Must We Really Go This Far?
"Do we really have to go this far?"
"You moved first. We've been holding back to keep discipline as much as possible. You're the rude ones. Wasn't the Magangto Mine promised to us?"
"Geographically, it makes sense for us to mine it. The difference in the number of mines we hold is due to the terrain—if you pull this on us, it's a problem."
"Maintaining the Sword Demon Legion requires a lot of ore. I clearly mentioned it at the last meeting, didn't I?"
"Seems like you have plenty already... What are you planning to do by expanding even more?"
Tension hung thick in the air inside the train car. No one had drawn their swords yet, but the balance felt so fragile it could shatter at any moment. Players from both sides glared at each other like they wanted to devour one another whole.
"Enough, all of you."
"What an ugly sight."
At that moment, two voices sliced through the tension like a knife.
"Sorry for the trouble, all around. Lisa Kim."
The man seated in the place of honor, arms crossed and eyes closed, had deeply tanned skin and a long wakizashi at his side.
"Our side as well. We're not close enough to laugh it off with haha's and hoho's, but I pass on the eight major clans pointing swords at each other this early."
The woman called Lisa Kim, despite her slender build, wore thick gauntlets. They weren't mere armor—every so often, they hissed chiik, the sound of mechanical parts shifting and linking together.
"Give up on Jahal. In exchange, we'll provide food for your wyverns."
"Hmm. We're not heading to Jahal's territory just for the mines, are we? It's your choice, so no need for me to butt in."
The man sneered at Lisa.
"Whether Jahal's future is better in Kingdom's hands or ours."
"Is that what Rashid thinks? Pasha."
"Don't call the Master by name so casually."
The man called Pasha opened his previously closed eyes wide and shot to his feet for the first time. He hadn't seemed that big while sitting, but he was a giant, nearly brushing the train's ceiling.
The pressure between them was incomparable to the earlier commotion.
'As expected... Heroic-grade hidden class.'
'That intimidation is no joke.'
'No way they're really gonna fight here, right?'
Clan members from both sides watched the two with anxious eyes.
Chiiiik—
That was when the train halted, doors sliding open to reveal a vast coastline that contrasted sharply with the stifling atmosphere inside. Stars blanketing the sky reflected off the sea surface, illuminating the night without a single flame as brightly as if lanterns were lit.
"We're here."
Pasha smacked the tip of his wakizashi against his palm roughly and stepped off the train.
"That bastard..."
"Deputy leader, why not just take him out now?"
"Exactly. We secured the duchy first, didn't we? Does it make sense for two clans to share such a prime spot?"
Lisa's escorts growled as they watched the Owner Clan disembark.
"All of you, shut up. This isn't our call."
But she dismissed them curtly.
'It's a headache now, but if we eliminate them, we'll have no rivals left in the duchy.'
The Steel Kingdom chosen by Los Clan was swarming with pursuers like UAE Clan and smaller ones vying to catch up, and the Land of Savages had ANA and Shaveliger coexisting. To start a turf war, they'd need to grow first.
But the duchy was different. With three ducal houses already competing, war felt natural.
'If Kingdom claims the duchy, we'll outpace other regions with rivals.'
Owner Clan wasn't the issue.
'This is our chance to shake up the eight major clans' rankings.'
Lisa Kim gazed at the massive castle by the distant harbor, lost in thought.
***
"Just as expected."
"What is?"
"They might throw down today if things go well. Heard the vibe in the train was insane."
As we stepped off our train, momentarily captivated by the night sea, Baek Yiheon read a note hidden in the rocks and spoke up.
"Kingdom's Lisa Kim and Owner's Pasha. Those two don't get along at all. The underlings always stir more shit than the bosses. They probably sent those two to settle things today."
Someone from the administration bureau managing the rails must be on the payroll—he relayed the prior train's situation, then drew a small dagger from his waist and lightly scratched the note.
Tsung—!
A sharp mechanical whir followed, and the note burst into flames, turning to ash in seconds.
"Sounds fun."
While the guy smacked his lips, my eyes were drawn more to his dagger.
"Is that a magitech weapon?"
"Yeah. Cool, right? It uses attribute stones inside to mimic magic effects. You can swap stones for different prey, so no need to learn spells for bonus damage."
One reason the duchy was strong.
'High-quality attribute stone mines are clustered there.'
Even in ancient times, when they still existed, the dwarves built their kingdom here for that reason.
"Mind if I take a look?"
"Of course not."
Baek Yiheon, suspecting Norpa was a dwarf even if not certain, politely offered the dagger with both hands—quite different from moments ago.
"Crazy bastard..."
I shook my head at the ridiculous sight.
"Hmm."
Norpa examined the dagger, frowning slightly at the emblem below the hilt.
"Where'd you get this?"
"Dwarf Billshang's work. The three dwarf artisans have divided territories now. Billshang does weapons, Uroll of Duke Drake does armor, Vogl of Leo Ric does accessories. Their gear sells together in Risal, the capital, regardless of duke."
"Billshang made this?"
"That's what it says."
"..."
Norpa Jeran gave a subtle expression at Baek Yiheon's answer before handing the dagger back.
"Let's go."
I was curious what he was thinking, but with Mad Dog right there, no chance to ask.
'Something's up.'
And Norpa's shift hadn't escaped Baek Yiheon's notice either, probably.
"All dwarf artisans live in workshops inside the ducal estates. Guards surround them, walled like fortresses."
Baek Yiheon pointed to the huge building beside the duke's castle in the distance.
"They claim it's for safety and research freedom, but to me, it's just layers of walls to keep them from escaping."
"How do we get inside?"
"Like a dog—through the dog hole."
He grinned at my question.
"Follow me."
