The Capital's Underbelly
The grand hall of the Red Pearl Guild welcomed Fafnir as they entered Aden City.
The capital of the Baran Kingdom.
A metropolis where even the NPCs numbered three million.
“So it seems it’s time to part ways.”
After passing through the gates, Fafnir and the Red Pearl Guild received a brief farewell.
The guild master extended his hand to Fafnir.
“If you ever need help, contact me anytime.”
“I will remember that.”
After seeing the merchants off, they headed toward the bustling streets of the capital.
‘According to the letter, it should be around here…… Ah, there it is.’
The capital was divided into three districts: Hightown for nobles and mages, Middletown for merchants and middle-class citizens, and Lowtown for commoners.
In Hightown, the target was a grand mansion at the center.
“We have brought the letter from Lord Pendragon.”
“Please wait a moment.”
The guards blocked them, but upon hearing the purpose, they led Fafnir and Hilde inside without delay.
‘A viscount’s grand mansion.’
Entering the reception room, Fafnir looked around.
-Appreciated the famous painting “Osu”.
-Artisan craftsmanship stat increased by +1.
-Admired the ceramic from Master Seramik.
-Wisdom stat increased by +1.
-Admired the sculpture “The King’s Feast”.
-Vitality stat increased by +1.
Each small gain, but when accumulated, they added up to no small advantage!
This was the secret to growth.
After a short time, a middle-aged man with a good figure appeared.
“You came from the Pendragon family?”
-[Corb Von] Viscomte has been spotted.
-[Reputation] increased by +1.
“Yes, Lord Pendragon sent this letter……”
“It is a letter to His Majesty the King.”
The viscount’s eyebrows furrowed.
“For now, please take this. When I enter the palace soon, I will deliver it to His Majesty the King.”
“It is an urgent matter. The city of Byron may collapse.”
“I see. However, there is a matter of order and custom in things.”
Fafnir said this, but the viscount ignored him.
“Wait until the appropriate time. Once the petition is processed, I will contact you.”
-[Quest completed.]
-[Reward: Can be obtained from the Lord of Byron City.]
The quest completion notification appeared, but Fafnir stubbornly clung on.
“It is not a situation where we can rest assured like that.”
“I already know that.”
“If we delay any longer, the Orc attacks will come not only to the provinces but also to the capital.”
“Orc attacks? In the capital?”
“Yes, so……”
At that moment, the viscount burst into laughter.
“Wahaha! You really know how to joke!”
The viscount laughed heartily.
“Don’t worry. The defense of the capital is not so weak that it will fall to something like Orcs. Including the Royal Guard of ten thousand and the private soldiers of the nobles, it will be thirty thousand. Including the Magic Tower and the temples, even if the bastards come, there will be no problem.”
“The Orcs will not be the only ones. They have allied with black mages.”
This time, the viscount could not even smile.
“Black mages?”
“Yes, the black mages were commanding the Orcs around Turtle Rock Fortress. The details are in the petition.”
“Hmm…… black mages, those guys again……”
If the Orcs were just minions and the real threat was black mages?
In that case, the capital would truly be in danger.
“The bastards may even be infiltrating the capital now. We must immediately mobilize the Royal Guard to thoroughly defend the capital.”
“I understand. We cannot ignore the words of an adventurer who has achieved great deeds.”
The viscount clicked his tongue and continued.
“But we cannot move the Royal Guard based only on suspicion. Besides sending reinforcements from the provinces, we need evidence other than the petition to persuade His Majesty.”
“If I secure the evidence, will that suffice?”
“Hmm…… you?”
The viscount stroked his chin.
In any case, issuing a pass would not cause major issues.
If he truly found evidence, he could boast about it on a grand scale.
“If it is reliable evidence, there is no reason to refuse. I will give you a letter of commission. Go ahead.”
-[New Quest ‘Aden Sewer Investigation (Rare)’ has been generated.]
[Aden Sewer Investigation]
-Grade: Rare
-Objectives
-Investigate the underground sewer of Aden (0/1)
-Confirm Orc invasion (?/?)
-Description: Viscount Corb Von requires evidence to move soldiers. If evidence is found, secure it. If there is no evidence, bringing confirmation of that fact can relieve the viscount’s worries.
-Reward: Experience, 3 Gold, Reputation +3,000, 2 Rare-grade items
***
Fafnir and Hilde left the viscount’s mansion.
“Isn’t that a report related to the Orc wave? It seems something big will happen in the provinces soon?”
“Probably yes.”
“But the viscount is so irresponsible……! I should just go straight to the king and report!”
Hilde stomped her feet.
“We have no choice. He is a high-level NPC.”
Even as an NPC, he was the king.
Similar to meeting the president in reality.
It was even harder to schedule than the president, so this much understanding was necessary.
“Once the processing is finished, I will be called. Until then, we can relax.”
“Haa, if the Byron temple collapses like this, it would be really bad……”
“It will be fine. The Thor temple there is no ordinary one.”
Fafnir comforted Hilde, who was full of worry.
“Shall we part ways for now? I need to find some hunting or quests to do in the capital.”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Hilde grabbed Fafnir.
“I was about to say that since you’re going to the capital, the deputy butler gave you a new quest.”
“New quest?”
“Yes, after the request was completed, he asked to deliver the items to the Calvert Marquis family.”
“Chain quest.”
Usually such quests did not end with simple delivery but went through two or three stages.
