Chapter 53

BANG!!!

“Charlson!!!!”

“Good heavens! You startled me.”

Charlson jolted upright in bed at the sound of the door being flung open.

“I told you to rest. What's all this commotion in the middle of the night?”

“Dragons... Why are there five dragons?”

Charlson stared at Woojin in bewilderment.

“... Have you been drinking?”

“Ugh, of course not. I meant to ask whether there might be other dragons.”

“Other dragons...? Well, as I said earlier, there's very little information about dragons. There could be others besides those known on the continent.”

“You mean... there might not be exactly four?”

“That's right. Who told you there were four in the first place?”

At Charlson's words, Woojin realized his mistake.

'I don't know exactly how old Raoul is, but considering that the other world is fifty years in the future, the sword's memory must take place at least thirty years from now.'

There was no telling what might happen in thirty years. The number of dragons could change during that time.

'Damn it...'

Charlson's answer left Woojin feeling somewhat deflated.

“... Sorry for disturbing you.”

Woojin let out a quiet sigh.

“There were more dragons than I thought. I wondered whether the extra one might be in the Dark Forest.”

He had received the quest before his first class advancement. That was why he had wondered whether he could complete it before crossing over to the central continent.

“A dragon in the Dark Forest?”

“I jumped to conclusions. I'll head back.”

Woojin bowed his head to Charlson and turned toward the door.

“W-wait!!”

Just then, Charlson called out to him, his eyes flashing.

“There is one.”

“... What?”

“There is one! A dragon in the Dark Forest!!”

He leaped out of bed in his pajamas and shouted to Woojin.

“Haha! Why didn't I think of that? It doesn't have to be an actual dragon to be a dragon!!”

“... What are you talking about? A dragon that isn't a dragon? You sound like the one who's been drinking.”

“Hehehehe!!”

Despite Woojin's words, Charlson began laughing madly with delight.

“The Human Dragon!”

One corner of Charlson's mouth curled into a knowing smile as he addressed him.

“A peerless genius so extraordinary that, despite being human, he's said to possess the wisdom of a dragon.”

He took the map off the wall and spread it out before Woojin.

“The Great Sage, Harper Gawain.”

DING.

The moment Woojin looked at the spot Charlson's finger indicated on the map, a notification sounded in his ears.

[You have discovered a quest.]

[Quest Name: The Great Sage]

▶ Grade: B

▶ Find the Great Sage living somewhere in the beginner region.

It was a simple quest, yet anything but simple.

'Every quest I get is Grade B these days.'

Woojin smiled wryly.

“But he won't be easy to find.”

Charlson tapped his finger against the map as he spoke. There was nothing at the spot he indicated—only solid black.

“Unexplored territory.”

Woojin knew very well what the black area meant.

“That's right. The fog is so thick you can't see a thing. And just like the Ice Cave, anyone who's set foot on the central continent can't enter.”

'So entry is restricted to those below level fifty.'

That made sense. If players from the central continent could explore it, there would be no unexplored territory left by now.

'Kerga probably left this place untouched... because he didn't know it existed.'

Back in the early days, when he and most of the current top-ranked players had started [Evil Tale], their main focus had been leveling up and reaching the central continent rather than exploring to uncover the map.

Woojin gazed at the location on the map.

The edge of the Dark Forest.

It lay some distance down from Hundred Flowers Valley, where the portal to the central continent stood.

“Haunted Harbor...”

“... Hmm? What did you just say?”

Charlson's eyes widened as he asked.

“Nothing. Never mind.”

Despite his words, a sharp gleam entered Woojin's eyes.

'I saw this place on Goun's map.'

[“This place? Hmm... As far as I know, there used to be an old lighthouse here. It lights up every night at midnight, but surprisingly, when someone checked inside, all they found was a single corpse.”]

He recalled what Goun had told him.

[“I'm not sure. I don't know anything about that corpse either. Perhaps it's just a rumor?”]

'The corpse in the lighthouse. Could that be the Great Sage?'

Even if he was a corpse in the other world fifty years in the future, he could still be alive in the game now.

'If that corpse belonged to the Great Sage... what was he doing there?'

“Charlson, I saw a harbor in Hundred Flowers Valley. If you have a ship, could I buy it? The sturdiest one you've got.”

“A ship? You seemed to have something on your mind earlier... You know something about that unexplored territory, don't you?”

“Not really. I don't know the details either. But judging by its location, the coastline connects to it. I thought going by ship would be better than traveling overland.”

“Hmm... It certainly looks like you're hiding something.”

Charlson eyed Woojin sidelong and muttered under his breath.

“Very well. I have a ship that's perfect for venturing into the black fog. I've never let anyone have it before.”

“You wouldn't give me a ship this easily.”

“Heh heh. In exchange, once you've finished exploring that territory, would you sell me information about it?”

He gave Woojin a curious smile.

