Chapter 132
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Swamp of Oblivion (1)
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After quite a long period of discussion, our clan ultimately decided to participate in the large-scale expedition.
Naturally, an operation of this magnitude couldn't be run haphazardly, so key representatives from the participating clans needed to convene.
From Eternity, it was decided that Seo Yu-ju, myself, and Wi Ho-yeon would attend.
I never expected to be heading to the meeting—neither as clan master nor vice-master—but Seo Yu-ju had chosen to bring me along.
Of course, my bodyguard Wi Ho-yeon tagging along was a given.
'How long has it been since my last palace visit, and now I'm going back already...'
Though the event was being coordinated via an official palace decree, the palace itself showed no signs of heavy involvement.
This meeting was for players only.
It seemed the palace simply hoped the clans would hash out the details among themselves.
'...Are we the first ones here?'
Our clan was the only one in the meeting hall so far.
"...It looks like we're the first to arrive."
"Yeah, we did get here a bit early."
Clan Master Seo Yu-ju took a seat to wait, while Wi Ho-yeon and I stood by her side for the moment.
That's when Ha Yu-ri and a man entered the meeting hall.
'Madan Clan decided to join too, I see.'
I didn't give Ha Yu-ri much thought upon spotting her, but she clearly felt differently.
She froze mid-motion as she was about to sit, having noticed me.
Feeling a bit mischievous, I mouthed words at Ha Yu-ri.
Woof! Woof!
Ha Yu-ri caught my lips moving, then sat across from us, trembling with a hardened expression.
The man standing beside her appeared to be her newly appointed aide.
And from the moment Ha Yu-ri walked in, Seo Yu-ju's gaze turned not just cold, but glacial.
".... Is Madan Clan's master participating in this expedition as well?"
"Ah… Yes…"
Seo Yu-ju's expression shifted to one of puzzlement at Ha Yu-ri's demeanor.
It wasn't her usual arrogant tone.
Unlike the rude attitude she'd normally throw out, Ha Yu-ri now seemed downright intimidated.
".... What's with that? Is something wrong?"
"... W-what.. do you mean?"
"Are you feeling ill?"
Seo Yu-ju clearly found Ha Yu-ri's behavior suspicious.
She stared at her with an odd look.
"N-no, I'm fine?"
At Ha Yu-ri's strange reaction, the man who seemed to be her aide spoke up with concern.
"Master, what's wrong? Are you unwell…?"
"N-no, it's nothing. I'm okay. D-don't worry about it."
"Ah… Understood."
I barely held back a laugh at the unfolding scene.
Ha Yu-ri probably wouldn't have arrived so early if she'd known Eternity was participating.
From her perspective, she likely never imagined a clan mostly full of first-year newbies would sign on.
".... I heard there was some unsavory incident in your clan recently. Make sure you're taking good care of yourself."
I was genuinely startled. I never thought I'd hear such a provocative jab from Seo Yu-ju's mouth.
Wi Ho-yeon looked shocked too. It was completely out of character for her usual conduct.
'She must really despise Ha Yu-ri.'
I glanced at Ha Yu-ri, but she was so fixated on me that she barely reacted to Seo Yu-ju.
"Ah… Y-yes…"
Her attitude was worlds apart from before.
When I looked her way, she immediately dropped her gaze, practically tucking her tail between her legs.
She used to strut around like an arrogant queen, but now she just seemed utterly deflated.
Seo Yu-ju didn't address her again after that, and Ha Yu-ri stayed silent too.
A brief, uncomfortable silence settled in, soon broken by the arrival of representatives from other clans.
'.... Quite the crowd.'
No small clans in sight. But it felt like most mid-sized and larger clans had shown up.
The current top three—Madan, Myth, and Veritas Clans—were all in attendance.
Yun Yeon spotted me and gave a light wave in greeting.
Since she greeted first, courtesy demanded a response. I nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
'... That makes two of the top three clans aligned with Eternity.'
Veritas wasn't under my thumb, but Myth and Madan were effectively on our side.
Not under my 100% control, but they could incorporate my input to a degree.
I had no idea how the expedition would play out, but since Seo Yu-ju had voiced her commitment, she must have a plan in mind.
'I've laid the groundwork. Do it your way.'
With Myth and Madan Clans in our corner, Eternity's opinions could influence the operation—subtly, beneath the surface.
Once it seemed everyone had gathered, Yun Yeon spoke up from her seat.
"Hmm… How should we kick this off? An Yeon-ho? Ha Yu-ri?"
An Yeon-ho, master of Veritas Clan.
"Eh, I'm not great at running these things, so why don't you or Ha Yu-ri handle it."
"I… don't really have any thoughts. Myth Clan's master should lead…"
".... Sorry to put it this way, Ha Yu-ri, but are you alright? You don't look well."
"N-no."
