The Boy Who Dreamed of Becoming a Fairy(1)
The Boy Who Dreamed of Becoming a Fairy(1)
Burning Hell update.
So, five years from now.
The Labyrinth City of Zarkal still existed when the Demon Gate was opened.
The atmosphere was similar to what it is now.
The only difference is that the difficulty of the Labyrinth has increased exponentially with the opening of the Demon Gate.
Black fairies reincarnated by demons.
At first, gamers entered the labyrinth with half expectation and half excitement, but within a week, the ratings plummeted to the bottom.
Complex labyrinth structure.
Insignificant drop rates for such a challenging run.
It just wasn't worth it as a hunting ground.
Understandably, he didn't even look at the Labyrinth for a while. Then, while on a quest to find the Hero's Trail, he stepped into the Labyrinth City for the first time.
After a few days of analyzing NPC conversations, Redin learned of a strange old man.
That's the beggar man.
It was the beginning of a hidden quest called The Boy Who Dreamed of Becoming a Fairy.
"Ah.."
The demonic energy was purified through the [Fire of Purification].
The black veins on the old man's face disappeared, and his unfocused eyes returned to normal.
He was surprised by the changes in his body.
The gray-haired old man's eyes widened and he touched himself with his hands, then looked at Redin and gulped
"Are you a priest?"
The old man's eyes turned red.
Rubbing his eyes with his hands, the old man gathered his emotions, took a few breaths, and calmly opened his mouth.
"You received the letter I sent you."
A letter sent by a boy to the Holy Empire.
In the original story, the letter never reached the Holy Empire.
Of course, it wouldn't have reached them now either.
This quest had begun in the first place when the old man mistook me for a priest sent by the Holy Empire.
"Yes. I have confirmed the contents of the letter."
"Ah... thank you. I see that the Creator Goddess Veronica hasn't abandoned the fairies."
"I'd like to hear more details regarding the letter."
He knows how to proceed with the quest.
Even without this old man, getting the Fairy Heart shouldn't be too difficult.
Still, he came for one reason.
After completing the hidden quest, the old man will have one special skill that he wants you to copy.
"At the bottom of the Labyrinth are the kings of the fairies. Purify them, and they will regain their sanity."
"You mean the lowest level?"
"Yes. I heard from a fairy knight who came to his senses for a very short time."
"Are you sure of that?"
The old man nodded.
Then he unclasped the necklace around his neck and handed it to Redin.
A necklace of crystal clear glass.
Inside it was a pinkish powder. It was the kind of gift a fairy would only give to those they deemed close.
"I am old now, will you return Zarkal to its former self for me?"
"I promise."
"I am so... grateful."
"Now come with me."
The old man shook his head.
"I'm comfortable here."
Redin was wondering if it was possible.
As expected, he didn't move.
"Okay."
Leaving the old man behind, he made his way out of the alley.
Now was the time to move in earnest.
Reto, who was waiting, approached.
He tried to hand him his cloak, but the smell was too strong, so Reto tossed it in the corner of the alley and stepped out into the street.
"Are you done with your business?"
"For now."
"Thank God."
"Thank you for your work, you must have missed your family, you can go back now."
"Thanks to you, Sir Bahad, I can see them. I'll finish my research on this Bordeaux man when I get back."
"Okay. I'll see you next time in the Kingdom of Resha."
After separating with Reto.
Redin walked over to a cluster of Guild buildings. To enter the Labyrinth, one needs a Labyrinth Pass, which can only be issued by the Guild Union.
Guild Street near his hotel.
When he arrived, he saw many people. Adventurers coming and going through the streets. From swordsmen to mages, lancers to martial artists.
All sorts of different people were milling about.
"These are my new knuckles. How do they look?"
"Where did you get them?"
"I splurged on them at Michele's workshop. So I'm going to start using them like crazy today."
Some were showing off their gear.
"Apparently a bishop-level dungeon has appeared in the western labyrinth, and the Prion Guild is organizing a raid. Do you want to come?"
"Arthur, but if you put it on wrong. Bang, You're dead."
"If I don't die, I'm in for a treat."
"I don't know if you're a gambler or not."
He also heard stories about the Labyrinth.
He has a new appreciation for them.
There was a time when he'd spend hours typing out the text of NPCs' conversations, trying to find something in the Labyrinth City.
He smirked and started moving again.
Walking down the street, he stopped in front of a large building on his left. A flag with two crossed fists fluttered in the wind.
Guild Union.
A neutral place that resolves disputes between guilds and individuals, as well as evaluates new adventurers and existing guild members.
Creak!
The doors to the Guild Union building opened.
The staff member waiting at the entrance bowed and smiled.
"Welcome, how can I help you?"
"I'd like to get a pass to the Labyrinth."
"You must be a new adventurer, welcome to the Guild Union. To get your pass, just go inside and go to the place that says [Issue]. “
He bowed his head slightly and stepped inside.
There were a lot of people in the Union. Some were new adventurers like himself, while others were feuding with other guilds.
"I was raiding first."
"Fuck you. I've been here since morning, and you're the first one in."
"Come on, calm down."
"Let go! You think I'm going to calm down now? That asshole stole my boss monster soul!"
After passing them, he arrived at the issuance department where the staff directed him. There were a few people ahead of him, so he waited for a while.
The line thinned out and soon it was his turn.
"Are you a new applicant?"
