Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Torn Bach's Nisen
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Late at night.
Colson, who had been waiting anxiously, grabbed his subordinate the moment the door opened and asked,
"How'd it go?"
"Yes. They confirmed Peron wandering around the 17th village."
"The 17th? That's Antarian Federation territory."
"Yes, that's right."
"Of all places, he had to go there... That sly bastard."
Colson ground his teeth at the report.
The Antarian Federation.
It was a coalition formed by three small kingdoms: Tekan, Esten, and Dalus.
Each small kingdom had its shortcomings in various ways, but together, their federation rivaled the power of the five great kingdoms.
'Unlike the other kingdoms, the Federation is the only place on the central continent where players can't get involved.'
Currently, the five great kingdoms coexisted with players, from Labyrinth Tower raids to Red Tower, alchemy, and druids.
That was why players often held key positions in the five great kingdoms.
But the small kingdoms absolutely forbade player involvement.
All kingdom administration was handled by NPCs, so players' actions were extremely limited beyond basic hunting.
'Clan creation isn't even allowed in the small kingdoms... What's his game?'
It was highly suspicious, but there wasn't much he could do right now.
"And about what I mentioned last time?"
"Yes. I had some reliable subordinates look into it."
"He probably has a main account separate... but his second account might have crossed to the central continent by now. Contact all the village administrators near the dimensional gates."
"Understood."
'Damn it... Less than a day left.'
Tap— tap—.
Colson's leg trembled with anxiety.
'He couldn't still be in the Dark Forest, could he?'
He would rather Woojin level up quickly and come to the central continent.
'That way, I could crush that punk no matter what it takes.'
Ding—.
It was then.
"...Huh?"
The moment Colson opened his message inbox, he jumped to his feet in shock.
"W-What the fuck...!!!"
"W-What's wrong, sir?"
His subordinate looked at him in bewilderment.
"Who's managing Torn Bach right now?"
"Torn Bach... That would be the Shuran Knights."
"Aitz Shuran? Good. At least it's that dumbass."
"...Pardon?"
"We're heading to Torn Bach right now. We have to get there before those guys!!!"
Colson started running like a madman.
Screeech—.
"Come on out."
As the prison bars opened, Weden, who had been collapsed on the floor, slowly lifted his head.
"H-How in the world..."
Luen, standing behind Woojin, covered her mouth in shock at his condition and rushed over.
Gulp gulp.
She poured an intermediate potion into his mouth and splashed it over his wounds.
"Urk... Ack...!"
Steam rose from his wounds amid the pain, but his horrific state improved dramatically from moments before.
"Brother..."
"You remember me?"
"Of course. But how did you get here..."
"I came for a quest and spotted you by chance. Took a while to get the key from the captain."
Weden blinked at Woojin's words.
"That vicious bastard gave you the key? No way..."
"He refused at first, but after begging about thirty times while waiting in front of the shrine, he handed it over. Said he'd lose his central continent hunting spot if I kept dying on him..."
Weden couldn't help but laugh in disbelief at Woojin's casual tone.
"What happened? They said you borrowed something and lost it."
"W-Well..."
Weden's lips trembled as tears welled up.
"The moment I crossed to the central continent, I got PK'd. Total scumbags! They split up and waited right by the dimensional gate."
The attackers had exploited the system where, without re-registering a resurrection shrine upon arriving in town, players respawned at the gate.
"After dying to them over and over, I begged them to let me go."
"And?"
"I barely made it to town after losing all my gear... Then the vigilantes said they'd lend me equipment. Said stuff like this happens all the time on the central continent."
Woojin smacked his lips listening to Weden.
Tsk—.
It left a gritty taste in his mouth, like chewing sand.
"And then...?"
The rest was obvious without hearing it.
"They took even the borrowed gear? Those same attackers."
"...Yes."
'Scam job.'
A classic scheme, but inescapable for the victim.
'The attackers and vigilantes are all in on it.'
"Why not message Gareth at least? He's not the type to ignore a call for help."
"Well... He told me to come to the White Tavern. I wanted to make it there on my own."
Naive or stupid...
Woojin sighed softly, seeing Weden still thinking that way despite his ordeal.
"You did well."
He wanted to say more but held back, lightly patting Weden's shoulder.
"Karlan. Can you escort Weden to the inn?"
"Y-Yes, got it."
"If there's a priest or alchemist in town, get him treated. His stamina's recovered, but he can't move properly yet."
"Let's go."
"B-But..."
Weden, rising with Karlan's support, looked at Woojin worriedly.
"They'll return your lost gear too, so rest up for now."
Weden nodded quietly.
"...Master."
"Yeah?"
"N-Never mind. Nothing."
After Weden left, Luen stared at Woojin with a tense expression.
-This feels like... it's gonna blow up big time.
Setsuna, sensing his anger, slipped onto Luen's shoulder and whispered softly.
Clank— clank—.
There were a few others in similar straits to Weden in the prison.
