Blackheart's Black Heart
Baron Blackheart. Among the three high-ranking officials who handed out superior quests in the revival army, he was, as the name suggested, a man with a black heart.
Of course, he was not one of Gwain the Archduke's people.
“I cannot use my soldiers for uncertain matters.”
“Defection, you say? If you become my subordinate, I shall accept it.”
He would accept excellent talents among the resisting regional nobles who came to meet him, turning them into his own, while never stepping forward for even a small disadvantage or forced loss.
Rather than a spy or a double agent, he resembled a cunning hero with another ambition.
‘As soon as there is an opportunity, this man will swallow the entire revival army whole and claim the throne for himself.’
In reality, such a figure had existed too. He was the coach leading the national team, stirring up players, coaches, and owners through various political intrigues to control them.
Fortunately, Kim Ganghan had not personally experienced it, but there had been some mentions of the name around him during incidents.
‘Back then it was troublesome, but thanks to that I now know how to handle such a person.’
Fafnir left a message for the Umigan gang and Hilde's group.
–Accept the quest only from Baron Blackheart. The Sharp Eye Baron is a man of many hands, so his rewards and quest details often change.
–Send your subordinates to monitor Baron Blackheart and his men. Make sure he cannot slack off.
People of Baron Blackheart's type put their own safety first in all actions.
They would never act if even the slightest risk was involved.
‘Since the situation isn't good for immediate cleanup, we'll just have to use this temporary measure and grow.’
In fact, when Fafnir deployed people to monitor, Baron Blackheart showed no unusual reaction.
In the meantime, Fafnir prepared alone.
‘I can't go to meet the mountain's owner naked.’
Several days later.
A huge triangle began to appear beyond the horizon.
The center was pointed like a needle, with countless peaks rising like petals on both sides.
It was Mount Aeolos, one of the continent's ten forbidden areas.
“I'll go up alone for now. Even if many people come, it would only be a nuisance.”
Upon reaching the mountain, Fafnir immediately requested an audience.
Even though the princess offered to send an escort, he shook his head calmly.
“Shall I come with you? I'm a monk, so I can gain time...”—
“No need. Too many people would only hinder the middle part.”
“...Understood. Be careful!”
Fafnir, who rejected the company of Hilde's group and Kindorhan, headed toward the mountain entrance alone.
“Is that Fafnir?”
At that moment.
A user walked out between the rows of the kingdom army.
“From the Hermes Wing Guild.”
“Ah, yes. Please.”
The Hermes Wing! Delivering goods anywhere and anytime!
“Here are the golden reins you ordered and the sparkling silver flower stems and leaves. The price is 4 gold 50 silver, and the delivery fee is 55 silver, totaling 5 gold 5 silver.”
“Here it is.”
In cash, it was over 500,000 won, but Fafnir paid without a word. He knew how difficult material and delivery would be in this kind of situation.
The delivery person, who had been packing the equipment, asked.
“Oh, Fafnir. Are you not interested in trading non-physical content?”
Non-physical content.
Not items or gold, but trading in-game information and content through the Hermes Wing to earn profits.
Horizon Net, as well as the Hermes Wing Alliance, had many rankers selling information, strategies, and their own situations.
“Since the top contributor Fafnir, if you release promotional content or something, it should be worth a good price.”
“You don't seem like a regular employee... Who are you?”
The distance to Mount Aeolos was quite far, and the monsters encountered in between were high-level. It was impossible for ordinary users to make it there.
‘At least a lieutenant. Like a deputy director or higher in a company.’
Fafnir's question made the delivery person show a troubled expression.
“Ah... I'm from the Hermes Wing, Dandy Speed. I can't reveal my position, but... I have the necessary permissions.”
‘Dandy Speed?’
Fafnir had never heard the name in the novel, but there was no doubt it was a high-ranking person.
“So, what...?”
“I'm sorry.”
Fafnir refused flatly.
‘If I sell information now, the revival army's location will be exposed.’
If that happened, the Iron Blood Alliance attached to the Archduke Gwain or the Five Star seeking safe bases would come running with eyes blazing.
‘It's like burning down the family just to earn pocket money.’
Once he had fully secured his base, maybe, but now it was premature.
“Understood. As a rule, customer information is top-secret, so please use the service without worry.”
Pfft! Dandy Speed, having finished speaking, began to run northward.
Just like his nickname, Dandy Speed disappeared in an instant.
‘Amazing speed.’
Fafnir slowly exhaled.
‘Who would have thought someone would make such a proposal first.’
The Hermes Wing handles all server transactions until the very end of the novel.
Like Microsoft in the computer industry or KakaoTalk in messengers.
Making a proposal first from the Hermes Wing meant they had judged that Fafnir's name and related information were valuable.
‘It's not bad to form a relationship with this side as well, separate from Jeraer.’
Exclusive trade was only about physical goods.
How non-physical content was handled was up to Fafnir's discretion.
‘Well, then shall we start climbing?’
While climbing the mountain, he spotted wild orcs passing in the distance.
“Kiuh, kiik.”
Neither named nor elite, just ordinary orcs.
They were ragtag warriors wielding spears and axes haphazardly.
The moment Fafnir was about to move at the visible experience points.
Kurrurung!
The ground and trees around shook all at once. Fafnir quickly crouched.
Kuo!
Shwack!
A massive figure appeared in an instant and snatched the orcs.
Minimum level 250 or higher.
An ogre, the monster called the king of the forest.
“...”
Fafnir lowered his body slightly. While he did so, the ogre that had grabbed the orcs hid again.
