Chapter 10) Crossroad of Life and Death
“Cough.”
Weed was still coughing up blood.
‘This situation really isn’t good.’
He sent a whisper to Seo-yoon.
-W…hat is hap…pening?
-I’m being dragged into the palace.
-E…scape?
-I just checked but my name changed to Hilderun and I can’t use my skills anymore.
Her level and skills also fell so she couldn’t think of resisting. Nodulle and Hilderun probably felt this feeling of helplessness.
Ddiring!
-Treatment of the Black Disease
The black disease is eating away at your body. If you’re not treated quickly then you will die. If the time of treatment is delayed then obstacles can occur.
Level of Difficulty: Final Secret Sculpting Technique Quest
Quest Restrictions: Three days remaining.
The quest will fail if you die. You will return to the original Versailles Continent.
He staggered around the village and looked for a temple. If there was a priest at the temple then he could be healed with holy magic. Boden village was a small place so he couldn’t find a temple. Instead, it was possible to meet a village elder on the street.
“H…ello.”
An instinctive greeting to increase intimacy!
“You are an outsider. What is happening?”
“B…ody, have…to t…reat b…lack di…sease.”
It was difficult to even talk. Despite barely uttering the words, the elder’s reaction was cold.
“If you have the black disease then just die. There is no cure in our village.”
“T…hen…”
“If you give money then I can help.”
The eyes of the village elder brightened. Weed knew that look very well. It was a look that aimed for more money. If he had his original abilities then he could easily get rid of the village elder but now he didn’t have any capital.
“N…o. I…d…n’t h…ave mone…y.”
“Damn. As expected.”
The village elder moved away from the sick Weed. The hearts of the residents were bound to be tough in times of war.
Weed admitted that Nodulle was in an unfortunate and regrettable situation. In this world, he was someone fortunate enough to have a good face and a lover. But now Weed had experienced it himself.
The residents just indifferently walked past as they saw Weed. Then a guard holding a spear approached and said.
“A diseased person can’t stay in this village.”
He had no combat ability and his body was in the worst state so Weed might be bitten by wolves if he went outside.
“There is n…o da…mage.”
“If you die then we’ll have to get rid of your body. Get out of the village.”
“…….”
People really were heartless.
“I w…ill lea…ve.”
Weed staggered out of the village. He felt a vain hope every time he saw a resident but they didn’t help.
“Wah, a sick person!”
“Look there!”
He also encountered naughty children that threw stones.
-You have been hit by a stone.
Health has decreased by 3.
He had no armour so his health fell immediately.
‘At this rate I will die.’
Weed lowered his head and quickly left the village. It was distressing but he also had to watch out for passing dogs! He still needed to be careful after leaving the village.
-Resting has recovered 2 health.Vitality is slowly recovering. It would be better with bandages but he didn’t have any.
“Keheok!”
-The Black Disease has caused a seizure.
Health has fallen by 14.
Lower vitality makes it difficult to walk.
Weed’s body trembled from the pain.
‘Still I’m lucky. Because it isn’t cold.’
Wiiing!
Suddenly a cold wind started blowing!
‘As expected…I probably sold a galaxy in a previous life.’
Weed suffered as he slowly regained his health and vitality. He didn’t know how much time he had left before the Portu King sacrificed her. Seo-yoon’s abilities had also climbed so she couldn’t escape alone.
He sent a whisper to Seo-yoon again.
-Now wh…ere?
It also wasn’t easy to say short words. His body was cold and in pain.
-I’m trapped in a carriage that is continuing to move. I thought I’d go to a palace but it seems I’m to be locked in a tower. I’ve been listening to the soldiers and it seems like it will take one day to arrive. I’ll inform you of my location once I’m trapped.
Seo-yoon indifferently replied.
-Y…es, fi…rst te..ll me t…he c…ity. I w…lll go and g…et y…ou l…ater.
-Yes. Come slowly.
Weed had restored his health and vitality but it was still difficult.
‘I can’t stay in the vicinity of the village so I need to go to a place with no monsters.’
He lacked physical strength and had to walk slowly. He continuously surveyed the area to ensure no dangerous monsters were nearby.
