Salt Island
“Salt Island……”
“You know it?”
“More or less. But heading there right now might be a bit of a hassle.”
“Why?”
After wrapping up everything in the forest, we'd returned to Geshutalt and were discussing the ships of the Yulmun Family that G. Basel had told us about.
“Salt Island can only be reached by those who know the Yulmun Family's special secret arts. Once you're on one of their ships, the spells on it will take you straight to the family—but getting to the ship in the first place is the problem.”
Isabel Silver, who'd been watching us, spoke up in a low voice.
“Hey, so that's what you meant when you said you got a map from the Hidden Eater? I didn't expect her to tag along.”
Chan-ho glanced at her—she looked a little worn out—and whispered to me.
“She's with the Veil. You've been to the Illusion Rock Altar, so you know what that means. And Geshutalt was built by elves to store the Fairy King's secrets, so it's no surprise the elf-led Veil manages it.”
[Exactly.]
“……Could you stop eating for a sec?”
Isabel Silver let out a quiet sigh as she eyed Black Eye, who had immediately started devouring the secret tomes the moment we got back.
“So, what's the plan going forward?”
“You two head to the duchy first and go to the Jaha Ducal House. Drop my name, and you should get to see the duke.”
“You have connections in the duchy too?”
“It's not just the duchy. I haven't formalized it yet, but the city of Mu-hal between the three ducal houses? That's mine.”
“……What?!”
“Holy shit……”
At Baek Yi-heon's words, the two stared at me in disbelief.
“We were barely scraping by clearing the Illusion Rock Altar you gave us, and you've already claimed private land? The eight major clans don't even have bases yet.”
“No one's claimed anything yet, so you gotta stake your claim early. Wait till land prices skyrocket and everyone's jumping in, and it'll be too late.”
“Typical……”
“He's right. Like Do-hyun says, securing bases first is key. Even without formalizing them, holding multiple spots lets you check the expansion of other forces.”
“Can't you only formalize one private land per person?”
Jin-su nodded at Chan-ho's question.
“But if you just hold them without formalizing, no one can buy or steal them unless they take the ownership deed first.”
“Best to grab several and turn the most strategic one into your main base.”
“So what do we do?”
“Ask Duke Jaha to lend you the Black Fleet. His ships are the only ones that can reach the ends of the sea—even the Mugung Archipelago—where Yulmun ships can't go. Salt Island's no problem.”
“If you can borrow the Black Fleet, why not skip the Yulmun ships and sail straight there?”
“Taking foreign ships into their territory means you'll get intercepted by the Yulmun guards before you hit the coast.”
“But once they report Basel's ship stolen, won't they spot us even if we take it?”
“Yeah. That's why we won't take it.”
“……Huh?”
The two tilted their heads at my words.
“We'll use that ship as bait. To blow the Yulmun coastal defenses sky-high.”
“Load it with explosives? No player's got engineering skills high enough for bombs yet.”
“Players don't. But dwarves do. They made the duchy's magic cannons.”
“Dwarves?”
Jin-su let out a hollow laugh, like he was too stunned to ask more.
“Even if I can't log in due to respawn penalties, they'll report my involvement in the real world. Speed is everything here.”
“Hmm…… So it's all about who grabs the ships on Salt Island first.”
“Straight into Yukhap and combat the moment we arrive…… What a trip.”
“Baek Yi-heon will guide you. You don't have Silver Sword tickets, but with him, the rails should be fine.”
“With him?”
Chan-ho shot Baek Yi-heon a look. His eyes were ice-cold, unlike when he looked at me.
“Don't start. Yi-heon's with us now.”
Jin-su sensed the vibe and cut in before things escalated.
“Hey. Mad Dog.”
Chan-ho said sharply.
“I haven't forgotten that day. No one has. Forgetting what you did would be weirder.”
A chill hung between them, but I didn't intervene. They'd clash more down the line anyway. I never expected instant camaraderie.
“Sorry about that. But once you understand my side, you won't complain. Not that I'll explain it. And you won't ask.”
“This bastard……”
“Hey, drop it. Water under the bridge. The culprit even confessed.”
Jin-su poked Chan-ho's side, clearly not wanting to dredge up the past. No point for anyone.
“Culprit? You said you didn't buy that outcome.”
Jin-su glanced at me at Chan-ho's retort.
“Anyway, watch yourself. I'm keeping an eye.”
“Anytime.”
Chan-ho sighed and issued his warning, but Baek Yi-heon just shrugged.
“This trip to the duchy'll be fun.”
Not very Mad Dog of him. Back in the day, they'd have thrown down right there. Maybe his oath to follow me from Mu-hal had him holding back.
