Chapter 65 : Chapter 65

Chapter 65: One Drink for the Me Who Has Just Become Pathetic (1)

That night, Artier's party and Ropin left Kelta Castle, which was holding a celebratory party.

Taskerben had sent someone to invite Artier, but by then, the party had already left.

No one could stop the footsteps of a mercenary who had received their payment.

“Although our fates have diverged this time, I hope that we can surely be together next time.”

With those words, Ropin parted ways with them again.

I could only scratch the back of my neck as I watched him leave.

‘Originally, there was a process of meeting Ropin here for the first time and building up favorability, but since I did all of that at Gigas Hall, the importance of this part has drastically decreased.’

The day I met Ropin again would probably be very far in the future.

I could only pray that Ropin would be safe until then.

After that, I cleared the main quests one by one, and when I had time, I went around completing the sub-quests in the vicinity.

My companions were sometimes there, and sometimes not.

My companions and I were not a disciplined mercenary corps, but a party. I couldn't force them to take on quests.

‘Well, it can’t be helped.’

It wasn't that they were being lazy; it was just that they were of the mindset to rest properly when they rested.

In the end, the members who consistently moved with me were Tersion and Collie.

And now, I was also carrying out this mission with those two.

[A quest has been generated.]

There is a tale that treasure lies dormant in a temple deep in the forest, but no adventurer has been able to find that treasure.

Now that everyone dismisses it as a fabricated story, you have decided to pin your last hopes on a map you happened to find.

Reward upon finding the temple: ???, acquisition of a special title

“Artier, what in the world are you?”

Tersion asked.

She was doubting her own eyes, wondering if they were wrong.

“How did you figure out the secret of the forest that explorers had been wasting their time on for 5 years in just three hours?”

“There are ways.”

I chuckled and entered the small mountain lodge.

Inside, a totem decorated with deer antlers was erected.

When I brought the leather pouch I had brought in advance to the totem, a small needle popped out from the totem and pricked the pouch. A moment later, the ordinary fireplace that had been in front of us split left and right.

As we descended the stairs that led downwards through the revealed passage, a temple full of dust welcomed its visitors, emitting a faint light.

“The temple’s mana was hidden by the forest's strange mana, so it couldn't be found at all... Since it was hidden by a mechanical device like this, the mages would have had no way of finding it.”

Collie looked at the pouch I was holding and asked.

“How did you know that a deer's blood was the key to the sanctuary?”

“It was a doe, but it had antlers on its head.”

“Excuse me?”

“Deer antlers fall off periodically, but those antlers had many cracks and were severely scratched. It means the antlers hadn't fallen off after they grew once.”

It was said that among the does in this forest, there were many cases of them having antlers.

In fact, it was information that could be easily found by investigating the rumors.

“And if you draw the range of appearance of such does, and then connect the mountain lodges built throughout the forest to it... only this place remains.”

“That's amazing. I didn't even think that far.”

“I just used my head a little.”

Of course, it was all a lie.

How could I forget this strategy when I had done it so many times?

Moreover, this sanctuary was one of the easiest places for me to visit, so that was even more so.

Rattle.

“This must be it.”

I picked up the small circlet placed in the innermost part of the temple.

On the outside, it was a crude circlet with no decorations at all, but the information window didn't lie.

[Circlet of Nature (Magic)]

Defense: 3

Option: Intelligence +10

Hidden Option: 10 Nature's Mana is regenerated at midnight. 2 Nature's Mana can be consumed to use the Grow magic.

‘Good, this is what I was looking for.’

After confirming the circlet's information, I handed it over to Tersion.

Tersion accepted the circlet without hesitation.

“But, is it really okay with something like this?”

“...Of course.”

I could feel her gaze quietly looking at the circlet from beyond the mask.

“What's important is that it has regained its original place.”

“Yes. Then shall we leave now?”

As the three of them left the temple, the temple, as if its job was done, gradually lost its light and began to sink.

It was clear that no adventurer would visit that place anymore.

[Quest completed.]

Reward: Experience Points, Special Title

[You have acquired the title of Secret Seeker.]

When a hidden tool or item is nearby, there is a certain probability that it will be highlighted.

You will receive a reward when you investigate an unknown secret.

[You have leveled up.]

‘I finally got it.’

I smiled as I checked the experience points that were rising rapidly.

Lv.27 Artier

Title: Supreme-Grade Mercenary, Gnoll Slayer. Secret Seeker

Class: Wild Summoner

Strength: 43

Agility: 42(+1)

Intelligence: 19

Available Skills: Perfect Counter (Lv.5), Avatar of Counterattack (Lv.3), Flame Cleave (Lv.3), Tactical Command (Lv.2), Wild Protection (Lv.2), Soul Share (Lv.1), Unity Rite (Lv.1)

For over a month, I had literally gathered experience points like a storm.

