Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 177
>Chapter Title: Uncontainable Laughter
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He couldn't contain his laughter at all.
No matter how hard he tried to hold it back, it kept slipping out through the corners of his mouth.
'Perfect. It's flowing so perfectly.'
It was unfolding exactly according to plan—so precisely that he wondered if this was even allowed.
Some comments matched his predictions down to the letter!
He had run countless simulations for this very reason, and now he was reaping the rewards.
Just thinking about the gains from this raid succeeding was overwhelming. This went beyond mere image recovery.
It was a leap forward—not one step, but five.
-Are they seriously stirring up this mess and risking failure?
-Exactly. A first hidden raid boss has to be insanely strong. Are they that confident?
-If they fail spectacularly and get wiped, it'll be hilariousㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ That'd be even funnier. I'd actually love that.
There were plenty of mocking comments predicting failure, but Berje just snorted.
'Fools. Do they think I'd proceed without any preparation?'
Even singers rehearse dozens of times before taking the stage, so of course he'd completed every preparation before the raid.
And those preparations naturally included real combat practice.
No—since it was the first clear, real combat was the only way to practice.
With no known information, they had no choice but to clash directly, learn the patterns and traits, and develop a strategy.
'I attempted it nine times. If we follow the practice run, it'll be enough.'
That's why, even after clearing the Ruidra strategy quest in just three days, he'd needed four more days.
Now, preparations were complete.
With Jerpak's elite Dark Horse squad leading the way, there was no way they'd fail if they stuck to the plan.
It was a title-worthy first hidden raid boss—immensely powerful—but fifteen people practicing trials made it doable.
'Once we crack this, we can connect it straight to that empire thing.'
When that happened, no one would dare ignore Hero Guild or the name Berje again.
They'd truly become a quasi Top 10 Guild.
Imagining that brilliant golden future, Berje gently closed his eyes.
'Yeah, there's no way I'll fail.'
How tough had things been lately?
Nothing had gone right since Kaiser appeared.
But that was all in the past now. This time, no one could block his path.
Not even Kaiser!
"Hmm... Kaiser..."
Berje, steeling his resolve, let out a low groan at the name that suddenly popped into his head.
Truth be told, the biggest variable in this raid party was none other than Kaiser.
He was an Irregular.
An unpredictable existence that always produced bizarre, outlandish results.
Berje had been wary of what strange route he'd take to interfere this time.
That's why he'd thought it might not be bad if Kaiser joined when he opened recruitment to anyone.
Better to have him in the raid party under surveillance and control.
'I heard he didn't join. No one's seen him leave the castle since entering.'
So, was he still inside tackling a quest?
Rumors swirled that it might be the main quest, which was concerning, but right now, it worked in his favor.
The raid party had already departed, and Kaiser was stuck inside the castle.
No way he could interfere even if he wanted to.
But why?
'...What's this nagging feeling?'
He couldn't shake the unease for some reason.
Kaiser being this quiet was unnatural.
Tap, tap.
Berje drummed his fingers on the desk out of habit, then shook his head.
Unnecessary worry.
Logically, interference in this situation made no sense.
"As long as Jerpak manages the raid party well, we're good."
The only realistic variables now were the regular users in the raid party.
And Hero Guild's executives weren't soft enough to fail controlling a bunch of ordinary users.
Berje reviewed the situation objectively once more and smiled.
"Time to prepare for the victory banquet."
Leaning back comfortably in his chair, he pictured steak and wine for dinner that evening.
* * *
Meanwhile, while everyone's attention was fixed on the Ruidra raid party.
Do-hyun, having heard the shocking secret of the Lantern Festival, let out a hollow laugh.
'So that's why it was called a half-hearted festival.'
He finally understood why Luriel had clicked her tongue at the Lantern Festival.
With the Spark of Purification gone, the festival had become a mere formality.
The residents' dark expressions must have been related.
Probably a high likelihood.
'...That's why they said they broke the taboo.'
'Sigh, no wonder disaster struck.'
'Lizaliza.'
Just as they said.
According to Avtaltel's doctrines, humans enduring storms and suffering was preparation for happiness.
It was God's trial to make them stronger.
Forcibly releasing that trial was beyond human authority.
If Brion had known, he would've flipped out long ago.
The sword that cleaved Lrbed's waves might have made its debut in Pratel this time.
"At first, everyone was happy. We gave will to those who'd lost the desire to live, and simply being with loved ones was enough for happiness. Seeing them, I believed I was doing the right thing."
"......"
"Exactly for half a year."
Happy without working, happy just breathing.
Who would bother pushing forward?
As the saying goes, shadows define light.
Once pain vanished, happiness lost its value, and everyone stagnated in place.
Realizing the severity too late, Gilberun and Angela tried to stop the purification ritual.
"But by then, it was too late."
All those negative emotions, wounds, and pains.
Their disappearance awakened one being.
The Nightmare Master and Dream Witch, Ruidra.
Enraged, she awoke from her long slumber, and her rampage turned Pratel into a wasteland.