"Well, good to hear. Anyway, shall I take the lead? Speak up if anyone has objections."
No one did. No one would gripe about a top-three clan master moderating.
"... No objections, so I'll handle it. If you have any input during, just raise your hand and speak."
Everyone nodded.
"Some of you might not know, but the uncharted territory we're targeting is the one Baronia failed to conquer three years ago."
This was news to me. I'd never heard it was a previously failed site.
"Excluding the Eastern Alliance, every nation has at least one major uncharted zone left. First up: the Collapsed Spirit World of Arkium in the Holy Kingdom."
'So each nation has its own big one.'
"Second: the Cave of Asphyxiation in Kingdom Taios. And…"
"......"
"Finally: Sekanda, the Swamp of Oblivion, in Baronia."
The names of these three major uncharted zones were ominous right off the bat.
"... Fortunately, the records from that failed expedition three years ago provide some useful intel."
One man spoke up.
"Intel like…?"
"One of the biggest reasons they failed: after entering the Swamp of Oblivion, vital memories started fading away gradually—or getting jumbled up."
'.... What?'
"And there are sightings of inhabitants living in the Swamp of Oblivion."
".... Sightings?"
"Yes. Not people from Eras like us. Somehow assimilated to the swamp, they can't leave it. They can think and speak like us, though many aren't in a normal state."
'Way too complicated.'
I'd figured it'd be like storming a dungeon, but Yun Yeon's info was already messing with my head.
"And there's someone here who actually went to the Swamp of Oblivion three years ago."
Ha Yu-ri flinched at Yun Yeon's words.
"... You mean me?"
"Yes, Ha Yu-ri. For whatever reason, most survivors from that trip refused to join this time. But you decided to participate."
".... That's right."
"Any particular reason?"
".... Most people who return from the Swamp of Oblivion lose one important memory."
'What the hell?'
The meeting hall stirred. Ha Yu-ri's revelation was that shocking.
"They don't even realize they've lost it, for some reason. But…"
Ha Yu-ri's expression looked desperate.
"I… I know I've forgotten something. I don't remember what it is, but that's part of why I'm joining this expedition—to get it back."
Ha Yu-ri having that kind of backstory was surprising enough, but that wasn't the important part.
'Shit… Yu-ju noona. This is actually winnable, right?'
The bit about losing one crucial memory from the Swamp of Oblivion was what had me on edge.
The mere thought of some unknown place stealing my memories was enough to spike my anxiety.
'Damn… Is the payoff really worth this?'
And honestly, I couldn't even wrap my head around it.
Even if this wasn't Earth, was it plausible that just visiting a place could wipe your memories?
'With regressors out there, nothing's impossible, but… shit.'
As I silently cursed to myself, Ha Yu-ri continued.
".... What makes the Swamp of Oblivion terrifying isn't monsters or anything like that. Sure, memories fade or get mixed up, but another key issue is that the deeper you go, the more you lose one of your five senses."
'Crazy, what nonsense is this?'
"Lose a sense… What exactly does that mean?"
"... Humans are said to have five primary senses: sight, taste, hearing, touch, smell. Once you venture in far enough, one of them vanishes."
"What…."
Everyone in the room looked dumbfounded.
"So, does that mean the sense loss is permanent?"
Fortunately, Ha Yu-ri shook her head.
"No. The senses aren't lost forever. They recover once you move away from the swamp's core."
'... Dodged a bullet there.'
If senses were gone for good, the risks of failure would be way too high.
In that case, skipping the expedition entirely would be the smart play, rewards be damned.
But even if it wasn't permanent, the absurdity remained unchanged.
Losing a sense mid-expedition would create massive headaches.
'Losing sight would be the absolute worst.'
No combatant—no, not even a regular person—could function without vision.
Yet these fighters lose their sight? That's not something willpower alone can overcome.
'It's not just a loss of power. It's a net negative.'
You couldn't just abandon the sightless and move on, so those with relatively intact senses would have to babysit them.
In other words, tying up everyone else's hands and feet.
'.... We absolutely cannot lose sight.'
Among the senses, smell or taste would be the best to lose. Touch next best. Worst are hearing and sight—with sight being the pinnacle of worst.
'Fuck… Isn't the difficulty way too high?'
There was a reason it failed three years ago.
Honestly, I started feeling a twinge of resentment toward Seo Yu-ju for committing us to this.
Once Ha Yu-ri finished, Yun Yeon spoke again.
"Sekanda, the Swamp of Oblivion, is broadly divided into three zones. They don't have individual names; it's just split that way due to the sheer size. The participating clans will divide into these three zones for the expedition."
"And how do you plan to divide us, Myth Clan master?"
"Conveniently, there are exactly three zones and three top clans. So we'll assign one per clan. It doesn't matter much which we take, so Myth Clan will lead Zone 1, Madan Clan Zone 2, and Veritas Clan Zone 3."