***
Tok— tok— tok—
Only the sound of dripping water echoed in the dank, eerie passage.
"Didn't know a path like this existed."
"Jahal Ducal House's territory is a massive harbor to run their main force, the Black Fleet. You saw the fleet's size. They adjust water levels for launches, so they built these sewer tunnels."
The secret passage under the strait surprisingly led right into the duke's territory.
'When I crushed the duchy before, Jahal was my first target. Never thought I'd use that path again like this.'
I hadn't told Baek Yiheon, but I'd planned to use this secret route without him.
'Jahal has the least info in the duchy, so knowing this path makes him impressive.'
With inland unexplored, interest in outer continent naturally waned. Land forces took priority over sea, so Kingdom and Owner picked the other two ducal houses besides the Black Fleet.
But they overlooked something. The continent's finite—eventually, expand outward.
'Wyvern legions have flight range limits.'
Mugung Archipelago, called the edge of the world, clustered with dozens of islands reachable only by ship. Places like Tanome Ruins Island or Alpha Zal Dungeon dropped far superior items than mainland ones.
It also housed the lair of Colmar, one of the six great dragons, the Blue Dragon.
'The dragon beyond the world—the only one of the six who ignores continental affairs.'
In dreams across countless rounds, I'd met Colmar only once.
'Once sought the six great dragons, believing only they could stop the Calamity.'
He differed from others I'd met. Aloof, immersed solely in magic research, uninvolved in human matters—thus the coldest.
'What's research in a dying world? You need to survive to research.'
When Calamity invaded, continent burned, but Mugung Archipelago alone unscathed—thanks to [Tidewall Stone], called Colmar's essence.
'This time, I'll get it no matter what. Colmar, if you won't help willingly, I'll use other means.'
Snapping from thought, I refocused on the light ahead in the passage.
"Here we are. Guards outside. I'll take one—you handle the other... sir."
Baek Yiheon said to Red Sickle, clearly curious about a Heroic-grade NPC's prowess.
Red Sickle glanced at me; I nodded permission.
"Make it quiet."
"Understood."
Sring—
Red Sickle drew his chakrams.
'One, two.'
Baek Yiheon counted slowly on fingers.
'Three!'
The two leaning against entrance walls lunged fast to slit the guards' throats.
Or tried to.
Kang—!
Baek Yiheon's dagger clanged off something sharp, spinning into the ground.
"Guhk—!!"
Faster still, Red Sickle's chakram pierced one guard's throat perfectly. He aimed the second at Baek Yiheon's failed target.
"That's far enough."
"...!!"
But soldiers surrounding him froze his throw.
"What the hell?! I said guard properly!!"
Pasha yelled at his clanmates, pointing at the dead guard.
"I-it was... too fast."
"Sorry."
"Rats hiding—we got the report. Baek Yiheon, you? Why sneak into Jahal Ducal House?"
Chul-kuk—
Lisa Kim racked her gauntlet back like chambering a round.
"Haha, how'd this happen..."
Baek Yiheon signaled me behind his back—don't come out—out of others' sight.
"..."
I pushed Norpa Jeran deeper into the wall's shadow and watched.
"You're not the bureau's only lackey. Not all silver badges are equal. Master's already gold rank."
"Tch—damn fast, as always. Was same silver a few days ago. Must've grinded like mad every night?"
"None of your business. Got word you snuck someone on the train like a rat. Didn't expect an NPC. Thought you folded Mysterious Carriers and leeched onto the duchy?"
Lisa stepped forward, questioning Baek Yiheon.
"What's your game?"
"Haha, just... a small favor. This guy's never seen the night sea."
Despite their pressure, he kept his casual tone.
"From the desert, curious about the ocean or whatever."
"Bullshit."
"This punk..."
Tension peaked. The two clans, arrows nocked at each other, now ganged up on Baek Yiheon like a stress relief.
'Mad Dog here was unexpected, but perfect. Use him as sacrifice to avoid clashes today.'
Lisa Kim schemed to exploit him.
But she was wrong. All her scenarios used him as bait—no thought of her own defeat.
"Hold."
That was when I stepped out from hiding Norpa Jeran.
"...!!"
"...!!"
Lisa Kim and Pasha's eyes widened at me.
"Kim Do-hyun?"
"Why are you here..."
Thwack—!!
Ignoring their shock, I smacked Baek Yiheon's head.
"Hey, visiting Jahal 'cause you wanna see the sea? Who'd buy that crap?"
"Ha, haha. Weird, huh?"
His uncharacteristic grin confirmed he'd spouted nonsense to draw me out.
"Long time, both of you. No misunderstanding—didn't want friction with the eight majors, so sneaking in quiet."
"Reason for coming?"
"We're Obela's delegation. This is Red Sickle, head of Red Cat Mercenaries. You've heard of them, right?"
"...What?"
Delegation stunned them into dumbfounded stares.
Red Sickle looked baffled too, but said nothing unnecessary.
"Why's Obela's assassin in the duchy?"
"What's the purpose?"
"Assassin? Delegation, I said. And none of your business. Not military allies—ducal houses' affairs aren't for meddling."
Cha-ang—!!
Chajak—!
Chiiiik...!!
Clanmates behind Pasha and Lisa drew weapons in unison.
"Won't let you pass without explaining Jahal visit."
I eyed lead Lisa.
Sring—
Red Sickle's chakrams clashed, cold friction ringing.
"Deputy..."
A Kingdom member whispered palely to Lisa.
"That NPC's level..."
All eyes turned to Red Sickle.
"8... 80..."
And blood-red name hovered over him like a warning not to engage.
"No way... Heroic-grade?"
Baek Yiheon smirked, reactions as hoped.
"Gonna fight?"
I said lowly to them.
"Then come on in."