Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Superstar Expedition Team
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As the D/Z SAGA fan cafe admin Super Youngjin, one of my hobbies when playing was endlessly scouring and deducing every bit of official lore.
I dug through the official setting collections 1, 2, and 3, the digital books, the online guidebooks, the illustration collections 1, 2, and 3, the original soundtrack, the first-pwon't limited edition mini-guide, the game magazine special appendices, developer interviews, online interviews—every scrap of lore there was.
And I compiled it all, organizing it neatly on the cafe.
What I came away with was... this game's lore was consistent and unified.
How to put it? It felt like one person had crafted it all, but even that genius wasn't omnipotent—there were occasional contradictions or holes.
It didn't seem like empty talk that a small elite team had pooled their efforts.
Anyway, short of the developers themselves, I prided myself on knowing every nook and cranny of the lore, so I had the game's entire timeline memorized.
From whose perspective Act 4 kicked off, when Act 5 began, and how things flowed after that.
For example, Eve von Loengrin's Act 4 starts after she defeats 'Aila Trista' and summer break begins.
In the imperial library, Eve uncovers clues about the 'Fairy's Paradise' and the 'First Promotion.' Once that event triggers, the side story 'The Sealed Paradise' and Eve's main quest 'Path of Radiance' unlock, marking the start of her Act 4.
In Act 4, Eve entrusts the search for the 'Black Flag'—which had rattled her emotions back in Act 2—to her guard knight, Sylphia Evergreengrove.
Sylphia returns after a crushing defeat and recuperates from her injuries.
Then Eve declares she'll subjugate the Black Flag herself.
Kelters joins her.
The fun part? Looking at the timeline, this was something that 'should have already happened.'
When I went to the coast with Eve before, Sylphia hadn't shown up because she'd gone scouting the Black Flag.
I'd planned to ignore the main story no matter how it progressed, but if this was my Act 4, that changed things.
I'd have to gauge my main story pace against the others' progress, right?
Casually tying my apron, I watched Sylphia frying french fries from behind and tossed out a question.
"Sylphia Evergreengrove. I've got one thing I want to ask."
"What is it, Wolfram von Loengrin."
"Have you been to the Black Gathering Place?"
My question made Sylphia freeze in place.
"How did you know that?"
Yeah, how did I know?
Because I read the strategy guide?
Not the kind of slip I'd make. Ha. Foolish girl.
Easy enough to brush off such doubts.
"Spring. You went on an expedition to the Sleeping Mountains with Eve. Mid-semester. There were curse incidents clearly tied to the Black Flag. Eve von Loengrin got hit hard twice, and given her pride... she'd naturally order a subjugation or at least a scout, right?"
"Fair point. Logical deduction. ...So how'd you know about the Black Gathering Place?"
"I was Student Council President too. Figured that much out?"
"...That tracks too. Sigh."
Sylphia lightly finished frying the potatoes, lifted them from the fryer, and shook them in the air. Oil might splatter, but it was all controlled by the wind spirit, Lapis Lazuli.
The wind spirit shook off the oil without splashing, and the salt sprinkled on top evenly coated every fry.
Unbelievable. That went beyond human skill—some kind of secret art. The Thousand Steps Blessing too; what a cheat skill. Gimme a wind spirit, pretty please.
As I daydreamed about keeping that girl on staff as my lifelong fryer spirit, Sylphia spoke gravely.
"Normally, this would be Student Council classified. Not something I'd share with you... but I've been authorized to disclose this much at my discretion."
"I see."
"...To those we can trust as comrades. You're flawed as a comrade, but you're no Black Flag ally, so... yeah. I went. Met a Black Flag executive. It was a brutal fight."
"I see."
I brushed it off lightly, but my mind was racing.
So Eve's Act 4 had already started? Did that mean my main story overlapped with hers?
"But... there was something odd."
"What?"
"The Black Flag exec suddenly clutched his gut... and started vomiting."
"...?"
"Strange, right? A real close call, but somehow."
Ah.
Got it...
I recalled the Wolfram-named 【Curse Maniac】 stuffed in the convenience store warehouse.
Eve's Act 4 boss was the same as the Act 2 Chapter 1 boss. The one who crushes Sylphia too.
Huh. Guess he got zapped by the blessing right on cue.
Poor bastard.
"I see."
"Yeah. No idea who helped, but... if there was someone, heh. I'd offer huge thanks."
"...I see."
"Yeah."
Whatever.
Diagnosis complete, more or less.
Sylphia was fine, but Eve von Loengrin had declared war on the Black Flag to wash away her shame.
Looks like
my Act 4 story overlapped with Eve von Loengrin's.
So, let's focus on Eve's Act 4.
At this point, Eve von Loengrin hadn't fully awakened yet.
She judged people by their stats, stuck to rigid, narrow views of humanity.
Kelters—and amusingly, the Act 4 boss—shatter that rigidity for her.
Without the Eve route, she wanders lost after Act 4, unable to find her path.
Sylphia, who'd always been by her side, got sidelined. Kelters fell for another heroine.
Were stats everything? Then what was she? What to believe in, what to rely on?
