2.

    The users in Oren Village couldn’t contain their excitement.

    It was rare for an event to take place in the second village.

    And this one was a large-scale event!

    How could they not be excited?

    Just heading to the central plaza of the village allowed them to pick up quests.

    As usual, the plaza, which was already crowded with users, was bustling without any room to stand.

    "Ah! Don’t push!!"

    "Let’s stay in line!!"

    "I’m joining the event too!"

    A crowd of people eager to take part in the event and receive their quests.

    "Wow, look how many are gathering! So many people..."

    "I’m looking for Team 62!"

    "Hey, which team are you in?"

    "I’m with Team 39."

    The crowd, already having received their quests, looking for their respective teams.

    "Heh, it’s rare to see so many outsiders gather like this."

    "The village must be receiving a blessing!"

    "All thanks to the village chief’s grace, hehe."

    The NPCs, who were smiling as they imagined the potential profits from the crowd of users, were looking at the gathering in the central plaza.

    From a high mansion, a middle-aged man with a sinister gaze was watching the scene.

    He looked like a kind person at first glance, but when he opened his small, narrow eyes wide, it seemed like his malice was plastered beneath them.

    The middle-aged man touched his goat-like beard, a habit he had when thinking something sinister.@@@@

    "Heh heh, they really gathered well."

    The middle-aged man, with a sinister laugh, was looking down at the users from the mansion. He was the village chief of Oren Village, Zyle.

    Naturally, he was an NPC.

    Some users treated NPCs in Eternal World the same as NPCs in other games, but Zyle was far beyond those typical NPCs.

    He was a self-aware entity, moving and thinking on his own.

    There was a reason why the genius Park Won had named this new world “Eternal World”—it wasn’t for nothing.

    Zyle, too, was an exceptional AI, and he was very much like a human.

    He wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice others if it meant achieving his desires.

    He didn’t shy away from trampling others, though he hid his actions from the outside world.

    Had the users known, they would have been shocked at how much like a real person Zyle was.

    However, perhaps because he was careful to hide his dark intentions, no one among the users had yet discovered his ugly side.

    Even among the villagers, only a few knew of Zyle’s true nature.

    ‘If I gather these outsiders, I might be able to obtain the treasure hidden in the tomb of that evil Rocks.’

    Zyle had learned that the tomb of Baron Rocks was a massive labyrinth.

    It was filled with deadly traps and monsters, a perilous place to explore.

    As a mere village chief, it wouldn’t be easy to venture into such a place alone.

    Even if he knew the way through the labyrinth.

    But if these outsiders, like a swarm of bees, charged in?

    Then, there would come a moment when the labyrinth would be empty.

    Zyle was waiting for that moment, intending to seize the hidden treasure.

    While thinking this, Zyle looked around at the gathered users.

    ‘These outsiders will be the hunting dogs that will find my treasure.’

    Then, suddenly, Zyle noticed a user whose eyes shone with a turquoise light.

    "Mm?"

    The user was staring intently, as if they knew Zyle was here.

    The moment their eyes met, Zyle felt an inexplicable chill down his spine.

    Though the user had black hair and eyes, just a moment ago, there was a faint, eerie turquoise glow around them.

    Shuddering and stepping back, Zyle looked again—but the user had disappeared into the crowd.

    "What... What was that?"

    Had he imagined it? Was he just seeing things because he felt weak?

    No, perhaps...

    ‘Did someone come to steal my treasure?’

    Zyle briefly entertained that thought, but then shook his head in denial.

    It couldn’t be.

    The map leading to Rocks’ tomb was something he had discovered first.

    That was an undeniable fact.

    Therefore, Zyle was the only one who knew where the secret treasure of Rocks was hidden.

    ‘There’s no way they could know.’

    With that thought, Zyle calmed himself and reassured himself.

    3.

    Seong, whose eyes briefly met those of the user glowing with turquoise light, had one simple thought.

    "Really seems greedy."

    It was the typical face of a scammer, wasn''t it?

    The impression was that of someone with a lot of desire.

    Just like the ghosts had said.

    They had claimed that the former village chief was kind and wise.

    But his son was surprisingly different.

    Seong wasn’t particularly curious about Zyle’s schemes.

    Currently, Seong is in Team 99.If you don’t enter with your team member, you’ll be expelled from Rocks’ tomb.However, if your team member dies, you will not be expelled.

