Chapter 103 …
“Doesn’t it seem strange that a being who retains human intelligence and form would move just because the other Abysses moved?”
“…Now that you mention it, it does. Perhaps there’s something else at play…”
Gamillion’s expression grew serious at Dohyun’s words. He sensed that something was going awry. After a moment of deep thought, he asked in a grave tone:
“Did you feel anything when confronting him? It doesn’t have to be definitive; even other clues will do.”
“Well… confronting him? I didn’t even clash swords with him…”
Dohyun replied hesitantly, trailing off mid-sentence. Then he remembered something — something strange he had consistently felt from that being.
“A reddish glow…”
“Huh?”
A red light emanating from the chest area — a peculiar phenomenon never seen from any other boss. It had even lured Dohyun when he was outside the temple.
“That’s it!”
“Huh?”
As soon as Dohyun mentioned it, Gamillion, stroking his beard, blinked with the excitement of a man who had just had a eureka moment.
“Come to think of it, the time when the Successor appeared overlaps with the time the Abysses moved. This is no mere coincidence. No — this is fate.”
“Uh… really?”
It was a fairly reasonable deduction… yet Gamillion’s fate-obsessed way of thinking always felt a bit over the top. Any coincidence, however trivial, would be attributed to destiny. Soon, he’d probably claim even the choice of a meal was destiny.
Still, Dohyun had no intention of arguing this time.
“He may possess the second piece of destiny. No, given the circumstances, it’s certain. Few in humanity today truly understand ‘destiny.’”
“…”
“Only the despicable gods and those blinded by greed have paid attention, yet now the Abyss stirs… This is something we absolutely cannot overlook.”
Gamillion grinding his teeth was a sight Dohyun wasn’t used to. The gentle demeanor was gone; his eyes blazed with venom. Even Dohyun, standing close, felt the intensity infect him.
As he unknowingly clenched his fists, Gamillion spoke clearly:
“Before the council convenes, we must gather evidence. Successor, I know this is a difficult request, but you are the only one I can trust. Could you retrieve traces that could serve as evidence?”
Ding!
[Main Quest ‘Second Piece (1)’ has appeared.]
[Second Piece (1)]
Rank: Main Quest, Job Quest
Description: The Destroyer, Gaimon, may possess the second piece of destiny. He seems to be planning something. Since his presence has already been discovered, you must gather solid evidence before he hides it.
Objective: Find traces of the Destroyer Gaimon.
Traces of the Destroyer (1/2)
Success: Linked quest ‘Second Piece (2)’ will appear.
Failure: Failure to acquire the second piece of destiny.
Time limit: 50 minutes
The second piece of destiny lay somewhere in Brion. With graduation approaching, the main quest was finally beginning in earnest.
And a little later, deep within the briny Rock Forest…
[The aura of death is extremely dense.]
[The fog is extremely thick.]
A figure moved through the dense fog, barely able to see a foot ahead. Precisely, it was one person and two guardians.
A man dressed in crimson and blue with a crude staff, a small new-type robed figure, and a tiny spider tucked in the robe’s pocket.
“Hmm… this is the way, right?”
Liza!
Not there, the other way.
“Ah, got it.”
It was Dohyun and his guardians. After the long conversation with Gamillion, they left the temple and headed straight for the briny Rock Forest.
This way.
“Ah, okay… but how do you find the way so easily with all this dense fog? I get confused even with a map.”Liza Liza!
Of course! Spiders see everything clearly, she claims.
“Ohh…”
Curious how she navigated despite the nearly blinding death aura and thick fog, Dohyun now understood her secret.
Suddenly, he felt something odd.
“…But spiders have almost no eyesight?”
Liza!? Liza!!
Don’t lie — I’ve had perfect vision since birth! I can even see the dirt in my master’s pores.
“Ah… I see.”
Dohyun stayed silent, watching Eliza jump with disbelief. He had decided to protect her childlike innocence.
‘Come to think of it, Eliza is a rare species too.’
Looking closely, she was fluffy and soft, more like a cotton ball than a spider. Perhaps she wasn’t even a spider? Only two eyes.
