Ch.26Albrant

# 26. Albrant

When playing games, NPCs often repeat dialogue like macros, including their monologues, even without clicking on them. While the variations and frequency differ, this applies to everyone from main NPCs to extras.

“Hmph, even an inferior race seems to have an eye for beauty.”

“Tsk, I don’t know how you got through, but what an eyesore.”

In that sense, those irritating comments from the two elves passing by were probably just automated responses.

Still, while I was trying to remember this magnificent and beautiful scenery, the pain and discomfort that felt like someone suddenly stabbing me in the ribs was truly unbearable, but…

‘I should endure it for Seyeon and Yuri’s sake.’

It would be ridiculous to get angry now after I had just sweet-talked the elf gatekeeper like a salesperson, and before that, told my raid members that causing friction with the three elves on our way to their city wouldn’t do us any good.

“Let’s go.”

“Raid leader. Let’s just leave tomorrow, forget about the three days. Why the hell do we have to keep listening to this crap when we didn’t do anything wrong?”

Even though Saex was complaining strongly with curses mixed in, Cutjugyeora didn’t stop him, which suggested that even someone with her strong mental fortitude was quite tired.

“Let’s just think of them as a balance patch. A race with zero personality in exchange for maxed-out visuals. Let’s think of them as pitiful creatures who only know how to huddle in corners and feed off each other.”

“Feed off… each other?”

What’s this? Why are you quiet about the cursing but react to such trivial words, Seyeon? Making things awkward on our way to the inn.

**

“It’s not like we got vaccinated, but after experiencing it a few times, the innkeeper’s antics seem relatively decent. Anyway, you two rest first. You can eat something or go to sleep first.”

“What about you, leader?”

“I need to get ingredients for Alben Du. I can make it in the room once I have the materials.”

Leader, look in the mirror. You look like you’re about to collapse, where are you going?

“You need to rest too, leader. You must be very tired.”

“If there’s something that could very likely kill three people if not completed within three days, I have to do it even if I’m dying.”

“As one of those three people, I want to help too.”

“No, no. Just rest. If one person has to be tired, it might as well be me, and it’s better to get it all done at once. If I really needed your help, Seyeon, I would have dragged you along even if you were lying down unable to move. So don’t think too much about it.”

As expected of our leader. Someone full of responsibility.

I’m not one to talk, having placed responsibility on those shoulders, but he’s trying to carry too much burden alone.

“There’s no need for that expression, I tell you. I’ll be back soon. Take care of Yuri for me.”

“…”

“I’ll be back.”

“Yes, leader. Take care.”

You tell me not to make such an expression, but when you make that face, leader… how am I supposed to stop you?

Just as you feel responsible for us, I’m worried about you. What can I do?

“Ah, that feels refreshing. I don’t know when I last had a proper bath.”

“Haha. All done?”

“Yes, unni. The bathroom is nice. Hot water flows well and it smells good. I thought their service would be terrible since their personalities are awful, but that’s not the case. Oh! Unni, you should go wash up too.”

“Yes, I should.”

Our Yuri might have a bit of a rough mouth, but she’s really pretty after washing up. I’ve heard men really like bodies like Yuri’s.

Tall, glamorous yet firm.

Defined abs, wide hips, a nice butt, and thighs that aren’t too thick but look good…

I wonder if the leader is like that too?

“Huh? Where did the raid leader go?”

“He said he was going to get ingredients for the alcohol. He told us to wash up and rest first.”

“What? He’s wandering around in the middle of elf territory in that condition? Why didn’t you stop him, unni!”

“I tried, but you know how he is.”

“That really makes me feel bad…”

I don’t think I gave in that easily.

“What am I thinking?”

“Unni?”

“Nothing. Oh, Yuri. Give me all your laundry. I’ll wash everything while I’m at it.”

“Right. I should have washed mine while bathing too. I didn’t think of that. But unni, I’ll wash my own things.”

Our youngest, who had so much stress from her overbearing parents and siblings, should rest comfortably.

Since I can’t help the leader directly, I should at least do this.

If we spend more time together, and I gradually share more of his burden… maybe then he’ll invite me to go with him?

But our youngest.

Having a good body and such a large chest too? Isn’t that cheating? Are you really Korean?

**

‘I want to lie down.’

The ingredients for Alben Du aren’t that expensive. However, several key ingredients can only be obtained in Albrant, and while not difficult, they had to be made personally, so they weren’t very popular items.

It was revealed long ago through walkthrough guides that even if you raise your affinity with elf NPCs, those elves won’t go anywhere… so few gamers bothered to raise their affinity with elf NPCs.

If you wanted to raise affinity with a few unique elves, you could do it with other affinity items, though it would take some time.

“Why do you need that?”

“Does the customer need to explain?”

