A Crazy Swordsman's Proposal
"But Carbanog. If he's a crazy Garuda swordsman... could he be related to Archisus?"
Carbanog says he doesn't know how the Avatar came to that deduction, but begs him not to make such sad assumptions.
No other Avatar would suspect their own followers like this. To suspect someone is an Archisus believer just because they're called "crazy"!
"But based on my experience so far, the weirdos are usually related to Archisus."
Besides, Tae-hyun had come to Sky Island to clear the Archisus Church quest. It wouldn't be surprising at all if the crazy Garuda swordsman was an Archisus-related NPC!
Carbanog asks if the quest regarding the descendant of the Archisus Holy Knight Captain isn't related to the Garuda Princess.
It was a quest that had updated after satisfying the Garuda warriors. He was supposed to meet the Garuda Princess and ask about the Holy Knight Captain... but the Garuda bastards kept holding him back, so he hadn't even met her yet! Since he had to meet the princess anyway, the crazy Garuda swordsman was highly unlikely to be an Archisus-related NPC.
"Hmm. Then the princess is the NPC related to the Archisus Holy Knight Captain, and the crazy Garuda swordsman is just a regular Archisus believer?"
Carbanog asks why you are completely ignoring the possibility of him not being an Archisus believer.
"Well... because they said he's crazy..."
You have entered the Gray Cloud Arena!
Your Reputation increases!
Show outstanding skill in the arena to increase your reputation within the Garuda Kingdom.
Quest updated...
Quest updated...
Entering a new building in a new city always brought various bonuses and new quests. Tae-hyun's companions, currently without Tae-hyun, looked around with excitement.
"Se-yeon, since this is Sky Island, the map is in the air too."
"Hmm. An aerial map hasn't appeared in the World Cup yet... but we should prepare for when it does."
"Se-yeon, the NPCs here seem to use a lot of ranged attacks. Their equipment is mostly focused on ranged weapons like bows."
"Facing ranged attacks in an arena is good experience. Especially if it's a map we're experiencing for the first time. We're lucky."
"...Se-yeon. They're selling snacks over there. Do you want some?"
"Eating arena food before a fight often grants useful buffs, so that's a good choice."
Lee Da-bi looked at Lee Se-yeon with a dumbfounded expression. She had just made casual conversation, but Se-yeon answered everything with extreme efficiency in mind!
‘She's just like Tae-hyun...!’
Right now, Tae-hyun's shadow seemed to loom over Se-yeon's back. Although Da-bi was also someone who valued efficiency as a guild leader, compared to Se-yeon or Tae-hyun when they were in the zone, she was a very warm player who appreciated romance and leisure.
"Before we run the arena as a team, can I do a few solo rounds?"
At Ryu Tae-su's question, Lee Se-yeon nodded. Fighting together was good, but lightly testing the waters alone first wasn't a bad idea. It was also good for clearing daily quests and other things from the arena...
"I'll be back then!"
"...I will go with him."
As Ryu Tae-su and Ryu Da-young headed into the arena, Lee Se-yeon and Lee Da-bi were left alone.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence suddenly descended. Come to think of it, they had rarely been left completely alone together. Usually, Tae-hyun was between them.
"By the way, Da-bi."
"Ah, yes?"
"Didn't you say you got your class change quest?"
A quest. True to the Archisus Church, it was a quest that had been forced upon her even though she hadn't wanted it.
"I'm curious about the conditions. May I ask?"
"Oh, yes. It's nothing too unusual..."
The Golden Bishop class change quest was simple yet difficult.
- Build and dedicate a structure for Archisus!
Of course, building a mere shed wouldn't do; it had to be a structure that exceeded a certain standard. Since it wasn't a quest she could easily start, Da-bi had put it on hold for now.
"Hmm. What if I summon my undead to help you?"
"...!"
Da-bi was amazed by Se-yeon's suggestion. To think there was such a way!
In fact, many players had thought of similar things.
- How can we build a building cheaply?
- Rumor has it that Chinese prisoners run gold farms in prison.
- No way, is that even possible?
But reality was never that easy. Mobilizing people was no simple task.
- Necromancers can control the undead, can't they build with them?
- !
Some of those players (mostly members of the Power Warrior Guild), dreaming of free labor, had chosen the path of the Necromancer. Of course, they all failed. Undead labor was not that simple.
First of all, most undead lacked reason and couldn't perform delicate or complex tasks. To make undead do anything useful, one had to at least reach the Advanced rank in Black Magic and learn various other skills!
...But if you reached that level, it was better to do other things than use undead to build structures.
However, with Lee Se-yeon, it was a different story. She was a powerful Necromancer who could freely control elite undead! If Se-yeon set her mind to it, she could mobilize an immense army of undead to assist with the construction.
"I-I would be very grateful if you did... but are you sure it's okay?"
"We're on the same team, so of course I can help with that. But have you decided what you're going to build?"
"For now, I'm planning to go all-in on size and height."
"...?"
Se-yeon tilted her head. Although she wasn't a Priest or a Paladin, usually, wouldn't a god-related task be approached more... artistically? Like building a structure associated with an anecdote of that god, or finding and incorporating famous paintings or songs related to them...
"Those things aren't guaranteed to work, so it's better to just go all-in on size and height."
"...????"
Se-yeon was flustered. Uh, wait? Is this really how faith-related quests are cleared...?
‘Da-bi isn't clueless, so surely she knows what she's doing?’
