V57C1P3 – In Morata

The great lords of the Arpen Empire gathered in Morata the day before the war.

The Hermes Guild deployed its core forces and Bard Ray arrived as well, hence the lords also brought the majority of their own troops to make up the numbers.

“We will do our best.”

“We hope you know that the Black Lion Guild always acts for the good of Arpen.”

“We shall put everything on the line to win this war.”

“All of our main forces from Lion Star have been summoned. Our castle is empty because defeating Kaybern is more important than anything else.”

The great lords paid attention to the public consensus and competed against one another in swearing their loyalty to Weed.

“There is a lack of iron arrows.”

“Yes. Given the scale of this war, it is inevitable… ah! We will fill up the supplies. Fortunately, we may have stock.”

“We also require food supplies. The players in Morata need to be fed well, don’t they?”

“C-Certainly.”

“It will be difficult to transport food from so far away, so it could be better for you to provide financially instead.”

“That will be taken care of by Cloud Guild.”

This was the reason the great lords hated coming to Morata.

The feeling that they were going to be stripped of all their fortune when they meet Weed!

They looked around Morata and were surprised a second time at the scale of the Hermes Guild forces at work.

Even the broadcast stations were streaming the scene live.

– Destroyer Tristan. He missed the spotlight in the war in Garnav Plains… But he is under the 1st legion, infamous for killing over 1,000 players.

– The crossbow warrior Ultar! Though he lost the duel against Weed, no one can underestimate his power.

– Yes, he is truly incredible. It seems that the Wolf Knight Cavalry has also realigned its forces.

– Mage Precker is also visible. He is overlooking Morata under the flight spell along with Mage Caddler.

The high rankers of Royal Road arrived and 30,000 magic troops were stationed in vital points within Morata.

The number of siege weapons and magic traps under installation was unimaginable.

The Arpen Empire fortified Morata, but the Hermes Guild also stepped up eagerly and made genuine preparations for the dragon hunt.

The great lords of Arpen watched over the giant project and were astonished by the Hermes Guild’s capability and even felt a sense of danger.

Sherwood spoke.

“I don’t know why they are going this far… but if we end up defeating Kaybern, the negative perception of the Hermes Guild will die down significantly.”

“However, if the crisis subsides, the Arpen Empire will become even more powerful. While the overthrown Hermes Guild advances 10 meters, Arpen will go 200 meters.”

Carlise objected, but the other great lords thought otherwise.

Roam explained prudently.

“We must address it from the perspective of the Hermes Guild that has been suffering. If they lead the war against the dragon, they will be recognized as the core faction that a.s.sisted Weed. Also, they can maintain their reputation as the most powerful independent faction. They will rise to be a compet.i.tor to the Arpen Empire.”

“Our compet.i.tion?”

“I say that because it looks like they have put aside their hostility against Weed and the Arpen Empire for the time being.”

The fall of the Hermes Guild that reigned over the continent.

The Hermes Guild heads, who were informed of Lafaye’s concerns, decided collectively to collaborate with the Arpen Empire to maintain their gains on one hand and to prepare for the future of the Hermes Guild on the other.

Draka, who in the past led the Imperial Army during the invasion of the Northern Continent, had earned the right to speak.

“For now, let us forfeit all interests and honor to Weed. Although he was an enemy, Weed completed seemingly impossible quests and accomplished various achievements. His influence is deeply rooted in the people which means we cannot bring him down.”

“Are you suggesting that we live as bottom feeders under Weed?”

“As Arpen climbs even higher, there will be more opportunities for it to crumble. Let’s not go against the tide, stop trying to do the impossible. Until Weed self-destructs, until Arpen becomes divided on its own and gives us a chance to strike, we help him.”

Thus, to bend and a.s.sist had become the compa.s.s of the Hermes Guild.

Though disgraceful, history proved that sometimes it was the best option.

The Hermes Guild, with a changed att.i.tude, had become the greatest threat to the great lords.

Carlise struck the table with his hand.

“This is not good. The revival of the Hermes Guild, our long time enemy, is bad. It is also a pressing issue that will make the expansion of the empire more difficult.”

The most powerful guild factions within the Arpen Empire were themselves.

They planned on splitting the profits among themselves in their own league, but the Hermes Guild came in uninvited.

***

11 hours until Kaybern’s attack.

Morata had been completely fortified by countless players. The Hermes Guild and the a.s.sault squad went to their stations.

Weed stood on top of the tower of Black Giant Star and imprinted the scenery of Morata, for what could be the last time, in his mind.

“Here’s your lunch.”

“Take your sweet potatoes.”

He saw food being pa.s.sed around to the players.

“We cannot back down now.”

Neither the Hermes Guild nor the a.s.sault squad could back down now.

Every measure that could be taken against the dragon was already in place. Even so, the result would only come after the war.

“With this, all of the powerful players in Versailles are here.”

Weed deemed this fight to be one where he would have no regrets.

If they were to lose even with the partic.i.p.ation of the Hermes Guild, then it had been inevitable all along.

“Is this the end of peace or a new beginning?”

It was the last day of history, but truthfully he didn’t have much on his mind.

Struggles were only exhausting when they caught you by surprise.

“Are the preparations complete?”

By Weed’s side was Seoyoon.

