Liora's Scribbled Secrets
“That sword's way too OP, right? And it's a growth item on top of it!”
As they started walking again, Juyeonu raised his voice with excitement mixed in. He'd already forgotten about tumbling backward earlier.
“The sword itself is great, but it's enhanced with Sylph's power.”
-Spirits are total cheats;
-Streamers who haven't passed Baldor's test yet, take a hike.
-Yeah right.
-Just give up.
-Aim for other attributes?
-You think that'll work?
Plenty of viewers still coveted the spirits' superior performance. Sure, spirits of other attributes existed too, but weren't they even harder to get?
“……”
Liora kept gripping her dagger, staying vigilant around them. Monsters reappeared, but she never had to step in.
Shwick—!
Slash—!
The skeletons that kept showing up were helplessly sliced apart by Hanbit's sword. He handled them with minimal movement, so there was no fatigue.
[Your level has increased by 3.]
[3 stat points have been granted.]
Dozens of skeletons slain while navigating the winding passages. Their high levels meant a ridiculous amount of EXP poured in.
-EXP is insane.
-Newbies grinding story quests are loving this.
-Mob level's 32, though?
-Why are there so many noob-friendly zones?;
Hooked by the EXP, viewers flooded the chat. But for a total beginner to reach this point? Pretty much impossible.
“There it is.”
Finally reaching the end of the path, a unique space appeared. Juyeonu, arriving behind him, looked around in wonder.
“What's this place?”
A vast area enclosed entirely by blue barriers. Even at the sight, Liora lowered her stance, scanning warily.
“Something's here.”
Shlurp—
As her voice rang out, a green glow rippled from the inner wall. When all eyes turned there, something emerged.
Kyaaak—!
A body with a human upper half and a bird's lower half. Its face, screeching toward them, was grotesquely twisted.
[Elite: Mutated Wind Harpy (Lv.37)]
-Elite mob whoa
-Looks freaking terrifying.
-Why do all monsters gotta be like this.
-Gatekeeper vibes.
-Some facility inside?
“Bro, what the hell is this place?”
With the higher-grade monster's appearance, even Juyeonu sensed something off. But Hanbit held back the answer for now.
“That thing's dangerous.”
Liora gripped her dagger and assumed a stance as she spoke. The harpy emanated an ominous aura. Her instincts were screaming danger.
“It's fine.”
Hanbit shrugged and stepped forward. Mutated Wind Harpy. As the name implied, it wielded wind powers.
And right now, a wind spirit was at Hanbit's side.
Whoooosh—
A proud energy emanated from the wind enveloping his body. Gripping his sword tight, Hanbit kicked off immediately.
Thud—!
Flap—!
The harpy reacted at the same time, spreading green wings and taking flight. It circled overhead, fixating on Hanbit.
Then, reshaping its wings, it fired sharp green blades.
Screee—!
The attack sliced through the air toward him with lethal speed. Its momentum screamed it would shred anything in its path.
Thud—!
Even so, Hanbit launched toward the incoming blades.
Shlurp—
Fierce winds churned around the cyan sword gripped in both hands. Feeling the sensation, Hanbit thrust it forward.
The moment it met the harpy's attack—
Whoooosh—!
Sylph's wind swallowed the green blades whole.
Kyaaaak—!
The harpy grimaced at its technique vanishing so futilely. It flapped its wings to press the attack again.
But Hanbit's charge was faster.
Shwick—!
Charging straight ahead, he thrust at its chest. The harpy hastily raised its talons, but it was too late.
Puuk—!
The cyan sword's tip pierced its heart dead-on. Light faded from the harpy's wide-open eyes.
Its body crumbled to black dust in an instant.
[25,000 EXP gained.]
[Your level has increased.]
[1 stat point granted.]
-Whoa
-One-shot;
-Saw that harpy skill just vanish?
-Over 10 levels higher and it gets devoured. lol
-Total cheat.
Thud—!
Landing on the ground, Hanbit gently stroked the still-raging winds.
“No other ones around.”
Liora approached, scanning the surroundings as she watched him. Hanbit nodded and pointed to the wall.
“Entrance must be there.”
Rumble—
The blue barrier slowly split amid vibrations.
Fwoosh—!
Pure white light burst from the gap, feeling almost holy. The emerging interior drew reactions from players first.
-?
-No way.
-Is that a temple?
-Erport Temple.
-Why's a Holy Nation facility here?
Dazzlingly white building and pillars with the Holy Nation's flag embedded. A temple venerating their creation god and Erport.
“Whoa.”
“Why the hell is this here……”
The shocked pair couldn't continue. Liora looked stunned, but they needed to hurry now.
“No time. Let's check quick and get out.”
Hanbit stepped first into the opened barrier. Liora and Juyeonu followed belatedly.
They really put a ton of effort into this.
The interior matched his memories perfectly, leading to similar thoughts. The temple's structure was always overly elaborate, no matter when you saw it.
“Whoa, this is as good as the ones in the Holy Nation, right?”
Amazed, Juyeonu scanned the temple's exterior.
Such temples were rare outside the Holy Nation. For a hardliner like the Raven Kingdom to have one this high-class? Utterly illogical.
“Let's go in.”
