Chapter 86

'Or it could have been something completely different that crossed over.'

It was possible that something other than a saint was truly causing the erosion.

A dangerous situation, in any case.

This message must have been conveyed to all players.

He quickly got up from his seat.

Since it was a problem he had caused, he had to be the one to solve it.

《'???' has returned to its original location.》

《'Erosion' has ended.》

Just as he was about to leave the castle, another message appeared.

The message indicated that the entity causing the erosion had returned, thus ending the erosion.

'...It seems it was Seo Saintess.'

He let out a small sigh.

There would be some commotion, but one thing was now clear.

'Non-players from Pangea can cross over to Earth.'

Just like how monsters invade Earth.

However, it seems that Pangeans are also classified as 'enemies.'

I didn't expect the system message itself to encourage removal.

Or perhaps it was because they crossed over through a warp related to erosion.

But just like during Ahram's first invasion, all warps that allowed crossing over to Earth were related to invasions.

'What happens if the erosion rate increases?'

If the erosion rate increases, the boundary between Earth and Pangea will break down.

However, it is unknown how it will break down and what will happen afterward.

Will there be a war between Pangea and Earth?

"Hmm."

He stroked his chin, pondering, but there was no immediate answer to this problem.

With no choice, he returned to his original position.

He had to confirm the situation with Seo Saintess first.

*

Oliver felt as if he were in a dream.

The person who appeared through the warp.

He recognized who it was at first glance.

'Saintess... Lady Seo...'

There was no way he could not recognize her.

Seo Saintess was the symbol of the Goddess Church.

He had been told that someone might cross over if he waited here, but he had not been told it would be Seo Saintess, so his heart was still pounding as if it would burst.

Yes, his heart was beating.

Fiercely.

So healthily.

Ever since she placed her hand on his chest.

"My heart... it doesn't hurt."

"What, what do you mean?"

"My heart has been fixed."

"Could it be that she... just now?"

"Yes."

Tears welled up and flowed down his cheeks.

The heart that had tormented him since birth, the candle that could go out at any moment, had finally started to function normally.

Seo Saintess left shortly after, but all of this was possible thanks to one person.

Randolph.

The gift he received from Randolph, who had cleared the Abyss Labyrinth.

But what a tremendous gift it was.

Now he no longer had to fight death day by day.

No longer did he have to lie to Serengeti.

How could he ever repay this favor?

"Is there anyone who knows we came here?"

"No. We came through an independent route unrelated to the royal family, so no one will know."

"Then we must leave now. As quietly and quickly as possible."

"That's my specialty. Don't worry, young master."

"We have a lot to talk about when we return, Melson."

"Yes."

Melson did not question anything.

He believed that the young master would explain everything in due time.

They left the place by the same route they came.

After a long detour to completely erase all evidence, they finally arrived at the castle.

As soon as they arrived at the castle, Oliver headed underground and knelt before the lying king.

"Young master...?!"

Melson was startled by the sudden action, but Oliver paid no attention.

"Melson. This person is not just a game friend. He is my heart, the Lord I must follow forever."

"......!"

The heart.

In other words, the Korean man was involved in everything that happened today.

Moreover, a Lord.

Doesn't it sound like a knight following a king?

Oliver's once lifeless face was now full of vitality.

A healthy face, no doubt.

Melson had never seen Oliver like this, despite serving him for a long time.

Oliver then spoke with firm resolve.

"From now on, you must serve this person even more than you serve me. You must."

*

He confirmed that Oliver's heart had been healed.

Now, the remaining task was to find a warp to connect the Labyrinth City.

At least three lands must be connected to prevent it from sinking again.

Fortunately, there was a suitable candidate.

"Hey! Friend! It's been a while!"

Rustle Forest.

The High Dryad greeted me as soon as he saw me.

"A friend has come! We must celebrate today!"

"Wait. Friend, could you take a look at this first?"

"This is?"

The High Dryad's eyes widened as he saw the seed I offered.

"Is this not the seed of the New Green?"

"I want to give it as a gift to your forest."

"A gift of the seed of the New Green?"

He nodded.

Dryads grow stronger as the forest grows.

If the New Green enters Rustle Forest, both the level and the scale will increase simultaneously.

One of the things I bought by inserting a golden ticket into the vending machine in the Labyrinth was this seed of the New Green.

The High Dryad showed a troubled expression.

"I am grateful for the gift of a spirit, but I cannot accept the New Green, friend."

"Of course, it's not free."

"Then?"

"I want to connect a warp between Rustle Forest and my city."

"That's something I can do without accepting the seed."

Indeed, the Dryad.

Once you trust, you trust completely.