She too spent a long time in Morata. This time around she prepared the defenses, but even when Weed was busy travelling around the continents, she cared for the development of Morata more than anyone.

Though it was barely noticeable in such a big city, she planted flowers and trees herself.

“Yes.”

“Let’s go on a date then.”

Weed planned for an outing with Seoyoon the night before the dragon’s arrival.

Spending a couple of hours anxiously could not a.s.sure victory over Kaybern.

The best way to spend possibly the last night in Morata!

It was a date with Seoyoon.

***

The dark alley of Morata.

There was a pub in the cheapest old neighborhood that only sold beer.

“You still haven’t decided?”

“I don’t know.”

“Not sure if there is a need for us to step in.”

Volk’s words shook the heads of the other men.

They were the dark gamers who earned money through Royal Road!

The Kaybern hunt had been a hot topic among them since a week ago.

– Weed is going to hunt down Kaybern at Morata.

– Everyone knows that.

– You’re going to need faster intel if you’re a dark gamer.

– Will he succeed or not?

– I want to bet against him… Darn it. Maybe Weed can pull it off.

– Honestly, we are in the dark. We do hunt a lot but we distance ourselves from hunting boss monsters because of inefficiency.

– Weed, too, is one of us who earns money through Royal Road, so I hope he will succeed.

– That’s like a part-time cas.h.i.+er worrying about a CEO. Welp.

Comments were posted restlessly among the dark gamer a.s.sociation.

A huge debate fired up as to whether or not Morata was suitable as the battleground.

– It is a vast city. The dragon can fly anywhere and the players will be distressed because of the buildings.

– It is a tricky location when it comes to withstanding the dragon’s magic attacks. How on earth are they going to deal with fire magic?

– I agree. I think they should have organized a counterattack on the lair.

– You are senseless, probably because you are a lone dark gamer. The lair will be covered with magic traps and what about the swarming monsters? Ulta Mountain Pa.s.s is covered with monsters.

– A counterattack on the lair is impossible. At Morata, they can prepare with less worry and receive support from players.

– Novice players aren’t considered help. They are all ants to be squashed under the influence of Dragon Fear.

The choice of Morata as the location of the a.s.sault was deemed not the best option but it was reasonable enough to be accepted by the public. It was because it was realistically difficult to devise a special response protocol in the next city on the target list.

– a.n.a.lysis report. What is Kaybern’s worth? I have calculated it by market value.

– The continent plunges into chaos. It will be difficult to earn a living in such desperate times.

– Money is what matters. Which hunting ground is the most efficient?

There was earnest a.n.a.lysis and information as well. Among them were A level posts only accessible for the top tier dark gamers.

– Kaybern hunt. Will it go as planned?

– The multiplying monsters are causing a decline in the market value of equipment.

– Destruction of cities. That is not a problem that can be left alone for long. Establishments aren’t built overnight.

– Royal Road is our workplace. I have to feed my child.

– What if we join the Kaybern hunt too?

Recently, the number of dark gamers had risen to over a million. What was even more intimidating was that these gamers were all high-level!

If the Hermes Guild and the dark gamers were to spark an all-out battle, it would be a formidable match. That being said, it was impossible for dark gamers like them to band together.

– Kaybern hunt. Have you forgotten the basic principle of dark gamers?

– First, don’t trust anyone. Second, give as much as you take. Third, money is the only thing you can trust.

– Those same principles have protected us. The other players do not like us rising to the top.

– Isn’t Weed reliable? He has provided a lot for us.

– Let me clear this up. It is true that the Arpen Empire is convenient for our means of living. However, we return the favor by hunting and completing quests.

– I also think that I am doing my fair share. What’s more, didn’t we partic.i.p.ate in the battle against the Hermes Guild?

– We can’t really say that it was partic.i.p.ation… We just blended with the winning side and hunted down the Hermes Guild members.

The dark gamers debated the Kaybern hunt. Still, the poll was one-sided in favor of sitting back and observing over fighting alongside Weed.

They had too much at stake for them to fight against such a dangerous being such as the dragon.

“We just need to get rid of Kaybern. Kaybern is the only problem. The Arpen Empire will soon unite the entire world… Hunting and tourism will boom.”

“Well, we aren’t sure about that.”

At the pub, Volk attempted to convince the other dark gamers to a.s.sist the Arpen Empire, but he failed repeatedly.

“Hey, Volk.”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“There are many of us still scattered across the continent. They aren’t even at Morata.”

“We don’t know how many of us are here.”

“Yeah. Roamers without a destination; that is who we are. We belong in the hunting grounds, not the cities.”

The dark gamers in broad terms were just people working in the same field. They kept their whereabouts secret.

“Even if they are at Morata, there will only be a few of them. There are none among us who would use the Brazier of Sacrifice for the safety of the continent.”

“I am aware.”

“Then how much of a help will we be? There’s the Hermes Guild after all. On top of that… It is questionable if Weed will offer us any seats when we join him. Weed and the Hermes Guild will do well on their own. It is right for us to observe the situation, though we may become the hyenas.”

The dark gamers who arrived in Morata also had an objective.

The moment the mighty Kaybern is depleted of its strength and falls, they aimed to steal the kill.

“Hah. It will be beneficial for us to join the Kaybern hunt.”

“It will not happen no matter how hard you try. Just give up and watch.”

(To be continued…)