Chapter 10

Chapter 2: Crisis is an Opportunity (1)

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh

Creak, thud!

As the sun began to set, a long line of people formed at the city gates of Turan, eager to enter after finishing their day’s work. Among them, a towering man, whose height was still noticeable even when crouched, was scribbling something on the ground with a wooden stick.

"Let's see, the Blue Line is near the west, and the Forest of Notum is around here. The main road runs straight through the middle, with wheat fields on both sides, and the city gates... would this be the right spot?"

Ding!

[Area Information Updated - New Area: Northern Turan City of Rodric]

"Ah, that's it."

What I'm doing now is called "mapping," which involves storing area information in the system. The system didn't provide even a basic map, but you can register or solve this by either recording the paths you've taken yourself or buying a map from a nearby store.

Of course, buying a map is much more convenient, but at my current level, the maps available are only rough sketches of the terrain, cities, and roads. So, it's more accurate to record things myself whenever I have time.

"This turned out pretty well, didn't it? At this level... I could even buy paper and make a map when I have time."

The map I just registered with the system included not only the terrain, roads, and key reference points but also rough contour lines. When I first mapped with a character I raised before, it only showed circles for cities and dotted lines for roads, so the quality here is quite different. This is thanks to the high cognitive abilities I gained from the start and the effect of the [Shimmering Eyes] artistic trait.

"I could probably draw it better... Should I erase it and start over?"

- Ganjanggeiba: Professor, didn't you say you were busy earlier?

- Jokass: You said you were busy. This game is one where every second counts, right?

Swoosh, swoosh!

"I'm in a hurry too, but what can I do with so many people trying to enter the city?"

The professor, who had been hunched over, lifted his head slightly to look at the long line of people in front and behind him.

Whoosh!

"The Mandy's cow gave birth..."

Whoosh!

"You can survive no matter what..."

Whoosh!

"Pass! Next! Move quickly!"

"Ugh! Damn!"

The effect of [Mental Fatigue] feels like having a chronic worry patient in my head. It forces me to stuff the information I've acquired through heightened cognition into my brain, whether I want to or not.

"What? A cow gave birth? Suspicious!"

"You can survive no matter what? No plan! Suspicious!"

"Move quickly? The guards are in a hurry? Suspiciousssssss!!!"

It's like an alarm bell ringing in my head. Acquiring information is good, but it needs to be filtered. When even the number of pebbles on the ground becomes part of the information, it's enough to drive me crazy!

I was mapping, but just looking around made my head feel like it was about to explode. Focusing on something, anything, helped a bit.

Crunch!

As soon as he lifted his head, the professor reflexively crouched and closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the pain.

"Focus, focus on something, anything... Hmm... Maybe I should plan ahead?"

- Takealook: Didn't you already plan everything out earlier?

"Plans are better when they're detailed! I'm just checking to see if I missed anything."

The professor, about to erase the map he drew on the ground with his hand, instead pulled back and carefully rubbed the dirt with his foot.

"Let's start with the big picture. What should my goal be, first?"

Actually, setting a goal at this stage doesn't have much meaning. Events can happen anywhere and anytime, like the encounter with Notum earlier, and I need to act organically in a way that benefits me based on those events. However, I can start thinking about the final goal, the direction for clearing the game.

"I want to go for the personal goal completion... but it will be difficult, won't it?"

- Speed Wagon: Both are difficult. The world clear is limited by the character's capabilities, and the personal goal completion has a timing issue.

- Takealook: Thinking about clearing the game itself is unrealistic.

- HighWayNachoman: If I have to choose, the personal goal completion is the obvious choice.

The main story of World 3 spans from the year 121 to 130, about 10 years. There are two main ways to clear it:

1. Completing the [Personal Quest] assigned at character creation and seeing the character's ending, known as the "Personal Goal Completion."

For example, with my character, [Illegitimate Son of a Fallen Knight Family], the goal would be to rebuild the fallen family and end by crying at the graves of my family members. It's easy, fast, and you don't have to go through the destruction scenarios that are part of every world.

