Light of Arad: The First to Walk - Chapter 211



Only Krnovel

211

The main scenario of the game Dungeon & Fighter is centered around the user’s character, the ‘Adventurer’.

Of course, the basic story is about where the ‘adventurer’ is, who he is with, and what he is doing at that point in time, and the amount of information that the user can know is also limited.

‘This isn’t even in the side story. It’s not on DFU or the official website… … Information about the Red Ghost Soryun of this period.’

However, in addition to the wide and expansive main scenario, users’ demands for a solidly built worldview and surrounding characters were clear, and the game Dungeon & Fighter has various means to satisfy such needs of users.

The fact that Jinseong has an overwhelming amount of information compared to general users is also because he makes good use of such data.

Of course, since those materials did not list information on 100% every situation, every time, and every person, there were bound to be parts that could not be explained.

‘I wouldn’t have known when I was a user. At this point, I was wandering around the Castle of the Dead ‘with Azalea’ like Vivi. And when the user came back out, it was probably after she disappeared… … .’

In other words, even if you are possessed by Plain: Arad, it does not necessarily mean that you will be able to experience this moment.

Because Jinseong himself is not someone who wants to become a ‘forged blade’, and is not an ‘adventurer’.

Since it was a situation that could only be faced with with a twist, it was natural for Jinseong to feel a strange emotion.

If it was excitement, it was excitement.

Also, if it was tension, it was tension.

Because Red Ghost Soryun is not an ordinary member of the Grim Seekers.

He is one of the seven who founded the Grim Seekers, and is also the leader of the ‘Pursuers’, an internal group that carries out special missions within the Grim Seekers.

The name that appears in the Grim Seeker’s doctrine is ‘The One Engraved by Death’.

‘A prosecutor from Suju… … But in fact, So-ryun himself doesn’t have much to do with Suju. He lived in the forest with his parents since he was young. He’s the type who learned martial arts from his parents from Suju, who could be called reclusive masters.’

The common denominator among the seven who founded the Grim Seekers is that they all accepted the grudges and resentment that the Fifth Apostle, the Formless Shiroko, left behind when he died, even though their depth and level of consciousness may be different.

In other words, it means that Jeokgwi Soryun is also a figure of the same level as the prophet Ezra, one of the seven founders.

But he is different from other founders.

The biggest difference between Jeokgwi Soryun and the other six was the process of accepting Sirocco’s thoughts and spirit.

“……You came.”

Erica spoke cautiously.

Red Ghost Soryun looked down at the battle mage girl from the demon world.

The right eye has a red pupil that sparkles within the whites of the eyes.

That alone was enough to exude a sense of menace, but what was even more bizarre was the left eye, which flashed purple.

Odd eyes of red and purple.

It is certainly special, but that is not what makes Soryun different from other founders.

‘Most of the seven who founded the Grim Seekers were people who were near the Cave of Screams when Shiroko was defeated. They practically accepted Shiroko’s thoughts by chance and got caught up in some kind of huge whirlpool… … But Soryun couldn’t be different. Soryun-.’

Jinseong saw it.

The scar is briefly visible through the gap in the small piece of cloth covering his chin as it flutters in the sea breeze of Gelva.

That’s what made her special.

‘-The 5th Apostle… … is the only one who was directly harmed by the invisible Shiroko.’

From the perspective of the fifth apostle, the formless Shiroko, it is a light contact.

But for So-ryun, it was a shocking contact that burned her skin and broke her bones.

Shiroko, the abominable being who not only left a fatal scar, but also killed his parents.

apostle.

That is why she spews out such intense hatred towards all the apostles.

* * *

Soryun said.

“Azalea.”

It was a stiff tone of speech that was cut off abruptly.

Roy was the first to respond to the low, monotonous voice that was hardly even a question.

“Ha, why should I tell you that? I just want to kick you out, but-”

“Do you want to die?”

Roy, who had been showing hostility towards the hardliners of the Grim Seekers, had to change his expression at Soryun’s one word.

It wasn’t just because of the overwhelming power represented by the Red Ghost Wheel and the Dual Swordsmanship.

“-K, kk, do you think I’ll be scared because of that? What do you think small fry like you can do to Roy the Burning Pen!”

A group of people following Soryun.

They were glaring at Roy with cold eyes, and their eyes seemed determined to attack with their weapons and abilities at any moment. Roy could feel that they were sincere.

Erica hurriedly stepped in and tried to stop him, but it wasn’t easy.

“Now, wait a minute! Lady Azalea told me to welcome you! But, but are you going to cause a ruckus here? If you do, won’t the others stay still!? Keep in mind that not only the Heavens, but also the Knights of the De Ros Empire of Arad are here!”

“It doesn’t matter. Just speak, Soryun.”

If there is just one word from Soryun, they will move without hesitation.

No matter where this place is or who tries to stop it, it won’t stop.

In some ways ruthlessly, in others unplanned.

Jinseong could also see that even among the hardliners of the Grim Seekers, Soryun and his group were literally the ones without a backing.

“No, that’s fine. Just worry about what other people think… Still the same.”

Soryun let out a sneer.

And then he said.

“So you’re just going around talking nonsense about saving the apostles. You’re like a hypocrite.”

This time, it was a remark that even raised Erica’s eyebrows.

She’s a girl from the demon world. It’s not that she can’t fight.

“Even if you ask Azalea for a favor, if you insult Azalea more than that, I will find it difficult to endure it.”

Erica’s genuine anger may be enough to quell Soryun’s anger.

“Shut up. Those apostles… They deserve to be torn to pieces and killed.”

The red ghost spoke with a muffled voice.

