Chapter 97

Chapter 15 - Episode 2

The news of the Tembal and Silver Knight Guild merger was an issue significant enough to grace the front pages of newspapers in multiple countries. However, the merger ceremony was not grand but rather modest, with not a single journalist invited.

There was no reason to announce Tembal's growth and invite scrutiny from other forces. It was still a time to remain low-key.

“Hahaha!”

“Kukukuk~!”

After the merger ceremony, a banquet was held to foster camaraderie between the former Tembal members and the Silver Knight Guild members. The atmosphere was lively.

“Sir Banthner! It's an honor to be your comrade! I've always admired you! I even started training as a Strength Guardian Knight because of you!”

“Oh, you're completely ruined. If you're still below level 180, I recommend deleting your character and starting anew. Otherwise, you'll have to live with the stigma of being a bad or useless character for the rest of your life.”

“...”

“Faker, I was trembling when I heard about your heroic tale of single-handedly destroying the Ice Flower Guild, one of the seven major guilds. What direction should I take in developing my stats and skills to become an assassin like you?”

“...”

“Sir? Faker, why are you not speaking? Sir?”

“...”

“Legas! You said you love Taekwondo and Korea so much? As a Korean, I find you very lovely and grateful! But have you tried kimchi? Huh? Do you know kimchi?”

“...”

Both guilds had a significant number of unconventional individuals. It seemed that a lot of time would be needed for them to get along.

Grid was busy observing the new members of his guild.

‘Do you know kimchi... That guy is probably a member of the Great Korean Patriot Association, like Geomjeon. And that guy, despite looking quite young, is rather quiet. Since he's a blacksmith, I should keep a close eye on him.’

The 225 new comrades were people he would have to treat as friends and family in the future. Grid had to make a concerted effort to remember their IDs, faces, and characteristics.

Of course, it wasn't an easy task.

How could it be easy to memorize the faces and names of 225 people with a dull mind?

‘Ah, my head hurts.’

In less than an hour, Grid's brain was overloaded. In the past, his brain would have shut down in just five minutes, so this was a remarkable and significant improvement.

Jishuka, Laowel, and Geomjeon were having a discussion beside the groaning Grid.

“The average level of the Silver Knight Guild's combatants is 220, right? At that level, they can't do much against the desert monsters, so leveling up should be a priority. Let's take turns to help them level up.”

“No. The top priority is to improve the working conditions at the Yellow Mithril Mine. We should send the low-level guild members to Barian and Kokuro Island to grow on their own, and the high-level guild members should focus on eliminating the monsters near the mine.”

“Then won't the low-level guild members fall too far behind?”

“No. The environment in Barian and Kokuro Island is much better for low-level guild members than Raydan. Besides, I'm against the idea of leveling up by borrowing others' strength. What's the point of leveling up if you can't perform at the appropriate level?”

“Hmm, you're right. I was shortsighted.”

“The key is who will be appointed as the lord of Barian and Kokuro Island. A good lord will not only develop the territories but also lead the low-level guild members well. Personally, I hope Geomjeon will maintain the position of lord of Kokuro Island. What do you think, Geomjeon?”

“I can't. Grid told me to mine at the mine.”

“Huh?”

Geomjeon, the master of swordsmanship, was ranked 15th in the integrated rankings, and according to Tembal's evaluation, his combat ability was on par with Fon and Legas.

He was a top-tier player, even among the highest-ranking players.

And yet, Grid wanted to use such a person as a miner?

‘What is Grid thinking? Is there something I don't know?’

Just as Laowel's confusion was growing, a young boy rushed into the banquet hall.

Miner, the mineral detector.

He ran up to the high table and said to Grid, who was wracking his brain.

“Pant pant... Sir, we need to move quickly if we want to secure the phabranium.”

“Why the rush? Did something happen?”

“The phabranium sealed in the vampire cities is beginning to be eroded by a strange aura.”

Miner was not only disrespectful and lacked loyalty to Grid but also had a strong sense of responsibility and was diligent in his duties.

Today, he had taken the initiative to check the status of the phabranium.

“Strange aura?”

Is this some kind of joke?

As Grid frowned, a quest window appeared in his field of vision.

[A new quest has been created!]

<To the Vampire Cities!>

Difficulty: ?

Amid the chaos of the vampire era, a being capable of serving as a focal point for the vampires has emerged.

The powerful magic of this being is spreading throughout the 15 vampire cities, blessing the vampires while negatively affecting the phabranium.

If the phabranium is not secured soon, it will be corrupted and lose its unique functions, becoming just another mineral.

Head to the vampire cities immediately and secure the phabranium.

*One phabranium is sealed in each vampire city.

*Secure as many phabranium as possible within 90 days.

*Phabranium not secured within 90 days will be permanently destroyed by the corruption.

*There is a high possibility of hidden quests being linked during the process.

‘The difficulty is a question mark?’

A question mark!

In Satisfy, this symbol generally indicates something 'immeasurable.'

