Chapter 34

──────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────

Fortress City Kramdel

The reason Kramdel is called a fortress city is because the entire city is fortified.

A castle so massive that it's hard to find in the human world. This colossal structure, which seems endless, as if it could only be depicted in comics or movies, is Kramdel.

In the center stands a statue of the White Tiger.

'White King.'

The White King, the guardian deity of the north.

Similarly, Kramdel is also under the protection of the White King.

As long as the White King protects, neither the demons, the rulers of the abyss, nor humans can covet this place.

'I made a promise, but it doesn't matter.'

I promised not to step into the north again, but now this body is Randolph, not Wilhelm.

Moreover, what I want is the 'Ultimate Mystery.'

All I need to do is take Undasar, the daughter of Priest Andrew, in the process.

I will never encounter the White King.

"Wow, it's incredible."

"Indeed, a castle of this size exists only in Kramdel, caw."

"It's not that... I'm talking about the monsters trying to enter the castle."

Isabella whispered.

The entrance to the castle was bustling.

It was incredibly crowded with monsters trying to enter.

However, the ranks of the monsters were truly diverse.

But it was hard to imagine that monsters would 'line up' to enter the castle.

'Intelligent monsters.'

They are different from ordinary field monsters.

These are evolved monsters.

Just as the carrion crows evolved by eating players, these monsters have evolved through various methods and can now see 'hidden paths.'

From regular monsters to boss monsters.

Even mythic species occasionally mix in.

'Why do so many monsters gather in Kramdel?'

Even I, who am well-versed in Pangea, don't know the exact reason why they gather in Kramdel.

I've heard that this place is a paradise for monsters.

Gurrrr!

'...The glutton is reacting, so it's definitely true.'

Even though I am pretending to be the king of carrion crows, the glutton is reacting.

It seems the core of evolved monsters is the glutton's main food.

But I can't be swayed by just one characteristic.

If I cause trouble here, I might not be able to escape.

<This area is a no-teleport zone under the protection of the White King.>

The teleport book doesn't work here either.

Naturally, there is no warp inside the castle.

It means I have to do what I need to do as quietly as possible and get out.

'There are three lines.'

The problem is that there are three lines.

One for regular monsters, one for higher-ranked monsters, and one for ancient species like mythic and fantasy species who have a free pass.

After all, monsters are more class-conscious than humans.

After a moment's thought, I joined the regular line.

An endless queue. Judging by the speed it's decreasing, it seems I'll have to wait a whole day, but there's no other choice.

"Half-dragons and 'kings' should stand in the second line."

Then, the 'cactus flower' in front of me said.

The cactus flower is a level 3 monster that appears in desert areas.

【Lv.5】

But the cactus flower in front of me exceeded that standard.

The original cactus flower is a monster with almost no intelligence.

This is also an evolved species.

"Thank you for letting me know, caw."

I briefly greeted and moved to a different spot.

The second line was much shorter.

It seems possible to enter the city within half a day.

"Are you a carrion crow, daring to stand in front of me? Move aside."

When I turned around, there was something wearing a black, pointed hat-like cloak.

A being from the abyss called 'Chaos Hat.'

【Lv. 8】

It seems the story that abyssal monsters are in Kramdel is true.

Of course, since no one knows what's in the abyss, it's not impossible for such a unique individual to exist.

'Ignoring it is the best option.'

What could be the reason for all kinds of monsters lining up orderly in a place where they gather?

"Are you ignoring me?"

By openly ignoring it, the voice of the Chaos Hat became sharp.

"Fighting is prohibited. If you fight, you'll end up like that."

In front of me, a burning skeleton 'Fire Skull' looked at the center of the city wall and said.

In the center of the city wall, various statues were displayed.

"The door's owner, Medusa, turns them into stone."

All the monsters turned to stone by Medusa.

The way they are displayed as if for decoration is quite tasteless.

'Medusa is a Super Elite Raid Boss monster.'

Medusa is a Super Elite Raid Boss monster at level 11.

A monster among monsters that requires at least 12 Transcenders of the first rank or at least three Transcenders of the second rank to defeat.

It's an absolute being that can be considered beyond level 11.

The level of a monster is determined by its standard, unlike players.

'The longer the prefix, the stronger the monster.'

For example, if a regular monster is level 11, a level 11 player can hunt it alone.

If a monster has the 'Boss' prefix, at least two level 11 players are needed, and if it has the 'Raid Boss' prefix, four players are needed to face it.

An 'Elite Raid Boss' monster requires eight characters of the same level, and a 'Super Elite Raid Boss' monster requires 12 characters to coordinate and start the battle.

There are no higher standards than the White King or Demon King.

'She was definitely one of the White King's four subordinates.'

Moreover, Medusa is one of the Four Heavenly Kings who follow the White King.

A being that everyone fears.

The Fire Skull turned to the Chaos Hat and said.

"Hat. A mark appeared on your cheek."

"What?"

A mark from Medusa had already appeared on the Chaos Hat.

A warning and curse from Medusa.

"Kyaaah!"

The Chaos Hat spun around in a panic.

Indeed.

Ignoring it was the right choice.

There's a reason why notable monsters line up orderly and there's no fighting.

If Medusa, who never lets go of anyone she curses, is guarding the door, they can't help but behave.

If I had reacted to the Chaos Hat, Medusa's curse would have been etched on my cheek.

...This is an interesting place.

"'Star Guardian'!"

"There are two of them!"

Then, the surroundings suddenly became noisy.

'Star Guardian?'

Feeling familiar, I turned my head to the center of the commotion and saw two 'fantasy species' and a 'mythic species' approaching the gate.