However, in this case, the player doesn't intervene in the world's flow, leading to the extinction of humanity, and you don't get the right to move on to the next world.

This is like an easy mode, so it's less popular with viewers, and my streaming income would drop accordingly.

2. Using all available means to enhance the overall capabilities of humanity and directly confront the destruction scenarios to clear the game.

In this case, the purification rate is recorded upon completion, and based on this rate, you can meet the surviving forces from this world in the next world, among other benefits. If you complete the character's personal quest while going through the destruction scenarios,

the character is remembered as part of history and appears as an NPC in the next world.

In my case, aiming for the personal goal completion is the right choice. But the reason I'm hesitating is...

'If the origin includes something like [Family~], it takes at least 5 years of in-game time to complete the personal quest, but the path I've taken so far seems too peaceful.'

Indeed, the wheat fields were swaying with the laughter of farmers, and the neatly paved roads showed that the order here was perfectly maintained. Isn't this good? Well, it depends on the situation.

In the early stages of World 3, the year 121, the rulers have forgotten the crisis of 70 years ago. Nobles are squeezing the blood of the common people to strengthen their armies, invading neighboring territories, and the king is encouraging these conflicts to divert the nobles' attention from his throne.

As a result, the law and order are in chaos, the forests are filled with bandits, and the plains, littered with bodies, are filled with the groans of ghouls and wights, creating a hell on earth. Even if you manage to reach a village, you might be forcibly conscripted and end up as a target for arrows. This is the typical scene around the year 121, a time of great wars where many noble families are destroyed and new ones are established. It's a perfect time for personal goal quests related to family.

'But the fact that the roads are so neatly maintained means that the noble wars have ended. If the roads are this well-maintained, it must be around the end of 123 or early 124. The timing is too ambiguous.'

If I knew what year it is, my concerns would be much reduced. I tried asking the NPCs in line, but they all turned away, whispering, probably because of my intimidating appearance.

By 124, it's a bit late for the personal goal completion. As I mentioned earlier, it takes at least 5 years to rebuild a family, and the destruction scenarios start in earnest by 127.

The World 3 destruction scenario: [Large-scale Invasion by Beast-type Mutated Blood].

The era of great wars ends in 124, and the dark mages start to move around 124. By 127, they become more active.

'Well, the law and order are bad, bodies and spirits overflow everywhere, and the dark mages are thriving. It's the ideal environment for them.'

Assuming it's 124, I need to move quickly from now on. If my character focuses on diplomacy, I need to warn the nobles, who are still obsessed with conquest, about the impending danger and gather forces. If my character is combat-oriented, I need to take down as many dark mages as possible.

According to community research, killing one dark mage reduces the number of mutant armies in the later stages. The more I move now, the easier the destruction scenario becomes.

Also, during this period, [Experimental Mutated Blood] and [Transport Mutated Blood] can often be seen on the battlefield. I need to eliminate them as soon as I see them.

If I miss them, they will collect biological and magical traits from the battlefield, creating stronger entities and exponentially increasing the difficulty in the later stages.

'Should I rebuild a family while everyone is struggling for human survival? I'm likely to be stabbed in the back and die.'

If I fight hard against the mutants and reach 129, the third destruction begins.

"Ultimately, what to focus on depends on the starting point. Since it's definitely past 124, it seems difficult to go for the personal goal completion."

- Speed Wagon: You've already decided in your mind, so why are you asking us?

"It's just frustrating. It's frustrating."

124 (estimated) is the era of dark mages. My character, with no connections and this appearance, is almost impossible for diplomacy. My combat ability is below civilian level. The more I plan, the more hopeless it feels.

"Next!"

"Sigh. I don't know. I have to do it one step at a time. First, I'll try to get better equipment in Turan. They say the more you hurry, the more you need to take a detour."

Seeing the city gates now close, the professor sighed deeply.

