Chapter 137
Chapter 137
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 137
>Chapter Title: Two Paths to the Main Quest
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>No matter how much he thought about it, that had to be right.
Once he did, all the questions slotted together perfectly, like pieces of a puzzle.
Do-hyun let out a hollow laugh at his own deduction, which gave even him chills.
‘Hah.’
He’d always thought there were users who just had to poke at the outlaws despite the warnings, the ones who never listened. He hadn’t expected to become one of them.
With that realization, there were now two routes to the main quest in Sargis.
One was discovering this king’s tomb.
The other was taking down an outlaw.
‘There’s no way anyone could’ve cleared it.’
Even if they got lucky and found the king’s tomb, who would try to hunt an outlaw?
Conversely, even if they killed an outlaw, finding this place would be nearly impossible.
‘What form was the original main quest supposed to take?’
Seeing this insane difficulty made him suddenly curious.
Sure, he was progressing as Kashiar’s successor through his class quest, but the main quest that would’ve appeared three years from now probably wasn’t like this.
Maybe the path he was on wasn’t even the simple main quest.
‘Not worth dwelling on now.’
There was no way to know anymore.
[Suddenly looking all serious. Even this is just like Kashiar—that guy for no reason.]
“Ah.”
The Dark King lightly chided Do-hyun, who had grown solemn.
Snapping out of it, Do-hyun replied.
“I think I know who has the other half of the key.”
[Oh...? Figured that out just from hearing the story? Got some special talent?]
“Before coming here, I heard something from a ghost. It’s just a guess, but it’s the outlaws who have...”
Do-hyun summarized the situation.
His tone wasn’t particularly serious as he spoke.
The Dark King was an ancient figure.
Meanwhile, the outlaws had only appeared in Sargis a few years to a decade or so ago at most.
He was just answering politely, figuring the Dark King wouldn’t know anyway.
[Eh? Outlaws? You mean those ghost soldier types?]
...But the response was unexpected.
“You know about the outlaws?”
[Of course. Those ghost bastards have been around for thousands of years. Back in my day, they’d scare kids with ‘The outlaws will take you away if you cry.’ Looking back, they’re weaklings, but man, they terrified me as a kid...]
“Whoa?”
[Hm? Your reaction says your generation doesn’t know much about them? Makes sense... After the Millennium War, almost every race went quiet.]
It seemed the outlaws were even bigger deals than he’d thought.
* * *
About five minutes after the conversation turned to the outlaws.
Having heard the situation from Do-hyun, the Dark King burst into laughter.
[Puhahaha! Robbed by a ghost? The mighty lord of ghosts? Even a stray dog would laugh!]
Shishik—!
[The masters of search, gifted with yin energy, flailing around in the woods. How hilarious! Haha!]
Shik— Shik—!
Arlagini, listening beside him, was chuckling along.
It was a bit flippant for reactions from the Dark King and divine beasts, but Do-hyun didn’t mind.
He understood their feelings perfectly.
‘Even I was floored when I heard it.’
Seeing a ghost was shocking enough, but a brazen thief ghost like that? First time for everything.
Do-hyun had doubted himself while explaining, so the listeners must’ve been stunned.
As he nodded in sympathy, the Dark King reined in his laughter and continued.
[Whew... Been a while since I laughed that hard. It’s probably the Soul Compass that thief ghost stole.]
“The Soul Compass?”
[Those guys are fundamentally from the afterlife. Without it, they can’t navigate the living world. The whole world probably looks fogged over to them.]
The Dark King added one more thing.
[Well, they can see briefly if they touch a living being’s body.]
“Ah.”
So that’s why they go berserk and tear you apart if you touch them.
Makes sense—with victory in sight, their compass stolen, turning them blind. No wonder they flip out at the sight of humans.
[That thief’s got guts. Stealing from those guys without fear... If caught, they’ll rip him limb from limb. Ah, wait—souls, so maybe shred the soul? They’re pros at torture, that’s for sure.]
Shishik....
[Well, thanks to it, the ghosts’ successors showed up first instead. Should be grateful.]
‘...That guy better run far.’
If caught, no way he’d survive intact.
No, it was amazing he’d escaped this long.
Outlaws.
According to the Dark King, they could be summed up in one phrase.
—Relentless pursuit squad that never lets prey escape.
Once they marked a target or item, they hunted it down without fail, and the longer the escape, the crueler the end.
That’s why kids in the distant past feared them...
‘Like “cry and the tiger’ll get you.”’
With their ferocious ghost soldier looks, any kid would tremble.
Perfect for adults scaring children.
It wasn’t just their appearance.
[Outlaws, huh... Didn’t see that coming. This one wouldn’t have been enough. They’re not something you handle with a shed skin...]
Shishik....
—Li, lizar!
‘That strong?’
He was one of the five kings who’d fought gods alongside Kashiar, after all.
