The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Chapter 78

[Your 12th Adventure is starting.]

[Adventure 12. Sleeping Medicine.]

[Adventure 12. Sleeping Medicine

You have come into contact with Chao, a Shadow Summoner whose whereabouts have been unknown after disappearing from Nobira. Through a conversation with her, you have realized that she has no intention of returning to Nobira.

Even so, that doesnt mean that she has refused your request. She, who is busy, has requested something from you, who was headed to the Shade Canyon.

Her true identity is the last disciple of Gregory, one of the strongest Shadow Summoners. And you, who wish to sincerely learn something from her, have headed to a location written on the scroll she gave you.

You must earnestly complete what she has requested of you. Well, you should if you wish to receive any of her teachings.

Objective: Complete the objective written on the scroll.

Chaos favorability toward you will drop upon failure.

Remaining Time [About 30 days]]

Theres quite a bit of time on this one too.

It was extremely mentally taxing to clear multiple long Adventures in a row.

Not only was the difficulty of longer Adventures all over the place, but slowly progressing through them would crush anyones will.

Seol moved his body a bit.

Reach

My body still feels heavy

Are you alright?

I think I inhaled too much water

Seol didnt mention anything about Karens change of heart during the Expedition System.

Seol should have been able to easily escape from the mysterious creatures if Karen was fine, but the results were the exact opposite.

That must mean Karen is suffering quite a bit mentally

Seols worries were true. Pandea is filled with sad and painful things.

People die for no reason whatsoever, and some of them even die horrible, gruesome, indescribable deaths.

After all, Pandea was just a world like that.

That was also the reason that Seol deplored entering Pandea when he first stepped foot into it.

Karen just hasnt accepted it yet.

Though Seol didnt know what the era she came from was like, things like that still happened in the current times. Even so, Seol understood why she would be shaken after seeing something like that directly.

Still, I cant let something like that happen again.

Since Seol luckily had a bit of spare time during this Adventure, he realized that it was critical he went over this with her.

Unravel

Seol believed that he had spent enough time thinking about Karen and unraveled the scroll. Chaos request was written within it.

- Once you arrive at Wet Fog Town, spend some time there and observe the situation. Youll realize soon enough whats going on in there.

What I want you to do is steal the sleeping medicine from the man whose face I so kindly drew for you.

However, if you ask around about it, he can just hide it. So be careful, alright?

She really does as she pleases.

Her orders reflected her personality perfectly.

Even so, there should be a way to do this.

Seol stood up after changing out of the clothes he was given and into his original equipment.

Creak

Sarah welcomed him as he opened the door.

Ah, so youre all done changing!

Thank you for your consideration, Sarah. Still, how did you manage to bring me all the way here?

The townspeople helped me! Well Its because I was too weak to carry you on my own, Snowman.

Sarah looked like a simple villager.

Though she didnt have freckles like a stereotypical female villager, she also didnt give off the aura of someone high-class or beautiful. Even so, she gave off a clean and innocent impression.

Sarah, wouldnt people hate me because Im an outsider?

N-Not at all! In fact, they would probably welcome you instead. I wouldnt have brought you into the town if people didnt want to let you in either.

Sarah quickly waved her hands in denial, telling Seol to not worry.

It seems like I desperately need to gather more information

A town not reacting to an outsider at all was practically the same as painting a sign that said Were suspicious, please be careful of us.

What do people in this town do?

Me specifically or the town as a whole?

The town.

We had a bit of farmland, but its a bit difficult tending to it now.

What?

Sarahs face grew dark.

Seol was curious as the womans bright face instantly stiffened up.

...Its because everyones sick.

Sick?

It seems like I need to explain. Please, follow me.

The town wasnt particularly big.

It was small to the point that Seol was amazed by the fact Sarah was able to make it back here.

Sarah, after leading Seol to a building resembling the town hall, paused for a second before speaking.

Just dont be too surprised, alright?

Creak

Sarah opened the door.

Behind the door were patients.

There were over ten beds and there was someone sick in each and every one of them.

The people were all silent and had their eyes closed. It was almost like they were sleeping.

Sarah put her index finger to her lips. It was clearly a sign to not make a sound.

Seol nodded before leaving the town hall with her.

What is going on?

The townspeople are sick. Its all because of the Fog Disease.

Is it an infectious disease?

Sarah shook her head.

Dr. Gunt said that it wasnt.

Dr. Gunt?

