Why Is One Person Missing?

Baek Yiheon looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Why is one person missing?"

Pa-aat-!!

In that instant, I bolted toward the castle gate without hesitation.

Pabababat……!!!

"Huff… huff…."

How long had I been running? I searched relentlessly for any trace of the Kingdom Clan until my breath gave out and my stamina hit rock bottom, but they had vanished without a sign.

"Damn it…!!"

I kicked the ground in frustration and shouted.

'Wasn't the reason they came to Mu-hal to take Motram? No way… If their goal was Motram's life….'

If the Kingdom Clan's quest also required exactly 99 lives, then Motram might have been killed by them.

'…I got played.'

I had planned to use him to investigate the ducal family's backers, but for the Kingdom Clan to kill him instead… It was completely unexpected.

"Hoo… I was too careless."

I let out a low sigh, calming my racing heart.

[Nothing's certain yet. And didn't you plant a warning in them by handing Motram over? You gave them a hint about targeting the Leo Ric Ducal House, so there'll be another chance.]

"Yeah, hopefully."

I nodded at Black Eye's words.

Upon returning to Mu-hal, the notification window that had vanished reappeared.

When I first received the quest, the rewards had shown as "Unknown." Pressing the [Confirm] button opened a new window.

1. Experience Scroll (Advanced)

2. Experience Scroll (Intermediate)

3. Experience Scroll (Basic)

"What? The rewards are just experience scrolls?"

Baek Yiheon frowned at the list.

"That's why we didn't get any experience from killing the White Knight earlier. Quest monsters sometimes don't give experience even when killed."

He nodded as if understanding, but still looked dissatisfied.

"I thought it'd be something good… Experience? Just hunt monsters for that. What a waste of effort."

"The experience scrolls aren't the main prize."

"Huh?"

I selected the top item on the list: [Mu-hal Charter of Governance].

"This might just be the key to changing the continent's future."

I gave Baek Yiheon a faint smile.

"I'll take this. In exchange, pick first from the White Knight drops if you want something."

"For real?"

Baek Yiheon's personality wasn't the type to lead anyway, so he seemed uninterested in the charter from the start.

"Then I'll take the advanced experience scroll. Cool?"

Red Sickle naturally nodded at my words.

"I'll take the intermediate one then."

He picked up the scroll and handed it to me. I glanced at Baek Yiheon, but he waved it off like it was no big deal.

'This should push me past level 50.'

With the advanced and intermediate scrolls secured, I was pleased and handed the basic one to Baek Yiheon.

"Alright… what should I take? Viper Bow first? I don't use bows, but… it's still Legendary grade."

He pulled the reward item from his inventory.

"I'd give the Viper Bow to Kwak Yeon."

"Huh?! Why?"

"To avoid drama when recruiting you, for one. And you don't even use bows. Neither do I."

"Crazy? A Legendary weapon? Even if I don't use it, sell it—imagine the gold. Gotta list it on the exchange now."

"Better to ally with Yuldo Clan using it. You know they're free spirits who fear no major clan, but they oddly listen to Kwak Yeon."

"Urgh…."

"Plus, Geom-san from Muak Clan is tight with them."

Baek Yiheon smacked his lips regretfully at my words.

"Fine, can't argue. Guess I'll take the Emerald Circlet."

"But you're not a mana-using class, right?"

"…No, but."

Baek Yiheon eyed me uneasily.

"Hmm. The Emerald Circlet's exclusive effect requires mana—seems wasteful for you. No mana stat means mana-boost options are useless too."

"What're you getting at?"

"Just saying. I've unlocked mana affinity."

He scowled and shook his head.

"No way! No way! Only two Legendary items, and you want me to give up both? What do I get? If I can't use 'em, I'll sell! In this meta, Legendary is a gold mine."

"The great Mysterious Transporter short on cash? Do what you want. The majors will snatch it the second it's listed. Kabbalah Clan's Itsuki Minami will grab it quick. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Heard she job-changed to Flame Seeker, Red Tower's hidden class?"

"So?"

"Red Tower's the most aggressive mage line. Add healing spells… You'd be unleashing a monster on the world for gold."

Baek Yiheon's face paled at my words, probably imagining her with the circlet.

She was already called the Red Calamity, sweeping battlefields. A tanky mage like that? Terrifying to think about.

