The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Chapter 6



Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Seol moved toward the guardpost which was located in the middle of the mountain. It was also the location where the Rock Molar Tribe first shows up.

“Hmm...”

The guardpost was burned to the ground.

The burn mark-ridden remains of the guardpost made it clear that there was a fire. There were also troll corpses scattered about, a special point to note was that there was a fluttering green flag near the guardpost.

‘A flag... So it’s their harvest season.’

The Rock Molar Tribe brought out a green flag during special periods. It was when they were preparing the harvest to offer for the Earth Dragon Tancreed’s blessing.

However, that wasn’t important right now. The important thing was locating his party member’s locations. Seol, after confirming that there was nothing around him, went deeper into the mountain.

Even though the situation turned out like this, he had to double-check to be sure.

And finally, he was able to find his party members.

“...They’re all dead.”

There were four posts.

And all of them were sewn down to it.

Seol was confident that they were his party members because their clothes looked no different from his own.

- What do you say in a situation like this again?

- That it’s an incomplete party? Probably...

- It’s fucked... Why did this have to happen to him :/

‘Incomplete party’.

It’s a situation that occurs from time to time when not enough people fill up the party.

In a situation where you join an ongoing Adventure, you typically say ‘I joined an incomplete party’.

‘So these people all just finished the 1st Adventure after clearing the 1st Gate, huh...’

It seems that they couldn’t wait for Seol, who went all the way to the final gate, and proceeded first.

And the result of that... was four corpses.

Seol thought it was a shame while looking at the four posts.

‘The standard strategy isn’t going to work anymore like this...’

Where Seol was right now was practically the lowest floor of the Rock Molar Tribe’s area. If his party members died here, it also meant that they weren’t able to kill any of the leaders.

It meant that Seol had to kill a boss that required a party to kill, alone.

But strangely enough, Seol’s eyes were still determined. He hadn’t given up yet.

Rather, they looked more excited.

‘...Then I guess I have to use that method.’

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

First, Seol organized the situation to correctly identify the problem.

‘Based on the color of their clothing, it was 1 priest, 2 vanguards, and 1 archer. It was a good party...’

If Seol had led them they would’ve easily been able to clear Adventure 2. But now they were nothing more than corpses.

They died with their eyes still open... they must have had many regrets.

‘There’s no point crying over spilled milk though... I don’t think I’ll be able to just charge into the situation, I have to use another method.’

Seol already had many strategies to take down the five brothers.

But just because he had strategies didn’t mean he had an optimal one to overcome this horrific situation.

Seol looked at the options he had in front of him.

[[You have arrived at Rock Molar Village. What do you do?]

1. Slowly Attack the Rock Molar Tribe’s Area, Starting from the Lowest Floor.

2. Wait for Night.

3. Scout the Surroundings to Gather Information.

4. ...]

- Fuck this team! Fuck this team? I just got fucked by my team...

- I am alone... I really, really am alone...

- This situation’s awful... It’s more than just fucked...

- Is there a way though?

- I doubt it... The guidebook says that there’s a bunch of things because it’s a Party Adventure but there’s no way he would know when I can’t even tell it in one look...

Option 1 was dangerous even if Seol brought out Karuna, Option 2 allowed you to ambush at night but since he was alone, it would just be a waste of time.

The optimal choice here was Option 3. This allowed him to choose more options after this.

When took his first step, determined to scout out the area, more options came up.

[[Where will you Scout?]

1. Scout the Inside of the Rock Molar Village.

2. Scout the Outskirts of Pointy Mountains.]

Seol had only about a day left.

Most people would find it hard to choose the choice that would move them away from their objective.

Because of that, most people generally scouted for information inside the village.

But Seol was different.

He not only knew about the settings for the Adventure, he also knew about the hidden options that existed in it.

And because he wasn’t scouting randomly but moving toward an objective, he could bring out the results that he wanted.

‘I’ll go back.’

Seol, after deciding on that option, walked away from Rock Molar Village.

- He gave up. GGs.

- How is he supposed to even clear it...

