Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Turning Point (2)
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"Before that, though."
Having laid out his plan, Rokan headed to one place first. The council located in the Taimura War Zone.
But it wasn't the human council he visited often. The race filling the place he sought was not human—it was half-elf.
"What brings you here?"
Perhaps because they were in a loose alliance, or due to his affinity and reputation, or maybe his noble title—the half-elf council guide asked politely. It could even be all of those reasons.
"I am Viscount Rokan von Rinai, the Insane Berserker. I've come to meet Councilor Heromin."
"Did you have an appointment with Councilor Heromin?"
"No. I wasn't able to set one up in advance... but it's an important matter. Could you at least send word?"
"Hmm, very well. Please wait a moment."
Normally, meeting someone of councilor rank required a special quest or a prior appointment, but Rokan had something to rely on.
He was the first noble among visitors and a friend to the half-elves.
'With my reputation and affinity, it should work out somehow.'
If not, he'd have to make an appointment now. Meeting Heromin was that crucial to his plan.
And shortly after, a reply came from Heromin.
"You're in luck—he can make time. He says to come in. This way."
The half-elf council building resembled a massive tree like the World Tree. Each room looked like hollows carved within the wood, and following the guide through the winding paths led to a place marked with Heromin's name.
"I'll leave you here. Just go on in."
Since he'd frequented the half-elf council even in his past life, Rokan entered without hesitation. Inside, Heromin was already seated, waiting.
"You sought me out, human viscount?"
A cold, sharp impression. But Rokan could read the madness hidden beneath.
"Yes. I requested this meeting to deliver this to you."
Knowing the man's true nature, there was no need for probing. Rokan got straight to the point, pulling something from his inventory and handing it over.
"This is—"
A strange excitement flickered in Heromin's eyes as he took it. Though it was unfamiliar, some energy within stirred his instincts.
What Rokan handed over was the [Tome of Regeneration], obtained after capturing the saint—no, the fallen necromancer.
For a user, it was a precious item granting recovery and buff skills that twisted curses. But he knew Heromin would use it differently, so he'd given it to him.
"Where did you get this?"
Heromin's gaze sharpened after reading the Tome of Regeneration from cover to cover.
'No need to hide it.'
With nothing to conceal or fear, Rokan told him everything plainly.
Any half-elf councilor could obtain the information through investigation teams anyway.
"I see. Truly astonishing."
'Perfect.'
Seeing ecstasy fill the man's eyes, Rokan smirked inwardly. He knew exactly how much havoc this would wreak.
'If things go well, the half-elf quest might trigger first.'
The tome's contents were, simply put, "stimulating vitality through curses."
Like the human body's immune response, it used mild stimuli to provoke major life reactions—then layered with magic and corrupt power. That was the essence of the strength once wielded by Partan, called a saint.
So what inspiration would Heromin draw from this book?
Obvious. A novel approach to fulfilling his kin's longing: completing the World Tree.
Rokan had sought him out precisely because this half-elf councilor made necromancy his main class.
'And he's fanatical about reviving the World Tree.'
In the end, his attempt ended in utter failure. No, not just failure—it would bring destruction and ruin beyond race and faction.
Under the name of the World Tree's rampage.
'Before that happens, I need to hit master level. Gotta stay busy.'
To be precise, it wasn't the real World Tree, but "that thing's" power was immense enough to challenge even master-level users.
Yet he pursued it for one reason: the rewards were equally extraordinary.
Species quests weren't guaranteed to succeed, after all.
"I don't even know how to express my gratitude. A reward... no, giving one now would be meaningless. When things go well, I'll repay you handsomely."
"Thank you."
A potentially dangerous statement, but fine since he wasn't human.
A human might blame Rokan for everything and decide who lives or dies. But a half-elf would blame himself for losing control and still grant the reward.
Knowing this, Rokan left the half-elf council with a satisfied smile.
"Now for the essentials..."
Exiting the half-elf council, Rokan prepared in earnest for the hunt. His next destination required some groundwork.
"A whetstone, attribute enchant scrolls, a compass... what else was there?"
What he sought weren't rare items.
