Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Drinks and Doubts
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"Have a drink."
"......I did request a formal meeting, though."
"Aren't we having one right now?"
Ko Jun-cheol, seated at the tavern table, eyed Director Han with clear displeasure.
"Private settings make me uncomfortable."
"Public ones make me even more uncomfortable."
She pointed upward with a finger as she filled a glass.
"Too many eyes watching."
"Even Director Han has to watch her step?"
"Of course. Who do you think watches theirs more than me?"
She raised her glass for a cheers, but seeing Ko Jun-cheol sit there stone-faced, she downed it alone.
"You know the game's been in an uproar lately, right?"
"Is it? The board's thrilled—interest has peaked since the Black Dragon appeared and open beta launched."
"The balance it's held until now crumbled in an instant."
"Why's balance even necessary?"
"......Pardon?"
Director Han smiled brightly and refilled her glass.
"Sponsored by companies to conquer Labyrinth Tower, monopolizing item production for huge profits... Is that what you call balance?"
She clinked her glass against Ko Jun-cheol's empty one on the table.
"We made a game, not a business."
"......It's inevitable. Evil Tail's already deeply tied to reality."
"Exactly. That's why I'm looking forward to it. A player with nothing's doing what even sponsored rankers can't."
"Looking forward? I'm worried some loach is muddying the waters."
Ko Jun-cheol poured into his own empty glass.
"Do you really think he's playing fairly?"
"What do you mean?"
"Using items meant for Scenario 3, hiring the Scenario 2 protagonist as a mercenary, and even a legendary class Dragon Lord..."
Tak—!!
Ko Jun-cheol drained his glass in one gulp.
"No matter how lucky, doesn't it seem off?"
"Are you saying he's using illegal programs? Don't worry about hacks—Ethan handles that thoroughly."
"No. I'm suspicious of that Ethan."
"......Pardon?"
His words made Director Han's expression stiffen slightly.
"You've seen the reports. His info vanished after Blackout. And everything he claims is a lie."
Ko Jun-cheol leaned toward her.
"We don't know who he really is."
"Once Ethan finishes self-repairing personal data, we'll know."
Kwang—!!!
Ko Jun-cheol slammed the table.
It was blatant insubordination, yet for some reason, Director Han didn't reprimand him.
"That damn Ethan...! Handing everything to an AI—what's the point of admins and devs?!"
Silence hung for a moment.
Ko Jun-cheol ran a hand through his hair and bowed his head.
"......Sorry."
"It's fine. I get how you feel, Team Leader. Must be frustrating. You've never liked using Ethan this way from the start."
"......"
"Since your wife developed him."
"Please refrain from personal matters outside work."
"I regret what happened to your predecessor too. But scrapping the project and integrating Ethan into the game? Think of it as my tribute to him."
"That's not what I want to talk about."
"Then what can I do for you?"
"Special access request."
Director Han sighed softly, as if she'd expected it.
"Admins directly interfering in the game violates protocol."
"Not touching the game. I want to investigate this 'Khan' personally, beyond monitoring."
'As expected...'
After the Black Dragon subjugation, communities and streams buzzed with hype over Khan.
The board even talked of supporting him actively.
But unlike them, Ko Jun-cheol harbored more doubts about Khan than anyone.
"I can't grant special access on my own. Needs board approval—will take time."
"Then..."
"Instead, there's a Kim Ha-jun on the admin team, right?"
"......The green kid?"
Director Han chuckled at Ko Jun-cheol's question.
"Yes. I placed him there myself."
She spoke in a low voice.
"Evil Tail's first scenario is still ongoing."
"......What do you mean?"
"At least for Scenario 1, he knows more than Ethan. Even things Ethan doesn't."
"......?"
"I barely kept him from quitting, so use him well."
Chororuk—.
She filled Ko Jun-cheol's glass.
"Use that kid well."
"Bro!! You're heading out to hunt Fenrir, right?!"
"Not hunting—searching for Fenrir. Got lucky."
"Whoa...... Primordial Spirit......"
Weden, who'd come to Woojin's room, trailed off wistfully.
He clearly wanted to tag along.
"How's training?"
