Eleanor’s reaction had been only natural.
The party’s abilities had already far surpassed the standards of the level 3 field.
At this rate, they would be able to establish themselves safely even in the level 4 field.
“But I heard that starting from the level 4 field… a lot of preparation is required.”
“You’re right. It’s often said that to be considered a veteran in Blackout, you have to survive at least one season in the level 4 field.”
Even within the game, once someone passed the fourth and reached the fifth layer, they were generally seen as having shed their newbie image.
That was how different the scale of the level 4 field was compared to all the levels they had gone through so far.
“But staying in the level 3 field just because of that would be a waste of time. To put it bluntly, have you guys ever really struggled against the monsters suited to your rank?”
“Hmm…”
At that question, Aiden shook his head.
They had faced crises in the Silent City field due to the Old Crone and the Butcher Monk, but the undead there hadn’t been particularly threatening.
The most troublesome part had just been the initial physiological aversion.
“At our current level, staying in the level 3 field would only mean standing still. Of course, that doesn’t mean we should rush headfirst into the level 4 field. We have to be fully prepared before we go.”
***
From the level 4 field onward, a great deal of preparation was truly necessary.
One part of that was having capable companions, and the other was supplies.
Starting from the level 4 field, the size of the field expands drastically.
Even completing a single mission could take several months.
Because of that, Jun and his party decided to stop by a large checkpoint on the level 3 field to prepare the necessary supplies.
“Oh, it’s the Gillen Merchant Guild!”
“Just like the letter said, they’ve been expanding their branch.”
Although it was a bit smaller compared to the one at the Black Forest Fortress, it was still good news.
The more branches there were, the greater the guild’s influence would be.
There, Jun withdrew part of the money he had deposited under his name at the Merchant Guild and began gathering what the party needed.
Thanks to the money Jun had previously entrusted to Chloe for investment having returned several times over, they had a comfortable financial cushion.
“Welcome to the Bollesca branch!”
When Jun handed over one of the letters he had received from Chloe, the branch manager greeted the party with a beaming smile.
“Is there anything you need? Please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I’d like to have our melee weapons and leather armor taken care of.”
“You’ve come to the right place. I’ll guide you to Bollesca’s finest craftsmen.”
And so, Aiden’s Meteorite Sword and the Destroyer’s leather armor, both of which needed maintenance, were entrusted to the craftsmen, along with Maya’s Acanthus Fangs.
Fortunately, the souls of the ancestors had kept the evil spirit residing in the swords firmly in check, so there was no risk of the craftsmen going mad.
They also stocked up on a variety of potions.
“As expected of you, Captain. So thorough.”
Eleanor spoke as she watched Jun even packing recovery potions.
No matter how skilled a healer might be, recovery potions were a necessity.
There could always be situations where divine power became unusable.
They also prepared enough food to last for several months, along with a wide range of herbs, and just like that, a week flew by in the blink of an eye.
“Phew…”
“What’s wrong? Nervous?”
In front of the stairs leading to the level 4 field.
As Aiden let out a soft breath, Jun asked him.
“I was a little nervous at first, but…”
Aiden who had been giving his gear a once-over again had that familiar sparkle in his eyes.
“I’m actually starting to feel a little excited.”
“That’s a good mindset to have.”
It was one of Aiden’s greatest strengths.
He was easily startled but also adapted with surprising ease.
It was a talent in and of itself.
“Well then, let’s get going. To level 4 field.”
They had finished their preparations thoroughly.
***
With the now-familiar strange sensation of the tiered transition, the group found themselves looking out over the landscape of the level 4 field.
A vast, barren plain stretched out before them.
Here and there, rocky hills rose from the ground. This was the field known as “The Warfield of Ortacus”.
“Come to think of it, this mission was described as an exploration, right? What exactly are we doing?”
As Eleanor, who was just beginning her journey as a mercenary, asked the question, Jun looked down at the hand equipped with the Predator and replied.
“We’re exploring a certain temple located within the Warfield of Ortacus. The clients are coming along as well.”
“How many people?”
“Four from the client’s side and twenty-one from a group they hired separately. Including us, that makes twenty-nine participants in total.”
“Twenty-nine?”
It was an unusually high number for an exploration mission.
Unlike the lower levels, which had relatively higher population counts, missions starting from level 4 came with significantly increased commission fees.
Just as Eleanor was about to ask why that was, someone called out to them from behind.
“Oho! You’ve arrived!”
A broad-shouldered middle-aged man approached, greeting Jun and the others warmly.
“You’re the client, correct?”
“That’s right! Here, take a look at this.”
He pointed to the brooch on his chest. It bore the same insignia as the one they had seen exchanged in their letters.
“That confirms it. I’m Jun, leader of the White Whale Mercenary Group.”
“Of course I know! You’re the very hero who uncovered the hidden secret during the Black Forest raid and still managed to bring dozens of people back alive!”
The man, with calloused hands, extended one toward Jun with a beaming smile.
“I’ve always wanted to work with you someday!”
Jun smiled as he shook the offered hand.
It was a thoroughly capitalist smile.
“It’s an honor to meet a scholar from the esteemed Issus Society.”
“Hahahaha! I’m glad to see the feeling’s mutual!”
“Th-The Issus Society…?”
At that, Aiden recognized the name and looked pleasantly surprised.
“And you are?”
“Oh, I’m Aiden, a member of the mercenary group.”