"Caught off guard by her sudden assault, we—drenched in peace—fell to 'it' in an instant. We couldn't even fight properly, and countless fell into eternal slumber. Angela too... tch."
"Your Majesty..."
"I'm fine. I can't fall yet."
Hyde worried over Gilberun, whose arm trembled from gritted teeth.
Gilberun's face was filled with regret and fury.
"You know it. We can't touch those in eternal slumber recklessly. That was the best we could do."
"...I know. I wish the curse had taken me instead."
"Please don't say that. What good is it if you vanish?"
He was furious that Angela had sacrificed in his place.
But what pained him most was that he couldn't even lay her to rest in peace.
Mishandling those in eternal slumber meant they'd never wake.
Gilberun had no choice but to announce Angela's death, set up barriers for her safety, and twist the paths to her room.
"Without Luriel... I wouldn't have endured."
Luriel and the White Tower Master had helped.
The White Tower Master provided practical protection for Angela, while Luriel offered hope that a Prophet someday would appear.
'So many fell to the eternal slumber curse... That's why the residents looked so grim.'
They all had loved ones in Angela's state.
Announcing it outside meant execution, so they suffered in silence.
That much made sense.
But one thing was utterly baffling.
'Why say only a Prophet can resolve this?'
This was the city right before the empire.
The only one where residents called the lord "King" despite the empire's decrees.
As such, the knights here were on another level from previous cities.
Just the Knight Commander Hyde or Prophet Luriel seemed beyond most users.
'They can't handle it, so they leave it to a mere Prophet?'
NPCs being stronger than Prophets was basic common sense.
Relying on a user for what they couldn't do didn't add up.
Some Prophet-only restriction?
The answer was similar enough.
"It's because of that witch's trait."
Ruidra had two traits: Dream Realm and Nightmare Realm.
Traits creating her own unique spaces to wield powers freely.
The Dream Realm was manageable with limited interference, but the Nightmare Realm was the problem.
Anyone once invited to the Nightmare Realm received the Nightmare Mark.
"Those marked by the Nightmare can't inflict fatal damage on her until death."
"...Unfortunately, I have it too."
Knight Commander Hyde quietly showed the back of his hand.
A screaming skull was tattooed there.
"All us knights have this mark somewhere on our bodies. A vicious mark that only vanishes upon death."
They'd been unprepared when she appeared.
Thus, only immortal users who respawn on death could take her down.
One might wonder why they hadn't commissioned Prophets sooner...
"How could we? Everyone in Avtaltel knows Prophets talk. If word of the taboo spread, Brion and the empire would come from both sides. Could we handle that?"
"...Fair point."
Even Do-hyun's single field boss kill spread like wildfire.
Tell one user about the taboo, and within ten minutes it'd be posted, reaching the empire.
"You're the only one left."
Do-hyun was their last straw.
"It's embarrassing, but we're in no position to request help or slay her ourselves. Please... can you help? On my name as Gilberun, the reward will be certain."
"......"
"I want to wake the sleeping subjects, Angela. Please... help us right our wrong."
Ding-
[Linked secret quest 'Spark of Purification' from Angela has been created.]
[Spark of Purification]
-Rank: Hero+
-Description: The Dream Witch, Ruidra.
Only the Spark of Purification she stole can free Angela and the subjects from the eternal slumber curse.
Steal the Spark of Purification from Ruidra.
-Clear Condition: Spark of Purification (0 / 1)
-Clear Reward: 1,000 Gold, Massive EXP, Special Event Triggered
-Failure Risk: Failure if killed without obtaining Spark of Purification; Affinity with Gilberun may plummet.
-Time Limit: None.
A Hero+ rank quest, not even plain Hero.
But Do-hyun's expression was ambiguous.
'The rewards are too skimpy for the difficulty.'
1,000 Gold for a quest was rare, but no one clears Hero+ for some gold and EXP.
No standout objective rewards. So Do-hyun focused on the final one.
'Something's up with that special event.'
He didn't know what event, but it was surely the key.
Events weren't guaranteed good, of course.
In Delmrock, some event quests backfired spectacularly.
Others granted massive benefits or chained to epic quests.
A gamble quest, but Do-hyun had no reason to refuse.
'I need to wake Angela for the Fragment of Fate anyway.'
Like Gilberun, he wanted her awake.
But first, something to confirm.
"I have conditions."
"...What is it? If it's within my power, I'll grant anything."
Do-hyun chose his words carefully, facing the slightly tense Gilberun.
'I need guaranteed ownership of the necklace.'
Angela wasn't dead—her "relic" confirmed, and it was the incident's root.
Plenty of reason to hand it over, but better secure it.
"Two things."
"What are they?"
And Do-hyun didn't want the broken necklace—he wanted the intact Fragment of Fate.
With a very firm expression, Do-hyun said.
"I need the necklace and Lady Angela."
"......?"
A brief silence followed.
"...What?"
"Ah."
Do-hyun flinched amid the suddenly chilly atmosphere, watching Gilberun's twitching eyebrow.
Something had come out wrong.