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-Oh?
-The rebel forces already?
-Wasn’t that from Episode 5?
-This talk is coming from the King’s mouth;
-??
The viewers were thrown off by the rebel forces mentioned in the sub-quest.
The faction trying to pull down the king and install a new ruler.
A clear picture of them only formed from the fifth episode onward.
“……Is this real?”
“Now that this has happened — the episode…… hard to say what will become of it.”
Kim Jaeha and Avantgarde were equally flustered.
Because with the rebel forces’ existence becoming explicit, the later story would end up intertwined.
Setting aside whether Adventurer A’s walkthrough was right or wrong — the entire flow would be completely different.
Reading that doubt, Hanbit posed one question:
“You said the rebel forces aren’t even mentioned in the third and fourth episodes, right?”
“Yes. The guidebook walkthrough, and players who have been dissecting the story have confirmed similar results.”
The story progressing in Episodes 3 and 4 begins with a fugitive murderer named Raborke and leads into the emergence of a large criminal organization.
A group formed by those who lost their footing in Raven Kingdom and began operating in the shadows.
Helping the Temoshá guild master Ashid to investigate the organization and arresting Raborke and key members was the story’s conclusion.
“Wasn’t it formed in the fifth episode? Said to center on an NPC named Zeyniss.”
“That’s right. The head of the rebel forces and their spiritual pillar.”
Kim Jaeha’s question prompted Avantgarde’s nod.
The criminals scattered after Episode 4 would go in search of ways to survive.
And the figure who persuades them and rallies them together again is Zeyniss.
A strategist who takes center stage from the fifth episode onward.
To put the conclusion first — even Zeyniss is under someone’s command.
“Let’s wait and see for now.”
Hanbit, holding back the explanation, shifted his gaze to the bar in the center.
The tavern owner had disappeared somewhere.
“So what was that person? They were saying something like a shaman.”
Kim Jaeha, recalling the owner’s words, asked.
‘How strange. Despite carrying such dense shadows of death — covered entirely in light.’
A statement that seemed vague but carried many things within.
The guess of a shaman was roughly on the mark.
“They’re a spirit medium. Someone who came into contact with a relic by chance and gained the ability to see the form of souls.”
“……A soul?”
“A relic…… You mean an ancient relic like the Spear of the Surge?”
-That thing was real?
-Haven’t vanguards failed to obtain it?
-Maybe the highest tier has it?
-Please. Lol — if that were the case the RP ending would have come ages ago.
-For real lol — it’s a brokenly powerful item.
The two expressed their doubts.
The existence of relics — only ever seen in records on ancient stone slabs and the like within the game.
The one known was the ‘Spear of the Surge’ alone, but thanks to its extraordinary effect it had become something of a player’s dream.
Naturally, not even the smallest clue had been discovered.
‘This is far too early.’
Even for Hanbit, relics were difficult to obtain.
Accessible only after becoming a member of the investigation team — and the process of obtaining them was steep.
Which made the owner of this shop quite a rare individual.
No — perhaps the King who took in the war orphan, having recognized her potential, was even more remarkable.
Creak—
Just then, from the back, a door opened and a woman in platinum armor entered.
It was Leon — the Royal Guard’s vice-captain.
“You waited.”
Having spotted Hanbit, she came over with a faint smile.
She was completely drenched — rain must have started outside.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah — I apologize for the sudden downpour. It would be discourteous to have a conversation like this.”
Leon, having checked her own state, pulled back slightly in mild surprise.
Hanbit quietly called a name.
“Salliste.”
Whoosh—
The small flame wolf appearing at the call.
Without words being conveyed, Salliste flew lightly over to Leon.
“The spirit…….”
Her eyes widening slightly, she lowered herself as though in a show of respect.
Then warm flames enveloped Leon’s body.
Shhk—
Moisture dispersing at once, body temperature rising.
Leon, having fully returned to normal, looked at the flame wolf and said:
“Thank you for lending me the honor of your power.”
Whoosh—!
Salliste, blowing a light flame in response, came closer to her arms.
