Episode 29
The caravan joined by Fafnir arrived in Aden.
The city of Aden, the capital of the kingdom of Baran.
It was a large city with only 3 million NPCs.
“Then it’s time to part ways.”
After passing through the gateway, the Red Pearl Merchant and Fafnir had a short farewell time.
Sangsanju held out his hand to Fafnir and said.
“Call me anytime if you need any help.”
“I will remember it.”
After parting with the merchants, we headed to the downtown area of the capital.
‘If it’s as stated in the letter, it should be about this… … . Oh, there he is.’
The capital consisted of three districts: High Town, where only nobles and wizards lived, Middle Town, which was the middle class area for merchants, and Low Town, where commoners lived.
Even in that high town, a mansion in the center was the destination the lord had pointed out.
“I have brought you a letter from Lord Pendragon.”
“Wait a moment.”
The mansion’s guards blocked it, but as soon as they heard the order, they guided Fafnir and Hilde inside.
‘It’s the count’s mansion.’
Entering the drawing room, Fafnir looked around.
-I watched the famous painting ‘Osu’.
-The dexterity status has increased by +1.
– I appreciated the pottery of Artisan Ceramics.
-Wisdom status has increased by +1.
-I admired the statue ‘The King’s Supper’.
-Health status has increased by +1.
Each is small, but when gathered together, there is no small benefit!
Taking care of these little things was the secret to growth.
After a while, a handsome middle-aged man appeared.
“You say you’re from the Pendragon family?”
– Spotted Count Corvo.
– Reputation has risen by +1.
“Yes, Pendragon sent this letter… … .”
“It’s a letter to His Majesty the King.”
Count Corvo’s eyebrows narrowed.
“For now, let’s accept this. I will deliver it to His Majesty the King when I enter the palace soon.”
“It is urgent. The city of Byron may fall.”
“I understand. Still, there is an order or convention in work.”
Fafnir said, but the Count didn’t care.
“Wait when you are waiting, and I will contact you when the appeal is processed.”
– The quest is complete.
– Rewards can be obtained from the lord of Byron City.
The quest completion notification even popped up, but Fafnir persisted.
From noble mtl dot com.
“It is not a situation to be so relieved.”
“Okay, I got it.”
“If this happens, the Orcs will attack not only the province, but also this capital.”
“Attack from the Orcs? Here in the capital?”
“Yes, so… … .”
In an instant, the count burst into laughter.
“Wah ha ha ha ha! You are good at jokes.”
The count smiled excitedly and said.
“Don’t worry. Because the defense of the capital is not weak enough to be defeated by orcs. If you add the 10,000 royal guards and the enlisted men of each nobility, there are 30,000. If you combine the magic tower and the temple, it won’t be a problem if they come.”
“Only the orcs won’t come. It’s because they’ve teamed up with the warlocks too.”
This time, even Count Corvo couldn’t laugh.
“A warlock?”
“Yes, the warlock was controlling the orcs around Turtle Rock Fortress. The details are written in the appeal.”
“Um… … . Warlocks, they’re… … .”
What if the orcs are pawns and the real ones are warlocks?
In that case, the capital could really be dangerous.
“They may still be infiltrating the capital. We must immediately move the guards and thoroughly defend the capital.”
“Okay. You can’t ignore the words of an adventurer who has achieved achievements too much.”
The Count, who licked his lips, continued.
“However, you cannot move the guards only with a heart attack. In addition to sending reinforcements to the provinces, there must be grounds other than appeals to persuade His Majesty.”
“Can I get the evidence?”
“Hmm… … . Are you?”
The Count rubbed his chin.
It wouldn’t be much of a problem to give them a pass anyway.
If you do find evidence, you can give it a big bang.
“If that is solid evidence, then there is no reason to reject it. I’ll give you a power of attorney, so you can try it.”
– A new quest, ‘Aden City Sewer Investigation (Rare)’ has been created.
[Sewage Survey in Aden City]
-Rating: Rare
-target
-Investigation inside the underground sewer in Aden City (0/1)
-Confirmation of invasion by orcs (?/?)
– Description: Count Corvo needs evidence to move his soldiers. If you can find the evidence, find it, and if there is no evidence, take the evidence that confirms it, and you will be able to dispel the Count’s worries.
-Reward: EXP, 3 gold, reputation +3,000, 2 rare items
* * *
Fafnir and Hilde left the count’s mansion.
“Isn’t that a report about the Oak Wave? Are you saying that something big will happen in the provinces soon?”
“Probably right.”
“But so irresponsibly… … ! You can go straight to the king and report this!”
Hilde stomped her foot.
“I can’t help it. It’s a high-ranking NPC.”
Even an NPC is a king.
It’s like meeting the president in real life.
Rather, it would be more difficult to schedule than the president, so I had to understand this arrangement.
“It is said that it will be called when the processing is finished, so until then, I will feel at ease.”
“Haa, it would be a big deal if the Byron City temple collapsed like this… … .”
“It will be fine. The Thor Temple there is not normal.”
Fafnir reassured Hilde, who was full of worries.
“Then shall we break up soon? I also want to find hunting or quests to do in the capital.”
“Oh, wait.”
Hilde grabbed Fafnil.
“I was told that I was going to the capital anyway, so the high priest gave me a new quest.”
“A new quest?”
“Yes, he asked me to deliver the items to the Calverine Marquis family, saying that the request was over.”
“It’s a linked quest.”
Usually, this does not end with simple delivery, but most of them go through two or three stages.
“Yes, the reward seems pretty good… … . So, by the way, would you like to go with me if you have time?”
