Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Sealed Contract
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Luen seized Woojin's outstretched hand.
"Here."
Woojin handed her the [Ancient Mana Stone].
"Really... can this treat my mana blood disease?"
"It's not a full cure, but it'll have some effect. We'll need to keep finding treatments from now on."
"R-Really?"
"Of course, it'll depend on your performance. If you don't pull your weight, no more treatments."
"Th-Thank you! Just give me your orders, Master!!"
The haughty elf was nowhere to be seen. Seeing her bow so low, nearly prostrating herself, Woojin thought she might be easier to handle than expected.
"Skip the 'Master.' Just call me Master."
Woojin said as he grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her up.
"Yes! Master!"
Luen nodded eagerly, her face breaking into a wide grin at his words.
"Steel yourself. We're heading to the Central Continent, and this is an investment for that."
Her face tense, she cupped the mana stone between her palms.
Shwaaa...!!
The mana stone glowed and seeped into her palms in an instant.
▶ Max Level increases. (39→49)
"Oh..."
Sensing the changes in her body, Luen couldn't hide her joy.
"Look! My magic power increased!"
'It's not the magic power boost that's important.'
Woojin let out a hollow chuckle at Luen, who grinned like a child—unlike the composed figure he'd seen in the mercenary guild.
'Ulldin's Heir... what kind of cheat trait is this?'
It was truly worthy of royal blood.
His own traits were powerful, but hers were no slouch either. And considering they strengthened with each Limit Break, hers might even surpass his.
"Luen, one question."
"Yes! Ask away!"
"Your experience?"
"...Huh?"
Luen's eyes wavered.
"Ah, even as my contractor..."
"Hunting experience."
"Ah, yes! R-Right! Haha."
Her earlier fluster was understandable, but her hesitation now rubbed him the wrong way.
"Well..."
"You have some, right? Not zero?"
"...Sorry."
Her candid admission made Woojin frown slightly.
"Then what have you been doing until joining the mercenary guild?"
"Not much..."
She seemed reluctant to say more.
'She won't open up easily.'
The blood of a fallen royal line.
Her life probably hadn't been a happy one.
'Not the right time yet.'
Evil Tail had no favorability meters, which made building trust with NPCs all the harder—like real human relationships.
That's why most who hired mercenaries handled everything with money over emotions.
"No need to tell me now. But someday, I'd like to know. I want to learn about you and keep going as comrades."
"...Keep going."
But Woojin knew not all bonds could be bought with coin.
As expected, Luen mulled his words before nodding.
"From now on, we're heading to the [Alchemist's Lab] on the western edge of the Dark Forest."
The [Alchemist's Lab] was one of three instance dungeons in the Dark Forest. Its difficulty wasn't high, but conquering it required one key condition.
'Elemental attacks.'
Unlike other dungeons, the summoned beasts here had to be attacked with matching elements.
'I was thinking even a time attack might force a pass, but...'
No need now.
"I wonder if it's okay to take so much..."
Just before leaving Parta, Luen trailed off gratefully.
"Think of it as an investment. Good gear for my comrade makes things easier for me too."
"Thank you..."
She looked quite different from their first meeting.
Instead of her ragged old armor, Woojin had given her the finest armor and bow available in Parta.
'Still just common gear... but for royalty, she's thrilled over this. Her inexperience shows.'
But that was fine.
Experience could be gained, but aptitude couldn't.
Woojin trusted her bloodline.
"Master magic properly too. Be ready to use it right away in the dungeon."
"I've already learned them all."
"...Already?"
And that trust was already bearing fruit.
"No hunting experience means no killing people either, right?"
"P-People? Murder...?"
"Yeah."
"Murder is a bit..."
Tension crossed Luen's face.
"I won't say get used to it, but prepare yourself to do it someday."
"But..."
"I've already killed in the Orc Citadel. And it could happen anytime."
She nodded, but her expression still looked reluctant.
Woojin had warned her for a reason.
