The Voice of Salvation

"And since you came here to ask for a favor, is it really wise to threaten us like this?"

Oops! Alcott realized his mistake.

Come to think of it, he had come to ask Tae-hyun's crew for a favor! Because he spent every day threatening people, it had just slipped out of him like a habit.

"A-Ah, no, that was just a joke."

"Right. It was a very funny joke. I'll be sure to tell Tae-hyun—"

"No! I was wrong! Please, just don't tell him!"

In truth, Tae-hyun had already forgotten about being angry at Alcott, having been filled in on the details immediately afterward. But Alcott, completely unaware of this, was in a state of absolute desperation! He had to clear up the misunderstanding at all costs!

Watching his desperate display, Lee Da-bi thought to herself, Just what did he go through to be this terrified?

From her perspective, this extreme Tae-hyun phobia was utterly incomprehensible. Regardless, Alcott was a great card to have in her hand, and she fully intended to play him.

Lee Da-bi sent a whisper to Tae-hyun to explain the situation.

No wonder a hundred people are coming to kill him, Lee Da-bi thought, but she kept it to herself. It was her own sweet way of showing consideration for Tae-hyun!

And just like that, Alcott's fate was sealed without him even knowing!

Tae-hyun scanned the warehouses, lost in thought. He had intended to leave for the Red Rock Fortress immediately, but these warehouses held him back. The massive structures stood side by side, practically screaming "Take me!" to Tae-hyun's eyes.

Clack—

Weapons, armor, arrows, potions... The warehouses were packed to the brim with all kinds of items!

"Chwik. Do not touch anything, mage."

"A-Ah, I won't. Why would a mage like me even look at your gear anyway?"

"Chwiik. Suspicious. Why is a mage staring at the warriors' equipment like that?"

"I told you, it's a misunderstanding," Tae-hyun replied shamelessly, having regained his composure. But his mind was spinning at top speed!

The armor I'm wearing right now is the Adamantium armor, and for weapons, I'm alternating between Edaor's Greatsword and Meteor.

These were magnificent items that ordinary players could only dream of seeing. Especially the Meteor, which couldn't be obtained through normal means—it was gear he had stolen... no, received from the royal treasury!

Since Tae-hyun, who wasn't even level 100 yet, possessed gear on par with rankers in the high-100s, it was easy to see just how absurdly overpowered his equipment was.

Thanks to the Wanderer's Set, I don't have to worry about my cloak, belt, gloves, and shoes. I only need to focus on my armor and main weapon.

The Wanderer's Set. It was a set item Tae-hyun had acquired early on and was still using to great effect. Its only drawback was its rather perverted stat requirements, but for a player like Tae-hyun, whose stats were forced to grow in perfect balance, that wasn't even a disadvantage.

Edaor's Greatsword is good, but it's a weapon I won't be able to use forever.

Edaor's Greatsword and other such items were ultimately quest items. They were things he would eventually have to sacrifice to unseal Esla! While they were incredibly powerful, he couldn't rely on them forever.

Besides, it's a bit unsettling that the item descriptions have that demon-related warning attached to them...

With such descriptions attached, holding or using these weapons might attract demons to him. He was being as careful as possible, but still...

I should melt down Edaor's Greatsword, gather some new materials, and forge a new weapon. Since I'm not using Meteor right now either, I might as well melt that down and remake it too...

Unlike other combat-class players, Tae-hyun intended to craft his own gear. He never imagined he would be reusing his blacksmithing strategy from Pan-On 1 in Pan-On 2.

But the things I make turn out way more effective than expected.

He had already raised both his Blacksmithing and Engineering skills to the Advanced level. While his Blacksmithing skill might lag behind the top blacksmith rankers who were already eyeing the Master rank, Tae-hyun possessed several elements they lacked.

Engineering, Luck, and Holy. These attributes would be reflected in the equipment, creating a synergy with Tae-hyun's class as the Avatar of Archisus.

To do that, I'll need good materials...

Black Iron, True Silver, Platinum, Orihalcon, Adamantium, and all kinds of gems! There was a reason people said a blacksmith ranker could empty out a guild warehouse if they set their mind to it. Crafting top-tier equipment required a corresponding fortune!

Back in Pan-On 1, did I raid three guilds just to make a single piece of gear...?

The victims were probably still gnashing their teeth to this day, but to Tae-hyun, it was just a fond, distant memory. At any rate, he had to plunder everything he could from these Orc warehouses.

Tae-hyun had a premonition. Once this quest was over, no matter how things played out, this Orc settlement would not be left standing in one piece!

"Chwik. Mage! Go away! Your eyes look evil for some reason!"

"Tsk." Thanks to his absurdly high Infamy stat, Tae-hyun was distrusted even by the Orcs.

"Really?"

"Yes. If I put in a good word for you, Tae-hyun will definitely understand. He's actually very kind-hearted deep down."

"What? What kind of bullsh—ah, right. Y-Yeah, of course."

Alcott almost blurted out his sheer disbelief but stopped himself just in time. He knew Lee Da-bi held the power to relay messages to Tae-hyun.

