The Taste of Rank and Reputation
Of course, nobody expected Kim Tae-hyun to change just because people cursed him out in their heads.
Even being cursed out to his face didn’t change him. That was Kim Tae-hyun for you.
If he’d been the kind of person who could change that easily, he would’ve changed back in Fantasy Online 1.
“So what is it?”
“...There’s a quest about finding out why Marquis Marden collapsed. And that’s where the Authority comes out.”
“Collapsed? Wasn’t he asleep?”
“Normally, a vampire on that level wouldn’t sleep that long. He suffered a fatal wound and fell into a deep slumber to recover.”
Tae-hyun nodded at Evangeline’s explanation.
It definitely sounded plausible.
And there was one more thing.
Then he’s not in perfect condition yet?
This might actually be the best time to take him down.
If they gave him too much time for no reason, he might recover.
“And the one who inflicted that fatal wound supposedly used a weapon containing an Avatar’s Authority.”
“What Avatar?”
“I don’t know that much...”
At that moment, disappointment flashed openly across Tae-hyun’s face.
His eyes practically said, You were showing off over something this useless?
“S-still, it’s better than knowing nothing at all!”
“That’s true.”
Tae-hyun sank into thought.
A weapon containing an Avatar’s Authority.
The Avatar here was most likely the Avatar of Archisus.
No matter how Ed-an was, he wouldn’t bring back a quest completely unrelated to that.
I’m trusting you, Ed-an!
Tae-hyun clenched his fist to himself.
Of course, if that trust turned out to be misplaced, bloody retaliation would follow.
But a weapon containing an Avatar’s Authority... does that mean I can learn the Authority from it?
He couldn’t confirm with his own eyes what the weapon actually was.
If he got the weapon, would he be able to learn the Authority? Or was it just a weapon and nothing more?
This isn’t going to trigger another linked quest, is it?
He felt uneasy, but it was a very likely possibility.
“Still, Tae-hyun. I’m just glad this trip wasn’t a complete waste.”
“Yeah. Right.”
At least it was some consolation in the middle of bad luck.
The Fantasy Online 2 forums were as noisy as ever.
All kinds of quests and bits of information were being discussed there, but only a few topics truly stood out.
And one of those was the news that Marquis Marden, lord of Marden Castle, had awakened.
There weren’t many videos from around Marden Castle, but enough of them had spread among players to stir up attention.
Videos of Marquis Marden appearing and wiping out parties, and even older clips of other parties hunting nearby, were making the rounds.
So the players with working brains had already figured something out:
If they rushed Marquis Marden right now, they’d just be volunteering to die.
So what was the better option?
The players on the forums were thinking along the same lines as Tae-hyun.
The difference was initiative.
Tae-hyun intended to meet the Count personally and take control of the board himself.
“So this is Count Anong’s castle? Nice.”
Anong Castle stood out on the plains, encircled by broad, solid walls.
Judging by the buildings inside and the size of its population, it didn’t lose to any other city.
As expected of a castle in Erangs Kingdom, one of the continent’s stable great powers.
“It truly is a fine place.”
“You can tell what kind of region this is just by the expressions on the people coming and going. Everyone looks bright.”
“The walls are thick, and even the soldiers in the guard towers seem to have good equipment.”
As he listened to his companions talking behind him, Tae-hyun’s eyebrow twitched.
Because this place was being compared—far too clearly—to the territory he owned.
If they were going to give him a territory, they should’ve given him something like this.
Why in the world did they have to give him that wrecked wasteland instead?
Come to think of it, that Valley was cursed from the start. Even the name was bad luck.
Valley of Despair and Sorrow.
It almost felt like the name itself was mocking his current life.
Tae-hyun looked around.
There was a wide moat in front of the castle and a huge drawbridge lowered over it toward the gates.
Hm. So I could lure Marquis Marden’s army here after all.
If Count Anong had heard that thought, he would’ve exploded on the spot.
There were plenty of players nearby too.
And not just high-level ones.
All kinds of players gathered around cities and castles to do their own thing.
But most of them looked relaxed.
They’re not worried about Marquis Marden marching here?
Then again, that was only natural.
Marquis Marden hadn’t finished gathering his subordinates yet, and he hadn’t even started moving anywhere.
No one around here was nervous about it already.
“Whoa. What’s that?”
“Must be a noble. That looks seriously awesome!”
The murmurs of other players reached Tae-hyun’s ears.
What now?
Curious, he turned his head.
Far off on the horizon, a group of people was approaching the castle.
Even from a distance, their extravagant appearance stood out at once.
Flags painted in various colors and patterns, armored knights riding horses, and a carriage in the middle of them all.
