Chapter 194

"I never said I was an archer."

I swung Isabel a little wider than necessary on purpose.

'You. You're hiding something, aren't you?'

I knew what he was hiding. He would probably pull out his continuously growing monster, Phoenix, the card he was saving to deal the final blow against me. Sure enough, a bird flew out from behind the Troll Soldier guarding Lao Yu.

'It's not the Phoenix I know.'

It was very different from the one I had seen on Youtube in the past.

'No wonder he lost so easily to Wings.'

The current Lao Yu was still far from mature. His Phoenix was, of course, just as immature. Right now, it just looked like a flaming pigeon. However, the fire ki within that flaming pigeon was rather pure and strong.

Lao Yu grinned. "I never said I would go down without a fight, either."

Thanks to me swinging Isabel a little clumsily, Lao Yu barely dodged Isabel and ordered, "Fire!"

The flaming pigeon shot a fireball at me.

'It's less violent than a Fire Giant's fire ki, and less pure than Athenae's fire ki.'

The attack of this still-immature Phoenix that had a lot of growing to do wasn't much of a threat to me.

'Should I let it hit me?'

I would probably be perfectly fine. My fire ki was higher in grade than what this flaming pigeon shot out. Our energies were on completely different levels.

'No.'

I chose a different path.

[Using the special skill Flash Step.]

I chose to use the Sword Empress' signature move, a technique Shin Yeonseo, one of Korea's strongest 1 vs. 1 PVPers, had used truly often. After using it, I realized that foot techniques were more important than swordsmanship. The feet were more important than the sword, and the eyes were more important than the feet. And thankfully, I had both feet and eyes.

'My body is light.'

I keenly felt the effects of (Courageous) Hunter's March. I easily dodged the flaming pigeon's fireball and closed in on Lao Yu, bringing Isabel to his neck.

"Is that everything up your sleeve?"

"...What in the world is your class? The way you move is way too different from the archers I've faced so far."

"I said I wasn't an archer."

"Then what are you?"

"I'm a sovereign."

"...What?"

That was probably more shocking.

"Isn't sovereign a non-combat class?"

"There's bound to be sovereigns who also fight."

"Where? What kind of sovereign is that?"

"I could ask you the same. How did a beginner tame a mythological creature?"

"...You have a talent for rendering a person speechless."

He himself was an Irregular, so he easily accepted that I was one, too.

"We should wrap up the PVP for now."

I instantly slashed Isabel, cutting Lao Yu's throat.

Slice–!

There wasn't much resistance. However outstanding a tamer he might be, he didn't have high defense. The moment Isabel was at his throat, Lao Yu's posse of tamed monsters meant nothing. I won in the PVP against Lao Yu without difficulty.

[You have won the PVP.]

[The 'White Hunter' is very happy.]

The favor the White Hunter had briefly bestowed disappeared. But the Conductor of Sound jumped forward first.

[The 'Conductor of Sound' expresses great happiness in your victory against a large number of foes.]

[The 'Conductor of Sound' sends you a 'Map of the Battlefield' as a sponsorship.]

Map of the Battlefield?

'Whoa.'

I didn't know exactly what it was, but I had a good idea.

'Just like what the Giant of the Sunset did for Choi Sung-gu…'

Each Guardian was bound to have their favorite Player, and there were Guardians out there who heaped investment on their favorites. If my guess was right, the Conductor of Sound just set me as their 'favorite'. If I activated this Map of the Battlefield, I would be able to open something like Sung-gu's Shot Table Dungeon.

'A Guardian's gift to their favorite.'

Choi Sung-gu acquired the Tome of the Divine Fire Physique there.

'I am happy, but…'

I had my misgivings. It was true that I was Playing very well—

'But what about the Wargod Salvatore?'

Now that I thought about it, Vela's name was already gaining traction in Italy, but I hadn't heard Salvatore's name at all. The two started Playing at around the same time and would grow neck and neck with each other as rivals, but I hadn't heard any mention of Salvatore.

'Could it be… that the Conductor of Sound has been putting everything on me?'

Was that why the future 'Wargod' was nowhere to be seen? But Salvatore played a crucial role in winning the 'Battle of the Maldives', an international event that gave Yeonseo her Sword Empress moniker. I would have to think about this a little more.

Lao Yu reappeared by the power of resurrection.

"Getting your throat slashed is a seriously terrible experience."

He rubbed his throat. That moment, Senia appeared and asked me a question.

"Player Kim Hyukjin. Was the PVP just now a 1 on 1 battle or a group battle?"

This wasn't a question from Senia, but from the Conductor of Sound and the White Hunter. Jeez. Was this a 'Do you like mommy more, or daddy more?'

What answer would net me the best result?

"The PVP with Lao Yu was a 1 on 1 battle between me and Lao Yu as individuals."

That was why Hunter's March was so potent.

[The 'White Hunter' is very satisfied.]

[The 'White Hunter' gives you a 500 Coin sponsorship.]

Tch, be a little more generous with your sponsorships.

"And me pitting all my skills against Lao Yu's entire army was a group battle as well."

[The 'Conductor of Sound' is happy.]

[The 'Conductor of Sound' gives you a 600 Coin sponsorship.]

At this point, the 'right answer' wasn't actually important. These two were currently waging a battle of pride. Still, I liked the Conductor of Sound a little more. They had given me a bigger sponsorship and the 'Map of the Battlefield', after all.

[Map of the Battlefield]

A once-fierce battlefield. The crossroads of the living and the dead, the victorious and the defeated.

This is a map that guides you to the 'Battlefield of Crows'.

