Episode 73
073. Killing Two Birds with One Stone
“Wow! Mr. Golden Hand! Your fighting is no joke! It was like a scene from a movie! Especially that skill at the end! Wow, I thought I was gonna lose my mind! Could you maybe tell me about that skill info or how to get it?”
She deliberately made a fuss, attempting to touch him as if lightly clinging to his arm. But Golden Hand, slippery as an eel, took half a step back just before her hand made contact, maintaining distance.
“You flatter me.”
Geumson’s guarded attitude made Moiran feel a chill down her spine.
‘Does he really know about my hidden quest?’
In her anxiety, just as she was trying to probe Geumson, Caravan Master Elio approached and spoke to him.
“You are our savior! Really… thank you so much! If not for you, our entire caravan would have been wiped out here. How can I ever repay this kindness…?”
Elio bowed deeply. At his sincere gratitude, Geumson’s expression softened slightly for the first time.
“It’s fine. I just happened to pass by and saw monsters, so I took care of them. I had some things to test anyway…”
“Don’t be so modest… your character is also outstanding. If you weren’t prepared, you couldn’t have dealt with the Sandpit Maws like that. And that leader, a notorious desert nuisance.”
“No, it’s not that…”
Somehow, Caravan Master Elio seemed to be misunderstanding on his own. However, he made a favorable proposal to Geumson.
“Um… if it’s not too presumptuous, could I ask you to accompany us to our destination, Aertos?”
[Escort Quest: Caravan Master Elio’s Earnest Request]
Description: Caravan Master Elio feels deep gratitude and awe towards you and earnestly requests your safe escort to the destination, the ‘Magic City Aertos’.
Rewards:
1. 100,000 Gold
2. Achieve ‘Maximum’ trust level with Elio’s Caravan
3. Desert Caravan Alliance Credit EmblemPenalty on Failure:
1. Elio’s Caravan is annihilated
2. Relationship with Desert Caravan Alliance drops to ‘Worst’
Elio’s offer was hard to refuse. A whopping 100,000 gold. That’s 10 million won in cash. It seemed there was a bit of a ‘savior bonus’ added, even though he was a caravan master of a large caravan. This was the kind of request worth going out of one’s way for, even if the destination differed.
“Then I’ll take you up on that.”
golden hand accepted immediately. Elio’s face brightened. He immediately started shouting to tend to the wounded and reorganize the ranks. Just the fact that golden hand was joining made the remaining journey seem unthreatening. However, Moiran bit her lip as she watched.
‘Damn, things just got complicated. I have to go to Aertos with that monster? He won’t be up to something strange in Aertos, will he?’
Knowing golden hand’s recent activities, Moiran, in a position where she needed to undertake a hidden quest in Aertos, felt uneasy. But soon, a cunning smile appeared on her face.
‘…No, could this actually be good? This is a perfect opportunity to observe that man up close! This feels like jackpot content!’
Without anyone noticing, she checked her streaming system again and started the broadcast immediately.
“Alright, viewers! Did everyone see that clearly? Was that… even human?”
Moiran was at the very back of the caravan procession, whispering in a small voice so no one would notice, continuing her broadcast. In the corner of her vision, a semi-transparent broadcast screen floated. The highlight of golden hand slaughtering the Sandpit Maw swarm moments ago was replaying on loop.
[Live Stream: [Breaking News] A Blacksmith Tears Apart a Named Mob… Is This For Real?]
[Current Viewers: 34,815]
The chat was about to explode.
└ [Yanado]: Whoa… whoa… whoa… I got chills just now. That’s a blacksmith? I’m a blacksmith too, so why am I like this?
└ [Analyst]: Unbelievable. Solo-ing a level 90 named monster that overwhelmingly is impossible. His combat power is no less than that of a top-tier ranker.
└ [Anon]: Isn’t that a hack? Let’s report.
└ [RighteousHand]: No no, not a hack. Look at the movements. Every attack precisely targets only weak points. That’s pure physical skill and skill comprehension. He’s just insane.
└ [Golden Hand Baragi]: Huh? Looks like Golden Hand got new gear? So cool!
.
.
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The chat was chaotic, but Moiran handled it skillfully. Moreover, no one around, including the other players, knew she was broadcasting, as if she were a ventriloquist.
“Not satisfied with crafting legendary weapons, he’s now smashing named monsters with a hammer! Is this a blacksmith or an avatar of destruction?”
