Ch.67Afjord

# 67. Ayord

[[Quest] Question about Ayord Side Quest Choices!]

I’m currently working on the side quest “Love… That Disgusting Thing.” When you progress, you encounter the first choice, but there’s hardly any information about this quest. What little there is seems very basic.

Since it seems like you can only complete it once, I’d appreciate if anyone who knows the outcomes of the choices could share them.

↳Succession in progress: 1. The option to beat them up and drive them away: This has level and strength requirements. Regardless of class, if you’re not a melee type, completing the quest will be quite difficult.

2. Bringing a recognized partner to show them: Must be an opposite-sex character, must be registered as a friend, and it seems the game company checks the logs because it won’t complete if you bring someone you’ve just met for quest purposes. There are no appearance, level, stat, or class requirements, so this option is easier.

Of course, that’s assuming you’re part of a regular raid group or have long-term gaming acquaintances.

↳(Original poster): Oh no… both options are difficult… I guess I’ll have to complete this quest later. The story is so intriguing that I really wanted to finish it… Thank you for your kind answer!!!

**

[Current location: 3rd Floor Neutral Zone.]

‘I think my arms are losing circulation.’

The grip of the two on both my arms was so strong that I’d already lost feeling in them. This wasn’t a lie or exaggeration.

To make matters worse, Yebeobnojeong and the Physical Therapist were sticking close to me from front and back, driving me crazy.

“Hey guys. Are we really entering the city like this? It’s not like I’ll be persistently hit on the moment we enter, right?”

“I think eliminating the possibility entirely isn’t a bad idea. People usually don’t approach someone who’s clearly taken, whether man or woman.”

Seriously, Eun Subin, whispering like that from that position is going to melt my ears.

“Think about it. It’s not a bad deal for you either. There might be women interested in you, but if four people are clinging to you, they won’t dare approach.”

“That’s true, I guess? But that still seems like too much self-flattery.”

“Or… were we in the way?”

“What?”

“If your preferences were… that way, then it might be my mistake.”

“Wait, what are you suddenly—AAAAARGH! MY ARM! MY AAAAARM!!”

I swear to heaven!

On the name my parents gave me!!

“I AM NOT A FURRY!!!”

“Pfft!”

I survived.

The Physical Therapist snorted behind me, but compared to the urgent moment when I thought my arm was about to break, it was trivial, so I let it slide.

“Hey! Eun Subin!”

“What? Ayors were popular.”

“There’s a difference between game characters being popular and… that being actually possible!”

“That’s why I’m telling you to stay put.”

Under the suffocating pressure from my raid members on all sides, both tangible and intangible, I fell to my knees.

“Then at least loosen your grip… I won’t run away… I’m not exaggerating, my arms really hurt…”

“Heh. Alright. But in exchange, I need to get closer!”

“Then me too.”

Blood started flowing back into my arms, but now I was troubled in a different way. Thankfully I was wearing armor, but something soft and heavy from Saeax’s side was pressing against my arm—

Poke—

“Ugh!”

“Your ears are super red, you know?”

“Noona! Suddenly poking me like that!”

“Like what?”

These people are clearly enjoying teasing me!

‘It’s trivial. It’s trivial.’

Right. Considering how much I owe them, I’ll endure this if it means paying them back little by little.

“Subin. Then I can’t call you raid leader outside. What should I call you?”

“I don’t think there’s anything specific for that. Just something normal would work.”

“Hmm. Really?”

Water drop. Back door. Are you watching?

If both of you were men, the gender ratio would be perfect.

No, I’d be happy if just one of you was a man. They’re capable, pretty, and kind women, but… you know what I mean without me saying it, right?

“Oppa.”

“Huh?”

“You’re not… disappointed inside, are you?”

“No, hey! I just swore earlier!”

“Hehe! Just kidding, just kidding~”

The moment Saeax made her second joke, the world would split in half.

“Are you angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Aw, oppa~ Cheer up~ Okay? Unnie, hurry up too!”

“C-Captain. Please cheer up…”

Ah.

‘Her face is really something else.’

I sighed and then chuckled. And so, we arrived at the watchtower, clustered together like one big mass.

**

“Ugh… I’m dying.”

“Urk, how much did you drink for the smell to be this strong? Didn’t the squad leader say anything?”

“We drank together. Ugh.”

“Damn. I can imagine how the city’s running.”

“What about you? Were you planting seeds all day yesterday? The smell of females is making my head ring, damn it.”

