The Endless Flower Fields
Mu-hyuk opened his eyes to find it was already past 1 p.m.
"Ugh……."
He washed his face, downed a glass of water to clear his head, and called Sung Min-woo—but there was no answer. He could guess the situation.
He'll wake up on his own eventually.
His stomach burned, but skipping breakfast would only make it worse.
After leaving the house, he grabbed some gukbap at a street stall, then skipped the gym and jogged a few laps around the park to loosen up his stiff body.
Back home, he logged into Illusion and hunted Zibra solo.
Without Sung Min-woo and the spirits, it was a bit more tedious, but with enough time invested, it was manageable. He took it easy, battle after battle.
Experience points have increased.
How many had he taken down?
Sung Min-woo appeared right where Mu-hyuk had logged out the day before.
"When'd you log in?"
"An hour or two ago."
"Ugh, you're up early."
"You slept in."
Mu-hyuk led the grumbling Sung Min-woo into the hunt.
Kiyaaak!
The Zibra's roars were getting old.
Why? Their heads were full of mercenary requests right now.
"How much EXP left?"
"Uh, about 5%."
"Let's wrap it today."
"Okay!"
They needed level 65 for decent requests. Anything below wasn't worth much.
Too many users were already snapping them up—no free rides left.
But requests at 65+ were different. They often chained together.
That was what Mu-hyuk wanted—linked quests.
Hence the level 65 goal.
"Barrage, go!"
Mu-hyuk commanded the Bone Bows.
A volley of bone arrows flew at the Zibra's main body. Its clone appeared in front, shield up, pushing them back.
"Earth!"
On cue, the Earth mage's spell erupted.
A chunk of ground surged upward.
Thud.
The Zibra's back hit it and tumbled down.
The mages' spells slammed in right then.
Kaboom!
The perfect combo yielded big gains.
The wounded Zibra flicked its tongue, staggering. No chance they'd miss.
They directed their summons in a fierce assault until the Zibra collapsed.
Experience points have increased.
Mu-hyuk followed up with Corpse Dissection.
No bones this time.
He pushed aside the disappointment and resumed hunting to fill the EXP bar.
Three hours later.
Sung Min-woo's level finally hit 65.
"Whoa, yes!"
Achievement surged through him.
Small as it was, tasting it once made you crave bigger ones. Nail a major milestone, and you'd hunger for even grander victories. That's how you got hooked.
On this world called Illusion.
"Let's go right now."
"Hell yeah!"
They warped back to the village, then to the Weibra Empire via warp gate.
At the Mercenary Guild, they plunged into the bustling hall and grabbed a quest ledger from the center, joining the line.
"Check this out while we wait."
"What's that?"
"Requests we can take."
"Oh, gotta pick from this first?"
"Nah."
"Then?"
"They curate ones for you over there. This has everything available. Less efficient, but gems pop up sometimes."
"Hmm."
Sung Min-woo flipped it open, satisfied.
Mu-hyuk scanned it too.
Flip.
The first page projected a hologram.
[Danger in Bellin Village]
Bellin Village is the most remote from the Weibra Empire. Tiny, low traffic—no guards. Empire only sends them when distress calls come. Now, it's threatened by Small Cyclopses. Save it by slaying them. Proof: 100+ hides.
[Recommended Level: 58]
[Grade: D]
[Reward: EXP based on hides]
Decent, but EXP-only reward.
One-off too.
Far from the chained quests Mu-hyuk sought.
Next page.
[Threat to the Kingdom]
A powerful monster threatens Hamma Kingdom, part of the Weibra Empire...
Monster extermination again.
Next.
Nothing promising.
The line shrank fast.
"Our turn next."
"Oh, yeah?"
Mu-hyuk, refocused, flipped one last page regretfully.
[Find Pascal's Tomb]
Locate his tomb in Pascal's Field.
[Reward: EXP. Quest]
[Recommended Level: 66]
[Grade: C]
Mu-hyuk's eyes widened.
Oh...!
Sparse details, but it was the chained quest he wanted.
How'd he know? The "Quest" in rewards.
And C-grade—tougher than D.
"Welcome."
Their turn.
"Ah, yes."
"Show your mercenary tags for suitable requests."
Mu-hyuk pulled his out.
Handed over with Sung Min-woo's—a hologram appeared.
Hmm...
Hunting quests, empire one-offs. No top-reward chained ones.
Lucky break.
Mu-hyuk dismissed it.
"Nothing here. Can we pick from the full list?"
