Deva's Shrine
"Hmm..."
Needless to say, we were the only ones getting off the train. The desolate atmosphere of the empty station proved that most of the passengers had already disembarked at previous stops.
"The station right before this one has Onkra's Nest—a massive beehive. The bees that come out of there drop mana crystals used in magitech. It's pretty lucrative, so most mid-level players head there."
I nodded at Baek Yiheon's explanation.
"Plus, starting from the middle of the hive, you get hornets that drop attribute stones. Those sell for a good price at the exchange."
Among the known dungeons, those yielding attribute stones were unusually concentrated in the duchy. That made sense, though—around the magitech-advanced duchy, there were plenty of spots for ore, mana crystals, and attribute stones. Magic towers had materials for spells and alchemy, while the Land of Savages teemed with huntable monsters.
'That's part of why the Northern Plateau lacks popularity...'
Unlike the other three regions, the north had no standout dungeons with real merits. But when it came to the value of Chil-ya, no dungeon could compare. The problem was that people didn't even know it existed yet, regardless of its worth.
"Still, you need a Silver Sword ticket from a party leader to use the rail line to the nest, so it's basically paradise for the eight major clans. They make a killing off the queen bee, which drops even higher-grade attribute stones."
"What's the dungeon's level?"
"Entry is 35+, but for smooth farming, parties need at least 40, and solo players 45 or higher."
"What's your level now?"
"Thanks to that scroll from Muhar Castle last time, I hit 42."
At Baek Yiheon's leveling speed, that wasn't slow for the duchy. No, given his skills, it was actually fast. Rerto Karen had reached mid-40s around the same time as me back in Pharhum's Tomb, which was impressive.
'Still, I got the server-first level 50 achievement, so no one's hit 50 faster than me yet.'
I'd leveled quickly early on thanks to first-discovery bonuses and quest rewards, but it felt slower lately. Whether that was just higher-level zones or my Mythic class, I'd have to check further.
"Where to first? Register the teleport circle, right? You can only use teleport stones for places you've visited."
"Yeah."
Dimension World could erupt into chaos anytime, anywhere, so better to preempt risks while climbing the plateau.
'Besides, nothing special about Onkra's Nest, so no need to detour.'
In my dreams of continental war, the rails were mostly destroyed from repeated battles, so no simple stations like this. But I remembered the nest. Queen bee Onkra—one of the few bosses dropping top-grade attribute stones.
'Sure, she drops earth or wind attribute stones, but with the nest at level 40 difficulty, no way it's top-grade.'
Another difference between my dreams and Dimension World: fixed dungeon difficulties. Monsters had grades in my memories too, but not perfectly leveled like here. And unlike dreams where bosses stayed dead after conquest, regular ones like this respawned—unlike special cases like dragons.
'If Onkra only gives mid-grade at best, then Mist Realm for top-grade.'
The famous undead habitat, Mist Realm—kingdom of fog—was one place I'd guessed at when first getting the Dead's Compass.
'Skip Onkra, straight to Mist Realm.'
Mid-grade stones didn't matter. Higher grades were rare not just from high-level monsters, but sheer scarcity.
'Top-grade spots number only a few on the continent.'
Lower ones would eventually flood the market despite price gaps, but top-grade? First come, first served—gone forever.
Mist Realm... Not a place I fancy going.
Black Eye spoke as if reading my mind.
'Why?'
Doesn't the Gray King dwell there? Or rather, since he's already dead, "dwell" might be odd.
'You've seen him?'
Once, by chance. Hubris-born folly. Back when I'd completed Chil-ya and tested my swordsmanship's limits.
'Fighting even the dead with the sword... Words fail. How'd it go? Did it work?'
His confidence to storm Mist Realm solo bordered on madness, leaving me dumbfounded. Yet I wondered how far the God of War's swordsmanship would hold against the Gray King.
Nay. With mana like yours, perhaps. But pure fighting spirit couldn't destroy one existing since before ancients. Other undead die by shattering cores, but his reformed endlessly. Fought ten days and nights, then fled.
'Ten days? Having energy left to flee is more impressive.'
I let out a hollow chuckle. The Gray King of Mist Realm differed from other undead. In dreams, it birthed the specter lord Kalman—and matched the "Gray Cathedral" from the riddle note I'd given the Hidden Eater. If that was a dungeon teeming with shadow puppet undead legions, Mist Realm held only the Gray King. Less dungeon, more dragon lair. Fitting for a top-grade attribute stone dropper.