While speaking, Moiran cleverly adjusted her field of view, capturing Golden Hand in the frame, sitting comfortably on the Iron Walker’s back in the distance, enjoying the desert scenery.
└ [Anon]: Wow, S… Look at that relaxed look. Is that really the guy who just shredded a named mob?
└ [Yannerdu]: That guy riding the golem is golden? But why does he look so comfortable? Total chairman vibes.
└ [UrbanExplorer]: I think there are golems similar to that sold in the mechanical city ‘Automata’? But they weren’t that free… interesting.
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Moiran smiled triumphantly and used the close-up function. The screen showed Tia, sitting quietly on Geumson’s shoulder, nodding off sleepily.
└ [New Doctor]: OMG, what’s that little cutie! It’s so adorable!
└ [Pacifist]: Miss Moran! Please ask about that bird’s name! And if it’s for sale!
└ [Golden Hand Baragi]: Look at it sticking right next to him ㅠㅠ It’s totally a baby.
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.
“Alright, alright, viewers. Calm down. I’ll ask when I get a chance! So don’t go watching other streams…!”
Moiran glibly fibbed, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. Seeing the soaring viewer count, she smiled happily. But she couldn’t help feeling regretful.
‘If it weren’t for the hidden quest, I’d just keep following golden hand around!’
She had to part ways in Aertos because of the quest. That was a real shame for Moiran. But since there was time until Aertos, she planned to maximize streaming efficiency. However, the golden hand she thought she was observing… she seemed unaware that golden hand was also observing her.
After enduring the desert’s scorching sun and night’s cold air for several more days, the silhouette of a massive city, shimmering like a mirage, finally began to appear beyond the horizon.
“Aertos!”
One of the caravan guards cheered. The end of the long, arduous journey was in sight. Only then did relief appear on everyone’s faces.
The closer they got to the city, the more its surreal appearance became clear. Aertos was a city built around a massive oasis rising in the middle of the desert. The entire city was covered by a huge, semi-transparent magical barrier, and inside it lay lush green forests and clear lakes, unbelievable for a desert.
Dozens of small floating islands hovered in the sky, and mages in fluttering robes traversed the rainbow-colored bridges connecting them. The city’s buildings were all made of white marble and blue crystal, gleaming brilliantly under the blazing sun.
“A city like this in the desert… truly a city of magic.”
From atop the Iron Walker, golden hand admired and took in the city’s scenery. A mystical and serene beauty, entirely different from Neman Village’s pastoral atmosphere or Kratum’s rough vitality, pervaded the entire city.
As the caravan reached the city gates, Elio approached golden hand and bowed deeply once more.
“Being able to arrive here safely is all thanks to you, Mr. golden hand. I will never forget this kindness. This is a small token of our caravan’s gratitude. Please accept it.”
What Elio handed over was a heavy pouch of gold coins along with a small emblem engraved with the caravan’s insignia.
[Acquired 100,000 Gold.]
[Acquired Desert Caravan Alliance Credit Emblem.]
[When trading with caravans in the desert, receive a 10% discount on all items and gain priority purchase rights for special goods.]
“I’ll accept it gratefully.”
golden hand did not refuse. He liked the emblem’s effect as much as the gold.
“If you need any help in Aertos, please visit our caravan anytime. Although it’s a small force, we will do our best to assist.”
“Your words alone are thanks enough. Well then, I’ll be going now.”
golden hand exchanged farewells with Elio and gave a slight nod to Moran before entering the city with the Iron Walker and Tia. From behind, Moiran’s gaze, mixed with regret and curiosity, followed him persistently. Still, Moiran stepped back obediently.
‘Nothing major happened, but… why does that name feel familiar? Moiran, Moiran…’
He couldn’t recall her face. But the name ‘Moiran’ felt oddly familiar to Geumson. He couldn’t quite remember clearly. However, his thoughts about Moiran couldn’t deepen further.
‘This… what is it?’
— Tit! Tii- Tit!
“Walker?”
golden hand’s steps halted as he entered the city. Tia’s reaction was the same as golden hand’s. Only the Iron Walker was scratching its head, oblivious.
The air was full of a refreshing, clear energy. But beneath the surface flowed a subtle dissonance.
‘It’s a magic city… but is the flow of magic this unstable?’
golden hand’s brow furrowed.
