Chapter 39
[Thunderbird’s Horn]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Durability: 5000/5000]
[A horn protruding from the head of the legendary monster, Thunderbird, the boss of the dungeon ‘Thunderbird’s Nest’. It is the source of the Thunderbird’s power to summon lightning, and contains the surging power of lightning.]
[Can be crafted into a powerful lightning attribute enchantment item.]
[When used as a material in equipment crafting, it grants powerful lightning attribute magic power.]
“Thankfully, the Simseong Milky Way Guild just finished their Thunderbird’s Nest dungeon raid, so I was able to get it. How is it, Drakan-nim? Are you satisfied?”
Simseong Milky Way Guild!
Like JDG, it was a super-large guild sponsored by a conglomerate called Simseong Group. If JDG was the hegemon of the east, Simseong Milky Way Guild was the hegemon of the north and ranked 7th in the overall guild rankings, making it one of the top ten super-large guilds.
And the Thunderbird’s Nest dungeon raid was a raid that the Simseong Milky Way Guild prepared with all their might!
Since the boss monster of Thunderbird’s Nest, the Thunderbird, was a boss monster with an estimated level in the 700s, I heard that not only Changwang Rio, the guild master and Over-Ranker, but also the guild’s elite members were all mobilized.
But the fact that the raid just ended and Shin Ha-yeon-ssi was able to get the Thunderbird’s Horn from there was truly unexpected.
I said with a faint smile.
“Yes, I am satisfied.”
I stroked the Thunderbird’s Horn with a calm expression.
Crackle! Sizzle!
A tingling electric shock was transmitted to my hand stroking the horn.
Shin Ha-yeon-ssi’s expression brightened slightly at my answer.
I looked at her and continued speaking with a smile.
“But whether my friend here will be satisfied, well, I’m not sure.”
“What is this, what?”
As my gaze turned towards Nereus, Nereus stammered, seemingly flustered.
I looked at Nereus and pushed the Thunderbird’s Horn with a grin.
“What else could it be? Didn’t you say earlier that you could restore Kraken with a legendary grade magic stone or an equivalent item? That’s why I got this.”
[The Sea Demon is surprised by your words.]
[The Sea Demon looks at you and smiles.]
[The Destruction Demon pouts.]
[The Dark G*d smiles with satisfaction.]
[The Dark G*d sponsors 10,000 points.]
[The Sea Demon sponsors 10,000 points.]
Numerous messages from the Demons sparkled, and I was able to recover more than the price of the Friend Summoning Crystal in points.
But the one who reacted most intensely to the Thunderbird’s Horn I brought was none other than Nereus.
Nereus stared blankly at the Thunderbird’s Horn with his mouth agape, and I, sitting on the chair, continued speaking while looking at the window that popped up asking, ‘Will you accept the quest?’
“So, is this not enough?”
“This is…….”
“Here, the appraisal certificate.”
Before Nereus could even speak, Shin Ha-yeon-ssi smiled and took out the appraisal certificate from her inventory and placed it next to the horn.
Well, it was true that expensive items were usually accompanied by appraisal certificates or guarantees from professions like magicians, appraisers, or blacksmiths.
After checking the appraisal certificate that Shin Ha-yeon-ssi had placed, Nereus looked at me with wide eyes and said.
“How could it be insufficient? This is more than enough.”
“Then there’s no need to retrieve the Abyss Pearl right now?”
“Of course. The important thing right now is Kraken’s recovery.”
As soon as Nereus finished speaking, notification windows began to appear in my vision in a dizzying array.
[Nereus’s affinity greatly increases.]
[Hidden quest condition achieved.]
[Quest ‘Retrieve the Abyss Pearl!’ has disappeared.]
[Level has increased.]
[Level has increased.]
…….
[All stats have increased by 10.]
[Legacy Weapon ‘Black Divine Armor’ is unlocked.]
[Black Divine Armor]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Legacy Level: Beginner Level 1]
[The black full-body armor that symbolizes Steel Monarch Drakan. It is a tribute that Drakan demanded from the Dwarf Kingdom following the renowned sword, Iron Blood Executor. Made of an alloy of meteoric iron and adamantium, its defense is said to be like an iron wall.]
[Countless individuals tried to penetrate the Black Divine Armor’s defense and k*ll the tyrant Drakan, but none except the Hero Eugene succeeded.]
[As befitting the Iron Blood Ruler who drenched the continent in blood, this armor is imbued with the blood, resentment, grudge, and curses of countless individuals.]
As I expected, the quest was canceled.
