00434 Rage. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
It all began with something trivial.
A clan from a western city set out to explore the uncharted western territories and never returned. There could be many reasons for this: they might have perished in a battle with monsters, fallen victim to bandits, or been caught in a trap.
In any case, it seemed insignificant. While it might have been a significant event for the individuals involved, in the grand scheme of the world known as Hol Plain, such occurrences were not uncommon.
However.
This seemingly minor incident began to grow in magnitude over time.
The clan, convinced of their members’ disappearance, sought help from the city’s leading clan. Responding to their plea, the leading clan formed a first rescue team and dispatched them to the uncharted region.
But they, too, did not return.
The leading clan then organized a larger second rescue team and sent them out again. Yet, after entering the mountain range, they lost contact at some point and never returned. It was no surprise that they, too, failed to come back.
By this point, the leading clan finally recognized the gravity of the situation. Users began to take notice of what was once considered a trivial incident.
No longer was it a minor affair. It wasn’t just any caravan; it was a rescue team formed by a regular clan, and they had all lost contact.
Ultimately, the leading clan decided they couldn’t resolve the issue on their own and made the incident public across the entire northern continent, hoping to attract voluntary assistance from users.
The response was overwhelming. For nearly two years, users in the northern continent hadn’t even glimpsed a relic, as a certain clan in the southern city of Monica had excavated and claimed all remaining relics. Thus, the mysterious aura surrounding the newly highlighted uncharted region was more than enough to capture users’ attention.
A relic fever swept across the northern continent. Users skilled in ancient languages suddenly found themselves in high demand. Although the attention was fleeting, they eagerly sought and investigated information about the region where the incident occurred.
It wasn’t long before records emerged, detailing myths associated with the area. These records were ancient, chronicling legends from a bygone era of Hol Plain.
The Great War.
Dragons that once ruled the entire continent, the inhabitants who revered them, and those who rebelled against their rule to wage a war of independence.
The region was the site of the final battle between dragons and inhabitants, where the apocalyptic dragon Magna Carta met its end.
The inhabitants, having reclaimed control of the world, named the place “The Mountain Range Where Dragons Sleep.”
With such a compelling myth revealed, users grew even more excited. The records suggested that the “suspicious region” was likely a “region with relics.” Consequently, all users began to focus on “The Mountain Range Where Dragons Sleep.”
While some users, valuing their lives, remained silent, others, dreaming of striking it rich, quickly organized expeditions and caravans, eager to be the first to uncover relics.
More cautious users observed the unfolding events, quietly gathering and analyzing data about the region, conserving their strength. Once they felt confident, they embarked on their own expeditions.
Time passed, and an unexpected, grim reality emerged.
Survival rate: 10.2%.
This figure represented the percentage of users who returned alive from attempting to conquer “The Mountain Range Where Dragons Sleep.” In other words, 89.8% of those who ventured out never returned.
Even the 10.2% who did return had only gathered information from the mountain’s outskirts, not from deep within. The survival rate for those who ventured further was 0%.
Despite the abysmal survival rate, users’ interest in “The Mountain Range Where Dragons Sleep” showed no signs of waning. Although the initial rush of naive explorers had ceased, the dream of striking it rich kept drawing users to the mountains.
And now, several months after the fever began, “The Mountain Range Where Dragons Sleep” remained unconquered.
“I never thought even the Mercenaries would fail. That mountain range must be really tough.”
“Well, isn’t it too early to say they failed? I heard they went on some random caravan’s request, not for an actual exploration, but for protection.”
Soo-jung, who had just started descending the stairs, paused. Glancing down, she saw a man and a woman chatting at a table by the window. She quietly focused her hearing.
“Is that so? Most of the recent records seem to be about the Mercenary Clan. Failed requests, missing engineers, and so on. Most of it is negative.”
“That’s because they’re a successful clan. Honestly, ever since the Mercenaries swept up all the relics, a lot of users haven’t looked kindly on them. They’re just jealous. They finally found something to latch onto.”
“Hehe. I feel the same way. Good things should be shared, but seeing them keep it all to themselves and their allied clans is frustrating.”
