Melbeth. An alliance formed by non-human noble houses.
Using my title of Baron Yandel, I was able to join them and gain support for my Anabada Clan. In reality, the clan itself did not receive much physical money from this agreement. Instead, Melbeth simply provided us with a place to establish our clan house, and at a cheap price. They also gave us the option to take out loans through their shared fund in the future.
A request...
That is why this request was so important. Although he used the word «request», it was more like a clause in our contract.
If I fulfill your request, they will be willing to treat me better. I will be much more valuable to them.
In terms of gameplay, it was something similar to the achievement system. By completing a quest, you rose through the ranks and gained new privileges.
Still, before blindly accepting his request, he had to check if it was feasible.
«What is the request?»
Instead of asking about the reward, you first had to know the details of the search.
«Information.»
«...Information?»
What a surprise. Typically, a petition fell into one of three categories: hunting, gathering, or fighting. But did they want information?
Viscount Goodrix took a sip of his tea as I began, slowly as always, to catch up. «So... as you know, something incredibly big has happened recently».
«Don't beat around the bush and be honest with me».
The viscount, accustomed to speaking in detours like the nobleman he was, choked on the tea at my abrupt demand. He coughed to clear his throat. «Well, I mean how your name was written on the Stone of Honor. As you know, it says that a hidden area of the maze has been unlocked. And it probably refers to a new floor», he said, finally getting to the point.
Although it is still not entirely clear.
Still, although it wasn't as direct as I would have liked, I knew where I wanted to go. Since I was the one who had accomplished the feat in the first place, I wanted information directly from the source.
«Baron Yandel, aren't you already planning to explore the new area next time? We would like you to share with us the results of your expedition. If it really is a new apartment, where is the entrance, how to enter, what is inside, and other information like that.»
Hmmm...
As he pondered it, he expanded: «Oh, and as I said before, this is a request that has been formally recognized by Melbeth's advice. Once completed, you will be paid accordingly».
«What is the reward?»
«It depends on the value and rarity of the knowledge you provide. After all, we still don't know anything about this new area. As far as we know, the location of your entrance and how to enter could be something any adventurer could find after a little searching, so it's common knowledge. If that is the case, there is no reason to offer more than a common reward. On the other hand, if you can provide information that no one else knows, it becomes even more valuable, and thirteen houses have already agreed to compensate you appropriately.»
«¿Pass?»
«Well, everyone has a different opinion about the value of this opportunity. But it has already been decided that your reward will be paid through the shared funds of the thirteen houses that have opted.»
In other words, all the other houses had considered this request a waste.
«So that's why you meet with me as a representative of the thirteen instead of calling a formal meeting with all the houses present».
«That's right. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the majority vote when the idea was first suggested. Ah, but there's no need to worry. It has still been officially approved, and as such, shared funds will be reserved for the petition, so there will be no problem for you to receive your reward».
As he detailed the cumbersome process of obtaining financing, the drawbacks of working in politics became increasingly evident. However, groups like this had their advantages.
«So... do you need time to think about it?».
«Not long, but first I would like to ask some questions».
«Of course.»
«What do you plan to do with the information?»
Viscount Goodrix took a moment to reflect and then said: «Do you know what was the most expensive rank nine essence ever sold? It was the Deep Salmon. It's not even that good compared to other rank nine essences, but it sold for 3.2 billion stones. Do you know why?»
It was my first time hearing this story, but I could easily guess it.
«...Because it was the first of its kind.»
«Exactly. As it was the first essence found in the ninth floor Rift, the Magic Tower paid everything it could to get hold of it. It was simply worth so much to them».
Still, when I asked her if they wanted my information to make money from her, she shook her head, saying that wasn't the case.
«Since ancient times, the newly opened areas of the labyrinth have always offered a wealth of both treasure and opportunity. For example, Myulmarin, the sea dragon hunter. As he was the first to defeat the sea dragons, he gained incredible power and political influence. No one who has defeated the Sea Dragons since has received similar praise for doing so.»
«¿Y?»
«The information we receive from you will be given to other adventurers of each non-human race. Only those who can be fully trusted, of course».
«You want to use my information to help make them stronger».
«That's right. The stronger non-human adventurers become, the stronger Melbeth» will also be.
Although I continued speaking in such a far-fetched and far-fetched way, I now understood perfectly why Melbeth made such a request of me. And his argument was convincing enough to convince me too.
«Of course, I understand that you may dislike sharing with us valuable adventurous knowledge that you have worked so hard to acquire. However, I promise you that we will keep it a secret and will only pass the information on to those we fully trust».
Having laid out all the details, he asked me once again if I would accept the request. My response was instantaneous. «Okay. I accept».
There is not even a penalty for failing this search. So I don't lose anything by accepting it, right?
«Then I'll see you later.»
After leaving his house, I headed home and gathered my group members to share the news of our new search. Some were worried, but no one objected, as we could always re-evaluate it later, once we found the hidden area and explored it.
Tick, tock.
After discussing our plans late into the night, I went upstairs and went to bed. Amelia and Erwen were sitting in two chairs next to the bed, watching me.
«Tersia, you don't have to be here either».
«I do not want to leave. I'm going to stay here and protect the Lord too».
...Are they still not on good terms? We've been together for so long. Why doesn't anyone get along?