I had no idea where the 'Battlefield of Crows' was. It wasn't something I could ascertain at my current level.

Lao Yu shook his head back and forth.

"You're a sovereign, but also an archer… with the movements of a close-combat martial artist. You got me good with those completely unexpected moves."

"Were you defeated simply because my movements were unexpected?"

Even if I had moved like he expected, I would have won. And overwhelmingly, at that.

"..."

Lao Yu stared at me before finally admitting it.

"Even if you had moved like I expected, I would have been soundly defeated. I've never met a Player like you before. The average level of Korean Players is low, so I didn't expect a monster like you."

It didn't seem like he was just trying to flatter me. Lao Yu probably needed to 'talk me up' for some reason. I waited in silence.

"Since I totally lost the PVP, I'll be sharing information about the Sword Forest. Can't be helped."

I guessed it was some kind of penalty Lao Yu incurred. Before he could continue, I asked, "Are you related to Noah, by any chance?"

"...What?"

Lao Yu once again stared at me, speechless. He looked as if he were resisting the strong urge to ask me what the hell I was.

"That's correct. Noah. I thought I was the only one with this info."

"I already know that Noah is somewhat connected to the Sword Forest."

Actually, I didn't know. I only guessed it because Noah had Isabel. But come to think of it, that was a little weird. Why did an NPC named 'Noah' in a beginning dungeon like the U-Plex Dungeon have a transcendent item like 'Isabel'? Isabel was a treasure so valuable that even a dwarf elder said he was being granted an 'audience'.

So it was weird. There was something hidden here, a big secret and scenario.

"You already know everything, so I'll be frank. I have a quest from Noah to find and bring him a 'red jewel of unknown identity'."

"A red jewel of unknown identity?"

"I don't know what that is yet, either. I'm told I can get information about the Sword Forest if I bring him that jewel." Lao Yu sighed. "And this is pretty high-level info, too… I had no idea I'd get robbed blind like this in a PVP."

* * *

After finishing the PVP against Lao Yu, I went to the Gran Seoul Dungeon, where Jackson and Vela were already waiting. In the car on the way there, I thought back on what Elder Bufafa said.

"I will need to take a close look to know for sure, but there is a way to restore her to some degree."

"It requires two materials, as well as a dwarf from the Sword Forest."

"One is [Blacksmith's Red Jewel], and the other is [Magician's Red Jewel]."

But now, I knew there was a Chinese Player who needed to bring a 'red jewel of unknown identity' to Noah, the former owner of Isabel.

Maybe the 'red jewel of unknown identity' was either the Blacksmith's Red Jewel or the Magician's Red Jewel?

'The Sword Forest scenario. And the Gran Seoul scenario. Both of them… aren't scenarios I'm doing on my own.'

Little by little, I was getting wrapped up in the scenarios of the world's Rankers, and famous Rankers at that. That was just how major these two scenarios were. To think such scenarios were hidden in the Korean server…

While I was organizing my thoughts, the car reached the Gran Seoul Dungeon.

The 'Icewall' guild members gathered by Song Junghye were occupying the gate again. They had reclaimed their position after Lao Yu was routed.

I happened to get a call from Song Kiyeol just then.

–We are no longer able to stand by and watch.

Lao Yu was able to kick out Song Junghye's forces all on his own, but the Korean Players were incapable of the same feat? Even Taeguk Shield?

–Some people are saying this is almost a blow to our national dignity.

Taeguk Shield had no choice but to pay attention to public sentiment, and as such, they had to make a move now.

So I gave him the answer he wanted.

"Beat them up."

–...What?

"Make the difference in strength very clear to them. Don't think of them as your little sister's gang."

Song Kiyeol was great, but he was too weak when it came to his little sister. And I knew his little sister Song Junghye better than he did.

"It could be that getting totally steamrolled… is what Miss Junghye wants."

Our phone call ended there, and I met up with Vela and Jackson. We began talking about the 'hidden field' of the Gran Seoul Dungeon.

"I can find the entrance for you," said Jackson. He looked a little regretful. "But entry is restricted to two people, so I think I'll have to sit this one out."

"Are you okay with that, Jackson? Just finding the entrance for us?"

"Well, that's part of an explorer's job description."

Jackson withdrew unexpectedly easily. He said he would only find the entrance.

"Do you not want anything?"

"I do."

Jackson stared at me with a grin.

"The head of he who will become king."

"..."

What did that mean? Before, he said he needed the head. I didn't think he meant he would be cutting off that head.

"I am an Exploring Baptist, a class destined to anoint the king's head with oil." He shrugged. "However, I haven't found the king yet, so please help me when I ask for help later."

"..."

"I don't think there is anything wiser than to get a Player of your level indebted to me."

"..."

Jackson headed to the exit of the Gran Seoul building's parking lot.

"This is the entrance. In order to open this place properly, I need the restored Crown."

I gave Jackson the Crown, which he promptly stowed in his Inventory.

"Now."

He stared right at me.

"What shall I do now?"

It looked almost like he was testing me, saying, 'I have the Crown I wanted. What're you gonna do about it?'

I didn't feel any hostility from him. And he didn't look to be overcome by worldly desire, like Pedro was when he first saw the Tomb-Pilfering Shovel. This wasn't worldly desire or greed. This was a test of the 'Exploring Baptist'. A test to see if I was truly qualified to enter the hidden field of the Gran Seoul Dungeon, to see if he should open the entrance for me or not.

So I asked back.

"Then what shall I do?"

I never once intended on doing nothing as he stole the Crown from me. I had predicted this test.

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