Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 129
>Chapter Title: The Red Ghost
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Clack-clack- clack-clack-
They descended from the sky in chariots riding the moonlight, just as before.
But something about their appearance was different.
More vivid, perhaps? Or more chilling?
Every single one of the Sargis lawless ones had grown by at least 20% in size, and a fierce blue aura swirled menacingly around their bodies.
'Why do these bastards keep getting bigger every time I see them?'
They seemed to grow a little each day—maybe it was the full moon's energy making them swell.
Do-hyun simply hunkered down and observed them.
The reason he could watch so calmly was simple.
As long as he didn't mess with them, they wouldn't attack—in fact, they didn't even register his presence at all.
Through his observations, he learned one thing: they were searching for something.
[Find…… trace……. Must…… offer…… to Him…….]
[……trace…… that man…… here…….]
Every full moon night, they appeared, muttering incomprehensible words as they scoured the forest before vanishing.
It was a faint mumble, barely audible unless you listened closely, but it was unmistakable.
'Looking at that, it feels like there's something there…….'
It had been a year and a half since God Ose launched.
For a year and a half, they showed up every full moon night, searching for something?
It was too suspicious to dismiss as just an event.
-Aren't the Sargis lawless ones weird?
-They keep muttering about finding something, traces—feels like a hidden piece.
Of course, players weren't going to ignore it.
Especially Koreans, the gaming nation, whose determination was unmatched.
True to their nature of going crazy over hidden pieces, they combed through every inch.
But the results were futile.
-No way, fXck. Nothing?
-Top 10 Guilds got involved, and still nothing. What the hell are they looking for?
-Wow, insane…… Even Bariyon couldn't find it?
Not just Koreans—even the Top 10 Guilds and Adventure King Bariyon himself stepped up, but no hidden piece.
Well, they had found something a bit off.
-……Ballpoint pen? Paper?
-Why the hell is this wandering around the forest?
-Breaking news: Babylon Guild decoded the paper and checked—nothing. Total legend;;
But it was just meaningless junk.
No way outlaws were scouring for something as trivial as a ballpoint pen or paper.
Bariyon had a hunch there was something to it, but in the end, nothing turned up.
Players finally concluded:
-Just a concept like Raven Eliza.
-Or buildup for future content.
Either a gimmick or foreshadowing for an upcoming event.
That's how God Ose players now treated the lawless ones as quirky scenery.
Do-hyun knew that, but he couldn't stop observing them.
'What if what they're searching for is a fragment of fate?'
Maybe it aligned with his own goal.
He was the only one in God Ose pursuing the main quest right now.
That explained the lawless ones' odd behavior and why no hidden piece had been found.
So he invested three days—hunting while at it—but……
'Damn.'
He gleaned no useful info from them.
Of course, it made sense.
The fragment of fate was probably inside the castle.
And they seemed to be hunting for some unknown trace—and one man.
The Top 10 Guilds and explorers thought that man was the 'keyword' and searched, but found zilch.
'As expected, priority is finding a way to meet the lord.'
Whatever it took, he needed to get inside the castle.
But how?
Do-hyun hadn't just hunted for three days.
He observed the lawless ones, brainstormed ways into the castle, even searched the forest for hidden stuff.
He even put off card grinding to spend those three days, yet no way to meet the lord.
-Master, I'm back!
-Hm! Excellent.
-Kehm!
While Zihard handled the lycanthropes he'd lured, Do-hyun pondered deeply.
'ing NPCs is pointless…… Maybe the lawless ones are the hint?'
If NPCs were the key, someone would've met the lord by now.
No, they'd tried every method except the lawless ones.
That left only them as the untried angle.
Kyaaang! Kyaang!
-----!
With the fuse on the riverside exploding in effects and the lycanthropes' pitiful screams as BGM, Do-hyun continued thinking.
No matter how he turned it, one answer fit.
'What if the man the lawless ones are searching for is the lord?'
That explained why the lord never showed outside the walls.
The lawless ones' presence was overwhelming.
Even if city NPCs outleveled players, after Arthur's slaughter, fearing them was natural.
'So…… let's sum it up.'
For some reason, the lord pissed off the lawless ones, and now they're hunting him.
The reason? Given their "touch and die" nature, probably the lord accidentally poked one and fled.
Terrified, he hid.
'Perfect.'
It was a perfect hypothesis, if he said so himself.
If they sought the lord, it explained why players never found "the man" they hunted.
