Chapter 251
Chapter 251
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 251
Chapter Title: Sky Island (1)
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Swimming through the cosmos was a grueling ordeal.
Not only did he have to endure the utter solitude, but the lack of solid ground beneath his feet felt like endlessly treading water in a bottomless pool—unsettling and precarious.
Worse, there was no end in sight.
Fortunately, there was air to breathe, but with no way to know if this path was even the right one, the torment only grew with time.
“…….”
Loneliness and anxiety.
In a situation where he couldn't even encounter another soul, let alone mutter to himself without risk, even Rokan was powerless.
‘Chilling.’
If he could at least talk to himself or use the music playback function, it might ease the boredom, but he couldn't.
[Missralthorum][Lv 408]
This space appeared empty, but in truth, scavengers known as cleaners prowled hungrily within it.
Using eyes that pierced all creation, Rokan tracked the snake-like creature's position and clamped his mouth shut.
A beast over level 400, with speed that even the finest wings couldn't outpace, and an appetite greedier than a sandworm's—this was a formidable foe that even a high master wouldn't dare tangle with.
Its ears, evolved to be hypersensitive to sound in place of eyes regressed into darkness, could detect the slightest noise, so Rokan restrained any action that might make a sound and moved on silently.
‘No wonder reaching the heavens is so tough.’
Even Odin, called the King of Genesis, had failed to reach it for a reason.
In outer space, one could at least rest on another planet, but there was no such respite here.
Only a single planet existed, right at the end of this journey.
And Odin had met his end while trying to rest there.
‘First, I need to get there.’
Of course, it was possible to reach the heavens without stopping there.
But the prevailing theory was that lingering on that planet would make ascending to the heavens far easier.
There was a clue, too.
His final memory from his previous life revealed how to enter "that planet."
And Rokan already held the means in his grasp.
‘Hold it together.’
Rokan's form, blended into the darkness, continued onward for days.
‘Found it.’
At last, he encountered what looked like an island-shaped planet.
[Entering Sky Island.]
[Caution: Sky Island does not recognize existing reputation or fame.]
[Without qualifications, you may be forcibly ejected.]
‘This is the fake-out.’
In games, a single tooltip line or word could hold immense significance.
It could determine effects or strategies.
But who could have known that this "qualification" was little more than a deception?
People typically thought of quests for proving qualifications, but Sky Island didn't allow entry at all, making such proofs impossible.
That's where the invitation came in.
The Sky Ticket, as it was called.
“Hold it! What manner of creature are you, stranger?”
As Rokan descended slowly toward Sky Island in flight mode, a figure swiftly flew in to block him.
A bizarre form, neither bird nor human.
But Rokan had seen such beings before.
The lazy gourmet Taemin.
He and a few others of the avian tribe existed on the surface world as well.
“I'm a human heading to the heavens. I humbly request permission to rest briefly on Sky Island.”
Rokan's demeanor toward the creature was impeccably polite. It had to be—the opponent was over level 400, a grand master.
[Sky Island Guard Takomin][Lv 403]
“Hmph. To the heavens with that level of skill? Arrogant human. Mark my words: the moment you arrive, some crawling insect will end you.”
To an avian tribesman like him, "insect" meant prey.
Being killed by such vermin was one of the ultimate insults in his eyes.
Rokan knew this full well but remained calm. He didn't think the heavens would be a cakewalk either.
‘That's why I'm here, you fool.’
But he had to go. Without this, he couldn't predict how long it would take to become a grand master.
On the surface, master-level hunting grounds were plentiful enough, but monsters worth a high master's time for decent experience were scarce.
Leveling was still possible, of course, but grinding trash mobs would take several times longer.
And that was precisely why Rokan had come here.
Sky Island was a rest stop, but also teeming with monsters suitable for high masters.
‘The first-clear monopoly is pure honey!’
The ultimate hunting ground: first-clear bonuses and soloable!
No matter how urgent the rush to the heavens, could he pass this up?
Concealing his scheming thoughts, Rokan pulled an item from his inventory.
An avian tribe tail feather.
Known by another name: the Sky Ticket!
The moment he produced the entry pass to Sky Island, Takomin's expression shifted.
“What's this filthy feather? Sniff sniff... smells like that fat slob Taemin.”
After a quick sniff, he identified the owner on the spot.
Similar names—maybe relatives?
While Rokan briefly entertained a random thought, Takomin eyed him up and down with displeasure, then grudgingly turned aside to permit entry to Sky Island.
“Rules are rules, so I can't refuse. Go on down, human. But heed this: cause any trouble or disturbance, and you'll be booted out on the spot!”
“Thank you.”
Despite Takomin's threats, Rokan smiled warmly, bowed deeply in respect, and began descending slowly.
