The Withered Rose Mark
Mu-hyuk stopped in his tracks and tilted his head.
What the hell? Where is it?
He was about to check the quest when Sung Min-woo, who had just logged in, caught his eye. Spotting Mu-hyuk as well, Sung Min-woo waved and approached.
"What're you doing here?"
"Ah, just doing a quest."
"Quest?"
"Yeah, party up first."
"Okay."
After forming the party, Mu-hyuk shared the quest.
"This one?"
"Yeah."
Mu-hyuk checked the quest as well.
More Precise Location
📍 Somewhere at the west gate of the Weibra Empire lies a hidden guild. Find it, and learn everything about the treasure room mentioned by Krakshu's close friend.
🎁 Reward: Information on the Treasure Room
The text caught his eye.
Somewhere hidden.
And the word "information" in the reward.
Ah...!
Only then did Mu-hyuk realize what it meant.
It's an information guild.
Krakshu's words suddenly made sense. Given the nature of an information guild, they wouldn't want to show themselves openly.
So they were probably hiding in the shadows, disguised as an ordinary building.
A withered rose flower.
All he had to do was find that mark somewhere.
Guess I need to check inside too.
Having sorted his thoughts, he spoke to Sung Min-woo.
"This is a shared quest, so let's clear it together."
"Hell yeah, works for me."
If this was an open quest for the Treasure Dungeon content, the difficulty would definitely be high.
With Sung Min-woo's spirits now numbering twelve, his combat power had risen significantly, making it far easier to tackle together than solo.
Anyway, his greed for the Treasure Dungeon was ignited. If he could just open it, he could grab all sorts of treasures.
"Let's go."
He led Sung Min-woo and started walking.
First, the general store.
As he tried to enter, Sung Min-woo asked.
"We're looking for a guild, right?"
"Yeah."
"So why the general store? Need to buy something?"
"Nah, I think it's an info guild based on the context, so I'm hunting for the mark."
"Mark?"
"Yeah, a withered rose flower."
"Rose, huh."
Nodding, Sung Min-woo followed him into the general store, where they thoroughly inspected the interior. But no mark.
Not here.
They left the general store and headed to the next building.
The blacksmith.
Pretending to browse weapons and armor, he went as deep as possible, but still no mark. On a whim, he said to the owner.
"A withered rose."
"Hm? What's that? Why're you looking for roses in a blacksmith?"
"Ah, nothing."
"You're a weird one."
After leaving the blacksmith, they checked other buildings.
Here, there, everywhere.
No mark anywhere.
"Whew, nothing?"
"Still a few buildings left."
The next place they entered was the butcher shop.
"Welcome."
"Ah, yeah. Mind if we look around?"
"Of course."
Various slaughtered meats were on display.
Smaller than I thought.
Nothing much to see.
Not here either?
He was about to turn back when.
Thwack.
The butcher slammed his cleaver into a thick slab of meat.
The loud sound made Mu-hyuk's head turn instinctively. He naturally watched.
Each time the cleaver came down, the meat split cleanly in half. It was strangely fascinating.
Normally, meat that thick wouldn't slice with one chop.
Sharp blade?
Or skill?
His curiosity piqued unnecessarily.
Eh...?
At the end of the cleaver's handle, he spotted a rose.
A withered rose pattern emitting a purple glow.
The moment he saw it, he knew it was the mark he was looking for.
"Excuse me."
"Ah, yes."
"The information guild..."
The moment the word "information" left his mouth, the butcher's eyes went cold.
"...I'm looking for it."
"What're you talking about?"
He'd clearly seen the man's eyes change.
This is it.
Mu-hyuk continued calmly.
"I was referred by Krakshu, the mercenary guild leader."
"......"
The butcher slammed his cleaver down.
Thud.
The blade embedded in the cutting board.
He stared silently at Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo, then turned.
"Follow me."
They'd found it.
Rondar's information guild.
*
Behind the butcher shop was a small space with stairs leading down.
After descending for a while, a surprisingly wide corridor appeared.
They navigated the maze-like corridor, twisting and turning, before reaching a door.
Knock knock.
The man knocked.
"Let them in."
"Yes."
The man opened the door and pressed against the wall.
A gesture to enter.
Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo stepped through the open door.
"Have a seat."
"Yes."
"You said Krakshu sent you?"
He hadn't even mentioned it, but she already knew.
Already informed, huh.
Definitely an information guild—different breed.
"Yes."
"Just a few questions."
Rondar, the head of the information guild, stared straight at Mu-hyuk.
"Here about Kaon?"
"Kaon?"
"Yes."
"Who's Kaon..."
"Krakshu's friend, and mine too. He went on an unexplored zone expedition and died. You picked up his stuff and delivered it to Krakshu."
