Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Revolutionaries (2)
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Look at this.
This ridiculous effect.
An extra life, of all things.
I could swear I'd never seen an ability like this once in all my time playing Agas.
The pinnacle of skills.
An Authority.
To think I'd been living all this time without knowing such a broken power existed.
'Damn, that means all the guys with Authorities have been keeping this under wraps among themselves.'
Otherwise, there's no way this wouldn't have leaked after two whole years.
Gu Hwi and Geukcheon.
Maybe even they possessed something like this.
'Whatever, jackpot anyway!'
The Authority of that black cat that once possessed Drowder.
I'd nearly ended up the same way when I took it down, but at that moment, the Night King's energy reacted.
The darkness of night.
That power reversed and absorbed the evil darkness, successfully making the Authority my own.
The Authority's power had weakened as a result, but it didn't matter.
This alone was an insane option, and now I could restore its strength through the Night King's energy.
'If this really means I've got an extra life like it says...'
It was as good as insurance.
A way to escape crisis.
A chance to turn the tables.
And not just that.
I might even be able to pull off life-or-death gambles I'd never dared before.
Why?
Because I had extra lives.
Like Super Mario, I could respawn right there on the spot.
Of course, fitting for such a cheat ability, recovering a heart took an absurdly long time.
90 days.
Three months in real time.
So extra lives were for absolute last resorts, after agonizing deliberation.
At least with no regrets.
"Heh heh heh, well now. Giving a guy like me wings on top of everything. Thieves really are the best."
Damn right.
Long live the Night King!
Luke shouted that inwardly before summoning the quest window this time.
[Revolutionaries (2)]
Grade: Hidden
Description: The revolutionaries' leader is dead. But remnants still lurk in their hidden base somewhere. The dregs of the revolutionaries. They will elect a new leader and once again target Del Mark's legacy. Before they do, use the secret map to claim Del Mark's legacy first!
Conditions: Combine Del Mark's Secret Map 0/1, Claim Del Mark's Legacy 0/1
The revolutionaries scenario, freshly updated after claiming the rest of the secret maps from Drowder.
As expected, the quest conditions revolved around Del Mark's legacy.
Combine the secret map.
Head to where the legacy is hidden and claim it first.
The conditions themselves seemed simple enough.
But as a hidden scenario, the difficulty couldn't be underestimated.
Maybe that's why.
Luke pulled out the halved secret map with a tense glint in his eyes.
[Del Mark's Secret Map (Upper)]
[Del Mark's Secret Map (Lower)]
'It all started from Lerik's corpse, and now it's led to this.'
Map recovery.
Tracking Lerik's family.
Discovering the temporary mountain stronghold.
Luring in the private army.
Wiping out the bandits.
All the way to raiding Drowder.
What a long road.
A half-map from a city resident's corpse. Who'd have thought it'd spark all this?
I couldn't have imagined it back then.
"Feels like everything starts with a theft."
"Poko?"
"Sigh, yeah. No point dwelling now. Alright, let's do this, Poko."
"Poko poko!"
"Huuuuuh!"
In the rundown inn room.
Luke gripped the map pieces and took a slow, deep breath.
Then he began combining the two halves.
"Combine!"
"Pokoooo!"
A spirited shout.
At the same time, the split secret map fused together.
Flash!
It sparkled.
A blue glow.
The color signifying rare grade, shining brilliantly.
Aah.
This was the moment I'd been waiting for.
Thrilled, Luke slowly unrolled the map.
Thump!
Del Mark, the old kingdom's prime minister.
Also a millionaire merchant.
This map marked where that man's legacy was hidden.
Expectations soared, naturally.
Thump!
The map unfurled slowly.
And what lay within was...
'Where's this?'
[Dear: Oppa oppa, finally at the 5th floor of the demon cave with the party!]
-Oh, be careful not to die.
[Dear: Don't worry, I'm growing too!]
-Yeah, you learn by dying.
[Dear: Ah, oppa!]
A whisper from his sister Mira.
Soon after, another from Mira's friend Haneuli.
[Rabbit: Oppa, sorry. I couldn't protect Mira!]
-Died again?
[Rabbit: No, not yet!]
-Oh, good...
[Rabbit: Ah, she died.]
-Jeez.
Ever since friending them, he'd been exchanging occasional whispers like this, and today was no different—Haneuli reporting Mira's death as usual.
As expected.
The 5th floor of the demon cave was still too much for them, just shy of level 60.
Though Mira's "amazing skills"(?) probably contributed.
'Well, "learning by dying" isn't entirely wrong.'