Like puzzle pieces clicking, Do-hyun hurled the riverside.
Thuk- Kyaaang!
[Lycanthrope defeated.]
-Clean trajectory…… Your mastery of all weapons is always impressive.
-Rizariza!
After finishing the last lycanthrope, Do-hyun turned, and Zihard eagerly asked:
-Master, lure more?
"No, it's fine."
-Huh? Why? Didn't you say to wipe them all out as EXP fodder and feed you the nutrients?
"……I didn't say that much."
The mood cracked for a second, but Do-hyun quickly turned serious.
His eyes fixed on the intensified lawless ones—too busy scouring the forest to notice him.
'Maybe try it once?'
He'd grown strong enough, and no one was around.
If his guess was right, catching one and saying he wanted to meet the lord might work.
The problem? They might gang up……
'No way they're stronger than the Destroyer.'
That robed one looked dicey, but snag one quick and bail.
Worst case, Karuk's essence ring option would cover one crisis.
Then backstab and flee to the city—what could they do?
'Alright, let's try.'
No lord, no graduation. Couldn't abandon the main quest.
Steeling himself, Do-hyun reshaped Cheonbyeon.
[Cheonbyeon transforms into 'Radiant Taksenel's Blue Sword.']
[Swordsmanship proficiency LV16 applied.]
[First S-rank effect: 18% additional damage on first hit.]
[Striking effect: Physical attack power +40.]
[Apply Darkness Cloak to Cheonbyeon.]
'First strike wins!'
Do-hyun poured max power into the opener, creeping behind a lawless one to swing—when:
-You stupid bastard……!! Hup!
"Huh?"
A sudden shout of shock from behind.
Startled, Do-hyun halted and turned to see Charlie and Zihard staring blankly.
"……Charlie?"
-Not me, liege.
"Of course not? Then……."
-W-Why look at me? Not me either! I'm innocent!
"Then who? Can't be Eliza."
At Do-hyun's baffled words, Eliza in Zihard's robe pocket nodded: Rizariza!
Perfect alibi for the Eliza who could only say "riza."
"Yeah, Eliza. I trust you."
-Riza!
-No, seriously not me?
"So, a ghost?"
A ghost in VR? Absurd tale no six-year-old would buy.
As Do-hyun chuckled dryly:
-Huh?
A puzzled male voice from somewhere.
Not Zihard facing him. Too heavy for Charlie, impossible for Eliza.
"……."
-…….
Do-hyun and Zihard shivered slightly.
The once-beautiful moonlight felt eerie now. Even the trees and bushes seemed creepy.
Like midnight by a graveyard—chilling.
-D-Don't joke, master.
-……This is too much, liege.
-Ri, riza…….
Even Charlie cleared his throat awkwardly, but of course, it wasn't Do-hyun.
As terrified Zihard and Eliza clung eyes teary, the voice returned.
-What? You guys hear me?
-Hiiik!
-Rizariza! Riza!!!
-Who goes there!
Charlie drew his sword to guard Do-hyun, while Zihard flailed in panic.
……A corpse-and-curse handler acting like this?
"……Show yourself."
Not the time—Do-hyun gripped Cheonbyeon, glaring where the voice came from.
A man slinked out from the bushes.
-Wow, finally someone who sees me. Nice to meet ya.
"……Huh?"
……Man? Really?
The figure was red all over, translucent.
Instinctively looking down: no legs, floating midair.
-M-Master, why stare down like that? Scary.
-Ri, riza……!
At their fuss, Do-hyun asked oddly:
"……You guys can't see that?"
-Kyeaak! Master sees a real ghost! Eek!
-……Liege, this lowly sword sees nothing.
The two freaked out completely.
Even Charlie flinched and shook his head.
Invisible to them, but a legless red man only he saw?
"Holy……."
A real ghost appeared.
* * *
Long story short: Do-hyun did see a ghost.
[Eye of Truth activates.]
-But those rotten lawless ones you see fine, and no one sees me? So frustrating, ugh! Feels like 10-year heartburn washing away. So here I am? Once, I was so fed up I painstakingly drew a map? You listening?
"……I see."
'Master, that guy's too chatty.'
'Rizariza…….'
But not some eldritch horror from ghost stories.
Quite the opposite.
This man was a system fixture, deliberately hidden by the devs.
[Encountered hidden NPC 'Jin Ruddel.']
[Recorded in Book of Adventures.]
The moment he discovered Sargis's first hidden piece.