“Then thank you.”
If he could be introduced to a good quest, he had nothing to refuse.
“Come over here.”
Hilde headed to the Marquis House with Fafnir.
When Hilde and Fafnir arrived at the Marquis of Calverine, they were able to meet the butler.
“The High Priestess Hor sent you?”
“Yes, here is the correspondence and stuff.”
“The Marquis is absent, so I will take his place. Give it to me.”
High noble NPCs are not always in mansions or fixed locations.
Depending on schedules or events, he would go back and forth between the palace, his new post, and the capital, so he could be in trouble if he didn’t have information.
After reading the letter, the butler of the marquis family nodded.
“Confirmed. The music box that I asked for purification is now fine, and the person who can solve the problem has arrived, so the Marquis must be happy too.”
“What if it’s a job?”
“Actually, I heard that ghosts often come out of the annex for servants these days, so I asked them to send someone to purify the annex. What can I do?”
“Please leave it to me.”
“But please don’t spread rumors. If something like that happened externally… … . It could damage the image of the marquis family.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“good.”
– A party member has accepted the quest.
– A new quest ‘cleaning the outbuilding’ has been created.
[Cleaning the outbuilding]
-Rating: Normal
[target]
-Kill all ghosts in the Servant’s Annex (0/50)
-Cleansing the dark energy of the servant’s outbuilding (0/5)
-Description: The Marquis of Calverin wants to dispose of the ghost that appeared in the outbuilding so that it is not known.
-Reward: EXP, 15 silver, 1 level 65 magic level equipment item
‘This isn’t bad enough.’
It was then.
The butler suddenly looked in the direction of Fafnir and asked.
“By the way, who are you? This monk has been confirmed, but there is no mention of you in the correspondence.”
“ah… … . This is my colleague. Not a priest… … .”
“Necromancer! Necromancer only. Even the appearance of this equipment and the mana of darkness, he must be a warlock!”
The butler’s voice rose.
“What is this! A necromancer is a companion? How can you believe in a conspiracy or a warlock!”
“Fafnir-sama is not that kind of person! It was recognized in Byron City, and it saved people on the way back.”
“You don’t know that those are all masks. Cancel what I just said! Rather than entrusting the work to a necromancer or something, I will send a letter to the high priest again.”
No matter how much Hilde persuaded her, the butler’s attitude was immovable.
‘It’s a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of ‘ … .’
At this rate, even Hilde would not be able to take on the quest.
‘It can’t be helped.’
Fafnir approached Hilde.
“Hilde-nim, I think it would be better for Hilde-nim to do it alone.”
“But Fafnir-sama… … .”
“I have work to do, so let’s meet after each other’s work.”
Hilde also tried to say something, but there was no other way.
It was then.
A familiar voice came from behind them.
“No, aren’t you Fafnir?”
“Lord of the Red Pearl?”
“Have you ever had something to do here?”
“My colleague has a job, no big deal.”
Fafnir tried to evade it moderately.
At that moment, the butler ran out and bowed his head.
“Are you here, Lord of the upper ranks?”
“Hum-hum, it’s been a while since you’ve been a butler. What about the Marquis?”
“He is in the palace. You will be back by evening.”
“Heh heh, that’s right.”
Two people having a friendly conversation.
At that moment, the merchants approached Fafnir.
“Anyway, the destination was the same. Shouldn’t you have said it?”
“Eh, do you know each other?”
“of course! It is a life saver.”
“Oh, no… … . Aren’t you a necromancer?”
“however? I’m here thanks to the necromancer or whatever helping us… … . Are you sorry about that?”
“Oh, that can’t be!”
“Then apologize to this friend. With sincerity.”
The butler had no choice but to bend down at the abstract-like order of the upper class.
“… … I’m sorry, I judged you hastily based only on your job.”
“No, well, it’s okay.”
“Do the request as it is. The reward will not disappoint you. I’m so sorry.”
It’s hard to believe that he’s a kinky butler.
Fafnir grinned inwardly.
‘As expected, it’s better to have more personal connections.’
There is a saying to take out the horns of the oxen as well.
He must have had other things to do, so Fafnir headed to the annex with Hilde.
“This is a bit… … .”
“It’s a terrible haunt.”
Rusty iron doors, overgrown weeds, even broken windows!
After crossing the door, I felt as if I was experiencing a haunted house rather than a cleaning quest.
– Hee hee, he’s a human!
-Give me your blood!
Ghosts came from all over the outbuilding.
– Cries of horror were heard.
– I panic.
-Attack of the same attribute.
– Resist the clamor of fear.
– Panic has been lifted.
Ghosts are insubstantial, and they are quite annoying monsters to normal users because they apply various debuffs.
However, this was not the case for Fafnir and Hilde.
“Penelope, help Hilde!”
“I get it.”
Hilde with holy power and Penelope with mana swept across the battlefield.
“Dark ball!”
Fafnir made a support attack and recalled the view of Aden City he had seen earlier.
‘Certainly the count is confident enough.’
Since it was the capital of the kingdom, it was common for both players and NPCs to be over level 100.
This place is full of various high-end content, as well as hidden quests and NPCs specializing in advanced skills.
No matter how hard the orcs or warlocks attacked, it was close to impossible to destroy the capital.
however… … .
Recalling the contents of the novel, Fafnir took a deep breath.
‘The capital burns, and the kingdom perishes soon after without being able to recover the damage.’
A defense of the capital that normally could never be penetrated by orcs.
The reason it broke was simple.
‘… … There were enemies in the capital, so it’s only natural.’
betrayer.
The enemy had already formed within the walls.