Chapter 967: Altanus (4)

By the time you receive this letter, I’m not there anymore, Commander. I’m sincerely sorry for leaving when the situation has been so gloomy.

Anyway, what kind of person am I to you?

A trustworthy comrade?

Your one and only rival in the world?

Perhaps an archenemy you find so vile you'd never feel satisfied even if you were to beat me to death.

You may get upset about some of the things I did, but it was all because so many things had happened. I did all of them to help you grow, Commander. It’s to prepare you for this kind of situation.

I left this letter because I obviously have a small favor to ask of you. As the Saint of Light and the heart of the continent, I must fight against a cruel fate, so someone needs to take care of the expedition group in my place.

It is going to be burdensome, and I also know better than anyone that your skills… are lacking, but don’t let that burden bring you down.

With Miss Hye-Jin, I’m sure you’ll be able to overcome these trying times.

What if you’re still struggling? Don’t worry. I wrote everything down in the manual.

Of course, I’m not doubting your skills because I’m sure you’ll be able to overcome these trying times just fine, but you never know what’s going to happen.

Who could have known that I'd immediately get thrown into the past?

That’s why you have to move with haste. I have many things to do. You know best what I can do and the results I can achieve. I have been thinking about many things, as my actions in the past may have a butterfly effect upon my return. I think this is just a simple event, but it’s highly likely that it's bigger than just a "simple" event. I might do a small experiment, so please be a little more diligent and thorough.

I’m sure you don’t like this because it feels like I’m ordering you around, but you must cooperate with me so you can achieve the same amount of results as me.

I also have other people who can help me if you don’t want to help me, so you can decline if you dare. Lastly, there are many things written in the enclosed letter, and it also contains the manual I mentioned earlier and some of the information about this dungeon that I discovered earlier.

Don’t let your pride burn the letter because I already sent this information to the other commanders. I’ll stop here.

Good luck, Hero of Shadows!

‘Bastard.’

I[1] wanted to tear this letter apart because it wasn’t something I could just laugh off.

The expedition group became depressed upon his disappearance.

Basically, the expedition group couldn’t operate properly anymore.

Just a few hours ago—no, some of the expedition parties were still incapacitated. The main force that was supposed to maintain the balance of the expedition group had announced a temporary hold on the expedition.

I was sitting in his place like a statue, and there were many mages there.

It was shocking that an item had brought him back into the past, but what was even more ridiculous was how the expedition group was handling it.

‘Did they only get the idiots?’

There was an order to find a way to go back to the past. The continent’s most renowned researchers and mages were wasting their time on research that would never bear fruit.

Anyone could see that it was meaningless research.

If that crazy woman following him around couldn’t do it, then it was impossible.

In other words, the top-level expedition members were forced to do meaningless tasks.

At this rate, there was no way we could clear the dungeon.

To make matters worse, the dungeon difficulty was increasing gradually. Our supplies were also getting delayed, and we had yet to receive any decent news.

The command center was urging the first and the remaining strike squads to withdraw; they even made ridiculous comments about cutting off supplies if we refused to return.

That was probably why he thought that this was a good opportunity to do this.

[You have discovered an Epic-rank Hidden Quest, A Warning From the Past.]

“What the hell is that idiot up to?” I mumbled.

[The quest has been completed automatically.]

I had to focus here as well.

‘Looks like he’s not bluffing.’

I was sure the potion that I got as a quest reward had come from him. The potion was already being distributed in the Republic, and I couldn't help but notice it, as it reigned supreme over the market.

The potion was old, but there was nothing wrong with the quality. It probably managed to maintain its original form thanks to the quest's protection rather than the quality of the item.

I got a solid piece of evidence right when I was worried that he was talking nonsense.

Lee Ki-Young was in the past and was waiting for the quest to be completed. I reckoned that he was standing in the same place as I was right now.

“Commander.”

“...” “Commander.”

“Yes, I’m listening,” I answered.

“The Command Center has ordered us to withdraw. They’re going to stop the expedition for now. The other strike squad members, including Mr. Rafael, are confused. At this rate—”

“Are there any items worth reporting from the items that the librarian had dropped? Maybe something related to the dungeon…” I interrupted.

“Nothing like that. Librarian Dolores dropped three spell books that mages can use and priest-exclusive accessories.”

“...”

“Is there anything you’d like to tell the Command Center?’

“Tell them that I’m looking for traces of Lee Ki-Young… I mean, the Sub Guild Master of the Blue Guild,” I answered.

“Excuse me?”

“Tell them that for now. I’ll take care of the rest. Once you're done, distribute the items based on the highest contribution level and prioritize the guilds that haven’t received any items yet,” I instructed.

“Yes, sir.”

I was still in control of the overall situation, but it could change anytime because that was his way of doing things. His unexpected methods would always catch me off guard.

Of course, the majority of his methods were mere bluffs, but I would never underestimate that jerk.

I was sure there were many things he could do under the assumption that this dungeon had existed a long time ago. He could send information about the dungeon, the boss monster, and the map of the dungeon through the method he had used just now.

He could even do something unknown to me.

Whatever he was going to do, it would be helpful in taking down the key figures of this dungeon and increasing his contribution level.

‘Not bad.’

I didn’t like it, but it was a reasonable decision to use him, as I was the commander of this raid. Of course, there were many things I needed to think about besides this game.

‘Was there a reason he needed to go?’

