Chapter 60

Even after Evil Tale had been in service for years, there were two stats players still hadn't fully figured out.

Conviction and Dexterity.

Of course, based on their experiences so far, people had arrived at a rough understanding of both stats. For the most part, they had a greater effect on NPCs than on players.

Conviction was interpreted as willpower. The higher it was, the lower the chance of suffering status ailments such as Panic. On the other hand, those with high Conviction tended to be proud and needlessly stubborn.

'That's why mercenaries with high Conviction are considered excellent fighters, but difficult to handle.'

Dexterity, just as its name suggested, represented finesse. It generally related to skills: the higher it was, the faster one learned skills, and the more effective those skills became.

'I never thought I'd see a stat over a hundred in the Dark Forest. In that case, what matters is which skills he has...'

Woojin checked the remaining entries at the bottom of Chason's status window.

Trait: Seagoing Ship's Fighting Spirit

▶ Increases damage against water-element monsters by 10%.

Skill: Bolton Secret Art

▶ Swordsmanship developed by the Bolton family to emulate waves.

▶ Consists of three forms. Its many feints make it difficult to learn, but it is exceptionally effective in the hands of someone with outstanding finesse.

- Dexterity 70 or higher: Attack Power increased by 50%.

- Dexterity 80 or higher: Attack Power increased by 80%.

- Dexterity 90 or higher: Attack Power increased by 100%.

"Looks like bringing you here alive was worth it."

Woojin chuckled at Chason's skill window.

"Use this. Better than nothing."

He picked up an old longsword lying among the wrecked ships and handed it to Chason.

"I promise. Whatever happens, I'll get you home."

Woojin answered Chason as he strode toward the snow-white lighthouse.

"Let's go have a look."

[You have discovered Haunted Harbor.]

* * *

The light blinked on and off.

It was dark, but finding their way wasn't difficult. The lighthouse kept shining as though beckoning the party closer.

'No entry notification, so this isn't a dungeon yet.'

There was a good chance it was a field dungeon, but there were no monsters in sight either.

'I'll probably find out once we're inside the lighthouse.'

Standing before the lighthouse, Woojin drew a quiet breath and signaled Ruen and Chason with his eyes.

CLICK.

When he turned the handle, the rusty iron door opened surprisingly easily, as though it had been well maintained.

"I never expected to meet anyone here."

At that moment, a voice came from behind the door. The party instinctively reached for their weapons.

"Put away your weapons. There is no need to fight here."

As the door opened, a cozy warmth greeted them from inside the lighthouse, a stark contrast to the dank black fog.

"... Hm?"

There were neatly arranged bookshelves and a carpet on the floor, modest but tidy. A fire burned in a stove against the wall, and steam curled from the kettle sitting on top.

"You must be the Great Sage Harper Gawain."

The handsome white-haired man reclining in a rocking chair gave Woojin a curious smile.

"You know of me?"

"Charlson in Hundred Flowers Valley told me about you."

"Charlson... A welcome name to hear."

'I've met Harper Gawain, but the Great Sage quest hasn't been marked complete.'

Woojin studied him.

'Is this a chain quest?'

Harper Gawain looked at the Lady moored outside the lighthouse.

"A ship of the Bolton family. It came to these waters once before."

"That's right. We came to find Captain Harterwin, who disappeared here five years ago."

"Five years... Have you not considered that he might already be dead?"

"I heard from the crew that they escaped by leaving him behind as a sacrifice. But there was no death's scent aboard his ship."

At that, Harper looked at Setsuna.

"How curious. To think there is still someone who can command a Phantasmal Spirit... Remarkable."

He rose and took some green leaves from a cupboard.

"Would you like some?"

"Wow!"

As though entranced, Setsuna began gobbling down the leaves he had brought out.

"These are leaves from an herb called sweetgrass. Phantasmal Spirits are fond of them."

"You certainly deserve to be called the Human Dragon."

"Hardly."

Despite his words, the man seemed rather pleased by Woojin's remark.

"But why are you here? This hardly seems like a place anyone could live..."

Harper handed him a cup of tea as he answered.

"What do you know about the black fog?"

"Only that someone of Bolton blood is needed to reach this place."

"Long ago, there were those who sought to surpass a god. The Bolton family was among them."

Harper glanced at Chason.

"They were great people, but they crossed a line they should never have crossed."

"They tried to stand above a god."

Harper looked genuinely surprised by Woojin's answer.

"Ho ho. I never expected an Outlander to know the continent's history. Correct. To punish them, the god created beings imbued with its will."

'He's talking about Sarbandin.'

Thinking he might obtain the clue he needed, Woojin listened closely.

"The god brought forth three animals imbued with its will, and they swiftly punished those who had sought to stand above it."

RUMBLE...

Thunder like the roar of a wild beast sounded in the pitch-black darkness.

"The god's might was tremendous, but the humans were no pushovers either. In the end, they killed one of the animals it had sent."

