Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Troll Dungeon (2)
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What Rokan was seeking was the event hidden in this dungeon. The dungeon's name, "Cursed Life," referred to the weakened trolls, so there had to be a culprit behind the curse afflicting them.
Was it some special structure, or maybe unique equipment or a location?
He figured he'd just toss everything into his inventory until something stuck.
None of that. What Rokan found was a "bone."
He rummaged through piles of beast bones scattered throughout the trolls' habitat, dumping them into his inventory until one lit up as "acquirable."
[You have acquired a Cursed Beast's Bone.]
And finally, he found it. The medium that had cursed the trolls.
The reason the trolls were cursed was none other than their "food."
Vitality was closely tied to immunity.
Trolls rarely succumbed to curses, but if one could dissolve a curse into their blood, it would unleash even greater power. So someone had fed them a beast infused with a potent curse as prey.
Unaware, the trolls devoured it, becoming exposed to the curse and turning into new hosts that bred it further.
"Now I can get things moving again."
Rokan benefited too. Discovering a mutated monster was the keyword to reactivate the main scenario quest.
Handing this to Crossroads Defense Captain Malkin would set events in motion.
"For now, let's handle the blood."
Of course, he had to clear the quests he'd already picked up first.
Troll blood and tendons fetched good money, so camping here to farm respawns was tempting. But circling back after a quest run would mean all the trolls had respawned anyway—no real difference.
So first, he headed to the mad—no, Baron Truell's villa.
The baron welcomed him with glee upon receiving the Cursed Cave Troll blood, handing over the reward and the next quest.
[Baron Truell's Young Daughter Recovery 2][Quest]
Baron Truell has asked for your help to save his young daughter. Thanks to the troll blood you provided, her basic vitality has recovered. Bring hot sheep's blood before it drops again.
-Completion Conditions: Hot Sheep's Blood (0/20), Thick Sheep Hide (0/20)
-Reward: 7 Gold
A sheep's blood quest following the troll blood. Those who'd done the endless research quests would see it coming.
The start of a tedious chain quest.
But Rokan knew it wouldn't drag on as long as it seemed. And the payoffs were bigger than expected.
"Dirty business, though."
Others might see it as touching paternal devotion, but Rokan, knowing the truth, just narrowed his eyes coldly.
That said, he had no intention of abandoning it. He wanted something from it.
Until he got it, he'd plaster on a forced smile.
"Devil Rams, right?"
The "hot sheep's blood" Baron Truell demanded wasn't from literal sheep. It meant the reckless, sheep-headed monster: Devil Rams.
"Lucky it's not Baphomets."
He chuckled wryly, but even regular Devil Rams were level 110. They had two combo skills—mediocre, sure—but one, the light-speed headbutt, could threaten even Rokan if it landed clean.
The quest difficulty was ramping up.
"Time to clock in for sheep-shearing duty."
But he was Rokan.
After clearing the troll dungeon, he'd leveled up twice, hitting 105. Just a 5-level gap.
Sure, over 100, stats reinforced based on personal traits, but this difference was laughable. He could smash them effortlessly.
Rokan dashed off to find Devil Rams.
"Black as sin for a sheep."
Night was deep, and their dark wool made spotting them tough, but luckily, he had Night Vision. The Explorer title let him outline enemies even in pitch darkness.
"Good enough."
Add the magic map's navigation, and locating Devil Rams was simple.
They had two combo skills.
One hid their body in wool to block "physical strikes," the other charged at light speed for a headbutt.
The first barely blocked punches or blunt weapons—useless against him. The second? Get in close before they used it, and it was moot.
"Leaf Attack!"
Knowing this, Rokan leaped in, slashing the Devil Ram's throat. He vaulted onto its back like mounting a horse as it bucked wildly, then smashed its skull repeatedly with his battle axe.
[You have acquired Hot Sheep's Blood.]
[You have acquired Thick Sheep Hide.]
Quest items dropped, proving him right.
Devil Rams had high defense even without skills, taking time to kill normally. But with crits every third hit, they fell faster than any Crossroads monster he'd faced.