[You have entered Sky Citadel.]
He set foot in the avian tribe's village, Sky Citadel.
‘The only base on Sky Island, huh.’
Sky Fortress bustled with countless avian tribesmen walking or flying about.
It was crowded and chaotic, but he had to watch his step. This was the sole hub on Sky Island.
A drop in reputation could leave him wandering homeless before heading back to the heavens.
‘Time to get started?’
Odin had first been denied entry without a Sky Ticket, chased off, and killed.
He tried bypassing Sky Island multiple times to reach the heavens but failed every subsequent checkpoint and died.
Eventually, he learned of the Sky Ticket, acquired one with great difficulty, and entered Sky Island—Sky Fortress—but the avian tribe ignored and shunned him, preventing his ascent.
Even though shops openly sold items for safe passage to the heavens!
Recalling this, Rokan had prepared thoroughly before ascending. He'd devised a plan to boost his reputation and gain their aid.
‘If approaching them is hard, make them come to me!’
He set up a stall in one corner of the plaza and began peddling.
“Huh?”
“What's that ugly species?”
At first, they ignored him. Only cold disdain and indifference toward the weak, lowly race washed over him.
As expected, no one spared a glance at Rokan, let alone his wares.
‘Then there's a way.’
But Rokan neither took offense nor gave up. He'd anticipated it, and he had a method to draw their interest.
Whoosh!
He immediately lit a fire right there.
It was the village plaza, but the dirt ground posed no issue.
Sizzle!
His next action was simple. No fancy cooking—just skewering and grilling bite-sized meat pieces.
A special kebab roast, replicating the imperial chef's recipe to the letter.
Grilling skewers wasn't special, but it incorporated human cooking skills.
Grilled over open flame, the sauce and spices sprinkled on the meat mingled their aromas, wafting a tantalizing scent around.
“Sniff sniff!”
“What's that?”
“Slurp! What smell is this?”
Unable to resist the irresistible aroma, the avian tribesmen swarmed in.
They feigned composure, but their eager eyes and gulping swallows betrayed them.
“Ahem! You selling this?”
One bold avian tribesman spoke up first.
Rokan flashed a capitalist grin and replied.
“Of course. Want one? It's a limited-time free tasting event—first come, first served. Try it no strings attached and spread the word.”
“Fr-free tasting? Ahem! If it's an event, no choice then. But if it tastes bad...!”
Pretending reluctance, he snatched a skewer and nipped it with his sharp beak.
His eyes bulged like he'd witnessed the impossible.
“No way, this flavor...!”
The rest was predictable. For this moment, he'd revisited the gourmet Taemin, practiced repeatedly, and gotten his approval.
Tailored to Taemin's palate—a fellow avian gourmet—no other tribesman could resist.
‘Good thing he really was a gourmet.’
Truth be told, Rokan had worried inwardly.
What if the self-proclaimed gourmet was actually into weird tastes? But their reaction proved it unfounded.
Not just passing interest—a guy behind him reacted with comic-book intensity, like in a cooking manga. Rokan inwardly cheered.
“Me too, me too!”
“Don't push! I'm first!”
“Didn't you hear first come? No cutting!”
Chaos erupted among the surrounding avian tribesmen.
The magic words "first come" and "free" combined—face be damned, they scrambled.
“Form a line!”
The marketplace-like frenzy settled with Rokan’s single command.
They bickered over line positions and cutting, but quickly queued up to await their turn.
[Tagemin's favorability toward you has slightly increased.]
[Tahochin's favorability toward you has greatly increased.]
[Tapaman's...]
Those who tasted the skewers saw their favorability toward Rokan rise, great or small.
And that snowballed, transforming his reputation.
[The avian tribe's reputation toward you has changed to Curiosity.]
Still a ways to go. Mere curiosity, not even interest yet.
But he'd prepared plenty of skewers without limiting numbers, offering them free until they ran out—and it paid off.
With more ingredients, could he have reached interest?
Packing away his cooking tools, Rokan shouted to the waiting crowd.
“That's all for today! Curious about even more special dishes? Come back here tomorrow at 10 a.m.!”
“Nooo! It was my turn!”
“Yesss!”
The ones cut off despaired, but those who'd tasted the skewers cheered.
They'd gladly pay daily for more of today's menu—specialties? Mouths watered at the unknown.
“Here, take this. Bring it tomorrow for priority service.”
But Rokan's service didn't end there.
To those who'd missed out, he distributed numbered tickets for tomorrow's priority, lest it undo his hard-won favorability and reputation.
[Tairung's favorability toward you has slightly increased.]
[Tachiming's...]
Amazed by the unprecedented service mindset, the waiting avian tribesmen were touched.
And so, Rokan began taming the avian tribe with food and service.