"Don't tell me..."

"Yes. That was the Bolton family. The divine beast's death created the black fog, and they were ultimately cursed by the god."

Harper pointed out the window.

"The black fog is that very curse."

GULP.

The party unwittingly swallowed, their mouths dry with tension.

"I wandered all over the continent, searching for things of interest. In the course of my travels, I discovered this here."

He took an old stone tablet from a drawer.

"No member of the Bolton family shall ever escape the black fog."

He recited the inscription on the tablet.

"Th-that can't be...! I've lived in Hundred Flowers Valley ever since I was born!"

"But you are in the black fog now."

"What?"

"Both your father and you ended up coming to the black fog, did you not?"

Chason's face turned pale at his words.

"Then what have you been doing here?"

"Maintaining a barrier to keep the black fog from spreading any farther."

"The fog... can spread farther?"

"Of course. It has been steadily growing, albeit very slowly."

If more time passed and the black fog spread as far as the continent...

It was a horrifying thought.

'Evil Tale's future is destruction.'

Woojin recalled the fact he had briefly forgotten.

"How can the curse be broken?"

"It is surprisingly simple. Eliminate the source of the curse."

"The source of the curse...?"

"Slay the dead of the Bolton family trapped within the black fog."

[You have discovered a chain quest.]

[Great Sage → The Bolton Family's Curse]

[Would you like to continue the quest?]

It was just as Woojin had expected.

[Quest Name: The Bolton Family's Curse]

▶ Grade: B

▶ Slay the dead of the Bolton family dwelling within the black fog and break the curse.

"Where do we need to go?"

"Follow the lighthouse beam. But it will not be easy."

"Better than letting the black fog spread across the continent."

The look in Harper's eyes changed at Woojin's reply.

"You are a hero."

"A hero? Hardly... I'm just an adventurer."

Harper took a sword out of a chest.

"I found this in a wrecked ship."

Name: Seawater Sword

Grade: A

Description: An heirloom of the Bolton family.

Its blade was forged using purified seawater, imbuing it with holy power.

Its power doubles when wielded by someone who has learned the family's secret art.

For an heirloom, its blade was so smooth that it bore no trace of age.

"You'd better use this."

Woojin gave Chason the [Seawater Sword] to replace his old longsword.

"Follow the lighthouse beam. What you seek should be at its end."

"I will."

"You may be no more than an adventurer now, but if you break the curse and dispel the black fog... you truly will become a hero."

Harper addressed Woojin as he stepped out the door.

"And then even the dragons will take an interest."

Woojin hesitated briefly at his words.

'... He knew.'

He was indeed the Great Sage. Woojin didn't know how, but Harper knew he was undertaking the Dragon Lord quest.

"I wonder whether those dragons include you."

"Who can say? But... did you know? Dragons enjoy things that pique their interest."

In answer to Woojin's question, Harper bowed with an inscrutable smile.

"And few things in the human world are as interesting as a hero's journey."

"I like that answer."

Woojin set off.

[You have entered the Bolton Family's Cursed Archipelago.]

[Trait: Adventurer activated.]

[Congratulations.]

[This dungeon has not yet been cleared.]

[Blessings cannot reach this place through the black fog.]

[Dungeon Board activated.]

[Special rewards will be granted for the first clear.]

As they reached the end of the harbor, the black fog thinned.

"This is..."

Bewilderment spread across their faces. They stood atop a high cliff, with an enormous city visible below.

The dungeon entry notification had definitely appeared. This wasn't a field dungeon.

But...

"Why is it so huge?"

Woojin was every bit as bewildered as the others.

The city was enclosed by massive walls. He had never been to the central continent, but even Parta, the largest city in the Dark Forest, couldn't begin to compare in size.

"Look over there! Lights!"

Ruen cried out, pointing to the streetlights glowing throughout the city.

"Could people still be living here?"

At her words, Chason looked at Woojin with hope in his eyes.

"Who knows?"

Unlike Chason, however, Woojin remained impassive.

'It's a city dungeon. Even if we find people here...'

They were far more likely to be monsters.

"I'd be glad if they were people too."

Woojin answered without much hope.

[Reach the Bolton family mansion.]

A notification sounded. At that moment, a light flashed above the mansion at the far end of the city.

RUMBLE...!

At the same time, the cliff beneath their feet crumbled.

"Watch out!"

"Aaaagh?!"

Sliding with the falling debris, they tumbled down to the foot of the city wall.

SPLASH...! SPLAAASH...!

"Ugh... What was that all of a sudden?"

Chason grumbled, grimacing as he pushed away the fallen dirt.

"... Whoa?!"

Just then, a powerful force yanked him forward.

"Run! Now!"

[A wave is approaching.]

CRAAASH!

At that moment, a huge torrent of water came pouring down from behind them.

[The city is gradually sinking into the sea.]

▶ Time Limit: 20 minutes