Players' NPC Big Daddy

In Wolf Head Grass Village, the Six Vice Group—having gained a massive amount of favorability from participating in Romeo’s rescue—held a meeting in the inn specially provided by the Village Chief.

”Raise your hand if you agree to make the Arcadian storyline public.”

Five votes in favor, one against.

Greenland, who had called the meeting and cast the sole dissenting vote, felt incredibly awkward. Her bad habits as a Professional Player were subtly acting up.

But she had her reasons. If this were a single-player game, she would have happily shared it. However, ”Gedelock” was a massive multiplayer online game. Information on obtaining a Special Profession could be sold for real money, let alone a colossal, overarching storyline involving the Arcadians.

”Are... are you all really this Buddha-like?”

”I don’t really care either way.” The Scary Clown, the first to be killed off, lay on the bed, savoring the feeling of a proper resurrection point.

”We’ve already secured Herbie Hermes’s help, which is far more valuable than hogging this Arcadia storyline for ourselves.” The Electric Saw Demon pushed up a pair of nonexistent glasses with his middle finger. ”Besides, there are only six of us. We can’t swallow this massive bone on our own.”

”Do you remember what happened when the Beastman Species became a playable race? The situation with the Arcadians is somewhat similar.”

The Cannibal stroked his chin, repeatedly replaying a recording of Blaze and Audrey whispering to each other. He turned up the volume so everyone around could hear the contents.

”If this determines whether the Arcadians can become a playable race, then we should let all players tackle this quest together.”

”You cold-blooded pants-wetter!” The Ripper, who had been moved to tears by the Arcadians’ story, poked Greenland hard in the spine.

Claire hadn’t even thought about joining the discussion. She leaned against the edge of the bed, watching the giant Werewolf interact with the villagers outside. However, his massive physique was nearly bursting through the window.

”Fine, fine! If none of you care, then I’m washing my hands of it too!” Giving up, Greenland resorted to Summoning a zombie Peregrine Falcon and quickly scribbled a letter.

”Seeing how fast Blaze and Audrey are moving, I bet they’ll storm the castle directly within a day or two and force the Deputy Lord to step down. So, I’ll find a guild with some actual influence to spread the word.”

”Just how badly do you want to avoid making the storyline public yourself?”

”This is my bottom line as a Professional Player!”

”Just out of curiosity,” the Ripper raised his hand. ”Which influential guild are you talking about?”

”Fairy Kingdom. It’s only fitting that the ones who unlocked the Beastman Species option are the ones to spread this news.”

Blaze rubbed his arms uncomfortably. For some reason, he felt as if a wolf were resting its paws on his shoulders.

But even when he turned his head, all he could see was Audrey looking down.

”Are my nerves just strung too tight?”

”Blaze, you can’t take your Armor off because of the rumored Curse, right?” Audrey asked suddenly.

”...Yeah.” Blaze hesitated for a moment. Figuring that he, Audrey, and Herbie were comrades who had fought side by side, he told her about the Golden Country.

”The lost Kingdom—the Golden Country. Is that your homeland?” Audrey breathed a sigh of relief. If it was a kingdom that had already fallen into ruin, then any Knight titles bestowed by it wouldn’t count anymore.

”Something like that.”

Blaze gave an ambiguous answer, but fortunately, Audrey’s attention wasn’t focused on that detail right now.

”That Kingdom was destroyed even before the Divine Era. Setting aside how you managed to survive, just how old are you!?”

”All I remember is being hailed as the youngest Knight of the Golden Country. When my homeland fell, I got lost in time, and before I knew it, I appeared on those plains.” Blaze pointed a thumb at himself, blatantly copying Marika’s exemplary Knight resume. Well, all outstanding Knights followed this template anyway.

”So I’m still seventeen. I don’t remember anything else.”

”That’s a relief.” Audrey sighed, then noticed Blaze’s bewildered gaze. Realizing that she was acting out of character, Audrey coughed twice and quickly regained her usual serious demeanor.

”The Golden Country is an existence bordering on a fairy tale; only an Elf would know about it. I see. No wonder you wanted to find an Elf when we first met.”

”Exactly.” Blaze nodded, then yanked hard at his Armor. It didn’t budge an inch.

”I forgot the name of this Armor and the oath I once swore. Because of that, I was hit by a Curse and ended up trapped inside it.”

”A Curse... Would a strong Purification Power work?” Audrey didn’t wait for Blaze to answer. She pinched her chin, her brows furrowed in deep thought.

”The Saintess could lift any Curse, but she’s the golden child of the Holy Cross Church. Getting an audience with her won’t be easy... However, we might be able to get our hands on some Holy Water that has received her Blessing.”

”You seem really eager to break the Curse on this Armor. Just to be clear, other than not being able to take it off, it doesn’t have any particular negative effects.”

”This is my way of repaying you for helping Romeo and the people of Arcadia,” Audrey rolled her eyes and said in an exasperated tone.

”Of course, you could always choose to be someone who asks for nothing in return and simply enjoys being a busybody.”

”Yeah, that sounds great. It makes me sound like a Foreigner. Do you know? Pink Rabbit, he...” Blaze turned around and walked backward, his spirits lifting. He returned to his old routine, telling Audrey all about the wondrous and powerful Foreigners.

Unfortunately, everything he knew was already common knowledge, but thankfully, Audrey was polite enough to listen quietly.

They left the gloomy Sacrificial Stone Forest. Silver Believers might still visit this place, but it would no longer be a cold public cemetery. Instead, it would be... a decent tourist attraction?

In Lai Kaion City, the towering Silver Castle in the center of the city was the residence of the noble Arcadia Clan.

The Silver Castle looked divine bathed in the Sunshine, but from a distance, it also resembled a Ghost town.

The Arcadia Clan, the former Arcadia Royal Family, were the direct descendants of the great Silver King, Lai Kaion. Yet they had nothing to do with words like ”divine” or ”beautiful.” Every one of them had a hunched posture and a hideous countenance, with facial protrusions that made them look like Wild Beasts.

GARRRGH—

The sacred hall, which had once gathered devout followers to discuss the future of this Earth, now held only a massive figure crouching on the throne, letting out bizarre, low growls.

He tore into some kind of flesh, allowing the filthy blood to stain the sacred throne.

His ugly offspring walked in through the main doors, treading on the bloody grime like walking corpses. When they saw that the Monster on the throne had finished the food in his hands, they immediately tore apart the strongest brother among them and offered him up as the next meal.

The Monster, resembling the very incarnation of Greed, ate incessantly. Finally, it completed some sort of metamorphosis. All the foul blood in the hall, answering some kind of call, surged toward the Monster and seeped into its body.

”Haaa—”

Amidst the blood, the Monster shed its monstrous exterior, transforming into a pale, middle-aged man. His gaze was cold and sinister as he swept his eyes over his monstrous offspring. When he opened his mouth, he revealed two sharp canines.

”The time has come.”