Trials of Glow Lake
Mu-hyuk emerged from the room and headed to the Archer Guild with the two people waiting on the first floor.
"Welcome!"
"Yeah, we're here to see the guild master."
The man blinked at Mu-hyuk's words.
"The guild master?"
"Yes."
"Uh, did you make an appointment?"
"No."
"Then that might be a problem..."
"Just tell him it's Mu-hyuk."
"Uh, well..."
"Please relay the message. He'll probably remember."
"Ah, okay. One moment!"
The man hurried upstairs, and soon the guild master, Simon, appeared. He was coming down with the man, and upon spotting Mu-hyuk, a delighted expression spread across his face.
"It's you!"
"Long time no see."
"Heavens, why'd you take so long to visit?"
Mu-hyuk couldn't exactly say he'd forgotten.
"Been busy."
"Well, that happens. But who's with you?"
"My companions."
Simon furrowed his brow slightly.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. About that reward you mentioned—mind if I bring them along?"
"Hmm. Wasn't it just you who helped me?"
"True. Any chance we could make an exception?"
"Heavens, this is..."
Simon pondered for a long moment.
"Normally, no way. But your help was so monumental that I'll allow it this once."
"Thank you."
Simon glanced at Sung Min-woo and Ye-rin.
"You two, come up as well."
"Thanks!"
They all headed upstairs together.
In Simon's room.
As soon as they sat down, he got straight to the point.
"As I said, it's not difficult."
Quest 'Location of the Mysterious Place' has been updated.
Mu-hyuk listened attentively to Simon's words with a smile.
"However, what you find or obtain there depends entirely on the individual, so I can't say if the reward will feel fair."
That only piqued his interest.
"Sounds good."
"Hm? You like that?"
"Everyone gets what they deserve based on their ability. Perfect."
"Kahahaha, indeed. Then I'll tell you without reservation. That mysterious place I mentioned is..."
Simon pulled out a map and marked a small spot with a pen.
"Right here."
He handed the map to Mu-hyuk.
Sung Min-woo tilted his head.
"The reward's a question mark, huh."
"Like he said, it's based on ability."
"Ahh."
"This'll be fun!"
Everyone looked intrigued.
Not bad, Mu-hyuk thought, feeling the same.
"Speeding up?"
"Okay!"
"Yeah, oppa!"
The pace quickened gradually until it hit max speed. Since the horse was made of skeletons, there was no stamina drain, allowing them to maintain top velocity indefinitely.
This let them savor the unique thrill impossible in reality.
"This the place?"
They arrived in under an hour.
An endless lake stretched before them, its depths impossible to gauge.
"So pretty..."
"Whoa, it's huge!"
Reactions varied.
"This is Glow Lake, right?"
"Yeah."
The third-largest lake on the Forma Continent, it was a popular tourist spot teeming with players sightseeing.
Families out together.
Couples strolling hand in hand.
All enjoying the leisurely vibe around the shore.
"But where exactly?"
"Hold on."
He checked the map again.
Precise spot: north side of Glow Lake.
"North. Let's head up."
"Okay!"
"Oppa, let's sightsee on the way."
Mu-hyuk nodded at Ye-rin's sparkling eyes.
"Sure?"
"Yeah!"
Like a date, Mu-hyuk and Ye-rin walked cozily along the shore. That's probably when Sung Min-woo started grumbling.
"This is so nice, oppa."
"Me too."
"Solo forever!"
Still chanting solo pride.
"Right? So pretty."
"Those rocks over there are unique."
"Couples, drop dead in hell!"
Denouncing couples.
"Even prettier up here."
"Death reaper awaits!"
"You're pretty too."
"Filthy demons!"
"Oppa, geez. You're embarrassing me."
"Hell's too good for 'em!"
Ignoring Sung Min-woo's nonstop muttering behind them, they walked for about 30 minutes before reaching the lake's northern end.
"Thirty minutes? Insane."
It would've taken five on a warhorse.
Sung Min-woo scowled. Mu-hyuk finally turned with a smirk.
"You okay?"
"No! Not at all! Never!"
Ye-rin looked a bit guilty at his outburst. She'd realized they'd ignored him the whole way.
"Oppa?"
"..."
No reply, but she pressed on.
"Remember that friend I mentioned?"
Sung Min-woo perked up slightly.
"Friend...?"
"Yeah, the one with a great personality, good job, and super pretty."
"Yeah."
"I'll bring her to Seoul next time."
His eyes curved into crescents.
"R-Really?"
"Yeah."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Woooo! Solo hell! Couples rule!"
He flipped attitudes instantly.
"Anyway, oppa?"
"Huh? What?"
