Chapter 28
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Interpreter Yorden
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General Quest: Interpreter Yorden
-Restriction: Users in possession of an old map
-Reward: ?
-Description: Entrust the old and worn map to the interpreter.
The only interpreter in Edenhark capable of deciphering old maps.
He is a vagabond interpreter who travels across Edenhark, deciphering various maps as a veteran.
"Could you interpret this map for me?"
Jeong Hoon approached him and held out the map.
The interpreter, who had been examining the map, turned his head and glanced at Jeong Hoon.
"You want me to interpret a map? Hmm... Looks like you came knowing who I am."
"Yes."
"Hand it over for a moment?"
Upon accepting the quest, Yorden cheerfully cleared the map from his desk and placed the one Jeong Hoon brought on top.
He then stared at it intently for a long time.
He was using the skill 'Interpretation' to decipher the map.
'That map quest is a must-do.'
In the near future, the map's secret would be revealed, allowing many users to obtain its treasure.
However, the reward capped at Epic, though one user who went beyond managed to snag a Unique.
Simply because they were the first to uncover the map's secret.
'This time, it's mine.'
So this time, he would claim the Unique-grade reward.
"Hmm... This is quite the tricky piece. Where'd you get it?"
Yorden frowned and roughly set down his monocle.
The interpretation had failed.
"I got it by sheer luck."
"Is that so? To decipher this, we'll need some materials, it seems."
Yorden pulled out a sheet of yellowed paper and scribbled a list with his quill pen.
The list contained the materials required for map interpretation.
Material List
-Laudon's Horn x1
-Laudon's Blood 100ml
-Laudon's Tongue x1
There were three materials needed for the map interpretation.
And all of them could only be obtained by hunting Laudon.
"Laudon."
Jeong Hoon murmured softly.
Laudon was a mid-tier field boss, a Lv.60 monster.
But what made it tricky wasn't just that.
It was impossible to hunt without undertaking the quest.
Being so elusive, it was a monster designed for the quest's materials, requiring quest completion to even qualify for the hunt.
"Ah, bring these, and you'll be able to take it down."
Yorden pulled a small scroll from his pocket.
Laudon Subjugation Lock Released.
Now he could subjugate Laudon.
"Thank you."
"I have the rest of the materials, so just fetch Laudon's parts for me."
"Yes."
Now it was time to sign up for the subjugation team.
The monster existed for the quest scenario.
Thus, hunting it without joining the subjugation team was impossible.
"I'll give you two days. I'm planning to move on after that."
"Yes."
With the quest in hand, Jeong Hoon left the mansion immediately.
Earth Korea User Management Team.
The staff were watching users' gameplay on their monitors.
The martial artist who had now transferred to a hidden class.
But this footage was a bit boring.
"Why's he digging in the ground like that?"
"Right?"
Hours of repetitive digging.
And this time, it wasn't solothere were two of them.
"That's a low-rank warrior, huh?"
"Is that low-rank warrior a friend?"
All they could see was the user's level and class.
So they couldn't know the exact relationshipguessing was the best they could do.
"Maybe they're tied together by a quest? You get an event quest at level 55."
"Oh, yeah, now that you mention it."
A quest that helped newbies level up a whopping 2 levels.
The low-rank warrior was level 55, so it fit.
After digging, they entered a dungeon and cleared it.
"Jackpot... Even hordes of high-level monsters don't faze him?"
"Whoa..."
Solo hard-carrying the subjugation, then completing the NPC quest.
The reward afterward: an old map.
Why tackle a quest everyone skipped because the reward was trash?
"There must be a reason."
Team Leader Oh Jin-su watched the user's play with a tense expression.
"Heading to a mansion?"
Sure enough, the user went to an old mansion.
A place vagabond NPCs rested, one regular users never visited.
But the user entered, met an NPC, and got a quest.
"The map is a linked quest?"
The staff's eyes widened.
"I didn't know either..."
Oh Jin-su wiped his face with a complicated look.
What the hell was this user?
He'd shocked Origin Village before, and now in Edenhark, he was completing a quest no one touched and chaining it to another?
What would the next quest be?
They couldn't look away.
Laudon commanded over 20 monsters under it.
Thus, specialized NPC subjugation teams existed for Laudon.
"You're signing up for the Laudon subjugation team?"
"Yes."
"Hmm... You sure you'll be okay?"
NPC Info
-Nickname: Asel
-Level: 50
-Class: Subjugation Leader
Asel, who led the subjugation team, couldn't hide his concern.
Laudon was a Lv.60 monster.
Not just high levelits defense was immense, requiring serious firepower to take down.
Yet the applicant before him was half Laudon's level.
He couldn't outright refuse since the guy qualified.
"If it's the level thing, I won't get in the way, so please let me join."
"It's not just that... We're short-handed this time, even more than usual. Can't spare anyone to babysit you."
