'Or maybe something completely different got through.'
It was possible that something other than a saint was causing the erosion.
A dangerous situation, to say the least.
This message must have been conveyed to all players.
He quickly got up from his seat.
After all, since it was a problem he had caused, he had to be the one to solve it.
γ'???' has returned to its original location.γ
γ'Erosion' has ended.γ
Just as he was about to leave the castle, another message appeared.
The message indicated that the cause of the erosion had returned, thus ending the erosion.
'...So it was Seo Saintess, then.'
He let out a small sigh.
There would be some commotion, but at least one thing was now clear.
'Non-players from Pangea can cross over to Earth.'
Just like how monsters invaded Earth.
However, it seemed that Pangeans were also classified as 'enemies.'
I didn't expect the system message itself to encourage removal.
Or perhaps it was because they came through a warp related to erosion.
But just like during Ahram's first invasion, all warps that allowed crossing over to Earth were related to invasions.
'What happens if the erosion rate increases, then?'
If the erosion rate increases, the boundary between Earth and Pangea will break down.
However, it was unknown how it would break down or what would happen afterward.
Would there be a war between Pangea and Earth?
"Hmm."
He stroked his chin, pondering, but there was no immediate answer to this question.
With no choice, he returned to his original position.
He had to check on Seo Saintess first.
*
Oliver felt as if he were in a dream.
The person who appeared through the warp.
He recognized who it was at first glance.
'Saintess... Lady Seo...'
There was no way he couldn't recognize her.
Seo Saintess was the symbol of the Goddess Church.
He had been told that someone might cross over if he waited here, but he hadn't been told it would be Seo Saintess, so his heart was still pounding as if it would burst.
Indeed, his heart was beating.
Fiercely.
So healthily.
Ever since she placed her hand on his chest.
"Melson. My heart... it doesn't hurt anymore."
"W-What do you mean?"
"My heart has been fixed."
"You don't mean... just now, she...?"
"Yes."
Drip.
Tears welled up and flowed freely.
The heart that had plagued him since birth, the candle that could go out at any moment, had finally started to function normally.
Seo Saintess left shortly after, but all of this was possible thanks to one person.
Randolph.
The gift he received from Randolph, who cleared the Abyss Labyrinth, had made this possible.
But what a tremendous gift it was.
Now he no longer had to fight death every day.
He no longer had to lie to Serengeti.
How could he ever repay this favor?
"Is there anyone who knows we came here?"
"No. We came through an independent route unrelated to the royal family, so no one will find out."
"Then we need to leave now. As quietly and quickly as possible."
"That's my specialty. Don't worry, young master."
"We have a lot to talk about when we get back, Melson."
"Yes."
Melson didn't question anything.
He believed that the young master would explain everything in due time.
They left the place the same way they came.
After a long detour to completely erase all evidence, they finally arrived at the castle.
As soon as they arrived at the castle, Oliver knelt before the lying king.
"Young master...?!"
Melson was shocked by the sudden action, but Oliver paid no attention.
"Melson. This person is not just a game friend. He is my heart, the Lord I must follow forever."
"......!"
My heart.
In other words, the Korean man was involved in everything that happened today.
Moreover, calling him a Lord.
It made him sound like a knight following a king.
Oliver's once lifeless face was now full of vitality.
A healthy face, no doubt.
Melson had never seen Oliver like this, despite serving him for a long time.
Oliver then spoke with firm resolve.
"From now on, you must serve this person even more than you serve me. You must."
*
Oliver confirmed that his heart had been healed.
Now all that was left was to find a warp to connect the Labyrinth City.
At least three lands needed to be connected to prevent it from sinking again.
Fortunately, there was a suitable candidate.
"Hey! Friend! It's been a while!"
Rustle Forest.
The High Dryad greeted me as soon as he saw me.
"A friend has come! We must celebrate today!"
"Hold on. Friend, I'd like you to look at this first."
"This is?"
The High Dryad's eyes widened as he saw the seed I offered.
"Is this not the seed of the Evergreen?"
"I want to give it to your forest as a gift."
"A seed of the Evergreen as a gift?"
I nodded.
Dryads grow stronger as the forest grows.
If the Evergreen takes root in Rustle Forest, both its level and size will increase.
One of the things I bought from the vending machine in the Labyrinth using golden tickets was this seed of the Evergreen.
The High Dryad looked troubled.
"I am grateful for the gift of a spirit, but I cannot accept the Evergreen, friend."
"Of course, it's not free."
"Then?"
"I want to connect a warp between Rustle Forest and my city."
"That's something I can do without accepting the seed."
Indeed, the Dryad.
Once you gain their trust, they trust you completely.
Even if it's a human city they despise, they readily agreed.
They didn't even ask or question.
I smiled and said,
"Consider it a bribe to strengthen our relationship."
"Even so..."
"Refusing further is not polite among friends, friend."
"Ugh... Alright. But for the Evergreen to sprout, the necessary mana must be prepared..."
"Don't worry about that. Is there a place to plant it?"
"There is, but..."
"Let's go there first."
"Hmm. Follow me."
The High Dryad led the way with a puzzled look.
Soon, a wide open space appeared, and I planted the seed of the Evergreen at its center.
The High Dryad spoke as he watched.
"The mana of this land is insufficient. Forests where the Evergreen grows are all places that possess the power of a dragon vein. Friend, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this land does not possess that level of mana."
