Not the Ran-hu Tribe...? What Does That Mean?

"Not the Ran-hu Tribe... ? What do you mean?"

[Hmm, I don't know myself. Why those guys are here. But one thing's clear—they're definitely not the Ran-hu Tribe.]

"Then who are they?"

I couldn't help feeling confused by Black Eye's words.

[Well...]

"You've arrived!! We've been waiting!"

But before I could sort out my thoughts, Tonpe rushed over, grabbed both my hands, and shouted.

"Ah, uh..."

Before I could even hear Black Eye's response, I answered him in a dazed voice.

[We should observe a bit longer. I have my suspicions, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but I need to confirm...]

I glanced at Tonpe while listening to him. It wasn't easy to suspect the boy staring back with such an innocent expression, but if there was deceit hidden behind that face, it would be all the more terrifying.

'If Black Eye's right, even if it's just the setting, they'd be NPCs deceiving players... Can programming pull that off?'

Choi Hyuk-su, the developer who built Dimension World, was already a genius recognized worldwide, but had he really calculated every minute detail like this?

Living, breathing NPCs. It felt like he'd truly achieved one of the ultimate goals he'd spoken of when building Dimension World.

'But if that's not it...'

Is it the memories from my dreams? Sometimes, watching them, they felt truly alive.

"We've been waiting. This way, please. The chief will welcome you too."

I nodded. Suspicious as it was, to complete the quest, I had to meet the Ran-hu Tribe's chief, so I followed Tonpe into the canyon.

'Traitor or not...'

I thought, staring at his back.

If he was an obstacle, I'd just cut him down.

'This path seems awfully long... Black Eye, tell me about the Ran-hu Tribe.'

[Hmm...]

I spoke to Black Eye as I followed Tonpe. The canyon wasn't as treacherous as Lang-a Fortress, but it was far denser and taller, like stepping into a massive cave.

'No easy escape routes in sight... Better not think about running.'

Scanning new places had become a habit. Natural for a player, but this stemmed more from dream memories than arena experience.

"......"

The eerie pre-battle tension prickled my spine—a familiar, nagging itch from countless wars.

The air I breathed carried the metallic tang of blood, enough to make me forget it was a game.

'This isn't good...'

I bit my dry lips, thinking.

[The Ran-hu Tribe are descendants of the wolf-fox tribe, aides to the king who unified the continent in ancient times. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠From antiquity, their exceptional eyesight and archery contributed greatly to the unification. When the continent fractured into factions again, they suffered heavy losses and changed their name from wolf-fox to Ran-hu.]

'Hmm...'

Nothing unusual yet. By Black Eye's account, they were one of the North's most historic tribes.

'What do you mean they betrayed you?'

[Who knows. In my lifetime, the Ran-hu never betrayed me. They'd held one of the ancient emblems of alliance since antiquity—deeply dutiful folk. But...]

'But?'

[If they're not the real Ran-hu but who I suspect... It's less betrayal of me and more betrayal of the entire North.]

Intense anger laced his voice.

'Betrayed the North... This doesn't feel like a sub-quest anymore.'

I pondered his words carefully. I was starting to wonder just what he suspected the Ran-hu Tribe's true identity was.

And if they really weren't... what had become of the real Ran-hu Tribe?

"Hoo..."

I drew a deep breath, hoping the lingering blood scent had nothing to do with the real Ran-hu Tribe.

"Tonpe reported. I am Chief Rakipe. Hero of the North."

The Ran-hu Tribe's chief knelt before me like a vassal paying homage to his lord. I slowly nodded.

"Rise."

The Northern Ruler title, earned from slaying Lanselro, held great power in the North, where no king ruled and tribes stood divided.

At my permission, Rakipe rose with help from his subordinates. One leg was wrapped in bandages, the skin peeking out a sickly dark purple, like poisoning.

[That wound. Fake.]

The moment he saw Rakipe's wound, Black Eye snorted and told me.

[Only one poison in the North turns wounds dark purple: the fangs of the giant serpent Rakomu. But Rakomu vanished long ago. Looks like he's faking it to play the great hunter.]

Even the aged chief seemed like a mere child to Black Eye, who casually called him "that guy."

'Insight... Nice skill. How deep does it pierce?'

[Insight varies by person. Some see lies, some spells; I see combat-related truths. It's piercing the essence. Artisans attain it in sword or magic mastery. You could too, but no need—learn it anyway.]

