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98. Trials

Ko Byeong-gap knocked on the transparent membrane a few times, sending round ripples like a stone thrown into the water. He then squinted his eyes and looked inside. Of course, all he could see was hazy fog.

“What the hell is this?” Marilyn asked in a serious tone.

Ko Byeong-gap pulled out his sword instead of answering. He pierced it with his blade infused with aura, but it caused no damage to the transparent membrane. He smacked his lips as he pulled it back.

‘I did it just in case, but it seems that it can’t be broken by force.’

When he remained silent, Marilyn grew frustrated. She changed the subject and asked Dorma.

“Dorma, do you know?”

“Well, I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’ll be better to think of it as some sort of barrier.”

“Barrier?”

“Yes, to prevent the entry and exit of unidentified objects. As you can see, it can’t be broken.”

“So there’s no way to get through it?”

“Well, something like that.”

“…”

Marilyn was lost in thought, but her expression was complex. She seemed anxious, strangely relieved, and discouraged but rejoicing in some way. In a different sense from her, Ko Byeong-gap was also lost in thought.

‘Why is it covered in fog? This doesn’t feel right.’

The places they passed didn’t have it, so everyone felt anxious about the inconsistent pattern. Of course, he wasn’t a toddler that would stomp their feet when faced with unexpected situations. After all, wasn’t there other crap that he had gone through in his life? This kind of unexpected situation wasn’t something to be worked up about.

‘If it’s fogged up, there’s something inside. The question is whether it’s positive or negative.’

He thought about the time they cleared the fog and made their way out of Somnium. They gained a new home but were exposed to the threat of the Gruggles at the same time. It wouldn’t be different this time. They could take on unexpected disadvantages by clearing that fog, and that was why Ko Byeong-gap hesitated.

‘Well… even so, it’s ridiculous to come all the way here and go back empty-handed.’

His mind was leaning towards clearing the fog. He just wanted a moment to take a break. They couldn’t just go back because it would’ve been a waste of gas, but it seemed that Marilyn had something else to say.

“Lord, it’s a pity, but I’m afraid we might have to go back now….”

“Huh? What?”

“I’m telling you that we have to go back to Valtadren.”

“What are you talking about? Why would we come all the way here just to go back?”

“What? But there’s no way to cross the line, is there?”

“There is. All we have to do is pay money and get the ticket.”

Marilyn blinked, not understanding what Ko Byeong-gap said. She turned to Dorma.

“Is there a way to cross the line? Didn’t you say there wasn’t?”

“When did I say that? I told you it was sort of like that.”

“…”

“Lord can get rid of that fog.”

A shadow darkened her face.

Ko Byeong-gap opened the ancient shop without even looking at it. He bought the Explorer’s Flag for 500,000 crystals. These days, there was no longer a need to modify their fortress, and they had accumulated many crystals, albeit it was still very costly.

“…Huh? What is that?”

Marilyn looked at the flag, and her eyes widened.

“What’s wrong?”

“The sign on the flag, that’s the sign of the Mandara Knights.”

The triangular cloth was painted with a sword with wings. Ko Byeong-gap nodded without much emotion, saying, “I guess so.” Then, suddenly, with a flash of excitement, he spoke in a cheerful tone as if he had suddenly thought of something.

“Marilyn.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“From now on, you will be the commander of the Mandara Knights.”

“…What?”

“I don’t know about the past, but the leader position is vacant now. That’s why you have to be prepared. It’s a promotion, I mean.”

Marilyn was dumbfounded and couldn’t answer. Ko Byeong-gap continued, wagging his fingers in excitement.

“It will be fine. The name of the old Ashvilam Army is Mandara. So now, I’ll make a flag like this. I’ll draw the same thing.”

“…”

“Honestly, you wouldn’t have been satisfied with being the vice-captain. So take this opportunity to feel better.”

Ko Byeong-gap giggled since he found it funny. It was like running a small business and giving away the managerial position, but it was as if something wasn’t right. No one said anything. Even though it was half a joke, Marilyn was serious. She stood still like a stone, then suddenly fell on one knee.

“I, Marilyn, will gladly uphold the undeserved glory that Lord has given me.”

“Hey, hey! Don’t do that. I get goosebumps every time.”

Ko Byeong-gap shuddered. Nevertheless, Marilyn’s words didn’t stop.

“I’m still not good enough and foolish, but I will break my body to meet the faith that Lord has given me. Thank you.”

“Oh my God…”

Ko Byeong-gap let out a sad smile.

“What do you mean ‘break your body’? Get up now. I’m afraid someone’s going to see you.”

“…Yes.”