“Don’t be vulgar calling it ‘planting seeds,’ call it ‘youth business,’ will you?”

Patrick and Matron, the guards at Ayord’s First Watchtower, each held their heads and waists as they sighed.

“We’re just doing this because there’s nothing else to do, but what’s the point of this watchtower anyway?”

“To give the city people a sense of security, I guess. ‘We’re operating a thorough surveillance system to prevent any potential external threats,’ something like that.”

“Eh, why am I even worrying about this? I just need to stand here blankly and collect my paycheck.”

“Agreed. And the compensation isn’t bad either.”

Patrick scratched his mane and burped.

“If the pay wasn’t good, nobody would take this thankless, boring job. *Yawn* Hey Matt, want to take turns napping?”

“Should we? Honestly, I’m super tired. I feel like I could lie down right now.”

“Hehehe. You sure you’re not just saying you’re stiff in the wrong way?”

“That’s a given.”

The two guards giggled and decided to flip a coin to determine who would sleep first.

“I call heads.”

“Then tails.”

“I’ll count to three and toss it. Don’t catch it, just let it fall to the ground.”

“Alright. Toss it.”

Just as they were about to display their greatest concentration during their shift to see which side the coin would land on, unfortunately, the “purpose of the watchtower” suddenly manifested.

“W-wait.”

“What? Getting cold feet now?”

“No, Patrick, look over there! I’m wondering if my eyes are deceiving me, or if I’m still buried in Salina’s chest!”

“Why the sudden fuss… What the hell? What is that?”

“Two, four, five… one male with four females.”

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

Patrick felt his drunkenness clear instantly as he stood up abruptly.

“They’re humans, damn it!”

“Of all the rotten luck, why during my shift!”

“Hey Matron! That, that. What was it? Uh. The manual. Bring the manual!”

“Just a moment!”

Perhaps it was because they were Ayord’s watchmen.

The two quickly tidied themselves up, with Matron staying above while Patrick descended from the watchtower to prepare to greet the five humans approaching as one clustered group.

‘Humans are more fearful than expected and might draw weapons or start casting magic, so caution is required? And while we should avoid roughly subduing humans as it could negatively impact trade and reputation with their kind? Damn it.’

Meanwhile, Patrick couldn’t help but dislike the human male who seemed to be dying of happiness surrounded by four females.

**

– Purpose of visiting Ayord.

– I’m an adventurer. My companions and I are traveling the world, following the wind and our hearts, sightseeing and engraving memories.

– Hmm. At least you don’t seem like a coward. Good. Just write your name here.

[You have passed the identity check.]

[Current location: 3rd Floor Neutral Zone ‘Ayord’.]

[You have reached the 3rd Floor for the first time.]

[Achievement ‘First Climber (3)’ acquired.]

[Title ‘A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step (3)’ acquired.]

Just like in the game, entering Ayord wasn’t particularly difficult. After I recited a slightly modified version of the protagonist’s dialogue, he said something about me not seeming like a coward and told me to write my name in the register, and that was it.

His gaze was somewhat contemptuous and he reeked of alcohol, but what did it matter?

He was a good enough Ayor for letting us in without any trouble.

“Adengard and this place each have their own charm!”

“Grandeur, harmony, and here… perhaps freedom?”

Ayord had neither the majestic multi-fortress of Adengard nor the breathtakingly beautiful scenery.

But it was spacious. It was diverse. And everywhere you looked, it was overflowing with vitality.

Laughter, angry shouts, somewhat embarrassing sounds, hawkers calling, haggling voices, cheerful singing, responsive applause…

At first glance, it might seem chaotic and disorganized, potentially noisy. But it didn’t feel that way at all. Unless you were an Alb with an Ayor-hatred trait, we were experiencing a small world in the city of Ayord.

The worries we had before entering the city now seemed utterly useless. Despite us being different species wearing robes, which should make us stand out, Ayord was so vast and the Ayor race itself so diverse that we didn’t attract much attention.

Naturally, Kutjukyeora and Saeax’s arm-linking gradually loosened, and the distance between Yebeobnojeong, the Physical Therapist, and me widened. After all, this was a scene you’d never see on Earth.

I too, feeling a sense of regained freedom, was enjoying the atmosphere of Ayord while looking for the inn, “Radaniya’s First Step.”

“Honey.”

“…Eh?”

Huh?

“Are you alone?”

“Who are you?”

Wait, when did I end up alone?