Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Lawless Harbor
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"Level 4... 40...?"
'Is this for real...?'
'No way. There's no way someone at that level could break through the yeti pack at the edge of the snowfields.'
No one believed his words.
"Damn it. Are you messing with us right now? How the hell did you get here at that level?"
"Believe it or don't. That's your call."
"Hmph, trying to make a fool of me. What a weirdo..."
The mage shook his head, clearly done talking to Woojin, and opened his book again.
"Bro, for real? You really came through the snowfield zone at just level 40?"
Weden's eyes sparkled as he sidled up next to Woojin.
"I told you. Judge for yourself whether you believe it or not."
"So what brings you to Blossom Harbor? I figured you were heading there for the warrior's final quest."
"Just curious. Heard there were some fun things there."
"Curious? Ah..."
Weden nodded as if he suddenly understood Woojin's answer.
"Ha, haha... Yeah, of course. Blossom Harbor's got all sorts of stuff to do. No wonder you're curious."
He gave an awkward smile and quietly returned to his seat.
He must have misunderstood and thought Woojin was heading to the Dragon's Lair.
"Teasing the kid like that. Not cool. Your eyes don't have that brothel gleam anyway."
"I didn't tease him. He just imagined it all on his own."
"Heh heh. Young blood runs hot."
"What about you? Why are you headed to Blossom Harbor?"
Woojin pointed to the yellowish-brown feather decoration on the dwarf's belt.
It was the mark of a 5th-class hunter, given only to those who had crossed to the Central Continent.
In other words, Gares was at least level 50.
"Sharp eyes indeed. But you got the level wrong. I'm 49 myself."
"...Huh?"
"Level down, you see. No need to redo Weden's final quest, but I need to level up to cross the dimensional gate again."
"Level down...? Did you get PK'd or something?"
"Haha, no. Did it on purpose."
Woojin looked even more baffled at Gares's hearty laugh.
"A new dungeon was discovered in Blossom Harbor."
"New dungeon?"
Woojin perked up at his words.
"That's right. Got an official notice from the Central Continent recently. They found a place called Ice Cave."
"...Huh?"
Woojin blinked in surprise at the unexpected alert and stared at the window.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing..."
'Right, Kahira said dungeons are a type of rift. So quests can chain like this.'
Woojin considered himself lucky and double-checked the window's final line.
'Need to gather more information...'
"Can I join you at the dungeon too?"
Nothing beat checking things out in person.
"Well, shouldn't be a problem. Word is, in Blossom Harbor, only those under level 50 can take the entry quest. But... ahem, level 40? Not sure."
Gares glanced at Woojin with a worried look, stumbling over his words.
"You didn't drop your level just for that, did you?"
"Doesn't it sound fun? High-levels can't even if they want to."
Even Woojin, who rarely got surprised, shook his head at the dwarf's antics.
"Keh heh."
Gares laughed heartily, as if enjoying Woojin's reaction, then opened the cabin door.
"Snow's stopped."
He pointed down the mountain.
"Sky's clear. You can even see Blossom Harbor."
Sure enough, a massive harbor blanketed in snow came into view.
"Village of failures, lawless zone... heard all sorts of crap."
Blossom Harbor was a massive port teeming with docked ships, nothing like the rumors.
Sailors hauled cargo at the docks, and merchants' noisy haggling filled the inner square.
The stone buildings were even grander and taller than those in Parta.
"More lively than it looks, right?"
Woojin nodded at Gares's question.
"On the surface, yeah."
He pointed to the sailors and merchants.
"All the life in this city comes from NPCs. Players are holed up in those back alleys."
"Why's that?"
"Same reason as Weden's reaction talking to you. Stuff you can't do in real life, you can here."
Blossom Harbor offered every vice imaginable: booze, gambling, arenas.
"Rumors say even drugs."
"Drugs? They allow that?"
"Alchemists tweaking hallucinogens meant for monsters in hunts."
"Alchemists, huh..."
"Since it's in-game, no real bodily residue, so the government's in a bind."
Evil Tail was a full-immersion capsule VR rig hitting every sense.
Unforeseen issues were bound to crop up.
"Not sure if that's impressive or what."
Woojin gave a wry smile at Gares's words.
"Heard the company's discussing it soon."
'If only they'd care about my mess half as much.'
Woojin clicked his tongue, wondering if any glitch was as absurd as his.
"Uh... I'll head out first."
"Oh, right. Inn with the warrior quest this way?"
"Yeah. Thanks for the easy ride. Appreciate it."
"No sweat. Hey, since we crossed paths, drop by the White Tavern if you hit the Central Continent. Tell the owner my name; he'll hook you up."
"Whoa...! Thank you!"
Weden, with no connections there, beamed at Gares's words.
"Have fun, everyone!"
"Sharp kid, huh? That's how you enjoy the game."
Gares watched Weden bow and leave, clearly taken with him.
"Um..."
That's when the mage, who had been behind them, timidly approached Gares as Weden departed.
"Is the White Tavern part of the Ulldoa Alliance?"
"Oh... No wonder the Nian Clan scouted him. Knows his Central Continent stuff despite being in Dark Forest."