“See? I knew it. And why should they share the good stuff? It’s their hard-earned success. People here just can’t stand seeing others do well.”
The woman chided in a sharp voice, and the man scratched his head sheepishly, laughing. After chatting for a while, the two linked arms like a couple and headed for the door.
Ding.
The sound of the door opening brought Soo-jung back to her senses. The table by the window, where the couple had been sitting, was now empty.
“Sigh…”
Soo-jung let out a long sigh and forced herself to continue down the stairs. Just then—
Ding, ding!
“Oh, unni? Soo-jung unni!”
The door swung open again with a clatter, and a familiar voice reached Soo-jung’s ears.
Turning towards the door in surprise, Soo-jung saw a familiar face looking at her with concern, and a faint spark of life returned to her previously vacant eyes.
“Hee-sun…?”
“Unni!”
As Soo-jung softly called her name, the woman known as Hee-sun rushed over. She embraced Soo-jung tightly, whispering in a tearful voice.
“Unni… I’m sorry… I heard the news… I’m so sorry…”
“Why are you apologizing…? It’s all my fault…”
“But I made that unnecessary request… and all your comrades…”
“It’s okay. It’s okay, so let’s sit down first. Don’t cry, okay?”
Despite Soo-jung’s comforting words, Hee-sun’s tears didn’t stop. Soo-jung gently led her to a table by the window.
Once seated across from the still-sniffling Hee-sun, Soo-jung looked at her with a mix of gratitude and sadness.
Song Hee-sun. A second-year user, with a background as an actress in the modern world. She was also a comrade who had completed the initiation rites with Soo-jung, and they had become close like sisters.
They had promised to stick together in Hol Plain, but their paths diverged at the User Academy.
Strictly speaking, both Soo-jung and Hee-sun’s academy performances were below average. They weren’t non-combat users, but they didn’t possess the kind of user information that would make clans drool.
However, after graduating from the User Academy, while Soo-jung received no offers from any clan, Hee-sun was scouted by the prestigious “Southern Free Alliance” (a large coalition of several mid-sized clans). Rumor had it that Hee-sun got in through connections, as there was another user with an acting background in the alliance.
Though they walked different paths, they kept in touch regularly.
Soo-jung considered Hee-sun almost a benefactor. When she first entered Hol Plain, she felt lost, but thanks to Hee-sun’s dedicated support, she received considerable help. When Soo-jung was short on money, Hee-sun sent her what she had, and she even provided basic weapons and armor. Occasionally, she would discreetly share simple hunting information, helping Soo-jung and her comrades achieve modest success.
“I thought it would be safe to just enter the outskirts and come back… I even hired the Mercenary Clan for protection, just in case… It’s all my fault… sob…”
“No, it’s not. You’ve helped us so much. Neither I nor my comrades would ever blame you.”
“But… when I think of how kind everyone was to me during the initiation… it breaks my heart…”
“Hee-sun…”
Watching Hee-sun break down in tears again, Soo-jung closed her eyes gently.
The root of Soo-jung’s recent caravan loss was indeed a request. Two months ago, Soo-jung had met with Hee-sun and, with difficulty, asked for help due to a lack of funds for caravan activities. Hee-sun had pondered for a moment before bringing up an unexpected topic.
“Unni. I don’t mind giving you the funds. But, how long do you plan to continue with the caravan?”
“Uh, well, I do want to join a clan eventually.”
“Why not take this opportunity to leave the caravan life behind and join our clan? Honestly, caravan life is quite dangerous.”
“Your clan? How?”
Seeing Soo-jung’s keen interest, Hee-sun revealed that the Southern Free Alliance she belonged to was planning an expedition to “The Mountain Range Where Dragons Sleep.” They needed various data and information about the mountain range, and Hee-sun asked Soo-jung’s caravan to investigate the area. In return, she promised to use the results as leverage to request her clan leader to consider Soo-jung’s membership.
For Sujeong, who had always dreamed of a life in a clan, it was a request she found hard to refuse. It wasn’t just that. Heeseon had been a devoted help to her, and the task seemed simple enough—just a quick trip to the edge of the mountain range to gather some information. Plus, the clan leader was an acquaintance of Heeseon’s from the modern world, which seemed to increase her chances of joining.
