Arrival at Castle Muhar

As we passed the horrific pillar of corpses and reached the castle gate, a notification appeared before us.

"What the hell? It's not even a hidden spot—just entering the castle, and we get a notification?"

Baek Yiheon looked just as baffled, staring at me with a puzzled expression. Clearly, the same ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alert had popped up for him.

"It's turned into a dungeon. Something's gone down inside Muhar for sure. Dungeonization means monsters are spawning in there."

"You knew about this?"

"Knew what?"

He swung the sword I'd handed him—Seizure—with a flourish.

"You gave me this blade before we even got here."

"No big deal. The vibe screamed something was about to go down."

I shrugged it off, casually pointing back toward the corpse pile from moments ago.

"We're going in."

As I reached for the gate, Baek Yiheon spoke up.

"You know what dungeonization means, right? Not just monsters inside—there's a quest too."

"Obviously."

I already knew exactly what event this was.

"Heh. Sticking with you always delivers the fun stuff."

Baek Yiheon spun his sword with a whoosh and followed me inside.

The city was shrouded in an eerie chill and thick, noxious fog.

"Whoa... Can't see shit in this. We'd never spot a monster coming."

Baek Yiheon took a deep breath of the damp mist.

Baek Yiheon shot me a smug look at the scrolling alerts.

"See? Quest confirmed. But evacuating over 140 people in here? Tough gig."

"No need."

"Huh?"

"Like the final caution says—don't forget the important stuff while evacuating people."

"That's just 'don't get greedy and die, play it safe,' right?"

I shook my head at his casual question.

"The point isn't the reset on rescued counts. It's why a player would even die in the first place."

"Hmm...?"

"Dungeonization means monsters spawned inside, right? So what we should focus on is why they spawned."

"Ah...!!"

Baek Yiheon finally got it, letting out a low exclamation.

"That caution's a warning. 'Stick to rescuing citizens and don't dig deeper.'"

"Ha, what a cheeky quest."

"Plus, no entry level limit means you can complete it by saving just one—easy if you want, endless hell if you don't. Rewards scale regardless."

Baek Yiheon nodded at the question-mark difficulty, agreeing.

"Two choices. One: rescue as many citizens as possible."

Hit a certain number, and we'd probably snag the 'Hero of Muhar' title. That's what Motram from Muhar got.

"Two: uncover the culprit behind this mess in Muhar. Fights are inevitable, per the warning. Could die. What would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you pick?"

Baek Yiheon smirked at my question.

"No brainer. If you wanted option one, you wouldn't have given me the sword. Games reward risk. Hell, that 'caution' might be a hint—'There's a better quest; go for it.'"

"Hm?"

"He licked his lips like a beast eyeing a feast. "To the lord's castle, then. Secure escape routes on the way. Rescue visible NPCs too. Castle's not huge, but better to split up than clump—monsters make groups risky. Skip anything dangerous. Our goal's rescue, not hunting."

"Got it."

"Leave it to me."

Baek Yiheon and Red Sickle nodded, stepping into the fog.

"Oh, and Motram's around somewhere, probably saving folks. Help him if you find him—likely quest-related."

"Roger."

"Time limit: 45 minutes from now. Meet at the castle on the hill's end."

"Time attack, huh... Takes me back."

His grin evoked a bittersweet pang as I watched him reminisce.

"Don't be late."

Once they split off, I let out a quiet sigh.

Baek Yiheon, sorry, but I'll solo Muhar's quest. Lord's castle's a dead end. Real spot's elsewhere. If I'm right... the False Lord of Muhar might tie to the Calamity. Better collect the items from the three chests first.

Though I'd dipped into Muhar's event, if it followed the dream, Motram wouldn't die easy. My plan: beat him to the chest items.

Need him to complete the quest eventually... but we'll cross paths hunting boxes.

"Hmm."

I scanned the area. Back then, it was near ruins, unrecognizable—but I remembered four secret spots. One was right by the gate.

"Around here..."

Peering down the street inward, I easily spotted the large fountain. Long dry, but recent water stains lingered in the surrounding drains.

"Here it is."

I cranked the drain valve hard. Water surged up from below, flowing through the pipes.

Kugugugugu...

Water flowed around the fountain, but it stayed inert. Odd bricks lay nearby.

These fill the broken spots inside the fountain and drains.

Slotting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠them in one by one triggered a kugugugu!—the fountain activated. No water sprayed, though. The drain water poured in, its weight slowly sinking the fountain.

Once fully lowered, a hidden underground staircase emerged.

"Nice."

Thud—

"Let's go together."

"...Huh?"

Whirling around, I found Red Sickle and Baek Yiheon grinning at me.

"Why are you two...?"

"Damn, Kim Do-hyun lives up to the hype. Finding this? Worth that Supreme job change quest no one snagged in Dimension World 1."

Baek Yiheon thumbs-upped playfully.

"How'd you...?"

"You said it yourself—the 'warning' might hint at a better quest."

He clapped my shoulder.

"Figured sticking with you's the real jackpot."

"Funny guy. Can't you see the quest window? NPCs are dying. Gotta hustle and save 'em."

"That's why we're doing this."

"...What?"

"Small fry ain't worth it. Cut the head off—that's the play. Your words, right? Back at Jahal's castle when you kicked me out."

"You remember the useless shit perfectly."

"Secret path to the boss? Won't ask how you knew—or found—this. You'd dodge anyway."

He winked reassuringly.

"I'll follow your lead."

"Hoo..."

I shook my head, knowing his stubborn streak.

"Red Sickle, why didn't you go?"

"Like in Pharhum's Tomb, leaving you solo doesn't sit right."

"Hm?"

Surprised, I eyed him. Baek Yiheon snickered.

"Man, I can't even hand out my card next to that."

"Shut up and take point."

"Me?"

I nodded. Scang! With a sharp ring, he bolted down the stairs like he'd been waiting.

Kuwaaaaaang---!!!

A massive boom echoed from below. Red Sickle gaped at me.

"Don't worry. It's on schedule."

Clashing swords rang out amid the rumble. I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Hmm."

I circled to the stairs' side, heading to the now-empty drain by the sunken fountain. In a corner sat a small box.

Click—opening it revealed a tiny gear-like part.

In ancient times, Muhar was a hub for dwarven magitech. Tons of bizarre mechanisms hidden everywhere.

I'd only read about it in old tomes—first time seeing one for real.

Gather all three parts, activate 'it,' and Muhar gains whole new value.

I stowed the part and glanced down the stairs where Baek Yiheon had gone.

"You bastard...!! Kim Do-hyun, you fucker!!!"

His desperate yell echoed up.

Chaang!Clang!Chaaang--!!

Frantic sword clashes boomed, followed by kuwaaang...!!

"Cough, cough!!"

Baek Yiheon tumbled out amid thick black smoke, gasping raggedly from the blast.

"You good?"

"...Raaagh!!"

Charred black, ignoring me, his smug face twisted to rage as he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sprang up.

"That motherfucker...!! Ambushed me from behind?!"

Grrrrr...!!

Then it came—a massive beast ascending the stairs, growling low. The air scorched like it'd swallowed brimstone; the fountain's water must've cooled its heat till now.

Scang---!!

Red Sickle instinctively gripped his chakram, dropping into stance.

"What the hell is that?"

I eyed the three-headed giant hound.

"The False Lord's watchdog."

Second material spot: inside its gut.

Kwang!Bang!!

Baek Yiheon swung with all his might at the flame-mouthed hound.

"A real dogfight."

I smirked at the tangle.

Srrrring—

"Mud-wrestling? I'm no slouch."

My blade quivered, eager for battle.