Level 30 Milestone
Crunch!
Level Up! Bonus points have been awarded.
You have reached Level 30. As a reward, x1 Beginner Skill Pack has been added to your inventory.
"Phew. Level 30 already?"
-This level-up speed is insane. This isn't supposed to be a bracket where you blast through levels like this!
"Heh heh. See, this is what happens when you live right."
If he'd thrown a tantrum over the quest from the elf queen, he wouldn't be sucking down this sweet honey right now.
"People really should just follow the natural order. Stick to the straight and narrow, and life won't screw you over."
-...I've got a ton I wanna say, but I'll hold back for now. Anyway, how many bugs are left?
"Hang on. Let me check."
Carpe pulled up the quest window to review the status.
Sap Bug Extermination
(361/800)
"Whoa, that's all we've got?"
It felt like he'd been in a trance for hours, but they still hadn't even hit half.
-What do you mean? That's ridiculously fast. Even at one per minute, that's 60 an hour.
Of course, he'd been taking down three or four a minute, so realistically it was closer to 100 per hour.
But that pace was only possible in the early stages when the bugs were everywhere. Now that he'd cleared so many, there weren't any left nearby.
The EXP requirements had spiked too, so it took nonstop hunting for two hours just to squeeze out one level now.
The explosive early pace was finally tapering off.
"About four hours in? I thought we'd wrap this up today."
-No way you'd clear 800 in a day. Any other user would've needed ten days.
It was only possible because he could one-shot them with basic attacks. Other users at this level would've struggled just to crack their tough shells.
Beep— Beep—
After more than four hours of bug-slaughtering, the logout timer alarm blared.
"Huh? Already?"
-From the Elder Trent to finding the elf village, it's been a long session.
"Tch. Feels like I barely did anything. Wish I could unlock the 10-hour login limit."
-You tried. Didn't work.
"Yeah."
-Even thinking to unlock that is nuts.
"It'd be god-tier if it did. Oh well. Guess we'll call it here today."
As Carpe stopped hunting, Saiers approached from where he'd been watching from afar.
His face was full of astonishment.
"You've taken down an incredible number. Time for a break now?"
"Ah, yeah. A break, I guess?"
It wasn't really a break—it was logout. How do you explain that?
Regular NPCs recognized players as 'outsiders' from beyond the continent of RaSe, but how would the elves, secluded for centuries, react? Unknown.
But Saiers smiled and nodded at Carpe's hesitation, as if he understood.
"Haha. No need to look so troubled. We're reclusive, but not ignorant of the world."
"Really?"
"We sometimes disguise ourselves with magic and visit human villages to gather info or supplies. It's our way of avoiding stagnation."
For that reason, the elves knew outsiders were 'immortals' chosen by Patron Spirits.
'Huh. Convenient lore.'
-Has to be. Imagine an NPC freaking out every time a user respawns. That'd be hilarious.
'Fair point.'
Either way, he'd avoided awkwardly logging out under NPC scrutiny. Good enough.
'Tomorrow when I log back in, time to open those skill packs. Level 25 pack, level 30 pack. Already got two stacked up.'
-So that's seven levels in one day. Makes sense—you forgot to open packs while grinding.
Carpe bid Saiers farewell and initiated logout.
"Well, I'll be off then. See you tomorrow."
"Yes. You've worked hard, successor."
'See ya tomorrow, hyung. Say hi to Hyang and Tina for me.'
-Got it. Rest up. See you tomorrow. Don't skip your workout.
A little before Carpe logged out.
In a room filled with the rich aroma of tea, two people and one animal were peacefully chatting.
"Here, tea brewed from carefully dried leaves. Savor it."
"Thank you, Alteer."
As a homunculus, she didn't need food to sustain herself.
But sharing tea was about the atmosphere, not nutrition.
Tina lifted her cup gratefully.
Slurp.
As Tina sipped, Alteer smiled warmly and spoke.
"How is it? To your taste?"
"Yes. I don't know much about tea, but the aroma and flavor are soothing."
"I'm glad. I'll pass that on to the elf who harvested it. She'll be thrilled."
Alteer said that, then took a sip herself.
Unlike Tina, she frowned ambiguously.
"Truth be told, I still don't get tea. Even after centuries, it's just bitter. I'd rather have something sweet."
"That's surprising. In my memory, you loved tea."
