Chapter 66

“Wow...”

Entering the storeroom, the party let out low exclamations and looked around.

“Seriously...”

As Ruen faltered, seemingly at a loss for words, Setsuna answered for her.

“There’s nothing here.”

She was right. The storeroom they had entered with such high hopes was embarrassingly empty.

‘... What’s going on?’

Woojin continued walking through the empty storeroom.

“Hm?”

At the far end stood a single old chest.

“Since it was a storeroom, I thought we’d get to pick our items... I guess the reward is fixed.”

CLICK.

He opened the lid.

“What’s this?”

There was nothing inside but an old scroll.

[You have obtained the Golden Paradise Map.]

‘Golden Paradise?’

He was a little disappointed that it wasn’t equipment or something of the sort, but curious about the unfamiliar scroll, Woojin untied the cord around it.

[Golden Paradise Map]

▶ Grade: None

▶ Description: A map said to show the location of Golden Paradise, the world’s paradise, also known as the island of the Northern Wall. The Bolton family searched for it for a thousand years without success, and the map was placed in storage.

▶ You may undertake the World Quest [Golden Paradise].

[Would you like to accept the quest?]

“A World Quest...?”

Woojin hadn’t expected to obtain another quest from the Bolton family. Startled, he looked at the window again.

‘World Quests are the highest-tier quests there are... They’re so hard to get that nobody but the Ulda Alliance is undertaking one right now, and I found one here.’

With a tense look, he examined the quest details.

“Wait... the island of the Northern Wall?”

Woojin’s gaze wavered. He had heard of it before—the place Raoul had been trying to find, where the Lion King was said to be.

It was none other than the site of humanity’s last stronghold.

‘If I can go to the other world, I could find out where the island of the Northern Wall is.’

Woojin smacked his lips at the prospect. That would make clearing the World Quest easy.

“No reason to refuse.”

Woojin tore the scroll with all his strength.

[You have accepted the quest.]

[Quest Name: Golden Paradise]

▶ Find the legendary island of Golden Paradise.

The moment he accepted the quest, the torn scroll turned to ash.

“Looks like that’s all.”

Nothing else remained in the chest.

“Hmm... That’s a pretty underwhelming reward.”

“You might think so, but getting a World Quest is definitely a big deal.”

‘Especially since I know a way to clear it.’

Strangely, the further he progressed in the game, the more things piled up on his list of tasks for when he reached the other world.

“Let’s head back.”

Once he finished checking the scroll, an exit opened at the back of the storeroom.

WHOOOOSH!

Light enveloped them as they stepped into the portal.

* * *

“Well done.”

When the light of the exit faded, they found themselves at the lighthouse.

“You’ve successfully settled the Bolton family’s affairs.”

Harper, who had been waiting there, bowed his head to Woojin in greeting.

“Thanks to all of you, the black fog has disappeared, and this place can reconnect with the rest of the world.”

“Thank you.”

Woojin returned his greeting.

“I’d like to return this.”

Chason held out the [Seawater Sword] to Harper.

“But this belongs to the Bolton family.”

“I have no intention of governing the city. I want to leave the archipelago a free land.”

“Won’t you regret it? As you can see, the city is vast. You could live like the king of a small kingdom.”

“I like Hundred Flowers Valley.”

Harper gazed at Chason for a moment, then nodded.

“Then I shall manage this place for the time being. But do not forget: this land belongs to the Bolton family, and you are its rightful owner.”

“Understood.”

“I’ve made preparations aboard your ship. You may head home.”

Seemingly eager to leave immediately, Chason headed for the docked Lady as soon as Harper finished speaking.

“Master, shall we go too?”

“You two go ahead to the ship. I still have something to discuss with him.”

Harper smiled faintly at Woojin’s words.

“I believe it’s time I heard your thoughts.”

Alone with Harper at last, Woojin asked the question he had been waiting to ask.

“Do you truly wish to become a Dragon Lord?”

A chill ran through him. Harper’s gaze changed.

“To stand above dragons is to transcend the human realm. Dragons are selfish creatures. They will constantly test you with terrible trials and suffering.”

A presence emanated from him—astonishingly similar to what Woojin had felt from Belian.

‘So he wasn’t called the Human Dragon simply because of his wisdom?’

Only then did it occur to Woojin that Harper might not be entirely human.

“If you need a dragon’s power, why not become a Dragon Knight instead?”

Harper took a small egg from inside his clothing.

“I can vouch for your abilities. If you wish, you could become the Dragon Knight of my teacher, Hawen the White Dragon, ruler of the western plateau.”

[You have discovered a quest.]

[Quest Name: Dragon Knight]

▶ Selecting this will allow you to undertake the quest for the Unique class ‘Dragon Knight.’

[You are currently undertaking the Dragon Lord quest.]

▶ Selecting this will erase your current quest.]

“I have no intention of taking a lower-tier class just to make things a little easier.”

“A higher tier is not necessarily better. The chance of failure is correspondingly higher. Once you fail a class advancement, you can obtain nothing but Normal classes afterward.”

Harper brought the egg closer to him.

“But right now, all you need to do to advance is place your hand on this egg.”

“I refuse.”

Woojin’s answer, however, was firm.

“Are you certain?”

“One dragon’s power won’t be enough for what I intend to do.”

“Are you planning to save the world?”

Harper asked it like a joke.

