Chapter 74: Path of Olives (2)
Chapter 74: Path of Olives (2)
I read Lavoghers diary after Id returned to the SkyLord, which gave me 5 more quests.
[Engraved Sword Vherma]
Exploration Quest
Difficulty: A+
Track down the third engraved sword 'Vherma', the Ironwood family sword of the Lowsvan.
History: From time immemorial, the Ironwood family had a custom of sending their eldest son to an allied war to be tested. The eldest son who returned was entitled to become Ironwood's successor, but most did not. Ultimately, this custom led to the destruction of the Ironwood family.
Fortunately, their castles and cemeteries in the territory of Lowsvan, which was an ally to Asparagan, were able to receive the most respectful care after death.
[Engraved Sword Ghorma]
Exploration Quest
Difficulty: B
Search the pond located under the lightest rock.
History: Ghorma, the heaviest of the engraved swords, belonged to Patton the Foolish Swordsman. Despite a history of accidentally cutting off the ears or toes of his comrades, Patton was able to become a renowned mercenary with victories in every battle.
He was very aware of his reputation, so he raised his worth, bought a mansion, met his young and pretty wife, and lived a solid life.
However, his happiness did not last long. One day, he was lying around the well to rest for a while at the camp where he was dispatched, slept too deeply and slipped into the well. He came to his senses and struggled to get out, but the terribly heavy weight of Ghorma sank his master to the bottom of the well.
[Engraved Sword Phirma]
Exploration Quest
Difficulty: A
Follow the traces of the Crimson battlefield.
History: The Crimson Madman. He was the Double Crown ranked mercenary from Bing Caravan always soaked in the blood of his enemies, who was said to be the ruler of the battlefield.
However, in contrast to his reputation, his head was pierced by the engraving sword he possessed. The reason for his death was simple, it was a miscontrol.
[Engraved Sword Zherma]
Exploration Quest
Difficulty: A+
Search the Path of Olives located in Tikris.
History: A swordsman who was resting on the ruins of the Beyless family was mysteriously attacked. The body found afterward had his chest pierced by the swordsmans own sword.
The case was concluded as a suicide case, and was called the Depressing Suicide Case of an Unfortunate Swordsman. However, it was later revealed that the sword was moved arbitrarily by external magic, leaving the Informants of Tikris flustered about the result.
[Engraved Sword Mharma]
Exploration Quest
Difficulty: S+
Search the place where clouds dwell located in the Asdaron Mountains.
History: Hatchling Hunter Garvan. He was one of the most famous rank of Triple Crown in the Mercenary Guild. However, his adventure story ended in the mountains of Asdaron.
But there was no movement of the information guild to recover his body.
Only for this one reason that Asdaron Mountains was too dangerous of an area to enter.
And among those five quests, there was one that caught my eyes.
Engraved Sword Zherma
The content of the quest was pointing to the destination of the mission that Virens, the Gold Head of Tikris, requested of us.
How could such a coincidence happen?
***
When I hurriedly left the room, Khea was nowhere to be seen. There was only a neatly folded blanket in the corner.
I came out to the pier and scrambled through the many players until I came all the way out to the Street of Coins searching for Khea. However, Khea was still nowhere to be seen.
I was always greeted by Khea when I came out of the room. I was starting to get a little nervous because I couldnt find her.
However, as my worries began to grow, I was able to find Khea walking in the distance.
I ran like a madman toward her. She looked at me surprised as she held her two white paperbags in her hands.
Where have you been?
At my question, she answered me like there was no problem.
I just went to go buy some Kefile leaves, since we were starting to run low on them.
As soon as I heard her answer, all the tension I had built up in my body melted away. I was imagining all kinds of possibilities even though she was away for just a brief moment.
Very occasionally, there were times when I would get worried for no reason, and this was one of those situations.
This reminded me of that one time when I was worried sick about my mother, only because she came home one hour later than usual.
Why are you looking so pale?
Oh, nothing... I was just a little surprised.
Anyways, Ive got something to tell you, Mose.
As soon as we got back on the SkyLord, Khea dragged me to her room after placing the paper bags.
She sat me on the bed and brought a chair to sit in front of me.
I did some research on the Path of Olives...
You went there by yourself?
It was just a simple little scouting. I heard that the evil spirits are mostly nocturnal, so I went there early in the morning.
So, how was it?
It was normal. It was just an ordinary old house. But its size was massive. To the point of looking like a maze when I stood at the entrance.
Then it would be troublesome...
Thats not all. Path of Olives seems to have a lot related to it.
Like?
Remember the little kid named Poche on the first day? That young Lympu boy.
Of course.
I met him early in the morning.
And?
He had some bruises around his mouth.
As soon as I heard her words, I almost spit out profanities without realizing it. My face stiffened and began to stain with anger.
It seemed that his keeper found out and took his gold.
I wont let him get away with this.
Keep listening.
She grabbed my shoulders, seemingly unaffected by the emotions I was going through. All the expressions I had on my face faded away.
This was all just a huge bet.
A huge bet?
Poche said he heard some stuff as he was getting beaten by his keeper. He said, I was wondering why the betting money for the Path of Olives wasnt getting gathered, and it was all cause of thieves like you.
A bet at the Path of Olives...?
There began to appear a gleam in her eyes.