"Ah, sorry. Didn't know the name."
"Fine. Now you do. So, here about Kaon?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Obviously for the Treasure Dungeon.
What to say?
Krakshu's words suddenly came to mind.
Answer only with the truth.
"To find the treasure room."
"Why do you want to find it?"
"Because I need what's inside."
"What will you do once you get them?"
"Get stronger. Much stronger than now."
Rondar bowed her head slightly.
She gazed at the orb in her hand and smiled softly.
"One more time."
"Yes."
"What will you do once you're stronger?"
"Enjoy this life forever."
"Why do you need power to enjoy life?"
"Without power, you get eaten one way or another. Maybe by monsters, maybe by some bully preying on the weak. I hate that. Really."
Rondar checked the orb again.
She nodded.
"Honest."
Only then did her gaze shift.
To Sung Min-woo.
"And you? Why'd you come along?"
"M-Me?"
"Yes."
Sung Min-woo pondered briefly.
Then he looked at her.
"'Cause my buddy said let's go together."
"......"
Rondar glanced at the small orb in her hand.
Blue light.
The color of truth.
"A-Ahem."
Flustered, she cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Why?"
"Nothing."
Rondar shook her head, her hair swaying gracefully, parting her bangs to reveal her hidden face.
The natural allure emanating from her captivated Sung Min-woo in an instant.
Sung Min-woo grinned dopily. Rondar glanced at him, then back to Mu-hyuk.
They seemed mismatched, but somehow they fit.
"Anyway, you passed my test."
"Test?"
"Yes."
Rondar held up the orb.
"This orb tells me if the person I'm looking at is lying or telling the truth. If you'd lied, I'd have killed you right here."
"So we both told the truth."
"Yes. At least you're not the type to dress up lies. So, what do you want to know?"
An obvious question.
"Where the treasure room is."
"That fool did drunkenly mention the location once."
She rummaged through papers.
"Here it is."
She handed a document to Mu-hyuk.
"This...?"
"Everything's written there."
The moment Mu-hyuk took the document.
More Precise Location completed.
Chains to Treasure Room Hunt.
The quest chained to a new one.
A moment later.
As Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo left the room, a shadow appeared beside Rondar.
"You sure?"
"Better than letting those trash take it, right?"
"True, but that treasure room's value is immense."
"Enough. It's out of my hands now. Erase the traces."
"Understood."
The shadow vanished.
Alone, Rondar's eyes grew distant.
"You idiot. To die like that."
She thought of the two who'd just left.
"Please... fulfill that friend's final wish..."
Her voice was tinged with sorrow.
*
Out of the butcher shop, Mu-hyuk skimmed the document.
1. Kaon, drunk, mentioned the treasure.
2. Boasted he'd find the treasure room.
3. This unexplored zone expedition would be his last...
4. Location: Small cave behind the valley in Tonum Plains...
5. To reach Tonum Plains...
Kaon, friend of Rondar and Krakshu.
Everything he'd said while drinking was recorded here.
Treasure Room Hunt updated.
The location had probably been updated.
"Tonum Plains, huh."
"Yeah, let's go."
He stowed the document in his inventory and summoned his warhorse. Mounting up, they raced toward the destination at high speed.
Using a warp gate to a remote village, they galloped for about 30 minutes before finally reaching Tonum Plains.
"Dismiss."
Dismounting, the first monster to greet Mu-hyuk was a level 129 Black Wyvern.
With black fur, skin, and even beak, the Black Wyvern was massive—over 5 meters with wings spread.
Chirrrrk!
It circled the sky, emitting its signature cry.
Slowly descending.
"Attack incoming. Get ready."
"Got it."
Both summoned their minions.
Startled by the sudden numbers, the Black Wyvern ascended again.
Annoying.
Mu-hyuk nocked an arrow.
Armor Archers, Bone Bows—rapid fire.
Armor Archer Power Shot.
Bone arrows filled the sky.
Caught off-guard, the Black Wyvern shot upward frantically. It flapped its wings violently, whipping up powerful winds.
The bone arrows slowed from the resistance, failing to reach it.
But the Armor Archer's Power Shot, still forceful, embedded in the wyvern's body.
Chirrrrk!
It twisted, flapping harder, shaking off the arrows to the ground.
"Tough hide, huh?"
"Yeah."
Mu-hyuk watched it calmly.
It showed no sign of descending.
"No need to catch it, right?"
"Nope."
"Then let's just go."
As they moved forward, the Black Wyvern followed at a distance. A glance back, and it ascended again.
Soon losing interest, Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo pressed on—until they suddenly stopped and exchanged looks.
Faces hardening, they turned and looked up.
A dozen wyverns circling overhead filled their vision.