The Germ of Archisus
Heuk-heuk hesitated for about ten seconds before speaking in a tiny, trembling voice.
—The… um… Avatar of Archisus.
—What?
—A-Archisus…
—Ah. I see.
—…?
Heuk-heuk was flustered. Hakkaras’s reaction was far too polite and calm. What’s going on? Did Hakkaras actually have nothing to do with Archisus?
—So, whose avatar did you say?
—I just said Archisus…
—So, whose avatar did you say?
—…….
Heuk-heuk finally understood the situation. Hakkaras was in complete denial!
—Lord Hakkaras. I am traveling with the Avatar of Archisus…
—You foolish, ignorant, short-sighted brat who doesn’t think of the consequences…!
Hakkaras spent the next ten minutes cursing Heuk-heuk out.
—…you bastard! Of all the people to travel with, you travel with the Avatar of Archisus! Have you not seen those Gold Dragon bastards?!
—No, do you think I want to travel with him? I made a contract, so I have to.
—What would Lord Valcaleos say if he knew?!
—…….
Heuk-heuk was utterly speechless. Hakkaras shot him a look mixed with contempt and pity.
—Fine. At least now I know how you’re doing. If I meet another dragon later, I’ll probably end up saying, "Did you hear the news? Valcaleos’s son is running around with the Avatar of Archisus. The world is ending! How could he do such a thing!"
—Then I’ll be off…
—Wa-wait!
—Don’t touch me with your claws! You’ll get Archisus on me!
—…….
—…….
An awkward silence instantly fell between them after that instinctive outburst.
—No… ahem. I only said that because Archisus’s divine power might disrupt my black magic.
—Ah… yes…
He’s literally treating Archisus like a germ! Heuk-heuk felt a surge of anger, but he held it back. He was the one who needed something right now.
—Lord Hakkaras. Actually, my master, the Avatar of Archisus, said he has something to tell you.
—What is it?
—He is currently fighting the vile and cunning King of Auston…
—Hearing that come from Archisus is a bit…
—Pardon?
—No, it’s nothing. Continue.
—…Anyway, he is fighting the King of Auston, but is there any need for the great Hakkaras to get involved in such a filthy fight? He hopes you won’t step into this muddy water.
—That is true.
Heuk-heuk’s face brightened. Is he really agreeing? But Hakkaras wasn’t that easy.
—But I have received a massive treasure from the King of Auston. And I made a promise. Do you think my promise is a joke?
—It’s not that…
—The Avatar of Archisus hasn’t even offered me a treasure. Even if he did, my resolve wouldn’t change! To think one of the pests the King of Auston wanted dead was the Avatar of Archisus. It is surprising, but to a dragon like me, the Avatar of Archisus is nothing but a single bite!
—…….
—Tell your master, the Avatar of Archisus. If he wants to live, tell him to come beg for his life and get out of the Auston Kingdom! Only then might I spare him!
We’re doomed. Heuk-heuk realized it was completely hopeless to persuade Hakkaras.
—Master, we’re doomed.
—Well, nothing we can do.
Tae-hyun was surprisingly calm. Honestly, he hadn't fully trusted Heuk-heuk anyway. If it worked, great; if not, expected.
—Don’t worry. I have a way to fight.
Normal players had maybe one hidden card, and rankers prepared two or three at most. But Tae-hyun was someone who prepared an absurd number of hidden cards. He had so many enemies since Pan-On 1 that he had to.
I’ve been saving Esla’s army…
Tae-hyun’s hidden card: Esla’s Army! He had saved the reward from unsealing the Archdemon Esla. Considering how long the quest was, the army’s strength must be immense. He didn’t want to fight a Black Dragon, but if he did, he had a chance.
It’s a waste to use it before the Guild Alliance, but if we have to fight, we have to. I’ll throw everything I have…
If he defeats the Black Dragon, the reward will be even bigger. The first dragon raid in the game!
—Kuo-kuo. [He says he doesn’t want to fight…]
“…….”
Tae-hyun stared at the Golem. Golem avoided eye contact.
“Let’s get our accounts straight.”
—Kuo?
“I brought you here, didn’t I?”
Technically, the Golem was fine in its mine before Tae-hyun came, but that didn't matter now.
“You lost your home, and I brought you all the way here.”
—Kuo…
“And I even gave you Sadiq’s Flame so you wouldn’t be cold. Do you know how hard that was?”
—Kuooo…
“And now I’m doing all this to find you a new place to live. You know how much I’m suffering, right?”
