Chapter 255

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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“He’s not a player?”

The abrupt story bred doubt.

Sirius is not a player.

What could this mean?

“Is it like Liwei’s state? Can’t log out?”

“It’s different from that. What I felt strange was the power Sirius possesses.”

“Power?”

Elpo’s expression held no amusement.

It was a face filled with conviction, not mere speculation.

He, who had briefly shifted his gaze as if looking at a screen, immediately continued with a detailed explanation.

“We have someone with a skill that can gauge power. It’s different from ranking; how purely strong someone is, you know?”

“Are you talking about Eye of Intuition?”

A skill that could be learned in a hidden village in the northeastern forest.

It was a technique to gauge an opponent’s power through intuition.

Although it was not through numbers but through senses, its reliability was high since it was based on instinct.

“As expected, you know? Anyway, we infiltrated around the Holy State together and kept tracking the power. But do you know how Sirius was?”

“How was he?”

“His growth speed keeps accelerating day by day. Compared to other rankers, it’s at a level surpassing several times.”

“…Several times?”

That story was certainly strange.

Growth slowing down as one approached the peak was a story that applied in any world.

Especially in a situation where the demon territory had not yet opened, it was close to impossible.

If there was a possibility, it was only the space the two mentioned earlier.

“Weren’t there hidden Error Zones? There would be places accessible only to the Sacred Body Faction.”

“I’ve identified most of them, and Error Zones aren’t that significant anymore. There’s no way to become strong so quickly through normal means.”

Elpo shook his head firmly as he spoke.

If it was what the 6th ranked player felt, the persuasiveness was high.

The meaning of saying he was not a player was that he was beyond that category.

“Don’t you have anything else to pinpoint? You said you kept observing.”

“I can’t see what happens inside the Holy State. But there are more clues from the Eye of Intuition.”

Elpo, who squatted down, picked up a branch and began to draw something.

It was a strange object with several lumps stuck together.

“It’s an image of power my friend drew. Usually it’s circular, but Sirius’s was this shape.”

“…It is strange.”

An ominous aura felt even in the drawing made with a branch.

As he stared at it, Elpo asked one question.

“When you met Sirius, didn’t you feel something strange?”

“Mm.”

The first meeting with Sirius revealed through the broadcast.

It was the memory of that day when he used his wits to succeed in a counterattack.

“Rather than my personal impression, there’s what the spirit told me. It said something was mixed together.”

“Mixed together?”

“The spirit’s senses are probably quite different from human standards. But that much, it can see through to the essence.”

What Aerial had said as soon as Sirius appeared was vivid in his memory.

Too many things are mixed together.

Among them, there seem to be demons as well.

That was exactly what she said.

“…Is that so.”

Elpo, with his arms crossed, murmured.

And then he raised his head and looked at Han-bit.

“There’s one thing I’ll tell you. It’s related to the other world.”

“You’re also an experience-holder? Well, if the Sacred Body Faction is all like that, then rankers too…”

“No, I’m not an experience-holder. Instead, the souls of people from the other world are mixed in my state.”

“…What?”

Another shocking statement made his eyes widen.

The souls of people from the other world are mixed in his state.

How should he accept this?

“What kind… no, whose soul is it?”

“The knowledge and memories have no boundaries, so it’s hard to distinguish. Even now after time has passed, it’s still complicated.”

Elpo added that it was a change that struck on the day RP was revealed.

Was the reason for his words and deeds not matching his age due to such circumstances?

This also seemed to be the result of the clash between the two goddesses’ powers.

“What about the goddess? How much do you know?”

“The knowledge about the two goddesses is embedded. Looking at the strong hostility toward the Goddess of Upheaval, perhaps there are also victims’ souls?”

Elpo attempted reasoning with the sensations he felt.

It was difficult to understand hastily, but he seemed to be organizing it well with time.

“Well, in the end, we are also enemies of the Sacred Body Faction. We’re proposing to stand together against a powerful group. For now, Sirius is my target though.”

Liwei, who had been sitting on a rock watching the conversation, summarized.

Whatever the complicated circumstances, the important thing was that they could become allies.

“You said you’re going to kill Sirius? Do you have a concrete plan?”

“There’s an item called a trap that shatters the soul. It’s an item obtained from an Error Zone, and I’m thinking of using this. It’s an item that causes permanent damage.”

“Really?”

The item with a powerful-sounding name was not in Han-bit’s knowledge.

Rather than killing, it felt like it would break them, but thinking about dealing with monsters, it fit quite well.

“I’m going to target the newly updated occupied territories. I’ll induce a faction battle to lure Sirius. The problem is whether that person will move directly…”

“There is a way to lure him out. The plan itself needs some thought.”

Han-bit, who shifted his gaze, looked at the sky.

It was time to move soon.

“Right now, Peria Island is most important to me. Is it okay to talk again tomorrow?”

“Of course. I only came today to say hello.”

Elpo nodded readily.

Although he was ranked 6th, which was quite high, he showed no signs of riding on his prestige.

That kind of behavior built trust bit by bit.

“We’re going to examine the remaining Error Zones. I’ll be watching the broadcast, but contact me if any problem arises. I’ll help. The alliance matter I conveyed to Haemu was also an extension of that.”

“I’ll remember.”

Elpo, who finished friend registration, disappeared before his eyes along with Liwei.

The barrier that had been spread around had already disappeared.

‘Sirius, huh…’

The proposal the two brought was not bad.

