IN GAMAND
NO. 16
W. Seolha
'Protect the source.'
From what? I stared at the landscape before me with a puzzled expression. Beyond the wall, it seemed as if a tranquil countryside had been ripped from the ground. In short, there was nothing threatening the source or anything. I stepped past the crumbling rubble and into the beautiful landscape. As I stepped beyond the boundary where the wall had once existed, the fresh scent of grass wafted into my nostrils.
The moment I crossed the border, my vision dizzied. A sudden wave of dizziness struck me, causing me to sway slightly. I heard Jeon Jungkook shout, "Lia!" in surprise, but I quickly regained my composure and waved to him, signaling that I was okay. "It's okay," I said briefly. The slight dizziness completely vanished the moment I placed both feet on the dirt floor. The grass blooming near the lake was lush. The sparsely populated trees nearby rustled their leaves in the cool breeze. The flowers blooming in the grass here and there were also beautiful. The beautiful scenery, like something out of a fairy tale, captivated my eyes. It was the kind of scenery I would never see deep in a cave.
“Oh, the light….”
The core of the monster I held in my hand collapsed against the wall, and the moment I stepped inside, it lost its glow. It had reverted to a normal monster core, like the one I'd seen during the day. Was my role as a guide over? This confirmed it. The circular sphere floating in the air, glowing with a strange light, in the center of the lake, was the source of the quest.
"Is that the source?"
"I think so," Jeon Jungkook said, pointing to a sphere in the air with the tip of his sword. "I think so," I said, showing the nucleus of the monster that had lost its light. "The light has disappeared. I guess this is our destination," I said, and Jeon Jungkook nodded.
[Main Quest: Search]
Required Quest
[Main Quest: Cooperation]has been completed.
You have not met the entry requirements for the linked quest.
Related quests are automatically granted… .
Crea Empire: Begin searching the northern region.
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[Condition 1]Find the 'medium'. (Complete)
[Condition 2]Find the 'source'. (Complete)
[Condition 3]'Source'Protect yourself.
"Uh, what is it?" I muttered softly as the text blurred for a moment. "Why?" Kim Taehyung turned his head toward me with a question. Did I see something wrong? It was only for a moment, but the words "[Condition 3], Protect" in the quest window had clearly faded. It seemed like there was noise in the text. However, as soon as I closed my eyes and opened them again,
[Condition 3] Protect the ‘source’.
There was no trace of it anywhere. Was it a mistake? I gave Kim Taehyung a small nod. He quickly turned his head away, assuming it was nothing serious.
I followed Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung as they strode briskly toward the lake. The earth beneath my feet felt incredibly soft. I glanced at the wildflowers blooming here and there. They were flowers I'd never seen before.
"What do you want me to protect you from?"
Kim Taehyung, who had approached the lakeshore, spoke gruffly. He still held a pair of daggers in his hands, but realizing there was no danger nearby, he simply twirled them, waving them around. It was a peaceful scene, one that didn't even seem to require any tension.
"Still, stay alert. The quest probably didn't use the word "protect" for nothing."
"Not at all. The only sounds around here are coming from that source. There are no monsters or anything."
"How do you know that?"
"You seem to be forgetting, but I'm an assassin. I can't help but be sensitive to sounds."
“You were sleeping so well just now, despite all that.”
“Hey, hey, that’s…!”
Hearing Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook bickering, I edged closer to the lake. Was there something, like a demonic beast, lurking in the water? My worries were unfounded. The water, so clear I could see the bottom, was so clear that all I could see was my own utterly messed-up reflection. "Wow, look at my face. Isn't that a bit much?" I thought, rubbing the unidentified soot off my cheek with my hand. I also felt a strange, musty smell.
"Don't get too close, you never know what might pop out."
"Hey! Did you ignore what I said? I said there's nothing!"
"That's what happens when you think so complacently."
“…How long are you two going to fight?”
I showed my tired expression as their conversation gradually devolved into a childish bickering. Only then did they finally quiet down, but I couldn't hide the sullen expression on Kim Taehyung's face and the furrowed brow on Jeon Jungkook's. "Ugh," Jeon Jungkook approached me as I sighed.
“…surely, the water is too clear for something to be hiding there,”
“How many times have I told you so…!”
"But don't touch the water or anything. The water is so clean, and yet I don't see a single fish."
"What are you talking about? If that's not a fish swimming around there, what is it?"
"What are you talking about? I don't even see anything that looks like a fish."
