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The Mist Vol 2 Chapter 1
🕑 Added 2024-07-30 08:33:00 +0000 UTCVol 2 Chapter 1
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As they made their way along the narrow path that stretched like a cave, Kapros was able to gather more information from Lucrecian.
Like Kapros, Lucrecian had come to Tolang after succeeding in his first quest, following the guidance that pointed to the next location, and had first discovered this place. The problem was that the dungeon located here was much larger and more complex than expected, making it difficult to explore alone.
"So I gathered a few people to explore with me out of boredom, and before I knew it, it had become a guild. At first, I thought it would be useful, but when I came to my senses, they had made a bunch of complicated rules and such among themselves, which was no fun."
Lucrecian had known in advance that some guild members were trying to oust him to monopolize the benefits from the dungeon. However, the reason he didn't stop them was simple.
"I had figured out the entire dungeon structure, so there was no need to maintain the guild anymore. I was getting tired of it anyway, so I thought it worked out well and left. And even without my intervention, they won't be able to monopolize the dungeon's benefits they want forever."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The number of monsters in this dungeon now is about half of what it was when I first discovered it."
What? As Kapros looked at him questioningly, Lucrecian chuckled softly as if finding it very amusing and whispered.
"Actually, the monsters there are different from those in ordinary dungeons outside. They're spawned in relation to the quest. They're destined to disappear when the quest is completed."
Destined to disappear when the quest is completed? But half of them had decreased...?
Seeing Kapros's doubtful gaze, Lucrecian smiled and provided the answer.
"That's right. I've actually already completed the quest I needed to do here. That's why the monsters disappeared. I was curious why they didn't all vanish... Maybe the remaining half are still here because of your quest."
Kapros looked at him with mixed feelings. If he had already completed the quest he needed to do here, why was he still here?
"By the way, did you come here alone?"
"No. Besides me..."
Kapros's automatic response stopped mid-sentence. Good heavens. He had forgotten about Yu-wan and Kran.
This couldn't be. Had they noticed that he had disappeared?
"Hyung?"
Kapros belatedly came to his senses and finished his answer.
"I had companions who came with me, but I fell here alone."
"Is that so? Then they might have fallen somewhere else. There's more than one entrance to this place. Well, let's go to where we were heading first and then look for them."
Lucrecian quickened his pace. Kapros had to increase his speed as well to keep up with him. As he followed, his gaze naturally fell on the dagger Lucrecian had attached to his back. At the same time, he recalled what Lucrecian had said earlier.
"That light and vibration from before... You said you'd seen it before."
As Kapros muttered quietly, Lucrecian, who was walking ahead, nodded and answered.
"That's right. It seems to happen when two people who need to perform quests in the same place meet."
Kapros was about to ask who the first other quest-performing user he had met was, when suddenly Lucrecian stopped walking and turned his head.
"Wait. Someone's coming."
In the blink of an eye, Kapros's arm was grabbed. The next moment, he found himself pressed against the wall, as if trapped in Lucrecian's arms.
"Stealth."
With Lucrecian's low whisper, the sound of people talking could be heard not far away.
"Damn it. It's good that the guild master disappeared, but what's the use if the monsters decrease? They say they still haven't found the cause?"
"Maybe it's a trick played by the vice guild master to deny us opportunities."
Despite the approaching presence, Lucrecian remained calm. If anything, Kapros was more tense.
'Is this really okay...'
"...Huh? Wait a minute."
Someone stopped near them, holding their breath, and turned their head.
"What?"
"Doesn't this wall look a bit strange?"
Kapros, his body stiff, opened his mouth towards Lucrecian.
"Hey..."
"Shh."
Lucrecian put his finger to Kapros's lips.
"What's strange? It's just a wall."
The companions of the man who had said it was strange muttered indifferently. Kapros swallowed, noticing that even though they seemed to be looking in their direction, their focus was blurry.
"No. You can use just a hiding skill for that kind of thing, right? You know that. ...Wait a second."
One particularly suspicious person suddenly drew a dagger. Kapros momentarily moved his lips to cast Magic Shield, but Lucrecian completely covered his mouth with his hand, making it impossible to utter the spell.
'...You idiot, if you leave it like this, you'll be the one getting hurt!'
Kapros tried his best to push Lucrecian away, but he wouldn't budge. And finally, a sharp dagger attack rushed towards Lucrecian's back.
Clang!
"..."
"Tsk, well done. Hitting a random wall."
"That's strange... I really thought there was something there."
"I understand you're on edge because of all the recent events, but take it easy."
Surprisingly, the dagger bounced off the wall as if it had hit it about 1 millimeter in front of Lucrecian's back. After they disappeared, Lucrecian stepped back and kindly explained to Kapros's surprised face.
"It's the power of the stealth skill."
"Stealth is for hiding, not defending, right? How could it block a dagger?"
"You're sharp. Well, originally it wasn't such an amazing skill. Thanks to the skill effect gained from the quest, other skills have developed dramatically, resulting in this."
"Skill?"
"It's a skill that allows all my skills to exhibit abilities beyond their limits for a certain period of time."
According to him, in the case of the stealth skill that received the beyond-limit effect, it exerted an effect that made the user completely become part of the wall, so it could easily deflect attacks that weren't too strong. It was an incredible power, even if temporary.
'To think the power of a skill obtained through a quest could be that strong...'
Kapros reflexively thought of Superior's swordsmanship skill scroll in his inventory window.