"…Damn her."

He sighed deeply.

"Fine, take the circlet too. Just give direct orders from now on—no beating around the bush. Easier that way. I said I'd follow you anyway."

I chuckled at his grumbling.

"I'll hold the Viper Bow too—for the Kwak Yeon deal. But take the White Knight's leg guards. Leather, so I could wear 'em, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but."

"Don't act generous while hogging Legendary gear. Should've taken the scrolls."

Baek Yiheon kept complaining but soon accepted.

"Use Hijack Sword for now. Length's a bit off, so I'll get you a custom Legendary one later."

"…Really?"

"Promise."

Only then did he nod, relieved.

'Easy to handle, as always.'

As we divvied items, I examined the final drop: [Fourth Fragment].

No real description. Normal-grade materials were usually junk, but sometimes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they were key items.

'Soulstone's just trash alone, but it's material for Death Flame. Anyone can see this fragment ties to the Knights of Omen.'

Probably reveal its secret after dealing with the other three knights.

"Hmm. Time to head back?"

"One more left."

"Huh?"

"The quest from Jahalga. To ally with them, we need to check the lord's castle, but couldn't due to the rescue. Won't take long."

"Ugh, that rundown castle on the hill? Such a hassle."

Baek Yiheon sighed at the distant castle atop the hill.

"Summon. Kuntaka."

I smiled lightly at him.

I nodded, and the window glowed brightly.

A fierce white gale erupted, casting a massive shadow over us.

[Kruuuu---!!!]

The crocodile-turtle dragon, towering like a mountain, swung its massive heads side to side and roared.

[Puhuuu…….]

Its hot breath washed over us.

"W-what the hell is this?"

Baek Yiheon gawked at me, stunned.

Tak-

I mounted Kuntaka's lowered head, perfect for climbing, and nodded to him.

"Told you it wouldn't take long."

"To think such a thing happened… Unbelievable."

After returning from Mu-hal and reporting the events, Jahal couldn't hide his shock.

"We checked the lord's castle too, but it seems to have vanished with the White Knight."

"I see. Good work."

The quest completion popped up right after the report to Jahal.

"Now you and I stand as equals."

"How could I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Your Grace the Duke? I'll merely strive to maintain smooth relations with the duchy going forward."

"Heh, for someone saying that, I can sense the ambition in your eyes."

Jahal smiled at me.

"A true leader should be that way."

"The citizens rescued from Mu-hal are still there, but it's ruins—hard to live in."

I showed him the charter as a reward.

"Hmm, Mu-hal's people want to serve you? Makes sense after you saved them. You're no noble, so they might like that even more. Fine. As alliance proof, I grant you Mu-hal. It's in my territory anyway."

Thanks to the charter, I got Jahal's approval easily.

"You could declare it private territory now… What do you think?"

"If I may be bold, I lack the means to manage fiefdom yet. I'll handle Mu-hal after gaining more experience."

"Hmm… But leaving it be means those saved citizens suffer?"

"With permission, I'd like Obela to handle supplies for now."

Jahal chuckled at me.

"Pulling Obela's forces into the duchy like that?"

"It'll strengthen Jahalga too."

"Deal. We're in the same boat now—I'll trust you. Especially since Dwarf Artisan Bilsang approves."

"You overpraise me."

The dwarf artisan clearly held sway in the duchy. He'd influenced Jahal before we even cleared the quest.

"But don't draw too much attention. The other two dukes are watching."

"Understood."

After ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the talk, as the hall doors closed, I finally sighed in relief, feeling I'd cleared one hurdle.

"Dwarf artisans next."

"Sending them to Mu-hal for real?"

Baek Yiheon, waiting outside, asked eagerly.

"Mu-hal's in for big changes. With Obela support and dwarf workshops for new research, we'll solidify position in the duchy. Players will gather too."

'But something more important.'

I gripped the unused [Mu-hal Charter of Governance] tightly.

The last line under its private territory effect:

[Activating independent city generates a special barrier protecting against external invasions for 1 year to aid growth.]

'Clans start under families now, but eventually build their own cities and expand via bases.'

New cities generally had a 1-year no-invasion buffer considering national power gaps.

I planned to exploit it differently.

'Mu-hal will be the perfect forward base against the Destroyer.'

Even the system would be my weapon.