Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Unique Item (2)
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8장. 유니크 아이템 (2)
3.
There were snail monsters in the Maple World.
They weren't strong monsters. An adventurer who got taken down by a snail couldn't even be called an adventurer.
But that didn't mean they could be ignored. If they were truly ignorable, utterly harmless, they wouldn't even be classified as monsters in the first place.
For those reasons, the Adventurer's Association classified snails as monsters and taught about them accordingly.
“Snail pet?”
But the term "snail pet" that El Pam mentioned was something Dibo had never heard of in his life.
It had to be that way.
‘It's a really rare one.’
At this point in time, the only one who knew about snail pets was undoubtedly El Pam—and no one else.
‘Before this, they were just monsters.’
Moreover, snails were monsters you had to kill on sight.
But once their value was discovered, the situation changed.
“What does a snail pet mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. A pet. It follows people around like a pet.”
“So, a pet snail? What's the point?”
Snail pets had abilities.
“It can melt the corpses of dead monsters to extract magic stones and pick up dropped items.”
“Huh?”
“It can also store items inside its shell.”
An incredibly impressive ability.
“Items?”
Of course, just hearing about it didn't sound all that amazing.
That was why Dibo looked skeptical.
But El Pam was different.
“In the middle of intense combat, having it extract magic stones from monster corpses and pick up items for you—that's huge.”
The whole point of fighting monsters was to get items and magic stones.
The problem was that it wasn't as easy as it sounded.
Fighting a monster was basically announcing your presence to everyone around.
Not just monsters, but other adventurers would hear and react.
In that situation, leisurely picking up items from monsters and dismantling them for magic stones?
Even if you had time, dismantling a monster and extracting the magic stone was tough work.
But a snail pet could use its powerful acidic secretions to harvest the magic stone effortlessly.
It even instinctively knew the exact location and worked quickly.
“I guess that makes sense...”
At that point, Dibo had to admit it.
“But still, how much could fit in that shell? It doesn't seem like much.”
Even accounting for that, the shell of a fist-sized snail didn't seem like it could hold anything impressive.
“It grows bigger the more items it eats.”
“Huh?”
The moment he heard El Pam's next words, Dibo's expression changed.
If what El Pam said was true, it changed everything.
And it didn't end there.
“Snail pets move toward items and magic stones instinctively.”
“Oh!”
The instant he heard that, Dibo stopped doubting the snail pet's uniqueness.
“That's no joke.”
Being able to find places with magic stones and items was like having a treasure detector.
Naturally, El Pam made full use of that ability.
Looking into the snail pet's eyes, El Pam said,
“From now on, I'm your master. Work for me, and I'll protect you.”
At those words, Dibo snickered.
“Boss, does it even understand words?”
“If you understand, blink twice.”
Right then, the snail pet blinked once, then twice, as if it had been waiting. Seeing it, Dibo shouted in shock.
“Insane!”
Of course, El Pam wasn't surprised.
A monster that only followed its instincts could never become a pet.
‘Who would've thought I'd get a snail pet here.’
But he was surprised that a snail pet had appeared.
They were that rare.
Even after the Mystic Gate opened and monsters poured into the Maple World, they were extremely hard to find.
‘Lucky break.’
A fortunate stroke of luck.
And El Pam intended to make full use of it.
El Pam set the snail down on the ground.
The snail pet looked up at him with its large eyes, waiting for orders.
“Find magic stones.”
At the command, the snail pet started moving without hesitation.
“Whoa? It's crazy fast?”
Incredibly fast—unthinkable for a snail.
“And quiet.”
But stealthy, like a proper snail.
That was another reason snail pets were so valuable.
In a world overflowing with monsters and adventurers, being able to perform discreetly.
“It's an absolute game-changer!”
Now even Dibo couldn't hide his excitement.
‘This is gonna be a huge score.’
Some of the benefits from the snail pet would go straight to him—no one else.
Naturally, in Dibo's eyes, the snail pet now looked like a golden goose laying treasure.
“Boss, what's its name?”
The shock from earlier was already forgotten.
After a moment's thought, El Pam answered Dibo's question.
“Mano.”
“Mano. Cool name.”
Dibo smiled at the name.
But the smile didn't last long.
They soon saw it, chasing after the snail.
“Boss, this is...”
Scattered corpses.
“Cygnus Knights trainees who came in with us?”
Familiar corpses, at that.
Dibo's expression hardened instantly.
On the surface, they had been allies, in the same party.
Their deaths couldn't be taken lightly.
‘Cygnus Knights trainees, dead? For real?’
Moreover, these weren't ordinary adventurers.
‘This Mystic Gate is crazier than I thought.’
The danger here exceeded Dibo's expectations.
Meanwhile, El Pam's expression had hardened too.
But for a different reason.
He had known something like this would happen.
He focused on two things.
The visible external wounds were mostly from ribbon pigs, but El Pam could clearly spot them.
‘They were done in by people.’
Monsters couldn't have made those wounds on the mangled corpses.
From the facial expressions and blood around their mouths, El Pam was certain.
‘Poison first.’
He approached the corpses, sniffed around.
“Boss?”
To the surprised Dibo, El Pam said,
“Poison.”
“Poison?”
El Pam didn't elaborate to the shocked Dibo.
‘A mix of scorpion tail poison from Nihal Desert and Nependeath fruit poison from Elnas Mountains.’
It wasn't just any poison.
‘Used by Ariant's Hashashin.’