“Save the world? Hardly... I’m just going to make a wish.”

Despite Woojin’s strange answer, Harper nodded as though he understood.

“Very well. But my acknowledgment alone cannot make you a Dragon Lord.”

“Then...?”

“I am not a true dragon, merely a dragon’s disciple. All I can do is inform the dragons of this continent of your existence.”

Harper put the dragon egg away.

“You are still inexperienced. Raise your level and grow stronger. When you reach the next continent, a dragon will come to you.”

[Quest updated.]

[Quest Name: Dragon Lord]

▶ You have earned the acknowledgment of Harper Gawain, the Human Dragon.

[You have not met the minimum requirements.]

1. Reach level 50.

2. Enter the central continent.

▶ Once you reach level 50 and arrive on the central continent, whichever of the four dragons takes an interest in your deeds thus far will come to you.

‘Time to level up, then.’

Woojin nodded as he read the updated quest window.

“May your journey lead you to peace.”

Harper offered Woojin his hand.

DING!

A notification sounded as Woojin shook his hand.

[You have completed the quest.]

[Quest Name: Great Sage]

[Reward: Sage’s Blessing]

▶ You have acquired a new stat, ‘Luck.’

Woojin’s stat panel changed.

“Luck...?”

“It’s nothing much. You’ll simply receive the occasional benefit that defies the natural order a little.”

“I’d have preferred something like mana.”

“Haha. If luck is on your side, perhaps that opportunity will come as well.”

Harper laughed at Woojin’s response.

“Do you happen to know of the island of the Northern Wall?”

“Why do you ask...?”

“I found a map to Golden Paradise in the Bolton family’s storeroom. It said it was at a place called the island of the Northern Wall.”

“Well, I’ve traveled to many places, but I’ve only heard rumors of it myself.”

“What sort of rumors?”

“The island of the Northern Wall is an island, yet not an island.”

“... What does that mean?”

Seeing Woojin frown, Harper smiled again.

“Who knows? I, too, once took an interest in the island of the Northern Wall, but I never discovered anything more.”

‘An island, yet not an island...’

Woojin mulled over Harper’s words.

“Thank you for everything. I should be going.”

“I hope we meet again someday.”

“As do I.”

With their conversation over, Woojin boarded the ship.

“To Hundred Flowers Valley.”

The sea, once teeming with monsters, was now calm as though they had never been there. The ship began sailing swiftly across it.

* * *

-Did you see? The black fog opened up.

-No login yesterday? The whole continent got a notification. How could anyone miss it...?

-No, I mean I’m curious who cleared it.

-Who else? Question Marks, the one who’s been smashing all the dungeon records lately.

-???

-Yep. That guy.

-???

-???

-Ugh, enough already.

-Anyway, it looks like he didn’t clear the Ice Cave alone... The people who cleared it with him must know who he is.

“This is him, right? The person who cleared the Ice Cave with you, Uncle.”

Ever since the unexplored region [black fog] appeared on the map, the community window had been filled with nothing else.

“Most likely. He’s the only fellow who’d pull off something like this.”

“Who on earth is he?”

“Heh heh. I promised him I wouldn’t tell. Not even for my beloved niece.”

“No, I’m asking as the alliance leader. Answer me, Mr. Gareth.”

They were in a spacious stone building, the Ulda Alliance’s guild house. Nonhumans outnumbered humans there, making it feel like another world.

The woman speaking to Gareth was the only human present. She wore her hair in a short bob, and the heavy gauntlets she wore instead of carrying weapons spoke for her class.

“My apologies, but I can’t tell you, even if you are the alliance leader. A promise is a promise.”

“... Tch. You’re no fun.”

She knew all too well that once Gareth said no, nothing could change his mind. She stuck out her lower lip in a sulky pout.

“By the way, Jane. It’s tomorrow, isn’t it? Don’t skip it this time.”

“Can’t you just go in my place, Uncle?”

“So I’m only your uncle at times like this?”

“You were the alliance leader to begin with.”

Gareth laughed heartily.

“Have you forgotten the Ulda Alliance’s rule?”

“I know, I know.”

Whoever found the most interesting undertaking became the alliance leader.

“Now that you’ve accepted a World Quest, it’s only natural for you to lead the alliance.”

“Ugh... Why did I do that?”

Jane clutched her head and sighed.

“It’s seriously no fun. Last time I went with you, I thought I’d walked into an auction house!”

“It’s all necessary. And that’s all the more reason people like us need to be there.”

“That’s why I’m asking. Our alliance needs more skilled people to gain strength. Let’s recruit him!”

“The fact that we’re already undertaking a World Quest is enough. Don’t let them intimidate you.”

Gareth patted Jane’s shoulder.

“And give up on him. He’s not the sort to work under anyone.”

“Hmm... You never know!”

“Well, you’ll meet him soon enough anyway. Once he crosses over to the central continent, we’ll hear about it. In any case, stop getting distracted and prepare properly. Understood?”

“Ugh, fine. We’ll probably just end up holding another auction. I doubt there’ll be much worth discussing.”

She sighed, picking up the note on the table and waving it.

[Round Table Invitation]

It was a regular conference held once every six months, bringing the central continent’s most prominent guilds and alliances together.

“We’ll see. They’re not people to be taken lightly. It’ll be a good experience for you, too.”

Gareth smiled as he answered her.