Chapter 444: Clan Establishment (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 444: Clan Establishment (2)
The Dweller of the Swamp.
Known by the names Vanagandr or Hróðvitnir, it was the most fearsome beast in Norse mythology, bearing the epithet "God-eating Wolf.”
Fenrir.
That was the creature's identity.
To dismiss it as a mere beast would be to ignore the monstrous act of devouring Odin, the king of the gods, in a single bite during Ragnarök.
Myths of god-slaying appear frequently in various legends and traditions, but there are few myths about a beast killing a supreme deity.
After all, even the mighty Typhon ultimately failed to kill Zeus.
Ting—
[‘Dancing Destroyer’ has sponsored 1,000 WP.]
[‘Dancing Destroyer’ points out that the honeymoon suite is shabby.]
“It’s not a honeymoon suite.”
I frowned slightly at the other screen that had appeared before me.
Dancing Destroyer.
Unlike Fenrir, this was a Constellation whose true identity I hadn't been able to pinpoint.
There were several candidates, but no concrete evidence to support any of them.
Even when I asked Lucifer, she would always evade the question. For now, I could only assume it was a Constellation on par with Ishtar or Fenrir and treat it as such.
Creeak—
I left the office and surveyed the clan house.
The building consisted of five floors above ground and three below. Each floor looked to be about 300 pyeong [approx. 10,667 sq ft].
As expected of a clan that had earned its infamy in Arcana, the scale of their clan house was substantial.
‘…This is going to cost a fortune.’
Renovating a building of this size would naturally be expensive.
However, I had no intention of cutting corners on the construction or using the blood-soaked building as it was.
It wasn't like I was short on cash, and skimping on the clan house—one of the three core elements of a clan—would be foolish.
It was common sense. What talented person would want to join a company with a shabby building?
The reason I was going through the trouble of establishing a clan, despite knowing it would be a hassle, was that from the middle floors onward, the Tower, the System, and the Constellations increasingly demanded that players engage in party play.
Of course, I could just find people and form a temporary team whenever needed.
That is, if I wanted to get stabbed in the back.
Lucifer had told me that one of the situations that gave the Constellations their dopamine hit in the middle floors was the sight of unaffiliated players backstabbing each other and happily meeting their mutual destruction.
So, even if it was a bit of a pain, I needed to follow her advice, establish a clan, and cultivate trustworthy party members.
Of course, joining an existing clan was also an option.
But the larger the clan, the more restrictions there were. Basic clauses like activity limitations and mandatory summons were particularly annoying.
‘It costs 10,000 WP to establish a clan, but in the long run, it’s a much cheaper price to pay than working under someone else.’
After collecting the bodies of the Black Lore clan members scattered throughout the building and storing them in my inventory, I headed for the hotel where Lucifer and the others were staying.
*
“…This is our clan house?”
“Whoa…”
Yoo Ah-rin’s and Lee Serin’s eyes widened as they looked up at the former Black Lore clan house.
“How on earth did you manage this?”
“I received it as a donation from a good person.”
“Not as spoils of war?”
I just shrugged at Lucifer’s words, which hit the nail on the head.
I had used magic to clean up the bloodstains, but I couldn't do anything about the stench of blood that permeated the building itself.
“…It smells a little strong.”
“Just bear with it for a bit. We’re going to gut the whole place during the renovation anyway. I arranged for a contractor on the way to the hotel, so we should get an estimate soon.”
I already had a rough layout in mind for the clan house.
The basement would have a training ground and a warehouse. The first floor would be a lobby and bar, the second floor for administration, the third and fourth floors for living quarters, and the fifth floor would be my office and workshop.
Some might think that using the clan house for lodging would make it too cramped, but the direction I envisioned for the clan was a small, elite group anyway.
‘Another two or three members should be enough.’
My top recruitment priorities were an administrative officer skilled in management and a pure tanker to stand on the front lines.
The administrative officer needed to be competent enough to handle the clan’s miscellaneous tasks in my stead, and a pure tanker was an indispensable position for clearing the middle floors and beyond.
