Chapter 94

“War Hero’s Flag?”

The flag Woojin took out of his inventory was mounted on a long pole that towered well above him.

“Wow...”

“What is that?”

Those who saw the flag exclaimed involuntarily. Its mere appearance was imposing enough to intimidate.

Name: War Hero’s Flag

Grade: A

Description: A flag awarded only to heroes who have fought against mighty foes. It is said that using the flag grants warriors tremendous power.

When used, the flag grants the following effects once only:

▶ All stats +10

▶ Physical and magic resistance each increase by 15%.

▶ All attack power increases by 5%.

▶ Prevents panic.

The flag’s effects apply to all friendly beings within a 5 km radius.

After reading the flag’s description, Woojin let out an incredulous laugh despite himself.

‘The effects are one thing, but... that range is ridiculous.’

A five-kilometer radius would cover most battlefields.

‘This really is an item for large-scale battles.’

It made sense. The Monster Wave itself was an open-field combat event, after all.

‘They might have given it out to help prepare for the next Monster Wave, but...’

Depending on how it was used, the flag had limitless potential. Monster hunts weren’t the only battles fought in the field; clan battles and wars between kingdoms were, too.

‘It could be important enough to decide the outcome of a war.’

In other words, it could be priceless.

“Peron, you and Weden can take one rune each.”

“... What? Really?”

“Yes. Think of it as thanks for coming all this way.”

“Thank you!!”

Peron accepted the agility rune and bowed deeply, visibly overwhelmed.

‘Ruen needs an agility rune too, but...’

Woojin glanced at her. As though reading his thoughts, she nodded to say it was all right.

As a former CEO, he knew better than anyone how important rewards were when managing people. People’s hearts could change as easily as turning over a hand.

‘Rewards are how you build trust.’

“Give this to Weden for me. Oh, and use this to get him some decent equipment, too.”

“You aren’t going to give it to him yourself?”

After handing Peron the rune and some travel money, Woojin looked toward the Fairy Queen as he answered.

“I still have things to do here.”

At his words, the Fairy Queen lifted both sides of her dress slightly in a courteous gesture.

“Then I’ll contact you once I’ve met up with Weden.”

“Please do.”

Once Peron had left, Woojin addressed the Fairy Queen.

“First, I should thank you. Thanks to you, everything ended well.”

“Not at all. The suspicions surrounding Zion Muren remain unresolved. Still, demons... It seems another storm is about to sweep across the continent.”

“If we fail to stop the demons, it won’t end with a mere storm.”

Woojin recalled the future of this other world. The beings known as Collectors had abducted members of other races and sold them to demons.

‘After the Labyrinth Tower collapsed, the continent became the demons’ world.’

They were surely hiding somewhere.

“Still, uncovering his connection to demons is an achievement in itself.”

It would be impossible to silence every knight who had remained there. Rumors about House Muren would soon spread.

“Muren aside, the fact that demons still exist will be enough to put the kingdoms on their guard.”

“You handled this even better than I expected.”

[Quest complete.]

[Quest Name: Defense of Thorn Bach]

A notification sounded.

“The fairy race offers you its thanks.”

As she brought her hands together, two objects appeared: a vial containing a blue liquid and a small book.

“These are the rewards the fairy race has prepared.”

Name: Thousand-Year Tree Sap

Grade: S

Description: Sap obtained from a thousand-year tree. Renowned as a miraculous medicine that can instantly raise one’s limits when consumed.

▶ Permanently grants +1 level upon use.

CLINK.

He gently shook the vial the queen had given him, and the liquid inside shone with a mysterious light.

‘It raises your level...’

The effect was described in just one line, but that alone was enough to establish its value.

‘I’ll save this for later.’

There was only one right time to use the sap, no matter what anyone said.

‘When I hit the level cap.’

If he drank it then, he could surpass level 99, the highest level a player could reach, and become the only level 100.

“... You’ve given me something incredible.”

“You have earned it.”

He couldn’t use it right away, but in time, the sap’s value would need no explanation.

Then there was the book the queen had given him—a skill book edged in blue.

‘Rare-grade.’

It was a reward he liked.

‘I’ve reached level 50, but with that goddamn quest, it looks like it’ll be a long time before I can get my class.’

[Skill Book: Mirage]

Grade: Rare

Description: Causes all beings within a certain area to experience optical illusions.

▶ Targets with low nature resistance may suffer the debuff: Confusion.

▶ Confused targets attack their allies.

‘Not bad.’

The description made it sound like a utility skill for shaking off enemies in an emergency, but it seemed likely to be even more effective when used offensively. Thinking it would be useful for clearing dungeons as well as on the battlefield, Woojin opened the skill book without hesitation.

