Episode 250.
Swoosh—
Having obtained the Seal of Heresy, Hanbit slipped out of the King's Tomb.
The frozen players appeared to have been marked dead, as they were nowhere to be seen.
'There's something here.'
Items and gold had fallen to the ground due to a penalty.
Seeing that the amount was quite substantial, it seemed the decision to tail them had been made rather hastily.
[93,138,200 Gold obtained.]
After collecting the gold first, Hanbit examined the items.
As they were random drops, the number of trash items was substantial.
“Huh?”
Something caught his eye just as he was about to move on.
A pair of glasses with a unique design embedded with emeralds.
It was an item with a ridiculously perfect timing.
Swoosh—
[Confusion X-ray Glasses obtained (Rank 5-Rare).]
-Glasses?
-Pick it up.
-Was there an item like that?
-If it's Rank 5 Rare, I guess it's just so-so.
The viewers thought it was just an ordinary item with no known name.
However, these glasses were an item whose value could vary significantly depending on where and how they were used.
Swoosh—
Hanbit stepped straight out of the tomb.
Perhaps due to the tricks of the snowy mountains and blizzard, the pursuit stopped.
'They arrived safely over there, too.'
Checking the party screen, Hanbit confirmed that his companions had reached their destination.
The effect of turning on the broadcast seemed undeniable.
'Cheonho, go back.'
As he repeated the words to himself, the tiger on the screen vanished.
It was a place that could be cleared with just three people.
Taking a Warp Crystal from his inventory, he looked at the camera and said,
"Then I will move."
Whoosh—
As soon as he used the item, a sensation of teleportation enveloped his body.
The place he arrived at was a forest near the starting city of Belmora.
'…Did they choose this place on purpose?'
Checking the map, he saw that it was not far from the location of the restricted zone.
Whether Liwei had recorded it himself or not, it was safe to say it was prepared exactly for Hanbit.
After all, if he proceeded along this path, he would encounter few monsters.
Footsteps—
With such thoughts, Hanbit moved further inside along the forest path.
A path filled with the pungent herbs characteristic of the East.
It was a natural monster-slaying zone created by them.
Although originally intended for other purposes, there was nothing wrong with utilizing this place.
-Breaking News) Private zone flooded with people.
-I was just watching, but there are so many. lol
-The man who creates hot spots;
-Is there an autograph session at the entrance?
-It is possible inside as well.
-Broadcasting is allowed too, so
it’s a huge win. The news coming from the chat window was not particularly surprising.
It was a foregone conclusion from the moment Hanbit turned on his stream and announced it.
There were bound to be plenty of players aiming for the first clear of the private zone, not to mention the Adult faction.
'The conditions inside are obvious.'
Unlike the first time when broadcasting was prohibited, this private zone had a completely open structure. This was
because it had been opened up like an open field since the Adult faction's party, which was given the first entry opportunity, failed.
Images and videos circulating in the community were already overflowing. *
Stomp*—As
Hanbit advanced along the forest path, he encountered the entrance of a canyon packed with people.
The atmosphere was different from the snowy mountain canyon he had visited just moments ago.
“There’s the Black Dragon.”
“Is it okay to stay here?”
“I told you it has nothing to do with us anyway.”
The players began to murmur as they gazed at the Black Dragon.
The hostility emanating from the hundreds of people was clearly distinguishable.
It was obvious without needing further explanation that most of them belonged to the Adult Faction.
*Crunch*
—Hanbit resumed his steps and advanced deep into the canyon below.
The entrance, hidden to an almost excessive degree, resembled an ordinary cave.
'So this is how it works.'
Hanbit, observing his surroundings, figured out the structure of the entrance.
Just like the first restricted area opened through the Dreaming Compass, this place also required its own unique method of defense.
Given that there were similar locations within the Adult Faction’s territory, it was not surprising that they had found a solution.
“…Black Dragon.”
Just then, a familiar voice was heard from somewhere.
Turning his head, he saw a man with a black bow slung over his shoulder.
“Ranger?”
—Huh?
—Hi
—You’re alive?
—One of the weakest members of the advance party.
