Chapter 130: Chapter 130

The determination of the Korean players was impressive.

The Sky Field was bustling with users.

All of them were expedition teams gathered to challenge the Wyvern’s Nest.

Already, five expedition teams had succeeded in defeating the Bone Lord Wyvern.

Unlike Jeong-Hoon, who had tackled the wyvern alone, these teams consisted of more than ten players, so three days was enough time.

Moreover,

“They say it’s possible to challenge it again.”

“Oh! Then we can level up here by farming potions!”

“Let’s do it!”

Phase 1, Phase 2.

Although the wyverns had high health and were difficult to catch due to their flying ability, it helped that they had learned the patterns by watching the video.

“By the way, have you seen the edited video that was uploaded?”

“Yeah. But no matter how many times I watch it, I can’t figure it out. How does he deal that much damage?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

The attack power of Honey 1 revealed in the video.

The attack power that shaved off the boss’s health by percentage with a single hit was so overwhelming that only a high-ranking player could achieve it.

“Is Honey 1 a ranker after all?”

“Honestly, I admit it. You’d have to be a ranker to deal that much damage.”

“Hey, a ranker? Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no one in our country who’s reached ranker level as an Enhancer.”

Currently, the number one Enhancer in South Korea was Yoo Na-Eun from the Ho-Yeong Guild.

Yoo Na-Eun, the level 254 Illusion Enhancer.

Even she didn’t possess such combat skills.

“Then who is it?”

“That’s…”

“See, you can’t even refute it.”

“But it’s true that even a ranker wouldn’t make sense.”

The more they dug, the more they felt like they were falling into a maze.

And that edited video spread not only throughout South Korea but also across the world.

* * *

“What’s this?”

Sophia, who was watching YouTube to take a break after finishing the game, was recommended a video by the algorithm.

The video was uploaded by a YouTuber from a country called South Korea.

At first, she started watching without much thought, but when the player summoned the hidden boss, Bone Lord Wyvern, in the Wyvern’s Nest, her eyes sharpened.

“The Bone Lord Wyvern appeared…?”

She was Sophia Stephanie Agareth.

A dark magician and a ranker on the French server.

She had been searching for something recently, and that was the Bone Lord Wyvern.

“Don’t fuck with me…”

Sophia’s expression turned vicious.

She had already invested two months searching for that damn bonehead.

Two months spent looking for the ‘heart’ needed to elevate her dark magic to the next level.

After searching the Altheon territory, she had planned to search the Sky Field in the Märchen Kingdom next.

To think that the Sky Field was the answer all along.

But it was alright.

“They won’t be able to defeat it. The Bone Lord Wyvern is a raid boss.”

The user in front of her didn’t seem particularly strong at first glance.

After all, they were from South Korea, weren’t they?

In New World, if you were to ask about a weak country, more than 80% would point to South Korea.

There was no way that in such a country, two unimpressive-looking users could defeat the Bone Lord Wyvern.

Sophia hurriedly opened her capsule and entered.

Now that she knew the location and how to summon the Bone Lord Wyvern, the ‘heart’ would be hers if she hunted it quickly.

However, there must have been a reason why the video was uploaded.

She quickly headed to Märchen, keeping the YouTube video open on the system screen beside her.

“No!”

By the time she arrived in Märchen, the person in the video had already finished the first phase.

Even though it was a recording, why did she feel so anxious?

In the end, Sophia fast-forwarded through the rest of the video.

And she saw it.

The Bone Lord Wyvern’s heart falling into that man’s hands.

“Nooooo!”

Her scream echoed through Märchen.

* * *

===

[NPC Information]

– Nickname: Birshin

– Level: 190

– Occupation: Mineral Researcher

===

The person who emerged from the bushes was Birshin.

He was a Mineral Researcher NPC.

‘Hoon, aren’t you curious about who first discovered this Celestial Ore?’

This was from when Jeong-Hoon had collected the Celestial Ore in his previous life.

Alessandro Bryden, who was beside him at the time, had looked at the ore and made a prediction.

‘Hmm? Who is it?’

‘It’s me.’

Alessandro’s lips curled up into a smirk.

Celestial Ore.

In his previous life, it was Alessandro who had first discovered and spread the word about this ore.

Alessandro had been searching for the Celestial Ore to craft equipment, and in the process, he had met the NPC Birshin.

And he became the first player to discover the Celestial Ore.

As proof of that, Birshin seemed to be aware of the Celestial Ore.

“I need the Celestial Ore.”

“…Why are you coming to me if you need that? You’re a funny one. Get lost!”

Birshin lowered his bow and turned away.

“Hmm? You already know about the Celestial Ore, don’t you?”

“…”

At that moment, a question mark blinked above Birshin’s head.

A red question mark.

[Hidden Quest: A Gift from the Heavens]

– Requirement: Mention Celestial Ore to Birshin

– Reward: Celestial Ore

– Description: Help Birshin find the mine where the Celestial Ore is buried.

Jeong-Hoon immediately accepted the quest.

“Please tell me the location of the Celestial Ore. If you do, I’ll leave.”

He then approached Birshin and bowed respectfully.

“…Ha, come in.”

Birshin walked into the cabin.

Jeong-Hoon, catching the hint of permission, followed him inside and sat across from him.

“Thank you for letting me in.”

“Thank me for what? So, how are you so sure that I know about the Celestial Ore?”

“I heard that there’s no one as knowledgeable about minerals as you, Birshin.”

“…Puhahaha! You’re a funny one.”

Birshin finally burst into laughter at Jeong-Hoon’s flattery.

“So, will you tell me?”

“…Even if I tell you, it’s beyond your capabilities. The mine where the Celestial Ore is buried has become inaccessible.”

