Episode 213
“It still pisses me off just thinking about it.”
Colenpeace, a city in the western part of the Holy Kingdom.
Player Hiyori, sitting on the terrace of a beautiful building, let out a remark mixed with irritation.
It was because the battle with the Black Dragon party had come to mind.
“I agree. To atone to the Goddess, I will need to strive harder.”
“I was merely careless. I have already finished my analysis and preparations, so there is no way I will lose this time.”
Ostis and Exion also ruminated on the memory of defeat, engraving their own resolves.
The Goddess’s oracle commanded them to halt the Black Dragon’s advance.
That order became a quest that guided the players.
However, a gap far more severe than anticipated led to a helpless defeat.
“No need for pathetic excuses. It was simply a lack of ability and strategy.”
Verdict, their de facto leader, reprimanded them with a blank expression.
It was the result of everyone’s shortcomings, including his own.
In particular, the fact that such a disparity existed despite everyone having experienced the Other World was a bad sign.
“So what? Not only the Black Dragon, but those little brats next to him aren’t normal either.”
Hiyori checked the Black Dragon's broadcast playing beside her.
It was a scene of a battle against hundreds of players in front of the walls of the Raven Royal Capital.
No, it was closer to a one-sided slaughter than a battle.
The promising lower-tier advance party was no match for them.
"It is no different. We just need to stop the Black Dragon's advance according to the oracle."
The oracle quest, which had ended in failure as the Black Dragon successfully completed Episode 6.
At the time, they thought it was the end.
However, following a sudden update, good news reached them.
It was news that the oracle had been re-declared to many players, including Verdict.
"The Goddess is looking upon our shortcomings. As this is an opportunity bestowed by grace, you must truly stake everything on it this time."
No one knew the principle behind how oracle quests were granted. After all,
they were given out of the blue to a select few players of the Holy Kingdom.
Since the content and timing varied so much, they simply accepted it as a benevolent destiny.
"Isn't this the last chance anyway? Judging by the speed at which that Black Dragon progresses, he'll be gone in an instant."
“In that case, we just need to put all our might into catching up.”
“Ha, do you think that’s something you can just do as you please?”
Hiyori sighed at the remark that they simply had to put in their best effort.
Neither the target nor the content of the Oracle Quest was known.
The only plausible guess was that it was an oracle related to the Black Dragon.
It implied that it granted an opportunity to a player with a similar overall progress.
However, at his current pace, it wouldn’t be
surprising if he left in the blink of an eye. “If the Black Dragon joins the Investigation Corps quickly, it won’t be easy to catch up. But we just need to finish it this time. We’ve invested a considerable amount of capital, and if I take the lead in devising the strategy, it will be distinctly different.”
Exion displayed strong confidence in his abilities.
The content of this Oracle Quest was to disrupt the Black Dragon’s Investigation Corps test and cause him to fail.
Since they, as players of the Holy Nation, were also undergoing the test as candidates for the Investigation Corps, they could achieve a double benefit.
With ample support from their affiliated corporation, their confidence was overflowing.
“A strategy, huh?”
Verdict pondered for a moment.
As the examiner had not yet arrived, they could not know the details of the future test.
However, it was an undeniable fact that Exion was a man with a quick mind.
“How many players received this oracle?”
“About 50? There are outsiders mixed in now. They aren’t guys who have experienced the other world.”
“…That’s right.”
Until now, all players affiliated with the Holy Kingdom were those who had experienced the other world through the Goddess.
However, with the update, even ordinary humans began to join the Holy Kingdom—that is, the Holy Faction.
It was something that most players, including myself, had never anticipated.
I couldn’t even guess what kind of changes the influx of outsiders would lead to.
'Are they not sharing anything at all?'
There were ranks even among the Holy Kingdom players. Although
there wasn’t much information available, I had heard there was a top-tier advance party numbering in the single digits.
Perhaps they had received some special information.