“You get a free ship and earn money for your information. Two birds with one stone, wouldn't you say?”

“And you'll use that information to do business on the central continent, right?”

“Heh heh. The Aden Trading Company will be backing you anyway. If the company grows, won't that benefit us both?”

DING.

[You may undertake a side quest.]

[Quest Name: Exploring Uncharted Territory]

▶ Grade: C

▶ Explore the uncharted territory in the beginner region and report to Charlson.

▶ Completing this quest will greatly improve your diplomatic relations with the Azen Trading Company.

▶ [Current Diplomatic Status: Friendly]

'A side quest...'

He had to go there anyway, so Woojin had nothing to lose.

“All right.”

He quickly scanned the quest window and nodded to Charlson.

“Hehehe! This is no time for sleeping. I'll go to the harbor and get things ready right away!! I'll give you the finest ship, so look forward to it!!”

Shouting excitedly, Charlson ran out, still in his pajamas.

* * *

“Come on! Hurry up, you lot!!”

“Careful with that crate! Its contents are worth more than ten times what you are!!”

The harbor was noisy and bustling at dawn.

“Ooh... I'm sleepy.”

Barely able to keep her eyes open, Ruen linked her arm through Woojin's and leaned against him.

“What was that?”

“... Ah! S-sorry!”

Her unconscious action seemed to jolt her wide awake. Startled, Ruen threw both arms over her head and cried out.

“B-by the way... we're going to unexplored territory?”

“Yes. Our final hurdle before we cross over to the central continent. Doesn't it sound like just our sort of thing?”

“It's strange. You seem to be enjoying yourself, Master.”

“It's something no one's ever done before.”

“Aren't you afraid?”

Woojin gave a faint chuckle at her question.

“I am. Every moment.”

How many people actually felt afraid while playing a game?

Were there any at all?

“That's why I'm trying it.”

Woojin looked at the ship moored in the harbor.

“Are you Khan?”

A man on the ship's deck looked down and called to Woojin below.

“I am. Why?”

“Mr. Charlson told me about you. I hear you asked for a ship?”

He jumped down from the ship and handed Woojin a small key.

“This is the ship you'll be taking.”

“Are you... telling me to steer it myself?”

“Of course. You're going into the black fog, aren't you? No sailor would ever go there.”

The man gave Woojin a disapproving look.

“I have no idea what he's thinking. If he's just throwing a ship away, he could at least give you a cheaper one.”

He tossed him the key, muttering sourly.

“Magic stones power the ship, so it shouldn't be difficult as long as you handle the helm properly. I've delivered the message. My job's done.”

Only after receiving the key did Woojin realize that something was off about the atmosphere in the harbor.

The noisy harbor had fallen quiet.

People were glaring at him from all around.

“Well... I'm sorry about this. I tried to find you a crew, but they all said they'd rather die than go.”

Charlson approached from a distance, looking troubled.

“Even when I offered ten times the advance pay, not a soul would agree...”

“There's nothing to apologize for. Getting me a ship is more than enough.”

“Will you be all right?”

“He said all I have to do is steer. I'll manage somehow.”

“Hmm... Very well. I'm sure I can trust you. At any rate, I've prepared the sturdiest ship in the harbor.”

Even without the sailor's reaction or Charlson's assurances, Woojin could tell this was a fine ship despite knowing little about vessels.

“It's the only ship ever to return from the black fog. It came back without its captain, and no one knew what to do with it, so I bought it.”

“The ship came back without its captain?”

“That's right. At first, people shunned it as a cursed ship, but now it's become a symbol of good fortune for the sailors.”

Charlson pointed to the figurehead mounted on the ship.

“Try touching that.”

Woojin boarded the ship as instructed and placed his hand on the figurehead.

[The mermaid statue's blessing flows into you.]

▶ The Trait: Luck applies while sailing.

▶ The ship's speed increases to 1.5 times its normal speed.

“... Oh?”

Woojin looked surprised at the light spilling from the figurehead.

Trait: Luck

▶ Increases the likelihood of special events occurring.

'Luck... I'm not sure how it works, but the speed boost alone explains why they were glaring daggers at me.'

“Who was this ship's captain?”

Woojin called down to Charlson from aboard the ship.

“Hmm... A man named Zehir Bishop. He was also the administrator of Hundred Flowers Valley's harbor.”

“Why did he go into the unexplored territory?”

“I don't know. People say he suddenly sailed out at dawn as though something had possessed him.”

“As though he was possessed...?”

Something about Charlson's words nagged at Woojin.

'There has to be more to this...'

Every quest had a chain of cause and effect.

The captain couldn't have sailed into the black fog for no reason.

“Master.”

Just then, Setsuna peeked out from inside Woojin's jacket and called to him.

“There's something a little strange about this ship.”

“... What?”

[Analysis has activated.]

▶ Occasionally uncovers hidden content.

Setsuna's eyes shone.