“What?”

“Sigh, it seems someone set a trap there.”

Birshin reluctantly began to explain.

As a mineral researcher, he traveled all over the country, searching for and studying minerals.

In the process, a year ago, he discovered a small mine here in Märchen.

A mine untouched by human hands.

With a pounding heart, he slowly entered the mine and discovered incredibly beautiful minerals inside.

[Celestial Ore]

There was a tombstone in front of the minerals, and on the tombstone, the name of the mineral, Celestial Ore, was engraved.

‘…This is strange. There were no signs of anyone having been here?’

Such a tombstone couldn’t have been erected without human intervention.

Birshin approached the tombstone and gently touched it.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Trap activated!]

[Time remaining: 10 minutes]

The tombstone sank into the ground, and a warning message appeared.

In this unbelievable situation, Birshin hurriedly left the mine. He tried to enter again later, but the entrance was blocked, making it impossible to enter.

“…So you’re saying you can’t even enter?”

“That’s about it.”

“Don’t tell me… You aimed your bow at me as soon as you saw me to prevent me from approaching the mine?”

“Oh, you’re quick-witted.”

This guy was crazier than he thought.

To think he was willing to kill from the start to prevent anyone from approaching the mine.

He was someone Jeong-Hoon could have been even more disrespectful to without any consequences.

“…Then there would be no problem if I disable the trap in the mine.”

“You? Don’t talk nonsense.”

Birshin scoffed.

He had dedicated a year to trying to disable the trap.

But he couldn’t even set foot in the entrance.

And now, someone who seemed to be around his level was claiming they could disable the trap?

Preposterous.

“We won’t know until we try.”

Jeong-Hoon smirked slightly.

Birshin’s forehead twitched at Jeong-Hoon’s confident attitude.

“…Alright, then let’s make a bet.”

“A bet?”

“If you can break through the trap at the entrance, I’ll give you this.”

Birshin took out a Unique Enhancement Stone.

Jeong-Hoon’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the Unique Enhancement Stone.

“And if I can’t?”

“You’ll have to help me with all my work for a week. How about it?”

“Since we’re making a bet, how about we raise the stakes?”

“Raise the stakes?”

“Yes. Let’s make the bet on the assumption that I’ll disable all the traps in the mine.”

“Huh, you’ve completely lost your mind, haven’t you?”

Birshin chuckled in disbelief.

“Why? Do you think you’ll lose?”

Jeong-Hoon countered.

“Ha! You think I’ll lose? That’s ridiculous! Alright, I’ll bet all 22 of my Unique Enhancement Stones! But if I can’t do it, I’ll have to work under you for 10 years!”

An additional question mark blinked above Birshin’s head.

[Surprise Quest: Bet with Birshin]

– Requirement: User currently on Birshin’s hidden quest

– Reward: Unique Enhancement Stone x22

– Description: Win the bet with Birshin. If you lose, you’ll have to work as his assistant for 10 years.

“Call.”

There was no reason for Jeong-Hoon to refuse.

* * *

The mine, as Birshin had said, was located a little further away.

‘No wonder it was hard to find.’

The entrance to the mine was right next to a cliff.

It was dangerous enough that one misstep could lead to a fall.

Moreover, the entrance was blocked by a gray wall.

“It won’t budge no matter what I do.”

“I see.”

Birshin had tried to break down that wall for a year, but had failed every time.

Jeong-Hoon touched the gray wall and pushed it.

As expected, it didn’t move an inch.

It felt like it was layered, making it seem impossible to push.

Nevertheless, Jeong-Hoon didn’t give up and kept fiddling with the wall.

“Kekeke, just give up.”

Birshin had no doubt that he would win this bet.

‘This worked out well. I needed an assistant.’

He researched everything related to minerals.

It was unusual for him to stay in one area for so long, like this time. Usually, his job was to travel all over the country, mining and researching minerals.

It was quite a strenuous task, so he always wished he had an assistant, but no one wanted to be his assistant.

It was because it was too hard.

‘After a year of hardship, is this the will of the gods, giving me an assistant?’

Since their levels were similar, he seemed to have some strength.

‘I’ll make sure to work you to the bone from now on.’

Rumble. Rumble.

Suddenly, the wall that hadn’t budged for the past year slid sideways, revealing an entrance.

“It’s open.”

Jeong-Hoon gestured towards the entrance, causing Birshin’s eyes to widen in disbelief.

“W-What?! How did you do that?!”

Birshin approached the entrance and touched the wall that had slid aside.

How could it have opened so easily when it hadn’t budged for a year, despite all his efforts?

What kind of trickery did he use?

“Well then, let’s go in.”

“Wait a minute! Can’t you tell me how you opened it?!”

Birshin asked, his face full of curiosity.

“Oh, it’s simple. The door itself was made up of multiple layers, but the mana circuit was connected as one. It was a bit complicated, but I followed the circuit one by one until I reached the end. Then it opened naturally.”

“This is insane!”

Jeong-Hoon spoke casually, but Birshin was so surprised that he blurted out a curse.

One year.

For 365 days, Birshin had tried various methods.

He knew very well that the inside of this door was made up of a mana circuit.

He had tried to access the circuit, but it was so complex that the connection always broke in the middle.

But he connected it all the way to the end of the circuit and opened the door?

Just what kind of person was he…?

“Let’s go in.”

“…Alright.”

Birshin nodded with a trembling voice.

He had only opened the entrance once.

Thump thump.

His heart started pounding violently.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Anyway, as long as he could lay his eyes on the Celestial Ore again, these Unique Enhancement Stones…

He would hand them all over.

———