Chapter 177 …
He simply couldn’t hold back his laughter.
No matter how much he tried to suppress it, it kept leaking out through the corners of his mouth.
‘Perfect. It’s unfolding perfectly.’
Everything was proceeding exactly according to plan—so precisely that it almost felt unreal.
Some of the comments online were even written word for word exactly as he had predicted.
That was the result of running countless simulations—and now those preparations were finally bearing fruit.
Just thinking about the gains they would earn if this raid party succeeded was staggering. This wasn’t just about restoring their image.
They would leap forward—one step? No, five steps at once.
Wait, but after making such a huge fuss, what if they fail?
Seriously. If it’s the first hidden raid boss, it’s probably insanely strong. Are they that confident?
If they fail miserably and get wiped, that’ll be hilarious lol
LOL honestly that would be even funnier. I’d love to see that.
There were many mocking comments predicting failure, but Verje merely snorted.
‘Idiots. Do they think I’d proceed without any preparation?’
Even singers go through dozens of rehearsals before stepping onto a stage. Naturally, they had completed every kind of preparation before attempting the raid.
And that preparation, of course, included real combat.
In fact, because this was the first-ever clear attempt, practicing through real fights had been unavoidable.
There was no information available, so the only way was to clash with it directly—learning its traits and attack patterns while developing strategies.
‘We attempted nine tries already. If we just follow the practice, it’ll be enough.’
That was why, even after finishing the Luidra攻略 quest in just three days, they needed four more days of preparation.
But now, everything was ready.
With Zerpac leading the elite Dark Horse squad, there was no way they would fail if everyone followed the rehearsed plan.
True to its title as the first Hidden Raid Boss, it possessed terrifying strength—but with fifteen players attempting the raid, it wasn’t unbeatable.
‘Once this explodes in success, we can connect it to the Empire as well.’
When that time came, no one would dare ignore the Hero Guild—or the name Verje.
They would become a true quasi–Top 10 guild.
Imagining the brilliant golden future ahead, Verje slowly closed his eyes.
‘Yes. There’s no way I could fail.’
How difficult things had been until now.
Ever since Kaiser appeared, nothing had gone smoothly.
But that was all in the past now. This time, no one could block his path.
Even if that person was Kaiser himself.
“Hm… Kaiser…”
As Verje was reaffirming his resolve, the name suddenly crossed his mind.
In truth, the biggest variable in this raid wasn’t anything else—it was Kaiser.
He was an Irregular.
A completely unpredictable existence that always produced bizarre, unimaginable outcomes.
Verje had been wary of what strange route Kaiser might take to interfere.
In fact, when they announced they would recruit anyone, Verje even thought it might not be bad if Kaiser joined.
It would be better to keep him inside the raid party, where he could be monitored and controlled.
‘But I heard he didn’t join the raid. And no one has seen him leave the royal castle since entering it.’
Then was he still inside the castle doing quests?
There were many rumors that it might be a Main Quest, so it would be a lie to say Verje wasn’t curious—but right now, it actually worked in his favor.
The raid party had already departed.
And Kaiser was inside the castle.
Even if he wanted to interfere, there was no way he could.
Yet somehow…
‘…What is this uneasy feeling?’
He couldn’t explain it, but the discomfort wouldn’t go away.
Kaiser being this quiet felt strange.
Tap. Tap.
Verje, who had been tapping the desk with his index finger out of habit, soon shook his head.
It was a pointless worry.
Logically speaking, interfering in this situation made no sense.
“As long as Zerpac manages the raid party well, it’ll be fine.”
At this point, the only realistic variable was the players participating in the raid.
And the Hero Guild’s executives were not incompetent enough to fail at controlling mere ordinary players.
After objectively organizing the situation once more, Verje smiled.
“I suppose I should prepare to enjoy the banquet.”
Imagining steak and wine for dinner tonight, Verje leaned comfortably back in his chair.
Meanwhile…
While everyone’s attention was focused on the Luidra raid party, Dohyun was letting out a hollow laugh after hearing the shocking secret behind the Lantern Festival.
‘So that’s why she called it a half-hearted festival.’
Only now did he understand why Luriel had clicked her tongue when she saw the festival.
Now that the Ember of Purification had disappeared, the Lantern Festival had become nothing more than a hollow formality.
Were the residents’ dark expressions related to that as well?
Most likely.
‘…So that’s why they said they broke the taboo.’
‘Of course something would go wrong if they did that.’
‘Rizaliza.’
They were right.
According to the doctrine of Avtartel, when humans suffer hardships and pain, it is preparation for happiness.
It is considered a trial from the gods, meant to make people stronger.
Forcibly releasing someone from those trials was not within human authority.
If Brion had known this, he would have flipped the city upside down immediately.
The sword that once split the tidal wave of Lebed might have been displayed again here in Pratel.
“At first, everyone was happy,” said King Gilverun.
“For those who had lost the will to live, we gave them purpose again. Being with their loved ones alone was enough to make them happy. Watching them, I believed I was doing the right thing.”
“….”
“That belief lasted about six months.”
If you’re happy without working…
If simply breathing makes you happy…
Then who would bother moving forward?
As the saying goes, light exists because there is shadow.
Once pain disappeared, the value of happiness ironically dropped.
Everyone stopped moving forward.
They stagnated.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation too late, Gilverun and Angela attempted to stop the purification ritual.
“But by then… it was already too late.”
All the negative emotions—pain, wounds, suffering.
Once those vanished, they awakened something.
The owner of nightmares, the Witch of Dreams—Luidra.
Enraged, she awakened from her long slumber, and her rampage devastated Pratel.
