Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Stolen Rewards and New Leads
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"The rewards are gone? What do you mean, old timer?!"
"I-I don't know either. I had them safely stored in the safe, but they vanished without a trace."
"So, you're saying it was stolen?"
"......Yeah, looks like it."
That day.
All their past hardships had gone up in smoke.
They'd tirelessly completed those quests solely for the village chief's reward.
But suddenly, the items meant as prizes were gone.
Stolen by someone's hand, most likely.
It was absurd.
And utterly deflating.
After all that grueling effort, they couldn't claim the payoff they'd earned.
It was infuriating.
He couldn't just let it slide.
Of course, the village chief had tried investigating recent visitors to his home, but there were no traces or clues left behind, making it tough.
He'd focused on the most recent ones, but they were quickly cleared for various reasons.
"That young man's an upstanding villager of ours!"
"The adventurer who stopped by not long ago just grabbed their reward and left right away."
"Our village's top contributor wouldn't do something like that!"
Excuses like that.
It was frustrating, no doubt.
But as the chief said, pinpointing the culprit without clues or even knowing the method was no easy task.
In the end, things circled back to square one.
No culprit caught, and the rewards fading into obscurity.
The vanished goals. Especially the loss of the way to unseal the bow—that was the biggest issue.
"Ugh, no helping it. Stick around under me for a while and hone your skills. I'll find another way somehow."
The silver lining: Village Chief Hamilton was a descendant of the ancient hunters.
Thanks to that, he could at least learn the basics from him.
In other words, he'd hastily recognized him as his ancestor's successor.
Without even properly testing his worth.
Thus, Shark—barely qualified on a technicality—shuttled between the Starting Village and the southern regions, gradually growing stronger.
Never giving up hope entirely.
Fueled by his obsession with the hidden scenario, he waited and waited for the chief.
And today.
Finally, the chief summoned him home.
Claiming he'd found another way.
Shark, hearing the news via communication artifact, rushed back to the chief.
"Huff, huff. Old timer! You really found another way?!"
"That's right!"
Thud!
His legs gave out.
Collapsing to the floor, Shark let out a teary sigh of relief.
"Aaaah, yes. God hasn't abandoned me yet!"
He'd turned the top guilds against him.
Reset his character just to reach the Starting Village.
How could he give up now, after sacrificing so much for the hidden scenario?
No way.
No chance in hell.
As if the heavens had recognized his resolve.
Finally, good news arrived.
A way for the first hunter.
Another path to inherit the Ten Emperors' will.
Overwhelmed, Shark asked the chief.
"Sniff, old timer. So, what is this method?"
"Normally, I shouldn't, but given the circumstances......"
From then on, the chief began explaining the alternative step by step.
First, the tombs of the Ten Emperors scattered across the continent.
There were several such tombs for the first hunter, and originally, a map marking the first one had been in the safe, the chief explained.
But now, everything in the safe was gone.
Which was why.
The chief had switched tactics entirely.
The Ten Emperors' tombs, in sequence from the first.
Normally, you'd visit them in order, but now they'd start with a different one first.
"And recently, another tomb was discovered."
"Really?"
"Yes. I specially asked the church for help. Someone from the Parnes Church will guide you soon."
"The Parnes Church......"
Among the continent's many religions, the Parnes Church worshipped light and the sun.
And now, that church was mentioned by the chief.
A name he'd never heard before, completely unexpected.
Noticing Shark's confusion, the chief belatedly explained their connection.
"Heh, I've been close with one of Parnes' bishops for a while. Actually, finding this tomb was thanks to his full support. Though, I did have to grant a favor in return."
"A favor?"
"Hmm, you could call it a trade."
"Sniff, old timer. For my sake!"
"For my one and only successor, this much is nothing!"
It was blinding.
Village Chief Hamilton.
He'd never shone so brightly before.
Back when the safe's contents vanished, he'd even resented the man.
But now, he saw him differently.
"Ah, perfect timing. There they are. This is the Parnes priest you'll travel with."
"Ooh."
"The bishop sent his prized disciple specially."
"Ooooh!"
A priest as an ally, no less.
Shark's eyes sparkled as he whipped his head around.
And saw her.
"Uh."
"Ah."
Black bob cut.
Haughty eyes.
Distinct cat-like features.
And the massive cross slung on her back.
The female priest he'd bumped into at the farmhouse field recently.