Kim Tae-hyun is kind-hearted? Are you insane?

Kim Tae-hyun is good at the game. Alcott could admit that.

Kim Tae-hyun is smart. He could admit that too.

Kim Tae-hyun is kind. Absolutely, under no circumstances, could he ever accept that!

At ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠least make it sound believable...

"So, what do I need to do? I just need to help with this quest, right? I'm a busy man myself."

"Yes, yes. Just help with this quest, and then assist with a few other minor quests afterward."

"What? Why is the number of quests growing—"

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"...growing? Yes, growing our cooperation through more quests is a wonderful idea. Hmph."

Alcott grumbled, but he couldn't refuse. He was terrified of when and how Lee Da-bi might whisper to Tae-hyun.

This won't do. I need a different approach...

Instead, Alcott decided to appeal to her sympathy.

"But seriously, I'm actually really busy... Could we maybe cut down on the other quests?"

"What is making you so busy?" Lee Da-bi asked.

Alcott was about to answer without a second thought. It was a reckless mistake he never would have made had he known what kind of person Lee Da-bi truly was!

"I'm looking for a certain item."

"What item?"

"Uh, that's a bit... It's my personal quest..."

Alcott's briefly departed wits returned to him. But Lee Da-bi was far too skilled.

"Ah. If you don't want to say, that's perfectly fine. I was just hoping to help if I knew anything about it. The Power Warrior Guild has a massive player base, so we hear a lot of rumors."

"...!"

Alcott was instantly swayed. Normally, he would have hidden his quest details at all costs, fearing that competitors might find out and interfere.

But no matter how he looked at her, Lee Da-bi didn't seem like a competitor, and the Power Warrior Guild barely even looked like a real guild.

"...It's an item called Ure."

"I see! I'll let you know as soon as we get any information!"

She omitted the words 'to Tae-hyun!' at the end. Completely oblivious, Alcott smiled gratefully.

"Really? Thanks. I'll be in your debt!"

The massive party led by Jang Ssu-an, now joined by Alcott. On paper, they only had two rankers, but the psychological effect was massive. Other rankers saw them and thought, Oh? Those two are together? This must be a lucrative quest! and began flocking to join.

Furthermore, venturing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into the Uruk Region meant they were high-level players who had easily cleared level 100! Except for Tae-hyun, of course.

"Follow me! You tankers over there! Raise your shields in front of me! Block the attacks coming from above!"

"Cain used to block those himself."

"Yeah. As expected of Jang Ssu-an..."

"W-Wait, that guy is a tank class, and I'm a damage dealer! Of course it's different!" Jang Ssu-an sputtered, flustered by the ridiculous comparison.

Regardless of the bickering, the siege was steadily underway.

"Chwik! Fire! Fire!"

The Red Rock Fortress. True to its name, it was a fortress built into sheer red stone cliffs. Because the walls were carved directly out of the mountain rock, they easily withstood almost any attack.

"Why is that thing so sturdy?"

"We can't compare this to the Orc fortresses near the kingdoms! This place is on a whole different ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠level!"

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the players began to murmur anxiously. The defensive power here was in a completely different league compared to the Orc fortresses near the kingdoms of the Central Continent or the small villages they had raided on their way here!

From this point onward, they were in the territory of the Uruk Orcs, ruled directly by the Great Chieftain and the chieftains. Their true might was finally showing itself.

"Do we have to scale the walls then?"

"Scaling those walls looks almost impossible..."

"Chwik! The intruders have stopped! Attack! Attack!"

"Argh! Get your heads down! Get down!"

"Heals! I need heals over here!"

A fierce volley of arrows rained down! Though the arrows were crudely made, they dealt massive damage, a testament to the high levels of the Orcs firing them.

"What the hell are the levels of those Orc archers on the walls..."

"They're easily over 100. Maybe 120? 130?"

"Priests, buff the tanks, please!"

A brutal bloodbath unfolded at the base of the fortress walls. Along with the relentless rain of arrows, massive boulders and spells from Orc shamans crashed down upon them. Although they managed to hold the line thanks to their abundant priests, they couldn't advance an inch.

"Jang Ssu-an! What do we do now?"

"Jang Ssu-an! Give us some orders! We're making zero progress!"

"Jang Ssu-an! Tell us what to do, quickly!"

"Uh, well, you see..."

Pressed from all sides, Jang Ssu-an panicked. The battlefield was vast, with skirmishes breaking out in dozens of different spots. How was he supposed to coordinate all of this?

"I-I mean..."

Tae-hyun's whisper arrived at that exact moment. To Jang Ssu-an, it sounded like the voice of salvation itself.

"...To the fortress gates!"

"???"

"Are you insane?"

"Hey, get a grip, Jang Ssu-an!"

The rankers who had gathered under Jang Ssu-an's banner shook their heads in disgust. Unlike ordinary players, rankers had far too much to lose! There was no way they would accept such a reckless decision...

"The—the gates are opening!"

"Charge! Go now!"

The players surged forward in a massive wave!

"Chwik?! Who opened the gates?!"