Level Up Inquisitor [EN]: Chapter 158

158. The Lord of the North (2)

The snowy mountains of the North.

After passing a steep slope, a city was nestled in the mountainside.

“I didn’t expect there to be a city of this size in the North…”

Ail, stepping inside, couldn’t hide his surprise.

The fortress city of the Iron Cross, Habena.

Most of the buildings were made of stone, giving the entire city a unique, fortress-like appearance.

But what surprised Ail the most was the size of the city.

The city was large, occupying one side of the snowy mountain, and the citizen NPCs [Non-Player Characters, computer-controlled characters] living inside were busy going about their daily lives.

It was a considerable number at first glance.

He never imagined that there would be a base of this size in the North, where he had only heard stories that it was not an environment suitable for people to live in.

“We recycled the ruined structures. It looks drab, but at least you won’t freeze to death.”

Sir, the guild leader of the Iron Cross, said indifferently.

She was the one who brought Ail, whom she had accidentally encountered in the ruins, all the way here.

A white cloak and long sword, long gray hair, and the Iron Cross’s unique attire with fur decorations on the shoulders.

She had an icy cold impression, just like the rumors.

But from earlier on, her impression, which somehow resembled someone, made him tilt his head.

‘I’ve known her face for a while, but… seeing her in person, she has a strangely familiar impression.’

Ail scratched his head.

It was a very 신경쓰이는 [nerve-wracking/bothersome] feeling that he felt like he could remember but couldn’t.

While he was lost in thought, he came out of the crowded streets.

Sir stopped on a bridge on the outskirts of the city and dismissed the guild members who had come with her.

Whoo-oong!

A cold wind blew over the bridge, and Sir, who had been walking silently, leaned her arms on the railing.

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

Ail followed her.

Then, below the bridge railing, the scenery outside the steep cliff was clearly visible.

A vast snowfield with a fierce blizzard.

It was a wonderful sight that made him feel chilly, but if he thought about it from the perspective of having to go through it, it was a daunting sight just to look at.

Not only the distance, but also the monsters and supplies hidden here and there.

Looking at this, it seemed that there was still a long and arduous journey ahead.

Sir was the first to speak in the brief silence.

“You said you came to find the relic? How about it, can you find something there?”

“Do you want something in return?”

“If we cooperate with each other, we can go a more comfortable way.”

Sir turned her head and looked at Ail.

It was a proposal to trade with him without even thinking about it.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve caught a definite clue. I don’t think I need help.”

The location information obtained from 웨이스톤 [Waystone, likely a type of magical artifact].

Ail could intuitively sense that it was pointing to the location of the hidden relic.

If this coordinate was certain, there would be no big difference in finding the relic even if he didn’t trade with the Iron Cross.

But she smiled as if she already knew everything.

“A definite clue… are you really sure?”

“What do you mean?”

“The clue you mentioned, isn’t it the 웨이스톤 [Waystone] in the ruins?”

“How did you…….”

“We can’t not know what’s going on in the North. Besides, 웨이스톤 [Waystone] is not all there was.”

As Sir said, there was more than one 웨이스톤 [Waystone].

In addition to the one Ail found, there were more scattered throughout the North, and even those all pointed to different coordinates.

The Iron Cross, which at first thought it was a special place, failed several times after chasing the coordinates.

‘Oh, there wasn’t just one…….’

Ail’s expression changed to embarrassment at the unexpected situation.

But it wasn’t all bad news.

“The strange stones called 웨이 스톤 [Waystones] have not been around in the North for long. To be exact, it was from the time when there was news that the relic had appeared. I’m sure it’s related to the relic.”

“The tables have turned. So what do you want?”

“I like that you understand quickly. The emergence of the relic is information that we have already heard. But the problem was that nothing was known about the relic itself. Maybe the executor of the Light Church will have a different story?”

Sir said with a sly smile.

‘Hmm, it’s a little different from what I was thinking…….’

It was a very different impression from the stories he had heard about her.

There were a lot of rumors that she was a cold woman as she looked, but when he faced her and talked to her, it didn’t seem like that.

“But… why are you interested in the relic? There’s no reason for the Six Guilds to care if they’re not related to the 교단 [Gyodan, religious order/church].”

“Usually, that’s the case, but these days, there are more uninvited guests.”

“Uninvited guests?”

After the appearance of the relic became known, Ail was not the only one who set out to find the ancient treasure.

Not only the followers of other 교단 [Gyodan, religious orders/churches], but also 도굴꾼 [grave robbers], 현상금 사냥꾼 [bounty hunters], 범죄자 길드 [criminal guilds], some 준대형 [semi-large] guilds, and even individual rankers.

Even those who were thought to have nothing to do with it were gathering in considerable numbers in the remote areas, including the North.

Everyone was aiming for the enormous value of the relic, even if they were not members of the 교단 [Gyodan, religious orders/churches].

Ail had heard about such movements in general, but he didn’t know about the scale.

He was quite surprised to hear the story from her.

‘I think I need to be careful…….’

In this relic battle, he had to pay attention not only to the 교단 [Gyodan, religious orders/churches], but also to the other users.

The most terrifying thing than any monster was the same users.

