Despite the considerable time that had passed, we moved through the forest without any interruptions. As we ventured deeper into the pitch-black woods, the dark green hues of the leaves and underbrush began to lighten, indicating that we were making progress through the forest’s midpoint. By increasing our marching speed significantly from the day before, we were on track to surpass the midpoint faster than anticipated.
“It’s strange. I could’ve sworn I encountered a ton of monsters in my dream last night.”
“Dreams are usually the opposite, aren’t they? Hey, can we take a break? It feels like we’ve been going for half a day without stopping.”
Ahn Hyun tilted his head in confusion, while Yoo Jung panted heavily. Ahn Sol, though silent, had a pale face and lips marked with bite marks, evidence of her endurance. They had all followed without complaint, but it seemed they had been holding back their fatigue. Sensing the need for a break, I nodded and paused to survey our surroundings. As soon as I gave the go-ahead, I heard the sound of bodies dropping to the ground in relief.
The caravan’s tracks were still visible, suggesting that the lack of monster encounters meant we were closing in on them. It’s possible the caravan ahead had already dealt with the monsters. However, two questions lingered: If they had information about the Alchemist’s Dungeon, why bother clearing all the monsters? And if they did, why were there no monster corpses? These were questions based on my own assumptions, and there could be many possible explanations.
After pondering for a while, I decided to clear my mind. Overthinking wouldn’t yield answers. The priority was to follow the caravan’s trail and reach the Alchemist’s Dungeon as quickly as possible. Even if the worst-case scenario was that they hadn’t conquered the dungeon, the odds of success seemed higher than failure based on my memory and the circumstances. Besides, we had little to lose. Gaining combat experience was valuable in itself.
As I organized my thoughts and prepared to rest, I heard a commotion from the group already seated. Curious, I turned to see Ahn Sol looking at me with an awkward expression, silently asking for help.
“Why are you worrying about pointless things? Just focus on yourself.”
“Don’t you know knowledge is power, you ignorant fool?”
“Sure, knowledge is power, but it doesn’t suit you. Ignorance might be bliss in your case.”
“What did you say?”
Ahn Hyun and Yoo Jung were bickering back and forth. Listening to their argument, it seemed to revolve around the hot topic of the Golden Lion Clan and the Iron Mountain Expedition. While I agreed with Ahn Hyun’s practical view, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to discuss it with the group.
“Do you really think we’re capable of joining an expedition with our current skills? We’d just be ignored and left to watch from the sidelines.”
“Who said anything about joining? I’m just curious why everyone’s so eager to go on these expeditions.”
“I told you, it’s because you’re curious about pointless things. Didn’t Soo Hyun say we should focus on our current situation? Or do you have some inferiority complex about Kim Han Byul?”
“What the…?”
Sensing the conversation was getting heated, I stepped in and sat down. Yoo Jung, who was about to curse, clammed up when she saw me, and Ahn Hyun scratched his cheek, avoiding my gaze. I looked at them both calmly before speaking in a measured tone.
“Curiosity isn’t a problem. In Hall Plain, information is as good as life. But if you’re asking out of simple curiosity or a desire to join the expedition, that’s a different story.”
Yoo Jung’s face brightened at my words, likely because she felt I was siding with her. Ahn Hyun pouted, looking sullen. Yoo Jung, with a triumphant smile, turned to me and asked, “Oppa, what’s all the fuss about the Iron Mountain? Everyone at the inn talks about it.”
I paused to gather my thoughts before answering. “Currently, Hall Plain is divided into the East, West, South, and North continents. To advance to the Central Continent, we need to conquer the Iron Mountain.”
“Then why not just conquer it?”
“You idiot.”
Ahn Hyun voiced what I was thinking. I chuckled at Yoo Jung’s naive question and continued, “If it were that easy, it would’ve been done already. The mountain is home to monsters far beyond anything we’ve encountered or imagined.”
“So, if we cross the Iron Mountain, we can reach the Central Continent? What’s there?”
Faced with Yoo Jung’s endless questions, I hesitated. But seeing Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol’s curious expressions, I decided it was okay to share. After all, we were on a break, and this information wouldn’t hurt. I began to explain slowly.
