Chapter 19

Chapter 10

Rescue

"Damn it, damn it."

Just as I was about to clear the quest, I was arrested and dragged straight to Winston Castle. I've been locked in the interrogation room for an hour now.

"There are many people who saw you talking to Flory in front of Kan's blacksmith shop. You already knew that Flory was trying to contact Lord Staim, didn't you?"

"So what if I did?"

"...The person who gave Flory the mission to contact Lord Staim must be one of the residents of Winston. Since you've always been close to the residents, you must know who gave Flory the mission, right?"

"So what if I do?"

"Should I consider you to be in league with them?"

"No, you idiot?"

"……"

I made a much better dagger than that girl Arina. In other words, the item crafting competition quest was supposed to end with my victory, and I was supposed to earn 600 gold.

But because I was arrested on absurd charges by these damn guards, the quest ended in a mess.

Thanks to these bastards, my 720,000 won is gone!

"You don't seem to understand your situation... If you keep acting so rudely, you'll regret it."

I flipped the guard who was threatening me the bird.

"Shut up, you damn bastard. Do you know how pissed I am? I want to cut off all your heads right now! I have nothing to do with that Flory or whatever! So let me out right now!"

I know that if I keep provoking the guards, I might end up in prison, tortured, or even killed.

But with 720,000 won gone and my anger boiling over, I can't be afraid of the consequences.

'720,000 won could buy how many bowls of jjajangmyeon!'

I was already so angry that my face was turning red, and I kept spewing curses at the guards.

"Damn it, you little rats! I remember all your ugly faces! If you don't want to get a beating, spit out 600 gold and let me go right now!!"

"Look at this guy! He keeps talking nonsense!"

The youngest guard finally drew his sword.

I flinched for a moment but quickly changed my attitude.

"Kill me if you want, you damn guards!"

"This lowlife doesn't even know fear!"

Seeing me act so defiant, the guard became even more enraged and lunged at me.

I closed my eyes, ready to accept death.

Why? Because death would be better in this situation.

'If I die, I'll respawn in the square. Rather than being locked up here like an idiot, it's better to lose some experience and then escape after respawning.'

I'm worried about Kan. In the worst case, if I lost the crafting competition, the Mero Guild might have taken over the blacksmith shop.

If that happens, Kan might die of a broken heart. The class change quest I received from Kan would also disappear!

"Kill me quickly, you bastard!"

I can't log out right now. I need to die and respawn to meet Kan.

Just as I was getting anxious, a sharp-eyed middle-aged guard stepped in to stop the young guard.

"Hey, Leo, calm down. You know they are immortal beings. Killing them will only result in them being released into the wild."

Damn it, my plan is going to fail.

I kept provoking the young guard, hoping he would lose his mind.

"Hey, kill me! Can't you? Are you afraid of me? You're such a coward! A pathetic bastard, do you even have a dick? You'll never get married and will die an old bachelor! After you die, you'll become a bachelor ghost, peeping on women in the bath!"

"Ugh... This, this guy……"

The sword in the young guard's hand, Leo, was trembling. It wouldn't be strange if he stabbed my heart right now.

But Leo held back, biting his lip until it bled to suppress his anger.

A little more cursing should do it.

"Damn it... Huh? Ugh!!"

I tried to provoke Leo even more, but I ended up having a gag put in my mouth.

'Damn, these bastards!'

I glared at them with wide eyes, but the middle-aged guard who gagged me didn't flinch.

"Do you not intend to admit that you are in league with Flory, or to reveal who gave Flory the mission?"

"Ugh, ugh!!"

If you're going to ask questions, take the gag out first! I glared at him with that meaning, and the middle-aged guard nodded, misinterpreting my intent.

"Do you not intend to answer? If so, we have no choice but to imprison you. However, if you willingly reveal who gave Flory the mission, you might be treated differently."

I don't want to go to prison. Usually, if you're imprisoned, you have to rot in there for days. Even if you log out and log back in, you'll still be in prison until you're released.

'Let's just burn it. If Kan gets caught, I can find a way to rescue him.'

Kan is precious to me, both in reality and in Satisfy, as I have no friends. Even though he's an NPC, he's like a friend to me.

But a friend is just a friend!

No matter how precious a friend is, they are never as important as myself!

I decided to sell out Kan.

"Ugh! Ugh!!"

I'll willingly reveal who gave Flory the mission! So take the gag out first! I glared at him with that meaning, and the middle-aged guard, misinterpreting my intent, was impressed.

"You're a remarkable guy. Even if you're imprisoned, you refuse to betray your comrade? Although your mouth is foul, your sense of loyalty is admirable."