I, too, began to feel something increasingly suspicious.
And I had a clear idea of what I needed to do.
We will have to get that keeper guy then.
She started smiling.
Street of Coins, the 49th house of the little peddlers street is his house.
Youre like an informant now, huh?
Our little poor Poche told me everything in detail with the natural descriptive ability of a young child.
From now on, all that remained was to move without delay.
Khea and I hurriedly left the pier, passed the slot machine street where only the sound of coins and sighs echoed through, and to the residential area located in the dark backstreet of the city.
Soon, we were able to find an old wooden signboard.
[LIttle Peddlers Street, 49]
The place was a mansion, the size which couldnt be compared to the houses nearby it.
While the surrounding area was a slum about to collapse into dust, this mansion was so huge and luxurious to the point that it created the illusion that we were in Asparagan.
I could feel multiple presences, in the yard beyond the wall.
I jumped over the high wall with gratings in one leap.
I shifted my gaze to the ones looking at me nervously.
Beyond the wall,
There were many young Lympus looking at me with wary eyes.
Their two little ears twitching, their fluffy tails swaying anxiously in the meantime, the children looking at me with frightened eyes with their hands on their chests had food around their mouths as they seemed to be in the middle of their meal.
All kinds of food scraps were scattered on the floor behind the children, just like cookie crumbs for pigeons in the park.
I could easily speculate that they were eating the food scattered from the floor until just now.
Is the person who harasses you guys inside right now?
As soon as I finished speaking, all the children started twitching their ears at the same time as they backed away.
Khea, who had jumped over the fence after me, noticed the situation and began to approach them.
You can trust half-elves!
No! Dont you remember? We were told not to trust anyone!
But! That man asked if there was someone who harasses us!
He must be a friend.
If we tell him everything, then we would get beaten in the middle of the night for saying everything!
That pig always told us to pretend that he doesnt exist!
Pig?
Their faces started turning pale as soon as I joined in the conversation.
Eek! I didnt say pig!
Hes not a pig, we meant Suyaman!
We called ourselves pigs for eating so much food!
Please dont hit us!
Anger arose in the midst of their cries of confusion. Khea, on the other hand, approached them with a soft gaze and opened her arms.
Dont worry. Do you know who Poche is, among your friends?
Poche is the biggest brother out of all of us!
Poche was scolded last night.
Maybe because I ate too much food. Sob.
Poche said that he will cure Choang who is sick!
Thats right! He said he made big money!
They looked into Khea's eyes and began to talk busily with their twinkling eyes.
Then Keha carefully raised one of her fingers to cover her lips, and the Lympus began to imitate the movement.
Shh!
Sh!
Wheee!
Everyone vowed to remain silent, and started focusing back on what Khea was doing.
WIth their ears twitching, and their tails waving.
Poche wasnt scolded because of you all. Suyaman wanted to take the money from Poche which he wanted to spend in order to cure Choang.
Thats so mean!
Choang hasnt been eating anything for a few nights already!
Poche took care of Choang even after he returned from the scolding!
Khea's expression hardened suddenly as the young Lympu began to whimper.
We are the knights of the empire. Knights of Tikris!
Wow...!
Knights!
Really?
You fool, theres no way knights would lie!
At their question, I carefully pulled out a greatsword from my inventory. Then their eyes started to twinkle brighter than the stars in the night sky.
Woooow...!
He really is a knight...!
Putting the childrens admiration behind, Khea began to speak in a tone that would sound serious enough for the children with a grim expression on her face.
We are the secret knights sent to punish the pig who lives here. So you have to keep this secret with us, alright?
Yes!
We will never speak of this, right?
Of course!
We were able to carefully cross the yard and enter the mansion only after obtaining their consent.
From gold to colorful jewels, luxurious ornaments were scattered all over the house unorganized.
It was the opposite of the children left unattended in a corner of the yard. In the living room as large as a large banquet hall, a huge, freshly smoked whole pork barbeque was left on the table smoking.
Do you have any clue how much I pay you, people?!
As soon as I entered the living room, I heard a shout from upstairs and quickly hid under the shelf with Khea.
I paid countless amounts of money to your dirty little brothel and you havent managed to send me a single satisfactory one.
An obese man was climbing down the stairs as he was screaming at the crystal ball in his underwear.
Fine, this is your last chance! Ill trust you this one last time! Remember! Bring a young one! Yes! Those little ones that have their elbows or knees turn red when they get excited!
The man spit on the floor and threw the crystal ball on the floor. Then he started screaming by himself.
Fuck! The money collected is only 4,000 gold?! Thats it. Im gonna have to say that Ive added up to 10 Ormachon tokens in the machine. Those idiots wont even find out if therere 3 or 10 inside the machines anyways!
It was the perfect opportunity for us to attack him.
But Khea pressed my shoulder and shook her head. Then she got up from her spot.
Oh, what the! You surprised me!
The man's furious voice resounded loudly.
What is this, they already sent the girl? They were bitching like crazy and finally they sent a real nice one, huh? A half-elf! Hahahaha!
He started laughing out loud in a very obscene manner as he slowly approached Khea.
Hehehe. Were gonna have to get started right now, get on your knees!
The pig grabbed her shoulder with a chubby hand of his.
Me who was still hiding under the shelf,
Prayed that he rested in peace.