Chapter 5 : The Bear and the Sacred Seed

There was no strict time limit set, but the failure conditions were unsettlingly severe.

If it was the rebirth of the Shinmok…”

Jaeho took out the seed he had obtained during his previous job change.

Then, when he reached out toward Elda, she shook her head and pushed it back.

“The Shinmok entrusted everything not to us, but to the Regent of Spirits. It is the Shinmok’s decision, and we do not have the right to intervene.”

Her attitude was notably passive.

But that only underscored how absolutely indispensable the Shinmok and the Regent of Spirits were to the Elves.

“However, that doesn’t mean we can just stand by and do nothing.”

Elda held out a necklace adorned with a pink four-leaf clover.

[<Pink Clover’s Proof Necklace>]

[Grade: Legendary]

[Usage Condition: None]

[This necklace was personally made by Elda, the Elder of Trian Village. As long as you wear it around your neck, the Elves will never oppose you.]

“Wherever you go on the continent, all the Elves will support Alicia.”

“Ah… thank you.”

Jaeho accepted it and carefully hung it around his neck.

A pink clover hanging from the neck of a human who radiates a death aura…

“You wear it well.”

She said this with a bright smile.

Words no one else could relate to.

***

“… You really pulled that off.”

“Unbelievable…”

“Now then, who were the ones betting on failure again?”

Just like in Trian Village, the New World observation team was also in a festive mood within the game.

It was only natural.

After all, the largest-scale event since the game’s launch had finally begun!

In fact, there were countless players worldwide keeping a close watch.

From so-called ranked players and massive guilds to the quiet dragons aiming for solo play.

Yet, the creator had sent no SSS-level event warnings to any of them.

Even those who thought they were leading the New World had no idea they were just a tiny part of this vast virtual world.

“No way they’d stay there for two whole months.”

“I didn’t even know a quest like that existed.”

Most players chose to level up rapidly as soon as the event started.

Though their goals differed, leveling was essential at the base of all their ambitions.

But Alicia—the player—was different.

She discovered the hidden quest in an obscure field no one else noticed and overcame its brutal difficulty through sheer effort and perseverance.

“There was some concern over whether it was a good idea for a warrior type to get the Regent of Spirits class…”

But she more than qualified.

Two months was enough time to reach at least level 50 if starting in the beginner-friendly starting region.

“Alright, everyone understands, right?”

At that moment, team leader Hyeonho addressed the excited group.

“Even though you’re itching for the biggest event ever, absolutely no external leaks, understood?”

“Of course!”

All WorldWide staff had to maintain strict confidentiality to protect the New World.

“Our role is merely as observers. Every decision rests with the President, so be cautious with your words!”

Though he said that, Hyeonho couldn’t hide his barely contained excitement.

“Let’s make this a huge success…”

***

The next day, Jaeho logged into the New World and met the Elves waiting for him.

He already knew why they were waiting like this.

“You made it.”

Elda stepped forward and handed him several items.

The representative Elf weapons: a bow and arrows, along with a roughly one-meter-long rapier.

“Although you might not be used to them, these will help you a little when you leave here.”

[ <Well made Elf Bow >acquired]

[ < Wooden Arrow x30 >acquired]

[ < Well made Elf Rapier > acquired]

His first weapons obtained after two months.

“Thank you. I’ll treasure them.”

Jaeho accepted the items with some hesitation.

“Then, I ask you to take care of things. Until the day we meet again in the village…”

“I’ll do my best as well.”

After bidding farewell to the Elves, Jaeho left Trian Village.

The first human to be officially sent off by the Elves of Luxi Forest!

[ < Idol of the Elves > title acquired.]

[The Elves hold you in high regard.]

Meanwhile, the Jerluck Association watching from afar was stunned.

A human receiving weapons from Elves!

“Hey! This is no time to slack off. Everyone, move!”

At the president’s command, members quietly relocated somewhere.

From his perspective, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that would never come again.