The biggest issue: the team had only 24 members.
Ideal for Laudon was 30.
But after the recent failed subjugation, six were out injured.
The once-bare beast had geared up, spiking its power.
"It's fine."
"...Don't blame me if it goes south."
"Yes."
Subjugation signup complete.
Schedule: next day, 9 AM.
Starting the old man's quest naturally triggered Laudon's power-up event.
Great reward meant not easy to claim.
'Even knowing the treasure spot, no interpreted map means no treasure. Gotta chain the quests step by step.'
That's why he did the quest despite knowing the location.
The next day.
Jeong Hoon arrived at the gathering spot on time.
Twenty-four subjugation team members were steeling their resolve.
"We'll chop off Laudon's head no matter what!"
"That rotten bastard wrecked my farm!"
"And not just that? It hunted my livestock too!"
Such monsters existed.
Field dwellers with permission to raid villages.
Laudon was one.
The team consisted entirely of Laudon victims.
Especially after the last battle claimed six members.
They had to win this time.
"You really okay?"
Subjugation Leader Asel approached and asked again.
The only outsider joining was Jeong Hoon.
No surpriseJeong Hoon was the only one in Edenhark who'd done the map quest to qualify.
Know about the crazy monster in Edenhark?
-Laudon, mid-boss in the fields, but no high-level can hunt it.
Invincibility judgment is bullshit...
Heard you need a quest from another village to hunt Laudon.
Super annoying...
Anyway, no quest unlock, and even level 200 can't hunt
Damage isn't 1, it's 0 No grinding possible.
Two ways to unlock Laudon subjugation.
One: Get qualification via Korharden NPCs.
Two: Chain quest like Jeong Hoon.
Unpopular now since hidden rewards unknown, but opinion would flip 180 later.
Jeong Hoon held the key.
"I'm fine."
Asel's protests ended at Jeong Hoon's confident tone.
Laudon subjugation began.
"Uwooo! Humans! Get lost!"
If likening to real animals, Laudon resembled a wild boar.
Unlike normal ones, it stood upright on two legs, a 3m-tall giant.
Plus commanding smaller 'Widons,' it was notoriously tough.
"Front! Ready charge formation!"
Widons numbered 18 total.
Subjugation team: 25 including Jeong Hoon.
Average level: 44.
Numbers advantagethey'd overwhelm with manpower.
The plan worked beautifully.
Lv.35 Widons buckled against shield-pushing team members.
"Grab it!"
"Take its leg!"
Axes and clubs battered Widons mercilessly.
"Kweeek!"
Widons squealed.
Then watching Laudon charged in.
"Filthy humans, you won't get away."
Laudon swung its axe at the team.
The pressure made members sweat and tense.
Fail to stop it, and raids would continue.
Had to hunt it.
Then, Jeong Hoon, who'd been watching, leaped forward.
"Wha... Huh?!"
Asel, controlling the team, reached out in shock, but Jeong Hoon was already before Laudon.
"Human? The weakest one first, eh."
Laudon smirked and swung its axe at Jeong Hoon.
'Damn...!'
Asel shut his eyes, sure he was dead.
No one survived that axe to the headit was gruesome.
"Huh?"
But opening them revealed a shocking scene.
'He's... dominating?!'
Jeong Hoon, expected dead, was hunting Laudon.
'Hunt this guy, and it's over.'
Jeong Hoon's target was Laudon, not Widons.
So he waited silently for it to step up.
Overwhelming Widons early would spook Laudon into fleeing to another field, ending the subjugation instantly.
Then it'd be invincible till next team-up.
Laudon scanned the team, deemed them doable, and advanced axe-firstas expected.
Jeong Hoon seized the moment.
'Myeongwang Fist Technique, 1st Dan.'
His weapons couldn't pierce Laudon's armor.
So, end it with Legendary fist art.
Fist struck armor.
The impact stunned Laudon, face twisting in shock.
"You bastard!"
It swung its axe.
Jeong Hoon sidestepped effortlessly, dodging.
Sharp attack, but motions too bigeasy to read.
Martial Artist exclusive skill, 'Unyielding Will' activates.
Acquire skill, 'Divine Step (Rare)'.
Another skill Jeong Hoon needed acquired.
'Perfect.'
Divine Step: a step above normal footwork.
Governed full-body movementnot just feetessential for him.
'Myeongwang Fist Technique, 2nd Dan.'
After 1st, he swiftly unleashed 2nd, pressuring Laudon.
Dodge axe swings with steps, pummel with fist combos for damage.
Myeongwang Fist Technique pierced armor, dealing full damagecheat-level.
"Kwuweeeek!"
Immense pain from each hit made Laudon scream.
Too late.
Jeong Hoon was already at 3rd Dan.
'This ends it.'
Black-qi-cloaked fist slammed Laudon's gut.