Level 200 Breakthrough: Into the Forest's Depths
Vulcan, bound by the suddenly intruding knights, had no choice but to be dragged away to the guard post.
He even revealed his noble status, insisting there must be some misunderstanding, but they only said they'd check it out—refusing to accept his claims.
There was no need to stir up trouble unnecessarily, so he didn't resist for now. Even if it was a misunderstanding, fighting or injuring knights just doing their jobs could create needless friction, regardless of who was right.
Anyway, the facts would soon come to light, so he figured he'd be apologized to and released quickly if he just went along.
- Heh heh. Serves you right. Why don't you just settle down here?
But after being thrown into the underground dungeon, even as some time passed, there was no sign of release.
For Vulcan, who thought time was money, the situation was utterly infuriating, but he decided to wait it out for the moment.
'Ugh. Feels like they're trying to put me in my place.'
He chalked it up to noble bullying—hazing the newbie.
The news of his promotion to viscount by Alter might not have spread yet, or the king's approval might not have come through.
But he'd already been recognized as a baron before that, so a quick check should confirm his noble status right away.
Yet keeping him locked up here for so long could only mean blatant hazing of a fresh noble.
'Prolant Viscount must be from a different faction than Raseu Count.'
Maybe he'd gotten caught in the crossfire of faction wars, like a shrimp blasted by whale fights.
Noble society had several factions, and they often crushed rising stars from rival groups to break their spirit.
In that light, if word of his viscount promotion hadn't spread, they likely knew him only as the baron favored by Raseu Count.
Then it made sense for Prolant Viscount—his rival—to pull this stunt.
'What a pain.'
Whichever it was, it was annoying.
If they planned to insult him to elevate themselves and flaunt their faction's power, he might be stuck here for a while.
'The question is how good this idiot's intel is.'
But if the guy had any intelligence network at all, Vulcan expected release soon.
Anyone knowing he was under Alter's protection—regardless of faction—would come crawling to beg forgiveness.
Alter was a noble too, with his own faction and the usual minor frictions, but everyone yielded to him.
Oppressing a noble he'd personally vouched for and promoted? That was suicide.
Alter might not care about faction squabbles, but he wouldn't stand by if one of his own was harassed.
- Maybe he foresaw this.
'Hmm, could be.'
Thinking back to how Alter had suddenly bumped up his title saying it'd be useful, maybe he'd predicted this—and chosen not to intervene.
But it didn't matter.
He could break out anytime if needed.
'Inventory's sealed, but sub-space is open? Isn't this broken?'
- Hmph. You think mere humans can restrict gear made by this body?
Of course.
All his equipped gear had been forcibly stored in inventory, and he couldn't access it in the underground dungeon.
But the sub-space pouch on his crafting belt opened fine.
He'd stuffed it with extras to save inventory space and weight, so he could break out anytime with items from there.
He was just giving Prolant Viscount a chance.
After all, owing him a debt meant leverage.
- So hand over some chocolate! Cake today.
Tud didn't take the situation seriously either.
As if Vulcan's imprisonment was no big deal and the dungeon didn't faze him, he just nagged for snacks.
'Uh? That's all in inventory.'
- What?!
'Doesn't weigh much but takes space, so I stored it there.'
- Kyaaak!! What are you doing? My incarnation rotting in this dump? Escape now! Smash everything!!
'......You said serves you right earlier.'
Of course, once his snacks were involved, he urged breakout immediately.
- You bastard! Tch, guess you can hear after all.
Incoming.
After Vulcan ignored his tantrum, Tud grumbled alone, then growled toward the dungeon door.
"Aigoo, are you alright, sir!! My subordinates committed a grave offense. I've severely punished all involved, so please quell your anger!"
'......News travels fast.'
With that, the door burst open, and a portly man dripping with fat and greed came rushing in.
Prolant Viscount, the territory lord.
Having heard Vulcan was promoted to viscount by Alter's authority, he groveled despite equal rank—claiming he'd punished his own men, likely on his orders, and bowed low.
He rolled his eyes, gauging Vulcan's mood.
"It's fine. These things happen. Shall we get out of here first?"
"Of course! I've already prepared quarters!"
Vulcan's release from the dungeon went without saying.
He berated the jailer for the keys, opened the cell, and stuck close, chattering unlike his build.
Vulcan feigned nonchalance and followed.
'Not someone to keep close.'
But unlike his gracious demeanor, he thought poorly of him.
Not just for the imprisonment.
While locked up, he'd observed the other prisoners.
'Something fishy.'
Innocent-looking folk slumped weakly in corners.
Ordinary villagers without combat prowess, starved properly, skin and bones.