“Yes, the reward seems quite good too…… So, would you like to go together if you have time?”
“Of course, it would be grateful.”
There was nothing to refuse if a good quest was introduced.
“This way.”
Hilde led Fafnir to the marquis family.
When Fafnir and Hilde arrived at the Calvert Marquis family, they soon met the steward.
“Did Lord Deputy send you?”
“Yes, here is the letter and the item.”
“The marquis is absent, so I will receive it instead. Give it here.”
High-level NPC nobles never stayed in the mansion or fixed locations.
Depending on schedules or events, they traveled between the palace, assigned lands, and the capital. Without information, one could suffer losses.
The steward, reading the letter, nodded.
“Confirmed. The Oregol that I asked to purify is healthy, and a person to handle the work has arrived, so the marquis should be pleased.”
“Work?”
“Actually, lately, ghosts have often appeared in the servant annex, so they asked me to send someone to purify the annex. How about it, can you do it?”
“Leave it to me.”
“But, please keep it quiet externally. If a similar incident is made public…… the marquis family’s image could be damaged.”
“I will remember.”
“Good.”
-[Party member accepted the quest.]
-[New Quest ‘Annex Cleaning’ has been generated.]
[Annex Cleaning]
-Grade: Normal
-[Objectives]
-Defeat all ghosts in the servant annex (0/50)
-Purify the dark aura in the servant annex (0/5)
-Description: Marquis Calvert wants the ghosts appearing in the annex handled without causing a commotion.
-Reward: Experience, 15 Silver, 1 Magic-grade equipment item (65 levels)
‘This is not bad.’
At that moment.
The steward suddenly turned to Fafnir and asked.
“By the way, who are you? The monk was confirmed, but there is no mention of you in the letter.”
“Ah…… I am his companion. Not a priest……”
“Necromancer! A necromancer! The shape of this equipment or the dark mana, it is definitely a black mage!”
The steward’s tone rose.
“What is this! How can a necromancer be a companion? How can I trust a black mage plotting something!”
“Fafnir-nim is not such a person! He has been recognized even in Byron, and he saved people on the way here.”
“You don’t even know that all of that is hearsay. I will not cancel what I just said! Instead of leaving work to a necromancer, I will send another letter to the deputy.”
No matter how much Hilde persuaded, the steward’s attitude did not change.
‘Stubborn……’
If things continued like this, Hilde would not even be able to take the quest.
‘No choice.’
Fafnir approached Hilde.
“Hilde-nim, it seems better if you do it alone.”
“But Fafnir-nim……”
“I also have things to do, so let’s finish our tasks and meet.”
Hilde tried to say something, but there was nothing to say.
At that moment.
Behind the two, a familiar voice was heard.
“No, aren’t you Fafnir?”
“Red Pearl Guild Master?”
“Did you have business here?”
“My companion has something to do, it’s not a big deal.”
Fafnir tried to answer vaguely.
At that moment, the steward rushed out and bowed his head.
“Welcome, Guild Master.”
“Hehe, the steward, long time no see. How is the marquis?”
“He is at the palace. He should return around evening.”
“I see.”
The two exchanged warm conversation.
At that moment, the guild master approached Fafnir.
“By the way, the destination is the same. Shouldn’t we have spoken?”
“Eh, are you acquainted?”
“Of course! The savior of life.”
“Ah, no…… aren’t you a necromancer?”
“Then? Whether necromancer or not, because you helped us, I am here…… Is that what you’re missing?”
“N-no!”
“Then apologize to this friend. Sincerely.”
Forced by the abstract command of the guild master, the steward had no choice but to bow.
“……I’m sorry. I judged you rashly based only on your job.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Keep the request as is. Give a reward that is not stingy. I really apologize.”
An attitude that did not seem like the stubborn steward.
Fafnir smirked inside.
‘Indeed, the more connections, the better.’
As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot.
Having done other matters, Fafnir headed to the annex with Hilde.
“This is a bit……”
“A magnificent haunted house.”
Rusty iron door, overgrown weeds, broken windows!
Upon crossing the gate, Fafnir felt as if he were experiencing a haunted house quest rather than a cleaning quest.
-Hehehe, a human!
-Give me blood!
Ghosts gathered from all over the annex.
-[Heard a terrified scream.]
-Falls into panic state.
-Same attribute attack.
-Resists the terrified scream.
-Panic state is lifted.
Ghosts had no physical form and could apply various debuffs, making them quite annoying monsters for normal players.
However, that was not the case for Fafnir and Hilde.
“Penelope, help Hilde-nim!”
“Understood.”
Hilde with holy power and Penelope using mana swept the battlefield.
“Dark Ball!”
Fafnir provided support attacks and recalled the scenery of Aden he had seen earlier.
‘It seems the viscount is indeed confident.’
Since it was the capital of the kingdom, both players and NPCs often exceeded level 100.
With various high-level content, hidden quests, and specialist NPCs for high-level skills, no matter how much the Orcs or black mages rushed, it was almost impossible to destroy the capital.
However……
Fafnir took a deep breath, recalling the content of the novel.
‘The capital burns, and the kingdom cannot recover from the damage and perishes soon after.’
Normally, the defense of the capital that even Orcs could not breach.
The reason it was breached was simple.
‘……Because there was an enemy inside the capital, it was natural.’
The traitor.
The enemy had already appeared inside the walls.