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chapter 43
“Isn’t that sword completely broken? And it’s even a growth item!”
As they started walking again, Yeonwoo raised his voice, excitement mixed in.
He had already forgotten all about having fallen over earlier.
“The sword itself is good, but it’s also strengthened by Sylph’s power.”
-The spirit is insanely OP;
-Upvote if you still haven’t even passed the Balder test.
-It’s fine.
-Just give up already.
-What about aiming for another attribute?
-As if that’d work.
There were still many who coveted the overwhelming performance of spirits.
Of course, spirits of other attributes also existed, but wouldn’t those be even harder to obtain?
“…….”
Ria continued to keep watch on their surroundings, dagger still in hand.
Monsters appeared again, but there was no chance for her to step in.
Slash—!
Shrrk—!
The skeletons that kept appearing were helplessly cut down by Hanbit’s sword.
Because he dealt with them using only minimal movements, he didn’t feel any fatigue.
[You have leveled up by 3.]
[3 stat points have been awarded.]
Dozens of skeletons had been defeated while advancing through the complex passages.
Since their levels were high, the experience gained was surprisingly large.
-That EXP is insane.
-Newbies pushing story must be loving this.
-The mobs are level 32 though?
-Why are there so many newbie-killer zones?
Viewers tempted by the experience poured messages into the chat.
However, it would be nearly impossible for a beginner who had just started to reach this place.
“Looks like that’s it.”
When they finally reached the end of the path, a peculiar space appeared.
Yeonwoo, arriving just behind him, looked around with curiosity.
“What is this place now?”
A wide space completely surrounded by blue barrier walls.
Even at that sight, Ria lowered her posture and remained alert.
“There’s something here.”
Srrk—
With her voice, a green light flickered along the inner wall.
When everyone’s eyes turned there, something revealed itself.
Kyaaak—!
A body with the upper half of a human and the lower half of a bird.
The face screaming toward them was grotesquely twisted.
[Elite: Mutated Wind Harpy (Lv.37)]
-An elite mob, damn.
-It looks scary as hell.
-Why are all the monsters like this?
-Feels like a gatekeeper.
-Is there some kind of facility inside?
“Hyung, what is this place exactly?”
With the appearance of a higher-grade monster, Yeonwoo also sensed something was off.
But it was still too early to give an answer.
“That thing’s dangerous.”
Ria said as she took her stance, dagger in hand.
The harpy, emitting an ominous aura.
Her instincts were warning her of danger.
“It’s fine.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Hanbit stepped forward.
The Mutated Wind Harpy.
As its name suggested, it was a being that used the power of wind.
And right now, Hanbit had a wind spirit at his side.
Whooong—
The wind wrapping around his body carried a proud, confident momentum.
Gripping his sword, Hanbit kicked off the ground immediately.
Tap—!
Flap—!
The harpy reacted at the same time, spreading its green wings and taking flight.
Whoosh—!
Circling in the air, the harpy locked its gaze on Hanbit.
Then, as the shape of its wings changed, sharp green blades shot forth.
Shiiik—!
The attack flew rapidly through the air.
The momentum, as if it would tear its target apart, was threatening.
Tap—!
Even in the face of that assault, Hanbit kicked toward the incoming blades.
Srrk—
From the blue-white sword gripped in both hands, the wind churned violently.
Feeling that sensation, Hanbit swung his sword without hesitation.
And the moment it collided with the harpy’s attack—
Whooosh—!
Sylph’s wind swallowed the harpy’s green blades.
Kyaaak—!
At its technique vanishing so futilely, the harpy frowned deeply.
Still flapping its wings, it tried to continue the assault.
But Hanbit’s charge was faster.
Slash—!
Advancing in a straight line, he thrust his sword toward the creature’s chest.
The harpy quickly raised its talons, but it was already too late.
Puhk—!
The tip of the blue-white sword pierced straight into its heart.
The light vanished from the harpy’s wide-open pupils.