Even if it's a city of humans they despise, they readily agreed.

They didn't even ask.

He smiled and said.

"Consider it a bribe to strengthen our relationship."

"Even so..."

"Refusing further is not polite among friends, friend."

"Ugh... Alright. But to make the New Green sprout, the necessary power must be prepared..."

"Don't worry about that. Is there a place to plant it?"

"There is, but..."

"Let's go there first."

"Hmm. Follow me."

The High Dryad led the way with a dubious expression.

Soon, a wide open space appeared, and I planted the seed of the New Green at its center.

The High Dryad spoke as he watched.

"The power of this land is insufficient. Forests where the New Green grows are all places that possess the power of dragon veins. Friend, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this land does not possess that level of power."

There were a few places where the New Green had grown.

The most representative was the land of the elves.

Centered around the New Green, they became powerful, gaining strength that even humans could not approach.

However, the reason the New Green could sprout was that many 'dragons' had died on that land.

The land, piled with the bodies of dragons, became a 'dragon vein,' allowing the New Green to sprout.

However, this land did not possess that level of power.

Considering the size of Rustle Forest, it was not a particularly large forest.

'Rapid Growth.'

But it was not a concern for me.

All I needed was for it to sprout.

《'Seed of the New Green' is rapidly growing.》

《'Seed of the New Green' is beginning to germinate!》

Swoosh.

In an instant, the seed germinated, and roots spread into the ground.

"Whoa...!"

The High Dryad's eyes widened as he watched.

"What, what is this...!!"

An unbelievable sight.

The New Green grew in an instant.

《'High Druid's Great Nature' is manifested.》

《'New Green' has completed its first growth!》

《'Rapid Growth' skill level has increased!》

《'Rapid Growth' skill level has increased!》

《'Rapid Growth' skill level has increased!》

《'Rapid Growth' skill level has reached 5, making safer growth possible.》

《'Rapid Growth' skill level will reach 7, allowing the second growth of the New Green.》

《The maximum level of 'Forest Races' around the New Green increases by +1 due to the blessing of the New Green.》

《The growth rate of 'Forest' increases by 200% due to the blessing of the New Green.》

Wow.

The effect of the New Green is tremendous.

The maximum level of Dryads increased, and the growth rate of the forest doubled.

It was a clear proof that Rustle Forest would flourish.

'Amazing.'

Moreover, thanks to the Baal Helmet and my craftsmanship, the level increased by three stages when the seed of the New Green sprouted.

I thought it would only increase by 1 or 2 at most.

"Friend. What is this!"

Ignoring the High Dryad's surprise, I briefly replied as if it were a casual gift.

"It's a gift, friend."

*

《'Rustle Forest' and 'Labyrinth City' have been connected by a warp.》

One down.

Two more to go.

But there was no time to think.

Right after leaving Rustle Forest.

Caw! Caw!

Corpse crows flying above me.

...I was in Kramdel now.

I had returned to Kramdel as the new Overlord.

'Emergency call.'

It was due to an urgent call from the White King.

The 'Seal' I received when I became an Overlord was ringing wildly, leaving me no choice.

An emergency call is only activated when all Overlords must gather for an important matter, and without a special reason, attendance is mandatory.

"Randolph!"

As soon as I arrived in Kramdel, the Fourth King greeted me first.

I hesitated for a moment.

Why is he calling me by my name, giving me goosebumps?

Moreover, there's no way a Fourth King would have spare time to wait here.

...Could he have been waiting for me at the entrance all this time?

Is he trying to test me?

I had already revealed my name in front of the White King.

The other Four Kings, including the Fourth King, had also heard it, so it's not strange for him to call me by name.

Moreover, the Fourth King was the one who treated me the most kindly among the Four Kings.

Even if I concede a hundred times, the problem is the situation.

The Fourth King, the ruler of Kramdel and one of the Four Kings, waiting for me at the entrance?

In front of countless monsters.

Is it appropriate to call each other by name in front of so many eyes?

Indeed, the monsters were whispering to each other, alternating their gaze between me and the Fourth King.

"Who is that crow?"

"Shh. He's the new Overlord who just ascended."

"Even so, is he so important that the Fourth King himself waited for him?"

"He achieved a feat that surpassed the White King in the Chamber of Mysteries."

"The White King...!"

"Then how strong is he?"

"They say he killed Ahram alone."

"That wraith king Ahram?"

"Even the Guardian Stars fought over this Overlord."

"Insane."

"He's different from what he looks like."

I can hear everything, you bastards.

I didn't know when I ascended to Overlord, but it seems that rumors about me had spread throughout Kramdel during my absence.

I heard some wrong rumors, but I didn