No Way... Gulak?
"No way... Gulak?"
[It's been a while. It feels like just yesterday I entrusted you with forging my disciples' swords.]
When Black Eye had told Tur Mah in Sandorim Forest that the Hero's Sword was made from the tower's materials, he hadn't mentioned who forged it. Only now did they learn the maker of the Hero's Sword.
"What is this form...?"
Bilsang couldn't hide his bewilderment as he stared at the Sin-su body.
[Many things have happened, just as the world has changed. Hard to believe, I know, but I died—and thanks to him, I was reborn in this Sin-su body.]
At Black Eye's words, Bilsang looked at me with trembling eyes.
[I know you can't help but distrust humans in this situation, but at least he's trustworthy. He freed me from eternal imprisonment, and he'll do the same for you—grant you freedom.]
"Ahem..."
[He did meet Tur Mah, that's no lie. But... it seems Tur Mah is trapped in a broken hourglass.]
"No way... Does that mean Your Majesty couldn't even find a peaceful death and became a ghost bound to the past?"
Black Eye nodded at Bilsang's question.
Thud—
His thick legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. Tears welled up in his large eyes, soaking his beard.
"Your Majesty..."
"No time for grief. To free Your Majesty and avenge King Guljiwang, our strength alone won't cut it."
"So we need human help after all."
"Hate to admit it, but the dwarf kingdom is gone. The elves cling to life behind the Veil. The Myo tribe, werewolves, and lizardmen who once dominated the continent have devolved into mere monsters—hunting fodder. The continent is humanity's stage now. Can't deny it."
Norpa Jeran's voice carried a subtle undercurrent of rage. His kingdom's fall was self-inflicted, but this anger stemmed from sorrow over the three master artisans, dubbed the Three Craftsmen, being imprisoned like this.
"I heard you can repair the compass in your workshop. I've even brought the spiderweb from the Myocheonma Hwi."
"Hmm..."
Bilsang glanced back and forth between the compass from Mangja's Labyrinth and the ring in my hand.
"Not perfect, but I can stabilize the axis."
"Please do."
"Mm..."
He looked at Norpa.
"But what's in it for me if I fix this? How can I trust your promise of freedom for us dwarves? Planning to start a war with the ducal house?"
I instantly caught the lingering suspicion in his eyes.
"If we started a war, what are the odds of success? I'm grateful for your help with Norpa, but... even if we're few, we have a duty to protect the surviving dwarves. Not an easy decision."
"Figured as much."
His denial was exactly what I'd expected.
Bilsang (NPC) is perplexed by your response.
Affinity may change greatly depending on your next response.
'Perfect.'
With the emotion alert popping up, I delivered my prepared response.
"I have no plans to wage war on the ducal house. Quite the opposite. If all goes well, this plan might even save Duke Zahal's house."
"What do you...?"
"Reclaiming lost territory isn't easy. It won't happen overnight. If war breaks out, the dwarf artisans in the other ducal houses will suffer massive losses too. Isn't that what worries you, Bilsang?"
"Then...?"
"No one knows Duke Zahal's situation better than you. We'll use that."
For the first time, Bilsang looked at me without hiding his curiosity.
I pulled the Torong Manual from my bracelet and handed it to him.
"You offered it to Jeran, but he refused. Yet you wished for the Torong Manual to pass to the dwarves. So, as proof of that promise, I give it to you, Bilsang."
"Mm..."
The Torong Manual—the pinnacle of dwarven magitech—was a true legendary item. Bilsang couldn't help but take interest as a dwarf, even as he marveled at my casual offer.
"My brother and I spent ages in that tower, but you've worked to preserve the dwarves. You deserve to see the Torong Manual."
"Th-thank you..."
"Please understand that I'm holding the Torong for now. In exchange, I'll make sure to find the rest of King Guljiwang's Torong pieces."
In truth, with just the manual, dwarves could craft Torong easily. This proved I had no greed for their secrets.
'Even if I kept it, without magitech skills, I couldn't craft anything. And mastering it would require a hidden class anyway... Better to earn their trust now for more items.'
"For now..."
I spoke to Bilsang, who held the Torong Manual with trembling hands.
"Will you follow my plan?"
"Obela's delegation, huh... A free city lives up to the name—utterly free-spirited. Visiting me in the dead of night."
Duke Zahal was a strikingly young noble, unlike the other dukes nearing their fifties. His sharp eyes and silver-white hair drew you in like a vortex.
'What the hell is Kim Do-hyun doing? Damn, this guy's giving me chills. For real.'