Tick, tock.
I closed my eyes and heard the sound of the clock on the nightstand.
[Your soul has resonated and is being drawn into a different world].
Half a month had already passed.
***
When I opened my eyes, I was back in Hansu Lee's room. I went to the computer to turn it on and enter the forum.
[Long live Korean Independence – 0 people are online.]
They haven't arrived yet...
He would come in when the two of them showed up later. In the meantime, I checked the message board. As expected, people were already posting things.
[Did everyone see the patch notes?]
I still can't believe I'm using that term in this world. How the hell are there still hidden areas?
BurtusMaximus: Main reason why Dungeon and Stone is a god-tier game: more than 10 years, free, and still receiving patches.
└these99: In return, he won't let you come home.
└BurtusMaximus: Exactly. It really is a god level game. As in, dear god, please send me back home now.
It seems like this patch was even more shocking to gamers than it was to natives of this world, I thought.
Although there were also posts about what happened on the black market and the Magic Tower, most people were talking about the new area of the labyrinth.
[But how did a new patch come out when Bjorn defeated the Lord of Terror?].
Did he do something wild like throw his corpse in a frying pan and eat it? It's weird that there's suddenly a new DLC when all it did was defeat it.
Futuralis: Because he did it in a team of 5.
└AI_DIDIGO: Fact 1: It was not a team of 5, but of 4.
└Futuralis: So maybe the condition was to defeat him in a group of 4?
└AI_DIDIGO: Fact 2: Bjorn Yandel was not the first to surpass him in a group of 4.
└Futuralis: So what's the bottom line?
└AI_DIDIGO: Conclusion: There is a 92.24571% chance that Bjorn Yandel defeated the Lord of Terror after meeting a special condition.
└Writer: All the schtick like this is hilarious.
└Nyacreeps: But it's true. Even real researchers believe that Gabrielius Achievements are activated when someone activates a special condition.
Players talked to each other, throwing out multiple theories as to why the maze had suddenly been updated. I was hoping that something useful would come out of the discussion, since everyone was working together to find out, but in the end no one had any idea what the special condition I had activated might be.
Well… it doesn't matter at this moment.
After taking a look at the forum, I moved back to the chat room.
[Long live Korean Independence – 2 people are online.]
Alright, they're both there.
I hurried into the room and when I entered, two heads turned in my direction.
«Big Brother! You're here!» Baekho Lee ran towards me and leaned over in an exaggerated manner.
Hyeonbyeol, meanwhile, simply looked at me. «Oh, are you here?»
As I walked past the two of them to sit on the couch, Baekho quickly sat down next to me. «Big brother! Did you know? Hyeonbyeol and I were talking before you arrived. And it turns out, she still has feelings for you!»
«…¿Eh?»
Baekho's starter took my breath away.
I swallowed, glancing at Hyeonbyeol, whose expression was stony. «...I have never said that. You don't believe him, do you?».
«Of course not. Of course I don't think so».
«Brother! Are you disappointed? I don't know why Big Sister is acting so cold. When I asked him if he would go out with you again, he blushed!»
Oh... So that's what happened... What a relief.
I had been starting to seriously wonder if I could look Hyeonbyeol in the eyes again.
«...i wasn't blushing. And even if that were the case, how did you come to that conclusion?»
«Ha ha. Silence is practically a yes in itself».
«Baekho Lee... you are a piece of trash.» Hyeonbyeol ended the conversation right there, no longer falling for Baekho's shit. Then he looked at me, with a fierce look in his eyes.
«Hyeonbyeol, I understand. I never trusted this guy to begin with. And Baekho, stop fooling around».
«Okay!»
«He really bothers me...»
Even when I smoothed things over, the annoyed and cheeky look on Baekho Lee's face never wavered. Hyeonbyeol's fists and jaw clenched at the sight.
When did you become such friends?
I was curious, but I didn't bother to ask. If he did, I was worried that Hyeonbyeol would be angry again. Not to mention the fact that I could only meet Baekho Lee here once a month for an hour, so I couldn't waste any more time.
«Hyeonbyeol ».
I decided to send Hyeonbyeol away while I talked to him. When I called her name, she immediately calmed down, her eyebrows unscrewing. She already knew what he was going to ask her. Thanks to that, I didn't need to say much.
«I have something to discuss with Baekho...»
«...volveré en una hora.» Hyeonbyeol miró a Baekho una vez más antes de salir de la sala de chat.
«Ugh! She's a fun woman, right? Although she always acts so intimidating, when she is with you she becomes so shy and calm...»
«They are there.»
«¿Sí?»
«Don't make fun of her too much.»
«...Okay. I won't play any more jokes on him.»
I sighed to myself. How could I control this girl?
As he contemplated that, Baekho Lee changed gears. «By the way, brother.»
«¿Sí?»
«About Kitty... I mean, Missha Karlstein. Did you meet her?»
«Yeah. Thanks to you.» Of course, and maybe it was because so much time had passed, things between Missha and I were still awkward and distant. Still, he was sure that, over time, they would get better.
Alright, then it was time to ask my own question...
«Pero Baekho.»
Now that Missha had been returned to me safely, I could finally ask her the question I hadn't been able to ask her the last time.
«What is the Stone of Records?»
It was time to stop being shaken and cornered by a story I didn't even know.