—Still, compared to us… … .
A ranger from the Rashten advance team whom I encountered a few times early in the game.
After being outmaneuvered by Hanbit in various ways, he hadn't shown himself at all.
“Are you planning to raid the private zone too? Is it company policy?”
“I’m alone right now. Rashten left early.”
Ranger said in a nonchalant voice.
It was completely different from the confident demeanor he had shown when suggesting joining the company.
Honestly, it didn't really matter, though.
“Well, whatever.”
Hanbit shrugged his shoulders and tried to walk past him toward the entrance.
However, Ranger quietly blocked his path.
“……?”
Hanbit, puzzled by his strange behavior, looked into his eyes.
He seemed to have something to say.
“Viewers, just a moment.”
Asking for understanding, Hanbit turned off the broadcast sound.
At the same time, Ranger approached and lowered his voice.
“There is a guild inside here called the Black Feast.”
“The Black Feast?”
“It is an organization that habitually engages in PK, targeting only player drop items and gold. I heard the Nesto Guild has also been incorporated here.”
He rattled off information about the recently emerged guild.
A guild solely dedicated to PK, completely unrelated to the three factions.
The appearance of such a group of players was not particularly surprising. After all,
they were no different from the bandits of the other world.
'Nesto really made it in.'
Nesto, who had attacked Hanbit several times at the behest of Adventurer A.
Not only was the person named Trigger still in his memory, but the Vice Guild Leader, Lucio, was also still there.
Although he didn't know the identity of the Guild Master yet, the sight of him being incorporated into another place was quite unexpected.
“Thanks for the information. Do I have to pay for it?”
“No need. I am just reflecting on myself.”
The expressionless Ranger simply shook his head.
He may have been trying to atone for the past, but honestly, he felt nothing for him.
Rather, he was like nourishment, serving as an excellent sacrificial lamb whenever Hanbit needed him.
“Well, free is fine. Anyway, I heard it well.”
Having expressed his gratitude in his own way, Hanbit turned the broadcast back on.
And the moment he stepped into the cavernous entrance, a voice rang in his ears.
[The day my child died will never leave me.]
[If only someone could break this yoke of hell.]
-Agh;
-That voice sounds weird;
-It gives me goosebumps.
-How did you make this voice?
-Developer, what on earth have you done… … .
Viewers cried out in agony at the unpleasant female voice, which was difficult to even describe.
However, Hanbit knew well the sobs and despair contained within it.
'She was indeed a witch of misfortune.'
This witch, who originally appeared in the dungeon, was a being with a tragic story.
Her only son had died a horrific death right before her eyes due to the king's betrayal.
To avenge that, the witch destroyed an entire kingdom.
Swept up in the power of an artifact during that process, she was cursed to relive her son's death several times a day.
Going insane to the point where she didn't even realize she had transformed into a monster was the reality the Witch of Sorrow faced.
'It looks exactly the same in person.'
The gloomy forest scene spread out before her was exactly as she had seen in the community.
To be precise, it looked almost identical to the dungeons he had experienced in the other world.
Aside from the mixed-in ruin structures, there was absolutely no difference.
*Swoosh*
—Hanbit took the glasses from his inventory and put them on.
They were the Glasses of Confusion X-ray Vision he had obtained from a player's corpse.
*Whoosh*—The
consumable item flickered and disappeared as soon as
it was equipped. At the same time, the scenery in front of him changed.
[Effect: Unpleasant Confusion applied.]
[You will be engulfed in sensory distortion, hallucinations, and auditory hallucinations for a certain period of time.]
A message popped up announcing the glasses' debuff.
However, it meant nothing to Hanbit, who possessed the World Tree Legacy effect.
*Swoosh*
—What entered his peaceful vision was a scene of the forest that had become incredibly complex.
The interior, wide open by the X-ray vision effect, was so difficult to grasp that an ordinary person wouldn't even be able to distinguish anything.
This was because the effect applied differently depending on the distance, making it similar to hundreds of overlapping photographs.
*Thump*
—Hanbit, accustomed to such difficulties, immediately kicked off.
