Chapter 16
Drakan’s Dedicated Support Team.
The support team, comprised of experts from various fields, poured out diverse analyses after watching my gameplay footage and the Divine Quest details.
“The objective and content of the quest are simple, but the Hero grade is excessively high. Moreover, considering the quest name is the ‘Beginning’ of the Dark Journey, the Divine Quest Drakan-nim received is clearly not a one-time quest, but the starting point of a chain quest.”
“The value of a chain quest that begins with a Hero grade is immeasurable. This quest is highly likely to lead to a large-scale chain quest, the kind that even most Rankers or large guilds rarely see.”
“Based on the content of the quest and the information we’ve gathered, it’s certain that the village head of Argan Village is a Black Magician in disguise. The Dark G*d’s Seal, a contract skill granted by the Dark G*d, was clearly given with the intention of proving Drakan-nim’s identity as the Dark G*d’s contractor during the meeting with the village head, thereby gaining his trust.”
Among them were things I had already guessed through experience.
For example, the quest I received wasn’t a one-time quest, but a chain quest, and its scale would undoubtedly be enormous!
And that the Dark G*d’s Seal skill wouldn’t be merely decorative, but the key to the quest!
These three analyses weren’t particularly surprising, as I had already anticipated them.
As someone who had experienced countless quests, dungeons, and events while climbing to the top Ranker position in the previous game, this level of analysis and prediction was a piece of cake for me.
Of course, I didn’t expect such obvious analysis, which I could have done on my own, from the support team.
“According to the information we’ve gathered, Argan Village is a secluded countryside village located not far from Lawless Port Granado. Due to the abundance of beginner-level monsters like rabbits, foxes, and goblins in the nearby hunting grounds and dungeons, it’s a typical NPC village that players rarely visit, except for novice users who occasionally stop by to complete quests.”
“Lawless Port Granado was called Lawless City Granado in the previous game. At the time of the previous game, it was a city ruled by the Black Ring Society, a group of Black Magicians. However, due to the Great Cataclysm, the surrounding areas were completely submerged, transforming Granado from an inland city into a coastal city. The Pirate King, aiming for the city’s strategic location, invaded and drove out the existing ruling power, the Black Magicians, developing it into a port, which led to the birth of Lawless Port Granado in Second.”
“The lord of Lawless Port Granado is a user named Jacques, a Ranker and named player who gained notoriety through PK in the previous game, and is currently one of the Pirate King’s trusted aides.”
“No information has been found regarding the current status of the Black Ring Society in Ard Saga Second. Drakan-nim’s quest is the first piece of information related to the Black Ring Society to emerge.”
What I expected from the support team was information.
I knew from experience that starting a quest with prior knowledge was vastly different from blindly rushing in.
Of course, I had also studied Ard Saga Second to the point of nosebleeds for a month, but even I, as a human, didn’t know the details of an unheard-of village like Argan Village.
I expected the dedicated support team to fill in those information gaps, and they brilliantly met my expectations.
‘As expected, taking the easy route is the best.’
I smiled, recalling the quest-related information I had easily obtained.
Hardship in youth is something you seek out!
I didn’t believe in those so-called ‘wise sayings’ that emphasized trials, failures, and effort.
‘If you seek out hardship when you’re young, you’ll be riddled with ailments when you’re old!’
If there’s an easy way to go, it’s better to take it.
Even if I work hard, my efforts aren’t always rewarded.
That was the truth of life I learned after experiencing all sorts of hardships, from manual labor to working on a deep-sea fishing vessel, after becoming a debtor.
Anyway, after familiarizing myself with all the information beforehand, I finally arrived at Argan Village.
Argan Village.
This village, suspected to be the hiding place of Black Magicians, had the appearance of a typical secluded countryside village, as I had heard during the briefing.
“I’m looking for the village head. Do you happen to know where he is?”
“Are you an adventurer? The village head is probably at the village hall. The hall is that way.”
A countryside village that appeared peaceful at first glance.
Upon entering, I asked a village NPC and easily received directions to the village hall where the village head was located.
As I opened the door to the hall, built on a modest scale befitting a small village, I said,
“Village head, are you there?”
“I am the village head.”
The village head answered my call.
An elderly NPC with a kind and gentle impression, sporting a bushy beard like Santa Claus, looking nothing like a Black Magician!
That was the image of the village head that appeared before me.