“I don’t know the details. Even if we cross the Iron Mountain, we might not reach the Central Continent immediately. But ancient texts confirm the existence of a large city called Atlanta in front of the Northern Continent. The prospect of a new city has everyone excited.”
“What’s so great about Atlanta? Can we go home if we conquer it?”
“No one knows. But let me ask you something, Yoo Jung. What do you think is most important for survival in Hall Plain?”
Yoo Jung thought for a moment, twisting her hair around her finger, before answering, “Strength. Skills. Stats.”
“Exactly. Individual ability is crucial. While strength doesn’t guarantee survival, it certainly increases the odds.”
“Then can users gain strength by conquering Atlanta?”
Nodding at Yoo Jung’s understanding, I continued, “Something like that. The Northern Continent is reaching saturation. The dungeons aren’t infinite. Most expeditions have been completed. Although Mule was discovered recently, interest is low due to the Iron Mountain and other factors. Once cities like Mule stabilize, there won’t be much to do except hunt the occasional monster. The same goes for other continents. Users who’ve reached their limits won’t be able to grow stronger. Without strength, returning home is uncertain. Plus, we can’t nurture new users who could become valuable assets.”
I spoke at length, but it still felt insufficient. Clearing my throat, I continued, “If we conquer Atlanta, we’ll have a new base for growth. New monsters, expeditions, dungeons, equipment, and more. Right now, we can increase our stats relatively easily, but once we hit our limits, it becomes incredibly difficult. When the city of Barbara was developed years ago, users who participated in the achievement rewards saw their stats increase. They also monopolized lucrative expeditions. That’s why everyone’s eager to cross the Iron Mountain.”
Of course, even after conquering Atlanta, there would be more challenges. We’d have to compete with users from other continents. The central city of Terra, surrounded by the new continents of Atlanta and Ragnarok, held the Zero Code. Remembering the sacrifices made to obtain it sent a shiver down my spine.
When I finished, the group stared at me, mouths agape, clearly surprised. Ahn Hyun, snapping out of his daze, spoke urgently, “Hyung, wouldn’t it have been better for us to stay in the city? I’m not questioning your decision, but hearing you talk about the benefits makes it sound amazing. If we improved our skills in Barbara and joined an expedition, even at the lowest rank…”
“Exactly. Imagine how smug Kim Han Byul must be, thinking about us. Just thinking about it makes me mad.”
So it was about Kim Han Byul. Ahn Hyun and Yoo Jung seemed swayed, but Ahn Sol looked at me with unwavering trust. Her eyes were full of faith, as if she believed in me unconditionally after this morning’s events. While I worried she might become a fanatic, I also felt a strange sense of anticipation.
I cleared my throat to quiet the group.
“Ahem. As I’ve mentioned before… Ah, when you listen to the instructors from clans other than the Golden Lion Clan at the User Academy, they think going on this expedition, and participating in it, is foolish. At least, that’s my opinion. I can’t be certain, but I feel like I can trust their words more.”
The kids seemed a bit relieved by my words, but the unease hadn’t completely left their faces. Honestly, it was a bit frustrating. If only I could tell them how disastrously that expedition would end, and how the Golden Lion Clan would fall into ruin and disgrace afterward. I sighed inwardly, but I knew I needed solid reasoning to convince them, so I continued explaining. At the very least, I needed to lay down some groundwork.
“Listen, this is just my opinion, so don’t take it too seriously. The Golden Lion Clan seems to think the northern continent is stable enough to rush into an expedition. But from what I see, that’s far from the truth.”
“But oppa, can’t they go on an expedition once things are stable? Even if it’s a bit risky, if they succeed, it’ll be a huge win, right?”
“That’s true. The problem is that the stakes in this gamble are the lives of the users.”
At the mention of “lives,” Yujeong fell silent. The atmosphere grew noticeably heavier.