"Time brings change. Even I can't stay the same forever."
"You look exactly the same, though."
"So do you, Tina."
"I'm a homunculus. That's different."
Elves aged slowly, but Alteer seemed even slower.
The other elves showed some signs of time, but she looked just as she did 800 years ago.
"Hmph. As a high elf heir, that's to be expected. But that's not the point now."
She set her nearly untouched cup on the table.
"Coming for Dretsch's relic means you're preparing to fight the Visins again, right?"
"Yes. That's why I was created."
"I'll be frank. From an elf's perspective, we don't want to get involved with Visins or Akram. We're content with our current lives."
"I understand. We just want the Magic King's legacy returned."
"Don't worry. We'll hand it over soon. But..."
Alteer trailed off into silence.
"Alteer?"
"No, nothing. Just a personal thought."
She changed the subject.
"At least you've found a good master. Both you and that child."
Alteer smiled, pointing to Tina's lap.
There, Mukhyang clutched a walnut-sized acorn with both paws, fast asleep.
"Kuu... Kyu."
Dreaming sweetly, perhaps.
Tina gently stroked Mukhyang, smiling faintly.
"Yes. My lord, the strategist, and Hyang—they're all wonderful. Every day is joyful."
"Never thought I'd hear 'joyful' from you. Long life has its perks."
The Tina she remembered was a girl with almost no emotional range.
She'd only furrowed her brow at the Magic King's antics; otherwise, a blank doll.
A welcome change. Alteer smiled again.
"It suits you. I'll cheer on your second life."
"Thank you... Ah."
"Hm? What is it?"
"My lord has returned to his original place. I'll be teleported back to the Room soon..."
Shuuuuk.
With that, Tina and Mukhyang vanished.
Alteer was mildly surprised but nodded. Tina's words explained it.
"Hmm. Outsiders have strange powers. But rude—they didn't even give us time for proper goodbyes."
Alteer muttered, sipping her now-cold tea.
Still didn't get the taste. Stifling, like ill-fitting clothes.
"Phew. The second relic..."
She'd have to hand it over. But not yet.
Gazing out the window, a massive tree loomed clearly in the distance.
The divine tree, World Tree Rudram.
The benevolent mother nurturing all elves, symbol of abundance.
'Woodgard' meant the family guarding it across generations—the elf kings.
"Not yet..."
Beneath that tree slept the Magic King's second relic: Illusion's Mirage.
Knock knock.
"Pardon the intrusion, Your Majesty. Saiers here."
"Hm? Come in."
With permission, Saiers entered.
"Did the Magic King's successor leave?"
"Yes. He was hunting sap bugs until just now, then departed. He'll return tomorrow, I expect."
"I see. What do you think of him?"
"Good and strong. No threat to our kin."
Alteer had assigned Saiers not just as guide, but to vet if the successor deserved the relic.
"I agree."
Initial doubts were erased by her talk with Tina.
"No reaction to Rudram tea means he acts by his own will."
Dried Rudram leaves brewed under sunlight nullified mind control or illusions.
Alteer had even considered the slim chance an evil 'chosen' had brainwashed Tina.
"The latest Magic King seems decent."
The knight of light she knew wouldn't serve evil.
Not even the sole successor.
"We can give him the relic. Let's see—800 bugs, so at least a week..."
"A week? He might finish tomorrow."
"...What? Tomorrow?"
Alteer asked incredulously, but Saiers nodded.
"Yes. He's already over 300. Pace slowed at the end, but a full day tomorrow should do it."
"No, that won't do!"
Alteer panicked. This speed wasn't in her plans!
"We need to stall at least a week more!"
"Why? What's the difference between two days or a week... Ah, could it be?"
"Could it be?"
"You proposed to the Magic King 800 years ago, got rejected, and now you're messing with his heir? Sigh, Your Majesty, act your age. You're 1,700 now."
"What did you say?! Who'd propose to that guy?!"
"Everyone knows... Oops."
Whoosh!
Saiers smoothly caught the flying teacup and set it down.
"Anyway, don't bully him too much."
"Out! Just get out!"
"Understood, Guardian of the Divine Tree."
Click.
Saiers bowed properly and left quietly.
"Talk about meddling... Sigh."
Alteer sighed deeply, gazing at the divine tree.
On its largest branch's tip hung a vibrant red fruit.
"Not yet, I said..."
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw