Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 103
>Chapter Title: The Second Piece (1)
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>“A guy who keeps his human intelligence and form, deliberately following the other Abysses just because they moved? Doesn’t that seem odd?”
“...Now that you mention it, you’re right. There might be something more to it...”
Gamillion’s expression grew grave at Do-hyun’s words.
He sensed something was off. After pondering deeply for a moment, he asked in a serious tone,
“Did you notice anything unusual while facing him? Even if it’s not that, any other clue would help.”
“Facing him? We barely even crossed swords...”
Do-hyun trailed off mid-sentence, looking troubled.
Come to think of it, there was something. The oddity he’d felt from the creature all along.
“Red light...”
“Pardon?”
The red glow leaking from near its heart.
It was an anomaly he hadn’t seen in any other boss. It had even tempted Do-hyun from outside the temple.
“That’s it!”
“Pardon?”
As soon as he mentioned it, Gamillion’s eyes lit up like he’d struck gold, stroking his chin beard.
“Now that I think about it, the timing of the Successor’s appearance overlaps with the Abyss’s movements. This can’t be mere coincidence. No, this is fate.”
“Uh... well, is it?”
It was a perfectly logical deduction...
But Gamillion’s fatalism always felt a bit much.
Even something as trivial as “Wow, what a coincidence~” got spun into destiny. At this rate, he’d call it fate if they ordered the same menu.
But Do-hyun had no intention of arguing this time.
“He might possess the second piece of fate. No, given the circumstances, it’s certain. Hardly anyone in humanity knows about ‘fate’ right now.”
“...”
“We were too focused on those vile gods and the greed-blinded fools to suspect the Abyss would move... This cannot be overlooked.”
Gamillion ground his teeth with a crunch, his unfamiliar fury on full display.
Gone was his usual kindly demeanor; his eyes blazed with venom.
Staring into them up close, Do-hyun felt the rage infecting him too.
Unknowingly clenching his fist, he heard Gamillion declare firmly,
“We must gather evidence before the council convenes. Successor, I know it’s a heavy request, but you’re the only one I can trust. Could you please retrieve any traces that could serve as proof?”
Ding-.
[Main Quest ‘The Second Piece (1)’ has been generated.]
[The Second Piece (1)]
-Rank: Main Quest, Class Quest
-Description: Destroyer Geymon may possess the second piece of fate.
He appears to be plotting something. Now that he’s been spotted once, secure solid proof before he hides again.
Find traces of Destroyer Geymon.
-Traces of the Destroyer (1 / 2)
-Quest Success: Links to connected quest ‘The Second Piece (2)’.
-Quest Failure: Failure to obtain the second piece of fate.
-Time Limit: 50 minutes
The second piece of fate was in Brion.
With graduation looming, the main quest was truly beginning.
* * *
A short time later, deep in the fetid rock forest.
[Death energy is extremely thick.]
[The mist grows extremely dense.]
In the fog-shrouded depths where visibility was near zero, one person passed through.
Precisely, one person and two guardians.
A man in garb blending dark red and blue, wielding a crude staff, and a small figure cloaked in a robe.
Plus a tiny spider tucked in that robe’s pocket.
“Hmm... This is the way, right?”
-Liza!
-No, not there—the other way.
“Oh, got it.”
It was Do-hyun and his guardians.
After wrapping up the lengthy talk with Gamillion, they’d left the temple and headed straight for the fetid rock forest.
-This way now.
“Okay... But how do you navigate so well in this thick fog? I get lost even with a map.”
-Lizariza!
-It’s a spider, duh. Everything’s crystal clear to it.
“Oh...”
He’d wondered how they found their way so effortlessly in death-choked air where he could barely see a step ahead.
Turns out that was the secret.
As he marveled,
Do-hyun suddenly tilted his head, sensing something off.
“...Don’t spiders have almost no eyesight?”
-Liza!? Liza!!
-It says it’s had great vision since birth. Claims it can see every pore and flake on its master’s skin.
“Ah... I see.”
Do-hyun shut his mouth at Eliza’s wide-eyed, frantic hopping, as if in disbelief.
He’d decided to protect Eliza’s innocence.
‘Come to think of it, Eliza’s a rare breed.’
She was too fluffy for a spider—more like a cotton ball. Maybe not a spider at all?
And she only had one pair of eyes.