It was not anger towards Erica, but anger towards the apostles themselves, and furthermore, anger towards Azalea, the leader of the moderate Grim Seekers who stood up to protect such apostles.

The hardliners behind Soryun were about to launch an offensive against Erica at any moment.

“Come on, are you going to fight? If you’re going to fight, are you going to scream too? I’m going to call those humans over there right now!”

Even Roy shouted as he followed behind Erica.

Rather, it was So-ryun who ended the tense situation.

“Stop it. I have no business with you two. More importantly….”

Her gaze had already shifted away from Erica and Roy, as if she had actually lost interest in them.

To Jinseong.

Red and purple eyes flashed at the same time.

The gaze of a predator looking at its prey as if it were about to devour them was enough to crush the spirit of anyone who encountered it.

“……Why. Do you have something to say?”

There was no way Jinseong would waver.

Rather, Jinseong’s words were enough to cause Soryun to frown.

“It doesn’t seem like they’re the remnants of the moderates….”

Soryun said.

Jinseong shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m not a blind idiot of a hardliner.”

With a single word that made even the most radical figures among the hardliners of the Grim Seekers behind her, including Red Ghost Soryun, fall silent.

The sound that broke the silence, did it come from Erica or Roy?

Only then did the hardliners behind Soryun try to come forward with their weapons drawn, but they failed to achieve what they wanted.

“How dare you-.”

“Okay.”

Because Soryun stopped them all with one hand.

Jinseong and Soryun were still making eye contact. So Jinseong could tell.

That her eyes, which moved in an instant, reacted to his movements.

‘I was going to pay you back right away if you just pushed me a little harder… … It won’t be easy, after all.’

So-ryun discovered that Jin-seong’s own hand had already moved to the sword hilt.

There was no joy or pleasure like the feeling of being recognized by NPCs I had seen in-game so far.

“When Azalea comes, tell her. And tell her that she can’t run away anymore.”

Jinseong also held a calm anger.

It’s not just because he acknowledged his own skills that Soryun didn’t try to fight.

‘There must be a purpose. Judging from the fact that he doesn’t budge even after this level of provocation.’

This probably means that they don’t want to cause any problems that might shake up their plans in the first place.

Thud, thud, thud… … .

Soryun started walking towards the Grim Seeker’s base camp.

Erica and Roy didn’t take their eyes off them.

Only after the distance had grown so great that their backs had completely disappeared did Roy speak.

“Tch, those damn guys.”

“Who said no? Do you think I’ll tell you that Lady Azalea is coming? You idiots, slip and break your head!”

Erica also stuck out her tongue at the spot where they had disappeared.

After cooling down for a while, running around in a boiling heat, Erica finally spoke.

“But it’s fortunate that I don’t have to show you around. Anyway, the only empty tent is over there, so it’ll be there, but there are guests like you, Jinseong- Huh!?

Only then did Roy realize.

“What, what? Where did this human go?”

That the true form has already disappeared.

There was a brief moment of confusion at the base camp of the Grim Seeker moderates.

* * *

Jinseong had already returned to his tent.

Jinseong was wandering around inside the large tent provided by the Adventurer’s Guild, trying to organize his thoughts.

[Click click click… … What are you trying to do?]

“Shh. I’ll tidy up too.”

It doesn’t matter if they aren’t at the place Azalea prepared.

Apostle Anton’s body is large and has a lot of empty space, so there are many places for them to stay, but it is not necessary to target every area.

Their goal is ultimately one.

‘They’re trying to find a chance to kill Azalea. So they’ll probably be positioned relatively close to the Grim Seeker’s movements. And to enter and exit the Castle of the Dead at any time… … there’s only one vertical hovercraft as the entrance.’

It’s not that difficult for Jinseong, who has been memorizing the ‘Anton Reid Situation Board’ by heart, to finally pinpoint the place where they will make their temporary residence.

‘Why is So-ryun still here? He shouldn’t have been there in the first place.’

What really questioned Jinseong was Soryun’s purpose.

One thing we obviously know is that after Azalea dies here in the Castle of the Dead, Azalea also dies.

To the most radical of the Grim Seeker hardliners.

‘So-ryun doesn’t touch Azalea directly. If that’s the case, asking Erica and Roy about Azalea right now wouldn’t be an attempt to kill her right away. No, none of the current Grim Seekers would think that So-ryun would actually touch Azalea.’

That’s why Azalea asked Roy and Erica to guide her, and why they obediently followed her lead.

Red Ghost Soryun hated Azalea so much that he wanted to kill her, and even suggested killing her, but was rejected by Soldoros, the de facto leader of the Grim Seeker hardliners.

‘In the end, at the point where he was rejected by Soldoros, the moderates’ image of Soryun was ‘a person who hates Azalea so much that he would kill her’. Since he couldn’t disobey Soldoros’ orders, it means that he didn’t go as far as ‘a person who really takes action to kill Azalea’… … .’

Did Red Ghost Soryun ask about Azalea because he wanted to talk to her first?

But that point was also an idea that Jinseong could not easily confirm.

‘I’ve raised so many characters. [Grim Seeker] There are over thirty characters with chosen routes, but I’ve never seen a script like that. There was never even a scene like that.’

What will happen to Azalea in the future?

How many times has she been moving with Vivi now, out of the Castle of the Dead, and back to base camp?

How many times does the ‘adventurer’, who can be considered the main character, move away from Vivi?

Knowing all that, Jinseong was able to be sure that there would be no scene where Soryun and Azalea met.

So Jinseong swallowed dry saliva.

An idea that has been lingering in my head since I first encountered the Red Ghost Wheel.

‘… … Contamination again? Is it only Luke that gets contaminated this quickly?’

Maybe this is contamination.

In the end, Jinseong himself has to confirm it.