Chapter 203

Chapter 203. Scattered Puzzle (2)

It was impossible for a Gold rank player to lift a 5-star messeo alone.

Interestingly, the weight wasn’t physical.

Even when forcibly placed on a glass, the glass wouldn’t shatter.

“Maybe it’s the weight of mana.”

As more mana escaped through the hole, the presence of the messeo, where the hole was settled, grew larger, and its weight increased exponentially.

“It feels less like it’s simply getting heavier and more like it’s weighing down on the ground.”

After spending a long time lost in thought while fiddling with the broken Messeo, I let out a long sigh and stood up.

Players nearby questioned me about the phenomenon that occurred earlier, but I wasn’t obliged to answer them.

I took Yang Taeho and left the scene.

Kim Yul, who suddenly joined us, asked, “The search?”

“We need to.”

For various reasons, my mind was cluttered, but that wasn’t an excuse to neglect other tasks.

“Most high-grade corrupted areas were battlegrounds in the past.”

These included military bases like fortresses and strategic locations like ravines, plains with large granaries, ports along rivers vital for transporting goods, and mountains harboring resources like iron and spirit stones.

Corrupted areas of Level 5 and above bear the aftermath of fierce battles, littered with corpses and remains.

Sometimes, while walking, a foot would sink into the ground, revealing hundreds of buried bones.

“The likelihood of finding relics increases that much.”

Thanks to the diligent movements of other players, only two Messeos remained on the mission display.

The number of monsters present on the map had noticeably decreased, making it the perfect time to tidy up the remnants and search for relics.

“I can only hope to find something useful.”

That day, even knowing the hope was futile, I set out to search.

But no miracle relic fell from the sky to resolve all these situations at once.

** **

The spoils they discovered today were not insignificant.

Just what Yang Taeho received as his share was nearly worth 200 million won.

Moreover, they found two relics with practical functions.

Among them was a permanent relic with an integrated barrier magic that K decided to take.

K was willing to forgo his entire share of the other spoils, even surrendering his previously allocated share, just to take it.

Since neither Yang Taeho nor Kim Yul needed defense-specialized functions, they relinquished it without issue.

In truth, even if they needed it, they wouldn’t have dared to covet it.

“A person should have a conscience.”

Both of them hadn’t forgotten what K had done for them.

Kim Yul received a high-grade relic as a gift, and Yang Taeho had both his own and his wife’s life saved.

In such a situation, they didn’t want to be stubborn and deny K the relic he wanted.

Even if K hadn’t given up his share of the other spoils, they would have readily acknowledged his ownership.

K calculated meticulously to match the value of the spoils.

“Honestly, he doesn’t know how to show flexibility.”

Yang Taeho recalled K, who was sometimes so inflexible that it was frustrating, and sighed.

After the battles, searches, and distributions were over, the day ended with K declaring rest.

As Yang Taeho took his turn on the first watch and swung his arm, a deep ‘hwoong’ sound echoed.

The sound of a heavy hammer cutting through the air.

The only other noises were the buzz of chirping insects and the soft, continued breathing.

It seemed almost too quiet and peaceful to be a corrupted area teeming with monsters.

“Wuum…”

At that moment, a presence stirred within the campsite.

Berta, who was sleeping next to K, sat up, rubbing her eyes.

“Oh, you’re awake? Was I too noisy?”

As he wiped the sweat off and greeted her, Berta wagged her tail slowly, watching him closely.

After a brief exploration, “Hello.”

She waved her hand in greeting.

Given how she typically reacted by glaring at Kim Yul with bristled fur, this was notably mild.

That terrifying little brat, strong enough to smash the head of an evolved species with a single punch, clearly had strong feelings both ways.

“If it weren’t K or Ahel, no one could even touch her.”

And even from Ahel’s hand, she’d often try to escape.

If Kim Yul tried to touch her, she’d either scratch or bite, leaving a mark.

‘In terms of restraining herself, I guess.’

Had Berta decided to truly bite, Yul’s hand might not have remained intact.

A Gold rank player is considered strong only within human boundaries.

Compared to Demi-humans like beastfolk or giants, seen as predators, they are far weaker.

“The only reason they coexist is because of their smaller numbers.”

If their population had been equal, humans might have been subjugated by various Demi-humans.

Having witnessed the horrifying massacre that occurred at Viceta Castle, he knew this for certain.

Yang Taeho shivered, recalling the face of murder etched in his memory.

To think the orchestrator of that massacre was the father of this kid.

‘The world sure is small, isn’t it?’

As his thoughts led him there, Berta was frowning deeply, holding her nose with both hands.

Just as he was about to ask why, a hand suddenly appeared from the shadows behind Berta.

The hand gently lifted her by her belly.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

A deeper-than-usual tone emerged from K as Berta, still pinching her nose, replied.

“I smell blood… it hurts my nose, makes my head ache.”

Barely had her nasal voice faded when a deep sigh followed right after.

“Why did you follow if you’re going to be like this? What good sight are you hoping to see here?”

Despite the irritated tone, his hands carefully set Berta on his chest.

“Go back now.”

K’s seemingly cold words prompted Berta to shriek loudly.

“Noooo! I don’t want to! No!”

“Hey, hey, quiet down. Why are you shouting? This stubborn little…”

K let out a deep sigh as he combed the air with his hand.

In no time, an opaque bottle appeared— his usual skincare product.

“Why is he…?”

Barely had the thought crossed his mind when K opened the bottle.

“Make do with this.”

He then sprayed the contents on his shoulder.

“Hehehe.”

With a soft laugh, Berta buried her face in K’s shoulder.

A repetitive patting sound followed as K gently tapped her back.

