Chapter 80 : Chapter 80

Chapter 80 : Support (3)

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In the place where a Tune sleeps, various strange phenomena occur.

The fountain endlessly spewing water in the Turoko Kingdom is also a phenomenon caused by the influence of a Tune.

It is a phenomenon created by a Tune called [Trait Transformation].

[Trait Transformation] is essentially a Tune that enhances a trait, applicable only to those who already possess an elemental attribute Tune.

If someone who already has an elemental attribute Tune succeeds in obtaining [Trait Transformation], the Tune’s abilities undergo a dramatic transformation.

Thus, when playing as Adjak, I had no use for it and didn’t acquire it.

Perhaps the phenomenon occurring now is a problem that couldn’t be resolved in Adjak’s era, bursting forth now.

If so, for the sake of atoning for my karma and for my own growth, I needed to go there.

“Can you really resolve it?”

“I can’t guarantee it, but I want to try.”

Of course, while I didn’t acquire [Trait Transformation] when playing as Adjak, I had tackled it with other characters before.

‘The problem is that it’s a flood, of all things.’

The disasters accompanying [Trait Transformation] are not fixed.

Each time, a random disaster manifests, and in this world, it appears as a flood.

To resolve such a disaster, it must be addressed with an elemental attribute Tune.

The attribute Tune I possess is [Flame of the Spirit].

If it had been a cold wave, things would have been resolved easily, but stopping a flood with flames didn’t immediately come to mind.

That’s why I responded to Baron Renwood without confidence, saying I’d give it a try.

“Very well. I hear quite a few solvers have already gathered. They’ve all failed, though. If you succeed… I’ll grant what you desire.”

Baron Renwood placed a hand on my shoulder.

Unlike before, he used informal speech and the look in his eyes had changed.

It seemed that my declaration to take on the challenge had closed the distance between us.

For me, it was an opportunity I wanted to seize.

Of course, it would be even better if rewards came with it.

But before that, I had a question.

“Why, Baron, are you trying to help with a disaster in the far-off Turoko Kingdom?”

Baron Renwood seemed to ponder for a moment before asking me,“Are you aware of what the Empire has been planning recently?”

“You mean preparing for war to unify humanity?”

“Haha, you already knew. Yes, the Empire is scheming something that reckless.”

I already knew that Baron Renwood was not a supporter of the war.

When I took on Manoa’s personal request, Labella had already told me about the Baron’s disposition.

However, opposing the war was one thing; the reason he was stepping up to help the Turoko Kingdom was hard to guess.

“I am loyal to His Majesty the Emperor. I haven’t seen him in recent years, but my heart for the Empire is sincere.”

As I could infer from my conversation with the Imperial Intelligence Agency, Baron Renwood knew of the Emperor’s absence.

I decided to ask about that later and focused on the Baron’s words for now.

“But the Empire waging war to unify humanity is not right. It’s like cutting our own flesh.”

“…”

“Turoko is currently suffering from a disaster and struggling to deploy its forces, but in times of peace, it’s a nation even the Empire cannot ignore. If they regain stability, the Empire’s plans will inevitably change.”

“So you’re helping Turoko to prevent their strength from being diminished by the disaster?”

“Exactly. I’ve had my eye on Turoko for a while, so I also want to lend them indirect support.”

It was a relatively clear motive.

Of course, Baron Renwood and I had different reasons for wanting to stop the war.

His goal was to preserve the Empire’s strength, while mine was to save all of humanity.

But even if our perspectives differed slightly, our goal of preventing war was the same.

“I’ll do my best to resolve it.”

“Thank you. But as you know, I can’t officially send you.”

“Yes, I’ll accomplish it without borrowing the Duke’s name.”

“I’m sorry to give you such a difficult task. If things go well and you meet Turoko’s princess, you may mention my name then.”

‘A princess, all of a sudden?’

With a slight question in mind, I nodded.

“I won’t hold you accountable if you fail, so don’t worry. Whether you succeed or fail, I’ll prepare a carriage so you can return here with proper hospitality.”

Hearing that, another curiosity arose.

“How did you know when I’d arrive? And… How did you find me in the forest earlier?”

It had been nagging at me.

The Imperial Intelligence Agency had been tracking me all along, but how did Manoa’s guards pinpoint my location and come to help?

“Didn’t you know? The solver’s badge you have is an artifact that can be tracked.”

Since I was registered as a designated requester, they could easily confirm it.

Baron Renwood spoke casually, but I felt a chill. I couldn’t destroy it either.

“I’ll return on my own. Could you hold onto my solver’s badge in the meantime?”

* * *

The Turoko Kingdom was located not too far from the Hamdel Desert.

That’s why, after destroying the Atelier of the Dark Mages in Hamdel, I had considered heading there.

Of course, instead of going to Turoko Kingdom back then, I met the Hamudalun tribe and Narima and formed a contract with Arandir.

When I came to Ostrum, I used a portal, so I couldn’t feel the distance from the capital to the outer regions.

But now, heading to Turoko Kingdom alone, I realized it was quite far.

It’s far, but I planned to take it step by step.

I needed to gather information along the way and cross-check it with the game knowledge I had.

I also wanted to gauge the strength of the Turoko Kingdom, which the Baron considered a force capable of opposing the Empire.

After traveling for a while, I achieved growth in [Wings of Ainsitel].

Not only had the wings grown in size, but their power had also increased.