Hes the towns doctor. He originally visited the town for a house call, but he couldnt leave after the sick townspeople begged him to stay.

Hm

A disease which wasn't infectious

And the townspeople who were sick from it

Seol asked more questions.

What are the diseases symptoms?

You sleep.

Can just sleeping really be considered a sickness then?

Its because they dont wake up. Even though their body is rotting or the fact that theyre defecating they continue to sleep.

And then?

...They sleep eternally.

Sarah was implying that the patients dont do anything other than sleep before they die.

Seol then thought of the Adventures title and the medicine bottle drawn on the scroll Chao gave him.

A medicine that made them sleep.

Though it wasnt specifically written what the medicine did, Seol surmised that it would have a similar effect.

Maybe the Fog Disease is an illness caused by the medicine?

Or the medicine itself was just a means to cause this illness in others.

Its clear that Chao had a reason for sending me here.

Seol realized that he would learn everything about it once he found the owner of the medicine.

The important thing to keep in mind was that the person who owned the medicine could hide themselves after being scared.

I need to stay in the town while being cautious of that. I need to find a way

Sarah spoke once more, trying her best to appear happy.

Currently, half of the town is sick from that disease. And thats why were all depressed

Is there no cure?

Not yet Dr. Gunt is trying his best to find a cure for us, but nothing has come from it yet

Karen placed her hand on Sarahs shoulders.

H-Huh?

Is there anything we can help with, Sarah?

Youre going to help us? The town?

Yeah! That person over he and I are both kind people!

- Snowman: Who? Me?

- Was the definition of kind back then something else?

- All of the kind people are going crazy right now!

- Karens nosiness activates!

- This kind of nosiness is alright, though

Seol didnt say anything about Karens actions.

Even though they didnt agree to do this beforehand, Karens actions were extremely natural. In fact, Seol wanted this situation.

He wanted them to naturally blend in with the town.

R-Really? Even A-Audenin told us there was no way to help us when we asked them for help.

Just believe in me, alright? My names Karen by the way, but you can also just call me Big Sis.

Yeah Karen I-I mean, Big Sis. But how old are ah! Elves live a lot longer than humans, so you really must be older than me!

Of course, of course!

- People like Karen are the type that shows off their age because they think being old means they should be respected

- Sarahs super cute though LOL

- I wish I could make friends as easily as Karen

- Shes talking with Seols summons because Seol doesnt know how to make friends LMFAO

- Sarah could try all she wants, she would never be older than Karen LMFAO

Sarahs expression looked brighter already.

As expected from someone who received salvation from an unknown place, she spoke happily.

Thank you so much it really was hard.

...Yeah.

Everyone told me they didnt know, that they couldnt do anything no one ever even offered to help.

Its alright now. You can worry a bit less now that were here.

Really?

Of course!

Through an unexpected method, Seols party was able to insert themselves into the town.

* * *

It seemed like the sentence Youll realize soon enough whats going on in there. on the scroll was referring to this.

After a few days, Seol helped out with various large and small jobs throughout the town to continue his secret investigation.

Is this enough water?

You filled it up already?

Of course, Big Sis is strong, you know?

- She really is.

- Shes super fucking strong.

Karen gave a big smile while flexing her biceps. Sarah smiled too, seeing Karen.

To be honest, carrying water is something the townspeople hate doing, so we always push the job onto each other.

Really? Then just leave it to me from now on! Ill bring a whole river if you want me to.

Thank you!

What else? What else can I help with?

Well We do need firewood for the night, but

Just give me a second!

Seol had a nervous feeling watching Karen turn around and run away.

It was because he also told her about what the man in the scroll looked like. If she wanted to quickly end this Adventure, she also had to find the culprit behind the person who spread the Fog Disease.

But for some reason, Karen was more enthusiastic about helping Sarah than completing the objective.

Did she need rest? Hm I should properly think about what to do with her later.

Seol had an idea as to why Karen was acting like this, but it was always better to hear it directly from the person.

Seol approached Sarah and asked a question.

By the way, why isnt Dr. Gunt here?

Ah, he received a request for a house call in a neighboring town and went over there for a bit. Theres always a lack of doctors, and gathering enough money to pay for a house call is expensive for most towns, so we all request Dr. Gunt.

Why Dr. Gunt?

Because he barely requests any money for a house call. Also, Dr. Gunt is the only doctor who even knows a little about the disease.

Hm

Apparently, the nearby town is also in a similar situation.

I see.