Its body scattered into black powder in an instant.
[Experience has increased by 25,000.]
[You have leveled up.]
[1 stat point has been awarded.]
-ㄷㄷ
-Instant kill;
-Did you see the harpy’s skill disappear?
-He’s over ten levels lower and still eats it. LOL
-So broken.
Tap—!
Landing on the ground, Hanbit gently brushed the still-raging wind.
“It doesn’t look like there are any others.”
Watching him, Ria approached while scanning the area.
Hanbit nodded and pointed at the wall.
“Looks like the entrance is over there.”
Rumble—
With vibrations, the blue barrier wall slowly began to split apart.
Flash—!
The pure white light bursting from the gap felt almost sacred.
As the interior gradually revealed itself, the players reacted first.
-?
-Whoa.
-Is that a temple?
-It’s the Erfort Temple.
-Why is a Holy Nation facility here?
Blindingly white buildings and pillars bearing the Holy Nation’s flag.
It was a temple venerating their creator god and Erfort.
“Huh.”
“Why is this here…….”
The two of them were too shocked to continue speaking.
Ria looked stunned, but from here on, they needed to hurry.
“There’s no time. Let’s check quickly and leave.”
Hanbit moved first into the opened barrier.
Ria and Yeonwoo followed shortly after.
‘They really put a lot into this.’
The interior, identical to his memories, led him to that thought.
It was a temple structure that always felt excessively meticulous.
“Wow, isn’t this as good as the ones in the Holy Nation itself?”
Yeonwoo looked around in amazement at the temple’s exterior.
Temples almost never existed outside the Holy Nation.
For a hardline kingdom like Raven to have a facility of this level was, by common sense, impossible.
“Let’s go in.”
Hanbit stepped straight toward the temple entrance.
The interior was so quiet that even the smallest sound was absent.
Walking straight ahead, Hanbit moved to the innermost altar.
“This is even crazier.”
Looking inside the altar, Yeonwoo spoke in disbelief.
A stone statue of a god, pure white ceremonial robes hanging to one side, and even scriptures containing doctrine—it was a complete temple.
“Split up and look for anything. Ria, check behind the altar.”
“Got it.”
At his instruction, Ria nodded and moved while cautiously surveying the area.
“Hyung, what about me?”
Yeonwoo approached and asked quietly.
But no further instructions were needed.
“You can just pretend to search. Or look around.”
“Huh? What about the investigation?”
“The fact that this place is a temple is proof enough. Now all that’s left is Ria.”
“What do you mean by that—”
Rumble—
At that moment, a sound came from behind the altar.
Turning around, they saw Ria with a flustered expression.
“…What is this?”
Clutching her bag tightly with both hands, she stepped backward.
On the wall she was looking at, the floor was slowly opening, like a basement entrance.
“Let’s check it out.”
Hanbit moved first and stepped down.
Still flustered, Ria followed, gripping her dagger tightly.
“What is this place now? Some kind of secret room?”
Following behind, Yeonwoo looked around the dim stairway and spoke.
There was no reason for a space like this to exist behind a temple altar.
“…….”
Ria stayed silent, keeping watch.
It was partly due to the unknown danger, but also because of a strange sense of déjà vu she kept feeling.
Clack—
Hanbit, who had been going down first, stopped at the end of the stairs.
There, a wall filled with all kinds of graffiti blocked the way.
“Huh? There’s nothing here.”
Yeonwoo walked over and tapped the wall.
He looked a bit deflated, as if expecting something more.
-Is this a bait map?
-That wall’s covered in graffiti.
-The ferocity of child believers.
-Kids’ zone, damn.
Viewers also guessed it was a meaningless space as they looked at the messy wall.
However, that complicated graffiti was an extremely important clue.
“Huh?”
Then, the silent Ria spoke up.
“Wait a second.”
Slowly approaching, she stood in front of the wall and stared at the drawings.
Tilting her head, Ria fell into thought.