Leon, inadvertently wrapping the spirit in her arms, asked with a stiffened body:
“……Is this alright?”
-Lol.
-Found a new home;
-That cunning spirit……
-That might not even be a spirit.
Whatever the viewers’ reactions — the spirit was free and certain.
If that person there had been someone like Yulio or Bares, fire would have been set on their heads.
“Please be at ease — it’s fine. Has His Majesty returned to the palace?”
“Yes. He wore quite a satisfied expression. Thank you for coming despite the urgent summons.”
Leon, bowing her head slightly in greeting.
The genuine importance of the request could be felt.
“Not at all. It was also an honor to be able to meet His Majesty. For now, please be seated.”
The two sat at an empty table facing each other.
Salliste was still being held in Leon’s arms.
“By the way — His Majesty asked about the rebel forces. Have they actually appeared within the kingdom?”
“……He conveyed that much as well.”
Unexpectedly, Leon’s expression darkened slightly.
After briefly organizing her thoughts, she spoke with a face of settled resolve:
“Let me say in advance — this is not certainty. I would be grateful if you would take this as talk of possibility.”
“Understood.”
When Hanbit gave a nod, Leon took a small dagger from her chest.
On the handle was engraved the crest of the Raven royal family.
“Two days ago, this dagger was found at the entrance to His Majesty’s bedchamber.”
“Is it a royal item?”
“It is a token given to royalty who have been exiled outside the country. It should not be possible to find it within the country.”
-Oh?
-What is this now?
-Exiled royalty?
-There was no such story;
-And it begins again.
Exiled royalty.
Not a single player knew of the existence of such a figure.
“Do you have any persons in mind?”
“There are currently only two royals alive abroad. But both departed Raven for marriage — they would not have received this dagger.”
“Then there are two possibilities. Either someone obtained the belongings of the exiled royal, or a royal presumed dead is still alive.”
“I thought likewise and have given orders to royal informants active abroad. Once the commander returns, I believe the pace of the investigation will quicken.”
The Royal Guard commander — absent to resolve an issue arising from a change in a neighboring state.
A man of excellent ability, character, and reputation — but more dangerous than anyone.
‘That time even I was taken off guard.’
Something Hanbit had not suspected at all the first time he entered the Royal Capital.
That the Guard commander was one of the main figures behind the rebel forces.
The chilling sensation of a knife being driven into one’s back — still vivid.
Though right now there was absolutely no evidence to tell Leon the truth.
“What is the reason His Majesty conveyed talk of rebel forces to me?”
“……I believe he wishes to borrow your strength, Black Dragon.”
“My strength?”
“Yes. With the dagger having been placed in the bedchamber — everyone within the palace cannot but be suspected. Excluding a few such as myself who have continuously been at his side — all have been placed under suspicion.”
-This is brutal;
-Does this mean everyone has to be suspected?
-What if Leon suddenly betrays him?
-Would she?
-RP collapsing tomorrow is more realistic.
A situation that grew anxious just listening to — no clear answer in sight.
And with even the Guard commander being an enemy — unearthing the culprit was close to impossible.
“What can I do to help?”
“Would you be willing? There is a significant possibility of becoming entangled in political power struggles.”
The thing adventurers were most averse to was being caught up in nobles’ political conflicts.
Leon, knowing that well, had no choice but to express her concern.
“I am fine. If I am to receive the qualification as an investigation team candidate — I would like to receive it from the current His Majesty.”
“……I see.”
At the composed answer, Leon gave a faint smile.
Having looked down at the flame wolf, she raised her head and said:
“Unsettling movements have been detected in the eastern regions of Raven. It seems more a matter of crime than of rebel forces — but somehow the feeling didn’t sit right.”
“Are you referring to Temoshá’s area?”
“Quite a wide zone including that area has seen many small incidents. Black Dragon — I would like you to investigate there. Adventurers would inspire less wariness.”
The thing criminal groups feared most was state military forces.
The pinnacle of that — the Royal Guard.
If those approached, there was a significant chance of scattering.
“Understood. I’ll conduct the investigation and report back. It may take over two weeks at the longest.”