“So, what exactly happened?”
“It’s just as you suspect.”
“Don’t play dumb.”
Lucifer’s eyes narrowed as she looked at me.
“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”
The moment our eyes met, her image overlapped with that of Ishtar, whom I had met in the Corridor of Stars.
Even though she had been stripped of all her power and authority, there were times when I still got this feeling from Lucifer.
“What in the world happened in that short amount of time for you to get so much stronger?”
“…”
I didn’t show it, but I was quite flustered.
Worried about attracting the attention of the System and the Constellations, I had suppressed my magic with the ‘Necklace of Concealment’ and even used the Ghost Divine Art to control any aura from leaking out.
Despite all that, Lucifer, a former Constellation, had seen through me in an instant.
That meant the Constellations in the sky had also noticed my change.
Of course, the System wouldn't pay attention to every little change in a mere player like me, but the Constellations were different.
They were basically shut-in freeloaders.
The reason they enjoyed voyeuristically watching players and making contracts was fundamentally because they were bored.
The fact that they hadn't shown any particular reaction despite noticing my abnormal growth was by no means a positive sign.
“More importantly, the Black Flame—”
“Shh.”
I quickly covered Lucifer’s mouth and glanced at the empty air.
“Can I tell you later?”
“…”
She slowly nodded.
Seemingly aware of her own slip of the tongue, she didn't say anything else after I removed my hand.
“Oh, right. Hyun-woo.”
Just then, Lee Serin, who had been exploring the clan house with Yoo Ah-rin, came trotting over.
Just as you’d expect from a former singer, her walk alone was the very picture of fresh and bubbly.
“Someone came to the hotel looking for you while you were gone.”
“…Someone was looking for me?”
Scouts from another clan?
“Yeah, it was a priest dressed in pure white vestments. He said he was from the Twilight something-something Holy Society.”
“…Holy Society? You mean like, the cleaning staff?”
Tsk.
At that moment, I heard a faint click of the tongue.
A quick glance at Lucifer revealed a complex mix of negative emotions like displeasure and contempt on her face.
She let out a deep sigh and slowly opened her mouth.
“It was a priest from the Twilight Holy Society.”
“The Twilight Holy Society…”
“…It’s a religious order that follows ‘Eden.’”
The Twilight Holy Society.
They were a major clan with immense influence in the lower and middle floors of the Tower, and at the same time, they were fanatics who followed the Constellations of Eden.
In effect, they were Eden’s minions.
Now I understood why Lucifer had looked so displeased.
“What did they want?”
A priest wouldn't have come to proselytize in person.
“He said he came to see you, but when I told him you weren’t here, he asked that you visit the temple later and gave me this.”
Lee Serin held out a small cross.
Whoosh—
But Lucifer was faster.
Her eyes, which had snatched the cross mid-air, were fiercely distorted.
“…Don’t go. I can feel a sinister divine power from it.”
In Lucifer’s eyes, as she stared at the cross—no, at something beyond it—was an intense killing intent that she couldn’t hope to hide.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Lee Serin took a step back.
“I won’t go.”
“…”
“I mean it.”
Lucifer was reacting with particular sensitivity, likely because it was related to Eden, the target of her revenge.
Seeing her like this, I chuckled softly, took her hand, and touched my forehead to hers. Thankfully, the killing intent in her eyes quickly faded.
“…I get it, so just get away from me.”
Lucifer’s face turned red as she glanced furtively at Lee Serin standing next to us.
She was clearly embarrassed, but Lee Serin was peeking at us with an envious look.
Just then, my eyes met Yoo Ah-rin’s as she was about to head down to the basement. She turned her head as if she hadn't seen anything and went straight down the stairs.
It didn't feel like she was trying to be considerate and give us space.
It was closer to indifference.
‘…I have no idea what she’s thinking.’
Unless it was a critical situation, Yoo Ah-rin tended to show little emotion on the surface.
That didn't mean she was cold-blooded, though.
She had risked her life to protect the base camp on the Tutorial Floor.
