Chapter 75: 14th Floor. The Great Sea (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75: 14th Floor. The Great Sea (3)
He set about earning the Merfolk’s trust.
He hunted a Giant Squid with his spear and brought it back to provide them with a feast. Following that, he set fish traps to secure a steady supply of food for the tribe.
But he didn't stop there. He restored the dying coral reefs and cleared away years of accumulated grime from their structures.
[Digging.]
Rumble!
He even excavated underwater caves where the Merfolk could rest and play. The Merfolk watched with stunned expressions, marvelling at his phenomenal strength.
He didn't limit himself to physical labor; he provided emotional support as well. He regaled the Merfolk with countless stories about the surface world.
Using the power of his Acting and Persuasion skills, he lent his stories an air of absolute conviction, drawing the Merfolk in. At first, only a few gathered, but soon, nearly the entire village came to listen.
As he grew closer to them, a genuine bond of affection began to form.
By the time a week had passed, the Tribe Chief finally called for Kang Jun-hyeok.
"I am sorry," the Chief said, bowing his head politely. "I was wary of you. I viewed you as a dangerous outsider and watched you closely, ready to drive you out at a moment's notice. But I was wrong."
Kang Jun-hyeok had done everything in his power to help them. He had revitalized the sunken village and provided immense support, both physically and mentally.
He had done more than enough to be called a benefactor rather than a guest. The Chief felt a deep sense of shame for his initial suspicion.
"I ask for your forgiveness. And I thank you."
"It’s quite alright. It is my duty to lend a hand to those in need," Kang Jun-hyeok replied with a gentle smile, accepting the apology.
The Chief’s face relaxed, and he let out a hearty laugh.
"If it weren't for your help, things would likely be very grim right now. To be honest, we were struggling quite a bit."
"It seems something has happened," Jun-hyeok’s eyes gleamed. "Perhaps I can be of assistance."
"…Hmm."
The Chief hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.
"This is a matter of the sea. It is not something for a surface-dweller like yourself to get involved in."
The Chief declined.
It was a reasonable judgment. Ultimately, it was their problem. Asking anything more of Kang Jun-hyeok, who had already done so much, weighed heavily on his conscience.
However, for Kang Jun-hyeok, that refusal was a hurdle he needed to clear. He had to sway the Chief's stubbornness.
The answer came to him instantly. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke with a firm yet low voice.
"Fruit for the thirsty. Meat for the hungry. A shelter for the weary. A staff for the Walker of the Path. Helping those who suffer is my mission and my purpose."
"…Hmm?"
The Chief’s eyes widened. Jun-hyeok continued softly.
"You say this out of consideration for me, but telling me the truth is what will actually help me complete my trial."
"…Are you undergoing a trial from a god?"
"Yes. Though I am not permitted to speak the deity's name."
"Ah, I see. It is common for those on a pilgrimage to hide the name of their god. My thanks to this nameless god for their grace."
The Chief offered a prayer to the unknown deity, looking genuinely moved.
Naturally, it was all a lie.
[The proficiency of the Acting skill has increased significantly.]
[The proficiency of the Persuasion skill has increased significantly.]
There was no such god. Kang Jun-hyeok had simply fabricated the story to extract information.
Normally, he would have had to spend much more time building trust or wait for the crisis to boil over. But through the power of his skills, he had bypassed the entire process. Jun-hyeok suppressed a smile as the Chief began his explanation.
"It wasn't always like this. We used to roam the sea freely, living in peace. But two months ago, a problem arose."
"What kind of problem?"
"The Fishmen. They began to attack us."
Fishmen.
While Merfolk were half-human and half-fish (human upper bodies), Fishmen were the opposite—creatures with the upper body of a fish and the lower body of a human. They were the antithesis of the Merfolk.
However, something didn't add up.
"I thought the relationship between Fishmen and Merfolk was amicable."
They were both deep-sea races. Because the ocean was so vast, there was rarely a reason for conflict over territory or food. They were practically allies. At Jun-hyeok’s words, the Chief let out a deep sigh.
"Normally, that was the case. We frequently interacted and even held festivals together. But two months ago, they suddenly changed. They have been attacking us without provocation ever since."
"Is communication impossible?"
"Indeed. No matter how we try to resolve it through words, they attack the moment we show ourselves. They cannot be reasoned with. Furthermore, Alfram, the Guardian of the Great Sea, has also begun acting strangely."
"If you mean Alfram…"
"He is a giant whale. He has lived for hundreds of years, keeping the Great Sea stable and safe."
The whale’s true identity was the Guardian of the Great Sea. To think that the whale so many players had slaughtered in the past was actually a guardian… Jun-hyeok felt a strange sense of irony. The Chief continued.
"He, who always guarded the sea in silence, has suddenly become violent and is causing chaos. All of this happened within the last two months. Because of it, we can’t even venture out to find food. I have no idea what is happening to our home."
The Chief rubbed his eyes, looking exhausted. Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.
