In Search of Brisong
Han Ji-woo tilted his head in confusion. "Oh~ So this quest is just about finding Brisong, huh? ...But what's a Brisong, anyway?"
The moment he voiced his doubt, the scenery around him shifted into some barren wasteland he didn't recognize.
You have been guided into 'the memory of some Logaku tribesman'. Find Brisong here.
Along with the message, the words 'the memory of some Logaku tribesman' appeared floating in the air. It was just like in a game, where entering a new field would display the area's name.
"Logaku tribe?"
Han Ji-woo scanned his surroundings after checking the message. He was apparently inside the memory of some Logaku tribesman. If that was the case, the guy must've lived a pretty dry, barren life. All around him was just vast, empty wasteland—nothing else.
"Now they'll at least tell me what to do here, right?"
As if on cue, another system message followed.
This wasteland can be changed through your efforts. Once it reaches 100% synchronization with the environment of the region where the Logaku tribe lived on the Bryunak Continent, the path to Brisong will open.
- Environment Synchronization: 0%
"Whew, even a magician couldn't pull this off."
This quest felt overly demanding. He didn't even know what the Logaku tribe was or what kind of environment they'd lived in. Plus, at a glance, the horizon stretched endlessly in every direction—the wasteland was huge. How was he supposed to transform all this?
Feeling daunted, he summoned his pets first. But...
Those not invited to 'the memory of some Logaku tribesman' cannot enter.
"Well, that's just great."
He scratched his head in frustration, but then a lone rock caught his eye not far away. A single rock in this barren field where not even a blade of grass grew? Suspicious, no matter who looked at it.
Han Ji-woo rushed over and lifted the rock. Suddenly, a small wolf appeared, baring sharp fangs and lunging at him.
Grrr!
"Whoa!"
Startled, he jumped back. Above the gray-furred little wolf's head floated the name 'Logaku'. Under the rock was a perfectly sized hole for it to hide in.
Growl!
The Logaku leaped at him again, ferociously. But...
Slash!
One swing of the Black Hwado sword in Han Ji-woo's hand cleaved it in two.
'Weaker than I thought.'
The thing had been low-grade monster level, at best. Its corpse hit the ground with a thud, then dissolved into smoke and vanished. No bloodstains, even after being bisected.
"Hmph... It didn't pop out for no reason."
His gaze fell to the hole. Maybe it had been guarding something inside.
"What's in here?"
Peering in, he spotted a small, round blue orb of light. It suddenly seeped into his body, and a holographic memory projected into the air.
A pup lay on the ground, gazed at fondly by what seemed to be its parents—two wolves.
"Wolves again. Could these be the Logaku species...?"
The two wolves conversed, their faces full of affection as they looked at the pup.
-Look at the size of this one. How could anyone believe it's only a month old Logaku?
-It's got your build. A fine child with the blood of a great king.
The short scene ended, followed by a message.
"So those wolves are Logaku. Does that mean Brisong's one too?"
It seemed likely. By collecting the blue orb, he'd gained two things: a short video hint about Brisong and an item.
He opened his Inventory to check the new item. There was some unfamiliar seed-like thing. He took it out to view its info.
A seed of a small world tree, modeled after the great World Tree. Drop a single drop of water, and it will take root and grow. Verdant forests of vegetation will flourish around the small world tree.
"Small World Tree Seed?"
Reading the description reminded him of the Dungeon Tree. There had to be some connection between world trees and Dungeon Trees.
Anyway, step one seemed to be planting this seed and watering it. Problem was, no matter how he rummaged through his Inventory, there wasn't a drop of water. Plenty of meat, veggies, and fruits to fill his belly—but no water.
A bit panicked, Han Ji-woo regained his composure and thought it through.
'There has to be a clue somewhere.'
From his experience in Hidden Space, this place never gave unsolvable puzzles.
He calmly probed the ground around him. Then he found it: a patch of slightly damp soil, different from the rest. Right where the Logaku he'd sliced in half had fallen.
'Even a tiger leaves its pelt behind when it dies.' That Logaku had left behind moisture instead.
Han Ji-woo planted the Small World Tree Seed in the moist soil. The next instant...
Whoosh!
