Revolution's Heavy Burden
Ding.
Magic King's Third Relic (4)
Classification: Job Scenario Quest
Quest Restriction: Inheritor of the Magic King's Will
The third relic, Lindor of the Dark Army, is hidden in a secret place accessible only to the king of Ramark. Unfortunately, the current king of Ramark has no intention of handing over the relic to you. This foolish king, bewitched by his corrupt advisor, will not listen to anyone but him.
There is only one way: overthrow the current king and enthrone a new one. Help the first prince succeed in the revolution.
Success: Acquire third relic, special status in Ramark royal family, full support from Ramark Kingdom
Failure: Fail to acquire third relic, Ramark Kingdom destroyed
"......Huh?"
Revolution? The story was heading in this direction?
It was such an unexpected turn that Carpe read the quest alert carefully from top to bottom.
Tsk. If a quest like this popped up, that king bastard never intended to hand it over from the start.
-Looks like it. Man. For a job quest, the scale of this scenario is...
Right? Even for a mythic grade, asking to flip an entire country is a bit much, don't you think?
-Well, at least it's the weakest kingdom on the continent. You're gonna do it anyway, right?
Of course. If we hadn't started, maybe not, but now that we're this far in, no backing out.
As Carpe read through the quest, he spotted a particularly ominous line.
Everything else I can let slide, but... failure means Ramark Kingdom destroyed? What does that mean? Does Ramark fall in the original future?
-No, there's no such history in the future I know. Probably something explodes because of the Magic King quest connection.
Sigh. This comes with heavy responsibility.
He was obviously planning to succeed, but it made him steel his resolve even more.
"It shames me deeply to reveal my kingdom's pathetic state to you, successor."
Royusten Ramark, the former first prince, bowed his head as he spoke.
"It's my failing. I was too focused on my own talents and neglected my younger brother's feelings. He was such a good kid..."
He had ignored the second prince, buried in inferiority.
The first prince harbored the exact same regrets as Gillian.
"To be honest, I intended to yield the throne to my brother as atonement..."
The problem was Prime Minister Sergail.
Sergail had clouded the king's judgment with sweet words, seized unchecked power, and begun exploiting the people.
"By the time I came to my senses, taxes had nearly doubled, and those who couldn't pay were forcibly extracted as labor. The people's anger built up naturally."
The previous king hadn't been a sage ruler, but he was decent enough that this hit even harder.
When Carpe first arrived in Ramark, the locals' hostile vibe wasn't just wariness of outsiders—it stemmed from this too.
"Worse, defense budgets kept shrinking... The border guard, once over 10,000 strong, is now less than half."
Sergail had tried to cut even that, but Gillian had stubbornly opposed it.
"Ramark shares a border with the Gillian Empire. At this rate, we'll surely perish."
The prince bowed his head again.
"It's shameless of me to ask a state guest, but please lend your strength to save this nation."
"......Understood. Though my power is humble, I'll serve as a spark for the revolution's flame."
"Thank you! Truly, thank you!"
You have accepted the quest.
-......Aren't you embarrassed talking about being the revolution's spark? Your main goal is the relic anyway, right? Revolution's just a side thing.
Ahem. There's such a thing as atmosphere. Atmosphere. Snag the relic and do some good along the way—win-win.
And crucially, he needed to land a solid hit on that slimy prime minister or it'd eat at him.
With those deeply personal motives mixed with a dash of greater good, Carpe joined the revolutionaries.
"Then, allow me to brief you on the current situation."
Whoosh.
The first prince spread out a map as he spoke.
He jabbed a baton at the capital marked on it. Tak!
"This is Ramark's capital, 'Ramark.' And here."
The baton pointed to a fortress-like spot south of Ramark.
"This is the border fortress 'Alkanlatra.' And our revolutionary base is..."
Tak.
The baton tapped a city east of the fortress.
"Pusun. Most of the revolutionary forces are waiting there."
"How many revolutionaries are there?"
"About 30,000. More than twice the total Ramark army combined."
"The people's resentment must be huge."
Way more than expected.
At this momentum, maybe the revolution would be a breeze?
Revolutionaries were ragtag compared to regulars, but revolutions snowballed over time.
Once momentum built, they could swell to over 100,000.
"Then all that's left is the advance."
The key points the prince indicated formed an 'ㄴ' shape in sequence.
If comparing to Korean geography...
Ramark capital like Seoul.
Border fortress like Gwangju.
Pusun like Busan.
-Spot on. Though actual distances are much shorter than Korea's.
"Hmm......"
"Our forces will depart Pusun, pass the border fortress, then march on the capital."
"Pardon? Why?"
Carpe asked, baffled.
"Why detour to the border fortress instead of straight from Pusun to the capital? Unless more revolutionaries join there..."
"No. We'd love to, but there's no path."
Unlike Korea, a massive mountain range blocked the capital and Pusun.
Treacherous terrain crawling with monsters—even seasoned adventurers needed ten lives to cross.
For commoner revolutionaries? Impossible.
"So we must skirt the mountains along the main road via the border fortress. We'll have to fight the garrison there."
"......Hold on."