“Borrow the Black Fleet and hug the coast from the port. You'll hit a cliff—rendezvous there.”
“You know it well?”
“Hidden Eater told me.”
At my words, Isabel muttered, “When did I……?” but the two seemed to accept it at the mention of Hidden Eater.
“Parting right after reuniting?”
“We'll meet again soon.”
We exchanged goodbyes at the forest entrance and split toward our destinations. Short as it was, it was a good chance to gauge their skills. That was enough.
Jin-su and Chan-ho weren't newbies needing me to babysit.
If they were, I wouldn't have had them in mind from the start of Dimension World.
“See you at the cliff to Salt Island.”
“One week in-game time. Adjust in reality if things go sideways.”
“Got it.”
“Real-world surveillance is possible too. They can't touch registered players directly, but stay sharp.”
Jin-su paused, thinking.
“I'll contact the Muak Clan side. Geom-san should join next meetup.”
“Sounds good.”
I nodded. The big difference from my dreams? Dimension World wasn't the only world that mattered. When the unexpected hit, we had reality to plan in.
Obvious for players, but to me—with memories of struggling solo in dreams—it was a massive edge others couldn't grasp.
Squeeze—
Once the three were gone, I realized it was time for the next phase.
“Seriously? 'Hidden Eater told me'? You lie without batting an eye.”
Isabel Silver's voice from behind. I shrugged and turned.
“Time-sensitive. Explaining every detail's a waste.”
“You could've at least told me. You used my name—settle up?”
“We'll see.”
She frowned at my answer.
“DW1 aside, how do you clear DW2 quests faster than me? You haven't explained that either.”
“Huh? That's different. You're acting like you know this world better than me.”
“Having one secret each makes for good trades, right?”
“……You're the one who used me.”
She shot back incredulously but seemed done pressing.
“Let's go. No time.”
“……Where?”
“The Veil, obviously.”
She stared, speechless at my casual tone.
“I'm starting to doubt bringing you…… The Veil's only for successors. Bringing an outsider…… who knows what'll happen.”
“Really? You think the leader needs to negotiate Fairy Eyes access too. You can't stop me alone. Guiding me here instead of letting Black Eye eat all Geshutalt's books? Asera'll get it.”
“Sigh……”
She looked torn. Fun as her fluster was, no need to torment her.
“Plus, she needs to hear about the stand from the ancient king's treasury called Ainehira. Geshutalt isn't just for Fairy King's secrets—it's hiding Ainehira relics too. That secret room predates it.”
I eyed her.
“Not curious? As Hidden Eater, a relic from a hidden spot should thrill you more than anyone.”
“……Fine.”
She sighed.
“One promise, though.”
“What?”
“At the Veil entrance, no talking to anyone till you meet Asera. No matter what.”
“Hmm?”
I tilted my head, not getting it, but she just touched her bracelet.
Click—
Whirr—
Twisting the end unwound it like a spring, mechanical sounds humming as she chanted an unknown incantation.
Vwooooom……!
Her black bracelet emitted a circular light, opening a transparent door in midair.
'Warp magic? No wonder…… Couldn't find the Veil no matter how hard I looked.'
A strange landscape lay beyond the portal.
She stepped through, glancing back.
“Remember. No talking to anyone. Or you'll wander the Veil's maze forever.”
Shrieeeek—!!!!
Crossing after Hidden Eater changed everything. Geshutalt's fog forest was unique on the continent, but this was something else.
'What is……'
I scanned around. Nothing matched my memories.
'How's she connected to the Veil?'
Everyone wants a hidden class in Dimension World. But not everyone gets one. So they scout: powerful families, tribes, special groups. The eight clans claim those starts.
Veil was hidden by nature—no connections meant no easy access.
'Must be from her DW1 feats.'
Her ability was likely server-unique. No wonder I was intrigued.
"[Finally…… you're here.]"
The moment we crossed, Yeomhwa-ryeong spoke in my mind, voice trembling.
Sunny rays, blooming flowers, lush trees—not scary at all. Yet she shook.
Fwoooosh……
Suddenly, the beauty vanished, heavy gloom draping like a curtain.
[The Curtain God has noticed us.]
She huddled against me, whispering.
[Master…… be careful. He might send shadows.]
'Shadows?'
Thud—
Thud—
Thud—
As I followed Hidden Eater, Yeomhwa-ryeong warned in my head.
[Monsters of the Veil's land.]
I instantly knew why she warned: the monster she meant.
'Know what monsters mean in our world?'
[……Yes?]
She looked up, eyes wide, trembling less.
'Experience points.'
I said calmly.