"Ugh! Ugh, ugh!!"

What the hell! I'll tell you who gave Flory the mission, so take the gag out! I glared at him with that meaning, and the middle-aged guard, misinterpreting my intent again, ordered the soldiers.

"Imprison this guy. Put him in solitary confinement like Flory."

Solitary confinement?!

Even if I'm in prison, I'll be bored out of my mind. Solitary confinement? Being locked up alone with no cellmates?!

"Ugh! Ugh, ugh!!"

Terrified, I struggled, trying to get them to take the gag out. But the crazy middle-aged guard ignored my cries.

In the end, I was dragged to the castle's basement.

'Damn, what the hell is going on? How long will I be in prison? And what happened to Kan's blacksmith shop? Kan can't die... No, why did that idiot Flory fail the quest and cause trouble for others?'

While being dragged by the soldiers and cursing Flory, a quest notification appeared.

[Quest <Messenger of Justice> has been created.]

<Messenger of Justice>

Difficulty: S

Flory, who was trying to inform Lord Staim about Winston, failed his mission and was captured.

Currently, he is imprisoned in a solitary cell in the underground dungeon for a long time.

Since you are the only one who knows about Flory's situation, you are the only one who can help him!

Rescue Flory and uphold justice!

Quest Completion Conditions: Rescue Flory, who is imprisoned in the deepest part of the underground dungeon, within 7 hours.

Quest Completion Rewards: Title 'Messenger of Justice', maximum favor with Winston residents, maximum reputation in Winston, and a new linked quest with Flory.

* Messenger of Justice: Open Courage stat. All stats +10. Skill 'Unbreakable Justice' created.

Quest Failure: Level -2. Title 'Coward' created.

* Coward: Decreased affinity with NPCs, decreased quest acquisition rate, and despised by justice-oriented NPCs.

'The rewards sound familiar? Ah!'

The rewards are the same as the <For the People of Winston> quest that Flory shared with me, except for the linked quest with Flory.

'Anyway, the idea of getting a new title is tempting.'

But...

'I have no intention of accepting this quest!'

I'm about to be locked in solitary confinement. How can I rescue Flory, and in just 7 hours?

It's a quest that's bound to fail. Why would I accept such a ridiculous quest?

'The penalty for failing the quest... is terrifying. Level drop and the title 'Coward'? It's a really trashy title.'

'Coward' is a worse title than 'Noble Killer'.

I must not accept this quest.

But...

[You cannot refuse this quest. The quest is proceeding.]

Why?

Why are you doing this to me all the time!

"Ugh! Oh! Ohh!! Ohhh!!"

I went ballistic in anger. I wanted to curse with all my might, but with the gag in my mouth, I couldn't even do that, which was incredibly frustrating.

As I drooled and struggled, the soldiers escorting me hit me with their spears.

"Is this guy crazy! Can't he be quiet?!"

"Hmph! He's probably scared of solitary confinement. Stupid guy, you should have listened to the knights when they gave you a chance. Why act all cool and pretend to have loyalty when you're this scared?"

"Ugh! Ugh!"

I had no intention of showing loyalty. Seeing the soldiers misinterpret my actions made me even more frustrated.

"Ugh!"

I was finally pushed into solitary confinement by the soldiers, but they didn't take the gag out.

The soldiers were talking among themselves.

"Hey, aren't you going to take the gag out?"

"Sir Leo said to only take it out during meals. He said this guy's mouth is worse than a thug's, and that such a guy needs to be silenced to break his spirit."

"Is that so."

Is that so? What is that supposed to mean!

"Ugh! Ugh!"

Take the gag out! What? I glared at them with that meaning, and the soldiers looked uncomfortable.

"Look at him, still mumbling with the gag in his mouth. If we take it out, he'll talk all day and drive the warden crazy."

"He's really a nasty guy."

"Ugh! Ughh!"

Then at least untie the ropes! The ropes binding my body are making it impossible to move even a finger, which is driving me crazy!

Bang!

The soldiers ignored my desperate struggles and left.

'I'm really going to lose it.'

Bound and gagged in this dark, smelly place for who knows how long?

Moreover, time is passing even now.

I'm about to fail the Flory rescue quest without even attempting it.

'What about my level!'

And why do I have to get the 'Coward' title?

I didn't intentionally fail to rescue Flory, so why should I be called a coward?

"Ugh! Ughh!!"

I shouted again and again.

Please, someone help me.

But no one answered.

In the deep, dark basement, my groans echoed continuously.