"We gotta find the spot on the map now, right?"
"Oh, right!"
Like a detective, he scanned around with wide eyes.
With Sung Min-woo quiet, Mu-hyuk and Ye-rin focused on searching too. They quickly pinpointed the marked area.
"Over there."
The northern tip of the lake.
A lone stone mountain jutted up.
"Found it quick, but..."
"How do we get there?"
The northern tip was across a wide stretch of lake—at least 20 meters.
"Fly?"
Sung Min-woo's nonsense could be ignored.
"Fly, I said."
"You serious?"
"Why not? Ask a spirit."
Mu-hyuk turned at "spirit."
"Spirit?"
"Yeah, tell Wind to carry me over."
"Hmm..."
It might actually work.
"Wind, summon."
The massive hawk-like wind spirit appeared, gliding above Sung Min-woo's head.
"Grab me and take me there."
Wind swooped in, talons gripping his shoulders, and lifted off.
Mu-hyuk had thought it impossible, but Sung Min-woo really flew to the mountain peak.
"Can you hear me?!"
His shout echoed from afar.
"Yeah!"
"Same for you!"
"Got it!"
Wind returned soon after.
"You first."
"Okay!"
It grabbed Ye-rin's shoulders next, soaring skyward. She shrieked with delight the whole way. Finally, Mu-hyuk's turn.
Grip.
Lifted into the air.
In reality, his shoulders would've screamed in agony, but this was a game—no pain at all.
Just pure, fleeting freedom.
"Whoa..."
The lake below, players strolling the paths.
Stares drawn their way.
"Whoa, look at that."
"Looks fun."
"A spirit? Awesome."
He ignored the chatter, eyes fixed ahead.
"Hurry, oppa!"
"Coming!"
They soon reached the summit. Wind set him down gently, no danger. Sung Min-woo grinned smugly at Mu-hyuk.
"Fine, I admit it. Take back what I said about it being impossible."
"Should've listened sooner."
"Now, let's search."
This was the spot, so just scout around.
Not hard.
"Skeleton Summon."
Mu-hyuk had hordes of skeletons.
They fanned out.
The mountain wasn't big, so in under 10 minutes, they found a cave.
"Found it. Let's go."
"Yeah!"
"That was fast."
The cave midway up the mountain.
"Looks suspicious as hell."
"Yeah."
"Let's head in."
How far did they go?
At the dungeon's end.
Quest 'Location of the Mysterious Place' has been updated.
Moving to the mysterious place.
A message appeared, enveloping the three in light.
Flash.
Mu-hyuk opened his eyes and scanned around.
He instantly realized they'd been transported elsewhere. His two companions were gone from left and right.
The surroundings had changed drastically too. Probably sent to different spots each.
Some kind of test?
As he thought that, something rose from the center.
Sung Min-woo charged forward without hesitation.
"Items are king!"
Yelling triumphantly, he hoisted a massive chest overflowing with random loot.
The test has not started.
Sung Min-woo tilted his head.
What the hell?
Then a deer staggered out from ahead, deathly aura in its eyes drawing his gaze.
The test has started.
The test finally began.
But Sung Min-woo was already clutching the item chest.
You have chosen the item chest.
The test has ended.
The test ended anticlimactically.
Reward?
Just one piece of junk armor.
"Argh, damn it! What the hell?!"
His anguished cry echoed through the cave.
At the same time.
Ye-rin realized she was alone in a different space and cautiously surveyed her surroundings.
Her eyes locked onto the pillar rising from the center, drawn to the three chests atop it.
The left chest brimmed with luxurious items.
The center one gleamed with gold coins and dazzling jewels that stole the gaze.
Pretty...
Her hand reached out instinctively.
"Ah..."
One jewel in her palm felt soul-sucking.
The test has not started.
The message snapped her back.
Test...?
She hastily set the jewel down.
Now she noticed the right chest.
A potion...?
A subtle glass vial with red liquid inside. Unclear what, but no ordinary item.
Creeeak.
A strange sound followed.
A deer staggered out ahead.
The test has started.
Ye-rin tilted her head at the message.
Test?
What kind of test?
Her eyes fell on the deer again. She vaguely guessed: heal the injured deer.
With what?
The glass vial in the third chest.
This...?
But doubt crept in.
Is this really the test?
Too easy?
Trap maybe?
Choose items or jewels, and you get them—but this could be a trick to make you miss out.
If so?
No, no.
Anyone can see it's heal the deer with the potion.
It said test.
So...
Ye-rin's mind spun in chaos.
Suddenly, Mu-hyuk came to mind.
What would he choose?
Yeah, if it were oppa...
That made it easier.
She chose the chest.