In other words, this quest is likely to be of the highest difficulty, surpassing even the SS rank.

‘This is bad.’

Grid's hair stood on end.

He knew what the vampire cities were like, having received a report from Laowel.

It was said that at least 10 third-class job changers were needed to clear one city.

‘The estimated time to clear one city is ten days.’

The cities were so large that they couldn't be compared to ordinary dungeons, and the level of the monsters that appeared was also high.

In any case, the conclusion was:

‘I can't clear this quest alone, no matter how much I go crazy.’

What a dirty situation!

The number of phabranium, which can be considered the unique weapon of <Pagma's Descendants>, is limited to exactly 28.

If even one is lost, it would be a tearful situation, and losing 15 would be unbearable.

“Ah... What a damn, really. I thought things were going well lately.”

The world doesn't give anything for free, he realized once again.

Jishuka and Laowel were worried as they saw Grid holding his forehead and sighing.

“What's wrong, Grid? What quest did you receive?”

“Can you share the quest details?”

A moment later.

Jishuka and Laowel's faces twisted when they saw the content of Grid's quest.

“This doesn't seem to be a quest designed to be cleared.”

Even the duo of Fon and Legas couldn't clear one vampire city. They had invested a whole month and still failed.

And now, Grid was supposed to clear 15 cities within 90 days?

It was absolutely impossible.

“But it's a quest that must be cleared. Losing the phabranium would mean Grid weakening, which is unacceptable.”

“What if the guild helps?”

“That would be good. But we now manage three territories, and the number of people we can support Grid with is at most 10.”

Yufemina, who was on a separate mission, did not attend the merger ceremony. Ruby and Sexy High School Girl, who hadn't even reached level 120, were not considered.

“10 people... With that number, we might not be able to secure all 15 phabranium, but we can at least secure 9.”

“Yes, I think it's possible.”

Grid's expression was far from pleased as he watched the two discuss.

“Enough. I don't want to owe the guild members a favor for my personal quest.”

It was a righteous attitude.

Using guild members for the guild master's personal quest was a form of overstepping and should be avoided.

Seeing Grid's firm stance, Laowel smiled and explained.

“You can gain a large amount of experience in the vampire cities, and there's a low chance of obtaining elixirs. Helping you with your quest will also help the guild members develop, so it's a win-win situation.”

“But...”

As Grid hesitated, the Tembal members had already gathered around him.

“It's been a while since we've hunted.”

“Let's level up a bit.”

The Tembal members aspired to become the strongest rankers and didn't want to miss the opportunity to level up in the best hunting grounds.

Banthner was particularly enthusiastic.

“I need a stamina elixir to get out of being a bad character. Please take me along.”

“...”

Regardless of the surface reasons, they were trying to help him.

Compared to the past, when he had no friends and no one to rely on, this made him so happy that he almost cried.

A smile bloomed on Grid's face, moved by the moment.

“Thank you. If you ever visit Korea, I'll treat you to jajangmyeon.”

During the Reinhardt Golem invasion.

Grid had once refused the king's banquet because he wanted to eat jajangmyeon.

Through this statement, the Tembal members were convinced.

‘Jajangmyeon... It must be an incredibly precious food.’

‘Is it something the Korean royalty ate?’

How expensive could it be?

While the Tembal members were lost in their baseless fantasies, Geomjeon, who had been silently observing the situation, raised his hand.

“I'll have jajangmyeon.”

Now a comrade, Geomjeon also intended to help Grid.

***

The expedition team was formed.

Grid, Jishuka, Fon and Legas, Geomjeon, and Faker were the main damage dealers, with Banthner as the tank. Froi was the buffer, and Jednous was the supporter.

To clear all 15 dungeons within the 90-day limit, speed was crucial.

This extreme damage team aimed to quickly dispatch the mobs and reach the bosses.

Laowel, who had to stay as the acting lord, was not part of the expedition.

Before the expedition team set out, Laowel gave them a final warning.

“As you all know, the party's balance is a mess. With such low defense, a surprise attack could easily lead to a collapse, so always be aware of your surroundings.”

“I know, I know. Are you my mother? How many times do you have to repeat the same thing?”

Banthner grumbled, but Laowel continued without hesitation.

“Considering that the entrance will be sealed and communication with the outside world will be cut off once you enter the city, the probability of the knight summoning skill not working is 99%. I hope you don't face a desperate situation.”

If Piarona or Asmofel were part of the expedition, Laowel wouldn't be this anxious.

But unlike players, NPCs only have one life. He couldn't send them to certain death.

Grid smiled at Laowel's worried gaze.

“I'll be back.”

Grid was determined to complete the replica of Raphaël's spear through this expedition.

‘If I can recover all 15 phabranium, I can create a pure phabranium Raphaël's spear.’

It would be a weapon that far surpasses any failure.

Just imagining a supreme weapon flying around and assisting him made his heart race.

“Let's go.”

Led by Grid, the strongest party in Satisfy's history set out on the expedition.

A mysterious figure followed them from behind.