Yet full of venom.
They'd clawed walls till nails shredded, bodies battered from escape attempts, muttering suspicious groans.
'Blocking forest entry out of nowhere was odd too, and those......'
Not enough to judge guilt, but so many in a normal village dungeon? Unusual.
Plus, he already knew not to fully trust humans.
No reason to suspect Prolant yet, so he played along and headed out.
"What brings a noble like you to this humble place?"
"Adventurers wander for experience. No territory to tie me down, just hunting good spots. Heard suspicious rumors nearby, so I checked. Got stopped by knights."
Vulcan skipped Alter's name but didn't hide his goal.
They'd learn if he left anyway—maybe already suspected.
He watched Prolant's reaction.
"Ah...... I see. Can I help?"
"How?"
Prolant eagerly offered aid.
"I'll assign escort knights. I heard the rumors too. Odd village incidents lately, so I had knights control the forest. Must've been a misunderstanding. Heh heh heh."
Knights as guides.
Not just guides, surely.
Vulcan revealed his aim, knew immortal habits—might herd for efficient farming.
'Pulling strings.'
- Hmph. Shallow. Your move?
Vulcan didn't buy the goodwill outright.
Knights for surveillance/control, not just help.
If controlling forest for that reason, why punish his own men?
'No reason to refuse free help. Heh heh!'
But no reason to say no.
They'd try subtle control, but free honey? Why pass?
Take benefits, achieve goals—Vulcan grinned salesman's smile.
"No need, but...... Haven't restocked consumables. Food and potions too, if possible."
"Of course! Only right for one aiding our territory."
"Heh heh heh heh."
"Heh heh heh heh."
Vulcan even requested potions, chocolates as Tud bribes—no need for his own stock.
'No restrictions in the castle, huh?'
While goods prepared, Vulcan roamed the lord's castle freely.
Maybe fearing his ire, or suspiciously lax for a shady guy.
One reason: nothing to hide here.
'That's why I climbed up.'
But Prolant didn't know about Dragon Eye.
Castle highest building—clear views through windows over village, forest.
'That......'
From atop, Vulcan spotted what normals couldn't, smirking.
"Viscount, almost there!"
"Shield squad, stand ready! Priests, prepare!!"
With Prolant's support, Vulcan entered Beast Forest properly sucking honey.
Swift soldiers herded monsters, shield knights tanked rushes bodily, priests supported endurance.
"Huat-cha!!"
Vulcan just flanked, stabbing.
+9 Blessed Sun Sword's power severed breaths in few strikes; knights taunted agro as monsters turned.
Vulcan swept XP like VIP.
"Potion squad, deploy! Heal fast!!"
Potios poured freely.
Soldiers herded nonstop, knights/priests to exhaustion—recovery kept them going.
- Good service?
'Ehehe! Trying to finish quick. Not my plan.'
Not same faction, excessive aid—Vulcan guessed why.
Prolant wanted him gone fast.
Beast Forest max 190s—level 200, no gain, move on.
Heard rumors/quest, but immortals chase efficiency—abandon mismatched quests often.
Vulcan alone leveled like mad.
Herder locked prey conveniently—lower levels, but faster than peers.
Enjoying crossed motives.
'Time to wrap.'
Followed intent, no deep scouting—but Alter's 'suspicious cries' absent entire hunt.
Controlled, wrong area, or resolved—but Vulcan knew latter unlikely.
Feigned ignorance, slurped XP.
Smooth to 200.
You have reached level 200.
Your Soul's Dignity grows further. Physical abilities greatly enhance to match.
You comprehend mana flow. Easier to absorb and utilize internal mana.
"Ooh!"
"Congratulations, Viscount."
Level 200 boosted all stats massively.
Easy gains left attack skills low rank, but grindable.
Few offensive skills anyway—dedicated farming could raise them.
Key: shed newbie tag, mid-tier status.
'Now the real start.'
200+ unlocks mana-infused attacks usually; craft 300+ gear.
Vulcan's eyes sparkled.
Long-awaited 200—no fears left.
Time to spread wings.
"How about heading back?"
Lead knight subtly asked, post-200.
Reasonable—XP needs explode post-200.
Already lower-level farm; now 10x kills per level.
No gains here XP-wise.
"Shall we?"
"Yes. We'll esco—"
Vulcan agreed, end hunt.
"That way."
"......Pardon?"
Not their direction.
Vulcan pointed deep forest—Dragon Eye confirmed spot.
Direction they'd herded to hide.
"Prolant Viscount helped so much; I should repay. Headaches from weird rumors? Might as well handle it."
Air froze.
Knights' eyes changed.
Only Vulcan grinned villainously.