“Anyway, we do what needs to be done. I’ll leave the strategy for once we enter the trial to Exion. Have you fully grasped the contents of the oracle?”
“What is there to memorize? An investigator from the investigation team will guide you to Sector 5. Take the test there and disrupt the Black Dragon. It’s basically just that, right?”
Hiyori examined the quest details displayed on the system screen.
Then, she furrowed her brow slightly and expressed her doubts.
“But the Goddess of Turmoil is a god, isn't she? She must know the future to issue an oracle like this, right? If she’s going to tell me, she should have told me everything.”
“You lack manners when speaking to the Goddess. Show a little more respect.”
“Bullshit. Did you get thrashed by the Black Dragon because you showed respect?”
She furrowed her brow at Ostis’s rebuke.
Axion, watching her with disdain, shook his head and said,
“If they could have manifested the full power of the gods, the situation would have ended long ago. Even the Goddess of Turmoil has boundaries she must respect. As long as the opposing side has a goddess, there might have been some agreement.”
“Ugh, this is boring.”
As he offered his opinion nonchalantly, Hiyori clicked her tongue and turned her head outward.
“Huh?”
Just then, someone caught her eye.
Hiyori pointed downward with her finger.
“There she comes.”
A woman wearing a long-brimmed hat and a red dress.
It was Ivela, the investigator in charge of the investigation team.
Verdict stood up and said,
“Let’s go down.”
***
“This is Sector 5.”
A large black wall reached using a Warp Crystal.
Even after Test Officer Hylen's introduction, the viewers were left with nothing but questions.
"-So Zone 5 really existed.
" "-Isn't this just being implemented now?
" "-You noticed this right away. Haha."
"-Taken to the table.
" "-But is it possible for Holy Kingdom players to join?
" "-Didn't you see the chaos in Episode 6?"
Zone 5, which did not exist prior to the update,
was perceived by viewers and regular players as a newly implemented area.
The number was assigned merely for convenience and held no particular significance.
After all, Feria Island, where Episode 8 was taking place, was also assigned the number 34.
"It's huge."
"Is the top blocked off too?"
The twins looked up at the endless wall.
Hanbit spoke, recalling old memories.
"It's a space like a completely closed cube. You can think of the inside as the wilderness."
Hanbit was well aware of Zone 5.
Although it had never been used as a testing ground, it was a place that had to be visited for various reasons.
Naturally, it was not a place to come at this early in the season.
"What about the Holy Kingdom candidate? When are you coming?"
Hanbit looked at Hylen and asked.
At that, he turned his head, having been examining his magical artifact.
“There he comes.”
A crowd emerged from the far right.
At the very front, a woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a striking red dress was visible.
—?
—Sister, who are you?
—Didn’t you come to the wrong place?
—The dress code isn’t easy;
The viewers’ attention was drawn to the appearance of this unfamiliar person.
Meanwhile, the crowd had arrived closer.
[Investigation Team Examiner Ibella]
The woman, exuding a strong impression from her appearance alone, turned out to be an examiner.
Hanbit’s eyes widened slightly at the sight.
“…Ibella?”
Ibella’s unexpected appearance was quite disconcerting.
One of the world’s top mages and a member of the investigation team operating on the front lines.
He couldn’t understand why she had come as an examiner in the first place.
“A very distinguished guest has arrived.”
Hylen stepped forward and spoke to Ibella as she approached.
But.
Swish—
without even answering, she walked past Hylen and left with elegant steps.
Then, she stopped right in front of Hanbit.
“So you are the Black Dragon?”
Ivela spoke abruptly.
Meeting his gaze, she said quietly,
“My name would never have reached the ears of an investigation team like yours.”
“What kind of investigation team is this? My name wouldn't be known to the outside world.”
“…….”
Hanbit couldn’t refute the remark she retorted with a grin.
Ivela was quite difficult to meet even in this other world.