He raised Marilyn and approached the fog, and without hesitation, he put the flag on the transparent membrane.

***

The fog disappeared in an instant as if it had ever existed. At the same time, a wall of such an overwhelming scale appeared. The magnificent figure made the Ko Byeong-gap and his party exclaim…

‘This is Vervonia.’

Vervonia was so vast that he couldn’t take it all in at a glance. A row of walls stretched to the end of his view.

‘Valtadren is quite spacious, but it’s a rural village compared to this.’

It would’ve been more appropriate to call Vervonia a city than a castle. It was amazing that such a super-sized building was built 1,000 years ago.

“Get in the car, both of you. Let’s go inside.”

“Yes.”

Ko Byeong-gap drove around the wall. It was so damaged that it was hard to find a decent path. However, it was in a better condition compared to the castles that they had passed. What was left within the walls? They soon found a passageway to go inside. It wasn’t a door, but a broken gap, which was enough for their car to fit in. Everyone’s eyes grew bigger as they entered the castle.

Vervonia was certainly different from the rest.

‘You’re in better condition than I thought, aren’t you…? Is it because of the fog?’

It wasn’t easy to find traces of the past in Limedry and Vicosus. It was hard to tell whether the site was once a castle or a playground, but Vervonia still had thousands of buildings standing. They could hardly see the weathering of time.

Of course, that didn’t mean it was okay.

‘It feels like a ghost could jump out at any moment.’

The place was very eerie. More than 80% of the buildings were destroyed, and the traces of ash and blood spread on the walls looked dull. The weather seemed gloomy for no reason. Simply put, it felt like coming to a haunted house. To add to that, it wouldn’t be strange for them to pass by a few bodies on the street.

“Lo… Lord! Excuse me!”

Dorma had a surprised expression and pointed to one side. Ko Byeong-gap reflexively stepped on the brake. The car rattled and shrieked briefly.

“Why? Why!? What is it?”

“Oh, dear…”

Dorma answered, rubbing his throat.

“Look over there. There are white bones.”

“White bones?”

It was true that there were white bones. Someone’s remains were jutting out from the ruins of a collapsed building. They could feel the urgency of death in their hands that stretched forward. Ko Byeong-gap examined Marilyn through the rearview mirror. Of course, her expression was rotten.

…Actually, her expression on this trip had rarely been good.

They climbed out of the car to examine the white bones. As soon as they got out, the smell of blood reached their noses, and Marilyn spoke in an icy voice.

“It’s the same.”

“What?”

“It’s the same scenery as when the wind and blood blew in Ashvilam that day. Even this terrible smell of blood. Everything… everything stayed the same. The pain, despair, and fear of the day still fill Vervonia…”

Her face gradually grew distorted. It wasn’t long before a great rage engulfed her. She gritted her teeth and her eyes burned.

“Those horrid, cursed things! Ashvilam… how could they make Vervonia look like this?!”

“Marilyn…”

“They… they must be killed! Kill them and grind their blood and flesh! If we don’t avenge our dead kind—!”

“Hey, Marilyn!”

When Ko Byeong-gap shouted, Marilyn’s eyes returned. She looked his way with a blank face.

“…What?”

“You need to clear your mind. Go back to the car.”

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

Marilyn limped back to the car.

‘It reminded her of the old days.’

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand her perspective. Vervonia seemed to be intact enough for her to recall memories of the disaster. She must’ve come to the scene of their suffering during that misfortune, so it wasn’t unusual for her emotions to rise. Ko Byeong-gap and Dorma examined the condition of the bones. There was no other information to pick up. They were nothing but remains, presumed to be of a Sarahon.

“I’ll have to bring all the kids over later.”

“For what?”

“We have to bury the Sarahons. We can’t leave them like this.”

“Oh…”

“Currently, I have something else to do, so I’m sorry. But when we have time later, let’s bury them.”

“As expected, Lord is considerate.”

“Never mind, don’t think too deeply of it. I’m just trying to be ‘human’.”

Ko Byeong-gap and Dorma got into the car. As soon as they did, Marilyn spoke.

“Lord, we have to go over there.”

She leaned out and pointed to one side. As he followed the tips of her fingers, he could see a high spire and wall. The size of the wall alone seemed to be about the level of Valtadren’s.

“Did you remember something?”

“Yes, I have to go over there.”

“Okay, let’s go there.”

Ko Byeong-gap started the car without hesitation. Horrible sights appeared again and again on their way to their destination. Crushed, charred, and torn white bones, ashes…

He periodically examined Marilyn’s condition. Fortunately, she wasn’t as frenzied as she was before. Rather, he couldn’t feel any emotion from her, as if she became a doll. After about 20 minutes of slow driving, they reached the wall while Marilyn navigated and gave directions. Ko Byeong-gap turned as he was told.