“Okay, I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Ail nodded and conveyed all the information he knew.

The reason he chose the North first was because he thought he could get help from the Iron Cross, one of the Six Guilds, if he encountered difficulties.

It was only a transactional relationship, and he had to pay a price for it.

It was better than wasting time on the ground in this vast area.

“Then what happens when you collect all 15 relic fragments?”

“I don’t know yet. There are no records or stories left.”

“Even the Light 교단 [Gyodan, religious order/church] doesn’t know.”

The story was blocked in the most 궁금하던 [curious/anticipated] part.

Sir was lost in thought for a moment.

“The relic of the old 주신 [Jushin, main god/deity]… then I think the one who collects the relics will become the 유일신 [Yuilshin, only god/sole deity], what else is there?”

She gave one opinion.

The 신격 [Shingyeok, divine being/deity] who collects all the relic fragments first will gain power as the true 유일신 [Yuilshin, only god/sole deity].

Ail also thought it was the most plausible hypothesis.

But there was one problem with that.

If one side becomes the 유일신 [Yuilshin, only god/sole deity], the remaining 신격 [Shingyeok, divine beings/deities] will naturally become false 신격 [Shingyeok, divine beings/deities] or be destroyed.

However, the 신격 [Shingyeok, divine being/deity] of 워로드 [Warlord, likely the game’s name] is basically an immortal existence.

Even if the power temporarily declines, it does not lose or disappear as a 신격 [Shingyeok, divine being/deity].

Above all, the seven 교단 [Gyodan, religious orders/churches] of 워로드 [Warlord] were all huge 팩션 [Paeksyeon, Factions] that had a significant impact on the world.

If the 신격 [Shingyeok, divine being/deity] disappears, it is natural that the 교단 [Gyodan, religious order/church] that follows him will also disappear.

“But there has never been a case where a 팩션 [Paeksyeon, Faction] with a dedicated job has disappeared.”

Ail said firmly.

The forces that give users dedicated jobs.

If that force disappears, the affiliated users will lose their jobs in an instant, and there has never been a case where such a 팩션 [Paeksyeon, Faction] has disappeared.

He couldn’t let his guard down on how things would unfold in 워로드 [Warlord], but he doubted that this incident would really go that far.

Each 교단 [Gyodan, religious order/church] was the longest-term content linked to 사도 [Sado, apostle] and world events, and if a true 유일신 [Yuilshin, only god/sole deity] was created, various problems would be intertwined.

“Certainly, there would be problems in that regard……. Anyway, I’ve heard everything I wanted to hear.”

Sir handed Ail a neatly folded note.

A paper full of numbers.

Inside, there were coordinates of locations that the Iron Cross had obtained from each 웨이스톤 [Waystone] in the North.

[The information on the North map has been updated!]

In addition, he acquired the map information of the North.

Ail’s map, which had been darkened because most of the terrain was not identified, was revealed and updated.

The terrain information of the remote areas outside the border is very important information, so he did not receive all the terrain, but it was revealed so that there would be no problem at least in finding the coordinates of 웨이스톤 [Waystone].

“This is a bit too much for the value of the information I gave you…….”

“Let’s just say I’m putting a debt on you in advance. It’s better than those guys who don’t even know what they are taking over the suspicious 물건 [Mulgeon, object/thing].”

She did not let her guard down on the relic.

Even if it was primarily a story between 교단 [Gyodan, religious orders/churches], the users’ guilds could be affected at any time, so she had to keep an eye on any major movements.

“And this.”

Sir threw an item.

Ta-ack!

A blue stone landed in Ail’s hand.

It was 청화석 [Cheonghwaseok, Lapis Lazuli], which is only found in the deep underground mines of the North.

It is a special ore that contains the energy of blue fire and is said to be of great help in maintaining body temperature just by holding it.

It won’t solve everything, but it will be much better than going around bare-handed.

“The North is 거치니까 [Geochinikka, rough/harsh], it’s better to be careful. What you’ve walked into so far will be nothing.”

Sir swept back her long hair and smiled confidently.

The deeper you go, the stronger the enemies and the harsher the environment.

This was a characteristic of all remote areas outside the border, not just the North.

And the coordinates that 웨이스톤 [Waystone] pointed to all had to go further inside.

“I don’t know how to thank you for this.”

“There’s also a reward for telling me about the 왕자 [Wangja, prince]’s trick first, so don’t say unnecessary things. Why don’t you hurry up and leave before other players take the lead? Oh, just in case, I hope you don’t spread that strange religion around.”

[‘빛의 심판자, 루’ [‘Judge of Light, Loo’] glares at the unholy unbeliever!]

Loo’s message flared up at the word strange religion.

But from Sir’s point of view, who has the North in her hands, she would naturally think so.

Fortunately, Loo showed transcendent patience and did not brand her as a heretic.

For Ail, who couldn’t handle an opponent who was already ranked 2nd in the world, it was fortunate in many ways.

“Well… at least that won’t happen in the Iron Cross’s base.”

Ail, who took a sigh of relief inside, hurriedly turned around and left, fearing that the goddess would change her mind.

But Sir frowned slightly at the strange words he left behind.

“The last words are a bit unsettling…….”