My flight speed naturally rose as well.

The most significant change was the flames, which I had rarely used since acquiring [Wings of Ainsitel].

Being attached only to my back, they were less versatile than [Flame of the Spirit].

However, the flames enveloping the white wings had become much stronger.

Moreover, when I flew with the flames, they blazed behind me like the tail of an airplane.

I hadn’t yet found a clear way to utilize them, but with some thought, I could surely find ways to use them.

Thus, sometimes flying, sometimes running, I arrived at the high walls of the Turoko Kingdom.

At an inn I stopped by along the way, I obtained a forged identity through a technician.

“Milton Amil. Pass!”

The entry process was surprisingly simple.

Despite the crude quality of the forged identity, I trusted the technician’s assurance that it would be fine and presented it to the guard, who let me through easily.

Moreover, most of the people entering looked rough.

It seemed like only those with some strength were flocking in droves.

‘They must have heard about the phenomenon and rushed here from all over. Some, like me, probably came on someone’s request.’

The city’s atmosphere was chaotic, with people leaving Turoko and those flooding in mingling together.

As if to prove the old imperial castle was flooded, the alleys near it were sloshing with dirty water.

I headed straight for a seedy tavern.

Buying drinks for drunks, I gathered various bits of information.

A minor tip from the Tello agent’s code, but it was quite effective.

I obtained several useful pieces of information:

- It’s no longer a secret that there’s a cursed fountain in the old imperial castle. People from all over have flocked to resolve it! The problem is, so many have come that the waiting line is quite long…

With riffraff and thugs joining the crowd, public authority was reportedly shaky.

To address this, the Turoko Kingdom had launched what they called a “war on crime.”

Whether it was a minor or serious offense, capturing criminals and turning them over to the guards came with rewards.

I had no intention of standing in an unpredictable waiting line.

Instead, I planned to resolve a small crime, claim the reward, and request a chance to tackle the phenomenon.

So, I ventured deeper into the shadier alleys.

In a city with unstable security, I thought I’d make a good target.

To outsiders, I was just a young guy swaggering with a decent-looking sword at my waist.

‘…But why isn’t anyone approaching me?’

Despite the number of rough-looking people in the back alleys, no one picked a fight with me.

Some approached with sly grins but flinched upon seeing the sword at my waist and fled.

All I wanted was to catch a pickpocket.

I even jingled my coin pouch on purpose, but it was no use.

I heightened my senses and scanned my surroundings more closely.

I noticed plenty of people watching me.

So why wasn’t anyone approaching? Feeling puzzled, I ventured deeper into the deserted alleys.

Thud!

Someone grabbed my wrist.

I was startled.

I hadn’t noticed their approach until they seized my wrist.

I was certain I hadn’t let my guard down.

I tried to pull my wrist free by channeling mana, but I couldn’t easily escape the man’s rough grip.

He looked down at me expressionlessly and gestured with his chin.

“The ornament on the tip of your sword. How did you get it?”

Hearing that, I carefully studied the man’s face.

Dark skin and sharp, piercing eyes.

He wasn’t wearing a hood, but I could tell he was from the Hamudalun tribe.

It made sense that I hadn’t noticed his approach or the grab.

He must have used the tribe’s trait, [Assimilation], to erase his presence and get close.

“I visited the Hamudalun tribe’s territory once. It was a gift I received then.”

“An outsider visited the territory? Hard to believe.”

“It’s true. There’s even a mark on my arm from receiving the gift.”

The man rolled up my sleeve.

The burn mark from the incense still remained on my arm.

He flinched, then released his tight grip.

“The ornament on your sword isn’t something given to just anyone. And you even received the Desert’s Blessing? Are you some noble of the tribe?”

“No, it’s thanks to Narima saying I smelled nice.”

“Narima? The pride of the tribe?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

“If you’re Narima’s friend, you’re as good as my friend.”

With that, he extended a thick hand for a handshake.

His attitude changed in an instant, as if he hadn’t just been rough with me.

“I’m Ryung, the captain of the Turoko Imperisl Guard. So what’s someone as esteemed as a tribal noble doing in an alley like this?”

I didn’t mind Ryung’s change in demeanor. I answered honestly.

“I was trying to catch a pickpocket. I heard the higher-ups here favor those who help maintain security.”

“Why are you trying to get close to the higher-ups? Want to meet the princess or something?”

Following Baron Renwood, now Ryung was mentioning a princess out of nowhere.

It was hard to understand why.

But since my actions weren’t for some unknown princess, I clarified the misunderstanding.

“No, I heard there’s a minor issue at the imperial castle, and I want to resolve it.”

“It’s not minor.”

“Sorry. I only heard rumors. I’ll know more once I see it myself.”

“Follow me.”

* * *

I didn’t catch a pickpocket while wandering the back alleys, but it turned out to be the right

choice.

I managed to make contact with someone high up in the imperial castle without the effort of catching a thief.

I learned during our walk that after Ryung took charge of security, the people of Turoko Kingdom became familiar with the Hamudalun tribe.

Those who recognized the ornament on my sword as a gift from the Hamudalun tribe didn’t dare approach me easily.

Ryung and I arrived at the courtyard of the old imperial castle.

“So, Milton, can you resolve it?”

I couldn’t answer immediately, staring blankly at the scene before me.

Gush, gush, gush, gush.

Even at this moment, water pouring from the fountain was turning the courtyard into a sea of water.

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