Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 74
>Chapter Title: Lair Grand Temple
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>Lair Grand Temple.
>The prestigious sanctuary that had produced the greatest high priests and holy knights in history, all devoted to the ancient god of Lair.
>Even that ambitious empire dared not touch Brion—the temple of the gods.
>Though called a temple, it was essentially a major power occupying one seat in Avtartele.
>And true to its name, the interior was no joke.
"Whoa... Master, what is all this? How is it so huge?"
>"Riza..."
The moment Jihad and Eliza stepped inside, they gaped in awe, jaws practically dropping.
>The corridor was overwhelming enough to leave any onlooker breathless.
>It felt like master craftsmen, their faith unshakeable, had poured their souls into every detail.
>Every ornament was a work of art.
>Do-hyun couldn't help but marvel at the sacred aura emanating from walls, ceiling—everything.
*It's incredible.*
He'd heard about it, but seeing it in person doubled the impact.
>It seemed like the more cities he visited in sequence, the richer the spectacles became. No wonder the game had swallowed the world whole.
"This is the place. Please, have your conversation."
>"The High Priest awaits inside."
After a few minutes of wandering and sightseeing,
>they reached an entrance where the priests bowed and stepped back.
>Unlike the others, this door was far more ornate.
Creak.
Pushing it open without hesitation, eyes locked on.
>As expected from the holy city— the interior radiated such intense divinity it was palpable, the decor utterly sanctified.
>But before he could even soak it in, a heavy wave of killing intent slammed down.
"Are you the one who brought 'it'?"
The source of the icy voice was a young knight.
>A blond man standing behind an elderly figure with a long white chin beard—likely the High Priest—exuding an extraordinary presence.
>His flat tone seemed lukewarm only because his expression was so chilling.
>But what truly caught Do-hyun's eye was something else.
[SIR JERDDIK]
*...Red?*
The nameplate hovering over the blond man's head.
>It was red.
*An NPC with a color? Because he's a knight?*
Merchants, alchemists, and other production-class NPCs or civilians didn't have colored nameplates.
>A colored nameplate indicated combat prowess.
>Come to think of it, this was his first proper encounter with a knight since starting over.
*Red, huh...*
The deeper the red, the greater the level or power gap. Lighter meant neutral gray.
>That shade meant the knight was leagues above Do-hyun in level.
*...Master.*
>*Riza...*
True to his Strong vs Weak, Weak vs Strong guardian trait, Jihad sensed the pressure first and signaled cautiously.
>Seeing the same reaction as with Gamillion, Do-hyun nodded.
*Guess knights really are that strong.*
When debating God Ose's strongest, most named the Top 10 Guilds like Annihilation or comparable players.
>But who was truly the strongest?
>NPCs.
Unlike users with just a year and a half under their belts, Avtartele's residents had built power over ages.
>Of course they were strong. They had to be.
*If NPCs were weaker than users, balance would collapse.*
Users were immortals, after all.
>If they rampaged in a city unchecked, chaos would ensue without power to rein them in.
>God Ose would be a different game entirely.
>Thus, knights, mages, and private guards in cities held power surpassing local users.
>Among them, the Seven Strongest were said to be beyond user reach.
*They even take down dragons...*
They were like sword masters from fantasy novels or the top ten experts from wuxia tales.
>No need to go that far—even regular knights wielded immense might.
>Tutorials nerfed them hard, sure.
>But a typical knight could carve through orcs like butter, and famed knight commanders could solo raid bosses alone.
*Master...*
>*Yeah.*
Do-hyun's smile faded.
>A habit when he focused.
>He didn't know Brion knights' exact strength, but with his own specs, he had no intention of folding easily.
As the mood grew tense,
>"Enough."
A heavy voice cut in.
>It came from a middle-aged man leaning against the wall farther back than the blond knight.
>His nameplate read 'TAXINEL'—also red.
"They are guests. Show some manners."
>"...My apologies."
The blond knight's killing intent vanished like a lie.
>Replaced by regret.
"...It wasn't intentional. Please forgive me."
His tone was a bit curt, but genuine apology laced it.
>Do-hyun frowned, and the old man seated before him smiled kindly, apologizing on his behalf.
"Hoho, forgive us. Sir Jerddik meant no harm. What you brought is simply... sensitive to him. Please understand."
>"Yes."
Whatever it was, not intentional—Do-hyun sat and nodded agreeably.
>Quest progression came first.
Luckily, they wanted the same, diving straight to business.
"We don't know who you are or what you do. Only that you're an outsider."
>"..."
>"But that doesn't matter. What counts is that you brought this."
He pulled a handkerchief from his robe and lifted 'it' from a small box.
>A black, solidified liquid.
>Even wrapped, it oozed an unsettling wrongness.
"Do you know what this is?"
>"...No."
Do-hyun answered honestly.
>Faking knowledge helped with NPC quests, but only to a point.
>Pretending expertise on something clueless like this was a loss.
