olume 25 Chapter 3
3. Zahab’s Artwork
Translated by Enlightened End. Proofread by mrbaconator, bloodadept, froshianaki
“Kuuaaak!”
The flock of Wyverns flew on their stretched wings. Bingryong, Phoenix, Golden Bird, and Silver Bird followed behind them. While their flights looked free and lighthearted, their level was anything but.
Flying above the white clouds, they often passed by large birds. Weed rode on Wy-Three, with Yellowy and Goldman on Wy-One and Wy-Two respectively.
“Can’t we stop to eat for a bit?”
“It looks delicious!”
Wy-Five, Wy-Six, and Wy-Seven who were flying without any burden could chase and snack on these birds before coming back.
“Yum yum, it’s really good.”
“These don’t have any fishy smell.”
Wy-Three’s accumulated grievance was beyond its threshold.
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“There are other Wyverns but why do you always ride on my back?”
“Do you hate it that much?”
“It’s not that, having a person ride is heavy and takes a lot of effort. It also feels unfair…”
Weed was speaking while lying on the Wyvern’s flat back.
“When I was making you it was annoying so I just made the back flat.”
“Keeaak.”
“It is as comfortable as lying on a mat so it’s impossible to ride the other Wyverns. You are the best.”
Learning the secret of it’s creation, Wy-Three became more miserable.
Grapass was located within Aidern Kingdom on the Central continent. It was an area swarming with monsters. Due to the large distance away from Vargo Fortress, Weed decided to fly on the Sculpture Lifeforms and was able to arrive in a short amount of time.
“Thinking about it… 20 days should be enough to find him.”
Reflecting on his miserable time at Jigolaths, one of the other 10 forbidden regions, Grapass was not as large. He had not heard any rumors of the stifling maze like underground dungeons found in Jigolaths, so Weed thought that it would not be difficult to meet Zahab.
Weed pulled out the mission item he received long ago. The old handmaiden said the mission item would guide him to Zahab’s haven. And on the mission item was a drawing of a water spirit.
“I should start my search near a body of water. But this area is extremely dangerous with these monsters around, so Zahab might not even be alive!”
The original residents, who were not players of Royal Road could die. While the players revived after suffering a penalty, NPC deaths were permanent! If Zahab was already dead, the quest would have to be abandoned early.
When certain masters of the class died or went missing, the quest and its related skills disappeared. Of course other skilled people could become masters, create new secret skills, and depending on the situation, new quests could be created. But this was not a certainty.
Truthfully, it was dangerous for Weed to have prolonged the old handmaiden’s quest for so long.
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“Let's get started. You all had a nice, long rest right?”
At Weed’s words Yellowy’s stomach trembled.
“Mooo, everyday hunting and adventuring… what have you done for us till now!”
The Sculpture Lifeform’s reasonable protest. Was it right to endow life just for the child to labour through a hard life? Yellowy, who toiled endlessly since he was given life had the right to protest.
Weed began to think on it seriously.
Till now, he had not done anything special for Yellowy. Dragging him to the dangerous Jigolaths, forcing him to participate in battle, always making him carry burdens, he must have felt neglected.
“When you are young it’s normal to experience hardship. Eating and playing are not the things you should strive for. Regardless, I’ll start planning for your retirement now. As you become older you need to live more comfortably right? Is it fine if I can prepare for you a palace with fresh grass for you and your family to eat?”
Yellowy was persuaded immediately due to his high loyalty.
“I was not expecting that much… but I am satisfied.”
“From now on pay 200 gold every day. I will take that and add the remainder with my own money so later on you will have a large retirement fund to draw on. Oh, right! I also have to add the marriage expenses with the heifer you like so much.”
“Thank you master. I will work and fight harder.”
Yellowy liked the idea of living comfortably when old and Weed was immensely satisfied with the 200 gold windfall.
“Phoenix, Bingryong. You attract too much attention, wait someplace where you can come to our aid immediately.”
“I understand, master.”
Bingryong and Phoenix were large lifeforms, if they came close to the ground they provoked the monsters nearby. That’s why the search had to be done by Weed, Wyverns, Yellowy, and Gold Man.
“Golden Bird, Silver Bird.”
“Yes.”
“Father, talk to us.”
“Are you safe here?”
Golden Bird and Silver bird nodded their small heads. The birds were not affected by the monsters in the forest. No matter how famished the monsters were, the birds did not even constitute as a nibble.
Even if they were attacked, they could immediately fly between the trees and escape. Or they could turn into large birds and the situation would reverse where the hunter became the hunted.
“Finding Zahab is the priority. You two move independently, search inside the forest.”
“If it is a request.”
“I will do as father ordered me to. I might return a bit late, eating all the delicious bugs in the forest.”
Golden Bird and Silver Bird flew into the forest. The mission item signified water, but as Zahab’s trail could be anywhere, those two were deployed separately to find that trail.
“Then shall we be off?”
Weed with Torido, Van Hawk, Yellowy, Gold Man and the Wyverns planned to start from downstream.
In case of emergency, Phoenix and Bingryong could be called to fight against the monsters in Grapass. But, while the river and its vicinity had a variety of monsters, not many of them were a threat for Weed and the Sculpture Lifeforms.
The monster Kellkog flocked to the river for water.
“Yuga. Yuga!”
Kellkog were reptilian in nature and their habitat was close to the water. They walked like humans using spear like weapons while submerged or on the ground. They had the ability to jump frighteningly high, had sharp movements and usually moved in a herd. With their average level of 400, it was no laughing matter!
To hunt steadily in the Grapass region, it was absolutely necessary be above level 400. Of course, maximizing the party’s strong points could also overcome the disadvantage in strength.
“Wyverns circle around us and fight. When the Kellkog appears, hold it down.”
“I understand.”
The Wyverns who had to totter on the ground could finally take to the skies.
“Summon Death Knight Van Hawk, Summon Vampire Lord Torido!”
“Did you call, master?”
The frequent battles trained Van Hawk and Torido to be aware of their surroundings immediately as they were called.
“Go and fight!”
“Yes.”
“The smell is pungent. I don’t think the blood will taste very well.”
As Torido was nobility, he was slightly reluctant to feed on the reptiles.
“You can’t always eat tasty food. I will cook some sunjihejang soup for you later.”
“If so then I will fight.”
The charge of Death Knight and Vampire Lord! Van Hawk attacked riding on his ghost horse and Torido flew with his cloak spread out.
“Kiyaho!”
Noticing Van Hawk and Torido, a group of over 20 Kellkog prepared to fight. They waddled like chickens while holding their spears, the best possible posture for a throw!