“Aiden! I’ve heard of you as well. Weren’t you the one who destroyed the essence of the Forest Guardian in the Black Forest?”
Then the middle-aged man smacked his forehead.
“Goodness, I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Schneider, a scholar from the Issus Society.”
“Schneider! Y-You wouldn’t happen to be the author of Into the Lost Civilization, would you…?”
When Aiden exclaimed in astonishment, Schneider’s expression brightened even more as he took Aiden’s hand.
“A reader of mine! Haha! What a pleasure!”
“I-I really enjoyed your book! When the hidden story of the ‘Rotten Shepherd’ in level 3 was revealed, I was honestly…!”
It seemed the man truly was the author of the book Aiden had read in the past.
“To think, you’re that scholar from the Issus Society!”
For Aiden, who had been trapped in a cage called the Imperial Family, books were his only friend and his only window into a world he had never known.
Now, feeling as though he had become a character in one of those very books, Aiden couldn’t hide the overwhelming emotion stirring inside him.
“To think I’d meet such a passionate fan of mine. I’m honestly a bit embarrassed. Hahaha!”
Schneider laughed with his broad shoulders shaking.
For someone with the profession of a scholar, he had an impressively large build. The scars scattered across his body and his thick arm muscles made it clear that he wasn’t just someone who sat around reading books all day.
“Uh, Professor Schneider…”
“Oh! That’s right. I completely forgot to introduce everyone!”
Schneider gestured to the assistants standing just behind him.
There were three assistants in total.
Besides them, Jun also introduced each member of his mercenary team one by one.
By the time the loud and lively introductions had come to an end—
Schneider had latched onto Aiden, his self-proclaimed fan, and the two were deep in conversation, exchanging stories of all kinds.
Meanwhile, behind them, Eleanor looked at Jun with a cold, unimpressed expression.
“My very first mission is a request from the Issus Society?”
“Can’t you hear it already? The sound of you building powerful connections?”
“No, all I can smell is the stench of death.”
“What are you talking about?”
Jun pushed back, but in truth, he didn’t completely disagree with how Eleanor felt.
“The Issus Society, of all people?”
The Issus Society.
Back in his days as Lee Jung-jun, they had been famous even within the game.
Their nickname? The Hidden Piece Factory.
They’d earned it by digging into every secret hidden throughout Blackout.
With a history spanning hundreds of years, they had only one goal—
To uncover all the secrets buried within Blackout.
And because of that, they often dragged countless problems along with them.
Even among players, working with them was considered all or nothing.
Either the entire party would be wiped out, or they’d walk away with an incredible treasure.
Every once in a while, when they managed to hit it moderately big, the name value of the Issus Society brought with it a significant boost in reputation.
This is the kind of reputation I want right now. Not the kind tied to killing nobles or uncovering traces of treason.
Jun calmly explained those things to Eleanor.
Above all else, Jun had accumulated a considerable amount of knowledge about the Warfield of Ortacus.
It was because the main stage of the warrior character he had once raised had been right here, the Warfield of Ortacus.
“Damn it. No matter what this is, it’s one hell of a welcome party.”
Eleanor muttered.
But… sorry, Eleanor. The real highlight of this mission hasn’t even started yet.
From behind, they heard Schneider’s voice.
“You’d better look forward to it! The ones joining us on this mission are rough and tough as they come!”
***
The monsters that appeared most often on the Warfield of Ortacus were orcs.
Born with deep green skin, they were raised as warriors from the moment they came into the world. They were natural-born fighters.
Those very orcs were in the middle of a fierce battle.
“Orkutas Basada!”
Veins thick as worms bulged as if about to burst, while the orc swung its worn glaive with a tight grip.
Facing off against the orc were three men.
Perhaps due to the harsh lives they’d led, each one radiated an unmistakable, intense presence.
“What the hell did you just say, you pig bastard?!”
“Go around the back and kill it!”
The three moved as if the word “cooperation” meant nothing to them, yet they were effectively killing the orcs one after another.
The orc, quickly surrounded by the three men, soon fell to the ground, lying motionless on the field.
“Hey, the fu*k did you just say?”
“What?”
“Go around the back? Who the hell do you think you are, barking orders like that, you son of a bit*h?”
“Son of a bit*h? Barking orders? Has this crazy bastard completely lost it?”
“Look at the idiots fighting each other again. Kukuku.”
“Idiots? That’s it. I think I’ll make some human jerky today and take it with me.”
“Human jerky? Hey! That sounds tasty. Honestly, your chubby little butt looked delicious already.”
The three men, who just moments ago had been unleashing deadly killing intent toward the orc, now pointed their swords at each other.
Meanwhile, battle continued to rage all around them.
Surrounding them were others exuding the same ominous, dangerous aura.
What they all had in common was the gray uniform that marked them as prisoners. And the heavy iron collars hanging around their necks.
“Shut up and fight.”
Just then, a man behind them gave a command in a flat, expressionless voice, and the three who had been aiming their swords at one another clicked their tongues in irritation.
Soon, they turned their attention back to the battlefield where the fighting was still underway.
……And then.
Eleanor who had been silently watching the scene unfold from behind now stared at Jun with an even colder expression.
Jun subtly turned his head to avoid meeting her gaze.
“Wow, they’re really putting on one hell of an initiation ceremony.”
The Unexplored Lands Development Unit
A group formed by the imperial family made up entirely of vicious criminals.
And these were the companions Jun and others would be working with on this mission.
Leave a Reply