No, it wasn’t just not bad; it was something absolutely necessary.

If the 1st ranker grew uncontrollably strong, it would become a major trouble in the future.

‘I need to time this well.’

There was only one goal on Peria Island.

It was to obtain clues to the entrance leading to the demon territory.

Originally, it would require a long journey, but if this shortcut was taken, it was possible to significantly reduce the process.

Perhaps it would become the enormous upheaval that would strike this world.

Tak-!

Han-bit, who kicked off, hurried toward the city in the east of the island.

Meanwhile, he also returned the broadcast to normal.

-Haa.

-He came back.

-I mocked him for crying, but when the broadcast went off, I cried.

-For real hahaha

-But where is this?

-Looks like Peria Island?

-Graveyard of the vanguards ㄷㄷ

-It’s the curse of Episode 8.

Viewers who quickly recognized Peria Island recalled memories from just a short time ago.

The countless vanguards who had been stuck at Episode 8 and could not progress.

Even if they tried to hide the information, the internal situation had already been revealed through various routes.

“Today, I’ll do some quests here. It will be completely different in direction from the episodes other players progressed through.”

-He declares it’s different ㄷㄷ;

-He’s already proven it so what…

-If it’s vanguards who are curious enough to watch, big thumbs up.

-Cheat sheet incoming.

-But doesn’t everyone not know the ending here?

-Yeah yeah, ultimately no one could clear it.

The vanguards who had not seen the ending even before the second update.

Viewers also did not know the aftermath.

‘Originally, it was part of the Investigation Team test.’

The content of Episode 8 was to receive the Investigation Team’s free evaluation, find the problems that appeared on the island, and solve them.

Han-bit had also experienced it in the other world, but in the situation where he was already an official Investigation Team member, that process itself was unnecessary.

Tak-!

Han-bit, who continued forward, soon arrived at the destination city.

The high city wall surrounding the outskirts was threatening as if thorns were embedded.

He ran a little further and arrived at a small entrance.

“Come this way.”

The one guarding the door was a young male adventurer.

Since it was a place managed by the Adventurer Guild, it was a natural situation.

“What’s your purpose of visit? If it’s for those noble bastards’ requests, just get lost.”

The adventurer immediately furrowed his brow and growled.

The various animal-type monsters on Peria Island were sometimes used for the nobles’ hobbies.

There were also quite a few adventurers who came with huge commissions.

“I’m an Investigation Team member. Is it okay to enter?”

“What? Investigation Team member…?”

The man, who wore a bewildered expression, shifted his gaze to Han-bit’s chest.

There hung the badge of the official Investigation Team.

“Is it real?”

“It’s real.”

“Please… enter.”

-Hahahaha

-Etiquette injection complete.

-You shouldn’t block an Investigation Team member.

-Crazy power;

-This is the first time seeing an official Investigation Team member’s perspective broadcast.

The adventurer, who slightly stepped back, moved away from the entrance.

It seemed no Investigation Team member player had arrived here yet.

“Where is the Guild Master? Inside?”

“Always at home…”

“Thanks.”

Han-bit, who gave a light greeting, entered.

The interior scene was indeed as he remembered.

‘There’s quite a lot.’

Numerous crowds moving about in the scene blending a city and a base camp.

Not only adventurers but also merchants, craftsmen, and other non-combat personnel were considerable.

There were even quite a few tourists.

‘A ship also just arrived.’

A large ship visible above the eastern buildings.

Although all trade and movement were conducted via sea, such large ships rarely came.

And through that ship, Han-bit’s goal had also been transported.

Step-

Han-bit, who moved his steps, headed for the city center.

He stopped in front of a five-story building.

‘No matter when I see it, it’s unnecessarily lavish.’

This place, conspicuously lavish among the surrounding buildings, was the Guild Master’s residence.

Surprisingly, the shabby one-story building next to it was the Adventurer Guild.

Kwang-!

Han-bit suddenly kicked the door.

The door, which received strong force, was half broken.

-Eh?

-Eh?

-Is this right? hahaha

-I’m coming in (really coming in)

-Sry hahaha

Han-bit, who entered, shifted his gaze.

At a table on one side of the first floor, a middle-aged man was asleep holding a wine bottle.

[Peria Island Guild Master Kardon]

A vivid name tag that appeared to reveal his identity.

Han-bit, who approached closer, tapped him with his scabbard.

“Hey, wake up.”

“Uuugh……”

When he made a sound, Kardon writhed and groaned.

The hangover was as strong as the piercing smell of alcohol.

“Wake up.”

“Uuugh……”

Even with the continuing voice, he curled up and refused to rise.

Han-bit, who had given sufficient opportunity, retreated.

And then he kicked hard at the chair where Kardon was sitting.

Kwang-!

“Heok!”

Kardon, whose supporting chair disappeared, let out a strange scream and fell to the floor.

“What, what… ugh……”

He, who was flustered and turning his head, dry-heaved from the hangover.

Han-bit, who approached closer, knelt and spoke.

“You’re the Guild Master, right?”

“……?”

Only then did Kardon’s gaze align with the voice he heard.

His eyes, which had not grasped the situation, naturally reached Han-bit’s chest.

“In, in, In-investigation……!”

Kardon, who recoiled as if seeing a ghost.

The reason for such a reaction was simple.

Because it was the Investigation Team that had granted the authority to manage this island.

It was only natural that a manager should not show such behavior.

Han-bit, who saw that, grinned and spoke.

“Let’s do one thing for us.”