Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 231
>Chapter Title: [Why Do We Absolutely Need a Hero Chosen by the Lion's Remembrance?]
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Hesitantly asking out of faint hope, Do-hyun received an answer from the Lion King's spirit as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
[Because you need a hero to form the core, of course.]
"The core?"
[The Forgotten Tomb reenacts the countless catastrophes your old friend endured. Forming a core at the center slows the reenactment rate.]
The effect didn't end there.
[After a certain time, it reveals the position of the slumbering king. If that happens, you can rescue him before the reenactment rate reaches 100 percent.]
"...And if we find him after it hits 100 percent?"
[...It'll be too late. He'll already be consumed by the memories, reduced to the final form I remember. Even so, it's a corpse, so he won't wield even half his prime strength... but that'll still be threat enough.]
"What if, just hypothetically, there's no core?"
In that instant, the Lion King's spirit's gaze shifted.
[...No hero?]
When Do-hyun couldn't respond, the Lion King's spirit nodded.
Then, as if something was off, it stroked its chin.
[Hm. Even so, I don't see why you're worried. The tomb has opened, so a hero chosen by the remembrance should appear soon enough.]
"Th-that's just a hypothetical."
[As long as the stele sealing the remembrance wasn't shattered outright, it shouldn't be an issue. No need to fret.]
"......"
Do-hyun fell silent, at a loss for words.
He couldn't exactly say he'd smashed that stele to pieces. He racked his brain for an excuse, but nothing came.
Fortunately, showing no real suspicion, the Lion King's spirit obligingly cleared up the mystery.
[Highly unlikely, but if there's no core... you'll have to fight the fully restored king. Finding his position while clearing those catastrophes in the shortened time would be near impossible.]
In other words, the difficulty would skyrocket several times over.
A World Quest was one any user on the main continent could join simply by being there.
Given it accommodated massive numbers, the base difficulty was already high—not welcome news.
Naturally, NPC aid came to mind first, but...
[Ah, I forgot to mention. The Forgotten Tomb is forbidden to the residents who forgot their saving king. Only apostles may enter. So you must rescue him before he's fully consumed. Remember that.]
'......'
Do-hyun nodded at the perfectly timed line in the sand.
He hadn't expected much anyway.
One of the two prior World Quests had gone without NPC help, so he figured this one might too.
And truthfully, he didn't strictly need their help.
[Objectively, the odds of failing the World Quest outright are low.]
Current player levels weren't low by any means.
Ten billion players, and the game was nearing its two-year mark since launch.
Plenty qualified as veterans.
Especially if the Top 10 Guilds pooled their strength—they could absolutely handle it.
They'd even taken down a legendary named World Boss across three Top 10 Guilds in the last one.
'Then what about me? What do I stand to gain?'
No matter how strong Do-hyun was, he was only level 79.
He could confidently beat someone like Berze without God's Tear now.
But that just made him stronger than 100th-Guild masters.
Against Top 10 Guild masters? He fell laughably short.
Could he really beat a Forgotten King near his prime strength?
[...A single rotting corpse would be tough enough as is.]
He'd opened this World Quest with great effort, but if he walked away empty-handed...
No way he'd let that stand.
He'd regret it forever.
['Should've messaged that lingering spirit at least.']
He'd just been following the main quest.
Who knew the Hero Guild's forked route would be key to the World Quest?
[It's ridiculous now that I think about it. Kashyar's successor means 'don't clear the World Quest' or what?]
Feeling unjustly wronged, Do-hyun grumbled, but it was still his fault for forcing open something meant for three years later.
And doing it at level 73 instead of max level? His choice.
Do-hyun covered his face with both hands.
['Gave the duck to the dog, basically.']
He pondered long and hard, but no answers emerged.
-Lizali...
Watching Eliza pat his index finger, Do-hyun chuckled softly and decided to shake it off.
He frankly admitted he wasn't ready to shine in the World Quest itself.
[Still, the opener gets ranking bonuses. And first-entry rights.]
Regrettable, but he'd settle for that.
Or so he thought.
[Ah, right—this method slipped my mind. It's so improbable I only just recalled it...]
Until the Lion King's spirit spoke up.
[When the Forgotten Tomb's reenactment rate hits a certain threshold, something appears in a specific location.]
"...What's that?"
[The king's conviction that overcame those catastrophes back then. Crystallized into form.]
It would reveal the Forgotten King's position, or so the Lion King began to say before hastily adding,
[A guardian protects the Crystal of Conviction. It's formidable in force alone, but its unique traits make it exceedingly hard to face.]
"...Guardian."
[Rumor has it the guardian carries a treasure infused with its master's essence. That demonic sword from the past? It was a treasure held by a guardian too.]
Do-hyun's ears perked up.
A treasure? Music to them.
['Demonic sword? Looks badass just hearing it.']
In any game, "demonic sword" guaranteed top-tier performance.