***

"Ugh, this is... Pass!"

The inspection in Turan is not very strict. It's located slightly inland from the two frontline cities, Gideon (now Molludic Castle, I think) and Pellas, serving as a supply base for the two war cities. Since mercenaries and merchants frequently enter and exit, the inspections are usually just formal questions.

'Name?'

'Professor. I can't use a surname.'

'Can't use a surname... So, you're a fallen noble. Why are you visiting Turan?'

'To survive. I plan to work as a mercenary.'

'Good. A strong man like you is always welcome. The battlefield is always short of people. Gender, race, no need to ask. Age?'

'20 years.'

'...Professor... 50 years... 50 and you look quite young.'

'No, I'm 20. 20 years! 19 in Korean age!'

'Ha ha ha, quite a funny joke, but I'm very busy. I must have heard wrong?'

'I'm really 20. My constitution is a bit special.'

'What! The Turan city law allows for arrest if you don't answer the guard's questions honestly! Stop talking and answer quickly! Age!'

'20! Twenty!'

'Yeeek! Grab him! Lying about such a simple question means he's hiding something!'

'What, what! Let go! Ahhhh!!'

It took over 30 minutes to pass the not-so-strict inspection.

"Ahem! Well... Good luck."

"We're sorry. We didn't know you had such a condition..."

I was about to be dragged away, but ironically, it was my weak body that saved me. As soon as the guards tied me up, the skin on the tightly bound areas started bleeding profusely.

'What! What's happening! Who tortured you before the charges were even confirmed?'

'No, no! I just tied you up with ropes, and suddenly blood...!'

'That's what I said! My constitution is special!'

I quickly explained my condition to the guards, who were taken aback. As you can see, my body is very fragile, and my face looks older due to this condition.

The guard's face, initially suspicious, gradually showed sympathy. After all, blood was streaming down, making the floor wet, and it was hard not to believe me.

Swoosh-

As I was about to leave with the herbs and bandages given by the guards, the captain suddenly extended his hand.

"What now?"

"Just showing respect."

What is this about?

Looking behind the captain, I saw the other guards glancing at me. What's with those knowing smiles?

The captain, slightly embarrassed, cleared his throat a few times before continuing.

"Your story made you seem different. To have survived such a terrible disability and to have trained your body to this extent... It must have taken extraordinary willpower. It's been a while since I've met a good man, so I wanted to shake your hand."

"Ah... Yes... Sure."

My character has always had this weak body.

When I extended my hand, the captain gently held it, like picking up a dandelion seed. What is this? It's definitely a gesture of goodwill... but it feels bad! Behind there! Stop wiping your nose! Don't make that happy face!

"You said you came to be a mercenary? Good choice. Turan is always short of hands. If you can't find work in the city, try the Silver Roar Inn. See the straight road in front of you? Walk straight in and you'll find it on the left. It's the largest mercenary guild in Turan, so there should be work for someone like you."

Tap tap!

The captain, looking at me with warm eyes for a moment, gently patted my arm.

"Good luck!"

"Stay strong!"

"Don't let curses get you down, boy!"

"Don't give up!"

"Um... Ah..."

Instead of explaining, the professor simply waved back at the guards who were waving at him.

Ding!

[Information Updated: The Turan Guard's favorability towards the player has increased.]

- NoruDrug: Wow! A charismatic man! After the troll, now the city guard!

- Jokass: Amazing performance. You charmed the guards with your face.

- Speed Wagon: I should note this down. This is a new strategy.

+ Player ‘Ganjanggeiba’ has donated 500 silvers!

- Ganjanggeiba: Hahaha, we always find a way, hahaha.

- HighWayNachoman: Special treatment for the disabled. Never thought of it. Respect!

"Damn."

It's the first time I've found another NPC's kindness so unwelcome. Or is it the second? Notum's kindness was also a form of kindness.

The thought that maybe this ugly character has a strange charm started to creep into the professor's mind.

***