Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Twilight Village Horror
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Swish...
The transmission didn't happen right away.
Kang Seol found himself once more in a pitch-black void, forced into yet another dilemma where he had to make a choice.
Chao's directive involved a village quite a distance to the east of Shade Canyon, which naturally triggered the expedition system.
You've arrived at a remote village with scarcely any signs of life. This place is called Twilight Village, a small settlement carved out by slash-and-burn farmers. Only the curling smoke from chimneys hints that people live here. A villager offers you a chance to rest. How will you proceed?
1. Accept the hospitality and unpack your gear.
2. Check if you can restock food and supplies here.
3. It's rare kindness from strangers. Decline politely, but leave one of your items behind as you go.
4. Suspicious. They're welcoming an outsider without a hint of wariness. Leave immediately.
5. No need to stir up trouble. Even in this sparsely populated place, there are at least ten people—plenty of able-bodied adults. You can't act rashly. Pretend to accept while observing the situation.
"Ah, what a mess I've gotten into."
Kang Seol was familiar with a few villages like this one.
Settlements untouched by civilization's reach.
Adventurers or outsiders visiting such places were almost always met with rejection, thanks to a long history of plundering.
Conversely, villages that welcomed strangers were the ones adventurers had to watch out for.
"For now, option 5."
Going with 4 might lead to some unlucky twist.
His real personality aligned somewhat with 5 anyway, so he selected it.
Click...
As he tapped option 5, its color shifted, and all the choices vanished.
A message appeared immediately.
That night, you witness a shocking scene.
Pfft, damn! Knew it lololol
Busted? Busted? Busted? Busted? Busted? Busted? Busted? Busted? Busted? Busted? Busted?
Classic bad omen village!
The outcome matched his expectations perfectly.
The village harbored some dark secret.
Now, it was time for the details to unfold.
Kang Seol eyed the next set of choices.
Immortality! Immortality! Immortality! Chants echo from a shrine deep in the village. Indeed, the villagers are irrational devotees enthralled by some unknowable entity. You've secretly uncovered the truth. Now, decide your next move.
1. Your grim hunch was spot on. Abandon your gear and flee. (All items in possession will be lost.)
2. They don't know you've discovered them yet. Stay longer to see what unfolds.
3. [Requires: Heresy Inquisitor] All who worship evil gods beneath the heavens shall perish. Behead every villager and pile their heads at the entrance!
4. At dawn, ask about the god they worship. Fear not the truth—it might even fill you with profound ecstasy.
"These options are insane. The risks are way too high."
Option 1 was off the table due to its penalty, and 3 required a different class, leaving 2 and 4.
"4 could trigger a forced conversion event and doom us... so only 2."
Even 2 wasn't great.
It might lead to confronting the villagers, and fanatics only yield when their heads roll—potentially forcing unintended kills.
Click...
Whatever came next could be dealt with later, so Kang Seol chose 2.
You finally uncover the full horror unfolding in this village.
[Mental fatigue accumulates.]
[Negative thoughts linger.]
[Status: Exposed to Distrust]
He took a mental penalty, but it could've been worse. At least he'd reached the truth of the matter.
Immortality! Immortality! The villagers have sacrificed countless travelers in brutal rituals to their false god. This is an abomination no human should commit, and witnessing it leaves you reeling. What will you do with them?
1. They've crossed the line of humanity. Slaughter and burn them all.
2. Even if they've transgressed, do you have the right to punish them? Stay silent.
3. Instead of covering it up, demand material compensation.
4. Report their depravity to the lord of the nearest city.
Things had already spiraled too far.
No choice would let him escape unscathed.
"In that case..."
Best to follow his gut.
Click...
Option 1 depressed inward.
Moments later, a message popped up.
No living souls remain here.
A dying villager left these parting words for your actions:
'The apostle is coming. You cannot escape death in the end.'
[Karen: Status - Exposed to Nightmares]
[Fatigue accumulates.]
[Acquired: Necklace of Twisted Faith]
"Phew... Did I barely dodge the worst?"
The penalties were manageable—he'd defended well.
Karen taking the hit instead of him was a minor concern, but snagging gear unintentionally softened the blow.
However.
Unbelievable—the man's words were true. While Karen hesitates, grotesque entities overrun the entire mountain. Fleeing them, you spot raging rapids upstream. Choose now.
1. These currents could sweep you downstream in seconds—if you can swim.
2. Ignore the river and fight. But Karen might not join the battle.
3. [Requires: Light Ability] Repel them with the power of light.
4. [Requires: Frost Ability] Cross the river, then freeze it to block their path.
"Damn it, this is the worst."
1 was the safest; the rest were impossible or gambles.
"I can swim, but... no choice."
Option 1 sank in.
A message followed.
Flailing desperately in the water, you're swept into the rapids and lose consciousness. You don't know where you are or how you escaped danger, but you've swallowed a ton of water. After blacking out repeatedly, you finally wash out of the torrent.
Whoosh...
The world shattered around him, Kang Seol's body flipping like he was dead drunk.
"Air! I need... air..."
Sudden agony wracked him.