'Why?'

[Because I can do it. The oath's effect is weak now, but as levels and proficiency rise, summoners share their familiar's abilities.]

I knew summoners split EXP with familiars during hunts, but stat sharing was new.

'Stat sharing... That's good. Rakipe's wound might be fake, but maybe he did fight a snake.'

I'd read of Rakomu in palace records—a monster infamous alongside the Spirit Devourer Dragon about a century ago. Long vanished, but if it survived, it'd be field boss-tier with the dragon.

[No way. If he claims that, it's pure fabrication.]

'Why?'

Black Eye replied with utter certainty.

[I killed that snake.]

"......"

I couldn't help chuckling at Black Eye's response.

[No wonder the Ran-hu Tribe's rep sank to worthless pretenders.]

'But Tonpe's eyes are genuine.'

I knew better than anyone the hero-grade NPC potential of Tonpe, unlike Rakipe.

[Not talking ability. It's attitude toward essence—the tribe's vibe. No true warrior emerges from a rotten tribe, no matter the talent.]

Despite my defense, Black Eye responded in his usual dissatisfied tone.

But he wasn't wrong. In my memories, no Ran-hu named Tonpe had ever made a name.

Talent meant nothing without a stage to shine.

"Thanks to you, the Ran-hu Tribe joined the dragon hunt feat. Now we can finally pay some respect to Lord Gulak."

Wound aside, Rakipe was undeniably the chief. At his gesture, a subordinate brought a small box from the tent.

"Our reward for letting us join the great feat."

Quest completion reward.

"......"

Taking just this and leaving would've been fine.

But holding the box, I stared at it a moment before turning to Rakipe.

"Mind if I ask something?"

"Anything."

One, two, three, four, five, six... I instinctively counted the guards in the tent.

I'd mastered Chil-ya 4 Swords, but could only use it twice max. That would drain all my energy, leaving me near death.

'Borrow Black Eye's power...'

I ran scenarios in my head before slowly speaking.

"As you know, I'm an outsider. I don't know much about Northern tribe affairs. So this might be rude, but... I heard something at Lang-a Fortress."

I glanced at Tonpe. His eyes trembled—he knew what was coming.

"May I ask what incident led to the Ran-hu Tribe bearing the stigma of betraying Gulak?"

"Ahem..."

Rakipe's face stiffened slightly as he stroked his bushy beard.

"How could I lie to the North's hero? Besides, any Northerner knows our tribe's yoke... No point hiding it."

The title effect? Unlike Black Eye's warning of lies, he answered straightforwardly.

"It's true—our tribe betrayed Lord Gulak."

"...Father! The Ran-hu betrayed Gulak, not us!"

Unlike Rakipe, Tonpe shouted in denial.

"Quiet!! Don't forget the stigma we bear isn't false—it's our sullied honor. We followed the Ran-hu. We can't claim innocence from their choices."

"......It was unavoidable. They coveted White Night."

'White Night...?'

"We tried to protect White Night."

I stared at Tonpe in confusion as Gulak's cherished sword's name left his lips.

"You know too, Father—that the Iron Kingdom bastards took White Night!"

"Y-Young master!"

A guard behind the chief blocked Tonpe at his outburst.

"Calm down. Venting at the chief won't restore our honor."

Short but sturdy build.

'That man...'

Unlike others I'd met, his face rang familiar.

'Iron Kingdom took White Night? Impossible. I'd know better than anyone.'

I swallowed the shout rising in my throat. No point trusting NPCs—mere programs—over dream memories.

'I know every palace report inside out. Nothing about White Night. Another lie?'

[Hmm... My Insight can't confirm fully, but the kid's face shows no deceit. Probably after my death.]

Black Eye let out a low sigh.

[I don't know White Night's fate post-death...]

"Hal-son. Take the boy out."

"Yes, Chief."

Rakipe waved roughly, and the sturdy man gripped Tonpe's shoulder.

'Hal-son?'

The name sparked a memory.

"Sorry for the confusion with idle talk. Check the box first? Though branded traitors now, this was entrusted by Lord Gulak himself—for the dragon slayer."

I eyed Rakipe as he spoke.

Click.

Despite doubts, quest rewards shouldn't be dangerous.

Inside the box lay neatly folded red armor.

As I reached for it,

Quest completion gave fixed EXP—nothing special. I dismissed the alert casually.

But then.

"...Huh?"

An unexpected alert appeared before my eyes.