Chapter 206

Chapter 206. Scattered Puzzle (5)

‘Perhaps the people of the Order of Palao still care for me, or maybe for the players.’

Maybe it was because they worshiped the Goddess of Charity.

The people of the Order of Palao were not the type to deliberately deceive someone.

‘That’s why Ramon separated Berta this time.’

Rashar, Hemar, Jordan and Yuria, as well as Ravan, and even all the holy knights including Alio.

Even if a directive had been issued by the order’s headquarters, if I had asked, they might have told me after some contemplation.

Recognizing that possibility made me all the more reluctant to confirm it.

‘Because I can’t reciprocate the kindness they offer.’

So, I decided to think of the Order of Palao’s people as allies of the force that began to blindfold the eyes and ears of players.

‘Only then can I persevere.’

Suppressing the churning emotions within, I focused on the fairy in front of me.

“What brings a traitor here?”

“You, you cruel human! Let me go right now!”

“No, I won’t.”

I didn’t expect the fairy to readily reveal everything it knew.

Yet, if I could extract information from it while it was still conscious, I wanted to stop at that.

The fairy was too small to attempt torture, like the general-rank from last time.

If it refused to divulge information, I’d have to use this magic stone.

‘Honestly, I don’t want to use it on intelligent beings.’

Inducing mental confusion essentially meant destroying a person’s mental framework.

When in that state, they would likely be unable to distinguish between what to say and what to withhold, making it a tool for extracting information by force.

‘But there’s no guarantee that a shattered mental framework will ever be restored completely to its original state.’

I’d heard of people who, not being able to return to their senses, lived their lives as madmen.

Honestly, this could even be considered poison.

“Answer me if you want to live. I asked why you’re here.”

With a voice noticeably lower than a moment ago, the struggling fairy’s body froze in my grasp.

And then.

“I’m here, b-because I was f-forced to…… Hoo-ooong!”

The pitiful voice began to cry bitterly.

‘I’m going crazy.’

I typically lacked the resolve when faced with such creatures.

“Sigh…”

Due to the fairy’s tears and snot, my hands gradually became wet.

I felt an oncoming headache.

With a slightly resigned expression, I distanced my hand.

Watching this exchange, Kim Yul and Yang Taeho shrugged and stepped back.

“We’ll conduct some scouting.”

Now that I knew how to handle dream abilities.

It was a waste of time for three of us to monitor a crying fairy.

Nodding amicably, I dismissed the party members.

About thirty minutes later,

“Sniff.”

As if it had cried its fill, the fairy who sniffled first spoke up.

“Why don’t you kill me…?”

Weren’t the demi-human allies full of hatred for us?

The question, straightforward and without pretense, was easy to answer.

“Because I’m not part of the demi-human alliance.”

Finally, the fairy looked at my head.

Literally, I was an outsider, not part of the demi-human alliance.

There was no opportunity for a deeper emotional exchange with the fairy.

The connection between Earth and Bihar happened long after they had turned their backs on the demi-humans.

‘If I had encountered it as an enemy during the battle, I would’ve killed it.’

Sympathizing with an enemy threatening me would be foolish.

Yet, this creature in captivity posed no threat to me.

‘Technically, it has abilities, but they are too trivial to be considered a threat.’

From my subjective viewpoint, categorizing them as combatants was uncertain.

So, killing them due to mere association with enemies weighed on my conscience.

I didn’t want to indiscriminately kill civilians who posed no threat, simply because it was wartime.

I could discern that much.

‘It also serves to contain myself, increasingly accustomed to killing and slaughtering.’

In this situation, there was more to gain by keeping the fairy alive than by killing it.

“Why you’re here, what you’re plotting with the messeo, tell me everything you know.”

If not, I’d use this.

Exhibiting the item in my left hand while asserting this, the fairy’s complexion turned pale.

A visible tremor ran through their tiny form in my hand.

Another sigh was stifled within me.

Facing such beings, combat readiness never stirred within me.

Wanting a peaceful negotiation.

“Swear you’ll let me go safely.”

Luckily, the creature acquiesced to my desire.

“Swear it in the name of that treacherous god you serve!”

Expecting faith from an outsider player was naive.

‘No need to explain it.’

Gaining desired information from a meaningless vow justified a temporary breach of conscience.

Nodding agreeably, I pledged under the name of Palao to spare him if he provided information.

“Promise to tell the truth as well.”

Adding this, the fairy bristled with swollen eyes.

“Don’t treat us fairies like you vile beings! We never break promises!”

Turning their head with disdainful snorts.

“… I didn’t come here by choice.”

To think a simple promise could really unlock their tongue.

‘Naivety, or sheer stupidity?’

Holding a sigh within, I listened.

“I was involuntarily caught up in magic. Regaining consciousness, I found myself near the messeo, hiding since there were too many monsters.”

Just before I prodded for more information.

“I have no duty to explain where or what I was doing. You asked only those two questions!”

The fairy shot back once more.

After the promise, there was a warning not to change words.

Nodding as if in understanding.

The primary question was already among the two.

“Alright, suppose you didn’t come here willingly.”

“It isn’t a supposition, it’s a fact!”

