Chapter 10 : The Tyrant of Cofei

“Ah! Alicia… Sir!!!”

The moment Jaeho arrived back at the starting point of the Luxi Forest, Mei’s voice came through.

“What happened? It just said the Compendium was suddenly completed a moment ago!”

She had been waiting for Jaeho and had also received the notification that the Luxi Forest Compendium was complete.

“It was hidden.”

Jaeho roughly explained what he had seen, and Mei’s eyes sparkled brightly upon hearing it.

“Spirits.”

Spirit drafts, spirit legends, none of that mattered to her—her sole interest was clear.

Spirits!

After Elves, now spirits.

Her desire for pure life forms existing within this fantasy world flared up once again.

“Well then,”

Their business in the Luxi Forest was truly over.

Although the entire Flora Compendium wasn’t completely filled, Jaeho’s original goal was never the entire vegetation but flowers.

Since the Flower Compendium was 100% completed, there was no reason to stay any longer.

“Let’s leave!”

“?!!”

Mei was reluctant and hesitant.

When the Elves ignored her, she wanted to leave immediately, but that wasn’t the case now.

Today alone, the Elves had recognized her and greeted her first!

“No!”

She shook her head vigorously.

“I can’t be satisfied with just this much!”

If she followed Jaeho, there would surely be a bigger reward waiting!

“For example… a romantic relationship with an Elf male…”

“Pft…”

The sudden thought made Mei’s face flush with embarrassment.

“What is this person…?”

Jaeho looked at Mei pityingly as she seemed to be getting stranger by the day.

***

Most players in the New World had heard the name of the prestigious Prime Guild!

Its representative ranker, Master Jukjang, was with Usster at the outskirts of the Luxi Forest.

“Interesting.”

A small forest centered around a mountain so sparse it looked as if it had a hole in the sky.

Outside of it was only desert.

A place perfectly fitting the expression “Oasis in the desert.”

“Do you think that guy is still here?”

Jukjang nodded at Usster’s question.

“The scouting’s already been done. It’s certain he hasn’t left this place yet.”

Usster had also scouted the surroundings, but fortunately, the enemy’s situation wasn’t yet uncovered.

That’s why only Jukjang and Usster had come to the Luxi Forest without mobilizing the entire guild.

“He’s probably a professional PvP player. Places like Luxi Forest are perfect for handling things quietly. We need to be fully prepared…”

Tapping his red lance, a symbol of his identity, Jukjang stopped speaking at once when a massive silhouette appeared through the tree shadows.

“Clack—”

Instinctively, he drew his lance and shield, ready for battle.

No Elves were leaving the forest, so their opponent was definitely human.

Moreover, the humans in the Luxi Forest were all low-level players converted into slaves.

Was there really someone who could casually walk out in such a place?

“Prepare for combat.”

“Y-Yes!”

Usster, still unfamiliar with the cheap shield in his hands, nodded.

Whoosh—

The sound of the wind grew unusually loud.

Yet no wind blew.

That meant the tension of those who had seen their opponent was at its peak.

Step step—

Finally, their enemy revealed himself.

Thud—!

“?!!!”

An overwhelming presence!

An absolute force exuded from his entire body.

Jukjang’s face paled as a cold sweat dripped down his jaw.

“That… that guy is…!”

Usster also sent a trembling whisper to him.

Jukjang didn’t need to hear it to be sure.

“I think I finally understand why I could only say he looked fierce!”

This was a man with a beastly atmosphere that was impossible to explain.

Sss—

The beast’s eyes slowly scanned the two.

But soon, as if uninterested, he returned to his original path and continued walking.

Trailing behind was a newbie player.

“…Is that a bus?”

Why was such a man acting like a bus driver?

“What are you doing?! Why are you just watching?!”

Usster shouted at the dazed Jukjang.

“…He might be watching.”

After a long silence, Jukjang finally spoke.

“What?”

“Not an ordinary guy.”

The intuition from Jukjang’s ranker experience was something that couldn’t be quantified.

Currently, the feeling was sending fierce warnings.

“He’s probably one of the hidden dragons.”

“?!!!”

“There’s no need to start a bloody fight now by provoking him.”

“T-Then what about my gear?”

“You’ll get it back. But not now.”

They definitely had to prepare.

The best way was to resolve things peacefully, but…

“Judging by the atmosphere, that doesn’t seem to be an option at all.”

He immediately sent a guild chat alert.

About the hidden master they had to vigilantly monitor.

***

“Why are those people staring so seriously?”

Once the distance was sufficient, Mei spoke up.

“Yeah. Like they’re about to start a fight at any moment…”

Luckily, they only glared, and no conflict arose.

“But that man behind earlier… he looks familiar.”

“Hm? Who?”

“You know, the guy who fought Alicia… Sir last time?”

“Ah… yeah? I don’t really remember.”

Jaeho hadn’t clearly remembered the face, as he had punched it relentlessly.

“I’m not sure either.”

Mei hadn’t gotten a good look either since she had fled in fear.

“But if it was that guy, wouldn’t he have done something? Not just stand there watching like that.”

“Ah! That’s true. Then… I guess it’s not him.”

Relief spread over Mei’s face at last.

“Anyway, now comes the problem…”

Jaeho looked around the endless desert.

Although he had seen it during the cliff climb, seeing it from above felt much more overwhelming.

There was no clue where to go.

Of course, there was a destination.

While leaving the forest, the Spirit of Vitality had finally recalled something.

[ <Spirit of Life> recommends ‘Alicia’ as the exact match.]

The problem was that no matter how much they searched the internet, no information about a place called ‘Alicia’ could be found.

So the two decided to leave the Luxi Forest and the desert behind.

There were no people, only monsters in the area.

Though they were sufficiently prepared, the difficulty of this barren land was too high for novices to get out of.