And the whole hunt was being recorded.
Quest items meant temporary marker removal to hide them, drawing in easy-hunt chasers.
"Have fun with that, suckers."
But they couldn't all honey-pot like Rokan. Surviving Devil Rams' ferocity required his insane grip strength.
Otherwise, they'd get smashed, trampled, and killed before finishing one.
Rokan weaved through Devil Ram packs for hours.
[You have leveled up.]
No damage, pure honey—perfect hunting grounds. He finished quest items early but kept grinding till morning, hitting level 110 to match them.
"No rush on the mad baron's quest."
Too late, and it'd reset, but no biggie. Devil Ram blood wouldn't spoil quick, and with higher level, restarts would be faster.
Instead, he headed back to Crossroads. More quest items to deliver.
"Cutting it close..."
Time check: too close. He might miss triggering the quest and force-logout. Rokan hurried to the defense building.
"Malkin, sir, take a look at this."
"What's this?"
"A beast bone infused with a powerful curse. Found it in the Cursed Life cave, trolls' habitat."
"Hmm... you don't mean..."
Spot on. As an investigation squad member, Malkin grasped it instantly. He'd questioned the trolls settling there from the start, turning the clue into speculation and certainty.
"If this is real, it's bad. If trolls are like this, other monsters could be hit hard too. Rokan, I'm heading off to study this bone. Can you scout other affected monsters besides trolls?"
"Of course."
[Mutated Monsters][Quest]
Find monsters mutating from eating beasts carrying curse energy. No one knows what deep mutation will bring.
-Completion Conditions: Confirm Mutated Monsters (0/3)
-Reward: 90 Silver, Crossroads Defense Spear (Magic)
Not something Rokan needed, but the spear was decent.
His goal was the main scenario anyway. He accepted gladly, strolled to the market, and logged out right on time.
"Ugh, such a grind every time. Speaking of, the patch is coming up soon."
Rokan recalled the upcoming patch. Minor stuff mostly, but the big one: massively relaxed login limits for capsule users.
Capsules let you stay logged in long-term via nutrient fluid, maintaining health.
Even better, the game tricked your brain into exercise, improving your body.
Regular helmet users would suffer, but devs at Falcon didn't care.
Don't like it? Don't play.
"Didn't change much, though."
Hardcore players were already on capsules for better sensitivity and response.
Bigger buzz was the new product launch.
"Oh, there it is."
A quick search, and Rokan found it: capsule-exclusive suits.
Capsules filtered waste via nets and purifiers, but it still felt gross. Required periodic fluid changes—costly.
The patch brought dedicated suits.
One-piece top-to-bottom, they blocked waste contamination, self-purified internally, prevented fluid pollution, and zapped muscles for exercise benefits.
Rokan ordered two on the spot, then downloaded his footage from the capsule.
He had to edit and post before others hit tier-3 cities—maximize attention.
* * *
"Ugh, gotta hire an editor soon."
Rushing edits meant no sleep during limit lift. Young-min massaged his throbbing head and uploaded.
Two videos this time.
One: Crossroads' first dungeon clear and guide.
Two: Early-game honey hunting spots.
'Copy if you can.'
Follow blindly, and you'd derp your level, but on-screen, it looked effortless honey.
Crossroads rushers would dive in blind, get shredded.
Couldn't blame or hate Rokan—he demoed it easy. Tell others? "Blame your control."
Young-min tossed the bait again, logged back in.
"Why won't you sell?! I have the money!"
Login brought a high-pitched yell—he covered his ears.
'Newbies.'
Crossroads had fresh arrivals already.
'Thought it'd take a day or two...'
Faster than expected, but not crazy compared to his past life.
Dodging tough 100+ monsters for easier ones? Groups pooling intel? Plenty of time for arrivals.
They were just duped by Rokan's fake info, lingering at 99 for "better rewards."
Soon, some would master patterns and push through.
'Starting with half-elves, huh.'
Rokan hid, observed. Nodded, sizing up race and class. Clean-cut group causing market chaos: half-elf warrior-types.