Hearing that, the Dark King cut in like it was nonsense.
[Hm? Of course they’re weak by my standards. Die with a flick of the finger.]
“......”
Do-hyun scratched his head, reminded of Kashiar, as the Dark King cleared his throat and continued.
[Still, never underestimate them. They once gripped a whole kingdom in their fist. Their legions are formidable, but their leader especially is overwhelming.]
“......I see.”
[At least they can’t use their full power in the forbidden living world. Small mercy.]
Despite the hiccups, their strength seemed real.
At least stronger than Arlagini’s shed skin.
‘Mountains beyond mountains.’
First the Abyss, then ancient divine beasts.
Now these nation-ruling outlaws...
‘No wonder the success rate was 0% total party kill.’
There was a reason no users had ever succeeded.
[In that sense, you got lucky this time. The thief did his job perfectly, and the successor showed up early to meet me, ahead of the prophecy.]
The Dark King grinned and reached out to Do-hyun.
Tuk.
The moment his index finger lightly touched Do-hyun’s forehead.
[Acquired the Incomplete Poison King’s Constitution.]
[Poison King’s Constitution]
[Grade: Hero+]
[Description: Har, the ancient human called the Dark King and Poison King.
He had a unique constitution close to invincible but weak to poison and mental attacks.
Thus, he endured tens of thousands of deadly poisons, training relentlessly to forge a poison-immune body.
[Impervious : Immune to Hero-grade poisons and below.]
[Saturation : Continuous damage from a single attack over time counts as poison.]
[Not imbued with complete will, so the authority is unfinished.]
Messages appeared, and Do-hyun’s eyes widened.
‘This is basically total poison immunity!’
What was total poison immunity?
Exactly that—immune to all poisons. A cheat constitution even Do-hyun, uninterested in wuxia, knew.
What the Dark King gave was no different.
[It’s half-baked, not full power, but it’ll be useful against those outlaws.]
“......Thank you.”
Not complete, as he said, but still an option worth kowtowing for.
As Do-hyun bowed with a greedy smile before this amazing reward.
Kugugugu—
The dungeon suddenly shook, followed by a cheerful alert.
[Cleared hidden dungeon ‘King’s Tomb.’]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
[The king’s tomb will soon collapse.]
Just like when they entered, the dungeon began collapsing upon clear.
Instinctively looking ahead, he saw the half-faded Dark King.
Their eyes met, and the Dark King smirked.
[Time’s really up now. It was nice meeting you, successor.]
“......”
[And Arlagini, you’ve worked hard too. Rest now.]
Shishik—
Arlagini, chatting with the Jihards underground, nodded in agreement.
Eliza and Jihard suddenly jumped in.
—Then you’re free now, Arlagini!? If you got nowhere to go, come with us!
—Lizariza!
Had they gotten close that fast?
Their energy was sky-high.
Especially Eliza, wiggling her hips in joy.
She really took a liking to Arlagini.
Shishik....
But Arlagini shook his head.
—Li... zar?
Stunned by the firm gesture, Eliza trailed off questioningly.
The Dark King answered for him.
[He’s the tomb’s guardian. Bound to it, so he can’t leave.]
Eliza and Jihard freaked out, flailing in shock.
—Liza...!?
—Wait, so you just die here? You serious right now!? Charlie, you cool with this!?
—Hm! That does seem too cruel.
—What’re you doing, Charlie! Don’t just react—use that silver tongue of yours here!
Dragging Charlie in to argue back.
Like generals before war.
Or blood brothers defending their last comrade from the enemy—their eyes flashed with sincerity toward Jihard and Eliza.
Shishik... Shik...!
Arlagini’s big eyes sparkled even more at the sight.
—Yeah, Arlagini. Trust us! We don’t abandon friends!
—Lizariza! Liza... liza!
—......Huh? Eliza, didn’t you abandon me? Th-that wasn’t my choice...
—Hm! That was low of you. Disappointing. No excuses.
—Lizariza.
—Argh, anyway! Arlagini, come with us. Can’t you let him, Master?
Charlie sulking coldly, Eliza huffing and turning away.
And fidgety Jihard.
In the middle, Jihard, who’d been twerking, finally turned to Do-hyun pleadingly.
“He’s the guardian. Can’t take him out.”
—But... dying like this is too cruel, Master.
“Well, it is...”
Pondering Jihard’s plea, Do-hyun thought.
‘Arlagini... An ancient divine beast guarding a king? I’d love that...’
Of course, no downside to having him.
The problem was his size.
A ridiculous 11 meters long.
System aside, too conspicuous to bring around.
But leaving him to die felt wrong...
[Hm?]
Sadly(?), this dilemma was pointless.
The Dark King tilted his head in confusion, then burst out laughing once he got it.
—Huh...?
—Liza....
The sudden laughter halted even their heated protests.
After laughing heartily, the Dark King wiped his eyes and spoke.