Epilogue: The Mayor's Reckoning
[Main Quest #12 completed.]
[No casualties occurred, so rewards have been maximized.]
[You received 1,000,000 gold.]
[40 stat points added.]
[Experience increased by 550,000.]
[Level increased by 5.]
[5 stat points added.]
[Progress increased.]
[Main Quest #13: Epilogue]
You successfully protected Ifrit from the final monster wave. Return to the city and wrap up the remaining tasks.
Objective: Reach the story's ending.
Reward: Episode completion
*Current progress: 97%
-Whoa.
-Rewards are insane lmao
-Kill a Yeti like that?
-Spirits? Gotta worship 'em.
-Spirits are OP, but that sword is straight broken.
-No way you can move like that?
-Info) That guy's only level 3.
-That guy? You know Black Dragon personally?
-But zero deaths? Total bug right?
-Dwarf hammers go brrr
-Can we even copy this?
-No one's pulled it off in Edlen either.
-Even half-success is a massive W.
[LowSpender donated 100,000 won.]
[Isn't this insane?]
[Yeah donated 300,000 won.]
[Just rewrite the guidebook plz?]
[SwordGod donated 1,000,000 won.]
[That sword tho, jealous af.]
[Spirit donated 5,000,000 won.]
[Congrats!]
[Taesung Corporation donated 4,000,000 won.]
[Yeonhwa Gaming donated 5,000,000 won.]
[Gellod donated 7,000,000 won.]
……
The chat and donation messages poured in relentlessly. The reaction was scorching hot.
"Thanks everyone. But about this strategy..."
"Black Dragon!"
A voice called from behind. Turning around, he saw the three who'd fought alongside him rushing over.
"You okay? That was this close to killing you!"
Jinook Artua checked him over in shock after the life-or-death battle.
Kevin approached the cliff and peered down into the abyss.
"You really took it down. Guess I underestimated you."
Even for an A-rank adventurer with years of experience, it was a shocking feat. Dozens of meters below, the Yeti lay crushed amid splintered trees and bushes.
"Haha! What a flashy kill! What about the corpse?"
Kudran added that leaving it could be risky—strong monster bodies could disrupt the ecosystem.
"Something worth grabbing, so let's head down quick."
"I'll fetch some hands to help!"
Kudran nodded and vanished into the woods.
"What're you doing?"
"I was gonna go..."
Jinook awkwardly lowered his outstretched arm. Probably still hung up on his slaughterhouse rampage.
"Oh, over there!"
People arrived sooner than expected. An unthinkable mix of adventurers, soldiers, and dwarves—who'd clearly finished mopping up the wave and were now sweeping the forest.
"Black Dragon killed that?"
"A rampaging super-Yeti... Horrifying just thinking about it."
The crowd gawked down the cliff in awe. Hanbit turned toward the detour path and said to them,
"Let's head down first."
***
"Damn... You really fought this thing."
"Black Dragon's just a D-rank adventurer? Bullshit."
"He's got that golden bracelet. Can't judge by rank."
At the cliff base, the group stood before the Yeti's corpse. Even dead, it radiated danger—no one approached lightly.
'...No way.'
Spotting something, Hanbit climbed onto its crushed chest. Through the attack's gaping hole peeked the edge of a blue crystal.
Crack—
He pried it free, brushed off the soot, revealing its true form.
[Yeti's Breath]
Rank: 5
Grade: Chronicle
Description: A rare crystal condensing the Yeti's breath from its briny exhalations. Long-accumulated mana has frozen into a new form with biting cold. Use to create a one-time protective zone granting strong cold resistance and HP/mana recovery. The spent breath serves as material for magic tools and equipment refining.
-Huh?
-Yeti drops this?
-Wasn't it just fur and fangs?
-Different Yeti;
-60 level gap from the episode's regular one.
The chat exploded at the unknown loot. Hanbit was just as surprised.
'So it drops here too.'
A crystal unscathed amid the body-ravaging attack. Normally a rare drop from Yetis in entirely different regions. Who'd have thought it'd appear here?
The unexpected twist yielded a fresh reward. Uses sprang to mind immediately.
"Find something?"
Kudran, following close, asked. Hanbit hopped down and showed him the crystal.
"Found this. Any idea what it is?"
"Oh, lemme see!"
Kudran leaned in for a close look, stroking his chin before declaring proudly,
"Haha! No clue! Best show it to His Highness!"
Kudran laughed heartily, emotion-free, then pointed at the corpse.
"This bad boy's got good materials! We'll dismantle every non-vanishing bit!"
Monster corpses yield limited loot—most naturally dissipates. Not game mechanics; even in the real past, it was the same.
Shhh—
As if proving it, parts of the Yeti blackened, crumbling to powder and scattering on the wind.
"We'll whip up a cart first!"
"We'll help."
"Chop those trees over there!"
With Kudran leading, the teamwork kicked off. Dwarves around? Cart done in no time.