Attribute enchant scrolls were pricey, but purchasable with enough gold. Some weren't yet recognized for their value, treated as trash and lingering in the integrated auction house.
Others he'd bought cheaply from personal shop vending machines, keeping their worth under wraps.
With his inventory stuffed full of everything he wanted, Rokan moved to the next phase with pride.
"There was a prerequisite quest, I think."
Information gathering. He began piecing together fuzzy memories.
Keywords: "puppet" and "transformation." The goal was finding a place where NPCs responded rigidly, like dolls.
'And gnomes.'
In The Lord, where most NPCs conversed and acted with brilliant AI like people, certain areas had NPCs giving mechanical replies.
He recalled it was a gnome region, but details escaped him. He scoured the homepage and bought info simultaneously.
Candidates narrowed.
"This seems right."
A small village in gnome territory: Nokorokon.
A level 250 hunting ground, so user intel was useless. He'd found the name through info guilds and lord abilities.
"10 gold."
Far from Taimura, teleport cost a whopping 10 gold, but that was pocket change now.
After paying and arriving, the village appeared eerily still, as if time had frozen—even the air.
"Welcome. This is Nokorokon."
Flat. Expressionless.
To anyone else, maybe. But not to Rokan, whose titles boosted affinity and reputation sky-high.
Were the gnomes here prickly? Some were, but gnomes were innately cheerful. Otaku-ish at times, sure, but they loved pranks and chatting.
A whole village of blank, unresponsive gnomes? Anyone would find it odd. No one could even guess the problem.
"Let's see... there it is."
Upon arriving in Nokorokon, Rokan climbed high to search for something.
The largest, most luxurious building. Where the village's top authority would be.
The lord's manor.
"......"
Perhaps due to NPC noble recognition, no one stopped Rokan as he barged in. They just stared with vacant, unfocused eyes.
"Where would it be... ah, here."
Rip.
Circling the statue-still figure, Rokan peeled off a paper stuck to him. Slight resistance, but with Force active, no issue.
"Mana Interference."
Yet the lord's state unchanged. Paler, maybe. Ignoring it, Rokan crushed a small bluish gem, activating a spell.
Mana Interference.
A skill concentrating mana signals to disrupt a tiny area.
Usually an anti-magic field preventing spells in that spot, but so limited in range—and useless against incoming magic from outside—that few used the consumable.
"Uh... ugh..."
But placing it at his feet sparked change. Noise crept into the gnome lord's vacant eyes.
Rokan added more.
Incense powder to clear the mind, a scroll boosting mental stats.
And one more.
Kakakakakakakakakakang!
Finally, he activated a toy causing massive noise pollution.
A [Cymbal-Clapping Monkey Toy], crafted with Mechanical Engineering.
Its only ability was noise, but perfect for snapping a dazed gnome lord to attention.
"Uwaaah!"
The effect was immediate.
Startled by the ear-piercing clamor, focus returned to the gnome lord's eyes. He clamped his ears—blood nearly trickling—and trembled.
"Stop, stop!"
Crunch.
Confirming the mind fully awake, Rokan smiled faintly and crushed the toy underfoot.
He wore [Premium Earplugs] from another item, hearing nothing, but knew the agony of raw exposure.
"Don't move from there. You might get mind-controlled again."
"Wha—wait, who are you?"
But freedom wasn't total. Stepping beyond the Mana Interference meant recapture by some force.
So Rokan warned the gnome lord and explained briefly.
"The Puppetry Brew?"
"Yes."
It manipulated him and the villagers: the "Puppetry Brew." Like magic but a shamanistic spell operating differently.
At this point in time, only Rokan knew of it.
Without past-life memories, he'd have no clues. But he knew the cause and rough solution.
He could charge straight at it, but he'd come here for one reason.
"A request, a request... Of course! Anything you want—please uncover this bizarre phenomenon's cause and save my territory's people!"
[Normalization of Nokorokon Territory] [Quest]
Normalize Nokorokon Territory, halted by an unknown cause.
-Success Condition: Normalize Nokorokon Territory
-Success Reward: One wish granted by the Nokorokon Lord