Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Assassin & Greed (2)
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1-4 Eastern Forest Treasure Map episode.
I have no idea why Nefti has this map, but in the main story, Kelters picks it up from the common dorm hall. Then he gathers the four friends he's made by that point and heads off on an adventure.
And this episode is pretty symbolic.
Before I get into why it's symbolic, I need to explain the role of Act 1 in this game.
From the protagonist Kelters' perspective, Act 1 of D/Z SAGA unfolds like this.
A country boy is born with the makings of a hero and enrolls in Jefrin's common department with overwhelming scores.
In the tutorial, he lands a critical hit on a third-year vice-top senior whose skills he could never match otherwise.
In 1-1, he frees the restless spirits of freshmen who want to drop out from the common dorm.
In 1-2, he sneaks out of the dorm at night with his friends to grab some late-night snacks and comes back.
Meanwhile, in a mini-test, an extra named Milmyu loses to Kelters and gets expelled.
In 1-3, he has a massive spar with friends jealous of his top spot, but it forges new bonds.
In 1-4, he heads to the Eastern Forest with those friends and the treasure map they found.
Looking closely, Act 1 sends a clear message to the player—and to Kelters.
This academy isn't some place overflowing with just friendship and love.
Friends part ways, turn into enemies, and someone might get expelled just for you to rise.
It throws down a pretty spicy theme from the start, which adds real weight to picking companions and routes from Act 2 onward.
Because any companion who dies in 1-4 vanishes from D/Z entirely.
It's a real death episode. That's why you can't pick the heroine Eve as a companion this time.
The boss was just that strong. And that terrifying.
Yeah. Was.
Why past tense?
"It's been a while since I went for a stroll. Assuming we're clearing the secret mission together too... hmm..."
Unfortunately, I'm not some rookie who cowers before that guy.
Since the adventure's set for the weekend, I need to steadily prep during the week.
First, I whip up buff snacks with Magical Patissier.
But potion-making is the key skill for this mission.
"Phew. Next up, trash potions."
I mix mana water and mud. The system pings, and out comes the result.
After brewing a bunch of different potions, I finally straighten my screaming back and wipe the sweat. It's brutally exhausting.
"What are you doing?"
"Prepping."
"Prep for treasure?"
I don't answer and head out to the convenience store yard with my armful of potions.
I soothe my throbbing arm, then hurl potions at the target board.
Distance: about ten meters.
Ting! The potion bottle hits. Spurt! It splashes.
"...You make them just to throw them away? ...No, wait. Is there meaning in the act of hitting the target?"
Patrasche mutters, and the insight catches me off guard—I chuckle despite myself.
After about a hundred throws, I clutch my aching arm. No need to hurl hard by the end; I just roll them. Still counts as throwing, apparently.
I nod.
Got the most crucial skill. Next... wait for materials to arrive.
"Wolfram, your order's here."
Right on cue—the person I've been waiting for.
Aila Trista arrives.
Whew. Aila politely sets down the items she's brought.
"Couldn't you have used Trista Trading Company folks? Didn't expect you to deliver personally."
At my words, Aila's eyes widen, then she beams.
"Oh? I couldn't possibly. What if word of Wolfram von Loengrin's grand rebellion leaks out?"
"..."
So tell me what this rebellion even is.
"And that's not all. Coming in person lets me hear why you need this stuff. Like sneaking a peek at the answer key? Hehe. So why do you need it? How's it fuel your rebellion? Just a tiny hint?"
"A tiny hint?"
"Yes. Specifically, enough to keep my heart racing without spoiling the anticipation buildup."
...Girl, keep talking like that and you'll go from seed to ace yourself.
Aila glances over the items, oblivious or not to my thoughts, and smiles.
"Lightning ore. Crimson flame ore. All sorts of attribute stones. Recovery-focused items... Heading out on an expedition? No way. Not with your frail stamina, Wolfram..."
"Bingo."
"...Pardon?"
"Stepping out of Jefrin for a bit. Combat likely."
"...Wolfram? You okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Even with your mysterious arts, no place is completely safe once fighting starts."
"Ever been on an expedition yourself, Aila?"
"Isn't easing our territory's burdens the most basic noble duty? Before enrolling in Jefrin, I joined a goblin subjugation unit with Father."
"..."
Aila meets my gaze steadily as she answers.
Clear amethyst eyes, without a hint of deception.
Even in this world, she's fulfilled her noble obligations.
"I see. You're right. No place is completely safe in combat."
"...Should I come along?"
"No. It's fine. Just heading to the eastern sector. We can bail if it gets dicey. You're busy too."
"But—"
"Midterms soon."
"..."
"Time to show that annoying Regina Ciela your rebellion, right?"
"Rebellion. Yes. True..."
Aila doesn't drop her worried look, so I shrug helplessly.
Everything's fine, but Aila's a no-go.
Her matchup against this foe is terrible.
So for now... gotta dodge the issue.
"You're strong, sure. But that doesn't mean I need protecting."
"...Wolfram."
