Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Stranger from the Dark Forest
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Shwaaaaaak―――!!!
His vision went pitch black, then countless stars appeared, sucked into a black hole-like vortex, before turning pure white once more.
“Ugh…… urp!! Uwaaack!!!”
When his whitewashed sight finally cleared, Woojin saw Luen leaning against him, retching violently.
“S-sorry!!”
After heaving up once, Luen realized she'd done it all over Woojin's feet and jolted in horror.
“It's fine. I can just wash it off.”
“N-no……”
“No need to apologize.”
Woojin brushed it off casually, but her face flushed beet red as she floundered in embarrassment.
-It's more embarrassing than sorry. Hmph…… so dizzy……
Setsuna, sprawled on the ground, flailed as she grumbled.
-Ugh…… this is worse than seasickness. Master, since we're already filthy, mind if I borrow a spot too?
“You've got no shame at all.”
-Waaah!!
Woojin scooped up the fallen Setsuna and chucked her into the bushes before turning to Karlan.
“You look fine.”
“I'm used to it. Dimensional sickness fades with more portal trips. First-timers have it rough, though.”
Karlan eyed the unfazed Woojin with curiosity.
'Well, I've been to another world before…… guess I'm adapted.'
He shrugged nonchalantly, dodging a real answer.
“Anyway…… so this is the Central Continent.”
What caught his eye most was the colossal tower piercing the heavens.
100 floors.
But its height was anything but ordinary.
“Seeing that makes it real.”
“Yeah. Countless adventurers are tackling the tower. The treasures they've hauled out are making the continent prosper.”
Indeed, the deeper the Labyrinth Tower was conquered, the more kingdoms thrived.
'They thought that prosperity would last forever.'
But as Raoul had said, this happiness would end someday.
'Raoul said the world changed after floor 60.'
Now, only floor 10 cleared.
Plenty of time left—but that meant extra caution.
The longer it went, the more people would fall into overconfident delusion, marching toward doom.
That was when it happened.
Just as Setsuna returned from the bushes, a notification popped up.
Unlike any before, framed in gold.
“……Huh?”
'Hmm?'
This felt different from before.
Previous quests had asked for player confirmation.
This one didn't.
It was like a guidepost, telling him what to do upon first arriving in the Central Continent.
“Handy, anyway. Karlan, how far to Thorn Bach from here?”
“Thorn Bach? Right nearby.”
“Mind swinging by?”
“Sure. But wash your shoes first.”
Karlan, oblivious to the notification, grinned. Luen's face heated up again.
“M-Master……!!”
“Yeah. Order whatever you want.”
Inside the inn, Woojin gestured loosely at Luen, whose eyes sparkled at the food patrons were eating.
“Definitely different from the Dark Forest.”
“Haha, no kidding. The Central Continent's over ten times bigger.”
The village scale proved it.
Bigger than Parta, the Dark Forest's largest city—despite being just a village.
Unlike the wood-heavy Dark Forest, stone buildings filled this place, making it feel more urban than Parta.
“Been a while for me too. Last came as a kid with Mom.”
“Here?”
“The kingdom manages it now for Labyrinth Tower adventurers, but it used to house the Müllenga estate.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. That's why it's way bigger than other villages. Uncle explained when we visited to sightsee.”
“Uncle…… Zion Müllenga?”
“Yep. Estate's gone, but the lot's still family property. He drops by sometimes.”
“Hmm――.”
Woojin twitched his lips at the unwelcome name.
“Rest up, everyone. Gonna scout for someone. Won't take long.”
“Want company?”
“Nah. I'll poke around the city solo.”
“Got it.”
After cleaning his shoes, Woojin left the group and stepped out.
-Fresh ingredients from floor 1 for sale!!
-Buying broken gear.
-Low-to-mid alchemy items on sale.
Unlike beginner squares crammed with merchant NPCs, player stalls lined with scribbled signs dominated here.
Watching players trade among themselves gave Woojin a fresh vibe.
'First, find Nisen……'
He ducked into a stall piled with fruits.
“Welcome! Fruits from floor 1. Delicious!”
“Sorry, mind if I ask something? Know an NPC named Nisen?”
Woojin grabbed an apple-like ingredient from a box and asked the owner.
“Nisen?”
The man tilted his head.
“Yeah. Heard he's around.”
“Hmm, there is one…… but why you looking?”
The stall owner took Woojin's coin, face hardening as he probed.
