Emperor of Solo Play Chapter 140:

Chapter 140 – Across the Terube Castle Wall (1)

 

1 .

The NPC hadn’t reach the status of being a young man .  Its youthful appearance was stuck between that of a boy and a young man .

“Are you serious?”

It spoke in a grave manner, which clashed with the delicate voice it possessed .

“Will you really do as you say?”

Even the deep wrinkles that was forming at the top of its face gave off a child-like impression .  It diluted the message it was giving .

“Are you really planning on traveling beyond the Terube castle wall?”

It was the captain in charge of the Terube castle wall .  It had been loyal subject to Prince Dean .  However, it was also a hidden hero of this world, who had fought against the Corrupted monsters .  Bagel rejoiced at the offer given by the man in front of it .  It was beyond rejoicing .  There seemed to be a different reason aside from happiness that made Bagel suddenly stand up from its seat .

“Ooh-oohk!”

When it stood up, a moan immediately escaped Bagel’s mouth . It was always prepared for battle .  Bagel was in its office, yet it was in its armor .  This was why one couldn’t see the wound beneath the armor .  It still possessed the evidence of betrayal perpetrated by Prince Dean and the White-eyed swordsman Argardo .  It still had the sword wound .

Bagel was lucky to be alive .  The wound was so severe that it was shocking that Bagel was still carrying out his duties, while equipped in its armor .  This was why Bagel didn’t complain about its slow recovery .

“I’m fine .  I’m all right . ”

When he heard the moan, the guest got up from his seat to approach Bagel .  Bagel waved him away .

“I’m just thankful that I am alive .  I don’t want to burden a hero like you, because of this . ”

The guest put on an awkward smile, and he sat back down . Bagel moved to the corner of its office where its books were organized .  It immediately pulled out a book .

“This is something I acquired a long time ago . ”  

From its outward appearance, the book was thick .  However, the book wasn’t filled with many pages .  The reason being the thickness of each page .  The book was filled with woodblocks .  Bagel took out the book, and it carefully looked over the engravings on the pages .  

“This was before I became the captain in charge of the Terube wall .  This was even before I followed him when he became the Guardian of the Northern lands . ”

The woodblocks were filled with engravings of a map .  Bagel took the book, and he sat atop of his desk . In the process, his heavy armor moved, and it seemed the wound had been disturbed again .  Bagel’s expression crumpled, but it didn’t moan this time .

When Bagel’s pained face resolved itself, it took out the woodblocks contained in the book .  It started piecing them together as if they were pieces of a puzzle .

As Hyrkan had surmised, the woodblocks were a map .

“This is the map of the Northern land .  This was before this era where the endless battle hadn’t started yet . ”

His explanation was grandiose, but the content of the map was quite poor .  Most of the map was drawn in an abstract manner .  There was a long road, and there were monsters that were letting out flame next to the road .  The mountain was drawn like a big lump of cotton . The trees inside the forest was drawn like doodles, and there were no markers naming everything .  Moreover, the map was incomplete .  The top part of the map was missing .  It was as if the map’s head had been cut away .

“It is a relic from a long time ago, so it isn’t perfect . ”

Bagel tapped on top of of the table as he tapped at the empty portion of the map .

“In the end, I never found out what is here .  Moreover, there is no one alive that knows this information either . ”

The guest, who had listened to it in silence, finally asked some questions .

What do you think is over there?  Do you perhaps know any other information regarding the place?

However, Bagel had heard all the information available, so it let out a long sigh .

“I have my hand full from defending the Terube castle wall .  At times, I tasked a subordinate to investigate what was on the other side of the castle wall .  However, they just came back with warnings of overwhelming number of monsters, or they went missing .  If I wanted a thorough investigation, I would have to lead forth a large army .  I couldn’t send a large army across the thick castle wall, and through the mysterious barrier to explore the Northern land . This is especially true, since I’ll be doing it just to satisfy my curiosity . ”

The guest said couple more words to Bagel .  Bagel gathered boths its hand, so it could prop its chin on top .  It spoke in that position .

“Yes . It is as you said .  The power of Corruption may be…  That upright person might have a clue about the power of Corruption .  This is why I was curious about what was there in the past .  However, I felt I had a duty to find out what was there .  However!”

However… .

That word was filled with heavy implication .  The guest was about to ask a question, but he swallowed the question .

“No one was allowed to explore this place . ”

Bagel immediately put on a big frown .  It wasn’t caused by his wound .

“There are already movements set in motion .  A large-scale change is coming .  For now, no one will be able to assume the power of the Northern land .  In such a situation, no rewards will be given .  There will be a ban placed on the Northern land .  The Hiban kingdom, and even the Subjugation Association won’t lend a hand .  This is a search conducted to find the unknown, and there will be no prize awarded .  The only way you will be able to receive a reward is to bring back  result . ”

Bagel maintained its expression, and it immediately asked him a question .