Time passed, and the quest time limit indicator at the top of the screen now showed 4 hours.

I've been in prison for almost 3 hours.

'Damn... Damn...'

I thought I was having too much luck recently, given my usual bad luck.

All the luck I've had recently was just a prelude to the misfortune I'm facing today.

'I forgot and let my guard down, thinking I wasn't as unlucky as I am...'

I've never found a 10-won coin on the street in 26 years! I should have been suspicious when I got a legendary profession!

'I want to punch the goddess of luck in the chest...'

While cursing the goddess of luck for abandoning me, I heard a woman's voice from upstairs.

"Grid! Grid!"

'This voice?'

It sounds familiar, like I heard it recently?

'Ah!'

It's Arina.

Her voice is as beautiful as her face.

This unfair world! It gives ten to those who already have one!

No, now is not the time to lament the world.

'Why is this kid here? No, this isn't the time to wonder.'

Although it's unexpected, she's my only hope. I must get her help.

I shouted with all my might.

"Ugh! Ughh! Ugh! Ugh!"

Here! I'm here!

No matter how much I shouted, it was hard to make a loud noise with the gag in my mouth.

Arina was still searching for me upstairs.

"Grid! Where are you! You conceptless man!"

"Ughh!!"

I shouted until my throat was hoarse, but Arina couldn't find me easily.

The quest time limit indicator at the top of the screen now showed 2 hours.

I must escape and rescue Flory within the next 2 hours.

How? I don't know, damn it! I have to try somehow!

"Ugh! Ugh!!"

"Grid!"

Ah, finally...

Arina, who had come down to the lower level, finally heard my voice and ran over.

Ah! The girl who seemed so unlucky just a moment ago now looks like an angel.

As my favor with Arina skyrocketed, she said through the bars.

"I'll save you. And I'll return this dagger to you."

"Ugh! Ugh!"

Arina held the dagger in a sheath made from a minotaur's horn, the one I made during our competition.

She's a beautiful and kind girl.

'She's really a good kid.'

While I was moved by Arina, she continued.

"But there's a condition."

Of course, a beautiful and kind girl is rare.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

You damn girl! Are you really going to set conditions in this situation? If you're here to save me, do it properly! I glared at her, and she smiled.

"Are you saying you'll accept any condition as long as I speak quickly? I like your straightforwardness. Make me an orb that can store as many spells as possible. I want it to have at least the same performance as this dagger. With your blacksmithing skills, that should be easy, right?"

An orb? I've never made one before?

Besides, isn't an orb a magic item? Shouldn't you ask a mage? No, this isn't the time to argue about that.

I nodded without thinking.

Satisfied, Arina said,

"Good. And the other condition is that you never call me 'kid' again. I have a name, Yufemina. You must call me Yufemina. Got it?"

Did this girl have a drink at noon? She was Arina just now, and now she's Yufemina? Did she forget her own name?

...Was it a pseudonym from the start?

Whatever, it's fine!

I nodded again, and only then did Yufemina take out the key ring and unlock the prison door, removing the bindings and gag from my body and mouth.

"Phew!"

Finally, I feel like I'm alive.

I wiped the dried saliva from the corner of my mouth, stretched my body, which had been tied up for hours, and asked Yufemina.

"What's going on? Why did you come here to save me?"

Yufemina threw the dagger to me.

"Let's talk after we escape, okay?"

Before she finished speaking, dozens of soldiers came down the stairs like a pack of dogs.

I was speechless.

"Hey, kid... I mean, Yufemina, what's going on? You said you killed the soldiers, so you could come here, right?"

"There need to be more soldiers. I think I killed over 100, but there are still a lot. It's going to be tough to escape."

"Ha!"

Yufemina's absurd statement made me laugh. She glared at me with sleepy eyes.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Well, you said you killed over 100 soldiers, which is funny. How could a blacksmith fight so well? Come on, don't exaggerate so much..."

"I'm not a blacksmith."

"Huh?"

Yufemina met my gaze. Her deep blue eyes were as beautiful as any gem.

She's just a kid, though.

Well, if she eats a lot and grows, maybe she'll look better?

"Where are you looking?"

Frowning and covering her chest, Yufemina explained.

"I'm not interested in small chests, so don't worry. Just finish what you were saying. You're not a blacksmith? What do you mean?"

"Really, I hate you."

Yufemina grumbled but explained.

"I'm a special class changer. My profession is a Replicator. I could pretend to be a blacksmith because I used the Replicator's skill to replicate Kan's blacksmithing skills. You're similar, right? You're not an ordinary blacksmith, are you