    Not just Kim Che-geon, but Joseon’s Greatest Swordsman Kim Che-geon?

    Who would’ve imagined someone would have that as a nickname?

    ‘This person really is crazy.’

    Seong briefly sent her an internal compliment and then asked,

    "Shall we go then?"

    "Hehehe, of course."

    Her strange way of speaking was off-putting, but still...

    ‘Well, based on her stride, she seems to be skilled.’

    It reminded him of the training he had received from Apik, both the former instructor and the hunter Apik, as well as the mercenary group’s memories.

    Her movements clearly indicated she had martial training.

    At least she seemed to have some real skill.

    ‘Is that a good thing?’

    That thought crossed his mind briefly, but he dismissed it and headed to the location marked as Rocks’ Tomb.

    Naturally, he formed a party.

    [You have formed a party with "Joseon’s Greatest Swordsman Kim Che-geon."]

    [The party window will be activated, excluding your class.]

    『Seong - Lv. 34 - (????)』

    『Joseon’s Greatest Swordsman Kim Che-geon - Lv. 36 - (????)』

    Just like Seong, Kim Che-geon had her class hidden.

    ‘What’s going on here?’

    4.

    The path to Rocks’ Tomb wasn’t exactly smooth.

    It was quite far, and the journey was treacherous.

    “Kiak! Kii-haak!”

    “Keruk! Kereuk!”

    Annoying goblins appeared.

    But Seong and Kim Che-geon strolled along leisurely, as if they were out for a walk, completely unfazed.

    Whenever a goblin showed up, they simply cut it down and moved on.

    During this, Seong had the chance to observe Kim Che-geon’s skills.

    With a posture that seemed about to collapse, Kim Che-geon pushed off with her toes and, in an instant, her explosive speed surged. Using that speed, she slid across the ground and drew her sword.

    A thin line appeared across the goblin’s neck.

    Then, with a quick roll, the goblin’s head fell off.

    Thud, it rolled away.

    [Party member has hunted and gained experience.]

    “Keruk!?”

    The other goblins, startled, tried to flee, but Seong casually walked forward and blocked their escape, swinging his sword.

    Seong, too, swung the sword of the apprentice warrior Hindel, cutting through the goblin’s body in one strike.

    [Critical Hit!]

    [The effect of "One Strike!" is activated!]

    [Experience gained.]

    With a single strike, the two goblins were taken down.

    Neither of them broke a sweat or even seemed winded.

    For them, this was just a warm-up.

    ‘She’s better than I thought.’

    The movement she showed didn’t even seem like a skill—she was simply using her stats to move.

    When comparing her to Manhoo, whom Seong had partied with before, it was clear that Kim Che-geon was far superior.

    Seong didn’t know much, but Manhoo was also a decent fighter.

    But compared to him, Kim Che-geon was overwhelmingly stronger.

    Kim Che-geon herself was equally impressed.

    ‘To strike like that, using only that kind of movement.’

    She was a skilled user who could fully utilize her stats.

    There was no reason she would claim to be the greatest swordsman of Joseon if she didn’t have the ability.

    She was confident in her skills.

    But when she saw Seong’s ability, she realized he wasn’t beneath her.

    But there was one thing that puzzled her.

    “Sorry to ask, but may I ask you something?”

    “Hmm? What is it?”

    “Are you not a swordsman?”

    It was a question about whether Seong’s class was swordsman.

    It was a rude question since she had hidden her class, but Seong answered without hesitation, as he didn’t mind.

    “No, I’m not a swordsman.”

    “...!!”

    Kim Che-geon’s eyes widened in surprise at his answer.

    She then lowered her large bamboo hat slightly, bowing her head in appreciation.

    “Thank you for answering.”

    “It was nothing.”

    Kim Che-geon couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

    ‘Not a swordsman, really?’

    She had thought he must be using his stats far better than her, and so she had asked. But to think he wasn’t a swordsman—she was stunned.

    The world was wide, and there were many experts.

    She had thought few could rival her in swordsmanship.

    Kim Che-geon was now even more determined to improve, burning with resolve as she looked at Seong.

    ‘Why is he looking at me like that?’

    Of course, Seong, noticing Kim Che-geon’s gaze, felt a bit uneasy.

    But with a small commotion, they soon arrived at the enormous cave entrance, filled with users.

    [Event Dungeon - Rocks'' Tomb]

    Warning: Upon entry, all participants will start at different locations.