“Do you still want to go to the other side of the castle wall?”

Instead of answering, the guest nodded his head .  Bagel immediately got up from its seat .

Afterwards, Bagel worked with practiced ease .  It painted ink over the woodblocks, and Bagel placed a white parchment over it .  The very rough map was handed over to the guest .

“Be safe . ”  

 

2 .

“Be safe . ”

[Quest ‘Across the Terube Castle Wall’ has started . ]

When Bagel said those words, Hrykan heard the Quest Announcement .  Hyrkan’s expression was twitching right now .

‘Shit . ’

He was forcefully trying to hide his expression .  It seemed he wasn’t trying to hide a favorable expression .  It was quite evident that he was trying to hide a negative emotion .

He had a reason for it .

“This is the word I told those before you, who are willingly throw one’s body forward into danger for the peace of the world .  I will also say those same words to you .  Be safe, and I hope you bring hope like before . ”

Someone had arrived before him .

‘Some **** came here before me?’

If one wanted to go to the Frozen Kingdom, this place was the door everyone had to pass through .  When Hyrkan arrived at the Terube castle, he was greeted fondly by Bagel .  Hyrkan was the Hiban kingdom’s hero, and he was the Arbiter of Corruption .  Moreover, Hyrkan had defeated Argardo, who scored a deep wound on Bagel .  Hyrkan was Bagel’s savior and hero .

It was to be expected .  Bagel had been a bit prickly in the past, but it wasn’t like that at all .

On top of it all, Hyrkan felt uncomfortable when he saw what kind of expression Bagel had on when it looked at Hyrkan .  It was as if a young junior was looking at a cool senior with longing and expectation mixed within its gaze .  Moreover, the gaze was coming from a pretty boy, and Hyrkan had never received such a gaze from anyone before .  From Hyrkan’s perspective, it was beyond uncomfortable .  It was close to unsettling .

This was how the conversation had started, and Hyrkan’s inside started to feel a wrenching sensation as the conversation continued along .

When the conversation came to an end, Hyrkan’s inside had moved on from feeling a wrenching feeling .  His inside were in a knot .

‘I don’t know who, but that **** cost me one Title . ’

Someone had already met Bagel, and this someone was already headed towards the Frozen Kingdom .

This fact in itself didn’t put him in a good mood .  No one would welcome the appearance of a competitor .

‘The Noble Walk Title… .  It increases one’s Stamina by 50 points, yet I lost it to someone else .  Before I did my other tasks, I should have come here to get the Quest and Title beforehand .  Shit!’

From Hyrkan’s perspective, the preceding visitor had stolen a Title that was rightfully his .

‘In the end, I was only able to earn the Noble Explorer . ’

The Title ‘Noble Explorer’ was something one earned when one gained the incredibly important Exploration Quest .  It increased one’s Intelligence by 25 points .

However, Hyrkan felt wistful at losing the Title ‘Noble Steps . ’

It was a Title given to the first one to receive the Quest and the Noble Explorer Title .  It increased one’s Stamina by 50 Points .

He had lost a Title that would have raised his Stamina by 50 Points . This wasn’t something he could simply get over by feeling sorry for himself .

‘Which organization was it?’

His insides were hurting so much that it felt as if his insides were rotting .

However, his pain shrivelled away when a thought that made a chill run up his spine popped up inside his head .

‘Was it perhaps the Stormhunters?’

One couldn’t go across the Terube Castle just because one wanted to .

First, one needed a prior relationship with Bagel .  At the same time, one needed to have done a lot of jobs related to the Subjugation Association .  If one did a lot of work related to the Subjugation Association, it meant one probably had to catch a hideous amount of monsters .

At this point in the game, the only ones that had the qualifications to start the Frozen Kingdom Quest was the highest Ranked Users .

Moreover, the Stormhunters sufficiently met this criteria .  Before he returned to the past, the Frozen Kingdom had been monopolized by the Storm Hunters .  This was why Hyrkan was well informed about the Titles .  The Stormhunters monopolized the Frozen Kingdom, and they revealed the Titles, Skill Books and Items that were obtained there .

Basically, he didn’t discount the idea that maybe some Items were fated to be in the hands of certain individual .  He couldn’t discount the fact that this was meant to be .  At this point in the game, it was quite possible that the Stormhunters were progressing in the Frozen Kingdom Quest .

Moreover, this version of the Stormhunters guild was much stronger than the one that had attempted the Frozen Kingdom .

‘This is driving me nuts . ’

“Understood . ”

While he was deep within thoughts, Hyrkan was trying to wrap up the conversation, so he spoke the words that would basically put an end to their exchange .

Since he put an end to the conversation, he was about to get up .

“Are you planning on heading there immediately?”

“What?”

Bagel suddenly grabbed Hyrkan .  

“It will be a dangerous road .  I was thinking maybe you should make a little bit more preparation… .  I readied something that’ll help you in your exploration . ”

Hyrkan put on an awkward smile .

