Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 157
>Chapter Title: Pratel's Graduation Quest
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>‘Fulfilling the residents’ lost dreams is the quest, after all.’
The Fourth Trial. Pratel’s graduation quest.
Its content was all about fulfilling the residents’ lost dreams.
It was only natural that top-rankers, for whom combat was everything, were struggling.
Had they ever fulfilled someone else’s dream in their lives?
‘The Adventure King Barion is specialized in this kind of thing.’
That guy would do anything to fill his Book of Adventures.
Having played like that his whole life, fulfilling residents’ dreams must have been a piece of cake for him.
It was also the event that solidified his prestige as the Adventure King.
‘I’m not confident this time either.’
Do-hyun wasn’t particularly eloquent, nor did he pour effort into building relationships with NPCs like Barion.
It was a shame, but there was no need to force himself into a field he wasn’t good at.
From what Do-hyun knew, Pratel’s graduation reward wasn’t that great anyway, and there was something more important.
[Main Quest ‘The Fourth Fragment of Fate (1)’ has occurred.]
[The Fourth Fragment of Fate (1)]
-Rank: Main Quest, Class Quest
-Description: Dream City Pratel. The fourth fragment of fate slumbers there. Obtain a clue to the fragment of fate.
-Quest Success: Links to linked quest ‘The Fourth Fragment (2)’.
-Quest Failure: Failure to obtain the fourth fragment of fate.
-Time Limit: None.
The fourth fragment of fate in Pratel.
He had to obtain it.
-Gonna have to go fragment hunting again, Master?
-Lizariza.
“No.”
Do-hyun shook his head.
“I have a likely spot in mind.”
-As expected of my lord. To figure it out right upon entering the city— this lowly sword can only bow in admiration at your lord’s keen insight.
-……That guy’s not right in the head either.
-Lizariza…….
Jihard clicked his tongue at Charlie, the ever-consistent reaction bot, and asked again.
-So, where is it?
Do-hyun didn’t answer. Instead, he just nodded toward the front.
There stood a massive castle.
-A castle……? The king has it?
“Not certain, but the odds are high.”
It was something he’d learned from experience.
Fragments of fate were main quest items.
They weren’t easy to obtain, naturally hidden in places hard for most to reach.
And in Pratel, that place was obvious.
‘The king.’
Pratel’s lord and king, Gilberun.
His castle was the prime candidate.
-Hmm…… Yeah, now that you mention it, they’ve all been in places like that.
“Right?”
-Liza!
Unlike Sargis, Pratel allowed entry to the castle.
Gilberun was known as the greatest wise king in history. As such, he didn’t coldly turn away apostles or residents seeking entry.
If you wanted to meet the king, you just needed to make an appointment in advance.
There was only one condition.
“Sorry, but the apostle doesn’t seem qualified enough. Your training as an apostle appears insufficient.”
“Pardon?”
“Idiot, it’s about the level. They’re saying hit the level cap and come back.”
“Ah.”
Just like in any RPG, you needed to reach level 57 to enter the king’s castle.
It was a rule made because too many apostles requested meetings.
There had been questions about how to measure it, but no worries there.
The White Tower of the Empire, famous for its magic products.
They used a measurement orb crafted by the tower lord himself, so no errors.
“No, I’m level 57. I’m qualified, right?”
But troublemakers were everywhere.
-……Apologies, but this measurement orb was personally made by His Excellency the White Tower Lord of the Empire. There can be no significant margin of error.
“Ah, no! I’m telling you I’m level 57! You saying I’m lying!?
“You damn bald bastard. You’re embarrassing us. Come on, hurry up. Can’t you see they’re calling the guards? Sorry! Sorry!”
He nearly got dragged off for mouthing off to the guards, but his friend barely pulled him away. Onlookers clicked their tongues.
“There’s always those kinds of jerks.”
“Ugh, reminds me of my part-time job days. Makes my blood boil. Why do they act like that?”
“Just testing the waters.”
“True…… Getting into the castle means sweet quests. They’re probably desperate to rush in.”
“But if they get caught, it’s a week in the slammer. Heh.”
Do-hyun turned away, having overheard their talk.
-Just going?
“Yeah. Can’t end up in jail. No time to waste.”
-This lowly sword thinks the same, my lord.
-Lizariza.
It was something you could enter just by hitting the level cap anyway—no need to push it.
And it wasn’t certain it was in the castle.
It might be elsewhere, so he decided not to rush.
As those players said, he had plenty of time in Pratel.
Might as well hunt leisurely.
‘Test out the new skill I picked and that guy’s performance too.’
Do-hyun grinned and headed straight to the field without hesitation.
* * *
Though he’d spoken boldly, Do-hyun didn’t head to the field right away.
Just in case, he asked residents about the fragment of fate first.
‘Yeah, no way they’d know.’
No gains, as expected.
It was predictable.
If a mere city NPC knew, it wouldn’t be a main quest item.
He just wanted to be thorough to avoid regrets.
Still, it wasn’t zero gains.
[Troll Pack Cleanup]
-Rank: Rare
-Description: Trolls have been forming packs in the Bluewood Forest lately, causing trouble. Guard ‘Jepak’ wants you to thin them out.
-Troll packs in Bluewood Forest (0 / 2)
-Clear Reward: 90 gold, a set amount of EXP, Jepak’s Necklace
-Failure Risk: May incur the trolls’ wrath.
-Time Limit: 60 hours
[High-Quality Troll Leather]
-Rank: Common+
-Description: Tailor ‘Beni’ in Pratel is swamped with custom orders and needs a large quantity of high-quality troll leather.
Bring her high-quality troll leather.