The poison commonly used by the assassins of Ariant's secret assassination organization, the Hashashin.
He didn't bother explaining.
Dibo wouldn't understand anyway.
More importantly, it wasn't the key issue.
“There are six bodies.”
“Six? So two survivors?”
“One survivor.”
“Huh? No, there were eight Cygnus Knights trainees...”
“One's a troll.”
They hadn't been killed by monsters.
Hearing that, Dibo's face stiffened more than before.
“So a Cygnus Knights trainee killed them?”
The Cygnus Knights were the direct organization of Empress Cygnus, leader of the Maple Alliance.
A powerful force backed by the entire Maple World, both in authority and military might.
Intentionally killing one of their members?
Even the top ten merchant groups of Lith Harbor wouldn't dare.
‘It wasn't just random trolling by a few. Each merchant group's dispatched party had trolls hidden inside. Even the Cygnus Knights had a troll planted.’
Moreover, El Pam realized this trolling wasn't some sloppy attempt to eliminate rivals.
“Who the hell would do something like that?”
So El Pam gave the answer immediately.
‘Only Black Mage followers could pull this off.’
As he thought it, El Pam looked up at Dibo.
“Dibo.”
And asked,
“Have you ever hunted adventurers?”
Dibo tilted his head at the question.
Once he grasped the meaning, he freaked out.
“B-Boss? You mean catch those guys?”
Hunt the ones who trolled even Cygnus Knights trainees? Those insanely dangerous bastards?
It was absurd.
“Wouldn't it be better to just find the exit quick? There are 5th Circle adventurers outside, right?”
Especially when the best option was right there, ignoring it for something else?
El Pam knew.
“We haven't found the unique item yet.”
But retreating now was too wasteful—the items here were too valuable.
It was crucial for El Pam.
Unique items mattered more to him than ordinary ones.
“Boss, it's still too risky. I know you're strong, but at our level, it's impossible.”
“Yeah, at our current level, it's not easy.”
Of course, El Pam had no intention of being reckless.
He never had.
El Pam never went on uncertain adventures.
“So we use the trump card.”
“Trump card?”
Same as always.
“What is it?”
“This.”
El Pam pulled out his hidden ace.
“A magic stone?”
4.
Cygnus Knights.
As one of the Maple Alliance's direct organizations, it was the pinnacle for anyone dreaming of knighthood.
Naturally, the Cygnus Knights were powerful. Each knight was beyond comparison to average adventurers.
Becoming one wasn't easy.
Most couldn't even make it as trainees.
“We underestimated the Cygnus Knights.”
That was why.
“Who knew they'd survive that poison.”
The ten members who entered the 100-man Mystic Gate for trolling began their pursuit.
They weren't flustered.
No need to be.
“They just endured it. They can't use their abilities anymore, so we can catch up soon.”
Kiri and the three pursuing the last remaining Cygnus Knights trainee in this Mystic Gate started the chase steadily.
It wouldn't be hard.
This place had only one exit—like a bottle.
And Kiri was just a sick rat inside it.
Pigs hunting such rats overflowed here.
Honestly, the three pursuers thought they'd find not a live Kiri, but her corpse trampled by ribbon pigs.
That had been certain.
“I'm Dibo!”
Until that sudden voice shattered their expectations.
Hearing it, the three paused their pursuit of Kiri.
They looked at each other and exchanged opinions.
“It's that guy.”
“That guy?”
“One of the two adventurers sent by Gapor Merchant Group.”
“He's alive?”
They identified the opponent and tensed up.
“What do we do?”
They wanted to deal with him immediately, but couldn't gauge his level easily.
Rash action could backfire.
They needed caution.
“I'm the hero of polearms, Dibo! Come at me!”
But hearing that shout, the three made the same judgment instantly.
‘Crazy lunatic.’
Nothing to worry about.
That was why.
“Jer.”
One called a name. The named one nodded and split off.
Jer moved to handle Dibo.
It wouldn't be difficult.
“I'm the hero of polearms! Come at me!”
Just follow the idiot through the reed fields, then at a good distance, draw the bowstring.
Now was the time.
Twing!
Jer drew his bowstring.
And shouted the skill.
“Piercing.”
The 2nd Circle archer skill that greatly boosted penetration.
With preparations complete, Jer held his breath, ready to loose the arrow.
Whoosh!
The arrow flew.
Thud!
A sudden fireball arrow plunged into Jer's left eye.
“Guh!”
Jer groaned, head jerking back. In that moment, two more fireballs struck his body.
One in the back of his right hand, one in the top of his left foot.
The assault dropped Jer to the ground instantly.
Pain flooded his mind.
But before the pain, a question arose.
‘Fire Arrow? But the power...’
The Fire Arrow he knew didn't have this penetration.
It could, though. Skills grew stronger with higher circles.
So the question remained.
This was a red-grade Mystic Gate—only adventurers 2nd Circle and below could enter.
As those questions filled Jer's mind, a man appeared before him.
“Wh-who...”
Before the man answered, he stabbed a dagger into the back of Jer's fallen left hand.
Thud!
Jer’s single remaining eye widened like saucers at the sudden pain.
“Black wing tattoo hidden on the back of the left hand. Blackwing, affiliate of Black Mage followers. Came from far away.”
With his widened eye, Jer saw it.
“Nice to meet you.”
Three rings on the left wrist of the one who stabbed his hand.
“Name's El Pam. Now, I have some questions.”