‘Bagel hadn’t been such a character before…  Things are turning a bit weird now that our Affinity is high . ’

At that moment, Hyrkan had no choice, but to sit back down .

‘Well, I did kill someone, who had tried to kill him . He wouldn’t send me into a deadly situation without giving me anything .  Absolutely . ’

Since it said it will give him something, he wasn’t going to turn it down .  Moreover, Hyrkan had spent much more than he had planned on his recent purchases .

‘Give me a Skill Book .  Please . ’

After he gained the [Chivalry] skill, he once again purchased No Name Skill Books to gain the [Leader] Skill .

However, the result was a complete loss .

When he thought about that, Hyrkan eventually frowned .  He had tossed money into the air .  Of course, he wouldn’t feel good about it .

“Wait a moment . ”

Of course, Bagel didn’t know Hyrkan’s true feelings .  It vacated its seat to get the present for Hyrkan .

When he was alone, Hyrkan once again agonized over his thoughts .

‘For reals .  Who was it?’

He kept worrying over it…  He was worried he had missed something important .

 

3 .

Natal had his Hologram Window in front of him, and he was looking at something .  He was looking at portraits .

“What are you looking at?”

Sohank discreetly appeared behind him .  He had shown enough of a presence as he approached Natal .  He didn’t want to surprise Natal . This was also why Natal was able to answer in a calm manner .

“This is the portraits of the Users that gained the Quest from Bagel after us . ”

Portrait .

In Warlord, one could film from all kinds of angle unlike in reality .  However, if the Users being filmed had turned off the facial recognition setting, there was no way one could film their faces .  

This was why this method was developed .  A User that was adept at drawing would draw a portrait after seeing the target with his own eyes .

In Warlord and any other virtual reality games, everything was made possible through cutting edge technology .  In such a world, the people who were good with their hands were more valuable .  It was ironic that they were more valuable in a virtual world .

Of course, Sohank and Natal didn’t care if it was ironic or not .

“So basically the one we are chasing may be in one of these portraits . ”

“Yes . ”

The appearance of the Users that had a face to face meeting with Bagel was saved .  This was to gather information on their competitors beforehand .

“Fortunately, there aren’t anyone famous here . ”

“If you say we are fortunate, we are fortunate . ”

If there had been a famous face amongst them,there was no downside in being vigilant against the famous User .  Still, even if they were unknown Users, there was a chance they might become a big competitor .  There was no reason why they shouldn’t gather information on everyone like this .  It might not matter to any other guild, but it was very important to the Hydra guild .

They knew the importance of data and information .  Their guild used both as weapons .

“This one looks pretty hopeless . ”

Of course, not everyone was determined to be a competitor .  Sometimes, one could discount a person just by looking at his face .  One shouldn’t be prejudiced when making a judgement in a game .  On the other hand, these habits were hard to break .

“Ah .  Doesn’t this guy look like a real pushover?”

However, Natal wasn’t also free from judging a book by its cover .

“I am hesitant to make judgements based on a person’s look, but even I think this guy isn’t one of our competitors . ”

“I feel the same way . Still, it could be possible, right?”

“That is what people who purchase lottery tickets think before they purchase it . ”

Natal smirked at Sohank’s words .

When he heard Natal’s laughter, Sohank discreetly changed his expression .  He spoke in a slightly calmer voice .

“This is going to be quite an annoying mission .   I’m just here as the muscle, but the rest of eight heads  have to assess all possibilities . ”

“Isn’t that our role?”

“Sometime I wonder if I cause harm to our guild . ”

After he spoke those words, a bitter smile appeared on his lips .   He was on break, but it seemed Sohand was unable to take a break .  It seemed he felt apologetic towards his comrades, who had to constantly use their intellect .

Natal immediately shot down that idea .

“That is the case at all .  We can’t do this through our heads only .  We were able to get to this point thanks to Sohank-nim . ”

“No . We are lacking with just me .  In truth, I already know how I measure up to others . If our Stats are the same, I might be able to go up against the Matador, but I know I will lose to the Storm Queen .  Then there is the Hahoe…”

The two of them were about to have a more frank discussion, but… .

– The monsters have appeared!  There are nine of them .  I don’t think it’ll be easy .

An urgent voice was heard through the voice talk .

Sohank didn’t finish his words before he started speaking out new directions .

“I’ll be there .  Before I get there, put the Tankers at the center, and defend!  Don’t attempt any rash attacks until I get there!”

– Yes!

Kwah-ahng!

Before the conversation could end, a terrifying roar rang out .  Sohank and Natal moved together .  They didn’t have to speak to coordinate with each other .  There was no carelessness or leisure in their movements .

This place was a location beyond the Terube castle walls .  Even the Hydra guild’s best troops couldn’t be careless .  This place was filled with level 200 monsters, and they were of a different quality from all the monsters they had faced before .