The issue was simple.

He immediately used the invitation he had gotten from Spirit Gelk and took on the risk.

He was a selfish bastard, which was why I couldn’t help but question his choice. I couldn’t exclude the possibility of him hearing about the future from the blind shaman capable of seeing the future.

He was a total piece of trash, but he was overly obsessed with the people within his circle.

‘A dummy and an ignorant fool. Maybe that crazy woman will end up dying in the end.’

He probably died as well.

However, the fact that they died meant that the expedition group was annihilated.

That was when I received a message…

[Starting a Linked Quest.]

[Reply From the Present - Epic]

[You have received a warning from the past. The threat right before your eyes may seem like a nightmare, but I believe you and your comrades will be able to overcome it. If you have proof that you've handled the threat, place it down in the same spot. I pray that you overcome this hardship.]

“Is it to get confirmation?” I questioned.

I was sure he wasn’t aware that I had discovered the quest.

I had no idea how many hundreds or even thousands of years were the gap between the past and the present, but there was no guarantee that this quest had remained hidden until now.

If someone else had discovered this quest, he'd probably think that the future had changed, as he had mentioned that he was worried about the butterfly effect.

He believed the future had to continue this way. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spoken in such a serious tone and in such an ambiguous way using keywords like "handling threats," "hardships," and "nightmares."

I raised my hand quietly and heard a voice.

“Did you call for me, Commander?”

“Can you bring me the loot that we've obtained from Librarian Dolores?” I requested.

“Yes, sir.”

Librarian Dolores' loot was probably the proof that he was talking about.

“And Commander.”

“Go ahead,” I said.

“The Guild Master of the Blue Guild is apparently heading this way.”

‘That piece of trash.’

He was the bastard who didn’t even bother accepting my request for supplies.

I was dumbfounded at the news that he was coming here. I had suffered many times because the Commander Center was so slow in taking care of things, so the fact that they acted quickly this time made me feel angry.

“

Whoo…

”

“Here are the items that you've requested, and I also brought a list of the miscellaneous items that Dolores had dropped in case you needed them. Regarding the distribution… there are people who are worried that they—”

“Can you tell them that we’ll distribute the loot later?” I interrupted.

“Sure.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“...”

[You have submitted the quest item.]

[The Epic-rank Linked Quest, Reply From the Present, has been completed.]

[Starting a Linked Quest.]

[To the Prayer Room - Epic-rank]

[Please head to the prayer room.]

I believed things would become easier from here on out. Since it was a Linked Quest, no one would be able to see the quest except for the person who started the first quest of the Linked Quest.

Since he was thorough, I was sure there were going to be a few more verification processes, but it was going to be fine.

I got up slowly and heard murmurs outside.

“It’s this way, Master.”

“Is it true that traces of Mr. Ki-Young were found?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.

“I’m not sure… but I’m sure Commander Jin Cheong knows the details. I’ll guide you there,” Kasugano Yuno replied.

It didn’t take long for him to reach this place.

“I didn’t think you’d come here so quickly,” I commented.

“...”

“...”

“I heard you found traces of Mr. Ki-Young?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.

“That blind shaman is right. He’s in the past right now. He might be standing exactly where we’re standing right now,” I said.

“What does that have to do with finding traces of him?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.

“He sent a message from the past. There was a potion buried in the ground of the library. He was even thorough with it and used reagents to hide it. He left a quest and I simply replied to it while you were wasting your time there,” I answered.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

I didn’t say he could take it, but he stretched out his hand toward the potion.

‘Rude bastard.’

“...”

“Did he say anything else?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.

“The name of the quest is 'A Warning From the Past,' but I don’t really remember the details. After that, there was a Linked Quest. Apparently, I have to offer Librarian Dolores' loot and head to the prayer room. Maybe—”

“He’s trying to guide me,” Kim Hyun-Sung interrupted me.

“There's a high chance that he's pointing out the place where the expedition group needs to go. Spirit Gelk dropped an invitation to a social gathering, so the environment there has to be better than here…” Kim Hyun-Sung muttered.

“He’s not even listening to me.’

“Anyway, there’s no reason for you to be worried,” I reassured him.

He still wasn’t listening and was just staring at the potion. The researchers of the expedition group took the potion and would probably check to see whether it really came from the past.

And that was when Kim Hyun-Sung said something ridiculous.

“I’ll handle the expedition group myself from now on.”

“Bullshit,” I commented.

“...”

“I am in command. That jerk—I mean, it’s the will of the overall commander along with that woman named Jo Hye-Jin. You have no right to do that. Do you really think that I can trust the fate of the expedition group again to someone who has been demoted?” I argued.

‘He’s just an idiot who only knows how to use brute force.’

Kim Hyun-Sung did not respond to me and simply stared at me quietly.

‘Bastard.’

I felt like things were going to get complicated.

He wouldn't be able to cause direct harm, but he could use a variety of ways to divide the expedition group. Actually, most of the supplies that were supporting the expedition group were coming from the Blue Guild and the Vatican, so I was basically an outsider.

Even if he and the others were to stage a coup, I had no right to stop him. It would be absurd to penalize him for insubordination, as he was above the law.

In the end, I had to say something ridiculous as well.

“You have other things you need to take care of.”

“What are you talking about?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.

“There may be more than one invitation to the social gathering,” I lied.

I was sure there was only one invitation.

1. Jin Cheong’s POV ?