- At least he’ll live for one more day...

The Adventures in The World of Eternity aren’t simple, linear adventures.

Based on the way you progressed through your Adventure, there were a wide variety of results. It even affected your future Adventures as well.

And oftentimes what’s recorded into ‘history’ are the game pieces who set the greatest achievements.

The worlds that those game pieces have created become shared with everyone who plays The World of Eternity.

3. [Required: Antidote 1] Ask if He Was Poisoned.

4. [Required: Medicine 1] Tell Him You Want to Examine It.

5. ......]

Seol was a competitor.

At least, he was when he was in The World of Eternity.

Step, step.

“...What are you doing?”

“I wanted to talk more with you.”

“If you approach me... you could get infected.”

“But I won’t be able to hear you if I don’t get closer.”

“...”

The troll looked into Seol’s eyes. He then sighed and entered his mud hut.

[The exiled has lowered his guard.]

“...I won’t be taking any responsibility if something happens.”

“May I come in?”

“...If you want to hear my story, you may.”

Seol chuckled and followed the troll into the mud hut.

The first thing that Seol noticed inside of the hut was the smell of various medicinal ingredients as well as books on display.

“...Books?”

“Why? Is it that weird?”

What else in the world would be weirder than a troll that reads?

Seol held his tongue and said, “Not really.”

“...”

The exiled scrunched down and lit a fire.

Fsss...

“Would you like some tea? It might not taste that good but since it’s made of medicinal herbs it will at least be good for you.”

“I wanted to hear more about what you talked about earlier truthfully.”

“What would you like to know?”

“Anything.”

“...”

The exiled replied with silence. He then slowly gave an awkward laugh like he had just resolved to do something.

“Th-then would it be alright if I talk a bit about myself?”

“That’s exactly what I wanted.”

“Then...”

He then started to talk about his own story.

It was nothing too special.

There was an endemic that has existed in the Pointy Mountains since the past and he was infected by it. The endemic resurged every other generation and many trolls lose their life to that infectious disease.

The past tribe members of the Rock Molar Tribe were troubled by it and made a rule to combat it even though it was a poor solution.

“And it was exiling them, right?”

“Yes... you are correct.”

“Then were you exil—”

“No, I wasn’t exiled. It was my mother that was.”

“...”

The troll then continued telling his story.

His mother was pregnant with him when she was exiled and even though she desperately begged to at least take her son in, they rejected her request.

The troll then said that those past tribe members might’ve been in the right.

“Since I... was born infected like this...”

“...”

“My mother resented the tribe. She thought... She thought that everything had to disappear.”

“What do you mean by everything?”

“The tribe, the disease, even me...”

It was a sad story, but the troll spoke calmly.

“Is that disease incurable?” asked Seol.

“That’s the reason I’ve been digging into these books. I used shamanic magic to learn the human’s language and then read a lot of books with a variety of information in them to research the endemic.”

“...And?”

“I was almost successful, but... there was one ingredient I was unable to get.”

Seol was close to the information that he wanted.

“It’s called a ‘Corpse Finger Mushroom’... It definitely exists on this mountain, but...”

“You weren’t able to find it, huh?”

“I wasn’t. The only thing the logs ever said was that it was found on the cliffside... And because this disease made my bones weaker, it was impossible for me to go search there myself.”

“What about asking other tro— ah...”

“Did you forget? I have been alone ever since I was born. Alright, I’ll end my story here. I feel like I whined so much because you’re the first guest I’ve ever had... Anyway, if you want anything else, I—”

“That mushroom...”

“...Huh?”

“Would it be alright if I went to go find it?”

“What...? Why...?”

Seol gave a slight smile.

Seol knew about the Rock Molar Tribe’s backstory, the troll’s backstory, and the leaders’ backstory along with the problems behind it.

Seol could definitely help this troll.

“Just think of it as a small transaction.”

“If... if you really are able to find that mushroom for me, I will help you with whatever you want.”

[Hidden Adventure ‘The Exiled’ is now active.]


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