“I was curious, so I read the records from when they captured the great city of Barbara. The first thing I felt was sheer desperation. If Barbara was that tough, do you think Atlanta, which is even higher up, will be any easier? I doubt it. To succeed in the Iron Mountain expedition, they need to saturate the continent they currently control. They need to maximize their forces and secure new users before even considering an expedition. The northern continent is still in the process of reaching saturation, not there yet. Just look at Mule, where we are now, and you can see it’s too early for an expedition. There are probably many who think the same. The Golden Lion Clan seems to have learned nothing from the previous lord’s downfall… Tsk.”
“Huh? The previous lord?”
I realized I’d slipped up. Fortunately, I had the cover of having read the records, so I could smooth it over, but I reminded myself to be more careful with my words in the future. I composed myself and nodded at Ahn Hyun with a calm expression.
“They say he was the key figure in capturing the great city of Barbara. You must have heard about him a few times at the User Academy, right? It’s impressive. He founded the Golden Lion Clan, now considered the top clan, with just a regular swordsman class and achieved so much.”
Seeing the kids nodding, I finally felt a bit relieved.
“Originally, Hall Plain was based in the western cities of Halo, Beth, and Dorothy before capturing Barbara. They stabilized the eastern cities before attempting Barbara, but he died from the wounds he received then.”
“They say if he were still around, they would have already entered Atlanta.”
Bullshit. I barely stopped myself from blurting it out. In reality, entering Atlanta only happened after the Golden Lion Clan disbanded and several internal conflicts were resolved. While I acknowledge the achievement of capturing Barbara, there was no guarantee that even if he were alive, they could conquer the Iron Mountains.
Anyway, surviving in Hall Plain required not just personal strength but also a broad knowledge of various fields. Though it was a long break, I thought it was a beneficial time for the kids as I dusted myself off and stood up.
“Anyway, that’s the situation, so just keep it in mind. There’s no point or qualification for us to join the expedition now, so just forget about it. Let’s focus on what we can do.”
This time, Ahn Hyun looked at Yujeong with a triumphant expression. Yujeong nodded with a slightly sulky face and stood up to follow me. It was almost time to use the Third Eye. If my predictions were correct, we would discover the Alchemist’s Dungeon within a day or two.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
So, the Dark Forest arc wraps up here.
Starting next time, we’ll dive into the true story of the Alchemist’s Dungeon.
What path will our protagonist and their companions take, and what events will unfold?
I hope for your continued support and interest.
CrossDie: Haha, congratulations on being first! :)
Energi: I’ll strive to continue serializing diligently. Thank you.
Seryuin: I hope this chapter cleared up some of your questions. Revealing the purpose or goals of Hall Plain now would spoil important parts related to the ending, so I’m not mentioning them. For now, focus on
GradeRown: That’s certainly a possibility. And… corpse desecration… Hmm. That’s a bit gruesome. I could write it if many people want it, but personally, I’m not keen on it.
Phantom: Hehe. Phantom’s theory is generally correct. However, there’s some foreshadowing related to Sol’s personality. Please look forward to the future developments. :)
Toranoanal: Toranoanal’s comments always make my heart race. Thank you for pointing out the typo. It’s been corrected.
Katamunai: If the first H-scene comes out, you’ll probably be quite surprised by Suhyeon’s stamina. If Suhyeon, the playboy (?!), solves even the stamina issue, he’ll become an unbeatable munchkin. I plan to address it gradually. Please wait a little longer. :)
hohokoya1: Hehe. Just wait until we leave Mule. When that happens, the pace will be so exhilarating that viewers will find it refreshing. Of course, the true colors are already showing to some extent. Hehehe.
HumanLife: Oh dear. I heard you caught a cold… ㅜ.ㅠ I pray for your quick recovery! As for HumanLife’s plan… Hehehe. (?!)
Lepil: Haha. Thank you for the message. I greatly appreciate your high evaluation of my work. However, as a reader myself, I always enjoy the works that make it to the top. I should plan a material offensive sometime.
I always read all the comments repeatedly. Please don’t feel too disappointed if there’s no reply. If you’re really curious, send me a message, and I’ll respond! (Please leave lots of comments! And recommendations… ☞☜)
Well, I’ll take my leave for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Pre-selections, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.