Translator: Dreamscribe

Helby walked slowly through the central plaza of Evanth. For some reason, she felt a bit drained.

The villagers of Evanth were murmuring things like, “Something feels creepy,” “I’ve been having nightmares lately,” and “Suddenly I’ve got chills….”

“Oh! Helby-nim.”

A Hero who frequently visited the Platinum Coin Shop greeted her.

“Don’t block my way. Get lost.”

“Here, take this. Hehe, I’ll leave right away.”

“You really bring me disgusting things. Have you no pride?”

Despite saying that, Helby accepted the bread offered by the Hero. A lowly insect it may have been, but offering tribute was enough to be granted mercy by a great being.

Whoosh! Ding!

A pink aura burst forth from Helby’s body. She had shown special mercy and raised the Hero’s affinity score.

“Helby-nim, it’s a flower crown I brought from the Elf Village.”

“Hmph, how much?”

“Ten Platinum Coins.”

“I don’t accept such cheap junk. Use it for kindling.”

The Hero quickly placed it on Helby’s head and ran off.

Whoosh! Ding!

Helby looked at the flower crown hanging between her horns, then shook her head a few times to settle it.

She didn’t go to the Platinum Coin Shop but instead sat down on a bench along the street, watching the Heroes make a variety of disgraceful displays.

What happened to those fools had nothing to do with her.

They were merely targets to be given trials.

“Stupid fools, what a sight.”

Munch munch!

The bread felt unusually dry today.

"You look very amusing."

The Magic Dragon Helby sat on the bench for a while, gazing at the peaceful streets of Evanth.

* * *

Gron Village.

A fairly large village located at the base of a mountain.

It was the closest village to stop by before reaching the Beastkin Village, Lunatie, and it also served as a relay base for transporting specialty goods from the Beastkin Village to Evanth.

There were many wild animals nearby, and also many monsters.

The atmosphere of the village was far freer and rougher than Evanth’s, giving it a wild and untamed feel. Many players liked that and decided to settle down there.

Several guilds also made their base there, borrowing empty houses through Contribution Points and using them as guild houses.

Disputes between guilds were quite frequent. However, thanks to the affinity skills of Hans, the Captain of the Gron Village Guard, most conflicts were mediated and resolved smoothly.

The Northern Grand Duke carried a massive wild boar on her back and headed for the village gate. While Evanth’s fortress wall construction was nearing its final phase, Gron Village was already completely surrounded by stone walls.

She reached the village at sunset.

The NPCs working in the fields outside the village smiled and waved when they saw her.

“…Heh.”

She gave them a slight nod and made her way to the village entrance. The Guard Captain, Hans, had come out in person. The Northern Grand Duke’s eyes wavered slightly.

“That’s an Ironhide Boar. Looks like a leader-class one, impressive, as expected.”

“It’s nothing.”

The Northern Grand Duke cleared her throat and dropped the boar in front of him.

“Take it.”

Hans’ eyes widened.

“A gift?”

“If that’s how you want to think of it, I won’t stop you.”

Whoosh! Ding!

A pink aura flowed from Hans’ body.

[Affinity with Hans, Captain of the Gron Village Guards, has increased.]

*Hans has become your “Trusted Companion”!

*Hans’ Affinity: 65% (Trusted Companion)

Yes!

The Northern Grand Duke clenched her fist after seeing the message.

She composed her expression and looked at Hans.

“Why are you out here?”

“I’ve been feeling something ominous. Probably nothing, though.”

The Northern Grand Duke’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

[Gron] Ominous Shadow

Rumors of an ominous shadow writhing have been heard.

Let’s investigate.

Difficulty: Normal

Time Limit: 2 days (1 minute remaining)

Reward: ???

It was a simple Quest with a short deadline.

The guilds were too busy competing with one another to resolve it. There were more important quests, so they were focusing on those first.

‘I can just accept it again later.’

The Northern Grand Duke thought so as she closed the quest window. Hans chuckled and patted her on the shoulder.

“Well, now that we have meat, how about a feast tonight?”

“Not a bad idea.”

“I’ll take care of the drinks. Hahaha!”

As Hans laughed heartily, a small smile crept onto her lips as well.

Then it happened.

[Quest Failed!]

[A Cursed Shadow Stirs.]

Hans’s expression hardened instantly. He was looking over the Northern Grand Duke’s shoulder.

Flinch!

She felt a chill down her spine.

The Northern Grand Duke turned her head to look behind.

From across the field, red glowing eyes stared back.

A figure emanating red light from its eyes was quietly gazing at Gron Village. Its purple-flaming armor clashed against itself, scattering thick sparks in every direction.

“U-undead…! It-it’s a Death Knight!”

As Hans shouted, the guards panicked and sprinted off.

Ding! DING DING DING DING!

The emergency bell rang loudly.

The NPCs working in the fields froze at the sound, then panicked and screamed as they fled toward the village.

Nearby players who spotted the Death Knight raised their weapons, but

“W-what is that?!”

“Urgh!”

Black thorny vines shot up from the ground, binding their bodies. As the Death Knight calmly walked past the restrained players, they crumbled into ash and disappeared.

Grkrkrk!

Skeletons rose up from the spot. Their number quickly exceeded twenty.

“Get inside! Hurry! Damn it…!”

Hans ran into the field and slung struggling NPCs over his shoulders. The Northern Grand Duke did the same. Together, they rushed toward the village gate.

The Death Knight appeared to move slowly, but had already passed through the field and was nearly upon them. When it pointed at the village, the skeletons clattered and charged forward.

“Lower the gate! Now! Cut the ropes!”

Hans shouted to the guards as he ran inside with the NPCs. The guard slashed at the rope to lower the gate.

Thud!

But the gate halted halfway down. A rusty sword thrown by the Death Knight had lodged into the descending gate and stopped it.

“Damn it!”

Hans dashed outside and grabbed the sword stuck in the gate with both hands, trying to wrench it free.

“Hans!”

The Northern Grand Duke sprinted toward him the moment she saw what was happening. The Death Knight had already reached Hans’s back, and skeletons were crawling under the partially open gate.

At that moment, Hans and the Northern Grand Duke locked eyes. It lasted only an instant, but felt like a long, still moment.

‘I’m sorry.’

Hans’s sorrowful smile seemed to say that.

“Uuaaah!”

Hans let out a cry and pulled the sword with all his might.

And then.

Krrrk! THUD!

As the sword came free, the gate slammed shut.

“Hans!!!”

*****

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