There were a few places where the Evergreen had grown.
The most representative was the land of the elves.
Centered around the Evergreen, they became powerful, gaining strength that even humans couldn't challenge.
However, the reason the Evergreen could sprout was that many 'dragons' had died in that land.
The land, piled with the bodies of dragons, became a 'dragon vein,' allowing the Evergreen to sprout.
However, this land did not possess that level of mana.
Considering the size of Rustle Forest, it wasn't particularly large for a forest.
'Rapid Growth.'
But it didn't matter to me.
All I needed was for it to sprout.
γ'Seed of the Evergreen' is undergoing Rapid Growth.γ
γ'Seed of the Evergreen' is beginning to sprout!γ
Swoosh.
In an instant, the seed sprouted, and roots extended into the ground.
"Wh-What...!"
The High Dryad's eyes widened in shock.
"W-What is this...!!"
An unbelievable sight.
The Evergreen grew in an instant.
γ'High Druid's Great Nature' is activated.γ
γ'Evergreen's' first growth is complete!γ
γ'Rapid Growth' skill level has increased!γ
γ'Rapid Growth' skill level has increased!γ
γ'Rapid Growth' skill level has increased!γ
γ'Rapid Growth' skill level has reached 5, allowing for safer growth.γ
γ'Rapid Growth' skill level will reach 7, allowing for the second growth of the Evergreen.γ
γThe maximum level of 'Forest Races' around the Evergreen increases by +1 due to the blessing of the Evergreen.γ
γThe growth rate of the 'Forest' increases by 200% due to the blessing of the Evergreen.γ
Wow.
The effects of the Evergreen are tremendous.
The maximum level of Dryads increased, and the forest's growth rate doubled.
It was proof that Rustle Forest would flourish even more.
'Amazing.'
Moreover, thanks to the Baal Helmet and my crafting skills, the skill level increased by three levels when the Evergreen sprouted.
I thought it would only increase by 1 or 2 at most.
"Friend. What is this...!"
Ignoring the High Dryad's shock, I replied briefly as if it were a casual gift.
"It's a gift, friend."
*
γA warp between 'Rustle Forest' and 'Labyrinth City' has been connected.γ
One down.
Two more to go.
But there was no time to think.
Right after leaving Rustle Forest,
Caw! Caw!
Carrion crows flying above me.
...I was in Kramdel.
I had returned to Kramdel as the new King of the Carrion Crows.
'Emergency summons.'
It was due to an urgent call from the White King.
The 'Seal' I received when I became a King was ringing madly, leaving me no choice.
Emergency summons were only issued when all Kings had to gather for important matters, and attendance was mandatory unless there was a special reason.
"Randolph!"
The first to greet me upon arriving in Kramdel was the Fourth King.
I hesitated for a moment.
Why is he calling me by my name, giving me goosebumps?
Moreover, there's no way a Fourth King would have spare time to wait here.
...Could he have been waiting for me at the entrance all this time?
Is he trying to test me?
I had already revealed my name to the White King.
The other Kings, including the Fourth King, had also heard it, so it wasn't strange for him to call me by name.
Moreover, the Fourth King was the one who treated me the most kindly among the Kings.
Even if I gave him a hundred chances to act this way, the problem was the situation.
The owner of Kramdel and a King waiting for me at the entrance?
In front of countless monsters.
We're not close enough to call each other by name in front of so many eyes.
Indeed, the monsters were whispering to each other, looking back and forth between me and the Fourth King.
"Who is that crow?"
"Shh. He's the new King who just ascended."
"Even so, is he so important that the Fourth King waited for him personally?"
"He achieved a feat that surpassed the White King in the Chamber of Mysteries."
"The White King...!"
"Then how strong is he?"
"He's said to have killed Ahram alone."
"That wraith king Ahram?"
"The guardians of the stars even fought over who would take this King."
"Insane."
"He's not what he seems, huh."
I can hear you, you know.
I didn't know the rumors about me had spread throughout Kramdel while I was away.
I heard some false rumors, but I didn't care.
Rumors are always exaggerated.
I walked calmly.
The Fourth King also approached without any concern.
He didn't care how his actions were perceived by others.
Then I shouldn't show any concern either.
"Randolph! It's even more pleasant to see you up close."
"It's been a while, caw."
"I heard you were coming, but I couldn't contain my curiosity."
The Fourth King was clearly excited.
What is he excited about?
Is it related to the White King's emergency summons?
"What are you curious about, caw?"
"The Abyss Labyrinth! Did you really kill the Sword Saint Ralil?"
Ah, it's about the Labyrinth.
I remember the Desert Queen mentioning the Fourth King.
If the Fourth King challenged the Abyss Labyrinth, he must have seen my name.
What should I answer?
'Should I say it wasn't me but someone with the same name?'
If I say it was someone with the same name, the Fourth King will be disappointed.
But if I say I cleared it, the Labyrinth City will undoubtedly become a city of a King.
A city of monsters under the White King.
"It was me, caw."
Thinking about it, it might not be bad.
I had already designated Rustle Forest as a warp connection.
The city's owner doesn't have to be a human.
It would be safer to be under the White King's shadow for now.
If Kramdel can also be connected, who would dare attack the Labyrinth?
There are few who would be bold enough to make the White King an enemy and attack.