I had leveled up to the maximum possible at this point in time.

[Having reached level 20, new skills are no longer generated. Instead, it is possible to raise the level of existing skills every 5 levels.]

When I passed level 20, an information window like this popped up instead of a new skill.

Thanks to that, the duration of my Perfect Counter had increased significantly.

‘Still a long way to go, though.’

The advantage of Perfect Counter was that as the skill's level increased, the duration of the time-slowing effect also increased.

It was a skill with such fraudulent performance that I, who was more proficient in this game than anyone else, could count on my fingers.

“Huh?”

While we were all coming down the mountain together, Tersion's ear twitched.

“What's wrong?”

Tersion, who had placed a finger on her mask, put her hand to her ear.

When Bow finally took her hand away, her voice was a notch lower.

“It's the Information Guild. They said they came to complete the request.”

“Does that mean...”

“It seems they found the guard captain Roston of the south.”

***

Three hours later, our party gathered in a small pub in Donko.

“You must have been through a lot during that time.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Of course.”

Gerard, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, had taken off his armor and was wearing a comfortable robe, and Jeina was wearing a leather armor I had never seen before.

“That robe... it seems you've joined the Sage’s Tower.”

“They acknowledged at the Sage’s Tower that it would be difficult for me to make a comeback as a swordsman. I'm not sure if it's a good thing, though.”

When he lifted the robe, Gerard's right arm, which was revealed, was completely devoid of muscle, unlike his still sturdy left arm.

“Of course, if I'm in a hurry, I can swing a sword with my left hand. But I just hope that doesn't happen.”

“Our leader, you're literally flying around now?”

“Jeina, any mage can do that.”

Gerard had an embarrassed expression, but I could give him a smile.

“Alright, we can catch up more later, so let's check the information we received first.”

Tersion spread a map with the image of the Empire on the table.

There were circles drawn in three places in the south, and one of them had an × mark on it.

“This place is too small a rural village for the position of guard captain to be meaningful, they said. You think so too, right?”

“I suppose so.”

A person who would think of handing over a castle to the Hellmorphs for their own benefit would surely not be a mere guard captain of a rural village.

At the very least, they had to be a guard captain of a city that could benefit when Taskerben and Kelta Castle were weakened.

“Then there are only two places.”

One circle was drawn in the southeast of the Empire, and another was drawn a little further east than that.

“The cities are Tutol and Crotan. But the Information Guild said something.”

“What did they say?”

“These two people became guard captains at almost the same time.”

“Excuse me?”

When Artion questioned her, Tersion nodded her head.

At that, Jeina asked with a bewildered expression.

“What's so important about that?”

“It's important. It means that there's a possibility in both cities.”

Using a rookie guard captain to devise a sinister plot was not a good choice.

So, I had intended to first suspect the veteran guard captain with a higher possibility, but this had become twisted.

“For guard captains with similar names to appear at the same time in cities so close to each other...”

“Honestly, I find it hard to see it as a coincidence.”

Tersion and Gerard nodded their heads at the same time.

“We should see it as a kind of diversionary tactic.”

“That's right. If one is caught, the other will try to escape. To let their superiors know that there's someone who suspects them.”

“Then it will be dangerous, but we have no choice but to check both of them at the same time.”

In the end, the party decided to split into two and visit Tutol and Crotan at the same time.

I would go to Tutol with Gerard, and Jeina, Tersion, and Collie would go to Crotan.

“Wouldn't it be better if I went with you?”

Collie looked at me with an anxious expression, but I shook my head.

“Just in case, there should be one mage on each side.”

A mage was a resource that could create variables.

This was true not only in combat situations but also in non-combat situations.

Right now, Collie's camouflage through the Camouflage Veil, or his ability to change his appearance through Polymorph, made many operations possible.

“Besides, you can come and find me right away in an emergency. If you think about it, it's right for you to go to the other side.”

“Ugh, I understand. But you must call me if you're in danger too, Master.”

Collie showed a reluctant agreement.

“I feel like any plan will fail if I go with this idiot.”

“What did you say? Want a taste of my axe?”

“Both of you, stop fighting.”

In the meantime, I, who had stopped Tersion and Jeina from growling at each other, let out a sigh.

They seem to have good teamwork in actual combat, so why are they so hell-bent on getting at each other's throats in normal times?

“Should I just go over there?”

“No, I think this is right.”

Gerard grabbed me as I was about to go forward.

“Why? Jeina is your longtime companion, Gerard. Wouldn't you have better teamwork?”

“I don't want to.”

“Excuse me?”

“I like this.”

“....”

“Ahem... It's just that I can no longer stop Jeina with strength like I used to.”

Gerard made all sorts of excuses belatedly, but honestly, it didn't seem to have much meaning.

Tip: Tap/click the left or right side of the screen to go to previous/next chapter.