TL: Knight Errant
As a pack of werewolves could be a headache, Dio led the party along a safe path.
Afterward, they passed through the road without any significant events, reaching a secluded area free of monsters and people, safely arriving at a cave.
Perhaps due to the recent commotion, the mercenaries, without needing Dio’s instruction, explored the surroundings themselves to ensure safety.
Then, as tension eased, the mercenaries started to chatter among themselves.
“Who knew there’d be a cave in such a remote place.”
“Really did well to trust Monte-nim’s word. Even we locals didn’t know about this place.”
Raymond and others were amazed by the unmarked cave on the map, praising Dio.
To this, Dio lightly waved his hand in response.
“Being a guide is something anyone can do.”
Dio humbled himself, knowing the mercenaries shouldn’t rely too much on him, especially in the current situation where complacency could be dangerous.
If the mercenaries, his only weapon and shield, grew too dependent and careless, it could lead to a major disaster.
Therefore, Dio wished for the mercenaries to be confident in themselves.
“How modest!”
“Once this is over, I’d love to hear Monte-nim’s adventure stories over a drink.”
“The mission where you received the Imperial Medal must have been something big, right?”
“Like slaying a dragon!”
Whether they understood Dio’s intentions or not, the mercenaries seemed much more relaxed than before the journey, already chatting merrily about the celebration after completing their mission.
It was perhaps natural for them to be overconfident, being accompanied by an A-grade mercenary.
However, needing to calm the mercenaries’ excited mood, Dio forced a stern expression and spoke.
“There’s no harm in celebrating later. The cave will be safe from monsters, so we’ll wait here until morning.”
Upon Dio’s words, the mercenaries quickly started preparing for their second night camp before the day fully turned to night.
Dio, who was first in the night watch rotation, watched the party fall asleep, thinking again about the upcoming schedule.
“So far, there haven’t been any major issues. The mercenaries are following better than I thought.”
Dio checked the status of the mercenaries in the party window.
The injuries of Raymond and the others from the werewolf attack were mostly healed, thanks to Clara’s help.
“This is practically damage-free.”
Having a priest in the party was fortunate for Dio, as it meant additional support like this.
The protection wasn’t only for the priest but also included Dio himself.
“So far, so good. Crossing Dunville Forest shouldn’t be a problem. It might even be easier. But I need to be more cautious. The problem is…”
Dio recalled the part he had always worried about since accepting the reality of being in the game world.
A major update.
Currently, it’s the early part of the main story. Dio’s survival strategy relies on his experience as a veteran player.
The issue is that this update could change the story he knows.
“I need to consider all variables and prepare for them. Every possibility, even the worst of the worst. More cautiously and thoroughly.”
Over The Fantasy, a game advertised with phrases more realistic than reality itself.
That’s why Dio’s actions so far hadn’t differed much from game playing.
However, in the current situation, where his real life might be at stake, Dio reaffirmed his resolve.
He, who had raised seven max level characters in the brutally difficult world of OTF.
A feat others found daunting, yet he willingly did seven times.
‘I can do this.’
Determined to survive, Dio clenched his fist as he gazed at the night sky.
* * *
The Ents of Dunville Forest.
Ents and other plant-based monsters typically have superior basic specifications.
However, in OTF, where no monster is casually designed, there’s a reason why plant types are set to be strong.
It’s because plant types have a critical weakness.
What could be the weakness of Ents, which resemble trees?
Commonly, one might first think of ‘fire.’
Logically, ‘fire’ burns all plants.
But Ents are walking biomass.
If they catch fire, there’s a high likelihood it could spread throughout the forest.
A forest fire might make it easy to deal with Ents, but it’s also deadly for players.
So, what’s the solution?
How to pass through a forest inhabited by Ents without using fire?
Dio first thought of this question in OTF’s “Cursed Forest,” known for its extreme difficulty.
“In a habitat of plant monsters, like forests, the Cursed Forest didn’t have a single plant monster.”
Most OTF players wouldn’t think much of this.
But Dio was different.
He believed there had to be a valid reason and researched OTF’s intentions.
He discovered that Ents are vulnerable to ‘diseases.’
* * *
Just as humans have deadly diseases, plants have fatal diseases like ‘wilt.’
Based on the historical potato blight, Dio, after several experiments in OTF, created a new item called the ‘Great Plant Plague.’
Anticipating passing through Dunville Forest, Dio had long since gathered all the plagues from his storage.
He sprayed the plague over his body, like perfume, to prepare for any unforeseen situations, not just on the mercenaries’ weapons.