"Good. Getting lessons from Red Knight Order instructors. Four more days, and I'll learn the Sword and Shield trait plus Battle Cry skill."
"Not bad—trait and skill in a week of training. Keep at it."
It was a polite refusal.
"Luen's staying too. She's in training."
The Valan family's training was highly effective for party growth.
'Once Luen's done, she'll have skills too......'
In Evil Tail, acquiring skills was quite difficult.
Woojin planned to grab everything possible this time.
-I'm coming too!
Setsuna, perched on the bedside table, flashed a V-sign at Weden.
-No training needed for me!
"Nngh...... Jealous."
Even knights couldn't train a phantom fox, so she'd join Woojin to find Fenrir.
"No need to envy. You'll get EXP after training. No reason to risk it."
"Got it. But when you return, we dungeon-city together? Promise? Knights say there's a level 50 dungeon near the kingdom."
She was eyeing a time attack.
"Sure. BoD top there's Keruga, right?"
"No. Checked—it's someone named 'Baal'."
"......Baal?"
Woojin tilted his head at the unfamiliar name.
"Yeah. Forums say early player, but quit the game."
"Hmm...... Really?"
He'd been too fixed on it.
Assumed BoD top was Keruga, but curiosity piqued at the unknown.
"Not Keruga's record, yet unbroken? Wild."
"Yeah. Keruga's second. Weird, right? Why leave it if he could challenge?"
"Dunno. Pride? Or gave up after failing?"
"Promise you'll go with me after!"
"Yeah. While I'm gone, take good care of Aunt Lea."
Weden nodded.
He didn't get Woojin's extreme courtesy to NPCs, but after all the help, he wouldn't question it.
"You've arrived."
Stepping out the mansion, Aswell waited in the clearing.
"Mission members this time. Introduce yourselves. This is Khan."
"Pleased to meet you."
Unlike expectations for a top beast hunt, the group was small.
Aswell and Woojin made four total.
"Pleased. I'm Ether, court mage."
"I'm Bellan, court priest."
The two stern-faced men clearly disliked an outsider on this vital Fenrir search.
"Should introduce her too."
At Aswell's words, Setsuna poked her head from Woojin's bosom.
"......!!"
"......!"
Their faces changed at her appearance.
"This...... a phantom fox?"
The court mage recognized her instantly.
"Yes."
"Amazing. May I...... touch?"
Woojin glanced at Setsuna; she nodded and flew to Ether.
"Oh......"
He examined her gently on his palm, like a treasure.
"No time—talk en route."
Ether looked eager to ask more but smacked his lips and nodded at Aswell's words.
"Legend says Tekan Kingdom's founder, King Kala, commanded wolves."
Galloping along, Aswell told Woojin.
"Indeed, central Great Forest opposite the vast Gray Shroud mountains famed for wolves. Hence leather and fur specialties."
"Right. Thought mere rumor from wolf abundance...... but found an inscription in the royal vault recently."
"What'd it say?"
"King Kala tamed a massive white wolf with a horn on its forehead, spewing blue lightning."
"Fenrir."
"Yes. Royal legends often fabricated, so dismissed at first...... but five days ago, patrol reported a white wolf in the Gray Shroud."
"A week......"
"Odd, no? Around when Black Dragon appeared in Tornbach."
Aswell eyed Woojin.
"Black Dragon's emergence caused quite a stir."
"It did. But...... seeing you, I doubt Fenrir's solely due to it."
"What do you mean?"
"If Black Dragon, it'd appear during Monster Wave. Discovered after......"
He implied Fenrir appeared because of Woojin.
"Haha, no way. Why would a primordial spirit show for me?"
"Who knows. Honestly, I'm hopeful."
Aswell gave a sly smile.
[Awooooooo......!!]
Then it came.
A vigilant wolf howl from afar.
[Grrr......]
[Gr......]
Red eyes gleamed between trees.
Dozens—no, hundreds of wolves watching, as if lying in wait.
"Looks like we found the right spot."
Aswell gripped his sword.
"Know this? Fenrir recognizes future kings."
"......Pardon?"
"Battle stations!!"
Aswell charged ahead.