—Kuo.
“As a decent being, you should give me some compensation.”
—Kuo?
“Just give me a little bit of Adamantium every month.”
—…….
The Adamantium Giant Golem was horrified. How could he!
“It literally comes out of your body!”
—Kuo. Kuo.
The Golem resisted desperately. But he was at a disadvantage. In the Three Skull Mines, he had home-ground buffs, so he could threaten Tae-hyun. Here, he was completely vulnerable.
—Kuo…
An agreement has been made with the living Adamantium Giant Golem!
The Adamantium Giant Golem will provide Adamantium Ingots every month.
Your Speech skill has increased significantly!
Your Infamy has increased significantly!
Why Infamy?
He wanted to plant seeds here, so he cared about Infamy. He tried to lower it by talking to the Golem.
“Hey, did I do anything bad to you? It was just a fair trade.”
—Kuo.
The Golem nodded mournfully.
“Right?”
Your Infamy has increased.
“…….”
Tae-hyun stopped talking with a sour expression. He figured nothing good would come from talking to it any further.
“?”
Tae-hyun paused when his Divine Foresight stopped showing the way. The players behind him shouted:
“Tae-hyun! There’s no path from the fifth floor!”
“Then how do we go down?”
“…Good question?”
“…….”
Tae-hyun was dumbfounded, but it was true. There was no path leading further down from the fifth floor of the dungeon!
If there was no path, they should have received a dungeon clear message, but they didn't. That meant only one thing.
—There must be a hidden passage or secret room!
Even when the Guild Alliance occupied this place, thieves and explorers tried to find it but failed.
—Kuo…
The Adamantium Giant Golem shot him a look. It was a look that said, Don't tell me you made a contract and can't even find the way?
Ugh, these things are hard to find right away.
Normally, you need documents or related items. You can't just brute-force it. But since they had a contract, Tae-hyun decided to show some effort.
Where did the skill trail end?
Crash! Bang!
Tae-hyun took out his Ancient Hammer and started smashing the walls and floor near where the trail ended.
“Cain, help out.”
“Huh? Me?”
“You’re good at this.”
“N-no, I’m not! What are you talking about?”
Cain looked at the players behind him. He was a cool tank! He didn't want to do pickaxe and shovel work!
“What do you mean? You’re great at it.”
“Ah… no… ughhh…”
“What’s wrong with him?”
Tae-hyun and Cain swung hammers and shovels. It was just for show, so there were no expectations.
The Golem initially went “Kuo!” happily, but as time passed, it looked suspicious.
Do you even know the way?
Tae-hyun swung harder. To deceive, you must put your soul into the acting. To confidently say "I did my best! What can I do if I couldn't find it!", he must give his all…
Rumble!
“????”
He just swung the hammer randomly where Divine Foresight ended, and a hidden dungeon appeared!
Golem looks at him in awe.
—Kuooo!
"The Golem says he's sorry for doubting you."
You do not possess the Authority of Shiba. Entry is permitted only to those with Shiba's blessing.
“Who is Shiba?”
“Never heard of that god.”
They searched the forums.
The Valley of Despair and Sorrow was a gathering place for minor gods! Sadiq, Carbanog, Shiba all had churches there.
Players there are always looking for ways to use new gods. But Shiba seemed hard to use. Why worship a slime?
“Ah… I really wanted to go down there. What do we do?”
“Do I have to worship Shiba? I have too many contribution points with my current church.”
“I’m going to go switch! I barely did any church quests anyway.”
The number of adventurers joining the Shiba Cult has increased.
Your Holy stat increases.
The power of your Authority of Shiba skill increases.
“…?”
Tae-hyun was confused. Did finding the dungeon cause this? But that shouldn't make people join. Is it a coincidence?
Boing, boing—
With adorable squeaks, slimes came hopping toward them from the distance. Rare metal slimes! Steel slimes, copper slimes.
“They’re so cute!”
“Adorable…!”
Tae-hyun and Lee Da-bi immediately calculated their value.
“Are there any expensive ones?”
“That one looks expensive! Ah, that looks like silver! Silver! Tae-hyun, that’s silver! We have to catch it!”
“I’m already on it!”
Squeak! Squeak!
The slimes tried to flee in terror, but Tae-hyun was already upon them.
◈ Silver Ore x5
“…!!”
Tae-hyun and Lee Da-bi stared at each other in shock.
This place… is a goldmine!