***

Staying longer in Trian Village wasn’t a bad idea.

But with such an important class quest on his hands, Jaeho couldn’t afford to stay idle.

The fate of the Elf tribe rested on his shoulders.

“Hmm?”

Jaeho stopped abruptly while walking through the forest.

“Come to think of it, what am I supposed to do about the flower shop now?”

He pondered his purpose.

Elda had said the Regent of Spirits could manage the flower shop.

But the quest said the opposite.

“‘Do you seriously think you can run a flower shop leisurely?!’ That’s what it’s saying.”

[Success Conditions: Fulfill the Promise with the Shinmok. ‘Rebirth of the Shinmok’ and ‘Establishment of the Elves’]

[Failure Conditions: ‘Destruction of the Shinmok’ or ‘Extinction of the Elves’]

Jaeho carefully reviewed the quest conditions once more.

“Do I have to revive Rijellan Forest?”

After some thought, he concluded, “There’s no need.”

Elda had already said Rijellan Forest had completely dried up, and the quest never specifically required ‘Rijellan Forest’s rebirth.’

Besides, the information he found the previous day was bleak.

A land of death.

A wasteland destroyed by desert war, now under Demonic Pact territory.

That was all the information available; even top-ranked players couldn’t enter the higher-level area that was Rijellan Forest.

“If I tried to revive that place, it would probably take a lifetime and still be impossible.”

If that was the case, his goal of running the flower shop had to be postponed indefinitely.

“Then the method is…”

Open a flower shop and plant the Shinmok seed in the garden!

Elda had said everything depended on Jaeho.

She, and the quest itself, never forcibly restricted the location, so that was Jaeho’s reasoning.

“Then I just need to set up the flower shop in a suitable place for the Shinmok seed to grow.”

But considering relationships with humans, he had to pick a spot that was as unpopulated as possible.

[ < Spirit of Vitality > says ‘I know a good place.’]

“Hmm?”

An intrusion from a long-forgotten presence.

“Come to think of it, the one who knows best about the Shinmok has to be this guy.”

[ < Spirit of Vitality > says ‘Ah, my memory isn’t that great…’]

“…Useless creature.”

[ < Spirit of Vitality > says ‘I haven’t been awake for long.’]

“All right, all right, I get it.”

Jaeho responded with a forced laugh and began moving again.

“First, let’s lay the groundwork for the future.”

For an ordinary player, that meant leveling up, but not for Jaeho.

[Roasted Bracken]

[Chang Flower]

[…….]

Immediately, he began his encyclopedia work!

Though he had left Trian Village, he had no intention of leaving Luxi Forest so soon.

Among all starting regions, this was the most beautiful place, home to the greatest diversity of plant life.

He planned to gather as much information as possible before departing.

***

Two hours had already passed as Jaeho wandered through the forest, immersed in cataloging plants.

Rustle—

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, a sound came from nearby bushes, and he turned his head.

Grrr—

“Hyuk?!!!”

What emerged from behind the bushes was a giant bear.

The first monster he had encountered since starting the game.

[Lv.25 Luxi Bear]

“Level 25?”

Jaeho’s current level was 8, thanks to his encyclopedia work and quest completions.

“It’s a considerable level difference, but maybe manageable.”

Moreover, the bear was only growling in front of him, not attacking.

[ < Spirit of Vitality > says ‘It seems scared of its wild instincts.’]

“Cut the crap.”

Still, it wasn’t exactly more terrifying than the bear.

Krrr… Kraaah!

The bear’s roar was urgent.

At the same time, it swung a massive front paw and charged toward Jaeho.

Crack—!

“?!!”

Fortunately, Jaeho nimbly dodged.

If he could dodge the Elf’s main weapon, he certainly could dodge a bear!

“Or wait, is the Luxi Bear stronger?”

Lost in such thoughts, he swung his rapier.

But the rapier was specialized for stabbing.