The first task was to find the Fragment of Emotion.
What was needed was sorrow, resignation, and anger.
Only by gathering all of these would he be granted the qualification to reach the witch.
*Squeak!
* Flying toward him as he charged forward was a sticky, ghost-like monster.
[Illusion in Evil Thoughts (Lv.???)]
A pure white figure with a grotesque face approached, swinging a sword.
However, making contact with them without thinking was a foolish act.
Whoosh!
Wrapped in wind, Hanbit sped past the creature.
The figures of the other players, projected from a distance, quickly drew close.
Clang!
Quadruple!
The four players were engaged in a fierce battle against a swarm of phantom ghosts.
Yet, the enemy showed no signs of falling.
Whoosh!
Hanbit, examining the ghosts one by one, passed them by once again.
After repeating this action for a brief moment,
'I found it.'
Hanbit, who had been racing through the complex terrain, stopped in his tracks.
Whoosh—
A ghost hovering in the sky a short distance away .
At first glance, it looked exactly like the monsters from earlier, but the story was different when viewed through these X-ray glasses. This
was because, unlike the other entities, the effect of X-ray vision did not apply to it.
Crush—
Hanbit drew his sword and approached the illusion.
And the moment the creature's head turned downwards.
Slash!
The multicolored blade sliced the ghost's body in half.
[You have obtained a Fragment of Emotion (Resignation).]
-Huh?
-So this existed?
-The Holy Body Faction wailed.
-What were they doing?
-Level;
The viewers mocked the Holy Body Faction, blaming their level.
However, figuring out how to break through this space was no easy task. After all,
the opportunity was given only once.
'I've been chased away countless times.'
Just one out of hundreds, even thousands of illusions.
It was a terrible structure where one had to reach it while ignoring all the fakes to obtain the fragment. It
was such a difficult task that it required countless trials and errors up to nearly five episodes. The
Confusion X-ray Glasses were like an unexpected variable discovered during that process.
Ideally, one should have used the standard method of analyzing the illusions' movements and attack patterns one by one.
'Let's finish the rest quickly.'
Turning his head, Hanbit shifted his gaze toward the location of the next target.
At that moment.
Whoosh—!
Dozens of fire spheres fell from above his head.
Thud—!
Quickly disengaging, Hanbit looked around.
'Is it those guys?'
Beyond the forest visible through X-ray vision, a crowd of nearly 100 people was approaching.
Then, a familiar man appeared first.
“Long time no see?”
[Trigger]
—Ah;
—Isn’t that Nesto guy?
—You still haven’t forgotten the Black Dragon.
—Dark Fan Club;
The name tag floating above his head remained in the viewers’ memories as well.
Surely, had his death by Li Wei’s spear been the last time?
“Is this some kind of banquet? I heard you moved over there; the numbers have increased.”
“I learned again that you have to be cautious when hunting beasts.”
Trigger grinned as he twirled his dagger.
His comrades gathered around him were all equipped with decent weapons and gear.
In particular, some of them were names seen on the top ranker list.
“You’ve gotten quite strong. It’s been a while since I’ve seen PK experts, hasn’t it?”
“Even bugs get disgusting when 100 of them swarm you.”
“Really? If you want, should I go out and take you out one by one?”
Trigger wore a confident expression.
Hanbit, shifting his gaze slightly, used X-ray vision to see beyond his back.
'That's it.'
A red bow held by a man hundreds of meters away.
It was the Xuanwu Bow of Destruction, capable of instantly killing most living creatures.
Although it had a usage limit, eliminating it first was the right course of action in this situation.
Whoosh—
Whirling the wind, Hanbit lowered his sword.
And just as he was about to kick toward the enemy…
Crack!
A lightning strike of tremendous speed swept across the sky.
Crash!
Leaving a fierce afterimage, the attack cut through the forest.
It struck the man holding the Xuanwu Bow of Destruction in an instant.
Bang!
The enemy turned to dust amidst pitch-black smoke.
Hanbit, having assessed the situation with his X-ray vision, turned his head in the direction the attack had come from.
There stood a Ranger, holding a bow.