“Even if we escape the forest with the Forest Gump plan, can we really get out of this desert?”

That was probably why they needed 100 healing items.

The two wandered the desert for several days.

Just as they wondered how much further before they would see traces of civilization.

“Alicia… Sir! Over there!”

Mei pointed, and Jaeho’s eyes widened.

“Oasis!!”

Hearing there was an oasis in the desert meant a nearby village was highly probable!

“Let’s go!”

“Got it!”

Excited by the thought they might finally see a two-legged life form, they hurried forward.

Also, it was about time to refill their water bottles…

Boom—

Jaeho reached the oasis first.

But along with the sandstorm, the oasis vanished in an instant, and a massive dragon stone appeared on the ground.

[Hidden dungeon entrance discovered.]

[Irresistible force is pulling you in.]

“Aaah?!”

“Alicia… Sir?!!”

Mei, who arrived late, screamed as she jumped up and down, but she couldn’t take a single step closer.

Anyone could tell it was a place you shouldn’t step foot into.

Jaeho struggled to escape but was swallowed by the sand due to the irresistible suction.

Krrr—

At the same time, the dragon stone stopped moving.

“Alicia… Sir!!!”

[Currently, the opposing room cannot receive messages.]

Left alone, Mei anxiously looked around.

“Should I have just gone in too…?”

She prayed no monsters would appear.

***

[Escape restricted.]

[Your fame has risen due to discovering the hidden dungeon.]

Thud—

“Gah!”

Jaeho fell onto the underground floor.

Fortunately, the dungeon entry handicap prevented him from taking fall damage.

“Where am I…?”

Jaeho dusted off his backside and looked around.

A giant hall decorated so magnificently it looked as if it were made of gold.

And Jaeho stood right in the center.

[The Cofei rebel forces are attacking.]

“Huh?!”

An announcement with no hint of mercy.

Thud-thud-thud—

From the only door connected to the hall, loud footsteps approached.

Waaaah—

The invasion quickly neared, and the huge door trembled.

Boom— Boom! Rampage!

After several impacts, the door finally broke, and countless soldiers appeared.

“Attack!”

“Bring down the tyrant Brejal!”

“Reclaim our homeland…”

They shouted loudly as if ready to rush at any moment, but Jaeho, standing calmly in the center of the hall, stopped them.

Goooo—

Even just standing still, his presence filled the hall and halted them.

“What… what is this?”

“Is he Brejal’s new subordinate…?”

The soldiers who had charged in with enthusiasm didn’t rush forward but showed cautious attitudes.

“Ku hahahaha! Foolish people! You still haven’t abandoned the delusion!”

At that moment, a voice thundered throughout the rule system.

“Herald Brejal!!!”

“You! This time, I will drag you down from your throne and end this curse!”

But the soldiers, seeming to recognize the voice, shouted furiously toward the air.

“Ku fufu, no matter how much you struggle, you cannot escape my eternal rule!”

[* Surprise Quest *]

[Brejal is the king of the ancient kingdom Cofei who desired eternal wealth and glory. His endless greed caused the kingdom’s ruin, plunging its people into suffering and despair.

Eventually, all the people rebelled against Brejal, but they were all bound by his curse and only repeated meaningless wars.

You are the first existence caught in this frozen time and must make a decision.]

[Choice 1: Help the tyrant Brejal suppress the rebel forces.]

[Reward: Job change to <Guardian of the Hourglass> .]

[Choice 2: Help the rebels suppress tyrant Brejal.]

[Reward: ???]

“Behold this strong warrior’s form! I shall share my power with him! With this immense strength, crush the scum!”

“Y-You are no ordinary stranger! Tyrant Brejal is the one who stole everything from this land! Lend us your strength!”

Both sides forced their choice upon Jaeho.

From the perspective of a seasoned gamer, either choice wasn’t a loss.

Choosing Brejal granted the unique and legendary class ‘Sandglass Guardian.’

Although Jaeho didn’t know it, any class with a suffix like that was at least rare.

Considering Jaeho’s current level of 31, this was a stroke of luck.

It was a guaranteed class if he helped Brejal.

The second option wasn’t bad either.

The reward labeled ‘???’ might seem like a gamble but actually meant a large-scale reward awaited.

Its difficulty would be higher than the other choice, however.

“I…”

Jaeho’s hesitation was brief.

Turning his back to the soldiers, he looked up toward the space where Brejal’s voice echoed.

“Let’s go take down Brejal!”

Jaeho’s choice was the second one.

He didn’t know much.

Tyrant or not, that wasn’t a consideration.

His only reason was simple.

“He didn’t like being called a ‘warrior’s form’.”

“The other side’s not very appealing either.”

Since they were trapped in the dungeon, they had to pick one.

“Foolish one! I shall show you my great power too!”

“Be careful, stranger! We’ll block your way! You are…”

Graaaah—!!!

Before the soldiers could finish, a gigantic golden golem burst from the ground and struck the soldiers with its mace.

“Argh!”

“Ugh?!”

The soldiers hit by the golem’s mace splattered blood, then exploded into sand.

“Don’t worry! We’re bodies that can’t die even if we want to!!! Aaaah!”

The one shouting this was also smashed away by the golden golem’s mace.

“Damn it, can’t just stand and watch people die…”

[Lv.230 Golden Sand Golem]

“Hmm, this won’t do.”

After checking the monster’s level, Jaeho turned without hesitation.

“But where should I go?”

Other than the entrance the soldiers charged in from, there was no other path in the hall.

The only remaining place was the hole in the floor where the golem had emerged.

“Stranger! Brejal is beyond the mirage on the opposite wall…!?”

Without hesitation, Jaeho jumped down.

“A-Ah, no, the s-soldiers…!!!”

The soldiers panicked.