Shortly after, the peaceful sound of breathing resumed.

Berta had fallen back asleep.

As he watched the human and beastfolk silently, thoughts began to surface unexpectedly.

“They’ve gotten quite attached, it seems.”

From his observation, K had many Biharin acquaintances compared to other players.

Considering his attitude so far, it wasn’t surprising.

He had never treated Biharin in an inhuman manner.

“Some players openly treat them like NPCs, but not him.”

K regarded the Biharin as equals at all times.

As a result, he had no qualms about associating with those he liked.

There were indeed some who appeared surprisingly close to him.

“Isn’t Rashar, that young apostle of Palao, one of them?”

In Yang Taeho’s view, K and Rashar shared their opinions without hesitation, appearing as friends.

Even when conflicts arose, both seemed eager to resolve them, improving their relationship over time.

However, things changed slightly after they created a base outside the mansion.

“They seem a bit distant now…”

While it wasn’t clear whether emotions were strained or opinions clashed, K appeared to be drawing a line between himself and Rashar.

Why the sudden change of attitude?

“Or perhaps, it wasn’t sudden?”

As someone with a perpetually overthinking personality, wouldn’t it have been a long-held consideration?

Yang Taeho watched K gently pat Berta’s back and parted his lips.

“Um, you know…”

Despite the minor call, K immediately turned his gaze toward Yang Taeho.

But the intended question never came out.

It felt awkward to ask outright why he wasn’t mingling with that apostle of Palao lately.

After a brief hesitation, Yang Taeho steered the conversation elsewhere.

“Do you like kids?”

“Not really.”

He elaborated that if he took his eyes off them for even a moment, they’d cause some trouble, and simply having them around made him anxious.

Yet, when observed closely…

“For disliking them, you seem to handle them well.”

“Liking and handling are two different things.”

“… Do you have children? Maybe you got married young?”

“Unless I can make a child alone, unfortunately, I’m single.”

His soft laugh made him feel a bit awkward.

Yang Taeho cleared his throat, which made K, who had been answering promptly, look intently at him.

As if asking why he was posing such questions.

It seemed he noticed Yang Taeho meandering around with his words.

“Well, it’s nothing major, you see, it’s just, uh…”

Yang Taeho painstakingly searched for words again and again.

Yet, despite the effort, no apt expression came to mind.

Thus, he swallowed a sigh and let out the thoughts in his head without any refinement.

“You seemed to get along well with the people living in Bihar. You even opened up to the knights.”

“……..”

“But lately, for some reason, it feels like things have changed, so I brought it up.”

“… I can’t say you’re wrong.”

K, who replied softly, swept his empty hand over his face.

“I figured it might be time to take some distance.”

“Huh?”

“Because in the end, they’re people from a different world.”

Hearing something completely unexpected, Yang Taeho opened and closed his mouth like a speechless person.

But that too was only for a moment, as he soon swallowed hard before the silence stretched and spoke.

“What made you suddenly think that?”

K glanced at him briefly before muttering quietly.

“It wasn’t really sudden… just reflecting on the reason they’re here, and it all came back to me…”

“Huh? Reason?”

K closed his eyes before continuing.

“It’s probably not someone directly sent by death. No matter how much I think, there’s just no compelling reason to send them to me specifically.”

It seemed more like he was organizing his thoughts than trying to engage in conversation.

Realizing that, Yang Taeho decided to simply listen for now.

“What they wanted was probably just to get the kid out of the battlefield.”

Consequently, K resumed speaking smoothly without interruption.

“Afterward, the one who came to find me was likely acting on their own accord.”

He wasn’t sure where they detoured to get here but in any case.

And the reason death wanted Berta away from their side was.

“Problems seem to have arisen in the plains.”

“The plains?”

“Maybe the Galbaric Plains, or another place unfamiliar to us.”

After finishing, K subtly glanced in the direction where Ahel was.

Ahel lay curled on his side, his shoulders rising and falling gently with his breaths.

Only he would know if he was deeply asleep or pretending to sleep.

K surely realized that.

Yet, to continue speaking signaled he wanted him to hear.

Following K’s gaze, Yang Taeho carefully observed Ahel before gently questioning.

“What kind of problems could arise from your side….”

“I suspect dangerous folks are on the move.”

To Yang Taeho, it was a puzzling leap in logic.

Understandably so, as the information he and K possessed differed significantly.

“Movements on Bihar’s side have been a bit odd lately.”

One piece of information that had led them to different conclusions was the absence of people who should have been present.

“Not just one or two.”

It was obvious with essential figures like death, Berta’s guardian, and Horfe, the ruler of the beastfolk being absent.

Along with Shamel, who should have been responsible for basic training of the new players in the Order of Palao.

Greg Tembon, the Chief Commander of the Order Army in the south and the third apostle of Temoria, was absent.

And among other well-recognized powerful figures, a substantial number were missing.

“How many instances would have the famous strong figures of Bihar move en masse?”

If it’s due to an undisclosed battleground requiring their intervention, it seemed plausible.

If this conjecture were correct, it explained why Rashar hadn’t taken Berta along and left her behind.

“He couldn’t leave Berta in the mansion, given not knowing when he’d be called to the battlefield.”

To be precise, even if left, it would have been useless.

Once Rashar was absent, controlling Berta became impossible.

Although nobody gave him a definitive answer, the collected circumstantial evidence led to one conclusion.

“Even if it’s just my speculation, the Guild’s viewpoint isn’t vastly different.”

Yang Taeho looked intently at the sleeping Berta.

If significant events indeed troubled the Galbaric Plains or other crucial undisclosed areas.

And Bihar was keeping such a facture secret from players…

“It wouldn’t be surprising at all.”

Damn System