"In that case, I will go and investigate."
"A-Are you sure?"
"You needn't worry. I have the strength to protect myself. In exchange, however…" Jun-hyeok said suggestively. "May I receive some Merfolk's Orbs?"
"Of course! If you can solve this problem, you are our savior! I will give you as many Merfolk's Orbs as you desire!"
"Thank you."
Kang Jun-hyeok grinned.
* * *
[You certainly are skilled at deceiving people,] the Master of All Weapons muttered. [When you spoke of the trial, for a moment, even I thought you were talking about that fellow Eldiria.]
"I'm used to it. Things like this are necessary."
Disguising his emotions and deceiving others was an essential skill for climbing the Tower.
"Well then."
It was time to solve the problem in earnest.
Kang Jun-hyeok moved through the water. He knew the location of the Fishmen from the Chief’s directions. After traveling for a short while, he spotted one.
It was a creature with human legs and the head of a fish, drifting aimlessly through the water. Its movements were no different from those of a zombie.
After scouting the area to ensure it was alone, Jun-hyeok lunged. The Fishman raised its weapon in surprise, but Jun-hyeok easily pinned it down and covered its mouth.
Jun-hyeok whispered softly to the subdued creature.
"I'd like to have a chat. Is that alright with you?"
"…! !! !"
The Fishman’s body convulsed as if it were having a seizure. It struggled desperately to escape, but the difference in raw strength was too vast. It couldn't move an inch, as if bound by iron chains.
In a normal situation, a rational being would have given up out of fear or at least tried to communicate. But the Fishman didn't. It continued to struggle, moving as if it couldn't feel pain even as it injured itself against Jun-hyeok's grip.
"Hmm."
After watching the Fishman for a moment, Jun-hyeok let go.
The Fishman immediately lunged at him.
As if it knew no fear, it tried to kill Jun-hyeok in a fit of pure madness. Jun-hyeok parried the attacks for a moment before striking the back of its head to knock it unconscious.
Jun-hyeok moved forward. Every Fishman he encountered was wandering aimlessly like a zombie, just like the first one. He tried approaching them quietly or subduing them for a conversation, but the result was always the same.
Every single one of them either attacked without hesitation or struggled like a madman. Not a single one showed a normal reaction.
"This is definitely strange."
Despite their appearance, Fishmen were known to be a rational race. They generally disliked conflict and were the type to yield rather than fight. But these Fishmen showed none of those traits. They were lost in madness, driven only by violence.
"What is this?"
Jun-hyeok frowned. Every Fishman looked as if they were poisoned by something. But as far as he knew, no such addictive substance existed in this realm.
As he approached the Fishmen's village, Jun-hyeok noticed something else. The number of Fishmen was increasing, which was expected, but their behavior had changed.
"This is surprisingly organized."
The Fishmen were standing guard over a wide area centered around the village. They weren't just scattered randomly; they were positioned in a perimeter with the clear purpose of blocking any approach.
They hadn't just become violent due to madness. They were following a command.
To find out more, he had to get closer. Jun-hyeok lowered his posture and silenced his movements. As he neared the village, the surveillance became even stricter, but it wasn't a major issue for him.
[Stealth.]
He vanished. His sounds, his presence, his energy—even his physical form. He slipped past the final line of sentries and entered the village.
"Well, look at this."
Jun-hyeok whistled under his breath.
The Fishman village could no longer be called a village. Everything had been hollowed out, leaving only a massive, artificial-looking crater.
Jun-hyeok peered into the hole—a pit yawning at the bottom of the deep sea.
Inside was an octopus.
It was a massive creature, large enough to cover the entire village. It was quiet now, perhaps asleep, but a single twitch of its writhing tentacles would likely sweep away everything in the vicinity.
Jun-hyeok’s eyes widened. It was a giant monster—a king that ruled over the vast territories of the ocean.
It was a Kraken.
'Wait a minute.'
If it was a Kraken, the situation made sense. Their specialty was mind control. They could easily dominate a tribe of Fishmen or even a guardian whale.
The problem was that a Kraken was not a monster that should appear on the 14th floor. It was a Great Beast, a being capable of shaking the seas. The strength of a fully grown specimen was something even top-tier players of the Tower would find difficult to handle.
As Jun-hyeok examined the Kraken more closely, he realized something.
'It’s not an adult.'
The size of a true Kraken would cover the entire seabed. It wasn't something that could fit into a hole the size of a village. It was a juvenile—likely recently born. It seemed it had nested here and was trying to expand its territory.
In that case, his task was simple.
[Kuuuuu…]
A low vibration echoed from the Kraken. As if waking from its slumber, its single eye blinked open. Soon, its gaze landed on Kang Jun-hyeok.
[…Kuu?]
For a moment, the Kraken made a confused sound, as if it couldn't comprehend the presence of a human in its lair.
Kang Jun-hyeok pulled out his spear.
"Hello."
[Spear Throw.]
The spear slammed directly into the Kraken’s massive eye.