“Understood, answer the remaining question.”

I brought the fairy close and said.

“Why are the general-rank members trying to take the messeo? What plot are they brewing?”

The fairy scrunched up its face.

But hesitated and clenched its mouth before any words left.

Even biting lips, I maintained patience, watching its mouth closely.

For within lay the information I sought desperately.

Tell me why the generals were obsessed with the messeo.

With probing eyes, urging it on?

Was the wordless prompting interpreted as haste?

Eyes clenched shut, unexpectedly uttered.

“… Sacrifice.”

As a never-considered clue emerged, myriad new threads branched within my mind.

“A sacrifice for what? Explain clearly.”

“… A sacrifice to breach the Wall of Patience.”

As I absorbed the information landing in my lap so unexpectedly, the forest dimly lit by sparse light echoed with thunder.

* * *

As promised, I released the fairy.

‘Logically, it’d be cleaner to kill it.’

Releasing it and letting it divulge my knowledge about the sacrifice to the enemy would be troublesome.

I’d made it promise to keep today’s events secret.

‘But verbal promises are uncertain.’

Even knowing this, I let the fairy go.

It wasn’t due to the pledge made in Palao’s name.

– Don’t treat us fairies like you vile beings!

I simply did not desire to further exacerbate the discord and conflict among the inhabitants of Bihar.

After releasing the fairy, I resumed purification work, acting like nothing happened.

When we gathered the spoils and pitched a tent in a remote part of the corrupted area, rain started falling.

As we listened to raindrops on the tent, we divided the loot.

“So, the ring goes to K-hyung… This and that come with me, right? Any objections?”

“I got the armor, so no beef here.”

“None.”

The finds from the corpses totaled seven, more than ever before.

Three low-grade items with limited use.

Four mid to high-grade items with embedded magical or special effects.

An amazing haul.

The three low-grade items were deemed useless and auctioned off for mana conversion, split evenly among three.

The four mid to high-grade items were distributed among the party.

The armor with level 4 attack magic embedded went to Yang Taeho.

Boots that increased wind magic proficiency level and a dagger with tracking ability went to Kim Yul.

And the ring that increased mana went to me.

Everything suited our roles ideally.

‘A mere 3% increase.’

But its effect didn’t distinguish between ordinary and attribute mana, making it worthwhile.

Including the increase, my attribute mana neared the high end of 60,000.

Just a bit more and I could wield Flame Strike by myself.

‘A level 5 area magic is crucial for justifying my role as a main dealer.’

Establishing this, I closed the stat window and stood up.

With loot division over, I aimed to rest.

Just as I settled down on my bedding.

「Congratulations! MISSION – Main Scenario Act 1 Chapter 6: Territory Restoration succeeded.」

「Ranking calculation completed. Check the ranking list in the mission completion window!」

「Select your participation reward!」

…….

Over ten messages cascaded, marking the end of the main scenario for Chapter 6.

While verifying rankings, I heard Kim Yul speak.

“Faster than expected?”

Aside from the 6-star corrupted area purified earlier, thirty-two remained.

Most being 4-stars with some 3-stars.

I assumed it’d take days to handle them.

“Most likely, everyone gave it their all near the end.”

At this scenario’s outset, reward scopes set definitively.

This led to exchanging information and estimating rankings among players.

Fierce competition to climb rankings for a slight edge was inevitable.

‘It doesn’t concern us though.’

Our party’s contribution points differed by orders of magnitude.

We secured top spots long ago.

‘I’d hoped to monopolize the top three though.’

I claimed 1st place, while Kim Yul and Yang Taeho landed 4th and 6th, respectively.

Despite minor disappointment, I acknowledged our results as remarkable for a three-member party.

So, I chose not to mention anything further to them.

Having completed the ranking review, I proceeded to check other rewards.

Starting with the Divine Blessing.

The usual roulette appeared, filling the view with cheap effects.

And, like before, a golden glow lingered over the roulette.

Karlos intervened again.

Shortly after, light faded and a voucher materialized.

Pondering its purpose briefly.

Shaking off the question, I looked into the following rewards.

Order points were auto-deposited, achievements were noted separately.

Then it was time for the random box.

‘1st place grants 10.’

The use of this random box was long decided.

I retrieved an item consistently in my inventory since the game’s early days.

「Overly Large Random Box」

• Category: Mission Reward

• Acquisition Difficulty: Special

• Description: Earned by completing a system-involved mission. Provides optimized rewards per causality when opened by the player.

According to records, a combination of a significant 92 random boxes created this item.

I added 10 more newly acquired ones into the fusion.

However, not all were merged due to limits.

「Reached fusion limit, further fusion not possible.」

“Two remain, meaning 100 is the limit…”

I merged and opened the remaining two random boxes.

I received potions, magic stones, and a spare utility belt.

The one I used was slightly worn, a perfect time for replacement.

‘Now for the 100-piece box.’

If fusion was complete, it’d be opened now.

With mixed excitement, I unlocked it.

Blinding light emanated from the message window and game interface, briefly flickering.

A single sentence emerged on the message window.

「Palao’s Arrangement begins.」

…… What does that mean?

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

Damn, an Easter Egg.