‘It really is worthy of being called one of the continent's ten forbidden areas. This won't be easy.’
Fafnir swallowed.
Unfortunately, his thought was proven correct.
Kiaaak!
Kuo!
Every minute, powerful monsters burst out from nearby.
He could hide and descend, but climbing higher was difficult.
Especially the ogre was the most troublesome.
Kuooo!
As the king of the forest, its speed and senses were wide, so even alone he could not go up.
‘When Flush went up, the NPCs gave him a free ride, but...’
Flush, who used NPCs for free leveling, still blamed his luck.
‘Still, I have companions.’
Fafnir summoned Skeleton 1, Elite Skeletons, and Skeleton Knights.
“Go lure the ogres.”
“Ding, ding!”
1 to 5 scattered in all directions, making noises.
The next moment.
“Ddug...”—
The ogre's body press appeared from the forest.
One ordinary skeleton soldier was instantly crushed.
The ogre's expression became momentarily bewildered, then anger welled up.
‘He realized I wasn't meat.’
He expected fresh meat, but all he got was bones!
Receiving 50,000 won in tips, it was like spending pocket money on playtime!
Kwoeoeoe!
The enraged ogre began swinging its fists wildly. When the surrounding skeleton soldiers were brushed aside, they were smashed.
‘Terrifying.’
Other monsters fled too, and the entire forest shook.
Fafnir cautiously slipped away and headed up the mountain.
Of course, he was not simply going.
–Collection successful.
–Acquired Silverhorn Grass.
–Collection successful.
–Acquired Snowflower Peppermint.
–Acquired Lunatic Herb.
‘These herbs are being trampled—it's a national waste.’
Scratching, scratching!
Fafnir gathered herbs while keeping distance.
As he climbed the mountain, the ogre's roars gradually grew quieter.
‘At this point, I'm reasonably safe.’
He had successfully gotten out of the ogre's range.
At that moment.
–Skeleton 1 survived a life-or-death crisis!
–Skeleton 1's evasion rate increased by 0.2.
–Skeleton 3 survived damage that exceeded its limits!
–Skeleton 3's defense increased by 1.
The limit breakthrough.
An occasional event when fighting overwhelming enemies well, but the skeletons performed better than expected, triggering it multiple times.
‘Oh...’
Fafnir was slightly surprised, then smiled.
‘This is an unexpected gain?’
He had become accustomed to receiving only monthly salary, and now felt like receiving a surprise bonus.
‘From now on, I should train them like this.’
If they established a revival army base, they would stay in the mountain for a long time, so it was feasible.
‘If hunting with this efficiency, it's better to raise the skeletons' stats.’
Then what if a skeleton dies?
Just revive it again.
After all, skeletons don't lose experience when killed, and the revival materials are supported by Princess Elizabeth.
They don't even have to sleep like people, so it was the perfect growth course.
–Skeleton 1's affection decreased by 10.
–Skeleton 1 developed slight resentment.
–If the instructed command does not match values or knowledge, it will act with slight rebelliousness.
‘...?’
This time, he had probably been too harsh.
***
Mount Aeolos had three stages.
The first stage forbidden area with ogres and forest monsters.
The second stage forbidden area with snowfields and highland monsters.
Finally, the third stage forbidden area with the mountain's owners.
The levels were 250, 300, and 400 or higher respectively.
By the third stage, it was insufficient to call it one of the continent's ten forbidden areas.
‘Even the top rankers couldn't break through now.’
Perhaps after 1-2 years, but now even the first stage was impossible.
‘But there is a way.’
The monsters of the third stage dominate those of the first and second stages.
And if the novel content was correct, there was one way to deal with them.
–Entered the upper part of Mount Aeolos.
–This area is excessively high-level compared to your current level.
“Whoa, amazing.”
Fafnir's mouth fell open upon arriving at the third stage forbidden area.
Because higher than the snowfield with non-melting snow, a beautiful plain filled with all kinds of flowers and herbs stretched out.
A scenery impossible to see in reality.
White horses with single horns grazed the grass on the plain.
[Unicorn]
Legendary creatures from myths!
Sacred beings that never tolerate darkness or filth, and high-level monsters over level 400, more than ten of them.
“...Puhihing, there's a bug.”
One unicorn came toward Fafnir.
It immediately prepared to charge with its horn!
Fafnir took a deep breath and immediately lay down on the ground.
“Unicorn-nim, please listen to my words first.”
“Your ears are rotten. Just die.”
“There are pure maidens who wish to meet Pegasus.”
“...”
The horn of the approaching unicorn paused for a moment.
Shortly after, dozens of hoofprints surrounded Fafnir.
“Where are the maidens?”
“...They are waiting below the mountain.”
“Bring them.”
The unicorns' eyes sparkled.
“If there is truly a pure maiden who passes our three trials, you shall meet her.”
–New quest ‘Unicorn's Trial’ has been generated.
Title: Unicorn's Trial
Grade: Rare
📍 Location: Mount Aeolos
🎁 Reward: Experience, permission to enter the summit of Mount Aeolos
[Title: Unicorn's Trial]
–Grade: Rare
[Objectives]
–Present a noble and perfect maiden to the unicorn. (0/1)
–The presented maiden must pass the unicorn's three trials. (0/3)
[Description: Unicorns have long been sacred beings who protect purity and innocence while exterminating corruption and filth. Only a completely flawless maiden can earn their recognition. Bring a pure maiden who meets the unicorns' standards.]
–Reward: Experience, permission to enter the summit of Mount Aeolos.