Vol 2 Chapter 6 (2/2)

Ark Yoo Seong 136870K 2022-07-20

”Arghh, it's hot Master you promised”

It was a brave end

Deric's sacrifice had an effect When Dedric rushed in Adelaine's hand slipped to the side Although Ark lost some health he was able to avoid a direct hit

Ark flipped the shi+eld over his back like a turtle and jumped up

”Dark Blade!”

The ic sword released a Dark Blade

With a violent noise, he landed a critical hit At the saolden opportunity appeared In tatters from the acid, Adelaine stumbled as it fell to one knee and allowed a Double Critical Chance Without delay, Ark cast Dark Blade

- With Double Critical Chance, you have landed critical hit 2x

- You have levelled up

As Adelaine's throat gaped open, a black light burst out Since he defeated a level 100 boss monster, Ark instantly levelled up to level 64

Streaht poured out for a while, then Adelaine's body began to shrink ceaselessly Then finally, it shrank to a size siathered in the form of a fe arm as it whispered in a weak voice

- Christin

Slowly, the acid rain stopped

Ark stared at the female Mermaid with a stupefied face He had toppled the boss monster, but the ite else had appeared instead

Just in case, Ark widened the distance and scrutinized the female Mermaid

- Christin, Christin, it's you, right?

The female Mermaid's hands fu

- Why? Why don't you call otten me? Is that it? I waited for you I've waited for you as I cried until er see Christin… please

The female Mermaid bowed her head as she sobbed

- You've becoht? You've becoht? I'ht you would return if I did that You can't forgive me after all? Is that it?

Suddenly, the hand mirror on his chest buzzed as it vibrated Once he took it out, light poured out, reflecting the infla, and started to show a cutscene

There was the man he'd seen in the pillar There was also a Mermaid

Theencroached by darkness

The power of darkness was enveloping the world had not yet reached Nodelesse The land was covered in the flames of war, but Nodellese was as peaceful as it had always been

Because of this, he was evenaway fro And he knew that one day, even beautiful Nodelesse would be stained in darkness

In the end, the man stood

He had decided to devote his life to stopping the great evil that was covering the world Thetime

His lover understood him, it was all she could do Because they were the words of the one she loved

But she didn't accept it

The lover stayed up on the last night, stole one of the man's treasures, and hid it She believed if she hid it, the ain

But the h 10 years passed as time flowed on and the force of darkness was eliminated, the man still did not return

The woretted it

The despair of having to wait for the lover who did not return changed her Her hair fell and her skin cracked like an old tree

The never-ending tears even robbed her of her sight And finally, her end ca end, she entrusted her body to Gallic, her soul-companion

So even if she died, the man's treasure would be protected

It was the only thing she could do as atonement

After iretting so

Ark felt her ely

The hand mirror even conveyed her emotions But it wasn't the only reason

Why wouldn't he understand the longing, loneliness, and pain for a lost one? Ark had experienced the sa, after all

5 years ago when his father passed away, he felt the same indescribable pain

Even more if it had happened because of his mistake

The wounded soul trembled as it wept

- I'm sorry I'm sorry

Ark lowered his shi+eld and walked toward her

What could he do? What could he do for her?

His heart was filled with syirl as turned into an evil spirit while waiting for her lover Once the evil spirit'sfor forgiveness

Having received her erasped her hand

”Adelaine… you've done nothing wrong That's how love is It can only be beautiful because it is so very selfish That is love, and it is the same kind of love I shared with you No one will be able to blaive you because I've never hated you”

- Christin

Adelaine's eyes trembled

It was then

Suddenly, her grey fored into a younger body

It was the appearance of the beautiful Mermaid he had seen in the hand mirror and pillar

She gazed at Ark with a bewitching shtly kissed him

'Does Adelaine know I'm not her lover?'

As he received the kiss he instinctively thought as such

But she just revealed an auous smile as she slowly disappeared

Miracle Nursing has succeeded

Through sorrow that arose from sincerity, you aided a fallen soul People with bodily pains are not the only patients Patients who truly need someone's hand are people who know an illness of the heart An illness of the heart is a terrifying sickness that corrupts the soul

An illness of the body can be treated with medicine, but an illness of the heart can only be treated by a person who understands

Sometimes, just one word of coic can replicate With your sincere words of comfort, Adelaine's heart has now found peace, and she can be with the person she loves

For succeeding in Miracle Nursing, all your stats has increased by 1

Affection has increased by 10

Fame has increased by 50

Your alignment to Good has increased by 50

Since you've succeeded in Miracle Nursing, your title has been elevated to 'Soul Caretaker'

Your fame as a caretaker has increased and you will come to receive the praises of many of the sick

As a title-related bonus, all stats increase by 1 each

Fame increases by 50

A stone fragment and necklace fell at the spot where Adelaine had disappeared

Mysterious Stone Fragment Infused with Ancient Power

It is a y from its surface

You can check it once Knowledge of Ancient Artifacts becomes level 50 Until it is checked, the oill suffer a -50 penalty to all stats

Adelaine's Necklace (Rare)

Item type: Necklace

Restriction: Level 70

A necklace used by Adelaine, it is a simple pearl necklace However, it responded to the Adelaine's affection as she prayed for her loved one's safety and caical power

Effect: Defense increased by 30, Affection increased by 5

Special Effect: Once a day, you can use the ocean's blessing to raise defense by 40

'It's a R-rare item! And an accessory!'

