Chapter 135 : Chapter 135

Chapter 135 : World of Recurrence (1)

I had an inkling of the identity of the space Hike created with Dragon Speech.

World of Recurrence.

It refers to a world manifested through Dragon Speech.

However, a highly manifested World of Recurrence is no different from reality.

The people and situations within that world are just like real, living beings.

Getting hurt there meant getting hurt in reality, and obtaining loot in the World of Recurrence would manifest it in reality as well.

Hike had reached a stage where she could create a world with Dragon Speech.

‘I don't think she could use World of Recurrence back when she was with Adjak. Lady Hike has grown a lot.’

It was a rather meticulously manifested space.

This was because everything from the bed and mirror in the room where Adjak stayed, to the old wooden planks, was manifested with a sense of reality.

I could guess how much effort Hike had put into creating this space.

But no matter how powerful a dragon's authority was, completely manifesting a world couldn't have been easy.

That was also why most World of Recurrence manifested and showed events that happened in the past.

‘I have to first figure out what past this world is imitating. It's probably related to Adjak's past….’

I wouldn't find out anything by just staying in the room.

After staring at Adjak's face in the mirror one more time, I left the room and I went down the stairs leading to the lower floor.

Soon, I saw a group of frightened people huddled together.

“Lord Adjak!”

“Apostle of the Holy Order! Please save us!”

Adults and children alike, people in shabby states were gathered on the lower floor.

As I came down to the first floor, the noise from the battle became much clearer.

Every time someone's scream was heard, the shoulders of the people inside the hall flinched.

I looked outside through the window.

A group of humans and a group of Lizardfolk were entangled in a fight.

‘Of all things….’

I realized what the setting of the World of Recurrence created by Hike was.

I spoke to the humans who were trembling.

“First, I will go look around. Until then, please hold on tight here.”

“Yes, please be careful….”

The people spoke with worry, as if they only trusted me.

Some people clasped their hands and prayed and there were also gazes that stared at me while holding a young son tightly.

However, I just gave a slight bow and came out.

This was because I knew that those people, who seemed to be trembling in the throes of war, were by no means good people.

Adjak lost his most trustworthy companion NPC here.

***

I watched the battle unfolding at the village entrance.

It wasn't a large-scale battle.

A dozen or so humans and Lizardfolk were entangled with each other, fighting.

Their eyes glistened with the heat of battle.

Focused on fighting on the front lines, they didn't even notice that I was watching them.

‘There must be a reason why Lady Hike gave this battle as a trial.’

Hike didn't tell me the conditions for passing the trial.

Even in the second trial, wasn't I only able to figure out the passing conditions after my neck was cut several times?

In other words, to pass the third trial as well, I first had to find the trial's objective.

Could breaking through be the objective of the trial itself?

Once I grasped the background of the trial, I could realize how difficult of a trial this was.

The residents hiding in the village hall, the knights dispatched from the adjacent territory and even the Lizardfolk.

Three groups were fighting for a single purpose.

To obtain the trace of a god sealed since the Mythic Era.

Mediating a war and even gaining benefits in a situation where all three groups were menacingly pointing their blades to obtain the trace of a god would be anything but easy.

Of course, Adjak did eventually obtain the reward he wanted at the end of this situation.

Rather than belonging to one side, Adjak dispatched companions to all three groups.

After persuading them all to stop the war, he eventually obtained the trace of the god.

However, in that process, one of Adjak's long-time companions lost his life.

For Adjak, it was no different from a failed mission, as the loss of power from losing a trustworthy companion was far greater than the gain from receiving the reward.

‘The problem is… it was impossible to pass the final gateway without the companion's sacrifice.’

As Adjak, I had to end this fierce three-way battle.

However, I must not make the same mistake as before.

Hike wouldn't want me to fight exactly like Adjak to break through this trial.

This was probably the objective of the trial Hike had given.

Somehow, I had to make a better decision than Adjak, to bring about a better result than Adjak.

And I wouldn't be able to create that result alone.

I had to find my companions.

Since we came through the same portal, my companions must be wandering around here somewhere.

They would be much more confused than I, who understood the situation.

“Kuaaaak!”

My gaze turned to the sudden scream.

The battlefield where humans and Lizardfolk were entangled in a fight.

A scimitar wielded by a Lizardfolk pierced a human's body, and he let out a scream.

But the next attack soon followed, and the human could no longer even scream and collapsed on the spot.

Although it was a World of Recurrence that recreated an event from the past, seeing the vividly gushing blood snapped me to my senses.

In the second trial, I came back to life no matter how many times I died, but there was no guarantee that would be the case here.

Cases of dying while undergoing the Dragon's Trial were common and it was something that happened often in the Dragon Speech Space too.

If a companion was in the small-scale battle unfolding before my eyes, I had to save them.

That would be the very start of this trial.

Many were entangled, and among them, one person's face was familiar.

‘It's Pieto.’

As Adjak's long-time friend, the NPC who ends up dying through this trial.

“Uwaaaaah!”

He shouted and ran towards the Lizardfolk who had just killed the human.

But he threw the sword he was holding and charged with his bare fists.

It wasn't difficult to guess who had possessed Pieto's body.

The problem was that the skill of the Lizardfolk confronting Pieto was by no means insignificant.