'What's with this reaction?'
It felt like he'd asked something taboo, so Woojin answered flatly.
“Quest. Says find Nisen of Thorn Bach.”
“Quest? Weird. You from the church?”
“Nah. Why?”
“He's cursed. Dangerous up close, so the Vigilante Corps locked him in jail.”
“……Vigilante Corps?”
“Ah, first time in Central Continent, huh.”
Woojin nodded.
“Check the community later…… You get a notice entering Thorn Bach? 13th village?”
“Yeah.”
“Over a hundred villages like this on the continent. Each has a Vigilante Corps.”
The merchant explained.
Simply put, monster waves hit Central Continent periodically.
Vigilantes got paid by the kingdom to protect villages from them.
Guards existed, but as Labyrinth Tower floors advanced, monsters grew fiercer, thinning their ranks.
'Conquer the tower, but the outside gets riskier……'
It clicked why the world doomed itself delving deeper, per Raoul.
“Where's the Corps HQ?”
“See the black roof? There.”
Woojin handed over a gold coin.
“Thanks for the info.”
“Whoa……?! N-no!”
The merchant waved it off in shock, but Woojin set it on the stall box.
“Uh…… hold on……”
“Yeah?”
He pocketed the gold furtively, glancing around.
“Not just for the money……”
Covering his mouth like sharing a secret, he whispered.
“Whatever your deal, steer clear of the Corps. Total thugs.”
“Why?”
“They tax under 'protection,' trash player-made gear…… Honestly, gangsters in uniform.”
“Admins don't step in?”
“Player issues? 'Sort it yourselves.' Plus, big clans back them—no fight for small fries like us.”
“Hmm.”
Woojin nodded.
“Just watch out. Rumors say they drag disliked folks out and kill 'em beyond town.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You've been in Dark Forest—tighten up now. PK's fair game here.”
“Appreciate it.”
Woojin smiled at the earnest warning and stood.
“PK, huh……”
Scratching his cheek toward the black roof, his eye caught a title in his status window.
Knock knock――.
Woojin rapped on the black-roofed building's door the merchant indicated.
From afar, it'd seemed plain; up close, it oozed extravagance.
“Who is it?”
The door opened, revealing a man in black leather armor.
“Heard you have an NPC named Nisen. Here to see him.”
“……Nisen?”
His face chilled at the name.
“What's your business with him?”
“Quest.”
“Quest?”
The man eyed Woojin suspiciously, then nodded.
“Hmm. Come in.”
All eyes inside locked on Woojin.
They all wore matching black armor, like the guide.
'Thugs, huh…… but they run a tight ship.'
Woojin mused.
'Humans crave stability in belonging.'
And uniforms screamed affiliation best.
“Captain here?”
The guide tensed at the second-floor door.
'What's got him spooked?'
Woojin's curiosity piqued.
“Enter.”
A gravelly voice scraped from within, like metal on metal.
The man nodded curtly to Woojin, then opened the door deferentially.
“Visitor, sir.”
“Visitor? No appointments today.”
A bearded man with an eyepatch lifted his head from the desk, eyeing Woojin.
“Says he's here for Nisen.”
“Nisen?”
The captain's face iced over, just like downstairs.
“Why Nisen?”
“Quest.”
“What quest?”
'Short-tempered.'
Brushing off the prickly tone, Woojin replied.
“Dunno details. Just says find Nisen.”
“Hmm…… first time Central Continent?”
“Yes.”
He looked unsurprised.
“Problem?”
“Nah.”
The captain turned to the guide.
“Ricky! Take him to the jail.”
“Yes, sir.”
Creeeak――.
Ricky led Woojin out back.
A rundown building stood in the yard; opening its door unleashed a musty stench.
“Furthest cell.”
Iron-barred cages lined both sides, like animal pens.
“Ugh…… ugh……”
“S-save me!!”
“Please, get me out!!!”
Muffled screams leaked from within.
'What the hell?'
Like a medieval dungeon.
Gruesome realism, Woojin thought, stepping in—
“……?!!”
He froze in shock.
“Ugh…… ugh……”
A man chained at limbs, gagged, collapsed on the floor.
Face battered, but recognizable.
“……Weden?”
The warrior from the hut en route to White Flower Valley.
Outgoing and bright, even invited to Ulldia Union by Gareth—now staring with lifeless eyes.
“Hey.”
Woojin turned to Ricky.
“You lock up people too?”
His voice was ice-cold.