The King's Twelve Trials
“......Second job change?”
Carpe muttered in disbelief at the unexpected notification.
“No, why is this popping up now? Isn't the second job change supposed to happen at level 50?”
[Second Job Change Available]
-This is a first for me too. Looks like mythic jobs kick off at level 45.
“You didn't know either, hyung? You said you got a mythic job once in your previous run, right?”
-That was a special advancement after hitting high levels... not like you, climbing step by step. Naturally, I never did a second or even third job change. So yeah, no clue here.
“Hmm. Got it.”
Carpe nodded.
He'd been thrown off since he'd assumed second job changes were locked to level 50, but starting early was way better anyway.
After the second change, you got intermediate skill packs every 10 levels as rewards!
This meant snagging intermediate packs 5 levels ahead of everyone else.
“Whew. Kinda nervous about this one.”
-Huh? Why would you be nervous?
“It's like officially shedding the newbie label.”
The dividing line between true players and larries—the second job change!
Even if a solid argument sparked a flame war online, any user without a second job saw their credibility tank. Even if they were right!
Hell, in RaSe communities, there was even a meme that unfinished second-jobbers hadn't earned their “human rights” yet and couldn't speak.
-......You were stressing over useless crap like that?
“Not exactly. It's just that moment of upgrading your job. Like a promotion in real life—kinda exciting, right?”
Carpe steadied his breath and glared at the alert window again.
How tough could the task be for the system to warn him personally?
Had to be a mythic-worthy nightmare quest.
“I'm ready.”
Hand over that second job quest already!
Carpe stared wide-eyed at the window, but...
“......Why isn't it giving it?”
The window didn't budge. No quest, no matter how long he waited.
-Obviously. Like your first job, second changes come from your Patron Spirit.
Patron Spirits issue the quest the moment you hit level 50.
Your performance on it unlocks one of three second-job options.
Say you're a Cleric first-jobber: you'd pick from Priest, Paladin, Monk, etc.
-But you're different. You didn't advance via Patron Spirit—you used a hidden NPC. So second job's gotta be NPC too.
“Ah, gotcha. Back to Drek like the first time, then.”
-Probably.
“Sweet!”
Now he wanted to bolt back to the castle right away.
But he was mid high-end bus ride, so soon...
-Oh yeah. Once you hit job-change level, no more levels till you do it. Hunt all you want—stuck at 45.
“......What?”
Carpe shot Cheonma a look like he'd just heard Mukhyang chuck acorns, but Cheonma just nodded impassively.
“First bus in ages, and you drop that?! Wait, does that mean everything Gillian's farming is wasted?!”
-Yup. Thought the world was that easy, you freeloader?
Cheonma sighed shortly.
-......Kidding. Monsters at job-change levels still bank EXP. Finish the change, and it all dumps in for a massive level burst. No worries.
“Phew...... Thank god.”
Carpe exhaled in relief. Worst heart-drop since the Serving Lord fragment fight!
“Hahaha! Been a while since I ran like that—feels great! Huh? You look like you cheated death. Why?”
“Had a scare......”
“Fragile nerves, eh? No worries—I'll toughen you up. Anyway, looks like you bagged a ton. Levels up?”
“Yeah, thanks to you. Easy gains. But uh......”
Carpe explained hitting job-change level and needing Drek again.
“Oho! Second job? Can't wait! As Magic King's heir, it'll be insane, right?”
Gillian boomed with laughter.
“Then we can spar for real. Perfect. Levels don't matter now. Head back now... oh.”
“Oh?”
“Brought inbound scrolls, but forgot outbound ones! Heh, getting senile in my old age.”
“So what now?”
“No choice—walk it off! Won't take long!”
“......I have return scrolls. I'll go first.”
“Can't. Local mana flow's weird—needs dedicated scrolls!”
“......”
“Don't look so glum. It's all training!”
Uwahaha!
Gillian's hearty laugh echoed across the hills.
After untold hardships, back in Ramark, Carpe beelined for Drek.
Only to hit a wall.
“Heh. Second job? No idea, sorry.”
“......What?”
Shockingly, Drek wasn't the Magic King second-job NPC!
Despite guiding Carpe to heir status.
“Apologies for not helping. Heh. I'll dig through ancient texts. If I find clues, you'll hear first.”
“Ah, yeah. Thanks.”
Carpe watched Drek leave helplessly.
“Hmm. Didn't pan out, eh?”
“Yeah. Didn't see that coming.”
Carpe scratched his head. Not Patron, not Drek—who then?
“Man, they said job quests are hard, but I figured I'd at least start one.”
-Unexpected, yeah. But Arkram-related, so poke around—clues nearby maybe?
“Ugh...... Headache.”