Challenge the Gray King now? I'd advise against. Your magic helps, but Nute is defense, not offense. Musori like before might work.
'Ice magic isn't great on undead. And regular firebombs won't faze the Gray King.'
"But..."
I gazed at the small shrine with the emerging teleport circle, murmuring softly.
"There's a way to take him down without magic."
Hmm? Such a method exists?
The shrine door creaked open.
A woman sat at a small table by the entrance.
"Welcome. Please come in, adventurer. Here to update the teleport circle list?"
Baek Yiheon nodded casually at her rote NPC greeting and scribbled his name in the thick guestbook.
"...?"
But the moment I saw her, a strange surge of emotion welled up.
"Yes, please."
Baek Yiheon shot me an odd look at my polite response.
Teleport circle list updated.
"The shrine's quiet."
"Not many come this far."
"May I ask your name?"
"...Pardon?"
She looked at me with the same puzzled expression as Baek Yiheon.
'What're you doing? Hitting on an NPC now?'
Baek Yiheon poked my side and whispered, but I ignored him, eyes fixed on her.
"Am I strange?"
She hesitated briefly, then smiled serenely.
"I've tended this place long... You're the first to ask my name."
"Is that so?"
"Deva. Ancient tongue for 'demon-breaker,' they say. Far grander than I deserve."
She brushed back her red hair, voice soft.
Deva feels curiosity toward you.
Deva feels gratitude toward you.
Deva's favorability toward you shifts from neutral to slightly friendly.
"It suits you."
*Ding*—A faint chime rang, and her name appeared above her head for the first time.
[Lv.30 Deva]
Not high level, but her name glowed rare blue, unfit for a mere teleport registrar.
'It figures.'
Who'd imagine this ordinary shrine woman would become the Yul Witch, stacking demon corpses into mountains on battlefields?
Unlike me, Baek Yiheon—low favorability—still saw no name.
'Even now, pre-awakening, she's rare-grade. As Yul Witch? Heroic at minimum.'
Recalling our first dream encounter—always starting with her name—I smiled faintly. No wonder she took interest.
Affinity Lv2 effect triggered!
Affinity list updated.
'Shrine's Deva' slot created.
Can add to affinity slots.
Proceed?
I swapped 'Red Sickle of the Crimson Reapers' from my two slots for 'Shrine's Deva'. The top Northern God of War slot was deeply friendly. Black Eye's not at perfect trust was odd, but the God of War's trust wasn't easily won.
'His full trust comes after I master all of Chil-ya.'
I closed the window and looked at Deva. Familiarity for now sufficed; her Yul Witch awakening was distant.
"What brings you here?"
She handed me the registered teleport stone for Buma Shrine.
"Heading to Muhama Plateau. Heard a new village popped up. Know anything?"
"Hm... Not sure about a village. But a couple months back, some visitors stopped by."
"Anything unusual...?"
"Bought teleport stones in bulk—memorable. And odd attire..."
"Nothing else?"
"Hm... Nothing special, but they asked about taking water from the spring behind the shrine."
She pointed to the well through the open back door.
'Making Torong, huh.'
I could guess where U-ryu-ga headed. Muhama's summit blazed eternally due to the Sacred Flame of All Gods, unquenched 365 days a year.
'The shrine's spring water holds faint holy power—perfect for divine gear.'
Godly blaze and holy spring: ideal for sacred artifacts. But without dwarf tech, crafting Torong was impossible. Worse, mishandling the flame risked ruining it.
'No way...'
A memory flashed; I whipped around.
"Ruining the flame..."
Staring at the still-raging Sacred Flame atop the plateau, I swallowed dryly.
"Did they plan to extinguish it this time?"
"Why? What's up?"
Baek Yiheon asked.
"We have to stop it. Hurry, Baek Yiheon. Grab your gear. We'll return, Deva."
"...May blessings guide your journey."
Leaving her farewell, I pocketed the stone and bolted from the shrine.
"Why, why?!"
Baek Yiheon chased, frantic.
Past Muhama, extinguishing the Sacred Flame had unleashed frigid mists over Deus Union, freezing the southeast for a week—a catastrophe dubbed Midnight.
"...It might happen today."