A sprout shot up from the seed, growing into a massive tree in the blink of an eye. A trunk as thick as Han Ji-woo's body soared endlessly skyward, branches extending out, leaves unfurling to blanket the heavens.
"That's the small world tree?"
Small? Its size and height were insane. But the changes didn't stop there.
Fresh green sprouts sprang up around the small world tree. They spread like a relay race, from near to far, surging forth.
Those sprouts became trees, flowers, grasses—transforming the surroundings into a lush forest.
"Whoa."
Han Ji-woo let out a gasp of awe at the spectacle.
- Environment Synchronization: 56%
Incredibly, the synchronization jumped over halfway in one go. 'Maybe finding Brisong will be easier than I thought.'
Then a blue orb drifted down from atop the small world tree and absorbed into him. Apparently, growing the tree was the condition for another orb.
Another short video played without fail.
The same two wolves from before reappeared. But the male was a bloody mess, lying gravely injured. The female gazed down at him with worry.
The male wolf spoke.
-...It seems I don't have much time left. Reopening the Dimensional Gate takes two years, but even breathing is a struggle now. It's too soon, but I must pass the Dimensional Gate's power to Brisong. He's the only Logaku soul strong enough to bear it.
"Dimensional Gate?" Han Ji-woo muttered.
It had to be a species-unique skill. From the male's words, it had a long cooldown after use, but passing it reset the timer for immediate reuse.
The female wolf replied sorrowfully.
-If you insist, I'll have to prepare myself.
-Brisong's still too young; even if he inherits it, he can't use it yet. Protect him until he grows. Pray no more disasters strike until then...
The male fell silent, and strange magic circles formed in his eyes, growing clearer as the video ended.
"So Brisong was the pup of that wolf couple."
Now he had solid info on Brisong.
He immediately opened his Inventory. The new addition was a miniature labeled 'Logaku Den 1'—and 43 more, up to 44. Each was a tangled bundle of twigs, differently shaped and sized, numbered from 1 to 44.
He pulled one out to check.
Place this den beneath the largest tree.
"No way."
He grabbed two more.
Place this den at the exact center where five fir trees rise at equal intervals in a circle.
Place this den ten paces north of the largest Logaku den.
He got it immediately. "Place each miniature in the spot matching its description?"
Understanding meant action. He set Logaku Den #1 under the clearly largest tree—the world tree trunk.
Poof!
With a sound effect, the miniature expanded into a full-sized treehouse, settling perfectly.
Logaku Den #1 has been placed in the correct position.
The environment synchronization rose to 57%.
"Nice, let's keep going."
Emboldened by the smooth progress, he diligently placed the rest.
* * *
All Logaku dens have been placed in the correct positions.
- Environment Synchronization 100%
"Yes! Done!"
Finally, 100% synchronization. Han Ji-woo wondered what would happen next.
You have perfectly recreated the environment where the Logaku tribe lived in 'the memory of some Logaku tribesman'. Reenacting the day that someone from the Logaku tribe most wanted to change.
Dozens of wolf-like Logaku appeared around him. They were two to three times larger than normal wolves. Smaller ones mixed in had baby teeth, claws, and fluffy fur—clearly pups.
Han Ji-woo scanned for Brisong among them, but no match for the brief glimpse from the first video.
Grrrrr!
Grrowl!
The Logaku tribe gathered, growling in unison at something. Han Ji-woo looked too.
A 3-meter-tall black shadow-thing stood there. Above its head: 'Nightfall'.
The monster, made of pitch-black darkness, ravaged the forest as it approached the tribe's dens.
This is the nightmare etched deepest in Brisong's mind—the hardest day.
Simultaneously, the floating 'the memory of some Logaku tribesman' changed to 'Brisong's memory'.
So he'd been in Brisong's memory from the start.
Brisong wants to change this horrific memory. Most of his tribe was slaughtered that day, and his father—the tribe leader—died protecting the family. Whoever created this 'trial ground' in Brisong's memory wonders if you have the power.
Han Ji-woo gripped his Black Hwado and single-horned steel sword tightly.
"So I just gotta take down that 'Nightfall' guy?"
This seemed like the final hurdle. Why Hidden Space wanted him to find Brisong was still a mystery, and why this trial was needed—but beating Nightfall should reveal the answers.
"Full power from the start."
As he charged forward, he activated his strongest skill.
Pet Physical!