"Your Words... Are Quite Harsh"

"Your words... are quite harsh."

She said it with a stiffened expression in response to my words.

I closely examined the quest window that had appeared before me once more.

The fact that a quest had triggered meant Asera Tanubiel's story was at least not a complete lie. Perhaps, at this point in time, the Veil was the only organization secretly preparing for the Calamity.

But my distrust of her wasn't solely because of the figures from my memories.

'This quest that just popped up isn't a World Scenario Quest—it's just a regular spontaneous one.'

From the Chil-ya quest I'd found in the Sword's Tomb to the Catastrophic quest I'd obtained in Muhar. All events major enough to alter the continent's history manifested as World Quests.

'But hers is just a regular quest.'

Of course, successive successes could evolve it into a linked chain. But considering that quest grades reflected the comprehensive importance of involved figures and events, a quest concerning the Calamity—which would dictate the continent's end—starting as a mere regular quest pointed to issues with the people involved, regardless of the content's gravity.

'And the key figure in this quest is obviously Asera Tanubiel.'

If I failed, the Veil would undoubtedly wash their hands of the continent's fate, just as in my memories, and focus solely on their own survival.

"I don't think it's particularly harsh. What has the Veil even done up until now? And what do you plan to do going forward? In my view, you lot won't step out into the world unless you can purify that rusted sword left by the founding king."

I pointed at the charred ceremonial sword and spoke to Asera.

"That's absurd. The Veil exists to safeguard the lingering wishes of those sacrificed to the tower."

"Then prove it."

"...Pardon?"

Asera looked at me with faint bewilderment.

"I'm saying, don't just talk—show me you're truly committed to fulfilling that mission or whatever it is. In any deal, trust is essential, so why should I help without a shred of proof?"

I shook my head.

"The Veil's existence is unknown across the continent, so how am I to know you aren't followers of some evil god?"

"That's ridiculous...!!"

It was natural for her to find it absurd. I, having met the God of Veil myself, knew better than anyone that their patron was real.

So why had they, shielded by a god and bearing the mission to block the Calamity trapped in the tower's upper levels, never once revealed themselves when it truly appeared?

'The reason is simple.'

Because they couldn't win.

The Veil might be the only place directly protected by an upper god. That could allow them to survive even amid the Calamity's descent.

"...".

The thought left me without even a bitter laugh.

'Even if they survive alone in a ruined world, what could they possibly do?'

Of course, I wasn't demanding their death. Some might argue survival comes first—that there's always a chance if you endure.

Understanding that, I didn't blame them. In the endless cycle of dreams through millennia of hardship, I'd had one chance to meet her.

'But she refused.'

She must have judged humanity's forces had no chance back then too. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What was it? The decisive reason that shattered the resolve of someone so aflame with duty.

Asera Tanubiel had told me the founding king's rusted ceremonial sword, shown from that box, was the key to fulfilling her mission.

'She asked me to help purify the sword.'

In my dreams, the Veil had no contact with humans, so I couldn't grasp their true intentions. But what differentiated the dream's Veil from now was the players' existence—and the anomaly of a Hidden Eater belonging to them.

'Thanks to the Hidden Eater's report, Asera entrusted me with purifying the sword...'

The dream's Veil never emerged likely because they failed to purify it.

'Which means...'

If I properly appraised and purified that rusted sword, it could truly become a divine weapon to fell the Destroyer.

That was when it happened.

'Why? Something off about it?'

At Black Eye's words, I turned my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gaze back to it.

Baekya was the sword wielded by Black Eye's master, the Sword God who had perfected Chil-ya and given him his start.

'That sword smells like Baekya?'

'Does that mean Baekya might be connected to the founding king?'

'Hmm...'

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

"Do you know how to purify the sword, then?"

"According to the incantations, it requires an unquenchable flame to purify the blade."

"An unquenchable flame, huh..."

"At minimum, a divine flame infused with a god's power, like the All-Gods' Sacred Flame. Divine power holds purification, and the flame shapes the blade."

"A god's flame... That's not so hard."

With a light wave of my hand, Yeomhwa-ryeong appeared before Asera.

"A lesser god who guards the All-Gods' Sacred Flame. Her flames should suffice to purify it."

"...!!"

Asera feigned surprise at Yeomhwa-ryeong's appearance.

Yeomhwa-ryeong flew sheepishly to my shoulder and whispered lowly.

"Truly... I sense the Sacred Flame's blaze. Just as Isabel reported."

'Of course.'

The cunning Veil leader wouldn't have divulged tower secrets and sought a mere human's aid without reason. She'd received Isabel's report that I was Yeomhwa-ryeong's master.

"The issue is the location. The Veil's domain is surrounded by trees, unsuitable for flames... But the nearby White Swamp could withstand even a god's fire."

Her eyes sparkled as she spoke to me.

"I haven't agreed to help yet."

"...Pardon?"

"I heard the method. But even if I purify it, what do I gain?"

"Th-That..."

Asera's eyes, obsequious moments ago, now looked down on me like insignificant vermin.

"How human of you. No wonder you're the only race uninvited to the tower. You know of it—what lies above—and still crave more?"

"Believe it or not. As you said, we humans weren't invited from the start, so naturally, we're uninterested."

"Profit..."

"Even granting that now, what were you esteemed non-humans doing in ancient times for the human founding king to assault the tower?"

Asera's cheek twitched.

"...What do you want?"

"If purification succeeds, lend me that sword."

"This is a Veil relic. Entrusting it casually to an outsider would be difficult..."

"You're already asking an outsider for help—doesn't that sound ridiculous coming from you?"

"...".

"I'm not saying I want to keep it. Just that, upon success, I deserve to inspect it. It's no loss for you."

After some deliberation, she nodded.

"Very well."

"Good."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

At her permission, her subordinates presented the rusted sword before me.

Clack—

I drew the ancient blade from its box.

"Hmm?"

The edge was dulled beyond use, and as a non-lethal ceremonial sword, I hadn't expected much—yet the feel in my hand wasn't bad at all.

"Lead the way."

I headed for the swamp.

Bubble... Bubble...

The swamp was thick with white mist.

Black Eye asked me.

"No."

"Should've left it to Tur Mah?"

I probed casually.

"True enough..."

I nodded.

"You forged swords?"

"Eh... Impressive."

Yeomhwa-ryeong declared confidently.

Yeomhwa-ryeong let out an incredulous chuckle at Black Eye's retort.

Yeomhwa-ryeong looked at me with a flustered expression.

I instantly grasped her concern.

"Worried about the divine object, I see."

I smiled faintly at his words.

"Wow. The mighty Black Eye worrying about me. Quite touching."

"Don't worry. I've got a plan. Was scouting safe spots—this is perfect. The Veil is a god-made space; faint divine power flows within."

I pulled a small stone from my inventory.

Black Eye spoke with interest.

But unlike him, Yeomhwa-ryeong spoke urgently upon seeing the stone I'd drawn.

"Why not? It's fire-attribute, just like you—perfect match, no?"

"Don't worry. This isn't a real heart."

Vrrrrm...!!

The Death Flame began to glow.

Notifications rang out in that instant.