It seemed I needed to have a sincere conversation with her as the clan leader.
It would be a good opportunity, since I was supposed to teach her swordsmanship anyway.
Knock, knock—
Just as I was about to follow Yoo Ah-rin to the basement, someone entered the clan house.
“Excuse me.”
I instinctively placed my hand on the hilt of my sword.
His presence was unusually faint.
For a moment, I thought it was a remnant of Black Lore, but after seeing the person with my own eyes, I immediately retracted my aura and lowered my guard.
Neat attire, a composed aura, and a subtle hint of dignity.
Nine times out of ten, he had to be a noble.
“I am Enos, the butler of the Astrein family.”
The old butler bowed his head politely to me in greeting.
But the aura he exuded was anything but polite.
“The Lord wishes to meet with you.”
*
Astrein.
The great family that ruled the starting city of Arcana, and a powerful house that wielded immense influence over the entire first floor of the Tower.
Besides Arcana, there were numerous other cities and noble families that ruled them on the first floor, but the power of Arcana and the Astrein family was unrivaled.
It was no exaggeration to call them the rulers of the first floor.
They were even one of the few resident-centered factions that could stand against major clans like the Twilight Holy Society.
Clang!!
“Kuh?!”
Sparks flew with a harsh metallic clang.
Unable to withstand the impact, Yoo Ah-rin was pushed back, her face contorted.
Across from her stood an orc easily twice her size.
“Grrrrr…!!”
“Ah-rin!”
♩♪♬~
[Lee Serin has used ‘Harmony of Life (D+)’.]
Seeing Yoo Ah-rin wounded and bleeding, Lee Serin raised her staff high.
A green wave of energy spread out and enveloped Yoo Ah-rin, and the various wounds on her body began to heal rapidly.
♩♪♬-!!
[Lee Serin has used ‘Echo of Confusion (D)’.]
“Krrk?!”
“Thanks, Serin.”
As the gray musical notes extending from Lee Serin’s staff struck the Orc Warrior, the beast clutched its head in agony.
Yoo Ah-rin seized the opportunity, rushing forward and swinging her sword.
[Yoo Ah-rin has used ‘Azure Dragon’s Thirteen Swords (C-)’.]
Swish—!!
“Kuaaaargh!!!”
The Orc Warrior’s left arm was severed, following a blue trajectory.
Enraged, the creature’s entire body turned red as its muscles bulged as if they would burst.
The Orc Warrior swung its massive blunt weapon at Yoo Ah-rin with a force and speed incomparable to before.
But Yoo Ah-rin was slightly faster.
It was an expected outcome.
She had never stopped her blade in the first place; the strike that had cut off its arm was merely the opening move to build up speed.
Slice—
With a blue flash, the Orc Warrior’s head flew into the air.
The massive body soon lost its strength and collapsed.
Ting—
[You have defeated the Orc Warrior.]
[You have passed the 2nd Floor Test.]
[Rewards will be distributed based on contribution.]
[Contribution Ranking]
[1. Yoo Ah-rin]
[2. Lee Serin]
[3. Lucy]
[4. Kang Hyun-woo]
[You have acquired Orc Warrior’s Tusk.]
[You have acquired 1,000 WP.]
[Kang Hyun-woo has forfeited the reward. The reward will be distributed equally among the party members.]
Plop—
“Good work, Serin.”
“Hyun-woo…”
I caught Lee Serin in my arms as she was about to collapse to the floor.
With a tearful expression, Lee Serin started to hug me back, but then she glanced at Lucifer standing behind me and hesitantly withdrew her arms.
Still, as if she couldn't give up being in my embrace, she kept her eyes fixed on me and leaned against me.
I stroked her hair and turned my gaze to Yoo Ah-rin.
“You worked hard. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. I’m fine, thanks to Serin’s healing.”
Yoo Ah-rin flicked the blood off her sword as if nothing was wrong, but her breathing was ragged.
If the battle had lasted just a little longer, she would have been the one to fall, not the orc.
