Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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The die didn't stop easily, flipping up and down several times.
Kang Seol's interface captured the whole scene perfectly.
It's like the weather forecast in your travel itinerary lol. Sunny, cloudy, that kinda thing.
In short, even if the die rolls something crap, you gotta tough it out for at least one full adventure cycle?
Then we're good.
Rollrrrrr...
Finally, the die came to a stop.
[The Travel Luck Die shows a 2.]
[A considerably unlucky fortune has emerged.]
[Adventures conducted near Nobira will face various variables.]
[Adventures near Nobira become slightly more dangerous.]
[There's a chance your selected adventure near Nobira will be forcibly replaced by a random event.]
[Your adventure becomes quite precarious.]
[But overcoming this misfortune will grant even greater opportunities.]
'Nawa' has sponsored 300 Madness!
Just don't roll below 2 (rolls 2)
And then it actually happened!
A frown creased Kang Seol's brow.
His second base, started with fresh resolve, was described from the outset with ominous phrases.
'This is why players prepare thoroughly before moving.'
Supplies, growth, adventures—trials could strike in many areas.
Players typically moved with capabilities at least one tier above the minimum to brace for such misfortunes.
'Anyway, nothing major should happen. Even if something does, at this level, I can handle it without much trouble.'
With Jamad and Karuna by his side, the odds of Kang Seol facing an unsolvable problem were exceedingly low.
There were no suitable cities to serve as bases around Nobira.
Near the Great Forest, aside from Nobira, there were only tiny villages.
Moving to a village lacking proper infrastructure just to dodge bad luck would be foolish—and misfortune could still strike there anyway.
'Better to see it as a chance for greater rewards.'
It's written all over his face!
Hair in the food!
That's tough even on a 1...
But there was a reason it wasn't easy to think that way.
Even if he could endure most things, a forced random adventure was dangerously hard to stomach.
'Just gotta watch out for random events.'
Hoping no random adventure would trigger this leg of the journey, Kang Seol entered central Nobira.
"Wahahaha! Didn't think you'd make it back alive."
"Mister, I'm not kidding. If you'd fallen behind back there, you'd be scattered in pieces across the Great Forest by now. Ruin hunting's no joke."
"That's the thrill of ruins. Weaklings weaker than you come and go like it's a commute, and even the strong ones lose their heads if they slip up."
The ruin hunters' city of Nobira.
The only city-scale settlement near the ruin-filled Great Forest.
'Looks like the Transferred have blended well with the locals.'
Nobira's first impression wasn't bad.
People who seemed like Transferred fit seamlessly into the city's vibe, unlike the wary standoff between Transferred and locals in Kongori.
'Probably due to Nobira's nature.'
Folks in rough trades tend to be tough, but they treat work buddies like friends.
Nobira's economy thrived on ruin hunting, treating it as prime business.
And the key resource in ruin hunting? Manpower.
'With all these Transferred flooding in, even Nobira's booming.'
Famous ruin hunters like the Borgo Kang Seol had met led huge crews.
Unlike locals with varied jobs, all-Transferred combat classes were a godsend to Nobira.
To gauge the vibe, Kang Seol first hit the Adventurers' Guild and checked posts on Nobira's community board.
['Anidaechejebal' Post]
[Posted: One week ago]
[Title: That Ruin Devourer old man is seriously friendly.]
Says I look like his dead son and spoils me rotten -_-. It's annoying as hell so now I'm spoiling him back.
I almost died on a ruin run and he barely saved me. Swearing lifelong loyalty ^^7
['Nobira's Hegemony' Post]
[Posted: One week ago]
[Title: One of the top 5 ruin hunters got wrecked lol]
Borgo's done for, confirmed for real Amazing! This guy's been secretly pissing his pants a little every time he passes through town, and boom, jackpot. Who wrecked Borgo's crew?
Borgo was top-tier in brutality and power despite his rep... Anyway, thumbs up to whoever wrecked his ass, Transferred or hunter!
'Borgo's gone, and something's brewing.'
Kang Seol skimmed ruin hunter drama but focused on other posts.
['BusRiderPro' Post]
[Posted: Just now]
[Title: Anyone got room? Kids...]
Haven't picked an adventure yet.
The ruin hunter I went with last time doesn't wanna team up this round hing... So sad ㅠㅠ
Oof, cheapskate good work
Kongori had some blowup recently too? It's rough there.
Nah, dunno details.
Kang Seol noted that most Transferred in Nobira focused on ruin hunting adventures.
Then, a post caught his eye.