"Cough... hack... hack..."
Water gushed endlessly from his mouth—far more than he'd drunk in a week.
"Hah... hah... this is insane..."
[Arrived at an unknown location.]
[Accumulated fatigue weighs down your body.]
[Your clothes are soaked. You need to warm up.]
[Status: Exposed to Hypothermia]
[Mentally cornered. Vulnerable to further abnormalities.]
[7 days, 12 hours have passed in transit.]
"Damn it—a whole week?"
The downside of long-distance expeditions.
This nightmare was why players planned routes through similar regions or chained adventures.
"Did the adventure even complete properly?"
Even Shadow Summoning was impossible.
His body felt like a waterlogged sponge, unresponsive.
Rustle...
A presence nearby.
In this state, he couldn't guarantee victory against foes.
"Um, hello there?"
"Hah... hah..."
"A-are you okay?"
A woman about Kang Seol's age emerged from the brush.
A basket hung from her wrist, stuffed with what looked like herbs or mushrooms—she'd been foraging.
Regardless, Kang Seol was immensely grateful she wasn't a threat.
"My... my body..."
"H-hold on! I'll get help!"
Thud!
Kang Seol blacked out.
Blink.
Blink blink.
His eyelids fluttered playfully.
He lay on a musty-smelling cot.
"Ugh... what a sorry state."
We're screwed;; fr long-distance adventures are insane risky
What even was that village?
What were those things chasing him more than the village??
What happened to Karen! What about Karen?!
"Karen."
"......"
Kang Seol kept calling for Karen, who was surely in his Shadow Space.
After a hesitant pause, she slithered into view.
Karen, clad in the red dress he'd gifted her, materialized beside the cot.
"Why..."
"What... what happened?"
"You don't... remember?"
"My memories..."
Static... crackle...
Fragments from the long-distance adventure flashed in his mind.
Kyaaack!
Fire, fire... fire on my body...
The apostle will punish you! You...
Cold sweat poured down Kang Seol's face, as if he'd groped something horrific.
"Gasp... huff... huff..."
"We burned the village."
"Cultists' village, right... hah... whoo..."
"Yeah. But why did this happen?"
"...Hurting?"
Karen looked a bit downcast.
"Feeling guilty?"
"Guilt? No, more like disappointment."
Kang Seol had assumed she was tormented by guilt, but that wasn't it.
"Why do absurd things like this... make people die?"
"Karen."
"I know times have changed. But nothing's different. It's just like Montral."
Karen's face crumpled.
"The world's still cruel. Why... why did I come back? To see this?"
"......"
"Forget it... never mind."
Karen was a rookie when it came to Kang Seol's adventures.
Her skills were veteran-level, but adjusting to the flipped world from scratch left her deeply confused.
As Karen brooded, Mountain Sorcerer Jamad spoke from the Shadow Space.
"Hmm. Maybe scout where we are first?"
"Jamad?"
"I kept watch to prevent disasters, but looks like we've ended up in that human woman's village."
Jamad had been vigilantly protecting Kang Seol.
Even during his brief unconsciousness, knowing Jamad was on guard brought relief.
"Someone's coming."
Creak—
The door opened. The woman from the riverbank stood there.
"Kyaaah!"
"Wh-what's wrong?"
"Wh-who are you?"
"Me? You mean me?"
"You're the only stranger—no, fairy—here!"
The woman was startled by Karen's sudden appearance in this random spot.
Karen quickly made excuses.
"Uh, well, see... I-I'm, you know."
"Bandit?"
"Bandit?! N-no... this guy's companion, sort of..."
"Companion? L-lies! He was alone!"
"We got separated due to circumstances. Calm down."
"R-really?"
She sought confirmation from Kang Seol.
He nodded swiftly.
"Phew... I thought... Sorry for the rudeness!"
"It's fine. I'd be startled too, miss."
"I'm Sera. Call me Sera, pretty fairy sister."
"What? Kahahat! Hear that? Did you hear him, Master?!"
"Master?"
"N-no, he's... my close adventuring buddy, Snowman."
Ignoring Karen's overly casual introduction—like longtime coworkers—Kang Seol asked Sera,
"Sera, I'm Snowman. Forgive me, but where is this place?"
"Oh, duh. Snowman, this is Water Mist Village, north of the great city Audenin. Every morning, mist rolls in from the lake—that's how it got its name!"
TMI...
Water Mist Village since my LA days...
Sera's so cute lol
Kang Seol's gaze hardened coldly for a split second. But he quickly softened it with a smile, so no one noticed.
"I see. Sera, I need to change—could you step out for a moment?"
"O-of course! Take your time. I'll be outside!"
Thud!
"Ow!"
Sera bumped her forehead on the door as she left.
10/10.
Perfection. Off to draw fanart now.
Lmaoooo total airhead fr.
Confirming she was gone, Kang Seol pulled Chao's scroll from his inventory.
"...Looks like we made it."
The scroll's first line read:
— Head to Water Mist Village, north of the great southern city Audenin, east of Shade Canyon.
The next adventure begins.
The twelfth adventure commences.