Her preconceptions shattered, but with no path forward, the Student Council President of Light becomes a dark ruler.
...That's Eve's story. Honestly, with Sylphia safe and sound, I doubt it'll go that far—but no Kelters is a factor too.
Anyway, route decided. One thing left to do.
Grab all the gains and speedrun.
Act 4 rewards make it clear why I need to snag 'em quick.
First, the national staple 【Skill Selection Ticket 7T】.
Plus Act 4 trait-based gear selections. I'd go for ingenuity-buff items, naturally.
But Act 4.
Personal heroine routes—the real twist is... one more chance.
That's the 【Job Change Ticket】.
Dubbed the Job Swap Ticket. Double-edged sword, but a fun reward.
Need to think on using it, but having it as 'util' would be huge.
...Yeah. Gotta get it.
Soon as Eve heads out against the Black Flag, I'll join up.
I didn't expect it'd take long.
Assuming Act 4 unfolded normally, Eve von Loengrin would assemble a decent-sized expedition.
Destination: the Ebony Jungle in the southwest.
Cross it, hit the sea, then a natural plateau beyond.
The jungle itself is so dense it's called the Ebony Jungle—darkness shrouded in green.
Deep inside lay one of the Black Flag's hideouts...
Problem: how to wedge my way in.
No way I'd bow to Eve.
Sooner bite my tongue and die, then aim for Wolfram Round 2.
As I mulled that over, a customer hit the convenience store.
"Is Wolfram here?"
"Eve, huh."
"...Yeah."
Face full of worry.
What? You look down. Something wrong? Life kicking your ass? Why so glum? You're bumming me out.
"Come in, sit. Buy something, and I'll treat you like a customer."
"One set of candies, please."
"Five thousand rin."
"Okay."
A girl who could toss billions without blinking buys just a bag of candy.
Classic Eve... but can't you splurge more? Life's tough enough.
Eve popped a candy in her mouth, chewed, and her furrowed brow eased a bit.
"So. What's up."
"Oh, nothing huge. Just wanted to ask a few things. That okay?"
"No time."
"Answer honestly, and I'll reserve prime seating for your stall at the Autumn Harvest Festival."
"Deal. Ask away. Wolfram von Loengrin will answer any question with full sincerity."
"...You mercenary trash."
"Honest merchants are con artists."
Eve narrowed her eyes.
Whatever. This is me straight up.
"Fine. Here's my question. I want info on the Black Flag."
"Black Flag?"
"Yeah. ...Word is they've holed up in the Ebony Jungle. Planning an expedition to take 'em down."
Here it comes.
The big one.
"Got it. Guess you're after what I know. Like which Black Flag, who's hiding."
"...Do you know?"
Of course I do.
"Nah, not specifics."
"...I see."
Eve frowned.
Well, the Black Flag tormented Eve von Loengrin her whole school life.
If I knew too much, she'd grill me on sources. So trim the info, make it plausible.
"But I can infer what the Black Flag is. How they operate."
"Care to share?"
"The ones making noise? Way fewer than you'd think. Black Flag can't exactly show their faces in the light—wouldn't end well."
"Right."
Like online communities.
Trolls hide behind anon; show your nick, and fans swarm.
With Loengrin absolute power around, Black Flag stays in the shadows.
"Flip side: those who step out are two types. One: clueless thunderheads blind to the world."
"Figures. Naive idiots..."
"The other: ones who can take a swing even against the Student Council."
"..."
"Like when that curse hit you. Did your Magic Power 22 do the trick?"
"Tch. Hate to admit it, but yeah."
"Same with your holy spear direct hit. They survived. Assume they have at least one shot against you and your expedition."
"..."
Eve sank deep into thought at my words.
What?
Did I strike a nerve?
If it bugs you, counter logically.
"Wolfram."
"Yeah."
"Thanks. Sincere gratitude."
"Hmph."
Eve smiled and thanked me; I smiled back.
Our middle fingers gleamed beautifully, but hey, Eve knows how to say thanks.
"Gotta assemble the expedition then. A well-balanced mix... yeah. Hm."
"Right. And it'd need... someone with top-notch intel and knowledge, yeah?"
Need an informant and strategy guide?
Then Wolfram's your guy!
"You're on the list, of course. ...Hate admitting it, but you're capable."
"Naturally."
A few days later, Eve called the muster.
Tension hung in the Student Council room as Eve eyed each gathered person and nodded.
No low-tiers here.
"Everyone's here. You all are the core of my expedition. Introduce yourselves. I'll start: Eve von Loengrin. No need for more?"
Eve glanced at me.
By bloodline?
"Wolfram von Loengrin. Same here."
Introductions followed.
"Aila Trista. Third-year Magic Division top rank."
"Regina Cielra. Third-year Magic Division... vice-top."
"Sylphia Evergreengrove. Fourth-year Knight Division... vice, top."
"Isolde Cruel. 'Graduate student designate.' Current fourth-year Knight Division top rank."
Ah.
So this is Eve's superstar team?
"Eve. Your lineup's..."
"I know. Don't say it."
Wow!
This expedition's gonna be heart-pounding!