But I didn't point it out.
Learning to properly manage your stamina in a fight is something you have to figure out for yourself.
I turned my head and looked around.
Cedar trees grew so densely that the sky was barely visible.
This was the Kromann Forest, located in the eastern part of the Tower’s second floor. As you could see, it was where the ‘Floor Test’ was held.
Last night, while waiting for the clan house to be renovated, we had challenged and successfully passed the first floor’s test.
And as you could see, we had just passed the second floor’s test.
For the record, I had left the first and second floor tests to Lee Serin and Yoo Ah-rin. If I had stepped in, it would have been over too quickly.
Since the boss was originally meant to be taken on by a party of four, it must have been a heavy burden for the two of them.
‘Still, it’s perfect for honing their combat senses. And Lucifer and I are here to keep the mobs from interfering.’
Ting—
[Name: Kang Hyun-woo
Age: 21
Title: Snake Hunter
Affiliation: -
Authority: Black Flame (B) New!
Exclusive Traits: Path of Magic (S), Formless Vajra Art (A) New!
Exclusive Skills: Elemental Magic (A) New!, Incomplete Moon's Eye (B-), Crimson Cloud Thunder Art (B) New!, Killing Intent (B) New!, Close Quarters Combat (C+) New!, Blood Flame Asura Demonic Art (C) New!, Ghost Divine Art (C-) New!…
Traits: Magic Resistance (D-)
Skills: -
Good Karma: 0
Evil Karma: 1]
[WP Owned: 88,959]
When I opened my status window for the first time in a while, the word ‘New!’ was flashing chaotically all over it.
It was a clear indicator of how much stronger I had become.
“What are you going to do now? You’re not thinking of challenging the next floor test right away, are you?”
“Of course not. They’d both collapse from exhaustion.”
I shook my head at Lucifer’s question.
“Let’s rest at the hotel for today and challenge the third floor tomorrow.”
“Yay!”
“…Hoo.”
Lee Serin and Yoo Ah-rin sighed in relief at my words.
Was it that tough?
“And after that, I’ll be moving on my own.”
“…What?”
“I have to pass the 10th Floor Test to create a clan, right? It won’t take long. I have an appointment to keep, anyway.”
Yesterday afternoon, the butler of the Astrein family had shown up out of the blue. He handed me an invitation and disappeared without another word.
The invitation only listed a date, time, and place.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't wary, but I couldn't just ignore an invitation from a great family.
Especially if I planned to use Arcana as my base of operations.
“I’ll be back soon.”
I smiled faintly as I caressed Lucifer’s disgruntled face.
—If those Twilight Holy Society bastards show up, tell them I’ll pay them a visit soon.
I sent a telepathic message to Lucifer.
I wanted to say more, but I couldn't risk the Constellations eavesdropping on our telepathic conversation.
Even Lucifer didn't know the full extent of every Constellation's authority.
What I was wary of right now was the Twilight Holy Society, who could be watching us from anywhere, at any time.
—I’m not actually going to go, so relax. If they keep pestering us, I’ll meet the Lord and ask for help, or find another way.
“…”
Lucifer furrowed her brow, looking somewhat displeased, but she slowly nodded.
Then, with a beet-red face, she buried herself in my arms.
“N-No…!”
Perhaps thinking her spot was being stolen, Lee Serin cried out in alarm.
But Lucifer didn’t even blink, confidently claiming the spot on the left side of my chest.
Ting—
[The ‘Saintess of Uruk’ frowns.]
[The ‘Saintess of Uruk’ tells you to distance yourself from the other woman.]
“For free?”
[The ‘Saintess of Uruk’ chastises you for your insolence.]
[The ‘Saintess of Uruk’ smiles, saying it is amusing nonetheless.]
[The ‘Saintess of Uruk’ bestows upon you the ‘Goddess’s Blessing’.]
A blessing?
[Goddess’s Blessing
Grade: B
For the next five days, good fortune will come to you if you stay away from women, and misfortune will befall you if you get close to them.]
“…”
This crazy goddess.