At Kim Taehyung's words, I too peered intently into the lake, but, just as Jeon Jungkook had said, I couldn't see anything resembling a fish. Fish? I tilted my head in puzzlement, carefully following Kim Taehyung's finger as he said, "There, there!" But all I could see were pebbles in the still-clear water.
"I can only see seaweed."
"…seaweeds?"
I couldn't help but question Jeon Jungkook's words. Where was the seaweed? There were no fish in the lake, and certainly no seaweed. Just colorful pebbles littering the bottom. What was it? Come to think of it, something had been off since earlier. It was subtle enough that each person's view seemed slightly different.
Just in case, I pointed to a random tree near the lake and asked, "What tree is that?" My finger pointed to a white birch. And the answer I heard was,
"Birch."
"Willow tree."
Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung squeaked and looked at each other, as if it was odd that they were giving such different answers. "Then what color do those flowers look like?" I asked, pointing to the white flowers blooming by the lake. Sure enough, the answers were different. Yellow and white. Jeon Jungkook's brow furrowed, and Kim Taehyung's face contorted. "No way," Kim Taehyung said, opening his mouth.
“Is it that the scenery we see is slightly different from each other?”
A subtly distorted landscape was visible to each other. The overall landscape was perfectly acceptable as a "serene lakeside view," but the minute details that made up the landscape were different. These differences were both subtle and immense.
"I guess it's an illusion."
"…vision?"
“Otherwise, the scenery the three of us see wouldn’t be subtly different.”
“Is there such a thing as magic?”
I shrugged at Kim Taehyung's shocked words. Anyway, now that I realized this tranquil scene was fake, I knew danger could strike at any moment. I pulled a revolver from the holster hanging on my waist. I'd kept it there because Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung had insisted I not overexert myself with my injured shoulder, but now seemed like the time to be concerned. Jeon Jungkook, too, had his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it at any moment. Kim Taehyung, too, was holding a dagger, needless to say.
What should we do now? The quest "Protect the Source" weighed heavily on our minds as we tried to escape the illusion and head outside. But waiting for something that might appear at any moment felt like a waste of time. It was even more so because we couldn't even fathom the purpose for which this illusion had been cast upon us. Was it an illusion designed to lull us into complacency? The overly peaceful scenery made it seem that way. Jeon Jungkook, too, seemed unable to come up with a solution to this situation, simply biting his lip and scanning his surroundings. The only one who didn't look lost was Kim Taehyung.
"No way," Kim Taehyung muttered. Jeon Jungkook and I stared blankly at him, his movements frantic as if searching for something. Finally, I saw what Kim Taehyung pulled out of his inventory, and my mouth fell open.
"Skill stone?!"
"It's only a one-time use, but yes, it came from a random box. I really didn't expect it to be useful, but I never thought I'd have a chance."
"What skill is it?"
At my question, Kim Taehyung raised the corners of his mouth and smiled. "Perm (破魔)" I couldn't stop the exclamation that flowed out, "Crazy."
"Isn't this the skill that's needed in this situation?"
Kim Taehyung pulled me and Jeon Jungkook closer, saying, "Just in case, hold on to me." At those words, I quickly grabbed the hem of my dress. Kim Taehyung, seeing that Jeon Jungkook had also grabbed my shoulder, used his skill.
[alarm]
Player: Bante La Lumian's Skills
[Phantom]
is activated.
With a crunch, the skill stone Kim Taehyung was holding shattered into pieces. A bright blue light flowed out from the shattered skill stone. Kim Taehyung's eyes were shining bright blue. Break the evil. It was the moment when illusions were shattered.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from the sight of everything collapsing. A crack appeared in the peaceful lakeside landscape. It began as a small crack, gradually spreading wider and wider, eventually completely destroying the space. The once bright, sunny landscape transformed into a gloomy cavern. The large, lush trees became pitch-black stone pillars supporting the cavern. The fields, once fragrant with the scent of grass, became damp stone floors. The crystal-clear lakeside water...
"…what's this."
“…If I had put my hand in, I would have been in danger.”
A landscape filled with pitch-black, thick liquid. A pungent, fishy smell assaulted my nostrils. With a final gasp, I took a step back from the foul lakeside.
“…! Wait a minute, the quest content has changed.”
"what?"
At Jeon Jungkook's words, I quickly opened the quest window. After checking the quest's contents, I couldn't help but gasp.
[Main Quest: Search]
Required Quest
[Main Quest: Cooperation]has been completed.
You have not met the entry requirements for the linked quest.
Related quests are automatically granted… .