"Of course."
"Then 'Find Pascal's Tomb'."
"Got it."
Do you accept the quest?
☐ Yes
☐ No
Yes, obviously.
Quest 'Find Pascal's Tomb' has been updated.
Mu-hyuk turned.
"Let's go."
"Huh, that's it?"
"Yeah."
He explained to Sung Min-woo trailing behind.
About the new quest.
"Whoa, this is a chained one?"
"Yep. C-grade too—gonna be tricky."
"Tricky's fun!"
What rewards awaited?
Anticipation carried them to Pascal's Field.
*
They reached a small village.
An hour's walk led to endless plains.
The horizon gripped their gaze.
No forests, trees, seas—nothing. But vibrant flowers writhed and pulsed with life.
The sight gaped their mouths.
"Damn, killer view."
"Illusion's charm."
Not just beauty, though.
Prurr!
Without the prowling monsters' cries, they'd linger longer. Gripping weapons tight, they advanced.
"Gotta search this whole place?"
"Yeah."
Pascal's Plains.
Tomb hidden somewhere. Problem: monsters everywhere—no dodging forever.
"Hunt while searching, then."
"Pretty much."
It'd take time.
"Eh, fine. EXP farm too."
A monster approached.
Horse-like, galloping the plains—but dark-red mane flaring, exuding menace.
Variant Wild Horse.
Level 60-ish?
No threat to them now.
"Let's take it."
As they geared for battle—
"Hey!"
Turning, five female players entered view.
*
She'd hit 60 and come to Pascal's Plains with friends.
Variant Wild Horses rampaged here, but five who'd grown together had great synergy.
Should be smooth hunting. But it was tougher than expected.
"Ugh, can't tank solo."
"Need another tank..."
Past spots, she managed alone—lower-level mobs.
This was a level 60 celebration challenge. Damage incoming was brutal.
"What now?"
They scanned around.
On break, male players' eyes locked on them.
All women, all above-average looks—natural.
They knew without saying.
"Add a party member?"
"Probably."
Normally no, but they'd leverage it this time.
Time to get here was precious.
"Win-win anyway."
"Who?"
A few caught eyes.
"That guy?"
"Three of 'em."
"Too many?"
"Kinda."
"No smaller teams?"
Mage player Lee Ga-young spotted some amid her scan.
Two men walking slowly.
"Oh, there!"
"Just two?"
"Perfect!"
"But classes unknown."
"One bare-handed. One bow."
"Fistfighter and archer?"
"Doesn't matter. Fistfighter can frontline decently."
"Yeah, that'll do."
"Let's ask."
"Sure!"
They strode confidently.
"Hey."
The two men turned.
Confusion in their eyes.
"You two solo?"
"Yeah?"
"Party with us?"
Sung Min-woo and Mu-hyuk went silent at the sudden pitch.
Lee Ga-young smirked.
"Mobs here's tough. Two's rough. We'd both benefit."
Superiority dripped from her smile.
The pair exchanged glances.
Mu-hyuk stone-faced; Sung Min-woo intrigued.
Tempting, sure. Hunt with five beauties?
Leveling in a flower bed.
"What do ya say? Good, right?"
Mu-hyuk shook his head.
Different goals.
"We're good."
"Pardon...?"
"Two's enough."
"Two... is enough?"
"Yes."
Their stunned faces drew involuntary chuckles.
That confident?
"Aigoo, my friend's blunt. Sorry anyway!"
Sung Min-woo yanked Mu-hyuk away frantically.
The women stared blankly, then scowled.
"What the hell?"
"Total no manners."
"No brains? How do you reject that?"
"Right?"
"More like, what're they gonna do solo?"
"That cocky?"
"Cocky, not confident."
Their voices carried loud.
Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo didn't look back.
"Dude, hear that? Talking smack."
"Didn't do wrong."
"Hey, hey. Never seen Kingsgirl? Manners make the man!"
"Manners my ass."
"Still, girls."
"So? Women nobility?"
"Tch, still a shame."
"If just hunting, party fine."
"I know, but still a shame."
"Look, still gossiping. Regret now?"
"Shame's shame. Missed flower-surrounded chance. Sigh, when's my life getting this again?"
Mu-hyuk snorted at Sung Min-woo's lament.
Meantime, the Variant Wild Horse closed in.
Prurr!
It stomped and charged.
"Coming."
"Fight time."
"Yeah. Summon."
"Summon."
Only now did they call skeletons and spirits.