Gillian clapped Carpe's shoulder as he grimaced.
“Rough patch? You know, 'the busier, the slower.' Most life's woes melt after a good sweat.”
“......Since when did that mean that?”
“Sparring's the best stress-buster. Gear up. I owe you for the levels, right?”
“Just a bit, then.”
But spars didn't summon NPCs.
No job NPC by spar's end.
Next day.
Carpe hopped Gillian's bus again for sausk farming. No levels, but EXP banked.
Post-sausk slaughter: castle spars.
Surprisingly fruitful.
Random stats were nice, but overwhelming foes etched combat instincts deep.
Unseen battle experience piled up in his body.
Day after day.
Time flew; Carpe grew fast—but job clues? Zilch.
“Hoo. Whew. Good work today.”
“Hoo. You too. Growth's insane. Finally tagged me today. Uwahah!”
Gillian was right.
Singed armor side—Carpe's spell finally hit.
“All outlanders grow like this? Terrifying pace.”
“What can ya do? Still miles from beating you.”
“Uwahah! Too much history to lose to young blood yet! Short break, then rematch!”
Max affinity with Gillian from all this time.
And some facts:
Over 160 years old.
Looked late 50s—shocker at first hear.
Guarded the royals since two kings back. Reversal General.
“Know what the king says when he hates court?”
“......What?”
“'Palace grumble palace grumble!' Uwahah!”
-......This old coot's at it again. Ignore him! Ears gonna rot!
And his age-matched dad-joke barrage.
Constant groans for Carpe.
“Legion commander! Urgent report!”
“Hm? Right. Carpe, sorry—step out a sec.”
Busier than expected.
Border supreme commander—tons of duties.
Grateful for training amid it.
But castle life wasn't all roses.
Job NPC drought, plus another headache.
“His Majesty refuses audience again. Can't recognize you as heir yet......”
Third relic needed king's okay—but constant rejections.
“Sigh. My apologies. Seems the king fears meeting you.”
“Fears? Me?”
Carpe blinked. What'd he do?
Gillian wryly smiled at the question.
“Should be secret, but you're no outsider to Ramark. You need to know.”
Gillian spilled the royal secret.
Current king Crion Ramark was never meant to rule.
Second prince, with an elder brother.
Unlike bland Crion, first prince shone in looks, character, talent.
Obvious favorite for king and court.
Second idolized Gillian, but even he preferred the first.
“Should've watched closer.”
Princes grew amid this.
Then, late king died—chaos.
Timid second prince coup'd!
“All those comparisons bred inferiority.”
Gillian's face brimmed regret.
No one saw it; response botched. Coup succeeded easy.
First prince vanished. Gillian was afield—helpless.
“......I blamed myself over raged. We forged his complex.”
Yelling wouldn't bring back the lost prince.
Gillian accepted sole royal blood as king.
“Enter you. Ramark's Arkram remnant, right?”
Usurper throne, then ancient empire's sole heir appears?
Shaky king's throne quakes.
Carpe gaped, absurd.
“I don't want the throne?!”
“I know. But king's another story. Don't worry—I'll drag him out and......”
Then.
Training ground doors opened; civil-official-looking man entered.
“You... Oiler? King's messenger?”
“Yes, general. Bearing His Majesty's words.”
“Oho. Audience at last. About time......”
“No...... opposite.”
“Opposite?”
“Won't recognize heir. Solve his tasks first. Then audience.”
[Second Job Change Quest – Magic King's Heir]
[Ramark's king refuses to recognize you as Magic King's heir. Complete his tasks and earn acknowledgment.]
[Overcome Ramark King's 12 Trials.]
[Clear: Second job complete, next Magic King Relic quest.]
[Fail: Second job fails.]
“......Huh?”
The second-job NPC... was the king?
Unexpected find—Carpe inwardly cheered.
'Solved like that! 12 trials? Hardcore mythic quest, fitting.'
-Yeah. Herculean vibes... no joke. Brace yourself.
'Still, been so stuffy—feels great. Job and relic at once!'
Carpe beamed.
Gillian didn't.
His face twisted as the messenger hemmed.
“......So, earn recognition via twelve tasks?”
“Y-yes.”
“Heh. Ears failing? What nonsense!”
Gillian roared fury.
“First state guest in 800 years, and no welcome—just 'prove it'?! Tell His Majesty: if serious, brace for a scolding!”
“Eek! Right away!”
Messenger fled.
Soon returned, pale.
“Uh...... His Majesty says three tasks suffice......”
[Affinity with NPC Gillian at MAX!]
[Quest difficulty DRASTICALLY reduced!]
[Complete 3 of 12 trials.]
“......Whoa.”
Lightrian, you legend......
Carpe couldn't help but gawk in awe.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw