Chapter 178
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Slayer Coastal Island (2)
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In truth, there wasn't much reason to visit Slayer Coastal Island even in the game.
The island had sunk to begin with, and given the field's nature—mostly underwater combat—only those who'd learned the relevant skills could venture inside to fight.
Occasionally, a few dedicated players obsessed with uncovering Easter eggs would cobble together a custom NPC party to clear it, but aside from one single item, it offered zero merits compared to other field raids.
Naturally, it was lambasted across the player base as an abandoned map...
'I only tried it once myself, out of that stubborn old-timer pride.'
Because of that, the party I'd poured a fortune into optimizing for underwater combat ended up gathering dust, with nowhere else to use it.
'So no real need to bother...'
Then Jun's expression gradually hardened.
Thanks to [Exceptional Memory], a flood of related info surfaced in his mind.
'Come to think of it, this place drew plenty of noble faction visitors, but the Emperor faction nobles frequented it even more as a resort spot.'
And in the game, the sinking island took a bunch of those Emperor faction nobles down with it, making the empire's political situation that much worse.
'...Gotta block it somehow. At least it's not outright impossible.'
If he started preparing steadily from now, he might get another shot at thwarting the Cheoncheon Sect at a critical moment.
'Or maybe the empire steps in first and wages war on them.'
Conveniently, Viscount Voletic—who controlled the island's [Checkpoint]—was right here, and he was Emperor faction.
No harm in building some connections with him while he was at it.
"These damn banquets... I just can't get used to them."
Maybe because he'd been dragged to so many lately, but now even the lavish spreads made him nostalgic for camp rations. Jun let out a deep sigh.
At least Eleanor was drawing just as much attention as he was, which gave him some breathing room.
'Well, high-ranking priests are just as rare as top mages.'
Thanks to that, Jun seized the chance to calm his churning stomach while gazing at the moonlit shore.
'Trouble is, no luck building ties with Viscount Voletic.'
Contrary to expectations, the viscount showed zero interest in the White Whale Mercenary Corps.
Or, if he stretched it a bit... he practically reeked of disdain.
'My mistake. Got too complacent.'
Just as he'd thought.
Not every Emperor faction noble got along swimmingly.
Jun might be neutral in reality, but from their perspective, he was the new rock rolling in.
'No reason for them to welcome me.'
Some might cozy up to him to score points via the earl's favor.
Others, anxious about that favor shifting his way? Definitely.
And Viscount Voletic was one of them.
'Raid team. He's been handling this one's raids for ages.'
To defend a hard-won [Checkpoint], you had to run the raid as a mandatory duty.
But Slayer Coastal Island's quirks made it anything but popular.
Voletic had likely earned the earl's trust over years of building a dedicated raid team from scratch.
'Then the earl's attention swings my way? No wonder he's pissed.'
How to handle this?
'Guess I'll reroute my intel sources.'
It'd delay things a bit, but Voletic wasn't the only game in town on Slayer Coastal Island.
With Cloi expanding her intel network lately, it wasn't impossible.
'Anyway, dropping that for now...'
Maybe fatigue bent his thoughts—they just flowed on their own.
'What've I gotta do after this tour wraps? Hmm. Ah, nice view. But damn, I'm pathetic, buried in work even at a resort.'
Pitying his work-obsessed self started souring his mood when—
"The famous mage, I presume."
Someone clueless sidled up and butted in.
Irritated, Jun glanced over.
'...Mage?'
A guy decked out like he was screaming "I'm a mage!" stared back with a sour look.
'Who the hell is this clown?'
Bad enough getting interrupted when he was down; the guy's hostility doubled the annoyance.
"What do you want?"
"Wh-what? What's with that reaction?"
"...?"
"A tower outsider giving me that blatant 'you're a nuisance' glare!"
Is he nuts?
'What cliché is this?'
Strolls up, sees the vibe's off, and explodes.
How is there a guy this hackneyed?
"Just beat it... Not in the mood."
His inner mercenary's crude side nearly cackled out after ages, but the guy missed it.
"This is what passes for a mage out in the wilds? Where's your dignity?!"
'Dude's unhinged...'
Debating old sayings like "avoid shit 'cause it's filthy" versus "stubborn dogs need the stick (not really)"—the guy kept ranting.
"Ignoring a Ranes Mage Tower mage like me? Unforgivable, you lowly cur. Time you learned a mage's pride."
"...With what?"
"Huh?"
"With what? That 'pride' or whatever."
"A magic duel, obviously!"
Oho...
This piqued his interest.
'Already pissed off.'
A legal shot at pounding this weirdo? Perfect.
Half-listening, something snagged in the guy's words.
'Ranes, though?'
Tons of mage towers, sure, but Ranes...
'The one that holds its own in Blackout?'
Ranes pursued real combat, unlike most tower mages holed up with books.
Their mages were battle-hardened.
'Owed them a lot in the game.'
Still, their backing kept overt noble-like swagger rare.
'Different from the game? Whatever. Ranes is milder than most I know.'
Even as the game world darkened mid-to-late game, Ranes fought for the empire to the end.
The tower lord was a decent guy, personality-wise.
'Better not beat him too bad.'
Not that he'd go easy, mind you.
Mage vs. mage duels branched out based on their styles.
If both built skill through knowledge, it became a battle of wits.
Like wuxia novels' "debate of swords."
Though spell-slinging via words could escalate into absurd pissing contests...
Anyway.
Another way: think Harry Potter duels.
Standoff at range, block spells, counter, score hits.
Classic style, popular among mages.
Demands solid magic knowledge, reflexes, and guts.
...And the last way?
'Brawl city.'
Like his scrap with Adrian from the Volcatornic Mage Tower.
No rules—just hurl lethal spells till one drops.
Most mages despised it.
Especially puffed-up pride merchants like this Ranes guy.
'Didn't expect him to pick the brawl.'
Surprising, but not out of left field.
Ranes specialized in combat, so they favored it.
'They're more monster-slaying pros than mage-duelists, though.'
Either way, tower mages got it; to the banquet crowd, it was fresh entertainment.
White Whale's famed captain vs. Blackout's Ranes Mage Tower hotshot?
Blockbuster.
"Keh heh heh! What a treat! Cheers to the mages!"
Viscount Voletic boomed with laughter, like he'd downed firewhiskey.
'That smug prick.'
Jun had accepted for stress relief, but Voletic clapped eagerly, loving it.
'Hoping I crash and burn, loud and clear.'
The banquet's royal stars didn't intervene either.
Dexter looked thrilled; Javier's eyes sparkled oddly.
'Perking up a bit?'
Third Prince Javier, looking lively for once.
Jun glanced at his team after a quick look Javier's way.
Aiden, in the know, wore worry.
Maya eyed it curiously.
Eleanor...
'Sorry.'
She sweated bullets handling the crowd surge.
Meanwhile, the Ranes mage bellowed cockily.
"Simple rules! Max 4th circle spells. No uncontrolled casts. Win by knockout or surrender."
He struck a heroic pose.
'Not just showboating for the crowd, huh?'
Jun had pegged him as a cocky newbie flaunting tower prestige.
A fool mistaking tower rep for his own.
'But no ego on his face.'
Pure mage pride? No extra gestures.
'Kinda unexpected.'
But what Jun missed...
'This too.'
Thud!
Five minutes in.
Jun hadn't budged an inch, yet the guy crumpled to his knees and faceplanted.
"What..."
Murmurs rippled.
The mage lay pale, deathly still—like mana drain.
Awkward silence blanketed the banquet.
'This idiot...'
A so-called mage, botching his own mana control, spamming till he collapsed solo.