Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Astrologer of Wanderer Street
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"Barnetsha? No one by that name lives on this street."
"Reddish-brown hair? I've been here three years, and I haven't seen anyone with hair that color."
Woojin asked around the street about Barnetsha, but it was as if they'd all coordinated their responses—no one knew anything about her.
They're hiding it on purpose.
He couldn't hide his uneasy feeling from their reactions.
"Looks like I underestimated this street."
"What should we do? Should we try finding that little kid the Master mentioned?"
"No. Stirring up trouble might catch their attention. We can't lose our last lead."
Luen nodded at his words.
"Hmm."
Woojin recalled Peron's final words before departing for the Central Continent.
"You mean Wanderer Street? I'd advise against going unless you have to... If you run into trouble, seek out Wang Hwi-mun. Mention my name, and he'll help."
They've all got their stories straight. Better than rummaging around blindly.
Woojin decided to head to the place Peron had mentioned.
Kiiiek—
The outskirts beyond Wanderer Street were little more than ruins, lined with crumbling buildings on the verge of collapse.
"Anyone here?"
A quick scan showed signs of recent habitation, messy as it was.
Woojin couldn't fathom why someone would choose this harsh life in a game meant for fun.
"Who's there?"
A voice came from inside the building.
"Peron sent me. Are you Wang Hwi-mun?"
The white-haired old man with round glasses gave Woojin a puzzled look.
"Peron of the Blanc Clan?"
"That's right."
"I see. I heard he entered Baekhwagok recently... Are you a comrade of his?"
No secrets around here.
The more he saw, the more fascinating it became.
Baekhwagok was a fairly large city with hundreds passing through daily, yet these people seemed to know every detail of what happened there.
It's not just from playing a long time.
Woojin found himself intrigued by the failures dwelling on Wanderer Street.
"So, what brings you here?"
"A murder happened on the street. Someone killed an NPC."
"That happens all the time around here."
Wang Hwi-mun dismissed it casually.
His daoist robe looked straight out of a wuxia novel, utterly foreign to Evil Tail.
Can't tell his class.
If he'd set foot on the Central Continent, he likely had his first job change.
Not a mage or shaman...
He might have a hidden class, but Woojin needed to observe more.
"Is there no way to revive a dead NPC?"
"Players can resurrect at the shrine, but NPCs are different. When they die, that's it. After a while, new ones spawn in their place."
Wang Hwi-mun shook his head.
"That's why players are outsiders in this world. NPCs truly live here, while we escape the cycle of cause and effect through death."
"But mercenaries can resurrect."
"They have contractors. It costs gold, but they tap into the same system."
"Tricky."
"Can't revive a dead NPC, but there is a way to at least talk to them briefly."
"What's that?"
"Simple. Use necromancy."
"You mean black magic?"
"Similar, but not quite. Black magic necromancy raises corpses as mindless minions. No self-awareness."
"Then...?"
"I mean the astrologers' necromancy. They summon spirits. You can even converse with the summoned spirit for a limited time."
An astrologer...
Woojin pondered Wang Hwi-mun's words.
It wasn't a combat job or a crafting one, so few chose it.
"Are you an astrologer, by chance?"
Woojin asked with a flicker of hope from the man's attire.
"No, but I know someone on this street who can use it."
"Who?"
"Barnetsha. Past the three-way intersection on the left, there's a massive building. She's the owner."
Woojin was speechless at the answer.
...She played me good.
She was likely the one who killed Grosh, too.
"You know her well?"
"Hmm. Anyone scraping by on this street knows her."
"What kind of person is she?"
"The finest astrologer. Even folks from the Central Continent come seeking her divinations."
It was an unexpected response.
Seeing Woojin's confusion, Wang Hwi-mun elaborated.
"She's the only one here who came of her own accord, not banished from the Central Continent."
"Why? The Central Continent offers so much more."
"She said she faced endless threats. This place is safer for her."
"Hm... Astrology's rare, but not that special. Why the threats?"
"She must be special."
Rare class?
It was possible.
Astrologer was a standard first-job class, and each had rarer advanced versions.
Low demand plus rare class? Yeah, that'd make her unique.
Woojin nodded at Wang Hwi-mun's explanation.
"Just be cautious around her. Lots of enemies means lots of allies, too."
"Too late for that. Thanks for the answers."
Woojin pulled two gold coins from his inventory and handed them over.
"No need. It wasn't much trouble."
Thud—
As Wang Hwi-mun refused, Woojin nicked one coin with his blade.
