Chapter 30

The Black Magician’s Class Change Quest.

The news that the class change quest for a new class could be undertaken in Lawless Port Granado didn’t just mean an influx of users wanting to become Black Magicians.

Magica, the magic city in the central region, is where Magicians undergo their 2nd and 3rd class changes.

It’s a place where countless magic skill books and essential materials for Magicians are traded, following the flow of Magicians.

Lawless Port Granado would now serve the same role for the Black Magician class, forcing Black Magician users to frequent the city whether they liked it or not.

In other words, it was as good as securing a continuous influx of users, and it also meant that the value of the city itself had increased.

“Initially, I was only thinking of contributing to the reconstruction costs, but with the Black Magician class change quest opening up, I’ve changed my mind.”

“Of course you would. The city’s value has increased.”

Shin Ha-yeon burst into laughter after hearing my words.

“Yes, that’s right. Of course I would. I’m also thinking of taking this opportunity to develop Lawless Port Granado into the best port in the East, no, the best port in Ard World. What do you think?”

“Wasn’t it going to be that way anyway?”

I smiled as I looked at Shin Ha-yeon.

“To bring that guy down, just being the best port in the East wouldn’t be enough.”

“It seems like Drakan-nim and I are on the same page.”

Shin Ha-yeon continued speaking in a gentle voice.

“I’ll donate. Please open the Management Mode.”

“You don’t want to do it as an investment?”

I asked in response to her statement about donating.

Donation and investment!

The two concepts were distinctly different when it came to managing a territory.

While both involve bringing in external funds for territory management, investment requires providing compensation such as rights or Contribution Points proportional to the investment amount, whereas donation is literally the act of providing funds without any compensation.

And Shin Ha-yeon was offering to donate the operating funds without any compensation, not as an investment.

“That much money is, as Drakan-nim puts it, pocket change.”

Looking at Shin Ha-yeon, who was still smiling faintly, I smiled back.

She was right. This amount of money was indeed pocket change for her.

However, even pocket change wouldn’t be spent on something without any benefit.

She must be thinking that this investment would ultimately benefit her in the long run.

Without a word, I opened the Territory Management Window and shared it with Shin Ha-yeon, and a message popped up before my eyes.

[‘Hayeon’ wants to donate 500,000,000 Gold to Lawless Port Granado.]

[Do you accept the donation?]

The Gold she offered to donate was a whopping 500 million!

Considering the Gold exchange rate of 1,000 Gold to 10,000 Won, it was equivalent to pouring 5 billion Won into the city’s reconstruction funds.

‘She’s got deeper pockets than I thought!’

Thinking that, I accepted her donation, and I could see 500 million Gold added to the Territory Management Window.

That wasn’t all Shin Ha-yeon offered.

“And I’d like to establish a JDG branch in Lawless Port Granado. Is that alright? In return, JDG will help maintain the city’s security.”

“Sure.”

Not only was she offering to establish a JDG Guild branch in Lawless Port Granado, but she was also offering to take charge of maintaining security. It was like she was a tree that never stopped giving.

Smiling, I touched the Facility Management section of the Territory Management Window.

Now, it was time to pour money into developing the city in earnest!

At that moment,

[The Dark G*d bestows a Divine Quest upon you.]

A message appeared before my eyes.

The Dark G*d. It was a notification that he was giving me another Divine Quest.

▄ ▄ ▄

[Legacy of Darkness]

[Grade: Legendary]

[2,000 years ago, Sion, the previous contractor of the Dark G*d and Apostle of Darkness, gathered the six races known as the Six Children of Darkness, re-established the ancient alliance, and attempted to resurrect the Dark Empire. Sion’s plan to create a world where believers of the Dark G*d could live in peace was shattered by Leonhardt, the Hero of the time.]

[Sion, who met a tragic death under the hateful Hero’s holy sword, his legacy has been slumbering for 2,000 years in the deepest part of the Black Tower, a vault accessible only to the contractor of the Dark G*d.]

[Now, the time has come for his will to be carried on by you, who have inherited the contract of the Dark G*d.]

[Recover Sion’s legacy and fulfill his will.]

Sion, the previous contractor of the Dark G*d!

His name, which was mentioned in the previous Divine Quest, appeared once again.

‘It seems the scale is about to get bigger!’

I speculated on the future developments as I read the quest details.

Sion, the Apostle of Darkness.

Leonhardt, the Hero.

I knew both of these NPCs’ names very well.

No, any user who played the previous game would know their names.

The adventure of the Hero Leonhardt was an indispensable part of the legends passed down in Ard World, and Eugene inherited the class of that Hero Leonhardt.

The battle between the two, which took place across the entire Ard World, left behind legends and traces that still remain in various parts of the vast Ard World, and numerous quests, dungeons, and events were based on their legends.