Fight at the border fortress? Revolutionaries vs. Ramark border guards?
Carpe asked with a sinking feeling.
"The commander there is...?"
"......Yes. Grand General Duke Gillian."
One of the continent's 11 strongest, Ramark's guardian god for over a century.
Knife Tyrant Gillian.
This time, he was the enemy.
-Whoa. Congrats. Looks like you get to fight your favorite invincible boss.
"......Wouldn't breaking through the mountains be better?"
"We've considered it, but..."
"......"
This quest looked rougher than any before.
The moment Carpe received his nation-scale quest...
Another nation-scale quest was brewing elsewhere.
Gillian Empire.
One of the continent's top 4 powers, a nation of knights bordering Ramark.
In the castle of Marquis Huinan, who governed near the Ramark border, a man was granted audience.
"So, you emissaries of the gods will serve as my sword?"
"Yes, Marquis. It's unnecessary for you to move personally against some border minnow. Entrust it to us, and we'll execute flawlessly."
"Hmm... Sounds good. If you succeed, I'll recommend titles from His Majesty myself."
Yes!
The bowing man—Evan, guild master of the top 10 EU guild Silver Lion—cheered inwardly.
The moment the marquis nodded, a quest alert popped up before his eyes.
Nation-scale quest! Our guild's the world's first!
His heart pounded like it might burst. Proof of the massive effort and cash poured in.
Streaming a nation-scale quest clear... We'll be undisputed number one.
Silver Lion was mid-pack among top 10 guilds.
But not after today.
He'd achieved what even US and China top guilds couldn't.
Evan whispered to his blood brother, the vice guild master.
-Quest triggered. Order all members to drop tasks and focus here.
-What? For real? No joke?
-Real. Mobilize everyone, pool funds. Oh, gonna go live stealth stream, so gag order.
-Huge! It's really happening! Leave it to me—I'll prep tight.
-Yeah. We're reaching the top.
As Evan envisioned glory, the marquis spoke.
"Very well. I'll grant you authority to form a large-scale raid party."
"We are honored."
"Dismissed. Contact when ready."
"Yes, milord. We'll prepare thoroughly."
The marquis watched Evan retreat with excessive courtesy, nodding faintly with aloof poise.
Once gone, he chuckled.
"Outsiders are amusing. What think you?"
[They are men of great greed.]
"Indeed. But I don't mind the greedy."
The marquis picked up a tiger figurine from the table.
A glass tiger gifted by that outsider Evan. Exquisite craftsmanship—clearly priceless.
"Give them a mission and reward, and they'll tackle any dirty work. Especially if it's a title."
Even certain death.
Of course, only possible because these immortals respawned.
"Very useful laborers."
A peace treaty currently barred the four powers from mobilizing troops freely.
[Mobilizing troops would give the Lunderia Federation political pretext to interfere.]
"Normally, yes. But hiring mercenaries changes that."
The treaty excluded 'outsiders.'
Perfect fit.
Though they were mere pups now.
"Who knows? Endless puppies might topple an old tiger."
Crash!
The marquis hurled the figurine; glass shards scattered across the floor.
"Curious how that old monster Gillian reacts."
[All shall proceed as you will, Marquis.]
War clouds gathered over Ramark Kingdom.
Carpe sat by a fountain near Ramark Castle.
"This is insane. After Servant Lord's fragment, now fight a continent 11-strong? What kind of quest is this? Difficulty has limits!"
-Magic King quests being bullshit isn't new. Just roll with it.
"......I'd lose for sure, right?"
-Straight fight? No chance. But why worry? Some event'll probably make it doable, like always.
"Maybe not this time. Plus......"
Honestly, he didn't want to fight Gillian.
Considering all the favors... hard to turn hostile.
-Tsk tsk. Told you not to get attached to NPCs.
"......Not saying I can't—just hesitant. A little. Very little."
So Carpe was about to try persuading Gillian.
Ask why he wouldn't join the revolutionaries and enthrone the first prince.
-If possible, Drek or other ministers would've done it. Look at him—loyalty incarnate. Lives and dies for it.
"Urgh... Yeah, feels that way. Sigh. Dunno."
Headache.
Right—time for a ritual to clear the mind.
Carpe pulled a rectangular item from inventory.
◈ Opening grants a skill card from 2-star to 8-star.
◈ This item cannot be traded.
"Heh."
Level 55 reward skill pack.
Instant effect. Just looking at it lifted his lips, clearing his mind!
"As expected—draws for tough times!"
-......Not cleared mind, just gambling addict brainrot?
"Yeah. Pull a continent 11-strong killer skill here, problem solved!"
-......Definitely lost it.
"Here goes!"
Carpe stared solemnly at the fountain water (feng shui science), then tore the pack.
Shhrip!
Five cards floated in midair.
His hand moved decisively.
"This one!"
Second from the left!
The instant he touched it—
Bam ba bam!
"......Huh?"
-......What the fuck?!
A bizarre fanfare and cascading rainbow effects!
Proof of 8-star.
"Kaaaaah!!!"
-No, you shitty game! No blinker, straight to this bullshit!!!