And a moment later, she spoke in a bewildered voice.
“…I think I drew these.”
-?
-So it was you, kid.
-What, was Ria a believer?
-A prodigy, damn.
The unexpected statement made the chat noisy.
Hanbit, who already knew, pretended ignorance and asked,
“You drew them?”
“They look similar… no, I definitely drew these. I was told I’m the only one who draws cats like this. It was when I was really young.”
Ria pointed at one of the graffiti with her finger.
It looked less like a cat and more like a slime with whiskers.
-A cat?
-I thought it was an unknown creature.
-Send that drawing.
-Kids are always like that.
-Fact) She draws better than me.
Her unusual drawing skills were surprising in many ways.
For something drawn around the age of five, it left a strong, unforgettable impression.
“So, do you understand anything? It’s strange that your drawings are here.”
“Well, that’s true, but……”
Frowning slightly, Ria examined the drawings more closely.
Countless of her own graffiti spread out randomly.
Finding a clue among them was quite difficult.
Normally, it would take a long time, so Hanbit decided to give a hint.
“What’s this? A tree?”
“Huh?”
When he pointed at one drawing, Ria turned her gaze.
After checking it, she said incredulously,
“What tree? That’s obviously a person.”
“It only looks like a person to you. Then what about this? A crown?”
“That’s not a crown, it’s a ring. Who wears a crown on their finger—?”
At that moment, Ria’s expression changed mid-sentence.
“…No way.”
As something came to mind, she reached into her bag.
She hesitated briefly and looked at Hanbit, but then, as if making up her mind, continued.
Srrk—
What Ria took out was a ring.
The ring with a red gemstone that she had dropped on the ground when they came looking for Ruby.
The family-crest-like design engraved on the gold band was already well known to the viewers.
-Oh?
-I’ve seen that in RPGs.
-Isn’t that the Northton family crest?
-She could be Brook’s illegitimate child.
-Bullshit, she just stole it.
-Wasn’t there talk that she’s the former head’s daughter?
-LOL if she’s the former head’s daughter I’ll eat tanghulu in front of Gwanghwamun.
Debate over Ria’s ring was raging in the community.
Whatever the truth, it would be a new shock to players, so all kinds of speculation were flying.
The mainstream conclusion was that Ria had stolen the ring.
The theory that she was the former head’s daughter was largely dismissed.
“Hoo.”
Taking a deep breath, Ria put the ring on her finger.
Then, as she slowly opened her palm and brought it to the wall—
Flash—!
Light burst out from between the graffiti.
“Ah!”
Startled, Ria quickly pulled her hand back.
Immediately after, vibrations began to spread.
Rumble—
The wall, shaking noisily, slowly split to the side.
It was similar to the structure used when they entered the temple.
“Ah…….”
Standing closest, Ria was the first to witness the scene inside.
A cozy space filled with toys and dolls.
It looked exactly like a children’s playroom.
“Wow, what is this? Was it really a playground?”
-Why is this real?
-There’s a playground under the temple?
-But why was Ria’s ring needed?
-No idea.
As a genuine child’s space appeared, people’s confusion grew.
One answer came from Ria’s voice.
“This is my room…….”
Forgotten memories flooded back into her mind.
This place was an exact recreation of the room Ria used as a child.
It was so identical that it nearly brought her to tears.
“Let’s go in.”
“…Okay.”
When Hanbit patted her shoulder, Ria nodded, her voice trembling.
Carefully stepping inside, she turned her gaze to a nearby doll.
He wanted to let her look around at ease, but the situation wasn’t good.
‘There.’
Hanbit walked straight toward a small shelf inside.
On it lay two small notebooks.
[Riventia’s Diary (Do Not Read)]
[Atonement and Record]
One of the crucial pieces of evidence summarizing what happened in the past.
That was the notebook on the right, ‘Atonement and Record.’
Picking it up, Hanbit slowly turned the cover.