In truth, Seol gathered no new information in the past few days.

Hm I still havent seen anyone who looks like they have any involvement with the contents of the scroll.

The man in the scroll had bleary eyes but no one in the town looked like him at all.

Seol thought it would be easy finding him as it was a small town, but he found no clues about him.

This is everyone in the town though he must be here, somewhere

As Seol worried to himself, Karen reappeared.

Im done, Sarah!

What?

The firewood! I put it all in the warehouse!

Y-Youre lying

Im not?

Karen wasnt the type of person who lied. Sarah checked the warehouse to confirm whether she was telling the truth or not but fell to the ground after seeing that Karen didnt lie.

Are you that shocked?

Big Sis, you really are incredible! Even the men need a week to do something like this!

Well, comparing your Big Sis to ordinary people is a bit rude, hahaha!

Like that, Seol and Karens daily lives with the townspeople started.

However, Seol kept in mind that living like this was far more damaging to him than going on a difficult Adventure as it dulled his senses.

And now, it has already been over a week since Seol and Karen assisted Sarah, and nothing has changed.

Youre working hard today as well, Miss Elf!

You should work a bit harder though, old man!

Hah, that

Why? Shes not wrong, pfft hahaha

You!

Seol clicked his tongue, seeing how Karen was joking around with the townspeople like it was nothing now.

I thought you were adventurers? When are you going on an adventure then?

Were helping you guys out because we have some free time, alright? Stop trying to end a good thing early, old man.

Urgh Just let us know when youre about to leave.

Why? Are you going to miss me?

Haha! I bet youre going to stay up all night the night before I leave, crying while you pack me food!

Argh, stop your bullshit!

The town was filled with laughs ever since Karen came to town.

It was a difficult time for them and Seols party definitely was a huge help to them.

Creak

Are you done?

Yeah. What about you, Master?

I feel like its more awkward hearing you call me that now.

Y-Yeah, I was shocked after saying that myself.

In just a week, peace has found a place in their hearts.

Seol and Karen spoke to each other while lying in separate beds.

By the way, Master

What?

Wouldnt it be fine to just stay like this?

...Would what be fine?

Maybe we can just live like this?

Seol focused on what Karen was saying to him.

What do you mean by like this?

Like right now. Without any worries Without needing to kill anyone or have a battle of wills. Like this, a quiet life surrounded by good people.

She had been completely swallowed up by the peace.

Is this because of the town we visited before here?

I wont deny that it isn't a part of it. But do you think those people knew that they were doing evil things? And is killing those evil yet weak people really something that we have the right to do?

There would have been more victims if we didnt stop them.

...Do you really think so?

I just did what I had to do. We also didnt have the time to second-guess things. The time I spent thinking could be used to do so much more. I didnt have the time to ask myself if what we were doing was right or not.

Seols goal was Ascension. And he had to face off against the gods, who were behind all of this.

As such, he pressed on. Even if he failed and tripped on his way there, he had to reach the end no matter what.

Because in the end, only that will prove whether he was right or not.

But, Im not sure

Karen.

How nice would it be to live a simple, peaceful life like this where we dont have to do anything

There are people who also know that the world is cruel, but they cant do anything about it unlike you. I bet theyd be jealous if they heard you talk.

Argh, stop lecturing me!

Im just saying, thats all

Karen smiled.

It seemed like she had recovered just a bit.

Sorry.

For what?

It would have been so much easier if I was in the right mindset back then. That guy from back then we shouldve killed him, no?

Youre talking about the person who chased me.

A memory from that day flashed in Seol's head.

Even so, he couldnt remember anything about his face.

His face was covered because of his robes hood. Seol couldnt remember anything other than the ominous energy he radiated.

Ill get him next time. You can trust me on that.

Alright.

Im being serious, that wont happen ever again. Youre safe now!

I got it.

- Hehe

- You guys made up, didnt you?

- You two shouldnt fight! Hug!!!

Seol saw that Karen had properly resolved herself. It was a relief for him, as he was the one who had to trust her.

And now, there was only one thing he had to gain from the town.

You still havent found it yet, right?

Yeah, not yet. I couldnt find anything even similar to it either.

Based on how we were unable to find something thats so easy to discern... It was likely hidden elsewhere

Theres a good chance its the latter, yeah. Then we should think about how well find him

And then

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Someone was pounding on the door.

O-Oi! Its an emergency! shouted an older man from behind the door.

His screams had signed an end to Seols temporary peaceful daily life.