"An honor!!"
"Honor my ass... Whatever. Fine."
"No, really... Sorry for not recognizing you."
The mage pulled back his hood, bowing deeply with a frozen expression unlike before.
"Name's Kim Chan."
"Haha, no need to apologize. Never mentioned my affiliation, and we had no beef."
Woojin eyed the mage's sudden shift in demeanor curiously.
"Well, time for me to move. See you around. Khan, drop by sometime."
"Sure."
With that, Gares caught Kim Chan's gaze and hurried off like he was fleeing.
"Ah..."
Woojin asked Kim Chan, who sighed in disappointment.
"That big a deal?"
"You... Ulldoa Alliance doesn't faze you?"
"That weird?"
"Jeez, thought you were hot shit getting to Blossom Harbor under 40, but you're a total noob?"
"Under 40? Obviously a noob."
Kim Chan twitched his lips at Woojin's unflinching retort.
"Ulldoa Alliance is the weirdest crew in Evil Tail. Full of game-obsessed freaks."
"Can tell from Gares."
"Weird ain't just quirky. These guys dig deeper into Evil Tail than anyone."
Kim Chan seemed more excited explaining than Woojin.
"Top player? Keruga, no contest. But even he hasn't touched what they do."
"Which is?"
He raised a finger dramatically, voice tense like revealing a grand secret.
"World Quests."
Even the usually stoic Woojin felt his cheek twitch.
'Quests B-rank and up can reshape continental history depending on outcome.'
World Quests had unratable rank.
Separate from normal quests, deemed "rankless."
Evil Tail's quests weren't just XP farms; they were scenarios.
The AI builder, Ethan, set update directions based on World Quest clears.
"Yeah... World Quests are something else."
"Argh, can't believe I didn't recognize him! I'm an idiot..."
Kim Chan stomped like a sulky kid, sighing deeply.
"You'll run into him again. You're going Central anyway, right?"
"Doubt it. Told you, freak central. Heard? White Tavern. They only meet who they approve."
"Hmm."
"Damn... Definitely blacklisted me. Invited you two but not me."
"That's why you gotta live polite."
"Ulldoa's all 65-plus... Probably alts. Who the hell?"
"Instead of obsessing, level up and head Central."
Woojin brushed off his seat and said.
"W-Wait!"
"...Huh?"
Woojin eyed the window curiously.
"When you go to the White Tavern... Mind looping me in?"
Kim Chan asked sheepishly.
Evil Tail had a messenger system.
Send anywhere regardless of location or status. Standard in old games, but here...
Devs made it paid—5 gold per message—for realism over convenience.
Friends made it free.
"Friend slots cap at 3, you know?"
Kim Chan nodded at Woojin's question.
"Good."
"Why?!"
"Why should I friend you?"
"What?"
"Don't wanna hang with someone cheap enough to hit up a stranger for messenger fees."
"Jeez, so stingy over that?"
"Doing you a favor. I can earn gold easy on Central, but you're stuck in Dark Forest."
Woojin smirked coldly at his lame excuse, conviction hardening.
"Favor? I'd have sent the 5 gold upfront with the request."
"..."
"Dimensional gate's 10 gold, right? At your level, you got that. Show some sincerity if you're asking."
Kim Chan's face flushed.
"To survive Central, relearn manners."
"What...?"
Woojin turned to Luen.
"Manners aren't convenience."
Kim Chan's face crumpled.
"Luen, let's go."
"Y-Yes!!"
Luen glanced at stunned Kim Chan and hurried after Woojin.
"...You okay with that?"
"With what?"
"That guy."
Luen asked as they headed down the alley to Peron's spot.
"Could've just accepted."
"Maybe. But no obligation. He was rude; I called it out."
"Hmm..."
"Lead with manners, they follow."
"Got it. I'll remember."
Turning the corner, a flashy building stood out amid the shabby neighborhood.
Knock knock.
A small hatch above the door slid open, sharp eyes glaring down.
"Who?"
"Teron sent me. Here to see Charson, head of the Agen Society."
"Boss got no time for trash like you. Beat it."
Slam.
The hatch shut coldly.
"Hmm."
Woojin gave a wry smile at the frosty rebuff.
Chill.
Luen got goosebumps seeing his smile.
Knock knock.
Woojin knocked again.
"Said beat it... Argh!!"
His blade slipped through the hatch as it flew open.
"...!!"
Luen gasped, hand over mouth.
"Master, what about manners just now...?"
"This is manners."
"Ah, right."
"Y-You crazy bastard!!!"
The fumbling doorman tumbled back, gaping at the blade protruding inside.
Bang!
The door flew open, a burly guard blocking Woojin.
"You got balls coming here!!"
"Just told you where."
"...What? This punk talking back...!"
"You started the informal."
The guard's face twisted.
"Everyone out!!!"
His shout brought a swarm of toughs pouring from the building.
"What's going on?"
"Who the hell's causing a ruckus!!"
They surrounded Woojin in seconds.
"M-Master..."
Luen said worriedly.
"Please don't kill them."
She meant it.