"Hey, adventurers. Why are you just standing there instead of fighting in the arena?"
You have remained in the Gray Cloud Arena for a long time without participating in a fight.
Your affinity within the arena decreases slightly.
"What kind of place is this...?"
To think affinity would drop just because they stood still without fighting. It wasn't like they were camping in a cafe for dozens of hours after buying a single drink!
"We're entering now," Se-yeon said.
"Ah, wait. By any chance, are you adventurers who believe in Archisus?"
"!"
Da-bi tensed.
"Se-yeon. You must be careful."
"Yes? Why?"
"NPCs who recognize Archisus are usually highly likely to be weird."
"..."
Se-yeon found it absurd, but she didn't ignore Da-bi's advice. She gripped her staff, ready to cast magic the moment anything happened.
"Do you believe in Archisus?"
"What a rude thing to say, adventurer! Who would!"
The Garuda NPC jumped up and down, shouting indignantly. Da-bi apologized in a panic.
"I-I'm sorry."
"Be careful in the future! What do you take me for!"
‘What is this NPC's deal?’
Se-yeon scanned the NPC with a wary gaze. He was definitely a Garuda, but wrapped in a shabby cloak and stumbling around, he looked practically like a beggar. But in Pan-On, you could never judge by appearances alone. For some reason, this NPC made her guard go up. He felt like a high-level NPC!
"Since you apologized, I shall forgive you. Hmph. Be careful from now on. But... since we've met like this, it must be fate. Shall I teach you swordsmanship?"
"Pardon? No, thank you."
"I'm not interested either..."
"..."
Da-bi and Se-yeon cut him off flatly. In the first place, neither of them had any desire for swordsmanship skills.
"Why on earth not?!"
"Because we aren't swordsmen..."
"Take this opportunity to learn!"
Quest: Le...
Rejected.
You have declined the quest!
The Garuda NPC didn't back down easily. He blocked their path and threw himself onto the ground.
"Learn it! I said learn it! Please learn it!"
"Uh... if you really want to teach a swordsmanship skill, I know someone else..."
"He recognized that you were related to Archisus, but claims he doesn't believe in Archisus himself, and yet he insisted on teaching you swordsmanship?"
"Yes."
"Yeah."
"...That sounds incredibly suspicious. Are you sure he's teaching swordsmanship? Isn't it a scam?"
Carbanog also says it is suspicious.
"Why would he just give it away for free?"
"I'm not sure about that either..."
Tae-hyun had rushed over at Da-bi's call to meet the Garuda NPC. Could that master be this NPC?
You have met Godorobal, the Garuda Swordmaster!
Quest: Le... has been updated.
...It was him.
"To think he's not an Archisus believer..." Tae-hyun muttered, as if finding it hard to believe.
Carbanog is dumbfounded, asking if that is really such a shocking revelation.
"Ah. If it isn't the renowned Sky Blacksmith. By any chance, do you have any intention of making more weapons like—"
"So, what kind of swordsmanship are you going to teach me?"
Tae-hyun cut him off smoothly and got straight to the point. Hand over the secret swordsmanship skill!
Godorobal, not noticing anything amiss, answered easily.
"I possess the most outstanding swordsmanship even among the Garuda warriors. Once my sword is unleashed—"
"So, what is the name of the skill?"
"..."
When Tae-hyun pressed him, Godorobal pouted. To not even let him brag...
"That depends on your abilities."
"?"
"I do not teach pre-existing swordsmanship. I tailor it to the learner's characteristics, allowing them to awaken a completely new style of swordsmanship."
The Swordmaster's Tailored Lesson
📍 Location: Gray Cloud Arena
🎁 Reward: [?], [???]
Godorobal, the Garuda Swordmaster, does not teach ordinary, pre-existing swordsmanship skills. Instead, he uncovers and creates a new swordsmanship skill based on the adventurer's own abilities. Pass Godorobal's trial and obtain a new swordsmanship skill! If you succeed, you will grow one step stronger.
"!"
Tae-hyun was surprised by the unexpected quest content. In short, if he passed Godorobal's trial, he would get a new swordsmanship skill.
‘The part about tailoring it to my characteristics is a bit ominous, though...’
Would it give him an Archisus swordsmanship skill? No, he already had an Archisus swordsmanship skill.
‘A chef's cleaver swordsmanship? A blacksmith's hammer swordsmanship? I have so many skills that I can't even guess.’
Regardless of what came out, the quest itself was definitely a good thing. Having multiple swordsmanship skills was never a bad thing.
Carbanog says it is a bit strange, however. It suspects why a swordmaster of that caliber would just hand out skills for free.
‘That's true.’
Tae-hyun stared at Godorobal suspiciously. Could this be a trap?
"By the way, Godorobal. Why did you ask if we believed in Archisus?"
"What! Can't a person just ask about Archisus?! Are you saying I had some suspicious motive for asking?! Is that it?!"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
"I see. As long as that's not the case, then it's fine. I understand."
"..."
Carbanog says the rumors of him being crazy weren't for nothing.
Godorobal's mood swings were far too extreme. Getting angry, then calming down, getting angry, then calming down!
‘I should use my Speech skill and approach carefully.’
"Are you interested in Archisus?"
"I-I am interested in Archisus? What nonsense! I have absolutely no interest in Archisus!"
"Hmm. I see. Then..."
"You see?? I really have no interest in Archisus!"
"No, I get it, so..."
"I really don't! Please believe me!"
"...You seem very interested, though?"