I tried to recall the Tunes Adjak would have possessed at this point in time.

He too could use [Rush] through his dragon horns.

It was different from my [Rush], but it was certainly the mystery I could adapt to the fastest right now.

Shuuuuung!

I kicked off the ground and used [Rush].

Adjak's [Rush] could travel a much longer distance much faster than mine.

I cut in between the Lizardfolk and Pieto, no, Keldric.

And while I parried the scimitar the Lizardfolk powerfully swung with my sword, I deflected Keldric's fist.

“Lord Adjak?”

“You, you're a famous human.”

Keldric and the Lizardfolk questioned me at the same time.

I first nodded towards Keldric, then spoke to the Lizardfolk.

“Let's stop here for today.”

“Should I follow your words?”

“If you don't, are you confident you can fight me?”

Krrrrk.

A sound like phlegm boiling came from the beastman's throat.

His intent to threaten was obvious, but I didn't flinch.

Right now, I am Adjak.

The Lizardfolk, who knew Adjak, didn't rush in recklessly.

Instead, he sheathed his scimitar and shouted to his comrades.

“Withdraw. We're rejoining the main unit.”

“Yes!”

No wonder his build was larger than the other Lizardfolk and his scales seemed to glisten.

It seemed he was the captain of the Lizardfolk unit.

Following his command, the Lizardfolk swiftly exited the battlefield.

“Are you really… Lord Adjak?”

Keldric was almost in tears looking at me.

It seemed he was overcome with emotion, facing the founder of his family and the one and only hero.

But I couldn't reveal my identity right away.

This was because there were many humans around dressed like Keldric.

And the humans' casualties were more severe than the Lizardfolk unit's.

Three were dead and the rest had suffered injuries, large and small.

It was a disaster that occurred because they fought with similar numbers against the Lizardfolk, who were larger and stronger than humans.

“The hero has come!”

“Let's drive out the lizard bastards!”

Despite their losses, the humans rejoiced at the fact that I had joined them and raised their respective weapons.

However, I poured cold water on them.

“I have no intention of joining you, so take the injured and leave at once.”

“What?”

“Do I have to say it twice?”

I retorted coldly.

The knights who came here, the Lizardfolk, and the people who hid in the village hall.

None of them were victims.

Just people who started a war out of their own greed.

The knights were stealthily leaving while watching my reaction.

A sliver of hope remained in their eyes, but I didn't give them another glance.

Instead, I pointed at Keldric, who was about to return to the camp with the knights, and said.

“I'm taking this one.”

“What? Me?”

Keldric's eyes went wide.

But I didn't look at him and only spoke to the other knights.

The knights showed no sign of displeasure even though I was taking away one of their men without explaining a clear reason.

They simply nodded.

‘This was how Adjak was. It's a bit… convenient.’

In Polarin's body, I couldn't act so stubbornly.

Because to me now, this place wasn't just a world inside a game, but reality.

Of course, there were times when I also wanted to be firm and decisive like Adjak.

But I know now that it's not in my nature.

What's wrong with using polite language and being kind to people?

I now understand that doing what I have to do and slowly approaching my goal is the best I can do.

Keldric, who had been pointed out by me, approached hesitantly.

He looked at me with eyes full of admiration, while at the same time, he was at a loss, unable to understand the situation.

I walked ahead.

Then Keldric toddled after me.

After confirming we were far enough from the knights, I turned around and spoke.

“Pieto.”

“Yes, Lord Adjak.”

Fortunately, he seemed to know his name in this world, as Keldric answered promptly in a very disciplined voice.

It reminded me of how he treated Eidon when he first came to Tello, and a laugh escaped me without realizing it.

Keldric, not knowing why I was laughing, just rolled his eyes and stared at me.

“No, Brother Keldric.”

“Ye-yes?”

Keldric unnecessarily lowered his voice and asked, even though there was no one around.

“Are you… by any chance, Polarin?”

“Yes, that's right.”

Keldric grabbed my hand tightly, as if he was happy to see me.

“Where were you! I've been looking for you for a whole week!”

“A week? I just got here though?”

“Really? Looks like we arrived at different times. Anyway, did you really become Lord Adjak’s body?”

“Yes. I was surprised too.”

Keldric walked around me in circles, examining me as if he found it fascinating.

I think I would have done the same if I were Keldric. But there was something that bothered me.

“But… It's not good that we all entered the trial at different times. Have you found anyone else?”

“I couldn't find Everchen, but I know where Lady Bea is. I saw an elf who looks just like her.”

It seemed Bea had taken on Gawen's role here.

That was a relief. She would be able to utilize her specialty just as it is.

I could tell just by looking at Keldric.

The owner of the body he possessed used a sword.

That's why he threw the unfamiliar sword and tried to fight with his fists, but at least such a misfortune wouldn't happen to Bea.

“But Lady Bea… is a little scary.”

“What? What's there to be scared of?”

“No, you'll know when you see her. She's really… scary.”

Soon after, a shouting voice was heard from the direction the Lizardfolk had headed.

“You human bastards! We'll retreat for today, but tomorrow, I'll annihilate every last one of you!”

It was a familiar woman's voice.

“Don't tell me that's… Lady Bea?”

“Yeah. She's with the Lizardfolk right now.”

It seemed Bea was getting a little too immersed in this trial.

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