['CrazyFolks' Post]
[Posted: Just now]
[Title: You guys are sane, right?]
Lives on the line and you're all laughing and joking? I don't get it;
Soldiers deployed can't laugh?
At this point, shouldn't we be adapted? We don't get you ^^
Kang Seol had found the community's buzz odd too.
But people adapted to crises in their own ways—it wasn't incomprehensible.
'By now, they've all realized it.'
That return to the original world was impossible.
Kang Seol browsed relevant posts, memorized dangerous zones, and left the guild.
Arriving early in Nobira, the sun still blazed.
To tackle his main goal—confirming Chao's disappearance—Kang Seol roamed the city.
Black robe, big eyes, pretty face, jet-black hair like charcoal. Armed with Chao's description, he canvassed Nobira.
"Chao? Odd name. Never heard of her."
"Chao? Foreigner? A woman? What kinda name is that..."
"Hmm... dunno. Haven't seen a woman like that."
It wasn't smooth sailing, but Kang Seol persisted, scrounging rumors everywhere.
Then, hopeful news.
"Ah! You mean that woman...?"
After much legwork, a lead lit up Kang Seol's face.
"You know her?"
"Yeah. About a month ago? She acted like a total newbie, so I told her all sorts of stuff."
"Mind sharing details?"
"Well... it's fuzzy."
[You've found a trace of Chao from this stranger. But they don't seem eager to talk. How do you respond?]
1. Try to remember carefully.
2. You messing with me?
3. Anyone else know her?
4. [Req: Intimidation 1] Spill it right or I'll bury your windpipe in a ruin.
5. [Req: Negotiation 1] Alright, let's trade info.
6. [Req: 1 Gold] I'm sure you remember.
Ting-!
A gold coin flicked from Kang Seol's hand into the woman's palm.
She snatched it like she'd been waiting, then unleashed a torrent of words.
"So, the first thing she asked about was renting a lab..."
Using the lucky tip, Kang Seol found the abandoned mansion on Nobira's outskirts.
Was the woman telling the truth?
As night fell, Kang Seol circled the dark mansion.
'No signs of upkeep...'
Webs everywhere, shattered windows, door sealed tight—entering felt like a one-way ticket to no tomorrow.
'An-museowom' has sponsored 100 Madness!
I can't handle scary stuff, is there scary here?
Fact: Past planning, now executing.
Nothing to lose, Kang Seol confirmed no one around and tried breaking in.
Click.
Click... click...
Door's locked.
[Many ways to enter the mansion. How do you break in?]
1. Smash the door.
2. Check basement storage.
3. Break a window.
4. Use a broken window.
5. [Req: Spirit Medium] Ask the mansion's ghost how to enter.
Shady options aside, Kang Seol picked 4—least chance of getting caught.
Whoosh-!
Shadow Hand removed the broken glass from the frame instead of Kang Seol's fragile fingers. With Karuna's help, he climbed through.
The mansion brimmed with pitch-black darkness, no light in sight.
'Signs of habitation, but...'
Recent traces—footprints on the carpet, lantern states—from weeks ago.
Judging no one inside, Kang Seol lit a lantern from his inventory.
Fwoosh...
Now he could see: the place was huge; searching solo would be tough.
'Good thing I have a way.'
Whoosh-!
At his gesture, Jamad and Karuna summoned simultaneously.
"What is it."
"Might be a lab for someone named Chao here. Help search."
"Hmph, big deal."
Thud... thud...
Jamad grumbled but stomped off noisily elsewhere.
But too buff for tsundere...
Unlike Jamad, Karuna nodded to Kang Seol and searched alongside.
Mid-search, Kang Seol wondered if Karuna was always this taciturn.
"Karuna."
"Yes."
"Were you always this quiet?"
"What do you mean by 'always'?"
"Before becoming a shadow, I suppose?"
"As an apostle left in the ruins, there was no one to talk to, so I didn't speak."
No one to chat with, so no chatting.
Recalling he was an elf, Kang Seol switched topics.
"What about as an elf?"
"...I don't remember."
"Don't remember? Why? Because of becoming a shadow?"
"No. Memories before apostleship are hazy, like fog."
"No memories, huh..."
Little was known about Karuna.
No one else had made him a summon.
'Guess I'll learn bit by bit from now on.'
Detailed summon info mattered to summoners.
Kang Seol planned to uncover everything about Karuna and Jamad gradually.
Click-!
Karuna spoke to Kang Seol.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"I think we've found it."
Kang Seol entered the door Karuna opened.
And couldn't hide his shock at the scene inside.