Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Torn Bach Reconstruction
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"Argh...!! You're late!!"
"Ow, ow! Stop it, you rascal!"
Gares, who had barely made it through the portal, was busy dodging Jane's fists flying at him.
Torn Bach, the place they arrived at, was in the midst of reconstruction.
Lucky, in a way.
Torn Bach, short on manpower, proposed quests to the players who had flocked in via the belatedly activated portal.
[Sub Quest: Torn Bach Revival]
It was a quest window that popped up the moment they arrived in the village.
"The rewards are pretty generous. Looks like the Malas Kingdom threw in a ton of funding."
"Must be thanks to the penalty fees from those Naga Mercenary Corps who bailed."
"Exactly. Breaching a contract with a kingdom? Serves them right. Hope they go bankrupt while they're at it."
Gares said it with unusual glee.
"Back when we were on a quest in the Malas Kingdom, the Naga Mercenary Corps got in our way."
"Haha..."
Jane whispered to Kim Chan, who nodded knowingly.
"Speaking of which, that guy's something else... Comes to the Central Continent and doesn't even send a message. Next thing you know, he's fighting a black dragon out of nowhere."
Gares stroked his chin as he spoke.
"What a guy. Shows up on the continent and immediately makes his mark."
"Tell me about it."
Unfortunately, they couldn't track Woojin's movements after that.
Not just them—even the community blew up once trying to find Woojin and his party, who had vanished after slaying the black dragon.
"I told you to hurry up! This is all your fault, Uncle!!!"
"Ow, ouch!"
Jane poked Gares in the side for no reason.
"Couldn't be helped. We were on a quest ourselves. Monster waves are important, but don't forget we're in the middle of a world quest too."
"It was a dragon!! A dragon that's never shown itself before!!"
She gnawed at her collar in frustration, sniffling.
"Kiddo, you're on a world quest right now. We only came because you nagged so much... The council's probably relieved. Keep forgetting—you're not allowed to go anywhere dangerous."
"Yeth, yeth. Got it."
"Ugh... This girl."
Gares shuddered as if his stomach was twisting from Jane's sarcasm, and she bolted away.
"Anyway... She has no idea how important she is."
Kim Chan, watching from the side, chuckled.
"That's her, right? The new leader of the Uldoa Union."
"Yep. Lack of maturity's her only flaw."
"But isn't that personality why she's handling the world quest? Someone like me could never pull it off."
"Heh, not quite. You're the only one from Red Tower who came to Torn Bach."
Kim Chan smiled sheepishly at Gares's words.
"Yeah. Kinda awkward now. If there was a fight going on, sure... But it's over. He's probably back in the tower by now."
Heading back to Red Tower late would definitely earn him a scolding.
"Not easy, huh? Red Tower, I mean."
"Yeah. Rumors check out."
Red Tower was the largest magic society on the Central Continent with top results, but its reputation wasn't great.
Sure, with so many people, some discipline was needed—but Red Tower took it to extremes.
Worse, what really wore down the mages was Tower Master Ratan Gray's favoritism toward Suzuki Hana.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say Red Tower invested all its magic research in her; the other mages were like workers for her growth.
"Can't blame him. If I had a disciple with those traits, I'd invest heavily too."
The Crimson Witch's trait.
[Elemental Fusion]
Typically, mages specialized in one attribute.
Because attributes had counters.
A fire mage learning water magic took way more time.
That's why players stuck to one—her [Elemental Fusion] ignored attribute penalties.
She learned any attribute's magic in the same time, counters be damned.
That was why Ratan Gray invested in her so heavily.
The Great Magic Tome, Polsetia.
To open the spellbook stored at Red Tower's peak, one needed mastery of top-tier magic in all attributes.
Something even Tower Master Ratan couldn't do—maybe no mage in Red Tower's history had.
"Jealous?"
"Eh... Impressive, but not really envious."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I've changed a bit myself. Thanks to you, Gares."
"Haha, my fault?"
"The ice cave experience was just too intense."
Gares nodded in understanding.
"True. It was fun. But I don't think it's on me?"
"Huh?"
"Khan's the reason. Right?"
"Well... Yeah."
Kim Chan grinned awkwardly.
Truth be told, they'd come to Torn Bach—when no one else would—hoping to meet Woojin.
Thinking that meeting him might...
Spark something new.
