"What do you mean by strange talk? Could you be more specific?"
The lord eyed Yuseong appraisingly. Then he broke into a grin.
"Haha, I guess I'm the one talking strangely! Forgive me. My ancestors fell for that fool's tricks. I was just worried you might too. Think of it as the old worries of someone with foolish forebears."
The lord rose from his chair.
"Anyway, you've done well. I'll always remember your efforts."
He summoned an attendant to escort Yuseong out. Before leaving the room, Yuseong turned back to look at the lord.
The lord gazed back with a gentle smile. As the door closed and his figure vanished, the chat buzzed again.
[Super suspicious.]
[He's blatantly shady.]
[Just like Bindelrom said, he really seems like a devil worshiper.]
The viewers suspected the lord.
[Was denying it the right move back there?]
[If you'd affirmed, maybe a linked quest would've popped up.]
[We don't know yet, so don't worry, Yuseong. Linked quests are so half-baked anyway.]
Some viewers fretted over whether the linked quest was progressing properly. Yuseong addressed them first.
"I was dragged here without a chance to restock items, so I can't fight properly right now. That's why I avoided provoking the lord."
[Got it.]
[Makes sense when you think about it.]
[Fighting right now would be way too disadvantageous.]
[Affirming doesn't guarantee a fight breaks out, right?]
Most understood Yuseong's choice, though a few wondered if affirming might've led to a different outcome.
But Yuseong, with his strategy guide, knew it was pointless either way.
'No matter what I said, it wouldn't have mattered.'
Even if he'd affirmed there, the lord would've dismissed it as Bindelrom's nonsense. It was just an event to build tension—nothing more, nothing less.
Still, Yuseong managed the chat to prevent arguments among viewers without pushing his own view too hard.
They'd figure it out soon enough anyway.
That was when he exited the lord's castle.
Quest: Investigate Lord Ludeart
Isratas Bindelrom called Lord Ludeart a devil worshiper. You noticed something suspicious in Lord Ludeart's attitude upon meeting him again. Investigate him to uncover the truth.
Reward: 5,924 EXP
[Quest popped!]
[Denying must've been the right answer.]
Viewers still discussing the lord convo naturally perked up at the quest. But reading the details left them baffled.
[That's it?]
[No other clues?]
[Just 'investigate' and that's all?]
>It's like telling us to charge in blind.>
[Linked quests are so unfriendly!]
The viewers griped at the quest that offered no clues beyond "investigate."
"For now, I'll restock the items I used."
Yuseong headed to the shop.
He scanned the city. It felt different from before.
"There seem to be more players around."
[Yuseong's linked quest must've spread rumors, drawing in people hoping to scavenge something.]
"I see."
As Yuseong passed, people shot him glances. But no one followed.
Yuseong stopped at the shop to buy items. Goods were still half price. He shelled out 1 gold for two pieces of black bread, chomped them down noisily, then headed to the alchemy guild. There, he crafted ammo to replenish his stock.
"Time to investigate now. Any ideas from you all?"
He asked the viewers, but no one had solid suggestions. He already knew the answer but couldn't tip his hand.
"Guess I'll have to search blindly then."
Yuseong began wandering the city, exploring. He checked for anything suspicious and questioned NPCs.
When he directly asked about oddities with Lord Ludeart, the NPCs waved him off and clammed up.
[Lol Of Course They'd Do That]
[Fr, you're asking them to badmouth the local noble.]
So Yuseong rephrased. He consulted viewers and asked about recent changes or anything suspicious.
"Well, what would be different?"
"I wish those damn undead would just disappear."
No satisfying answers. These NPCs weren't tied to the event, so it was expected.
"No luck."
[This is ridiculous.]
[At least give a hint.]
Unlike the nonchalant Yuseong, viewers were frustrated. Ignoring their grumbling chat, Yuseong kept roaming. How long had he been striking out?
'Time to head there.'
He'd done enough acting. Time to find the NPC with the info.