Fortunately, the High Priest hadn't expected an answer and continued unfazed.
"Hoho, I see. It's classified, so I can't say much, but eradicating this is our temple's destiny."
>"Ah, yes."
>"Where did you find it?"
The secrecy irked a bit, but Do-hyun brushed it off.
>He'd seen plenty of secretive quests in Delock.
>Some gave quests without revealing identities—this was tame.
"In the Fetid Rock Forest. It was embedded in a rock."
>"...In a rock?"
>"Yes. Mixed with blood, so hard to spot with the naked eye."
He subtly flexed his find.
>Claiming rarity helped rewards.
But the flex hit harder than expected.
"...You found this, buried in a rock with blood? Are you a cleric?"
>"No."
>"Or using special gear...?"
>"Just passing by, got lucky and saw it."
>"Hah."
High Priest Gildeti let out a genuine laugh of astonishment.
"Not a cleric, no gear, and you found it... No divine power either. Incredible."
>"Any demonic energy...?"
>"Enough. You know the High Priest would sense it."
At Taxinel's firm words, Jerddik stepped back.
>He was right.
>If Gildeti missed demonic energy, no priest or saint could detect it.
>He held absolute authority there.
But that made it harder to believe.
"Don't be too harsh, Sir Taxinel. I get the skepticism. In that vein... are you an explorer?"
>"Not exactly, but I have some talent for it."
>"Hoo, as expected. 'Some'? Modest, hoho."
For some reason, Gildeti seemed convinced.
>His gaze shifted, like appraising a master in the field. As Do-hyun puzzled,
"Even elite priests teaming with famed explorers barely find it after exhaustive searches—and you call it 'some'? Hoh, quite the joke."
>"..."
>"Our priests would despair hearing this."
>"..."
Do-hyun shook off the confusion, piecing it together.
*Wait, so...*
This "Ominous Energy" quest item was actually a rare, ultra-hard clue?
>One needing top divine power and search skills to barely uncover?
*And I nabbed it with one Truth's Eye.*
It clicked.
>Truth's Eye lived up to its name. This insane pre-rebalance trait shone again.
*Thought rare grade meant nothing special...*
Turned out it was a big fish.
>Quest items started rare but ballooned in linked chains.
*At least rare+, maybe heroic?*
Final link likely hit heroic.
>Who knew this casual pickup would hook a monster.
Excitement sparked in Do-hyun's eyes. He eagerly awaited the next words. Gildeti obliged swiftly.
"Perfect timing. We were running low on materials to process it... Could I ask a small favor?"
A cheerful alert chimed.
[Quest 'Ominous Energy' cleared.]
>[Gildeti's favorability rises.]
>[Title 'Max Favorability from the Start?' boosts favorability further.]
>[Linked quest 'Material Search' generated.]
[Material Search]
>-Grade: Rare
>-Description: Lair Grand Temple lacks materials to process the ominous energy. Gather what High Priest Gildeti needs for smooth handling.
>-Concentrated Orc Blood (0/5)
>-10-Year-Old Traphilka Root (0/1)
>-Red Sacred Herb (0/3)
>-Quest Success: Gildeti's favorability rises, Low-Grade Skill Draw Ticket, linked quest 'Processing Phase' generated.
>-Quest Failure: No linked quests.
*Nice, more links.*
Even a low-grade skill draw—honey for a free quest.
>Typical grind quest, though.
Normally annoying, but Do-hyun buzzed with thrill.
*Time to test Truth's Eye on herbs?*
Perfect chance to verify it.
>Main quest needed orcs anyway—best of both worlds.
"Yes, understood. I'll fetch them quick..."
>"...One moment."
Eager to hit the fields, Do-hyun rose—
>But Gildeti's kindly smile vanished, face shifting.
>As if spotting something ominous, his gaze sharpened on Do-hyun, probing like peering inside.
"Why suddenly...?"
>"...You're no ordinary guest? Well, your search skills already prove that... Hah, what a guest."
>"Yes?"
Gildeti straightened, voice grave.
"Top graduate."
>"...Hm?"
>"The gods test apostles. The one who aced Raven's trial, first city's ordeal... We can trust you."
[Title 'Top Graduate' reacts.]
>[Hidden condition met.]
>[Linked quest 'Material Search' morphs to '......']
*...What?*
Stunned by the sudden turn,
>Before Do-hyun could process, Gildeti continued.
"First, its identity—what you brought. Curious?"
>"Ah..."
Do-hyun froze, caught off-guard.
>But his response wasn't needed.
>Gildeti recited like scripted lines.
"Avtartele's most ominous energy, footprint of terror, worst of the worst, underground horror..."
>"..."
>"C called by many names, this is 'that thing's' trace. We call 'it'..."
He paused.
>Jerddik clenched his fist behind—visible. Gildeti exhaled, voice low.
"The Abyss."
>"...!"
Do-hyun's eyes widened at the familiar word.
>The terror that nearly doomed Avtartele—the Abyss—mentioned at last.