Chapter 149: Friendship Test

In the center of the square,

The metal frame that had been embedded in the ground was completely different.

Beams of light intricately intertwined along the core, transforming it into a structure resembling a giant circular pattern engraved on a circuit board.

The interior of the frame was sunken, forming a shallow, circular groove. Within it, a silvery energy flowed calmly, as if pulsating.

[Lumina Core Activated]

Actually, the server contribution total had surpassed 60,000 last week, reaching 100%. But nothing had changed. So, today, in Week 4, I was checking to see if there were any changes.

“There’s no new content unlocked, right?”

• Nope

• So everyone is doing what they were doing last week lol

• Nothing big is coming…

• There’s a new message on the signpost!

Indeed, new messages had appeared on the large signpost.

<Lumina Project: 5th Blooming Core Server>
🏗️ “A village built together, and what lies beyond.”

※ The village’s energy is overflowing.
※ Hidden possibilities are awakening.
※ A special change is approaching.

“Hmm… looking at it again, the phrase ‘what lies beyond’ is intriguing. There are no changes in the village, so where is the change happening?”

• Don’t know

• Something big is coming…

• There’s definitely something

• The contribution system itself was an Easter egg lol

• Surprisingly, something similar happened on the second Blooming Core server…

• Seriously??

• For real?

“If we can’t figure it out now, we should focus on what we need to do. I still…”

Before I could finish, a large shadow fell over me. I reflexively looked up.

It was a dragon. Though not as large as the Dark Dragon, it was still quite large. Even before it landed, the dragon’s size and the sound of its wings made the square tremble.

But… the blue dragon, seen up close, had a somewhat quirky appearance. Round eyes, a star-decorated tail, and… a slightly vacant expression.

The small ribbon on its head must have been placed there by someone.

“I’ve seen this one before. Except for the ribbon.”

“Of course! It’s the dragon you abandoned!”

The one who jumped down from its back was Sara, clad in full body armor.

Next to Sara’s name was the job title, [Dragoon].

“So you succeeded in changing jobs, Sara. I remember Koharu wanted that too…”

• ㅜㅜ She was busy raising enhancement funds…

• Lol Koharu spread the word about wanting it, so none of the seniors tried, and she missed it…

• Is the 3rd generation going to be okay?

Seeing my Pia’s comments, I became a little worried. I knew that the two of them usually bickered as a sign of closeness, and that this was just a game, but…

“Is Koharu not upset?”

“Why would she be upset when I wasn’t even ready to change jobs yet? She just backed off with a ‘Ugh, how frustrating!’ And the one who’s actually upset is Marbled.”

“Marbled?”

“Yes. The mascot blue dragon.”

It was a naming convention perfectly identical to Lunata’s. But I didn’t mention it. Sara actually had a pet cat.

“What do you mean Marbled is upset…”

Sara tapped the dragon’s side.

Marbled was sitting very still, but looking closer, its posture seemed somehow ‘crooked.’

“…Is it really upset?”

Sara nodded.

“You left that day, even though you knew all the job change requirements. He didn’t move from the front of the cave for a long time after that.”

Before I could speak, Marbled slightly turned its head. Or rather, it was turned in a way that pretended not to look at me. Its round eyes were facing forward, but the tips of its ears and tail were pointed in my direction, as if aware of me.

• Wow, it remembers Leah? lol

• It’s a job mount, so it’s intelligent…

• Cute ㅜㅜ

• What’s with it pretending not to see her lol

• She cruelly abandoned such a creature…

• Mommy will be right back… “Wait”

• Boo~ trash ㅜㅜ

“Uh… I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were waiting… and besides, why would I become a Dragoon? I’m going to be an Archer or a Spirit Summoner.”

I reached out my hand as I spoke. Marbled stayed still until just before my hand reached its head, then

It suddenly nuzzled its head against my hand and then pretended nothing happened.

• Heart headbutt ㅜㅜ

• She missed that??

• Leah should have caught that, so close…

• It’s fine, it’s fine, she can one- or two-shot it with her +12 bow

• That’s not the point;;;

“It seems Marbled’s mood has improved. I can start offering taxi services to Leah now.”