'Still watching.'
A gaze from afar. A Holy Nation spy—not from Isis's 8th Bishop faction, but another.
'Can't kill 'em.'
Normally, track and eliminate. But this intel needed to reach the Holy Nation. Its fallout would massively aid Hanbit's plans.
"Alright, time to move!"
As expected, prepping the Yeti corpse went swiftly. Hanbit turned from the woods and headed to Ifrit with the group.
***
"Here they come!"
"He's the one who led the subjugation?"
"Not just leading—he planned every damn step!"
Back in the city, citizens cheered Hanbit's arrival. Seeing Zenon's pleased smile, he'd clearly leaked some Black Dragon hype.
"But those dwarves were nuts too?"
"Saw it? Spewing fire everywhere?"
"They made all those catapults!"
Dwarves were hot topics too. The market-fueled hatred? Vanished without a trace. To the people, dwarves were Ifrit's heroes.
"Ahem. That's us?"
"We pulled our weight this time."
"When we get serious, this is nothing."
Dwarves rubbed their noses bashfully at the vivid praise. Victory's mood wasn't fleeting, though past sins lingered.
"Pathetic."
Firnen de Artua scoffed amid the joy, turning to the crowd.
"Forgot those greedy, ugly dwarves already? And you dwarves—don't mind the hate and scorn from before?"
-?
-What's her deal?
-Real talk) Facts gotta sting.
-Real talk2) Zero vibe check.
-Didn't she fuel the dwarf hate?
-Gotta show 'em Salion fire.
[Bares donated 1,000 won.]
[Sigh... that's rough;]
Shattering the victory vibe drew viewer fury. But everyone fell silent. Emotions aside, it echoed pre-wave sentiments they'd barely shaken.
"Sis, enough."
Jinook stepped forward, anger etched on his face.
"You're the funniest, Jinook. Weren't you the worst to dwarves? No idea what Black Dragon did to you, but facts don't change."
"...I know. I'll atone for life."
Swoosh—
Jinook turned to the dwarves, bowing deeply.
"I've hurled abuse and blows at you all. Not seeking forgiveness. Just... so ashamed and regretful. Can't erase the past, but... truly sorry."
His heartfelt apology froze the crowd. Not Jinook-level, but their own shameful memories resurfaced.
"...Can't forget, no."
Dwarf elder Ballon spoke up, stepping forward with downcast eyes.
"These years were hell. From His Highness's departure, treated as trash. Even suicide would've drawn mockery."
His flat tone pierced human hearts. Pausing, he looked up at everyone.
"But our faults too. Drunk on greed, lost identity. My decisions. Shamefully, unchanged till His Highness returned."
The elder who'd accepted the mayor's deal, flipping dwarf opinion. No black-and-white—his extremes drove Gorik away.
Recent him? Blaming the departed prince, venting gripes.
"Truly wretched lot."
Gorik spat bluntly. Sighing at his hammer,
"And I'm the wretched-est. Too stupid to be king. Leaders don't starve their people."
His stubborn drive to make all smiths birthed tragedy, shocking him. These events taught much.
"Ifrit endured by all here. My father King Hedric said: Forge the future, not the past. No need to divide dwarf and human."
His laden words sank into hearts. Jinook, still bowed, included.
"But you're different. Still blind."
Gorik eyed fury-flushed Firnen. Pointed at accusingly,
"Blind? Who made Ifrit thrive? Me leading these idiot trash! I accepted the dwarves!"
"So? Without Black Dragon, everyone here dies. You too."
"Result-talk's useless! Adventurers and soldiers did their jobs, fine. Lebius wouldn't just watch!"
Firnen shrieked denials. Hanbit stepped forward amid it.
"You said Ifrit thrives thanks to you?"
"Can't you tell? Our city's value!"
"Nah. If you'd used your slush funds right, could've defended easy."
"...What?"
"Your money made Ifrit economic and arts hub, right? Hid threats outside, clung to glass walls to protect it."
"......"
Pinpointing truths silenced her. Glaring, she smirked mockingly.
"Proof?"
"Know you've cleaned it up. Not that dumb."
"Your speech shows your level. I'll report your anti-mayor crimes to the capital. Raven Kingdom will exile you..."
"Report from here."
Hanbit cut in, eyeing the ruined gate. Firnen followed his gaze, eyes widening.
Neigh—!
Knights and soldiers arrived on plain horses, haste evident. The lead woman in platinum armor dismounted, approaching.
Clink—
Removing her helm released flowing black hair. Her steadfast blue eyes belonged to Royal Knights vice-captain Leon.
"Leon...!"
Firnen's eyes quivered at the sight. Halting before her, Leon unfurled the royal parchment.
"Reports of anomalous monsters in Ifrit, captured Holy Nation devotees, and corruption in defense, finances, personnel—plus dereliction and negligence. Cooperate with the investigation. Mayor Firnen de Artua."