After turning a dozen times, they were able to reach the palace that l as a missile had hit it.

“It’s here.”

“Okay, let’s get off.”

After getting out of the car, Ko Byeong-gap habitually tuned into his surroundings. He felt no signs of life.

‘If this place were still fully intact, it would have been amazing.’

The palace was truly majestic. There were also large temples in Valtadren, but compared to them, these were double in size. Marilyn took the lead and walked through the dark in the crumbling gaps.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Lord. By the way, what’s in here? Do you have any expectations?”

“Well, how am I supposed to know?”

Marilyn said, “It’s essential for the revival of Ashvilam,” but she didn’t specify anything.

“Well, isn’t there a legendary weapon or something? Don’t you have any ideas?”

“Hmm… I don’t know. I can’t think of anything. Oh, since you said it could be a legendary weapon, it could be something like a legendary secret book.”

“Oh, it could be. Like a top-class textbook?”

Among the textbooks in the ancient shop, the highest level was Advanced. In other words, they could only be as strong as the advanced textbook. If there were a top-class textbook here, it would be very helpful in growing stronger.

“Lord, this way.”

“Oh, yeah, yeah. We’re going.”

Marilyn went ahead, looking left and right before running out. She looked around again, before going ahead even further. She seemed to know something. Legendary weapons and secret books, treasure maps, enormous wealth, even beautiful women. Ko Byeong-gap and Dorma made all sorts of speculations as they followed. After more than half an hour of walking, they arrived at a large open area.

“It is here.”

Marilyn looked back at Ko Byeong-gap and spoke. He swiveled his head and eyes around to examine the space.

‘What? What is it?’

The place was empty, like an empty house before moving in. In the center of the hall, columns about 2 meters long were set in a circle. Inside the circles drawn by the pillars, geometric patterns that couldn’t be understood were drawn on the floor. Beyond that, a huge cuboid-shaped sarcophagus was placed on a podium. Marilyn stood in front of a pillar and pointed at it.

“Lord, the key to revive Ashvilam is in there. Go ahead and open it.”

“Lord, you should try it.”

“Yeah, let’s go. Anyway, I think it’s pretty big. I don’t know if I can load it on the trailer.”

Ko Byeong-gap walked to the podium without thinking. It was at the moment he entered the circle. Marilyn grabbed Dorma’s collar and, at the same time, shoved Ko Byeong-gap’s back.

“Whoa!”

Ko Byeong-gap lost his balance and fell.

“Huh? Lord?! Are you alright?!”

“Hey, you just…”

Ko Byeong-gap looked up at Marilyn with a question mark in his eyes. Dorma looked at Marilyn with a mixture of anger and bewilderment.

“You… are you crazy? How dare you push Lord?! Let go of me right now!”

Dorma immediately tried to run to Ko Byeong-gap, but Marilyn grabbed him tightly and wouldn’t let go. Ko Byeong-gap couldn’t get up. He wasn’t shocked that his subordinate pushed him. The reason why he couldn’t get up…

“Are you crying? Why are you crying?”

Tears poured down her cheeks. Her face was distorted with grief, and her shoulders trembled. Dorma, who had been raving with anger, also paused when he saw her tears.

“Lo… Lord… Ugh!”

“…”

Marilyn sobbed and pursed her lips, choking on her sorrow.

“Are you thinking of any bad memories? Don’t cry and tell me.”

Ko Byeong-gap spoke in a soothing tone. Just as he tried to get up on his knees, Marilyn managed to speak.

“Oh! Lord… I’m sorry. I… don’t ever forgive me!”

“Hey, hey, that’s enough. What were you thinking about pushing me? Hmm?”

That moment, the pillars stuck all around him radiated light. The geometric patterns drawn on the floor also glowed.

“What… what’s this? What? What?!”

An invisible hand grabbed his body. He tried to shake it off with force, but it was stronger than him. Soon, his back bent like a bow. A scream burst out from his mouth.

“Ugh… Ah! Aaaaah! Ah!!!”

“Lord! Let go of me! What have you done?!”

“No! You can’t go in!”

Marilyn almost hugged Dorma, who wasn’t able to withstand her power. All he could do was scream.

“Lord! Lord! Lord! You devilish bitch! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! Let go of me!”

“Argh! Argh! Argh!”

“Lord! Get out of here, Lord!”

How could he get out? Ko Byeong-gap’s body floated up helplessly. Soon, bright marbles began to come out from his solar plexus. It emitted a bright light…

It was… it was the essence of the Goblin Lord.