Users who hadn't been able to put on a single ring even at level 100 were a the majority Accessories were extremely precious, moreover, if it was Rare then it was an item hard to find even in an auction

He had been very expectant since he'd defeated a level 100 boss eon, but this was truly above his expectations

The penalty iment wasn't a problem Once he put it in Snake's belly, it didn't affect Ark

As Ark drooled while grabbing the ite in the space

- Thank you Adventurer

”Huh? Wh-who?”

- I am the owner of the body you are inside of

”Body? Then, perhaps White Whale Gallic?”

- That is my name

”Haven't you gone insane?”

- I was insane However, when you purified Adelaine, I ca-time companion She spent hundreds of years inside me as she waited for soo, but her mind remained and waited for him However, that was the problem

Gallic let out a big sigh and said in a bitter voice

- Dark energy lies in the object she stole It does not exert very , but it is fatal to a soul In addition, she rought with guilt over having betrayed hi as her love Because of it, she was consumed by the dark force the stone emanated And I, who shared a spiritual bond with her, was also assimilated into that darkness, thus I lost my senses

”Someone ould not return? What do you mean?”

- Actually, he died before Adelaine came into me

”What? Then why didn't you tell her?”

- She also knew Even though I did not like knowing, she cae it She drew her last breath, and her soul believed he would return That is love

Although he was just a whale he was talking about all sort of things

In any case, after listening to his words, Ark felt even more sorry for Adelaine As Ark lowered his head with a melancholic expression, the white whale spoke in a loud voice

- Raise your head with pride Adventurer! Straighten your shoulders! You have freed a lover from the pain she suffered for hundreds of years Where could you find a more praiseworthy deed for a man?!

RUUUUUMBLE!

The space suddenly shook and an enormous amount of sea water rushed into the stomach Unable to prepare the Sharkman's Shackles, Ark ept by the torrent in the space of a single breath and sucked into somewhere In the next moment, he was launched up by an incredible force

At the saht before his eyes, and he could see the blue sky

”Blechh, bleeech!”

Fro to draw breath in vain

Ark surged into the sky riding the plu from Gallic's blowhole He saw the blue sky illu endlessly underneath him all at once

He saw the White Whale's back as it surged above the sea like a ical and beautiful spectacle

”So that's what happened”

The Mermaid Queen nodded

Ark returned to Nodelesse with the White Whale When he conveyed the tangled truth about Adelaine, the Mermaids received a considerable shock

Since everything they had believed as the truth originated froe it

However, they couldn't help but believe the words of Gallic, who had witnessed the very truth himself

”Your courage and love, which just looked foolhardy, have brought about a good result in the end All Merpeople should feel asha the Meow all this tiement”

'Eh? Meow? What is this absurdity?'

Until now, he had never once heard of the Meow from the Merpeople But why did this ter had been settled?

As Ark made a confused expression, the Queen asked as if she was surprised, ”Didn't you know?”

”What are you talking about?”

”Christin was the hero of the Meow They also call him Hero Maban”

”Hero Maban?” Ark was shocked

Dark Walker was Hero Maban's initial profession Because of this, ever since his job-change, Ark had been exa tons of data to try and find information about Hero Maban

All of New World's professions had a related hero If you found information about that hero, there were many cases where you earned a linked quest It was an essential quest that granted ite the profession

But Ark hadn't been able to find any inforiven up But to think the hand mirror quest was a quest related to the Hero Maban!

'That's right, why didn't I think of that? Debra desired the power of Hero Maban Then the ite Hero Maban's strength And Merpeople are also related to beasts in the end'

At last all the clues caless since everything was already over

”Now he is called Hero Maban, but back then he was just a Meow boy Because of that, many Merpeople opposed the former Mermaid Queen's love Before then, the Meow and the Merpeople did not have a good relationshi+p”

'No wonder At the heart of it, it was the relationshi+p between a cat and a fish?'

”And then he eventually left Nodelesse, and the for for him Gallic also went crazy as a result, and in the end the Merpeople who hated Chrstin fro pinned all the blame on him and became sworn enemies of the Meow All of the Beasts saw Hero Maban as the savior, but the Merpeople did not acknowledge it Though that was all hundreds of years ago”

”Will theclear now?”

