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Translator: uly
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Dark Phoenix's Nest
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"No guild mark, huh?"
"Yeah, but they've got the mercenary badge that Onbiroad residents use on their chests. Do any players actually use those?"
"Players can register as mercenaries too. But aside from the early adopters, most probably quit. Or maybe these guys aren't players at all."
"What nonsense. Why would a resident come into the sanctuary?"
"If one player's on a mercenary team, they could enter to pick up their comrades. If they came in one by one and grouped up on the way out..."
"Ah, that would explain dodging attention. Still, they're definitely not from Beloca."
Left behind by Geon-woo's group marching silently out of the sanctuary amid the players' commotion, the crowd's speculations branched off wildly.
Geon-woo paid it no mind and kept walking straight toward the sanctuary's exit.
'The spiritual links feel way stronger and tougher than before?'
Even so, he busily checked his eight jiangshi's ritual connections in his mind.
The Cheonnoe Bunsim Jeryeonggong was a mental technique taught to him by Ilryeong for controlling jiangshi.
What made it special was that its proficiency increased in stages—1-star, 2-star, 3-star, and so on—with each level allowing control of one more jiangshi.
When Ilryeong first met Geon-woo, her condition was the worst imaginable.
Fresh from the shock of an abrupt dimensional shift and crushed by Onbiroad's world will, she was on the brink of soul dissipation.
Desperate, she taught him the Cheonnoe Bunsim Jeryeonggong and begged him to make her his first jiangshi using it.
Originally a technique for commanding jiangshi, it could also affect souls.
It was worth a shot, and since it succeeded, Ilryeong now existed as Geon-woo's inaugural jiangshi.
Thanks to her, Geon-woo safely completed his first Onbiroad expedition and secured a massive haul of soulstones.
'Not only fully recovered, but stronger too? Best outcome possible.'
Geon-woo scanned the states of his linked jiangshi and grinned beneath his face-concealing helmet.
Seven years ago, when he'd hidden them in the sanctuary's basement before leaving, the jiangshi were in rough shape.
They'd taken heavy damage after a massive battle.
He'd gathered every drug he could and sealed them in stone coffins.
To think it'd turn out this well—his shoulders couldn't help but shake with excitement.
Murmur murmur, chatter chatter.
"Where they headed? Those guys?"
"See what they buy at the market. Expedition prep means demon zones. Otherwise..."
"Can't tell from their vibe? They look scary as hell. Obviously demon hunting."
"That's my take too, but..."
Geon-woo and his jiangshi exited the sanctuary, which resembled a grand medieval European cathedral from Earth.
Countless eyes trailed their group from behind.
"Come on over! We've got low, mid, and high-grade expedition packages. As you can see, they're packed solid."
"Our expedition packages aren't all the same. Here's the best value: the Hayeonjeong craftsman set."
"One week, half-month, full month. New packages tailored by duration."
The vendors closest to the sanctuary hawked expedition packages.
Geon-woo walked a few steps, then stopped to eye them.
Stalls lined left and right, merchants hollering to draw crowds.
Most were Ark Capsule users.
Earth players who'd crossed over.
Their packages bundled essentials for demon hunts.
Mostly rations, plus consumables like potions, bandages, whetstones, oil.
Geon-woo glanced around, then headed to the widest stall.
"Hey there, welcome! Looking for something specific?"
The stall owner, who'd been side-eyeing Geon-woo since he left the sanctuary, scurried over with a bow.
"High-grade package, one month's worth."
Geon-woo skipped browsing and placed his order.
Packages were much of a muchness, people said.
The Hayeonjeong craftsman label rated highest, and this stall sold exactly that.
"High-grade for a month? For all nine of you?"
The merchant's mouth stretched ear-to-ear at Geon-woo's words.
A plain-faced man in his mid-forties, his face bloomed with the thrill of an unexpected windfall.
"Nine? Nah, one person."
But the reply drifting from Geon-woo's black helmet dashed those hopes.
Nine bodies, but just one person's worth?
Disappointment and bafflement crossed the merchant's face, soon laced with disgust in his gaze.
Favoring the leader over the group screamed bad form—an instinctive reaction.
Geon-woo, oblivious or uncaring, silently stared the merchant down, urging him on.
"Just a sec. One-month's here, right here."
The merchant recovered quickly despite his slip.
A high-grade month-long package was still prime business.