‘Nah, probably not.’
But then again, she spun webs and had spider traits.
-Liza?
“Nah.”
Do-hyun shook his head at Eliza’s curious tilt.
Spider or not, what did it matter?
She was cute and aced her support role either way.
Right now, focus mattered more: reaching the spot marked on the map.
[Worn Secret Map]
‘A path to a hidden field, no less.’
The small secret map in his hand detailed a hidden field in the fetid rock forest.
Brion was thought to have only the fetid rock forest and city fields—yet a hidden one lurked?
‘This’ll cause a storm if it leaks.’
Kept secret for a year and a half, it’d explode.
No need to sell or tip off anyone.
[RCD recording in progress.]
Just uploading Do-hyun’s current footage to NewTube would skyrocket views.
He’d gotten this bombshell info moments ago.
-No matter the plan, if it has the piece of fate, we must stop it.
-But we need proof... This ID plate alone isn’t enough. Something irrefutable.
-It’s been spotted once, so it’ll be cautious now. It’ll bide its time in secret. With the emergency council soon, this is our only shot. Successor, it’ll be too late after.
In his urgency, Gamillion handed over a worn map from his robes.
-I hear you searched the entire fetid rock forest. But you missed this spot.
-This...?
-A place monsters avoid. Death energy pools here, warping vision—a secret haven.
-Few in Brion know it. If it’s elder-rank, it would. It might’ve hidden here... leaving traces for sure.
That was the secret map to the hidden field Do-hyun now held.
-If you encounter it... flee at all costs. You’re not ready to face it alone yet.
Gamillion warned as he gave the map, but Do-hyun’s ears rang only with one thing.
‘Hidden... field?’
That phrase echoed endlessly.
He’d bolted for the fetid rock forest with Zihad and Eliza, not looking back.
And it was the right call.
[Time Remaining: 00:29:21]
‘How’s it already down to 29 minutes?’
He hadn’t even reached the hidden field, yet 20 were gone.
The council started in 29 more—find the field and proof before then.
At least failure didn’t strip his class this time.
Though it was a hollow mercy.
‘Failing the piece means game over, basically.’
Skip the main/class quest? Sure—but failing the main stream was failure period.
Beyond that, Do-hyun couldn’t stomach failing.
He’d find it and succeed, no matter what.
-Liza!
-Master, this way!
In that regard, Eliza’s sharp eyes were top-tier navigation.
Guiding flawlessly in thick fog, warning of obstacles, correcting his missteps instantly.
A cutting-edge guidance system.
And adorable to boot.
“Our Eliza’s the best, as always.”
-Lizariza!
She rubbed her face against his hand, extra pretty today, purring happily as he petted her.
-Eliza... used to do that only for me... Sob. Is this what sending off a daughter feels like?
-Liza??
Zihad muttered bitterly at Eliza, but Do-hyun breezily ignored him.
How long had they traveled under this premium nav’s lead?
-Liza!
-We’re here, master.
They’d finally arrived.
‘25 minutes... Not bad.’
A solid 25-minute trek.
Do-hyun patted Eliza’s head and peered ahead. The fog thinned beyond the trees, revealing the vista.
“Definitely different.”
At a glance, just ordinary rock forest.
Trees here and there, rocks scattered...
The only variance? No monsters.
But Do-hyun saw it.
[Eye of Truth activates.]
The air beside a rock glowed red, like a gate had ripped open.
‘It works here too. Tied to getting the map?’
He’d never ventured this deep before.
Without Eliza, he’d have missed it.
No matter—irrelevant now.
What mattered: entering the hidden field at last.
‘Hidden pieces might lurk.’
Hidden fields brimmed with them.
Even a sudden quest like in the Warriors’ Habitat would be a win. Approaching revealed text.
[Ominous Mist Zone]
[You are the first to discover the hidden field ‘Ominous Mist Zone.’]
[First discovery grants pioneer benefits.]
[EXP gain +20%.]
[Drop rate +20%.]
[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
‘As expected...’
Do-hyun clenched his fist at “first.”
In RPGs, “first” always thrilled.
Maybe he’d snag something fate-piece related here.
Brimming with anticipation and slight tension, Do-hyun stepped through the entrance.
[Entering hidden field ‘Ominous Mist Zone.’]
[Pioneer benefits applied.]
The revealed landscape was far from what he’d expected.