To be honest, he knew almost nothing about the woman standing before him.
He had only heard occasional rumors that she was the figure closest to the Sage.
“Who is this person?”
“Lord Black Dragon, are you alright?”
The twins intervened in the strange turn of events.
It seemed their emotions had been revealed in their expressions.
“Did I make you too wary?”
Ivela reacted as if she found it merely amusing.
After looking at Hanbit for a moment, she pressed her body close and moved closer.
Then, she suddenly brought her face right up to his nose.
“Don’t worry. I’m on your side.”
“……?”
Whoosh—
Ivela stepped back before he could even express his doubts.
She turned her back and returned to where the player from the Holy Kingdom was.
"-??
-What did you just say?
" "-Black Dragon, explain yourself properly.
" "-Explain yourself."
"-Hmph …"
The viewers' chat didn't register in Hanbit's eyes.
He simply stared blankly at Ibella's retreating figure.
"…Is she from the Goddess's side?"
Although she had never been revealed in the other world, it wouldn't be strange for someone from the Goddess of Silence to exist here. He didn't know
how she existed in the form of an NPC, but considering Momo, there were bound to be plenty of variables.
"What?"
While he was lost in such thoughts, Hylen looked at Ibella with a bewildered expression.
Receiving that gaze with a dry look, she shrugged her shoulders.
"We don't exactly know each other, do we? I wish you'd just get back to work."
"…Ha."
At the overly cold remark, Hylen let out a hollow laugh.
He turned to look at Hanbit and the twins.
"Hey, you guys. Come over here."
Coming to his senses with the command, Hanbit moved to where the test tube was.
Before he knew it, Ibella had also brought her own candidates.
"Black Dragon…"
“Tsk.”
Hanbit’s gaze fell upon the voice he heard.
They were not unfamiliar faces.
‘So those were the people.’
The Holy Nation players who had tried to hinder him in Episode 6.
A considerable number of others were with them as well.
Just as he was checking all the names, Hylen began his explanation.
“The candidates will take a test here. It is called the Cube of Hell, but well, you go in and….”
“That explanation is too short.”
“What?”
Ivela interrupted him as she entered.
Stepping between the two groups, she lightly swung her finger in the air.
Then, letters began to appear in white light. –
Random transfer to 10 zones
– Special debuffs exist in each zone
– Common debuffs: Cannot heal, natural depletion of HP and MP
– Candidates can freely fight each other
– Pass if surviving for 24 hours
“Candidates, familiarize yourselves with this beforehand. It will be chaotic once you go in.”
Ivela’s explanation was accurate.
The Cube of Hell, filled with dizzying debuffs.
When he was first thrown into it, he ultimately met his death.
Nevertheless, the reason they went out of their way to enter was clear.
Because there was an artifact hidden here.
“You’re quite kind. Are you going to be the one moving it?”
Hylen, who had been listening to the explanation with displeasure, spoke curtly.
Watching this, Hanbit leaned down and whispered to the twins standing beside him.
“Do not move under any circumstances once it is moved. I will come looking for it.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
As soon as the topic of moving came up, Hanbit quickly conveyed the precautions.
There was a possibility that if they moved carelessly, they might not be able to meet until the end.
“I think it would be best if I did it.”
Evela turned her head toward the candidates.
And just as her gaze briefly met Hanbit's, she lightly raised her hand.
“Have a safe trip, everyone. If you come back alive, I’ll give you a gift.”
Whoosh—!
Along with that voice, everything went pitch black.
The alarm rang immediately after that.
Ding-
[Main Quest #3: Survival Test]
Unexpectedly, the test is being conducted in Sector 5.
Survival under extreme conditions.
How can you survive among competitors and countless monsters?
Objective: Survive in Zone 5 until the time limit.
Rewards: 20,000,000 Gold, 40,000,000 Experience, 40 Stat Points.
Time Limit: 24 hours.
*Current Progress: 18 percent