"Haha, you look like an office worker dying to quit!"
"...Do I?"
It was a joke, but Kim Chan couldn't shake the expression.
"Hang in there."
"Thanks."
"Wanna come with?"
"...!!"
Kim Chan jumped at Jane's sudden voice behind him.
"Huh?"
"Needed a mage anyway. Picked up a sub quest near Esten Kingdom on the way to clear it."
"B-but..."
"Hmm. Not a bad idea."
Gares nodded at Jane's proposal.
"Why not join us? I'll vouch for you with Red Tower. Just say you got dragged along."
Kim Chan was left dumbfounded by the abrupt offer.
"It's a moment for adventure."
Jane smirked.
For some reason, her words stirred something in Kim Chan.
He'd come to the Central Continent full of expectations, but ended up holed up in Red Tower.
"What do you say?"
Kim Chan stared at her outstretched hand.
Adventure...
What a thrilling word.
"Master!!!"
"Bro!!"
"You're here."
Woojin spotted Peron and Weden waiting far down the road.
"Sorry. Couldn't help again this time."
"Help? We reached the black dragon thanks to you. Right?"
Woojin patted Weden, who bowed deeply upon seeing him.
"Looking pretty solid now."
"Haha, decent, right? Armor to shield—all standard issue, but Sigmund make."
Peron beamed like a kid seeking praise.
"Yeah. No useless options—just boosts defense and status resistances. Perfect for a tank."
[Sigmund's 108th Medium Plate Armor]
Weden's satisfied face said it all: looks and performance were top-notch.
"We're heading to Tecan Kingdom. Lucky for us, Peron's from there originally, so we'll go together... What about you? White Tavern's on the way if that's your plan."
The [White Tavern], where the Uldoa Union gathered, was in the 19th village of the Antarian Federation.
A neutral zone not belonging to any of the three petty kingdoms, mainly for inter-kingdom trade.
"If you'll allow it, I'd be honored!!"
Woojin nodded at his response.
Pretty solid party now.
He scanned his companions.
Tank Weden up front, trap-disarming ranger Peron, ranged DPS Luen, and melee DPS himself.
A mage and priest would make it perfect.
Woojin briefly recalled Alteon from Torn Bach.
The incredible healing of the rare Apostle class.
Someone like that would be ideal, but...
Priest ranking #1 joining his party? Wishful thinking.
"Hmm, a mage..."
Unlike priests, one mage came to mind.
Wonder if that guy's doing okay in Red Tower.
"Let's go."
Woojin strode forward.
"Wha, the black dragon's key?!"
"More precisely, the tomb of the dragon knight who followed him."
"So... something huge is buried there?"
Weden's eyes sparkled as he asked Woojin.
"Maybe, maybe not."
Woojin pointed at Weden's face.
"Wipe your drool."
"Slurp—."
"It's a tomb—no big deal. I'll grab the reward. Wait here."
"Got it."
"There it is. Almost there!!"
Guide Karlan pointed ahead and shouted.
"Whoa..."
At that moment, Woojin and the group were speechless at the sight before them.
"...Huh?"
"...What?"
They all looked baffled.
"No way... This is the tomb you're entering, bro?"
"Yes. This is Karl's tomb."
Karlan, their guide, answered.
"Wait, different name... What's going on?"
"Ah! That's history stuff continentals know... Outsiders wouldn't. Karl was Emperor Kaisha's childhood name."
"...K-Kaisha?"
New to the Central Continent, Woojin didn't know much yet.
But even he knew Kaisha.
The overlord who swept the continent before the Five Kingdoms.
King of the Roran Empire, with the largest territory in history.
Lucky, perhaps.
Normally swarming due to fame, the site was deserted from the dark zone.
"...Doesn't look like it'll clear quick."
Weden glanced at Woojin cautiously.
Not just him—everyone had the same look.
They'd all gotten the same alert.
"Haha, annoying lizard brat..."
Woojin ran a hand through his hair, growling at wherever Bensina was hiding.
"Threw work my way instead of rewards?"
Felt like she was snickering from hiding.
Once I become Dragon Lord, I'll work her to the bone.
Motivation surged.
He eyed the alert.
The issue: it wasn't just any dungeon.
Low-level by Central Continent standards.
Yet unconquered for a reason.
Emperor Kaisha's other name:
King of the Labyrinth.