-High-Quality Troll Leather (0 / 40)
-Clear Reward: 70 gold, a set amount of EXP, High-Quality Troll Leather Tunic
-Failure Risk: Beni’s favorability may decrease.
-Mutant Troll]
-Rank: Rare
-Description: Lately, with troll packs surging, mutant trolls have been appearing.
Speculated to have entered the Dream Forest and fallen under the dream curse—needs more investigation.
Hunt the powerful mutant troll prowling Bluewood Forest and bring back its blood.
-Mutant Troll Blood (0 / 1)
-Clear Reward: 100 gold, a set amount of EXP, Intermediate Skill Draw Ticket
-Failure Risk: Hunter ‘Bezel’ may be disappointed in you.
-Time Limit: 80 hours
He’d picked up a few quests to aid quick growth.
Two rare-rank quests, no less. One even gave an intermediate skill draw ticket like sweet rain.
Having done all he could, Do-hyun felt at ease and looked around.
True to its name Bluewood Forest, the area was filled with blue-tinged trees.
The hunting ground had a dreamy, beautiful vibe almost everywhere, but players didn’t seem to appreciate it.
“Hey, hey! Form up quick!”
“If the trolls surround us, we’re done—don’t let them!”
“Tanks, bind at least three! No choice! Push a bit harder!”
“Uwaaak! Save the mage!”
“Damn it, why couldn’t you dodge that! Argh!”
“No, the color’s too similar—I didn’t realize it was a troll…….”
Their senses were overwhelmed by trolls using the blue trees for camouflage ambushes.
Already tough with high HP and fast regen, now they hunted in packs and ambushed?
“This game is such bullshit!”
“Never thought I’d be praising monsters one day.”
It was a pattern that naturally drew exclamations of praise.
Still, players who’d made it to Pratel were veterans who’d weathered all sorts of trials.
Shocking at first, but after a few times, it was manageable.
Unlike low levels, their base specs were on another level.
“Nice!”
“Left side, troll hiding. Watch out.”
“Roger. Oh, right side jumping. Careful!”
While they were busy fighting frantically.
Do-hyun appeared in the center, and for a moment, it went quiet. Then they whispered, glancing around.
-……It’s Kaiser.
“Kaiser out hunting too?”
“Just hit 49, so yeah.”
“No, but level 49 soloing trolls? Possible?”
“He took down the Lawless One. What can’t he do? And those guardians look stronger than most players one-on-one.”
-……Fair point. Probably using undead and Charlie as tanks.
Their guesses were reasonable.
That’s how Do-hyun would have hunted normally.
But not this time.
“Everyone, fall back for a bit.”
-Why? No need to herd monsters?
“Yeah. Something to check.”
The new skill he’d acquired.
To test its true worth, one-versus-many was ideal.
Ta-at!
……Kruk?
Charging in without warming up, the trolls blended with the trees startled back.
Surprised by the sudden rush.
But seeing it was just one human male, they roared and charged right back.
Kreaah!
Kreah!
Six of them, no less.
Worth targeting the densest pack.
“Huh? He’s going solo?”
“Eh? Isn’t that overreaching?”
“Kaiser, so he’s got a plan.”
If another player, they’d call it suicide.
Players paused hunting to watch Do-hyun.
Curious what he’d show.
Whoosh-!
As if smashing expectations, a troll swung its club fiercely.
Made from bluewood stump, it packed serious power—a troll specialty.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Clubs rained from all sides.
Just as they’d graze his head.
[Ice Stream activated.]
-Mana consumed per second; lowers temperature of area air flow.
About 3~4m radius.
Do-hyun’s surroundings froze cold, visibly slowing the clubs.
[Inflicts status ailment ‘Slow’ on enemies in range.]
[Enemies’ attack speed and movement speed reduced.]
Quite the spectacle.
In the slowed world, only Do-hyun moved normally, twisting aside effortlessly—like a movie scene.
“No way! That’s Ice Stream!”
“The one Lepias uses a lot?”
“What even is his class? All-master? Why’s every skill from a different class?”
“Backstab, Ice Stream, parry, darkness cloak…… Head spinning.”
Naturally, players gasped in shock.
It defied common sense.
Just the officially known skill classes—how many were there!
Ignoring them, Do-hyun didn’t stop.
Kr, kreaa-
Krea……!
Trolls flailing in panic from slowed bodies.
Do-hyun casually dodged amid them.
Their already slow attacks slowed further over time.
Now, they couldn’t flee even if they wanted.
Krea…….
They sensed something wrong, but too late.
[‘Slow’ inflicted on same target for extended time.]
[Prolonged Ice Stream exposure inflicts status ailment ‘Frostbite.’]
Starting from the arm nearest Do-hyun, they froze solid.
Arms fully numb, blue skin turning purple—Do-hyun swung lightly.
But the power was anything but light.
[Attack on frozen enemy deals bonus damage.]
[Attack on frozen enemy deals bonus damage.]
[Troll of Bluewood Forest defeated.]
A few sword swings, and they dropped pathetically easy.
Same for the rest.
“My god…….”
So leisurely.
Players watching thought as Do-hyun dispatched six trolls in a blink.
‘Trolls die to a few swings?’
‘And backstabs too. Slow them and follow up…… Chills.’
‘Insane…… Can’t even run now.’
Varied thoughts, same conclusion.
-……Don’t touch him, ever.
‘Yeah…….’
‘No, don’t even look. He’ll rip you apart if annoyed.’
‘Y-yeah…… Didn’t see. Nothing to see.’
Never mess with Kaiser.
Rumors about Kaiser swelled further in that instant.