It might not be a sword this time, but the word hooked him regardless.
Above all, users who'd claimed the Lion King's treasures were legends in their own right. A treasure from the even stronger Forgotten King? Ironclad appeal.
['The White Lion's Saga Sword proves it.']
Seeing Do-hyun grin, the Lion King's spirit chuckled.
[I can read your mind. Pity for you, but it's an impossible dream.]
He half-expected no remembrance-chosen hero again, but thankfully not.
Just... trickier in its own way.
[Even I, his old friend, can scarcely guess what conviction forms the crystal. Finding it amid reenacted catastrophes? Might as well search for a needle in a desert.]
"......"
[Even famed legendary explorers would fail. Touch the crystal, and a mighty guardian appears. It can only be faced solo. All told, impossible.]
The Lion King's spirit chuckled and added one more line.
[Well... who knows. If you have the skill to uncover the hidden and the raw power to earn the guardian's recognition, maybe.]
But it soon shook its head.
[Foolish talk. No such person exists. Let's cut the nonsense...]
With that, it reached out, cracking the air.
Like the portal from town to field, but cruder, rougher.
[The tower accepts the Lion King's spirit's will.]
[Portal to the World Quest Dungeon, 'Forgotten Tomb,' has opened.]
[Enter within the time limit.]
[Once entry is confirmed, entrances will open across the Empire and main continent cities.]
[Linked Quest: 'Rescue the Forgotten King' has occurred.]
[Rescue the Forgotten King]
-Rank: World Quest
-Description: Soothe and rescue the soul of the Forgotten King slumbering in the Forgotten Tomb.
Any method works; clear when he's deemed rescued. Rewards scale with contribution upon World Quest completion.
-Success: Tiered special rewards for ranks 1-100; S-D rewards based on contribution for 101+.
-Failure: The Forgotten Tomb's catastrophes may reenact on the main continent.
['Oh, didn't expect direct entry from here.']
Do-hyun let out a small gasp of admiration, and the Lion King's spirit replied proudly.
[Enter whenever you're ready. It lasts one hour—mind that.]
A grin spread across Do-hyun's face.
First entry was nice, but not what filled his mind now.
['Crystal of Conviction and guardian, huh...']
That guardian's treasure he'd just heard about.
Claiming it meant massive rewards and huge contribution.
For Do-hyun, who'd settled for mere participation, it stirred greed.
Sure, it threatened "harder than a needle in a haystack," but that didn't faze him.
[Eye of Truth]
['I trust you, Eye of Truth.']
The never-failing cheat trait would deliver again.
He itched to enter now, but first...
['One hour, right?']
Ten minutes would do.
Whirling around, he grinned at the treasures visible beyond the door.
['Alright, time to pick my reward.']
Time to claim the one he'd been saving.
* * *
Hayden Citadel, before the stele.
The place buzzed with crowds.
Thousands, easily.
No—counting those queued far back, it was tens of thousands.
Unheard of for the Knight Citadel, usually dead quiet, but today no one questioned it.
"Whoa, it's really black. Wild."
"How's this real? Insane."
"How does someone just months in pull this? What the hell's he been doing?"
"You've seen his track record. Not human."
"So, how long's it been black? Over an hour?"
All because the second-ever hidden stage was underway.
Even mighty Top 10 Guilds and the Sword Emperor had never seen this unique black glow from the stele.
Kaiser's doing? Attention magnet.
"Move it."
"Guy's shoving hard. Wanna shove back?"
[...Do that, and your head flies first. See the instructor's glare?]
"Ahem. Good me holds back."
Amid the throng, bare minimum order held thanks to the hawk-eyed Hayden Knight Order vice-commander.
Avir's merit, no exaggeration.
['Surpassing the Knight Commander...']
Good or bad, clearing three early passes in 30 minutes proved skill beyond doubt.
Avir couldn't believe it.
The Sword Emperor was a monster, fine—but that apostle earlier? That strong?
['To underestimate a knight of such talent... I'm ashamed.']
Avir flushed.
He'd thought his knightly eye keen, but it was wasted effort.
If he could, he'd grab his earlier self by the collar and stop him.
Embarrassment aside, he was curious.
['That unknown black trial—no one's experienced it.']
What would emerge? What treasures?
That curiosity glued him here, canceling training and schedules to manage apostles.
A sharp gasp from behind—then!
Flash-!
No need to wonder why.
The stele's ominous black glow bleached white, exploding in light with a massive lion silhouette.
Gasps echoed everywhere.
A colossal white lion, white light swirling around it.
Like a northern white lion braving a blizzard, eyes fierce.
A radiant effect never seen in any Lion King trial.
Staring, mesmerized—
Ding-
"Ah."
A cheerful alert chimed for all, drawing an exclamation.
Instinctively, they checked the message.
And,
"Fuck, what?"
"Holy shit. What the hell!?"
"Insane...!"
Curses erupted from every direction.