Chapter 65: That Bastard's Still Alive

[That bastard's still alive. Life really is ridiculous....... Out of the heroes who followed me, the one I hoped would die is the only one left.]

"Who knows. As I said, aside from Amur, there's no solid info on the other four heroes—just like with you. The others might still be out there too."

[It's not about the other heroes surviving. It's that he's alive that's the problem.]

"You really hate his guts, huh."

[Of course. How could I like the guy who jammed a sword into my throat?]

I instinctively rubbed my neck at his words. I still remembered vividly the moment I'd been killed by the Destroyer.

Yeah, even though I've died plenty of times in the game, that feeling was on another level—pure filth.

Having endured that across multiple regressions, I could understand Black Eye's rage all too well.

"Honestly, I only learned U-ryu-ga was one of the heroes from the records too. None of them ever openly claimed the title. The others might be hiding their identities and living on in secret."

[......I hope so.]

It had to burn. Not a single disciple to carry on his legacy, and the one he discovers alive had abandoned Chil-ya for King Gulji's martial engineering.

"Why'd he try to kill you?"

Black Eye shook his head at my question.

[No idea. Honestly, I wanted to ask before chopping his head off.]

Beneath the killing intent in Black ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Eye's voice, I sensed sorrow.

[My first disciple, Tesaro, wasn't outstanding compared to the other heroes, but he was steadfast and upright.]

I glanced at Tesaro's sword in my hand as he spoke. Maybe because of his words, but this plain, unadorned blade felt more faithful to the fundamentals than any other.

[He always advised me to watch out for U-ryu-ga. Said the guy's eyes were like a jackal's, hungering for everything I had. But I didn't hate him for it. That craving—to take, to possess—is the drive that makes you strong.]

"......Yeah."

I nodded, meeting Black Eye's gaze.

[Truth be told, he just seemed like a misguided kid to me....... But Tesaro was right—I got stabbed in the back hard.]

"So you're out for revenge?"

[Revenge? More like I want answers. Why'd he kill me?]

"And then?"

[We fight. That death wasn't a fair challenge—it was an ambush. Sure, if I couldn't block it, I'd accept the loss...... but then he'd better not dodge my challenge either.]

"We both know you're just beating around the bush about wanting payback, right?"

[Heh......]

Black Eye let out a strange chuckle.

[But you get it. For me to grow stronger, you have to get stronger. How tough is the U-ryu-ga you know?]

"Tough. Stands out even among Glory's 9."

Built on the War God's teachings, wielding King Gulji's martial engineering gear, he'd forged his own unique style from those two powers.

[Then the answer's clear.]

Black Eye's response was straightforward.

"Don't worry. I'll get stronger than anyone."

[That's my master. Obviously.]

I gave an awkward smile at his reply.

That was when the forge door creaked open. Tur Mah emerged, clutching the compass with an unusually cautious expression.

"Even so, you can't just take someone else's stuff without asking. Tur Mah. Especially after locking the forge door."

I teased him lightly. But unlike my joke, Tur Mah's face was deadly serious.

"Tur Mah......?"

"Can't fix this compass."

He handed back the Boundary of the Dead compass without preamble.

The description changed.

I stared at the compass.

Tur Mah confirmed the missing internal ???? by disassembling it, and there's that last line about ????. Different number of question marks means different materials...... So now it needs two for repair?

The first ???? was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the Spider Lord's Tomb.

"Spider Lord's Tomb......"

I frowned slightly.

"If you can't fix it, fine—but at least explain why."

I phrased it casually, as if checking the item's description for the first time, directing it at Tur Mah.

"Needs an irreplaceable material. Give up."

"You never know what might happen. What if I snag that spider you dwarves hate?"

Spider Lord's Tomb. I knew what that meant.

But figuring out the hint was just the start. Games required triggering and clearing quests to solve them.

So getting the quest directly from the related NPC, Tur Mah, was key.

"......"

Tur Mah's eyes shifted at my words. But he shook his head soon after.