"Aila Trista. If you're always claiming to be my rebellion partner, accept that we're equals."
"Eek."
"No one-sided shielding needed."
Aila blinks wide, then shakes her head slowly.
"Okay. Fair enough. If your partner doesn't trust you, who will?"
"Exactly."
"Then before you go, at least tell me where and how you'll use this stuff."
"Easy. Potions first."
"Rebellion potions?"
"...Call 'em that if you want."
We chat idly for a bit after that.
Nothing major—just Aila's usual rebellion banter.
Laughter a tad louder than normal, but otherwise same as always.
The next day, the noisy duo shows up.
"Wolfram! Rudika's here!"
"Sunbae-nim! Nefti's arrived!"
Excluding the colorful chicks, these two are the loudest around me. Together, they exceed the store's decibel limit.
At least the peepers don't barge into the store.
"So, got everything I mentioned?"
"Yes! Status ailment resistance potions and artifacts—borrowed by Rudika-sunbae-nim!"
"Tough to snag, but the Hassan Shadow family has plenty of trophies!"
"..."
Trophies? From who and how?
I don't ask. Turning Hassan Shadow against me means a midnight duel with Professor Rudika—and death.
She's a true assassin who can one-shot even Eve with stealth strikes.
"Good work. Let's start the strategy meeting."
"Strategy meeting?"
"The thing waiting at the end of this treasure map is one nasty monster. We need to drill the basics."
"...Huh?"
"Hm?"
"What's up?"
"Sunbae-nim, how'd you know there's a monster? Eastern Forest has 'em, sure, but... how'd you pinpoint it?"
"Right. Rudika's wondering too. You mentioned a similar treasure map once, Wolfram, but never the monster."
Hm.
Nefti's gaze? Fine. She's gullible.
But Rudika's different.
She's the real deal. If she starts doubting me, she'll dig endlessly.
And her Rank 22 intrusion skill sends me to heaven in one hit at midnight.
"Hiding something, Wolfram?"
"..."
"From your friend Rudika? Anything at all, Wolfram?"
Rudika's eyes chill over.
But no worries—my hellfire silver tongue, honed by Yi Young-jin, outshines even a parentless blonde ninja.
"Of course I'm hiding something."
"Wolfram..."
I shrug and continue.
"You know my spot in Jefrin's precarious, right? Eve aside, do you grasp how many underlings see Wolfram von Loengrin as an enemy? Gotta keep an ace or two hidden."
"Wolfram and Rudika... aren't we friends...? Rudika doesn't see you as an enemy."
"I think so too."
"...Still hiding?"
"That's why I'm showing you specially. Patrasche."
At the call, the red wolf stretches and approaches.
"What's with the doggo?"
"...Nefti. Step back. That's no dog. Wolf. Or something more alien."
As expected from Rudika's passive Tier 6 Presence Detection. Her senses are insane.
"Meet her. Guide of the Forest. Envoy of the Fairy Queen. Fairy of the Red Mane—Patrasche."
"F-Fairy...?"
"Yeah. 'Contracted in the Eastern Forest.' 'Over three hundred years old.' 'Vast knowledge.' 'Now my familiar.' 'No lies there.'"
I spit exactly five true sentences. Rudika listens intently, then laughs an "aha."
Rudika's Tier 6 Presence Detection discerns if a focused target's lying.
She found zero lies in those five lines.
"Fairy...? For real?"
"Patrasche. Flame."
Patrasche's mane flares red; a fingertip-sized fire ignites.
"Whoa... real fire fairy?"
"No lies."
I didn't lie. Not really.
Nefti's wide-eyed wonder aside, Rudika's reaction is electric.
"Got it! Contracted a three-hundred-year-old fairy for her knowledge! Wolfram! Amazing!"
Laughing wildly, Rudika clutches her belly, wiping tears.
"Tch. Don't suspect folks lightly. Should've explained properly."
"...Yeah. Sorry. Rudika apologizes sincerely. Rudika Hassan Shadow hereby accepts one request from you—to atone for doubting a friend."
She extends a hand.
"No need for requests. Just handle a small favor later."
"Easy. Friends, right?"
"...Ahem. Strategy meeting time. Boss is as follows."
As the briefing progresses, their faces harden.
"...Per your intel, sunbae-nim, yeah—we both gotta go."
"But doesn't one of us end up in danger? No other way, though."
"Yes. And the riskiest part is..."
They stare at me intently.
Yeah, in this plan, if things go south, I'm the most endangered.
"Scrap it? Sell the map and forget."
"Sounds good. Wouldn't want you hurt, sunbae-nim..."
What? No way.
The loot there is pure honey.
Materials ordered, payment due.
"It's fine."
"Wolfram?"
"Don't I have Guardian of Great Nature?"
"Oh, no way..."
"I see."
"Yeah. If danger hits, Patrasche tanks it."
We three gaze silently at Patrasche. Suddenly spotlighted mid-yawn, she freezes.
Then floats up, paw pointing at herself.
"Shield?"
"Shield."
"...Me?"
Yeah.
You.