A noble.
Usually, no player traveled around looking like that.
Well, tastes varied, so maybe some player somewhere did—but normally, that sort of thing meant NPC.
If a noble is coming to Count Anong’s castle at a time like this... ah. Count Anong’s friend?
Tae-hyun searched his memory.
The reason the Marden Castle subjugation quest appeared in the first place was because one of Count Anong’s friends had come to visit his domain.
Then that group must be Count Anong’s friend?
Players gathering herbs out in the field and players hawking goods from roadside stalls near the city all surged over the moment a spectacle appeared.
The players of Fantasy Online 2 came in every variety.
Not all of them played the game like their lives depended on it. Plenty of them enjoyed scenes like this.
“A noble? This is the first time I’ve ever seen one arrive like this.”
“You never saw Count Anong go hunting?”
“I was somewhere else back then.”
As a crowd instantly formed along the roadside, the knights escorting the carriage stared at the players with wary eyes.
“What is this disturbance?”
“It is nothing, my Count. It appears a crowd has simply gathered.”
“Hm hm. Naturally. My dignity is so great, this is only to be expected.”
“Indeed, Count. Your dignity is so magnificent that even these low creatures in the distance recognized it and flocked here.”
Count and knight, perfectly in sync.
The players listening nearby felt filthy, but none of them said a word.
If they misspoke, they might get attacked by the noble’s knights right here.
“Isn’t that Count Marcel?”
“I’m not sure. I can’t see very well.”
“I think it is Count Marcel. That stupid-looking face. Looks like Count Marcel to me.”
“Ah. Now that you say stupid-looking face, it’s easy to tell. Yes, that stupid-looking one does seem to be Count Marcel.”
“Right? You don’t see a face that stupid very often.”
Though distant, the voices were still clear enough for Count Marcel to hear every word.
Furious at the insolent conversation, Count Marcel slammed the carriage window frame and bellowed,
“Which insolent wretches are those?!”
“Me.”
“?!”
Count Marcel’s eyes widened when he saw the people in the distance waving at him.
Th-that bastard was...!
“Turn the carriage around! Turn it around!”
“What? Count! Whatever is the matter?”
“I said turn the carriage around, you fools!”
Count Marcel is overcome with terror.
Terror has increased.
No, but this time I really didn’t do anything?
While Tae-hyun stood there bewildered, Count Marcel sprang into action.
He suddenly flung open the front door of the carriage and came out, snatching the reins from the coachman.
Then he tried to turn the carriage around himself.
Of course, Count Marcel had never properly driven a carriage in his life.
Crash!
Watching Count Marcel topple over while trying to drive alone, Rufo tilted his head.
“What is he doing?”
“Guess he was so happy to see me he tried to come greet me personally and messed up.”
“Ah. I see. It appears Count Marcel knows gratitude.”
“...”
Tae-hyun stared at Rufo in disbelief.
He’d said it as a joke, and Rufo had taken it completely seriously.
He really thinks Count Marcel is sincerely grateful?
Sure, Tae-hyun had rescued him—but whether that could honestly be called a proper rescue was debatable.
In fact, Count Marcel was apparently so traumatized that the instant he saw Tae-hyun, he’d tried to turn the carriage around and flee the other way.
Meanwhile, the knights were helping Count Marcel back to his feet and trying to calm him down.
“My Count! Please calm yourself! There is no one dangerous around here.”
“If there is an enemy, we will strike them down!”
Reassuring voices from loyal knights.
But Count Marcel only stared at Tae-hyun with terrified eyes.
“You fiendish devil! Why are you here? Go back to your territory! Go back to your territory, I say!”
“That’s cold. Did you already forget how we fought side by side on Katerand Island?”
“Who fought side by side with you?! Shoo! Shoo!”
Count Marcel hid himself inside the carriage and waved only one hand out at him.
Beside them, Evangeline stared at the two with the expression of someone witnessing the strangest thing in the world.
“What happened between you two?”
Clatter, clatter—
Only then did the knights realize Tae-hyun was the cause, and they urged their horses forward toward him.
“Do not approach the Count any further! One more step and I’ll cut you down!”
“Cut me down? Do you even know who I am?”
“Y-you? Who are you?”
There was always something unsettling about hearing the line, Do you know who I am?
It made whoever heard it instinctively think, Even if I don’t know, he’s probably somebody important.
“Count Kim Tae-hyun.”
“Gasp!”
The knights stared at Tae-hyun in shock.
Tae-hyun revealed both his face and his signet ring bearing his noble seal.
You have proven your status as a Count of the Atali Kingdom.
The knights’ attitude toward you changes.
This was exactly why titles and fame were worth having.