Since I had fulfilled the conditions required to complete the quest by bringing the Thunderbird’s Horn, the basis for the quest itself disappeared, causing the quest to be extinguished.
This was what it meant for Ard World to have unlimited freedom.
A game where you could even skip the quest itself if you were capable enough!
That was the free gameplay that the Ard Saga series guaranteed.
‘As expected, it’s a g*d game!’
I savored the notification sounds that kept updating.
The level-up and stat increase notifications were always pleasant to hear!
But this time, there was an even better notification.
It was the unlocking of the Legacy Weapon.
‘This time, the Legacy Weapon has been unlocked.’
Black Divine Armor!
The main item I used alongside the Iron Blood Executor in the previous game had finally come into my hands in Second.
Although the Legacy Level was still low and not all of the numerous item options from the previous game had returned, this was more than enough.
[The Demons of the Demon Court are impressed by your achievement.]
[The Sea Demon gazes at you with an impressed expression.]
[The Dark G*d laughs.]
[The Dark G*d sponsors 5000 points to you.]
I smiled as I saw the Demons’ messages following behind.
Now that the quest was resolved, it was time to move on to the next step.
▄ ▄ ▄
Having resolved the quest issue, Drakan put the Thunderbird’s Horn back into his inventory and stood up.
“Now that the preparations are complete, let’s go revive Kraken right away.”
“Alright. But who is that human with you……?”
Nereus’s gaze turned towards Shin Ha-yeon.
Receiving the NPC’s attention, Shin Ha-yeon smiled faintly and stepped closer to Drakan’s side, saying,
“I am a companion traveling with Drakan-nim.”
“I see.”
“So, as a companion, I intend to witness the restoration of Kraken alongside Drakan-nim.”
“As the Contractor’s companion, you are most welcome.”
[What about Lawless Port?]
[I left it to Khalid, so you don’t have to worry.]
As soon as Shin Ha-yeon finished speaking, Drakan’s whisper flew to her.
Hearing Drakan’s words, Shin Ha-yeon smiled and replied while thinking.
If it were an ordinary person!
They would cautiously ask her how she acquired the legendary grade material item instead of Lawless Port.
Even though she had promised unlimited support before, ordinary people were timid and, even if she said that, they would feel burdened and make requests within a reasonable limit – a level that seemed cute to Shin Ha-yeon.
But Drakan was different.
He unhesitatingly demanded an army, proposed burning Lawless Port, demanded funds to restore the burned Lawless Port, and even demanded the legendary grade material item known as a ‘house-selling item’.
Of course, his demands were not difficult for her.
Rather, they were very easy.
Shin Ha-yeon held the wealth and power of reality in her hands, and there was almost nothing she couldn’t achieve with those two swords, whether in reality or in the game.
Eugene.
His persuasion, the hegemony he held in Ard World, and everything related to Eugene, including his allied guilds, were almost the only things Shin Ha-yeon couldn’t obtain with wealth and power.
Except for that, everything in this world was no different from a toy that would fall into her hands if she wanted it.
Obtaining the legendary grade material item, called a ‘house-selling item’ and envied by countless Ard Saga Second users, was also too easy for her.
‘As expected, joining hands with you was one of the best choices.’
Shin Ha-yeon smiled.
What other human in this world could treat her so boldly!
Everyone she had met feared her.
Ordinary people feared her wealth, power, and the name of a conglomerate, while her older and younger brothers succumbed to the fear of her demoting them overseas.
The chairman of Jeil Group, her father, feared and distanced himself from her, who had ruthlessly shattered the principle he himself established that the successor must be a son, seized the position of successor, and now even threatened his own position.
Other conglomerates were no exception.
In a world where it was implicitly considered natural for men to inherit the group, her existence as a woman who had seized power was truly an anomaly.
While internal power struggles were not uncommon, the fact that the final victor of that struggle was a woman was a shocking result.
Therefore, other conglomerates also feared and shunned her.
Even Eugene, whom she had failed to recruit, feared and was wary of the wealth and power she possessed.
Only Drakan was the only one who did not fear her.
Rather, Shin Ha-yeon became interested in his bold and unrestrained requests for support, and his attitude of not fearing her.
This was her own extremely private and personal interest in the human ‘Park Joon-pal’ who played as ‘Drakan’ in Ard World, rather than in Drakan, the perfect candidate for rebellion to overthrow Eugene and the partner who would seize the hegemony of Ard World with her.
In the man who, unlike others, was the only one who did not fear her.
[That aside, weren’t you busy? Why are you trying to stay by my side?]
So, to Drakan’s whisper that flew to her.
[Just because?]
Shin Ha-yeon hid her thoughts and smiled.