“Can we ride together?”

Sara said triumphantly,

“Of course! Look at Marbled’s size. Of course, we can ride together.”

“Is it as fast as my unicorn or tiger?”

There was a slight delay in her answer.

“…It’s a red pill that its speed is the same as rare mounts. But the important thing is that it’s the only flying mount on the server, right? The view from above is completely different.”

“You can fly with Elytra.”

“…That’s a red pill too, but you can only ride Elytra alone. I can fly Marbled, and you, Leah, can sit next to me and enjoy the sky. And it can hover! I can suddenly change direction mid-flight, stop and look down. You can’t do that with Elytra. If you stop, you fall.”

That was a definite advantage. I could have a new experience, and show my Pia a new perspective.

“How much? The cost.”

“There’s no meter system. 1,000 coins regardless of the destination!”

“…Sara. You should be put on trial. For highway robbery.”

• The roast from Leah lol

• The pricing is a bit unreasonable lol

• Earn money honestly!

• That lizard picked the wrong owner lol

• She should give Leah a free ride…

• Right, she revealed all the job change requirements

“Uh, yeah. So Leah’s not interested? Then next time…”

Sara, who was hurriedly trying to climb onto the dragon, stopped.

“…Tsk.”

“I think my Pia are right, I think I can request a free ride.”

Sara, as if she had no choice, pointed at the empty space on Marbled’s back.

“I see now that I shouldn’t brag to Leah, my mistake. Time is money…”

I sat behind the grumbling Sara.

“Now. Where to?”

“I don’t have a particular destination.”

“Then why did you get on! Just give me a destination so I can take you around.”

“Hold on. I don’t have one right now, but I do have a place in mind.”

I took out the <Lens of Truth> from my inventory. The item I obtained from the dungeon with Senior Ciel. A relic that reacted to specific quests or objects.

I had found several hidden dungeons with this, and the Dragoon job change route also started with this.

I still didn’t have a job. Today, I could only hope to find a suitable job in the places I discovered.

Marbled soared, and the village shrunk below.

Sara flew without saying a word, and I scanned the sky with the Lens.
As we passed over the rocky terrain in the northeast corner of the server,

A blue light flashed from the tip of the Lens.

“Wait. The Lens is reacting.”

The faint light spread in a circle, then took shape, as if enveloping a hidden structure below.

It definitely felt like… something was ‘hidden.’

“Yes, free customer. Commencing landing~”

As I dismounted from the dragon and approached, I saw low piles of rocks and cracked earth.

It just looked like a flat surface, but when I held up the Lens, a faint blue pattern appeared.

“There’s a door here. I can’t see it normally, but the Lens clearly shows it.”

Sara didn’t seem interested in the new discovery.

“Yeah. The free service was a one-time thing, so next time, pay properly.”

“Wait. You come in too.”

“Why? Time is money…”

“It says it’s a 2-player dungeon. I need you.”

“Really? If the rewards are split, I’m in! I can ride the Leah bus!”

• Greed is? SaraTube

• Knew it from when she was building a factory at her house lol

• The Leah bus is sweet~

• With +12, what can’t she kill…

• And Leah’s good at puzzles too…

“Alright. But if a suitable job for me appears…”

“You take it! I’m a Dragoon.”

The dungeon we entered was empty for a while.

We walked side by side down the inner corridor. The walls felt like drab limestone blocks, and worn carpets were laid at intervals on the floor.

Before we knew it, we reached the end of the corridor. There was a door with pressure plates on both sides that required two people to activate.

“It seems… we both have to step on them for it to open.”

“It’s a co-op dungeon, alright. It was too easy until now.”

The door opened into a quiet square room. There was a large statue in the center, and bright letters floated in front of it.

【Welcome to the ‘Trial of Trust’】

※ According to the following rules, both participants will make their choices.

If both choose ‘Reward,’ you will both receive a reward.

If one chooses ‘Betray’ and the other chooses ‘Reward,’ only the one who betrayed will receive the reward.

If both choose ‘Betray,’ neither will receive a reward.

As soon as we read the message, we looked at each other almost simultaneously.