”Yes, your effort has resolved all s I will represent the Merpeople and send an as so far I do not doubt the era of hostility will end, and an era of harmony and peace will come” Queen smiled and nodded

”Also ill not forget the favor you have done for us You have returned our patron guardian Gallic to us You have done what no one, let alone a Merperson was able to do As the hero of the Merpeople, I give you our most heartfelt thanks”

The Merave Ark a kiss At Ark's ehed softly as she spoke, ”This is the sign of thanks Merpeople convey to someone who has become a true friend”

'Ah, so she does know'

Ark remembered Adelaine's last kiss and let out a bitter smile

”You are the most heroic friend and benefactor of the mermaids I, the Queen of the Merpeople, do so vow Just as you have sacrificed for the Merpeople, and we proth when you are in need”

”For the benefactor!” The Merpeople pulled out their swords and raised them as they shouted

- The Encroaching Darkness quest has been completed

When the quest was completed, his level rose by 1 and became 65

But Ark was restless

The process of the story was progressing si Lord of Jackson The story of theht off without a single reward!

But Ark's worry was baseless

Perhaps because she was a Queen in na Lord

”This is the sift we have prepared to thank you for your work”

The Merave him an armor made out of transparent scale

Guardian Aric)

Armor Type

Leather Armor

Defense

80

Durability

100

Weight

35

Usage Restriction

Level 60

Guardian arnition of the Merpeople can equip Legends say it is ht and soft reat ease In addition, anyone who equips this are or penalties

Option: Water Attribute Resistance +100, Penalty based on water is nullified

Ark's eyes became very wide

With many options related to water it still has an defense of 80 It is 2 ti now! Even if it is aat its defense, this is an s-class rare item

Leather armor he obtained from Andel had better defense than a level 40 Plated armor

The only thing that bothered hiic repair skill level, he would not be able to repair it himself

'Che, if it wasn't for that I could have sold it at rare item price'

”There is oneI would like from you”

”If it is for the Merpeople I would be willing to do anything” Ark perked his ears and nodded

”Since we have lived in isolation for too long, there is no one within the Merpeople who knows the outside world Therefore ould like you to go to the Meow as the aies”

Envoy of the Merpeople

The Queen of the Merpeople regrets the past and wishes to reconcile with the Meow Merpeople and Meow; you who is friendly with both, has a high chance of reconciling the two tribes

Difficulty: G

Quest Requirement: Meow and Mermaid intimacy must be over 70

The quest requirement makes the difficulty a G It also doesn't seem like a quest that will make money

But Ark alelcomes a quest

”I understand”

”But I don't know if I canaround the ocean, they have also been hiding from those on land”

”If that's what you're concerned about, there's no need to worry”

Ark laughed silently and brushed aside what she said And told the tale of how he saved the Meow in the ruins and obtained the title of 'Cat Knight'

”If I go the Meoill forgive the past ”

”No way, to think you'd have such a relationshi+p with the Meow I see Finally I can understand why you were able to find Nodelesse and free Adelaine You in the end came to keep your promise with Adelaine”

”Perhaps I did”

”Then it would be good for you, the Seeker of Truth, to keep the precious stone Adelaine kept I can't really explain it to you, but if I'end is the Hero Maban's, one of the three”

”The legendary three?”

”It's one of the three stones that contains the power of the Hero Maban They disappeared with Hero Maban so their whereabouts are unknown It's a rumor that Hero Maban left one of the three in the Subterranean when he traveled there”

'Its the infor quest for the next job!'

Ark immediately asked ”Where is Subterranean?”

”That is so nobody knows They are a se, the Subterranean inhabitants lived disconnected They were a tribe shrouded in a veil The only person who talked to them was Hero Maban”

Although he was disappointed of not knohere it was, he at least had a clue

”Well then, lets get out Everyone would want to look at the face of the hero”

Queen lead Ark outside

Co out of the castle, Nodelesse's countless Mer the square filled with Merpeople, he covered with kisses

He could handle the female Mermaid's kisses, but it was really hard to withstand kisses frorey bearded elderly

When they got out of the square and reached the entrance, the Queen said

”Gallic has finally returned to the Merpeople, and will remain with us for hundreds of years Even if you traveled across the endless ocean, you won't be able to find us However, the country of the Merpeople will return Until that time, please hold on to this”

Queen handed him a small flute

Flute of the Merpeople (Special)

A flute that allows you to call Merpeople friends You can use it anywhere at sea

After Ark received the flute, he took few steps and at that moment, all of Nodelesse shook The floor cracked as if there was an earthquake and the entire city rose up Gigantic White Whale Gallic had lifted the entire city

Gallic rolled his building-like eyes looking at Ark and let out a resonating roar Then he sprayed tsunah the ocean

The colorful underwater city Nodelesse slowly got further Clearing up its dark history, it was leaving to find its home after hundreds of years

'Haa, for some reason I feel empty'

Ark looked at Nodelesse blankly until it was out of his sight

It was a place wherehe could take with him, and on land, there wasfor Ark!

Ark blew on the Flute of the Merpeople

Since he was underwater, there would be no way sound would come out, but after few seconds, countless dolphins came The dolphin lowered its body to indicate to him to ride on

When Ark got on, the dolphins went up at incredible speed heading to the water surface

Countless dolphins came above the water surface as they sprayed water Then like a surfboard they started to speedily go to shore

Although it took a few days to reach Nodelesse, by riding on the dolphins, it didn't even take 30 minutes In the distance the appearance of a lovely shore was revealed