I myself had completed several quests based on the legend of Sion and Leonhardt, so there was no need to further emphasize their fame.

‘Sion, the Apostle of Darkness!’

The heroic tales of Leonhardt that were passed down on the continent!

In those stories, Sion, the Apostle of Darkness, was portrayed as a villain who, along with the Dark G*d’s creations, attempted to conquer Ard World by rebuilding the Dark Empire, the evil empire that had disappeared in ancient times, and establish a reign of darkness.

Against him, the Hero Leonhardt, along with other heroes, defeated Sion and crushed his conspiracy!

That was the main plot of Leonhardt’s legend.

And the quest that had appeared before me now was to recover Sion’s legacy and carry on his will.

And I already knew Sion’s will.

‘Sion’s will, according to legend, the conspiracy he established was the reconstruction of the Dark Empire. Then the end of the Divine Quest must be the reconstruction of the Dark Empire!’

The Dark Empire.

According to the lore, it was a nation that existed in the mythical age, so long ago that it was meaningless to even count.

A nation of darkness that ruled half of Ard World, established by the believers of the Dark G*d and the Six Children of Darkness!

And in the Great War of Gods and Demons that brought about the end of the mythical age, it was ultimately defeated and destroyed by the offensive of the Alliance of Light, which had the backing of the Pantheon, and provided the cause for the forces of darkness to go into hiding in the shadows of Ard World!

However, the era of the Dark Empire was the only time when the forces of darkness could roam freely in the light, so many people attempted to rebuild the Dark Empire throughout the history of Ard World…… but all failed.

Sion, the Apostle of Darkness, was the most famous and closest to success among those who attempted to rebuild the Dark Empire.

And now, I was entrusted with the quest to rebuild the Dark Empire in this era.

‘And that means I’ve become the protagonist of Ard World’s main story and the true rival of Eugene, that b*stard!’

A smile spread across my lips.

Ard Saga Second!

This game essentially pursued extreme open-world and complete freedom.

Literally another world that was the same as the real world!

However, that didn’t mean that the Ard Saga series lacked a main story.

Like other games, fantasy novels, and movies, Ard Saga also had a myth about the battle between light and darkness in the beginning, the creation of the world, and so on, and those stories passed down from the myth were the main story of Ard World.

That’s why I predicted that the story of the Dark Empire and the Hero who opposed it would emerge as the main story of Ard Saga Second.

Of course, in typical novels, games, and movies, it was natural for the story to end with a happy ending where the evil faction, like the Dark Empire, is ultimately defeated.

‘But it’s different in Ard Saga Second.’

Ard Saga Second!

One of the goals this game pursued was complete freedom.

In other words, although it was conventionally called the main story, the process and ending weren’t predetermined. There were degrees of freedom and branching points in Ard World that allowed players to change the flow and conclusion of the story based on their abilities.

Instead of good conquering evil, evil could conquer good!

It meant that I could create a world where darkness triumphed, depending on my efforts.

That was the complete freedom that Miracle Entertainment, the creators of Ard Saga Second, pursued, and the reason why Miracle Entertainment’s developers didn’t intervene in the game.

‘I’ll definitely make it happen!’

I clenched my fists with trembling hands as I thought of Eugene, that b*stard.

Ard World was a world with unlimited freedom and an open world that was more realistic than reality, but because of that, it was ironically unequal, just like reality.

There were those who could become protagonists, those who could become supporting characters, and those who could become extras.

Just as it was difficult for someone born with a silver spoon to reach the same position as someone born with a gold spoon in the real world, it was the same in Ard World.

Physical abilities!

Luck!

Hidden Pieces!

Without at least one of these three, one couldn’t become a protagonist in Ard World.

And since it was difficult for most users to have even one of these, they remained as extras.

Among them, I had finally been given the opportunity to become a protagonist.

The protagonist of the main story!

That role had fallen to me!

That fact was important.

Now, not only in reality, but also in the game’s main story, I had become Eugene’s rival, just like six years ago.

To defeat him, I needed to reach the same level first!

That was my thought.

Because a proper fight could only take place between opponents of equal standing.

Therefore, to have a proper fight with Eugene, I had to reach the same level as him.

Just like Eugene, that b*stard, who received the Rebellion Quest six years ago.

And after completing this quest, I would truly become his rival.

I smiled.

“Is there something good going on?”

Shin Ha-yeon, who was looking at me, asked.

I gazed at her and gave a pleasant smile.

“Yes.”

Something good!

That’s right.

This was something good for me.

Eugene!

I had finally found the starting line on the path to revenge against him.

“It’s something very good, so you can look forward to it.”

Saying that, I got up from my seat.

It was time to check the basement of the Black Tower.