She was staring at him, brow furrowed.
"Battle priest?"
"That tinhead from before?"
Meanwhile, at that moment.
A man emerged from behind Jermi's lord's castle.
Wearing a battered iron mask. None other than Luke.
'No interest in working for the royals?'
Dania from the royal investigation team had suddenly offered recruitment.
Well, whether Dania was her real name was anyone's guess, but she'd tried pulling him into the royal fold.
'Me?'
'Yeah, the royals think highly of your skills.'
'But I've never heard of them forcibly recruiting investigators.'
'Special cases pop up sometimes.'
'So, you want to drag me into the palace?'
'It wouldn't be a bad deal for you. We'll treat you according to your abilities later. And......'
Tempting offers.
But Luke turned it down.
Or rather, put it on hold.
'Give me time to think.'
'Figured you'd say that.'
With that, Dania handed him a communication artifact.
'Contact me anytime if you change your mind.'
Kaum lord, Jermi lord. Now the royals too.
His network was expanding.
Recalling that, Luke glanced at his quest window.
The question-mark quest he'd shelved before.
It had popped up while tracking Parten's residents.
But suddenly, it updated.
Right as Dania made her pitch.
And the new quest was about royal contact.
Grade: Hidden
The royals want the iron-masked man—you. But they don't know yet. That you were the one who slew Regulus Valkins and halted the experiments. Proof of his death lies in your possession. Show it to them—what will they do? Hmm, who knows. They might value you even more. Of course, it might not be enough on its own.
'Who knew this was a hidden scenario too.'
The revolutionary army scenario had just appeared, and now another hidden one dangled before him.
His third hidden quest total.
This one tied to the royals, opposing the revolutionaries.
Royal recruitment offer. Black mage Regulus Valkins.
Combined, they'd altered the shelved quest.
Hence, three achievement conditions.
Choice-based, even.
[Choice 1: Accept the royal offer]
[Choice 2: Reject the royal offer]
[Choice 3: ?]
Three options total.
The outcome would vary by selection.
So he'd put it on hold for now.
It was a hidden quest, after all—not some run-of-the-mill one.
'But what's the third condition?'
One accept, one reject.
The last wouldn't even display.
Impossible to choose without knowing the prerequisite.
'Hmm, whatever.'
Luke closed the quest window and glanced back at the lord's castle.
Dania. She'd claimed royal investigator, but suspicions abounded.
Her NPC info remained fully obscured to the end.
Dania was probably a pseudonym.
Thus, abandoning the remaining six rare items in the castle.
Infiltrating with such a powerhouse lurking was impossible.
'Couldn't even detect that NPC in the reception room.'
Even if he succeeded, too many variables.
One slip, and he'd get caught stealing—by the investigators, no less.
'No choice.'
Regrettable, but he'd bide his time.
'Stick to the plan: leave Jermi.'
He'd gotten his desired rewards.
Royal offer on hold.
No more business in Jermi.
Time to head elsewhere.
Further north from Jermi.
First, catch a carriage at the entrance.
The destination was quite the distance.
But before that, one more thing.
Minimize any tracking risk.
So Luke repeatedly logged in and out several times.
Then changed outfits in an inn room as his precaution.
Finally, he sought a carriage to his destination at the entrance, as planned.
But.
"Fallen Lands? No way."
"Fallen Lands are too sketchy—rough roads, guilds clashing everywhere."
"Won't go even for more coin. Don't wanna die young."
"Hey, plenty of other spots. Why the Fallen Lands? Just forget it."
No carriage headed there anywhere.
The southern Fallen Lands.
Famous for guild rivalries before, but not to the point of zero carriages.
Conditions must've worsened lately.
Tricky.
Of all times.
Luke wandered, face fallen, seeking coachmen.
Hoping for a Fallen Lands ride.
Then, at the far edge, a belatedly noticed carriage.
He approached the driver.
"Any chance to the Fallen Lands?"
"Heh, Fallen Lands, eh?"
"Yes."
"Of course I'll go!"
"Ooh, then thank—"
That was when.
His steps halted. Gaze locked on one spot.
"Hm? What's up, young man?"
Yellow straw hat.
White hair peeking out.
Deep wrinkles of age.
A familiar face from somewhere.
Luke cautiously checked the floating name above his head.
[Jin Hyun]
'......Holy shit.'
A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.