"Sharp eyes. You noticed I took it apart?"

I shrugged instead of answering.

"Like you said, it needs a special linkage for the core axis. Regular string won't do—only spider queen silk. With that, it won't be perfect, but we'd know what direction it's pointing......"

There it is.

A sudden quest, but I'd anticipated it—no surprise. I'd been waiting, so I hit [Accept] right away.

"If I bring the queen's silk, can you fix the compass?"

Tur Mah couldn't hide his shock.

"You know Myocheon Mahwi...... Then you know what the spider queen is. Even if you got the silk, I couldn't repair it."

"What?"

"This compass points to Norpa. It's a map."

Unfurling the map revealed a dusty, worn parchment.

"Thunder Fortress......"

A small arrow blinked on my minimap, pointing to one spot.

I racked my memory, but unlike Spider Lord's Tomb, nothing matched perfectly.

"Useless to me, but if you get the Myocheon Mahwi, you'll need to visit there. This isn't continental tech—it's from the Tower. Only Norpa can fix the compass axis."

I couldn't help frowning at Tur Mah's words.

Norpa's already dead...... So to repair this, I have to hunt U-ryu-ga after all.

I hadn't expected the quests to chain like this, but ultimately, they converged into one main quest.

"Thanks to you, I've got a path forward. Tur Mah."

I pocketed the compass and bowed slightly.

"But one favor in return?"

"What?"

"If you meet King ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gulji...... come find me again and take me to him?"

"......"

I hesitated at Tur Mah's question. Black Eye watched silently, waiting for my answer.

"Of course, Tur Mah."

I smiled faintly, as if it were nothing.

[......]

Step—

Step—

Step—

Only the sound of footsteps pierced the silence as we walked through the forest.

Kuoooooo......

Far off, something like the golem's cry guarding Sandorim Forest's outskirts was all that echoed.

"Spit it out if you've got something to say. Don't hold back like some timid fool."

[Why lie?]

Black Eye finally voiced his pent-up question as we neared the forest exit.

"About what?"

I'd expected it, so no shock.

[Those trapped in the broken hourglass face a time storm the moment they leave. Tur Mah would turn to ash instantly. And you can't drag a dead Norpa here either.]

"......"

[That dwarf can only live in Sandorim Forest. Taking him out? You'd be killing him.]

I kept walking. As Sandorim's exit came into view, I finally spoke.

"I once imagined what it'd be like if a great engineer from the distant past met a legendary alchemist from the far future. Just a little dream."

[......?]

"But after meeting him, I realized it's impossible. My expectations were naive. He's no use to me now. Stopped time is as good as dead."

[......Arrogant answer.]

"Time must flow forward. Accepting its passage isn't death—it's true life. Only I can show him that truth."

[Don't you pity wasting his talents? They'll vanish with him. Why not keep him here and use—]

I snorted at his words.

"That won't do."

[......Hm?]

"Black Eye. I follow the natural order, but I'm no noble fighter for justice. This is a game. A world with skills and legacies."

Black Eye stared, uncomprehending, but no need to explain.

"Tur Mah's skills will be mine."

That was all that mattered.

[Heh...... So that's the punchline?]

"Despise me for coveting even a ghost's power?"

[Nah. Just like you.]

Whoosh—!!

Black Eye wrapped around me like a cloak, burning away Sandorim's chilling mist.

[Take care of your body. The living world's ahead.]

The exit glowed like a cave mouth.

[I don't get 'skills' or 'systems.' But I agree—you need Tur Mah's power.]

He told me.

[To bridge ancient tech and future arts.]

"......"

I chuckled at his words.

"No grand reason. I'm just greedy."

[Told you—that's not bad.]

Fwoooosh—!

As we exited Sandorim, light flooded in, the fog vanishing like it'd never been.

"Let's go."

I murmured, gazing at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠clear sky.

"To get the Myocheon Mahwi."

[To claim the traitor's head.]

Reasons aside, the destination was the same.