“Until I sell it, it’s my item, so of course I can ask when a human wants to buy it. Humans are a race that studies and spreads harmful uses beyond the original purpose.”

What a fucking racist.

“What else would I do with Chamro leaves? Huh? I’m in Albrant, so I’m just going to brew tea with an Albrant specialty, what else?”

Being ‘human’ meant that just breathing was a problem, not breathing was a problem, and everything I did was criticized.

I was just trying to buy some leaves, but I was being treated like a terrorist buying explosives. It was maddening.

“Swear it.”

“What?”

“Otherwise, I won’t sell it. Humans can’t be trusted.”

Wow. This is ridiculous.

I wanted to argue about his terrible business attitude, but I was in no position to. Why?

Because Chamro leaves, one of the key ingredients, are only sold here!

The game might not be exactly the same, so I might find them elsewhere if I looked around, but I didn’t have the energy for that now.

So I had to swear to the spirit summoned by the shopkeeper that I would never use the Chamro leaves in any way that would harm the elves.

‘This is such bullshit.’

I pretended to put the Chamro leaves in my bag while actually storing them in my inventory, then forced a smile at the owner who was asking why I was still there after buying.

“I know elves are wary of other races, but isn’t this a bit much?”

“Ha. What do you know, human? What do you know about elves?”

“Come on, don’t be like that. Albrant may be known as a closed city, but there are famous elves, albeit few, wandering around the world, and quite a bit is known about elves.”

I pretended to be an experienced adventurer visiting Albrant for the first time while subtly fishing for information. Limited to the game world, it wasn’t exactly a lie. It probably wouldn’t trigger a lie detector. I was being honest.

Having sold the item, the shopkeeper who had been ignoring or looking down on me finally shared something when I bought another item.

“The city is in a very sensitive state right now.”

“Why?”

“Tsk. There’s nothing good about telling a human.”

Hey! If you’re going to talk like that, don’t start talking in the first place!

Let me give you a taste of your own medicine.

“Listen. There are two worst things in the world.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“First is stopping mid-sentence. Second is—”

“Second is?”

When I kept a serious expression without saying anything, the shopkeeper’s face contorted. Seeing his ears vibrate, he seemed pissed off.

“How dare a mere human toy with an elf.”

“‘Toy’ is too harsh a word. You also stopped mid-sentence.”

“How dare you equate the two, mere human!”

[Persuasion failed.]

If this were a game, such a message would have appeared.

‘I still have five more ingredients to get, so I’ll succeed at least once out of five tries.’

I need to work diligently now to improve the raid team’s future. How can I find a little more strength?

Unconsciously, thinking of Seyeon and Yuri’s faces gave me strength.

Somehow, it made me smile too. It was quite easy.

I should finish quickly and go back.

**

[Animus]

[210]

The Golden Wing raid leader arrived at Animus room 210 with his exhausted body. Perhaps because a day had passed, room 210 was so crowded it was hard to find a place to sit.

‘I wonder why the inn doesn’t say anything about so many people gathered in one place.’

It’s like an ultra-overloaded vehicle. He nodded at the raid leaders he made eye contact with and found a spot in the corner.

‘From yesterday’s attendees… two are missing?’

They were two of the five who had voted for going solo. In truth, he too had come today out of curiosity about how things would unfold, but he remained negative about forming a new raid team.

“Please be quiet as we’re short on time and focus.”

As the host, Bunkerbuster raid leader spoke, and the marketplace-like room finally quieted down.

“Before getting to the main point, I want to remind everyone that neither I nor this meeting binds you raid leaders, and your participation is entirely voluntary.”

‘Hmm? What’s this? Does it mean we can leave freely even if they decide to form a raid team? Then what’s the point of this meeting in the first place…?’

“However, freedom and choice come with responsibility. Those who choose to form a raid team won’t be able to leave until the third floor, and those who choose to go solo won’t be able to join until the third floor.”

‘I see. He’s going to make a list in advance. To prevent people from rejoining or leaving quietly.’

As soon as he finished speaking, the room became noisy again.

People complained that there were no such restrictions yesterday, and while they understood having limitations, waiting until the third floor seemed premature when they weren’t even sure when they’d clear the first floor.

The raid leaders’ debate didn’t reach a conclusion easily. Hearts leaned toward the freedom of going solo, but fear of the unknown and reset created a balance.

“We’re not children, students, or newbies. And let me add one more thing before the vote: this will be the last irregular meeting I call, at least.”

The raid leaders’ eyes wavered.

What did that mean?

Was he saying he’d stop taking the lead and leave? Or that he’d form a raid team and exclude the rest? That he didn’t care about the possibility of a second raid team?

“Now, please decide.”

Those who had been hesitating and watching others finally raised their hands.

Raid team formation 14 : Going solo 18

It was a moment that would later be called “The First Divergence” by those who entered the tower.