Light of Arad: Forerunner

Chapter 52

Chapter 52Jinseong knew where the female Ghost Knight user, Louise, Michelle, and others were headed while chasing the giant rat ‘Scar.’

‘A village of suspicion located below the mine. This place, too, used to be filled with named mobs in the past…’

Following major changes and updates to the main scenario quests, it had since become a place rarely visited by users.

Nevertheless, Jinseong cautiously tried to sense any signs near the elevator leading down to the abandoned mine because he had already confirmed several instances of contamination.

‘If contamination were to occur down there… It might result in the reappearance of past monsters, just as the Kingdom of Pennes feared.’

Within the dungeon, there was a character that appeared not as a monster but in the form of a special human.

These were called Auto Player Characters, or APCs, which were a feature of the game Dungeon & Fighter, sometimes appearing as allies, and other times as enemies.

Although no such APCs existed in the current dungeon region: North Myre’s dungeon ‘Village of Suspicion,’ the contamination could potentially cause these APCs to appear as enemies, which would undoubtedly be a headache.

‘The only relief is the elevator. APCs are still considered human, so they can’t descend underground without using the elevator… If APCs had been using it frequently, this rickety elevator would’ve broken down long ago. The fact that it’s still operational suggests that the only real users are the female Ghost Knight user and her party.’

This implied that the likelihood of contamination revealing itself in the dungeon ‘Village of Suspicion’ was low.

As soon as he quickly assessed the situation, Jinseong began to move.

It wasn’t that he moved far. He simply hid himself a little away from the entrance to the abandoned mine.

The sequence of actions, flowing smoothly like water, naturally had a purpose.

“…It’s clear.”

He knew that Michelle Monahan, a woman with green hair fluttering under her fedora, was

This was Azelia’s choice, the decision made by the leader of the Grim Seekers.

‘Tch,

but well… That’s how it is.’

However, not everyone would follow such a decision.

Above all, who were the Apostles?

Just from Michelle’s heightened vigilance towards Azelia, it was clear.

“Then, to reach Diregie, we’d have to defeat you.”

The influence of the Apostles.

The harm caused by the mere existence of an Apostle.

They could never agree with Azelia’s approach, and Azelia knew this as well.

“At first, I came to protect the Apostle, but not anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

Michelle asked, and Azelia answered.

“We protect the Apostles to prevent the great flow from heading toward destruction, but that doesn’t mean we ignore immediate disasters. Before the current calamity spreads further… I will help you stop Diregie.”

Thus, regarding this incident with the 6th Apostle, Diregie of the Black Plague, the approach was changed to that of neutralizing him.

Azelia explained what Jinseong already knew, and the user party accepted it.

Moreover, since her abilities were needed, it was a natural outcome.

“From here on, your own barrier won’t be enough. I will assist you, so let’s proceed together.”

With Azelia’s barrier overlaying them, the user and Michelle first entered Reshpon.

Watching from a short distance, Jinseong observed as Louise and Azelia conversed before Louise also followed the user into Reshpon.

Step, step.

“I’ve sensed your presence for a while, Jinseong. But I kept quiet because it seemed inappropriate to acknowledge you.”

Azelia spoke as she looked at Jinseong, who revealed himself.

Jinseong smiled at her and approached the entrance of Reshpon.

“Your judgment is precise. Ah, and as I mentioned before— Ugh!”

Even those few steps towards Azelia revealed the overwhelming power of Diregie.

‘The spot I was standing was barely ten meters outside from the female Ghost Knight user. But just closing that gap—’

It felt like his whole body was burning, sapping his strength.

Barely managing to steady his steps, he exerted force, but the piercing pain spread to his muscles and even his bones.

───────────……!

Then, the pain gradually subsided.

Azelia’s barrier began to envelop Jinseong.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Even with the plague antidotes he had gulped down like preventive medicine from the Mage Guild, the pain was palpable, making one wonder what might happen without it.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Jinseong quickly spoke to Azelia.

“Ahem, so I’ll… go my own way—”

“Yes, I trust your words about not ‘interfering’ with each other. If you prove those words true, I also have something to tell you.”

Then, she spoke to Jinseong in her own way.

A kind of verification or test, perhaps.

Without even waiting for Jinseong’s response, Azelia dashed after the female Ghost Knight user into the depths of Reshpon.

Jinseong tilted his head.

Of course, he continued walking toward Reshpon. In a place as vast as the ‘Village of Suffering,’ it was natural not to rush.

‘What does she intend to say? After all, I know pretty much everything related to Azelia. Oh, no. I don’t know everything. After this meeting, the next time we encounter—’

Even while pondering the meaning of Azelia’s suggestion, Jinseong suddenly stopped.

If the area was vast, there was also a chance the user could take a different path.

“Ugh… Don’t burn me…”

“Keh-hee, keh-hee-hee-hee!”

This meant encountering monsters that the user hadn’t cleared yet.