“I apologize for claiming so much of your time, but I truly implore you. However, if danger is sensed, please do not hesitate to escape. This matter is not more important than your life.”
Leon warned with a serious face.
Then she removed the leather pouch at her waist and handed it to Hanbit.
“Please use this as funds. It is gems worth approximately 20 million gold.”
Adding that it was bestowed by His Majesty.
The King having anticipated that things would come to this — making such an action possible.
Hanbit received the pouch.
“Thank you.”
Ding—
[Sub-Quest #3 has been completed.]
[Sub-Quest #4 is unlocked.]
[Sub-Quest #4]
The situation His Majesty faces has been learned.
The breeding ground of crime occurring in the eastern part of the continent.
Must enter the center of that and grasp the situation.
Objective: Return to Temoshá and begin the investigation.
Reward: Sub-quest settlement.
*Episode 3 main quest is deactivated.
-?
-Deactivated?
-Just cuts it off since it already fell apart. Lol.
-But if it’s a sub-quest, wouldn’t it connect to the episode?
-Wasn’t that investigation the content of Episode 4?
-What is this;
The sub-quest’s content and the appended notice plunged the viewers into confusion.
Just then, Leon rose from the chair and carefully handed over the flame wolf she had been holding.
“Then I’ll take my leave and return to His Majesty now. Ah — incidentally, Isis’s punishment has been suspended and it seems they’ll be watching her performance as a scientist for the time being.”
“That’s a relief. Thank you for your efforts.”
“I merely conveyed your words. That her strength is needed to stand against the Holy Nation is something anyone would understand with just a little thought.”
Having left the humble answer, Leon headed toward the entrance.
Then turned around and steadied herself.
“May fortune in battle be with you.”
Having observed knight’s courtesy, she left the tavern with an expression of resolve.
Kim Jaeha, watching that retreating figure, asked quietly:
“So now we go back to Temoshá?”
“No. When we go — it’ll be two weeks from now.”
“……Is that alright?”
His having a question was natural.
Because even accepting the sub-quest, in-game time would naturally flow along.
But Hanbit’s plan remained the same.
“There’s not much to gain by going now. On the contrary, trying to intervene might result in missing the core of the criminal organization.”
Leon judged that the position of adventurer would be helpful for the investigation.
But the situation was not so optimistic.
Because the criminals spread across the eastern part of the kingdom right now would be completely shutting out outsiders.
No matter how hard one investigated, all one would obtain would be the arrest of some small fry.
Even the Guard commander and the shadow figures — right now even their identities were difficult to pinpoint.
“Then for players who have been progressing through the episodes — was following the main quest a mistaken judgment?”
Avantgarde, listening to the conversation, asked with apparent curiosity.
But the quests had nothing wrong with them.
Because they appeared in accordance with the player’s progression after all.
“No. There are ways to progress while also stepping through the episodes one by one. Only — certain elements that narrowed the field of vision caused things to go wrong.”
-Ah.
-It’s you again, Adventurer A.
-Getting re-evaluated more with each passing day, JOAT……
-Tore up the guidebook crying.
The viewers’ grievance was understandable — but blindly following the guidebook was also their own choice.
With sufficient time invested, some clue or other could have been found.
Having briefly muted the stream, Hanbit said to the two:
“For two weeks, we’ll rapidly complete our growth in the Tower of Vortex. To skip the episodes and create a new flow — strength is necessary.”
“Indeed…… As you said before, if three episodes are to be skipped, getting up to the low hundreds in level would be needed. But is the Tower of Vortex the kind of place that gives that much experience?”
Avantgarde considered the current state and expressed concern.
Black Dragon’s current level was 84.
Players who had cleared the fifth episode averaged around level 120.
A player not at a low level raising 36 levels in a dungeon over two weeks — realistically that made no sense.
“Low hundreds wouldn’t be enough.”
But the figure Hanbit was aiming for was higher still.
Having taken the entrance ticket materials from his inventory, he conveyed the target.
“My minimum is level 150. Both of you will also need to raise your levels by about 50 from now.”