One was a phoenix, a fantasy species with a body engulfed in blue flames.

The other was a mythic species snake so long that its end couldn't be seen.

"That snake...?"

Isabella, surprised, stared at the snake with wide eyes.

I was equally surprised.

...Why is Dramut here?

Being called a Star Guardian means he entered here with the same qualification.

But wasn't it that Star Guardians couldn't leave the vicinity of the stars?

Such a question was brief.

In an instant, the phoenix and Dramut entered the city.

The Fire Skull said.

"It seems the rumor about a new star appearing is true."

"What's a new star, caw?"

"The rumor is that the thirty-third star has appeared in Kramdel."

What does that mean?

There are thirty-two stars in the continent.

This hasn't changed in five years.

The same is true when looking at Pangea's history.

But the thirty-third star?

'The goddess died and was divided into thirty-two pieces, which became the stars.'

Does it mean there was a hidden part somewhere?

I stroked my chin.

Dramut, who never leaves the sanctuary, appeared in Kramdel.

Moreover, the monsters were talking about the 'thirty-third star.'

But I don't understand.

However, my interest is bubbling up.

'If it's true, I can't miss it.'

I need to gather some information.

If I can secretly contact Dramut, that would be good too.

*

Inside Kramdel.

Surprisingly, the inside wasn't much different from a human city.

But there was a particularly noticeable feature.

"Come to the 'Purification Hot Spring' to cleanse your body and mind! Today only, half price!"

"Your unstable body needs purification! Please visit the 'Friendly Hot Spring'!"

Steam rising everywhere.

It seems all this steam is from the hot springs.

But this is the north. The outside is covered in snow, yet there are hot springs?

The monsters that came here seem to head to the hot springs first, suggesting that's their purpose.

'This is quite different from when I came to Wilhelm.'

I once infiltrated Kramdel to hunt the White King in Wilhelm.

Just a year ago.

Back then, there weren't so many monsters in Kramdel.

There were no hot springs either.

A significant change occurred in just one year.

"Are you a half-dragon? We have a half-dragon at our hot spring now. How about a mixed bath together?"

A goblin wearing a white helmet approached Isabella.

The goblins promoting the hot springs all wore white helmets.

The monster rat that gave directions wore a black helmet. It seems the color of the helmet has different meanings.

"Half-dragon, caw?"

"Yes. The half-dragon that was said to be extinct. It might be a great opportunity for the same species to bond."

The option of a half-dragon activated by wearing the Michel set.

But the half-dragon is just an option that gives the half-dragon's wings.

It's not a real half-dragon, so it's called a 'half-dragon.'

Think of it as a half-celestial dragon. But the true half-dragons went extinct long ago.

'...It's a human.'

Therefore, it's a human.

Like Isabella, a human wearing the Michel set has infiltrated Kramdel.

It might be a player.

'I need to check.'

Anyway, I'm the king of carrion crows now.

It's enough to make Isabella think I'm a real half-dragon.

"What do I need to pay, caw?"

"Ah, you must be new to Kramdel? Ten minutes' worth of 'Evolution Fragments' will do."

"Evolution Fragments, caw?"

"Right here."

A faint golden light enveloped the goblin's body.

Soon, after the goblin absorbed the golden light, a tiny speck of gold appeared on his hand.

'...A fragment of the broken Golden Rule?'

Fragments of the broken Golden Rule were being used as currency here.

That's strange. Weren't the fragments of the Golden Rule only possessed by players?

Most importantly, they were called 'Evolution Fragments' here.

'The fragments of the Golden Rule are the cause of evolution, it seems.'

The evolved monsters.

Thus, they gained intelligence and became stronger.

I never thought the cause would be the fragments of the broken Golden Rule.

In other words, just like the carrion crows, all the monsters here possess fragments of the broken Golden Rule.

'They can also be traded...'

The fragments of the Golden Rule can be traded.

Suddenly, the Golden Rule shop came to mind.

Perhaps it's a similar context.

Trying it with the same feeling as using the fragments in reality, the light of the Golden Rule began to rise around me.

"Oh?"

"Quite impressive for a carrion crow."

Instantly, the surrounding monsters' attention focused on me.

I currently have about 19 hours of the Golden Rule left.

That seems to be a large amount here.

Like the goblin, I touched the light of the Golden Rule and detached a fragment.

"Is this enough, caw?"

"Welcome, both of you!"

*

Cheng Hot Spring.

A decently sized hot spring located a bit away from the center of Kramdel.

I don't know why they all have such names, but this size is enough to uncover the secret of the hot spring water.

After paying at the lobby and being guided, I entered and saw the hot spring.

Among the many monsters enjoying the hot spring.

"...Hm? Half-dragon?"

A man with the wings of a half-dragon was enjoying the hot spring with snow maidens at the center.

The man frowned when he saw the newly arrived Isabella.

Of course, I also frowned when I saw the man.

'Human.'

As expected, that guy is a human.

【Lv.10】

A formidable level 10!

A lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.

A hairstyle that looks like it was struck by lightning, golden in color.

Even a special-grade mystery in the form of static electricity surrounding him.

No matter how I look at it, he's a guy I know.

And the shock of seeing him was even greater than seeing Dramut.

'...Why is he here?'

I can't have seen wrong.

I can't have mistaken those features.

Like Isabella... a character I raised.

'Lightning Slayer.'

Isaac of Lightning Slayer!

He had quite a few treasure-grade items and was at max level, but he did so many bizarre things that logging in was impossible.

Logging in would immediately put him in danger of being killed by named NPCs.

The unfortunate character is now looking at me right in front of my eyes.