"Use this when you come to the Central Continent and find me."
"Haha, is this your calling card?"
"Yes."
Wang Hwi-mun chuckled at Woojin's confidence, amused.
"From your gear, you're no common class either. More the merrier, right?"
"Back to the Central Continent you swore off?"
"Hear my name around, and you might change your mind."
Absurd as it was, Wang Hwi-mun smirked, slipping the coins into his sleeve.
"You've got guts. Fitting for the one who cleared Ice Cave."
Woojin wasn't too surprised—he'd half-expected it.
"Peron left for the Central Continent."
"Ha! Amazing. The guy who vowed never to go without backup..."
"Clearing Ice Cave gave him courage, I guess."
"And you cleared Ice Cave? So you're his backup? Trusting a lower level to go solo? Doesn't add up."
Wang Hwi-mun eyed him slyly.
"I get it. Smurf account, right? You've got another char on the Central Continent."
"Just this one account. Wish I could make a new one."
Sub-accounts required re-registering biometrics on the access device—only possible in reality.
"Huh? Why not just make one?"
Wang Hwi-mun couldn't know his situation, but Woojin just gave a bitter smile.
"Anyway, hope we meet again."
With a farewell, Woojin left the dilapidated building.
"It's been years since she fled the Central Continent. Think she'll really come back?"
Luen asked Woojin as they walked.
"Why do you say that?"
"If she had the guts, wouldn't she have done it sooner...?"
"Not wrong, but I see it differently."
They'd failed at the Central Continent yet kept playing.
He hadn't understood at first, but after talking, a thought struck him.
Maybe regret keeps them going.
Not failures, but those still eyeing another shot.
If so...
"Plenty to discuss with her, too."
Kiiiek—
Woojin pushed open the door to the building Wang Hwi-mun had described.
"We meet again?"
Dozens lined the room on either side. Barnetsha, seated at a table in the midst, waved at Woojin.
"You look less surprised, more like you were waiting."
"Had to. Heard there was a commotion earlier. That idiot Miller tried robbing you and killed Grosh?"
She eyed him.
Her own scheme.
Ridiculous acting from Woojin's view, but he played along.
"Wang Hwi-mun told me. You can summon spirits?"
"Yeah."
"You know why I'm here. Summon Grosh's spirit."
"Astrology needs materials. Spirit summoning especially—some only on the Central Continent."
"Name them."
He knew she wasn't stalling for lack of them.
"Why seek Grosh?"
"Nothing big. Saw Keruga's old community post. Links him to the unexplored Black Mist."
"So you're challenging Black Mist?"
"An achievement doable in Dark Forest before Central Continent."
"Quest?"
"None."
Her face twisted at his reply.
"Really just from Keruga's post? That years-old one?"
"Why's that weird? You've ignored an NPC tip for years—that's odd."
"You bastard...!"
"Arrogant prick!"
"Think Black Mist is easy?"
Her guards snarled at Woojin's taunt.
He stared back blankly.
"Hiding something? Grosh had a key Black Mist clue..."
Barnetsha spoke disbelievingly.
"Guess negotiations are off. No solid Black Mist info, no help."
"Everyone here just wants handouts."
"...What?"
"Loot this, Black Mist quest that... Demanding what I don't have."
Step. Step. Step.
Woojin strode through the group straight to her.
"Never think to earn it yourself? Just steal from others."
He glared down coldly.
"Ever consider you could lose everything?"
"Us? What do we have to lose? You're the desperate one."
"Plenty."
He smirked.
"Your lives."
Twitch—
Barnetsha's face crumpled; killing intent rose from her guards.
To Woojin, who'd brushed true death, it was laughable.
"Puhahaha! Joking with me?"
Crack... Craaaack...!!
Cold chilled from Woojin's feet, engulfing them.
"Guh, guhk!!"
"Kaaak...!!!"
Cold Snap
Freezes surrounding lifeforms for 1 minute.
In seconds, dozens froze like statues.
"Luen."
At his command,
Splaaat—!!!!
"...!!!"
The guard beside Barnetsha shattered into pieces.
"Keep going."
Luen's arrows pierced the frozen bodies.
Thud— Thud— Splat—!!!!
Dull thuds sprayed white ice dust on Barnetsha's face.
It was over in a flash.
"Wha...?"
Her face, slick with melting ice, gaped blankly at him.
"Summon Grosh's spirit. Now."
Gulp.
Barnetsha swallowed hard, nodding frantically.