-Vitality has decreased due to excessive movement in a fragile body.
The movement will cause strain.
Health has decreased by 6 due to the Black Disease.
5 hours should be plenty of rest.
When he moved his body, the Black Disease was aggravated and his health decreased.
If he tried to walk a little faster then his vitality would drop. Judging by his current state, he would die from the Black Disease before the 3 days were over.
‘It is hard to walk. It might be better if I just collapse and die.’
Although he had fought with Barkhan, he never felt this tired that he just wanted to collapse. It was the domain of monsters once he got away from the village. Weed needed to exert a lot of effort to avoid or hide from the monsters.
‘I need to think about it. Small errors of judgement can’t be tolerated. I need to decided where to go and what should be done.’
The urgent will to live! Weed’s quest had sent him on a long journey. He had to live. In reality, if his body was sick then he could lose everything. The situation was frustrating but it could get better if someone empathized with him.
His weakened body caused his spirit to strengthen. After leaving Boden village, a wide plain and forest stretched out in front of him.
‘I’d rather go towards the trees.’
If he entered the forest then the path was steep and there were many monsters. But it was also dangerous in the fields and he was an easy target. Weed moved quietly while checking the safety of the forest. He hid his body in the bushes as kobolds and goblins passed.
“I’m hungry.”
“Let’s hunt quickly.”
“Kikikik!”
Even the kobolds were a fearful existence!
‘The sun hasn’t set yet. I have to find a safe place before then.’
He couldn’t hide quickly. Once the sun set, the monsters would become stronger and start to roam. Then it would be really dangerous.
‘This body….’
The body that could jump off a wyvern couldn’t even climb a tree now. Nodulle was weak but the real blame lay in the Black Disease. Weed utilized all his experience and walked slowly. He hoped to find a house belonging to a hunter. But if that wasn’t possible then he wanted a place where he could cover himself up.
‘A cave.’
Weed stared at the deep, dark cave and contemplated on whether to go inside.
‘At times like this, I have to be cautious because I can’t expect to be lucky.’
He hid in the bushes and observed the cave. And after a while, a bear left the cave and headed elsewhere.
‘I almost died.’
Normally a bear meant leather and meat but now it was an existence similar to a dragon!
‘Once night comes, there is no place to hide safely in this forest…..’
The starving wild animals would also be really dangerous.
‘I have to go to the territory of the kobolds.’
Weed moved carefully to the border of the kobold territory. He was more afraid of the wildlife and weak monsters than the kobolds who moved in groups. If he was in their territory then he didn’t need to worry about other beasts.
“It is time to go hunting.”
“Follow the kobold leader!”
The kobolds moved in groups of 20. They were monsters with a command system and preferred a systematic life. Weed observed the kobolds in the forest and avoided them. It was unreasonable to move further due to his vitality and health.
‘I have no choice but to entrust my life to the heavens.’
Weed stayed up all night while crouching down. The good news was that he had a lot of beef jerky so he wasn’t going to starve.
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“Kiyahh!”
“How exciting! Smash everything!”
“Huhuhu, it is my turn after Geomchi-127!”
The Geomchis were currently completing their Master Quest.
-Subdue the rebel army of Pallisar
Rebels have taken control of Pallisar Fort. Subdue them quickly.
You shouldn’t die in battle and render large achievements as martial artists.
Level of Difficulty: Martial Artist Master Quest.
Quest Restrictions: Weapons Mastery Advanced Level 8. A party of 30 people can be composed.
The strong point was that they could combine swords, hammers, axes, bows and spears to attack! The Geomchis used all types of weapons to attack the rebels occupying the fortress.
But countless number of arrows were pouring towards them. The opponent in a fight needed to be strong.
“Men shouldn’t talk a lot.”
Geomchi-3!
He took off his jacket in front of the gate and revealed all his muscles. It didn’t matter if his defence fell. The wild beauty and pride in his muscles was the utmost priority!
He was excited about the Martial Artist Master Quest due to the increasingly strong enemies.
“Go!”