“Judging by your attire, you seem to be an adventurer. Are you here to accept the goblin extermination request?”
The village head said, examining my outfit.
I smiled at his words.
[The Dark G*d is watching you.]
The Dark G*d’s message appeared out of nowhere.
He was probably going to observe how I handled the situation.
I closed the notification window and naturally extended my left hand.
“Dark G*d’s Seal.”
As I used the contract skill, a black demonic symbol appeared on the back of my left hand.
The symbol of the Dark G*d, proof of being his apostle.
At that moment.
An earthquake erupted in the eyes of the village head, who had been feigning kindness.
Thud.
It didn’t take long for the village head, who had seen the Dark G*d’s Seal, to kneel before me.
“Ah. Finally, finally…… The Dark G*d’s contractor stands before me……!”
The very moment the village head sobbed while gazing at the Dark G*d’s Seal.
[The Dark G*d, with a satisfied expression, sponsors 1000 points.]
[Quest completed.]
[As a quest completion reward, the reputation with the Black Magician group ‘Black Ring Society’ has increased to the maximum.]
[‘Black Ring Society’ reputation has changed from ‘Neutral’ to ‘Unwavering Ally’.]
[Achievement unlocked! You are the first to raise the ‘Black Ring Society’ reputation to the maximum.]
[You have obtained the title ‘Comrade of Black Magic’.]
[You have leveled up.]
[As a quest completion reward, the favorability of ‘Khalid’, the Grandmaster of the Black Ring Society, has increased to the maximum!]
[Magic Power has increased by 20.]
[All stats have increased by 5.]
[You have leveled up.]
…….
Reward notifications generously showering me with reputation, favorability, stat increases, and even level ups!
As I was savoring the lingering feeling of those sweet notifications.
“Since the unfortunate demise of the previous contractor two thousand years ago, our Black Ring Society has been waiting for the advent of the Great One for ages. And today, that wait has finally come to fruition. Therefore, I, on behalf of the Black Ring Society, pledge my allegiance to the Great One. Please accept this humble old man’s oath!”
Khalid, prostrated before me, looked up at me with a tear-stained face and said these words.
[Khalid, the Grandmaster of the Black Ring Society, wishes to pledge his eternal loyalty to you.]
[Will you accept the oath of allegiance from Khalid and the Black Ring Society?]
Along with it appeared the recruitment message I had seen countless times during wars in the previous game.
I looked around.
The Black Ring Society!
In the previous game, they were a formidable organization that held a terrifying reputation as the ruling power of the Lawless City, but by the time of Ard Saga Second, they were merely a pathetic organization hiding in a rural village.
[The Dark G*d urges you to accept Khalid’s oath of allegiance.]
However, the moment I saw the message, I realized something.
That accepting Khalid’s request was the key to the next quest.
Therefore, I couldn’t refuse Khalid’s request.
“Alright. I accept your oath of allegiance.”
[The Black Ring Society pledges their eternal loyalty to you.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
…….
[You have leveled up.]
[Great Achievement! You have earned the eternal loyalty of the Black Ring Society!]
[You have obtained the title ‘Elder of the Black Ring Society’.]
[Magic Power has increased by 50.]
[All stats have increased by 10.]
As soon as I accepted the request, a flood of messages once again filled my vision.
Stats and levels rising breathlessly.
This feeling of fullness without even eating!
It was wonderful.
“Thank you, Great One! This Khalid, I pledge my body and soul to serve you with utmost loyalty!”
[Black Ring Society]
[The Black Ring Society is a historical Black Magic research organization founded by Lucal, the first great Black Magician to form a contract with the Dark G*d in Ard World.]
[Since the era of the Ancient Dark Empire, for countless eons, the Black Ring Society has served as a b*idge between the Dark G*d and his creations, spreading darkness throughout the continent.]
[They ruled Lawless City Granado for over a thousand years, but due to the Great Cataclysm that occurred a decade ago and the subsequent invasion by the Pirate King, they completely lost their power and fell into ruin.]
[Khalid, the master of the Black Ring Society, and the five Black Magicians never abandoned their faith in the Dark G*d, despite persecution and suppression.]
[To the Dark G*d’s contractor, who has finally appeared after two thousand years, they will pledge their unwavering loyalty.]
As I was reading the contents of the Black Ring Society information window with a smile,
A notification window popped up with a ‘ding’ sound, and upon checking its contents, my expression crumpled mercilessly.