Just before leaving Parta, members of the Genesis Unit had begun gathering in the square again.
'Over level 50 can't use the reviver's shrine in the Dark Forest even if they die. They probably respawned in the Central Continent.'
Even if executives came for revenge, it'd take at least two days.
'No immediate worry, but...'
The problem lingered.
They couldn't let the remaining Genesis Unit members tail them before the execs arrived.
'One, two, three...'
As expected, suspicious movements trailed them out of Parta's gates.
'If they just attacked outright, I'd be grateful.'
The reviver's shrine was far from the city in the forest.
A clean sweep would buy time to shake their eyes.
"..."
With that thought, Woojin glanced at Luen.
Her moment of resolve might come sooner than expected.
"Follow me."
Woojin headed back into the Dark Forest.
"Left."
"Yes!"
Kwaduduk—
The sound of drawing the bowstring was crisp.
Tung—!!
The arrow flying free was even crisper.
[Keeeek!!]
Luen's arrow struck the orc's forehead dead center.
"Right one's mine..."
As Woojin confirmed the falling orc and turned to charge the other,
[Kek!!]
The opposite orc collapsed with a scream.
"Ah... did I mess up?"
Luen asked urgently as Woojin halted, target lost.
"No. Good shot."
At his praise, she beamed like a child commended by her teacher, lips curling up as she gathered loot on her own.
▶ Flawless Orc Leather x2
▶ Crude Potion x1
▶ 2 Silver
...
'This is no joke.'
Woojin smiled awkwardly at his inventory filling up.
'Nothing for me to do.'
That was his honest feeling.
The elf, once undervalued for her poor mana, had transformed after awakening her trait.
'How many level 20 archers can one-shot orcs?'
At least level 35.
Or higher.
Elven reaction speed.
Plus her bloodline bonuses.
The original plan was to hunt orcs before the dungeon to raise Luen to at least 25.
"The [Alchemist's Lab] is just ahead. It's a minimum level 30 dungeon, but you and I can handle it."
But after seeing her hunt, Woojin was set.
No need to waste time.
"Magic?"
"Yes. All the spells from the book you gave me."
"Good. The beasts' elements will be intuitive, so enchant accordingly without me saying. That's your top priority."
"Understood."
She nodded, a bit tense.
"Let's go."
That was when it happened.
As Woojin stepped forward, Luen urgently grabbed his arm.
"Ah, s-sorry!"
She flinched and released his wrist, despite doing it herself.
"What is it?"
"Traps. None until now, but they start here on the path."
"Traps?"
Woojin scanned the surroundings at her words.
Nothing visible.
"How many?"
"Hmm... seems like up to 100m ahead."
Scouting that far...
Truly elven.
"Can you disarm?"
"No. No dismantle skill. But we can avoid them—want me to lead?"
"No need."
Luen nodded apologetically, shoulders slumping, but it wasn't her fault.
Even thieves needed level 50 and second skill tree to learn dismantle.
'Dark Forest has no natural traps.'
Artificial ones.
He could guess who set them.
'Genesis Unit.'
"Good."
"Huh?"
Luen tilted her head, confused.
'They're not attacking directly, just trapping.'
High-level players wouldn't bother; they'd strike immediately.
They're stalling.
The citadel exec deaths were reported instantly.
'A day since leaving Parta.'
For revenge...
'They've likely portaled from Central Continent by now.'
One day left.
Clear the dungeon and move fast.
"Luen, any presences nearby?"
She nodded.
"Five."
"Distance?"
"Roughly... 150m?"
Her vision was impressive, but what shocked Woojin more was,
"Only five?"
He chuckled incredulously at the Genesis Unit watchers.
Too few to stall.
"Ready?"
The question from before.
"M-Me, right?"
Gulp—
Tense, she nocked an arrow.
Her once-flawless aim now trembled like aspen leaves.
"Why? Can't do it?"
"If I can't... do I have to?"
Her eyes glistened as she asked Woojin.
"No."
If ordered, she would.