Of course, the dangers of the “Dragon’s Sleeping Mountain Range” were well-known, and there were voices of dissent within the caravan.
But when Heeseon pulled out a hefty sum of gold and suggested, “How about we hire the Mercenary Clan for protection?” the objections quickly faded.
The Mercenary Clan was renowned across the northern continent for never failing a mission. When it was confirmed that the “Qi Spear Master” and the “Shield of the Gods” would be joining, even the dissenters began to agree.
“But I never expected it to turn out like this.”
Sujeong gave a bitter smile. Ahead, she saw Heeseon wiping her eyes.
“Unni… Have we heard anything from the Mercenary Clan?”
“No. It’s been a week since I last visited, and still no word.”
“Really? That’s strange… Why are they so quiet? Unni, you did make sure to include the clause about ensuring our safe return, right?”
“Ah… Yes. I suppose they need time to prepare. They promised me, so we should hear something soon.”
“No, this won’t do. We can’t just sit around waiting. I’ll go and talk to them.”
“Don’t. You need to consider your position. I’m just a regular user, but you’re not. I’ll go again today.”
Sujeong stopped Heeseon, who was determined to go. She worried that Heeseon’s overly assertive approach might cause friction between the clans. Besides, she didn’t want Heeseon to suffer any more because of this.
After several attempts to dissuade her, Sujeong finally managed to convince Heeseon to stay.
Once Heeseon was safely through the warp gate, Sujeong let out a deep sigh.
Her mind was still a jumble of thoughts. Perhaps she had already half-given up, she mused.
“Let’s try one more time.”
With a heavy heart, Sujeong forced herself to head towards the Mercenary Clan House.
Sujeong arrived at the Mercenary House quickly. Initially, she had struggled to find the main building among the many branches, but after a few visits, she had become familiar with the route.
“Excuse me…”
She cautiously opened the front door. The moment she stepped inside, she instinctively stopped.
It was quiet. There were no guards, and the garden, usually bustling with activity, was eerily silent. On her last visit, she had marveled at the size of the building and garden, yet wondered how they could be so lively when a clan member was missing.
Today, however, was different. A tense silence hung over the entire Mercenary House.
Despite feeling intimidated, Sujeong took one step at a time. When she reached the entrance, she swallowed hard as she grasped the doorknob. Her throat felt suddenly dry.
Finally, she opened the door and spoke softly.
“Excuse me.”
The moment she stepped inside, she flinched again. Dozens of eyes turned to her in unison.
“Who’s that user?”
“Geez, I thought it was someone important.”
The lobby on the first floor was filled with users standing in neat rows. Their gleaming equipment and intense auras suggested they were waiting for someone.
“Um, I’m…”
Sujeong mumbled in a small voice, instinctively glancing at the counter. To get her business done, she needed to speak to the person there first.
When she met the gaze of the employee at the counter, she saw the woman let out a thin sigh. It was a sigh that seemed to say, “Here we go again,” full of annoyance.
Feeling a surge of determination, Sujeong bit her lip. Reminding herself that she was a client, she walked between the rows of users.
And then it happened.
Bang!
The door swung open with a loud crash, and everyone in the lobby turned to look.
The employee’s gaze shifted away from Sujeong, not out of disregard, but because she was startled. She stood up abruptly, her face a picture of surprise.
Sujeong quickly turned around and saw about ten users striding in through the entrance. Their breathing was heavy, and their clothes were dusty, as if they had rushed over.
The man at the front scanned the room and spoke in a low voice.
“Everyone’s here.”
His voice was cold and steady.
As his gaze swept the room, it landed on Sujeong, who stood there, frozen.
Sujeong instinctively closed her eyes, then cautiously opened them to meet his.
“This user is…”
The moment their eyes met, a chill ran down her spine for no apparent reason.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
The prologue is over. Now begins the intricate web of the main story. Honestly, I’m a bit worried. I have to tie together all the events I’ve set up, and I’m not sure if I can manage it well. Haha. But I’ll do my best.