Die.
Die again.
Get used to combat, and skills improve naturally.
Plus, Mira never repeated a mistake twice.
Luke thought that as he looked down below.
He was perched on the roof of a building facing the lord's castle.
'They're packed in tight.'
He could see them.
Innumerable crowds.
Players and NPCs gathered to catch a glimpse of the Iron Mask Man.
Which was why.
Jermi city residents.
Those drawn by pure curiosity.
Media reps waiting for a scoop.
And guild scouts looking to recruit.
All sorts were there.
Getting spotted would be a hassle.
That's why he'd come without the mask, but to enter, he'd have to state his business to the guards first.
Impossible to whisper it secretly amid that crowd.
His appearance wouldn't matter; he'd draw suspicion anyway.
'Those scouts especially are a nightmare.'
Leeches, the lot of them.
They pulled every trick to recruit targets.
With the revolutionaries incident, even mid-to-large guild scouts were probably mobilizing.
Some might be lurking even now, watching the castle.
'Spouting nonsense about mid-tier zones they can't deliver.'
I could see it already.
So avoid people as much as possible.
How?
Via Shadow Step, enhanced by Sneak Mastery.
[Sneak Mastery Correction!]
[Target: Shadow Step]
[Presence and footsteps greatly reduced!]
A form slicing through the wind.
With boosted Agility stats, movement speed was higher than before.
Luke hopped building to building, cautiously approaching the rear of the lord's castle.
Security was still tight.
Guards and defenses remained thorough, but fewer soldiers than before—it was obvious.
Probably losses from the recent sweep operation.
Tat tat tat!
Even accounting for that, infiltrating the castle was no easy feat.
'Never dreamed of this when I first came to Jermi.'
Massively improved physical stats.
And the new Sneak Mastery skill.
Thanks to those two.
'Sneaking in feels iffy, but he invited me, so even if caught, he won't complain?'
I could always claim special circumstances.
Shh!
Luke slipped inside the castle.
Then boldly donned the Iron Mask and revealed himself.
"Who... Gasp?!"
Panicked soldiers.
"I didn't mean to startle you."
Luke calmly paid his respects and explained.
"I-the Iron Mask Man!"
"It's really him!"
The area erupted in an instant.
A short while later.
Escorted by soldiers, Luke arrived at the reception room.
"The Viscount will be here shortly. Please wait just a moment."
Fortunately, the soldiers were polite.
More than polite—cautious, even.
Probably due to his major contributions in the sweep.
'I did save Jermi residents mid-operation.'
Made sense.
Luke sat in the reception room, awaiting the Viscount.
Soon, Jermi's lord appeared.
Creeeak!
Viscount Balrag Chainber in person.
"Oho, the Iron Mask Man!"
"Sorry for the wait, my lord."
"Nonsense, I'm grateful you came at all. I've been eagerly awaiting you!"
"I can only offer my thanks for your lordship's boundless magnanimity."
A light bit of flattery.
Luke began acting the courteous adventurer.
Perhaps because of it.
The already beaming Viscount's face lit up even more.
More satisfied than expected.
'All part of paving the way for rewards!'
Contribution rewards.
Raid rewards.
And the Viscount's personal rewards.
Grab everything possible.
That was Luke's endgame.
"I've heard of your exploits from the knights and soldiers already..."
After that, Viscount Chainber began listing Luke's deeds in order.
Eliminating executives.
Rescuing city residents.
Boosting morale for soldiers and knights.
And finally, slaying Drowder.
Legends of the Iron Mask Man, already buzzing everywhere.
How long did he go on?
Finally, he had soldiers bring something in.
And offered thanks once more.
"My gratitude again. Without you, we couldn't have crushed the revolutionaries!"
Five level ups total.
Fewer than from Drowder himself, but more than satisfying.
Why?
Material rewards were still coming.
"We have them, my lord!"
Right on cue, soldiers arrived carrying large chests on the Viscount's orders.
Eight massive chests.
Luke's heart raced at the sight.
'Oh my god!'
Aaah.
What was this thrill?
Like reuniting with first love.
But only for a moment.
The Viscount's next words deflated his excitement sharply.
"The finest items our house can offer. Choose any two to take with you!"
"Ah... just two?"
"That's right!"
"I see."
Mood killer.
Even as the city's hero, only two from all this?
'Suddenly pissed off.'
Then.
The soldiers belatedly opened the chests.
'Just shank 'em here and...'
His face stiffened.
Eyes trembling.
At the same time, Luke clamped both hands over his mouth upon seeing the contents.