"Oh yeah, there are NPCs outside the city too. Let's check there."
Most NPCs clustered in the city, but some were outside the walls. One was linked to this quest.
Yuseong left the city. He dispatched monsters lunging at him and headed for his target. Entering the nearby forest and walking a bit farther, he spotted a small camp ringed by a wooden fence.
"It's where hunter or lumberjack NPCs hang out. The lore says it's for resting during work."
[Didn't know this place existed.]
[Hard spot to find.]
[Is this a known area?]
[Looked it up—there's some info, but barely any. Super obscure.]
Ludeart was already niche, and this was niche within niche. That alone showed how unknown it was.
Yuseong passed the fence and asked the camp NPCs the same questions.
"Oh, come to think of it..."
A hunter repairing arrow fletching spoke up as if recalling something.
[Oh?]
[No way?]
"I was checking traps, but that day I kept having minor accidents—bad luck. Ended up heading back late evening, and I saw some folks heading to the river. Black clothes, hoods pulled low—looked sketchy as hell, stuck in my mind."
[River?]
[The one with the vampire island?]
"Probably. Only one river around here."
A quest window popped up before Yuseong's eyes.
Quest: Investigate Lord Ludeart (Updated!)
A forest hunter spotted suspicious people. Follow his lead and search the river flowing through Ludeart territory.
Reward: 5,924 EXP
The quest name and reward stayed the same—only the description changed.
But that was enough to spark interest. If anything, it fueled more curiosity.
[Quest description changed?]
[Says 'updated,' so not a new quest.]
[Anyone seen this format before?]
[Yuseong might be the first for this kind too.]
Viewers had never seen a quest update like this.
"Seems like talking to this hunter advances it."
[Hiding an NPC deep in the forest to progress? Brutal.]
[If it wasn't fun, this trash game would've tanked ages ago.]
"For now, let's head to the riverbank where I took the boat to the vampire island. Better to start with known spots."
Having successfully fed info to viewers, Yuseong set off for the river. His goal: the spot where he'd boarded the boat.
But he had to stop midway.
"Access forbidden from here."
Two knights, absent on his earlier return to Ludeart, now blocked the path.
[Why the sudden blockade?]
[Smells fishy.]
An undeniably suspicious situation. Yuseong tried talking his way through, but the knights were firm. He backed off for now. But he wasn't giving up.
Yuseong turned as if retreating, then slipped into the adjacent forest.
"Just detour around."
[Lmao It's Not The Only Path]
>We can make a path lol>
[Still, be careful. If they're blocking the road, they probably won't leave side routes open.]
It didn't take long for the viewers' worry to prove true. Bushes rustled as someone emerged.
"Guess these are the guys the hunter spotted."
Deep hoods, black clothes cloaking their bodies. Suspicious as could be, right in front of Yuseong.
Taat!
No warning, no threats. It charged at Yuseong. He drew his gun.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire echoed fiercely through the forest.
The foe was strong. From wide sleeves hiding its hands stretched ten long somethings slashing sharply at Yuseong.
Claws.
Yuseong had faced plenty from demons and vampires, so countering was no issue. But its physical prowess was threatening enough.
That was as far as it went.
Bang! Bang!
Reinforced bullets, infused with skills, hammered the enemy.
Thud!
Another round burrowed into the depths of its hood.
-Kkii, kkiaaak!
With its shriek, the hood flew off.
A grotesquely twisted face. And a horn curving downward from one side of its head.
Drip!
Its body melted away. Soon, only black clothes remained on the ground.
"Horned one—demon. Not a normal spawn here. Things are changing around."
[On the right track.]
[Keep pushing.]
Yuseong pressed on. More black-clad demons appeared. He exterminated them all as he went.
Not long after.
"There it is."
Yuseong reached a spot overlooking the riverbank where he'd debarked the boat. A sizable camp had sprung up there.
Figures moved within.
Half were demons in black robes and deep hoods. The other half: Ludeart knights.