"Th-Thank you!!"
"We're out!!"
With no escape, they'd given up and were scraping money in real life, they said.
"Release the rest too."
"Yes, sir!!"
Leaving only the key to the last cell, Woojin tossed the keyring to them as they bowed repeatedly.
"Here it is."
Woojin stood before the final cell.
Clank.
The moment he inserted and turned the key,
"D-Don't open it!!"
A different reaction came from this cell.
"Everyone else is dying to get out—why not you?"
"...If I'm out, this village is doomed. This is where I belong."
"Hard to say. Looks like it's already gone to hell with trash piling up everywhere."
Bang—!!
Woojin flung open the cell door.
"No choice, even if you hate it. Got a quest to meet you after crossing the dimensional gate."
"Quest...? That divine revelation you outsiders talk about?"
"Something like that."
As Woojin looked up, the man inside hurriedly covered his face with a blanket from the floor.
"D-Don't come closer!!"
But in that instant, Woojin pulled away the blanket Nisen had draped over himself.
"...?!!"
Woojin's eyes widened.
"H-Hik!!"
Nisen frantically pulled the blanket back over and huddled into the corner like he was fleeing.
"That just now..."
Woojin asked the hidden figure in a trembling voice.
Ding—!!
Torn Bach's Nisen → Cursed Nisen
'No refusal option, huh.'
Forced quest...
It was absurd, but notifications no longer mattered to Woojin.
"G-Get away!!"
"Sorry, can't do that."
Whoosh—!!!
Woojin stripped away the blanket Nisen had over him.
Silvery hair sparkling like feathers.
Yellow cat-like eyes stared back at him.
Half his face was covered in glossy, serpentine scales.
'Just as I thought...'
"Go back! Stay near me and... you'll be cursed to death!!"
Nisen flailed to reclaim the blanket Woojin had taken, but Woojin tossed it far away instead.
"H-Hik?!"
"That's not a curse."
"...Huh?"
Woojin placed the Pilgrim's Cross on Nisen's forehead.
Light flowed from the cross, enveloping Nisen's body—but nothing changed.
"This is a church item that removes curses and purifies. See? No reaction."
"B-But... People around me got sick. Look at me! What could be more monstrous?!"
Nisen cried out in a tearful voice.
"Urp...!!"
Suddenly, Luen clutched her mouth and started dry-heaving.
"S-Sorry... Urp!!!"
Unable to hold it, she dashed out and vomited against the wall.
-So dizzy...
Setsuna suffered the same.
"See?! That's the curse from being near me!!!"
"Then why am I fine?"
"...Huh?"
Woojin gave Nisen a subtle smile.
"This skin of yours... It wasn't always like that, right?"
"Uh..."
"Fairy essence reaction. Happens when you drink it."
Woojin recalled Iru-rin's words the moment he saw Nisen's face.
The scales on her wrist she showed him.
Identical to those covering Nisen's face now.
"How'd it happen?"
"I-I don't know... Just went herb-picking in the mountains like always... Then suddenly my whole body started changing..."
"Herb-picking?"
"Yes. I'm an apprentice mage, but my skills suck, so I barely scrape by gathering herbs in the mountains. Go up every day."
"Must be fit."
"Pardon?"
"Means you could be a pretty decent mage. Mages with stamina to back it up are rare."
Nisen stared blankly, uncomprehending.
"Drink any unusual water lately?"
"...Water? Hmm. I always drink from the stream deeper in the mountains when resting during gathering, so probably not..."
Nisen shook his head uncertainly.
"Where's that mountain? Lead me there. Might find clues."
"You know about curses?"
"This ain't a curse."
"But be careful. Fairy essence is potent and dangerous—only tiny amounts. If not..."
Iru-rin had warned him in Ratan's lab.
"Mana chaos can happen."
"...Mana chaos?"
"Mana boils inside and leaks out. That's what tormented people with the thickened mana. But no issue for those without mana."
Nisen looked baffled.
"Impossible! I'm just an apprentice!"
"Maybe before. Not now."
Fairy essence.
Superior mana catalyst to the dragon ore from Ratan's lab.
"Climbing that mountain daily for herbs might've been a stroke of luck. Surviving mana chaos means your stamina's top-notch."
Woojin extended his hand.
"Come with me. I'll cure you."
Nisen's eyes wavered.
First time.
Everyone in the village treated him like a cursed monster...
"Really... Can I be healed?"
"Of course."
Grip—.
Nisen clutched Woojin's hand.
Name:NisenOccupation:Apprentice Mage of Torn BachLevel:50
Years of mountain climbing had given the mage exceptional physical stats.
But one oddity stood out.
'Magic power shows as ??'
Meant his mana was immeasurable.
'Huh...?'
Woojin read the new notification.
Central continent mercenaries, unlike Dark Forest ones, had fixed levels and couldn't grow further.
But Nisen was different.
'Cure the mana chaos and...'
He could level up more.
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