Crea Empire: Begin searching the northern region.
·
·
·
[Condition 1]Find the 'medium'. (Complete)
[Condition 2]Find the 'source'. (Complete)
[Condition 3]Destroy the 'source'.
What I saw wasn't an illusion. It was only for a moment, but the handwriting had clearly softened. The words that had clearly said, "Protect," had been replaced with a firm, "Destroy" tone. Words with a completely different meaning.
IN GAME
Kim Taehyung looked at the dark, thick liquid and said, "How can we cross this?" I agreed with his words and gazed at the black lake. A single sphere floated in the center of the lake. "The source." After realizing the quest's true purpose wasn't protection, but destruction, the first problem I faced was this: How do I destroy that source?
Since my revolver was the only long-range weapon we had, it was only natural that my first thought was to destroy the sphere with a gun. However, I soon discovered it was futile, as every bullet I fired missed the sphere. It wasn't that I had misaimed. The bullets were curved, as if someone had twisted their trajectory, suggesting that something was protecting the source, not aiming.
If destroying it from afar wasn't possible, let's go across and touch it ourselves. It was a method we could have easily considered, but we never even attempted it. Frankly, we didn't even want to dive into the waters of the black lake where the source floated. Aside from its sticky appearance, the pitch-black liquid made it impossible to tell what was inside. But the biggest reason was,
"……."
“…Wow, this is crazy.”
“…Going in there would be suicide.”
I muttered, watching the bubbling stones melting away without a trace. Kim Taehyung nodded vigorously, as if asking what I was asking. Fortunately, I had thrown a stone into the lake first, just in case. The moment I tossed a stone from the ground into the black lake, it began to melt upon contact with the liquid. We were speechless as we watched the stone swell as if boiling and then burst with a loud pop. If we went into that lake, we would end up like a stone. So naturally, our plan to approach and destroy the source was also bound to fall through.
If this were a real game, I can only imagine the balance patch being a complete mess. How could anyone possibly destroy anything in a lake that melts rocks? I sighed deeply, staring at the source of the water still floating in the middle of the lake.
“…you know,”
“Why, by any means…”
"I think there's a way."
"Jeon Jungkook stared intently into the empty space," he said. He instinctively knew it was a system window, visible only to his eyes. Soon, a bright halo of light enveloped his right hand. When the light faded, what he held in his hand were two round beads, the purpose of which was completely unknown. "What are they?" Kim Taehyung asked curiously. Jeon Jungkook's lips lifted slightly as he answered. "Portal."
"Portal?"
"It's simple to use. Drop one bead here."
He dropped a bright yellow bead on the floor.
"If I throw the remaining one wherever I want-,"
He dropped the remaining marble he was holding, slightly away from where Jeon Jungkook had first dropped it. As soon as the last marble hit the ground, a bright yellow line flowed from both marbles. The line drew a large circle where the marbles had been. Two circles,
"This is how a portal is created."
By the way, it can be installed in the air. Jeon Jungkook picked up a marble and threw it into the air. The marble, which seemed to be plummeting to the ground, suddenly stopped in midair and created a bright yellow circle like the one before. It even created a foothold. With an exclamation of "crazy," I put my arm through the portal in the floor. The sight of my hand suddenly popping out of the portal created above was somehow creepy, but this confirmed it. Thanks to the portal, things would be a lot easier.
After figuring out how to get closer to the source, we quickly set about formulating a plan. Aside from a few hiccups along the way, it was a pretty good team effort.
"I'm out. I don't think my skills will be very effective at destroying anything."
"I'll go. My skills will be more helpful in destroying just one source."
"Considering the destructive power, wouldn't it be right for me to go?"
"You hurt your shoulder, didn't you?"
"You're pretty tired now, aren't you?"
Jeon Jungkook clenched his jaw at my words. His pallid complexion and the beads of sweat dripping down his chin, even in the mildly warm temperatures, showed that his stamina was significantly diminished. Jeon Jungkook had slain the monsters all the way to the cave, and he had also destroyed the cave walls. No matter how monstrous his stamina might have been, it wasn't as if he hadn't grown tired. On the other hand, I'd been resting a lot since my shoulder injury, thanks to Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook's consideration, so my condition was pretty good. My shoulder had also improved significantly.
Trust me, leave it to me. At my words, Jeon Jungkook hesitated, then nodded. His expression was still tinged with discontent, but perhaps because he knew I could see right through my exhausted state, he refused to insist any longer. To avoid straining his dislocated shoulder, he untied the cloth that Jeon Jungkook had tied. His shoulder still creaked and felt unsteady, but it wasn't so much that it couldn't move.