[Would you like to use the skill book?]

WHOOSH...!!

When he pressed the accept button, the book burst into flames and vanished in an instant.

[You have acquired the skill: Mirage.]

“Bensina told you to come to the Revla Mountains, but even the journey there will not be easy.”

Woojin nodded. The Revla Mountains were an unexplored region in the northern central continent. According to the information on the official website, the hunting grounds in the north averaged level 85.

Even Kerga, currently the highest-ranked player, had reportedly only reached level 70 while clearing the Labyrinth Tower’s tenth floor recently. Naturally, the north was more than merely unexplored; it was beyond the reach of players.

‘They said leveling becomes hellish from level 60 onward.’

People called it the dreaded level-60 wall. They even said that going from level 60 to 61 took as long as leveling from 1 to 60. That was why, despite being only ten levels apart, the gap between level 60 and level 70 was enormous.

Under those circumstances... reaching level-85 hunting grounds would be difficult even after years.

‘Well, I won’t know until I try.’

The prospect was daunting, yet Woojin took it surprisingly calmly. Perhaps that was possible because he had already been through every kind of hardship in this other world.

“It would be stranger if getting a Legendary class were easy. I won’t rush.”

“Very wise.”

The Fairy Queen nodded at his answer.

“I hope this will be of some small help on your journey.”

[Using Wig’s Light.]

“...!!”

At her touch, his severed wrist miraculously grew back, like a flower blooming. Not only that, but all the group’s injuries, large and small—including Nissen’s corrupted arms—were healed.

“Th-thank you.”

Woojin gazed at his restored arm in wonder.

“What do you plan to do now?”

“Well, there’s plenty I need to do, but... I’d like to rest for a while. I’m thinking of going to the Kingdom of Tekan. Visiting Karlan’s territory was why I came here in the first place.”

“The Kingdom of Tekan...”

She stifled a quiet murmur, as though his words had reminded her of something.

“If you are going there, why not visit the Great Forest?”

“The Great Forest...?”

Woojin glanced at Karlan.

“Ah, the Great Forest is an enormous forest in the center of the Antarian Federation, which the Kingdom of Tekan belongs to.”

According to him, the three small kingdoms lay around the Great Forest: Tekan to the east, Esten to the west, and Dalus to the south.

“And north of the Great Forest lies the Kingdom of Brian, one of the five great kingdoms.”

“The Kingdom of Brian—that’s where Charlo was.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Karlan’s answer reminded him of Alteon.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder if he’s all right. When you get down to it, Zion forced him out.’

With one of the three great sacred treasures lost and Charlo dead as well, Woojin suspected he was probably in a difficult position.

“Nissen, if you find the stake, make sure you contact the Church.”

“Understood.”

After hearing Nissen’s answer, Woojin resumed his conversation with the Fairy Queen.

“Why do you suggest visiting the Great Forest?”

“It has the greatest concentration of spirits on the continent.”

“Ah...”

Woojin thought he understood why she had brought it up. She seemed to have realized that the time had come for Ruen to contract with a spirit.

“You’re giving me more work to do.”

“I hope a chance encounter will lead to another bond.”

The Fairy Queen smiled.

“And... someday, surely the fairy race and humanity will coexist.”

SNAP.

She snapped her fingers, and fairies appeared behind her.

“This is a gift of that friendship.”

Fowler held a small dress.

“It is for you.”

“M-me?!”

Startled by her words, Setsuna covered her mouth.

“It is old, as I wore it long ago... but it should serve you well.”

“Thank you!!!”

Accepting the dress, Setsuna teared up with emotion.

“I’ll treasure it as a family heirloom! I’ll never wear it!!”

“I gave it to you to wear, so please use it freely.”

The Fairy Queen gently stroked her head as though she were her daughter.

“Please be a source of strength for him.”

Setsuna nodded, clutching the dress tightly to her chest.

“But... are you leaving right away? Why not rest for at least a day before you go?”

Woojin shook his head at Karlan’s suggestion.

“The whole continent knows the Black Dragon is gone. The portal blocked by the Dark Zone will be restored soon, too. Then this place will get noisy in no time.”

If he was going to leave, it was best not to linger. Woojin decided to hurry on his way.

“We should stop by the tomb Bensina mentioned on the way.”

Knowing there were still rewards waiting for him was a very pleasant thought.

“Understood.”

Karlan nodded at his words.

“Then allow me to escort you.”

Taking the lead, he smiled cheerfully and added,

“Home.”

At that, an odd smile crossed Woojin’s face. It was the destination he longed to reach most.

‘Someday, without fail...’

He, too, would arrive there.