Baek Yiheon, the Mad Dog who slaughtered players on the battlefield, felt his heart race with unprecedented tension facing Zahal.
'...Am I scared of an NPC?'
Baek Yiheon let out a hollow chuckle at the absurdity. He'd been unfazed by Red Sickle, an 80-level heroic NPC. Yet here he was, intimidated by a duke in his thirties?
'Heard Zahal's forces are the weakest of the three dukes... So what's with that confidence?'
Baek Yiheon kept staring, intrigued.
"The other two dukes aren't much different from Obela's thugs."
Zahal's low voice resonated softly through the hall, laced with an almost magical pull.
"What brings you here?"
"With so many outsiders joining, Lisal's population has surged. Naturally, our mines are short on labor."
"Thus, His Grace requests Duke Zahal open your mines to outsiders."
"Zahal's mines have many untapped veins—this could benefit Lisal and the duchy alike."
Zahal smiled faintly at Lisa Kim and Pasha's words.
"You..."
His icy expression chilled the air.
"Are joking, right?"
"...Pardon?"
"Even a fool wouldn't buy that. Be straightforward: open the gates or face war, without your outsiders' help."
"Your Grace..."
"And once the gates open, it won't just be outsiders coming in."
He pointed at the two.
"My territory becomes a battlefield for Drake and Leofric—laid to waste."
A self-mocking laugh. Baek Yiheon wondered about the duke's caliber. Oddly, his name and level were hidden—perhaps why the two clans hadn't attacked outright.
"However..."
"I know your outsiders' power well. Started weak, but they've grown blindingly fast. Some even clear dungeons we can't."
Zahal nodded, propping his chin.
"Soon, they'll sway national power. With them, Zahal looks laughable... but."
Shrrrk—!!
As he rose, soldiers behind drew back a massive curtain. Dozens of warships gleamed in the night harbor, exuding majestic menace.
"Zahal can't stop you. But before you cross borders and ravage us, we can destroy your cities."
He sneered.
"Tell the two dukes: Zahal Trimdel won't die alone."
"..."
"..."
His resolute demeanor, belying his delicate features, left them speechless.
Clap—clap—clap—
Applause echoed from the open hall doors.
"Well said. A territory's lord mustn't yield easily."
All eyes turned to me.
"You...?"
But Duke Zahal's surprise was at Bilsang beside me, not my arrival.
"To think you'd come to my manor. Heaven itself would be shocked."
"Your Grace."
Bilsang gave a light bow.
"The Three Craftsmen shunned human affairs, holing up in their workshops. More shocking than Drake or Leofric gunning for my head—you leaving yours."
"My apologies."
"So, why seek me? Busy night for guests."
"Because of Obela's envoys."
Zahal eyed us with interest.
"Never heard you tied to the Night Auction House."
"Not that. I came to introduce an adventurer to Your Grace."
"An adventurer...?"
Zahal looked at me.
'Still those unfathomably deep eyes.'
Staring into them felt like peering into an abyss.
'Definitely... a half-demon bloodline.'
The otherworldly aura came from the ancient Zahal bloodline. Faded over time in the house, but Zahal Trimdel's was real.
'Only a handful in the house know.'
I glanced at the two. They wouldn't grasp why attacking Zahal was no simple task.
'No clue why Drake and Leofric stick to diplomacy instead of striking directly.'
In my dreams, when I assaulted the duchy, Zahal house mounted the fiercest resistance. Their jet-black fleet was formidable, but what truly shocked was the Ghost Gate Unit, infused with Zahal Trimdel's blood.
'Stronger than Leofric's Sword Demons, swifter than Drake's Flying Dragon Unit.'
I patted Baek Yiheon's sweating shoulder and stepped forward.
'That power will be mine.'
Standing before Zahal, I slowly spoke.
"Your Grace."
I gave a low smile.
"I wish to ally with House Zahal."
"Kim Do-hyun...!!"
"You...!!"
Lisa Kim and Pasha scowled as expected.
But even the mighty 8 great clans in reality—this was the game. In the duke's manor, they wouldn't dare draw swords.
'If they wanted to stop me, they should've drawn back there, no matter what.'
I thought coldly, glaring at them.
"Doubt Obela will help much..."
"Not Obela—me and Your Grace. Obela's power is just a bonus."
"Heh, heh... Overflowing confidence?"
Zahal chuckled, eyeing me.
"Of course. Dealing with small fry is a waste of Your Grace's time."
Step—step—step—
"Grant me a private audience?"
I passed the two and approached him.
"No need to worry."
I pointed at them behind me.
"Those guys are nobodies."