"Yes."
"If this is your first time, you must take a test from the Guild Union, and you must have... um... wait."
The employee checked something.
"There's a test in half an hour, and there's only one spot open, do you want me to sign you up right away?"
"Yes."
"Then take the test, bring the record sheet the examiner gives you, and I'll get it to you right away."
"Okay."
"You can go to the waiting room and wait."
The waiting room she led him to wasn't far away.
A somewhat large room.
Inside, there were new adventurers waiting in line. He walked over to an empty seat and sat down.
Glancing around and looking straight ahead, he spotted a familiar face.
A woman sleeping with her head against the wall.
Jin Sowol.
Why is she here again?
* * *
Examiner Rhude yawned and opened the door to the waiting room. There were about six new adventurers.
Two nervous.
Two who looked competent.
One who seemed ordinary.
One sleeping without a care in the world.
They were the ideal amount.
'I'll be home in two hours at the earliest.'
As usual, he knocked on the door twice to get their attention.
"I'm Rhude, the examiner in charge of this afternoon's tests, and we'll start them now. Everyone follow me out. We'll be off to the labyrinth right away."
With that, Rhude led the adventurers to the North Labyrinth. This is where the dungeon for the test was set up.
"Rhude, you're working hard today."
He yawned and shook his head at the staff guarding the entrance to the labyrinth.
"Let's have a drink when we're done."
"Sounds good."
Rhude pushed past the guard and stood in front of the labyrinth.
He turned and looked at the new adventurers.
"Let's do a quick safety check: does anyone have holy water, an emergency escape scroll, or a first aid kit?"
The bushy-haired woman furrowed her brow.
"Why would you need those things?"
"Haa.."
There are people like that.
The overconfident ones.
He was about to tell her to turn around because the rules say only those who have it can take the test.
An ordinary-looking man raised his hand.
"I have an extra one. I'll give you mine, and we can move on."
"Why would I want this shit, it's ..."
"Just take it."
After confirming that the items were handed over, he went on to tell them the precautions for the test.
"...If you fail to clear the designated dungeon, you will not be able to retake the test for one month. That concludes the explanation, does anyone have any questions?"
Everyone remained silent.
"Then let's begin the test, everyone, please follow me."
Rhude turned and began to walk away. He followed the stairs down into the labyrinth.
Luminescent stones embedded here and there lit the passage.
The further down they went, the more concentrated the demonic energy became. About halfway down, Rhude turned his head to check on the adventurers.
He wanted to make sure they were okay, in case any of them were particularly susceptible.
Seeing that everyone was fine, he resumed walking and stepped on the floor of the first level.
"Just follow me."
Among the many paths, he followed the one marked in green.
The first dungeon appeared.
Rhude gestured to the dungeon with his hand and beckoned for applicants. Two competent-looking people raised their hands at the same time.
"One of you can go in here, and the other can go into the dungeon just a little further on."
Sending them into the dungeon.
Once inside, the remaining four people were also sent into the dungeon, before returning to the entrance and sitting down.
The average raid takes 2 hours.
At the very least, within four hours, most people are done.
If they don't manage to finish and use the escape scroll, all the better.
"Hmm, perhaps I should read a novel. [Bees in a Ruined World]"¹
He pulled out a book from his subspace pouch and was about to read when he heard footsteps in the dungeon.
'Looks like I'm getting an early night.'
With a smile on his face, Rhude waited for the adventurer. It wasn't long before they appeared.
Two.
The woman who was sleeping with the seemingly normal man walked out with a sullen look on her face.
"I don't need this."
"You wouldn't be able to take the test without it, it's a rule that you have to bring it with you."
"Tsk."
It was a strange atmosphere for someone who failed.
There was no anger, no despair, no sadness.
Standing up, Rhude held up the list and asked.
"You both gave up, right?"
"What do you mean giving up?"
The woman approached him and handed him a token.
A token that could only be obtained by clearing the dungeon. She hadn't given up on the test, but had cleared it overwhelmingly quickly.
"I passed, right?"
"Huh? Yes... You passed."
The woman turned to look at the man and opened her mouth.
"How about a drink? If you're in the mood, I might throw in a piece of enlightenment."
"I'm going to raise my rating one more time, so if you'd like to eat first, I'll be right over."
"Come to the same place you drank last time."
This time the man approached.
"Here's your token."
"Yes... you pass."
"Can I try for Gold rank right away?"
Gold was a rank that could only be achieved by clearing one of the Bishop, Knight, or Rook class dungeons by yourself.
It was a rank held by the best and strongest people in the Guild.
"You mean Gold?"
"Yes."
"You can take the challenge, but if you die while taking the test, the Guild Union is not responsible."
"I know."
Rhude gulped.
Although there have been a few adventurers who have been able to achieve Silver with a group, none have gone straight to Gold.
If they did.
Because most of them have outstanding skills, they tend to join the knights or fall into the arms of nobles.
If not that, there's only one thing.
A person who came here to commit a crime.
However, Labyrinth City does not discriminate against criminals. Many guilds in the Guild Union were created by criminal organizations.
Anyone who's good enough is worth their weight in Gold.
Rhude mentally cataloged the man's face. If he could pass the gold level test, he would be able to spread information to several guilds and get some money.
"I'll show you around, if you please follow me."
** ** **
TL/N:
1. Yes inserted a Novel Title in there since its a generic no name book.