From the Ents’ perspective, Dio was a walking disease.
This led to the strange phenomenon of the Ents naturally avoiding them, which amazed the mercenaries.
“It’s amazing. An enchantment that’s effective against Ents!”
“It’s nothing.”
Dio found it bothersome to explain that he created the plague.
Saying it was an enchantment provided by the Mercenary Association, they seemed to believe him completely.
[You have gained 3551 experience points.]
[Experience points are not applied as you have not undergone Class Change.]
[You have gained 3551 experience points.]
[Experience points are not applied as you have not undergone Class Change.]
As the Ents collapsed like powerless scarecrows, the system continually alerted him.
If only he had undergone a Class Change, he could have easily leveled up in Dunville Forest.
However, the limited quantity of the homemade plague meant it couldn’t be sprayed on the entire party.
As a result, the mercenaries following behind occasionally faced attacks from Ents, but Dio always gave appropriate instructions.
“Normally, we should be cautious of their trunks and branches, but our situation is more favorable now. We can be more aggressive.”
Dio casually interfered.
Ignoring the other mercenaries, even Raymond, who might have shown dissatisfaction, silently followed his lead.
Raymond had come to recognize Dio’s ability.
“Laika. You don’t need to block with your shield. With the enchantment’s effect, using your wide shield to strike their trunks would be much easier, right?”
“This is really amazing!”
“Hmm… but using the plague will make it difficult to harvest the Ents.”
The mercenaries quickly noticed the fatal downside of using the plague in hunting Ents.
The sap obtained from Ents can be used in a variety of items, primarily in medicine.
But using the plague means everything rots or withers away, leaving nothing to be harvested from the Ents.
“Usually, the mercenaries who get too greedy are the first to die.”
“…I have no complaints.”
Dio reminded the mercenaries that their job was not to earn money through gathering but to complete missions and receive rewards.
He reiterated this several times, emphasizing safety over small profits.
Finally, they arrived in front of a large willow tree.
‘It should be around here…’
Dio circled the distinctly remembered willow, eventually finding a large hollow big enough for a person to enter comfortably.
“Do we really have to go inside this?”
“Yes, it might be a bit difficult for you, but there’s a much larger space below.”
Dio nodded and answered Laika’s question.
“Ha-ha, that’s why I said you should lose some weight.”
“I’m average, you know?”
“Oh, really? Hey, did you hear what he said? He claims he’s average.”
“…”
Leaving the bickering mercenaries behind, Dio led the way and reached out his hand to Clara as he entered the hollow.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Be careful. Don’t be startled when we go down.”
“Yes, okay – Aaah!”
As Dio and Clara slid down to the base of the tree, they were greeted by a passageway adorned with luminous moss.
“There’s a space like this here…”
“What are these murals?”
Hearing the party’s comments, Dio recalled the settings related to the murals they mentioned.
‘Right. There were murals here.’
Murals existed throughout OTF’s continent.
They depicted scenes from upcoming chapters or the overall flow of the main story.
Analyzing them could provide clues helpful in playing through the next part of the main story.
‘After figuring out that murals were clues, pushing the story forward became much easier.’
So, Dio looked at the murals more closely.
He had seen them before during a related quest a long time ago, but even Dio couldn’t remember them perfectly.
Now, when every action might be life-threatening.
He didn’t want to miss any potentially helpful information, no matter how minor.
‘I remember the murals depicted a battle between the evil gods and Luna…’
A conflict between one of the numerous evil gods who followed the demon god and Luna, the moon god.
The mural in the Forgotten Temple’s tunnel depicted exactly this.
The silver-blue armor worn by the paladins in the mural.
It was the symbolic attire of the Church of Luna.
Just then, while Dio was carefully examining the mural.
“What are these guys doing here? Executing prisoners?”
“Don’t you know? That knight in yellow armor is appointing them. Haven’t you heard of an appointment ceremony? Ignorant fool.”
“Then what does that inscription say?”
“I don’t know! I’m illiterate!”
“A proud confession.”
Yellow armor? An appointment ceremony?
Hearing the mercenaries’ voices, Dio’s head reflexively snapped in their direction.
The mercenaries stood in front of the latter part of the mural.
‘There’s something here.’
Quickly approaching that spot, Dio pushed aside the chatting mercenaries and moved closer to it.
And the next moment.
“…!”
Dio’s eyes widened in shock at the completely unfamiliar scene before him.
‘What is this? It’s different from the mural I know?’