If I may ask one thing of my readers, please pay close attention to the characters introduced from now on. For instance, in this chapter, it’s “Song Heeseon.” This part isn’t just about rescuing Ahn Hyun and Han Kyul and completing the mission; it’s connected to future events as well.
I’ll do my utmost to deliver a satisfying outcome. I hope you enjoy reading. :D
PS. I have to go to my family’s house on January 11th (Saturday) and January 12th (Sunday). I’ve moved up my plans for the Lunar New Year. I asked my father if I could skip it, but he said absolutely not. Last Chuseok, he understood because of my studies and writing, but now there’s no reason not to go, so I had nothing to say. I’ll discuss it more today and provide detailed information in the next chapter.
< Resident Information >
Name: Sasha Felix
Class: Blood Monarch (Secret, Master)
Nation: Free Mercenary
Clan: Mercenary (Clan Rank: AA)
True Name & Nationality: Blood Monarch • Felix
Gender: Male (129)
Height & Weight: 183.3cm • 65.4kg
Disposition: Chaos • Idiot
[Strength 53] [Endurance 67] [Agility 78] [Stamina 84] [Magic 95] [Luck 51]
< Achievements (2) >
< Unique Ability (1/1) >
< Special Ability (1/1) >
< Potential Abilities (3/3) >
Blood Contract Magic (Rank: A Plus Plus Plus)
Mist Form (Rank: S Zero)
Bloodsucking (Rank: B Plus)
< Recent Ability Comparison >
(Before) [Strength 53] [Endurance 67] [Agility 78] [Stamina 84] [Magic 93] [Luck 51]
(After) [Strength 53] [Endurance 67] [Agility 78] [Stamina 84] [Magic 95] [Luck 51]
『Authority: Blood Mark』
< Player Information >
Name: Won Hyesoo (3rd Year)
Class: Normal Magician (Expert)
Nation: Free Mercenary
Clan: Mercenary (Clan Rank: AA)
True Name & Nationality: Vengeful Woman • South Korea
Gender: Female (28)
Height & Weight: 165.6cm • 53.9kg
Disposition: Chaos • Lunatic
[Strength 44] [Endurance 38] [Agility 47] [Stamina 43] [Magic 91] [Luck 56]
< Achievements (2) >
< Special Ability (1/1) >
< Potential Abilities (3/4) >
Traditional Magic (Rank: A Minus)
Magic Fortification (Rank: A Minus)
Magic Circuit Application (Rank: B Plus)
< Player Information >
Name: Kim Dongseok (5th Year)
Class: Normal Warrior (Master)
Nation: Free Mercenary
Clan: Mercenary (Clan Rank: AA)
True Name & Nationality: Hungry Weeble • South Korea
Gender: Male (43)
Height & Weight: 175.6cm • 87.3kg
Disposition: Cheerful • Cruelty
[Strength 91] [Endurance 94] [Agility 73] [Stamina 83] [Magic 71] [Luck 47]
< Achievements (2) >
< Special Ability (1/1) >
< Potential Abilities (4/4) >
One-Hit Kill (Rank: A Zero)
Earth Shatter (Rank: B Minus)
Frenzy (Rank: S Zero)
Deflection (Rank: C Plus)
I am the one-armed player who once fought alongside Kim Soo-hyun in Mule. After losing an arm in a vagrant attack, I was consumed by a thirst for vengeance. This drove me to train relentlessly, eventually achieving a high level of player status.
< Player Status >
Name: Park Dasom (4th Year)
Class: Normal Priest, Master
Nation: Free Mercenary
Clan: Mercenary (Clan Rank: AA - Double A)
True Name & Nationality: Gu Mil Bok Geom (Sweet Words, Hidden Dagger) • South Korea
Gender: Female (25)
Height & Weight: 161.4 cm • 54.2 kg
Disposition: Calm • Complex Abnormality
[Strength 26] [Endurance 43] [Agility 35] [Stamina 51] [Magic 90] [Luck 83]
< Achievements (2) >
< Special Ability (1/1) >
< Potential Abilities (4/4) >
Divine Healing Spell (Rank: A+++)
Sacred Blessing (Rank: A Zero)
Feedback (Rank: C+)
Empowerment (Rank: A-)