“We were ambushed without warning. We had grown soft from peace, and we were overwhelmed instantly by that thing. Many people fell into eternal sleep before we could even properly fight. Angela as well… Grrr.”
“Your Majesty…”
“I’m fine. I cannot collapse yet.”
Gilverun’s arms trembled as he clenched his teeth.
Captain of the Knights Hyde looked at him with concern.
Gilverun’s face was filled with regret and frustration.
“You know the rule,” Hyde said quietly.
“Those who fall into eternal sleep must not be disturbed. That was the best choice.”
“…I know. I only wish the curse had taken me instead.”
“Please do not say such things. What would happen if Your Majesty were gone?”
Angela had sacrificed herself in his place.
But the most painful part was this:
He couldn’t even lay her peacefully in a room.
If someone in eternal sleep was handled incorrectly, they might never awaken.
So Gilverun had no choice but to announce that Angela had died.
Then he sealed the area with barriers and twisted the pathways so no one could reach her.
“If it weren’t for Luriel… I would not have endured.”
The ones who helped him were Luriel and the White Tower Master.
The Tower Master provided practical help in protecting Angela.
And Luriel gave him hope—that one day, the Apostle of Prophecy would appear.
‘So many people are under the eternal sleep curse… That’s why the residents look so gloomy.’
Their loved ones must be in the same situation as Angela.
They couldn’t tell outsiders either.
If they spoke about it, they might be burned at the stake for breaking taboo.
So they endured silently.
Dohyun understood that much.
But there was still something that puzzled him.
‘Why can only the Apostle solve this?’
This city existed even before the Empire, and it was the only city where residents still called their ruler “king” instead of lord.
Naturally, its knights were on an entirely different level from previous cities.
Just looking at Hyde or Luriel, most players wouldn’t even dare challenge them.
‘And yet they can’t defeat it—but they expect an Apostle to?’
NPCs being stronger than players was basic common sense.
So why rely on players?
The answer came quickly.
“It’s because of the witch’s trait.”
Luidra possessed two abilities:
Dream Chamber and Nightmare Chamber.
They were personal domains where she could freely exercise her power.
The Dream Chamber wasn’t too problematic since it interfered little.
But the Nightmare Chamber was different.
Anyone invited into it even once would gain a Nightmare Mark.
“Anyone branded with the Nightmare Mark cannot deal fatal damage to her until they die.”
“…Unfortunately, I bear the mark as well.”
Hyde quietly showed the back of his hand.
A screaming skull mark was etched there like a tattoo.
“All the knights have this mark somewhere on their bodies. It only disappears when we die.”
They had been caught completely off guard during Luidra’s attack.
Which meant the only ones who could kill her were players, the immortals who resurrect after death.
That raised another question—why hadn’t they requested help from players before?
“How could we?” Gilverun said bitterly.
“Everyone knows Apostles have loose lips. If word spreads that we broke a taboo, Brion and the Empire will attack us from both sides. Could we handle that?”
“…Fair point.”
If Dohyun killed even a field boss, news spread instantly.
If they told even one player about breaking taboo, an article would appear within ten minutes and the Empire would know.
“So you are the only one left.”
Dohyun was the last straw they could grasp.
“It is shameful, but we cannot request help publicly, nor can we kill the witch ourselves. Please… can you help us? I swear on the name of Gilverun that the reward will be fair.”
“….”
“I want to save the sleeping citizens… and Angela. Please help us correct this mistake.”
Ding—
A quest window appeared.
[Angela’s Secret Chain Quest: “Ember of Purification”]
Rank: Hero+
Description:
The Witch of Dreams, Luidra.
Only the Ember of Purification she stole can free Angela and the citizens from the curse of eternal sleep.
Retrieve the Ember of Purification from Luidra.Clear Condition: Ember of Purification (0 / 1)
Reward: 1,000 Gold, Large EXP, Special Event
Failure: If Luidra is killed without obtaining the Ember, the quest fails and favorability with Gilverun may drastically decrease.
Time Limit: None
Not Hero, but Hero+ rank.
Yet Dohyun’s expression was uncertain.
‘The rewards are too small for this difficulty.’
While 1,000 gold for a single quest wasn’t common, no one completed a Hero+ quest just for gold and experience.
There was no clear objective reward.
So Dohyun focused on the last line.
‘That special event must be the real reward.’
He didn’t know what event would occur, but it was clearly the key.
Of course, events weren’t always good.
In Demrock, he had completed a quest with an event and ended up getting backstabbed.
But sometimes events granted huge benefits—or led to incredible questlines.
It was a gamble.
But Dohyun had no reason to refuse.
‘I have to wake Angela to obtain the Fragment of Fate anyway.’
Just like Gilverun, he needed Angela to awaken.
But before accepting, there was something he needed to confirm.
“I have a condition.”
“…What is it? If it’s within my ability, I will grant it.”
Gilverun looked slightly tense.
Dohyun paused briefly.
‘I need to secure ownership of the necklace.’
Angela wasn’t dead.
And the necklace wasn’t merely a keepsake—it was the core of this entire incident.
He would likely give it willingly, but it was better to confirm.
“I need two things.”
“What are they?”
Dohyun didn’t ask for the broken necklace.
He asked for the complete Fragment of Fate.
With a firm expression, he said:
“I need the necklace—and Lady Angela.”
“…?”
Silence fell.
“…What did you say?”
“Ah.”
Seeing Gilverun’s eyebrow twitch as the atmosphere turned icy, Dohyun froze.
It seemed like…
He had phrased that very badly. 😅