Hanbit headed straight for the entrance. The interior was eerily silent, not even a small noise.
He walked to the altar at the far end.
“This is even crazier.”
Gazing at the altar interior, Juyeonu spoke in disbelief. A statue of the god, pristine white robes on one side, scriptures holding doctrine—it was a full temple.
“Spread out and check for anything. Liora, look behind the altar.”
“Got it.”
At his order, Liora nodded warily and moved while scanning around.
“Bro, what about me?”
Juyeonu sidled close and whispered. But no further orders were needed.
“Just pretend to search. Or sightsee.”
“Huh? What about investigating?”
“Plenty of proof this is a temple. Liora's the last piece.”
“What do you mean……”
Rumble—
Then, a sound came from behind the altar. Turning, they saw Liora with a panicked expression.
“...What is this?”
She backed away clutching her bag tightly. On the floor of the wall she stared at, a basement-like space was slowly opening.
“Let's go.”
Hanbit stepped down first. The flustered Liora gripped her dagger tight and followed.
“What's this now? Some secret room?”
Trailing behind, Juyeonu peered into the dim stairwell. No reason for a space like this behind a temple altar.
“……”
Liora scanned silently. Partly due to unknown dangers, but also that nagging strange sense of déjà vu.
Clack—
Hanbit stopped at the stairs' end. A wall covered in all sorts of graffiti blocked the way.
“Huh? Nothing here?”
Juyeonu came up beside him and tapped the wall. He looked a bit deflated, expecting something.
-Clickbait map?
-Wall's covered in graffiti.
-Bratty believers' rampage.
-Kid zone whoa
Viewers eyed the messy wall and guessed it was a dead end.
But that chaotic graffiti was a crucial clue.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, the silent Liora spoke up.
“Wait a sec.”
Approaching slowly, she stood before the wall, staring at the graffiti. Tilting her head in thought.
Then, in a bewildered voice:
“...This looks like something I drew?”
-?
-It was you, brat.
-What, Liora's a believer?
-Prodigy whoa
The unexpected remark lit up the chat.
Hanbit, who knew the truth, feigned ignorance and asked:
“You drew this?”
“It feels familiar… No, it's definitely mine. I said no one else draws cats like this. From when I was really little.”
Liora pointed to one graffiti. More like a slime with whiskers than a cat.
-A cat?
-Thought it was some mystery creature;
-Send the artwork.
-Kids draw like that.
-Fact: Better than mine.
Her unconventional drawing skill amazed in multiple ways. For something from around age five, it left an indelibly intense impression.
“So, does it ring any bells? Your drawings here is weird, right?”
“Yeah, but……”
Frowning slightly, Liora examined the drawings closer. Countless of her own scribbles scattered randomly. Finding a clue amid them was tough.
Normally it'd take time, so Hanbit gave a hint.
“What's this? A tree?”
“Where?”
As he pointed to one, Liora looked.
Confirming it, she said incredulously:
“Tree? It's obviously a person.”
“Only to you. Then this? A crown?”
“That's a ring, not a crown. Who wears a crown on their finger……?”
Suddenly, Liora's expression changed mid-sentence.
“...No way.”
Something clicked. She reached into her bag.
She hesitated, glancing at Hanbit, then steeled herself.
Shlick—
What Liora pulled out was a ring. The one with the red gem she'd dropped on the floor while searching for Ruby. Its gold frame etched with what looked like a family crest—viewers knew it well too.
-Huh?
-That's the one from RP.
-Norton family crest, they say.
-Brooke's bastard child odds.
-BS, she stole it.
-Wasn't there talk of former family head's daughter?
-lol If former head's kid, she'll sell tanghulu in Gwanghwamun.
Debate over Liora's ring raged hot in communities. Whatever the truth, it'd shock players, spawning wild guesses.
Main consensus: Liora stole it. Former head's daughter? Thoroughly dismissed.
“Hoo.”
Exhaling deeply, Liora slipped the ring on her finger.
Then slowly pressed her palm to the wall.
Fwoosh—!
Light burst from the graffiti cracks.
“Eek!”
Startled, Liora yanked her hand back and retreated. Immediately, vibrations rumbled.
Rumble—
The shaking wall split sideways, just like the temple entrance.
“Ah……”
Liora, closest, witnessed the interior first.
A cozy space filled with toys and dolls. Like a children's playroom.
“Whoa, what's this? An actual playground?”
-This is wild.
-Temple basement playground?;
-But why Liora's ring?
-Dunno?
The real child's space amplified questions. One answer came from Liora.
“This is my room……”
Forgotten memories flooded her mind. This perfectly recreated her childhood room.
Identical to the point of tears.
“Let's go in.”
“...Yeah.”
Hanbit patted her shoulder; Liora nodded, voice choked.
Stepping inside carefully, she turned to a nearby doll.
He wanted to let her browse leisurely, but the situation didn't allow it.
There.
Hanbit headed straight to a small shelf inside.
Two small notebooks sat there.
[Libentia's Diary (Do Not Read)]
[Atonement and Records]
One key piece of evidence compiling past events. That was the one on the right: Atonement and Records.
Hanbit picked up the notebook and slowly flipped the cover.