The spear in Geomchi-3’s hand started to spin at a formidable pace. The arrows from the rebels poured down but they all bounced off the rotating spear. This was a skill Geomchi-3 received when Weapons Mastery reached advanced level 8. It maximized the power of whatever weapon he handled. It was possible to apply this to swords and spears as well.
“Crush. Shortwave!”
Geomchi-3’s spear struck the gate with all his might. There was a noise like a thunderbolt was falling as the gates were destroyed.
“Let’s go!”
Geomchi-3 cried in a loud voice.
Like a starving beast, he ran through the gates to subdue the rebel army.
“The Master Quest has already advanced this much.”
“That’s right Teacher-nim!”
Geomchi and Geomchi-2 had completed the rebel subduing quest first. Therefore, they could now create a new Weapons Mastery skill.
There were endless possibilities involved with the Weapons Mastery skill. They could handle all weapons so they could make any skill related to a weapon. Even if only a sword, spear and bow skill was produced, the combined power could make Geomchi stronger than the military.
Geomchi-2 politely waited for his master to produce the skill first. They followed a well-structured plan for their future and didn’t delay it. Their style was to create a Weapons Mastery skill straight away!
“I….”
Geomchi decided immediately.
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Geomchi-5 met a woman during a quest.
A female cook holding a ladle over a boiling iron pot! She was selling soup for those about to enter a dungeon.
“Please eat. It is delicious.”
The female user Rosen sold meat soup for 2 silver. The soup bowls were carefully made by Morata’s novice ceramists.
“One more bowl.”
Geomchi-5 cleaned out the soup.
Rosen was a novice user who only reached level 60. But skill was more important than level when it came to cooking. The soup contained various types of spices. Rosen laughed and handed him another bowl of soup.
“Is it tasty?”
“Everything is delicious when you are hungry.”
“…….”
Geomchi-5’s insensitive way of talking!
“Give me one more bowl.”
“Again?”
“I’m hungry.”
Geomchi-5 ate seven bowls before entering the dungeon. Ever since then, he appeared every day to drink the soup.
“Welcome.”
“Two bowels of soup please.”
“Thank you very much. I’ll give you a lot of meat.”
“Hmm.”
Many people gathered around Rosen who was engaging in business. This was close to a famous dungeon so many merchants and guests came to taste her cooking.
Geomchi-5 drank the soup every day and greeted Rosen. Rosen had a good impression of Geomchi-5 who came to eat daily.
“This must be your favourite soup.”
“It is tasty.”
“The food from other chefs are also good….”
The expression that secretly hoped he would say her cooking was the best!
Keook!
Geomchi-5 replied with a burp.
“This is a lot cheaper.”
“T-there is no other reason?”
“Well, everything is the same once it enters the stomach.”
Rosen was still an amiable woman. The blunt appearance of Geomchi-5who hunts in the dungeon and returns to eat all his food left a deep impression on her.
Geomchi-5 was also wearing great level 400 equipment. The other guests admired his equipment when he ate at the restaurant.
‘A person like that coming everyday just to eat my 2 silver soup. He likes me. But he is too shy to express it.’
Rosen spoke to others kindly every time Geomchi-5 had a meal.
“I really like the Arpen Kingdom.”
“Why?”
“People are organized. I can’t forget the first taste of porridge someone gave me while carrying stones to build the Cathedral.”
“So you became a chef?”
“Yes. I want to cook good porridge for people. And my specialty at school is food.”
“You must be learning the science of cooking rice.”
“Huh? I’m a food and nutrition major.”
“Isn’t that just rice?”
Rosen’s body trembled at Geomchi-5’s ignorance.
“But isn’t that specialty divided into several parts?”
“What do you mean?”
“Korean, European, Chinese, Japanese food, etc.”
“That is….”
Usually there was a misunderstanding about the food nutrition department.
They learnt about balanced diets, new food ingredients development, microbiology, chemistry etc. but people just thought they learnt a variety of food cuisines.
“Do you have qualifications in cooking?”
“…….”
“You should systematically learn dishes.”
Rosen wanted to hit Geomchi-5 with her frying pan and ladle.
TO BE CONTINUED