Though a well-crafted sword for the Elves, it was ill-suited to hacking through a bear’s thick fur and flesh to deal direct damage.

Besides, Jaeho couldn’t wield a sword properly and had no related skills, so he wasn’t getting any bonus damage.

[Attack power reduced due to poor swordsmanship.]

[Dealt 25 damage to <Luxi Bear>.]

Glare—

“Gah?!”

At the moment of surprise from the abnormal damage, the bear’s paw slashed again, hitting Jaeho’s chest.

[Received 98 damage from <Luxi Bear> .]

“Ah! So my attack power really was abnormal.”

Jaeho realized from that single hit that his attack power was off.

Crash—bang!

[A powerful strike caused the status effect <Fracture> .]

[Agility decreased by 10%.]

“Crazy!!”

It was a blessing this was a game.

If it had been a human body, he would have died instantly.

That said, considering that one hit had taken away one-third of his HP, the situation wasn’t exactly rosy.

“My weapon…”

The rapier had already flown somewhere into the bushes, and the damage was negligible.

Using the bow instead was obviously an option, but the skill gap compared to the rapier was clear.

“Might as well just fight barehanded.”

Considering physical attributes, Jaeho was no weaker than the bear! (?)

Besides, this wasn’t reality—it was a game!

Kuaah!

Jaeho rolled on the ground to dodge again and threw a powerful punch.

[Dealt 7 damage to <Luxi Bear>.]

A paltry amount of damage.

But it was much easier than swinging the ill-fitting sword.

A momentary move worthy of a failed martial artist!

[Dealt 10 damage to <Luxi Bear> .]

[Dealt 14 damage to <Luxi Bear> .]

Dodging nimbly and countering with punches!

The bear probably never expected a human to fight barehanded and was now stumbling, repeatedly throwing punches wildly.

[Fatigue increased by 15% due to sudden activity.]

“Tch.”

Jaeho realized that if the fight continued this way, he would be the first to tire.

“I need something to boost my damage at least a little… Ah!”

Suddenly, he remembered an important fact he had forgotten.

Back—

Putting some distance between them, Jaeho quickly opened the status window.

[Lv.8 Alicia]

[Regent of Spirits (Apprentice Rank)]

[Strength: 22]

[Intelligence: 9]

[Agility: 15]

[Stamina: 27]

[Mana: 12]

[Unused Skill Points: 35]

[Attack Power: 6~16]

The real issue was those ‘Unused Skill Points.’

Following Wansik’s early advice to save three points, Jaeho had not spent them yet.

“So players with some game experience really are different. They prepared for situations like this.”

Wansik had said to save points to invest later into the class, but…

“Put 20 points into strength, and the rest into agility…”

Increasing stamina would be nice, but after getting hit once, Jaeho judged it wouldn’t make much difference right now.

It was better to increase strength and agility to hit harder and move faster.

But after allocating the points and attacking a few times, his expression stiffened.

[Dealt 18 damage to <Luxi Bear> .]

[Dealt 23 damage to <Luxi Bear>.]

The damage had definitely increased compared to before.

But judging by the bear’s state, it didn’t look like it was taking significant damage.

The bear’s expression also seemed to grow increasingly confident.

No matter how ill-fitting the weapon, once it was gone, Jaeho felt the rapier was missed.

“Ah… if bare hands are the problem, maybe?!”

An idea suddenly struck him.

He drew out the item and struck the bear’s ribs with all his might.

Kraaaang?!

Until now, the bear had just shrugged off Jaeho’s punches, but for the first time, it showed a reaction.

[Dealt 105 damage to <Luxi Bear>.]

Now that felt like a real hit.

[ <Spirit of Vitality> screamed in shock.]

“This is it.”

Jaeho’s mouth curved into a wide smile.

[ <Spirit of Vitality> shouted ‘Don’t do such reckless things!!!’ in protest.]

Her outrage was understandable.

The item in Jaeho’s hand was none other than the < Seed of the Divine Tree>.