"Isn't this supposed to have a time limit? You can't disappear in the middle or anything?"
"Don't worry, it won't disappear unless I release it."
Taking a deep breath, Jeon Jungkook threw the yellow orb with all his might. The orb, traveling in a parabolic arc toward the source, created a bright yellow portal in the center of the black lake.
“It’s so far away I can’t tell the distance….”
"If you feel it's dangerous, come back right away. There's no need to force yourself to complete the quest."
"Don't worry, I know my life is precious."
Kim Taehyung took a rope out of his inventory and wrapped it around his waist, and I answered. He said that if I ever found myself in danger, he would pull the rope and pull me towards the portal. By the way, his inventory really has everything. I was starting to wonder what was in Kim Taehyung's inventory, with ropes popping out every now and then.
"I'll be back," I said with a heavy heart, then exhaled. Sweat seemed to drip down my hands, clinging to the revolver. I stepped into the portal Jeon Jungkook had set up.
With a bright light, I opened my eyes near the source, in the center of a black lake. Ugh, what was that? I couldn't help but frown as I looked down at the black lake. The water, which I had always thought was pitch black, was now tinged with a faint red. From above, it looked as if someone's blood had pooled in it. The lake's pungent stench assaulted my nostrils.
Anyway, I had to destroy this. Why did the quest to protect it come up in the first place? I stretched my legs into the air. I used my skill, listening to Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung's voices from afar, urging me to be careful.
[alarm]
[Skill: Rapid Fire]castUse it.
The two revolvers he held in his hands fired indiscriminately toward the source. A tremendous explosion rang out. The deafening sound of the bombing made him frown, but he didn't stop using his skill. The notification sound of [Skill: Rapid Fire] in use, [Skill: Rapid Fire] in use spread endlessly across his vision. A faint crack appeared on the surface of the source, which had once seemed so solid.
Just a little more,
[alarm]
[Skill: Rapid Fire]Use .
"Hey! You're using skills so consecutively…!"
"Julia! Don't push yourself too hard!"
My shoulder, injured from overusing my skill, ached. The magic bullets pounded hard against the surface of the source. I saw the surface, which had been repeatedly hit by the magic bullets, crumble along the cracks. That was it…! The weakened surface of the source couldn't withstand even a single bullet. Jubilation filled my face as I watched the source crumble.
[alarm]
[Skill: Rapid Fire]Use .
With a loud crack, the source exploded. Crumbling fragments scattered across the black lake. "Wow, I almost fell." I looked down, barely clinging to the portal's platform. The source shattered into several fragments and sank into the black lake. A viscous black liquid engulfed the fragments—
"…uh?"
“…! Julia!”
"You're crazy, man!"
The rippling water of the lake rose up. The moment the black liquid touched the soles of my shoes, they melted. A sharp pain shot up through the soles of my feet. Just as I let out a final, "Ugh," scream, Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook's shouts rang out from the lakeside. Hearing their cries of "Careful!", I recoiled and jumped onto the platform.
What is this! The black lake that swallowed the fragments of the source was boiling. The jet-black liquid kept gushing out, almost like a splash, and it was approaching the foothold. The moment Jeon Jungkook's voice, "Come over quickly, Julia!" was heard,
"…!"
"Oh, crazy! No!"
The platform that touched the black liquid quickly melted. Watching the portal itself melt away, I stretched out my hand. Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook, perhaps aware of the situation, tugged at the rope tied around my waist. But the portal vanished faster. Wait a minute, what happens to this rope? Before I could even question it, the portal vanished completely. And then.
"Oh my, crazy-,"
The line is broken.
The recoil pushed me backward. I felt my feet slipping from the platform. I was falling. I reached out to grab the platform, but there was nothing at my fingertips. Oh, I never thought I'd die like this. Even the slightest touch stung, so what if I fell there... All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind the moment I fell. If I touched that liquid that could melt rocks, I'd disappear without a trace. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling my body crumble into thin air.
"You can open your eyes."
Instead of the excruciating pain of my body melting away, I felt something cold envelop me. It felt like I was being embraced. The terrible stench of the Black Lake gradually faded, leaving a cool scent lingering in my nostrils. Slowly opening my eyes, I couldn't help but widen my eyes at the sight of a familiar face.
"…yunki min?"
"You're badly hurt."
Min Yoongi, the one who accepted me was Min Yoongi.
✨
Hehehe