Plenty good customer.
He opened one side of the stall and hauled out a bulky bundle.
Wooden frame stuffed with goods, wrapped in coarse cloth, with shoulder straps for backpacking.
"50 solpi."
He set it down before him and quoted the price to Geon-woo.
Geon-woo sized up the merchant briefly.
Solpi meant soul piece, fragments of soulstones.
100 solpi made one soul.
So 100 solpi equaled 1 soul.
"Here."
Geon-woo didn't haggle.
He hadn't pinned down Beloca's prices yet, but the lingering crowd's stares told him 50 solpi was fair.
He pulled a 1-soul soulstone from his belt pouch, handed it over, and pocketed the 50 solpi change.
A burly jiangshi stepped forward, slung the package box onto its back, and returned to line.
"Definitely hunting, then?"
"Buying expedition packs says yes."
"But nine people, one month's worth? How's that work?"
"Idiot, it's recon for a few days, duh."
"Could be. Buy eight low-grade elsewhere for 5 solpi extra."
"5 solpi a joke? That's like 500 bucks on Earth. Soul prices are spiking hard lately."
"Gotta scrape 100 solpi for a usable soul anyway. Can't even take solpi back to Earth. It's just solpi."
"So hoard like mad..."
"Yeah yeah, you dirt-poor types do that. I'm buying, not selling."
"Hey, spare a coin!"
"Peace!"
"They're having fun. Tsk tsk."
The players buzzed again over Geon-woo's group.
Geon-woo ignored them utterly and resumed walking.
The sanctuary's avenue stretched about 500 meters, flanked by stalls and shops.
Closest were expedition package vendors.
Farther out: shops breaking down package components, then arms, armor, potions, sundries.
Farthest from the sanctuary, near the gates: buyers targeting returning hunters' loot.
= Heading straight to demon territory like this?
As Geon-woo neared Beloca's gates, Ilryeong eyed him and asked.
'Why? Seem rushed?'
= Yes, my lord. Aren't you pushing too hard...?
She sensed haste in his beeline for demon lands right after arriving in Onbiroad.
'Got armor, decent sword. Jiangshi geared fine too.'
= True, but still...
'Scout the situation with some hunting first. Jiangshi are priority. Gotta test their changes. Plus, souls mean revives now. No real death, and we've got plenty. What's to worry?'
= Ah, not like the first expedition where revives were impossible. My mistake.
First expedition: all eight players entered with just 1 soul soulstone.
Death meant Earth return, mission fail—one-coin game.
That forced caution on the 1st Expedition Team; even Geon-woo wasn't fully free of it.
Ilryeong's wariness stemmed from those memories.
"Welcome. Using the gate?"
As Geon-woo approached Beloca's gates, a spear-wielding guard stepped up to the lead jiangshi.
Geon-woo moved to the front.
"Yes."
He favored courtesy with Onbiroad natives.
No rough talk with the guard.
"Which gate? Demon territory or residential zones?"
Not all players braved demon hunts.
Many enjoyed safe rear residential areas.
The guard asked between those two.
"To demon territory."
Geon-woo chose the demon-hunt gate without pause.
The guard grinned as if expecting it, pointing left.
Demons were dimensional invaders.
Their hunters were Onbiroad heroes.
Not like joyriders.
Hence the guard's bright smile.
"Left gate. Five gates, each to different spots."
"Which has the highest danger?"
"Farthest left. Next is center, then far right. The other two are middling."
The sandwiched pair: newbie hunter fields.
Likely Onbiroad beasts unrelated to demons.
Or bug-type critters, lowest demon minions.
Not Geon-woo's interest.
"Then the farthest left gate leads to..."
Highest danger.
His choice, naturally.
But.
"Dark Phoenix's Nest."
"Hmm, got it."
Geon-woo paused at the guard's answer: Dark Phoenix's Nest for the deadliest field.
Of all names, their own nest.
His helmet hid any reaction.
He nodded and headed straight to the leftmost gate outside the walls.
The gate guard didn't stop them, waving an arm toward it.
"Come back safe."
= Dark Phoenix's Nest?
Amid the farewell, Ilryeong hurried after with a what's-this face.
The five gates stood side-by-side, mere dozens of meters from the walls—quick arrival.
Geon-woo and his jiangshi stepped through the mirror-like portals without hesitation, rears vanishing from sight.