‘Hmm… maybe not.’
Yet she could spin webs, showing she did possess some spider traits.
Liza?
“Nope.”
Dohyun shook his head at her puzzled tilt. Whether she was a spider or not didn’t matter. She was a cute, reliable guardian. For now, the priority was following the map.
[Old Secret Map]
‘It leads to a hidden field.’
The small secret map in his hands revealed a hidden field in the briny Rock Forest. In Brion, known only for the Rock Forest and the city, a hidden field existed?
‘If this got out, it’d be chaos.’
Since the information had been kept secret for over a year and a half, it was indeed explosive. No need to sell or report it.
[RCD recording in progress.]
If Dohyun uploaded this footage to NewTube, views would skyrocket. This discovery had just happened.
Whoever holds the piece of destiny must be stopped.
For that, we need evidence… The ID card alone isn’t enough. We need solid proof.
Since he’s been spotted once, he’ll act cautiously. You must seize the opportunity discreetly. An urgent council meeting is coming; now is the only chance, Successor. Later will be too late.
Gamillion urgently handed a worn map.
I heard you’ve searched the briny Rock Forest thoroughly. But this place might have been overlooked.
This is…?
A secret spot untouched by monsters. A place where the aura of death distorts vision.
Few in Brion know of it. If he’s an elder, he’ll know. Perhaps he’s been hiding here… There must be traces.
This was the secret map to the hidden field that Dohyun now held.
If you encounter him… avoid him at all costs. You’re still too weak to face him alone.
Gamillion’s warning went unheard by Dohyun.
‘Hidden… field?’
The word alone echoed in his mind. Without looking back, he led Jihad and Eliza into the briny Rock Forest. A wise choice.
[Remaining Time: 00:29:21]
‘Already only 29 minutes left?’
They hadn’t even reached the hidden field yet. They had to locate it and find evidence before the council meeting started in 29 minutes. Fortunately, failure wouldn’t result in losing their job class.
‘Failing to acquire the piece of destiny would be practically useless.’
Even if the main quest progressed, failing to clear the main stream would render it meaningless. Dohyun wouldn’t tolerate failure — he intended to succeed.
Liza!
Master, this way!
Eliza’s sharp vision made her an excellent navigation system, guiding through dense fog, alerting obstacles, and correcting mistakes. Cute too.
“Of course, our Eliza is the best.”
Liza Liza!
Dohyun patted her head; she rubbed her face in delight.
Eliza… usually only does this to me… sniff. Is this what sending a daughter off feels like?
Liza??
Jihad muttered something, but Dohyun ignored him. Following the high-performance, cute navigation, they moved forward.
Liza!
We’ve arrived, Master.
Finally, they reached their destination.
‘25 minutes… not bad.’
It took 25 minutes in total. Dohyun patted Eliza’s head, peering forward as the fog thinned, revealing the landscape.
“Indeed, no difference.”
At first glance, it was a normal Rock Forest — some trees, some rocks. Only the absence of monsters stood out. But Dohyun saw something.
[Eye of Truth activated.]
The void beside the rocks glowed red, as if a gate had opened.
‘So it activates here too. Is it because I got the map?’
Without Eliza, he might not have noticed. Regardless, what mattered now was entering the hidden field.
‘Hidden pieces might be lurking here.’
Hidden fields were filled with hidden pieces. Like when completing the Warriors’ habitat, even incidental quests were beneficial. Approaching closer, a notification appeared.
[Ominous Fog Zone]
[First time discovering hidden field ‘Ominous Fog Zone’.]
[First discovery grants benefits.]
[Experience +20%]
[Drop rate +20%]
[Recorded in Adventure Journal]
‘As expected…’
Seeing “first discovery,” Dohyun clenched his fist. In RPGs, such words always stirred excitement. Perhaps he could finally obtain something related to the pieces of destiny here. Heart racing with anticipation and tension, he stepped into the entrance.
[Entering Hidden Field ‘Ominous Fog Zone’.]
[First Discoverer benefits applied.]
The scenery that unfolded was very different from what he had expected.
